Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that seven of the firm’s attorneys were appointed to new leadership roles with the American Bar Association (ABA) for the 2021-2022 bar year, which began Aug. 1.

The firm’s attorneys newly appointed by the ABA are Dylan C. Black, Tiffany J. deGruy, Erin Illman, Junaid Odubeko, Robert Emmett Poundstone IV, Anne Marie Seibel and Ethan T. Tidmore.

“We are proud of these attorneys and congratulate them on their ABA appointments,” said Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters. “This is a testament to their leadership, and we look forward to seeing their future contributions to the legal profession.”

A partner in the firm’s Birmingham office, Mr. Black has been appointed a member of the Membership and Marketing Committee by the chair of the Section of Litigation. A member of Bradley’s Class Action and Complex Litigation Practice Group, he focuses his practice on complex civil litigation in state and federal courts, with particular emphasis on class actions, state and federal securities fraud cases, professional liability matters and insurance coverage litigation.

A partner in the firm’s Birmingham office, Ms. deGruy will continue serving as co-chair of the Woman Advocate Committee. She focuses her practice on trying high-stakes business litigation.

A partner in the firm’s Charlotte office, Ms. Illman has been appointed to the Cybersecurity Legal Task Force. She regularly advises clients on security breach notification laws, U.S. state and federal privacy and data security requirements, and global data protection laws. Ms. Illman is co-chair of Bradley’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Practice Group and leads the firm’s Fintech team.

A partner in the firm’s Nashville office, Mr. Odubeko is currently serving his second year as part of the Section of Litigation’s Diverse Leaders Academy (DLA). His practice focuses on advising and representing clients in complex commercial and business disputes and real estate litigation.

Managing partner of the firm’s Montgomery, Alabama office, Mr. Poundstone was elected the Alabama State delegate and will serve as a member of the Nominating Committee and chair of the Alabama State Delegation in the House. He frequently represents clients in litigation matters pending in federal and state trial and appellate courts.

A partner in the firm’s Birmingham office, Ms. Seibel has been elected vice-chair of the Section of Litigation. She focuses her practice on multi-forum or multi-plaintiff high-stakes litigation and has trial experience in a variety of venues, as diverse as New Hampshire and Alabama trial courts and multiple arbitration proceedings.

A partner in the firm’s Birmingham office, Mr. Tidmore will serve as co-chair of the Trial Evidence Committee. He concentrates his practice primarily on complex commercial litigation.

About Bradley
Bradley combines skilled legal counsel with exceptional client service and unwavering integrity to assist a diverse range of corporate and individual clients in achieving their business goals. With offices in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, the firm’s nearly 550 lawyers represent regional, national and international clients in various industries, including banking and financial services, construction, energy, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, real estate, and technology, among many others.

Turner Padget is pleased to announce the addition of Christopher Siercks, associate, to the Litigation practice group in Columbia. Siercks joins the Insurance Industry Team to assist in handling matters in state and federal venues, at both the trial and appellate levels. He will also work to provide an effective defense in complex insurance litigation, lobbying the legislature on behalf of insurers and efficiently handling routine insurance coverage disputes.

Prior to attending law school, Sierck’s lifelong commitment to service led him to join the United States Marine Corps in 2012, where he served as a platoon sergeant. While at the University of South Carolina School of Law, Siercks served as vice president of the Student Bar Association and competed on the school’s mock trial team. He also worked as a law clerk at the United States Attorney’s Office, the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office, the Eleventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office and the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate on Fort Jackson. Prior to joining Turner Padget, Siercks was as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Walton J. McLeod, IV.

He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida and his law degree from University of South Carolina’s School of Law.

Turner Padget exceeds expectations by taking your interests, your business and our relationships personally. Our depth of knowledge, technical strength and diverse experience makes us sharp, talented business thinkers able to see our clients’ needs holistically and get to the core of the problem quickly. As one of South Carolina’s largest law firms, Turner Padget has expanded into neighboring states with offices located in Augusta, Charleston, Columbia, Florence, Greenville and Myrtle Beach, along with strategic alliances in Florida and North Carolina. http://www.turnerpadget.com/

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“Luxury home builder Toll Brothers Inc. reported in its fiscal year 2021 third quarter earnings results on Tuesday that the firm hit a new record for new contracts on the quarter, exceeding Q3 of last year by 35% when new contracts hit a previous all-time high. The net signed contract value was $2.98 billion,” reports Breck Dumas in Fox Business.

“For the firm in the most recent quarter, and contracted homes reached 3,154 in a year-over-year increase of 11%. The home builder said in its release that net signed contracts in both dollars and units were third quarter records. The company also saw all-time records in both dollars and units for homes in backlog, with value surging.”

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“In the notoriously anti-labor Lone Star State, three recently unionized newsrooms are fighting for their first collective bargaining agreements, the contracts that will determine their future working conditions. Often, this is a long and gruelling process. At Texas’ three union newspapers, workers report,” reports Gus Bova in Observer.

“In July of 2020, journalists at the Dallas Morning News became the first to announce they were unionizing in Texas. They were followed by workers. All decided to join the NewsGuild, part of a growing nationwide trend as journalists fought back against layoffs and corporate predation. There hadn’t been a union paper in Texas since.”

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“The New York Shipping Exchange, founded in 2015 by a former industry executive to make the container shipping market more efficient, is raising another $15 million to expand contracts that can help protect companies supply chains from price hikes and other uncertainty,” reports Clara Hernanz Lizarraga and Ivan Levingston in Bloomberg.

“The latest funding round comes from existing investors led by New Road Capital. Nyshex had previously raised $30 million from backers including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Hit hard in the early months of the pandemic, the container shipping industry has since boomed as a surge in consumers’ online shopping allowed ocean carriers.”

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“The military and civilian researchers in Hawaii have stepped up efforts to harness the powerful waves and ocean currents off Oahu as a source of renewable energy. The Navy recently gave an infusion of $6 million to continue research into the viability of wave energy that’s been taking place near Marine,” reports Kevin Knodell in Civil Beat.

“The focus is on the Navy’s Wave Energy Test Site in the waters near the Marine base in Kaneohe the only grid connected wave energy testing site in the United States. Hawaii the nation’s most petroleum-dependent state is exploring wave energy as a possible source to help meet its goal to rely on 100% renewable energy by 2045.”

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“U.S. stocks are firing on all cylinders with the major stock indexes hitting new highs in this month. On Aug 24, the S&P 500 Index recorded its 50th closing high year to date and a new all-time high. The Nasdaq Composite registered fresh closing and all-time highs. The Dow is hovering around its all-time high,” reports Yahoo Finance in their blog.

“Year to date, the three major stock indexes the Dow, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite have rallied 15.6%, 19.4% and 16.5%, respectively. By any means, this is an impressive performance considering that we are still not out of the pandemic. Moreover, Wall Street has witnessed this impressive performance after finishing an astonishing.”

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“Bloom Credit, an API platform company that helps businesses integrate with the credit bureaus, today announced David Breland, former General Counsel of Simple Finance Technology Corp., has joined Bloom Credit as General Counsel, Head of Risk and Compliance. Prior to Simple Finance Technology,” reports PR Newswire in their blog.

“David held multiple positions in the legal department of BBVA USA, where he supported fintech ventures, engineering, and the commercial banking groups. Previous to joining BBVA USA, David practiced law at Burr & Forman LLP. David obtained degrees from LaGrange College and Cumberland School of Law at Samford.”

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“It’s been a tumultuous month for Activision Blizzard, a gaming giant that was sued by the state of California. Since the company was accused in July of discriminating against its female workforce and running a toxic workplace environment, it’s seen protests from hundreds of employees and several key,” reports Daniel Van Boom in their Cnet.

“The suit, filed by the Department of Fair Employment and Housing on July 20, argues that the company has a “frat boy” workplace culture and alleges several alarming incidents of discrimination and harassment. On Monday, DFEH expanded its suit against Activision Blizzard, and claimed the company had obstructed its investigation.”

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“Legal Bay, The Presettlement Funding Company, reports that Bayer is reassessing its efforts to settle the numerous lawsuits they are facing due to their Roundup brand weed killer. It is estimated that 30,000 plaintiffs still have outstanding suits against Monsanto a subsidiary of Bayer, claiming the,” reports PR Newswire in their blog.

“Bayer has agreed to pay compensation on some claims, even while disputing liability on others. However, it has already been ruled that it will take $9 billion to settle over 100,000 existing claims four claims alone had jury verdicts of $2 billion as well but are in appeals. At this time, Legal-Bay’s sources report that they are unaware.”

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“G-CON Manufacturing, developer of off-site prefabricated cleanroom solutions, has appointed Jody Lynn DeStefanis to serve as General Counsel. DeStefanis joins G-CON with more than 20 years’ experience in intellectual property, ethics and compliance, and operations. We are very excited,” reports Clean Room Technology in their blog.

“Jody brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in several areas critical to our continued growth including, Compliance, Governance, Intellectual Property, ESG, M&A and general corporate matters that will surely have a positive impact on our mission of Building for Life. DeStefanis will oversee G-CON’s IP estate,”

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“Burlington Stores, Inc. Nyse Burl, a nationally recognized off-price retailer of high-quality, branded apparel at everyday low prices, today released its third annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report. This report highlights the important progress the Company has made across its Environmental,” reports Intrado Globe News Wire in their blog.

“Jody brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in several areas critical to our continued growth including, Compliance, Governance, Intellectual Property, ESG, M&A and general corporate matters that will surely have a positive impact on our mission of Building for Life. DeStefanis will oversee G-CON’s IP estate,”

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“Disney has filed a motion to have Scarlett Johansson’s lawsuit against the company moved to private arbitration, the latest in the ongoing saga of her complaint against the company over Black Widow’s streaming release. Disney’s lawyers filed the motion Friday in Los Angeles Superior Court on the grounds,” reports Catie Keck in The Verge.

“Periwinkle Entertainment, which negotiated her deal, agreed that any claims related to her role in the Marvel film would be handled in confidential arbitration. But the motion also took several swipes at Johansson’s complaint that argued Marvel, compelled by its parent company Disney, breached an agreement when Black Widow debuted.”

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“According to a Wells Fargo Private Bank survey, associates at the 50 largest firms are on pace to bill how many hours this year — a notable increase over last year’s billables?” reports Kathryn Rubinoin Above the Law.

“Revenue grew 16.5% in the first six months of the year at the 50 largest U.S. law firms compared to the same period in 2020, the survey showed. Net income rose 38% at the firms compared with last year. The firms’ associates are on pace to bill 1,817 hours on average this year; up nearly 10% from 1,652 hours a year ago, Joe Mendola, managing director in Wells Fargo’s legal specialty group, said in an interview.”

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SDV Southeast (“SDVSE”) Managing Partner, Gregory D. Podolak, started his career with SDV as a Summer Associate in the firm’s flagship Connecticut office. This year, Podolak commemorates his fifteenth year in practice. He has devoted his career to advocating on behalf of corporate policyholders and navigating issues involving all lines of insurance coverage. Podolak and the SDVSE team assist clients in all areas related to insurance coverage law, from coverage placement and drafting contracts to complex litigation, drawing from a wealth of experience strategizing risk transfer/financing.
“The last five years have given us plenty of reason to celebrate!” says Podolak. “We’re incredibly fortunate and proud to have developed a robust client base in the region with precisely the diverse range of commercially sophisticated clients that are the bedrock of our practice. As a result, we get to collaborate everyday with colleague clients who truly value the blend of complex and practical advice we bring to the table. They appreciate that it requires diverse perspectives, risk managers, general counsel, outside coverage counsel, and liability counsel to be able to find one cohesive vision for a successful outcome.” This unique approach contributed to SDVSE’s successful involvement with the FIU Bridge Collapse, one of its highest profile cases to date.
Offering significant value to relationships is the core of SDV’s success. To further illustrate, in 2020, 45% of the Engineering News Record’s (ENR) Top 20 contractors are SDV clients. In 2021, 65% of the ENR Southeast Top 20 contractors are also SDV clients. Strong relationships with like-minded individuals have helped SDV thrive and earn the respect of its clients and colleagues. The firm has stayed true to that model to this day.
SDV is among the elite law firms in the country representing policyholders in insurance coverage disputes and one of the even fewer national firms whose practice is focused exclusively in this area. Our clients span a broad range, from individuals to international corporations, and reach across all industries. No matter who or where you are, SDV is the right choice for policyholders.
www.sdvlaw.com

Kerry Williams, shareholder in Chamberlain Hrdlicka’s Houston office, was recently named Lawyer of the Year in the 2022 Edition of Best Lawyers in America.

Williams has more than 40 years of experience in aviation, construction & engineering, corporate, energy, environmental, international, and maritime law, including legal representation, litigation, contract negotiation and administration, engineering, project management, and marketing of large international oil & gas, engineering and construction projects. Prior to joining Chamberlain Hrdlicka, he served as vice president and general counsel to a large international, publicly listed oil and gas services engineering/construction company.

Well-known in the legal community, Williams is a Martindale-Hubble AV-rated attorney and has been named to Best Lawyers in America consecutively since 2010. He has also been named to Texas Super Lawyers and Houston’s Top Lawyers numerous times.

Williams earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Texas A&M University, followed by a master’s degree in aeronautical systems from the University of West Florida and a master’s degree in civil engineering from the University of California – Berkeley. Following his military career as a U.S. Naval Officer, including having served as a jet pilot during the Vietnam conflict, he worked in the offshore oil industry in the Middle East. Williams then attended and graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law with honors and has been admitted to the Bars of Texas, Maryland and Colorado and various Federal Courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.

Very involved with Texas A&M University, Williams is a member of its Corps Development Council, Twelfth Man Foundation and Former Students Association. He is also an Alumni Board member for the University of Maryland School of Law. He belongs to the Texas Society of Professional Engineers, the American Bar Association – Construction Forum, and the Houston Bar Association’s Construction Bar as well as the Military and Veterans Committee. Additionally, Williams is a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association and frequently serves as an Angel Flight pilot, generously donating his time and his Piper Turbo Saratoga to provide free air transportation for passengers in need of medical treatment far from home.

Attorneys named to The Best Lawyers in America were recognized by their peers in the legal industry for their professional excellence in 145 practice areas. “Lawyer of the Year” honorees receive this award based on their extremely high overall feedback within specific practice areas and metropolitan regions. “Lawyer of the Year” recognitions were awarded in 133 practice areas across 183 metropolitan regions.

About Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected attorney ranking service in the world. For more than 30 years, Best Lawyers has assisted those in need of legal services to identify the attorneys best qualified to represent them in distant jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers lists are published in leading local, regional, and national publications across the globe.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that Birmingham partner Gary L. Howard will be recognized with the Defense Research Institute’s (DRI) Albert H. Parnell Outstanding Program Chair Award at the organization’s annual meeting in October.

“Gary is a tremendous leader and has made significant contributions to the DRI, and we are proud of him for this well-deserved recognition,” said Bradley Birmingham Office Managing Partner Dawn Helms Sharff.

The DRI’s Albert H. Parnell Outstanding Program Chair Award is an annual award honoring an individual who has created a dynamic educational program which has enhanced the DRI’s image. The individual has made significant contributions to the organization’s educational programming through effective planning and marketing while displaying dedication, leadership and creativity.

Mr. Howard is a member of Bradley’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group and serves as the Insurance team leader. He is an active member of the DRI and is a member of the organization’s Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee, serving as the Diversity Expo Chair in 2018 and as the Diversity for Success Seminar & Corporate Expo Program Chair in 2021. Mr. Howard was also a member of the DRI’s 2020-2021 Annual Meeting Steering Committee.

About Bradley
Bradley combines skilled legal counsel with exceptional client service and unwavering integrity to assist a diverse range of corporate and individual clients in achieving their business goals. With offices in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, the firm’s nearly 550 lawyers represent regional, national and international clients in various industries, including banking and financial services, construction, energy, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, real estate, and technology, among many others.

The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) has announced that Spencer H. Silverglate, a partner with Clarke Silverglate, P.A., in Miami, has been elected President of the IADC for the 2021-22 term. The IADC also elected new Board of Directors members and leaders for 2021-22.

The IADC is the preeminent invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests.

In addition to Mr. Silverglate, the other new IADC board leaders, along with their law firm or company affiliations, are:

President-Elect
Mark R. Beebe
Adams and Reese LLP
New Orleans, Louisiana

Immediate Past President
Andrew S. Chamberlin
Ellis & Winters LLP
Greensboro, North Carolina

Vice President of Insurance
Thomas F. Lysaught
QBE North America
Chicago, Illinois

The new IADC board members (three-year terms), along with their law firm affiliations, are:

J. Dominic Campodonico
Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP
San Francisco, California

Daniela Karollus-Bruner
CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz
Vienna, Austria

Christopher A. Kenney
Kenney & Sams, P.C.
Boston, Massachusetts

A member since 2000, Mr. Silverglate was formally installed as President at the IADC’s 2021 Annual Meeting. Mr. Silverglate also previously served as Director (in 2015) of the IADC’s prestigious annual Trial Academy held at Stanford Law School.

“Thanks to the IADC, I have been able to develop lasting relationships with some of the very best civil defense lawyers across the globe,” said Mr. Silverglate. “As a result, my IADC network has been the biggest single contributor to my business development success. My primary goal during the coming year will be to enhance member engagement and business development opportunities. All members are invited to the table.”

Mr. Silverglate litigates complex business disputes and defends high-stakes personal injury and product liability claims, including mass and class actions. Co-founder of the Miami-based litigation firm Clarke Silverglate, P.A., Mr. Silverglate has been recognized as one of the top litigators in Florida and the United States.

Mr. Silverglate also serves on the American Arbitration Association’s National Roster of Commercial and Employment Arbitrators. In addition, he is a prime member of the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys and serves on the boards of DRI and LCJ (Lawyers for Civil Justice). Mr. Silverglate also is a widely published author and frequent speaker.

Mr. Silverglate received his J.D. from the University of Florida College of Law and his Bachelor of Science from the University of Florida.

The IADC board oversees activities that benefit the organization’s members and their clients, as well as the civil justice system, the legal profession, and society in general. In addition to its core purpose involving professional development for members, the IADC takes a leadership role in many areas of legal reform. IADC members are among the world’s leading corporate and insurance lawyers at large and small law firms and senior counsel in corporate law departments, as well as corporate and insurance executives. Members represent the largest corporations around the world, including many of the companies listed in the FORTUNE 500.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that Birmingham partner Brooke Vinson has been selected as one of M&A Advisor’s 2021 Emerging Leaders. The 12th Annual Emerging Leaders Awards celebrate the industry’s emerging leaders in M&A, finance and turnaround who have reached a significant level of success in the industry before the age of 40.

“We are proud of Brooke for being recognized as a M&A Advisor’s Emerging Leader,” said Bradley Birmingham Office Managing Partner Dawn Helms Sharff. “Brooke demonstrates a high level of leadership and service to Bradley and the M&A community, and we congratulate her on this honor.”

Ms. Vinson primarily counsels privately held companies and private equity funds and their operating companies in formation, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance transactions, including securities offerings, divestitures, joint ventures and general corporate and securities law issues. She focuses on advising public and private clients, from startups to large corporations, in the areas of business formation, investment and financing transactions, securities compliance and other corporate matters. Ms. Vinson is a member of the firm’s Recruiting Committee, and in addition to her corporate practice, she advises clients on franchise matters, including business structure and legal and regulatory compliance.

The M&A Advisor’s Emerging Leaders Award winners were chosen from a pool of prominent nominees for their notable accomplishments in business and in service to the community. An independent panel of judges reviewed submissions and selected this year’s winners, who will be formally recognized on October 20, 2021, at a gala during the 2021 Future of Dealmaking Summit. The complete list of 2021 honorees can be seen here.

TYLER, Texas – Trial lawyers Reid Martin, John F. (Jack) Walker III, and Marisa Schouten of the law firm Martin Walker PC, will each be recognized in the 2022 issue of The Best Lawyers in America, considered the oldest and one of the most respected legal guides in the U.S.

Mr. Walker and Ms. Schouten were chosen for their experience representing individuals in personal injury and wrongful death litigation. Mr. Martin was honored for his work representing plaintiffs in medical malpractice lawsuits. Mr. Martin and Mr. Walker, who founded the firm in 2006, are Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Ms. Schouten is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law.

“It’s been a challenging year for everyone,” said Mr. Martin. “But I believe that, as a firm, we’ve come together, doubled our efforts, and done some of our best work. Being recognized for that is really tremendous.”

Martin Walker PC has received numerous honors for its work over the years. In addition to Best Lawyers, Mr. Martin and Mr. Walker have each been included on Thomson Reuters’ annual list of Texas Super Lawyers and in the list of 500 Leading Plaintiff Consumer Lawyers. The firm was also inducted into the Verdicts Hall of Fame by Texas Lawyer magazine for winning a $43.32 million judgment against East Texas Medical Center in 2018, the largest medical malpractice verdict in the state for that year.

“We take this recognition very seriously,” said Mr. Walker. “For us, it’s a constant reminder to do more, to go a little further, and work harder for those we represent.”

Attorneys selected to The Best Lawyers in America are chosen by peers practicing in the same area and geographic region. The Best Lawyers research team then puts each nominee through a vigorous review process before making its final selections. For the full list, visit https://www.bestlawyers.com/.

Martin Walker PC is a Tyler-based law firm with significant trial expertise representing individuals statewide in high-stakes litigation, including medical malpractice, catastrophic injuries involving 18-wheeler accidents, oilfield injuries, wrongful death, and product liability. For more information visit: http://www.martinwalkerlaw.com/