The Vancouver-based company has said on Thursday that it plans to sell its assets to Eurasian Natural Resource Corp. (ENRC) in a new deal that is expected to close by the end of February. The ENRC, which is a London-based miner, is acquiring the First Quantum’s state in the Kolwezi Tailings project and other mines that are also located in the Congo’s Katanga Province, for a starting payment of $750 million and a deferred payment of $500 million over the next three years, all of this is according to their announcement.

The deal’s closing is subject to what the announcement stamped as ”any required third-party consents and approvals.” It is also a contingent on the settlement of the two international arbitration that is related to the Congolese government’s 2009 cancellation of the First Quantum’s mining permits and their seizure of the mine.

It was reported last July that the legal battle over the mines began with First Quantum filing a domestic claim against the Congolese government back in 2010 seeking to reverse the mining permit decision. The government won that round, with the local appeals court eventually giving a $12 billion judgment against First Quantum for damaging the Congo’s reputation with its suit.
First Quantum countered them by suing the Congolese government international court over in Paris in the same year, saying that the $12 billion judgment was retaliatory. Meanwhile, First Quantum was also fighting the cancellation of the permits via a second arbitration case at the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes in Washington D.C.

Under the terms and the agreement the were announced on Thursday, the arbitration cases that were between First Quantum and the Congolese government are expected to be settled. According to the deal announcement, First Quatum also expects to settle their lawsuit with the Highwinds Group, which is an ENRC subsidiary, which started back in 2009 after ENRC took control of the mines in Congo in question by purchasing a majority state from the Congo’s government through Highwinds. It was reported back in September that a court in the British Virgin Islands, where First Quantum has filed its claims against Highwinds, had denied ENRC’s motion to completely dismiss the case and upheld First Quantum’s claim for $2 billion in damages.

Jones Day is now advising ENRC in connection with the agreement. The firm’s London-based team is led by capital markets partner Vica Irani and includes the business restructuring partner Sion Richards, the financial institutions litigation partner Harriett Territt, the tax partner Blaise Marin-Curtoud, and the international litigation partners Lee Coffey and Nicholas Cotter.

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Baker Botts, a leader in the IP practice area in the United States, announced in recent days that Neil Coulson has joined the firm’s London office as special counsel in the IP practice.

Coulson has an established intellectual property practice which covers all aspects of IP dispute resolution and the exploitation of IP rights.

The addition of Coulson reflects the firm’s continuing international expansion of its IP practice. In 2010, Baker Botts added IP capabilities in its Moscow office by hiring Russian lawyer Ekaterina Tilling to manage a growing group of intellectual property lawyers in that office.

Baker Botts IP Department Chair Bart Showalter was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Neil’s practice is a perfect fit for us, not only in London but across all our offices. Client requests for strong legal counsel on complex IP issues in Europe and other international venues match Neil’s extensive experience in this key practice area.”

Coulson has provided counsel for clients in a broad range of industry sectors and technologies, including oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, industrial machinery and heavy engineering, agrochemicals, electronics, IT/software and environmental engineering. He has also represented clients in the Patent Court and the Court of Appeal, and in matters before the U.K. and European Patent offices.

Tony Higginson, Partner in Charge of the firm’s London office was quoted as saying: “During the past few months, we have added lawyers in London who are well-versed in major practice areas where there is increased client demand for our services. Neil follows our recent hiring of Neil Foster and the return of Mark Rowley, and we will continue to strengthen our team here to meet clients’ needs.”

Coulson was employed by Jones Day in London prior to joining Baker Botts. He was recommended for patent litigation in Chambers UK and Legal 500.

Coulson is a graduate of St. Peter’s College, Oxford University, and he received a diploma in Intellectual Property Law and Practice from Bristol University and diplomas in Legal Practice (with commendation) and Law from the College of Law. He is also a member of the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys, the Institute of Trademark Attorneys and the International Trademark Association.

Bart Showalter’s practice includes all aspects of intellectual property law, with a special emphasis on patent litigation, procurement and licensing in the electronics, telecommunications and software fields. He provides strategic counsel to clients in a wide variety of areas, including those developing innovative computer software, semiconductor devices, optical systems, and data networks. He has litigated patent infringement cases involving landline and cellular telecommunications technology, video conferencing, interactive television, voice messaging and a number of other fields. He also provides general counseling on intellectual property issues.

International law firm Baker Botts has more than 725 lawyers and a network of 13 offices around the world. The firm is recognized as a leader in the energy, technology and life sciences sectors. Throughout the firm’s 170-year history, it has provided creative and effective legal solutions for clients while demonstrating an unrelenting commitment to excellence.

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In recent days, law firm K&L Gates added attorneys to both its Dallas and Spokane offices.

In Dallas, Jason D. Krieser and Shawn C. Helms join as partners in the firm’s outsourcing and commercial transactions practice. Both join K&L Gates from Jones Day.

Krieser is internationally recognized for his work on business process and information technology outsourcing transactions, particularly offshore outsourcing. He has represented some of the most prominent financial services, energy, communications, transportation, technology, and manufacturing companies on complex licensing and services arrangements, cloud computing matters, and joint ventures, as well as privacy and data security issues.

Helms focuses on complex transactions involving technology and intellectual property, with broad experience in the areas of information technology, telecommunications, and outsourcing. As a leader in the technology and outsourcing fields, he has written numerous articles on technology law and related topics. Previously, he served as in-house counsel at Sprint Corporation.

Craig Budner, Administrative Partner of K&L Gates’ Dallas office was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Jason and Shawn are energizing additions to our outsourcing and technology practices and add strength to our industry-leading capabilities in these areas. We are thrilled that they chose to join K&L Gates.”

Krieser and Helms recently co-authored a legal treatise on outsourcing law titled “Outsourcing: Law and Business” (Law Journal Press).

In K&L Gates Spokane office, Christian M. Lucky joins as a corporate partner. Lucky joins from the office of Stoel Rives LLP.

Lucky has experience in such areas as corporation and project finance, mergers and acquisitions, securities regulation, and project development. He is a corporate transactional lawyer with a wide-ranging practice, and He represents a broad array of domestic and international clients, publicly-traded and private, in the financial services, venture capital, energy development, clean technology, and food production sectors, among others.

Philip J. Carstens, Administrative Partner of K&L Gates’ Spokane office was quoted as saying: “We are excited to have Christian join K&L Gates and believe that his background in corporate finance will be of much benefit to the firm’s clients both regionally and internationally.”

Global law firm K&L Gates has over 2,000 attorneys in 39 offices located in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East. The firm counts as clients numerous GLOBAL 500, FORTUNE 100, and FTSE 100 corporations, as well as growth and middle market companies, entrepreneurs, capital market participants and public sector entities.

The firm’s delivery of legal services is supported at both the individual office level and through seven firmwide practice areas: Corporate and Transactional; Energy, Infrastructure and Resources; Financial Services; Intellectual Property; Litigation and Dispute Resolution; Real Estate; and Regulatory and Policy. Within each of these practice areas are subject matter and industry-based practice groups.

In 2009 and 2010, the firm’s revenues exceeded $1 Billion. According to the July 2010 issue of the UK publication Legal Business, the firm “has further cemented its position as the Global 100’s fastest growing firm.”

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Global law firm Jones Day announced in recent days it has added three attorneys to its Boston and New York offices.

M&A attorney David Brewster joins the Firm’s Boston Office as a partner. Alice Yurke and Jonathan Ching join the firm’s New York office in the Banking & Finance Practice; Yurke as partner and Ching as counsel.

Brewster joins the firm from Skadden’s Boston office, where he was a partner, and where he worked for over 25 years.

Brewster’s experience includes advising a wide range of companies on corporate and transactional matters. He has also represented clients ranging from large publicly traded corporations to middle market private companies in connection with mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, restructurings, corporate finance, takeover preparedness, corporate governance, and general corporate counseling. He has provided counsel in the areas of high tech products and services, biotech and other life sciences, financial services, reinsurance, retail, and manufacturing.

Brewster is an active member of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and The Boston Lawyers Group.

Traci Lovitt, Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day’s Boston Office was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “David is a terrific M&A lawyer with significant experience in complex transactional matters. His joining the Boston Office immediately places Jones Day among the leaders of Boston M&A and moves us closer to our goal of creating a full-service office locally, while introducing Boston-area companies to Jones Day’s global capabilities. From his deep roots in the Boston area and the breadth and depth of his M&A experience here, David has a well-developed sense of what it takes to service M&A clients in this region. We share David’s vision and are delighted he has chosen to execute it with Jones Day.”

Bob Profusek, leader of Jones Day’s global M&A Practice was quoted as saying: “David’s significant experience in a wide range of industries and transaction types is obviously a coup vis-à-vis the New England market, but will also add significantly to our ability to serve clients throughout the world. His addition gives us added depth on a number of transactional fronts.”

Alice Yurke joins from Ashurst LLP; there she was a partner in the Finance Practice. Jonathan Ching joins from a global investment firm; there he served as a vice president and counsel.

Mark Sisitsky, co-leader of Jones Day’s Banking & Finance Practice was quoted as saying: “We are pleased to welcome Alice and Jonathan to the Firm. Their substantial experience in financial products and related regulatory issues will enhance our structured finance and derivatives practice and will be of great value to our clients as they face both challenging new regulations and changing financial markets.”

Yurke concentrates her practice on structured products, including equity-, credit-, hedge fund- and commodity-linked structures in both U.S. and offshore markets. She has significant experience advising financial institutions in structuring products for hedging, arbitrage, balance sheet management, and liquidity purposes across a variety of sectors. She regularly advises clients on products involving principal protection; as well, she has is knowledgeable in the area of bank lending, and advises clients on regulatory concerns including risk-based capital, bankruptcy and workout issues, as they relate to derivatives and loan transactions.

Ching concentrates his practice on structured products and their applications in trading and capital markets. He has managed a variety of transactions regarding product structuring, valuation, and margin arrangements; insolvency issues; and trade unwinds. He has significant experience in negotiating documentation for transactions. He also has a great deal of experience working with U.S., U.K., and European Union regulators, and industry groups relating to the regulation of OTC derivatives.

Willis Goldsmith, Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day’s New York Office was quoted as saying: “Alice and Jonathan are great additions to the Firm and our Banking & Finance team.  Their significant experience in complex structured finance transactions adds even more capacity to serve our clients not only here in New York, but also around the world.”

Global law firm Jones Day employs over 2,500 attorneys and provides significant legal representation for more than half of the Fortune Global 500 companies.

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The international law firm of Jones Day recently announced that Paul Exley and John Ahern have joined the London office as partners.

Exley joins the firm’s Energy Practice, and Ahern joins the Financial Institutions Litigation & Regulation Practice.

Prior to joining Jones Day, Exley practiced at Simmons and Simmons. A corporate lawyer concentrating on cross border mergers and acquisitions in the energy sector, he has significant experience in oil and gas deals; that experience includes advising on several international refinery transactions.

Exley was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Energy is a global business and I am very excited to join a Firm with a truly global energy practice. Jones Day has top quality transactional energy lawyers in the U.S., Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Russia, and Latin America, making it the ideal platform for me. I am very much looking forward to complementing the existing team and being integral to the continued growth and success of the energy practice.”

John Ahern joins the firm from Addleshaw Goodard. He possesses niche experience in the financial services industry in the U.K., the Middle East, and Asia. Prior to joining Jones Day, Ahern worked in-house at Merrill Lynch for eight years, as well, he practiced at Clifford Chance. A leader in financial services regulation in the U.K., Ahern provides counsel on a number of regulatory issues across the sector, focusing on securities sales and trading, clearing and settlement, global custody, and bank prudential regulation.

Ahern was quoted as saying: “I am excited to be joining Jones Day particularly during this period of growth in London. The practice is a real force with banking, regulatory, and litigation lawyers working together to service financial institutions.”

London Partner-in-Charge John Phillips was quoted as saying: “These are significant hires in important practices and are a continuation in our concerted growth strategy in London. There will be more to come as we build further on our resources in the London market.”

Phillips has significant mergers and acquisitions experience which includes public bids, private trade sales, and private equity investments, with a particular emphasis on cross-border transactions. In addition, he has advised on a number of initial public offerings, rights issues, placings, and other equity issues. As Partner-in-Charge of the London office, he the Firm’s U.K. M&A practice.

A global law firm, Jones Day is ranked among the world’s best and most integrated law firms, as well as being ranked consistnetly among the best in client service. The firm serves as principal outside counsel to, or provides significant legal representation for, over half of the Fortune Global 500 companies.

Founded in Cleveland, Ohio in 1893, Jones Day is the eighth largest law firm in the world according to revenue, and employs over 2,500 attorneys, including more than 400 lawyers in Europe and 200 lawyers in Asia.

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Law firm Jones Day announced recently that both Martha Gooding and Michael Stimson have joined as partners in its Intellectual Property Practice, in the Irvine Office.

Both join from Howrey, where they were members of the firm’s IP Group.

Joe Sims, the Jones Day partner responsible for coordinating the Firm’s activities in California was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Martha and Michael are experienced IP litigators who provide even deeper strength for our firm in the California region. Together with the addition earlier this year of Bill Rooklidge and Frank Cote as IP partners in Irvine – both of whom were formerly partners in Howrey’s Irvine office – Jones Day now has 64 attorneys in our IP Practice in California and 266 attorneys in the group worldwide. This is one of the largest and most experienced, full-service global IP practice groups at any law firm in the world.”

Martha Gooding has nearly 30 years of experience representing clients in a wide range of complex disputes, including patent infringement and trade secret misappropriation litigation. An experienced litigator, she has tried cases in federal and state courts. In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of the California Bar Foundation, she formerly served as President of both the Federal Bar Association of Orange County and the Association of Business Trial Lawyers of Orange County. She is also a former member of the ABA House of Delegates, and a former co-chair of the Federal Practice Task Force of the ABA Litigation Section.

The numerous awards she has received include being named a Southern California Super Lawyer, being selected for the Daily Journal’s Top Women Litigators list and the Best Lawyers in America list, and receiving the 2009 ADL Marcus Kaufman Jurisprudence Award. She received her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, School of Law.

Michael Stimson, Ph.D., focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation and appeals and reexaminations, appeals, and patent interference proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. His litigation experience includes trade secret and patent trials and arbitrations, and appellate experience including appeals to the Courts of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and Ninth Circuit. Stimson has been the successful leader of several high stakes intellectual property litigation teams. He has handled cases regarding a broad range of technologies including hard disk drives, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, polymer chemistry, cement chemistry, and computer telephony. He received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.

Founded in 1893, Jones Day is an international law firm with over 2,500 lawyers. The firm acts as principal outside counsel to, or provides significant legal representation for, more than half of the Fortune Global 500 companies. It is also the eighth largest law firm in the world by revenue, and the fourth highest grossing firm in the United States. In California alone, Jones Day has over 320 lawyers in its San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Irvine, and San Diego offices.

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As Jones Day is continuing to grow in Boston, in a bid to maintain its financial and transactional depth to its full capabilities, it has hired a new banking and finance partner, Susan E. Siebert. Siebert has been with Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge LLP as a co-chair so far and has now joined a global group has more than 2,500 lawyers across the world. To find out the details revealed by the partner-in-charge of Jones Day’s Boston office, Traci Lovitt, please visit Boston Business Journal.

Read the full article here:
Jones Day adds new Boston partner

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Jones Day

In the press release at the firm’s website, Chris Lovrien, Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day’s Los Angeles Office was quoted as saying: “This group not only brings substantial depth to two very important and already strong practices at Jones Day, it is an indication of the continued growth plans we have in Los Angeles and throughout the state.”

Dave Steuber was the Chair of Howrey’s Insurance Recovery practice, and is a recognized leader in his field.

Formerly the Southern California co-managing partner for Howrey and co-chair of its Insurance Recovery practice, Ty Childress focuses his practice on complex business and tort litigation, insurance coverage advice, and related coverage litigation.

Amy Fink focuses her practice on general and complex litigation and insurance coverage advice.

David Meyer’s practice focuses on antitrust, commercial litigation, and appeals.

Greg Shumaker, Partner-in-Charge of Jones Day’s Washington Office was quoted as saying: “John and Susan add great depth to our trademark, copyright, and false advertising capabilities in Washington and their experience will help us deliver better service to our clients. Their arrival enhances our worldwide intellectual property practice, which includes nearly 300 lawyers and allows us to handle virtually any IP issue our clients might have.”

John Froemming is a trial lawyer with over twenty years of experience in commercial and intellectual property litigation.

With fifteen plus years of experience in intellectual property litigation and counseling, trademark, copyright, and false advertising, Susan Kayser has been nationally recognized in her field.

Jones Day is a global law firm providing significant legal representation for more than half of the Fortune Global 500 companies.

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The lights haven’t gone out yet, but recent reports indicate that there is a rather rotund woman warming up her vocal chords.  Morrison & Foerster also picked up a Howrey attorney yesterday, and in the last several days Paul Hastings, Sheppard Mullin and Kirkland & Ellis have all been destination firms for Howrey lawyers making a clean escape.

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Co-leader of Jones Day’s Banking & Finance Practice, Mark Sisitsky, said that he is excited to work with the three latest partners. He added that the broad experience of the three in Banking & Finance Practice will further strengthen the firm’s global presence. “These three exceptional lawyers are timely and welcome additions to the Firm. The arrival of Michael and Mitch will add strength to our ongoing efforts to help clients respond to challenging new financial regulations. Olga is a valuable addition to our Private Equity Practice. Her cross-border experience will deepen our strong global capabilities for clients’ growing needs internationally.”

Butowsky, from Boston University, and Gibbons, from New York University, will both focus on advising various investment advisers, broker-dealers, and investment funds such as registered funds, hedge funds, and private equity funds, regarding organizational, compliance, regulatory, and transactional matters. Loy, from University of Illinois, will work on tax planning and regulatory and compliance matters related to private equity funds that includes and tax advice to fund principals and management teams.

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As flood waters rise, the “Big 6″ law firms in Australia are evacuating their offices in Brisbane…

Robins Kaplan is expanding its IP practice with the help of a lateral from Stroock & Stroock…

Jones Day is partnering with a local firm to expand operations in Saudi Arabia…

and Howrey has lost another partner in London…

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Mary Ellen Powers, Jones Day’s partner-in-charge of Jones Day for Europe and Middle East practice, explained that the expansion plan is attributed to the booming economy of Saudi Arabia over the past few years. Powers reiterated that two decades ago Jones Day only operated a small office in Saudi Arabia. Now, the firm wants to spread out its operations and strengthen its presence in the Middle East legal market. “The economy has changed dramatically in Saudi Arabia since then. The Saudi government has worked hard over the last several years to successfully expand the economy, so it’s no longer dependant on the oil industry. Many segments of the economy have also been privatized, so the portion of The Kingdom’s [gross domestic product] that is in the private sector has increased, changing the nature of the legal opportunities there.”

Arman Galledari, project finance partner, added that the Saudi Arabia has become an attractive country for many international law firms in the recent years due to its strong economy and active legal market. “No international firm’s Middle East practice can ignore Saudi Arabia; it’s such a big engine in the region. A great deal of the work that most law firms do, including ourselves, revolves around Saudi Arabia.” Gallederi added that Jones Day plans to increase its manpower and add more practices soon. “Jones Day hopes to have about 25 lawyers working full-time for the firm in the Middle East. The firm now has eight lawyers working out of Dubai and plans on increasing to the “low teens as rapidly as we can” if he can find the right hires. Besides energy and project finance, M&A is becoming a more important practice area in the region, and will be a major focus for the firm.”

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GreenbergTraurig picked up a lateral from Locke Lord in Phoenix…

Barnes & Thornburg promoted a new partner…

Jones Day is holding firm on its policy of not paying year end bonuses…

And Brownstein Hyatt has a new COO…

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Joe Sims, a Jones Day partner, said in an email that Jones Day will not bow to industry pressure by providing bonuses. He explained that the associates at their firm are rewarded in different ways. “We don’t do bonuses. We did away with that several years ago. Most bonuses are tied to hours billed, which creates an artificial incentive-artificial in the sense it is separate from any particular client needs-to bill hours. We compensate our associates based on their overall contribution in all the aspects of their work, just as we do our partners.” Sims added that although Jones Day does not give bonuses, the firm provides merit raises to its associates.

Recently, other law firms such as Boies Schiller, Susman Godfrey, Quinn, Emanuel, Urquhart & Sullivan, Cahill Gordon & Reindell and Cravath, Swaine & Moore announced their year end bonuses. The bonuses in most firms range from $7,500 to $35,000. However, Boeis has moved well ahead with its $75,000 to over $200,000 bonus to its associates. Sims explained that even though Jones Day does not give out bonuses, their associates stay with the firm because it’s still making partners. In fact, Jones Day recently announced that the firm has 36 new partners in its various practices such as antitrust, trial practice, bankruptcy, merger and acquisitions–and even a couple or so in real estate.

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King & Spalding is expanding its government investigations practice in California…

Jones Day has a new Partner In Charge of its Dallas office…

Fulbright & Jaworski is relocating its Austin office…

Covington & Burling picked up a former Bush appointee…

Quinn Emanuel announced its new partnership class…

And Cleary Gottlieb has a new managing partner…

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Stephen J. Brogan, managing partner of Jones Day, said that Villareal’s expertise will further enhance the firm’s performance in Dallas. “Pat has a long list of accomplishments with both Texas and international clients, and is not only known for being an outstanding lawyer, but also for being a strong leader within our Firm. The Dallas Office will benefit greatly from her experience, her legal knowledge, and from her experience with so many high-level matters that involve Texas companies.”

Villareal has been with the firm since 1982 where she started as an associate in the Dallas office. Since then, Villareal has proven a lot of accomplishments. She worked as a co-head of Jones Day’s Securities Litigation & SEC Enforcement Practice, lead the securities litigation lawyer to defend the Potash Corporation against the BHP Billiton’s $40-billion takeover, lead lawyer for Dell and EDS in securities and derivative litigation and pioneered the expansion of the Practice in Dallas and Houston. Villareal was also recognized as one of only two Securities Litigation Powerhouses in September 2008. For several years now, Villareal has been named as one of the leading US lawyers by the Chambers, Best Lawyers in America, the Texas Monthly, D Magazine and Lawdragon.

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Miller Thomson is reportedly in merger talks…

It was another rough year for Pennsylvania law firms…

Not everyone is happy with the Hammonds and Squire Dempsey merger…

and Jones Day is opening a new office in Boston…

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In the press release at the firm’s website, Jones Day’s Managing Partner, Stephen J. Brogan, a graduate of Boston College and Notre Dame Law School, was quoted as saying: “We are privileged to have many strong client relationships in Boston and throughout New England. The Boston area is a leading center of new technology and continues to foster new business development and entrepreneurial spirit that is now bringing these companies to new markets around the globe. Our Boston Office will include some of our finest next generation talent, lawyers with distinguished academic and professional careers, who will be able to serve New England based clients backed up by the highest levels of legal capacity that the Firm has built up around the world. We look forward to more effectively serving our existing clients through a formal Boston presence, and becoming full participants in the vibrant business and cultural life of Boston and the region.”

Traci L. Lovitt, formerly an Assistant to the U.S. Solicitor General and law clerk to Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, will serve as the Partner-in-Charge of the Boston Office.

Jones Day’s Boston Office will offer a full range of legal services, as well as Jones Day’s one firm worldwide access to its lawyers around the globe. The Firm expects there will be close to 20 lawyers in the office by the end of the first quarter in 2011. Among the first partners to join Ms. Lovitt in Boston will be Eileen Falvey and Lynn Coe. The Firmwide head of Jones Day’s Trial Practice, Thomas (Tim) Cullen, Jr., will divide his time between Boston and Washington.

Jones Day is a global law firm with over 2,500 lawyers, including more than 400 in Europe and 200 in Asia. With the openings in São Paulo and Boston, Jones Day will have 34 offices throughout the world.

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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…

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So far this year, the Firm has added 15 partners in its five California offices:  one in San Francisco, four in Silicon Valley, one in Los Angeles, three in Irvine, and six in San Diego. Jones Day now has more than 300 lawyers in California.

Roman E. Darmer will be joining Jones Day as a partner in Irvine as a member of the Securities Litigation & SEC Enforcement Practice. He is currently a partner in the Orange County office of Howrey LLP.

In San Diego, Astrid R. Spain and David A. Gay, Ph.D. will be joining as partners, and Deborah L. Cadena, Victor Behar, and Micheal L. Hebert, who are all Ph.D.s, will be joining as patent agents in the firm’s IP Property practice. All five join from the San Diego office of McDermott Will & Emery LLP.

In the press release at the firm’s site, Joe Sims, the Jones Day partner responsible for coordinating the Firm’s activities in California, was quoted as saying: “The addition of these talented lawyers provides us with even greater depth of experience on the West Coast in the securities litigation, biotech, and pharmaceutical space. The fact that we continue to attract some very accomplished lawyers in California is making it possible to broaden and deepen the services we offer — in California and around the world — and to open opportunities for improved client service to our existing clients and for the creation of potential new relationships.”

Mr. Darmer has represented a range of clients in civil and criminal investigations, and has supervised numerous internal investigations on behalf of corporations and board committees. He has extensive experience handling SEC enforcement actions and white collar criminal matters, and also handles a wide range of complex civil litigation.

Ms. Spain’s practice spans patent counseling, prosecution, and litigation in the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries.

Dr. Gay focuses his practice on pharmaceutical and biotechnology intellectual property law.

Among the patent agents, Dr. Cadena focuses her practice on all aspects of life sciences and biotechnology and has 13 years of experience prosecuting patents.

Jones Day is a global law firm with more than 2,500 lawyers, including over 400 in Europe and 200 in Asia, located in 32 centers of business and finance throughout the world. In California, Jones Day has more than 300 lawyers in five offices – San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Los Angeles, Irvine, and San Diego.

• Morning Roundup
• Jones Day Adds Two Partners to IP Practice in Irvine Office
• Jones Day Adds Six Partners to Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. Offices
• Baker Botts Continues International Expansion of IP Practice
• Winston & Strawn Continues Expansion of IP Litigation Practice With Addition of Two Partners

The Children’s Law Center, Washington D.C.’s largest provider of free legal services, launched a new six-week campaign, dubbed the Lawyers for Children Campaign….

Winston & Strawn expanded its transactional capabilities in China with a three-person team from Cadwalader…

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In conjunction with the campaign, an 18-member advisory board was selected that’s made up of attorneys from law firms, law schools and corporations throughout the D.C. area. Among the organizations represented are Arnold & Porter, Blank Rome, Bryan Cave, Clifford Chance, Covington & Burling, Crowell & Moring, Fish & Richardson, Hunton & Williams, Jones Day, Latham & Watkins, McDermott Will & Emery, McKenna Long & Aldridge, Patton Boggs, Sidley Austin, Skadden, Williams & Connolly, American University and the Podesta Group.

Evelyn Becker, pro bono director at Children’s Law Center, said the groups “enthusiasm to launching the campaign and introducing their colleagues to Children’s Law Center has been tremendous.”

The campaign will run from October 18 through Thanksgiving.  A Campaign Kickoff Happy Hour will be held Tuesday, Oct. 26 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Children’s Law Center offices.

Carmen McLean, CLC Board Member and Chair of CLC’s Advisory Board, and attorney at Jones Day, commented on the campaign in a press release.

“At Jones Day, we just took on our 20th pro bono case through Children’s Law Center and we know how important this work is,” McLean said. “We are excited to spread the word about CLC’s new Lawyers for Children campaign.”

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• Yale Law Women Choose 2009 Top Ten ‘Family-Friendly’ Firms
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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…

• Jones Day Becomes Latest to Enter Brazil
• Greenberg Traurig’s Ballon Selected for IP Vanguard Award
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• Greenberg Traurig Opens Office in Mexico City
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Jones Day

Brazil is home to one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and has become a point of interest for several firms this year.

The office will launch as a foreign legal consultancy, as required by the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), and will open as soon as all regulatory approvals are obtained.  Jones Day will open its own office, with no association or alliance with any local law firm.

Jones Day São Paulo will focus on supporting global clients with inbound investments into Brazil and elsewhere in Latin America. It will also work with independent firms and provide legal counsel to Brazilian companies in their international operations. The office will concentrate on cross-border M&A, private equity, banking and finance and project finance/infrastructure transactions, as well as energy and capital markets.

“Brazil is a dynamic, expanding economy, and one of the world’s key emerging markets,” Stephen J. Brogan, managing partner of Jones Day, said in a press release. “It is a significant commodity producer, a world leader in energy, and home to some of the most important worldwide infrastructure projects undertaken in recent years.”

Luis Riesgo, chair of Jones Day’s Latin American practice, will move to São Paulo to serve as Partner-in-Charge of the new office.

Mercedes Fernandez will take over from Riesgo as Partner-in-Charge of the Madrid Office.

Jones Day is a global law firm with more than 2,500 lawyers, including over 400 in Europe and 200 in Asia, located in 33 centers of business and finance throughout the world.

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The “quality of life” rankings were determined using a formula that weighed several categories, including satisfaction, hours, associate/partner relations, diversity, formal training, informal training, pro bono and business outlook.

Ropes & Gray was also No. 1 for hours, firm culture and informal training.

Here is the list of Top 10 firms:

1. Ropes & Gray

2. Williams & Connolly

3. Morrison & Foerster

4. Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto

5. Shook, Hardy & Bacon

6. Hughes, Hubbard & Reed

7. Jones Day

8. Davis Polk & Wardwell

9. Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison

10. Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

With over 1,000 attorneys, Ropes & Gray is a global law firm with offices in Boston, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Tokyo, and Washington, DC.

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Jones Day

“The addition of these talented and experienced lawyers…will strengthen the experience available to our clients in the key areas of product liability litigation and corporate law,” said Joe Sims, the Jones Day partner responsible for coordinating the firm’s activities in California. “We’re pleased that our California offices are attracting some of the top lawyers in the state right now and we will continue to recruit this kind of high-level talent as we build on our significant presence here.”

The news comes on the heels of an announcement just last month that Khoa D. Do and Micheal J. Reagan, formerly partners at DLA Piper, joined Jones Day as partners in the Firm’s Silicon Valley Office, where they are both members of the Mergers & Acquisitions Practice.

Cwik has extensive experience in complex litigation and class actions, including mass tort and product liability cases, consumer class actions, and environmental cases. She is co-chair of the ABA Committee on Scientific Evidence, and has significant experience in cases involving health, science, and technology issues, with victories in several high-profile matters.

Mordock maintains a corporate and securities practice, with special emphasis on securities offerings, corporate governance, and mergers and acquisitions. His corporate finance experience ranges from representing venture capitalists and start-up companies in early-stage financings to representing issuers and investment banks in public offerings of equity and debt securities.

Jones Day is a global law firm with more than 2,500 lawyers, including over 400 in Europe and 200 in Asia, located in 32 centers of business and finance throughout the world.

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• BigLaw Lends A Hand in New Children’s Law Center Campaign

AM Law Daily

Cravath, Swaine & Moore, which has a summer class size of 23 now, is expected to increase its hiring to around 75 for next summer. The story notes how Cravath “shocked the market” when it slashed its summer class size from 123 in 2009 to this year’s low number.

The number of summer associates at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom fell from 225 in 2009 to 79 this year, but that number could jump back to over 100.

While still not at the levels from before the cuts, the AM Law Daily notes that the increases are “a modest jump, but modest jumps are what pass for good news these days.”

Ropes & Gray could go over 100 summer associates after having 82 this year. Jones Day expects to increase its summer class from the 124 of this year and Proskauer Rose will hold steady.

None of this is official, however, as much of the information for the story is based largely on anonymous sources.

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Cox Smith is opening an office in El Paso…

Squire Sanders & Dempsey has two new heads of personnel…

The co-chair of Murchison & Cumming’s employment practice was named a “Leading Employment Lawyer in California“…

Chief Counsel of the Division of Enforcement for the SEC is leaving to become a partner in the Washington office of Jones Day…

Curtin & Heefner added three partners to its practice…

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McKown served 24 years in the SEC. During that time she played a key role in establishing various enforcement policies at the agency and in reviewing proposed enforcement actions before they are recommended to the Commission for approval.

At Jones Day, McKown will serve as a partner in its securities litigation and SEC enforcement practice.

“Our clients will benefit immensely from her deep knowledge of the commission and federal securities laws,” said Mary Ellen Powers, partner-in-charge of the firm’s Washington office. “We’re delighted she’s chosen Jones Day for her career in private practice.”

As Chief Counsel at the SEC, McKown counseled SEC Commissioners about enforcement policies and practices, spearheaded the implementation of enforcement-related portions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, and been involved in settlement negotiations of hundreds of SEC enforcement cases.

In 2004, McKown received the SEC’s Distinguished Service Award, which is the highest honor the agency bestows on an individual.

Jones Day has more than 2,500 lawyers in 32 offices around the world.

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Latham & Watkins announced its launch of an Asian litigation practice centered in Hong Kong…

Detroit-based firm Dykema hired Robin Radomski as its Chief Marketing Officer…

Saul Ewing added a four-person team focused on the gaming industry…

Sidley Austin named a new managing Partner in San Francisco…

Thompson Hine LLP received national recognition for leadership in promoting diversity…

Skadden was found to be first in M&A Advisements for first half of year…

A global study found tracking procedures lacking in lawyer-to-lawyer referrals…

Weil Gotshal received two international Legal Alliance Awards…

Fisher & Phillips opened an office in Washington, D.C….

The Bureau of Labor Statistics showed legal sector lost 3,900 jobs in June…

Clifford Chance named a new London practice head…

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London partner and vice-chair of global litigation said its approach to litigation was crucial and to be two-fold, “seeking out both high-end local representations as well as “export” work.”

In addition, Powell, himself, also foresees a change in the Asian regulatory climate which will stimulate a need for increased litigation.

Powell, qualified to practice in Hong Kong, most recently represented Lehman Brothers in Asia as special counsel.  He provides advisory services to financial services in the region as well being one of the far East’s top insolvency and litigation experts.  The Hong Kong office, one of Latham’s newest, forms part of the firm’s presence in Asia. It numbers among its Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore and Tokyo offices.

Latham & Watkins was founded in 1934 and has over 2000 attorneys and 30 offices around the world.

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Skadden secured top deals in telecoms and media to regain the top spot it held at the end of 2009. However, Skadden’s market share did decrease by more than 8 percentage points to 12.8 percent since the first half of 2009.

Among Skadden’s deals was the second-largest of the six-month period, U.S. phone operator CenturyLink’s $22 billion acquisition of Quest Communications International Inc., according to a Reuters press release.

Skadden is also representing News Corp’s proposed $13.7 billion bid for British satellite broadcaster BSkyB.

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton jumped to 2nd from 17th place for the first half of the year after advising on 57 deals worth $111 billion.

Jones Day had the heaviest volume with 175 transactions worth $50.8 billion.

The number of global deals rose 3.8 percent from the first half of last year, while their value jumped 9.4 percent, taking the total to $1.1 trillion — the strongest opening six month period for global deals since 2008.

• Morning Roundup
• Jones Day Adds Three Attorneys to New York, Boston Offices
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Gonzalez Saggio & Harlan opened an office in Atlanta, the fifteenth for the firm…

DLA Piper announced the expansion of its Venture Pipeline Service and online resource center for entrepreneurs….

Cooley’s bankruptcy and restructuring practice earned top honors at last week’s Turnaround Atlas Awards…

Sonnenschein added a former U.S. Treasury tax counsel as a partner in its taxation practice…

Jones Day cut staff in Cleveland…

Bowman & Brooke launched a blog for women executives in law and other fields…

The former co-chair of Mayer Brown’s litigation practice joined Buckley Sandler…

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The firm did not say how many employees were let go, but confirmed no lawyers were affected. In explaining the cuts, Jones Day told the Cleveland Plain Dealer emerging technologies have lessened the need for support staff.

“(The) universal adoption of smart phones, voicemail and email enables (and requires) lawyers to be more self-sufficient.

“Although we deeply regret the need for this action, these changes preserve our ability to best serve clients and remain one of the leading global law firms.”

Jones Day has more than 2,500 lawyers in 32 offices around the world.

Lyle Ganske, partner-in charge of the Cleveland office, said the firm is continuing to hire additional lawyers in order to meet client needs and that its summer and on-campus recruiting programs are slated for expansion.

• Morning Roundup
• Jones Day Adds Two Partners in London Office
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• Howrey Drops the Ax on 32 Staffers
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President Obama selected Fried Frank partner Michael R. Bromwich to lead the administration’s efforts in targeting regulation corruption in the regulation and oversight of offshore oil drilling…

Jones Day laid off staff at its Dallas and Los Angeles offices…

CA based Mesa Law Group began offering clients a new Loan Modification & Finance Preparation Program…

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