JD Journal » laterals

Three More Leave Nixon Peabody for DLA Piper

joshua — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 17:30:03 +0000

Another three partners have left Nixon Peabody for rival DLA Piper, which brings the number of such moves in recent weeks to seven, the National Law Journal report.

According to the story, DLA Piper has been raiding Nixon Peabody in an effort to add to its entertainment and sports practices throughout the world. The latest defections from Nixon Peabody include Frank Ryan, former chairman of Nixon Peabody’s litigation department; Henry Liu, former chairman and managing partner of China and Asia Pacific practices at Nixon Peabody; and Nicolas Papastavros, who served as co-chairman of Nixon Peabody’s privacy and data protection practice at its Boston office.

Richard Rochford, who sits on Nixon Peabody’s management committee, told the NLJ that while the losses are “bittersweet,” they will have minimal impact on the firm’s operations.

Lewis Brisbois Snags 16-Person Group from Wilson Elser

joshua — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 21:15:26 +0000

Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard& Smith has added to its New York office with a 16-person team from Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker. The group includes Gregory S. Katz, who was the deputy managing partner at his former firm’s New York office, the National Law Journal reports.

Katz joins the general liability practice group along with six other partners. They are Robyn Gallert, Jennifer Oxman, Bryan Schwartz, Adam Schwartzstein, Patricia Alarcon Demetri and James Whalen. The National Law Journal reports Meredith Friedler and Andrea Silk join the firm of counsel, and Nicholas Hurzeler, David Rosenthal, Sarah Rubin, Aija Tingling, Daniel Wang, Beth Weinberg and Kevin Zimmerman join as associates.

According to the story, Lewis Brisbois, which is based in Los Angeles, now has more than 75 lawyers in its New York office, which opened eight years ago. The firm has more than 750 attorneys in all with offices in Atlanta, Beaumont, Charleston, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Lafayette, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Orange County, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, Tampa and Tucson.

Morning Roundup

sara — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 12:54:25 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, April 7, and here’s a look back at yesterday’s news…

Quarles & Brady snag three attorneys from Holland & Knight and three from DLA Piper…

The U.S. Court of Appeals rules against the Federal Communications Commission in a net neutrality case involving Comcast..

Kelley Drye responds to an age discrimination suit filed against them by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission…

Former Federal Trade Commissioner Pamela Jones Harbour will join Fulbright & Jaworski…

Akin Gump tops the National Law Journals “influence 50″ rankings of the highest grossing Washington, D.C. lobbying practices…

Lawyers find delayed mercy in the Qualcomm discovery scandal ruling…

Latham & Watkins establishes a presence in Saudi Arabia…

Merchant & Gould opens a New York office and announces the addition of new partners…

Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto has refused to join a suit against the Health Care Reform bill…

Morning Roundup

sara — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 13:03:02 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Monday, April 5, and here’s a look back at Friday’s news…

Day Pitney add two attorneys to their Trusts and Estates practice…

Thompson Hine bolsters it’s practice with the addition of two partners to its IP practice group…

Justice Breyer defends references to foreign law in Supreme Court decisions…

The Justice Department has filed a claim against Kellog, Brown and Root alleging unjust enrichment and breach of contract…

Morning Roundup

sara — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 11:56:26 +0000

Good morning! Today is Thursday, March 18, and here’ a quick look back at yesterday’s news…

Polsinelli Shughart announces plans to acquire Hendren Andrae…

Fox Rothschild expands their West Palm Beach office…

Fish & Richardson pick up five lawyers from Darby…

Former Apple general counsel Daniel Cooperman returns to Bingham McCutchen…

Former Homeland Security deputy general counsel Jason Klitenic joins Holland & Knight…

Hawaiian officials consider a bill to ignore repeated and “vexatious” requests for President Obama’s birth certificate…

Morning Roundup

sara — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:32:24 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Thursday, March 11, and here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s news…

The Robert Half Legal Hiring Index reports that employment prospects are improving for the legal industry in the second quarter…

Arnold & Porter adds three from Arent Fox…

The National Jurist reports that the number of law school faculty has increased by 40%…

Chief Justice John Roberts touches on the State of the Union during a lecture at the University of Alabama…

Two partners from Orrick join King & Spaulding…

Revenue Decreases at DLA Piper

sara — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:32:15 +0000

DLA Piper reports that gross revenue declined by almost 14% in 2009 to just over a billion dollars. Revenue per lawyer and profits per partner decreased only 5%, due to reductions in the firm’s head count. The headcount fell by 89 associates (11.6%), 24 equity partners (10.1%), and 16 non-equity partners (4.3%), for a total loss of 129 lawyers (9.3%). Firm chairman Frank Burch said that DLA “weathered the economic storm well…and our overall performance during this period was solid.” Burch said that the firm broadly cut expenses and improved its balance sheet by increasing its reliance on paid-in partner capital while attracting high profile laterals.

DLA Piper is one of the world’s largest international law firms. It has over 3,500 attorneys in 67 locations globally.

Winston & Strawn Keeps Salaries Frozen

joshua — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:00:58 +0000

Winston & Strawn froze salaries last year and now it appears that the freeze is still on. Associates received emails today regarding their compensation and across the board, they are still the same as they were two years ago. Third year associates are still making $160k.

This might seem like a way to increase business at the firm – pay associates less so the firm can advertise lower rates for its clients, but that isn’t the case. Hourly rates for the associates’ time have gone up.

Meanwhile, fellow Chicago denizen Sidley Austin has continued to pay its associates at 2008 levels as well, while they evaluate the market. Is it any surprise that the National Law Journal says the market for Chicago laterals is picking up?

UPDATE: Sidley has just announced a salary thaw and raise. Read about it here.

Morgan Lewis Reports Large Drop in Profits

joshua — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:35:00 +0000

Morgan Lewis reported sharp drops in revenue and per partner profits for the 2009 fiscal year. Revenues fell by 5%, from $1.12 to $1.07 billion and per partner profits fell by 15%.

Although 2007 was a rough year for most firms, the numbers for Morgan Lewis may look worse than they actually are. The firm ends its fiscal year on September 30, so the numbers for 2009 cover the very worst of the recession and don’t include 4th quarter 2009 when the economy started recovering. Per partner profits took such a large hit because although the total number of lawyers at Morgan Lewis declined by about 6% due to deferrals and layoffs, the number of partners rose by 5%. Morgan Lewis had a strong year for lateral hires, bringing in 55 new partners.

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP was founded as Morgan & Lewis in 1873. It has 1,400 lawyers in 22 offices worldwide.

Ruden McClosky Not Dissolving Despite Departures

sara — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 17:14:13 +0000

Last week 8 lawyers at Ruden McCloskey, including some prominent partners, left the firm for Adams and Reese. The firm is down to 123 lawyers from 175 at the beginning of 2009 and has fallen out of the National Law Journal’s annual ranking of the nation’s 250 law firms. The firm laid off 35 staffers and some attorneys last year. Managing director Carl Schuster released a statement saying the firm will stay open and is “in discussion with several potential laterals…Our firm is committed to serving Florida business and maintains a strong presence throughout the state.”

Founded in 1959, Ruden McClosky is a full service firm specializing in intellectual property law, litigation, banking and finance law, and general corporate law. The firm has offices in Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Fort Lauderdale.

Lateral Market Heats Up

joshua — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:22:19 +0000

The lateral market for 2010 is expected to be brisk and we’ve already seen some big moves in the first month and a half of the year. This is following a record high for lateral moves in 2009, although some of that can be attributed to mergers or failing firms.

Big moves so far this year include a team of energy lawyers that joined Cooley Godward from Alston & Bird and 13 White & Case lawyers that jumped to Latham & Watkins in London.

As earning statements are released from various firms, partners are able to get a sense of which firms had the best grasp on the economic situation of 2009. This, coupled with a slow rebound of the economy may have some partners casting about for options, and firms are anxious to bring on partners with profitable practices.

Jackson Lewis Opening in Baltimore with 4 from DLA Piper

joshua — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:40:47 +0000

Employment boutique Jackson Lewis has opened a new office in Baltimore, with the help of four laterals from DLA Piper. The four partners are Richard Hafets, Larry Seegull, Brook Amiont and Emmett McGee.

This is the 45th US office of Jackson Lewis, and gives the firm an office in 30 different states. It has enjoyed explosive growth over the last two years, opening 12 new offices in that time in places like Cincinnati, Memphis and Albuquerque.

Founded in 1958, Jackson Lewis is a nationwide boutique, handling all aspects of employment law. The firm employs approximately 600 attorneys in 45 office around the US.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 13:30:04 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, January 13, and here’s a look back at yesterday’s headlines…

Morgan Lewis picked up a new senior counsel from the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission…

Scott Pierpont moved from Mayer Brown to Jones Day….

Carter Ledyard picked up one from Dorsey & Whitney…

The SEC has filed a second suit against Bank of American over last year’s merger…

More DA’s have been let go in San Joaquin, California…

Miles & Stockbridge promoted three to principal…

Reinhart also promoted a new class…

McDermott Will & Emery is moving to merit based compensation and cutting salaries…

Butler Rubin promoted one to partner…

LG Electronics and the Department of Energy square off over stickers…

Bowditch & Dewey named a new managing partner…

Sterne Kessler promoted new directors…

Brinks Hofer opened an office in Washington, DC…

Chartwell expanded it’s New York office…

and Blank Rome added six in Los Angeles…

Cohen Seglias Adds 5 to Pittsburgh Office

joshua — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:59:11 +0000

Cohen Seglias more than doubled its Pittsburgh office, adding fiveattorneys who lateraled from three different firms. Jim O’Connor, who has been named the managing partner of the Pittsburgh office, and two others moved from Leech Tishman. O’Connor was joined by partner Patrick Sorek and associate Douglas Hart. Also moving to Cohen Seglias are partner Mark Stadler from Cohen & Grigsby and associate Christopher Cafardi from Pepper Hamilton.

Founded in 1988, Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC is a full service firm with offices throughout the Mid-Atlantic region that services its clients on a national basis.

Loeb & Loeb Starts Washington Office with Laterals from Day Pitney

joshua — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:19:04 +0000

Eight lawyers are moving from Day Pitney to Loeb & Loeb, four of whom will help their new firm get off the ground in Washington, DC. The new office will focus on energy regulation to begin with but the firm plans to grow the office and do work in securities regulation and intellectual property as well.

Partners Richard Lorenzo and Jay Matson, along with of counsel Arthur Adelberg and associate Nicole Travers, have specialized in representing clients before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Lorenzo said the move to Loeb & Loeb was due to the firm’s west coast presence and the need for a larger national footprint for his clients. All of Day Pitney’s offices are on the east coast.

Gilbert Oshinsky – Oshinsky = Gilbert LLP

Erik Even — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 17:06:29 +0000

Jerold Oshinsky is leaving the partnership of Washington DC’s Gilbert Oshinsky, to join the Los Angeles office of Jenner & Block.

The firm will now be known as Gilbert LLP.

Oshinsky was the firm’s only Los Angeles partner, and that office will now close.

Gilbert LLP is expanding, with the return of one former partner and the new hires of one of counsel and three associates.

Based in Washington DC, with offices in Los Angeles and Austin, Gilbert Oshinsky represents corporations, partnerships, non-profit organizations and individuals in complex disputes, including high-stakes litigation, bankruptcy matters, class actions and ADRs.

Crowell & Moring Adds 7 to Environmental Group

Erik Even — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:50:07 +0000

Crowell & Moring has snagged a team of five Patton Boggs partners, and two government lawyers, for its Environment & Natural Resources Group.

Senior Counsel Michael Bogert is the former counselor to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne. He is also the former Regional Administrator of the EPA’s Region 10, which oversees Alaska and other northwest states. Bogert is a former counsel to the office of then Governor-Elect Arnold Schwarzenegger, and was Chief Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary to California governor Pete Wilson.

Partner Amy Chasanov is an environmental litigator with extensive experience with NEPA, the Clean Water Act, and the Oil Pollution Act. She has participated in state and federal rule-making and litigation, and advises a range of oil & gas and other clients on environmental compliance.

Partner John C. Martin is the former co-chair of the Patton Boggs Environment Group. He represents clients in complex litigation involving natural resources and environmental issues. Martin was an attorney at DOI and the Department of Justice, where he litigated environmental and natural resources issues.

Partner Susan M. Mathiascheck is a recent deputy chair of the Patton Boggs Litigation Department. She advises clients in complex judicial challenges to agency actions and provides counseling on issues concerning endangered species, emergency response, property use and development, air and water emissions, and hazardous waste.

Senior Counsel Robert Meyers is the former Acting Assistant Administrator of the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. Prior to joining the EPA, Meyers served as Deputy Chief Counsel for Energy & Environment and Environmental Counsel for the House Energy & Commerce Committee.

Partner Kyle W. Parker is former Assistant Attorney General in the oil, gas, and mining section of the Alaska Department of Law.

Partner Duane A. Siler has substantial litigation experience under CERCLA, RCRA, the Oil Pollution Act, and other federal and state environmental laws.

Parker will be based in Anchorage, Alaska; the other additions will be based in Washington DC.

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with more than 450 lawyers practicing in litigation, antitrust, government contracts, health care, corporate, intellectual property and a variety of other practice areas. Based in Washington, DC, the firm also has offices in New York, London, Brussels, Los Angeles, and Orange County, California.

Andrews Kurth Brings on Lawyers

Erik Even — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 17:02:15 +0000

Houston’s Andrews Kurth, which laid off at least 20 lawyers across its offices in March, has brought on two attorneys.

Texas Supreme Court Justice Scott Brister joins Andrews Kurth as a partner in its Austin office, to lead the appellate practice. He will focus on litigation and alternative dispute resolution. Brister was previously with Andrews Kurth in the 1980s. He was also a district court judge in Harris County; a justice on the First Court of Appeals in Houston; and chief justice of the Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Houston. His law degree is from Harvard Law School.

David Whittlesey joins in Austin as a partner in the litigation group. Whittlesey will focus his practice on complex commercial, business and technology litigation. He is is President-Elect of the Austin Bar Association; a former president of the Austin Young Lawyer’s Association; and an active member of the Admissions & Disciplinary Committee for the Western District of Texas. He earned his JD magna cum laude from the University of Houston Law Center, where he was a member of Order of the Coif.

Andrews & Kurth LLP was founded by Frank Andrews and Congressman Thomas Henry Ball in 1902, and later joined by Melvin Kurth in 1913. The firm currently has over 400 attorneys internationally, including offices in London and Beijing.

K&L Gates Adds New Names to Roster

Erik Even — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:10:50 +0000

Raja Bose joins K&L Gates from Singapore office from the crosstown firm Watson Farley & Williams. He concentrates on cross-border litigation and arbitration matters, and serving the oil and gas industries in construction disputes.

Also, Stephen Crimmins joins from Mayer Brown, and will work in Washington DC in the securities enforcement practice. His JD is from Columbia Law.

K&L Gates LLP is a US law firm with over 1700 attorneys worldwide, and is ranked as the 10th largest law firm in the world.

Hughes Hubbard Expands NY Bankruptcy Practice

Erik Even — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:51:36 +0000

Hughes Hubbard & Reed has expanded its bankruptcy practice in New York with two hires.

Kathryn Coleman joins from Gibson Dunn, where she was a partner. She represents Chapter 11 debtors in possession, creditors’ committees, secured lenders groups, acquirers of distressed assets in and out of bankruptcy court, and equity stakeholders in connection with troubled investments and portfolio companies.

Eric Fromme joins as counsel. He is a federal-court litigator and corporate reorganization lawyer.

Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP, an international law firm based in New York, is ranked number one in New York and number two nationally on The American Lawyer’s A-List of the “top firms among the nation’s legal elite.” AmLaw also ranked the firm #4 in “Top Growth Firms” among the nation’s 200 largest firms over the last 10 years.

Beachcroft Brings on 4 Lawyers

Erik Even — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:59:31 +0000

Beachcroft has hired a four-lawyer clinical negligence team, working out of Dublin.

Ann O’Driscoll joins from Mason Hayes+Curran as a clinical negligence partner. She advises health care professionals and hospitals on clinical negligence and risk management issues.

She is joined by Ciara Palmer, a legal executive from Mason Hayes. Two associates will also join the team, Claire Foley from William Fry and Suzanne O’Keeffe from BCM Hanby Wallace.

Beachcroft LLP is one of the largest national commercial law firms in the United Kingdom. It employs over 1,500 people, and provides legal advice and litigation services from eight UK locations (Birmingham, Bristol, Brussels, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Winchester, and two in London) as well as Brussels.

DLA Piper Annexes German Team from Clifford Chance

Erik Even — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:47:29 +0000

DLA Piper’s Frankfurt office has brought on a three-lawyer team from Clifford Chance.

Juergen Taschke joins as partner, to head up DLA Piper’s corporate crime and international investigations team in Germany. He focuses on criminal law relating to business offenses. He has been with Clifford Chance since 1992. His law degree is from Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Frankfurt am Main.

Taschke brings with him two associates.

DLA Piper is one of the largest law firms in the world. It is a legal services organization whose members and affiliates are separate and distinct legal entities. The organization boasts more than 3,500 lawyers in 29 countries and 65 office.

Covington & Burling Picks Up Heavyweights from Rushton Stakely

Erik Even — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 17:27:32 +0000

Covington & Burling has hired two prominent attorneys away from Montgomery, Alabama’s Rushton, Stakely, Johnston & Garrett.

Robert Brock joins the Washington DC office of Covington & Burling as a partner in the litigation group. He will chair the product liability & mass tort practice group. Brock was with Rushton Stakely for 25 years. His practice focuses on trial work and civil litigation. His JD is from the University of Alabama School of Law in Tuscaloosa.

F. Chadwick Morriss also joins as of counsel. He was also a Rushton Stakely lifer. He handles class action defense; insurance fraud; drug & medical device defense; professional liability; and personal injury defense. His JD is also from the University of Alabama School of Law.

Covington & Burling LLP is an international law firm with offices in Beijing, Brussels, London, New York, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, San Diego, and Washington, DC. It consistently ranks among the top 20 on The American Lawyer’s prestigious “A-List.”

UPDATE

Thanks to the JDJournal tipster who pointed out that “heavyweights” only has one “w.”

Tipster: Gallagher & Kennedy Hires Team from Greenberg Traurig

Erik Even — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:14:26 +0000

According to a JDJournal tipster, Phoenix law firm Gallagher & Kennedy has hired a bankruptcy group away from the crosstown office of Greenberg Traurig.

If you know anything about these hires, please — send us a confidential tip!

Founded in 1978, Gallagher & Kennedy is a full service business law firm with offices in Phoenix, Prescott, Santa Fe and Washington DC. Some of their larger clients include the Arizona Diamondbacks, the Arizona Cardinals, PetSmart, Yamaha, and Discount Tire Company.

It is the sixth largest law firm in Arizona, with nearly 100 attorneys.

McKenna Long Adds Public Finance Attorneys

Erik Even — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 18:21:38 +0000

McKenna Long & Aldridge has hired on four public finance attorneys for its corporate practice in Atlanta.

Earle Taylor joins as a partner, and head of the firm’s Public Finance practice. Taylor has participated in public finance transactions in more than 15 states and territories, as well as for Indian tribes. He frequently drafts and consults on public finance-related legislation proposed by the Georgia General Assembly.

Ken Pollock also joins as partner. He has experience with financing governmental projects, and with tax-exempt financings benefiting private entities, including health systems and educational institutions.

John MacMaster joins as of counsel. He concentrates on tax planning and controversy, and was an attorney-adviser for the US Treasury Department.

Joe Krolikowski also joins as of counsel. He concentrates his practice on municipal bonds and other financing transactions, and was also an attorney-adviser for the US Treasury.

Atlanta-based McKenna Long & Aldridge is an international law firm with 475 attorneys and public policy advisers. It was ranked the 100th largest law firm in the country by the National Law Journal in 2007. The firm also ranked 141st in profit per attorney on the 2007 AmLaw 200 survey.

Debevoise & Plimpton Hires Partners from Goodwin Procter

Erik Even — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:27:18 +0000

Debevoise & Plimpton has hired two banking partners away from Goodwin Procter.

Gregory Lyons joins Debevoise & Plimpton as a partner in New York. He will be Co-Chair for the Americas of the firm’s Financial Institutions Group. He was co-chair of the Financial Services Practice at Goodwin, and chair of its banking practice in Boston.

Satish Kini joins as banking practice co-chair in Washington, DC. He was a member of Goodwin’s Financial Services Practice.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a prominent international law firm based in New York City. Founded in 1931 by Eli Whitney Debevoise and William Stevenson, the firm currently employs about 680 lawyers in eight offices throughout the world.

Deeb Petrakis Adds Partners to Business Transaction Group

Erik Even — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:59:58 +0000

Philadelphia’s Deeb Petrakis has added two lawyers to its Business Transaction Group.

Charles M. Naselsky joins from Blank Rome as a partner. His JD is from the Seton Hall University School of Law. He is a member of the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Philadelphia Bar Associations.

Jon G. Hillsberg also joins from Blank Rome as a partner. With Naselsky, he represents entrepreneurial, entertainment, real estate, banking and private equity companies in a broad range of commercial finance, private equity ventures and real estate matters. His JD is from the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

Founded in 1989, Deeb Petrakis Blum & Murphy is a full-service law firm with headquarters in Center City Philadelphia, and offices in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

Hangley Aronchick Hires Six from DLA Piper

Erik Even — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:31:41 +0000

Hangley Aronchick has hired six lawyers away from DLA Piper’s Philadelphia office.

The group is headed by Ronald P. Schiller, who was head of DLA Piper’s Philadelphia litigation practice.

He is joined by partners Daniel J. Layden and Nicole Rosenblum; and associates Jennifer L. Corry, Jacqueline R. Dungee and Michael R. Carlson.

Founded in 1994, Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin is a full-service law firm employing 50 lawyers. It has offices in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Norristown, Pennsylvania; and Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

PCT Law Launches Virginia Office

Erik Even — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 17:08:07 +0000

PCT Law Group has opened a new office in Alexandria, Virginia, staffed by two new hires.

Angela H. France joins as managing member from Albo & Oblon. She handles litigation and corporate transactions on a wide range of legal disciplines including business contracts, corporate formation, mergers and acquisitions, employment matters, bankruptcy, and creditor’s rights. Her JD is from the George Mason University School of Law.

Kimberly B. Whitehead joins from Dickstein Shapiro as senior counsel. She focuses her practice on intellectual property litigation, licensing, and the acquisition of rights through trademark and patent prosecution. Her JD is from the Georgetown University Law Center.

The Washington, DC-based PCT Law Group PLLC provides legal counsel and representation in the practice areas of corporate, intellectual property, employment and litigation.

Speechly Bircham Hires 90 from Campbell Hooper

Erik Even — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:33:00 +0000

London law firm Speechly Bircham has hired 90 people, including 17 partners, from the dissolving Campbell Hooper.

The hirings, which are not being characterized as a merger, give Speechly Bircham a total of over 400 employees. The firm says the move makes Speechly Bircham on of the top 50 UK firms.

Speechly Bircham has also reorganized, creating three groups — business law with 120 lawyers, real estate with 70 lawyers, and private clients with 60 lawyers.

Founded in the 19th century, Speechly Bircham is a 200-lawyer firm based in the City of London, with a strong reputation for both commercial and private client work.

Shutts & Bowen Adds Lawyers

Erik Even — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 19:08:11 +0000

Shutts & Bowen has brought on three new senior lawyers for its West Palm Beach, Florida office.

Hank Jackson joins from Holland & Knight as a partner in the business litigation practice. He received his JD from the University of Arkansas Leflar Law Center.

Raymond Royce also joins from Holland & Knight, as a partner in the real estate and land use practice groups. He will concentrate on land use, development, and real property matters. He received his JD from the University of Florida College of Law.

Lawrence Lataif joins as a senior immigration counsel, representing clients in all aspects of federal immigration law. Before joining Shutts, he was president of Lataif & Associates in Fort Lauderdale. He received his JD and Master of Laws from Georgetown University.

Winston & Strawn Brings on Hunton & Williams Partners

Erik Even — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:26:32 +0000

Winston & Strawn has lured three partners and an of counsel away from Hunton & Williams, to join the firm in Charlotte, North Carolina and Washington DC.

T. Thomas Cottingham III will serve as head of the litigation in Charlotte. He was previously the managing partner of Hunton & Williams’ Charlotte office and head of its securities/financial institutions litigation practice. Cottingham earned his JD cum laude from Cornell Law School.

Nash E. Long III joins in Charlotte. He focuses on complex litigation including arbitration, jury trials, bench trials and class actions related to environmental, business torts, commercial contract, intellectual property, construction, consumer law and product liability disputes. While at Harvard Law School, where Long graduated magna cum laude, he served as research assistant to renowned professor and constitutional law expert Laurence Tribe.

Jack M. Knight Jr. also joins in Charlotte. He concentrates on internal investigations, corporate compliance, commercial litigation, white collar criminal defense of corporations and individuals, Grand Jury investigations and civil litigation, and regularly advises corporations on compliance issues. Knight earned his JD cum laude from the Washington College of Law at American University.

Winston’s Charlotte office, founded in 2008, has grown from six to 22 attorneys. The firm expects to hire more lawyers in the near future.

John M. Holloway III joins in Washington, DC. He focuses on environmental issues, energy matters, administrative law and commercial transactions particularly in the areas of energy, procurement and construction contracting. Holloway holds a JD cum laude from University of Richmond School of Law.

Winston & Strawn LLP was founded in Chicago in 1853. It employs about 1,000 attorneys among 13 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia.

Bryan Cave Expands German Practice with Faegre & Benson Lawyers

Erik Even — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:25:07 +0000

Bryan Cave has brought on two lawyers for its Hamburg, Germany office.

Philip Haleen joins as of counsel from Faegre & Benson’s Frankfurt office. He focuses on international tax matters and franchise & distribution law. He got his JD from the University of Minnesota Law School.

Iliana Haleen joins as counsel, also from Faegre & Benson. She will be part of the intellectual property group. Haleen received her law degree from the St. Clement of Ohrid University of Sofia in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Bryan Cave LLP is an international law firm with twenty-five offices worldwide, headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. It specializes in corporate transactions and litigation representation. The firm has more than 1,200 lawyers in 25 offices around the world.

Brownstein Hyatt Picks Up Stroock Attorneys

Erik Even — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 18:12:20 +0000

Brownstein Hyatt has hired two entertainment lawyers away from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan.

Deborah Drooz, who focuses on defamation, publicity, privacy, and intellectual property in entertainment law, will work from Brownstein Hyatt’s Los Angeles office. She earned her JD at Southwestern Law School.

Barry Langberg, who specializes in defamation litigation, will split time between Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, California. He got his law degree at the University of San Francisco School of Law.

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck has offices in Albuquerque; Aspen, Denver and Glenwood Springs, Colorado; Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas, Nevada; Los Angeles, Costa Mesa, Sacramento, San Diego and Santa Barbara, California; Santa Fe; and Washington, DC.

Dewey & LeBoeuf Snags Cooley Lawyers

Erik Even — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 16:44:02 +0000

Dewey & LeBoeuf has lured away from Cooley Godward Kronish a team of top lawyers, including the head of Cooley’s technology transactions group.

Former Cooley management committee member and M&A practice honcho Richard Climan is moving to Dewey’s Palo Alto, California office. He will serve on Dewey’s executive committee, and work to expand its global M&A practice.

He is joined by Keith Flaum, who has represented eBay and Adobe, and Eric Reifschneider, Cooley’s tech transactions chief.

It is unclear if the team will bring along any associates.

Dewey & LeBoeuf is a white shoe law firm formed in 2007 by the merger of Dewey Ballantine and LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae. The firm has 24 offices in 14 countries.