Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, the 20th largest law firm in the United States, today unveiled its new “GRSM50” brand. The 1,200+ lawyer firm – the first and only full-service law firm in the country with offices in all 50 states – is embarking on an extensive branding effort to highlight its rapid growth and unique 50-state legal services capabilities.

“Our identification as GRSM50 reflects not only the firm’s national presence but also our commitment to servicing clients wherever they may have needs throughout the United States,” said Dion Cominos, Firmwide Managing Partner.

Name partner Miles Scully, a major catalyst in the firm’s rapid expansion added: “The firm’s transition to GRSM50 further demonstrates a laser focus on continuing to successfully grow our novel 50-state platform which combines local knowledge with the resources of a robust national organization.”

GRSM’s accelerated growth trajectory began more than four years ago when the firm became the first law firm in history to establish offices in all 50 states. Since launching the 50-state initiative, the firm has grown from 850 lawyers to its current count of more than 1,200 lawyers. In 2021, the firm broke into the Am Law 100 rankings and was highlighted by The American Lawyer as one of the top firms for lateral partner growth. That growth has continued this year, with 270 attorneys joining the firm thus far in 2023. GRSM is currently ranked #88 on the Am Law 100 list and the 20th largest firm in the country by headcount, with over 50 diverse practice and industry groups in 75 national offices throughout the country.

LITTLER ACHIEVES 2022-2023 MANSFIELD CERTIFICATION PLUS FROM DIVERSITY LAB

(October 10, 2023) – Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has earned 2022-2023 Mansfield Certification Plus for the sixth consecutive year through Diversity Lab. The certification process is designed to ensure all talent at participating law firms have fair and equal opportunities to advance. The “Plus” designation is reserved for firms that voluntarily measure the outcomes of their inclusive processes and have achieved positive results.

“As a firm dedicated to creating opportunities for all attorneys to excel, we are thrilled to once again receive Mansfield Certification Plus,” said Erin Webber, Littler’s managing director and president, and Paul Bateman, Chief Inclusion, Equity & Diversity Officer, in a joint statement. “Having been an advocate of this program since 2016, it is incredibly rewarding to see how participation has grown and to witness the tangible impact it has had on the legal industry. We look forward to our continued work in advancing inclusion, equity and diversity, alongside Diversity Lab and other participating firms, as we work together to keep moving the needle.”

To achieve Mansfield Certification, Littler considered broad slates of qualified talent for leadership roles. Because of its commitment to being an inclusive law firm, Littler had a broad bench from which to draw, and this included historically underrepresented lawyers – such as women lawyers, underrepresented racial and ethnic lawyers, LGBTQ+ lawyers, and lawyers with disabilities, thus meeting the Mansfield 30% guideline. In addition, as part of the certification process, the firm worked toward enhancing the transparency of its leadership roles, advancement processes and compensation policies.

Mansfield is now entering its seventh year, and its methodology has proven to build more diverse leadership teams, which is rooted in changes to systems and processes – not just exclusivity or discrimination. Mansfield ensures that opportunities for advancement are inclusive by broadening talent pools instead of instilling quotas, set asides or requirements unrelated to an individual’s qualifications.

Littler was one of nearly 50 firms to pilot the inaugural version of the Mansfield Rule, which is named after Arabella Mansfield, the first woman admitted to the practice of law in the U.S. It was also one of the winning ideas from the 2016 Women in Law Hackathon hosted by Diversity Lab in collaboration with Bloomberg Law and Stanford Law School. Littler Shareholder Nina Markey (Philadelphia) was part of the team that pitched the initial concept.

“At a time when efforts to expand opportunities to underrepresented groups are under attack, these Mansfield firms are making their advancement processes more open and transparent,” said Alyssa Jarvis, Director of Mansfield & Strategic Innovations at Diversity Lab. “The firms honored today for achieving Certification have articulated and broadened the paths to leadership. The expectations, and avenues to success, have never been clearer. And this commitment to transparency benefits everyone. I am proud to work with each of these firms.”

Littler continues to set the standard in the industry as it continually earns recognition for its commitment to inclusion, equity and diversity. A full list of Littler’s accolades can be found on Littler.com.

About Littler

With more than 1,800 labor and employment attorneys in offices around the world, Littler provides workplace solutions that are local, everywhere. Our diverse global team and proprietary technology foster a culture that celebrates original thinking, delivering groundbreaking innovation that prepares employers for what’s happening today, and what’s likely to happen tomorrow. For more information, visit www.littler.com.
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Womble Bond Dickinson announced today that John Hawk has rejoined the firm as a partner in the Business Litigation Group. Previously with Womble from 2006 to 2021, Hawk is the first partner addition to the Denver office since it was opened last month by leading global energy and natural resources team Scot Anderson and Ana Maria Gutiérrez.

“John’s return to Womble reflects the strong culture of our firm, and his practice adds meaningful bench strength as we continue to expand our complex litigation capabilities across our domestic footprint,” said Chris Jones, who leads the Business Litigation Practice Group and serves on the Global Board.

Hawk has represented Fortune 500 companies for nearly two decades in complex commercial disputes. While his experience is diverse, he has particularly deep knowledge of consumer finance and insurance litigation. He defends banks and other lenders, mortgage servicers, and life and disability insurers in state and federal courts, including cases brought under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

“We are excited to have John join our new and growing Denver office,” said Scot Anderson, Managing Partner of the Denver office. “John will be the foundation of a broad litigation practice in this office, and his expertise and experience will serve our clients well.”

Hawk rejoins Womble from Fox Rothschild, where he was based in that firm’s Denver and Greenville, South Carolina, offices. He graduated from the University of South Carolina School of Law and earned his B.A. from Davidson College.

“I’m thrilled to return to Womble, the firm where I began my legal career,” said Hawk. “In addition to contributing to the growth of the Denver office, I look forward to once again working with distinguished colleagues across the firm to advise clients in the financial services and energy sectors on their complex commercial litigation matters.”

This addition also underscores the continued growth of the Business Litigation Group. Hawk is the 13th partner to join the firm since the start of the year, following Liz Campbell, Patricia Cymerman, Ana Maria Gutiérrez, Edward Kim, Carol Lee, Kristina Moore, Tomio Narita, Joe Patella, Harry Rimm, Gina Schaecher, Mariam Tadros, and Jeff Topor.

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About Womble Bond Dickinson
Womble Bond Dickinson is a transatlantic law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers based in 32 U.K. and U.S. office locations serving clients across every business sector. The firm provides core legal services including Commercial; Corporate; Employment; Dispute Resolution and Litigation; Finance: Banking, Restructuring, Insolvency; IP, Technology and Data; Private Wealth; Projects, Construction and Infrastructure; Real Estate; and Regulatory Law.

“Womble Bond Dickinson,” the “law firm” or the “firm” refers to the network of member firms of Womble Bond Dickinson (International) Limited, consisting of Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP and Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP. Each of Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP and Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP is a separate legal entity operating as an independent law firm. Womble Bond Dickinson (International) Limited does not practice law. Please see www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/legal-notice for further details.

The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP today announced that Matthew Holohan has joined the firm’s Denver office as a partner in the Intellectual Property Practice Group. He was previously at an intellectual property (IP) firm in Denver.

Holohan counsels clients through complex IP disputes in both state and federal court. Representing national and international companies, he works to resolve a variety of IP disputes and related IP strategy issues. Holohan has a background in physics and experience representing companies in a wide range of technologies, including electrical engineering, computer hardware and software, telecommunications, networking, mechanical devices and consumer products.

“Matt is a seasoned intellectual property litigator and has successfully represented clients ranging from solo practices and startups to Fortune 500 companies,” said Lori Ruhly, Intellectual Property national chair. “He is a fantastic addition to our Denver office and highlights our continued growth in Colorado.”

Holohan has been named to Best Lawyers in America (Intellectual Property Litigation and Patent Law) each year since 2022, a Colorado Super Lawyer since 2022 and was listed to the IAM Patent 1000 in 2023. He received his J.D. and B.A. from the University of California – Berkeley.

“Quarles has a nationally recognized and deep intellectual property team with experience across many industries and capabilities,” said Holohan. “I know my patent and litigation experience will benefit the team and I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues to help our clients achieve their business goals.”

Obligations are the backbone of every contract. And as you know, improperly tracking or missing them can have severe consequences for your organization.

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Don’t leave contract obligations to chance (or Outlook, or Excel). Our experts will share how CLM empowers creating contracts that stand firm, track obligations with precision, and manage critical details with finesse.

TYSONS, V.A. (October 5, 2023) – Womble Bond Dickinson announced today that Gina L. Schaecher has joined the firm’s Business Litigation group in Tysons, Virginia. Schaecher has extensive experience representing clients in commercial disputes in state and federal court and has served as lead counsel in lengthy, complex commercial litigation in courts nationwide.

This addition reflects continued momentum for the firm’s Business Litigation group, which has welcomed 35 lawyers in the last year. Many of those laterals joined offices in the Mid-Atlantic region, including Carol Lee (Washington, D.C.), Kristina Moore (Washington, D.C.), Mariam Tadros (Tysons, Virginia), and Lee Van Voorhis (Washington, D.C.).

“In addition to bolstering our broader litigation capabilities, Gina brings significant depth and credentialing to our construction practice,” said Chris Jones, who leads the Business Litigation Practice Group and serves on the Global Board. “We are excited to welcome Gina to the firm and know her experience will be highly valuable to our clients.”

Schaecher represents owners, general contractors, subcontractors, and design professionals in construction disputes, corporate governance matters, and general commercial litigation. She has successfully represented contractors’ interests in bid protests and contract claims on public projects before various boards of contract appeals, including the General Services Board of Contract Appeals and the District of Columbia Contract Appeals Board.

Schaecher graduated from the Nebraska College of Law and earned her B.A. from the University of Nebraska. Outside of her practice, she advocates for animal protection and animal welfare matters at local and federal levels.

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About Womble Bond Dickinson
Womble Bond Dickinson is a transatlantic law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers based in 32 U.K. and U.S. office locations serving clients across every business sector. The firm provides core legal services including Commercial; Corporate; Employment; Dispute Resolution and Litigation; Finance: Banking, Restructuring, Insolvency; IP, Technology and Data; Private Wealth; Projects, Construction and Infrastructure; Real Estate; and Regulatory Law.

“Womble Bond Dickinson,” the “law firm” or the “firm” refers to the network of member firms of Womble Bond Dickinson (International) Limited, consisting of Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP and Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP. Each of Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP and Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP is a separate legal entity operating as an independent law firm. Womble Bond Dickinson (International) Limited does not practice law. Please see www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/legal-notice for further details.

BOSTON (October 4, 2023) – Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has added Ellen Donovan McCann as senior counsel in its Boston office. McCann joins from Unum where she most recently served as assistant vice present.

“We’re excited to welcome Ellen back to the Boston office,” said Asha Santos, Littler’s Boston officing managing shareholder. “Ellen’s experience will complement our growing Boston team and greatly benefit our clients seeking leaves of absence guidance.”

For over 25 years, McCann has given employment-related legal advice to human resources and executive management on matters including leaves of absence, Title VII compliance, COVID response, wage and hour issues, sales compensation matters, paid time off programs and restrictive covenants. She has also managed employment-related litigation, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and state charges, and has provided exceptional legal counsel on employee leave and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) administration services.

Additionally, McCann is a frequent contributor to numerous publications, and is nationally recognized for her knowledge of the Family and Medical Leave Act, ADA and state leave and paid leave laws.

McCann earned her J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School, and her B.A. from the College of the Holy Cross.

About Littler

With more than 1,800 labor and employment attorneys in offices around the world, Littler provides workplace solutions that are local, everywhere. Our diverse global team and proprietary technology foster a culture that celebrates original thinking, delivering groundbreaking innovation that prepares employers for what’s happening today, and what’s likely to happen tomorrow. For more information, visit www.littler.com.

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Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery LLP will present a free webinar, “The Latest Changes in Copyrights & Trademarks,” featuring Fitch Even partner Danielle K. Muñoz.

The webinar will take place on Thursday, November 2 at 9:00 a.m. PDT / 10:00 a.m. MDT / 11:00 a.m. CDT / 12 noon EDT.

In 2020, legislation was passed that changes the landscape of trademark and copyright law. Various provisions of the new laws have gone into effect on a rolling basis over the past nearly two years. This webinar will give attendees an overview of these legislative updates, their effects, and related case law developments.

During this webinar, the presenter will cover these topics and more:

• The Trademark Modernization Act
• New Mechanisms for Trademark Enforcement
• The Copyright Alternative in Small-Claims Enforcement (CASE) Act
• The Copyright Claims Board

CLE credit has been approved for California and Illinois and is pending in Nebraska. Other states may also award CLE credit upon attendee request. There is no fee to attend, but please note registration is required.

To reserve your place, please REGISTER HERE: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/2641691469095887959