Litigation boutique Estes Thorne & Carr PLLC announced that labor and employment attorney Monica Narvaez has joined the firm as a partner.

A Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), Narvaez has experience advising and defending clients in labor and employment matters. She has represented clients before the Texas Workforce Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, U.S. Department of Labor, National Labor Relations Board, state and federal courts, and other regulatory bodies.

In a release, the firm said she previously served as assistant attorney general in Ohio where she defended state and county agencies in complex employment disputes. She also served as a human resources policy attorney for Ohio where she wrote and advised on the rules and policies for governmental employees.

Narvaez’s work includes representing clients in matters related to the Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, OSHA, and Americans with Disabilities Act policies and procedures. She also has led internal audits and advised on immigration issues. Her work earned recognition among the Top 50 Women Lawyers in Dallas by the Texas Diversity Council in 2018 and the Small Business Turnaround of the Year Award from the Chicago/Midwest Chapter of the Turnaround Management Association.

She graduated from the Ohio State University Moritz College of Law in 2003. She also earned, with distinction, an LLM in Commercial Law from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, and an MBA from Schiller International University, Paris and London.

Thadford A. Felton has been named managing officer of Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.’s Chicago office, effective May 3.

Felton succeeds David B. Goodman, who recently left the firm after serving as the Chicago managing officer since March 2014.

Felton joined the firm in July 2013. He previously was a partner and co-chair of the Commercial Litigation Group at Arnstein & Lehr in Chicago. In addition to his role on the board at Greensfelder, he co-chairs a firm committee focused on strategic growth and lateral recruiting.

The firm said Felton has more than 20 years of experience as a litigator and as outside corporate counsel for a variety of national clients. He has handled business and complex commercial litigation matters and has successfully tried cases in federal and state courts. In his role as corporate counsel, he advises business owners and executives in areas that include corporate governance, employment and personnel matters, contracts, litigation, risk management, intellectual property, and mergers and acquisitions.

Felton received his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law at the Illinois Institute of Technology and his Bachelor of Arts from Denison University.

Mark E. Macias has joined Langley & Banack, Inc. as part of the firm’s insurance litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practice groups.

The firm said Macias practices in the area of general civil trial law with a focus on all areas of insurance defense litigation, including personal and commercial injury defense and first party cases. In his practice, Macias handles disputes involving breach of contract, business torts, deceptive trade practice, negligence claims, construction defects, and personal injury.

He also is a professional mediator. Fluent in Spanish, Macias routinely conducts mediations on behalf of his clients addressing adverse parties in Spanish, the firm said.

Macias holds a bachelor’s degree from Trinity University and a juris doctorate from St. Mary’s University School of Law.

A San Antonio native, Macias is a civic volunteer at many local non-profits, including the San Antonio Food Bank, Trinity University, and the Westside YMCA where he was awarded Volunteer of the Year. He is also recognized for his services with the Archdiocesan Legal Services.

Jonodev Osceola Chaudhuri, outgoing chairman of the National Indian Gaming Commission (NIGC), will chair Quarles & Brady LLP’s Indian Law and Policy Group from its Washington, D.C. office, effective May 20.

In a release, the firm said President Barack Obama first designated Chaudhuri to serve as acting chairman in 2013, following his initial appointment to the agency by Interior Secretary Sally Jewell. He was then nominated by President Obama and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2015. During his tenure at the NIGC, Chaudhuri oversaw the $32.4 billion Indian gaming industry spanning approximately 250 tribal nations and 500 facilities across 29 states. Working with over 6,000 tribal regulators in the field, Chaudhuri led the NIGC during key milestones in connection with the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA), which promotes tribal economic development, self-sufficiency, and strong tribal governments.

Earlier in his career, he served as senior counselor to the U.S. Department of the Interior’s Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs. His 20-year legal career includes serving as a judge on five different tribal courts, including serving as chief justice of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Supreme Court, the highest court of the fourth largest tribe in the nation.

In tandem with his move to Quarles & Brady, Chaudhuri will begin an ambassadorship with his tribal nation, the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, headquartered in Okmulgee, Oklahoma.

Originally from Tempe, Arizona, Chaudhuri has also served as a community organizer, adjunct professor, public defender, legal services director, and author. He received his J.D. from Cornell Law School, and his B.A. from Dartmouth College.

Holland & Hart announced that Kristy Kimball joined the firm’s healthcare team as a partner in Salt Lake City.

Before joining Holland & Hart, Kimball was the founding partner of Kimball Legal, PLLC, where she served as outside counsel to several major healthcare companies, including the largest hospital holding company in the U.S. Kimball is the founder and past chair of the Health Law Section of the Utah State Bar Association.

Stroock has named Laura Besvinick, an insurance litigation partner with more than 30 years of experience, as managing partner of its Miami office.

The firm said Besvinick’s practice focuses on the representation of insurers in bad faith actions, complex coverage disputes and consumer class actions. She also advises insurers on claims-handling and bad faith issues.

She received her J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School, where she was an editor of the Harvard Law Review, and her A.B. from Harvard-Radcliffe College.

William C. Vail Jr. has joined Littler as special counsel in its Atlanta office. Vail previously spent seven years at Kindred Healthcare and Kindred at Home. He most recently served as division vice president and deputy chief litigation officer of Kindred at Home, the nation’s largest home health and hospice provider.

In a release, the firm said that, at Kindred, Vail advised on employment law compliance across a wide range of areas, including wage and hour, employee benefits, leave administration and disability accommodation, and federal procurement and contract regulations. He has resolved employment disputes across the country involving such issues as discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour violations, and breaches of non-compete agreements. Vail also has experience conducting internal investigations, drafting employment agreements, policies and handbooks, performing due diligence for employment matters, and managing integration initiatives in mergers and acquisitions.

Vail received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Kentucky College of Law and his B.A., cum laude, from Washington and Lee University.

Holland & Hart announces the addition of tax partner William Colgin and tax associate Diana Myers.

In a release, the firm said Colgin and Myers are the latest additions to the firm’s expanding Tax and Benefits Practice, which also recently added one partner and three new associates.

Colgin focuses primarily on large-dollar, complicated, and contentious disputes, and will work closely with the Government Investigations and White Collar Defense team on criminal tax matters. Bill litigates in the U.S. Tax Court, federal district courts, state courts, and appellate courts throughout the country on a wide variety of tax issues including international transfer pricing, foreign asset and bank account compliance, intellectual property, economic substance, partnership tax, employment and benefits, and other high-profile areas of tax dispute.

Prior to joining Holland & Hart, Colgin was a partner at Morgan Lewis in Silicon Valley, where he was local practice group leader for the firm’s West Coast tax practice. Colgin began his career as a civil trial attorney in the Tax Division of the U.S. Department of Justice with primary case dockets in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah. Colgin is admitted to practice in California and Virginia, and he is temporarily authorized to practice in Colorado pending admission under C.R.C.P. 205.6.

Myers has international tax experience from her practice at Baker McKenzie in Chicago. Prior to joining Holland & Hart, she worked for the chief tax strategist at Northern Trust Corporation, covering tax reform legislation for the company and its clients. Myers is admitted to practice in Wyoming, Illinois, and Massachusetts.

Blank Rome LLP has completed the relocation of its New York office from the Chrysler Building to the recently redesigned, iconic 1271 Avenue of the Americas, formerly known as the Time & Life Building, located in Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan. The firm occupies 138,000 square feet of office space on floors 15 through 17, as well as part of the 14th floor.

“We established our New York presence in 2000 when we combined with Tenzer Greenblatt LLP—a firm with New York roots dating back to 1937. Collectively, we operated out of the Chrysler Building for 40 years,” said Grant S. Palmer, Blank Rome’s managing partner and CEO. “With 150 attorneys, our New York office is one of our largest locations and has experienced sustained growth over the past two decades.”

Melissa K. Peters has joined Littler‘s Workplace Safety & Health Practice Group as special counsel in the Walnut Creek, Calif., office.

Peters previously was staff counsel with the California Department of Industrial Relations’ Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) in the Los Angeles Legal Unit.

In a release, the firm said that, while at Cal/OSHA, Peters regularly advised on enforcement and investigation-related matters and represented the division in administrative appeals and third-party litigation arising from workplace fatalities. She worked with Cal/OSHA’s High Hazard, Labor Enforcement, Crane and Elevator units and handled numerous workplace violence cases, particularly involving hospitals, as well as cases involving heat illness and bloodborne pathogens.

Peters received her J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and her B.A. from Syracuse University. She is licensed to practice law in California and Montana.

David Olstein, an ERISA lawyer with a background advising financial institutions, plan sponsors and investment committees on matters relating to the investment of pension plan assets, has joined Stroock’s Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation and ERISA group as a partner.

In a release, the firm said Olstein has experience with the application of ERISA’s fiduciary responsibility provisions, built through matters as varied as representing fund sponsors and managers in connection with the formation and operation of private investment funds, counseling issuers and underwriters in connection with marketing securities to benefit plan investors and advising plan sponsors in connection with the selection of annuity providers.

Olstein has served on the New York City Bar Association’s Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Committee, and he is a contributing author to the Bloomberg BNA treatise ERISA Fiduciary Law.

Christine Payne has joined Redgrave LLP as a partner in Chicago. Payne most recently led Kirkland & Ellis LLP’s eDiscovery efforts as co-chair of the firmwide Electronic Discovery Committee.

In a release, the firm said Payne’s experience includes handling complex commercial litigation, including bet-the-company cases, as well as restructuring-related litigation, products liability litigation, antitrust matters, and ongoing and pending investigations. She has also counseled clients on litigation readiness, developing eDiscovery strategy, and recovering from data loss. Payne also teaches, speaks, and writes frequently about eDiscovery strategy and advocacy. She currently is an adjunct professor of electronic discovery law and problem solving at Loyola University Chicago School of Law.

Payne received her J.D. (with honors) from the University of Texas at Austin School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Dykema announced that Kyle R. Dufrane, Detroit-based member in the firm’s Financial Services Litigation Practice Group, has been reappointed by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer to the State’s Military Appeals Tribunal for a term that expires in April 2023.

In a release, the firm said Dufrane has now been appointed by governors from both major political parties, with his first appointment to the tribunal coming from Governor Rick Snyder in 2011.

The Military Appeals Tribunal was created by Act 523 of the Public Acts of 1980. It consists of five members and has appellate jurisdiction, upon petition of an accused, to hear and review the record in all decisions of a court-martial after the review provided in the Michigan code of military justice. It sits as a panel of three members with the concurrence of two members necessary for a decision. The tribunal also may promulgate administrative rules.

Dufrane’s law practice focuses on litigating consumer financial services disputes for national financial institutions, pharmaceutical and medical device defense, automotive product liability defense, toxic tort, complex commercial litigation, and insurance litigation. He represents some of the nation’s largest financial institutions in matters concerning mortgage and consumer lending.

Dufrane also maintains an active role in several professional and legal organizations. He also was previously appointed to serve as a hjearing panelist for Michigan’s Attorney Discipline Board, and continues to serve the State Bar of Michigan in this position.

Dufrane earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Detroit and a A.B. from the University of Michigan.

Jennifer Bluestein has joined Perkins Coie as chief talent officer, responsible for all human resources functions, including associate, counsel and staff recruitment, development and training, performance management, employee relations, compliance, compensation and benefits.

Bluestein, who is based in Perkins Coie’s Chicago office, was previously at Greenberg Traurig for more than 10 years as Director of Professional Development and then Chief Learning & Development Officer. Prior to that, she was Director of Professional Development at Baker & McKenzie for five years. Earlier in her career, she was an employment and litigation attorney.

She is a frequent speaker and author on mentoring, talent management and other human resources topics; her book, An Associate’s First Year: A Guide to Thriving at a Law Firm, was published last year by Practising Law Institute. Jennifer has also served as a volunteer human resources consultant for the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Lyric Opera. She is a former committee member of the American Bar Association and former board member of Connections for Abused Women and Their Children and the Professional Development Consortium. Jennifer received her J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law and her B.A., cum laude, from Tufts University.

Luke Cass has joined Quarles & Brady LLP’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group as a partner in its Washington, D.C. office.

Cass focuses his practice on white collar crime, internal investigations, compliance, defense, and commercial litigation matters. He specializes in white collar investigations, government enforcement actions, and high-profile litigation relating to financial and health care fraud and cyber incidents.

Prior to joining Quarles & Brady, Cass served as a senior trial attorney for the Public Integrity Section of the U.S. Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, where he handled public corruption investigations and prosecutions of elected, appointed, and career government officials nationwide. Cass also served as an assistant United States attorney in the Financial Fraud and Corruption Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico where he handled financial fraud, health care fraud, and cybercrime offenses. During his over decade-long tenure at the Justice Department, Cass partnered with U.S. attorney’s offices, worked closely with federal regulatory and enforcement agencies, and instructed assorted law enforcement agencies and foreign delegations on investigations, public corruption offenses, and electronic evidence.

The firm said Cass has been recognized for his work on numerous occasions, having been awarded the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director’s Interagency Award (2018), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Inspector General Award for Fighting Fraud, Waste, and Abuse (2018), and the U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys Director’s Award for Superior Performance as a Criminal Assistant U.S. Attorney. Cass is an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University Law Center where he teaches White Collar Crime and Securities Fraud. He received his J.D. from New York Law School, and his B.A. from Lehigh University.

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Sharon B. Soloff has joined FisherBroyles, LLP as a partner in the firm’s New York City office and Private Client Services, Trusts & Estates and Tax practice groups.

In a release, the firm said Soloff concentrates her practice on domestic and international gift, estate and tax planning for high net worth individuals and their families, including planning for owners of closely held businesses from inception through succession to future generations. She has a particular focus in the administration of large and complex estates, and represents fiduciaries in estate and gift tax audits. In addition, Soloff practices in the areas of art law and the law of charitable organizations.

Prior to joining FisherBroyles, Soloff served as special counsel at Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP. She also previously practiced at Withers Bergman LLP and Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP.

Soloff received her J.D., cum laude, Order of the Coif, from New York University School of Law, and her Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, from Harvard University. She also holds a Master of Social Work from New York University.

Ann C. Kim, a former assistant U.S. Attorney, has joined Hogan Lovells‘ Los Angeles office as a partner in its Litigation practice.

In a release, the firm said Kim joins the firm after spending more than 12 years working for the federal government with nearly five years in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California and, prior to that, seven years as a senior counsel in the Enforcement Division of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Los Angeles Regional Office. Before joining the SEC, Kim worked for over six years as a litigation associate and counsel at an international law firm.

While at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the SEC, Kim was involved in investigating and litigating high profile FCPA matters and violations of federal securities laws, including fraud schemes and insider trading cases involving Fortune 500 companies.

Kim received her B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles and her J.D. from Pepperdine University School of Law.

Perkins Coie announced the launch of the Northern District of California Patent Law Blog (N.D.Pa.L. Blog), which will address substantive and procedural developments specific to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California related to patent law.

Written by a team of patent litigators with experience in the Northern District of California, the blog provides on-the-ground insights on significant hearings and rulings that are key for attorneys practicing in the district. The blog also aims to familiarize readers with the judges and magistrates of Silicon Valley.

The primary authors of N.D.Pa.L. are Jim Valentine, Dan Shvodian, Chris Kelley, Victoria Smith, Wing Liang, Nancy Cheng, Sarah Stahnke, Crystal Canterbury, Andrew Klein, John E. Munter, Amisha Manek, and Adam Hester.

Dykema announced that 17 attorneys from multiple offices and practice areas received individual rankings and 10 practice areas have been recognized in the 2019 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business guide.

Published annually, Chambers has been ranking the best law firms and lawyers since 1990, and now cover 185 jurisdictions throughout the world. Chambers ranks both lawyers and law firms based on the investigations of more than 200 researchers who conduct in-depth confidential interviews with lawyers and clients.

Chambers USA recognized the following Dykema practices:

USA – Nationwide

• Product Liability & Mass Torts
District of Columbia
• Insurance: Insurer
Illinois
• Real Estate
Michigan
• Banking & Finance
• Corporate/M&A
• Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
• Labor & Employment
• Litigation: General Commercial
• Real Estate
Texas
• Bankruptcy/Restructuring

Chambers USA recognized the following Dykema attorneys, as identified by jurisdiction and practice area:

USA – Nationwide
• Lance Boldrey—Native American Law
District of Columbia
• Lewis K. Loss—Insurance: Insurer
• Thomas J. Judge— Insurance: Insurer
Illinois
• Michael S. Kurtzon—Real Estate
Michigan
• J. Michael Bernard—Corporate/M&A
• Robert A. Boonin—Labor & Employment
• Amy M. Christen—Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
• Adam M. Fishkind—Real Estate
• James P. Feeney—Litigation: General Commercial
• Dennis M. Haffey—Litigation: General Commercial
• Kyle R. Hauberg—Real Estate
• Margaret Adams Hunter—Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
• Jin-Kyu Koh—Corporate/M&A
• Cameron H. Piggott—Real Estate
• Thomas S. Vaughn—Corporate/M&A
Texas
• Mark E. Andrews—Bankruptcy/Restructuring
• Deborah D. Williamson—Bankruptcy/Restructuring

Bill Boyce, a justice on the Fourteenth Court of Appeals in Houston for 11 years, has joined Alexander Dubose & Jefferson in the firm’s Houston office.

In addition to his experience on the bench, he practiced law for 18 years as an associate and partner at Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.

While in private practice he argued more than 60 cases in appellate courts throughout Texas and across the country, including the United States Supreme Court.  He has been board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Civil Appellate Law since 1994 and has served on the board’s appellate exam drafting committee.  He has been selected as Appellate Judge of the Year by the Texas Association of Civil Trial and Appellate Specialists.

Read more about Boyce.