Former Nixon Peabody partner, David Tamman, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles. The indictment is for ten counts for being involved in aiding a former client cover a securities fraud scheme that totaled over $20 million. A press released from the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California said that the charges against Tamman include obstruction of justice, conspiracy, and the alteration of records. The release also said that if convicted on all counts, Tamman would face a maximum sentence of 190 years in federal prison, according to the AmLaw Daily.

John Farahi, the client at the heart of the scheme, was also indicted by the same federal grand jury. He was indicted on 41 criminal counts. Those counts include mail fraud, loan fraud, aggravated identity theft and many more.

Farahi was able to defraud investors by making promises their money was being put toward the purchase of corporate bonds. He told clients those bonds were backed by the federal bank bailout program known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Farahi instead used the money to improve his Ponzi scheme and support the lavish lifestyle of his family.

Farahi’s company was investigated by the Securities and Exchange Commission, beginning in April of 2009. The company was named New Point Financial Services. When the investigation began, Farahi and Tamman attempted to hide the fraud scheme. In an effort to hide the scheme, documents were backdated and the removal of incriminating documents from client files before those files were submitted to the SEC. They were also charged with lying to SEC officials in a sworn testimony.

Tamman has already lost two jobs because of the alleged offenses and the SEC probe. Tamman was terminated by Nixon Peabody back in October of 2009 when “we learned that he was under SEC investigation and he failed to explain his actions to us,” as told to AmLaw Daily.

Nixon Peabody was sued by Tamman in October because he claims the company made him a scapegoat in the issue, taking almost $1.5 million of his business away from him. The lawsuit also claims that the company made it a point to pin the issue on him instead of their company.

Tamman previously worked at Liner, Grode, Stein, Yankelevitz, Sunshine, Regenstreif & Taylor. Tamman took New Point with him from his former employer to Nixon. There were quite a few other Nixon lawyers who also handled the Nixon account, as alleged in the Tamman lawsuit against Nixon. A response has yet to be filed by Nixon in response to the lawsuit.

Greenberg Traurig hired Tamman after he was relieved by Nixon Peabody, but that firm let him go in January when it found out about his alleged problems.

• Greenberg Traurig Removes David Tamman
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Greenberg Traurig P.A., an international law firm based out of Miami, received the honor of getting named “Corporate and Finance Law Firm of the Year” at the Third Annual Chamber Latin America Awards for Excellence. The ceremony, held in Miami beach, celebrated the achievements of business that deal with cross-culture business and law. The firm has seen recognition from the Latin America Awards for the past three years. These types of awards are some of the most prestigious in the country for law firms, especially if they can accumulate the awards multiple times. Being named winners of these awards can make it a little bit easier for the firms to acquire new clients and keep the ones already under contract.

Other awards that the Miami-based law firm saw recognition for includes the Corporate/M&A award in the International Counsel in the Latin American category. They ranked Band 2 in the 2012 Chambers Latin American Guide which is part of the Capital Markets Latin American-wide category. These awards, according to Chambers and Partners, “recognize the achievements of the region’s leading law firms, taking into account their involvement in the year’s most high-profile matters, success with new ventures, and market-wide acclaim from clients.” Chambers and Partners publish guides which rank law firms by conducting multiple interviews with the law firms and its clients.

Greenberg Traurig’s Latin American team practices law out of New York, Miami, Chicago, Los Angeles and Mexico City. Several of the firm’s attorneys live and practice in Latin America. They have years of experience practicing law in a multicultural setting. Other positions that these attorneys have held leading positions in industries such as banking, hospitality, energy and telecommunications. Greenberg Traurig recently opened up an office in Mexico city that will serve international clients who want to conduct business in Latin America.

Part of Greenberg Traurig’s success is due to the fact that the law firm holds offices in several different countries and represents clients both in the U.S. and abroad. The firm recognized the need for expansion to combat the fluctuating economies seen in America and European countries. Greenberg Traaurig advises foreign clients who have businesses and homes within the United States and works with those in the U.S. that have interests in other countries.

Other top law firms based out of Miami that were nominated for the award include Avila Rodriguez Hernandez Mena & Ferri LLP, Hogan Lovells; Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP and White & Case LLP.  Several finalists were selected in the Corporate/M&A  award in the International Counsel, in the Latin American category. The other finalists include Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and White & Case LLP.

• Former Nixon Peabody Employee Indicted
• Greenberg Traurig Opens Office in Mexico City
• Leading White-Collar Crime Defense Attorney Joins Venable LLP
• Former Co-Chair of Greenberg Traurig’s Energy and Natural Resources Joins Foley & Lardner’s LA Office
• Former Aide to Abramoff Must Pay Firm Millions in Restitution

International law firm Greenberg Traurig announced yesterday it will open an office in Mexico City. This office will make it the firm’s 33^rd, and will concentrate on providing legal services to international clients seeking to enter the Mexican and Latin American markets, and those having established businesses in the region.

Luis Rubio Barnetche will act as the managing shareholder of the office. He is the former managing partner at Rubio Villegas & Asociados, a well regarded Mexican law firm founded in 1966. 

By early 2012, the office is expected to have an estimated 20 attorneys; this team will possess a multitude of disciplines, and serve clients on a broad range of matters, including corporate/mergers and acquisitions, competition/antitrust, telecommunications, global trade and investment, civil and commercial litigation and arbitration and alternative dispute resolution, real estate and food and drug regulation.

Serving as a partner at Rubio Villegas & Asociados, Rubio established a broad practice representing domestic and international clients in complex corporate matters, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory proceedings, divestitures, joint ventures, international contracts and tax and international trade proceedings. He has provided representation for domestic and foreign corporations, trade associations, and the Mexican government in several international trade proceedings.

Rubio was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “I am excited to become part of Greenberg Traurig’s global platform. Given the symmetries in our experience, culture, areas of practice and clients, the new office is a positive new resource for our clients.”

Patricia Menéndez-Cambó, chair of the Global Practice Group was quoted as saying: “The addition of a Mexico City office is well aligned with Greenberg Traurig’s goals and platform in Latin America, which includes a focused emphasis by high-caliber attorneys on the regional and global needs of local and international clients. Greenberg Traurig is pleased to have Luis join us. We have a long history of working hand-in-hand with him in Latin America. We share a collaborative culture that will serve our mutual clients well as we continue to expand our services in the region.”

Richard A. Rosenbaum, Chief Executive Officer of Greenberg Traurig was quoted as saying: “We are one firm, balanced, stable, effective and collaborative, which deeply values its uniquely empowering, respectful and fair culture. Our intense focus on preserving those attributes while strengthening our unmatched US platform, our long standing and highly regarded practice in the Americas and our growing presence in the key business centers of Europe and Asia, has now led us into Mexico. With an emphasis on cross-border work, the attorneys in the new Mexico City office will play an integral role in Greenberg Traurig’s Latin America Practice, as well as the firm’s broader Global Practice. These are our friends who are already well known to our clients, with an established business base, and so this move is a natural evolution for us.”

International law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP has approximately 1,800 attorneys in over 30 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia.

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• Former Motion Pictures Associations of America IP Counsel Joins Greenberg Traurig
• Greenberg Traurig Honored at Chambers of Latin America Awards
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The law firm of Venable LLP announced in recent days that Jan L. Handzlik, who is recognized as one of the country’s leading white-collar crime defense lawyers, has joined the firm as a partner in its Los Angeles office in its national SEC/White-Collar Group.

Handzlik joins from Greenberg Traurig, where he was also a partner. He is a nationally recognized authority on financial frauds, securities enforcement, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and export control matters. He has represented a variety of companies and individuals in the full spectrum of white-collar criminal investigations and prosecutions, including matters regarding allegations of environmental crimes, antitrust violations, tax fraud, financial institution fraud and healthcare fraud, as well as foreign bribery, government contract and export control matters. In addition, he handles complex civil business litigation.

Handzlik also has significant experience with conducting corporate internal investigations, designing law-compliance programs and advising public companies on corporate governance, disclosure and reporting issues. As well, he is an experienced trial attorney, with almost 100 jury trials to verdict. He lectures widely on trial practice, professional ethics and business fraud, and he has also served as independent monitor of a publicly traded company’s compliance with the FCPA and U.S. securities laws.

Internationally, Handzlik often leads investigations into allegations of bribery of foreign officials, violations of the export control and foreign asset control laws, and anti-competition matters. On a worldwide basis, he also seeks the recovery of assets stemming from criminal activity. Handzlik deals with all aspects of white-collar crime matters, including internal investigations, grand jury and enforcement investigations, regulatory and parallel civil and administrative proceedings, and representation at trial and on appeal.

Handzlik has been recognized countless times, in all volumes of The Best Lawyers in America and in PLI’s The International Who’s Who of Business Crime Lawyers; Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers; Euromoney’s Guide to the World’s Leading Litigation Lawyers; Mondaq’s Guide to the World’s Leading White Collar Crime Advisors; Lawdragon’s Leading Lawyers in America; and in California Lawyer Magazine as one of California’s Leading Business Lawyers.

Handzlik is also a prominent member of the California Bar. He has served on several boards and investigative commissions. Notable assignments include serving as Counsel to the Independent Warren Christopher Commission and Deputy General Counsel to the Independent William Webster Commission in investigations of the Los Angeles Police Department; Deputy General Counsel to the Rampart Independent Review Panel’s investigation into police corruption and officer-involved shootings; and as a Member of the Rampart After-Action Assessment Panel. In addition, he is also active in pro bono matters in the Los Angeles community.

Venable’s Managing Partner, Karl Racine was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Jan is one of the country’s preeminent white collar defense attorneys, with an enviable trial experience and track record of winning successful outcomes for clients. Not only does he have a superb track record for his clients, but Jan is particularly adept at managing matters that involve intense media scrutiny and reputational risks for clients. Jan is well recognized for his dedication to the Bar, participating heavily in the ABA’s National White Collar Crime Committee, of which he is a former Chairman. We look forward to practicing alongside him and to benefitting from his knowledge and experience in complex criminal and civil litigation matters. It is an honor to welcome him to Venable.”

Handzlik was quoted as saying: “Venable has one of the nation’s leading litigation and business crime defense practices. Venable lawyers have extensive experience directing sensitive investigations, responding to enforcement actions, defending against criminal prosecutions and handling sophisticated civil litigation matters. I’ve known and worked with many of the firm’s highly respected lawyers for years, and am delighted to join the group.”

An American Lawyer Global 100 law firm, Venable LLP was founded in Baltimore in 1900. The firm has seven offices around the country and over 500 attorneys practicing in 70 plus practice and industry areas, including corporate and business law, complex litigation, intellectual property and regulatory and government affairs.

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• Prominent Advertising Attorney Joins Venable’s Los Angeles Office
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• Leading Patent Litigator Joins Sheppard Mullin as Co-Chair of IP Practice Group

This week, Foley & Lardner LLP announced Charles E. Schwenck joined as a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office. There, he will work with the Energy Practice Group and Energy Industry Team, as well as the Transactional & Securities and Finance & Financial Institutions Practices.

Prior to the move, Schwenck was a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig, LLP; there he served as co-chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Practice.

Schwenck has an impressive resume, with over 30 years of experience with energy, infrastructure and other commercial and industrial projects, in both domestic and international situations, to his credit. He has significant experience in the structuring, drafting and negotiating arrangements for the development, construction, financing, fuel and feedstock supply, product sales, ownership and operation of said projects. Additionally, Schwenck provides representation to developers of energy and water projects before federal and state regulatory agencies, to companies involved in mergers and acquisitions in the energy industry, and to lenders involved in the acquisition of portfolios of energy loans and leases, all on a regular basis.

Schwenck’s experience spans industries and disciplines; he has done work in project finance in  engineering and construction, traditional and alternative energy, mining, water supply and treatment, chemicals, transportation, and telecommunications. He has also testified before various Congressional committees and state legislative bodies on behalf of engineering, construction and electric power industries.

Schwenck also has significant experience in the alternative energy industry. This includes his representation in conjunction with the production of electricity from various alternative energy sources, the production of ethanol, biodiesel and other synthetic fuels from various feedstocks, among other areas.

Earlier in his career, Schwenck served in the roles of senior vice president, general counsel and a member of the board of directors of LG&E Power Systems, as well, he served as general counsel at Fluor Corporation and as division counsel for the Bechtel Group’s Power Division.

Steven Barth, co-chair of Foley’s Transactional & Securities Practice was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Charlie has an impressive track record of success representing various stakeholders in energy and infrastructure projects, both in the United States and throughout the world. As we continue to help clients navigate the various financial and regulatory issues that arise in energy-related projects, Charlie’s wide-ranging experience will be instrumental in further strengthening our transactional capabilities.”

Founded in 1842, Foley & Lardner LLP is a full service law firm with over 900 attorneys in 21 offices around the world.

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• Duane Morris Adds Pair of Attorneys on West Coast
• Leading White-Collar Crime Defense Attorney Joins Venable LLP
• Former Motion Pictures Associations of America IP Counsel Joins Greenberg Traurig

Scanlon, then a public affairs specialist, worked with now convicted felon and former lobbyist and Greenberg Traurig partner Jack Abramoff, on Native American casino issues. The pair stole nearly $20 million from certain Native American tribes. In February, Scanlon was sentenced to nearly two years in prison for his part in the scheme.

Many of the tribes have sued, or threatened to sue Greenberg Traurig for what the pair did.

The argument Stephen Braga of Ropes & Gray presented on behalf of Scanlon was that Greenberg Traurig knew about certain fees Scanlon was paying Abramoff.

Kevin Downey of Williams & Connolly has consistently fought Scanlon in court over the challenge to his making restitution.

• Morning Roundup
• Greenberg Traurig Opens Office in Mexico City
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• Former Motion Pictures Associations of America IP Counsel Joins Greenberg Traurig
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Since Howrey dissolved last week, its partners have been going to many different firms.  This Thursday, March 17, three more firms hired several former Howrey partners.

Morgan Lewis is getting Jason White, former IP litigation partner at Howrey, as well as commercial litigation partner, Romeo Quinto, Jr.  They will be joining 11 former Howrey lawyers that left to Morgan Lewis in February, including David Clough, in the firms Chicago office.  Quinto and White will also be joined by David Patariu, Mansi Shah, and Scott Sherwin, who were also formerly Howrey associates.  In all, 19 former Howrey lawyers have now gone to Morgan Lewis.  Clough also brought in two others with him to the firm: Scott Schutte, commercial litigator from Howrey and former head of class action practice Kenneth Kliebard.

Yet another four associates formerly from Howrey joined Morgan Lewis in Chicago: Kate Berezutskaya, Christopher Cabral, Gregory Fouts, Jayesh Hines-Shah, and Tedd Warden.

Scott Mendeloff and Gabriel Aizenberg, formerly litigation partners at Howrey, were hired by Greenberg Traurig in Chicago.  They had been part of Howrey since June 2008 after leaving Sidley Austin.

Another firm that got in on the action was Arnold & Porter, which hired another former Howrey litigation partner, Paul Alexander, in its Palo Alto office.

• Jones Day Adds Six Partners to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Offices
• McKool Smith Hires 5 Lawyers in New York City
• Morgan Lewis Adds Seasoned Attorney Margaret Gatti to Antitrust Practice
• Winston & Strawn Adds Prominent Litigation Attorney to London Office
• Jones Day Adds Two Partners to IP Practice in Irvine Office

Greenberg Traurig terminated a partner caught up in an SEC proceeding…

Kaye Scholer added a partner from Reed Smith…

Patton Boggs increased revenues and profits in 2010…

and DLA Piper is getting set to merge with its Australian partner, DLA Phillips Fox…

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Greenberg Traurig confirmed to The AM Law Daily that Tamman is no longer connected with the firm.  In a statement made to ALM the firm said ”David Tamman was terminated by the firm. The allegations in the SEC complaint, which he failed to disclose to us, allege conduct and actions which took place at a former firm and of which we were not aware.”

• Former Nixon Peabody Partner Sues Firm, Alleging He Was Made Scapegoat in SEC Investigation
• Former Nixon Peabody Employee Indicted
• DLA Piper Announces Launch of New International Securities Group, Along With New Partner
• Leading White-Collar Crime Defense Attorney Joins Venable LLP
• SEC Veteran Brigagliano Joins Sidley Austin

Greenberg Traurig announced that former Motion Pictures Associations of America IP Counsel Joseph Geisman joined its Intellectual Property and Technology Practice…

Prominent life sciences patent attorney Dr. Lauren L. Stevens joined Foley & Lardner…

Nixon Peabody expanded its presence in China through a new affiliation with Hong Kong firm Cheng Wong Lam & Partners…

• Prominent Life Sciences Patent Attorney Joins Foley & Lardner
• Former Motion Pictures Associations of America IP Counsel Joins Greenberg Traurig
• Morning Roundup
• Nixon Peabody Sets Up Shop in Hong Kong
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Prior to joining the firm, Geisman served as intellectual property counsel at the Motion Picture Associations of America, Inc. (MPAA) for the past three and a half years.

Geisman’s focuses his practice on copyright, trademark, right of publicity, entertainment, media, technology, Internet and First Amendment matters, including related litigation. He also counsels clients on the development, protection and prosecution of intellectual property rights, prosecutes trademark applications and manages intellectual property portfolios.

In the press release, Jeff Scott, co-managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Los Angeles office was quoted as saying: “Joe’s copyright and trademark experience, coupled with his recent position as a former in-house counsel, make him a great addition to our firm. His practice complements our firm’s media and entertainment transactional and litigation groups, as well as our trademark and brand management team.”

Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, full-service law firm with approximately 1800 attorneys serving clients from more than 30 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia.

• Morning Roundup
• Greenberg Traurig Opens Office in Mexico City
• Jones Day Adds Six Partners to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Offices
• Stroock & Stroock & Lavan Adds Two Partners
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Jones Day added three partners and three registered patent agents in Southern Calfornia…

Former Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski, George H. Lowe, joined Brown Rudnick…

Former Health Policy Director Mark Hayes joined Greenberg Traurig as a shareholder in the firm’s Washington, DC office…

• Jones Day Adds Three Partners and Three Registered Patent Agents in Southern Calfornia
• Former Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski Joins Brown Rudnick
• Former Health Policy Director Mark Hayes Joins Greenberg Traurig as Shareholder
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Prior to joining the firm, Hayes served as Health Policy Director and Chief Health Counsel for the Senate Finance Committee for Ranking Member Charles Grassley (R-IA).

In this role, he was responsible for leading the policy development, political strategy and legislative drafting for health care issues and negotiating with the White House, U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the House of Representatives.

Most significantly, Hayes served as principal negotiator for the “Group of Six” health care reform negotiations which led to the key coverage, delivery system and financing provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act which was signed into law on March 23, 2010.

He also served as principal negotiator for the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 and the Medicare Improvements of the Patients and Providers Act of 2008. In 2003, as Health Policy Advisor to the Chairman, Hayes was the principal staff person on the majority committee staff for the Medicare prescription drug benefit and Medicare Advantage elements of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act, which was signed into law on December 8, 2003.

Hayes is a pharmacist and a lawyer having earned his pharmacy degree at the University of Missouri in Kansas City and his J.D. from the Washington College of Law at American University.  In addition to his experience on the Hill, Hayes has also held the position of Assistant Director for Federal Government Affairs for Hoffman-La Roche. Hayes also worked for former U.S. Senator Jack Danforth as Vice President of St. Louis 2004, a non-profit organization dedicated to reviving the St. Louis region.

Nancy E. Taylor, co-chair of Health and FDA Business Practice was quoted as saying: “We are pleased to welcome Mark to our Washington D.C. office and the firm’s Health & FDA Business Practice. Mark’s vast experience in health care legislation and his knowledge of the crucial health care issues that affect our clients on a daily basis will make him an important asset to our team and clients as they address the regulatory requirements of the new health care law. We look forward to the contributions we know he will make.”

Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, full-service law firm with approximately 1,800 attorneys serving clients from more than 30 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia.

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• K&L Gates Opens Office in São Paulo, Brazil

DLA Piper announced Henry Koda and William L. Androlia joined the firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology (IPT) practice as Senior Counsel in Tokyo and Los Angeles…

Greenberg Traurig shareholder William R. Clayton was chosen for fellowship in the Litigation Counsel of America…

Sheppard Mullin added five attorneys to its Labor and Employment Practice group…

Six Jones Walker attorneys based in Louisiana have been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America 2011 as “Lawyers of the Year”…

Eight partners fromThompson Hine were named “Leading Lawyers” for 2010 by Inside Business Magazine…

Perkins Coie launched an investment management group in its Washington D.C. office…

• Sheppard Mullin Adds Five Attorneys to Labor and Employment Practice Group
• Thompson Hine Well-Represented in “Leading Lawyers” List
• Jones Walker Earns High Marks from ‘Best Lawyers’
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Greenberg Traurig

Clayton has been in the firm’s Fort Lauderdale office since 2004. A litigator, Clayton maintains a national civil trial practice that has tried more than 100 cases in state and federal courts. He concentrates his practice in the area of complex commercial litigation and is frequently retained as lead trial counsel by NYSE and NASDAQ companies.

He serves as co-chair of the real estate litigation practice group for the firm.

Fellowship in the LCA is by invitation only and is based on excellence and accomplishment in litigation and superior ethical reputation. The LCA anticipates that Florida’s LCA Fellow delegation will include approximately 189 lawyers, judges and/or law professors.

Greenberg Traurig has approximately 1,800 attorneys and more than 30 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia.

• Morning Roundup
• Winstead Names New Lateral Hiring Boss
• Former Nixon Peabody Employee Indicted
• Florida-based Greenberg Traurig Named Corporate and Finance Law Firm of the Year
• Greenberg Traurig Opens Office in Mexico City

Ballard Spahr will open its 13th office with the addition of a group of attorneys from the San Diego litigation boutique La Bella & McNamara LLP…

The partnerships at Squire Sanders & Dempsey and U.K-based Hammonds agreed to merge over the weekend…

Weitz & Luxenburg partner Robert J. Gordon was named the 2011 Mass Tort Litigator of the Year by legal publication Best Lawyers…

The partnership of Clifford Chance elected Malcolm Sweeting as the firm’s next senior partner…

The National Law Journal reported overall headcount at the nation’s 250 largest law firms fell for a second straight year…

Greenberg Traurig added six attorneys to its Orange County office, in its Real Estate, Real Estate Funds and REIT practices…

• Greenberg Traurig Expands Real Estate Practice in California
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• Squire Sanders, Hammonds Agree to Latest Transatlantic Merger
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• Ballard Spahr Plants Flag in San Diego

L. Bruce Fischer and Scott Morehouse have joined as shareholders, together with three associates and two other real estate professionals. All seven were previously at Morgan, Lewis and Bockius. A fourth associate with whom Fischer and Morehouse have worked over the years is expected to join the group later this month. Fischer will head the real estate group in Orange County.

Raymond Lee, managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Orange County office was quoted as saying: “We are excited to welcome Bruce and Scott and their entire group to our office. Greenberg Traurig offers the perfect nationwide real estate practice platform for high energy lawyers like Bruce and Scott to continue to grow their already thriving practices.”

The three associates are Howard Chu, Irene Kim, and Tatyana Litovsky, and the two real estate professionals are Elena Preciado and Sabrina Jacobs.

Fischer works with real estate funds and REITS and their advisors in connection with the purchase and sale and financing of commercial properties (including portfolio sales and acquisitions) throughout the United States, directly or through the formation of joint ventures with local operators and/or developers. Fischer also advises his clients with respect to the origination, purchase and restructuring of loans, including complex mezzanine loans, and also has experience in representing lenders and developers in affordable housing transactions, including affordable housing transactions involving Section 42 Tax Credits.

Morehouse represents real estate funds, REITS, pension funds, banks and other institutional clients in a wide variety of transactions involving the financing, acquisition, disposition, development, construction, and leasing of real property around the country. He also regularly counsels lenders and borrowers with respect to the origination, acquisition, sale, structuring, and restructuring of performing and non-performing loans.

The addition of Fischer and Morehouse continues Greenberg Traurig’s trend of purposeful expansion in California. The San Francisco office, its fifth in California, opened in February.

Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, full-service law firm with approximately 1,800 attorneys serving clients from more than 30 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia.

• Morning Roundup
• Greenberg Traurig Opens Office in Mexico City
• Former Motion Pictures Associations of America IP Counsel Joins Greenberg Traurig
• Greenberg Traurig Attorney to Lead Distressed Hotel Symposium
• Morning Roundup

Law Students at Wake Forest University in North Carolina delved into an investigation regarding a twice-convicted murderer in South Carolina…

Alston & Bird reached an agreement to expand its office in Atlanta’s One Atlantic Center…

Greenberg Traurig was honored at the Chambers of Latin America Awards…

High-profile South Florida attorney Henry “Hank” Adorno is facing disbarment after the Florida Supreme Court suspended him from practicing law Wednesday….

Mario Mancuso, former US Under Secretary of Commerce for Industry and Security and senior Pentagon official, has joined Fried Frank as a partner…

• Former US Under Secretary of Commerce Mario Mancuso Joins Fried Frank
• Greenberg Traurig Honored at Chambers of Latin America Awards
• Law Students Investigate Convicted Murderer’s Innocence Claims
• Alston & Bird Reshapes Atlanta Office Space
• Prominent South Florida Attorney ‘Hank’ Adorno Faces Disbarment

According to Chambers and Partners, the awards recognize “firms with outstanding performance over the last year.” Based in the UK, Chambers and Partners publishes guides in which attorneys and law firms are ranked based on thousands of interviews with practicing lawyers and with clients around the world.

“This recognition is particularly significant to us because client input is at the core of Chambers’ rankings and awards,” said Patricia Menendez-Cambo, chair of the firm’s 200-plus-member Global Practice Group.

Greenberg Traurig’s Latin America group includes assisting IBEX-listed Spanish companies with energy, telecom, media and infrastructure projects in the USA, Mexico, Brazil and the rest of Latin America. Greenberg Traurig’s Latin America team It includes attorneys that serve as chief legal officers and regional counsel for multinational companies in the telecom, banking, energy and hotel industries.

Greenberg Traurig, LLP, founded in Florida in 1967, is an international, full-service law firm with approximately 1,800 attorneys with more than 30 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia.

• Morning Roundup
• Greenberg Traurig Opens Office in Mexico City
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• White & Case Grows in Mexico
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Vinson & Elkins added a prominent international project finance lawyer in Abu Dhabi, and deepened its Middle East Practice with the addition of six associates…

The American Lawyer and Corporate Counsel will host a one-day summit in New York City Oct. 16 that will provide legal and regulatory analysis of the Asian market from top tier law firms…

Patent litigation attorneys Vernon M. Winters and Nicholas A. Brown joined the San Francisco office of Greenberg Traurig from Weil, Gotshal & Manges…

Vinson & Elkins added prominent IP lawyer Ira Schreger as partner…

Plaintiff’s litigation firm Weitz & Luxenberg, P.C. expanded its national presence with the opening of a new office in Los Angeles…

Wasserman, Comden, Casselman & Esensten opened an office in Tel Aviv, Israel…

Jones Walker was recognized as a leading litigation firm in Louisiana in the 2011 edition of Benchmark Litigation…

• Vinson & Elkins Adds Prominent International Project Finance Lawyer In Abu Dhabi, and Deepens Middle East Practice With Addition of Six Associates
• Vinson & Elkins Adds Prominent IP Lawyer as Partner
• ALM To Conduct a ‘Focus Asia’ Summit in New York City
• Wasserman Comden Opens Office in Tel Aviv
• King & Spalding Announces Plans to Open Office in Moscow; Hires Five Attorneys

Greenberg Traurig has five offices in California. Its IP & technology practice is comprised of nearly 200 lawyers—more than half of which are patent attorneys–across 32 offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

Winters has a national practice focusing on patent litigation and patent license litigation, in areas ranging from biopharma to computers and networks. He has acted as lead trial counsel in numerous matters, representing some of the most innovative companies in the bio- and high-technology sectors.

Brown has extensive high stakes patent litigation experience for a wide range of technology companies, as well as experience in general IP litigation and strategy. He has also been recognized by Chambers USA for his work on complex cases.

“We are exhilarated to have patent attorneys the caliber of Vern and Nick as the anchors for our San Francisco patent litigation practice. I have worked with both for many years and could not be more delighted to be reunited in a professional capacity,” said Ken Steinthal, managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s San Francisco office.

Greenberg Traurig has more than 1,800 attorneys practicing around the world.

• Morning Roundup
• Kasowitz Adds Team of Six Attorneys from Sutherland to IP Practice
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• Leading Patent Litigator Joins Sheppard Mullin as Co-Chair of IP Practice Group
• Perkins Coie Announces Opening of New Office in Taipei, Taiwan

UK-based Simmons & Simmons, which cut off merger talks with U.S.-based Mayer Brown this summer, is still considering entering the U.S. market through a merger with a U.S. firm…

The partnership of Jones Walker re-elected William H. Hines as managing partner of the firm…

Schiff Hardin added three attorneys to its environmental practice…

Tracy E. Miller, a prominent health care lawyer, joined Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP…

Greenberg Traurig Attorney Nelson Migdal will lead distressed hotel symposium…

Eversheds was named Europe’s ‘Most Innovative’ law firm…

• Schiff Hardin Adds Three Attorneys to Environmental Group
• Prominent Healthcare Attorney Joins Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft
• Simmons & Simmons Keeping Eye on U.S. Market
• Jones Walker Re-Elects William H. Hines as Managing Partner
• Greenberg Traurig Attorney to Lead Distressed Hotel Symposium

Greenberg Traurig

Migdal, a shareholder in Greenberg Traurig’s Washington, D.C. office, will lead a panel of investors and owners in a discussion on the latest trends and demographics for repositioning and other adaptive reuse possibilities. Migdal has focused on the hospitality industry for more than 25 years and is an avid speaker and author on industry best practices.

Greenberg Traurig is a regular sponsor of real-estate industry and investment conferences. The firm has approximately 1,800 attorneys serving clients in more than 30 offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

More information on the conference can be found here.

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Jones Day said Monday will an office in São Paulo, Brazil…

Cravath Swaine & Moore litigation partner Katherine B. Forrest will leave the firm to serve the U.S. Department of Justice…

Ian Ballon, a shareholder in the Silicon Valley and Los Angeles offices of Greenberg Traurig, received a 2010 IP Vanguard Award…

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According to a Greenberg Traurig press release, Ballon is the only private-practice attorney to receive the award. It will be presented at a luncheon on Oct. 29 at the 35th annual Intellectual Property Institute in Napa, Calif.

Ballon represents technology, media and entertainment companies in complex intellectual property and Internet litigation, including copyright, trademark, trade secret, privacy and security, computer law, class action, Internet, and Web 2.0 cases.

Ballon is also the author of the four-volume legal treatise, E-Commerce and Internet Law: Treatise with Forms 2d Edition, which is considered a leading reference work in the field. He is also executive director of Stanford University Law School’s Center for E-Commerce.

Greenberg Traurig is an international law firm with approximately 1,800 attorneys and more than 30 offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

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White & Case promoted 35 attorneys from around the world to its partnership…

DLA Piper snagged a co-managing shareholder from Greenberg Traurig…

Thompson Hine partner Kip T. Bollin was installed as president of the Northern District of Ohio Chapter of the Federal Bar Association…

Nixon Peabody’s senior strategic policy advisor Thomas Reynolds, a former U.S. Congressman from New York, was appointed head of the firm’s government relations and public policy practice…

Peter B. Pope, a former head of New York State Attorney General Office’s Criminal Division, joined Jenner & Block’s New York office as a partner…

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DLA Piper

Houle represents middle market and Fortune 500 companies on merger and acquisition and financing transactions in a wide variety of industries impacted by government policy and regulation, including government and defense contractors, energy, technology, mining and mineral extraction, telecommunications, financial services, and manufacturing.

“Jeff is a nationally recognized, seasoned practitioner with a deep pool of contacts and client relationships within the government services and defense contractor areas,” said Jay Smith, co-chair of DLA Piper’s Corporate and Finance practice. “DLA Piper’s global platform is a good match for Jeff’s practice, and his arrival will undoubtedly bolster our already strong corporate group in the US and internationally.”

Houle has served on the board of directors and advisory boards of numerous companies, private equity funds and investment banking firms, as well as the Washington D.C. Technology Council.

DLA Piper has 3,500 attorneys in 30 countries and 69 offices throughout the US, UK, Continental Europe, Middle East and Asia.

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• Former Health Policy Director Mark Hayes Joins Greenberg Traurig as Shareholder

Bernstein Liebhard was named to the National Law Journal’s Plaintiffs’ Hot List for the eighth consecutive year…

Greenberg Traurig’s Galli will lead the Urban Land Institute Panel in Washington, D.C., on October 13-15…

Duane Morris is set to announce its joint venture with a leading Singapore firm Arfat Selvam Alliance…

Lemon law firm Kimmel & Silverman began offering services in four additional states…

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• Greenberg Traurig’s Galli Leads Urban Land Institute Panel
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Galli has represented clients on real estate transactions, restructurings and developments for mixed use, office, retail, stadium, industrial, multi family, single family community, undeveloped land and other types of properties located throughout the country. 

In promoting the event, Greenberg Traurig said in a press release that it has represented clients on four out of the last five commercial real estate loan portfolio deals done by the FDIC totaling more than $3 billion.

The Urban Land Institute was founded in 1936 and has members in 95 countries worldwide. The organization represents the entire spectrum of land use and real estate development disciplines working in private enterprise and public service.

Greenberg Traurig is an international firm with approximately 1,800 attorneys in 30 offices throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.

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Orrick and Akin Gump began merger talks…

Greenberg Traurig added two attorneys to its Corporate and Securities practice…

The Florida Supreme Court declined U.S. Rep Alan Grayson’s request to halt the foreclosures being handled by three South Florida law firms under investigation…

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Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Brunjes joins in the Boston and New York offices as shareholder, and Garver in the New York office as of counsel, where they will add to the firm’s growing Private Investment Funds group.

Prior to joining Greenberg Traurig, Brunjes and Garver were at Bracewell & Giuliani in its Connecticut office where Brunjes, a partner, was a member of Private Investment Funds Group, and head of the Fund Formation practice. Garver was a member of the Private Investment Funds and Corporate and Securities Groups.

In today’s press release at the firm’s site, Michael Lehr, Regional Operating Shareholder was quoted as saying: “The addition of Brunjes and Garver will increase our presence in the hedge fund and private equity fund legal arena, especially in the New York to Boston geographic region. Their experience in fund formation and investment advisory matters will nicely compliment our existing capabilities in those areas.

Brunjes’ practice focuses on advising managers and sponsors in hedge fund, private equity, and venture capital fund formation as well as operational and compliance issues, with particular emphasis on structuring private domestic and offshore capital pools.

Garver represents financial institutions in a variety of transactional and regulatory matters with a focus on investment advisers, hedge funds and other private investment funds.

Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, full-service law firm with approximately 1800 attorneys serving clients from more than 30 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia.

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Dinsmore & Shohl welcomed former Deputy General Counsel for EPA…

A former Kennedy Chief of Staff Returned to WilmerHale…

A Thompson Hine Partner was reappointed to the Cincinnati State Technical and Community College board of trustees…

A Greenberg Traurig partner was named co-chair of the ABA Committee…

Cadwalader announced the launch of the Cadwalader International Law and Litigation Center…

48 Winstead PC Attorneys were selected as Texas Super Lawyers…

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Nelson is office chair of the firm’s labor and employment practice in Sacramento. He is an elected Fellow of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel, and will be inducted as an elected Fellow of The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers in November 2010. He is also an editor of the Employee Benefits Committee Newsletter for the ABA’s Labor and Employment Section, and author of “Health and Welfare Benefit Plans: A Legal Guide to Planning and Management.”

Greenberg Traurig’s Global Labor and Employment Practice consists of over 100 lawyers in the United States and abroad who provide practical workplace strategies, counseling, technical assistance, and litigation services to clients in a wide range of industries.

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• Greenberg Traurig Partner Named ABA Committee Co-Chair
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• The John Marshall Law School Launches New Law School in Savannah

Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote was ranked among the top firms in Pittsburgh by U.S. News & World Report…

The Latin Builders Association (LBA) named international law firm Greenberg Traurig its 2010 “Law Firm of the Year”…

Sidley Austin topped all law firms in the inaugural U.S. News “Best Law Firms Survey”…

DLA Piper added two attorneys to its San Francisco office…

Sidley Austin named former Clifford Chance partner co-head of its capital markets group in London…

U.S. News Media Group and Best Lawyers released the 2010 Best Law Firms Rankings…

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Awards were based on nominations made by fellow LBA members and voted on by 750 member companies. Greenberg Traurig  Iris Escarra and associate Mario Garcia-Serra, both members of the firm’s Environmental and Land Development practice in Miami, accepted the award on behalf of the firm at the LBA 30^th Annual Awards Dinner.

The event was attended by 700 guests on Sept. 11 at the Hyatt Regency Miami. The LBA award comes of on the heels of the firm receiving the USA Award for Excellence in Real Estate at the Chambers and Partners USA 2010: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business awards ceremony in New York City in June. Greenberg Traurig’s environmental, land development and real estate practices, have a combined total of more than 200 attorneys firm-wide.

“It is a great honor to be recognized for our day-to-day efforts to work with our community to make South Florida an increasingly better place to live and work,” said Greenberg Traurig President Mattew B. Gorson. “We share the LBA’s commitment to South Florida’s vibrant construction industry, as we provide multidisciplinary legal services important to its development.”

Greenberg Traurig has more than 1,800 attorneys serving clients from more than 30 offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

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