Turner Padget Shareholder Nickisha Woodward Elected To American Board of Trial Advocates

Turner Padget Charleston office Shareholder Nickisha Woodward has been named an associate member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) Charleston Chapter.

ABOTA is an invitation-only national association of experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the perseveration and promotion of the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the right to civil jury trials. ABOTA’s mission is to foster improvement in ethical and technical standards of practice in the field of advocacy to provide individual litigants with more effective representation and the general public with more efficient administration of justice.

Founded in 1958 with a membership of more than 7,600 experienced attorneys representing both the plaintiff and defense bars in civil cases, ABOTA speaks for the value of the constitutionally mandated jury system as the protector of rights and property.

Woodward is a skilled litigator who in a short amount of time has amassed an extensive amount of experience in commercial, personal injury, bad faith, premises liability and product liability disputes. She has been recognized as a leading litigator by Best Lawyers in America Ones To Watch and South Carolina Super Lawyers. Woodward currently serves as the president of the Young Lawyer’s Division of the South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys Association (SCDTAA) and is a member of Turner Padget’s leadership team.

She earned her undergraduate degree from Clemson University and her law degree from Charleston School of Law, J.D.

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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Akerman Expands Corporate Practice Group with Partner Timothy Bramwell in Jacksonville

Top 100 U.S. law firm Akerman LLP is pleased to announce that it has expanded its Corporate Practice Group with partner Timothy Bramwell in Jacksonville. Bramwell focuses his practice on public finance and health care finance, including related securities and tax matters.

“After the recent retirement of Michael Williams in Orlando, we are very eager to welcome Tim to the team,” said Peter Dame, Chair of the Public Finance Practice Group. “With nearly a decade of experience in public finance, Tim is a strong public finance lawyer who will help us further expand our practice and client capabilities in Florida and across the country.”

Bramwell represents issuers, underwriters, trustees, financial institutions and borrowers in a variety of transactions, including public bond offerings and private placement transactions.

Bramwell’s practice previously focused heavily on tax-exempt financings for affordable housing, senior living facilities and charter schools, in particular as bond counsel and trustee’s counsel. Tim’s practice has also included representing multifamily real estate developers in negotiations with their equity partners and lenders and representing taxpayers before the IRS and state and local tax authorities.

About Akerman

Akerman LLP is a top 100 U.S. law firm recognized among the most forward-thinking firms in the industry by Financial Times. Its more than 700 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world’s most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and help drive innovation and growth.

The Akerman Corporate Practice Group advises public and private companies, including private equity funds, on M&A, capital markets transactions, financings, and other transactional matters, with a strong focus on the middle market. Akerman is top-ranked nationally for mergers, acquisitions and buyouts: middle market by The Legal 500 and is recognized as a leading U.S. law firm by U.S. News – Best Lawyers for corporate, M&A, private equity, securities/capital markets, securities regulation and banking and finance law.




New NABL president Ann Fillingham focuses efforts on muni legislation

The National Association of Bond Lawyers is putting its efforts behind the industrywide push for the muni industry’s priorities to be included in the infrastructure and reconciliation bills currently passing through Congress.
Ann Fillingham, director of regulated industries at Dykema, who becomes NABL’s president this week, discussed the group’s priorities as the agency kicks off its annual Workshop conference in a dual in-person and virtual format.
Fillingham succeeds Ballard Spahr partner Teri Guarnaccia as the 11th female president of the organization and will travel to Chicago to participate in NABL U’s Workshop on Wednesday and Thursday to kick off her tenure.
“NABL’s current priorities are very consistent with the market,” she said. “We want to be nimble and helpful to both our members and to policymakers with respect to both the infrastructure and reconciliation packages.”
Her presidency comes at a critical time for the muni industry, as lawyers and other muni professionals alike are pushing the inclusion of muni provisions in President Biden’s infrastructure and reconciliation bills. Fillingham views NABL’s priorities as part of a larger industrywide push behind these issues.
“NABL really views itself as a technical expert and resource when it comes to all aspects of federal policy relating to public finance,” Fillingham said. “And we’re hopeful that everyone uses us as that kind of trusted expert voice.”
The group is committed to advocating on behalf of restoring tax-exempt advance refunding, reestablishing a direct-subsidy bond program, expanding private activity bonds and modernizing bank qualified debt, she said, all issues that the muni industry has been buzzing about for years.
“We’re committed to preserving existing finance tools for state and local governments, as well as expanding and exploring new tools to help build strong economically vibrant communities,” Fillingham said.
These aren’t new issues for NABL and are consistent with where the organization and the organization’s board has been over the last few years. But since so much change could come as a result of the upcoming legislation, Fillingham said she’s making sure all NABL members are up to date with the current tools in the market, as well as the potential for new ones that may “improve the state of the art in our field,” she said.
Fillingham grew up in Midland, Michigan, where her father was an inorganic research chemist for the Dow Chemical Company. Her studies led her to Michigan State University, where she began a degree in finance.
While initially “uncertain about what she wanted to do,” Fillingham said, she spent a summer working for a sole practitioner in her hometown and from there, decided that a career in law was the right path for her.
Following graduation, Fillingham went on to pursue a law degree from the University of Michigan and was introduced to NABL in 1991, when she attended a fundamentals of municipal bond law seminar hosted by the agency and was struck by the ins and outs of the muni industry.
“I enjoyed that seminar immensely,” Fillingham said. “I still have that dog-eared blue book on my desk literally 30 years later and was very impressed by how professional and forthcoming everyone was with information and advice when I was in my 20s, and continue to be so in my 50s.”
Fillingham currently resides in Lansing, Michigan and being in the state capital has given her exposure to work with the state and some of its agencies, gaining her first experience with the muni industry working with the Michigan Finance Authority, which was then called the Michigan Municipal Bond Authority, in an issuance for Wayne County.
“I found it fascinating to be able to use both my legal and my finance skill set meaningfully at this local government,” she said. “And I still do.”
This week’s conference will take place through a hybrid in-person and virtual model, after last year’s conference was done all virtually.
This format, Fillingham said, has “inserted a level of complication into the conference planning process but we feel it’s important to be able to reach our members, regardless of their comfort of being in person at the moment or not.”
“Mostly it has changed backroom and operational types of things,” she added. “We’ve worked very hard to make sure that it hasn’t and won’t adversely affect content and delivery, but the mechanics of both in-person delivery and electronic delivery are a little more complicated from an organizational perspective.”
The last year and half of uncertainty in the market has forced many to think about the market and their role in it in new ways, and that remains true for NABL as well. But the organization is not changing its governing structure or staffing operations like others in these unprecedented times; it’s doubling down on what has made the organization an effective resource throughout the years.
“It certainly has created for all of us a heightened awareness of the need to think about the different ways that membership utilizes NABL and the NABL resources, and really focus on making sure as an organization we remain relevant to and helpful for our membership,” Fillingham said.




Lewis Roca Launches Renewable Energy End-of-Life Planning Group

More than 40 years of renewable energy investment in the U.S. has led to the current installment of 550,000 acres of solar capacity and 67,000 individual wind turbines. As these numbers continue to grow, powered by a widespread commitment to clean power generation, so does the need to manage the industrial materials used in that process throughout their full lifecycle. Toward that end, Lewis Roca announced today the formation of its Renewable Energy End-of-Life Planning Group.

The multidisciplinary team, co-led by Denver partner Tom Dougherty, associate Dietrich Hoefner and Phoenix of counsel James Voyles, will draw on Lewis Roca’s many years of experience in the energy and utilities sector. The team will assist clients with matters including:

• Navigating the regulatory challenges and opportunities around the renewable energy lifecycle
• Real estate and land use issues related to renewable facilities
• Protecting intellectual property for newly developed technologies and companies
• Storage, disposal, and recycling of renewable energy facility materials and equipment
• Issues related to tribal governments, land, and resources
• Recycling and reuse of valuable equipment and commodities
• Legislative and regulatory affairs

“We know of no other law firm that is focusing on this important set of issues: what happens when renewable energy projects reach the end of their lifecycle and how businesses can creatively optimize the resources beyond their initial use,” Dougherty said. “We’re poised to help clients navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by those questions at all stages, whether it’s identifying potential partnerships and executing contracts on the front end or managing the end of an asset’s lifecycle as it nears.”

“Renewable power developers have moved beyond the point where they can passively plan the decommissioning and repowering of new and legacy assets,” added Voyles. “Proactively planning a renewable asset’s lifecycle will only become more important, and planning needs to happen sooner rather than later.”

Learn more about Lewis Roca’s Renewable Energy End-of-Life Planning Group.

About Lewis Roca

Lewis Roca is an Am Law 200 law firm serving clients globally in complex litigation, intellectual property, business transactions, gaming, government relations, labor and employment, and regulatory counseling. Its offices are located in Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Reno, Silicon Valley, and Tucson. To learn more about the firm, please visit us at our new website at www.lewisroca.com.

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Neal Gerber Eisenberg Adds Corporate Partner Elliott Blanchard

CHICAGO (October 27, 2021) – Neal Gerber Eisenberg (NGE) is pleased to announce the addition of Elliott Blanchard as a partner in the Corporate & Securities practice group. Blanchard joins from Schlam Stone & Dolan LLP in New York.

Blanchard advises privately held businesses, large public companies and high net worth individuals on corporate and commercial matters, strategy, and transactions. His transactional experience ranges from mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, restructurings, shareholders’ agreements, partner agreements, and equity investments.

“Elliott deepens our transactional capabilities and helps to meet our clients’ evolving needs,” said Bobby Gerber, Managing Partner of NGE. “He will be a pragmatic and skilled resource for clients seeking to grow their businesses.”

In addition to practicing for many years at an AmLaw 50 law firm based in New York, Blanchard also has worked as an in-house corporate counsel for Amazon as well as a corporate attorney for a large, family-owned company. After law school, he clerked for the Honorable Naomi Reice Buchwald at the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Prior to law school, Blanchard spent time as a private equity analyst and a corporate finance analyst in San Francisco.

“Elliott’s business acumen and legal experience enable him to offer diverse insights into the opportunities and challenges our clients face,” said John Koenigsknecht, chair of the firm’s Corporate & Securities practice group. “I’m excited to welcome him to the firm.”

Blanchard received his J.D. from New York University School of Law and his B.A. from Yale University.

About NGE
Neal Gerber Eisenberg is a leading law firm dedicated to handling sophisticated matters for entrepreneurs, public companies, and private businesses and their owners. More than one-third of the lawyers at Neal Gerber Eisenberg were recognized in 2021 in Best Lawyers, and the firm represents scores of the Fortune 100 and many of the best known private companies. The firm also acts as the trusted advisers to nonprofits, startups, growth companies and entrepreneurs. The firm has built over thirty years of trusted partnerships with clients that span the globe, and we meet each unique client need with the same personalized service and collaboration that provide the most practical solutions for every matter.

Contacts
John Albrighton
Marketing and Business Development Director
p: (312) 269-8065
e: jalbrighton@nge.com




Turner Padget Continues Growth In Greenville With An Addition To The Insurance Industry Team

GREENVILLE, S.C., October 27 2021 – Turner Padget is pleased to announce the addition of Dallas C. Meacham, associate, to the Litigation practice group in Greenville. Meacham 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 joining Turner Padget, Meacham served as an assistant solicitor for the 13th Circuit, prosecuting DUI’s and other misdemeanor offenses in magistrate courts across Greenville County. Before becoming a solicitor, he served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable J. Mark Hayes, II in Spartanburg County. Meacham relies on the skills he learned during his time as a prosecutor, as well as his observations from behind the bench during his time as a clerk, to successfully defend his clients.

Meacham earned his undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina and his law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law. While obtaining his undergraduate degree, Meacham served as president of the university’s Judicial Council, conducting appellate hearings for Title IX violations and other student related misconduct. During law school, he successfully competed as a member of the mock trial team, obtaining numerous awards for his trial advocacy skills.

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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Blank Rome Welcomes New Matrimonial & Family Law Of Counsel in Fort Lauderdale

Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Holly W. Kimmel has joined the firm’s nationally recognized Matrimonial & Family Law practice group as of counsel in the Fort Lauderdale, FL, office.

Holly joins the firm from Aronsohn Weiner Salerno and Kaufman. She is a skilled and experienced litigator and mediator who focuses her practice on complex family and matrimonial law matters, including prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, divorce proceedings, equitable distribution of assets, alimony, child custody, parenting time, and related support matters. Holly is also a certified divorce coach who has significant experience assisting clients navigate the emotional aspects of divorce outside of the litigation arena. She draws upon her education and experience when working as a guardian ad litem for minor children, in connection with elder law concerns, and as a parent coordinator assisting parents involved in high-conflict, child-related matters.

Holly began her legal career as a business and commercial law litigator at Cole Schotz P.C. and then continued her practice at various law firms, including Greenberg Traurig LLP and Robbins Geller Rudman and Dowd LLP, where she notably focused on class action securities fraud matters in federal courts throughout the country. This legal background strongly supplements her family law practice, particularly when representing high-net-worth individuals who require complex valuation and distribution of financial and business assets, such as real estate, retirement plans, deferred compensation plans, and other assets.

Admitted to practice in Florida, New Jersey, and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Middle, and Eastern Districts of Florida, Holly received her J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law and her B.S. from the University of Florida. She also earned an MSW from Barry University School of Social Work and is a Supreme Court Certified Family Law Meditator in the State of Florida.

About Blank Rome

Blank Rome is an Am Law 100 firm with 13 offices and more than 600 attorneys and principals who provide comprehensive legal and advocacy services to clients operating in the United States and around the world. Our professionals have built a reputation for their leading knowledge and experience across a spectrum of industries and are recognized for their commitment to pro bono work in their communities. Since our inception in 1946, Blank Rome’s culture has been dedicated to providing top-level service to all of our clients and has been rooted in the strength of our diversity and inclusion initiatives. For more information, please visit blankrome.com.
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Biglaw Firm Gives Associates A Major Halloween Treat in the Form of Raises

“Happy Halloween, associates! One Biglaw firm just gave its associates the best treat of all raises. That’s right, it’s the end of October and law firms are still handing out raises. Which firm is the latest to scare up an increase in compensation That would be Littler the world’s largest employment,” reports Staci Zaretsky in their Above The Law.

“Which brought in $613,640,000 gross revenue in 2020, ranking it at No. 69 in the most recent Am Law 100. Yesterday, during a video town hall presentation, the firm announced raises for all U.S. associates, effective immediately and retroactive to January 1, 2021. The raises are based on market and associate level, and will range.”

Read the article.

 




Fox Corporation Names Stephen Potenza Deputy General Counsel of Fox News Media

“Fox Corporation today announced that Stephen Potenza has joined the company as Deputy General Counsel of Fox News Media. Potenza will report to Bernard Gugar, General Counsel and Executive Vice President of Corporate Development of Fox News Media. The Fox legal group also bolstered its team,” reports PR Newswire in their blog.

“Potenza joined FOX News Media from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where he was a partner in the Litigation as well as Government, Regulatory and Internal Investigation groups. He represented clients from a broad range of industries in complex litigation and investigations. Potenza was formerly at Bancroft  PLLC where he specialized in matters.”

Read the article.

 




Locast to Pay $32M to Broadcasters to Settle Copyright Lawsuit

“A case that began with hype that someone had finally cracked the code for delivering free and legal broadcast streaming is ending with a $32 million payment of copyright damages to ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC. After suspending its service following a devastating court loss, Locast has also now,” reports Eriq Gardner in The Hollywood Reporter.

“That mattered because copyright law allows a limited exception for secondary transmission of broadcast programming when it’s made by a governmental body, or other nonprofit organization, without any purpose of direct or indirect commercial advantage. In late August, a federal judge in New York looked at the way Locast raised.”

Read the article.

 




County to Consider $2.5-Million Settlement with Families in Kobe Bryant Crash Photo Suits

“The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors will consider approving a $2.5-million settlement for two families suing over the unauthorized sharing of photos of the Kobe Bryant helicopter crash, in which their loved ones also were killed. Under the proposed settlement, which the board will,” reports Richard Winton in Los Angeles Times.

“Matthew Mauser would receive $1.25 million and siblings J.J. Altobelli and Alexis Altobelli would share another $1.25 million. Mauser’s wife, Christine, and the Altobellis’ mother, father and younger sister Keri, John and Alyssa died in the Jan. 26, 2020, crash that also killed Bryant, his daughter Gianna and three others. A report from.”

Read the article.

 




Gentry Locke Welcomes Five Attorneys in Roanoke and Richmond

ROANOKE, Va. (October 25, 2021) – The Virginia law firm Gentry Locke is pleased to announce the addition of five new lawyers. Jasdeep Singh Khaira and Patrice L. Lewis have joined the firm’s Richmond office, and Charlie D. Morrison, Haley D. Santos and William L. Spotswood have joined the firm in Roanoke.

Khaira has joined the firm’s Energy and Environmental practices. While in law school, he worked as a full-time legal extern for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Colorado. He also served as a clerk with the Sierra Club’s Environmental Law program and as a legal clinician with the Vermont Law School Energy Clinic. Khaira graduated with a B.A. from Denison University and earned his J.D. and Master of Energy Regulation and Law from the Vermont Law School.

Lewis works with the firm’s Government and Regulatory Affairs practice and Gentry Locke Consulting, using research and strategy to help clients achieve their legal and policy goals. She recently served as a senior advisor for SIR, Inc. a strategic marketing and communications firm; as an outreach representative for United States Senator Mark R. Warner, serving Central and Southcentral Virginia; and as the legislative assistant to former Virginia Delegate Onzlee Ware. Lewis received her B.A. from the University of Virginia and her J.D. from Regent University School of Law. Lewis is licensed to practice law in Maryland and Virginia.

Morrison has joined the firm’s Medical Malpractice group. Prior to joining Gentry Locke, Morrison served as a judicial clerk for the 23rd Judicial Circuit of Virginia. During law school he worked as a summer law clerk at a Virginia Beach firm, as an intern and third year practitioner at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia, and as a judicial intern for The Honorable Robert J. Humphreys, Court of Appeals of Virginia. Morrison graduated with a B.A. from Radford University and earned his J.D. at the Regent University School of Law, where he graduated first in his class.

Santos has joined the firm’s Insurance practice. During law school she worked as a research assistant at Washington and Lee University School of Law, as an intern with a small full-service firm, and as a summer associate at Gentry Locke. She also served as a student attorney for the Virginia Capital Case Clearinghouse during her final year of law school. Prior to attending law school, Santos worked with URAC, a nonprofit healthcare accreditation organization promoting healthcare quality through leadership, accreditation, measurement, and innovation. She graduated with her B.A. from the College of William & Mary and earned her J.D. from the Washington and Lee University School of Law.

Spotswood has joined the firm’s Commercial Litigation group. While in law school, Spotswood interned with firms in Charlottesville and Radford, and he worked as a summer associate at Gentry Locke. He graduated, summa cum laude, from Virginia Tech with a B.A. and then earned his J.D., from the Marshall Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary.

About Gentry Locke
With more than 60 lawyers practicing across a range of disciplines, Gentry Locke brings uncommon thinking and deep experience to the legal and business challenges of companies, institutions, organizations, and individuals—a commitment the firm has met since 1923. Operating from offices in Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Richmond, Virginia, Gentry Locke serves clients in Virginia and across the United States. Meet the firm’s dynamic attorneys and learn more about its fierce drive to achieve success for its clients by exploring www.gentrylocke.com.




Lyons & Simmons Attorneys Earn DTLA John Howie Award: ‘I had a team of warriors fighting for me’

DALLAS – For their successful pursuit of justice in the face of adversity, Lyons & Simmons attorneys Michael Lyons, Chris Simmons, Chris Carr, and Stephen Higdon have been awarded the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association’s prestigious 2021 John Howie Award. The honor is based on the trial team’s work representing an Alabama mother who lost three children in a tragic West Texas highway accident.

Named for famed Dallas trial lawyer John Howie, a former DTLA president and relentless advocate for plaintiffs’ rights, the award is presented annually to attorneys and their clients in recognition for “the courageous pursuit of justice in the face of adversity.”

In May, the trial team secured a $5.9 million verdict against Dancar Energy Construction, LLC and one of its employees, finding them both responsible for a deadly highway crash that took the lives of three of Neva Rogers’ children. The deadly collision happened after a Dancar employee was speeding on his way to a job site in inclement weather and lost control. The verdict is reportedly the largest for a personal injury case in Midland County history, known as one of Texas’ most conservative venues.

“This was an unimaginable tragedy for Neva Rogers. As a parent, I cannot comprehend the immense pain she has endured,” said Lyons. “We knew the liability case was difficult against the company and we knew there was a probability this was not going to result in a favorable verdict. Despite knowing that from the outset, as parents we knew we had to take the case and see it through.”

In addition to the difficult venue and liability issues, the case presented unique challenges, including the late finding that Dancar had intentionally destroyed important evidence during the discovery process.

“They literally took 40 banker boxes of documents related to the case and lit them on fire,” said Simmons. “Had we not discovered what they did, they probably would have gotten away with all of this. The court ordered a forensic examination that revealed documents that weren’t produced – they were the center of our liability case. Without them we would have lost.”

Ms. Rogers offered appreciation of the firm’s dedication to the case.

“I wanted to get justice for my children,” she said. “The entire team was amazing. They made me and my family a priority. They treated me like family. I had a team of warriors fighting for me every step of the way.”

About Lyons & Simmons LLP
Dallas-based Lyons & Simmons, LLP is a trial boutique representing clients in wrongful death, personal injury, products liability, and complex “bet-the-company” business litigation matters across the country. To learn more, visit http://www.Lyons-Simmons.com.




Michael Best Welcomes Jordan Koss, Kenneth Rosenzweig, and Ashley Cross to Chicago, Denver Offices

Michael Best is pleased to announce the addition of Partner Jordan Koss, Senior Associate Kenneth Rosenzweig, and Associate Ashley Cross to the firm. Koss, Rosenzweig and Cross join the Corporate Practice Group and Venture Best, the firm’s team committed to handling matters impacting high growth companies and investors. Koss and Cross will be based in the firm’s Chicago office while Rosenzweig will be based in Denver. All three attorneys come from McDonald Hopkins LLC.

Koss has over a decade of experience in the fields of venture capital, startup and mergers and acquisitions. He has represented technology startups from an outside general counsel role in venture capital financings, private debt and equity offerings, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and commercial technology transactions.

Rosenzweig has focused his practice in the startup and venture capital space, bringing firsthand experience to his clients as a founder of Rowgatta, a company he founded in 2017. Rowgatta is an innovative fitness business for which Rosenzweig built digital and physical fitness products, led a successful financing round, developed the brand, and provided in-house counsel for legal matters.

Cross, as an associate with a focus on Startup and Venture Capital Practice group, has assisted on numerous venture capital and startup transactions, including venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance.

“Jordan, Kenny and Ashley all have strong track records of advising their clients in very nuanced finance matters and will greatly benefit the Venture Best and Venture Capital teams – which already consist of the most active group of venture lawyers in the country based on the 2020 Pitchbook rankings,” said Galen Mason, Co-Chair of Venture Best. “Their experience and initiative make them a great match for the firm, I’m confident that they will fit in well with the team in Chicago, Denver and nationally.”

Before joining the Michael Best team, Koss worked as a partner at McDonald Hopkins LLC in Chicago, where he served as the Head of the Tech Startup and Venture Capital Group. He previously worked in the tech startup, private equity and M&A groups at Fenwick & West LLP in San Francisco, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP in New York. He also was a partner at goodcounsel LLC, a top boutique firm in Chicago focused on early stage startup representation.

Prior to making his move to Michael Best, Rosenzweig was also an attorney at McDonald Hopkins LLC, where he served as an associate in the Startup and Venture Capital Practice Group. Before this position, he was a corporate associate at one of the largest law firms in New York City, Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Here, he advised financial sponsors, portfolio companies, corporations and senior executives, and developed a wide-ranging corporate practice where he gained experience working on all aspects of domestic and cross-border transactions.

Prior to her work at her previous firm, Cross served as a legal fellow for U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth where her work focused on solutions to voting rights issues, judicial nomination and confirmation processes, and tracking district and circuit court nominees. She also served as an in-house legal intern for Navistar Inc. where she drafted service contracts with international affiliates and analyzed corporate governance issues.

Michael Best’s Venture Best team is comprised of professionals who counsel early-stage businesses on financial, organizational and regulatory needs as they grow. Koss has years of experience working with emerging businesses and will continue focusing his practice in the space at Michael Best. Recognized by Illinois Super Lawyers in 2020 and 2021 as a Rising Star, Koss brings with him a strong reputation in the Chicagoland area.

Rosenzweig has also made a name for himself as an entrepreneur, having been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Men’s Journal, and NBC News on his accomplishments related to Rowgatta.

“Jordan and Ashley both come from positions of leadership, Jordan at his previous firm and Ashley within state government, demonstrating their strong ties in Chicago’s technology and venture capital scene, which is quickly growing,” said Kerryann Haase Minton, Managing Partner of the Chicago office. “I look forward to having additional teammates with venture experience join our growing Chicago office.”

Koss earned his B.A. in Public Policy Studies from Duke University, and his J.D., cum laude, from Cardozo Law School.

Rosenzweig earned his B.A. in Economics and History from The University of Michigan, and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Fordham University School of Law.

Cross earned her B.A. in Political Science, magna cum laude, from Carthage College, and her J.D. from Boston College Law School.




Former DOJ Trial Attorney Joseph Rillotta Joins Miller & Chevalier

Washington, DC, October 26, 2021—Miller & Chevalier Chartered is proud to announce that Joseph (Joe) Rillotta has joined the firm as a member in the Litigation practice.

Rillotta’s substantial credentials include his role as a trial attorney at the Tax Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ), where he prosecuted tax and financial crimes in extensive grand jury investigations, jury trials, bench trials, and appellate proceedings. After the DOJ, Rillotta continued his federal service at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), advising IRS leadership on misconduct allegations against IRS personnel and overseeing agency responses to inquiries by Congress and the Inspector General.

“Miller & Chevalier is well-known for providing unmatched counsel based on its members’ distinct combination of federal government and private sector experience, and I look forward to guiding clients through the most complex legal issues,” said Rillotta. “I am excited to be an immediate contributor to the firm’s dedication to collaboration and exemplary client service.”

Since his time with the DOJ and IRS, Rillotta has defended clients in white collar criminal matters, including cases involving the IRS and state revenue authorities. He has also worked with clients confronted with public corruption and procurement fraud allegations, alleged environmental and regulatory infractions, and accusations of violating securities rules and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Rillotta has also represented clients in civil litigation in the U.S. Tax Court and other federal and state courts nationwide, challenging IRS assessments of tax and imposition of penalties, representing nonprofit organizations in matters implicating their tax-exempt status, and defending clients in False Claims Act matters.

“We’re thrilled that Joe, with his outstanding versatility and wide range of experience, is joining the firm,” said Andrew Wise, Chair of Miller & Chevalier’s Litigation Department. “In today’s scrupulous regulatory environment, Joe will add tremendous value for our clients across several practice groups.”

“Joe is a highly respected practitioner, whose exemplary reputation in both civil and criminal litigation make him a terrific addition to our team,” said Kathryn Cameron Atkinson, Chair of Miller & Chevalier. “His deep knowledge extends to several of the firms’ core practices, including tax, white collar, and international, and he will greatly benefit our clients and colleagues.”

At Miller & Chevalier, Rillotta will provide clients with a personal and dedicated approach in an array of tax and white collar matters, including in cases involving cross-border transactions and in investigations concerning potentially illicit financial activity. Before joining Miller & Chevalier, Rillotta was a partner at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP.

Rillotta earned a J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School and an A.B. magna cum laude from Harvard College.

About Miller & Chevalier

Founded in 1920, Miller & Chevalier is a Washington, DC law firm with a global perspective and leading practices in Tax, Litigation, International Law, Employee Benefits (including ERISA), White Collar Defense, and Internal Investigations, and Government Affairs. Miller & Chevalier is a top-ranked firm sharply focused on targeted areas that interact with the federal government. Over the past three years, the firm’s lawyers have represented more than 40 percent of the Fortune 100, one-quarter of the Fortune 500, and approximately 30 percent of the Global 100. Based in Washington, DC, a significant number of firm lawyers have held senior positions in the U.S. government and have written many of the regulations they currently help clients navigate. For more information on the firm, visit www.millerchevalier.com.

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CONTACT:
Matt Kasik, Media Relations, Greentarget
mkasik@greentarget.com, 847-772-1155




Leveraging Separate IPR Counsel to Maximize Litigation Success

Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery LLP will present a free webinar, “Leveraging Separate IPR Counsel to Maximize Litigation Success,” featuring Fitch Even partners Timothy P. Maloney and Paul B. Henkelmann.

The webinar will take place on Thursday, November 18 at 9 a.m. PST / 10 a.m. MST / 11 a.m. CST / 12 noon EST.

Most patents challenged in inter partes review (IPR) proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) are involved in co-pending litigation. A threshold question is whether litigation counsel will also handle the IPR proceedings. When engaging separate counsel for the IPR proceedings, cooperation between litigation and IPR counsel is paramount to a successful outcome both at the PTAB and in the district court. Numerous issues that require close coordination must be addressed, including whether to engage separate expert witnesses, claim construction, discretionary denial, validity (or invalidity) arguments, stays, discovery, objective evidence of nonobviousness, motions to amend, and estoppel.

During this webinar, we will cover these topics and more:
• Pros and cons of engaging litigation counsel or separate counsel for IPR proceedings
• Critical issues common to both litigation and IPR proceedings that require close coordination
• Practical guidance when working with separate litigation or IPR counsel
• Strategies for improving cooperation between litigation and IPR counsel

CLE credit has been approved for California, Illinois, and Nebraska. Other states may also award CLE credit upon attendee request.

Register for the event:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/9076644827648317454




Accomplished Tax Attorney Daniel Lorenzen Rejoins Venable’s Estate Planning Group in Los Angeles

Los Angeles, CA – Venable LLP is pleased to announce that Daniel C. Lorenzen has rejoined the firm as a partner in the Estate Planning Group in the Los Angeles office. Mr. Lorenzen advises clients on the full range of estate planning issues, including preparing wills and trusts, tax planning, business succession, and family wealth transfers.

Mitchell Evall, partner-in-charge of Venable’s Los Angeles office, said, “Dan is widely respected for the caliber of his counsel, and is known by clients to provide thorough yet efficient solutions tailored to each of their individual wealth planning needs. He is well liked and is a team player. We are thrilled to welcome him back to the firm and to our office.”

Mr. Lorenzen assists families in planning for wealth transfers to charities, family members, and future generations in practical, tax-efficient ways. His practice includes individuals, families, and closely held businesses that have contacts in California, the United States, and the world beyond. He advises clients on all of the traditional tools of wealth planning, with an eye for holistic planning to minimize federal, international, state, and local taxes. Mr. Lorenzen uses these tools in service of clients’ desires to raise capable and responsible children, to support charitable endeavors, and to live happy and productive lives.

Mr. Lorenzen represents the principal general partners of a number of funds, including private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds, and advises on the unique tax and other planning opportunities available to these fund managers. He also represents trustees, executors, and beneficiaries in the administration of trusts and estates, and litigates and settles disputes between trustees and beneficiaries. Mr. Lorenzen resolves trust and probate litigation matters regarding the interpretation of instruments, defending trustees’ conduct, and interpreting tax allocation clauses, for example. He has prepared federal estate and gift tax returns and has represented fiduciaries before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the audit and appeals process regarding valuation and other tax issues.
Commenting on his move to Venable, Mr. Lorenzen said, “Both my clients and I enjoyed great success during my previous tenure at Venable. The firm offers a robust platform that is well suited to both the domestic and international aspects of my practice. I look forward to rejoining the team.”
Mr. Lorenzen received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 2003, and his B.S. from Brigham Young University in 2000.

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Venable LLP is an American Lawyer Global 100 law firm headquartered in Washington, DC that serves as primary counsel to a worldwide clientele of large and mid-sized organizations, nonprofits, high-net-worth entrepreneurs, and other individuals. With more than 850 professionals across the country, including in California, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Washington, DC, the firm strategically advances its clients’ objectives in the United States and around the globe. Venable advises clients on a broad range of business and regulatory law, legislative affairs, complex litigation, and the full range of intellectual property disciplines. For more information, please visit https://www.venable.com/.




Top 20 Biglaw Firm Encourages Associates to Bill for Diversity Work and Community Service

“Biglaw firms across the country are implementing all manner of initiatives to bring attention to the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion among their ranks. We’ve previously acknowledged nd Wilmer Hale as firms where approved diversity and inclusion-related work will be billable for,” reports Staci Zaretsky in Above The Law.

“Attorneys and will count toward bonus thresholds. We now have news that one of the top firms in the country has amended its billable hours policy in the name of promoting diversity. Greenberg Traurig a firm that brought in $1,730,230,000 gross revenue in 2020 has been focused on this important initiative since July 2020.”

Read the article.

 




Ex-Biden, Facebook Attorney Joining Shopify as General Counsel

“Shopify Inc. has hired Jessica Hertz, who stepped down this month from her role as cabinet secretary for President Joe Biden, to be its general counsel. Hertz, who will start her new role in November, made waves in January when she joined the Biden administration’s White House as deputy assistant to,” reports Brian Baxter in Bloomberg Law.

“The president and staff secretary. She spent the months prior to that appointment as general counsel for the Biden-Harris presidential transition team. I’m thrilled to be joining the Shopify team as general counsel and honored to play a part in making the tools of entrepreneurship available to as many people as possible, Hertz said.”

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Kellogg’s Customer Files $5 Million Lawsuit Alleging Pop-Tarts don’t have Enough Strawberries

“A class action lawsuit, filed by Illinois resident Anita Harris in August, alleges the brand’s marketing is “misleading because they give people the impression the fruit filling contains a greater relative and absolute amount of strawberries than it does.” The lawsuit also focuses on the health,” reports Alexis Benveniste in CNN Business.

“The lawsuit seeks at least $5 million. Harris also alleges the product’s name, Frosted Strawberry Toaster Pastries is false, misleading, and deceptive because the Pop-Tart filling contains a “relatively significant amount of non-strawberry fruit ingredients including pears and apples. The plantiff said she wanted more than a strawberry taste.”

Read the article.