JD Journal » New York

NY AG Sues BofA, Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase over Mortgage Fraud

EmploymentCrossing — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 12:38:24 +0000

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman has filed a suit against Bank of America, JP Morgan Chase and Wells Fargo over their abuse of a private database, MERS, in handling mortgages. The suit claims that this led to several wrongful foreclosures.

By filing this lawsuit, Schneiderman has made it pretty clear where he stands on the deal that the Obama administration has proposed for the banks in their role in the foreclosure crisis. The deal is seen by some as being excessively soft towards the banks.

Schneiderman even went on record to pretty much call the proposed settlement the equivalent of giving a blanket plea deal to a criminal. States have till February 6 to decide if they want to join the settlement.

The fact that Schneiderman has filed this lawsuit is made even more interesting by the fact that he is one of the five co-chairs of a task force that President Obama announced to investigate fraud related to bonds backed by mortgage loans.

At the heart of the suit is the fact that these three banks used MERS – Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems. This system is used to register ownership of mortgage loans. Before the system was put in place, that work was done at the local courthouses, which many felt slowed down the entire mortgage process. But after its introduction in 1995, over 70 million mortgages have been handled by it.

But the system has problems. Schneiderman’s suit says its use resulted in many fraudulent foreclosures and also undermined New York’s process of reviewing each and every foreclosure case. Homeowners also faced difficulties in accessing mortgage-related documents while they were facing foreclosure.

Schneiderman believes that the banks used the system to give out mortgages more quickly and then when they began foreclosure proceedings, abused it to throw out homeowners from their properties without following proper procedures.

The New York Attorney General’s office issued a statement where it explained the charges against the banks. The major charges against the banks and MERS are:

MERS has filed over 13,000 foreclosure actions against New York homeowners listing itself as the plaintiff, but in many instances, MERS lacked the legal authority to foreclose and did not own or hold the promissory note, despite saying otherwise in court submissions.

MERS certifying officers, including employees and agents of JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Wells Fargo, have repeatedly executed and submitted in court legal documents purporting to assign the mortgage and/or note to the foreclosing party. These documents contain numerous defects, including affirmative misrepresentations of fact, which render them false, deceptive, and/or invalid. These assignments were often automatically generated and “robosigned” by individuals who did not review the underlying property ownership records, confirm the documents’ accuracy, or even read the documents. These false and defective assignments often masked gaps in the chain of title and the foreclosing party’s inability to establish its authority to foreclose, and as a result have misled homeowners and the courts.

MERS’ indiscriminate use of non-employee “certifying officers” to execute vital legal documents has confused, misled, and deceived homeowners and the courts and made it difficult to ascertain whether a party actually has the right to foreclose. MERS certifying officers have regularly executed and submitted in court mortgage assignments and other legal documents on behalf of MERS without disclosing that they are not MERS employees, but instead are employed by other entities, such as the mortgage servicer filing the case or its counsel. The signature line just indicates that the individual is an “Assistant Secretary,” “Vice President,” or other officer of MERS. Indeed, these documents often purport to assign the mortgage to the certifying officer’s own employer. Moreover, as a result of the defendants’ failure to track the designation of certifying officers and the scope of their authority to act, individuals have executed legal documents on behalf of MERS, such as mortgage assignments and loan modifications, when they were either not designated as a MERS certifying officer at the time or were not authorized to execute documents on behalf of MERS with respect to the subject loan.

MERS and its members have deceived and misled borrowers about the importance and ramifications of MERS’ role with respect to their loan by providing inadequate disclosures.

The MERS System is riddled with inaccuracies which make it difficult to verify the chain of title for a loan or the current note-holder, and creates confusion among stakeholders who rely on the information. In addition, as a result of these inaccuracies, MERS has filed mortgage satisfactions against the wrong property.

Mayor of Lackawanna Appoints Father-in-Law as City Attorney

jim — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 00:47:51 +0000

The new mayor of Lackawanna, New York has made a decision to keep the legal work for the city in the family. The mayor, Geoffrey M. Szymanski, appointed his father-in-law as the city attorney for Lackawanna. The city attorney is one of the most critical posts in City Hall and it is now held by Norman A. LeBlanc Jr.

Lackawanna politics have a tradition of nepotism and this appointment keeps the tradition in line. There are not many people in Lackawanna who disagree with this appointment though because LeBlanc has held the position in the past and many believe he is qualified for the job.

Mayor Szymanski said that he trusts LeBlanc more than any other candidate for the position when it comes to overseeing the legal affairs of the city. He also did not offer any apologies for appointing his father-in-law.

“He doesn’t want to let me down, and I don’t want to fire him, but I will if I have to,” the mayor said.

Arcangelo J. Petricca, the city’s longtime attorney, is who LeBlanc is taking over for with the appointment. Petricca served as the city’s assistant attorney or the city attorney for two mayors. Those two mayors were Edward J. Kuwik and Thomas E. Radich. Petricca also served as the special counsel to the city for Mayor Kathleen M. Staniszewski.

“I left 20 years ago and thought I’d never look back,” LeBlanc said.

LeBlanc maintains a law practice while also concentrating on his role as the pastor of the First Congregational Church of Java Village.

“When [Szymanski] asked me over a year ago, I said, ‘I don’t want you asking me because I’m your father-in-law.’ And he said, ‘I’m not,’ ” said LeBlanc, who is an ordained minister in the Congregational Church.

LeBlanc is known throughout Lackawanna as a hands-on attorney for the city, obtaining this characterization while working under previous administrations. LeBlanc said he plans on having the same approach in this stint too.

“I really do love this city and I’d like to see it come back,” said LeBlanc.

Mayor Szymanski is looking to spend less money for outside counsel, saving the city money, by having more legal work done in-house. The mayor said that outside counsel bills cost the city close to $250,000 in 2010.

Dana J. Britton, a retired lieutenant of the Lackawanna Police Department, has been appointed as the director of public safety for the city, according to the mayor. Britton succeeds Richard L. Startek in the position.

The mayor made a couple of other city administration appointments as well, pledging to the city’s residents that his department heads would get the job done or he would hire someone else for the positions.

“If they can’t be productive, they’re going to be gone,” he said. “I have four years to get this right, and I have a whole city depending on me to get it right.”

Teen Girl Killed by Bus Holding Suicide Note

jim — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:58:39 +0000

A Staten Island teenager died after being struck by a bus as she was carrying a suicide note on Monday night. Amanda Diane Cummings, 15, jumped out in front of a bus on Hylan Boulevard near Hunter Avenue. Cummings was taken to Staten Island University Hospital in critical condition before ultimately succumbing to her injuries.

Cummings was a sophomore at New Dorp High School, where she was being bullied by her classmates, according to her uncle, Keith Cummings. Keith said that bullies had stolen her phone, shoes, and jacket among doing other things. Keith also said that the bullies were posting inappropriate and cruel things on her Facebook wall while she was in the hospital.

Keith said that he will be pursuing legal action against the bullies, “I’m not going to tolerate this. I’m gonna go full force. Kids can’t do this to each other.”

Amanda has been described by her family as a kind teenager who had a love for animals and an affinity for poetry. A blog run by her family has been started in her honor.

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Cyber bullying has become a major problem in the United States recently, as social networking sites have become areas for insults and taunts.

It was reported in 2010 that one out of five middle-school students claim that they were victims of cyber bullying. The majority of states have prevention ordinances in place for cyber bullying, though less than half of them provide guidance on how bullying on the internet and electronic devices should be handled.

New York Judge Rules Can’t Sue For Age Discrimination

chelsei — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 17:38:31 +0000

A grand decision for Holland & Knight in a long-running dispute over its termination of a former partner may make it harder for the other law firm partners to sue over the allegedly unfair treatment, at least in the Empire States.

John Weir has been fighting his former firm since 2002, when he was expelled from the partnership at the age 55, over what the firm says was a disagreement about the direction of it’s and employment practice, according to all of the court papers. Weir, who started being the so-called New Holland & Knight after the firm had merged with Haight Gardner Poor & Havens in 1997, at one point led the firm’s labor and employment group in New York.

Weir initially sued the Holland & Knight in 2005 in Manhattan federal district court, saying that the firm had let him go because of his age and because the firm didn’t want to have to pay the retirement benefits he says that he was entitled to under its ERISA plan. After the judge hearing the case dismissed his claims in 2007 on the statue-of-limitations grounds, Weir changed his complaint and sued Holland & Knight in New York state court.

New York Supreme Court Justice Marcy Friedman ruled on summary judgement in a report on December 9, dismissing Weir’s entire complaint, which included claims of age discrimination and retaliation, breach of the fiduciary duties, breach of the contract, and a fraudulent inducement.

In tossing around Weir’s discrimination claims, Friedman relied in part on a six-part test established in a U.S. Supreme Court case, Clackamas Gastroenterology Associates v. Wells, that it was the first that was used to determine whether a shareholder in a professional corporation can be considered an employee under the Americans with Disabilities Act. This decision has since then been applied by the courts outside of the context of the ADA.

Friedman has said that Weir did not pass the Clackamas test, nor did he ”submit any evidence to show that he was not a bona fide partner” with some degree of control over the firm to try and win over.

As the law firms continue to grow to include what, in some instances, are hundreds of partners, the line between partner and employee has grown increasingly blurry, says Robert Hillman, who is a professor at the University of California, Davis School of Law and an expert on partnership.

”This case reminds us that there’s an issue here, and it affects a lot of law firms,” says Hillman, also adding the facts that are related to an individual dispute often determine just how a given partner can be so incredibly influential with in their own firm or office.

Provider of Technology Solutions for Legal Profession, EPIQ Systems, Acquires De Novo Legal, e-Discovery Provider

rebneely — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 08:00:11 +0000

EPIQ Systems, Inc., a provider of technology solutions for the legal profession, has acquired De Novo Legal LLC, a U.S. e-discovery provider, for an approximate $70 million.

For 2011 on a pro forma basis, De Novo represents an estimated 30 to 40 percent revenue increase to Epiq’s projected standalone e-discovery segment.

Christopher Olofson, president and COO of Epiq Systems, was quoted as saying in the December 28^th nasdaq.com press release: “Today’s acquisition further advances Epiq’s leadership position in the attractive e-discovery space. With a strong customer base and extensive track record for successful client engagements, De Novo is an excellent addition to our e-discovery business. We see a significant opportunity in 2012 and are positioned well for strong growth.”

The company’s credit facility funded the closing consideration. As well, the transaction includes a deferred cash component and an opportunity for contingent consideration based on future revenue growth.

Epiq said De Novo Legal has particular prominence in managed review services.

Epiq, headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas, had originally introduced an organically developed service extension for managed review in 2009. Epiq said the De Novo acquisition further strengthens its global e-discovery franchise, providing corporate legal departments and law firms with full-service capabilities to manage electronic information for discovery, investigations, regulatory issues, compliance, and related legal matters.

Epiq said De Novo has document review centers in key strategic locations in the United States and is among the largest providers of managed review and staffing services. De Novo also offers clients e-discovery processing and hosted review platforms.

Epiq has full-service e-discovery operations in New York and Phoenix domestically, and London and Hong Kong internationally.

Epiq Systems is a leading provider of integrated technology products and services for the legal profession. Our software applications and Web-based platforms offer case management and document management solutions for electronic discovery, legal notification, claims administration, and controlled disbursement.

Top law firms, corporate legal departments, bankruptcy trustees, and other legal professionals rely on Epiq Systems for full lifecycle support of administratively complex matters spanning bankruptcy, class action, settlements, financial transactions, litigation and regulatory compliance. We offer clients extensive professional services based on deep subject matter expertise and years of firsthand experience working on many of the largest, most high profile and complex client engagements.

Epiq Systems, Inc. has fourteen locations in the United States, Europe and Asia and trades on the NASDAQ national market under the symbol EPIQ.

De Novo Legal was founded in 2001 and is solely focused on operating the entire lifecycle of E-Discovery projects. Its full service solutions offer the legal industry’s only Integrated Electronic Discovery platform available on a dedicated national footprint. De Novo Legal’s clients enjoy a single point of accountability to manage and operate the full lifecycle of E-Discovery projects, wherever required.

The company’s strategic goal is to work with a limited number of national clients in order to provide extraordinary service. By having fewer clients, data can be processed within hours and document review projects can begin the next day. Clients cannot wait for projects to start and we have invested heavily in dedicated resources to insure that they don’t.

De Novo Legal’s sole focus on Integrated E-Discovery solutions provides an extraordinary amount of high-level service to law firms and corporate legal departments. De Novo Legal has the proven experience and depth of knowledge to assist with the daily operation of projects, thus relieving the burden currently overwhelming a legal organization’s own staff. De Novo is flexible to the changing needs and future trends of E-Discovery and Document Review and has made the large investment required to offer highly available and scalable solutions.

Reed Smith Launches European and Middle East Private Equity Practice

rebneely — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:00:38 +0000

International law firm Reed Smith announced Perry Yam will join the firm as a partner to launch a European and Middle East private equity practice. He will be the head of the practice.

Yam joins the firm from SJ Berwin, where he was a partner in the firm’s corporate department.

James Wilkinson, head of Reed Smith’s EME Corporate Group was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Perry’s appointment represents a significant step forward for our private equity practice in London, with his renowned expertise able to take our corporate and transactional practice to new heights. Creating a comprehensive, global private equity offering is a vital component of our long-term strategy for the corporate group, and Perry clearly has the energy and experience to the lead the development of a stronger European team around our existing capability in London and Paris to complement our already robust U.S. and Asian offering.”

Yam has a well-respected venture capital practice, and he advises on both technology and life science investments. The Legal 500 describes him as “the most prolific advisor to VC Funds in London.” Too, Yam has a broad range of experience, spanning all facets of the private equity industry, including institutional buyout transactions, buy-and-build strategies, exits/fundraising on AIM and other investment markets, and public-to-private transactions. He has acted for a number of private equity houses operating in the mid-market, advising on transactions in a wide range of sectors including technology, health care and life sciences, financial services, and leisure.

Roger Parker, Reed Smith’s EME Managing Partner was quoted as saying: “Reed Smith’s global footprint, including 23 offices across four continents, puts the firm at the forefront of the marketplace the world over, and particularly within the nexus of global financial transactions emanating from New York, London and Hong Kong. The addition of Perry as a significant pillar of our global private equity offering will further bolster that position. His experience advising firms and management teams within the financial services, technology, and health care and life sciences sectors is perfectly aligned with three of our four key industry groups, providing powerful synergies across the firm, and representing a significant step forward for our global corporate capability within these core sectors.”

Yam was quoted as saying: “I look forward to joining the team at Reed Smith, and leading the charge to further build and enhance its private equity capability across Europe and around the globe. As the industry continues to look further afield for new opportunities, helping to establish a truly global private equity offering at Reed Smith represents an exciting and rewarding challenge, and is a natural next step in my career.”

Global law firm Reed Smith has over 1,600 lawyers in 23 offices throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Founded in 1877, the firm represents leading international businesses, from Fortune 100 corporations to mid-market and emerging enterprises.

Merger of King & Wood and Mallesons Stephens Jaques Creates Largest Law Firm in Asia

rebneely — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:45:48 +0000

The merger of King & Wood and Mallesons Stephens Jaques will create Asia’s largest law firm, with over 2,180 lawyers in both China and Australia, as well as in cities including London, New York and Tokyo.

Stuart Fuller, who will become global managing partner of the combined firm, King & Wood Mallesons, when the alliance takes effect March 1^st, was quoted as saying in the December 16^th businessweek.com article: “We’re creating a new law firm for the Asian century.”

The firms’ Hong Kong offices will merge and combine with the partnerships in China and Australia through a “verein structure”, and will maintain separate finances. While law firms including London-based Ashurst LLP and Australia’s Blake Dawson have agreed to merge this year, others, like Herbert Smith LLP of London and Germany’s Gleiss Lutz, are ending alliances.

Anthony Root, the China practice head of Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCoy LLP, was quoted as saying of the merger that it “is a pioneering step by two firms seeking to go global. Like any such effort, it presents significant opportunities as well as challenges.”

The combined firm will be able to offer Chinese state- owned enterprises venturing abroad one-stop shopping, as it were, in the form of advice on energy and resource acquisitions, Wang Ling, King & Wood’s Beijing- based managing partner, was quoted as having said in an interview.

Robert Milliner, chief executive partner at Mallesons was quoted as saying: “Australia and China are more robust parts of the world and our clients there are still looking for growth. The world has become much more complex and we’re primarily placed in these opportunity markets.

China is Australia’s largest trading partner. The demand for iron ore and coal is driving the biggest resources boom in one hundred years in Australia. In 2010, relations between the two countries were strained with the trial and imprisonment in China of Stern Hu, an Australian convicted of accepting bribes and commercial spying while working for Rio Tinto Group.

King & Wood Mallesons joins together the Australian firm with the highest profit-per-partner and legal publisher Chambers and Partners’ best China law firm of 2010, and will have 21 offices, including 11 in China, five in Australia, and in London, New York and Tokyo.

The two firms, with the merger of their Hong Kong partnerships, will more than 130 lawyers in the city, which maintains a separate legal system from that of mainland China. Wang Junfeng, who left a Chinese state-owned law firm to found King & Wood in 1993, will be chairman of the combined firm based in Beijing.

King & Wood is a leading law firm in China, providing comprehensive legal solutions to multinational and Chinese clients across a broad range of cross-border and domestic transactions.

Mallesons Stephen Jaques is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. It is one of the 30 largest law firms in Australia, and is widely regarded as one of the top commercial law firms in Australia.

K&L Gates Launch of South Carolina Office is 40th Worldwide

rebneely — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 16:41:53 +0000

Global law firm K&L Gates LLP announced that it has established its fortieth office worldwide with the launch of a Charleston office. This also marks the firm’s 24^th location in the United States.

The office launch follows the addition of seven partners, all from Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP. The partners are Matthew J. Norton, J. Walker Coleman IV, Joshua W. Dixon, Theodore B. Manuel, Bryan L. Walpole III, Jason P. Walton, and James S. Bruce.

The new Charleston office will strengthen the firm’s regional, national, and international capabilities in practices including resort and hospitality, labor and employment, litigation, banking, tax, corporate/M&A, and real estate, among others.

K&L Gates Chairman and Global Managing Partner Peter J. Kalis was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “With its expanding port and with South Carolina’s distinctive business-friendly climate,Charleston is uniquely well positioned to continue to attract U.S.and international businesses. The practices of our new partners, moreover, nicely complement our firmwide resources and add leadership-caliber lawyers to our firm. As but one example, we expect that Matt Norton will be a leader in our global resort and hospitality practice.”

With a practice focusing on commercial real estate, resort development, hotels, golf, and real estate financing, Norton advises clients on projects and transactions throughout the southeastern United States, Caribbean, and Latin America.

Norton was quoted as saying: “K&L Gates is the first law firm to establish an office inSouth Carolinathat also has significant offices in world financial centers such as New York, London, Frankfort, Tokyo, Dubai, Hong Kong, and São Paulo. As a result, K&L Gates is the ideal platform for Charleston and South Carolina’s growing and dynamic economy and our international resort and hospitality practice.”

Coleman is an experienced litigator, focusing his practice on complex, high-stakes litigation with an emphasis on employment, intellectual property, commercial disputes, and class actions. He represents regional, domestic, and multinational companies in industries ranging from athletic equipment and aviation to banking, health care, manufacturing, telecommunications, and textiles.

Coleman is joined in the employment and commercial litigation areas byDixon, whose practice also includes white collar criminal defense, internal investigations, and appellate litigation.

Coleman was quoted as saying: “The breadth and depth of K&L Gates’ practices, in combination with its global reach in a single integrated firm, uniquely suits the broader needs of our existing clients doing business around the world, as well as the firm’s multinational clients doing business inSouth Carolina.”

Manuel, Walpole, and Walton work in the banking and tax group, where they represent lenders, servicers, and borrowers in a variety of financing transactions and agreements; banks, investment funds, and private equity firms in the acquisition, workout, and disposition of distressed assets; and real estate and resort developers in the financing, sale, and acquisition of properties, in addition to advising on the tax aspects of such transactions.

Bruce is a corporate transactional lawyer, and represents Fortune 500, middle-market, and emerging growth companies across a variety of industries in transactions including mergers, stock and asset acquisitions and dispositions, and strategic joint ventures. He also has substantial experience handling distressed debt acquisitions and representing real estate developers and owners and operators of golf, hotel, and resort properties.

Global law firm K&L Gates has over 2,000 attorneys in 40 offices located in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and theMiddle 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.

Obama Administration’s Top Health Official Blocks Plan B Pill From Becoming OTC

rebneely — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 14:19:59 +0000

Yesterday, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius – the Obama administration’s top health official stopped the Plan B morning after pill from being allowed to be sold over the counter. Her decision overrules scientists at the Food and Drug Administration.

At the moment, the only people who can purchase the Plan B pill are those aged 17 and older – and can prove it – and who have a prescription.

Sebelius said, per the December 8^th foxnews.com article, “Block of OTC morning-after pill sparks debate”, that “she was worried about confusing 11-year-olds.”

For over ten years, the debate about making access to pills for pregnancy prevention easier has raged on. However, Sebelius’s decision comes with election year consequences. Per the article, her decision caught women’s health advocates off guard. This faction is considered a major part of President Barack Obama’s Democratic base. In addition, many major doctors’ groups disagreed with the decision, arguing that over-the-counter sales could lower the nation’s large number of unplanned pregnancies.

Obama spokesman Nick Papas was quoted as saying: “Secretary Sebelius took this action after careful review. As the secretary has stated, Plan B will remain available to all women who need it, and the president supports the secretary’s decision.”

Dr. Robert Block of the American Academy of Pediatrics was quoted as saying: “Sebelius’ decision is “medically inexplicable.”

In addition, AAP member Dr. Cora Breuner, a professor of pediatric and adolescent medicine at the University of Washington was quoted as saying of the decision: “I don’t think 11-year-olds go into Rite Aid and buy anything, much less a single pill that costs about $50.”

She was also quoted as saying, in regard to making Plan B pills available OTC that they would help those “who have made a serious error in having unprotected sex and should be able to respond to that kind of lack of judgment in a way that is timely as opposed to having to suffer permanent consequences.”

However, conservatives praised the decision.

Wendy Wright, an evangelical activist who helped lead the opposition to Plan B was quoted as saying: “Take the politics out of it and it’s a decision that reflect the concerns that many parents in America have.”

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa was quoted as saying: “This is the right decision based on a lack of scientific evidence that it’s safe to allow minors access to this drug, much less over-the-counter.”

FDA Commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg was quoted as having written: “There is adequate and reasonable, well-supported and science-based evidence that Plan B One-Step is safe and effective and should be approved for nonprescription use for all females of child-bearing potential.”

The emergency contraception battle will continue to rage on. Per the article, in 2009, a federal judge said the FDA had allowed politics, versus science, drive its initial behind-the-counter age restrictions and said it should reconsider. At a hearing scheduled in federal court in New York next week, the Center for Reproductive Rights will argue the FDA should be held in contempt.

Use of the Plan B pill within 72 hours of rape, condom failure or merely not using a contraception method reduces the chances of becoming pregnant by nearly 90 percent.

Law Firm Expanding into Amherst as Baum Closes

jim — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 03:23:59 +0000

A law firm from Long Island that specializes in insurance defense and mortgage foreclosures is looking to open an office in Amherst. The reason for this is that the firm wants to employ dozens of workers from Western New York, moving into a business that former firm Steven J. Baum PC once operated in not long ago. The law firm of Frenkel Lambert Weiss Weisman & Gordon LLP wants to move into Western New York and other upstate New York areas because it has garnered more foreclosure cases in the region. The firm also expects that its casework will continue to expand according to managing partner David Frenkel, according to BuffaloNews.com.

The law firm is looking for a space that has around 10,000 square feet in an effort to hire anywhere from 100 to 125 employees. The company is asking for resumes and is even interviewing people who used to work at the Baum firm, but has no plans of hiring Baum himself. The firm claims that it is not purchasing the Baum firm or its affiliate, Pillar Processing LLC.

“By no reason are we acquiring his firm. I have no interest in bringing Steven Baum into my firm,” he said. “We have done a very good job of distinguishing ourselves in that area. We are a law firm, a litigation firm, and the last thing we want is ever to be tied to his operation.”

Late in the month of November, the firm of Baum told its employees that they would be laid off in February, when the office closes. The numbers are somewhat staggering, 90 attorneys will be laid off, 67 of them in Amherst and the remaining on Long Island. The collapse of the firm occurred after pictures of an old Halloween party appeared of their employees dressed as homeless persons.

Pillar, the affiliate of Baum, also announced that it is shutting its doors, leaving 600 people without jobs, almost all of them located in Amherst. There are four other affiliated title, abstract, and processing firms also closing because of the Baum scenario. Experts in the industry feel that the workload from Baum will be spread out to various firms, including that of Frenkel Lambert, which is approved to handle cases from Fannie Mae.

Frenkel did say that the expansion of his firm into Amherst is not the direct result of the Baum firm closing its doors. He did say that the closing of the Baum firm did help to speed up the process.

“We’ve been looking at Western New York for quite some time to expand our footprint in the state of New York,” he said.

Frenkel said that the law firm will begin with 25 to 30 employees and then continue to expand. Frenkel also stressed that his firm is not hiring solely from the Baum firm, although hundreds of resumes have been submitted from the firm.

Baker & McKenzie Announces Appointment of New Chief Operating Officer to Australia Offices

rebneely — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 14:42:51 +0000

Baker & McKenzie announced it has welcomed James Odell to its Australia offices as national Chief Operating Officer (COO). Odell transfers from Singapore; there he served COO of the firm’s South East Asia operations.

Before joining Baker & McKenzie, Odell was a member of Linklaters’ global Strategy & Planning team based in London and Hong Kong. He began his career as an aeronautical engineer with the UK Ministry of Defence, and possesses nearly two decades of experience in Asia.

Baker & McKenzie Managing Partner, Chris Freeland, was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Australia’s increasing connectedness with global markets, particularly in Asia Pacific, means the need for seamless legal advice, delivered efficiently across borders, has never been greater. In addition to a balance of strategic and operational experience, James brings a drive for efficiency born from his experience as an engineer. We are very pleased to have James on board to further strengthen the value of our offering.”

On his appointment, Odell highlighted Baker & McKenzie’s unparalleled global platform combined with a deep understanding of local markets, and was quoted as saying: “This has positioned us very well to advise investors looking to extend and protect interests in new markets. It’s exciting to be in Australia as it emerges as a key player on the world stage at a firm which has invested in its global offering for so many decades.”

Chris Freeland is National Managing Partner of Baker & McKenzie’s Australian offices and a member of its Asia Pacific Regional Council. Chris has had many years’ experience as a lawyer, strategy consultant and professional services manager in leading global and domestic organizations. He has lived and worked in New York, Beijing, Melbourne and Sydney.

Baker & McKenzie’s Australian lawyers have advised on many of the headline Australian transactions of the last four decades. These include the capital raising and listing for International Ferro Metals Limited, the first Australian company admitted to the FTSE 250; the A$4 billion KKR joint venture with the Seven Network; the groundbreaking A$1.85 billion Sims Group merger with the US company Metal Management Inc; and the A$1.2 billion acquisition of Schweppes Australia by Asahi Breweries.

The firm is a trusted advisor to leading Australian and multi-national corporations, State and Federal governments, Australian, international and multilateral institutions.

Baker & McKenzie continues to bring the experience of its global classroom to our clients in Australia through every transaction and every piece of advice. The firm actively ensures that it has harnessed the best legal solution as tested through its global platform. The firm’s ability to accomplish this is enabled by leadership in legal thinking, and by bringing experience across legal and regulatory boundaries to clients in their home markets.

Baker & McKenzie is an international law firm, founded in Chicago in 1949 by Russell Baker and John McKenzie. The firm employs over 3,800 lawyers in 70 offices in 42 different countries.

As a transnational operation, no single nationality dominates the firm, and over 80 percent of its lawyers practice outside the United States. The lawyers come from 60 countries and speak more than 75 languages, with English in common.

Sullivan & Cromwell Launches Law Practice in Hong Kong

rebneely — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:33:04 +0000

Sullivan & Cromwell recently announced it has launched a law practice in Hong Kong.

Joseph C. Shenker, Chairman of Sullivan & Cromwell was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “S&C has been committed to the Asia-Pacific region for many decades, with an integrated practice advising clients in their inbound and outbound investments, M&A and capital raising activities. Having the ability to offer clients advice under Hong Kong law is a natural extension to our diversified, global practice.”

The Hong Kong office was established in 1992, and possesses a strong team of lawyers, including partners William Chua, Michael DeSombre, Kay Ian Ng, Chun Wei and Gwen Wong.

As well, S&C established its Beijing office in 1999 and was among the very first top-tier Wall Street firms to have an office in China. Together, these offices serve clients in Greater China and throughout Asia.

Joseph C. Shenker’s practice covers a wide range of areas. These include his extensive experience in negotiated mergers and acquisitions (public and private); domestic and cross-border joint ventures; the representation of private equity investors and family investment offices in the Americas, Europe and Asia; securities offerings; private and public financings; commercial real estate; and tax and estate planning. As well, he serves as a personal adviser to many of the world’s most active and influential business leaders and families.

S&C is committed to clients and transactions in Asia, which have formed an important part of our practice since the 1920s. The firm is recognized as a leader in the region’s capital markets, M&A, private equity, privatization and project finance work. Clients located in Asia make up over 20% of S&C’s non-U.S. clients; the firm’s Asian clients are located all over the region, mainly in Greater China and Japan, and also in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea and Thailand.

With over thirty lawyers in our Tokyo, Hong Kong and Beijing offices, the firm provides expert legal counsel on corporate finance, M&A, private equity, real estate and project finance matters. S&C’s Asian practice has been widely recognized for its excellence and service to clients, and the firm regularly advises on the landmark transactions in the region.

The firm has been consistently recognized for its work in Asia. This includes IFLR’s “China Practice of the Year” in the IFLR Asia Awards, “ALB Deals of the Year Japan Awards,” “Equity Capital Markets Law Firm of the Year in Asia” by IFLR, “Capital Markets Law Firm of the Year in Asia” by AsiaLaw, and “M&A Law Firm of the Year in Asia” by IFLR.

The firm clients include many of the major companies, governmental and sovereign entities, and leading international and domestic investment and commercial banks in the region. As well, clients include a wide range of multinational corporations, financial institutions and private equity firms.

Sullivan & Cromwell is an international law firm headquartered in New York. The firm has approximately 800 lawyers in 12 offices, located in financial centers in the United States, Asia, Australia and Europe.

Steven J. Baum P.C. Firm Closing its Doors

jim — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 03:22:28 +0000

As reported on JD Journal earlier in the month, the largest foreclosure firm in New York has been removed from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s list of firms for foreclosures. In a move related to that news, the firm of Steven J. Baum P.C. announced on Monday (November 21) that it would be closing its doors. The firm filed information with the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notifications (WARN), the Buffalo and Erie County Workforce Investment Board and the New York State Department of Labor. The employees of the firm were notified of the layoffs when the information was filed with WARN.

Baum employs 67 employees at their Amherst headquarters, which is a mix between full-time and part-time employees. There are 22 employees at the firm’s location on Long Island. It is required by the WARN Act that a business that has anywhere from 50 to 99 employees file notification of layoffs it the layoffs will include at least 33 percent of the staff. A notice period of 90 days must be given to the employees.

“We will fulfill all of our obligations under WARN and during this process we will also fulfill our remaining work on behalf of our clients,” Mr. Baum said in a statement.

The firm came under a lot of heat in October when photos from a recent Halloween party showed employees dressed as homeless people. This report was released in the New York Times by columnist Joseph Nocera. To make matters worse, the Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office levied a $2 million fine on the firm. The fine comes from errors that occurred inadvertently due to human error.

The amount of business done by the firm has decreased greatly over the past year due to major investigations and new state regulations that have had an effect on lenders and their attorneys. In 46,824 foreclosure cases across the state in 2010, the firm represented the plaintiff in 17,376 of those cases according to figures released by the state. As of November 21, the firm had been listed in only 2,895 foreclosure cases while the filings for foreclosures across the state to this point in the year were listed at 13,704.

In a column written by Nocera on Saturday of this week, Nocera published an email written by Mr. Baum that was sent to Nocera. The email stated the following: “Mr. Nocera—You have destroyed everything and everyone related to Steven J. Baum PC. It took 40 years to build this firm and three weeks to tear it down.”

Robbie Vaughn of Vaughn & Weber in Mineola, a foreclosure defense firm, said that while it is unfortunate to see any firm go out of business, he is hopeful the Baum firm’s closure would ensure better practices among firms that continued to represent lenders in foreclosures.

“Unfortunately, I guess they brought it on themselves,” Robbie Vaughn, of Vaughn & Weber in Mineola, said of the Baum firm. “My hope is some good would come out of it. It was nice to actually have them call you back or send you an e-mail. Previously, I couldn’t get through to anyone.

K&L Gates Opens Office in São Paulo, Brazil

rebneely — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:43:40 +0000

In recent days, K&L Gates LLP announced the opening of an office in São Paulo, Brazil.

The office is the firm’s first in South America, and its 39th worldwide. New York finance partner Marc J. Veilleux and Washington, D.C./London corporate and securities partner Alan J. Berkeley will lead the launch of the office. Per the requirements of the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), the São Paulo office is licensed as a foreign legal consultancy.

K&L Gates Chairman and Global Managing Partner Peter J. Kalis was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Through the growth and diversification of its robust economy, Brazil has been propelled to the forefront of the 21st century marketplace for legal services. Our São Paulo office is a notable and distinguished addition to our global client offering.”

K&L Gates’ São Paulo office will enable the firm to counsel clients in establishing, developing, and managing their operations in Brazil. At the same time, the firm will be able to expand its long-established work for major Brazilian and international industrial and financial services clients around the world. The firm has significant expertise in the areas of international finance and capital markets, investment management, construction and project development, intellectual property, tax, and arbitration.

In addition, the São Paulo office and its clients will benefit from the resources of a fully integrated global law firm and especially from the firm’s worldwide energy, infrastructure and resources (EIR) and Asia-based business and investment practices.

Marc J. Veilleux was quoted as saying: “Brazil is a dynamic and growing economy, home to many of Latin America’s most significant companies, its largest stock market, and in recent years, its most ambitious infrastructure projects. Many of our clients have identified Brazil as central to their global operations and strategy and we fully expect the country to be a continued recipient of significant inbound investment. We also believe that the trend of Brazilian companies investing abroad will only continue to accelerate in future years. We are excited that our São Paulo office will allow us to better serve our clients in this important economy and throughout Latin America.”

Veilleux concentrates his practice on international finance, infrastructure, mergers and acquisitions, technology outsourcings, and other strategic alliances. He provides counsel on a regular basis to Brazilian and other Latin American financial institutions and companies on matters including structured trade and commodity financings, asset-based loans, and project financings, as well as debt capital markets offerings.

Berkeley is a corporate and securities regulatory lawyer with over forty years of experience. He has counseled corporations and their managements and Boards of Directors on both commercial and transformative matters (including mergers, acquisitions, and financing transactions for privately-held and public companies), crisis response, and regulatory, compliance and enforcement matters before the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and other securities regulatory bodies. Berkeley is a frequent lecturer on corporate and securities law, and has previously served as an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown and George Washington law schools. For many years he has been primary outside counsel to the Partners of the Americas, a bilateral non-governmental organization founded in 1964 as a private ancillary to President Kennedy’s “Alliance for Progress” and which has extensive programs in Brazil and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean.

K&L Gates has 39 offices located in North America, Europe, Asia, South America, and the Middle East.

Winston & Strawn Continues Expansion of IP Litigation Practice With Addition of Two Partners

rebneely — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 08:00:00 +0000

Winston & Strawn LLP announced in recent days it has added Alfred Fabricant and Lawrence Drucker as partners to its New York office. Fabricant will head the firm’s IP practice in New York.

Both attorneys join from Dickstein Shapiro, LLP. Both have cultivated a robust IP litigation practice through their representation of clients in cutting-edge technologies related to software used for analyzing media audience and marketing information data, radio frequency identification, digital watermarking, robotics, optics, and Web design platforms. Their clients are based in the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Fabricant has over thirty years of litigation experience. He is an experienced trial lawyer, and concentrates his practice on patent, copyright, trademark, unfair competition, entertainment, antitrust, and other commercial litigation matters. He has, on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants, tried cases to verdict as first chair in a broad range of technical disciplines, including digital and analog electronics, robotics, computer software, mechanical, chemical, pharmaceutical, and business method patents.

For twenty years, Drucker has concentrated his practice on patent, trademark, and copyright litigation, including trials and appeals. His work covers a broad range of areas, and includes patent infringement matters involving consumer electronics, audience measurement systems, medical devices, robotics, optics, radio frequency identification products, and floor coverings.

Michael Elkin, managing partner of Winston’s New York office was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Fred and Larry bring enormous talent and energy to our IP litigation practice. Their nuanced understanding of advanced technologies, plus their track record of success in the courtroom, are tremendous assets to existing and new clients in New York.”

Thomas Fitzgerald, firm managing partner was quoted as saying: “We welcome the remarkable skills and savvy that Fred and Larry bring to the entire firm. Their reputation and know-how are an outstanding fit for the practice and the firm’s global platform.”

Fabricant earned his J.D., with highest distinction, from The John Marshall Law School in 1978 and his B.A. in Political Science, magna cum laude, from the University of Miami. Drucker earned his J.D. from Columbia Law School in 1988 and his B.A. in Economics and Political Science, summa cum laude, from Queens College of the City University of New York.

The addition of Fabricant and Drucker follows the firm’s recent expansion of its global intellectual property litigation group and regional capabilities. Most recently, Winston added prominent IP litigation attorney Michael Murray to its New York office. As well, David Enzminger and David Dalke joined the firm’s Los Angeles office. In addition over fifteen litigation partners from the former Howrey law firm joined its Chicago and Washington, D.C. offices, as well as its newly opened Houston office.

International law firm Winston & Strawn LLP has nearly 1,000 attorneys in fifteen offices in Beijing, Charlotte, Chicago, Geneva, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, New York, Newark, Paris, San Francisco, Shanghai, and Washington, D.C. The firm serves clients of all types and sizes, in both the private and the public sector.

Jenner & Block Partner Andrew Weismann Joins FBI as General Counsel

rebneely — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 08:00:40 +0000

Andrew Weissmann, partner with Jenner & Block, has joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as its General Counsel and an Assistant Director. In this capacity, he will provide comprehensive legal advice to the FBI Director and other FBI officials, divisions and field offices on a vast array of investigative and administrative operations.

Jenner & Block Managing Partner Susan C. Levy was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “We are thrilled that Andrew is taking on this important role to serve the country as general counsel of the FBI. Andrew played an important role in the development of our New York office and of the Firm’s White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice. We will miss him greatly, but congratulate him on this wonderful achievement.”

Weissmann joined Jenner & Block in New York in 2006; at the time it was a new office. In his role as a Co-Chair of the White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice, he worked on various complex matters for clients across the globe. These included him leading the Jenner & Block team that won a $430 million award against Credit Suisse Securities – the largest FINRA arbitration award ever – for STMicroelectronics, in an auction rate securities case. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit affirmed that award in 2011. Weissmann also testified frequently about criminal justice issues before the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, most recently in support of proposed revisions to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Weissmann helped drive the growth of the Firm’s New York office and was joined by many top tier white collar criminal defense and investigative attorneys including Partners Peter B. Pope, who headed the statewide Criminal Division of the New York State Attorney General’s Office; Katya Jestin, who was an Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; and Kenyanna M. Scott, a former Assistant United States Attorney in Chicago.

Prior to joining Jenner & Block, Weissmann served as director of the Enron Task Force. In this role, he oversaw the prosecution of more than thirty individuals involved with the failed energy company. Before that assignment, he was with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, where he served as chief of the criminal division from 2000 to 2003. He was also Special Counsel to FBI Director Robert Mueller III in 2005.

Weissmann’s appointment to the FBI position serves as just another example of Jenner & Block’s commitment to public service as a core value and long-standing tradition. He joins a long list of Firm attorneys who have been appointed to senior-level positions in government. Recent partners Donald Verrilli, Jr. and Thomas J. Perrelli currently serve as Solicitor General of the United States and Associate U.S. Attorney General, respectively. Other former partners serving in senior positions at the Justice Department include Ian Heath Gershengorn, the Department’s senior litigator responsible for defense of the Affordable Care Act in the federal courts.

With approximately 450 attorneys, Jenner & Block has offices in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC. Founded in 1914, the firm gained national recognition for its skill in litigation during its antitrust fight with AT&T in the 1970s. Additionally, the firm was one of the first national law firms to establish a Washington D.C. practice specifically focused on appeals before the U.S. Supreme Court.

The Firm has well established practices in a wide variety of areas, including mergers and acquisitions, securities, finance, private equity, real estate, tax, environmental, insurance, commercial law, technology, and intellectual property.

Prominent Litigation Attorney and Former DOJ Assistant AG Joins WilmerHale

rebneely — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 08:00:24 +0000

WilmerHale recently announced that Molly Boast, former Department of Justice Deputy Assistant Attorney General, joined the firm’s New York office as a partner in the Antitrust and Competition Practice.

Boast possesses over thirty years of litigation experience in both the public and private sectors. This includes leadership roles in the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and in private practice.

As a key member of the firm’s New York office and its global Antitrust and Competition Practice, she will manage high-profile antitrust regulatory and litigation matters for the firm.

From May 2009 to February 2011, she served as Deputy Assistant Attorney General in the DOJ’s Antitrust Division. As the senior official responsible for civil enforcement, she oversaw all merger and conduct investigations; this led numerous significant merger and civil non-merger resolutions, including the NBC/Comcast and Oracle/Sun Microsystems ventures. 150 legal professionals were under her supervision in the Antitrust Division; she was one of three division authors of the 2010 Horizontal Merger Guidelines.

Boast served first as Senior Deputy Director and then as Director of the Bureau of Competition at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) from 1999-2001. Many mergers occurred during this period of time; she was responsible for many significant competition investigations and enforcement actions and served as the bureau’s Capitol Hill spokesperson on energy and pharmaceutical industry matters.

Michelle Miller and Thomas Mueller, co-chairs of WilmerHale’s Antitrust and Competition Practice, expect Boast “to bring a depth of experience from her years of government service and private practice that will be of tremendous benefit to the firm’s clients.”

William Perlstein, co-managing partner at the firm was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Molly Boast is one of the top antitrust litigators in the field. Her extensive experience at the senior levels of two government agencies and in leading complex litigation matters is a unique combination that will serve not only our antitrust and competition clients, but also our entire firm.”

Boast is well known in the New York litigation community. She served previously as a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, and before that at LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae LLP. She has handled major antitrust litigation and governmental investigation matters, including a seminal antitrust case before the US Supreme Court. At Debevoise, Boast was the chair of the antitrust group, and at LeBoeuf, Lamb, Greene & MacRae, she chaired the litigation department.

Additionally, Boast has served on the governing bodies of the litigation and antitrust sections of the American Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association. She was also the first woman to chair the federal courts committees of both the Federal Bar Council and the New York City Bar Association. She earned her JD from Columbia University School of Law; there she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and received the Jane Marks Murphy Prize for public interest contributions.

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP has twelve offices across the USA, Europe and Asia, with over 1,100 attorneys worldwide.

With one of the leading antitrust and competition practices in the United States and Europe, WilmerHale has decades of experience and over 70 competition lawyers in the US, Europe and China. The practice is consistently ranked in the top tiers of major legal directories such as Chambers USA, Chambers Global, Legal 500, Global Competition Review and PLC Which Lawyer.

Willkie Farr & Gallagher Adds Two Partners to Private Equity Practice

rebneely — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:00:56 +0000

In recent days, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP announced that Neil W. Townsend and David B. Cosgrove joined the firm as partners.

Townsend and Cosgrove will practice in the Corporate and Financial Services Department and Private Equity Practice Group in the New York office.

Willkie Co-Chairman Steven Gartner was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “The firm continues to enjoy a very successful expansion of our private equity practice. The addition of top talent such as Neil and David helps further our leading position in this area.”

Neil Townsend was quoted as saying in the same press release: “We were drawn to Willkie by the strength and sophistication of their platform, and by their great history, representing buyout funds in the competitive New York and global markets. We are very excited to get started.”

Both Townsend and Cosgrove were formerly partners in Bingham McCutchen’s Private Equity Practice Group. Each represents private equity funds and other financial sponsors and hedge funds in the structuring, negotiation, financing, implementation and restructuring of leveraged buyouts and other investments. In addition, they represent public and private companies in strategic acquisitions, dispositions and securities transactions, as well as in a wide variety of joint venture, capital raising and restructuring transactions.

Founded over 120 years ago, Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP was on principles that still distinguish the practice today, including integrity, innovation, pragmatism, flexibility and intellectual agility. These principles enable the firm to constantly meet the dynamic business needs of clients.

Willkie has over 630 attorneys in addition to support staff across eight offices in the U.S. and Europe, including New York, Washington, Paris, London, Milan, Rome, Frankfurt and Brussels. Our practice is globally integrated, yet it enables international offices to function independently in order to deliver the most appropriate localized legal services to our clients—from the Fortune 500 to the pro bono community causes we regularly represent.

The firm’s corporate transactional attorneys have access to expertise in a wide variety of areas including tax, regulatory, real estate, antitrust, bankruptcy, intellectual property, ERISA, litigation and environmental matters.

The firm’s Corporate and Financial Services Department offers clients high-quality services that cover all aspects of corporate and financial transactions, including purchasing and selling businesses and companies, raising capital, and implementing other corporate and commercial transactions. The firm is able to offer these services by combining specialized practice groups with general practitioners who have a broad perspective of business and legal matters.

Willkie’s Corporate Practice covers all facets of private equity transactional activities including mergers and acquisitions, direct equity investments, PIPEs, debt (bank, high yield and mezzanine) finance, dispositions, restructurings, recapitalizations, “club” deals, joint ventures and management compensation issues.

Recognized in the 2010 editions of Chambers USA, Chambers Europe and Chambers Global as having one of the leading private equity transactional practices in the United States and Europe, Willkie is regularly recognized as being among the foremost private equity deal counsel both domestically and internationally.

Clifford Chance Adds Three Prominent Attorneys to White Collar, Regulatory and Government Investigations Practice Group

rebneely — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 08:00:33 +0000

The law firm of Clifford Chance announced that it has added litigation partners David Raskin, Christopher J. Morvillo, and Edward C. O’Callaghan to its New York office.

The trio served together as federal prosecutors in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. They will reunite in early November at Clifford Chance where they will be a part of the firm’s New York-based White Collar, Regulatory Enforcement and Government Investigations practice group.

Raskin joins the firm directly from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. There, he has handled several of the most important criminal trials and international investigations in recent history. These include those that arose from the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and an ongoing probe into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Morvillo and O’Callaghan, who left the U.S. Attorney’s Office six and three years ago, respectively, are among the most highly regarded white collar defense attorneys in Manhattan. Morvillo is a partner at the white collar boutique firm, Morvillo, Abramowitz, Grand, Iason, Anello & Bohrer, P.C., and O’Callaghan leads the Government Investigations and White Collar Defense Group at Nixon Peabody.

The trio brings varied law enforcement and defense experience to Clifford Chance, adding significant strength to the white collar and regulatory capabilities of the firm.

David DiBari, Clifford Chance’s U.S. Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice area leader was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “It’s a rare occurrence when three litigators the caliber of David, Chris and Ed agree to move from different organizations to form, and join, a terrific team; we’re obviously thrilled they’re doing that with us. Their decision to reunite at Clifford Chance adds considerable depth and strength to our U.S. Litigation practice – especially in New York – while bolstering our firm’s strong litigation offerings worldwide.”

Craig Medwick, regional managing partner for Clifford Chance in the Americas, was quoted as saying: “Our Washington, D.C. office already features a superb cross-border investigatory and regulatory litigation team. The ability now to enhance our New York team with considerable white collar criminal defense and trial experience demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the execution of our U.S. litigation strategy.”

Jeremy Sandelson, global head of Clifford Chance’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice was quoted as saying: “We have been carefully searching for litigation partners in the U.S. who are not only world class in their capabilities, but well suited to our firm strategically and culturally. In David, Chris and Ed we have three partners who share our ambitious aspirations, as well as the collegial approach that helps define our firm. They’re a great fit for Clifford Chance and I am absolutely delighted to welcome them to our team.”

Raskin joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office in 1999, and rose to Chief of the Terrorism & National Security Unit. He has been pivotal in many of the most important criminal investigations and trials brought by the U.S. government during the past decade, including the prosecution of Zacarias Moussaoui, the so-called 20th hijacker in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack.

Most recently, Morvillo was a partner at Morvillo, Abramowitz. In the past six years he has represented individual and corporate clients in federal and state white collar matters, parallel enforcement and civil proceedings, and internal investigations. In particular, Morvillo has extensive experience in representing individuals and entities in insider trading, corporate espionage and securities fraud investigations and prosecutions.

O’Callaghan is Nixon Peabody’s Government Investigations and White Collar Defense practice leader. He has represented several of the largest financial institutions in the world in various regulatory enforcement investigations and proceedings.

Clifford Chance is one of the world’s leading law firms, with 33 offices in 23 countries and over 3,200 legal attorneys.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP Adds Five Partners to NY Acquisition Finance Practice

rebneely — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 10:33:03 +0000

In recent days, the law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP announced that five bank finance and high yield partners have joined its existing New York acquisition finance practice.

The partners include Ronan M. Wicks and Patrick J. Flanagan, formerly partners at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP in New York, Bruce Czachor, formerly a partner at Shearman & Sterling LLP in New York, Julian S.H. Chung, formerly a partner at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP in New York, and Jason D. White, head of the leveraged and high grade finance and credit restructuring practices in the Americas for the legal department of Barclays Capital.

The partners have joined Orrick’s acquisition finance practice group; Ronan Wicks will serve as global co-head.

Wicks, Flanagan, Czachor, Chung and White regularly represent a cross section of major investment banks in sophisticated financing and restructuring transactions involving financial sponsors, leveraged corporates and investment grade companies. Clients have included Barclays Capital, Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, Citibank, and Bank of America.

Orrick’s client base of financial institutions accounts for over one-third of the firm’s total revenues. With the addition of these partners, the firm has added significant acquisition finance capability to its leading financial institution practices in the areas of project finance, infrastructure finance, structured finance, public finance, capital markets, tax, and litigation.

Ralph Baxter, Chairman and CEO of Orrick was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “We are delighted to assemble this team of leading practitioners in the area of acquisition finance. This move adds another strong dimension to our representation of major investment banks and financial institutions, both in New York and globally.”

Ralph Baxter has held the position of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP since 1990. Under his leadership, the firm has become known as an innovator, and has expanded, diversified and extended its geographic reach, as well as launched a variety of transformative initiatives, including the firm’s new talent and pricing models.

Recognized as one of America’s “100 Most Influential Lawyers” by The National Law Journal, Baxter speaks frequently on business leadership and the evolution of the legal profession. He is the founder of the Law Firm Leaders Forum, one of the most significant gatherings of law firm leaders annually examining critical issues facing the legal profession.

A leading global law firm with offices spanning the United States, Europe and Asia, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP has over 1,200 lawyers across 23 offices and 8 countries, and offers practices of the highest quality, including a mix of transactional, litigation and regulatory expertise.

Chambers & Partners ranks Orrick’s lawyers and its practices among the world’s finest. The 2011 Chambers Global profiles Orrick’s strengths across 37 practice areas and 11 markets, and names 60 Orrick lawyers as leading practitioners worldwide. Law 360 recently named Orrick among its “Global 20,” a list of the most successful firms as measured by US and international expansion and results achieved for clients. As well, The Financial Times includes Orrick on its list of the most innovative U.S.-origin law firms, recognizing the firm’s finance and litigation work.

Baker & McKenzie Adds Ricardo S. Martinez to Latin American Finance and Transactional Practice

rebneely — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 08:00:00 +0000

In recent days, the law firm of Baker & McKenzie announced that Ricardo S. Martinez joined the firm as a partner in the Latin American finance and transactional practice in New York.

The addition of Martinez follows a series of lateral partners that have joined Baker & McKenzie’s New York office during the past year. These include international financial services partner Lloyd Winans, Marc Litt, a former Assistant US Attorney from the Southern District of New York as well as the lead prosecutor in the Bernard Madoff fraud scheme, and Niamh Curry, a corporate partner specializing in alternative investment fund matters.

Martinez served as a former in-house counsel with Citigroup, and has over thirteen years of experience in matters regarding complex, cross-border finance matters. He has represented large commercial banks, multilateral institutions and borrowers in many sophisticated finance matters, including acquisition finance, working capital facilities, and major infrastructure and energy project financings. In addition, he has been active in the trade finance area, and has a wide range of experience in letters of credit, pre-export credit facilities and trade receivable financings.

David P. Hackett, Chair of the firm’s Banking & Finance Practice in North America was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “We are continuing to see a tremendous amount of interest and investment in Latin America, and I know Rick’s impressive track record in that area and in-house experience will be valued by our clients. We’re delighted he has joined Baker & McKenzie.”

Martinez is fluent in Spanish and possesses broad experience in the Americas. He has closed transactions involving every major Latin American country during his career.

Martinez’s recent representative matters include representing three multilaterals and one development financial institution, in connection with a $155 million project financing of a toll road project in the Dominican Republic, as well as representing a major international bank in connection with a series of secured loans totaling over $1 billion to Latin American financial institutions. In addition, Martinez created and managed a major international bank’s Pre-Export Finance Product for Latin America. This included evaluating select regulatory and compliance issues and franchise risks associated with such product. He also represented a major bank as Lender in a series of term loans totaling approximately $2 billion to a subsidiary of a major multinational retailer, as Borrower and related to the acquisition of a Chilean supermarket chain.

James C. Colihan, Managing Partner of the firm’s New York Office, was quoted as saying: “Rick is a great addition to our growing New York office, and I know our domestic and foreign banking clients will value his insights, particularly in matters involving Latin America or the energy and mining industries.”

International law firm Baker & McKenzie was founded in Chicago in 1949. Currently, the firm has over 3,800 lawyers in over 69 offices in 41 different countries.

Zuckerman Spaeder LLP Continues Expansion of New York Office

rebneely — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:05:21 +0000

The law firm of Zuckerman Spaeder LLP announced in recent days that Andrew E. Tomback joined the firm as a partner in its New York office.

Mr. Tomback has over twenty-five years of experience in business, private practice and government service, and handles a full range of civil and criminal litigation before the ‎courts, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and various ‎other regulators. He focuses his practice on litigations and investigations regarding federal securities ‎laws, complex litigation, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and international arbitrations.

Tomback’s addition follows the firm’s addition last month of Steven M. Cohen to lead the expansion and development of its New York office. Cohen was most recently Secretary to New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo. Earlier this week, established litigator and appellate lawyer Paul Shechtman also joined the firm.

Tomback, Cohen, and Shechtman all served together as assistant U.S. attorneys in the Southern District of New York. In addition, Tomback and Cohen both clerked for the Honorable Stanley Sporkin of the U.S. District Court for the District of ‎Columbia.

Cohen was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Andy is an outstanding lawyer who comes to us with a history of success both in private practice and in government. Andy is not just a top-notch litigator, but he also gives us real depth in our New York office. This addition again demonstrates what we are building here in New York—a top flight team of lawyers that mirrors what Zuckerman Spaeder offers in Washington, DC and all its offices.”

Zuckerman Spaeder chairman Graeme W. Bush was quoted as saying: “Andy brings another dimension to our complex commercial litigation experience. His experience complements and enhances the full range of sophisticated criminal and commercial litigation capabilities for which our firm is known.”

Prior to entering private practice, Tomback served as deputy general counsel of the Resolution Trust Corporation (RTC). Mr. Tomback also ‎held various positions in government agencies, where he was involved in many high-profile and complex cases. As a senior advisor to the undersecretary for enforcement at the Department of the Treasury, he played an integral role in the passage of the Brady Bill, the Assault Weapons Bill, and the 100,000 Cops provision of the 1994 Crime Bill. He also investigated the Waco tragedy and was a principal drafter of Treasury’s incisive report. As an assistant U.S. attorney in the criminal division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Tomback tried 12 cases, all to conviction, and prevailed in over 20 appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Tomback was quoted as saying: “I’m thrilled to be joining Zuckerman Spaeder’s expanding New York team. The firm has a well-deserved reputation for excellence in complex litigation, and this move gives me an ideal platform to grow my practice in New York and beyond.”

Zuckerman Spaeder is a national litigation boutique representing individual and institutional clients in high-stakes civil and commercial cases. Founded in 1975, the firm employs many of the nation’s leading lawyers. Among them are former federal prosecutors and public defenders, and attorneys who have served in congressional offices and federal agencies.

Former Proskauer CFO Sues Firm for Employment Discrimination

rebneely — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 08:00:57 +0000

Former Chief Financial Officer of Proskauer Rose LLP Elly Rosenthal is suing for employment discrimination. She alleges the law firm fired her following the leave she took for treatment for breast cancer.

The suit seeks $10 million in compensatory and punitive damages. Rosenthal, who served as CFO for over fifteen years, from 1992 to 2008, filed the lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan.

Rosenthal held the position of CFO until 2008, when she was demoted to chief administrative financial officer. She was then fired in March of 2011.

Rosenthal’s attorney, David Sanford of Sanford Wittels & Heisler, was quoted as having said in a statement in the October 5^th businessweek.com article, “Proskauer Rose Sued by Former CFO for Discrimination”: “After one of its most senior female employees worldwide was diagnosed with breast cancer and took cancer treatment leave, Proskauer Rose demoted and then terminated her.”

Diagnosed with breast cancer in November 2007, Rosenthal received treatment and returned to work in March 2008. Then, she made the decision to take another three months of medical leave for recovery, per the complaint.

Also per the complaint, Rosenthal states that when she returned to work in August 2008, Proskauer’s chief operating officer, Art Gurwitz, and other male administrators began a “concerted effort to force her out of the firm,” per the businessweek.com article.

According to the October 5^th nydailynews.com article, “Breast-cancer survivor claims elite law firm fired her after taking medical leave in new suit”, Rosenthal was quoted as saying: “I feel blindsided. I don’t know how we went from ‘Elly, get well and there will always be a place for you’ to ‘By the way, be out of here in three days.’”

Also per the nydailynews.com article, Sanford was quoted as saying: “No one should find themselves in this situation. You should be able to take cancer leave, come back and have your job be the same.”

Rosenthal also said, per the article, that the firm’s chairman at the time, Allen Fagin was supportive and told her there would always be a place for her at Proskauer, and that her health needed to come first.

Rosenthal was also quoted as saying: “I had fabulous relationships up and down the firm. It was a place I loved working at.”

Founded in 1875, Proskauer Rose is an international law firm offering a wide variety of legal services to clients, globally. Areas of practice with which the firm has experience are numerous, and include corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, real estate transactions, bankruptcy and reorganizations, taxation, litigation, trusts and estates, intellectual property, and labor and employment law. As well, its clients are in a wide variety of industries, including chemicals, entertainment, financial services, health care, hospitality, and information technology, sports and transportation, to name a few.

Haynes and Boone Adds Two Partners to New York Office

rebneely — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 08:00:20 +0000

The law firm of Haynes and Boone, LLP announced in recent days that it has added two partners to its New York office, George Wang and Nir Yarden.

The addition of the two attorneys is part of the firm’s strategic expansion of its corporate and capital markets practices. The two attorneys’ combined practices are focused on servicing the corporate and financing needs of private equity and hedge funds, prime brokers and other institutional capital market clients.

Ken Bezozo, New York office managing partner was quoted as saying in the press release at the firm’s website: “The additions of Wang and Yarden strengthen key transactional practices within our New York office. Their extensive and unique industry knowledge and transactional experience will provide our hedge fund, private equity and institutional clients with the resources necessary to navigate a market that has seen tremendous changes.”

Wang is a partner in the Private Equity Practice. He has significant experience in mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, strategic alliances, financings, fund and venture capital transactions, licensing matters and general commercial advice. He represents domestic and foreign clients in a wide range of industries, including energy, financial services, technology, consumer products, insurance, real estate and life sciences.

Recently, he was named chairman of the Asian American Federation, the leading pan-Asian organization serving the New York metropolitan area. For over fifteen years, he has served as an educational counselor for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He received his bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, master’s degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and juris doctorate from The Cornell Law School.

Yarden is a corporate / investment funds partner specializing in investment management work. He represents investment managers and funds including hedge funds, private equity and real estate funds. In addition, he represents financial institutions on fund transactions and financings. He has significant experience in all aspects of fund formation, product development, fund financings, reorganizations and regulatory matters associated with investment managers and investment funds.

He also advises investment officers and general counsels at leading institutional investors, including public and corporate pension plans, endowments, family offices, and high net worth investors, on their alternative and traditional investment allocations and other portfolio management matters. He also negotiates and structures investments across all asset classes and investment fund vehicles.

He serves as chair of the American Bar Association’s Institutional Investors Committee. He is also chair of the annual Practising Law Institute’s Institutional Investor Forum. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Chicago and his juris doctorate from Duke University.

Craig Unterberg, a finance partner in the New York office was quoted as saying: “Our work in the equity markets and prime brokerage space is a significant practice for us with a diverse client base. The addition of these attorneys bolsters our unique expertise in this arena.”

Haynes and Boone, LLP is an international corporate law firm with over 525 attorneys and offices in Texas, New York, California, Washington, D.C., Mexico City and Moscow.

White & Case Marks 40th Year Anniversary of London Office

rebneely — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:10:14 +0000

Global law firm White & Case LLP marked its 40^th year anniversary in London on October 1^st.

Since 1971, the Firm has been acting for clients in matters regarding banking and capital markets, mergers and acquisitions, corporate, dispute resolution and project finance.

White & Case Chairman Hugh Verrier was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “We recognized early on that to be a truly global law firm, you must be strong in both London and New York. This continues to be a key element of our global strategy.”

In 1971, James Hurlock, who served as the Chairman of the Firm’s Management Committee for twenty plus years, from 1980 to 2000, opened the London office with only three people. Currently, nearly 70 partners and almost 300 lawyers are employed in the London office, serving clients not only in the United Kingdom, but throughout Europe and worldwide.

Oliver Brettle, executive partner of the London office was quoted as saying in the same press release: “White & Case was one of the first US-headquartered firms to establish an office in London. We were also the first US firm to have an English law lawyer in London. English law remains an integral and growing part of the Firm’s capabilities globally.”

Brettle focuses his practice on providing both contentious and non-contentious employment law advice on a broad range of matters, emphasizing employment issues for employers. He has represented various major employers in complex and large scale matters, including industrial disputes and employment-related litigation.

Regarding contentious matters, Brettle has advised on matters including sex discrimination claims, race discrimination claims and mass unfair dismissal claims, and numerous collective employment claims regarding business transfers and mass redundancies. He has acted on several of the UK’s leading cases in the areas of restrictive covenants, misuse of confidential information by employees, and enforcement of ‘garden leave’ clauses.

In non-contentious matters, Brettle has advised a variety of issues, including drafting executive service agreements at board level, the introduction of new terms and conditions of employment for large workforces, several large redundancy (RIF) programmes, and collective employment issues generally.

He has significant experience with employment issues arising in corporate transactions such as IPOs, management buyouts, share sales, business sales and outsourcing. He is also a regular contributor to leading employment law and human resource publications, and a frequent speaker at external and client employment seminars.

Founded in New York in 1901, White & Case LLP is a prominent global law firm with 38 offices in 26 countries. Among the Firm’s core values are its commitment to excellence, teamwork, innovation and diversity. The Firm’s clients include many of the world’s most respected and well-established companies, visionary start-ups, governmental organizations and state-owned entities. The Firm uses its global knowledge and resources to assure the highest level of service is provided to all clients.

Jones Day Adds Three Attorneys to New York, Boston Offices

rebneely — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 08:05:32 +0000

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.

Law Firm Kirkland Ellis Commits $2.75 Million to Stanford Law School to Fund Scholars’ Program and Annual Forum

rebneely — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 14:03:04 +0000

Stanford Law School recently announced law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP has committed $2.75 million over five years to the law school. The funds, which were made possible through the firm’s foundation and through individual partners’ contributions, will fund a scholars program, honoring the law school’s top first-year students, as well as a yearly forum on important legal issues for students, alumni, and the Bay Area business and law community.

Stanford Law School Dean Larry Kramer was quoted as saying in a press release at Kirkland Ellis’s website: “This generous support from Kirkland & Ellis will enable Stanford Law School to continue to transform legal education and prepare the next generation of leaders through innovative, interdisciplinary and international programs, new and expanded forms of clinical education, and a renewed commitment to public service.”

The newly established Kirkland & Ellis Scholars Program will recognize first year law students who have performed at the very highest level. Each year, six first-year students will be designated Kirkland & Ellis Scholars, based on overall scholastic achievement across a variety of courses. Now, students may win awards in individual courses. These awards, known as “book prizes,” will help determine who among the first-year class deserve recognition with the highest honor, the Kirkland & Ellis Scholar designation. The award is unique at the law school.

Kramer was quoted as saying of the program: “The Kirkland & Ellis Scholar designation symbolizes the highest standard of achievement. It is an honor that students will covet and it will benefit them in their pursuit of career and public service goals.”

The Kirkland & Ellis Law Forum offer panel discussions and symposia on emerging legal issues of interest to the business community. Stanford Law School faculty, Kirkland & Ellis attorneys and other legal and business thought leaders from academia, private practice, government, and the public sphere will participate in the discussions.

Jeffrey C. Hammes, Chairman of Kirkland’s Global Management Executive Committee was quoted as saying: “We’re very pleased to support Stanford Law School and excited about these new programs. The opportunity to recognize student excellence and to provide a forum for sharing thought leadership on emerging matters that may challenge and reshape the business and law community fit well with Kirkland & Ellis’s culture and mission.”

Established in 1893, Stanford Law School is one of the nation’s leading institutions for legal scholarship and education, and has worked to establish a new model for legal education that focuses on rigorous interdisciplinary training, hands-on experience, global perspective and focus on public service. The Law School employs more than 50 faculty and hosts over 500 students who are working towards their Juris Doctor (J.D.) or other graduate legal degrees.

Global law firm Kirkland & Ellis LLP has over 1,500 attorneys, representing clients in a broad range of matters, including complex litigation, dispute resolution and arbitration, and corporate mergers and acquisitions. The firm has offices in Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Munich, New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Shanghai and Washington, D.C.

Boyd M. Johnson, III, Deputy U.S. Attorney for SDNY Joins WilmerHale

rebneely — Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:57:03 +0000

The law firm of WilmerHale recently announced that Boyd M. Johnson III, current Deputy U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY), will join its trial litigation and white collar practices.

As Deputy U.S. Attorney, Johnson has overseen the litigation of all criminal and civil cases brought on behalf of the SDNY, including several high profile matters: the biggest crackdown in U.S. history on hedge fund insider trading; in regards to the Bernard Madoff fraud scandal, the handling of the criminal prosecutions and civil forfeiture proceedings, as well as the “investigation and prosecution of individuals and entities responsible for structuring and promoting international tax shelters,” per the press release at the firm’s website. In this role, Johnson supervised over 450 federal employees, managed a $50 million budget and took part in the creation of the SDNY’s Civil Frauds Unit.

William Perlstein, co-managing partner at WilmerHale, was quoted as saying in the press release: “Boyd’s reputation precedes him, and his tenacity combined with his intellect, demeanor and dedication to developing young lawyers makes him an excellent addition to our Litigation/Controversy Department and our New York office.”

Prior to serving as Deputy US Attorney, Johnson served as Chief of the SDNY’s Public Corruption Unit. In this role, Boyd supervised bribery and embezzlement prosecutions of New York State legislators and New York City council members, and investigations of corruption of United Nations officials. In addition, he led an investigation into prostitution rings used by former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer.

Johnson served as the Deputy Chief and Chief of the SDNY’s International Narcotics Trafficking Unit from 2004 to 2006. During this time, he led extraterritorial prosecutions of Colombian, Mexican and Chinese drug kingpins; Afghan narco-terrorists; and members of global money-laundering syndicates.

Johnson began his career at the SDNY over a decade ago, in 1999. Since then, he has conducted 15 federal jury trials, briefed and argued 15 appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and led the prosecution in the terrorism trial of Monzer al Kassar, a Syrian arms trafficker who supplied weapons to terrorists for over thirty years.

According to the press release, the New York Times reported that Johnson “has been described as a classic hard-charging government lawyer, confident and talented yet self-deprecating and fair, who would not allow politics to hinder good judgment.”

According to the March 2008 wsj.com blog, “The Man Behind the Spitzer Prosecution: Boyd M. Johnson III”, Randy Mastro, a Gibson Dunn partner and formerly the deputy mayor under Rudy Giuliani, and who supervised Johnson as an associate at the firm, where he worked in the mid- 1990s, was quoted as saying of Johnson:: “He’s a very affable guy, but don’t let that affability fool you — he’s a very tenacious, determined litigator.” He also was quoted as saying that when he persuaded Johnson to stay with the firm when he was considering moving to the U.S. Attorney’s office, Johnson responded that becoming a prosecutor “is just something I really want to do.”

Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr has over 1,000 lawyers in twelve offices in the United States, Europe and Asia.

King & Spalding Announces Plans to Open Office in Moscow; Hires Five Attorneys

rebneely — Wed, 11 May 2011 13:12:29 +0000

Today, King & Spalding announced it will open an office in Moscow, and the firm has hired, initially, five lawyers from Hogan Lovells and White & Case.

The Moscow office will be King & Spalding’s 17th worldwide and will work closely with the firm’s extensive transactions practices in London, the historic legal centre for transactions originating in Russia, as well as its highly regarded international arbitration practice in Paris, an important venue for Russian disputes.

The office will open in Moscow following receipt of government registration. The move has been much anticipated in the expansion of King & Spalding’s top-ranked international energy practice. The office will have close ties to the firm’s existing operations in the global energy centres of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Riyadh, Singapore, Houston, London and New York.

King & Spalding chairman Robert D. Hays, Jr. was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “We see this as an opportunity to turn heads and achieve instant critical mass in Russia by bringing together five well-established Moscow-based lawyers from two respected firms. Moscow is another example of our focus on expanding our global footprint by investing in high-value practices where we are already strong and in markets where our clients are seeking our expertise.”

Garry Pegg, King & Spalding’s co-managing partner in London and a former partner at Hogan Lovells who has worked extensively in Russia was quoted as saying: “A strong presence in Moscow has long been considered a key element of our international growth strategy, particularly for transactions-related assignments. The team we have created is of the highest quality and a great fit personally and professionally. It also enhances our ability to serve clients in and from London and across all legal disciplines and market sectors, including energy and life sciences.”

King & Spalding has a long history of representing clients across the Commonwealth of Independent States.

Olga Kozyr, Alla Naglis and Sergey Komolov join the firm as partners, and Iliya Zotkin as counsel, all from Hogan Lovell. Jennifer Josefson joins as partner from White & Case.

Komolov will be the resident office managing partner in Moscow. Komolov practices in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, private equity, finance, restructuring and general corporate law and has represented some of Russia’s largest corporations and banks in connection with groundbreaking transactions and major cross-border disputes.

Kozyr practices in the areas of corporate and real estate law, international and Russian litigation and life sciences, and represents U.S. and European companies engaged in investments in Russian.

Naglis focuses on cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and telecommunications, media and entertainment law, and has extensive experience in antitrust and intellectual property matters.

Josefson has been based in Moscow since 2002 and is consistently ranked as one of the leading energy and natural resource lawyers in Russia.

King & Spalding is an international law firm with more than 800 lawyers, and represents half of the Fortune 100.

Nationally Renowned White Collar Litigator Abbe D. Lowell Returns to Chadbourne

rebneely — Tue, 10 May 2011 19:01:46 +0000

Nationally renowned, high-profile criminal and civil litigator and trial attorney Abbe D. Lowell has rejoined Chadbourne & Parke LLP as a partner. He will split his time between Washington, D.C., and New York.

He returns to the firm to head its White Collar Defense and Special Litigation and Investigations Group. He previously held this position from 2003 to 2007 at Chadbourne, and held the same position at McDermott Will & Emery’s D.C. Office for the last several years.

As one of the nation’s leading white collar defense and trial attorneys, Lowell has an impressive track record of successfully representing companies and individuals in complex investigations, criminal and civil trials, appeals, and congressional and agency investigations all over the United States.

His talents and accomplishments are many, and have been recognized by news organizations and publications, including The National Law Journal, The Washingtonian, which has named him one of its top attorneys every year since 1986 when it first conducted this survey; Chambers; and Legal Times, which recognized him as one of the best white collar lawyers in Washington.

Andrew A. Giaccia, the Firm’s Managing Partner was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Abbe is not only one of the best white collar and trial attorneys in the United States, he is also a world class advisor to clients facing legal, political, market or media controversies. We look forward to having Abbe help us and our domestic and international clients navigate today’s increasingly complex worlds of white collar, securities and business investigations and compliance, especially when those clients face the possibility of trials and high profile attention from the media.”

Mr. Lowell has successfully tried dozens of high profile criminal and civil jury cases throughout the country. The criminal cases involved charges of public corruption, securities fraud, bank fraud, bankruptcy fraud, mail and wire fraud, election law violations, conspiracy and money laundering. His civil cases included claims of breach of contract and fiduciary duty, unfair trade and business practices, employment discrimination and civil rights violations, securities fraud, negligence, and civil RICO claims.

In addition to his representation of private clients, Mr. Lowell was appointed Chief Investigative Minority Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives for the Impeachment of President Clinton; Special Counselor to the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights in Geneva; and Special Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Ethics Committee. Prior to entering private practice, he held various positions in the Department of Justice including Special Assistant to the U.S. Attorney General and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C.

Lowell also teaches criminal procedure, evidence, and trial practice at Columbia Law School and Georgetown Law School and has contributed numerous articles to law reviews, legal newspapers and daily newspapers.

Chadbourne & Parke LLP has over 400 lawyers and tax advisors in 13 offices in ten countries.

Squire, Sanders & Dempsey Expands Global Finance Capability in NY Office

rebneely — Tue, 03 May 2011 10:56:47 +0000

Marianne Rosenberg and Jill Davidson will join Squire, Sanders & Dempsey in the firm’s New York office.

Rosenberg joins as a partner, and Davidson as of counsel in the firm’s Financial Services Practice Group. Both join from Cozen O’Connor.

James J. Barresi, head of Squire Sanders’ Financial Services Practice Group was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Marianne is highly skilled in cross-border transactions, particularly in the transportation sector. Jill’s experience includes a range of cross-border financings and acquisitions. Their combined expertise gives Squire Sanders significantly increased ability to advise clients regarding complex multinational transactions.”

Rosenberg is a well-known and respected member of the global financial world. Her career has included leadership roles at White & Case LLP, where she was head of the Equipment and Facility Finance Group and Linklaters LLP, where she was the U.S. managing partner. And, she is one of only four lawyers worldwide to be named a “market shaper” by Airfinance Journal.

Rosenberg advises clients on cross-border financings and other transactions. She works with banks, railroads, hedge funds, private equity funds and energy companies operating throughout Europe and the United States. Her practice focuses on finance and acquisitions including asset and structured finance.

Rosenberg was quoted as saying: “As a result of its combination with UK-based Hammonds, Squire Sanders has the expansive global platform our clients rely on in order to do business. We look forward to helping the legal practice build its global finance practice.”

Founded in 1890, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey has lawyers in 36 offices and 16 countries around the world and includes the nearly 500 lawyers from leading UK legal practice Hammonds.

Matheson Ormsby Prentice Expanding in New York, London

rebneely — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 15:25:23 +0000

Ireland’s largest firm, Matheson Ormsby Prentice, is expanding its offices in New York and London.

Robert O’Shea, head of the firm’s international business group, was quoted as saying in a recent article at businessandleadership.com about the moves that: “It’s responding to client needs for us. Our clients have told us over the years that having someone on the ground makes a huge difference.”

Stanley Watson, a corporate partner, will join the London office in April as managing partner. There, he will head a team of corporate and financial services lawyers that will advise international companies doing business in Ireland. For the past eight years, he has led the firm’s corporate and commercial practice.

John Ryan, an international tax adviser, will relocate to New York in June, where he will be resident tax counsel. There, he will head up a team of corporate tax attorneys focusing on U.S. companies and financial institutions doing business in Ireland.

Matheson Ormsby Prentice opened its first office in the United States 15 years ago in Palo Alto, California and is the only Irish professional services firm with a presence on both the East and West Coasts of the U.S. The expansion of its New York office will make MOP the largest Irish law firm in the U.S.

Pillsbury Gets Five From Orrick

joshua — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 17:20:21 +0000

Pillsburyhired a five lawyer real estate team away from Orrick in New York, including the only two real estate partners in Orrick’s NYC office. The partners, Marc Shapiro and Jill Block, are joined by counsel Susan Saslow, and associates Jason Schlessel and Christine Roch. This move represents a bet on real estate, a practice that has suffered during the economic downturn. If Pillsbury is right and the market bounces back this year, then the firm will be well placed to take advantage of it in New York.

The acquisition of a group of lawyers has been a trend lately as firms are more particular about who they bring on board. A team of lawyers can hit the ground running more quickly than a single partner and we’ve seen several such moves in the last few months – most recently, Blank Rome picked up a seven lawyer consumer financial services group.

Thompson Hine Among the Top Two Firms for Client Service Nationwide

marvins — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:58:59 +0000

For the ninth consecutive year, Thompson Hine LLP has once again been named as one of the top two law firms for client service in the entire US and the only firm that topped the “Provides Value for the Dollar” category. The BTI Consulting Group, Inc. conducts an annual independent report that evaluates the performance of various law firms based solely on client feedback across the country, from general counsel and C-level executives. The 2011 BTI Client Service A-Team: Survey of Law Firm Client Service Performance named Thompson Hine among the top-tier “Best of the Best” performers in all eight categories that drive superior client relationships such as Client Focus, Understands the Client’s Business, Provides Value for the Dollar, Regional Reputation, Unprompted Communication, Keeps Clients Informed, Meets Scope and Budget, and Anticipates the Client’s Needs. The firm also received high marks in the additional nine categories used by clients to rank the firm’s performance.

Michael Rynowecer, President of BTI, said that the firm’s client service performance was very impressive. “The latest survey marks nine consecutive years clients have ranked the firm among the best in the country for client service. Thompson Hine has developed a culture of client service and skill in exceeding client expectations.”

BTI collected their data from nearly 300 corporate counsel and C-level executives at the Fortune 1,000 and large companies nationwide. Respondents rated law firms on specific activities they use to select and evaluate outside counsel. Thompson Hine has been ranked among the firms on The BTI Client Service A-Team for nine consecutive years now. The firm has been operating in the legal industry since 1911, with approximately 400 lawyers today. The firm holds offices in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and New York and serves premier businesses worldwide.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Mon, 29 Nov 2010 20:21:44 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Tuesday, November 30th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s headlines.

Former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens gave an interview to 60 Minutes…

New York and Southern California law firms registered a slight increase in terms of revenue growth…