JD Journal » real estate practice

Winstead Expands Real Estate Development & Investments Practice Group

rebneely — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:00:01 +0000

The law firm of Winstead PC in recent days announced the expansion of its real estate practice.

Two real estate development, entitlement-focused shareholders, one development planner, one development project manager, and their support team have joined the firm.

Stephen (Steve) O. Drenner will lead the group, and will be based in the firm’s Real Estate Development & Investments Practice Group in Austin and San Antonio.

Drenner will be joined by his team of entitlement professionals, including John P. Donisi, shareholder; Michele Haussmann, director of planning and development; Amanda Swor, project manager; Ashley Parsons, project manager; and Heather Kuhn, legal secretary.

Drenner and his team were previously with Drenner & Golden, Stuart Wolff LLP, which is a boutique firm focusing on real estate with offices in Austin and San Antonio. The new group will serve clients in both Austin and San Antonio and the Central Texas region.

Pete Winstead, firm founder and shareholder in the Austin office was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “This announcement represents a great moment for Winstead.

Peyton Smith, the firm’s lateral hiring shareholder was quoted as saying: “We have developed a ‘go to real estate practice’ in other Winstead offices and we wanted to enhance our real estate capabilities to serve clients in the rapidly growing Austin-San Antonio corridor. As a result of Steve’s group joining Winstead’s real estate practice, Winstead clients will benefit from the most reputable team of attorneys and professionals who handle entitlement issues in Central Texas.”

Known as the king of entitlements in and around the City of Austin, the City of San Antonio and other municipalities in Texas, Drenner has established a well respected and reputable entitlement team of former city planners who as a team assist real estate developers navigate regulatory hurdles.

Drenner has niche experience with municipal and county ordinances and state and federal laws affecting property rights. He has a proven track record of successful developer representation in all aspects of land use, zoning, variances, and entitlements. His clients include H.E.B., Endeavor Real Estate Group, Stratus Properties, Phoenix Properties, Simon Properties, American Campus Communities, and Cousins Properties.

Drenner’s entire career has focused on real estate. Over the last thirteen years, he has been a name partner in two of his own Austin firms. In addition, he was a former partner at Jenkens and Gilchrist for thirteen years, opening the firm’s Austin Office and serving as the Austin managing partner for three years.

He was also the founding president of the Real Estate Council of Austin, and he was named as one of the five top real estate lawyers in Texas by Texas Lawyer. In 2009, the Austin Business Journal awarded Drenner with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in real estate. He was the president of the Hill County Conservancy during 2007 and 2008, and he is a member of The Real Estate Council of Austin, the State Bar of Texas and the Austin Bar Association. Drenner received his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law.

Donisi’s practice focuses on entitlement work. He is a registered lobbyist with a well established reputation for success in local government and legislative lobby efforts for his clients. Prior to law school, Donisi was special assistant to Governor Ann Richards for four years and then chief of staff to The Honorable Senator Rodney G. Ellis for two years. Following law school, Donisi became general counsel to the Jurisprudence Committee of the Texas Senate and was a partner at Bickerstaff, Heath, Smiley, Pollan, Kever & McDaniel prior to becoming a partner at Drenner & Golden Stuart Wolff.

Donisi is a graduate of Leadership Austin, a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, and the Austin Young Lawyers Association. Donisi has repeatedly been named a Texas Rising Star and a Texas Super Lawyer.

Haussmann joins Winstead as director of planning and development, land use and entitlements. She is a registered lobbyist with the City of Austin and City of San Antonio. She has worked in the zoning and planning area of real estate development her entire career, previously working with the City of Austin Development Review and Inspection Department, and the City of San Marcos Planning and Development Services Department, before working as the director of planning and development at her previous firm.

Winstead’s CEO and Chairman Kevin Sullivan was quoted as saying: “Overall, Winstead has assembled one of the strongest groups of real estate attorneys in Texas to address the needs of clients regionally as well as nationally. Drenner’s group, combined with Winstead’s long-standing expertise in real estate and related matters, will allow us to be the obvious go to firm for all aspects of complex real estate projects whether in Central Texas or elsewhere.”

Winstead is among the largest business law firms in Texas with offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and The Woodlands, Texas; Charlotte, North Carolina and Washington, D.C.

Greenberg Traurig Expands Real Estate Practice in California

joshua — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 16:10:55 +0000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 12:57:01 +0000

Good morning! Today is Tuesday, June 29th. Here’s a quick recap of yesterday’s stories.

The Elena Kagan hearings began…

Haynes and Boone added three attorneys to its NY real estate practice…

Gary Feulner returned to Chadbourne & Parke as Special Counsel…

Sidley Austin announced it’s teaming with MetLife in support of Sidley’s Prelaw Scholars Initiative…

The National Law Journal named its 2010 list of “Washington’s Most Influential Women Lawyers…

Haynes and Boone LLP Adds Three Attorneys to NY Real Estate Practice

joshua — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 17:12:03 +0000

Haynes and Boone, LLP has added three more attorneys to its New York real estate practice.

Stuart Mass joins as partner, and brings with him Of Counsel Noah Shapiro and Associate Siobhan Green. All three were previously with Paul Hastings in New York.

In the press release at the firm’s website, Steven Koch, a real estate finance partner among the seven joining Haynes and Boone in its first round of expansion was quoted as saying: “As our group grows and the economy improves, the opportunities for our clients and the practice will likewise grow. Stuart, Noah and Siobhan serve truly blue-chip leasing clients, so it is an exciting opportunity for Haynes and Boone.”

Stuart Mass devotes his practice to commercial real estate leasing transactions. He is routinely involved in several of the largest New York City leasing transactions each year, representing major landlords, and premier tenants.

Mr. Shapiro and Ms. Green focus on all aspects of commercial leasing transactions. As part of Mr. Mass’s client team they regularly represent the same top-tier clients.

Haynes and Boone, LLP is an international corporate law firm, providing a full spectrum of legal services. With almost 550 attorneys, Haynes and Boone is ranked among the largest law firms in the nation by The National Law Journal.

New Real Estate Partner For Nixon Peabody

eric — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 21:03:49 +0000

According to the site RealEstateRama, Nixon Peabodyhas brought Ross E. Eichberg on board. Eichberg arrives as a partner in the firm’s D.C. office in its real estate practice group. Prior to joining the firm, he was a partner at Patton Boggs.

With 25 plus years of practice in real estate and real estate finance transactions, Eichberg has a broad portfolio of international clients and projects and represents a large number of sovereign wealth funds and other foreign speculators in investment in real estate in the U.S.

Nixon Peabody is one of the largest general practice law firms in the country with 17 offices in the United States in addition to locations in London, Paris and Shanghai. The firm has more than 800 lawyers in 25 different areas of practice and clients including emerging and middle-market businesses, national and multinational corporations, financial institutions, public entities, educational and non profit organizations, and individuals. The firm was formed in 1999 by a merger of two firms: Nixon, Hargrave, Devans & Doyle LLP and Peabody & Brown.

And The Award For Excellence In Real Estate Goes To Greenberg Traurig

eric — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 18:47:10 +0000

And the envelope please … Continuing with today’s review of Chambers’ Awards recipients, Greenberg Traurig has received recognition for its Real Estate Practice group. The Awards, which celebrate excellence across the full spectrum of legal practice areas, are traditionally given to coincide with the publication of Chambers USA. The 2010 edition was released today.

Greenberg Traurig’s Real Estate Practice focuses on the delivery of innovative, practical legal services for full-cycle real estate needs. It offers transactional and regulatory experience complemented by significant depth in the areas of zoning, entitlements and land use planning, environmental matters, and ADA and accessibility compliance, as well as corporate and securities regulation, tax considerations and advice on management and operations.

Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, full-service law firm with approximately 1775 attorneys serving clients from more than 30 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. In the U.K., the firm operates as Greenberg Traurig Maher LLP.

Morris, Manning & Martin Forges Alliance with Brazilian Firm

joshua — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 21:25:24 +0000

Atlanta-based firm Morris, Manning & Martin has entered the Brazilian market through a strategic alliance with Sao-Paulo-based firm Fleury Malheiros, Gasparini, De Cresci e Nogueira de Lima Advogados (FGCN).

Morris Manning and FGCN had built a relationship through their work together in the timberland investment area on a case-by-case basis. It is hoped the new cooperative agreement will provide the firm with additional opportunities for other practice areas, including real estate, corporate, fund and tax work, according to a press release.

FGCN will remain an independent firm, but will work closely with Morris Manning in advising U.S. companies doing business in Brazil, as well as Brazilian companies looking to expand or do business in the U.S.

In addition to its Brazilian presence, Morris Manning also has offices in Atlanta, Raleigh-Durham, Savannah, Taipei, Beijing and Washington D.C.

Arnold & Porter Adds Counsel to D.C. Office

joshua — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:37:34 +0000

Marc Daniel has joined Arnold & Porter as counsel in the firm’s Washington D.C. office. He will join recent additions John Busillo and Alan Lawrence in the firm’s real estate, bankruptcy and corporate practices.

“Marc has a wealth of experience in originating, selling, and restructuring commercial real estate debt. The turmoil in the capital markets over the past few years is creating additional demand for this expertise,” said Michael Goodwin, head of Arnold & Porter’s real estate practice, said in a press release.

Daniel’s experience includes mortgage and mezzanine financings, workouts and restructurings, along with sales and purchases of mortgage, mezzanine and other real estate-related debt involving a variety of structures and property types.

Arnold & Porter’s real estate practice includes 30 lawyers practicing in New York Washington D.C., Los Angeles and London. The international law firm has more than 675 lawyers with offices in Brussels, Denver, London, Los Angeles, New York, Northern Virginia, San Francisco and Washington D.C.

Latham & Watkins Adds Partner to Hong Kong Office

joshua — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 19:57:16 +0000

Latham & Watkins has added Raymond Kwok as a real estate partner in the firm’s Hong Kong office. Kwok previously served in the Hong Kong office of Blank Rome.

Latham & Watkins launched its Hong Kong law capability and further expanded its English law practice in the region in early 2009 with the addition of seven partners. Joseph Bevash, office managing partner of Latham & Watkins in Hong Kong, said the firm is continuing to develop its full-service representation of local and international clients in China and the Asia Pacific region.

According to a press release, Kwok bring more than 20 years experience representing clients in real estate transactions.

“Raymond’s broad range of real estate experience in Hong Kong and across China has earned him a stellar market reputation, “ said Michael Liu, co-chair of Latham & Watkins China practice. “He is certainly among a select group of lawyers that have a genuine specialty advising on complex issues in the real estate sector. He will be a tremendous asset to our firm’s Hong Kong law practice.”

Latham & Watkins is a global law firm with approximately 2,000 lawyers in 29 offices, including Abu Dhabi, Barcelona, Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Doha, Dubai, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hong Kong, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, Milan, Moscow, Munich, New Jersey, New York, Orange County, Paris, Rome, San Diego, San Francisco, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, Singapore, Tokyo and Washington, D.C.

Revenue Drops at Paul Hastings

sara — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:35:16 +0000

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker reported that revenues fell to $889 million in 2009, a decrease of 9.8%. Profits per partner also decreased 1.4% from $1.9 million in 2008 to $1.87 million. Head count decreased by 13.7% last year and revenue per lawyer increased by 4.4%, from $930,000 in 2008 to $969,500 in 2009. Paul Hastings real estate practice was down almost 30% in 2009, with its New York Office suffering the largest decline. Litigation revenue for the firm increased in 2009.

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker has more than 1,100 attorneys in 18 offices including Atlanta, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, New York, San Francisco, Tokyo and Shanghai. The firm was founded in 1951.

Page Firm to Hire 5 in Ohio

Erik Even — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:58:26 +0000

Gregory Page, formerly of Pickrel Schaeffer & Ebeling, is launching his own practice in Springboro, Ohio, and will hire two attorneys and three staff before the end of the year.

Gregory S. Page Co. LPA will focus on commercial and residential real estate, construction and business litigation.

Page spent over a decade years at Pickrel Schaeffer, and was previously at Faruki Ireland & Cox. His JD is from the University of Toledo College of Law.

Morris Manning Slashes Salaries

Erik Even — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 17:03:00 +0000

Atlanta’s Morris Manning, which recently canceled its 2010 Summer Associate Program, is slashing salaries based on how much work a particular practice group is bringing in.

The real estate, commercial lending, and general corporate practice groups are taking 15% salary cuts. All other groups will see 10% cuts.

Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP, is 175-lawyer firm with offices in Atlanta, Alpharetta, Duluth and Savannah, Georgia; Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Washington DC; Beijing and Taipei.

Speechly Bircham Hires 90 from Campbell Hooper

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

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

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

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

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

Seyfarth Shaw Partners Jump Ship to Eckert Seamans

Erik Even — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:37:53 +0000

Eckert Seamans has picked up two Seyfarth Shaw partners for its real estate practice.

Ralph Stone and Rachel Gould join Eckert Seamans in Boston.

Stone will handle commercial, industrial, and residential properties. He earned his JD from Harvard Law School.

Gould will represent parties in commercial real estate matters. She earned her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law.

Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC is a national full-service law firm based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with two offices located in the Pittsburgh area and eight other offices located throughout the eastern United States.

Gudorf Law Hires 3 Lawyers

Erik Even — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 17:25:49 +0000

Dayton, Ohio lawyer Ted Gudorf has founded the Gudorf Law Group, bringing on three new attorneys.

Gudorf, who has practiced law in Dayton for 23 years, specializes in estate planning, estate administration and asset protection planning. He is board certified by the Ohio State Bar Association as a specialist in the areas of estate planning, trust and probate law. His JD is from the University of Dayton School of Law.

Anne Thompson was previously a clerk for former Montgomery County Common Pleas Court Judge Jeffrey Froelich, and a corporate tax attorney for NCR Corp. She will head the firm’s estate administration and business succession planning departments.

Russell Golowin joins as a contract lawyer, focusing on Medicaid crisis planning and veterans’ benefits planning.

Kelie Niswonger also joins.

Law Firm Hirings & Firings

Erik Even — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:39:51 +0000

Recent laterals and layoffs in the legal sector:

US District Court Judge Bruce Kauffman is stepping down next week, and will join Philadelphia’s Elliott Greenleaf law firm. Kauffman will co-chair the firm’s executive committee. He is a former Pennsylvania Supreme Court justice.

Paul Battaglia joins Williams Kastner in Seattle as of counsel. He handles real estate, leasing, and collections matters. Battaglia earned his JD from the University of Washington School of Law in 1991.

Anthony F. Newton joins Seyfarth Shaw in Houston, from Franklin Cardwell & Jones. He joins as of counsel to Seyfath’s Corporate & Finance Practice Group. He earned his JD cum laude from the University of Houston Law Center, and his LL.M in Taxation from the Georgetown University Law Center.

Cadwalader Offers Sabbaticals to 34 Associates

Erik Even — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:12:45 +0000

Cadwalader, the AmLaw 200 firm that leads in percentage laid off, has asked 34 junior associates to accept a one year, unrestricted sabbatical.

The sabbaticals target lawyers in the Capital Markets and Real Estate Finance groups in New York and North Carolina. Participating lawyers will get one-third of their current compensation, plus medical benefits.The firm intends to rehire these associates after a year, but no guarantees are being made.

Those who turn down the sabbatical option will get three months full severance.

A committee of partners and senior administrators will attempt to place these lawyers with clients, prospective clients, and not-for-profit organizations.

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP is the oldest continuously-operated law firm in the United States. Established in New York City in 1792, Cadwalader is now one of the leading financial law firms in the world. It has offices in London; Charlotte, North Carolina; Washington, DC; and Beijing, China.

Ruden McClosky Cuts Compensation

Erik Even — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:48:09 +0000

Florida’s Ruden McClosky, which laid off two lawyers and 18 staff in May, is cutting associate and non-equity partner compensation by 8%.

Equity partners are not likely to receive the holdbacks of 18% of their pay.

The firm is struggling, as it relies heavily on real estate transactional work, which has been negatively affected by the global economic meltdown. Ruden McClosky has been shedding attorneys since last year.

Fort Lauderdale, Florida’s Ruden McClosky is a law firm specializing in intellectual property law, litigation, banking & finance law, and general corporate law.

Winstead Poaches Real Estate Team from Bracewell

Erik Even — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:15:49 +0000

Winstead has added three attorneys from the San Antonio office of Bracewell & Giuliani.

Frank Ruttenberg joins Winstead in San Antonio as a shareholder. Elizabeth Breazeale joins as of counsel, and D. Farr Nolen joins as an associate.

All three join the real estate development and investment practice.

Winstead PC has offices in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio, and The Woodlands, Texas; and in Washington, DC.

DLA Piper Trims Partner Headcount

Erik Even — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:02:57 +0000

DLA Piper is both bringing on new partners, and letting others go. Five partners have left the firm in the last month, from the real estate, tax, corporate and projects practices.

Twenty-five partners have left so far this year, while 32 new partners have been appointed.

In May, DLA Piper laid off 24 lawyers and 100 support staff across its UK offices.

DLA Piper is one of the largest law firms in the world, and is the only firm with more than 3,700 lawyers in North America and Europe. DLA Piper is a legal services organization whose members and affiliates are separate and distinct legal entities. Together, the organization operates in 28 countries and 66 offices throughout the world.

Keystone Law Expands Disputes, Real Estate Practices

Erik Even — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:31:36 +0000

Singapore’s Keystone Law has hired Chan Yee Min as director and co-head of its real estate practice, and Leonard Koh Hun Peng as counsel and co-head for its disputes practice.

Chan was with Drew & Napier for 10 years. She specializes in real estate and property work.

Koh is admitted to practice in Singapore, Hong Kong and the United Kingdom, and was formerly with Clifford Chance and Jones Day.

Keystone Law is a Singapore law corporation with an emphasis on information technology, telecommunications, intellectual property, dispute resolution, real estate and corporate/commercial law. It should not be confused with the UK’s Keystone Law.

Bradshaw & Herrington Merges With White Goss

Erik Even — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:11:03 +0000

Kansas City, Missouri law firm Bradshaw & Herrington is merging into local firm White Goss.

With the four lawyers from Bradshaw & Herrington, including name partners Tom Bradshaw and Daniel Herrington, the combined firm will have 22 lawyers.

Founded in 2000 by five Polsinelli Shughart lawyers, White Goss Bowers March Schulte & Weisenfels focuses on real-estate, land-use law, municipal law and corporate litigation.

Saul Ewing Hires Buchanan Ingersoll Team

Erik Even — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 17:55:20 +0000

A group of seven attorneys, including three partners, from Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney will join the Wilmington, Delaware office of Saul Ewing.

William E. Manning, Teresa K.D. Currier and Richard A. Forsten are joining Saul Ewing as partners, while James D. Taylor joins as Special Counsel. Joining the firm as associates are Jennifer Morgan Becnel-Guzzo, Michael J. Farnan and Andrew H. Lippstone.

Manning joins the Litigation Department and will serve, with Stabler, as Co-Office Managing Partner. He will also Co-Chair Saul Ewing’s Higher Education Practice Group with James A. Keller.

Currier joins the Bankruptcy & Restructuring Department, and Forsten will be a partner in the Real Estate Department.

Taylor, Becnel-Guzzo and Farnan will join the Litigation Department, and Lippstone will be a member of the Real Estate Department.

Three secretaries and two paralegals from Buchanan Ingersoll will join the attorneys.

Saul Ewing LLP is a full service law firm with 260 lawyers in nine offices in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, New York and the District of Columbia.

Greenberg Traurig Expands Real Estate Practice

Erik Even — Sat, 23 May 2009 18:43:52 +0000

Greenberg Traurig has expanded its real estate practice with the hiring away of real estate fund attorneys Sanford Presant and Louis Vitali from DLA Piper.

Pesant joins Greenberg Traurig in Los Angeles as a shareholder. Vitali joins in New York, also as a shareholder.

Greenberg Traurig LLP is an international, full-service law firm with more than 1,800 attorneys and governmental affairs professionals in the US, Europe and Asia. The firm was selected as the 2007 USA Law Firm of the Year by Chambers & Partners.

Pannone Lays Off 35 Staff, Goes to 4-Day Week

Erik Even — Sat, 16 May 2009 16:57:43 +0000

Law firm Pannone has laid off 35 staff, and is asking employees to voluntarily work a four-day week.

The layoffs affected administrative and support staff in the firm’s real estate and corporate practices.

Founded in 1852, Manchester, UK’s Pannone LLP is a full service law firm with 380 solicitors, 92 partners and a total staff of 780, who all work within specialist teams focusing on the niche work carried out by their department. Headquartered in Manchester, Pannone has satellite offices in Alderley Edge and Hale.

Foley & Lardner Hires Three Lawyers

Erik Even — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:42:14 +0000

Foley & Lardner has hired three new partners.

Robert Huey, formerly of Hunton & Williams, will join in Washington DC. He handles international transaction and securities work.

Two former Katten Muchin lawyers, Russell Selman and Bradley Rochlen, are joining in Chicago. Selman does corporate real estate and public utility environmental compliance. Rochlen handles environmental litigation.

Foley & Lardner LLP is an international general practice law firm started in 1842 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It employs 1,000 attorneys, and is the 24th largest firm in the United States.

Gleiss Lutz Opens New Office with Baker & McKenzie Partner

Erik Even — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:14:36 +0000

Germany’s Gleiss Lutz will launch a new Dusseldorf office in August, headed by corporate partner Thomas Menke, last of Baker & McKenzie.

Menke handles international mergers & acquisitions and real estate transactions.

He will work with an unnamed associate, formerly of Freshfields’ Dusseldorf office.

Gleiss Lutz is a German law firm founded in Stuttgart in 1949 by Alfred Gleiss. It is one of the biggest independent full-service law firms in Germany, and advises companies and groups in Germany and abroad, as well as public authorities.

Thompson & Knight Lays Off 42; Defers Start Dates

Erik Even — Wed, 06 May 2009 20:50:47 +0000

Texas’ Thompson & Knight has laid off 17 associates, including two first-years, and 25 staff.

The layoffs targeted the real estate and corporate practices.

The firm has also pushed back start dates for its incoming associates to January 2010.

Thompson & Knight was founded in 1887. It employs approximately 400 attorneys between its Texas and New York offices. It has global offices in Algeria, Brazil, France, Mexico, and the United Kingdom.

Sheppard Mullin Hires 3

Erik Even — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 16:46:46 +0000

Los Angeles’ Sheppard Mullin has recently hired three new attorneys in Los Angeles and China.

This week the firm announced that corporate partner Brian D. Weimer from Latham & Watkins, and real estate partner Pamela L. Westhoff from DLA Piper, were joining Sheppard Mullin.

Earlier this month, the firm hired corporate partner Todd Bissett of O’Melveny & Myers’ Beijing office. He will work for Sheppard Mullin out of Shanghai.

The firm has laid off 25 attorneys so far this year, and froze associate salaries in January.

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP is an Am Law 100 law firm with over 520 attorneys in 10 offices in the United States and one in Shanghai. Its first office was founded in Los Angeles, California in 1927.

Herbert Smith Targets 33 Lawyers, 51 Staff; Freezes Pay

Erik Even — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 18:34:25 +0000

Herbert Smith announced today it has begun a redundancy consultation at its London HQ, targeting 84 positions.

The redundancies target 24 fee earners and professional support lawyers in the corporate practice; 9 fee earners and PSLs in real estate; nine paralegals and 42 support staff.

Herbert Smith also announced that it is freezing pay for all London staff except trainees, whose salaries will be cut to £60,000 ($87,000) in September.

Some bonuses will be paid to support staff and fee earners.

Herbert Smith was founded in the City of London in 1882 by Norman Herbert Smith, and today has 230 partners and 1,200 fee-earners. It is widely considered to be the UK’s leading litigation practice.

Eversheds to Lay Off 10 Lawyers, Defer Start Dates

Erik Even — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:21:59 +0000

Eversheds has launched a redundancy consultation targeting 10 lawyers in its real estate practice.

The firm may find new positions within Eversheds for some of those affected.

Eversheds has laid off 73 lawyers and staff since September 2008.

Also, the firm will defer start dates for roughly half its incoming associates, offering £5,000 to defer for a year. That’s $7,400 — for a whole year. It’s unclear if the offer comes with a cardboard box to live in.

Eversheds is also offering deferred associates a 12-month contract as a paid paralegal with the firm.

Eversheds LLP is one of the largest full service law firms in the world. Headquartered in London, it has 40 offices in major cities across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and China.

Duane Morris Rescues 24 from Wolf Block

Erik Even — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:50:31 +0000

Philadelphia’s Duane Morris has hired 24 lawyers, including 12 partners, from dissolving Wolf Block.

Wolf Block’s partners voted to dissolve the 106-year-old law firm on March 23rd. So far, more than half of Wolf Block’s 290 lawyers have found new firms. Wolf Block Chairman Mark Alderman has yet to join with a new firm.

Most of the lawyers joining Duane Morris are litigators, but the group also includes real estate and corporate lawyers.

Founded in 1904 as Duane, Morris, Heckscher & Roberts, Duane Morris LLP employs more than 650 lawyers in 23 offices in the United States, London, Singapore and Vietnam. In addition to legal services, Duane Morris has independent affiliates employing approximately 100 professionals engaged in other disciplines.

Reed Smith Lays Off 26 Lawyers, 74 Staffers

Erik Even — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:51:42 +0000

Today Reed Smith laid off 26 attorneys and 74 staff across its US and UK offices.

Seven of the lawyers are in the US, and the firm has targeted 9 in London for redundancy.

All of the affected associates are in the corporate and real estate practices.

The laid off employees will get severance and outplacement assistance.

Founded in 1877, Reed Smith LLP employs 1500 attorneys in 23 cities worldwide. The firm counsels 28 of the top 30 US banks, and 10 of the world’s 12 largest pharmaceutical companies. In addition to the United States, Reed Smith has offices in the United Kingdom, continental Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Cozen O’Connor Snags 28 Wolf Block Laywers

Erik Even — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 16:22:22 +0000

Cozen O’Connor is picking up at least 28 attorneys from the now-defunct Wolf Block.

Wolf Block voted this week to dissolve, and the firm’s nearly 300 attorneys are scrambling to find new positions.

Wolf Block executive committee member Robert Silverman has joined Cozen O’Connor, along with 11 attorneys from the private client group and 14 from real estate, and at least three from the tax practice.

Barry Klayman, the one partner from Wolf Block’s Wilmington, Delaware office who didn’t move to Drinker Biddle & Reath, will also join Cozen O’Connor.

Cozen O’Connor PC is a large US law firm based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The firm was ranked 114th on the Am Law 200 Survey in 2008, and ranked 89th on the National Law Journal’s list of the 250 Largest American Law Firms in 2007.

Rumor: Stealth Layoffs at Alston & Bird

Erik Even — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:47:37 +0000

Various blawgs report that stealth layoffs are underway at Atlanta’s Alston & Bird.

The firings seem to be taking place across all practices, but are hitting real estate especially hard.

Laid off lawyers are being given three months to find new positions.

First year associates have been laid off as well.

If you know anything about layoffs at Alston & Bird, please send us a confidential tip!

Alston & Bird LLP is the second largest law firm in Atlanta and the forty-third largest in the United States. Founded in 1893, the firm has local offices in Atlanta; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; New York City; Washington, DC; Dallas; Los Angeles, the Silicon Valley and Ventura County.