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Proskauer Opens Office in Beijing; Effort Underway Since 2008

rebneely — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:00:45 +0000

Global law firm Proskauer announced it has opened an office in Beijing. In so doing, the firm significantly expands its global capabilities and Asia practice.

The firm counts the office as its thirteenth, and it is located in the Chaoyang District of Beijing.

Joseph M. Leccese, Chairman of Proskauer was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “This marks the next step in our global strategy of serving the needs of our clients in the major financial markets of the world where they are located and doing business. It will allow us to continue to expand the work we are doing as our clients build their businesses in Asia, enabling them—and us—to capitalize on the full range of available opportunities.”

Yuval Tal, who heads the firm’s Asia Practice was quoted as saying: “We are excited to be able to support our fast-growing practice with an on-the-ground base in mainland China, where many of our clients are focusing their attention, time and money. With 20 fee earners in Asia, we can handle the most sophisticated inbound and outbound transactions.”

The opening of the office has been underway since 2008. At that time, the firm had expanded to Hong Kong, by adding two partners from the now defunct firm of Heller Ehrman, along with the relocation of Proskauer corporate partner Yuval Tal from New York. According to the November 10th amlawdaily.com article, “At Last, Proskauer Rose Opens Its Doors in Beijing”, Tal explained that obtaining the necessary license to open the office, via the Chinese government, was a lengthy process.

According to the amlawdaily.com article, Tal was quoted as saying: “Every transaction we do is multilingual. It very often involves at least two, if not three jurisdictions, and very often two or three legal systems. It’s a very, very exciting kind of practice.”

At first, five attorneys from the Hong Kong office will relocate to Beijing, according to Tal in the amlawdaily.com article. Tal will divide his time between the two cities. The two offices will concentrate their efforts on matters relating to private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets matters. Many of the clients are from the entertainment, sports, and lodging and gaming industries.

The Beijing office is the most recent opening for the firm. The move follows the firm’s expansion into London and São Paulo in 2007, and Chicago and Hong Kong in 2008.

Global law firm Proskauer Rose, founded in 1875, is one of the largest in the nation, with twelve offices and over 650 attorneys. The firm offers a wide range of services, and attorneys practice in corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, real estate transactions, bankruptcy and reorganizations, taxation, litigation, trusts and estates, intellectual property, and labor and employment law. The range of clients served is diverse, and includes companies in the chemicals, entertainment, financial services, health care, hospitality, information technology, insurance, internet, manufacturing, media and communications, pharmaceuticals, real estate investment, sports, and transportation industries.

Proskauer Continues Expansion of Corporate Department with Team of Premier Attorneys

rebneely — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:00:17 +0000

In recent days, law firm Proskauer announced the addition of two premier attorneys to its Finance Group and global Corporate Department. Andrew Bettwy will join as Partner and Glen K. Lim will join as Senior Counsel.

Bettwy and Lim represent banks, financial institutions, private equity funds, strategic investors and corporations in a broad variety of transactions, including secured and unsecured financings, acquisition financings, leveraged buyouts, asset-based loans, corporate recapitalizations and other types of complex and traditional financings. The pair formerly practiced as part of Skadden’s banking practice. In joining Proskauer’s Finance Group, they join a growing practice that, since 2010, has also added Partners Ron D. Franklin, Gregory D. Ruback and Justin Breen.

Mr. Franklin, who is co-head of the firm’s Finance Group, was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “We’re very excited about the capabilities and experience Andy and Glen will provide to our clients.”

Ronald R. Papa, co-Chair of Proskauer’s Corporate Department and co-head of its Mergers & Acquisitions Group, was quoted as saying: “Andy and Glen will complement the work we’re doing in finance, high yield, private equity and M&A, and allow us to continue to serve our client base of sophisticated institutions in the full range of complex transactions.”

Mr. Bettwy received his J.D. from Notre Dame Law School and his B.A. from the University of Arizona. Mr. Lim received his J.D. from New York University School of Law and his B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Bettwy and Lim are also the most recent additions to Proskauer’s Corporate Department. In recent months, the department has expanded significantly on a global basis; Kate Simpson (Private Investment Funds), Peter McGowan (Private Investment Funds, Hedge Funds), Russell T. Carmedy and Michael Nouril (Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions), and Oliver Rochman (Private Investment Funds), and the announced addition of Nigel van Zyl (Private Investment Funds) in London; the addition of Seung Chong and Jeremy Leifer (Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions), Gene Buttrill (Capital Markets) and Jay C.S. Tai (Private Equity, Mergers & Acquisitions) in Hong Kong; the addition of Geoffrey T. Raicht in New York (Bankruptcy & Restructuring); the addition of Frank Zarb (Capital Markets, Finance) in Washington, DC; and the addition of Joseph J. Giunta (Mergers & Acquisitions) in Los Angeles.

Proskauer’s global Corporate Department consists of over 250 lawyers offering counsel to clients in matters regarding sophisticated financial transactions and daily business and regulatory matters. The firm’s Finance Group is part of said department, and possesses extensive experience in transactional, lending, restructuring and regulatory matters over a wide range of industries, and on behalf of a diverse group of clients including banks, hedge funds and mezzanine funds, to business development companies and sponsors.

Breast Cancer Survivor Sues Prestigious Law Firm On Grounds of Discrimination

jim — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 04:58:28 +0000

Breast Cancer Survivor, Elly Rosenthal, sued New York-based law firm Proskauer Rose for $10 million on Wednesday October, 5^th 2011. She claims that the prestigious law firm fired her after she received a demotion. The termination took place once she arrived back at the law firm, after her medical leave.

Elly worked for 16 years for the firm, as a Chief Financial Officer (CFO.) Her clients included big time corporations such as professional sports leagues. She stated that she feels “blindsided” for being let go after receiving verbal promises stating that the firm “always had a place for her.” Proskauer Rose informed her that she had three days to leave the premises.

Rosenthal took leave for her two surgeries, and time afterward, to recover. She kept in contact with the firm, updating them of her whereabouts and what was going on with her health. The chairmen of Proskauer Rose at the time, Allen Fagin, remained loyal to Elly. However, others sought to undermine Rosenthal by squeezing her out the door. It’s pretty much unheard of to see discrimination cases where a lawyer at this level of employment would get treated in such a way as Rosenthal. You see those types of law suits all the time in positions without as much seniority as Rosenthal had at Proskauer.

The law firm, according to the law suit, states that the company tried to force her out with a lower wage offering. David Sanford, one of the lawyers trying Elly’s case, stated that “you should be able to take cancer leave, come back and have your job be the same.” Most companies would agree with Sanford. Even a different job title with the same salary would have been preferable to getting told you were going to receive a lower salary and, by the way, the job you were doing is no longer available. Proskauer Rose, for not giving their support, may wind up having to pay up the $10 million, in order to avoid having their name further drug through the mud.

Proskauer Rose, get this, is one of the leading firms in the nation that fights against employment discrimination. According to Elly, women hold only 15 percent of leadership positions at Proskauer Rose. The rest of the female staff holds positions as secretaries,paralegals and lower level associates.

Proskauer Rose, in its official statement, denied that females are discriminated in senior positions said this to the “Wall Street Journal’s” law blog “We were disappointed to learn that a former employee, Elly Rosenthal, has filed a suit against the Firm. Any assertion that Ms. Rosenthal’s employment was affected because of her gender, age or claimed disability is meritless. Many of our high-level managerial and administrative positions are held by women over the age of 50 and we have steadfastly supported our colleagues who have suffered illnesses or otherwise needed accommodation related to disability. We regret that Ms. Rosenthal has taken this step but we are confident that our actions will be vindicated by an independent decision maker.”

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.

‘Not Guilty’ is the Plea of Former Kirkland & Ellis Partner in Tax Fraud Case

EmploymentCrossing — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 00:20:12 +0000

A former senior partner with the law firm of Kirkland & Ellis, Theodore L. Freedman was indicted yesterday for tax fraud up to the tune of over $2 million. He plead not guilty to all charges. If found guilty he might be jailed for up to 3 years each for all four of the charges against him. He was represented in court by Robert Cleary of Proskauer Rose.

Read the full article here:
Ex-Kirkland & Ellis Partner Pleads Not Guilty to Tax Fraud

Firms Looking to Increase Summer Hires

joshua — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 18:08:16 +0000

AM Law Daily provided some encouraging news Friday in a preview of the upcoming summer hiring season. According to its reporting, summer associate class-size is expected to show significant increases in some cases among the more prestigious firms.

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

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

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

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

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

Morning Roundup

joshua — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 10:48:04 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Friday, June 25th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Crowell & Moring received the Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s Thomas L. Sager Award for Commitment to Diversity…

Proskauer Rose general counsel and former New York State Bar president Steven C. Krane died Tuesday in New York City…

U.K.-based attorney Andrew B. Harris left his position as private equity head at DLA Piper to take over as managing partner at the London office of Kaye Scholer…

Thorp Reed & Armstrong “parted ways” with seven of its attorneys and two administrative assistants…

Phillips & Cohen LLP represented whistleblower in Northrop case; company settled for $12.5 Million…

Proskauer Rose GC Steven Krane Dies of Heart Attack

joshua — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 17:38:27 +0000

Proskauer Rose general counsel and former New York State Bar president Steven C. Krane died Tuesday of a heart attack in New York City. He was 53.

According to a story from the New York Law Journal, Krane collapsed following a business lunch near Proskauer Rose’s New York office and was pronounced dead shortly after 2 p.m.

Krane was the youngest attorney to ever hold the top position at the New York State Bar when he was named its 104^th president in 2001. During his tenure, Krane led the State Bar’s efforts to assist victims of the September 11^th terrorist attacks and created the Special Committee on Student Loan Assistance for the Public Interest (SLAPI) that provides grants to defray loans for lawyers working in the public sector.

“Today is an extremely sad day for member of the New York State Bar Association and throughout the entire legal profession,” said State Bar President Stephen P. Younger (Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler). “Steve was a true lawyer’s lawyer and one of the nation’s foremost and widely recognized leaders in the field of legal ethics and professional responsibility.

Krane was a partner at Proskauer Rose, where he concentrated his practice on representing lawyers and law firms in legal ethics and professional liability matters. He co-chaired the firm’s Law Firm Practice Group and served as general counsel for the 700-lawyer firm.

Federal Labor Watchdog Coming To Proskauer

eric — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 23:42:12 +0000

Per a brief late day Washington Post piece, Ronald Meisburg, general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board since 2006, is joining Proskauer Rose as a partner in the law firm’s labor and employment law department.

Nominated by President Bush, and subsequently re-appointed to further service under the Obama administration, Meisburg’s tenure was set to expire in August of this year.

Founded in 1875, Proskauer Rose, formerly known as Proskauer Rose Goetz & Mendelsohn, is one of the United States’ largest law firms, with offices in New York City, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Boston, Boca Raton, Chicago, Newark, New Orleans, São Paulo, London, Hong Kong, and Paris.

Marketing Heavyweights Set for Harvard Club Forum

joshua — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 16:55:36 +0000

The chief marketing officers of DLA Piper, Greenberg Traurig and Morrison & Foerster are slated to serve as co-chairs of a law firm marketing and business development forum to be held at the Harvard Club in New York City on March 11 and 12.

Sponsored by The American Lawyer, roundtable discussion is dubbed the “Law Firm Marketing & Business Development Leadership Forum: Next Level Legal Marketing for 2010 and Beyond. According to a press release, the forum will offer a wide variety of panel discussion sessions featuring leading law firm marketers, industry marketing consultants and law firm managing partners.

The three CMO’s slated to attend are Joe Calve of Morrison & Foerster, Jolene M. Overbeck of DLA Piper and Bob Robertson of Greenberg Traurig.

Calve joined MoFo as CMO in February. Previously CMO at Proskauer Rose, Calve oversees marketing and business development efforts at MoFo. Overbeck was named global chief marketing officer at DLA Piper in 2007. Previously CMO at Latham & Watkins, Overbeck oversees all aspects of DLA Piper’s marketing and business development efforts worldwide. Robertson has been CMO at Greenberg Traurig since 2009. He previously served as director of business development at Haynes & Boone.

The complete conference agenda and registration details are available at www.americanlawyer.com/business.

Two Partners Leave Mayer Brown Following Layoffs

joshua — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 00:56:41 +0000

Mayer Brown, which last week let go of 28 associates and 47 staffers, saw its ranks continue to thin this week with the loss of two partners.

The first is Peter V. Darrow, who was a partner at Mayer Brown for 25 years and most recently served as co-chair of its Latin America practice. He has joined the New York office of DLA Piper, where he will serve in its corporate finance practice. The other is Ron D. Franklin, who has left Mayer Brown to join the Boston office of Proskauer Rose.

Darrow represents issuers, underwriters and placement agents in cross-border securities offerings. Roger Meltzer, global chair of DLA Piper’s corporate and finance practice, said the addition “is the latest step in DLA Piper’s strategic expansion of the New York corporate and finance practice, as well as our cross-border practice in emerging markets.”

Proskauer Rose brought on Franklin as it looks to expand the senior debt component of its finance practices. He told the New York Law Journal that his departure was not related to any financial difficulties at the firm.

Mayer Brown reported a 14 percent decrease in revenue in 2009 and its headcount fell by 144 to 1,657.

Cadwalader Nabs Four from Proskauer Rose

joshua — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:41:54 +0000

Cadwalader, Wichersham & Taft has bolstered its litigation department with the addition of four attorneys from Proskauer Rose LLP. Joining the firm are Louis M. Solomon, Hal S. Shaftel, Colin A. Underwood and Michael S. Lazaroff. All will be resident in Cadwalader’s New York office.

Solomon takes over as vice chairman of the firm’s litigation department and head of its commercial and international litigation practice group. He held similar roles while at Proskauer.

“Lou Solomon and his team exemplify Cadwalader’s commitment to provide our clients with the profession’s top talent in areas where they face their most significant legal challenges,” said firm Chairman Christopher White in a press release. “They have stellar records across a range of major complex commercial disputes and extensive trial experience. The team also has unmatched expertise in litigation with international dimensions, which is increasingly critical in a complex global economy.”

Solomon has been internationally recognized for his successful representations in complex litigation matters and high profile disputes, including antitrust, intellectual property, class action and government and regulatory proceedings. He has litigated cases involving multiple international jurisdictions including the EU, Russia, Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

“The addition of Lou and his colleagues strengthens the core disciplines within our litigation practice,” said Gregory A. Markel, chairman of Cadwalader’s litigation department. “Their experience in international and commercial litigation adds both scope and depth to our existing high-performing teams.”

Shaftel litigates complex commercial cases and his clients include major companies and individuals in the financial services, biotechnology, and professional sports and entertainment industries. He previously was a partner at Proskauer and head of the department’s private funds practice group.

Underwood is a litigator with a focus on intellectual property and antitrust law. He previously was co-head of Proskauer’s antitrust practice group.

Lazaroff previously served with Underwood as co-head of Proskauer’s antitrust practice group. He focuses on private and government antitrust litigation, antitrust counseling, and representing corporations and individuals in both civil and criminal government investigations.

Cadwalader, Wichersham & Taft was founded in 1792 and does business in more than 50 countries on six continents. It has offices in New York, London, Charlotte, Washington and Beijing.

Firms Tighten up in Partnership Promotions

joshua — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 23:21:46 +0000

In a year that has been notable for salary cuts, layoffs, associate deferrals and smaller bonuses, it should come as no surprise that promotions to partner are also down across the board. Profits are down, and firms are reluctant to increase the number of slices of the shrinking pie. Although not every firm has announced this years promotions yet, plenty have.

Here’s a sampling of prominent firms that have announced a smaller partnership class this year compared to last year: Cleary Gottlieb, Latham & Watkins, Ropes & Gray, Proskauer Rose, Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz, Skadden Arps, Davis Polk, Paul Hastings, Gibson Dunn, Mayer Brown, Kirkland & Ellis. The list of firms bucking the trend is much smaller and those that have promoted larger classes have promoted only marginally more partners while some of the firms with smaller classes have cut promotions by as much as half. Fried Frank for example promoted seven new partners, up from five the previous year, but did so in a year where its total number of attorneys shrank by 26%.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:52:17 +0000

Good morning! It’s Tuesday, November 17, and here’s a look back at yesterday’s news.

The Chicago school district has been ordered to allow students immediate transfers in the wake of the killing of a student…

Proskauer Rose has a new class of partners…

Jackson Lewis opened a new office in Cincinnati…

Merger talks continue, but partners at Hogan & Hartson and Lovells have settled on a name….

and Reed Smith is asking non equity partners to cough up…

New Partners at Proskauer Rose

joshua — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 03:18:12 +0000

Proskauer Rose has elected four new partners. The four new partners are Sarah Cherry, a corporate lawyer in Boston, Baldassare Vinti and James Gregory in New York and Amy Covert in Newark. Lisa Herrnson and Lisa Stern have been named senior counself for the firm.

Proskauer Rose Picks up Four

joshua — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:46:46 +0000

Four attorneys have left the Washington DC office of McDermott Will & Emery to join up with Proskauer Rose. Led by Paul Hamburger, who joins as partner, the team will establish an employee benefits practice at their new firm. Joining Hamburger as senior counsel are Todd Castleton, Eugene Holmes, and James Napoli.

Proskauer Rose Defers Its Deferred 2009 Associates

Erik Even — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:17:51 +0000

Proskauer Rose, which in July deferred its current Summer associates to Fall 2011, is also deferring its deferred 2009 incoming associate class in New York.

The associates, who had already been deferred to March 2010, are now being pushed to November 2010. This move seems to affect only the New York office.

Proskauer Rose Defers Summers to Fall 2011

Erik Even — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 18:30:27 +0000

New York’s Proskauer Rose, which in March laid off 23 attorneys, is deferring its current Summer associates to Fall 2011.

Proskauer has not announced how many Summers will get job offers, and there has so far been no mention of stipends or fellowships.

The firm deferred its 2009 incoming associates class to March 2010 with a $20,000 stipend; those who deferred voluntarily to January 2011 got a $60,000 stipend.

If you have any information about deferrals at Proskauer Rose, send us a confidential tip!

McDonald Hopkins Adds Attorneys

Erik Even — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 19:17:31 +0000

West Palm Beach, Florida’s McDonald Hopkins has added three attorneys to its roster.

Howard K. Coates, Jr. joins as a member. He was founder of the Coates Law Firm, practicing commercial litigation. Coates was a partner at Proskauer Rose, and head of its Florida Litigation and Dispute Resolution Department. His law degree is from Yale.

Mary F. April joins as Of Counsel. Her legal practice is focused on the areas of commercial litigation and dispute resolution. Her JD is from the University of Florida.

Spencer Gollahon joins as an associate. He handles litigation and transactional matters. He has an MBA from Nova Southeastern University and a JD from Shepard Broad Law Center.

The West Palm Beach office of McDonald Hopkins was founded in 2004 with four attorneys. Today, with the new additions, it employs 15.

McDonald Hopkins is a business advisory and advocacy law firm with more than 130 attorneys. The firm has offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, and West Palm Beach.

Perkins Coie Poaches IP Team from Proskauer Rose

Erik Even — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:17:20 +0000

Washington State’s Perkins Coie, which cut 12 attorneys and 26 staff in April, has hired seven intellectual property attorneys away from Proskauer Rose.

Proskauer Rose partners Colin Sandercock, Paul Booth, John Isacson and David Laub all worked together at Heller Ehrman before it dissolved. The join another 13 former Heller lawyers employed by Perkins Coie. They also bring with them three associates from Proskauer Rose.

Perkins Coie is an international law firm based in Seattle, Washington. The firm is ranked number 86 on the list of the world’s largest law firms by 2006 revenue and has been listed on the Fortune Magazine “100 Best Places to Work in America” for the past seven years

Proskauer Rose’s Profits Fall 10% in 2008

Erik Even — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:03:46 +0000

Am Law 100 firm Proskauer Rose’s profits per equity partner dropped 10% in 2008 to $1.4 million.

Revenues increased marginally, by 1%, to $634 million. Revenue per lawyer dipped slightly to $916,000.

Total headcount attorney rose slightly from 685 in 2007 to 692 in 2008. The number of equity partners was up two in 2008; 10 new non-equity partners also joined.

Unlike most Am Law 100 firms, Proskauer’s financial year ends October 31st, so the numbers only cover about a month and a half of the financial crisis prompted by Lehman Brothers’ mid-September collapse.

Despite this, the firm’s performance in November and December was roughly in line with the previous six months.

In 2008, Proskauer Rose added an office in Hong Kong, and announced plans to launch in Beijing. The firm also added a Chicago office following the hire of a three-partner insurance litigation team from Mayer Brown.

In December, the firm cut 35 associates and 25 administrative staff.

Winston & Strawn Bankruptcy Team Moves to Proskauer Rose

Erik Even — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 20:44:29 +0000

Just two years after joining Winston & Strawn to co-chair its bankruptcy group, attorney Jeff Marwil is leaving to join the Chicago office of Proskauer Rose.

Two of Marwil’s bankruptcy partners, Mark Thomas and Paul Possinger, will follow him to Proskauer Rose.

The hop to Proskauer is the third time the three attorneys have changed firms in seven years.

The group spent five years at Jenner & Block, and have also worked together at Katten Muchin Rosenman.

Marwil specializes in distressed hedge funds.

New York-based Proskauer has five partners in its bankruptcy and restructuring practice.