JD Journal » Troutman Sanders

Colby, 38, has been a partner at Troutman Sanders since 2007 and is a member of the firm’s energy practice group. She succeeds Kevin C. Fitzgerald, who led the D.C. office since 1999 and was recently promoted to the firm-wide position of executive partner for client development strategic planning.

“We are confident that Amie will provide exciting, dynamic and exuberant leadership that will continue the growth of the D.C. office and continue the positive integration of the firm’s merger with Ross, Dixon & Bell, LLP,” said Robert W. Webb Jr., chairman and managing partner of Troutman Sanders. “We look forward to her leadership.”

Colby, who represents clients in the energy industry before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, will continue her legal practice while overseeing the firm’s 90+ attorneys in the nation’s capital. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, received her law degree from Georgetown University in 1999, and joined Troutman Sanders as an associate that same year. She has previously served as the chair of the firm’s D.C. Recruiting Committee

Troutman Sanders opened its D.C. office in 1993, which signaled the firm’s first expansion outside of its Atlanta headquarters. Today, the firm has offices in 16 cities on three continents.

As for Fitzgerald, who also is a member of the law firm’s executive committee, he will continue his legal practice. He is a partner in the firm’s energy practice group and counsels energy companies, investors and developers in the electric, natural gas and renewable energy markets.
Troutman Sanders LLP, founded in 1897, is an international law firm with over 650 lawyers and 16 offices in North America, Europe and Asia.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 10:57:18 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Tuesday, June 22nd. Here’s a quick recap of yesterday’s stories.

In the last two years, at least 10 law institutions have altered their grading systems to make them more lenient…

Troutman Sanders added a transactional team in Orange County…

McDonough Holland & Allen, the second-largest law firm in Sacramento the firm will close…

Duane Morris selected a new head for its corporate practice…

Dechert LLP added three partners to its Washington, D.C. office…

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.

Management Shakeup at Troutman Sanders

joshua — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 01:48:04 +0000

Stephen E. Lewis, head of Troutman Sanders corporate practice, will take over as managing partner of the firm beginning Jan. 1, 2011 as part of a larger management reorganization and succession plan.

Lewis will take over operational control of the Atlanta-based firm, which has more than 650 lawyers with 16 offices in North America, Europe and Asia. He will replace Robert W. Webb Jr., who will relinquish managing partner duties but will continue as Troutman’s chairman, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

There are other shakeups at Troutman. Mark S. Shiembo, a partner at Troutman’s Richmond office, was appointed chairman of the partner compensation committee. The firm also created a new role, executive partner for client development strategic planning, which will be filled by Washington D.C. partner Kevin Fitzgerald.

Additionally, the firm has broke new ground with the naming of its first woman as section chief. Andrea M. Farley, a corporate partner, will take over for Lewis as the head of the corporate section.

Webb, which the Journal-Constitution notes grew the firm from one office and 167 lawyers to its current status while chairman and managing partner, commented on the moves.

“I have a strong belief that one of the responsibilities of management and leadership is to plan,” Webb told the paper.

Lewis praised the firm’s exiting managing partner in a press release.

“The legacy that Bob Webb has built at Troutman Sanders is amazing,” said Lewis. “I am humbled and excited by the opportunity to succeed him and lead Troutman Sanders during a challenging time for the legal industry.”

Morning Roundup

sara — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:56:36 +0000

Good morning! Today is Monday, March 22, and here’s a quick look back at Friday’s stories…

Troutman Sanders opens a new office in Portland, Oregon…

Former Millberg partners Melyvn Weiss, William Lerach, David Bershad, and Steve Schulman move on with lives after serving their prison sentences…

The United States District Court in Alexandra, Virginia orders the U.S. Patent Office to reconsider a rejected patent extension filed by the Medicines Company for their drug Angiomax…

Former Democratic counsel on the House Judiciary Committee Brian P. Woolfolk joins the lobbying branch of Squire Sanders…

Troutman Sanders Opens Office in Portland

joshua — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 15:54:26 +0000

Troutman Sanders is opening a new office in Portland, Ore., the firm’s 16th. Partner Lara L. Skidmore will serve as the office’s first managing partner. The office will also house two additional partners, Matthew D. McVee and Antoine P. Cobb.

According to a firm press release, the Portland office will initially focus on assisting electric and natural gas utilities. All three partners have bring experience in utility and regulatory-related matters. McVee currently is general counsel for the Western Electricity Coordinating Council and Cobb is a former manager of federal regulation for Arizona Public Service Company.

“We have had our eye on Portland and the Pacific Northwest for some time because of the region’s high concentration of utilities and related agencies, and because of the significant renewable energy development throughout the Western U.S.,” said Robert W. Webb Jr., chairman and managing partner of Troutman Sanders. “Portland provides us with a great opportunity to expand our Energy practice, which will instantly become the region’s largest with access to our more than 130 lawyers whose practices focus primarily on servicing clients in the energy industry worldwide.”

Troutman Sanders already has offices in San Diego and Orange County, Calif., “but needed to be closer to key clients in the Pacific Northwest,” said Webb.

Skidmore joined Troutman Sanders in 2007. Prior to that she worked at Pacific Power as general counsel from 2003-2007. Skidmore will focus her practice on representing electric utilities on transmission, interconnection and compliance matters, working with a major renewable energy developer on integration of renewable resources, and representing utilities before the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and Bonneville Power Administration.

“We’re excited about our entry into the Portland market and in becoming a new member of the city’s dynamic business community,” said Skidmore.

McVee will focus his practice in the field of electric reliability compliance, as well as regional transmission planning processes. He will counsel clients on, among other things, reliability standards development and compliance, critical infrastructure protection and transactions.

Cobb will focus on regulatory issues affecting the electric utility industry, primarily before FERC. He will counsel clients on, among other things, transmission service policy and compliance issues, as well as power sales regulatory issues.

Troutman Sanders is an international law firm with more than 650 lawyers and 16 offices in North America, Europe and Asia.

Barnes Thornburg Adds Five to Atlanta Office

joshua — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:09:44 +0000

Barnes & Thornburg has added five attorneys to its Atlanta office. William P. Ewing and Michael A. Leuder, both former partners at Marshall & Leuder, will join as partners in the firm’s business department.

Ewing, a tax lawyer, will serve as co-chair of the firm’s renewable energy practice group. He will be joined in the department by Andrew C. Durden, another former attorney at Marshall & Leuder.

Steve Whitehead will join the firm’s labor and employment department as of counsel. He is also coming from Marshall & Leuder and he previously was a partner at Troutman Sanders.

Miguel Chavez will join the firm as an associate in the business department.

The additions are part of Barnes Thornburg’s plan to make Atlanta a full-service office. Barnes & Thornburg has over 500 attorneys with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana , Michigan, Minneapolis, Ohio and Washington D.C.

Eckert Seamans Expands in Richmond

joshua — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 17:26:59 +0000

Eckert Seamans added three partners and three lobbyists to its Richmond office this week. All six come from the firm of LeClairRyan. The office, which opened last Octoberwhen a group of former Troutman Sanders attorneys made the jump, had been staffed by a single lawyer up until now.

Partners David Clarke, Thomas Lisk and Richard Savage III will be part of the government affairs and regulatory practice group. All three have extensive experience with lobbying, regulatory and administrative law. In addition three non lawyer lobbyists, Mary Fox, Nicole Riley and Lisa Foster have joined, forming a government relations group headed by Fox.

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 nine other offices located throughout the eastern United States.

Wednesday Roundup

joshua — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:10:07 +0000

Good morning everyone! Getting the day started early this morning with today’s look back at yesterday’s news.

Eckert Seamans snags four lawyers from Troutman Sanders and opens an office in Virginia.

Scott Rothstein is back in Florida. We will continue to update this story as it develops…

Winston & Strawn defers the already deferred….

and law blog abovethelaw.com has been sued…

Eckert Seamans Opens Virgina Office and Picks up 4 from Troutman Sanders

joshua — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:59:52 +0000

Former Troutman Sanderspartner Matthew Kirsner has joined up with Eckert Seamansand will head up a new office for the firm in Richmond, Virginia. Three other Troutman Sanders attorneys have joined Eckert Seamans in the firm’s Washington DC office. All four attorneys have practices concentrated on electric utility, telecommunications and other regulated industry work.

In addition to Kirsner, the three attorneys joining the DC office as members are Charles Zdebski, Raymond Kowalski and Eric Schwalb. At Troutman Sanders, Zdebski was a partner, Kowalski was of counsel and Schwalb was a senior associate.

Troutman Sanders Lawyers Form New Firm

Erik Even — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 16:32:24 +0000

Seven lawyers from Troutman Sanders have left to found their own firm, Mercer Thompson.

John TW Mercer, the former head of Troutman’s project development & finance group and a member of the firm for 31 years, leads the new firm along with colleague Richard E. Thompson II.

Former Troutman partners Jason B. Yost and John Lamberski have also joined Mercer Thompson; and Tracey H. Thompson and Lori Jones join as of counsel.

Anne Robotham joins as a paralegal; she has a UK law degree, and is not yet licensed to practice law in the US.

Atlanta, Georgia’s Mercer Thompson is a boutique law firm that provides top-tier transactional legal services to top companies in the electric power industry. It handles financing, M&A and development deals for both big electric and gas utilities and renewable power developers.

Troutman Sanders Cuts Associate Payroll 10% [Update 2]

Erik Even — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 20:01:22 +0000

Atlanta’s Troutman Sanders has announced to its associates a 10% cut in total associate payroll budgeted for August to December of this year.

The salary cuts for each associate will be performance-based. There are no further details available at this time.

If you know anything about the salary cuts at Troutman Sanders, please — send us a confidential tip!

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Troutman Sanders has offices in Chicago, Hong Kong, London, New York, Newark, Norfolk, Orange County, Raleigh, Richmond, San Diego, Shanghai, Tyson’s Corner, Virginia Beach and Washington, DC.

UPDATE

A JDJournal tipster tells us (edited for length and clarity):

The Troutman pay cuts are effectively retroactive to January 1, 2009 (e.g., they’re showing each associate his or her annual salary change, but taking the entire annual decrease out of the associate’s remaining 2009 pay checks).

Most cuts thus far have not been retroactive in this way, right? I’d think it to be a little late in the year for a retroactive reduction.

This is the first we have heard of retroactive salary reductions. And yes, it is a bit late in the year.

UPDATE 2

Troutman says the pay cuts are not retroactive, and apply only to compensation after August 1st. But it appears that a number of associates in the firm believed as our tipster did, that the cuts affected salary for the whole year.

Troutman Sanders Brings on Dreier IP Team

Erik Even — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:40:40 +0000

Troutman Sanders has hired five intellectual property lawyers from the defunct Dreier LLP.

The group is led by patent litigator Albert Jacobs Jr., and includes Gerard Diebner and Daniel Ladow; all three joins as of counsel. They bring two associates.

The five lawyers will form the nucleus of a new life sciences practice based in New York.

Seyfarth Shaw Hires for Atlanta Office

Erik Even — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 16:45:03 +0000

Seyfarth Shaw, which last week brought on a new team of corporate and technology partners from Alston & Bird, is expanding its Atlanta office with lawyers poached from Troutman Sanders.

Robert C. Stevens joins as a partner in Seyfarth Shaw’s Labor & Employment Department. He concentrates his practice on litigation and counseling matters involving employment discrimination, restrictive covenant, trade secret, and wage & hour issues. Stevens earned his JD magna cum laude from the University of Alabama, where he wrote for the Alabama Law Review and was elected to the Order of the Coif.

Benjamin D. Briggs also joins the labor group as partner. He focuses on a wide-variety of labor and employment matters arising under state and federal law. Briggs received JD with honors from Georgia State University, where he was a member of the Georgia State Law Review.

Seyfarth Shaw’s Labor & Employment Department consists of 350 employment attorneys nationally at all levels of experience.

Chicago’s Seyfarth Shaw LLP is a full-service law firm founded in 1945. It has nine offices in the US and one in Belgium.

Virtual Law Partners Hires Four Attorneys

Erik Even — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:07:57 +0000

Virtual Law Partners, which hired five new partners four weeks ago, has this week brought on four new partners for its commercial lending and intellectual property practices.

David Lawson joins from Troutman Sanders, where he was a partner, to chair Virtual Law’s commercial lending practice. He earned his JD from the University of Southern California Law Center.

Janyce Mitchell joins from Strategic Patent Group, where she was a vice president. She received her JD from the UC Berkeley Boalt Hall School of Law, and her MS and C. Phil in Physics from the University of California, San Diego.

Stephen Sullivan also joins from Strategic Patent, where he was president. He will focus on patent prosecution for software companies. His JD is from the Santa Clara University School of Law.

David Roise joins from Ropes & Gray, where he was an associate. He is a former assistant professor of biochemistry and cellular biology at UC San Diego. He specializes in patent law. He earned his Ph.D in biochemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and his JD from Stanford Law School.

Founded in 2008, Virtual Law Partners is a distributed, web-based law firm that goes beyond the constraints of brick & mortar law firms to provide legal services at rates lower than those of conventional law firms. Powered by a digital infrastructure, VLP eliminates costly physical offices and minimizes environmental impact, while significantly lowering administrative costs and overhead.

Foley & Lardner Hires 3 More Lawyers

Erik Even — Wed, 27 May 2009 23:15:33 +0000

Foley & Lardner, which announced three hires earlier this month, has brought on three more lawyers in New York.

Barry Mandel joins from Merrill Lynch as a partner in securities enforcement & litigation and white-collar defense. He was co-head of global litigation, employment, and regulatory affairs at the global financial services firm.

Howard Margulis and Ellen Wolchek, both from Troutman Sanders, join Foley’s finance practice and energy industry team. Margulis joins as partner, and Wolchek as senior counsel.

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.

The Week in Law Firm Layoffs

Erik Even — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 18:31:47 +0000

This week in law firm layoffs:

Howard Kennedy: 40 lawyers and staff

Kirkland & Ellis: undisclosed staff

LG: 15 lawyers and 18 staff

Troutman Sanders: 28 lawyers (unconfirmed)

Eversheds: 10 lawyers

Trowers & Hamlins: 17 lawyers and staff

Shearman & Sterling: undisclosed lawyers

Wells Fargo & Co: undisclosed lawyers

Womble Carlyle: over 20 lawyers and staff

Perkins Coie: 12 lawyers and 26 staff

Maclay, Murray & Spens: 38 lawyers and staff

Harney Westwood & Riegels: 2 lawyers and 6 staff

Total: 67 lawyers, 50 staff, 115 unidentified

Week of April 5th: 144 lawyers, 310 staff

Week of March 29th: 199 lawyers, 474 staff

Week of March 22nd: 455 lawyers, 219 staff

Week of March 15th: 91 lawyers, 177 staff

Week of March 8th: 574 lawyers, 812 staff

Attorneys Disappear from Troutman Sanders Website

Erik Even — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:35:04 +0000

In March, Atlanta’s Troutman Sanders said layoffs were likely. Now legal industry news sites have noticed that 28 names have mysteriously disappeared from the firm’s roster of attorneys on its web site.

The firm refuses to confirm a specific number of lawyers who have left the firm, and will not give circumstances behind why lawyers have left.

The firm offered a voluntary buyout package last month.

Troutman has pushed incoming associates to January 2010, and cut two weeks off its 2009 summer associate program.

The firm, which is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, has offices in Chicago, Hong Kong, London, New York, Newark, Norfolk, Orange County, Raleigh, Richmond, San Diego, Shanghai, Tyson’s Corner, Virginia Beach and Washington, DC.

The Week in Law Firm Layoffs

Erik Even — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 16:52:00 +0000

Here are the law firm layoffs reported this week:

Troutman Sanders: undisclosed

Dunlap & Seeger: 2 attorneys, 3 staff

Mayer Brown: 55 lawyers and staff

Hood Vores & Allwood: 2 lawyers, 4 staff

Katten Muchin Rosenman: 23 lawyers, 46 staff

Jenner & Block: 34 staff

Polsinelli Shughart: 9 attorneys, 16 staff

Morris, Manning & Martin: 6 incoming first-year associates

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips: 12 attorneys, 35 staff

Denton Wilde Sapte: 37 lawyers, 39 staff

Sughrue Mion: undisclosed number of incoming first year associates

Alston & Bird: undisclosed

Blake Lapthorn: 20 lawyers & staff

Total : 91 lawyers, 177 staff, 75 unidentified; 343 in all.

That’s way better than last week’ s 574 lawyers, 812 staff!

Update: Troutman Sanders to Hold Layoffs

Erik Even — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 02:10:27 +0000

Troutman Sanders announced today that the firm will lay off associates and offer staff a voluntary buyout, which is likely to be followed by a layoff.

The 778-lawyer firm also pushed back the start date for its 2009 first-year associates to January, 2010 and cut two weeks from its summer associate program.

Robert W. Webb Jr., the firm’s chairman, announced the plans to associates and staff in firmwide meetings.

Rumor: Layoffs at Troutman Sanders Today?

Erik Even — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:00:40 +0000

Today’s (invariably accurate) Internet rumor, re: law firm layoffs: Troutman Sanders, which is holding a firm-wide meeting right about… now (2pm EDT).

If you know anything about the situation at Troutman, please send us a confidential tip — or, you can Twitter!

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

Merged Firm Escapes from Dreier Fiasco

Erik Even — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 18:17:48 +0000

About 20 lawyers at Dreier Stein Kahan Browne Woods George, the Santa Monica, California-based affiliate of Dreier LLP, are leaving to reconstitute Browne Woods George, a litigation boutique that merged with Dreier, Stein & Kahan one year ago.

Marc Dreier, founder and managing partner of New York’s Dreier LLP, was charged by federal prosecutors and the SEC with masterminding an investment fraud of more than $100 million.

Dreier is the only equity partner in Dreier, Stein, Kahan, Browne, Woods, George, which was formed in 2007 and employs several prominent Los Angeles lawyers; entertainment lawyer Larry Stein; corporate attorney Robert Kahan; and Eric George, a business litigator and the son of California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald M. George.

The California firm’s partners sent a letter to Dreier last week, saying he breached their employment contract, which guaranteed a certain compensation for three years. The partners have a multimillion dollar arbitration claim filed against Dreier.

Browne Woods George also is in negotiations to recruit up to four class action lawyers from Dreier LLP to open a New York office.

About 35 lawyers remaining at Dreier, Stein, Kahan, Browne, Woods, George, including Stein and Kahan, are in talks with several firms to merge. Among the possible merger candidates are LA’s Liner Yankelevitz Sunshine & Regenstreif; Pittsburgh’s Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney; Boston’s Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo; New York’s Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel; and Atlanta’s Troutman Sanders.

The firm’s entertainment group and most of the corporate group are looking to stay together as part of a possible merger.

Via NLJ.

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.

San Diego Law Firm Saves Sick Kids’ Holiday Fun

Erik Even — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 18:00:15 +0000

The San Diego Business Journal reports that lawyers in “America’s Finest City” saved Christmas for a group of sick kids.

A group of hundreds of children with life-threatening conditions were to attend, and be honored at, the Poinsettia Bowl college football game at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. But when the corporate sponsor for the event pulled out at the last minute, the kids has no way to get to the game.

Roy Bell, a partner at Ross, Dixon & Bell, rode to the rescue, canceling the firm’s holiday party and using the funds, along with cash donated by other attorneys and staff, to save the day.

The youngsters got to play important roles in the game, including flipping the coin, serving as honorary captains and retrieving the tee after the opening kickoff.

In July, Ross Dixon merged with Troutman Sanders LLP.

Drinker Biddle & Reath Gets Six Thelen Lawyers

Erik Even — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 23:44:56 +0000

I really don’t think we can post enough “former Thelen lawyers find jobs” stories.

Drinker Biddle & Reath’s Washington, DC office has added six former Thelen lawyers to its labor & employment practice.

The group includes three partners, two associates, and one counsel.

Earlier this month, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius announced that two Thelen lawyers had joined the employee benefits practice in Washington, and Troutman Sanders added four lawyers to its DC tax group.

Via The BLT.