By Harrison Barnes, Managing Director, BCG Attorney Search

Working with a legal recruiter is the smartest decision a good attorney can make. Legal recruiters typically operate in the ”upper echelons” of the legal profession and for people who are suited for their services legal recruiters are the absolute best career resources.

Legal recruiters can identify the best opportunities for you; will counsel you on your move; will provide you inside information about the various employers you are investigating; will draw out your strengths and present them to employers in a convincing way; will provide a ”valuable prescreening” function for the employers and just by their virtue of representing you, provide you with a good entree to the employer. In fact, many of the largest and most selective law firms rarely look at candidates unless they come from a preferred legal recruiter. For example, numerous candidates I have represented at BCG Attorney Search may have not even received a response when they approached a firm on their own before coming to our firm. A good legal recruiter can make that much of a difference. Read More

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Summary: Energy law firm Burleson LLP added to its litigation bench by opening a new office in New Orleans headed by veteran litigator Mark L. Clark, that will extend the firm’s reach across the Gulf Coast and broaden its capabilities in the offshore environment. Personal injury attorney Lisa Africk will be joining Clark in the firms new office.

Clark, who has more than 20 years of experience in complex litigation, will serve as partner in charge in New Orleans and head a new Offshore, Energy, and Marine Practice Group.  He has deep experience and a broad background in a range of energy exploration and development matters in both onshore and offshore settings, and will also focus on self-insured tort, products, maritime, environmental, personal injury, insurance coverage, and breach of contract claims.

In addition to his extensive experience in state and federal litigation, Clark has been involved in arbitrating domestic and international matters in a variety of disputes, including construction, maritime contract claims, and insurance coverage issues.

Clark is a proven leader who understands how to successfully develop and direct a law office, having served eight years as managing shareholder of the New Orleans office of a widely known litigation firm. During that time, he opened the location and led a team of litigators through hundreds of claims, securing successful resolutions on behalf of an array of clients.

Joining Clark as a partner in New Orleans will be Lisa Africk. She will focus her practice on complex litigation involving maritime law and related coverage issues.

Africk spent many years in a practice heavily focused on litigation with concentrations in maritime, transportation, and construction law.  She represents professionals, including engineers and architects, as well as officers and directors in both the maritime and the oil and gas support services fields.

Africk is well established in the New Orleans legal community and is experienced in a number of arenas, including personal injury and fatality cases with complex maritime and coverage issues.  She serves several clients who require day-to-day legal advice, support, or action, regularly working on issues related to employment, contracts, business, strategy, and marketing.

Rick Burleson, managing partner of the Houston-based energy law firm, explained that the move to New Orleans was consistent with Burleson’s ongoing growth strategy.

“We have built a strong litigation practice that serves oil and gas clients with interests in all the major onshore producing areas in North America,” he said. “We will now be able to handle a more diverse range of client needs in offshore matters while at the same time expanding our services in other areas. This complements our existing oilfield litigation practices in all the major producing regions across the country where we have offices.”

Clark earned his undergraduate degree from Abilene Christian University and his J.D. from the South Texas College of Law. Africk earned her undergraduate degree and Master of Social Work from Tulane University and her J.D. from the Tulane Law School.

Looking for energy attorney jobs in New Orleans? Click here to see current openings.

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Summary: Ohio-based law firm Porter Wright announced on Tuesday that corporate and securities attorney Robert J. Tannous, who is also the current chief operating partner of the law firm will take over the responsibilities of managing partner of the firm with effect from January 1, 2015.

Porter Wright has announced after 18 years as managing partner, Robert “Buzz” Trafford is transitioning the leadership of the firm to Robert J. Tannous, the firm’s chief operating partner. Trafford will remain a partner in Porter Wright’s Columbus office and will continue to focus his law practice on complex business litigation.

Tannous joined Porter Wright’s Columbus office in 1987 and specializes in representing public companies in federal securities, mergers and acquisitions and corporate law issues. He also advises clients on corporate governance, ongoing securities reporting and compliance, proxy statements, stock exchange compliance, mergers and acquisitions and executive compensation plans.

He also counsels oil and gas clients on corporate and financing issues related to the operation of pipeline systems for the transportation of petroleum products, and the development, production, and transportation of energy resources. Currently, Tannous chairs Porter Wright’s Corporate Finance and Securities Practice Group.

As chief operating partner since 2009, Tannous has been involved with the firm’s major processes on a daily basis and will take over as managing partner on Jan. 1, 2015.

“I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to lead Porter Wright to the next level,” Tannous said. “My primary goal is to build on the solid foundation and momentum the firm has achieved under Buzz’s leadership, vision and hard work.”

After taking on the role of managing partner, Tannous will continue to maintain his busy corporate securities and mergers and acquisitions law practice. “Although the leadership at Porter Wright is changing, our quality of service and dedication to our clients will be as steady as ever,” he said.

He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in the area of Corporate Law and Mergers and Acquisitions Law. He has also been recognized by Ohio Super Lawyers® and in 2013 was selected as one of Ohio’s top attorneys in Corporate/M&A law by Chambers USA.

Looking for corporate attorney jobs in Columbus, Ohio? Click here to browse live openings on LawCrossing.

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Summary: Facebook and its CEO Mark Zuckerberg have sued DLA Piper LLP, Paul Argentieri & Associates, Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP , and Milberg LLP , including attorneys belonging to these law firms who represented Paul Ceglia in his stunning claim to 50% ownership of Facebook, based on documents which have since been proved to be false and forged before federal courts.

Facebook’s complaint accuses the law firms and lawyers of collusion with intent to deceive a court and malicious prosecution. Facebook and Zuckerberg are represented by Moskowitz & Book LLP. The complaint has been brought for violation of New York Judiciary Law Section 487 in the Supreme Court of the State of New York.

Facebook opens its complaint with the allegation that “The Defendant lawyers and their client, Paul D. Ceglia, conspired to file and prosecute a fraudulent lawsuit against Facebook and its founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg based on fabricated evidence, for the purpose of extorting a lucrative and unwarranted settlement.”

The complaint further stated that “The lawyers representing Ceglia knew or should have known that the lawsuit was a fraud – it was brought by a convicted felon with a history of fraudulent scams, and it was based on an implausible story and obviously forged documents.”

Facebook points out, “In fact, Defendant’s own co-counsel discovered the fraud, informed the other lawyers, and withdrew. Despite all this, Defendants vigorously pursued the case in state and federal courts and in the media. Ultimately, the federal court hearing the case dismissed it as a fraud and a federal grand jury indicted Ceglia for the same fraud.”

So, Facebook thinks it is now its payback time for the lawyers and law firms who represented Ceglia.

The problem is that courts and lawyers cannot move based on assumptions and presumptions, and until the documents and story of Ceglia was proved at court to be fraud and forgery, he was held innocent under law, and there was nothing for the law firms or lawyers to legally assume otherwise. Unless, of course, Facebook can prove that the law firms or lawyers were conclusively aware of the forgery and had prior knowledge of the same before the court reached its conclusion.

Proving collusion backed by mens rea is a difficult job. And there’s quite a high chance that ultimately Facebook will have to settle things from its own side to appease some law firms it’s suing today.

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Summary: Fried Frank announced in a press release that leading tax attorney Christopher Roman has left King & Spalding to join Fried Frank in New York as a partner.

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP announced on Monday that Christopher Roman and Nick Thornton have joined the Firm as partners in the Tax Practice, with Roman residing in the New York office and Thornton residing in the London office.

“We are pleased to welcome Chris and welcome back Nick, who both bring strong technical skills and commercial acumen to our Tax Practice and to our clients around the world,” said David Greenwald, chairman of Fried Frank. “In addition, both consistently demonstrate a deep understanding of the markets in which their clients operate and will make important contributions to our asset management, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets, finance and real estate matters.”

Roman’s practice focuses on tax aspects of alternative investment funds and fund-related M&A, with significant experience in both corporate transactional work and matters involving real estate and real estate investment trusts (REITs). Roman has significant experience in representation of companies and underwriters in REIT formations, securities offerings, debt financings, asset acquisitions, dispositions, M&A and other transactions.

Roman is the chairman of the American Bar Association’s REIT Committee and member of the New York City Bar Association’s Committee on the Taxation of Business Enterprises.

In addition to representing both sponsors and investors in fund formations, he has extensive experience representing investors in secondary sales of interests in private funds on both the sell-side and buy-side, as well as investors and sponsors in debt and equity co-investment transactions.

Before joining Fried Frank, Roman was a partner in the Tax Department of King & Spalding‘s New York office.

He received an LLM from New York University School of Law in 1995, a JD from The University of Akron School of Law in 1994 and a BS from Indiana University in 1991.

Looking for tax attorney jobs in New York city? Click here to browse current openings on LawCrossing.

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Summary: Leading IP Attorney John Demarco has joined Haynes and Boone‘s Intellectual Property Transactional practice in Houston as a partner.

Demarco is experienced in a wide range of intellectual property matters. His practice focuses on patent counseling, licensing, litigation, and prosecution. He helps companies design around patents, defend against patent assertions, enforce/license intellectual property, resolve complex patent prosecution issues, strategize international commercial activity to minimize infringement exposure, and acquire and develop technology and intellectual property.

He has also litigated patent, copyright, trademark, trade secret, antitrust and false advertising issues before United States federal courts and the International Trade Commission and coordinated simultaneous parallel litigations in Japan, Taiwan and Europe.

“John’s firsthand experience working in Japan and representing IP clients in Japan and other parts of Asia will be advantageous for our clients in need of Asia-related IP support,” said Albert Tan, co-chair of the Haynes and Boone‘s International Practice Group. “As we continue the strategic build-out of our Asia practice, experienced lawyers like John will be increasingly important to our expanded service offerings.

Demarco’s technical experience focuses on electronics, software, optics, mechanics, and chemicals including: robotics; automotive components; medical devices and imaging (fluorescence, MRI, CT, and OCT); pharmaceuticals; petrochemicals; down-hole drilling equipment; distributed systems; semiconductor component fabrication; and digital reading, storage, display, printing and camera devices.

“Our nationally-recognized IP practice grows even stronger with the addition of John in Houston,” said Terry Conner, firm managing partner. “Clients engaged with the ongoing energy boom and vibrant Houston economy will certainly benefit from his wise counsel.”

Looking for intellectual property attorney jobs in Houston? Click here to browse current openings on LawCrossing.

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Summary: Well-known elder law attorney Brett Thompson has joined Raleigh-based law firm Smith Debnam in its elder law and advocacy services. Thompson worked in television news before earning a law degree, and is a current member of the Elder Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association.

Raleigh-based law firm Smith Debnam has hired Brett Thompson, an elder law attorney with an established practice concentrated in all matters related to Elder Law, including estate planning, probate litigation, Medicaid planning, guardianship, and VA benefits.

With the addition of Thompson, the firm strengthens its elder law and advocacy services – an area of law set to increase in demand as 70 million baby boomers race to retirement over the next few decades, many without enough savings to withstand a serious medical condition or prolonged illness.

Thompson will devote his time to providing seniors with independent, legal counsel on protecting their rights and financial assets for their post-retirement years.

“Make no mistake, we are in the people business,” said Smith Debnam founding partner, Thurston Debnam. “Since our inception, we have been fortunate to attract and retain good, quality people. Brett is no exception. He is an excellent attorney who takes great care of his clients. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have him on board.”

Thompson received his Juris Doctor from the University Of North Carolina School Of Law and a B.A. from the University of South Florida in Tampa.

Prior to earning his law degree, Thompson spent more than a decade working in television news, including positions at CNN in Washington, DC; Bay News 9 in Tampa, FL; and News 14 Carolina in Raleigh, NC. He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and Elder Law Section of the North Carolina Bar Association.

For other attorney jobs in Raleigh location, please click here.

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Summary: R. J. Lyman, one of the nation’s leading energy attorneys has joined Mintz Levin as a Member of the Energy Technology and Project Finance Practices of the law firm. Most recently, he was the President, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel of General Compression, Inc. Before joining General Compression he was an equity partner for over a decade at Goodwin Procter LLP , where he helped establish and lead its Clean Tech and Energy Practice.  He previously served as Assistant Environmental Secretary for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts under Governor William F. Weld.

Mintz Levin said in its news release that Lyman deepens the firm’s capabilities in the energy sector with diverse expertise encompassing project finance and development; M&A transactions; intellectual property portfolio protection; equity & debt financing; regulatory policy; and corporate governance. He also has an extensive background working with venture capital and private equity firms in connection with emerging growth companies.

Thomas R. Burton III, Founder and Chair of the firm’s Energy Technology Practice said, “His experience advising clients, shaping policy and leading and growing a company are invaluable as we continue to expand our nationally leading practice.”

William F. Weld, former Massachusetts Governor and now a Member of Mintz Levin’s Energy Technology Practice and a Principal of its consulting affiliate ML Strategies, LLC welcomed Lyman and said, “He was a key leader in my administration’s energy and environmental reforms. He has continued ever since to provide real insight to the clients he’s advised and the company he’s led in the heavily regulated energy industry.  He is the kind of lawyer who knows how to make deals, not break deals, and I could not be more pleased to be working together again.”

Lyman graduated cum laude from Harvard College and magna cum laude from Vermont Law School. Among his other professional and personal affiliations, he presently serves on the board of the Woods Hole Research Center, the world’s leading climate change think tank.

Looking for energy attorney jobs in Boston, MA? Click here for current openings on LawCrossing.

 

 

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Summary: Attorney General Eric Holder announced on Wednesday that Vanita Gupta will be the new Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Right Division. Gupta will also serve as the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General. Gupta succeeds Molly Moran who will now be the Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General. She will assume her new responsibilities from October 20.

Gupta began her career with the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. Besides working for NAACP and ACLU, Gupta has taught civil rights litigation and advocacy clinics at New York University School of Law since 2008.

Her first case involved leading an effort to win the release of 35 defendants in Tulia, Texas, whose drug convictions and lengthy sentences were discredited by the work of Gupta and the legal team of private bar attorneys she organized. The African-American defendants had been convicted by an all-white jury, and the only evidence was the testimony of an undercover agent who himself had a recorded misdemeanor charge for stealing gasoline from a county pump. All of the defendants were eventually pardoned in 2003 by Governor Rick Perry, and she helped to negotiate a $6 million settlement for those arrested.

Before joining the US Department of Justice, Gupta had been the Deputy Legal Director of the American Civil Liberties Union and Director of ACLU’s Center for Justice. She also worked previously as an attorney in ACLU’s Racial Justice Program.

On Gupta’s appointment, Attorney General Eric Holder said, “Even as she has done trailblazing work as a civil rights lawyer, Vanita is also known as a unifier and consensus builder. She has a knack for bridging differences and building coalitions to drive progress. I am certain that Vanita will serve as a sound steward of this critical division.”

She received a B.A., magna cum laude, from Yale University and J.D. from New York University School of Law.

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Public interest attorney jobs are prevalent in legal services, law reform groups, educational institutions, charity organizations, and law firms involved in pro bono work. However, these are jobs that you have to go out in search of; you have to hunt for them. Nonetheless, the fruits are worth the labor and effort. They provide profound experience, excellent training, and enormous job satisfaction for primarily the jobs serve the underserved section of society and help causes that desperately cry for legal representation without being able to afford them. Like other cities in the U.S., Atlanta too has its share of cases that can only be addressed through the people holding public interest attorney jobs in Atlanta.

Before you peruse job-search engines for job-listings, LawCrossing.com is a great one for comprehensive and detailed listings. Please understand that public interest jobs pay a meager but livable salary. This field is meant for people who care about what they do and not merely care about how much they earn. Issues that you will probably be dealing with and using your legal acumen toward are addressing the widespread unfairness, injustice, and bias prevalent in today’s world. This would probably mean ensuring healthcare for the poor and elderly, holding industries responsible for environmental degradation, helping refugees seek political asylum, and other similar cases.

It is fairly obvious that your values, your commitment, and the desire to use your expertise to change society will be the motivating factor. Money for what this legal field will earn you is rather skimpy. Your commitment and your desire to contribute to the wellness of society may far outweigh other considerations. If you are going to compare what you earn with what attorneys in other fields earn, the results will be dismal and probably Public Interest is not the field you should venture into.

Salaries are nothing to write home about. Starting salaries would be in the range of $30-40,000.However, government public interest jobs draw a higher salary, which could be between $70-100,000.

Of all places in the U.S., Atlanta is perhaps the right choice for public interest work. Its poverty rate is extremely high and nearly 20 percent of the people here are food insecure, meaning that they are not sure if they’ll manage two full meals a day. Nearly 30 percent of the city’s children live in food insecure families and at least one in ten elderly people lives below the poverty line.

Although you may not earn much in terms of money, you are likely to gain much more experience than you would get doing more conventional legal work. Since the clients you work for are getting your services gratis, you have more direct client contact, you have extensive courtroom experience and the issues that you deal with are of a very serious nature, e.g. fighting for someone on death row, cases of racial discrimination, seeking asylum for fugitives, and fighting big guns for prejudices against workers based on their color, creed or origins.

Public interest attorney jobs in Atlanta are for those who want to use their years of effort at law school and hard earned expertise in the legal arena to help the downtrodden and the oppressed and to redress their woes without hankering after money. Putting a smile on their faces and helping equalize a social lacuna is the reward such attorneys give themselves.

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