Perkins Coie Adds Deborah Ruffins as Chief Marketing Officer

Deborah Ruffins has joined Perkins Coie as chief marketing officer, responsible for leading all marketing and business development functions and initiatives.

Ruffins, who will be based in Perkins Coie’s Seattle office, was previously global head of strategic initiatives at Hogan Lovells. Prior to that, she led practice marketing and business development with responsibility for business strategy, marketing planning, and budgeting. Before joining Hogan Lovells, she led global business development efforts at Bingham McCutchen.

In addition to her law firm experience, Ruffins worked in the consulting field for nearly 20 years where she held leadership roles in marketing, business development, and sales at Accenture, PwC and Deloitte & Touche. She received her B.S. in Finance from Fordham University.

 

 




Two BigLaw Firms Vote to Combine, Creating 1,100-Lawyer Entity

Bloomberg Law is reporting that Troutman Sanders and Pepper Hamilton have voted to merge, creating a 1,100-lawyer firm with offices in 23 cities known as Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders.

Current Troutman managing partner Steve Lewis will become chair and CEO of the combined firm, and Pepper Hamilton chair Tom Gallagher will become vice chair.

“Troutman is the larger of the two firms, taking in nearly $525 million in revenue in 2018—good for 68th most among U.S. law firms, according to the latest AmLaw rankings,” writes Bloomberg’s Roy Strom.

Read the Bloomberg Law article.

 

 




Aldous\Walker Earns Elite Trial Lawyers Finalist Honors for 2020

American Lawyer Media and The National Trial Lawyers have named the Aldous\Walker law firm a finalist for a 2020 Elite Trial Lawyers Law Firm of the Year honor, based on the firm’s continuous winning record in court.

The finalist honor recognizes the firm for courtroom wins in two categories, dram shop litigation and child abuse. Winners will be announced Jan. 20 at the NTL Summit in Miami.

“These are very important results for the individuals and families involved,” said Brent Walker of Aldous\Walker, who along with firm founder Charla Aldous tried both cases. “To be recognized for achieving some measure of justice in the courtroom for our clients is a tremendous honor.”

Aldous\Walker and other firms are being recognized for having “demonstrated repeated success in cutting-edge work on behalf of plaintiffs over the last 15 months,” as well as a track record of client wins through the preceding three to five years, according to ALM and The National Trial Lawyers.

One of the firm’s cases cited for the honor involved representing Stacey Jackson, mother of Dallas Cowboys player Jerry Brown, who was killed in a rollover accident in 2012. A Dallas County jury determined a club had overserved alcohol to the car’s driver, Dallas Cowboys lineman Josh Brent, and delivered a verdict on damages in the amount of $25 million.

In the second case, the firm represented a young woman who was raped in 2012 by two high school football players. In February 2019, a Denton County jury awarded her $32 million for aggravated sexual assault.

Earlier in 2019, American Lawyer Media cited those two cases and a third in naming Aldous\Walker a finalist for Elite Trial Lawyers. The third case involved a $37.6 million verdict against Honda for the defective design of a third-row seat belt that failed to protect a young Dallas woman in an accident and left her a quadriplegic.

 

 




Foley Announces New International Network of Corporate Compliance and Anti-Corruption Law Firms

A new international alliance of law firms and lawyers called the Concilium Global Compliance, Investigations & Defense Network officially launched today, offering cross-border representation in matters involving corporate compliance, internal investigations and government enforcement defense, according to an announcement by Foley.

The Concilium Network can help multinational businesses find counsel qualified to provide representation across national boundaries, Foley said in a release.

Concilium Network currently counts 15 international law firms as members and intends to expand to other jurisdictions, subject to its firm-vetting process. The firms currently part of the Concilium Network include:

• Advokatfirmaet Selmer (Norway)
• Blake, Cassels & Graydon (Canada)
• Creel Garcia-Cuéllar Aiza y Enriquez (Mexico)
• FieldFisher (UK)
• FeldensMadruga (Brazil)
• Foley & Lardner (U.S.A.)
• J. Chan, Yip, So & Partners (China)
• Kammeradvokaten / Poul Schmith (Denmark)
• Navacelle Law (France)
• Panag & Babu (India)
• Posse Herrera Ruiz (Colombia)
• Preda Del Puerto & Asociados (Paraguay)
• Raczkowski Paruch (Poland)
• Schellenberg Wittmer (Switzerland)
• SvS Rechtsanwälte (Germany)

 

 




Littler Expands into Asia with Singapore Office

Littler announced it is planning to open an office in Singapore, the firm’s first in Asia.

Upon final approval by local authorities, the Singapore office will be led by Littler shareholder Trent Sutton, who will be joined in the office by special counsel Nancy Zhang. Sutton, who speaks Korean and has lived in several countries throughout Asia, focuses his practice on counseling clients on multi-country employment and compliance matters. He regularly conducts cross-border internal investigations, advises on the employment aspects of global expansions and workforce restructurings, and conducts training sessions on human resource issues.

In a release, the firm said that Zhang, with extensive experience practicing in China, is qualified to practice in the People’s Republic of China. Prior to joining Littler, she practiced at an international law firm in Beijing and served as an in-house counsel at a multinational company headquartered in China.

Sutton and Zhang will reside in the Singapore office and will continue to work closely with other attorneys in Littler’s International Employment Law practice and with those licensed in the Asia Pacific region, including shareholder Naomi Seddon, who is admitted to practice in Australia and New Zealand, and special counsel Aki Tanaka, who formerly practiced and is licensed in Japan.

 

 




Texas-Based Provost Umphrey Among Nation’s Best Law Firms for 12th Year

Provost Umphrey Law Firm has earned a place in the 2020 Best Law Firms guide by U.S. News & World Report and The Best Lawyers in America, marking the 12th year in a row the firm has received such recognition.

Provost Umphrey earned top rankings in the Beaumont metro area for representing plaintiffs in mass torts and class actions, personal injury and product liability litigation. The Nashville office earned recognition for labor and employment litigation.

To learn more about the firm’s top practice rankings, visit https://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/profile/provost-umphrey-law-firm-l-l-p/overview/15784.

Best Law Firms rankings are based on extensive evaluations by clients and attorneys in the same practice areas, as well as peer and editorial review of the information provided by law firms.

To be eligible, a firm must have at least one lawyer in the 2020 Best Lawyers in America guide, which compiles its list through surveys from attorneys nationwide. Fourteen Provost Umphrey attorneys earned placement in this year’s guide, with three winning “Lawyer of the Year” honors, given to attorneys who received the highest overall peer-feedback for a specific practice area and geographic region. Equity Partner Bryan O. Blevins Jr. earned this distinction for mass torts and class action, Equity Partner David P. Wilson was chosen for personal injury litigation, and attorney Darren L. Brown was honored for product liability litigation.

Nine firm attorneys also earned Texas Super Lawyers honors, another peer-review attorney guide. Earlier this year, the firm made the list of Top Texas Verdicts & Settlements compiled by VerdictSearch and Texas Lawyer based on 2018 cases. Provost Umphrey was recognized for the largest premises liability verdict in Texas with a $6.34 million Harris County negligence award against a suburban Houston apartment complex in connection with the murder of a 15-year-old girl.

 

 




Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson Among 2020 Best Law Firms

Boutique family law firm Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson has earned recognition for the 11th consecutive year in the Best Law firms guide published by U.S. News & World Report and The Best Lawyers in America.

The firm earned top rankings in both the Dallas Fort-Worth and San Antonio areas for family law and family law mediation. In addition, the firm’s appellate practice won national recognition for the fourth year in a row, with metropolitan honors in San Antonio for the first time.

Best Law Firms rankings are based on thorough client and attorney evaluation, as well as peer and editorial review of the information provided by law firms.

“We appreciate the feedback from clients and other lawyers,” said firm partner Brad LaMorgese. “Our team works diligently and efficiently to guide clients involved in family law matters, and we are honored to be included on this prestigious list.”

A firm must have at least one attorney recognized in the current Best Lawyers in America guide to earn eligibility. Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson had 13 lawyers listed this year.

Name partners Richard R. Orsinger, Keith M. Nelson, R. Scott Downing and Jeff O. Anderson were recognized for their work in family law; Orsinger also earned honors for his appellate work; Anderson earned additional recognition for his family law arbitration practice.

Also earning family law recognition are partners William M. Reppeto III, Brad M. LaMorgese, Amber Liddell Alwais, Paula A. Bennett, Lon M. Loveless, Paul Hewett, Chris Oldner and Holly Rampy Baird, and Of Counsel Jim Loveless. LaMorgese earned additional honors for his appellate practice, and Bennett was recognized for her family law mediation work.

 

 




Dallas-based Perry Law P.C. Earns 2020 Best Law Firms Recognition from US News – Best Lawyers

The publishers of U.S. News & World Report and The Best Lawyers in America have ranked Perry Law P.C. among the leading firms in Dallas-Fort Worth for insurance law for 2020.

This is the first year Perry Law has earned this recognition, earning a place in the annual Best Law Firms guide.

“We are thrilled to be included among this area’s top insurance-focused law firms,” said firm founder Meloney Perry. “We work hard as a team to provide the best solutions to the complex issues facing our clients, and it’s an honor to have that dedication recognized by our clients and peers.”

Best Law Firms rankings are chosen through extensive client and attorney evaluations, peer review, and editorial review of the information provided by law firms. For the full 2020 Best Law Firms list, visit https://bestlawfirms.usnews.com.

To earn eligibility for the Best Law Firms listing, a firm must have at least one attorney recognized in the current Best Lawyers in America, the oldest peer-review lawyer guide in the United States. Perry was recognized earlier this year for her work in insurance law and insurance litigation.

She was also honored on the 2019 Texas Super Lawyers listing for her insurance coverage work.

Perry represents insurance companies in coverage disputes, bad faith claims and class actions. She serves as the primary regional lawyer for a major national insurance carrier and represents companies in insurance and business disputes throughout Texas, New Mexico and Colorado.

Certified under the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council, Perry Law P.C. is a woman-owned law firm focused on insurance coverage and litigation. The firm represents companies in matters involving appeals, insurance bad faith, class action, defense litigation and premises liability.

 

 




Greensfelder Ranked in 2020 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers ‘Best Law Firms’

Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C., announced that the firm has been highly ranked nationally and in St. Louis and Chicago in the 2020 edition of the U.S News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms.”

Greensfelder ranked in Tier 1 – the highest possible ranking – for Franchise Law and also earned high rankings nationally for the following practice areas:

– Litigation – ERISA
– Advertising Law
– Health Care Law
– Litigation – Construction

The firm was ranked in Tier 1 for the St. Louis metropolitan area for the following practice areas:

– Advertising Law
– Commercial Litigation
– Construction Law
– Corporate Law
– Employment Law – Management
– Franchise Law
– Health Care Law
– Labor Law – Management
– Litigation – Construction
– Litigation – ERISA
– Litigation – Insurance
– Real Estate Law
– Tax Law
– Trusts & Estates Law

Additionally, the firm was highly ranked in St. Louis for the following practice areas:

– Appellate Practice
– Copyright Law
– Criminal Defense: White-Collar
– Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
– Government Relations Practice
– Litigation – Labor & Employment
– Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
– Mergers & Acquisitions Law
– Patent Law
– Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
– Securities / Capital Markets Law

For the Chicago metropolitan area, Greensfelder was ranked in Tier 1 for Franchise Law and was highly ranked for Criminal Defense-White Collar.

Each year, The Best Lawyers in America and U.S. News & World Report rank law firm practice areas nationally and across more than 180 metropolitan areas. The “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on client evaluations, peer reviews from leading attorneys, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a national or metropolitan ranking, a law firm practice area must have at least one lawyer in that practice ranked as a “Best Lawyer.”

 

 




Dallas-Based Deans & Lyons Earns Place Among ‘Best Law Firms’ in America

Dallas-based Deans & Lyons LLP has earned recognition among the Best Law Firms in the country for 2020 by U.S. News & World Report and The Best Lawyers in America. The firm was singled out for its commercial litigation work.

Earlier this year, trial lawyer and firm co-founder Michael Lyons was featured in The Best Lawyers in America guide for 2020 as one of the country’s outstanding commercial litigators, a selection based on peer review and editorial evaluation. The Best Law Firms list only includes firms that have at least one attorney in the Best Lawyers guide.

“I’m extremely pleased for our firm, and I am honored to have made the Best Lawyers list. Recognition based on the respect of your peers and competitors is particularly meaningful,” said Mr. Lyons, an accomplished trial lawyer who represents both plaintiffs and defendants in complex commercial and personal injury litigation.

Selection for the annual Best Law Firms listing involves client evaluations and practice-specific editorial and peer review. The full 2020 listing can be found at https://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/.

In addition to his 2020 Best Lawyers honors, Lyons has consistently earned selection to the Texas Super Lawyers list, as well as D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas for personal injury and business litigation work, the firm said in a release.

A member of the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums, Lyons has earned additional accolades that include recognition as a Top 100 Lawyer in the Dallas-Fort Worth area by Super Lawyers for 2018 and 2019, Lifetime Achievement status among America’s Top 100 Attorneys for Texas, and America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators for North Texas in 2017-19.

 

 




Freeborn Ranked By 2020 U.S. News – Best Lawyers ‘Best Law Firms’

Freeborn & Peters LLP announced that the 2020 edition of the U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” guide has ranked the firm nationally in seven practice areas, and awarded high rankings for multiple firm practice areas in Chicago; Richmond, Va.; and Tampa, Fla.

Freeborn was ranked nationally for Antitrust Law, Commercial Litigation, Copyright Law, Entertainment Law – Motion Pictures & Television, Insurance Law, Trusts & Estates Law, and Venture Capital Law.

Freeborn was ranked by “Best Law Firms” for the following practice areas in the Chicago metropolitan area:

– Antitrust Law (Tier 1)
– Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law (Tier 3)
– Commercial Litigation (Tier 1)
– Copyright Law (Tier 1)
– Government Relations Practice (Tier 1)
– Criminal Defense: White Collar (Tier 2)
– Insurance Law (Tier 1)
– Energy Law (Tier 2)
– Entertainment Law – Motion Pictures & Television (Tier 3)
– Environmental Law (Tier 3)
– Litigation – Antitrust (Tier 3)
– Litigation – Trusts & Estates (Tier 2)
– Trusts & Estates Law (Tier 1)
– Venture Capital Law (Tier 2)

In addition, Freeborn was ranked by “Best Law Firms” in Tier 1 for Insurance Law in the Richmond metropolitan area, and in Tier 1 for Commercial Litigation in the Tampa metropolitan area.

The Best Lawyers in America® and U.S. News & World Report annually rank law firm practice areas nationally and across more than 180 metropolitan areas. The “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on client evaluations, peer reviews from leading attorneys, and analysis of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a national or metropolitan ranking, a law firm practice area must have at least one lawyer in that practice ranked as a “Best Lawyer.” The 2020 “Best Law Firms” rankings are published on the U.S. News & World Report website at http://BestLawFirms.USNews.com.

 

 

 




Bradley Wins Top Honors in 2020 U.S. News – Best Lawyers ‘Best Law Firms’

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP announced that the firm has been named the nation’s “Law Firm of the Year” for Construction Law in the 2020 edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms.” In addition, “Best Law Firms” awarded the firm Tier 1 national rankings for four practice areas and Tier 1 metropolitan rankings across 70 practice areas and in all 10 of its offices.

Bradley was ranked in Tier 1 nationally for its Commercial Litigation, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction, and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Action – Defendants practices.

This marks the second time in three years that Bradley has been named the “Law Firm of the Year” for Construction Law. The firm said only one law firm in the U.S. per legal practice area receives this recognition each year.

The complete list of the firm’s Tier 1 metropolitan rankings, organized by market/office, is provided below.

The Best Lawyers in America and U.S. News & World Report ranked law firm practice areas nationally and across more than 180 metropolitan areas for the 2020 edition of “Best Law Firms.” Rankings are based on client evaluations, peer reviews from leading attorneys, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a national or metropolitan ranking, a law firm practice area must have at least one lawyer in that practice ranked as a “Best Lawyer.”

The firm received Tier 1 metropolitan rankings for Birmingham in the following practice areas:

– Antitrust Law
– Appellate Practice
– Arbitration
– Banking and Finance Law
– Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
– Bet-the-Company Litigation
– Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
– Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
– Commercial Litigation
– Construction Law
– Copyright Law
– Corporate Compliance Law
– Corporate Governance Law
– Corporate Law
– Criminal Defense: White-Collar
– Economic Development Law
– Education Law
– Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
– Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
– Employment Law – Management
– Energy Law
– Environmental Law
– Financial Services Regulation Law
– Franchise Law
– Government Relations Practice
– Health Care Law
– Information Technology Law
– Insurance Law
– International Trade and Finance Law
– Labor Law – Management
– Land Use & Zoning Law
– Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
– Litigation – Antitrust
– Litigation – Banking & Finance
– Litigation – Bankruptcy
– Litigation – Construction
– Litigation – Environmental
– Litigation – ERISA
– Litigation – Insurance
– Litigation – Intellectual Property
– Litigation – Labor & Employment
– Litigation – Land Use & Zoning
– Litigation – Real Estate
– Litigation – Securities
– Litigation – Tax
– Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
– Mergers & Acquisitions Law
– Municipal Law
– Non-Profit / Charities Law
– Patent Law
– Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
– Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
– Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants
– Public Finance Law
– Real Estate Law
– Securities / Capital Markets Law
– Tax Law
– Trademark Law
– Trusts & Estates Law
– Water Law

The firm received Tier 1 metropolitan rankings for Charlotte, N.C., in the following practice areas:

– Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
– Commercial Litigation
– Construction Law
– First Amendment Law
– Litigation – Bankruptcy

The firm received a Tier 1 metropolitan ranking for Dallas in the following practice area:

– Commercial Litigation

The firm received a Tier 1 metropolitan ranking for Houston in the following practice area:

– Construction Law
– Litigation – Construction

The firm received Tier 1 metropolitan rankings for Huntsville, Ala., in the following practice areas:

– Appellate Practice
– Commercial Litigation
– Corporate Law
– Litigation – First Amendment
– Mediation
– Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
– Mergers & Acquisitions Law
– Patent Law
– Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
– Real Estate Law
– Tax Law
– Trusts & Estates Law

The firm received Tier 1 metropolitan rankings for Jackson, Miss., in the following practice areas:

– Appellate Practice
– Bet-the-Company Litigation
– Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
– Commercial Litigation
– Construction Law
– Corporate Law
– Health Care Law
– Insurance Law
– Land Use & Zoning Law
– Litigation – Construction
– Litigation – Environmental
– Litigation – Insurance
– Litigation – Intellectual Property
– Litigation – Labor & Employment
– Litigation – Real Estate
– Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
– Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
– Product Liability Litigation – Defendants

The firm received Tier 1 metropolitan rankings for Montgomery, Ala., in the following practice areas:

– Bet-the-Company Litigation
– Commercial Litigation
– Employment Law – Management
– Litigation – Insurance
– Litigation – Labor & Employment
– Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
– Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
– Public Finance Law
– Tax Law

The firm received Tier 1 metropolitan rankings for Nashville, Tenn., in the following practice areas:

– Arbitration
– Banking and Finance Law
– Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
– Bet-the-Company Litigation
– Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
– Commercial Litigation
– Construction Law
– Corporate Governance Law
– Corporate Law
– Economic Development Law
– Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
– Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
– Employment Law – Management
– Energy Law
– Entertainment Law – Motion Pictures & Television
– Entertainment Law – Music
– Government Relations Practice
– Health Care Law
– Insurance Law
– Labor Law – Management
– Land Use & Zoning Law
– Litigation – Banking & Finance
– Litigation – Bankruptcy
– Litigation – Construction
– Litigation – Health Care
– Litigation – Intellectual Property
– Litigation – Labor & Employment
– Litigation – Patent
– Litigation – Tax
– Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
– Media Law
– Mediation
– Mergers & Acquisitions Law
– Municipal Law
– Patent Law
– Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
– Public Finance Law
– Real Estate Law
– Tax Law
– Trusts & Estates Law

The firm received Tier 1 metropolitan rankings for Tampa, Fla., in the following practice areas:

– Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
– Commercial Litigation
– Corporate Law
– Employment Law – Management
– Litigation – Bankruptcy
– Securities Regulation

The firm received Tier 1 metropolitan rankings for Washington, D.C., in the following practice areas:

– Construction Law
– Litigation – Construction
– Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
– Product Liability Litigation – Defendants

The 2020 “Best Law Firms” rankings are published on the U.S. News & World Report website at http://BestLawFirms.USNews.com.

 

 




Harrity & Harrity Receives Washington Business Journal Corporate Citizenship Award

Harrity & Harrity, LLP received the Washington Business Journal (WBJ) Corporate Citizenship Award in recognition of its partnership with the American Heart Association (AHA) of Greater Washington Region.

Part of the WBJ’s Corporate Philanthropy Awards, the Corporate Citizenship Award honors partnerships between Washington, D.C. metro area businesses and nonprofits that demonstrate positive outcomes for both organizations. Harrity and other winners will be formally honored in November at the WBJ’s annual Corporate Philanthropy Awards event.

The firm said Harrity began its partnership with the AHA of Greater Washington in 2017, joining forces to fight heart disease by working to educate policy makers, health care professionals, and the general public, with the goal of one day ending heart disease. The partnership was borne out of John Harrity’s personal experience of suffering and recovering from a “widow maker” heart attack in 2016 at the age of 49. The following year, Harrity launched Harrity 4 Charity, through which Harrity partners pledge to give 5 percent of their profits and Harrity employees pledge to donate a portion of their paychecks to partner charities.

Since 2017, Harrity partners and employees have donated countless volunteer hours to fighting heart disease. The firm also partners with the AHA of Greater Washington for its annual Lawyers Have Heart 10K Race, 5K Run & Fun Walk, which this year raised more than $900,000 for the cause. The last two years, Harrity has not only been the top corporate sponsor of the race, but also the top fundraiser. Most recently, the AHA of Greater Washington named John Harrity and Harrity & Harrity Controller Sandra Maxey co-chairs of the 30th annual Lawyers Have Heart 10K Race, 5K Run & Fun Walk. Also as part of its commitment to the cause, Harrity hosts the annual Harrity Race 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Run, with 100 percent of the event’s proceeds going to the AHA of Greater Washington.

 

 




Langley & Banack Launches Law Podcast

San Antonio law firm Langley & Banack, Inc. announced it has launched a new podcast featuring in-depth discussions and stories based on cases from the field.

The first series focuses on fiduciary litigation, hosted and produced by attorneys Chris Hodge and Jobe Jackson. Attached is a photo of Hodge (left) and Jackson (right).

In a release, the firm said each Langley & Banack law podcast offers in-depth discussions about litigation that involves will and trust clashes, power of attorney contests, declaratory judgments and guardianship challenges. Together, Hodge and Jackson examine cases and approaches to this area of the law using real-world examples and high-profile guests who add to the conversation.

 

 




Midwest Real Estate News Names Freeborn a Top Regional Real Estate Law Firm

For the ninth consecutive year, Freeborn & Peters LLP has been named by Midwest Real Estate News as among the top regional real estate law firms. Included in the top 15 for 2019, Freeborn this year earned its highest ranking ever.

The Midwest Real Estate News “Best of the Best” edition also ranks the industry’s top regional owners, financial intermediaries, brokers, direct lenders, property managers, and construction companies.

 

 

 




Jen Patton Joins Foley as Chief Legal Talent Officer

Jen Cafferty Patton has joined Foley & Lardner as its first chief legal talent officer (CLTO). As CLTO, Patton is responsible for overseeing the firm’s legal talent development structure and leading all attorney recruitment, development and retention efforts, as well as all coaching and diversity and inclusion initiatives.

In addition to overseeing recruiting, professional development, diversity and inclusion, and alumni efforts, Patton will be charged with helping the firm differentiate itself in the talent marketplace – including evaluating the firm’s recruiting and retention processes and determining where there are opportunities to innovate.

Patton will be based in Foley’s Houston office. She earned her J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law and her B.A., cum laude, from Rice University.

 

 




Bradley Wins Recognition at LMG Life Sciences Awards 2019

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP announced that LMG Life Sciences Awards 2019 has named Bradley as the “Firm to Watch” in the nationwide Litigation & Enforcement category. In addition, LMG Life Sciences named Tripp Haston, a partner in the firm’s Birmingham office and co-leader of Bradley’s Life Sciences industry team, among the seven national finalists for “Product Liability Attorney of the Year.”

The LMG Life Sciences Awards recognize the year’s top firms and legal professionals in the life sciences sector. The award winners were announced Sept. 18 at an event in New York City.

The firm said in a release that the LMG Life Sciences Awards, which last year named Bradley the “Product Liability Firm of the Year,” are based on research conducted for the annual LMG Life Sciences referral guide to leading North American law firms and lawyers that focus in the life sciences industry. LMG determines honorees through case evidence, peer feedback surveys, interviews with law firm partners who are active in the relevant research categories, and client feedback from corporate and in-house contacts.

Bradley’s Life Sciences Industry team represents clients involved in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, molecular testing services, drug delivery systems, clinical labs (CLIA), genomic labs, bioinformatics, genomic medical clinics, research institutions, contract research organizations, animal sciences, plant sciences, and healthcare. Among the team’s top accolades are a national ranking by Chambers USA, a Tier 1 national rankings in the 2019 edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions, as well as Tier 1 “Best Law Firms” metropolitan rankings for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants for numerous markets with the Bradley offices.

The firm said Haston represents clients on regional, national and international engagements. He represents medical device and pharmaceutical clients in products liability litigation. In addition, he has served as national trial and coordinating counsel and as a national team member in individual actions as well as mass tort and multi-district litigation. His experience has involved matters throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and South America.

Haston is a member and past president of the International Association of Defense Counsel, an invitation-only legal organization of leading defense attorneys from more than 50 countries. He has served as a board member of DRI, the nation’s largest organization of defense counsel, and Lawyers for Civil Justice, an organization comprised of leading corporate counsel and defense bar practitioners dedicated to promoting fairness in the U.S. civil justice system. He also is a past chair of the Alabama State Bar’s Leadership Forum and a past president of the Young Lawyers Section of the Birmingham Bar Association. Haston has been recognized in numerous attorney directories, including The Best Lawyers in America®, Chambers USA, Benchmark Litigation, and Who’s Who Legal.

 

 




Attorneys of Portland-Based Ater Wynne to Merge Practice with Buchalter

Buchalter announced that Ater Wynne, a full-service business law firm based in Portland, Oregon, will merge its practice into Buchalter.

In a release, Buchalter said adding Ater Wynne’s 22 attorneys in Portland, which is set to occur on Oct. 1, 2019, will bring Buchalter to approximately 300 attorneys in nine locations including Los Angeles, Napa Valley, Orange County, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Scottsdale and Seattle. This is Buchalter’s second office in the Pacific Northwest following the opening of an office in Seattle less than two years ago. Buchalter’s Seattle office, led by Jeffrey G. Frank, has grown to 12 attorneys and recently relocated to the premier US Bank Centre in downtown Seattle.

Ater Wynne managing partner Todd A. Mitchell will become managing shareholder of the Portland office and a member of the firm’s board of directors. He will also spend time in the Seattle office. Half of the attorneys in Portland are licensed to practice in the State of Washington.

Other Ater Wynne Partners joining Buchalter as shareholders are Ernest Bootsma, L. David Connell, Akana J. Ma, Michael (Sam) J. Sandmire, Michael W. Shackelford, Gregory E. Struxness, Andrea Bartoloni, Nena Cook, Frank X. Curci, Thomas M. Karnes, Daniel P. Larsen, and John C. Ramig.

Additional Ater Wynne attorneys joining Buchalter include Jonathan Ater (partner emeritus), Steven K. Blackhurst (special counsel), Claudia K. Powers (special counsel), John M. Schultz (senior counsel), Kirk W. Smith (senior counsel), Alexandra Shulman (of counsel) and associates Robyn Bishop, Daniel Lis, and Amy Opoien.

 

 




Bad News Keeps Coming for Biglaw Firm LeClairRyan

The Biglaw firm of LeClairRyan, already in the news after issuing WARN Act notices to staff warning about possible mass layoffs, has lost founding partner Gary LeClair, according to Above the Law.

The report says LeClair will be taking two other partners with him to Williams Mullen as of August 5.

“For over a year now the firm has seen a flood of partners and senior attorneys exit,” writes Above the Law senior editor Kathryn Rubino. “Almost 10 percent of LeClair’s headcount departed in 2018, and the trend has continued in 2019. Indeed, just earlier this week a 15-attorney group from LeClairRyan — the aviation group led by Mark Dombroff — departed.”

Read the Above the Law article.

 

 

 




Law Offices of Frank L. Branson Honored with 2019 Elite Trial Lawyers Award

The National Law Journal has honored The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson as a top law firm in the nation for product liability litigation based on the firm’s large jury verdicts and track record of excellence going back more than three decades.

The firm founded by Frank L. Branson was chosen for the prestigious Elite Trial Lawyers award based on exceptional product liability litigation work. The award was presented at a reception in New York on July 18. The firm was honored as part of a three-way tie in the product liability category.

The NLJ recognition follows a string of high-profile legal victories for Branson and his team, including:

A $242 million product liability jury verdict against Toyota in August 2018. Jurors agreed Toyota was grossly negligent for failing to correct or warn consumers about seatback design flaws in the Lexus ES 300. The award included $144 million in punitive damages awarded a Dallas family whose two young children suffered serious injuries in a collision. The verdict was recognized as the No. 1 product liability verdict in Texas in 2018.

A $10.9 million jury verdict resulting from the crash of a charter bus en route to the Choctaw Casino & Resort in Oklahoma. The 2016 verdict was affirmed on appeal and settled recently. The firm represented the estate and children of an 83-year-old woman who was killed in the accident. The verdict was awarded to Mr. Branson’s client and a second victim who was represented by separate counsel and who joined the case as an intervenor.

Branson also has won multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements in all types of transportation crashes. He has been recognized for top verdicts multiple times by VerdictSearch and the NLJ – four alone in the last six years.

“I feel honored every day to have the opportunity to put our clients on a level playing field with corporate America,” said Mr. Branson. “The results we’ve been able to secure reflect decades of hard work and our team of great lawyers.”