“Despite a backdrop of Covid-19 and gloomy worldwide economic predictions, the M&A scene has been smashing records across sectors like tech and infrastructure, which saw some of their strongest years yet. In October, KPMG predicted that global M&A activity could hit a record $6 trillion by the end of the year,” reports Yair Kuznitsov in Forbes.

“M&As of venture-backed companies, in particular, have been rapid-fire, set to outpace the previous three years ($91.9 billion). What’s clear is that 2021 will go down as an epic year that saw companies making up for 2020’s lost time and opportunities.”

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“Amid all the discussion about how to mitigate the cost of energy price rises for households Report, 3 February, there has been no mention of how to cut energy use in the first place. Rather than offset the cost by discounts, the money would be better used to reduce long-term energy consumption by making,” reports Diana Wilkins in The Guardian.

“We can go a long way to improve the situation by ensuring lofts are insulated, windows are double-glazed and fit correctly, letterbox holes are plugged and external mailboxes fitted instead, draught excluders are fitted around wooden front doors, curtains have thermal linings etc. here are millions of Victorian terrace houses that have chilly.”

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“Charlotte FC have signed defenders Anton Walkes and Joseph Mora to new contracts, the expansion club announced Thursday. Walkes, an Expansion Draft selection from Atlanta United, signs a deal through 2024 with an option for 2025. Mora, an Expansion Draft selection from D.C. United, signs,” reports MLS Soccer in their blog.

“We’re delighted to sign both Anton and Joseph to longer-term contracts ahead of our inaugural season. We have a plan in place for building this roster for the long-term and extending the deals of the two defenders from our Expansion Draft gives us stability in our backline for not just this season, but for the next few years, sporting.”

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“Two-year smartphone contracts have been the go-to option in the carrier space for years now, but it looks like there’s a trend for carriers to extend the lengths of these contracts. Verizon is the latest carrier to do so, ditching two-year contracts in favor of three-year plans instead. The carrier has,” reports Hadlee Simons in Android Authority.

“Recently opted to offer either 36-month contracts or full retail pricing for devices, with no option for 24-month or 30-month plans. Checking the Verizon website reveals that these 36-month contracts apply across the board to entry-level devices and flagships alike. In fact, it also applies to tablets, mobile routers, hotspot devices, laptops.”

Read the article.

“The NFL’s financial landscape is being assessed through awards for the ninth straight year on CBSSports.com now that the Super Bowl LVI matchup is set. These awards differ from the traditional NFL honors because they are from an economic perspective emphasizing 2021 veteran acquisitions. Players,” reports Joel Corry in CBS Sports.

“Acquired by trades or in free agency can have a tremendous impact on an NFL team’s fortunes. Rookies weren’t given any consideration because their salaries are a function of draft position and the rookie wage scale. The same applies to players who signed restricted free agent tenders since the amounts are set by the NFL’s Collective.”

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“The Biglaw lateral market is still burning hot, and law firms are trying every move they can think of to get more associates in the door up to and including offering current and former employees referral bonuses for successful hires. The latest firm that’s turning its associates into recruiters is Willkie,” reports Staci Zaretsky in Above The Law.

“According to a report from Insider, the top 50 Am Law firm is willing to pay $75,000 referral bonuses to associates who help the firm make qualified hires. That’s quite a bit more money than what some other firms are willing to pay in referral bonuses. For example, Shearman & Sterling recently rolled out a program offering $25,000 to former.”

Read the article.

“Nike Inc said Wednesday that its general counsel Hilary Krane is stepping down from the post after nearly 12 years. The athletic gear and apparel maker said it is elevating another longtime company lawyer, Ann Miller, to take over her position. Krane has decided to retire in February, the Beaverton, Oregon,” reports Xiumei Dong in Reuters.

“She joined Nike in 2010 from Levi Strauss & Co and most recently served as chief administrative officer and executive vice president as well as general counsel. Krane could not immediately be reached, and Nike did not respond to a request for comment on her plans after departing the company. Miller joined Nike in 2007.”

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“Federal judge on Friday approved a $14-million settlement in a class-action lawsuit over the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s past practice of holding people in jail beyond their release dates because of requests from immigration authorities. The settlement caps a nearly decade long court,” reports Alene Tchekmedyian in MSN.

“Battle for people who were held in L.A. County jails illegally for days or months because of pending investigations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Only a part of the settlement $3.7 million will go toward the victims. While nearly 20,000 people qualified for relief because they were held unlawfully between October 2010.”

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“Hundreds of Native American tribes that have suffered disproportionately high addiction and death rates during the opioid epidemic agreed on Tuesday to a tentative settlement of $590 million with Johnson & Johnson and the country’s three largest drug distributors. Together with a deal,” reports Jan Hoffman in their The New York Times.

“Struck last fall between the distributors and the Cherokee Nation for $75 million, the tribes will be paid a total of $665 million. Purdue Pharma has already committed at least tens of millions more to the tribes in a settlement that is in mediation. We are not solving the opioid crisis with this settlement, but we are getting critical resources.”

Read the article.

“Although there are no federally mandated vaccine-or-testing regulations for employees in any industry other than health care, employers still need to comply with state and local rules aimed at protecting their workers from COVID-19. But rather than tracking vaccination status, tests and other precautions internally, many employers are choosing to outsource those efforts to vendors that have emerged to take the onus off of HR,” reports Kylie Ora Lobell in SHRM.

“For example, Ampirical, a 301-employee construction engineering firm in Covington, La., has enlisted the support of Safe Site Check In to manage all COVID-19 procedures, including contact tracing for employees who test positive. Upon arrival at Ampirical’s office, employees and visitors scan a QR code with their smartphone or tablet, then answer six questions and agree to adhere to COVID-19 protocols while they’re onsite, including all construction sites, said the company’s health, safety and environmental manager Rod Courtney.”

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“When you’re a Biglaw partner, it’s not too often that you’ve got a celebrity client singing your praises on social media. Then again, it’s not too often that your client is Britney Spears. Mathew Rosengart, the Greenberg Traurig partner who succeeded in freeing the pop star from more than a decade of,” reports Staci Zaretsky in Above The Law.

“It has been more than a decade of conservatorship, recently clinched the title of Above the Law’s 2021 Lawyer of the Year for his zealous representation in the closely watched matter. Biglaw’s zaddy is still working with Spears, and she heaped many compliments upon him today after meeting to chat over lunch. Feast your eyes on this Instagram.”

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“Online wholesale marketplace Faire has hired Lauren Thomas as its first general counsel. The company in November announced that its latest round of funding valued it at $12.4 bn and brought its total funding to date to more than $1 bn. Thomas most recently was general counsel at Dutchie,” reports Ben Maiden in Corporate Secretary.

“One of the first national payments service providers for the cannabis industry. She helped the technology company operate in a complex regulatory and legal environment. Before her time with Dutchie, she was the first general counsel and chief compliance officer at digital banking platform Good Money. In that role, she was responsible.”

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“American Freight Management Company, LLC, which does business as American Freight Furniture and Mattress, will pay $5 million in monetary relief and provide job opportunities to women previously denied them, among other relief, to settle a federal nationwide discrimination lawsuit brought by the U.S.,” reports JD Supra in their blog.

“According to the EEOC’s lawsuit, since at least 2013, American Freight engaged in a nationwide pattern or practice of discrimination against qualified female job applicants for sales and warehouse jobs at the company’s retail stores. The EEOC’s complaint alleged that managers discarded job applications submitted by women, It also alleged.”

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“JBS announced that it has entered into an agreement to partially settle the In re Beef Antitrust Litigaton. The settlement, which is subject to court approval, agrees to pay the direct purchaser plaintiff class $52.5 million, according to a JBS company spokesperson. The nation’s four largest beef,” reports Jacqui Fatka in Farm Progress.

“Tyson, Cargill, JBS and National Beef were included in an antitrust lawsuit filed in June 2020 for potential cattle market manipulation in a class action lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court of Minnesota by Central Grocers. While JBS does not admit liability for the claims alleged as part of this case, it believes this decision is in the best.”

Read the article.

Richard L. Cruz has joined Duane Morris LLP as a partner in the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group in its Philadelphia office. Prior to joining Duane Morris, Cruz was a partner at DLA Piper.

“We’re proud to have an Intellectual Property Practice Group with a deep bench of extraordinary talent,” said Duane Morris Chairman and CEO Matthew A. Taylor. “Our intellectual property practice is an absolute powerhouse, and now even more so. We’re thrilled that Richard has decided to join us.”

“With his engineering background and focus on the electrical arts such as blockchain and cryptocurrency technologies, Richard enhances the firm’s skillset in these areas,” said Woody Jameson, chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group. “We look forward to supporting Richard with his existing clients and to leveraging his experience with clients of Duane Morris.”

Cruz focuses his practice on domestic and foreign patent, trademark and copyright prosecution; trade secrets; IP clearance, validity and infringement analysis and opinions; trademark oppositions and cancellations; reexamination and reissue proceedings; intellectual property program development and deployment; strategic IP portfolio development; website/domain name protection and website policies. As it pertains to patents, Cruz handles matters in the electrical and mechanical arts generally, with a particular focus on computer and software technologies, including digital health technology, online healthcare records, artificial intelligence, business methods, financial sector services, blockchain and cryptocurrency technology, electronic transactions and platforms, e-commerce, online banking, electronic data storage and retrieval, online gaming, internet-related technologies, networking and telecommunications. He has represented clients before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board in various proceedings at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and has advised in both patent and trademark proceedings in foreign jurisdictions including Canada, the United Kingdom, Singapore, China, Brazil, Italy and others. In addition, Cruz has represented clients before the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers in formal Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy proceedings.

“Beyond benefiting from the firm’s internal platform, its collaborative culture and industry focus, I’m very excited to be part of such a strong, dynamic intellectual property group,” added Cruz.

Cruz is a graduate of the Widener University School of Law (J.D., 2002) and the University of Pittsburgh (B.S., 1994).

About Duane Morris
Duane Morris LLP provides innovative solutions to today’s multifaceted legal and business challenges through the collegial and collaborative culture of its more than 800 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally. The firm represents a broad array of clients, spanning all major practices and industries. Duane Morris has been recognized by BTI Consulting as both a client service leader and a most recommended law firm.

Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has appointed Kristy Peters and Andrea Lovell as office managing shareholders of its Phoenix location. They are succeeding Shawn Oller, who stepped down to continue focusing on his practice and other firm initiatives.

“As trusted leaders with well-earned reputations as top employment lawyers in Arizona, Kristy and Andrea’s respective strengths and impressive credentials are a perfect fit to lead our talented team in Phoenix,” said Erin Webber, Littler’s managing director and president. “On behalf of the firm and the Phoenix office, I’d like to thank Shawn for his incredible leadership over the past eight years and the strong foundation he has helped set for Kristy and Andrea to further expand the office’s platform and capabilities.”

Peters is an experienced litigator who represents employers in a wide range of matters, including claims involving discrimination and harassment, unfair competition and trade secrets, and wrongful termination. She also counsels on various matters that arise out of the employer-employee relationships and conducts employee training. Peters is regularly recognized as a leading lawyer, including being named Lawyer of the Year for Employment Law – Management in Phoenix by Best Lawyers, as well as among the Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona by AZ Big Media, the 50 Most Influential Women in Arizona Business by AZ Business Magazine, the 40 Under 40 by the Phoenix Business Journal and one of the top Arizona Business Leaders in Employment and Labor Relations by AZ Business Magazine.

Peters earned her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School and her B.B.A., With Distinction, from the University of Wisconsin.

Lovell focuses her practice on counseling and defending employers faced with claims of harassment and discrimination, wrongful discharge and various employment-related torts. She also regularly represents employers against unfair labor practice charges and in labor arbitrations under collective bargaining agreements. Lovell has been recognized as a Leading Lawyer for Business by Chambers USA and was named one of the Most Influential Women in Arizona Business by Arizona Business Magazine.

Lovell earned her J.D., with honors, from the University of Washington School of Law and her B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Puget Sound.

“We are honored to have the opportunity to lead the Phoenix office and look forward to building on Shawn’s efforts to further grow Littler’s profile,” said Peters and Lovell in a joint statement. “With a highly skilled team dedicated to exemplary client service, we are well situated to further expand our capabilities while recruiting top talent in the market.”

Neal Gerber Eisenberg (NGE) is pleased to announce the addition of Gregory Grove as a partner in the Corporate & Securities practice group. Grove joins from Much Shelist, where he led the Startups & Venture Capital practice and was head of its blockchain team. At NGE, Grove joins the venture capital team led by partner Michael Gray.

“Greg strengthens our Corporate & Securities group with his diverse transactional experience, practical business insights and technical acumen,” said Robert Gerber, the firm’s Managing Partner. “His sophisticated client service aligns with our firm’s collaborative and industrious culture and I’m excited to welcome him to the firm.”

Grove counsels clients at all business life cycle stages regarding mergers and acquisitions, venture capital investments, strategic structuring, intellectual property, private equity and debt transactions, and exit strategies. He has broad experience guiding startups, emerging companies and mature businesses regarding legal and formation matters, and his expansive client base includes public and private companies in domestic and international transactions.

“In addition to expanding the talents of our venture capital practice, Greg’s blockchain experience brings important capabilities to the firm,” added John Koenigsknecht, chair of the firm’s Corporate & Securities practice group. “His deep understanding of business and technology will be a terrific asset to our clients.”

Before becoming a lawyer, Grove drew on his training and experience as an electrical engineer, working for 3M as a researcher, and in corporate intelligence, strategy, and finance for Motorola. Greg also served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force where he worked on matters involving labor law, government contracts, international law, and litigation.

“I’m thrilled to join Neal Gerber Eisenberg,” said Grove. “The firm’s commitment to client service combined with its entrepreneurial and collaborative culture and multi-practice platform has me excited to work with my new colleagues to serve the needs of clients at all stages of complexity and growth.”

Grove received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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

Foley & Lardner LLP is pleased to announce the election of 20 lawyers to its partnership, effective February 1, 2022.

The new partners, spanning multiple practice groups and offices, include:

Boston
Julie-Anne M. Lutfi, Business Law

Lucas I. Silva, Intellectual Property

Hannah E. Zaitlin, Business Law

Chicago
Emil P. Khatchatourian, Litigation

Dallas
Nicholas G. Peters, Business Law

J. Michael Thomas, Litigation

Detroit
Nicholas J. Ellis, Litigation

Houston
Michael R. Rahmn, Litigation

Madison
Jennifer J. Hennessy, Intellectual Property

Joseph M. Higgins, Business Law

Milwaukee
Christopher M. King, Intellectual Property

Joshua P. Roling, Business Law

Louis E. Wahl IV, Business Law

Nicholas J. Zepnick, Intellectual Property

San Diego
Steven M. Millendorf, Intellectual Property

Tallahassee
Benjamin J. Grossman, Business Law

Tampa
Rachel B. Goodman, Business Law

Washington, D.C.
Frederick Von Bryant II, Business Law

Senayt G. Rahwa, Business Law

Kiri Lee Sharon, Intellectual Property

About Foley & Lardner LLP
Foley & Lardner LLP looks beyond the law to focus on the constantly evolving demands facing our clients and their industries. With approximately 1,100 lawyers in 25 offices across the United States, Mexico, Europe and Asia, Foley approaches client service by first understanding our clients’ priorities, objectives and challenges. We work hard to understand our clients’ issues and forge long-term relationships with them to help achieve successful outcomes and solve their legal issues through practical business advice and cutting-edge legal insight. Our clients view us as trusted business advisors because we understand that great legal service is only valuable if it is relevant, practical and beneficial to their businesses.

New York and Washington, D.C., Feb. 1, 2022 – Hughes Hubbard & Reed LLP is pleased to announce that Kevin Carroll has joined as a partner in the White Collar & Regulatory Defense and Anti-Corruption & Internal Investigations practices in the firm’s Washington, D.C. and New York offices. Carroll is the second hire in two months to the White Collar and Anti-Corruption groups; former U.S. Attorney Kenyen Brown joined the firm in December 2021.

Carroll’s practice focuses on representing businesses and senior corporate executives and government officials in congressional, inspector general and criminal investigations; conducting internal investigations; and litigating national security claims. Kevin also helps counsel businesses on CFIUS/FIRRMA, cyber security and data privacy, EAR/ITAR, FARA, FCPA, FISA, FMS and OFAC compliance.

He began his legal career with Hughes Hubbard, and was then recalled to military service. Since then, he has held a number of positions in private practice, in government, and in-house, all with a focus on national security. Notably, he has served as executive director of the U.S. Council on Transnational Organized Crime, Senior Counselor to Homeland Security secretary Hon. John Kelly, Senior Counsel to House Homeland Security Committee chairman Hon. Peter King, a CIA case officer in the Middle East, and a law clerk to U.S. District Judge Thomas Platt. Kevin served in Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia, and remains a colonel of the U.S. Army Reserve and maintains active security clearances, including TS-SCI, necessary to his practice.

“I am very proud to have the opportunity to rejoin Hughes Hubbard, where I began my legal career in New York,” said Carroll. “They offer their clients the benefits of broad international experience, as well as deep government experience in Washington. I am eager bring Hughes Hubbard’s many capabilities to bear on matters in the national security space.”

“We are thrilled to have Kevin return to Hughes Hubbard. In the time since he was recalled to military service, he has accomplished a great deal through his military and CIA service and built an impressive resume that includes involvement in all three branches of government,” said Ted Mayer, chair. “Kevin has already applied the vast diversity of experience to his work as an in-house counsel and litigator, and will go on to leverage his knowledge and insight for the benefit of our clients.”

“Kevin’s experience and national security credentials make him a perfect fit for Hughes Hubbard,” said Kevin Abikoff, co-chair of the Anti-Corruption and Internal Investigations practice group. “He is a welcome addition to our deep bench of experienced litigators and I look forward to working with him.”

Carroll has published widely, including in the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, offered legal commentary to CNN and the New York Times, and addressed the American Bar Association and Association of Corporate Counsel. He is active in Business Executives for National Security and Culper Connect.

He is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and obtained his J.D. from Fordham. He obtained an LL.M. in National Security Law from Georgetown, and a M.S. in Strategic Studies from the Army War College. He is admitted to practice in New York, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that Will Manuel, a partner in the firm’s Jackson office, has been elected to the Mississippi Bar’s Board of Commissioners.

The Board of Commissioners is the governing body of the Mississippi Bar and comprises statewide elected officers, as well as representatives from each of Mississippi’s Circuit Court Districts. Mr. Manuel will represent District 7.

“We are proud of Will and congratulate him on his election,” said Bradley Jackson Office Managing Partner Margaret Oertling Cupples. “This is an important job and we know that his contributions and leadership will serve the Mississippi Bar well.”

Mr. Manuel is an active member of the Mississippi Bar and of the Capital Area Bar Association and recently served as president of the Mississippi Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He focuses his practice on commercial and employment litigation and represents manufacturers and commercial interests as well as insurance and financial services companies. Mr. Manuel provides strategic defense for his clients in both MDL litigation and individual actions brought in Mississippi.

About Bradley
Bradley combines skilled legal counsel with exceptional client service and unwavering integrity to assist a diverse range of corporate and individual clients in achieving their business goals. With offices in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, the firm’s almost 600 lawyers represent regional, national and international clients in various industries, including banking and financial services, construction, energy, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, real estate, and technology, among many others.