JD Journal » real estate

Woman files lawsuit for losing job over gray hair

EmploymentCrossing — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 13:36:53 +0000

52- year old Sandra Rawline, an ex-employee with a real estate firm in Texas believes she was fired for having gray hair. Sandra, who was working as an escrow officer and branch manager, says she was told to dye her hair, wear more fancy clothes and more jewellery to keep up with the firm’s new look. She then claims that on refusing to change her natural look, she was replaced by a woman 10 years younger than her. However, the firm’s CEO says that he himself has gray hair and is ready to hire a 150- year old if that person is fit for the job.

Read the original article here:

WORKING: A price to pay for being gray?

Thompson Hine Well-Represented in “Leading Lawyers” List

joshua — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:36:52 +0000

Eight partners from business firm Thompson Hine have been named “Leading Lawyers” for 2010 by Inside Business Magazine, the firm said in a press release.

They are:

Thomas J. Coyne, real estate practice group leader

Michael L. Hardy, environmental practice group

Laura A. Hauser, business litigation practice group

David J. Naftzinger, commercial & public finance practice group

Deborah Z. Read, tax practice group

James D. Robenalt, business litigation practice group

Stephen D. Willinger, business litigation practice group

Karen D. Youngstrom, employee benefits and executive compensation practice group

All eight are resident in the firm’s Cleveland office.

“We congratulate our colleagues on this honor,” said April Miller Boise, partner-in-charge of the Cleveland office. “Their commitment to client service excellence and dedication to the community are admirable.”

Leading Lawyers are selected via nominations by clients and other lawyers in the Northeast Ohio community. The full listing appears in the magazine’s November issue.

Thompson Hine was established in 1911 and has approximately 400 lawyers. The firm has offices in Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, New York and Washington D.C.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 23:16:26 +0000

Good morning everybody! Today is Tuesday, November 9th. Here’s a look back at yesterday’s stories.

Ballard Spahr will open its 13th office with the addition of a group of attorneys from the San Diego litigation boutique La Bella & McNamara LLP…

The partnerships at Squire Sanders & Dempsey and U.K-based Hammonds agreed to merge over the weekend…

Weitz & Luxenburg partner Robert J. Gordon was named the 2011 Mass Tort Litigator of the Year by legal publication Best Lawyers…

The partnership of Clifford Chance elected Malcolm Sweeting as the firm’s next senior partner…

The National Law Journal reported overall headcount at the nation’s 250 largest law firms fell for a second straight year…

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

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.

Greenberg Traurig Attorney to Lead Distressed Hotel Symposium

joshua — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:55:18 +0000

Greenberg Traurig attorney Nelson Migdal will examine how rebranding a hotel property may increase the property’s value at the IMN Distressed Hotel Symposium on Nov. 8-9 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Los Angeles.

Migdal, a shareholder in Greenberg Traurig’s Washington, D.C. office, will lead a panel of investors and owners in a discussion on the latest trends and demographics for repositioning and other adaptive reuse possibilities. Migdal has focused on the hospitality industry for more than 25 years and is an avid speaker and author on industry best practices.

Greenberg Traurig is a regular sponsor of real-estate industry and investment conferences. The firm has approximately 1,800 attorneys serving clients in more than 30 offices in the U.S., Europe and Asia.

More information on the conference can be found here.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 12:32:21 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Monday, October 11th. Here’s a quick look back at Friday’s stories.

Bernstein Liebhard was named to the National Law Journal’s Plaintiffs’ Hot List for the eighth consecutive year…

Greenberg Traurig’s Galli will lead the Urban Land Institute Panel in Washington, D.C., on October 13-15…

Duane Morris is set to announce its joint venture with a leading Singapore firm Arfat Selvam Alliance…

Lemon law firm Kimmel & Silverman began offering services in four additional states…

Greenberg Traurig’s Galli Leads Urban Land Institute Panel

joshua — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 21:43:01 +0000

Attorney Tom Galli, a shareholder at Greenberg Traurig,, and other industry leaders, will examine the evolution of asset disposition programs as well as investor strategies for acquisition at the Urban Land Institute Fall Meeting in Washington, D.C., Oct. 13-15.

Galli has represented clients on real estate transactions, restructurings and developments for mixed use, office, retail, stadium, industrial, multi family, single family community, undeveloped land and other types of properties located throughout the country.

In promoting the event, Greenberg Traurig said in a press release that it has represented clients on four out of the last five commercial real estate loan portfolio deals done by the FDIC totaling more than $3 billion.

The Urban Land Institute was founded in 1936 and has members in 95 countries worldwide. The organization represents the entire spectrum of land use and real estate development disciplines working in private enterprise and public service.

Greenberg Traurig is an international firm with approximately 1,800 attorneys in 30 offices throughout the United States, Europe and Asia.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 10:48:28 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Friday, October 8th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

SNR Denton added a 13-year veteran of the U.S. Attorney’s Office as a partner to its white collar & government Investigations practice…

Thompson Hine appointed partner James B. Aronoff to the newly-created management role of administrative partner at the firm’s Cleveland office…

The National Law Journal will present the 2010 “Law Firm Leadership and Economic Forum” Oct. 13-14 at the Harvard Club in New York City…

Thompson Hine Adds to Cleveland Leadership

joshua — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 17:21:59 +0000

Thompson Hine said it has appointed partner James B. Aronoff to the newly-created management role of administrative partner at the firm’s Cleveland office. In the role, Aronoff, a real estate capital markets lawyer, will work alongside office partner-in-charge April Miller Boise.

The move comes following an expansion of duties for Boise, who was recently named to the firm’s executive committee. Boise said in a press release that “by increasing the leadership bench…we are positioning the firm for continued progress and success.”

Aronoff is a member of the firm’s real estate practice group and leader of the group’s real estate capital markets practice.

Thompson Hine is a business law firm established in 1911. It has approximately 400 lawyers with offices in Atlanta, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, New York, Washington D.C.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 12:47:26 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Tuesday, September 7th. Here’s a quick recap of Friday’s stories.

More details emerged in proposed Squire Sanders, Hammonds Merger…

Nixon Peabody elected four new members to its partnership…

Lathrop & Gage merged with Denver Based Kamlet Reichert…

Lathrop & Gage Merges With Denver Based Kamlet Reichert

joshua — Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:08:10 +0000

Denver law firm Kamlet Reichert LLC will merge with Kansas City, Mo.-based Lathrop & Gage LLP, the oldest law firm west of the Mississippi.

The merger will create a full-service firm with strengths in business transactions, real estate, oil and gas, and litigation and intellectual property.

The combined firm will be called Lathrop & Gage. It will have 37 lawyers in Denver and rank among Colorado’s 20 largest law firms.

According to today’s article at denverpost.com, Jay Kamlet, firm partner was quoted as saying: ”It really brings us areas we weren’t able to do before — oil and gas and intellectual property.”

According to the article, Kamlet said Kamlet Reichert had been approached by a number of law firms about merging in the last six years, but had considered just three other offers. A deal never worked out because of philosophical and cultural differences between the firms, as well as reluctance to break existing leases to combine offices.

The merger comes just one month after Kamlet Reichert LLC celebrated its 10th anniversary.

Founded in 1873, Lathrop & Gage boasts a long tradition of success. The firm has 300 lawyers in 11 offices in six states. While the firm offers the depth and strength of a national firm, it also possesses the hands-on service, management style and aggressive competition of a smaller firm.

Troutman Sanders Adds Transactional Team in Orange County

joshua — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:11:41 +0000

International firm Troutman Sanders has bolstered its Southern California presence with the addition of a team of real estate finance and business litigation attorneys. Joining the firm’s Orange County office are partners Martin W. Taylor, Dan E. Chambers and Jennifer Irrgang Bojorquez along with associate Meghan Sherrill.

According to a firm press release, the addition boosts the number of attorney’s at Troutman Sanders’ Orange County office from 19 to 23. The new team will be joined by a contract attorneys, two paralegals and two secretaries.

Troutman Sanders managing partner Robert W. Webb Jr. said the addition of a complete transactional practice in Orange County fulfills the firm’s strategic objective it had set following its merger with Ross, Dixon & Bell in January 2009.

Prior to joining Troutman Sanders, all four attorneys worked for Jeffer Mangels Butler & Marmaro in Orange County.

Taylor, 46, focuses his practice on representing financial institutions, borrowers, principals, guarantors and other parties in all aspects of financing, including new financings, modifications, out-of-court workouts, restructures, bankruptcies, liquidations, foreclosures and the enforcement of (or as applicable, the defense against) pre-judgment and post-judgment rights and remedies with respect to a wide variety of secured and unsecured financial obligations.

Chambers, 43, focuses his practice on the representation of financial institutions and borrowers in all aspects of litigation involving secured and unsecured debt, including bankruptcy, receiverships, pre- and post-judgment remedies, foreclosures, guaranty actions and lender liability.

Irrgang Bojorquez, 38, has represented financial institutions and developers on complex real estate-based loan transactions involving resorts, residential development projects, master planned communities, condominium conversions and industrial buildings. She is experienced in counseling agents and lenders in syndicated and participated loan transactions.

Troutman Sanders was founded in 1897 and has more than 650 lawyers in 16 offices in North America, Europe and Asia.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Wed, 12 May 2010 13:52:48 +0000

Good morning! Today is Wednesday, May 12th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Opportunity For Firms To Re-learn and Re-market Real-Estate Practice…

Legal Heavyweights Speak About Arizona Immigration Legislation…

Clifford Chance To Deepen Bankruptcy Practice Group…

Firms Hire MDs to Combat Government Suits Over Medicare Billing…

Lucado Law Firm Opposes BP’s Motion To Have All Lawsuits Involving Gulf Oil Spill to Houston…

Nevada School District Hires Littler Mendelson…

Opportunity For Firms To Re-learn and Re-market Real-Estate Practice

joshua — Wed, 12 May 2010 03:35:08 +0000

According to the Law.com there will again be profitable work in real estate transactions and litigation. The publication today reported on a recent panel discussion at an ABA symposium on Real Property, Trust and Estate Law that occurred last week in Philadelphia.

Albeit that the real-estate business in the last two years has taken a turn for the worst, the business of real-estate related law has not, according to the post. Firms have been actively restructuring their practices to deal with the recent fall out in the real estate market.

The post focuses particularly on firms in Pennsylvania, one of the markets hit hardest by the real-estate bubble bust. Although the firms highlighted in the post, which include Ballard Spahr, Morgan Lewis & Bockius, and K&L Gates, showed a decline of nearly $30 million in revenue in the years 2008 and 2009 in their real-estate related practices, the post also emphasized that these firms, among others in both Pennsylvania and the nation, are on the cusp of launching initiatives to tackle the new real-estate market landscape.

Kilpatrick Stockton Brings on Lawyers

Erik Even — Mon, 18 May 2009 17:11:48 +0000

Kilpatrick Stockton has hired Edward Henderson, formerly of Canadian law firm Torys LLP, as a partner in the firm’s global construction & infrastructure projects practice in New York.

Henderson reps construction and real estate clients in dispute resolution, litigation and arbitration.

The firm has also brought in Jill Cox, previously at Constangy, Brooks & Smith, to join the firm’s labor & employment team out of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Kilpatrick Stockton employs more than 500 attorneys in ten offices globally: Atlanta and Augusta, Georgia; Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem, North Carolina; New York, New York; Washington, DC; Dubai, UAE; London, UK; and Stockholm, Sweden.

Pugh Jones Partners with McCarter & English

Erik Even — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 17:13:19 +0000

Chicago’s Pugh, Jones, Johnson & Quandt and Newark’s McCarter & English are forming an alliance.

While remaining separate and independent law firms, they will recommend and provide coordinated legal services to their respective clients, including complex litigation, corporate transactions, municipal finance, commercial real estate, employment matters, and property tax appeals.

Pugh, Jones, Johnson & Quandt, one of the largest minority-owned law firms in Chicago, serves Fortune 500, governmental and entrepreneurial clients.

McCarter & English, established more than 160 years ago, represents Fortune 500 and middle-market companies in their national, regional and local litigation. Its 400 attorneys are based in offices in Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Stamford and Wilmington.

Sedgwick Detert Hires Attorneys

Erik Even — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 18:18:58 +0000

Frisco’s Sedgwick Detert Moran & Arnold has hired J. Craig Williams and Joseph R. McFaul as partner and special counsel, respectively, in its Orange County office.

The attorneys previously worked at the Williams Lindberg Law Firm, a boutique in Newport Beach, California.

Williams handles complex business litigation with an emphasis on environmental, intellectual property, real estate, technology law and labor matters.

McFaul focuses on real estate, admiralty, complex business litigation, and environmental matters.

Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold LLP is an international litigation and business law firm that provides counseling, risk management, litigation management, trial, appellate and transactional legal services to sophisticated corporate clients. Founded in 1933 as a three-person firm in San Francisco, Sedgwick now has more than 400 attorneys in offices around the world.

Maslon Edelman Cuts Five Admin Positions

Erik Even — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 22:22:56 +0000

Maslon Edelman Borman & Brand has cut five administrative positions.

There is no further information available about these layoffs. If you have any inside info you’d like to share, please send us a confidential tip. You’ll be glad you did!

Founded in 1956, the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based firm employs more than 80 lawyers. The firm specializes in business & securities, estate planning, financial services, labor & employment, litigation and real estate.

L’Estrange and Brett Fires Five

Erik Even — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:14:41 +0000

Belfast, UK-based L’Estrange and Brett has made two solicitors and three secretaries redundant.

One of the city’s oldest and largest law firms, L’Estrange made the redundancies as the housing and property market continues to suffer.

The firm has around 90 staff, and has announced a pay freeze and the cancellation of bonuses.

The firm, founded as Ramsey and Garrett around 1796, has warned more lay-offs may yet take place as the profession as a whole waits for signs of an upturn.

Polsinelli Shughart Merger Finalized

Erik Even — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 22:56:20 +0000

Last week we reported that former Republican Missouri US Representative Kenny Hulshof was joining the law firm that will emerge from the pending merger of Polsinelli Shalton Flanigan Suelthaus and Shughart Thomson & Kilroy.

Today, that merger is final.

The new firm, Polsinelli Shughart PC, came into existence Sunday. The move creates a firm with nearly 500 lawyers in several cities, effectively becoming one of Kansas City’s biggest law firms.

The firms had combined revenue of about $174 million in 2008. Polsinelli ranked fifth and Shughart sixth on the Kansas City Business Journal’s most recent list of the top area law firms.

The Polsinelli firm was known for work in real estate, financial services and life sciences practices, and Shughart was noted for its work in business litigation, health care and construction law.

Polsinelli Chairman and CEO Russell Welsh holds those titles with the combined firm, and Shughart CEO Jack Kilroy Jr. becomes vice president.

Shughart litigator Larry Ward is the combined firm’s chairman emeritus.

Laywer: It’s Legal! Client: Great, Let’s Do It! Lawyer: Oh, Wait… Sorry

Erik Even — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 18:57:54 +0000

A Waterford, Michigan couple has filed a lawsuit against their former attorney, claiming they were ill-advised when they tried to raffle off their house in October.

Joseph and Penelope VanDevelder’s house on Wanamaker Road was on the market unsold for 18 months. So they contacted attorney Phillip Strehle to find out if they legally could raffle off the property.

In a suit filed in Oakland County Circuit Court, the VanDevelders said they hired Strehle, created a Web site and began printing and distributing raffle tickets that the attorney approved.

After much public attention, the VanDevelders sold 235 raffle tickets at $100 apiece. The couple says Strehle advised them to decline their snow removal contracts for 2008-09, because they would be out of the home before it snowed; and that Penelope VanDevelder quit her job and gave up medical benefits.

The suit says Strehle called the couple a few weeks later and told them to stop the raffle because it was illegal. It also states that Strehle attempted to change the house raffle to an essay contest.

The VanDevelders are seeking more than $25,000 in damages.

Missouri Legislator Grill Joins King Hershey

Erik Even — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 16:30:19 +0000

Democratic Missouri State Representative Jason Grill of Parkville has joined Kansas City law firm King Hershey.

Grill represents Missouri’s 32nd District, which covers southern Platte County. He will serve as of counsel for the development law firm.

He comes to King Hershey from Kansas City’s Holtsclaw & Kendall, where he did personal injury work. Before that, he worked with his father at the Grill Law Firm.

“Jason is a top-notch attorney and a passionate, hardworking legislator who is committed to helping move Kansas City, Platte County and Missouri forward,” King Hershey President Mike Burke said in a written statement Friday.

Grill attended the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, where he earned an Advanced Certificate in Dispute Resolution, and was a member of the Deans List three times.

King Hershey also named Christopher Lemke as a partner.

Founded in 1988, King Hershey is a practice emphasizing real estate development, public finance and complex commercial transactions and litigation.

Mishcon de Reya Cuts Two Partners, 15 Staff

Erik Even — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 18:03:39 +0000

It’s a bad day to be a lawyer in the UK.

West End firm Mishcon de Reya is to cut 17 from its staff base, including two partners, following a redundancy consultation.

The firm confirmed it has fired a salaried partner from its real estate practice and one from its corporate practice.

In 2007, Mishcon saw a 70% growth in profit per equity partner. In 2008, growth slowed to 1.7%.

Mishcon de Reya is a London law firm specialising in commercial law. It was formed when Victor Mishcon merged with Bartletts de Reya in 1988. The firm came to wider notice when partner Anthony Julius represented Diana, Princess of Wales in her divorce.

DLA Piper Appoints Vice Chairs for Chicago Practice Groups

Erik Even — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 17:56:09 +0000

DLA Piper has for the first time appointed vice chairs for some Chicago practice groups, seeking to aid those who chair large practice groups and provide additional leadership opportunities for lawyers in the office.

The law firm, with 270 attorneys in Chicago, appointed Tina Martini as vice chairperson of the intellectual property group; Michael O’Neil as vice chairperson of the litigation & arbitration group; and Rich Klawiter as vice chairperson of the real estate group.

The move is designed to “reduce the burden” on leaders of large groups; beef up administration, planning, integration and marketing resources for the groups; and open up more leadership posts for people in the office, according to the firm.

DLA Piper lawyers worldwide feel connected at a local level while working at the world’s largest law firm, said William Rudnick, the firm’s managing partner in Chicago.

“When you have 3,800 lawyers, you have to do things that make the firm feel small,” Rudnick told the NLJ.

Tip: Duval & Stachenfeld Laying Off 1st & 2nd Year Associates

Erik Even — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 21:48:39 +0000

New York City’s Duval & Stachenfeld is laying off an undisclosed number of first and second year associates, according to a JDJournal tipster.

If you know anything about what’s going on at Duvall & Stachenfeld, please contact us confidentially.

Founded in 1997, Duval & Stachenfeld LLP provides legal advisory services. The firm focuses on areas such as bankruptcy, litigation, real estate, restructuring, securities and construction.

Neal Gerber Fires Attorneys

Erik Even — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 18:24:41 +0000

Chicago’s Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg, a 200-lawyer firm specializing in real estate, litigation and mergers & acquisitions, has cut attorneys following annual performance reviews.

The firm this month cut ‘fewer than 10 attorneys’ across various practice groups, according to Jerry Biederman, the firm’s managing partner. He should hire a second grader who can actually count to ten, so we can know how many people got axed.

Biederman left open the possibility that the firm may have to make additional cost reductions if the economy continues to sour and negatively impacts law firm work. But the new Obama Administration’s proposed stimulus could accelerate companies’ disposal of real estate and other assets, and thereby boost transactional work.

The Obama Administration and its legislative priorities may also spur more work for law firms in practice areas related to healthcare law and labor unions and organizing, Biederman said.

Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon, another Chicago firm with about 200 attorneys, said last week that it was cutting 10 attorneys, including five income partners and five associates.

Via Law.com.

Jones Day Takes a Run for The Border

Erik Even — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 18:21:05 +0000

Cleveland’s Jones Day, the nation’s second largest law firm, is absorbing Mexico City’s De Ovando y Martínez del Campo, to create the firm’s first Latin American office.

Eight partners and 12 associates from the Mexican firm are being integrated into Jones Day, and Fernando de Ovando will serve as the partner in charge of the new office. Jones Day has been collaborating with De Ovando y Martínez del Campo on a variety of issues for more than 20 years.

The new Mexico City office will focus on cross-border mergers and acquisitions, finance and infrastructure transactions, real estate and capital markets.

Jones Day’s Latin America practice team now has about 50 attorneys based in Mexico City; Madrid, Spain; New York; and various other international offices.

With the addition of Mexico City, Jones Days now has 31 offices worldwide.

Troutman Sanders Closes Deal on Ross Dixon Merger

Erik Even — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:37:00 +0000

Atlanta’s Troutman Sanders LLP has closed on a deal to merge with Washington, DC’s Ross, Dixon & Bell LLP.

Financial terms of the merger were not disclosed. The new firm is based in Atlanta and keeps the Troutman Sanders name. It has offices in 15 cities and on three continents, employs 750 attorneys and has a total of 1,700 employees.

Troutman said the deal combines its corporate, finance, litigation, real estate and public policy practices with Ross, Dixon & Bell’s insurance, professional liability and commercial litigation practices. The merger also doubles the size of Troutman Sanders’ presence in Washington, DC, where Ross, Dixon & Bell is now based. The combined firm will have more than 100 attorneys in the nation’s capital.

Robert W. Webb Jr. remains chairman and managing partner of the merged firm.

Founded in 1897, Troutman Sanders represents Delta Air Lines, Chick-fil-A and Wachovia Bank.

And here’s the press release.

Nixon Peabody’s Graf Defects to Greenberg Traurig

Erik Even — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 23:23:48 +0000

Greenberg Traurig LLP has announced that Jessica Graf has joined its Boston office as a shareholder in the Environmental, Energy and Project Finance practice groups. Graf joins from Nixon Peabody LLP.

Graf’s practice is concentrated in the areas of energy project finance and development, environmental law, land use, and real estate. Her experience encompasses regulatory, transactional and project development matters for power producers and investors, including the use of renewable energy tax credits as financing tools for project redevelopment.

Graf has more than a decade of experience advising energy industry clients on a wide variety of environmental counseling and permitting issues. She will also focus on the tax and business issues of raising investor capital and representing business, municipalities, and individuals in all phases of land use and environmental permitting and compliance.

A member of various organizations, including the American Wind Energy Association, the National Wind Coordinating Committee, the Boston Bar Association, and the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, Graf holds a JD from Suffolk University Law School and a BS from Wheaton College.

Greenberg Traurig employs 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 and Partners.

Law Firm Sued Over Failed Trump Development

Erik Even — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 22:31:25 +0000

Wes & Diane McLeod, who placed a deposit on a unit at Trump Tower Tampa, are suing the developers of that failed project in a potential class action claiming escrow money from deposits was improperly spent.

The McLeod’s filed their complaint in circuit court against developers Frank Dagostino, Robert E. Lyons and Patrick Sheppard, as well as the law firm that once managed the escrow, Macfarlane Ferguson & McMullen.

Rachel Green from “Friends” of Tampa’s Forizs & Dogali is representing the McLeods.

The McLeods claim that 109 buyers deposited nearly $19 million with SimDag/RoBEL LLC, Trump Tower’s development company, representing up to 20% of a unit’s purchase price. Buyers typically placed 10 percent deposits in cash, and used a bank letter to secure the other 10 percent. But some simply paid the additional 10 percent in cash, which the developers were allowed to use for construction purposes.

SimDag/RoBEL “improperly diverted” $2.3 million from the account, the suit says, and now there isn’t enough money to refund the 10 percent deposits to buyers.

“We have documented every penny spent on the property, and we did nothing inappropriate – not one thing,” developer Dagostino said. “There’s just no merit to it. If you look through this lawsuit, it’s all ridiculous.”

Bill Taylor, a managing partner with Macfarlane, said his firm “acted in full compliance with the duties and obligations that it had pursuant to the escrow agreement.”

A bankruptcy judge who is hearing a Chapter 11 asset protection case from SimDag/RoBEL filed last summer could freeze the suit. SimDag/RoBEL is not named in the suit, thus shielding it from the bankruptcy court.

But there is no reason the lawsuit shouldn’t be part of the bankruptcy case, especially since it involves money already under the jurisdiction of the bankruptcy court, Dagostino said.

SimDag/RoBEL settled a licensing dispute with New York real estate celebrity and bizarre toupee aficionado Donald Trump in September, over more than $1 million Trump claimed he was owed for the use of his name on the project. The company filed for bankruptcy protection in June after it failed to build its planned $225 million, 52-story luxury tower in downtown Tampa.

Subprime Court Filings Reach Record Level

Erik Even — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:27:05 +0000

The number of subprime-related court filings has reached an unprecedented level and is expected to continue skyrocketing as economic conditions worsen, according to a report by Chicago’s Navigant Consulting.

The number of subprime mortgage and related cases filed in federal court during the first nine months of 2008 already exceeds by more than 50% the total for all of 2007. A total of 448 cases were filed so far this year, compared to 294 last year.

Filing volume in the September 2008 quarter was the third highest on record with 131 new matters, while the total number of cases filed reached 742 for the 21-month period ending on September 30th.

Subprime-related cases have outstripped the savings-and-loan cases of the early 1990s, the previous high-water mark in terms of litigation fallout from a major financial crisis.

“The bottom line is that new cases continue to be filed much more rapidly than existing cases are being disposed,” said Navigant’s Jeff Nielsen.

Via National Law Journal.

Small Firms Crushed By Layoff Wave

Erik Even — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 00:06:08 +0000

Pircher, Nichols & Meeks, a 75-attorney real estate firm with offices in Los Angeles and Chicago, is laying off eight attorneys and four staff.

Founder Leo J. Pircher told The National Law Journal that “commercial real estate work has declined in the last six months, and our clients have told us that it is not likely to pick up substantially in 2009.”

Pircher praised the laid off attorneys and staff as “fine and competent people,” but “there certainly isn’t enough commercial real estate work to go around.”

Jon Lindsey of the legal recruiting consultant firm Major, Lindsey & Africa:

“Layoffs are tough at a small firm, where the person making the decision knows you, your family, your situation. It is harder to pull the trigger. But this economy hurts everybody. Small firms no longer are getting the work that big firms were sending out a year ago. Big firms are cutting rates and trying to compete. Smaller firms have lower billing rates and can compete on price. It is the way of the world.”

Lindsey told NLJ that he expects to see attorneys laid off in December. That’s because firms may want to keep all their layoff expenses on their 2008 books instead of having those costs bleed into 2009.

“They can start the new year with a clean slate and put the expense of severance on the 2008 books. Some firms have decided that’s the way to go, because 2008 will be bad anyway. They are hoping that 2009 will be better.

A client advisory from Hildebrandt International, a Chicago-based professional services firm, issued in late October recommended that law firms lay off employees in 2008 in order to have a stronger start to 2009. James Jones, a vice president of Hildebrandt International, thinks most firms are finished showing workers the door for 2008.