Steptoe & Johnson LLP announced that the Blockchain Alliance, a public-private forum to combat criminal activity involving cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology, has grown to include 100 industry and government agencies in 19 countries.

Founded in October 2015 by the Chamber of Digital Commerce and Coin Center and led by Steptoe, the Alliance is comprised of a broad coalition of companies and government agencies that work to make the blockchain ecosystem more secure through education and dialogue between government and industry. In less than three years, the Alliance has grown from 17 industry members and six U.S. federal agencies to a total of 100 participants all over the world, including not only cryptocurrency and blockchain technology companies but also regulatory and enforcement agencies on six continents, as well as international entities including Interpol and Europol.

Steptoe partner Jason Weinstein (former deputy assistant attorney general in charge of cybercrime investigations at the Department of Justice and a member of the strategic advisory boards of BitFury, Coin Center and the Chamber of Digital Commerce) serves as the group’s director. Steptoe of counsel Alan Cohn (former assistant secretary for strategy at the Department of Homeland Security and a strategic advisor to several blockchain startups) serves as counsel to the Alliance.

“The growth of this Alliance – with 100 members around the world representing industry and government – is remarkable and reflects the growth of the cryptocurrency and blockchain space as a whole,” Cohn said. “Our mission is to enable industry and law enforcement to jointly protect public safety and help create an environment where innovation can thrive, and it’s working.”

“The Blockchain Alliance is an important organization that furthers vital communication between blockchain-oriented businesses and government agencies to help strengthen their understanding of enforcement objectives and cooperation,” said Amy Kim, chief policy officer of the Chamber of Digital Commerce. “The group’s work is critical in fostering the development of properly functioning markets involving virtual currency in particular and is much needed at a time when policy makers continue to have questions about this space. Its efforts have been instrumental in aiding law enforcement to detect crime and prosecute wrongdoers.”

The Blockchain Alliance serves as a resource for law enforcement and regulatory agencies to benefit from the expertise of some of the brightest minds in the blockchain industry for technical assistance in response to challenges faced during investigations. The Alliance also serves as a platform for open dialogue among law enforcement and regulatory agencies and the blockchain community about issues of concern to make blockchain technology more secure and to deter its use for unlawful purposes.

Additionally, the Alliance provides education and technical assistance regarding cryptocurrencies and other applications for blockchain technology, including through a series of webinars that have reached almost 700 participants in more than 35 countries.

“We are proud of the meteoric growth of the Alliance in just three years. The companies in the Alliance are good corporate citizens, and they deserve the credit for their commitment to working proactively with governments around the world to promote a secure blockchain ecosystem – for the benefit of government, industry, consumers, and the public,” Weinstein said.

Bloomberg is reporting that an experienced securities lawyer has left Tesla Inc. just as the company needs one under its fraud settlement with U.S. regulators.

Phil Rothenberg, a vice president in Tesla’s legal department who joined the company in 2011, became general counsel at Sonder, a hospitality startup, on Nov. 5, writes Bloomberg reporter Dana Hull.

Before joining Tesla, Rothenberg was an attorney-adviser for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and has extensive securities law experience.

Read the Bloomberg article.

The widow of Sidley Austin partner Gabe MacConaill has some harsh words for the stress that her husband endured while working at the firm before he took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot in October.

Above the Law, referring to an American Lawyer article by the widow, Joanna Litt, describes her feeling of helplessness as she saw her husband’s mental and physical condition decline while he was working on a big case:

“He told me his body was failing him. I picked him up and we decided he should go to the emergency room. He actually said to me on the way there, “You know, if we go, this is the end of my career.”

She said that she knows Biglaw didn’t directly kill her husband, but his condition was influenced by “a high-pressure job and a culture where it’s shameful to ask for help, shameful to be vulnerable, and shameful not to be perfect.”

Read the Above the Law article.

A Texas county is adding more controls after fees to an attorney representing indigent clients this past fiscal year topped $460,000 — more than double the amount of any other court-appointed lawyer in Collin County, reports The Dallas Morning News.

Attorney Marc Fratter, 46, also earned significantly more than anyone on the county payroll, including the district judges who approved his pay sheets, according to reporter Valerie Wigglesworth.

“Fratter said he put in long hours — billing as much as 100 hours a week at times — with his one-man firm handling the workload of as many as six attorneys. He pointed to judges’ signatures on all of his pay sheets. “I’m not hiding anything,” he said.

Read the Dallas News article.

Robert G. Frucht has joined Freeborn & Peters LLP as a partner in the Corporate Practice Group in the firm’s New York office.

“We are excited to welcome Bob to our growing New York office and corporate team,” said Daniel Hargraves, managing partner of Freeborn’s New York office. “As a leader in corporate and securities law, Robert offers valuable insights for our expanding roster of corporate clients in New York and across all the firm’s offices.”

Freeborn also recently added Christopher A. Pesch as a corporate partner in its New York office, which was formed in March 2016 through the combination with New York City firm Hargraves, McConnell & Costigan P.C.

Frucht focuses his practice on domestic and international transaction-based corporate and securities law. His work includes debt and equity financings involving both public offerings and private placements, negotiated mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, financing transactions, and general corporate counseling. He has cross-border transactional experience involving the U.K., India, Russia, Hong Kong and British Virgin Islands.

Prior to joining Freeborn, Frucht was a partner with Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP.

Frucht received his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and his Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP announced that 17 attorneys have joined the firm as associates across the firm’s offices in Birmingham; Charlotte, N.C.; Nashville, Tenn.; and Washington, D.C.

“We are excited to welcome this new group of highly motivated attorneys as new associates across multiple practice groups and Bradley offices,” said Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters. “We look forward to their contributions to the successes of our clients.”

The firm’s new associates in each Bradley office are as follows:

Birmingham

Kaylee M. Beauchamp is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. She served as a judicial extern for the Judge Michael P. Mills of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi. She received her J.D. (summa cum laude) from the University of Mississippi School of Law, where she was executive editor of the Mississippi Law Journal and Federal Courts Law Review. She also volunteered at the Mississippi Innocence Project, conducting legal research, screening cases, and interviewing witnesses. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Sewanee: The University of the South.

Rachel A. Conry is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. She clerked for Judge Kevin C. Newsom on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. She received her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, where she was articles editor for the Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology and was a member of the Moot Court Board. She received her Bachelor of Science (cum laude) from Vanderbilt University.

K. Laney Gifford is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. She served as a judicial intern for Judge R. David Proctor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. She earned her J.D. (summa cum laude) from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, where she served as both student materials editor and junior editor for the Cumberland Law Review. She received her Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) from Auburn University.

Claire B. Johnson is a member of the Environmental Law Practice Group. She received her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, where she was development editor for the Environmental Law and Policy Annual Review and was on the staff of the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law. During her time at Vanderbilt, she also served as president of the Energy and Environmental Law Society and initiated a sustainability program for the law school. In addition, she served as the public interest stipend director of the Legal Aid Society and as vice president of the Women’s Law Student Association. She received her Bachelor of Science (cum laude) from Clemson University.

Riley McDaniel is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. He was an extern for Judge Richard W. Story of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. He received his J.D. (with honors) from Emory University School of Law, where he served as managing editor of the Emory Law Journal. He received his Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) from Auburn University.

Alexander G. Thrasher is a member of the Construction Practice Group. Prior to law school, he worked as a project manager for an industrial contractor. He received his J.D. (magna cum laude) from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, where he was the recipient of the Daniel Austin Brewer Professionalism Award. He also was selected to serve as a Judge Abraham Caruthers Teaching Fellow and as a research editor of the Cumberland Law Review. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Washington University in St. Louis.

Davis S. Vaughn is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. He received his J.D. (summa cum laude) from the University of Mississippi School of Law, where he served on the executive boards of the Mississippi Law Journal and the Federal Courts Law Review. While in law school, he also worked with the Mississippi Innocence Project and helped with the initial representation of three innocence claims. He received his Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) from the University of Alabama.

Charlotte

Dexter C. Hobbs Jr. is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. He clerked for Judge Louis Bledsoe of the North Carolina Business Court. He received his J.D. (with honors) from the University of North Carolina School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina.

Nashville

Elliot A. Bertasi is a member of the Healthcare Practice Group. Prior to law school, he worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development in Washington, D.C., and in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He received his J.D. (cum laude) from Duke University School of Law, where he was executive editor of the Alaska Law Review and co-director of the Street Law Society. He received his Bachelor of Arts (summa cum laude) from the University of Tennessee.

Shundra Crumpton is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. She received her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, where she was a member of the Legal Aid Society Board, Black Law Student Association, and the Labor and Employment Law Society. During law school, she also worked in the Turner Family Community Enterprise Clinic. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University.

Elizabeth B. Holland is a member of the Real Estate Practice Group. She served as a judicial intern for Judge Sharon G. Lee of the Tennessee Supreme Court. She received her J.D. (magna cum laude) from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where she was a research editor for the Tennessee Law Review and CLE editor of Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law. She received her Bachlor of Science (magna cum laude) from the University of Georgia.

Alexandra C. Lynn is a member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group. Prior to law school, she worked as a research technician for the Center for Environmental Biotechnology and completed graduate-level coursework in translational biology at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She received her J.D. (with high honors) from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where she was an articles and aquistions editor of the Tennessee Law Review and the publications editor of Transactions: Tennessee Journal of Business Law. She received her Bachelor of Science (with honors) from the University of Tennessee.

Daniel Paulson is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. He received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, where he was on the staff of the Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law. He received his Bachelor of Arts (with honors) from Calvin College.

Caroline Dare Spore is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. She clerked for Judge Julia Gibbons of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. She received her J.D. (summa cum laude) from Washington University School of Law, where she was senior executive editor of the Washington University Law Review. During law school she spent a semester working in Washington University’s Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, where she assisted clients involved in disputes with the Internal Revenue Service. She received her Bachelor of Arts (with honors) from Washington University in St. Louis.

Mike Stephens is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. He interned for the Civil Rights and Claims Division of the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General. He received his J.D. (magna cum laude) from Wake Forest University School of Law, where he served as executive editor of the Wake Forest Law Review and as a board member for the Wake Forest Moot Court. He received his Bachlor of Arts (magna cum laude) from Clemson University.

Rachel E. Taylor is a member of the Healthcare Practice Group. Previously she worked as a licensed life and health insurance agent. She received her J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law, where she served as a staff editor and a member of the disciplinary committee for the Kentucky Law Journal. She also served as treasurer of the Women’s Law Caucus. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Western Kentucky University.

Washington, D.C.

Stephanie J. Dinan is a member of the Construction Practice Group. She clerked for Judge Anthony C. Epstein of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C. She also worked as an extern for the Williamsburg Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. She received her J.D. (cum laude) from William & Mary Law School, where she was managing editor of the William & Mary Journal of Women and the Law. She received her Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) from James Madison University.

David Fletcher has joined Perkins Coie’s Commercial Litigation practice and Government Contracts subgroup as a partner in the Washington, D.C. office.

In a release, the firm said Fletcher’s practice includes a broad range of government contracts matters, including bid protest litigation at the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Court of Federal Claims and at the agency level, and counseling of clients across varied industries on their contractual and regulatory obligations. Fletcher also advises senior management on federal contracts compliance matters and spent two years as government business counsel for GE Aviation’s $1 billion turboshaft/turboprop business.

“We are committed to strategically growing our top-tier, nationally recognized Government Contracts capabilities,” said Seth Locke, Firmwide Co-Chair of Perkins Coie’s Government Contracts practice. “Dave brings a strong skillset that nicely complements the services we offer. His time spent in-house with a large government contractor, in addition to years at Am Law 50 firms, has equipped him to provide solution-oriented results for our clients.”

Fletcher has represented various technology, healthcare and professional services companies in bid protests before the GAO, including a federal security and health IT services entity in two protests involving a total contract value of $1.54 billion. He joins Perkins Coie from Cooley, where he led the Government Contracts practice and regularly advised clients in mergers, acquisitions and financing transactions involving government contractors.

“Dave’s experience will benefit the firm immediately as we look to strengthen the government contract counsel that we provide to clients here in D.C. and nationally,” said Bill Malley, Managing Partner of Perkins Coie’s Washington, D.C. office. “His work with sophisticated tech clients pairs nicely with the firm’s focus on that sector. He’s an exciting addition to our team, and we’re happy to welcome him to the firm.”

Fletcher is the fourth partner to join Perkins Coie in Washington, D.C. in recent weeks. Others include Stephanie Roy, a telecom partner who joined the Technology Transactions & Privacy practice from Steptoe & Johnson; Valerie Dahiya, former Securities and Exchange Commission Branch Chief who joined the firm’s Blockchain Technology & Digital Currency industry group and Investment Management practice; and Nate Kelley, a former Solicitor and Deputy General Counsel for Intellectual Property Law at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Fletcher received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law, and both his M.Ed. and A.B. from the College of William and Mary.

Katie Ashley, former director of legislation for Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, has joined Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP’s Nashville office as a senior advisor in Bradley’s Government Affairs and Economic Development practice groups.

“We are thrilled to welcome Katie to our firm as a senior advisor on diverse government affairs and economic development issues,” said Bradley Managing Partner and Chairman of the Board Jonathan Skeeters. “Katie’s experience and wealth of knowledge gained during her long tenure as a key official in the Tennessee governor’s administration will be great assets to our clients.”

In a release, the firm said Ashley represents clients before the executive and legislative branches of government in Tennessee and Washington, D.C., helping to develop successful strategies for achieving clients’ business goals.

As the chief legislative executive for Haslam, Ashley advised the governor, his senior staff and 23 department commissioners on political strategy and legislative affairs. The Office of the Governor’s press release states that during her eight-year tenure with the Haslam administration, Ashley played an essential role in budget matters and policy development that led to Tennessee being recognized as a national leader in education, economic development, efficient and effective government, and fiscal strength. Among her achievements, Ashley helped launch the Drive to 55 initiative, with the goal to increase to 55 percent the number of Tennesseans with a postsecondary degree or credential by the year 2025 to meet future workforce demands. Ashley’s legislative efforts also helped Tennessee become the first state in the nation to offer high school graduates a chance to earn a certificate or degree beyond high school free of charge and with a personal mentor.

Previously, Ashley worked for U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander in Washington, D.C.

Ashley received her Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) from the University of Tennessee at Martin, and is not an attorney.

NAVEX Global has published a new report discussing how to assess your program maturity, gain organizational buy-in and understand the value of a comprehensive third-party due diligence program.

The report can be downloaded from the NAVEX website at no charge.

“Third parties are an extension of your business and expose your organization to reputational and business risks,” NAVEX says on its website. “Help protect your organization with the latest insights, benchmarks and trends around how to manage these business partners.”

The report answers questions such as:

• What strategies do organizations use to manage third-party risks?
• How do organizations employ risk-based procedures to manage third-party risks?
• How do respondents measure the effectiveness of their program?

Download the report.

The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC), an invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests, has published its fourth quarter 2018 Defense Counsel Journal (DCJ) with articles on current trends in the practice of law.

The current DCJ issue’s articles explore asbestos tort reform on the state level, the growth of punitive damages in Anglo-Canadian contract law, and legal hurdles that manufacturers face when launching products in the United States.

In a release, the organization, said the DCJ is a quarterly forum for topical and scholarly writings on the law, including its development and reform, as well as on the practice of law in general. DCJ articles are written by members of the IADC, which is a 2,500-member, invitation-only, worldwide organization that serves its members and their clients, as well as the civil justice system and the legal profession.

The DCJ is available for free and without a subscription via the IADC’s website.

The current DCJ issue is the first to be overseen by new editor and former IADC board member Kenneth R. Meyer, a partner in the products liability practice group at McCarter & English, LLP, in Newark, N.J. The issue also is the first under the leadership of new IADC president Craig A. Thompson, a partner at Venable LLP.

Following are brief summaries of key articles included in the fourth quarter 2018 issue of the DCJ:

— “The More Things Change: Bankruptcy Trust Reform and the Status Quo in Asbestos Litigation” – The article debunks plaintiffs’ lawyers’ arguments that trust transparency reforms would delay litigation, deny compensation to the most sympathetic of plaintiffs, and divest plaintiffs of their traditional control over the trust and tort systems. The authors explain how trust transparency reforms have not delayed litigation and have, in fact, accelerated compensation from the asbestos trusts. The article also describes that, where reforms have been enacted, they have achieved their purpose of fostering communication within the two-tiered system of asbestos compensation so that juries can properly account for all of a plaintiff’s exposures to asbestos.

— “Moving Beyond Uberrima Fides? The General Duty of Honesty in Contractual Performance and Punitive Damage Awards in Anglo-Canadian Contract Law” – The article’s authors suggest that the characterization of punitive damages as “the bane of corporate defendants” has perhaps never been more true under Anglo-Canadian contract law. This article demonstrates that while punitive damages for pure breach of contract are undoubtedly exceptional remedies at common law, they are generally larger and more common than ever before, which marks an extraordinary development in Anglo-Canadian contract law considering that only 30 years ago punitive damages were barred for pure breach of contract.

— “Entering the U.S. Market: Legal Hurdles That Manufacturers Must Overcome” – Investigates the life cycle of a product’s development and marketing and provides insight into some of the most common legal hurdles – especially consumer protection lawsuits – faced by manufacturers entering the U.S. market.

A post on the website of Pepper Hamilton describes a North Carolina case that involved non-signatories to a construction contract attempting to avoid the contract’s arbitration claim.

When the building’s current owner asserted various claims against the original owner, architect and general and subcontractors, the general contractor moved to have the suit dismissed on the ground that they were subject to arbitration. Plaintiffs argued that the arbitration clauses were not binding on them because the contracts that contained them were not assigned to plaintiffs when they purchased.

“The court held that the plaintiffs’ argument could not be squared with the language of the Contractor Warranty. On its face, the Contractor Warranty stated that [the general contractor] performed all work ‘in accord with the Contract Documents.’ This express reference to [the contractor’s] construction contract put the plaintiffs on notice of the contract’s existence,” explains the article’s author, Jane Fox Lehman.

Read the article.

Jurors have returned a $4.8 million verdict against Greenville, Pennsylvania-based Werner Co., finding the ladder company liable for the faulty design and marketing of an aluminum ladder that collapsed, permanently injuring a Lewisville, Texas man.

According to a release from Androvett Legal Media & Marketing, the jury in Denton County District Court determined that the company knew of problems with the Werner Model 354 Type II ladder and was negligent in not warning consumers of the risks when using it. The jury deliberated for a day and a half before reaching its verdict, awarding approximately $1.2 million for past damages and $3.6 million for future damages to John DeVallee.

“In mediation, Werner’s initial offer was $150,000,” said Joe Fisher, partner at Beaumont-based Provost Umphrey L.L.P., who represented DeVallee. “They said they would not offer any more because they’ve won 60-plus trials in a row.”

DeVallee, 46, was severely injured in 2011 after one of the ladder legs bent inward – a known falling hazard associated with this type of ladder. The fall led to crushing injuries to DeVallee’s arm and wrist and left him without use of his dominant hand for the rest of his life.

Fisher selected the jury and then turned over the rest of the case to fellow Provost Umphrey partner Edward Fisher and attorney Brian Zimmerman of Zimmerman, Axelrad, Meyer, Stern & Wise, P.C. David L. Cook of Harris Cook LLP was also part of the trial team and was instrumental in securing the verdict.

“In essence, the jury saw that Werner – through its negligence – pretty much cut off John’s dominant hand,” said Edward Fisher. “That’s a lifetime injury that will require continued medical care and treatment and that, unfortunately, cannot be repaired. No one should have to deal with something such as that simply because they were working on a four-foot tall step ladder.”

The case is J. Devallee v. Werner Co., Case No. 2011-40709-362 in the 442nd District Court of Denton County.

Steven C. Liedel, managing member of Dykema’s Lansing office and member of its Government Policy & Practice group, will serve as general counsel to Michigan Governor-elect Gretchen Whitmer’s transition team.

Liedel’s practice focuses on government organization and restructuring, economic development, state constitutional law, and tax policy. He previously served as former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm’s chief legal counsel, during which time he was chair of the State Administrative Board, Chief Privacy Officer for the State of Michigan, Executive Committee member of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, and Transition Liaison to the incoming Snyder Administration. Before that, as Deputy Legal Counsel to the Governor, Liedel served as attorney and policy advisor on matters relating to executive orders, legislation, veto messages, appointments to public office, economic development, local government, tax policy, and procurement reform and fiscal controls.

“Steve’s leadership capabilities, experience and past success in this space make him a terrific choice to serve as legal counsel to the Governor-elect’s transition team,” said Peter Kellett, Chairman and CEO of Dykema. “We at Dykema know that his extensive relationships and comprehensive understanding of government will be a tremendous asset in this role.”

Liedel earned a J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and a B.A. from James Madison College at Michigan State University.

Texas litigator Steve Stodghill, partner in the Dallas office of Winston & Strawn, is being honored with two awards this month.

On Nov. 15 he will be presented with the Anti-Defamation League’s (ADL) 2018 Larry Schoenbrun Jurisprudence Award.

The Schoenbrun Award has been presented annually since 1989 to a member of the North Texas legal community in recognition of outstanding leadership, exemplary contributions to the community, and a commitment to the ideals of the ADL. Founded in 1913, the ADL is a leading civil rights and human rights organization devoted to fighting anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry and discrimination.

“At the heart of the mission of the ADL is the fight against injustice and intolerance,” said Stodghill. “The use of bully tactics, whether it be on a personal or professional level, is something I abhor. I am thankful I am able to use my legal skills to help in that fight. Our current social climate has made it even more imperative that we stand up for what is right and for those who are being intimidated.”

Stodghill and his wife, Anne, will be honored on Nov. 16 by the Business Council for the Arts as 2018 Obelisk Award honorees. They will be presented with the Juror’s Award for their lifetime advancement of the arts.

The Obelisk Awards recognize companies and individuals whose contributions and achievements in the arts have made a profound impact in North Texas. Instrumental in promoting the growth of the Dallas Film Society, the organization presented its inaugural Stodghill Award earlier this year to recognize individuals for their long-term efforts on behalf of the art of film.

“While these are two very different honors, one thing that they share is a recognition of Steve’s unwavering dedication to the community. When he believes in a cause he is nothing short of a force of nature,” said Tom Melsheimer, managing partner of the Dallas office of Winston & Strawn. Along with Todd Wagner, co-founder of Broadcast.com and founder and CEO of The Charity Network, Tom is co-chair of the 2018 Schoenbrun Award luncheon.

Barnes & Thornburg has added trial attorney Luke Wohlford as a partner in the Litigation Department in Dallas. Previously, Wohlford was a director at Crowe & Dunlevy.

In a release, the firm said Wohlford concentrates on corporate and fiduciary litigation, complex contract litigation, product liability, antitrust, and class action litigation. His clients include public entities, private companies, family-owned businesses and high net worth individuals, and he manages all stages of litigation, including post-trial proceedings and appeals at the state and federal level.

In addition to his trial experience, Wohlford develops litigation avoidance strategies for his clients and provides counsel on other aspects of their business, including investigations, regulatory compliance and contract negotiations, the firm said.

“I worked with Luke when he was a young lawyer. He is an accomplished litigator with significant experience handling oil and gas matters, which is crucial in Texas,” said Mark Bayer, Dallas office managing partner. “He is the fourth litigator to join us in Dallas over the past six months, and I’m thrilled to see our office continue to attract top-notch talent and thrive in this market.”

Barnes & Thornburg recently moved to the new PwC Tower at Park District. Since opening in 2015, the office has steadily added practitioners in the areas of corporate, environmental, healthcare, intellectual property, labor and employment, litigation and real estate.

“Barnes & Thornburg has quickly assembled a talented group in Dallas, including an impressive litigation bench,” said Wohlford. “This is a growing office with a sterling reputation, and I’m looking forward to contributing to its success.”

Wohlford clerked for Deanell Reece Tacha, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. He is the chair of the State Bar of Texas Antitrust and Business Litigation Section. He earned his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law and his B.A. from the University of Kansas.

Buchalter announced its new office in San Diego with the addition of lawyers – Tracy A. Warren, J. Patrick Allen, Brittney R. Dobbins, Kathryn B. Fox, and Rick A. Waltman.

Tracy is the Managing Shareholder of the new office. Robert Zadek, previously in the firm’s San Francisco office, is now full-time in San Diego as is Jeff P.M. Lewis, a member of the Health Care Practice Group. Shareholder J. Rick Tache, Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property Practice Group, will also spend a significant amount of time in San Diego.

“The decision to expand to San Diego was a natural one as the city’s technology, cybersecurity, manufacturing, and health care industries are all booming. We look forward to further expanding our presence in San Diego in the near future to meet our clients growing demands for the services we offer,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Adam J. Bass.

In arelease, the firm said Warren represents both national and international clients in employment matters involving single plaintiff and class action defense. She also advises, counsels, trains and litigates in areas including wage and hour compliance, pay equity, sexual harassment, retaliation, terminations, hiring, leave of absence, reductions in force, employee discipline, workplace accommodations, religious exemption, NCAA bylaw compliance, and other matters of legal compliance.

“With Buchalter’s already well established reputation in the market, I am honored to further deepen that footprint.” said Tracy. “I am thrilled to offer my clients the full-range of business services and exceptional client service the firm has to offer.”

Warren earned her J.D. from the University of Notre Dame, her M.J. in broadcast journalism cum laude from Temple University, and her B.A. magna cum laude from The College of New Jersey. She is also an Emmy Award winning sportscaster and the first female sports reporter at television stations in Philadelphia and Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Bank & Finance expert Robert Zadek focuses his practice on matters involving factoring, fintech, reverse factoring, supply-chain finance, asset-based lending, purchase order financing, commercial loan documentation, trade finance and letters of credit, loan workouts, and bankruptcy. Robert earned his J.D. and LL.M from New York University School of Law. He earned his B.S. from Syracuse University.

Allen represents employers in single-plaintiff and class action litigation involving discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and wage and hour violations. He earned his J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law and his B.A. from the University of California, San Diego.

Dobbins represents individuals and businesses in employment, patent, and trademark litigation, including both single plaintiff and class action defense before state and federal courts and agencies, and in mediation and arbitration. In addition to litigation, she offers preventive advice regarding all aspects of labor and employment law, as well as trademark prosecution. Dobbins earned her J.D. with a concentration in Intellectual Property Law from California Western School of Law, and her Bachelor’s degree cum laude from DePaul University in Illinois.

Fox advises employers on litigation avoidance and provides counseling on workplace law matters. She earned her J.D. with a concentration in Labor & Employment Law with honors from California Western School of Law. Fox earned her B.A. from the University of Southern California.

Waltman provides counseling services to businesses on a variety of employment-related issues, including compliance with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”), the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”), the California Labor Code, the California Health and Safety Code, as well as other state and federal laws. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Law and his B.S. from the University of Minnesota.

Image by Montgomery County Planning Commission

The Oklahoman reports that jurors wanted to send a message to health insurer Aetna after hearing how the company’s overworked doctors denied an Oklahoma cancer patient’s claim for coverage for proton beam therapy.

Reporter Nolan Clay writes that jurors awarded $25.5 million to the patient’s estate and to her husband, a retired Oklahoma City firefighter, in the bad-faith case against the company.

The patient, Orrana Cunningham, died in 2015 from a viral outbreak after getting treatment for the tumor in her head and returning home. She was 54.

Read the Oklahoman article.

A former precious-metals trader said to have worked at JPMorgan Chase & Co. admitted he engaged in a six-year spoofing scheme that defrauded investors in futures contracts with the help of his colleagues and bosses, Bloomberg Law reports.

Prosecutors said John Edmonds placed hundreds of orders he never intended to execute — orders designed to move the market, but were canceled before being matched. Edmonds and other traders sought to manipulate futures markets for gold, silver, platinum and palladium on the Nymex and Comex exchanges for their own benefit.

The Bloomberg article continues: “Edmonds, who lives in Brooklyn, New York, said he learned the spoofing strategy from more senior traders at the bank and said his immediate supervisors approved of it, according to the Justice Department.”

Read the Bloomberg Law article.

Image by Elvert Barnes

A federal judge temporarily blocked construction of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, ruling late Thursday that the Trump administration had failed to justify its decision granting a permit for the 1,200-mile long project designed to connect Canada’s oil sands fields with Texas’s Gulf Coast refineries.

The Washington Post characterized the order as a  major defeat for President Trump, who attacked the Obama administration for stopping the project in the face of protests and an environmental impact study.

Post reporters explain that the order “requires the administration to conduct a more complete review of potential adverse impacts related to climate change, cultural resources and endangered species. The court basically ordered a do-over.”

Read the Washington Post article.

After losing his bench in a Democratic sweep, Harris County Juvenile Court Judge Glenn Devlin released nearly all of the youthful defendants that appeared in front him on Wednesday morning, simply asking the kids whether they planned to kill anyone before letting them go, the Houston Chronicle reports.

“He was releasing everybody,” said public defender Steven Halpert. “Apparently he was saying that’s what the voters wanted.”

“The longtime Republican jurist — whose seat was among 59 swept by Democrats in Tuesday’s election — is one of two juvenile court judges in Harris County whose track records favoring incarceration contributed heavily to doubling the number of kids Harris County sent to the Texas Juvenile Justice Department in recent years, even as those figures fell in the rest of the state,” writes Chronicle reporter Keri Blakinger.

Four of the juveniles released were facing aggravated robbery charges.

Read the Houston Chronicle article.