JD Journal » Dewey LeBoeuf

Two Mergers and Acquisitions Partners Hired by Clifford Chance from Dewey & LeBoeuf

jim — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 13:38:07 +0000

Ivan Presant and Joseph Cosentino, partners from Dewey & LeBoeuf M&A, are leaving the firm to join Clifford Chance in New York. The lateral moves are the firm’s latest aimed at making its New York office stronger.

Cosentino has been working for the previous ten years at Dewey, where he began work as an associate at predecessor firm Dewey Ballantine. That firm merged with LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae back in August of 2007. Cosentino was promoted in January of 2009 to partner.

Presant joined the firm, after its merger, back in June of 2008. He previously served as a partner at Greenberg Traurig in New York. Presant began his legal career with Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson before spending seven years working as an associate at Sullivan & Cromwell.

The two worked hand in hand with the firm’s vice-chair and M&A group co-chair Morton Pierce. The two recently assisted Pierce in advising Talbots over the summer when the company tried to fend off private equity suitor Sycamore Partners.

The two will be joining a firm in Clifford Chance that has been among the top legal advisers in cross-border transactions in 2011. Clifford Chance is hoping that the addition of the two men will help increase the firm’s domestic transactions too.

“We have one of the leading international M&A practices in the world and our Americas team has a strong track record in complex transactions, both domestic and cross-border,” Matthew Layton, the global corporate practice head, said. “As a next step in our evolution we are continuing to deepen and strengthen our team in the States.”

The M&A group for Clifford Chance, part of the firm’s 750-lawyer corporate practice, was very busy at the end of the past year. Aujan Industries, a Saudi Arabian beverage manufacturer, used Clifford Chance to help sell half of its operations to Coca-Cola for $980 million.

Robert Masella, a partner for Clifford Chance, was on a team from the firm that was advising Mitsubishi in November. The team helped Mitsubishi secure a $5.4 billion Chilean copper contract with Anglo American, a mining company headquartered in London.

Clifford Chance then worked as counsel for Citigroup and EMI Group a couple of weeks later on two transactions that totaled $4.1 billion. The transactions broke apart the London company through sales to Vivendi’s Universal Music Group and Sony. As it turns out, Cosentino was on the team from Dewey that was advising Sony during the purchase.

At 1,045-lawyer Dewey & LeBoeuf, profits increased by 9.6 percent in 2010 to $1.8 million. There were gross revenues of $910 million for the firm.

The gross revenues for Clifford Chance in 2010 stayed strong at $1.9 billion. At the 2,500-lawyer Magic Circle firm, profits per partner hit at about $1.6 million. A spokesman from Clifford Chance did say that a legal recruiter was used to make the lateral hires from Dewey but the spokesman did not name the recruiting agency.

Dewey Nabs A Dozen Lawyers From The Top South African Law Firms

chelsei — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:45:37 +0000

In a move that marks the largest investment yet over in Africa, Dewey & LeBeuf have announced Wednesday that it is expanding its existing seven-lawyer Johannesburg office with the addition of eight partners and four associates from the Werkmans Attorneys, which is one of South Africa’s lending old-line firms.

The new additions make Dewey’s South African office one of the biggest to be opened in the country by an international law firm. White & Case has seven lawyers in Johannesburg; and DLA Piper, which runs under the Swiss verein structure, it is affiliated with 270-lawyer Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, who is one of South Africa’s biggest firms. Two of the U.K.-based firms, Norton Rose and SNR Denton, have also merged or associated with the South African firm in the past two years or so.

In those that are making the lateral move are Morne van der Merwe, who let the Werkman’s mining and resource practice group, and Wildu du Plessis, who was formally the head of the South African firm’s banking, finance and capital markets practices, but is not anymore. Joining the van der Merwe and du Plessis team are members of their core deals and finance teams, including the partners Chris Moraitis, Astrid Berman, Amelia Heeger, Muhammed Sader, Mike van Rensburg, Esme Ferreira, and several other associates.

While they were at Werkmans, some of the members of the group had worked on many large South Africa-based mining and resource-related transactions, while others helped to jump start the country’s securitization industry or played a key role in the major South African infrastructure projects. According to the Werkman Website, the firm was ranked first in South African for corporate work back in 2006, 2007, and 2008; Mergermarket placed Werkmans at the top of the ranking list for M&A deal value in the first three quarters of 2011 for the firm’s work on the 21 transactions.

At Dewey, van der Merwe is going to serve as the co-chair of the firm’s global natural resources practice alongside Nabil Khodadad. Du Plessis, meanwhile, has been named the co-managing partner of Dewey;s Johannesburg office, joining Scott Brokdsky, who just happens to be the resident managing partner for Dewey.

Joseph Tato, who is the chairman of Dewey’s Africa practice group, says that he has been taking to van der Merwe and du Plessis about trying to make a lateral move since way back in November of 2010, when–with the help of a search consultant–the firm moved to expand their offerings in corporate M&A, mining and natural resourced, banking, and even finance.

Despite the tightening of credit across Europe–and an accompanying decline in the hunger for investment in the areas on the part of European financial institutions–Africa, that is continually attracting the international investors, says Tato.

DLA Piper Announces Launch of New International Securities Group, Along With New Partner

rebneely — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 13:39:42 +0000

Global law firm DLA Piper announced the launch of its newly created International Securities Group in recent days. Along with that launch, George Barboutis will act as a London-based US securities partner within the group; he joined the firm on November 16^th.

The International Securities Group will bring together lawyers advising on equity and debt offerings in the UK and the EMEA region. With Barboutis’s appointment, DLA Piper moves to establish a London-based US capital markets team providing it with U.S. securities law capability to handle equity and debt offerings of issuers in the EMEA region targeted at US investors. As well, he will concentrate on strengthening the firm’s presence in international/cross-border capital markets transactions. At the same time, he will work to leverage the potential of the firm’s strong office network in EMEA and helping further its integration.

Barboutis specializes in U.S. securities. He is US-qualified (State of New York), as well as qualified as a solicitor in England & Wales. Before joining DLA Piper, Barboutis was a partner with Dewey & Leboeuf based in London. He was promoted to this position in 2007. H joined Dewey Ballantine in 2004 from Shearman & Sterling where he worked with its London US securities group.

Barboutis’s practice covers a wide range of equity, equity-linked and debt securities offerings, including Rule 144A/Regulation S and SEC-registered offerings, US and London listings, as well as M&A and structured finance transactions. On a regular basis, he advises on transactions in the CIS (with a focus on Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan), Poland, Greece, Turkey and the Middle East. George acts for issuers and underwriters with a focus on emerging markets and has worked with major investment banking clients.

Alex Tamlyn, Head of the International Securities Group was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “The establishment of the International Securities Group brings together the firm’s expertise across the capital markets space into a single team. This aligns us consistently with the banks and other financial institutions which drive significant securities transactions globally. In an economic environment where access to capital is extremely challenging this allows us to deliver the best possible service to our clients to raise finance across geographies and industries.”

Charles Severs, DLA Piper’s UK Head of Corporate was quoted as saying: “I am delighted that George is joining us. The firm’s international platform and George’s emerging markets focus go hand in hand with one another to strengthen further our corporate offering to both issuers and underwriters globally. We expect to continue to strengthen our US securities capability in London.”

Chris Paci, chair of DLA Piper’s Capital Markets practice in the United States was quoted as saying: “George’s appointment, together with the launch of the International Securities Group, are key milestones in advancing our strategy for delivering global capital markets capability across the major financial centers in the United States, Europe and Asia.”

Global law firm DLA Piper has 76 offices in 30 countries and over 4,200 lawyers.

Dewey Picks up Bankruptcy Team from LA Boutique

joshua — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:35:44 +0000

Bruce Bennett is leaving the firm he helped found, Hennigan Bennett & Dorman, and moving to Dewey & LeBoeuf. Bennett and Michael Hennigan founded the bankruptcy boutique, which will now call itself Hennigan & Dorman, in 1995.

Moving with Bennett are partners James Johnston, Sidney Levinson, Bennett Murphy, Joshua Mester; Counsel Joshua Morse and counsel Monika Wiener; and three associates. Joshua Morse will work out of San Francisco, and the other nine will be in Dewey’s LA office.

Bennett is best known for being lead debtor’s counsel for the bankruptcy of Orange County, the largest municipal bankruptcy in our history.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 18:02:36 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Monday, January 24, and here’s a quick look back at the headlines from the end of last week…

Anderson Kill is opening a new office in Connecticut…

Wilmer Hale recruited a senior attorney from the Air Force…

Dewey & LeBoeuf picked up Howrey’s vice-chair…

and Kent Conrad will retire from the Senate in 2012…

Morning Roundup

joshua — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 17:47:59 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, January 12, and here’s a look back at the first half of the week…

Dewey & LeBoeuf has a new vacation policy…

Winston & Strawn expanded it’s IP team…

Covington & Burling added a former Washington DC Attorney General…

and merger talks between Reed Smith and Thompson & Knight are off…

Morning Roundup

joshua — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 13:12:23 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, November 3rd. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Katten Muchin Rosenman added a team of 13 structured finance lawyers from Dewey & Leboeuf…

A former female associate filed a discrimination suit against Clifford Chance…

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe launched a Social Sector Finance (SSF) practice group…

Best Lawyers named Cohen & Grigsby attorney Charles R. Brodbeck “Pittsburgh Public Finance Lawyer of the Year” for 2011…

Corporate Counsel will host a one-day Focus Europe Summit at The Concierge Conference Center in New York City…

Katten Muchin Nabs 13-Member Team from Dewey & Leboeuf

joshua — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 17:59:30 +0000

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP has added a team of structured finance lawyers from Dewey & Leboeuf. The 13-member group includes four structured finance partners in New York, a financial products tax partner in Washington, D.C. and eight associates. The partners are Chris DiAngelo, formerly global co-head of Dewey & LeBoeuf’s Structured Finance Group; Anna-Liza B. Harris, Howard M. Schickler, Joseph P. Topolski and John P. Keiserman.

Henry Bregstein, co-managing partner of Katten’s New York office, said the team’s “structured finance expertise augments our existing finance platform, which will enable us to provide an even broader range of high-level services to our clients.”

The group focuses its work on public and private securitization of consumer and commercial assets and handles all types of financing for bank and non-bank finance companies, providing innovative solutions to clients’ financing needs and regularly working with some of the most cutting-edge structures in the marketplace. Their clients include a wide range of market participants and asset classes.

According to DiAngelo, the group chose Katten based on the firm’s “platform, strength in existing practice areas and growth opportunities for the New York office.”

Morning Roundup

joshua — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 12:25:46 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, July 28th. Here’s a look back at yesterday’s stories.

Steven Fagell, deputy chief of staff for Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer will leave to return to Covington & Burling LLP…

Stanford Dean Larry Kramer’s goal is to move past Yale and Harvard into the top spot on the U.S. News rankings…

Greenberg Traurig added an ex-health department official to its health and FDA business practice…

Sheppard Mullin added three partners to the firm’s Labor and Employment practice group…

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck hired three top Vegas commercial litigation attorneys from Jones Vargas…

Kaye Scholer added three partners from Dewey & LeBoeuf…

Cozen O’Connor announced it added a 15-lawyer team from Sher & Blackwell to its Washington D.C. office…

Steptoe & Johnson will put a significantly expanded energy practice into action…

Chambers USA recognized Cohen & Grigsby attorneys, and practice group…

Kaye Scholer Adds Three From Dewey & LeBoeuf

joshua — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:51:22 +0000

Three intellectual partners from Dewey & LeBoeuf, including Barbara Caulfield, the managing partner of its East Palo Alto office, have left the firm to join Kaye Scholer, the Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal reports.

Caulfield is joined in the move by partners Michael Malecek and Peter Root. The trio will be joining Kaye Scholer’s Menlo Park office, which has been open for business for five months.

Caulfield, a former federal judge in California’s Northern District from 1991 to 1994, focuses her practice on IP litigation for pharmaceutical and bio-tech companies. Malecek focuses on patent litigation and Root specializes in business and commercial litigation, including IP mergers and acquisitions.

According to the Business Journal, Kaye Scholer’s Menlo Park office opened March 1 and is the firm’s ninth office.

Dewey and LeBoeuf Partner Recipient of Reginald F. Lewis Award

joshua — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:15:30 +0000

Partner and co-head of the Media and Entertainment Global Industry Sector at the law firm of Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP, L. Londell McMillan, will receive the Reginald F. Lewis Award today at the Reginald F. Lewis Foundation Gala Luncheon at the Lewis Estate in East Hampton, New York.

The award honors African American entrepreneurs who succeeded internationally in business before the age of 50, as Lewis did.

Wall Street veterans, Peter Offermann, Phyllis Schless and Robert C. Winters, Jr. will also each receive a Millennium Member award recognizing the key roles they played in the life and career of Mr. Lewis.

In the June 24 PR Newswire press release, Loida Lewis, widow of the legendary mogul and foundation chair, was quoted as saying: “The Reginald F. Lewis Foundation is pleased to recognize the hard work of L. Londell McMillan and the wonderful contributions of Peter, Phyllis and Robert to the story and legacy of my husband. Perseverance and dedication, especially in entrepreneurship, normally pay off in individual success and community development, and help society in general. We are happy for their success and are grateful for their help of the Foundation.”

Mr. McMillan has represented many star talents, such as the late Michael Jackson, Prince, Stevie Wonder, Usher, LL Cool J, Roberta Flack and Spike Lee. Past recipients of the award include Sean “Diddy” Combs and real estate mogul R. Donahue Peebles.

Mr. McMillan is also one of the co-owners and partners with real-estate developer Bruce Ratner and hip-hop icon Jay-Z in the New Jersey Nets and the Atlantic Yards development in Brooklyn, future home to the NBA team. Mr. McMillan is also owner and Group Publisher of The NorthStar Group, which publishes Jones Magazine and The Source.

Mr. McMillan was quoted as saying: “I am humbled to be recognized in the name of the great Reginald F. Lewis to support the Foundation in his honor. Indeed, like others inspired by his legacy, I walk in footsteps he created to make the road clearer for many of us to follow.”

The event, which is sponsored by American Express, Bloomberg, Black Entertainment Television, Belvedere, Kate’s Paperie, The Camelot Group, GenNx360 Capital Partners, and The NorthStar Group will feature performances by singer, songwriter and Broadway performer Deborah Cox and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Dewey & LeBoeuf is a leading global law firm with more than 1,200 lawyers in 25 offices in 15 countries. The firm has broad experience across numerous sectors, including energy, financial services, insurance and life sciences.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 13:03:52 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, June 23rd. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Baker & McKenzie formally parted ways with 11 of its 12 re-deferred associates…

Cadwalader earned top honors at the Global M&A Network Turnaround Atlas Awards in Chicago…

Sidley Austin’s Ronald Flagg was awarded the 2010 Vincent E. Reed Award…

Dewey And LeBouef’s D.C. office filed a friend of the court brief on behalf of the Mexican government…

Greenberg Traurig is counseling Valeant Pharmaceuticals in a merger deal with Biovail…

Ross E. Eichberg joined Nixon Peabody as a partner in the firm’s D.C. office…

Sidley Austin announced that Thomas W. Albrecht will assume the responsibilities of managing partner for the Asia Pacific region…

A wide-ranging Altman Weil survey offered perspective on a multitude of issues facing law firms today…

Blank Rome added three attorneys to its Government Relations group in Washington, D.C…

Dewey And LeBouef Files Amicus Brief On Behalf Mexico

eric — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:22:49 +0000

Dewey and LeBouef‘s D.C. office has filed a friend of the court brief on behalf of the Mexican government, reports the site Yesbuthowever.com. The brief is filed in support of a suit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice against the State of Arizona that questions State Bill 1070, which allows law enforcement officials to demand proof of citizenship from anyone they suspect is in the country illegally. The recently passed bill substantially affects Mexico and its citizens. The amicus brief is one of many filed in the in the suit, including one filed by Arizona Attorney General, Albert M. Flores.

Dewey & LeBoeuf was founded in 1909 and is based in New York City. The firm has over 1,200 attorneys with 25 offices across North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 13:14:55 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Monday, June 7th. Here’s a quick look back at Friday’s stories.

McCarter & English hooked up with 85 Broads…

The managing partner of Dewey & Leboeuf’s office in Frankfurt, Germany, Hanno Berger, left to start a new tax boutique…

The Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly employment report showed the legal field gained 300 jobs last month…

Dechert L.L.P’s CEO announced he will step down in 2011…

Dewey Managing Partner Breaks Out for New Firm

joshua — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 21:12:56 +0000

The managing partner of Dewey & Leboeuf’s office in Frankfurt, Germany, Hanno Berger, is leaving the firm to start a new tax boutique. Joining Berger in the startup is Dewey partner and officemate Kai Uwe Stec along with potentially eight other tax lawyers from the U.S.-based firm, Legal Week is reporting.

According to the story, Berger and Stec have targeted a July 31 departure date from Dewey. They are currently in negotiations with other Dewey lawyers in order to expand the new firm.

Berger has been Dewey’s managing partner in Frankfurt for six years. He focuses his practice on the development of corporate, regulatory and mized tax-optimized structures for derivatives, certificates, and other innovative financial products.

Steck specializes in banking law and the regulation of investment funds, including hedge funds, private equity funds and real estate funds.

Dewey, which has more than 1,200 lawyers in 25 offices in 15 countries, has around 50 lawyers in Frankfurt currently.

Law Firms Dealing With Mandatory Retirement Policies

joshua — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 17:30:42 +0000

The recent discrimination suit filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against Kelley Drye & Warren because of its mandatory retirement policy has brought the controversial mandate back into focus. The Washington Post touched on the subject in a report out Monday.

In the story, Greenberg Traurig partner Leslie Corwin called the provision “one of the biggest issues facing the legal profession and other professional service firms today.”

When the American Bar Association recommended law firms end mandatory retirement policies back in 2007, several firms heeded the advice, according to the report, including Cadwalader Wickersham & Taft, Dewey & LeBoeuf, Pillsbury, and K & L Gates. Kelley Drye joined the ranks last week when it announced it had dropped its mandatory retirement policy in the face of the EEOC lawsuit.

According to the report, only 38 percent of firm leaders who have set retirement ages felt it should be enforced. The story goes on to note industry experts believe firms are liable “to pay the price when partners forgo retirement benefits to defect to competing firms and take their clients with them.”

The New York Law Journal lists several New York firms that still have mandatory retirement. They include Cravath, Swaine & Moore, which has a retirement age of 65; Weil Gotshal & Manges has 68 as its mandatory retirement age; Paul Weiss lists the age at 70; and at Willkie Farr, the age is 65.

Morning Roundup

sara — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:14:39 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Monday, April 19th, and here’s a look back at Friday’s stories…

New law grads face a difficult economic climate…

Associates at DLA Piper receive a 10% pay raise…

Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto receive awards in two categories from Managing Intellectual Property Magazine…

An intellectual property lawyer from Haynes and Boone is nominated for the European Patent Office’s Inventor of the Year Award…

Recruitment levels are back to normal at Clifford Chance…

Dewey & Leboeuf has raised $125 million in a bond offering to refinance its existing bank debt…

The Oregon Supreme Court sides with the employer in a case involving medical marijuana…

Two partners leave Mayer Brown following layoffs…

Dewey & LeBoeuf Opens Eyes With $125 Million Bond Offering

joshua — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 20:52:55 +0000

In what it describes as “a rare action by a U.S. law firm,” Bloomberg is reporting that Dewey & LeBoeuf has raised $125 million in a bond offering to refinance its existing bank debt.

It remains unclear what such a moves signals, but therehas been plenty of speculation. As noted by Bloomberg, which broke the story, law firms generally receive capital from bank loans and partners’ contributions. Looking to outside investors doesn’t occur often.

Bloomberg reports this is the first law firm private placement since the credit crunch and its one of just a few ever. Stephen Gillers, a legal-ethics professor at New York University, notes firms cannot sell shares to raise capital because it is illegal for non-lawyers to have ownership in a law firm. But, “law firms can borrow money,” Gillers said. “As long as it’s debt, it’s OK.”

Keith Wetmore, chairman of Morrison & Foerster sees the move as a positive sign. He notes MoFo issued bonds in 2001 and 2002 because of debt incurred by office build-outs, and the firm would consider it again in the future. “You need a pretty good balance sheet to interest institutional investors.” he said. “Not every law firm is going to have that.”

According to Wetmore, through private placements firms are able to borrow for 10 to 15 years with private placements rather than the typical three to five years with banks.

Dewey & LeBoeuf underwent a round of layoffs earlier this month when 30 administrative staff members were let go at the firm’s offices in Los Angeles, New York City and Washington D.C. The firm also saw an 11.3 percent fall in gross revenue in 2010, though profits per partner and revenue per lawyer were up.

Dewey & LeBoeuf was founded in 1909 and is based in New York City. The firm has over 1,200 attorneys with 25 offices across North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Freshfields Bolsters U.S. Litigation Practice

joshua — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:42:21 +0000

International law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer has bolstered its U.S. litigation practice with the addition of three new partners. Marshall H. Fishman and Walter B. Stuart will join the firm’s New York office and Timothy J. Coleman will be stationed in Washington D.C.

Coleman joins Freshfields from Dewey & LeBoeuf, where he was a partner in the firm’s litigation department and co-chair of the white collar criminal defense and investigations practice group. He is a former assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York and he also served eight years with the U.S. Department of Justice, where he played key roles in several notable corporate fraud cases, including the investigation of Enron Corp.

Fishman is a former partner and commercial litigator at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel. He represents financial institutions in federal and state courts throughout the U.S., in arbitrations and in regulatory proceedings.

Stuart is formerly a partner at Vinson & Elkins. He focuses his practice on securities and complex financial litigation at both the state and federal level.

Freshfields has more than 2,700 lawyers practicing in 27 locations around the world.

Morning Roundup

sara — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:02:43 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, March 10, and here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s news…

Akerman Senterfitt opens a Las Vegas office…

Arent Fox names Mark Katz it’s new chairman…

The Massachusetts Bar Association will honor Fish & Richardson for their pro bono work…

Greenberg Traurig defends their firing of an alleged thief…

K&L Gates bolsters it’s London practice with a pair of partners…

Dewey & LeBoeuf lay off 30 staffers…

Loeb & Loeb create a new video game practice…

Dewey & LeBoeuf Lays Off 30 Administrative Staffers

sara — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 04:49:04 +0000

The ABA Journal has confirmed with Dewey & LeBoeuf that the firm laid off 30 administrative staff members today. These layoffs occurred in the firm’s Los Angeles, New York City and Washington, D.C. offices. Dewey & LeBoeuf told The ABA Journal that “these changes are made necessary by an overall reduction in lawyer headcount.” There was a 10% reduction in equity partners last year; PPP and revenue per lawyer increased while gross revenue declined by 11.3%.

Founded in 1909, Dewey & LeBoeuf is a New York City based firm with over 1200 attorneys and 25 offices across North America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

Recession Causing Fewer to Make Partner

joshua — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 17:30:49 +0000

It’s probably not a surprise that making partner has proven a more difficult task during the current recession. Not wanting to further cut into its partner’s profits, most firms have been extremely cautious to add to its ranks. Bloomberg gives further clarity to the trend in a report out today.

Among the firms cited in the story, Mayer Brown LLP promoted 14 attorneys to partners in November, down from 27. Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP in New York said it was promoting only six attorneys to equity partners in December, down from 20 a year earlier.

According to the report, it’s not enough to simply be a solid citizen and good lawyer to make partner these days. You also have to pass the ‘Cleveland Airport Rule’ at many firms i.e. would you be willing to spend time with the person if your plane was stuck in the Cleveland airport? Interesting read.

Winston & Strawn Continues New York Expansion

joshua — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 18:58:06 +0000

Winston & Strawn has added two partners and a senior counsel to its New York office. Lawrence A. Larose and Samuel S. Kohn join as partners in the firm’s restructuring and insolvency group while William J. Grant has joined as senior counsel in the mergers and acquisitions practice.

Larose, who will head the financial restructuring practice, focuses his practice on the restructuring of financially troubled entities. He was previously with Dewey & LeBoeuf, where he led the corporate restructuring practice. Kohn practices in the area of business reorganizations, including complex Chapter 11 cases. He also joins the firm from Dewey & LeBoeuf.

Grant represents corporate clients and investment banks in financings and acquisitions, particularly in the healthcare, technology and media industries. He was previously a partner at Willkie Farr & Gallagher.

Winston & Strawn’s New York office has grown to over 200 attorneys and further expansion is expected this year, the firm said in a press release. Winston & Strawn has 14 offices in Asia, Europe and the United States.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:08:41 +0000

Good morning everyone! It’s Thursday, December 17, and here’s your snapshot of yesterday’s news…

John Schulman, top counsel for Warner Bros for 25 years, has joined MS&K…

Seyfarth Shaw picks up a lateral from Hogan & Hartson…

WilmerHale’s new partnership class is over 50% female…

The FTC wants a piece of Intel….

Dewey & Leboeuf match the Cravath bonuses…

and Simpson & Thatcher is the only firm that we know of paying bonuses to deferred associates doing public interest work…

Dewey & LeBoeuf Match Cravath Bonuses

joshua — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 18:13:27 +0000

Same song, different singer. Dewey & LeBoeuf will follow the Cravath bonus scale (not the slightly better Sullivan & Cromwell scale). $5-$30k depending on class year.

Cravath bonuses were announced November 2nd. Since then Cleary, Skadden, Wilkie Farr, Simpson Thatcher, Davis Polk, Debevoise & Plimpton, and now Dewey & LeBoeuf have matched the same anemic scale. For a few days it looked like there might be a new scale after Sullivan & Cromwell posted a bonus schedule of $5-$35k and Paul Weiss fell in line, but those heady days of $35k for senior associates (everyone else was paid a Cravath sized bonus) seem to be over now.

Friday Roundup

joshua — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 20:37:46 +0000

Hello everyone! Thanks to a minor electrical problem this isn’t so much a morning roundup as an early afternoon one.

Pepe & Hazard is reported to be in merger talks…

The couple who gained notoriety for crashing the state dinner has retained counselfrom Dewey & LeBoeuf…

BigLaw wants to raise rates, and corporate America doesn’t want to pay…

And Orrick is moving away from lockstep in a big way….

White House Party Crashers Retain Dewey & LeBoeuf

joshua — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:42:15 +0000

Michaele and Tareq Salahi, the couple that garnered national attention for showing up to dinner without an invitation at last week’s state dinner for the Prime Minister of India have retained counsel from the firm of Dewey & LeBoeuf. Stephen Best, the co-chairman of the firm’s white collar defense group and associate Derek Anderson, a former Navy Seal and federal prosecutor comprise the couple’s legal team. Although they have not yet been charged with a crime, Congressman Bennie Thompson, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, said today that he’s drawing up a subpoena after the Salahi’s declined to testify at a hearing.

Canadian Firm Fasken Martineau Opens Paris Office and adds Four from Dewey

joshua — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:46:08 +0000

Fasken Martineau has merged with the small Parisian firm of Gravel, Leclerc & Partners to set up their first office in France. This move gives Fasken the largest footprint of any Canadian firm in Europe. In addition to the attorneys gained in the merger, four attorneys from Dewey & LeBoeuf’s Paris office have signed on with Fasken.

Fasken Martineau is an international firm with over 650 attorneys and nine offices. In addition to six offices in Canada, Fasken has offices in London, Johannesburg, and now – Paris.

Dewey & LeBoeuf Will Represent Caster Semenya

joshua — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:18:42 +0000

Caster Semenya, the South African runner whose gender has been called to question, will be represented pro bono by the firm of Dewey & LeBoeuf. According the firm’s press release, “The plight of Ms. Semenya is a great matter of concern not just to South Africans, but to fair-minded people around the world.”

Dewey & LeBoeuf was formed in 2007 by the merger of Dewey Ballantine and LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae. The firm has 24 offices in 14 countries, including South Africa.

Two Laterals From Dewey to Stroock

joshua — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 16:05:57 +0000

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan picked up a pair of partners for its energy and project finance practice when Jeffrey Meyers and Jon Mostel made the transition last week from Dewey & LeBoeuf. Meyers will chair the group.

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP is based in New York City, with approximately 350 lawyers in three offices, including Miami and Los Angeles. It was founded in 1876.

Four Partners Leave Cooley

joshua — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 19:19:28 +0000

Four more partners have left the firm of Cooley Godward Kronish. Craig Waldman and Michael Knight are heading for Jones Day, whil John Brockland and Jane Ross move to Dewey & LeBoeuf. Waldman was chairman of Cooley’s antitrust department and Knight is also an antitrust attorney. Brockland and Ross are corporate partners and will join three other former Cooley corporate lawyers at Dewey & LeBoeuf.

Cooley released a prepared statement but did not comment directly on the departures. Specializing in technology, Cooley represent venture capitalists and entrepreneurs in emerging fields. The firm is headquartered in northern California and has offices in technology hubs around the country.

Survey: McKee Nelson Best for Handling Layoffs

Erik Even — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:59:01 +0000

Out of 92 firms surveyed, McKee Nelson did the best job of handling layoffs this year.

According to The American Lawyer, the top five firms for appropriately and compassionately handling layoffs were McKee, Nutter McClennen, Michael Best, Stradley Ronon, and Patton Boggs.

Associates at the firms surveys rated their employer for how well they handled the layoffs, and how they communicated the news.

Those deemed the worst were Winston & Strawn, White & Case, Dewey & LeBoeuf, Shearman & Sterling, and Sutherland Asbill.

Survey: Slaughter & May Top UK Firm for Associate Satisfaction

Erik Even — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 16:30:38 +0000

A survey conducted by Legal Week says Slaughter and May has the most satisfied associates of any UK firm.

Legal Week Intelligence’s 2009 Employee Satisfaction Survey questioned more than 4,000 associates at the top 75 law firms in England and Wales, and at the top 10 US firms in London.

Slaughter operates on a bonus plan based on salary, without any billable hours targets. The firm paid out a firmwide bonus of 10% of base salary in November 2008.

Not a single Slaughter associate surveys is looking for another job; at Magic Circle firms, an average of 10% are looking for different work.

The other top firms were CMS Cameron McKenna, Dewey & LeBoeuf and Weil Gotshal & Manges.

McKool Smith Nabs 3 IP Lawyers from Dewey & LeBoeuf

Erik Even — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:18:59 +0000

Dallas, Texas-based law firm McKool Smith has nabbed three intellectual property lawyers away from Dewey & LeBoeuf.

Dewey IP litigation co-chair Dirk Thomas, partner Robert Auchter, and of counsel Jeffrey Frey joined McKool Smith as partners on July 1st. They are working out of Washington, DC, bringing the number of McKool Smith lawyers there to seven.

McKool Smith has offices in Dallas, Austin and Marshall, Texas; plus New York City and Washington DC.

Morning News Roundup for Thursday

Erik Even — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 12:00:50 +0000

Good morning! Here are the top stories:

DLA Piper confirms that it laid off 21 lawyers and 100 staff yesterday…

Dewey & LeBoeuf has lured away a team of top lawyers from Cooley Godward Kronish…

Chicago’s Baker & McKenzie has announced it is laying off 11% of its lawyers and staff in China…

Edwards Angell has hired on two private equity and venture capital partners…

Weil Gotshal is cutting the salaries of new associates at its London office…