JD Journal » White & Case LLP

Baker & McKenzie Enters Turkey Market Via Exclusive Relationship with Turkish Law Firm

rebneely — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 08:00:37 +0000

Leading global law firm Baker & McKenzie has announced it has entered into an exclusive relationship with leading Turkish law firm Esin Attorney Partnership (Esin Avukatlık Ortaklığı).

The move follows ever increasing client interest and activity in Turkey, which is one of the world’s fastest growing economies. The relationship will also serve to strengthen the firm’s global reach and client offerings.

Eduardo Leite, Chairman of Baker & McKenzie’s Executive Committee was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s site: “Istanbul is an increasingly important hub for global business. By entering into an exclusive arrangement with one of Istanbul’s leading law firms we are underlining our commitment to being able to serve our clients in those markets in which they are growing their businesses, while strengthening our ability to help Turkish clients take advantage of the opportunities beyond their borders.”

By working in an exclusive consultancy arrangement with Esin Attorney Partnership, clients of Baker & McKenzie will have access to the full-service, international and foreign law advice of the world’s leading global law firm and the Turkish law counsel of one of the leading law firms in Turkey.

Founded in 1997 by Ismail Esin, Esin has forty lawyers. It was named Legal Adviser of the Year in Turkey at the European M&A Awards 2010 by the Financial Times and MergerMarket and ranked in Tier 1 for M&A in legal directory The Legal 500. Its practices include Corporate and M&A, Real Estate, Dispute Resolution and Competition law.

Koen Vanhaerents, European Chairman and member of the Firm’s Executive Committee was quoted as saying: “It has become increasingly clear that Turkey is rapidly growing in importance for our clients. This exclusive relationship with Esin Attorney Partnership, provides our clients with access to the very best legal services in Turkey.”

This move follows Baker & McKenzie’s continuing expansion. In May of this year, the firm opened an office in Qatar, in October 2010, in Luxembourg in and in 2009, in Abu Dhabi.

According to the October 27th article at amlawdaily.com, “Baker Moves Into Turkish Market by Teaming With Istanbul Firm”, several other prominent law firms have opened offices in Turkey, including Clifford Chance, DLA Piper, White & Case, and Chadbourne & Parke.

Also according to the article, Bloomberg reported the Turkish economy grew 8.8 percent in the second quarter of 2011; that is over four times the rate of the euro zone. Bloomberg also reported the Turkish deal market is far outpacing that of the emerging markets.

Founded in 1949 in Chicago, Baker & McKenzie has over 3,800 lawyers in almost 70 offices in 41 different countries. The firm has more leading lawyers in more countries in the Chambers Global Directory than any other global Top 20 law firm. Additionally, Chambers lists 19 of the firm’s practices in its global rankings of the world’s leading practices.

White & Case Adds Three Partners to Moscow Office

rebneely — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 08:00:24 +0000

In recent days, global law firm White & Case LLP announced it has added three new partners to its Moscow office. They are Grigory Chernyshov, Jonathan Langley and Alexandra Schukina.

Chernyshov joins from Egorov, Puginsky, Afanasiev & Partners, and will head White & Case’s Russian dispute resolution practice. Langley relocates from the Firm’s London office as a local partner in the corporate practice. Schukina joins from Skadden Arps as a local partner in the capital markets practice.

Partner Jan Matejcek, Regional Section Head for Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) was quoted as saying in a press release at the firm’s website: “Ever since White & Case moved into Russia 20 years ago, our Moscow office has been a strategically important foothold for the Firm. We take our role as a market leader in Russia very seriously. The arrival of three new partners in our key practice areas – dispute resolution, corporate and capital markets – gives a significant boost to our strategy to provide clients with outstanding legal service and direct access to partner teams across the entire spectrum of our practices in Russia.”

Chernyshov is a leading Russian litigator who has extensive experience in Russian commercial litigation. As well as his active dispute resolution practice, Chernyshov acts in antitrust matters. He is a board member of the non-commercial partnership “Promoting the Development of Competition”. He was involved in the drafting of Russian antimonopoly legislation and its subsequent amendments.

With Chernyshov’s arrival, White & Case continues the growth of its CEE Dispute Resolution Practice. Numerous significant lateral hires have been made during the last two years in Bucharest, Budapest, Prague and Warsaw. In March 2011, White & Case recruited a 20-person Polish litigation team lead by Pawel Pietkiewicz, to head its dispute resolution practice in Warsaw. In April 2011, White & Case joined forces with leading Czech lawyer Luděk Chvosta, Sr., who brings vast experience in dispute resolution, insolvency and restructuring to the Firm’s Prague office. In 2010, the Firm brought in David Goldberg, a leading Russian-speaking international arbitration partner, to join its London and Moscow offices.

Partner John Willems, Regional Section Head of the Firm’s Disputes Practice in Western Europe, the Middle East and Africa was quoted as saying: “White & Case is now strongly positioned to handle all types of disputes matters for our clients, whether domestic or international, arbitration or litigation, with leading capability in Moscow and London, and other major arbitration centres in Stockholm, New York, Washington DC and Paris.”

Jonathan Langley focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures.

Partner Eric Michailov, co-head of White & Case’s CEE and Russian corporate/M&A practice, was quoted as saying: “We already have a strong base of English law M&A capability in Moscow, and we intend to continue growing it both through lateral hires and organically by capitalising on our existing legal talent to service our clients’ needs where they arise. Jonathan has been working on Russia-related transactions since joining our London office in 2007, so this move is a natural progression for him, and we welcome him to our Moscow team.”

Schukina’s concentrates her practice on equity and debt capital markets transactions. She is experienced in representing both issuers and underwriters in equity and debt securities offerings. She has also advised several leading Russian corporates in a wide variety of industry sectors on their listings on the London Stock Exchange, the Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange, and the Russian Trading System.

Hermann Schmitt, Executive Partner of White & Case’s Moscow office was quoted as saying: “We are continuously strengthening our Russian practice in line with our strategy and growing client demands. The new arrivals are a testament to the investment we are making in serving our clients in Russia and globally.”

A leading global law firm, White & Case LLP has lawyers in 38 offices in 26 countries.

White & Case Marks 40th Year Anniversary of London Office

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Morning Roundup

joshua — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:27:37 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Friday, February 18, and here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s news…

White & Case reported 2010 numbers that look a lot like 2009…

Clifford Chance is moving into Australia…

and the Howrey exodus continued…

White & Case Post Stagnant Numbers for 2010

joshua — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 01:18:32 +0000

2010 looks a lot like 2009 at White & Case. Gross revenues and profits per partner are down slightly while revenue per lawyer inched upward, but the differences were small overall. The firm attributes the lower revenues to the decline in the Euro, saying that it receives almost 40% of its income in currencies other than the dollar.

2011 appears to have started off well for the firm, buoyed by the strengthening legal market and a new office in Monterrey, Mexico and the return of the firm to Riyadh.

White & Case is a global law firm, founded in New York in 1901. The firm has 36 offices in 25 countries.

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…

Survey: NLJ 250 Firms Continue to Shed Lawyer Jobs

joshua — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 17:53:41 +0000

The National Law Journal reported overall headcount at the nation’s 250 largest law firms fell for a second straight year. Following last year’s 4 percent drop, the survey found firms trimmed another 1,400 lawyers from its payroll this year, which equates to a 1.1 percent decrease from 2009. The two-year combined drop is the largest decline in the survey’s 33-year history and is just the second time overall headcount dropped for two consecutive years.

According to the report, the vast majority of cuts was in the associates ranks, which fell by nearly 1,000 lawyers. The number of partners at the nation’s biggest firms increased by 0.6 percent to an average of 215. Overall, headcount at NLJ 250 firms totaled 126,299 lawyers.

Baker & McKenzie was rated once again the nation’s largest firm with 3,774 attorneys, which was a decline of 175 from the previous year. Baker & McKenzie was also among four firms to shed more than 100 lawyers in the last year along with White & Case (198), Latham & Watkins (147) and Morgan Lewis & Bockius (109).

Firms with the biggest increase in number of lawyers included Ropes & Gray, which saw its headcount increase by 21.6 percent; and Baker Hostetler, which grew by 12.6 percent. The biggest declines came at Butzel Long and Fish & Richardson which each saw a 17.7 percent drop in its lawyer roster.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:47:58 +0000

Good morning everybody! Today is Wednesday, October 20th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

According to the 2010 Law Department Survey from Hildebrandt Baker Robins, law departments reduced their total legal spending for the first time in 10 years in 2009…

Littler Mendelson, the nation’s largest employment and labor law firm representing management, will open an office in Caracas, Venezuela…

Brady Mickelsen, former vice president and general counsel of Oracle Corp., has joined White & Case as a partner…

International firm Baker Botts promoted 13 lawyers to its partnership…

Crowell & Moring announced the launch of its new top-level domain and domain name practice…

White & Case Adds Former Oracle V.P. and General Counsel

joshua — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 19:35:54 +0000

Brady Mickelsen, former vice president and general counsel of Oracle Corp., has joined White & Case as a partner in its Silicon Valley M&A practice.

Mickelsen most recently headed Oracle’s corporate, securities and acquisitions legal group, where over the past five years he managed more than 60 acquisitions and strategic investments, including Oracle’s acquisitions of Sun Microsystems and BEA Systems.

“There are not many lawyers in Silicon Valley who have done as many deals as Brady has,” said Bijal Vakil, executive partner of White & Case’s Silicon Valley office. “His direct, hands-on M&A experience will be invaluable to our clients.”

Oliver Brahmst, head of White & Case’s Mergers and Acquisitions Practice in the Americas, said Mickelsen’s addition “will provide our technology clients with a unique perspective on deal-making.”

Mickelsen served Oracle for more than five years. The Sun Microsystems and BEA Systems deals alone had an aggregate value of more than $40 billion.

White & Case is a global law firm with 36 offices in 25 countries.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 11:09:15 +0000

Good morning everybody! Today is Thursday, October 14th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

White & Case promoted 35 attorneys from around the world to its partnership…

DLA Piper snagged a co-managing shareholder from Greenberg Traurig…

Thompson Hine partner Kip T. Bollin was installed as president of the Northern District of Ohio Chapter of the Federal Bar Association…

Nixon Peabody’s senior strategic policy advisor Thomas Reynolds, a former U.S. Congressman from New York, was appointed head of the firm’s government relations and public policy practice…

Peter B. Pope, a former head of New York State Attorney General Office’s Criminal Division, joined Jenner & Block’s New York office as a partner…

White & Case Adds 35 Attorneys to Partnership

joshua — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 18:44:12 +0000

White & Case LLP promoted 35 attorneys from around the world to its partnership, the U.S.-based firm said in a press release Wednesday.

Nine of the new partners are based in North America, including five in New York. The new Empire State partners are Douglas P. Baumstein, Donald C. Dowling Jr., Stefan M. Mentzer, Charles J. Pesant and Carolyn J. Vardi.

The firm also promoted Richard J. Burke and Jane Plomley of Washington D.C., Richard B. Furey of Miami, and Sean Goldstein of Mexico City, who is also qualified to practice in New York.

The firm also added 23 partners in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including seven in London, and three partners in Asia.

The promotions will become effective Jan. 1, 2011. White & Case also said in addition to the newly-elected class, the firm added a total of 59 new partners since the start of the year.

Commenting on the promotions, Global Chairman Hugh Verrier said “our new partners are all outstanding lawyers, with diverse experience and expertise. They represent the future of the firm and the confidence we have in our global business.”

White & Case has lawyers in 36 offices in 25 countries.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 13:12:06 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Tuesday, October 12th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

A top Polish banking & finance attorney joined Chadbourne & Parke’s Warsaw office as a partner…

Morris Polich’s Elizabeth England was appointed California Bar Section Chair…

Winston & Strawn’s Senior Chairman and former Illinois Gov. James R. Thompson, Jr. will receive The American Lawyer magazine’s 2010 “Lifetime Achievement”…

McDermott Will & Emery signed a letter of intent to occupy a New Washington D.C. Office…

Top Polish Banking & Finance Attorney Joins Chadbourne & Parke’s Warsaw Office as Partner

joshua — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 21:25:08 +0000

Chadbourne & Parke LLP today announced that Marek Krol, a top Polish banking and finance attorney, has joined the firm as an international partner in the firm’s Warsaw office.

Most recently, Mr. Krol was a partner at CMS Cameron McKenna, where he served as head of the banking and finance department. Previously, he led the structured finance department at White & Case.

Mr. Krol advises clients on a broad scope of banking and finance transactions, including project financing, real estate investments, and syndicated loans. He has extensive experience advising on real estate finance projects involving hotels, office buildings and commercial and recreational centers.

Previously, Mr. Krol worked for the Polish government in the legal department of the Ministry of Foreign Economic Cooperation, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He also served at KPMG Poland and as legal director in a major Polish bank. There he advised on the formation of bank syndicates financing some of the largest investment projects in Poland.

In today’s press release, Chadbourne Managing Partner Charles K. O’Neill was quoted as saying: “Marek’s inside knowledge of the Polish banking system, as well as his project finance experience, make him an excellent fit for Chadbourne. As our Warsaw office prepares to celebrate its 20th anniversary, the addition of Marek to our finance team demonstrates our commitment to the Polish banking and finance industry and enhances our ability to provide clients with sound legal advice on even the most complex transactions.”

Chadbourne & Parke LLP, an international law firm headquartered in New York City, provides a full range of legal services. The Firm has offices all over the world, including in New York, Washington, DC, Los Angeles, London, and Moscow.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 13:40:36 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, September 15th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

The EPA threatened nine hydraulic fracturing companies with legal action…

Former Ambassador and Associate Attorney General Joins Fulbright & Jaworski…

Kramer Levin added three partners from Baker & McKenzie to its banking and finance group…

Andrews Kurth LLP added four attorneys to its Washington D.C. Office…

White & Case expanded its white collar and litigation practice…

White & Case Expands White Collar and Litigation Practices

joshua — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 11:20:57 +0000

Global law firm White & Case LLP has added partner Kenneth Caruso in New York and a seven-lawyer team, including partners Michel Beaussier and Isabelle Fenayrou-Degas, from the French specialist white collar firm Beaussier & Associés in Paris. The move expands the firm’s cutting edge white collar and litigation capabilities.

According to the press release at the firm’s site, George Terwilliger, head of White & Case’s Global White Collar Practice and former Deputy Attorney General of the United States was quoted as saying: “We are delighted to welcome Ken, Michel and Isabelle, as well as the entire Beaussier & Associés team. These lawyers are a great addition for our clients who increasingly need the benefit of experienced judgment to address global investigations, enforcement actions and related civil claims.”

Caruso has over 30 years of private and public legal experience. He joins White & Case from Bracewell & Giuliani LLP, where he was a partner in the firm’s litigation and international business practice in New York. Caruso’s practice focuses on civil and criminal litigation and investigations involving international and transnational matters, primarily for financial institutions both in the United States and worldwide.

In Paris, partners Michel Beaussier and Isabelle Fenayrou-Degas join White & Case and bring with them five additional lawyers comprising the white collar and litigation boutique Beaussier & Associés. With their arrival, the Paris dispute resolution team now stands at 10 partners, six counsel and more than 30 associates.

“Michel and Isabelle and their team command a high reputation in the French legal market as leading practitioners in the white collar, criminal law and contentious regulatory fields, advising leading French and international banks,” said John Willems, head of White & Case’s Disputes Practice in Western Europe, Middle East and Africa. “We could see immediately the parallels between their business and our own: we share many of the same clients and their arrival brings specialist expertise in this increasingly important area for multinational businesses.”

Beaussier is a senior white collar lawyer, with more than 30 years of experience. He has a leading reputation in the French legal market for criminal and bank regulatory matters.

Fenayrou-Degas is a highly respected white collar lawyer who represents banks and corporations in criminal and regulatory proceedings.

White & Case LLP is a leading global law firm with lawyers in 36 offices in 25 countries. The firm provides counsel and representation in virtually every area of law that affects cross-border business.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:57:53 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Monday, September 13th. Here’s a quick recap of Friday’s stories.

The ACLU will represent defense lawyers against U.S. Homeland Security…

According to a CT TyMetrix Inc. and The Corporate Executive Board survey, billing rates in Washington, D.C. are the second highest in the U.S….

The Quellos Group owners pled guilty to fraud and tax evasion…

The “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy was ruled unconstitutional in California’s 9th District…

Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan disqualified herself from 10 more cases…

Law School admissions officers survey tells prospective students how to prepare…

Burleson Cooke added nine attorneys to its Pittsburgh office…

“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” Ruled Unconstitutional in California’s 9th District

ashley — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 19:32:26 +0000

Judge Virginia A. Philips of the United States District Court for the Central District of California issued a permanent injunction barring enforcement of the law behind the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy on Thursday. The law that forbids openly homosexual members from serving in the United States military was ruled unconstitutional due to its violation of the rights of lesbians and gays under the First and Fifth Amendment.

The ruling occurs two months after the United States government was brought to trial by the gay rights grassroots organization Log Cabin Republicans. White & Case partner and lead attorney on the case Daniel J. Woods said in a statement, “This is a major victory in the fight for equality and means that military service will be available to all Americans, regardless of their sexual orientation.”

However, United States government lawyers are questioning whether Judge Philips’s ruling will hold true for the rest of the nation. The government now has the opportunity to nix the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy by repealing it before Congress, and constitutional law expert and dean of the University of California, Irvine School of Law, Erwin Chemerinsky, says, “Given the position of the Obama administration, there’s a great likelihood he will not appeal the ruling. If it isn’t appealed to the 9th Circuit, it has an excellent chance of standing.”

Morning Roundup

joshua — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 12:53:41 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Thursday, August 26th. Here’s a quick recap of yesterday’s stories.

A one-day Managing Partner Forum will be held at the Harvard Club of Boston on November 4th…

Squire Sanders and Hammonds are involved in merger talks…

Chadbourne & Parke added a veteran capital markets attorney to its Moscow office…

Well-known sports and entertainment agent Gregg Clifton returned to Jackson Lewis after more than 25 years…

Clifford Chance Head Predicts Office In India By 2010

eric — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:44:20 +0000

India’s ban on foreign lawyers practicing, let alone, opening an office, in that country has been a frequent item in the news lately. In a December ruling, the ban was upheld by a Bombay High Court, prohibiting such firms as Chadbourne Park and White and Case from obtaining the licenses necessary for opening up shop. The ban, however, is not a deterrent to global powerhouse Clifford Chance.

According to Bloomberg Businessweek, the firm expects with some confidence to have an office in Bombay by as soon as late 2012. By then, Clifford, as well as number of other firms, hope that the ban will have been lifted. For now, another suit is scheduled to be heard next week that will address whether foreign lawyers are even allowed to give clients advice in India at all. The case is expected to end up before the country’s Supreme Court as India’s government continues feel pressure from such fronts as the British banking lobby.

Clifford Chance is one of the world’s leading law firms with 29 offices in 20 countries and 3,600 legal advisors globally. The firm is structured around six global practice areas: Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Corporate/M&A, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Real Estate, and Tax, Pensions and Employment.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:42:20 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Monday, July 19th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

White & Case added two partners to its IP practice n Washington…

Shearman & Sterling ranked No. 2 worldwide in global M&A…

Morning Roundup

joshua — Fri, 28 May 2010 12:54:03 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Friday, May 28th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

12 Winstead PC Attorneys were selected as Houston’s Top Lawyers…

Miami-based firm Greenberg Traurig made additions to its offices in Albany and Philadelphia…

New York-based White & Case promoted five overseas attorneys to partner…

International firm Eversheds named five new partners to its global operations…

White & Case Names Five Overseas Partners

joshua — Thu, 27 May 2010 19:02:32 +0000

New York-based White & Case has promoted five overseas attorneys to partner. Two from the firm’s office in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Zeeshan Ahmedani and Phillip Power, were awarded partner status. They are both members of White & Case’s global mergers and acquisitions practice, the National Law Journal reports

In London, Jeremy Duffy, a part of the firm’s global banking practice, was promoted to partner. The focus of his practice includes cross-border senior and mezzanine acquisition finance and real estate finance.

Irina Nesvetova was made partner at White & Case’s Moscow office. She is a member of the firm’s global banking practice and her practice’s focus includes project and trade finance. Finally, in Prague, Jonathan Weinberg was promoted to partner. He is also a member of the firm’s global banking practice. Weinberg’s practice focuses on asset finance transactions and leveraged buyouts in a number of countries.

White & Case is a global law firm with lawyers in 36 offices in 25 countries.

London Revenue Plummets For U.S.-Based Firms

joshua — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 16:56:05 +0000

Nine of the 10 biggest U.S. firms with operations in London saw revenue decreases in 2009 with the lone holdout being Latham & Watkins.

According to TheLawyer.com, revenue for the top 10 U.S. firms in London fell by an average of 12 percent and among the top 30 firms revenue was down by 5 percent. Latham & Watkins, which saw its revenue increase by a mere $1.1 million, was in fact the lone firm out of the top 20 to increase revenue.

White & Case again garnered the most revenue among U.S. firms in London, but even it saw its revenue plummet by 20 percent to $197-million. Runner-up Baker & McKenzie’s revenue fell by 24 percent to $184.5 million.

The biggest drops in revenue percentage-wise were felt by Mayer Brown and K&L Gates. Both firms dropped 28 percent, with Mayer Brown down to $146.3 million and K&L Gates to $43.3 million.

The biggest increase last year came from WilmerHale, which moved from 23^rd in 2008 to 17^th in 2009 through an $8.2 million increase in revenue.

Latham & Watkins Makes Move Into Saudi Arabia

joshua — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:52:36 +0000

Latham & Watkins has established a presence in Saudi Arabia through an association with the Law Office of Mohammed Al-Sheikh, a former affiliate of White & Case.

Al-Sheikh’s relationship with White & Case ended when he was among a group of partners to leave White & Case for Latham & Watkins in a series of moves earlier this year. According to LegalWeek, Latham now has around 50 lawyers at its four offices in the Middle East. The firm entered the region in January 2008 with new offices in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha.

Latham chairman Robert Dell commented on the move.

“The Middle East is one of the most dynamic regions in the world economy and we remain committed to developing our presence in the region as a key focus of our global growth strategy,” Dell told LegalWeek. “We expect to see continued inbound and outbound activity that demands sophisticated legal counsel and our presence in Riyadh will significantly bolster our regional capability.”

According to LegalWeek, Latham & Watkins joins Lovells and Eversheds as firms that have entered Saudi Arabia in the last year.

Latham & Watkins is based in Los Angeles, Calif. and has 2,100 attorneys in offices throughout the world.

Morning Roundup

sara — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:41:19 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Friday, March 12, and here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s news…

The Asian Pacific American Legal Center files a lawsuit against Trinity Law Associates for allegedly defrauding 30 Korean immigrants…

King & Spaulding reveals a new pay scale and bonuses…

Former U.S. Senators Lott and Breaux are in talks with Patton Boggs…

Snell & Wilmer opens a sports agency…

The Obama administration nominates two federal judges…

The Zeughauser Group reports that BigLaw hasn’t fared as badly as predicted…

Quinn Emanuel changes their name…

Howrey is cutting partners after a tough 2009…

White & Case promotes five to partner…

White & Case Promotes Five to Partner

joshua — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:14:45 +0000

White & Case, which has been tagged with numerous departures during the past few months, announced it has added five new partners this week.

Promoted to partner in the firm’s global banking practice were Jeremy Duffy in London; Moscow-based Irina Nesvetova; and Jonathan Weinberg in Prague.

The firm has also bolstered its global mergers and acquisitions practice in Abu Dhabi with the additions of Zeeshan Ahmedani and Philip J. Power.

“These new partners are among the emerging generation of leaders cultivated within White & Case, reflecting our future as a truly global law firm,” Chairman Hugh Verrier said in a press release. “Their election to partner underscores our commitment to serving our clients and further strengthening our global banking and Middle East practices.”

White & Case is looking to rebound after a tough first 2 1/2 months of 2010 that has seen more than 20 partners leave the firm. It has been especially hard hit by rival Latham & Watkins, which got the ball rolling on the White & Case raid earlier this year with the addition of 13 partners from the firm.

White & Case is a global law firm with lawyers in 36 offices in 25 countries.

Kaye Scholer Opens in Silicon Valley

joshua — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 20:35:17 +0000

Kaye Scholer is opening a new office in Silicon Valley, with the help of a veteran patent litigator from White & Case. William Coats was the manager of White & Case’s Palo Alto office prior to last year and brings some heavy clients with him to Kaye Scholer. Among his book of business, estimated at being worth between $4 million and $5 million, are LucasFilm and Pioneer Electronics.

The firm has not yet found a location for the new office, its second in California.

Founded in 1917 in New York City, Kaye Scholer is a global law firm with 450 attorneys in offices in Chicago, Frankfurt, London, Los Angeles, New York, Shanghai, Washington, D.C., West Palm Beach and now Silicon Valley.

Morning Roundup

sara — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 12:50:07 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Friday, February 26, and here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s news…

A judge ordered the shutdown of debt settlement firm Allegro Law LLC…

Motley Rice LLC and Burke PLLC have joined forces to pursue claims for clients in the Kellogg, Brown, and Root, Inc., Burn Pit multidistrict litigation…

Jeff Roberts joins Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher’s London office as a partner…

Loretta Lau has joined Goodwin Procter’s Hong Kong office as a corporate finance partner…

Steve Betensky resigns as chair of White & Case’s global information technology practice…

Revenue and profits improve at Wiley Rein…

McGuireWoods sees increases in profits per partner and gross revenues but declines in net profits and revenue per lawyer…

White & Case Suffers Yet Another Departure

joshua — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 17:49:02 +0000

Multiple reports indicate White & Case has been tagged with yet another defection, as Steve Betensky has apparently resigned as chair of the firm’s global information technology practice. The move follows news last week that Elaine Johnston left White & Case to join Allen & Overy’s antitrust practice; and earlier this week, Tanneke Heersche left the firm’s mining and metals practice in Johannesburg to join Canadian-based Fasken Martineau’s Johannesburg office.

Betensky worked in White & Case’s offices in Palo Alto and Prague.

Earlier this year White & Case had 13 partners leave for Latham & Watkins’s London office. In all, White & Case has had 23 partners leave since October.

White & Case is an international law firm founded in 1901 with a presence in the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Morning Roundup

sara — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 13:19:23 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, February 17, and here’s a look back at yesterday’s stories…

Lincoln Fabrics will pay $4 million dollars to settle a lawsuit with the U.S. government…

A couple wins a lawsuit against their former stockbroker…

Profits are up and revenues are down at Shearman & Sterling…

Profits and revenues are up at Irell & Manella…

Elaine Johnston leaves White & Case for Allen & Overy…

Civil rights activists will challenge a California affirmative action ban in college admissions…

A student suspended for writing critical statements on Facebook may proceed with her lawsuit against her former school…

Jury pools have been hit by the recession…

Allen & Overy Adds Partner from White & Case

joshua — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:11:23 +0000

White & Case, which has already had 13 partners depart for Latham & Watkins this year, has lost an additional partner in its New York office, this time to Allen & Overy. According to a statement from the firm, Elaine Johnston has left for A&O after 16 years at the firm.

Johnston will lead A&O’s antitrust practice. Allen & Overy is based in London and has over 2,000 attorneys with 450 partners. It has offices in 33 locations around the world.

More Debate Over NALP Recruitment Plan

joshua — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 19:53:23 +0000

Jones Day has been the most vociferous opponent of the NALP recruitment plan, as we originally reported here, but several other firms have come out against it.

Weil Gotshal and Lowenstein Sandler have spoken out against it, saying that it would create a five month gap between on campus interviews and the extension of offers – a gap that would be expensive for firms that feel compelled to spend larger amounts of money wining and dining top recruits.

Jones Day has asserted that a predetermined “offer day” raises anti-trust issues and benefits weaker firms that are less able to predict their own internal needs to the detriment of better run firms.

Cleary Gottlieb is also opposed to the plan.

Taking NALP’s corner are firms like White & Case and Wilkie Farr.

This raises some interesting questions about law firm recruitment and the NALP plan. There are three constituent groups affected by the plan: Law firms, students, and law schools. Which group, if any, should the NALP plan seek to benefit and which group benefits from the current plan?

Certainly a longer recruitment period benefits law students, who will have more time to meet with and learn about the various firms while also receiving increased perks. Some firms may benefit as well by having more information about their own internal numbers before issuing final offers, and Jones Day’s objection not withstanding even the best run firms will be able to capitalize on this information. The longer recruitment period will, however, cut down on the advantage enjoyed by some firms. But what about the schools themselves, who certainly have a vested interest in seeing their students receive offers from top ranked firms? Will the NALP plan benefit them all equally or will some schools fare better than others as a result of the plan, and should that factor into the decision?

The discussions thus far have focused almost entirely on the firms and the students. I’m eager to hear your comments on the impact to the schools.

Lateral Market Heats Up

joshua — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 21:22:19 +0000

The lateral market for 2010 is expected to be brisk and we’ve already seen some big moves in the first month and a half of the year. This is following a record high for lateral moves in 2009, although some of that can be attributed to mergers or failing firms.

Big moves so far this year include a team of energy lawyers that joined Cooley Godward from Alston & Bird and 13 White & Case lawyers that jumped to Latham & Watkins in London.

As earning statements are released from various firms, partners are able to get a sense of which firms had the best grasp on the economic situation of 2009. This, coupled with a slow rebound of the economy may have some partners casting about for options, and firms are anxious to bring on partners with profitable practices.