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Rachel Brand, the U.S. Justice Department’s No 3 official, is leaving for the top legal job at Walmart, reports the Associated Press.

“Brand attracted interest because of her potential to assume a key role in the Trump-Russia investigation,” according to the AP. “The official overseeing the special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, the deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein, has been repeatedly criticized by Trump. If Rosenstein had been fired or quit, oversight would have fallen to Brand. That job would now fall to the solicitor general, Noel Francisco.”

Walmart sought Brand to be head of global corporate governance at the retail giant.

Read the AP article.

Practice management company Clio will present a complimentary webinar discussing how clients choose lawyers, based on the findings of the 2017 Legal Trends Report.

The 60-minute webinar will be Thursday, Feb 15, at 1 p.m. Eastern time.

Clio says on its website: “What matters most to clients in choosing a lawyer is responsiveness and preferable communication and payment methods, according to the 2017 Legal Trends Report. This webinar will cover the findings of the report and its 5,000 responses, and share insights into how lawyers can act on this information, and how technology can service clients.”

Register for the webinar.

In addition to maintaining general policies prohibiting sexual harassment, employers may choose to implement workplace romance policies outlining permissible and prohibited conduct concerning dating among co-workers, points out Ashley Robertson Parr in a web post for Nexsen Pruet, LLC.

“Companies often prohibit relationships between employees in supervisory/subordinate roles, given the inherent issues that arise,” she writes. “Other companies disallow relationships between employees and clients/vendors. Another option is to require employees to inform management of workplace relationships. Regardless of the specifics, such policies should reference the company’s anti-harassment policy and remind employees how to report unwanted conduct.  In addition, employers must be diligent in making sure that the policies are enforced fairly and without a disparate impact.”

Her article covers implementing policies addressing workplace relationships, what love contracts are, and the fact that love contracts are not cure-alls.

Read the article.

Amending agreements is a common practice with managed service providers (MSPs) and companies involved with software licensing and companies that provide professional services, according to a blog post on the website of Kirkpatrick Law.

Even the best agreements can require amendments based on changes in law, technology, and the products or services provided.

The post discusses some examples of ways to amend contracts, including delete and replace, from and to, and a revised agreement.

Read the article.

A case heard by the National Labor Relations Board discusses the law concerning the legal duty to reduce a collective bargaining agreement to writing, and then sign it, according to a post on the Proskauer Labor Relations Update.

Partner Mark Theodore explains:

“Among other things, a signed agreement serves as an absolute bar to employees filing a decertification petition during the term of the agreement (with some timing limitations), while an unsigned agreement does not bar such a petition. A signed agreement also, obviously, is more easily enforced as it signifies to the entire world that this is the deal, and that the parties signed it after evaluation of its terms.”

Read the article.

In what appears to be a first-of-its-kind ruling, the District Court for the Southern District of New York recently concluded that a federal district court has the authority to vacate an arbitrator’s class certification award based on the due process rights of absent class members, according to a post on the website of K&L Gates.

The ruling involves the long-running Jock v. Sterling Jewelers, Inc., in which the district court and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals have rendered multiple decisions addressing the proper role of a court in reviewing an arbitrator’s authority to determine whether parties have agreed to class arbitration.

The K&L Gates authors explain that the Jock court determined that, absent an express class arbitration provision in each putative class member’s arbitration agreement, an arbitrator does not have the authority to bind absent class members to a class judgment—even if they signed the same form of arbitration agreement as the named plaintiffs.

Read the article.

Zapproved and General Counsel News have posted an on-demand webinar that can help executives and lawyers learn about the impact and strategies associated with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation set to take effect in May. (See the video below.)

While the GDPR standardizes data protection law across the EU, it doesn’t spell out how U.S. companies can update data preservation processes to be compliant. This on-demand webinar offers key steps on ensuring a company’s approach to processing personal data of EU citizens meets these new cross-border data privacy guidelines.

The webinar covers such topics as:

• Prepare for Article 30’s demand for detailed record keeping
• Article 30 of the GDPR broadly requires that data controllers and data processors maintain a detailed record of their processing activities.
• Understand the U.S and EU perspectives on privacy rights
• Consider gaining ISO2l701 certification
• Gaining ISO2l701 certification, an International standard of security that European regulators cite, demonstrates that you’re thinking like an international citizen with a cross-border responsibility.

The family of Parker Waldridge, one of five workers killed in the Jan. 22 gas well explosion near Quinton, Oklahoma, has hired the Texas trial law firm Deans & Lyons, LLP, to investigate and pursue a lawsuit involving the deadliest oil and gas drilling disaster since the 2010 Deepwater Horizon rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico.

“Mr. Waldridge was an incredible man who will be terribly missed by his family,” said Deans & Lyons co-founder Michael Lyons. “While we mourn the tremendous loss experienced by all the families impacted by this tragedy, there are a number of questions raised about the circumstances of this explosion and what could have been done to prevent it.”

In a release, the firm said:

According to published reports, Waldridge, 60, of Crescent, Oklahoma, was among the workers trapped in an operations room when the first of two explosions occurred at the well site operated by Oklahoma City-based Red Mountain Energy. The drilling contractor was Houston-based Patterson-UTI Energy Inc., a company with an extensive history of fatal accidents and safety violations.

The resulting inferno was so intense that the site was inaccessible to emergency workers until the following day. An initial report by the U.S. Chemical Safety Board indicated that rig workers were preparing to change out a drill bit at the time of the explosion, but the investigation is not yet complete.

“The Waldridge family and the families of the other victims deserve to know the truth about what happened,” said Mr. Lyons. “Oil field work has inherent dangers, but this disaster appears to have been preventable if safety had been the paramount concern of this operation.”

Deans & Lyons represents clients in a broad range of complex personal injury and wrongful death claims, including cases involving the oil and gas industry.

Akerman LLP announced David I. Spector has commenced his three-year term as the firm’s ninth chairman and CEO, effective Feb. 1, 2018. He succeeds Andrew Smulian, who concludes a decade-long tenure as chairman and CEO.

“It is the highest professional honor to serve as chairman and CEO of Akerman,” said Spector. “I am humbled to lead the next phase of our firm’s journey as we build on the remarkable foundation created by Andrew’s visionary leadership. Our firm today serves many of the world’s largest companies and financial institutions across the Americas, we have exceptional talent at all levels of our enterprise, and we are leading the market in client service innovation. I could not be more confident about our future.”

In a release, the firm said:

Spector will lead the strategic growth of the firm, advance client-driven initiatives and address challenges affecting the firm’s many communities. In addition to serving on the firm’s Board of Directors and the Executive Committee, Spector founded Akerman’s Fraud and Recovery Practice Group, one of the largest legal teams in the United States dedicated to the eradication of fraud. He previously served on Akerman’s Strategic Planning Committee and is a leader in many of the firm’s client-driven initiatives.

Spector joined Akerman in 2009 and built a national trial practice devoted to the investigation and litigation of complex fraud schemes, and unfair and deceptive practices, on behalf of the largest U.S. insurance companies and self-insured retailers. His work has carved a groundbreaking path in plaintiff-side fraud investigation and litigation, and developed case law that helps corporations recover financial losses caused by fraudulent acts. Spector has handled a series of cases involving issues of first impression that have had a significant implication in the eradication of fraud. He also has significant experience in defending law firms from claims of legal malpractice and breach of fiduciary duties. His work earned him rankings in Chambers USA, Best Lawyers and other industry publications.

The firm also announced the following changes: Sandra Heller succeeds David Spector and Michael Goldberg as chair of the Fraud and Recovery Practice Group, expanding on her former role as deputy chair of the group. Jonathan Awner and Carl Roston, who previously served as co-chair of the M&A and Private Equity Practice, succeed Mary Carroll as co-chairs of the Corporate Practice Group. Eric Rapkin, who recently served as the Fort Lauderdale office managing partner, succeeds Richard Bezold as chair of the Real Estate Practice Group. Leslie Miller Tomczak will assume the role of Fort Lauderdale office managing partner, succeeding Eric Rapkin.

Hunton & Williams LLP announces the expansion of its national labor and employment practice with the addition of partners Michele J. Beilke and Julia Y. Trankiem and two associates in Los Angeles.

“As employment laws become increasingly complex, we are focused on growing the capabilities of our national practice, especially in geographic regions that are important to our clients,” said Emily Burkhardt Vicente, co-chair of Hunton & Williams’ labor and employment group and a partner in the Los Angeles office. “Michele and Julia are exceptional lawyers who bring a wealth of experience to our already robust employment practices in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Their team’s strong commitment to client service mirrors our own, and we are excited to have them join our team in California.”

Rafael Tumanyan and Sonya Goodwin are also joining the firm as associates in the Los Angeles office. All four came to the firm from Reed Smith LLP.

Beilke has nearly two decades of experience representing employers in California. Her practice focuses on the defense of state and national wage and hour class and collective actions, and single- and multi-plaintiff discrimination and harassment claims. She also counsels and trains employers on a wide range of employment law issues, including compliance with state and federal leave laws, accommodation requirements for workers with disabilities, sexual harassment prevention and managing reductions in force. Beilke has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict in both state and federal court and in arbitration. Beilke received both her undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Southern California.

“Our experience is a perfect match for Hunton’s practice and growing footprint in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay area,” Beilke said. “We have all spent our careers in California litigating many of the same types of cases Hunton’s practice is known for, so we are thrilled to be part of the team here with a national platform,” Trankiem added.

Trankiem has represented employers in class, collective, representative and hybrid actions brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage and hour laws. She also has defended employers in countless single- and multi-plaintiff discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims. Trankiem advises and counsels her clients regarding every facet of the employment relationship. She is active in local and national organizations, including the California Minority Counsel Program and the National Employment Law Council. She received her undergraduate degree from University of California, Los Angeles, and her law degree from University of Michigan Law School.

“Michele’s and Julia’s practices align with Hunton’s strengths in several leading industries, including financial services, retail and consumer products, and real estate development and finance,” said Ann Marie Mortimer, managing partner of the firm’s Los Angeles office and head of the energy and environmental litigation practice.

The firm’s national labor and employment practice has successfully litigated thousands of high-profile, high-risk matters in federal and state courts, hearings before federal and state law enforcement agencies, and mediations and arbitrations. The lawyers in the group represent clients in nearly every form of traditional and emerging labor and employment disputes, concerning issues at the forefront of new employment class and collective litigation trends across the country.

Jennifer Nijman and Susan Franzetti announce the addition of E. Lynn Grayson, to Nijman · Franzetti LLP of Chicago.

“Susan and I are thrilled to have Lynn practicing with us. Lynn is among the most experienced and respected lawyers in environmental law and is a perfect addition to our growing environmental law boutique,” said Jennifer Nijman.

“Lynn’s nationwide connections and experience are second to none and will only further assist our client’s nationwide interests,” said Susan Franzetti. “We could not have asked for a better addition to the firm.”

Grayson joins Nijman · Franzetti from the Chicago office of Jenner & Block where she practiced for 24 years and was Jenner’s Environmental Department Chairwoman. She has also served as the Chief Legal Counsel for the Illinois Emergency Services and Disaster Agency and the State Emergency Response Commission. Prior to this, she prosecuted federal and state environmental cases as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois.

Grayson also serves on the Board of Directors of the DC-based Environmental Law Institute. In 2017, she was elected Secretary of the Chicago Bar Association. She is a frequent author and speaker on environmental law and policy matters. She received the City of Chicago Recognition Award for Service to the Environmental Community and was recognized as Best Lawyers’ Chicago Environmental Lawyer of the Year.

“Jenner & Block is an exceptional firm, and I have many professional and personal friends there,” she said. “But it is a matter of timing and my growing envy for what Susan and Jennifer created. They each left great firms and in 10 years established what is really without equal in the country. The more I considered how beneficial their law firm model could be to my clients, the easier the decision became.”

Freeborn & Peters LLP has expanded its Insurance and Reinsurance Industry Team with the addition of attorneys Melissa B. Murphy, Steven D. Pearson, Michael J. Braggs and Sarah E. Chibani.

Murphy and Chibani are based in the firm’s Tampa, Fla., office. Pearson joins Freeborn’s Chicago office, and Braggs is based in the firm’s Richmond, Va., office.

Last year, Freeborn opened its first Florida office, in Tampa, and combined with New York City firm Hargraves, McConnell & Costigan P.C. In 2016, the firm combined with Richmond, Va., law firm Brenner, Evans & Millman P.C.

“We are thrilled to welcome Melissa, Steve, Michael and Sarah to the firm as we continue to expand the breadth and depth of our services to our insurance industry clients,” said Joseph T. McCullough IV, a partner and leader of Freeborn’s Insurance and Reinsurance Industry Team. “Our group’s reputation in the industry among the regional, national and international markets is exceptional as we continue to recruit highly knowledgeable and experienced insurance and reinsurance practitioners.”

Lawrence P. Ingram, a partner and member of the Insurance and Reinsurance Industry Team and head of Freeborn’s Tampa office, said, “Melissa and Sarah are great additions to our insurance industry team in Tampa. Our clients will greatly benefit from their combined experience in diverse commercial and insurance coverage litigation matters.”

In a release, the firm said Murphy is a partner who focuses her practice on business and commercial litigation. She has practiced in the area of real property litigation, contracts and indebtedness, and enforcement of restrictive covenants. She also has experience in insurance brokerage issues, as well as working with financial institutions. Prior to joining Freeborn, Murphy practiced at Cobb Cole, focusing on similar matters. She received her J.D. (magna cum laude) from Florida State University College of Law and her Bachelor of Arts (summa cum laude) from Florida State University.

Also a partner, Pearson focuses in the areas of insurance non-compete, insurance coverage, bad faith, reinsurance, non-medical professional liability defense and complex general commercial litigation. He also litigates large-scale attorney fee disputes and has testified as an expert witness in such matters. In addition, he has served as national and regional counsel for a number of insurance companies in a broad array of industry sectors. Most recently, Pearson was a partner at Cozen O’Connor. He previously spent 24 years at Meckler Bulger Tilson Marick & Pearson LLP. He received his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota.

Braggs is an associate who focuses his practice primarily on personal injury defense. He has trial experience and has handled all aspects of litigation, including trying more than 100 cases to verdict before judges and juries, both civil and criminal. He also has served as counsel in numerous mediations and arbitrations. Prior to joining Freeborn, Braggs served as staff counsel for GEICO, conducting negotiations and settlement agreements on behalf of GEICO insureds, as well as handling and managing significant circuit court litigation from inception through trial. He also served as an assistant public defender in the Office of the Public Defender in Fredericksburg, Va. Braggs received his J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from North Carolina State University.

Also an associate, Chibani focuses her practice on insurance coverage litigation, professional liability defense and complex commercial litigation. Prior to joining Freeborn, Chibani was an associate in the First-Party Property insurance law group at Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A., in Miami. She received her J.D. (cum laude) from the University of Miami School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from Boston University.

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A day after Aetna sued the claims administrator Kurtzman Carson Consultants for exposing confidential medical information about Aetna clients in a settlement notification, a KCC subsidiary brought a new suit blaming Aetna and its lawyers at Gibson Dunn & Crutcher for failing to protect the privacy of Aetna customers, according to Reuters.

The underlying case is based on the mailing of prescription notices sent to Aetna insureds. Those mailings by KCC were in envelopes that included transparent windows that displayed text including the words  “when filling prescriptions for HIV medications.”

KCC now claims that “Aetna and Gibson knew that windowed envelopes were being used in the mailings in question.” The law firm is not named as a defendant, but the firm’s actions on Aetna’s behalf are mentioned throughout the complaint, writes Alison Frankel.

Read the Reuters article.

Lawyers for Chevron Corp., hoping to keep climate-change lawsuits by California cities out of state courts, have sued Oslo-based Statoil, calling it “one of many” oil producers that should help foot the bill if the industry is found liable, reports The Los Angeles Times.

Kartikay Mehrotra writes that adding foreign companies to the litigation is a tactical maneuver to keep the dispute out of state court, where the cities have more favorable prospects, and force it into federal court.

She quotes Julia Olson, executive director and chief legal counsel for the environmental law group Our Children’s Trust: “The industry is grasping at straws while looking for any way out of these cases and using creative lawyering to do so. By cherry-picking Statoil, a sovereign Norwegian entity, Chevron hopes to reinforce federal jurisdiction.”

Read the LA Times article.

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Reuters is reporting that the board of Wynn Resorts has been sued by shareholders, claiming the board knew for years that Steve Wynn, founder and chief executive of the casino operator, had been accused of sexual misconduct and failed to investigate.

Reporter Tom Halls explains:

“The case is a derivative lawsuit, meaning any damages paid by Wynn and the other board members who are named defendants would be paid to Wynn Resorts, not directly to investors.

“The lawsuit filed in Clark County, Nevada, claimed, based on press reports, that “a board representative” was notified of Wynn’s alleged misconduct in 2009 by Wynn’s then-wife Elaine.”

Read the Reuters article.

Amy Boardman Hunt of Muse Communications writes that she frequently sees lawyers having trouble with marketing, especially when they have to assert that they’re good at something and ask for business.

In a post on the Muse website, she first addresses the reason marketing makes people uncomfortable: “There are a lot of nuanced and interconnected reasons that mostly boil down to this: it doesn’t align with the way lawyers want to see themselves. Lawyers didn’t go to law school to be business people or sales people. They went to school to be thinkers, advocates and counselors.”

Then she discusses some of the finer points of writing, speaking, social media, videos and podcasts, client alerts/newsletters, networking, staying in touch, and more.

Read the article.

Charles Haag has joined Winston & Strawn LLP’s Transactions Department as a partner in Dallas. Haag is a capital markets and securities attorney who joins Winston from Jones Day.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Charlie to the team as we continue to build on the firm’s momentum and strategic growth,” said Winston Chairman Tom Fitzgerald. “He is a widely-recognized and respected capital markets lawyer in the Dallas area who will enable us to continue raising the bar as we advise our clients on their most critical and complex transactions.”

Inn a release, the firm said Haag has more than two decades of experience counseling companies and financial institutions in a wide variety of securities offerings and capital market transactions, including venture capital, IPOs, high yield and investment-grade debt, convertible securities, tender offers, spin-offs, reorganizations, and M&A/takeovers, and also advises on corporate governance, fiduciary duties, SEC reporting obligations, and public market communications. In addition, he has been active in the REIT space, a Winston focus in Dallas and at the firm generally.

In February 2017, Winston opened a Dallas office, the firm’s second in Texas, with the addition of 21 partners from eight different firms.

“As the opening of Winston’s Dallas office approaches its one-year anniversary, we are fortunate to have maintained the momentum we have enjoyed since last February as we continue to attract top quality talent to the office and the Firm,” said Bryan Goolsby, the firm’s Dallas office managing partner. “Charlie’s addition not only provides us an acknowledged top tier capital markets partner, but his REIT expertise also favorably augments our national REIT practice.”

Haag’s experience spans financial services, hedge fund and private equity, power, technology, retail and consumer, REITs, construction, and metals and mining, the firm said.

“The mark Winston has made in Dallas and the broader Texas legal market, in a remarkably short time frame, has caught everyone’s attention,” Haag notes. “I look forward to working with this dynamic team and leveraging Winston’s exceptional platform to expand my practice and help grow Winston’s client base in Texas.”

Weston L. Hall

The Dallas-based trial law firm Chamblee Ryan has promoted firm attorney Weston L. Hall to partner.

In a release, the firm said Hall is experienced in a range of litigation matters, including commercial, trucking/transportation, construction, general liability/personal injury, medical malpractice and premises liability. In addition to trying cases, he has successfully navigated mediations and settlement negotiations. He also consults with corporate clients on contracts, entity formation, and other commercial matters.

“Weston has demonstrated time and again keen insight and a strong work ethic central to reaching favorable outcomes for our clients,” said founding partner Bill Chamblee. “We are very pleased to be able to reward his hard work by naming him a partner here at Chamblee Ryan.”

Shawna Dalrymple

The firm also announced that senior associate Shawna Dalrymple is now Board Certified in Consumer and Commercial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Dalrymple’s practice focuses on a wide variety of civil litigation, including medical malpractice, personal injury, premises and product liability, as well as veterinary malpractice.

“Achieving board certification is a real challenge and demonstrates Shawna’s level of knowledge and expertise in consumer and commercial law. It is an important milestone in her career and adds value to our firm,” said Mr. Chamblee. “We are confident that her understanding of commercial law and her litigation skills will exceed the expectations of her clients.”

Radha V. Bachman has joined FisherBroyles, LLP as a partner in the firm’s Tampa office. Bachman represents health care clients across the spectrum in corporate, transactional and regulatory matters. Her clients include hospitals and health systems, physicians, ambulatory surgery centers and senior living facilities.

Bachman serves on the Florida Bar Health Law Certification Committee as well as the Health Law Executive Council. As a former member of the America Health Lawyers Association’s Women’s Leadership Counsel and a Leadership Council on Legal Diversity 2017 Fellow, Bachman is often asked to speak on issues involving mentoring and diversity in the legal profession.

“We are excited to have Radha join the firm and expand our footprint in Florida. She is a highly respected and accomplished health care transactional attorney who adds further strength to our established health and pharmacy law group. Our healthcare team is diverse enough to handle just about any legal matter faced by an entity or individual operating in this space,” said Daniel Weidenbruch, FisherBroyles Florida Managing Partner.

“Attorneys are beginning to realize that the Law Firm 2.0® platform provides them the opportunity to prosper while concentrating on meeting their clients’ needs without the usual maladies of BigLaw,” said FisherBroyles Co-Founder and Managing Partner James M. Fisher, II. “Our focus on leveraging advanced technology to transform the practice of law has provided FisherBroyles with a platform that continues to attract the highest caliber of legal talent from traditional law firms and provides high-quality, cost-effective legal services that benefit our clients and partners.”

Prior to joining FisherBroyles, Bachman was a partner at Carlton Fields and an associate at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, both in Tampa. She has developed a niche practice in health care licensing matters as well as hospital operations and physician practice matters.

“I am thrilled to be taking a proactive step towards being better able to address my clients’ needs in a value-driven model while also having access to a platform of accomplished partner attorneys who have the pedigrees and training to handle matters of every size and scope. FisherBroyles is a perfect fit for me in terms of culture, client-centeredness and professional values,” said Bachman. “Leveraging the cutting-edge technologies and practices of FisherBroyles will enable me to increase my responsiveness and client service while maintaining my commitment to providing the highest quality legal representation to both existing and future clients.”

Bachman received her J.D. from University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law and her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University. She is Board Certified in Health Law by the Florida Bar and has been consistently recognized as a Florida Super Lawyer. She is also licensed as a Health Care Risk Manager in Florida.

Dykema announced the addition of James Azadian to its Los Angeles office, where he will be a member of the firm’s nationwide appellate practice. He specializes in complex federal and state court civil appeals raising cutting-edge and core business issues, the First Amendment to the Constitution, Article 1 of the California Constitution, and the application of California’s anti-SLAPP statute in federal court.

In a release, the firm said Azadian has served as counsel in more than 200 appeals and writ proceedings covering a wide variety of industries and subjects. He frequently serves as special counsel to other law firms in preparing advocates for oral argument and in assisting with the preparation of appellate briefs as well as critical motions at the trial court level in cases where an appeal by either side seems inevitable or where the outcome of the case will impact an entire series of litigation for the client. Azadian is widely published and frequently cited as a leading authority on appellate advocacy.

Azadian has served as an adjunct professor teaching courses in Appellate Advocacy at Pepperdine University School of Law, Law and Economics at UCLA, the Supreme Court Practicum at Northwestern University School of Law, and Legal Ethics at USC. He is the current Chair of the Appellate Lawyer Representatives of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, as appointed by Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Sidney Runyan Thomas, a group of only 18 appellate attorneys chosen as representing the very best in the field of appellate advocacy. He also serves as the current Chair of the Orange County Bar Association’s Appellate Law Section, an elected position. In addition, Azadian is a court-appointed mentor to civil practitioners through the Ninth Circuit Mentorship Program, and has served two terms as a court-appointed member of the Ninth Circuit’s Advisory Committee on Rules of Practice and Internal Operating Procedures.

“James represents the very best of our nation’s appellate practitioners and Dykema’s continuing commitment to further strengthening the depth of its appellate bench,” said Jeffrey Huron, Managing Member of Dykema’s Los Angeles Office. “His first-rate reputation is well known throughout California and nationally, among firms and jurists alike. Before he joined Dykema, we regularly employed his pre-trial strategy and appellate services on our clients’ most critical matters. We saw that, time after time, James delivered bottom-line results. Clients come to him because he gets results, it is that simple.”

Michael Wippler, who serves on Dykema’s Executive Board added, “James brings to the table one of those rare, but essential, combinations of superb mastery of practice with a superior intellect mitigated only by common sense and the ‘big picture.’ I have seen him take the most complicated issue and translate it into the most solvable problem. It is a talent that is rare among litigators. He will continue to add to the sterling legacy of Dykema’s appellate practice, dating back to the firm’s founding in 1926.”

Before joining Dykema, Azadian was the Hiring Shareholder and Chair of Southern California-based Enterprise Counsel Group’s appellate, writs, and constitutional law practice, as well as its regulatory practice. He started out in private practice as an appellate associate with the Washington, D.C., office of Sidley Austin LLP, right after he had completed his judicial clerkships with Ninth Circuit Judge Consuelo Maria Callahan and District Judge Ricardo Manuel Urbina of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Azadian graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law and was awarded a B.A. in Political Science and Economics from UCLA.

Azadian has received numerous accolades for his appellate work. He was just recently recognized as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Attorneys in California by the Los Angeles Daily Journal and the San Francisco Daily Journal, and as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in the field of Appellate Law each year since 2010. Azadian was also recognized this past year as one of Pepperdine University’s 40 Under 40 Honorees. Additionally, he was elected to the American Registry as one of North America’s Top Attorneys, in recognition for achieving consistently successful outcomes on appeal. Azadian is also nationally recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America®, as currently featured in the 24th Edition of Best Lawyers®.