Barnes & Thornburg has added Marlén Cortez Morris as a partner in the Litigation Department. Cortez Morris, who was previously at Cheng Cohen LLC, is the ninth partner to join the firm’s Chicago office in 2018.

The firm said Cortez Morris represents and advises clients on franchise, labor and employment, and commercial litigation matters in courts and alternative dispute resolution venues, and before government agencies across the country. She litigates complex matters from inception through appeal. Her deep litigation experience includes the enforcement of contract and intellectual property rights, as well as the defense of claims for breach of contract, business torts, violations of franchise registration and relationship laws, state consumer protection violations, and vicarious and joint employment liability.

On the labor and employment side, she defends franchisors and employers against wage and hour class and collective actions and claims for wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, and retaliation arising under federal, state and local laws. In addition, she has enforced non-competes, litigated unemployment compensation benefits claims up to appeal, and represented management in traditional labor disputes. Cortez Morris also works with complex compliance strategies and best practices for litigation prevention.

“Marlén is a great addition to our team,” said William McErlean, chair of Barnes & Thornburg’s Litigation Department. “From successfully representing franchisors in litigation, arbitration, and regulatory matters to advising franchisors on unique employment issues in that industry, Marlén’s diverse experience will be invaluable to clients who become embroiled in these complex issues.”

Cortez Morris is a member of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Franchising and Section of Labor and Employment Law, the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois, the Hispanic National Bar Association, and the International Franchise Association (IFA). She serves on the IFA’s Diversity Institute Board, frequently speaks and writes on employment and franchise law topics, and is an editor of the ABA’s Franchise Law Journal.

Mark Rust, managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg’s Chicago office, added: “The genuine care that Marlén exhibits toward her clients and the sterling reputation she has earned in the local legal community make her a terrific addition to our growing office. We’re thrilled to have her on board.”

Cortez Morris earned her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law, where she was an associate editor of the University of Illinois Law Review and received the Rickert Award for Excellence in Advocacy, and her B.S., with honors, magna cum laude, from the University of Tampa.

The publishers of Texas Super Lawyers have selected five partners with the family law boutique Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson, LLP, among the state’s Top 100 attorneys.

Partners Richard Orsinger, Keith Nelson, Scott Downing, Brad LaMorgese and Lon Loveless were selected to the Top 100 list from the nearly 90,000 eligible attorneys in Texas. The Top 100 recognizes the state’s elite attorneys, regardless of their primary area of practice. No other family law firm in the state has so many attorneys named to the Top 100 for 2018, the firm said in a release.

A total of 11 lawyers were selected among the state’s leading family law attorneys, with several earning additional 2018 accolades.

Six firm attorneys were selected among the Top 100 attorneys in Dallas-Fort Worth: Nelson, Downing, LaMorgese and Loveless, along with partner Jeffrey Anderson and of counsel Marilea Lewis. Lewis also was named to the list of the Top 50 female attorneys in Texas. Orsinger was selected among the Top 50 attorneys in Central/West Texas.

Orsinger, Nelson and Downing have been selected among the state’s top Family Law attorneys every year since 2003. The 2018 recognition is LaMorgese’s 15th time to make the list.

Partners Amber Liddell Alwais and Paul Hewett each earned their sixth selection, while William Reppeto and Loveless were honored for a fifth year. Lewis was selected for a seventh year and associate Hunter Lewis earned recognition for a sixth year.

Super Lawyers selections are based on a combination of peer nominations, evaluations and independent editorial research. No more than 5 percent of Texas attorneys are chosen each year. The full 2018 listing appears in the October editions of Texas Monthly and Texas Super Lawyers, and is available online at http://www.superlawyers.com.

NAVEX Global will present the online master class “Herding Big Cats: Improving Executive & Board Engagement” on Thursday, Sept. 20, 2018, beginning at 10:30 a.m. Central time.

Getting positive buy-in needed from an organization’s executives and board members is a common issue for most businesses, NAVEX says on its website. “And, it can be especially difficult for compliance professionals needing to demonstrate the true ROI of their programs. In this Master Class, you’ll learn how to wrangle top-level decision-makers to ensure all executives and board members understand their responsibilities for compliance oversight. Effectively protect your organization from compliance and behavioral risk, and learn why active board engagement is critical for establishing a strong ethical culture from the top down.”

This master class will cover:

• How to contribute to the goals of the board
• Rules of engagement for difficult board discussions
• Common communication mistakes to avoid
• Meaningful board training methods
• How to position compliance to get critical program buy-in

Register or get more information.

Some lawyers and law firms dismiss social media in terms of marketing, but it can be a difference maker if you know where to be online and what to do once you get there, advises Bruce Vincent of Muse Communications.

Once you’ve embraced the notion of devoting some thought and effort to social media marketing, it’s time to determine where the people you want to reach can be found online, and that requires identifying your social media audience.

The article also offers some advice on what lawyers should say online, and the importance of staying the course on social media.

Read the article.

Julie A. Springer, a founding partner of the Austin-based commercial litigation firm Weisbart Springer Hayes, LLP, has been accepted into the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).

ABOTA dedicates itself to the preservation and promotion of the Seventh Amendment, which guarantees the right to civil jury trials. Members in this prestigious invitation-only group must have tried a minimum of 10 civil jury trials to conclusion. More than 7,600 lawyers and judges are involved in ABOTA chapters in all 50 states.

“ABOTA is one of the nation’s most effective organizations in championing the ethics, professionalism and principles of the legal profession, and I’m honored to be part of this select group,” Springer said.

In her practice, Springer represents clients in all types of employment and business-related disputes in federal and state courts and before regulatory agencies throughout Texas and the United States. Springer’s litigation experience includes claims of discrimination, harassment and other traditional employment claims; defense of national wage and hour collective and class actions under federal and state law; and business disputes involving breach of contract, breach of non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, and misappropriation of trade secret claims.

In addition, Springer has experience in issues involving higher education, such as Title IX litigation, as well as other issues affecting colleges and universities throughout the country. Springer also regularly counsels corporate and individual clients on all facets of the employer-employee relationship, including the negotiation of executive compensation and separation agreements.

A graduate of Baylor Law School who also earned her undergraduate degree from Baylor University, Springer is one of the few lawyers in Texas who is Board Certified in both Labor & Employment Law and Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. She has earned recognition on the Texas Super Lawyers list each year since 2011, and is AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Holland & Hart will present a complimentary half-day seminar on the latest developments in labor and employment law.

The in-person event will be Thursday, Sept. 13, 2018, beginning with registration and breakfast at 8 a.m. The address is 555 17th Street, Suite 3200, Denver, CO 80202.

Highlights of the program include:

Significant L&E Updates:
– Class action waivers
– Immigration
– NLRB reversals
– Colorado developments

Harassment and Discrimination: #MeToo and More
– Prevention: policies and training
– Investigations
– Working with/against the EEOC and CCRD
– Mediation, arbitration, or litigation?
– Should you settle?

Managing Leaves, Accommodations, and Terminations
– Intersection of FMLA and ADA
– Handling indefinite leaves and work restrictions
– Pregnancy accommodations under the new Colorado law
– Discharging employees who’ve exercised their rights
– Documenting your actions to aid your defense

Agenda: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2018
Registration and Breakfast | 8:00 – 8:30 AM
Presentations | 8:30 – 12:00 PM

Speakers:
Steve Gutierrez
sgutierrez@hollandhart.com

Emily Hobbs-Wright
ehobbswright@hollandhart.com

John Husband
jhusband@hollandhart.com

Jeremy Merkelson
jbmerkelson@hollandhart.com

Roger Tsai
rytsai@hollandhart.com

Mark Wiletsky
mbwiletsky@hollandhart.com

Location: Holland & Hart
555 17th Street
Suite 3200
Denver, CO 80202

CLE and SHRM credit pending

Register for the seminar.

Linda Novosel has joined Blank Rome LLP as its first Chief Innovation & Value Officer. Novosel joined Blank Rome from Steptoe & Johnson LLP where she served as the firm’s Chief Client Value Officer. Novosel is based in the firm’s Philadelphia office.

“We are delighted to welcome Linda to Blank Rome,” said Alan J. Hoffman, Chairman and Managing Partner. “We are committed to partnering with our clients to develop and deliver innovative and efficient services, and are confident that Linda’s proven experience in strategic pricing and legal project management will further enhance our efforts in these critical areas.”

The firm said that, in this new role at Blank Rome, Novosel will develop solutions to drive efficiency and enhance client service through the implementation of collaborative systems and processes to support litigation, transactional, and regulatory compliance matters and projects. With more than 25 years of experience in the legal industry, Novosel has held senior management positions at several AmLaw 100 firms where she was responsible for pricing, practice management, process improvement, and legal project management.

“I am honored to join Blank Rome as its first Chief Innovation & Value Officer,” said Novosel. “As the firm continues to grow impressively—geographically as well as through its expanding practice capabilities and client reach—it is critical that we continually adapt our legal services delivery to align with our clients’ ever-changing needs. I look forward to collaborating with Blank Rome’s leadership team, attorneys, administrative departments, and professionals to build upon the firm’s impressive accomplishments, support our clients, and advance our long-term strategic goals.”

“Our main goal is to maximize the value we offer to our clients. We continue to make significant investments in strategic pricing and LPM, as they are areas of critical importance to our clients and firm,” added Patrick O. Cavanaugh, Partner and Chief Operating Officer at Blank Rome. “Under her direction, we will continue to improve the efficiencies and cost-effectiveness of our client service efforts. I look forward to collaborating with Linda on advancing these objectives as well as overseeing their successful implementation.”

Novosel received her J.D., cum laude, from Widener University School of Law where she served as an editor of the Widener Journal of Public Law and was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society. She earned her B.A. in International Relations from Bucknell University.

Richard (Rick) A. Hosley and Chandra K. Westergaard have joined Perkins Coie’s White Collar & Investigations practice as partner and senior counsel, respectively. Both Denver-based attorneys come from firm client DaVita, a FORTUNE 200 healthcare company.

“Rick and Chandra are true white collar all-stars with substantial white collar pedigrees,” said Markus Funk, Denver-based Firmwide Chair of Perkins Coie’s White Collar & Investigations practice. “Their industry-leading, in-house, government and private practice experience will make them sought-after advisors and counselors and will significantly contribute to our group’s regional and national strength.”

During his tenure at DaVita, Hosley served as Associate General Counsel and Vice President in Charge of Litigation and managed a legal team of more than 20 professionals responsible for legal matters across the global enterprise, including complex commercial litigation, government investigations and enforcement actions, internal compliance investigations, shareholder derivative suits and securities class actions, among others. In 2017, Hosley was named “People’s Choice” for “Best In-House Counsel” by Law Week Colorado.

Prior to his time at DaVita, Hosley served as a United States Marine Corps Officer and Judge Advocate, operating in various positions including Chief Trial Counsel and Senior Defense Counsel at Marine Corps installations in Japan. Hosley also served a combat tour in Iraq as the Battalion Judge Advocate for 3rd Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Division. During his deployment, Hosley participated in combat operations in the Al Anbar Province, worked with tribal leaders and local officials to reestablish government functions in Western Iraq, and served as a polling site observer during the 2005 Iraq Constitutional Referendum, the firm said in a release.

After his active-duty service in the Marine Corps, Hosley worked in the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Districts of Montana and Colorado and served as Chief of the Major Crimes Section for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Denver. As a federal prosecutor, he tried more than 20 U.S. District Court trials and drafted and argued appeals to U.S. Courts of Appeals. As Chief of Major Crimes for Colorado, he led a team of federal prosecutors and agents and supervised hundreds of federal investigations. He received the DOJ’s Director’s Award for Superior Performance in 2013. Following his DOJ service and prior to joining DaVita, Hosley gained private practice experience as a white collar and litigation partner at Hogan Lovells.

The firm said Hosley’s practice at Perkins Coie has an emphasis on healthcare and focuses on government civil and criminal investigations, False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute enforcement actions and qui tam litigation, privileged internal compliance investigations, including allegations of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations, shareholder derivative suits and securities class actions, and complex commercial litigation and trials. Hosleyreceived his J.D. from the University of Colorado School of Law and his B.A. from Drake University.

As Assistant General Counsel and Head of Investigations for DaVita, Westergaard supervised and managed a team of attorneys and legal professionals and was responsible for some of the company’s most important legal matters, including internal healthcare compliance investigations, DOJ and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services investigations and enforcement actions, and False Claims Act qui tam litigation. Prior to her time with DaVita, Westergaard was a member of Crowell & Moring’s healthcare group, where she represented healthcare providers and managed healthcare organizations on a wide range of fraud and abuse, compliance and regulatory matters, including investigations and enforcement actions.

Westergaard’s practice at Perkins Coie focuses on healthcare regulatory and compliance guidance, government civil and criminal investigations, False Claims Act and Anti-Kickback Statute enforcement actions and qui tam litigation, privileged internal compliance investigations, including allegations of Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations, and civil litigation. She received her J.D. from Duke University School of Law and a double B.A., cum laude, from McDaniel College.

“The addition of Rick and Chandra to the Denver office provides us a national bench strength and reputation in the healthcare regulatory market,” said Sonny Allison, Managing Partner of Perkins Coie’s Denver office. “They are an exceptionally talented team, which will allow us to attract significant work on a regional and national level and put us into solid contention for highly sought-after healthcare investigation matters.”

The two join former federal prosecutor Markus Funk, retired Colorado Chief Justice Mike Bender, counsel Chelsea Curfman, and various associates that make up Denver’s White Collar Defense & Investigations practice, the firm said.

FisherBroyles, LLP announced the additions of Greg Fettig, Kevin Jablonski and Michael W. Russell as partners and registered patent attorneys in the firm’s Intellectual Property (IP) Practice Group. The attorneys are based in the Denver, Seattle and Washington, D.C., offices, respectively.

Since April, the firm has added four new IP partners in Washington and one each in Atlanta; Denver; Los Angeles; Palo Alto, Calif.; Salt Lake City; and Seattle.

“Steady growth this year has significantly increased the depth and scope of our IP services for clients as well as our overall bench strength,” said T.J. DoVale, managing partner of the FisherBroyles Intellectual Property Practice Group. “Greg, Kevin and Michael bring diverse law firm and in-house experiences, as well as valuable technical backgrounds, to what has quickly become one of the top IP law groups in the nation.”

Fettig said, “This is an exciting time to be joining FisherBroyles and I look forward to working with our team of dedicated partners serving the firm’s expanding roster of IP clients.”

Jablonski added, “I believe my practice is perfectly suited to the unique model FisherBroyles offers for delivering optimal client service across diverse practice areas.”

Russell said, “I am thrilled to join the FisherBroyles bench of former ‘Big Law’ attorneys and help continue to grow the firm’s stellar reputation as a leader in intellectual property, including patent law.”

The firm said Fettig has more than 17 years of legal experience working as both an in-house patent agent and outside patent counsel in patent preparation and prosecution. His experience involves computer systems, computer software applications, directed energy weapon systems, optical systems, lidar systems, signal processing, communication networks, data storage systems and devices, semiconductor devices and fabrication processes, integrated circuit devices and fabrication processes, production printing systems and print controllers, cable television systems and networks, aerospace, and mechanical devices. Fettig also has experience in other IP areas, including Inter Partes reviews, non-infringement opinions, patentability searches, freedom-to-operate opinions, trademarks, and IP due diligence.

Prior to joining FisherBroyles, Fettig worked at law firms in Boulder, Colo. Most recently, he was a named partner at Duft Bornsen & Fettig LLP. Before his law career, he worked as an electrical engineer for Motorola and General Dynamics in the defense sector. He also is a U.S. Air Force veteran and has provided pro bono legal work to veterans.

Fettig received his J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. He also holds a Master of Business Administration from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Jablonski focuses on patent portfolio development and patent prosecution. His practice also includes IP licensing, copyrights and trademarks. He has experience in technology areas such as semiconductor design, analog and digital circuits, LTE Wireless, computer networking, digital communication systems, computer-related business methods, interactive software solutions, aircraft manufacturing systems, IoT systems, and computer architecture solutions. In addition, Jablonski has a technical focus in the audio arts and sciences, as well as audio-related technologies.

Jablonski most recently was a shareholder at Lane Powell PC in Seattle. In addition, he is involved in numerous professional groups and formerly served as president of the Washington State Patent Law Association and as a board member of the Audio Engineering Society Pacific Northwest Chapter.

Jablonski received his J.D. from the Seattle University School of Law and his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Gonzaga University.

Russell has more than a decade of experience in patent preparation and prosecution, patentability and risk assessment evaluations, portfolio management, and client counseling. He has prepared and prosecuted numerous applications across a wide range of technical disciplines, including semiconductor device processing, catalysis, filtration, optics, sensors, and paper products.

Previously, Russell was a patent examiner with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office. He also formerly practiced at the law firms Scully, Scott, Murphy & Presser; Crowell & Moring LLP; Buchanan Ingersoll; and Pennie & Edmonds. Prior to practicing law, Mr. Russell was a process development engineer at ATMI, Inc. in Danbury, Conn. He was awarded a J. William Fulbright Fellowship at the National University of Rosario in Rosario, Argentina, and a National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C. In addition, Russell is listed as a co-inventor on 11 U.S. patents.

Russell received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. He also holds a doctorate and a Master of Science, both in materials engineering from Cornell University, and a Bachelor of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP announced that it is expanding its presence in Minnesota with the opening of a full-service downtown Minneapolis office this month, the firm’s 11th location nationwide. The new office is located in theFifth Street Towers at 150 South 5th Street, Suite 1800.

“For many years we have serviced Minnesota-based clients from current and remote offices but as our work in the state continues to expand, the time was right to invest in a full-service downtown office location,” said Firm Chair Kimberly Leach Johnson. “As a firm with deep Midwest roots but a national presence and client base, Minneapolis is a great location for us to grow.”

Four current Quarles & Brady attorneys as well as an administrative team will operate from the location when it opens, including: Daniel Young, a partner specializing in Business Law, Isaac Roang, a partner in the firm’s Real Estate Law practice, Peter Kaiser, a business law attorney, and Michael Larson, an attorney in Quarles & Brady’s Intellectual Property practice.

“We’re building upon what we’ve started here in Minneapolis. Quarles & Brady has 11 attorneys admitted to practice in the state, and we have been serving clients here for years,” Young said. “I’m glad we will now have a dedicated office downtown to facilitate further growth.”

The firm’s Minnesota client base encompasses emerging businesses and many well-known companies in the manufacturing, technology, real estate, finance and healthcare industries, among others.

According to Young, who is involved in leadership positions across several Minneapolis charities, higher education initiatives and community groups, Quarles & Brady intends to continue to be an active member of the Minneapolis community and even expand that commitment as its presence grows. Quarles & Brady has a long history of community service, including supporting and sustaining its local communities through its Quarles Cares program and pro bono services.

Stefan Passantino, former White House Deputy Counsel in charge of compliance and ethics oversight, has joined Michael Best’s Government Relations, Public Policy & Compliance Practice Group in Washington, D.C. Passantino is the newest addition to join Michael Best’s team of former White House staff, including former Chief of Staff Reince Priebus.

In a release, the firm said Passantino joins Michael Best after serving as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Counsel since January 2017. An Atlanta native, Passantino’s work in the political law and compliance arena dates to the early 2000s. Passantino previously chaired the Political Law group at McKenna Long & Aldridge, LLP, which then merged with the global law firm Dentons U.S., LLP, where he counseled corporations, advocacy and lobbying groups, candidates and campaigns on matters of election law, state and federal lobbying rules, and ethics regulations compliance.

“I’ve known Stefan to be an exceptional attorney with an inherent ability to understand the complexities of regulatory and compliance matters better than most seasoned veterans in Washington,” said Reince Priebus, President of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP and Chief Strategist for Michael Best Strategies LLC. “His addition will be a statement to our industry and underscore our strategic vision in the Beltway and nationally. Michael Best is taking important steps to make its mark on Washington, D.C., as a new power player in town.”

At Michael Best, Passantino will focus his practice on serving corporations and businesses in the areas of campaign finance, public policy, and compliance counseling concerning the rules and regulations related to corporate involvement in political activities, the firm said.

“Stefan is a great addition to our firm having served at the highest level of the Executive Branch, and his extensive experience will greatly benefit our clients,” said David Krutz, Firm Managing Partner of Michael Best. “A Chambers rated lawyer, Stefan is widely respected for his temperament and ability to provide sound counsel concerning campaign and ethics compliance — and he will strengthen our already strong presence inside the Beltway.”

“Our strategic initiatives to expand our business presence and bring on valuable, top-level, talent are bolstered by the addition of Stefan. He will be a key asset in our efforts to provide the broadest and highest-level counsel to our clients,” said Kevin Barner, managing partner of Michael Best’s Washington, D.C., office.

The addition of Stefan Passantino comes on the heels of Michael Best announcing the relocation of its Washington, D.C., office to 1000 Maine Ave., “The Wharf,” where it is scheduled to occupy the space in early 2019.

Passantino earned his J.D. from the Emory University School of Law, where he served as managing editor of the Emory Law Journal and received his B.A. in Political Science from Drew University.

State Farm agreed to pay $250 million on the brink of a trial to customers who claimed the company tried to rig the Illinois justice system to wipe out a $1 billion jury verdict from 19 years ago, Bloomberg reports.

“The customers were seeking as much as $8.5 billion in damages in a civil racketeering trial that was set to start Tuesday in federal court in East St. Louis, Illinois. A judge granted preliminary approval to the accord and set a final fairness hearing for December,” according to the report.

Policyholders had accused the company of leading an effort to recruit a judge friendly to its cause for the Illinois Supreme Court, secretly funding Judge Lloyd Karmeier’s 2004 election campaign by funneling money through advocacy groups that didn’t disclose donors. Under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, any damages would have been tripled.

Read the Bloomberg article.

A Facebook post by a former Jones Day lawyer included a racially charged rant, apparently set off by the movie Crazy Rich Asians.

Above the Law tells the story of Christina Ignatius, who railed “against Asians that ‘took over Orange County’ — propagating the trope of Asians as bad drivers and ridiculing her perception of a generically Asian accent — and calls dealing with Asians ‘one annoying thing after another.’”

“If you went to UCI like I did you probably went to school with a lot of rice rockets,” Ignatius wrote. “Asians flooded that school if they were smart and could get in. They went there to become doctors. They were raised by Tiger Moms who told them ‘to become docta,’ and then if they weren’t smart enough to become a doctor, ‘to marry docta.'”

Some of her Caucasian male lawyer friends “who married Asian women were completely poached for dollars and earning potential,” she added.

Read Above the Law’s article.

As budget season approaches, a post on the Xakia website takes a look at the financial side of corporate legal operations – from alternative fee arrangements to special considerations for smaller departments.

The post offers some benchmarks to help gauge how a department’s budget compares with others. While every team and company is different, benchmarks can help establish context – or give you fodder to ask for a budget increase, the company says.

Headings include: Legal Budget as a Percentage of Revenue, Legal Budget by Department Size, Legal Budget by Location, Legal Budget by Industry, and Why Budget Matters.

Read the article.

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that bay area law firm Archer Norris has filed for bankruptcy and plans to dissolve this fall.

The Walnut Creek firm, with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Newport Beach, deals mainly in business and insurance litigation, according to Chronicle reporter Rebecca Aydin. It is closing those offices, where it employs 124 people, according to a notice the firm sent to state officials, and expects all to lose their jobs.

A court-approved interim operations will allow the firm’s employees to be paid to keep working with clients until mid-September.

Read the SF Chronicle article.

R Delacy Peters has joined Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney, Ltd. in a full time of counsel position in the firm’s Chicago office.

“Delacy brings a wealth of experience working with clients whose needs mirror those of our current clients, in addition to specialized knowledge and experience in areas that will help the firm continue the diversification of its litigation practice. In addition to his well-honed litigation skills, Delacy has the knowledge, background and capacity to counsel and assist clients in transactional matters as well,” stated Managing Shareholder Mark Crane. “Delacy’s career-long focus in complex business matters and his successful practice in the food and beverage space will be great assets to our clients as the firm continues with its plans for growth.”

In a release, the firm said Peters has almost 30 years of experience defending and counseling clients in complex commercial matters. One of the primary focuses of his practice is Food and Beverage Law, including food safety litigation, regulatory compliance requirements, employment and real estate issues. He has represented global food and beverage companies, as well as food processors, manufacturers, suppliers, growers and producers, retailers, restaurants, warehouse clubs, wholesalers and distributors. Mr. Peters will co-chair the firm’s Food and Beverage Law Practice Group.

“Segal McCambridge is a firm I’ve been acquainted with since the start of my career. I’ve long admired the manner in which their attorneys practice, and I’m looking forward to joining them as the firm continues to grow,” Peters stated. “The firm offers tremendous opportunities for expansion of a national practice which will be a great asset in servicing my existing clients and in growing my practice further.”

The firm said Peters has represented clients in complex litigation matters involving antitrust and trade regulation, fraud and deceptive practices, insurance coverage, securities law violations, professional liability claims, products liability, catastrophic injury, commercial contract disputes, franchise and dealership law, toxic tort and environmental law, entertainment law, intellectual property and class action defense. Peters has also represented municipal clients in litigation and in public finance matters.

Peters obtained his J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law and completed studies at IIT Chicago Kent College of Law in furtherance of an LLM in Financial Services Law. He received his B.S. from the University of Baltimore.

After announcing the opening of a new office earlier this year, Buchalter announced that Tonie L. Bitseff and James E. Brown II have joined its growing Seattle office. Bitseff will be a member of the firm-wide Labor and Employment Practice, and Brown a member of both Buchalter’s Intellectual Property and Energy & Natural Resources Practices.

“Tonie and James are welcome additions to our Seattle office. I am confident they will each make significant contributions to the local office culture and firm,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Adam J. Bass. “I look forward to expanding our footprint in the Puget Sound region.”

Bitseff advises clients on health benefits, pension plans, and other forms of compensation and employee benefits. Her clients seek guidance on welfare plans, defined benefit plans, benefit outsourcing, vendor management, contract negotiations, dependent and domestic partner coverage and rights, ERISA fiduciary liability, ERISA claims procedures, appeals, escalations, and government audits.

Focusing his practice on energy regulatory matters, compliance, contracts and complex litigation, Brown’s experience includes providing strategic legal analysis and advice on a number of issues, including distributed generation and renewable energy, smart grid technology, mergers and acquisitions of utility companies, government rulemakings, easements, construction of environmental structures, privacy and data security (including GDPR), and first amendment rights on public property.

“I am thrilled to welcome Tonie and James to Buchalter and the Seattle office. Their impressive experience and unique backgrounds enable us to offer additional legal services to our clients in the Pacific Northwest,” said Seattle Managing Shareholder Jeffrey Frank.

Earning her J.D. from Seattle University School of Law in 1996, Bitseff also received her LL.M. in Taxation and Compensation from the University Of Washington School Of Law. She earned her B.A. in Speech Communications from the University of Washington.

Brown earned his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law and his B.A. in Banking and Finance from Morehouse College.

Justin Fairfax has joined Morrison & Foerster in the Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. offices, as a partner in its Commercial Litigation, Trials, and Investigations + White Collar Defense groups.

Fairfax will separately perform his duties as Virginia lieutenant governor, which is a part-time role under Virginia law. Fairfax is a former federal prosecutor who served as an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) in the Eastern District of Virginia and has prior experience at national and international law firms.

The firm said in a release that Fairfax gained national prominence after he was elected lieutenant governor of Virginia in November 2017, making him only the second African-American to be elected to statewide office in Virginia. In his role as lieutenant governor, he presides over the Senate of Virginia and serves on various boards and commissions. Fairfax is one of the youngest individuals in the country to hold the position of lieutenant governor.

“Justin is a rising star whose addition highlights the firm’s strategy of hiring experienced lawyers who understand government and the private sector,” said Brad Wine, co-chair of the firm’s Litigation Department. “His impressive background strengthens our national and regional commercial litigation, enforcement, and investigations capabilities. Justin will help us continue to meet our clients’ needs as we further expand our presence in Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia.”

While serving as an AUSA, Fairfax was part of the office’s major crimes and narcotics unit, where he prosecuted a wide range of federal felony offenses, including embezzlement, fraud, and human trafficking. In private practice, he litigated a variety of commercial and white-collar cases in federal and Virginia state courts. He worked on matters relating to securities litigation, Foreign Agents Registration Act investigations, and wire fraud prosecutions, among others. Fairfax has served as a law clerk to the recently retired Judge Gerald Bruce Lee of the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Virginia.

“Justin brings to Morrison & Foerster strong familiarity with the government, a keen understanding of clients’ needs, and impressive experience litigating complex matters,” said Charlie Katz, managing partner of the firm’s Northern Virginia office. “His experience in the Eastern District and Virginia State courts further expands the litigation practice of our Northern Virginia office and will be critical to clients facing commercial disputes, investigations, and other high-stakes matters.”

“Morrison & Foerster offers the ideal destination to restart my private practice and work on important domestic and international matters,” added Fairfax. “The firm has an outstanding reputation for its litigation work, and a national and global footprint in many of the industries where I plan to focus my practice. In this regard, I have maintained and will continue to maintain, close contact with relevant ethics officials to ensure that my joining, and work with, the firm will not present any conflicts of interest with my role as Lt. Governor or with the Commonwealth of Virginia. I’m excited to enter this next phase of my legal career and to continue the tremendous work I’ve had the privilege of doing as Lt. Governor on behalf of the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia.”

In July, the firm announced that John E. Smith, former director of the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, had joined as a co-head of its National Security Practice, and Lisa Phelan, former chief of the National Criminal Enforcement and Washington Criminal I Sections of the Antitrust Division at the Department of Justice, had joined as a partner in its Global Antitrust Law Practice. Other senior U.S. government officials who have joined Morrison & Foerster in recent years to further build regulatory, compliance, and investigations practices include John Carlin, Bob Litt and David Newman to grow the firm’s Global Risk & Crisis Management Group and National Security Practice; Chuck Duross and James Koukios to expand the firm’s FCPA and Anti-Corruption Practice; and Michael Birnbaum, Carrie Cohen and Joshua Hill to further enhance the firm’s Securities Litigation, Enforcement and White-Collar Defense Practice Group.

Registration has begun for the 2018 Eastern District of Texas Bench Bar Conference, which is being held in conjunction with The Center for American and International Law’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board Bench Bar Conference.

Hosted by the Eastern District of Texas Bar Association, the annual event is one of the largest of its kind nationally, bringing together practicing lawyers, general counsels, in-house counsels, respected judges, and industry experts from across the globe to discuss the latest issues in patent law and intellectual property litigation. Topics will also include Corporate Cyber Threats, Qui Tam litigation, Trade Secret Theft and Protection, and many others.

The Honorable Andrei Iancu, U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), will be the keynote speaker.

The 22nd annual EDTX Bench Bar Conference is set for October 17-19 at the Marriott Legacy Town Center in Plano, and registration information is available here.

Contact Andrea Williams-McCoy for more information on conference programs, registration and lodging at 903-870-0070 or andrea@siebman.com.

“Choice of law” clauses in contracts are often overlooked in their potential importance, as the parties and counsel concentrate on the more immediate matter of the explicit commercial terms, write Val H. Stieglitz and R. Bruce Wallace for Nexsen Pruet.

“When the deal goes sour, however, and it comes time for the parties to assert and enforce their contractual rights, the spotlight often turns to the ‘choice of law’ provision – which perhaps no one had paid much attention to previously,” the authors explain.

Their article examines a recent case experience highlighted how “choice of law” distinctions can become significant once matters enter litigation.

Read the article.