Chamberlain Hrdlicka is pleased to announce that Stephanie Friese Aron and Scott Augustine have been named co-managing shareholders of the firm’s Atlanta office. “We are excited for the Atlanta office under Stephanie and Scott’s leadership and look forward to continued success as a leading middle-market law firm with a talented team of attorneys,” said Larry Campagna, Chamberlain Hrdlicka managing shareholder. The firm will maintain its focus on personalized client service that has become a hallmark during the firm’s growth to more than 150 attorneys.

David Aughtry, long-time Atlanta managing shareholder, will continue to focus on his thriving tax practice. “We are grateful for David’s many contributions to our firm, his commitment to clients, and the exciting future that we are thrilled to enjoy alongside of him.”

Friese chairs Chamberlain’s Real Estate Practice and is a member of the firm’s board of directors. She is involved in nearly all aspects of commercial real estate transactions, from acquisition of land, to leasing, construction, financing and disposition. She also counsels clients involved in real estate litigation and dispute resolutions, including foreclosures, evictions and federal enforcement actions. Her clients typically own, develop and manage commercial office, retail, multifamily and industrial properties across the United States.

As an active member in the commercial real estate and legal community, she is a past president of the Georgia Association of Women Lawyers and CREW Atlanta, and remains actively involved in both organizations, which lean heavily on past presidents for their continued advice, fundraising and programming. She also is a former board member of the Atlanta Women’s Foundation and the Atlanta Commercial Board of Realtors.

Augustine chairs Chamberlain’s Corporate, Securities & Finance Practice in Atlanta and is a member of the firm’s board of directors. He has established himself as an innovative and trusted advisor to, and advocate for, businesses across the country. Working with entrepreneurs and owners, CEOs, general counsel and other C-suite and lead executives, his practice is focused on the intersection of law and business.

Buchalter secured a favorable settlement of more than $22.6 million from Chicago Title on behalf of approximately 80 victims of a fraudulent liquor license investment scheme. Gina Champion-Cain, the mastermind behind the scheme, defrauded investors into believing they were investing in short term loans for liquor license applicants. Chicago Title was the escrow company investors were led to believe would hold their money while supposed liquor license applications were pending. The settlement resolves all of Buchalter’s clients’ claims against Chicago Title, including claims for fraud, aiding and abetting fraud, conversion, negligence, and financial elder abuse. The settlement recovers more than 70 percent of Buchalter’s clients’ net losses—the highest percentage Chicago Title has agreed to pay in any of the related investor lawsuits to date.

The liquor license investment scheme is the largest known fraud in San Diego history. The scheme collapsed in August 2019 amid legal action from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Champion-Cain, accused of funneling investors’ money into her restaurants and other business and personal interests, pleaded guilty last July to criminal charges of conspiracy, securities fraud, and obstruction of justice. She was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

The case is Atherton et al. v. Chicago Title Company et al., San Diego Superior Court Case No. 37-2020-00017967-CU-FR-CTL. The SEC receivership action is SEC v. Champion-Cain et al., Case No. 3:19-CV-01628-LAB-AHG, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. The District Court approved the settlement on June 3, 2021.

Buchalter’s team was led by Mark T. Cramer, together with Jeffrey S. Wruble, William M. Miller, Oren Bitan, David E. Mark, and Michael J. Worth.

New York City, June 29, 2021 – In a significant broadening of the firm’s government investigations capabilities, a trio of seasoned white collar and securities litigation partners have joined Stroock’s Litigation and Government Affairs and Regulatory Services (GARS) practice.

A nationally renowned SEC enforcement lawyer, Richard Morvillo joins in Washington, D.C., while partners Scott Morvillo, and Ellen Murphy will be based in New York. Each draws on vast experience before government agencies, lawmakers and regulatory bodies to counsel clients on complex civil and criminal investigations.

The addition comes on the heels of M&A/Private Equity corporate partner Peter Rooney and Real Estate/Hospitality partner Michael Kosmas recently joining the firm, and further enhances the litigation practice after last year’s onboarding of partner Eric Aronson.

Richard Morvillo
Rich will lead Stroock’s White Collar & Investigations practice. A former branch chief with the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, he is a nationally recognized authority in SEC enforcement and other white collar matters. Rich has been a part of several high-profile cases, including securities matters involving Enron, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Liberty Media, Capital One and Prestige Brands.

He also represents corporations, corporate executives, brokerage firms, investment advisers, accounting firms, auditors, law firms, hedge funds and individual investors in matters involving investigations related to the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, New York Stock Exchange, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, congressional oversight, state attorney general and grand jury inquiries. Rich received his B.A. from Colgate University and his J.D. from Fordham University School of Law.

Scott Morvillo
A former Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, Scott regularly represents clients before district courts and regulatory bodies, focusing on matters involving securities fraud, public corruption, bank fraud, bribery, wire and mail fraud, accounting fraud, health care fraud, insurance fraud and violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Skilled in both criminal and civil complaints, Scott draws on his court experience to counsel clients on RICO and narcotics cases, money laundering, bank fraud and credit card fraud, among others. Scott received his B.A. from Colgate University and his J.D. from the Fordham University School of Law.

Ellen Murphy
Ellen’s practice centers on advising financial institutions, public and private companies, boards and executives in a variety of regulatory, criminal, internal and civil investigations and litigations, including extensive experience with both civil and criminal trials as well as mediations and arbitrations.

Ellen’s regulatory counsel to clients includes investigations by the Department of Justice, the SEC, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, State Attorney General Offices, State District Attorney Offices and other regulatory agencies. Ellen received her B.A. from the State University of New York Stony Brook and her J.D. magna cum laude from the St. John’s University School of Law, where she served as Articles and Notes Editor for the St. John’s Law Review.

“Deputy general counsel Charles Barber has been named the University’s interim vice president and general counsel, officials announced Friday. Barber has worked in GW’s Office of the General Counsel for 25 years and has worked on a range of legal issues including real estate and business operations, according to a University release. The announcement comes after Senior Vice President and General Counsel Beth Nolan announced in March that she would retire this summer,” reports Abby Kennedy in The GW Hatchet.

“His deep knowledge and relationships across the University, his experience with a broad array of legal matters and his steady leadership navigating complex issues will allow GW to continue to best support our academic mission, University President Thomas LeBlanc said in the release. Barber has served the general counsel office since 1996 and has served as deputy general counsel since 2007, according to the release. Barber has also taught higher education law at GW Law since 2012.”

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“There can be more than one motivation underlying that sentiment. The chance to earn more money tends to be part of the appeal, particularly if the lawyer is treating an especially successful client as the reference point. But beyond money, attorneys who yearn for a business role are often drawn to the notion of managing a P&L. In other words, they like the idea of being in charge of a business,” reports Lateral Link in Above the Law.

“The thing is, if you are a Biglaw partner, you’re already running a business: your practice. It might not feel that way. Maybe you view your firm’s managing partner as the person who is running the business, and relative to that leader, you feel like you don’t have much management autonomy. If that is your view, it may be worth considering that most of the clients on the business side are constrained by decisions made higher up the pyramid.”

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“Earlier this month, investors sued Bristol Myers Squibb over a payment the company doesn’t think it needs to make. Now, one analyst says that he thinks that Bristol will settle As part of that deal, Bristol agreed to give Celgene holders a payout of $9 a share, called a contingent value right, if three Celgene treatments hit certain regulatory benchmarks,” reports Josh Nathan Kazis in Barron’s.

“This past New Year’s Day, Bristol announced that the CVR had automatically terminated. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved all three of the drugs, one of the approvals came roughly a month past the pre-set deadline after pandemic-related travel restrictions delayed an FDA inspection.”

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“Juul Labs has agreed to pay North Carolina $40 million to settle the first of a spate of lawsuits brought by states and localities claiming the e-cigarette company’s marketing practices fueled widespread addiction to nicotine among young people and created a new public health problem,” reports Sheila Kaplan in The New York Times.

“The settlement, which was announced on Monday morning, allows the company to avoid a jury trial this summer as the Food and Drug Administration is deciding whether its vaping products can stay on the market. The company had urgently sought the settlement, but the deal removes just one of numerous legal actions pending against it.”

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Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that Saira S. Siddiqui, an associate in the firm’s Houston office, has been named to the board for the South Asian Bar Association of Houston (SABA Houston) as the Vice President of Community Outreach. Her term began June 12.

SABA Houston is dedicated to the needs, concerns, and interests of South Asian lawyers and strives to promote the professional development of the South Asian legal community, while ensuring the civil liberties of and the provision of legal services to the local South Asian community.

Siddiqui focuses her practice on commercial litigation and personal injury, specifically in the energy and construction fields. She has extensive experience in insurance coverage and bad faith litigation matters in state and federal courts across Texas. A graduate of the South Texas College of Law, Ms. Siddiqui is an active member of the State Bar of Texas, serving as the Houston chairperson for the Young Construction Lawyers Committee. She is also a member of the Houston Young Lawyers Association.

“Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) said on Saturday it will pay $263 million to resolve claims it fueled an opioid epidemic in New York state and two of its largest counties. The settlements remove the drugmaker from a jury trial scheduled to begin on Tuesday on Long Island, where several big opioid makers and distributors are also defendants,” reports Jonathan Stempel in Reuters.

“Johnson & Johnson did not admit liability or wrongdoing in settling with New York state, and with Nassau and Suffolk counties. The $229.9 million state settlement also calls for J&J to stop selling the painkillers nationwide.”

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“Big Law is stepping up efforts to recognize Juneteenth, which falls on Saturday, after last year’s protests and firms own diversity shortcomings put a spotlight on racial inequities in the U.S. Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld is hosting a Pulitzer Prize-winning author Friday for a talk, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius is helping to distribute food to the needy and Squire Patton Boggs is hosting what it describes as candid exchanges on race in offices globally. Those are just some of the activities firms have planned,” reports Elizabeth Olson in Bloomberg Law.

“Juneteenth, which commemorates the effective end of slavery in the U.S., is getting particular interest from firms after the killing of George Floyd while in police custody last year spurred protests throughout the U.S. Law firms stepped up their activism in response, providing legal help and donating to equal justice projects. There was a moral reckoning last year, said Tony Pierce, the partner in charge of Akin Gump’s Washington office. We are in a service business where our job is to look forward and figure things out.”

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“As Qatar Petroleum readies its long-awaited expansion of the world’s largest offshore gas field, it is likely to face pressure from LNG buyers for more flexible contract terms in an increasingly competitive market QP has historically relied almost solely on oil indexation in its long-term contracts, but as global LNG markets increasingly commoditize and the use of benchmarks grows, Qatar’s commercial strategy has shifted, including greater use of the Japan Korea Marker,” reports Katie McQue in S&P Global.

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“County Commissioners approved a five-year contract with the Mighty Thomas Carnival for fair rides, sideshows, carnival games and concessions on the grounds for the Montana State Fair at Montana Expo Park. The 2020 fair is included in the contract though it was cancelled due to COVID-19 and the contract covers fairs for 2021-2024. The Mighty Thomas Carnival has provided the midway services to the Montana State Fair for the last 26 years, according to county staff,” reports Jenn Rowell in The Electric.

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“Seaspan Corporation has sealed its sixth newbuild order since December, entering into agreements for two 12,000 teu containerships. The vessels are scheduled be delivered during the fourth quarter of 2022, when they will enter long-term charters with a global liner. The charters include purchase options at the end of the initial charter period and at the end of any renewal terms thereafter. Seaspan did not reveal the yard involved although it has opted to use both China’s Yangzijiang and Samsung Heavy Industries,” reports Grant Rowles in Splash 247.

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“When considering the US transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, it is helpful to look at a country further along than our own. Norway has some significant commonalities with the US most importantly, both countries are oil and gas rich. Yet Norway exports most of its fossil fuels, while the US consumes most of theirs These two countries, both rich in oil and gas, face a giant challenge of divesting from fossil fuel production to lower greenhouse gas emissions,” reports Ian Palmer in Forbes.

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“Ennis, Inc. announced today that Ms. Vera Burnett has been appointed to the position of CFO and Treasurer and Mr. Dan Gus has been appointed as General Counsel and Assistant Secretary by the Board effective June 21, 2021. Keith S. Walters, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer noted that “Ms. Burnett has proven to management and the Board that she has the capabilities to assume this role. We are pleased that we could add Ms. Burnett to the officer ranks of the Company,” reports WhatTheyThink in their blog.

“Ms. Burnett has served as Interim CFO and Treasurer since September 2020, following the retirement of the previous CFO. Ms. Burnett joined the Company in February 1997 and holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington. She also holds designation as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA). Ms. Burnett’s professional affiliations include the American Institute of CPAs and the Texas Society.”

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“The Boy Scouts of America has signaled that it could scrap a $650 million settlement with property and casualty insurer The Hartford over sex abuse claims if victims groups keep up their opposition to the deal, which they have called inadequate According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, the Boy Scouts organization on Friday filed documents with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Wilmington, Delaware, saying it would seek the counsel of the judge presiding over its bankruptcy proceedings if it cannot get enough abuse victims to sign off on the proposal a stipulation built into the pact when it was announced,” reports Zachary Vasile in Hartford Business.

“A spokesperson for The Hartford told The Wall Street Journal that if the $650 million settlement isn’t approved by the bankruptcy court, the company is prepared to vigorously defend its position in related coverage litigation The Boy Scouts, reeling from hundreds of lawsuits alleging the organization’s negligence failed to stop widespread sexual abuse by Scout leaders, sued The Hartford in 2018 in an attempt to recover money for legal fees and settlements in connection with insurance policies it holds. The Hartford had argued that its policies, issued to the BSA in the 1970s, did not cover those claims.”

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Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm, is pleased to announce that Akerman Partner Rubén Castillo, former Chief Judge of the Northern District of Illinois, has been selected as the winner of the Chambers Diversity & Inclusion Awards: North America 2021 in the “Outstanding Contribution” award category. This award category recognizes a partner that has shown an outstanding commitment across multiple aspects of diversity and inclusion in the legal profession.

Judge Castillo has long been an advocate of change and is viewed by his peers as a pivotal force in advocating diversity and inclusion in the federal court system and the Chicago legal community. He spent the early days of his career serving as regional counsel for the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), the nation’s leading Latino legal civil rights organization, where he helped create the first Hispanic congressional district in Illinois via federal redistricting litigation. Following his work with MALDEF, he was nominated by President Bill Clinton to serve on the federal bench, eventually becoming the first Latino Chief Judge of the Northern District of Illinois. During his tenure, he served as vice chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, helping write the federal sentencing guidelines and authoring the Commission’s chapter on sentencing corporations. After his tenure at the Sentencing Commission, Judge Castillo expanded Chicago’s Federal Reentry Court to assist former federal inmates as they re-entered their communities. In 2020, he was tapped by Chief Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer to spearhead efforts aimed at identifying racial inequality and achieving equal justice for all within the court.

A first chair litigator, Judge Castillo focuses his practice at Akerman on corporate investigations, white collar criminal defense, private arbitration, and mediation work for litigants. As chair of Akerman Bench, he leads one of the nation’s largest panels of former appellate and trial court judges, seasoned appellate lawyers, and former state and federal law clerks, who provide guidance and feedback for optimal trial and appellate court presentations.

Michael Best Strategies is pleased to announce that Former U.S. Senator Cory Gardner has joined as a member of its Board of Advisors.

Gardner honorably served in the United States Senate from 2015 to 2021. During this time, Gardner was elected to the majority leadership team to serve as the Chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee from 2017 to 2019. After the midterm elections in 2018, Gardner became one of only two Republicans to hold statewide elected office in Colorado. In addition to Chairing the NRSC, Gardner served on a number of powerful Senate Committees, including the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Sen. Gardner authored the landmark Great American Outdoors Act and is a leading voice on U.S. policy in the Indo-Pacific.

As a member on the Michael Best Strategies’ Board of Advisors, Gardner will collaborate with the firm on business development and public policy, while providing strategic advice and counsel to clients.

Prior to being elected to the U.S. Senate, Gardner represented Colorado’s 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2011 to 2015. During this time, he was an active member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Before making his way to Washington, Gardner served in the Colorado State General Assembly as a State Representative from 2005 until 2011. Gardner earned his B.A. from Colorado State University, and his J.D. from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Neil V. Carbone Joins Farrell Fritz’s Trusts & Estates and Estate Litigation Departments as Partner

Farrell Fritz is pleased to welcome Neil V. Carbone as a partner in the trusts & estates and estate litigation departments.
“Adding a partner of Neil’s caliber to our trust & estates and estate litigation departments is indicative of our dedication to growth and client service,” said Robert Creighton, Managing Partner at Farrell Fritz. “Neil comes with decades of experience helping clients navigate challenging matters. We are thrilled to have him return to the firm where he was a legal intern as he launched a distinguished career.”
“Farrell Fritz was where I first developed my interest in the trusts and estates practice, in which we establish tax-efficient plans for clients and then help carry them out while sometimes dealing with high levels of contention or even litigation,” said Carbone. “After honing my skills at a large national firm, coming back to Farrell Fritz as a partner is like coming home. While the family here has gotten bigger, the culture of the firm, the people, and the collaboration among the various departments of the firm remain unchanged and provide exactly the right mix for my practice. The firm’s blend of talent and capabilities will allow me to provide the best resources for my clients now and in the future.”
Carbone is a Great Neck, NY, resident. Prior to joining Farrell Fritz, he was a partner at Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP. Neil earned his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law, cum laude, and his B.A. from St. John’s University. He is admitted in New York, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, and the U.S. Tax Court.

Women in Leadership Carving New Executive Landscape for Schneider Electric
Three executives appointed to leadership roles within Schneider Electric North America
Company accelerates progress on long-term commitments to gender equality and sustainability goals

BOSTON—(June 22, 2021)—Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation and the world’s most sustainable company ranked by Corporate Knights, today announced the appointment of three female executives to its North America leadership team: Abha Dogra as Chief Information Officer; Abby Gabriel as Chief Marketing Officer; and Virginia “Ginny” Johnson as General Counsel.

Reporting directly to Annette, the leaders are responsible for and their backgrounds include:
Abha Dogra, SVP Digital Technology and Chief Information Officer, Schneider Electric North America: Joined Schneider Electric two years ago as Chief Product Officer for Digital Products, where she was focused on driving digital transformation through technology innovation. In her new role, she’s leading Schneider Electric’s AI and automation strategy to apply AI at scale. Dogra came to Schneider with extensive experience in diverse areas of Enterprise Solution Delivery and SaaS-based business services, after serving as Division Vice President of Global Products Development at PTC, CTO and Vice President of Engineering at Akamai Technologies, CTO of Global Technology and Enterprise Architecture at Iron Mountain, and Head of Architecture and Technology at ADP. She demonstrates a wealth of knowledge and accomplishments in leadership, technology, software, and engineering in her over 20-year-career.

Abby Gabriel, Chief Marketing Officer, Schneider Electric North America: Has been with the company for over 10 years, most recently in the role of Vice President, Strategic Marketing, Digital Energy and Secure Power. Formerly with APC by Schneider Electric, she kicked off her marketing career as Marketing Program Manager and worked her way up to Director of Communications, eventually transitioning into the Global Marketing Organization. In her new role, Gabriel will have the mission to nurture a leading marketing team in delivering our brand ambition for the North America market, including establishing Schneider Electric as a leader in sustainability and digitization. She will steward the organization’s focus on digital customer experience and best-in-class web and digital experience and ensure marketing is delivering a strong commercial impact across e-commerce and digital marketing.

Ginny Johnson, General Counsel, Schneider Electric North America: Recently joined the organization with responsibility for leading a legal department of approximately 45 members throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Central America, and providing legal oversight across all areas of the business. She brings significant leadership experience and subject matter expertise in the areas of litigation, corporate law, transactional, governance, regulatory and compliance. Johnson joined Schneider Electric after serving in a variety of roles, most recently Senior Vice President & Associate General Counsel at Global Atlantic Financial Group, where she also co-founded the Global Atlantic Women’s Network. Since joining Schneider Electric, Johnson has become a member of the board of directors of the company’s charitable giving foundation, and has taken on active roles in the company’s DEI steering committee and its women’s network, Women in Schneider Electric (WiSE). Additionally, Johnson serves as a mentor in the New Girls Network of the Big Sister Association of Greater Boston, and she is a member of The Fourth Floor, a membership community where women leaders and startup founders create and access board seats, investments, and funding opportunities.

In January of this year, Schneider Electric doubled down on the company’s longstanding strategy to make the world greener and more equitable by outlining and executing on eleven concrete commitments in the Schneider Sustainability Impact program. These commitments are expected to be completed by 2025. The eighth commitment focuses on increasing gender diversity, from hiring to front-line managers, and leadership teams. Making strides in the space already, Schneider Electric has been included for the 4th year in a row in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index, promoting public commitment to equality in the workplace.