Anthony F. Fata, Prominent Plaintiff’s Litigator in Commodities and Securities Litigation, Opens Kirby McInerney’s New Chicago Office

A veteran commodities lawyer at the very top of plaintiffs’ side litigation in Chicago

Chicago, IL / New York, NY (March 15, 2022) – Kirby McInerney LLP has added Anthony F. Fata, a leading plaintiffs’ litigator in commodities, securities, and whistleblower matters, as a partner in the firm’s new Chicago office.

Mr. Fata joins Kirby McInerney from Cafferty Clobes Meriwether & Sprengel LLP, where he led that firm’s efforts in commodities and securities litigation. He had previously defended SEC enforcement matters and securities class actions at McDermott, Will & Emery LLP.

Mr. Fata joins a strong litigation team at Kirby McInerney. The firm recently secured the two largest whistleblower recoveries in 2021, including a $200 million recovery that is the largest, publicly announced single whistleblower award arising under the Dodd-Frank whistleblower reward programs (the CFTC and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) as well as under other whistleblower programs including the IRS and the federal and state false claims acts.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tony Fata to the firm,” said David Kovel, a Managing Partner of Kirby McInerney who runs many of the firm’s commodities, whistleblower, and antitrust cases. “His experience and track record in commodities and securities litigation puts him in the top echelon of attorneys in these areas, not only in Chicago but throughout the United States. We look forward to having him as a key part of our team advising and aggressively representing our clients, particularly for critical commodities issues centered in Chicago and nationwide.”

Mr. Fata regularly appears before federal and state courts throughout the United States and in regulatory matters overseen by the Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and other governmental and self-regulatory agencies.

“I have known the attorneys at Kirby McInerney for many years, and have teamed up with them to win significant recoveries for our clients in the commodity futures markets,” said Mr. Fata. “Kirby McInerney is an excellent fit for my practice, and my priority is to expand Kirby’s presence in Chicago and in financial markets litigation generally.”

Among the cases Mr. Fata has developed and litigated:

Commodity Litigation

· In re Cattle Antitrust Litigation, No. 19-cv-1222 (D. Minn.): Mr. Fata led efforts to develop this proprietary case on behalf of cattle producers and cattle futures traders. Mr. Fata continues to serve in a leadership capacity on behalf of live cattle futures traders. The suit alleges that the “Big 4” meatpacking firms conspired to suppress prices for fed cattle and manipulated CME live cattle futures.

· Hershey v. Pacific Investment Management Company LLC, No. 05-cv-4681 (N.D. Ill.). Mr. Fata served as local counsel and assisted lead counsel’s litigation efforts en route to securing a $118 million settlement from PIMCO, which was accused of manipulating CBOT treasury note futures.

Consumer Litigation

· Apple iPhone Warranty Litigation, No. 10-cv-01610 (N.D. Cal.) Mr. Fata developed and filed the first complaint in this proprietary case alleging that Apple breached its warranty to iPhone customers by denying claims based on a pretext of water damage purportedly shown by “liquid contact indicators.” After similar complaints were filed, Mr. Fata led efforts with other firms’ counsel to secure a $53 million global settlement for the class.

· Apple Device Performance Litigation, No. 18-md-02827 (N.D. Cal.). Mr. Fata was appointed as an executive committee member and co-chair of the damages and settlement committee. The case alleges that Apple throttled iPhones to obscure battery issues. The $325 million settlement in the case was approved by the district court and is awaiting review by the Ninth Circuit.

In addition, Mr. Fata is currently leading several commodities manipulation class actions and confidential whistleblower matters arising from improprieties in the financial markets and financial services industry.
Mr. Fata earned his J.D. in 1999 from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where he earned numerous awards and academic honors. He received his undergraduate degree from Miami University in 1995.

Mr. Fata is an adjunct professor at Seton Hall University School of Law. He is also active in the Chicago Bar Association, where he Co-Chairs the Securities Law Committee and serves on the Editorial Board of the CBA Record. Mr. Fata is also a recurring panelist for the Practising Law Institute Internal Investigations Seminar conducted in Chicago.

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Kirby McInerney LLP is a New York-based law firm with offices in Chicago, Illinois and San Diego, California. The firm concentrates on securities, antitrust, whistleblower, and consumer litigation and its efforts on behalf of investors, consumers and the government have resulted in recoveries totaling billions of dollars. The firm also represents whistleblowers in numerous programs, including in the SEC, CFTC and IRS whistleblower programs and in cases under the federal and state False Claims Acts. Additional information about the firm can be found at Kirby McInerney LLP’s general website at http://www.kmllp.com and its whistleblower website at https://whistleblower.kmllp.com/.

ArentFox Schiff is pleased to announce the expansion of its Corporate & Securities practice with the addition of counsel Gabriela E. Palmieri. After serving nearly a decade as the exclusive New York general counsel to a global, ultra-high-net worth family office and their US private companies, Gabriela will counsel clients at ArentFox Schiff on complex joint venture, private equity, venture capital, and real estate investments, as well as on the corporate governance of private companies.

Gabriela represents US and non-US high net worth individuals, family offices, and private companies in domestic, cross-border, and multi-jurisdictional investments and transactions. Understanding the intricate relationship that exists between an individual or family and their businesses, Gabriela provides cohesive advice that goes beyond a single transaction and balances her clients’ business and personal goals.

Gabriela is a proud Latina, fluent in Spanish and committed to working with the Latin American community living or investing in the United States. Gabriela started her legal career at a global law firm in Caracas, Venezuela after earning her Abogado (JD equivalent), magna cum laude, from the Universidad Central de Venezuela School of Law. She also earned her LL.M. in Taxation and LL.M. from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law.

“We are thrilled to welcome Gabriela to the firm during this period of growth for ArentFox Schiff. While all signs initially pointed to a hot M&A market in 2022, only time will tell what sort of lasting impact the Ukraine-Russia conflict will have on the global economy. And, as we know, family offices often look to the economy and markets to inform their investment decisions. Either way, Gabriela will provide strategic and holistic counsel to help her clients weather this period of uncertainty while still achieving their business goals.”

– David P. McHugh, Corporate & Securities Co-Leader

Gabriela’s Experience

Examples of Gabriela’s work includes…

• Acting as general counsel to the sponsor of two real estate funds that have developed and managed a portfolio of more than 1,000,000 gross square feet.
• Advising various ultra-high net worth individual investors in their multimillion-dollar private equity and venture capital investments in the US.
• Representing a private company in connection with a joint venture for the acquisition, operation, and disposition of multiple hotels in the US.

Greco Vitali Associati Studio Legale, with the partner Matteo Vitali and associate Matteo Miramondi, and Venable LLP, American law firm with offices in New York, with Venable partner William N. Haddad and Venable associates Poornima Gopoji and Arif Soto, advised Ideanomics Inc., a company incorporated under laws of USA listed on NASDAQ and active in the supply of diversified solutions for the electric mobility, in the launch of the voluntary public offer for the purchase of all the shares of Energica Motor Company S.p.a., Italian company listed on Euronext Growth Milan, leader in the production and sale of electric motorcycles.

The offer was launched by Ideanomics Inc. in concert with the founders of Energica Motor Company S.p.a., advised by ADVANT-Nctm, with the partner Lukas Plattner, the salary partner Andrea Iovieno and the associate Antonio Principato.

Following the success of the offer, Ideanomics is currently the owner of 71.64 percent of Energica Motor Company S.p.a. shares. The purpose of the offer is to obtain the revocation of Energica’s shares from the negotiations on Euronext Growth Milan and to support the growth of Energica Motor Company S.p.a. to which Ideanomics Inc. intends to contribute by leveraging the experience gained in financial services and disruptive technology industries.

Michael Best has welcomed Peter Prommer to its Intellectual Property practice as a Partner in the firm’s growing Chicago office.

Prommer joins the firm with nearly 20 years of experience advising clients on their intellectual property portfolios and counseling on enforcement, licensing, patent, trademark, and other IP matters. Over his tenured career, he has advised businesses across a number of sectors, from emerging companies to global corporations, including clients across the US, Europe and Asia on both IP and non-IP issues.

“Peter’s past work and impressive background position him well to represent our clients, and our platform fits perfectly with his desire to grow his practice,” said Richard Kaiser, Chair of Intellectual Property Practice Group. “He’s a clear example of the strong talent our firm has brought in over the past few years and will be an excellent addition to the IP Practice Group.”

Prommer joins Michael Best from Nixon Peabody LLP, where he first joined as an associate and was subsequently elevated to partner in 2015. Here, he counseled clients on global patent strategies, enforcement issues, patent opinion matters, building and protecting global trademark portfolios, and copyright matters. Prior to joining Nixon Peabody, Prommer was as an associate with a leading full-service intellectual property law firm, where his practice focused primarily on patent litigation matters.

Within his broad IP focus, Prommer has worked alongside clients in a variety of technologies, including wearable electronics, computer hardware, digital technologies, battery systems, medical devices, optical systems, composite materials, infrastructure systems, and robotics. His non-IP experience includes general commercial disputes, data privacy issues, and labor & employment matters. Prior to pursuing his legal career, Prommer practiced as a licensed professional engineer on high-stakes engineering projects for two international engineering consulting firms.

“Having worked in Chicago for his entire legal career, Peter has great ties to the city and a strong network behind him,” said Kerryann Haase Minton, Managing Partner of the Chicago office. “His engineering background gives him an edge, and he’ll make a wonderful addition to our office, which supports this dynamic city’s distinctive demographic profile.”

Prommer received his undergraduate engineering degree with honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and furthered his engineering studies at Northwestern University where he received his Master of Science. He subsequently received his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Illinois College of Law.

In addition, Prommer is strongly established in the technology and innovation scene in Chicago, including as an officer of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago. He further serves with several distinguished colleagues based in North America and Germany as a member of the Transatlantic Advisory Council of Bucerius Law School in Hamburg, Germany.

What Matters in The End

By Rebecca L. Palmer

Even though it’s difficult, divorce can deliver much-needed clarity about what matters in life. In a marriage, a lot of time is spent making decisions together. What car should we buy? Where should we live? Should we have kids? What color should we paint the living room? At the time, they seem like significant decisions, and more times than not, one partner makes a compromise. Some compromises are easy but making compromises to keep the peace can be a way to avoid tough conversations, and by doing that, you genuinely sacrifice yourself.

From an early age, we have an idea of what we want our life to look like and what should be done to have a successful relationship. Just because you get married doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice your opinions or values. Giving in on what color to paint your living room, on its own, is not relinquishing who you are, but if you always give in to avoid conflict, and the compromise is a sacrifice, then it will add up over time and lead to deep resentment toward your partner down the road. If your marriage becomes the type of relationship where giving in is expected to be returned in kind, you start to get caught up in keeping score – no relationship will ever be fair or equal with this approach.

Repeatedly sacrificing your needs to avoid conflict and not standing up for what you believe in has the power to destroy a marriage. Often, compromising means giving up what you know to be best – and if you are being asked to do that or feel you have to each time, then something is wrong.

With each compromise, you should ask yourself if you are being honest or just avoiding conflict. From the first utterance of “I want a divorce” to the signing of the final paperwork, being honest with yourself about the outcome should be a significant component of the process. What car you drive, where you live, and the living room color no longer matters. Instead of comprising your wants and needs, communicating truthfully about finances, custody, assets, and expectations is essential in navigating a divorce successfully.

Perhaps it is too late to save your marriage, but it matters how you come out of a divorce. Be honest with yourself and your partner about what is important to move forward. Since you are no longer “we,” try to see it as an opportunity to start a new chapter of life. This can be filled up with a stronger relationship with yourself and the people you love. Instead of spending time giving in on paint color – you can choose wallpaper!

Rebecca L. Palmer, Esq. is a Family & Marital Law attorney practicing in Orlando, FL. She is the Managing Partner of the Rebecca L. Palmer Law Group, and she can be reached at rebecca@rlpvlawgroup.com

Trenk Isabel P.C. directors Richard D. Trenk and David L. Isabel are pleased to announce that Asaad K. Siddiqi and John L. Shahdanian II have joined the firm as name partners and directors, with the firm now known as Trenk Isabel Siddiqi & Shahdanian P.C., effective today.

Also joining the firm are attorneys Reginald Jenkins, Jr. and William F. Rupp as partners and Valentina M. Scirica as an associate, along with paralegals Cindy Chen and Debby Vida. The additions nearly double the firm’s bench strength, bringing its total number of attorneys to 12, significantly bolstering the firm’s client services and capabilities in areas including commercial and complex litigation; labor and employment; environmental; land use and redevelopment; bankruptcy and restructuring; and public entity law.

“This is an exciting time for our firm, and for our clients, as John and Asaad join not only as tremendous advocates but also as leaders of our firm,” said Trenk. “We knew of Asaad and John through their outstanding work with the New Jersey State Bar and Bergen County Bar associations and their various leadership roles, and they are a great fit for our firm, further expanding our capabilities in multiple practice and industry areas of particular importance to our clients.”

“We are thrilled to welcome Asaad and John as directors with our firm, as well as Reggie, Bill and Valentina as key members of our growing team of attorneys,” said Isabel. “This was a rare opportunity to expand our services in labor and employment, commercial litigation, land use, public entity and redevelopment spaces, with highly regarded lawyers.”

Siddiqi added, “Rich and David have built a diverse, experienced team and a collaborative firm culture that values mentorship and professional development. I look forward to shaping the future of Trenk Isabel Siddiqi & Shahdanian as a director and am honored to join the firm’s roster of commercial litigators.”

“I have known Rich for many years, and I was confident that his and David’s practices and firm would mesh well with our team and allow us to provide a significantly expanded array of legal services and opportunities,” said Shahdanian. “I am eager to introduce our clients to the deep pool of legal talent and experience that is available to them across a broad range of practice areas.”

The new attorneys and paralegals were most recently with Anselmi & Carvelli, LLP.

Siddiqi concentrates on counseling clients on commercial and employment matters, including bet-the-company litigation. His experience includes commercial, business, and non-profit organization matters; products liability; intra-corporate/shareholder, employment and labor, and estate and trust disputes; and insurance/indemnification issues. He also handles matters concerning allegations of white-collar crime and regulatory non-compliance, the First Amendment, professional misconduct, and attorney ethics. In addition, he counsels clients on matters involving corporate governance, information security, compliance, dispute resolution, and international transactions.

Siddiqi serves on both the New Jersey Supreme Court’s Civil Practice and Model Civil Jury Charges committees and is a trustee of the Bergen County Bar Association and the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey. He also chairs the diversity committee for AFBNJ and serves as the vice chair of the New Jersey Lawyer Magazine Editorial Board. He received his J.D. from St. John’s School of Law and his B.A. from Rutgers University.

Shahdanian focuses his practice on employment, labor, civil rights and government law, representing both private and public sector clients in management side labor and employment matters, as well as individuals. His work involves matters related to discrimination claims, disability claims, sexual harassment claims, whistleblowing, and noncompete clauses, as well as wage and hour, family leave and private sector labor law. In addition, he provides anti-discrimination and sensitivity training and drafts discrimination and other policies for corporate and municipal clients. He also handles employment and civil rights litigation matters.

Shahdanian’s clients include the New Jersey towns of Teaneck, Bergenfield, New Milford, and Maywood, as well as the Bergen County Utilities Authority, the Office of the Bergen County Prosecutor, the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, and the County of Passaic.

Shahdanian is one of only 42 trustees of the New Jersey State Bar Association. He is also a trustee of the Bergen County Bar Association. He received his J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and his B.A. from Boston College.

Jenkins focuses his practice on redevelopment, real estate, land use, and zoning matters for government, corporate and private clients. He represents commercial and residential developers, banking institutions, telecommunications companies, billboard companies, restaurants, and hotels. In addition, he handles creditor’s rights, commercial litigation, employment matters, and telecommunications and intellectual property matters. He received his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School and his B.A. from Wesleyan University.

Rupp is a litigator who focuses on governmental law. His more than four decades of experience includes all aspects of municipal and employment law; real estate law, including eminent domain, zoning and land use, tax appeals, redevelopment and special improvement districts; and many aspects of labor law, which includes negotiations, public employment law, disciplinary hearings, antidiscrimination law, contract negotiation, civil rights violations, unfair labor practices, and the Conscientious Employee Protection Act. He received his J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law and his B.A. from Rutgers University.

Scirica focuses her practice on employment and governmental matters. Her work involves defending employers on claims including wrongful discharge, discrimination and retaliation, and breach of employment contracts. She also advises employers on compliance with federal, state and local employment laws, and conducts internal investigations. She received her J.D. from Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University and her B.A. from Rutgers University.

About Trenk Isabel Siddiqi & Shahdanian P.C.
Trenk Isabel Siddiqi & Shahdanian P.C. delivers valued legal services to help clients respond to challenges and preserve their businesses, as well as take advantage of new opportunities to grow. The firm handles commercial and complex litigation; labor and employment; environmental; land use and redevelopment; bankruptcy and restructuring; municipal and government representation.

For more information, visit www.trenkisabel.law.

WILMINGTON, Del. – Womble Bond Dickinson announced today that Rhonda Payne Harmon has joined the firm’s Business Litigation practice as Of Counsel in the Wilmington, Del., office.

Harmon joins Womble after sixteen years as in-house counsel for one of the country’s largest commercial banks, where she most recently served as Senior Counsel and Vice President of the Consumer Defensive Litigation division handling high-risk and class action cases. Earlier in her career, she was a bankruptcy associate in private practice representing large banks and other financial institutions.

“Rhonda is key to the continued expansion of our financial services litigation practice,” said Business Litigation Practice Group Leader Chris Jones. “Her intimate knowledge of what is most important to our banking clients and first-hand experience resolving disputes for one of the world’s largest and most important financial institutions will bring unique value to our clients and colleagues.”

At Womble, Harmon joins a team of more than 200 financial services sector lawyers located across the United States and the United Kingdom, representing nearly half of the top 100 U.S. banks, including 17 of the top 25.

Harmon has more than 20 years of combined experience as in-house counsel specializing in default servicing and consumer defensive litigation relating to lending practices, automobile and personal loans, lines of credit and home mortgages, as well as experience representing banks and companies in bankruptcy. She has managed both single-plaintiff and class/mass actions across a broad range of financial services issues, including mortgage loan servicing and origination claims, TCPA, FCRA, FDCPA, SCRA, TILA, loan modification, retail and installment sales claims, MERS standing issues, lien disputes, and bankruptcy disputes and adversary proceedings.

Harmon received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University, and she received her J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

WILMINGTON, Del. – Womble Bond Dickinson announced today that Rhonda Payne Harmon has joined the firm’s Business Litigation practice as Of Counsel in the Wilmington, Del., office.

Harmon joins Womble after sixteen years as in-house counsel for one of the country’s largest commercial banks, where she most recently served as Senior Counsel and Vice President of the Consumer Defensive Litigation division handling high-risk and class action cases. Earlier in her career, she was a bankruptcy associate in private practice representing large banks and other financial institutions.

“Rhonda is key to the continued expansion of our financial services litigation practice,” said Business Litigation Practice Group Leader Chris Jones. “Her intimate knowledge of what is most important to our banking clients and first-hand experience resolving disputes for one of the world’s largest and most important financial institutions will bring unique value to our clients and colleagues.”

At Womble, Harmon joins a team of more than 200 financial services sector lawyers located across the United States and the United Kingdom, representing nearly half of the top 100 U.S. banks, including 17 of the top 25.

Harmon has more than 20 years of combined experience as in-house counsel specializing in default servicing and consumer defensive litigation relating to lending practices, automobile and personal loans, lines of credit and home mortgages, as well as experience representing banks and companies in bankruptcy. She has managed both single-plaintiff and class/mass actions across a broad range of financial services issues, including mortgage loan servicing and origination claims, TCPA, FCRA, FDCPA, SCRA, TILA, loan modification, retail and installment sales claims, MERS standing issues, lien disputes, and bankruptcy disputes and adversary proceedings.

Harmon received her undergraduate degree in Psychology from Carnegie Mellon University, and she received her J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, today announced the addition of Valerie S. Rup to its Healthcare Practice Group as Senior Counsel in the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office. Rup joins Dykema after spending more than a decade with Beaumont Health and William Beaumont Hospital in several capacities, including as Chief Counsel, Transactions, and Senior Corporate Counsel.

In her practice, Rup focuses on corporate and regulatory healthcare law with an emphasis on business formation, affiliations, acquisitions, joint ventures, real estate, contract negotiation, and regulatory matters. She has vast experience advising on, drafting, and negotiating multiple types of contracts.

In her previous roles with Beaumont Health, Rup led the transactions team in overseeing a diverse array of matters, such as governance, corporate affiliations, joint ventures, and regulatory and compliance matters. She also provided advice on board- and executive-level projects, initiated internal investigations, and handled strategic expansion initiatives.

“Not only is Valerie a very skilled and savvy healthcare attorney, her years of experience as in-house counsel at one of Michigan’s largest health care systems has resulted in Valerie’s unique and pragmatic perspective that I am confident clients will value greatly in achieving creative solutions together,” said Eric Klein, Leader of Dykema’s Healthcare Practice Group.

Rup earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Detroit Mercy Law School, a B.S. in Psychology from Wayne State University, and Health Care Management Certification from the University of Michigan Health System Leadership Development Program.

Brouse McDowell is proud to welcome George P. Millich, Jr. to our Trusts & Estates Practice Group.

George joins Brouse as a new Partner working in our Youngstown office. His practice focuses on estate planning, probate, tax law and business succession planning. With him, he brings significant experience in providing counsel to fiduciaries on estate and trust administration, including interpreting language in wills and trusts, providing counsel to non-profit entities on obtaining original charitable status qualification, and other tax related issues specific to tax-exempt organizations. Prior to joining Brouse, George worked as Chief Fiduciary Officer and Senior Vice President for Farmers Trust Company and was previously a partner at a Northeast Ohio law firm.

George earned his BSBA from Youngstown State University before going on to graduate from The University of Akron School of Business with a Master of Taxation and then received his JD from The University of Akron School of Law.

Kiklis and Clark, PLLC has launched as a new innovative firm having over a half-century of experience in all areas of patent law, with a particular focus on software and computer technology. The firm’s founders, Michael Kiklis and Kimani Clark, have a long history of working together and handling high-stakes matters. The co-founders believe in providing value to clients by leveraging their extensive experience and innovating in every aspect of the business.

Kiklis and Clark handles PTAB cases and patent litigation as well as Federal Circuit appeals from those cases. Collectively, the founders have handled approximately 100 trials at the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and over 20 Federal Circuit appeals from those cases. The firm also handles large-scale patent prosecution, pre-litigation strategies and negotiations, patent studies, cross licensing, infringement and validity analyses, and patent opinions. A complete hands-on approach combined with significant depth of experience and a history of representing some of the largest corporations in the world are what sets the firm apart.

“We are excited about partnering with our clients to provide our personalized service and strategic advice, to resolve their patent issues, and to handle their PTAB needs,” said Kiklis. “Together, we’ve handled high-stakes patent matters for some of the largest tech companies in the world. Our deep experience, which includes handling cases for such leading technology companies as Broadcom, Cisco, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Schlumberger, ensures an in-depth understanding of both our client’s business and IP needs to handle their most challenging matters.”

“Our focus is on delivering continual innovation to every aspect of our work with our clients, from legal strategy to customer experience, operations and technology,” said Clark.

Kiklis leverages his nearly 30 years of experience to assist clients in PTAB trials as well as district court patent litigation. He has handled approximately 100 PTAB trials and has been involved in more than 20 Federal Circuit appeals from his cases. He both enforces and defends the intellectual property rights of his clients and is often called upon to handle cases worth more than $100 million. A frequent speaker and author on patent law, Kiklis is also the author of “The Supreme Court on Patent Law,” an 800-page treatise devoted to the Supreme Court’s patent law jurisprudence. Kiklis received his J.D. (magna cum laude) from Syracuse University College of Law, M.S. in Computer Science from Boston University, and his B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts Lowell.

Clark specializes in computer and software patent law and has represented over a dozen Fortune 500 companies in large, complex and high-stakes technology matters. His patent practice includes prosecution, litigation and counseling. In his 25-year career, he has served as a partner in some of the nation’s most prestigious law firms. Clark’s computer science and engineering mindset, and his business acumen as a founder of two tech companies, provide a distinct advantage in handling complex computing technologies for his clients and advising on the intersection between business and the law. Clark received his J.D. from Stanford Law School and his B.S. in Computer Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

About Kiklis and Clark, PLLC
Kiklis and Clark, PLLC provides legal services to technology-based companies, focusing on trials at the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board, strategic prosecution, and district court patent litigation, and currently represents several Fortune 500 companies. The firm’s reputation is built on the founders’ unique collective experience and history of representing some of the world’s leading computer and software companies. A pillar of the firm’s foundation is continual innovation in every aspect of the business, from legal strategy and client service to customer experience, operations, and technology.

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DALLAS (March 11, 2022) – Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that Adam Yost, an attorney in the firm’s Dallas office, has earned the Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) credential in the United States through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).
“We congratulate Adam on earning the Certified Information Privacy Professional credential,” said Bradley Dallas Office Managing Partner Richard A. Sayles. “He joins a skilled group of Bradley attorneys who have a sophisticated understanding of privacy and data protection matters, which is a valuable asset for our clients.”
Mr. Yost is an associate in Bradley’s Government Enforcement & Investigations Practice Group, who focuses his practice on helping corporations and individuals navigate regulatory investigations, civil enforcement actions and criminal investigations brought by various government agencies. As a former government trial lawyer and enforcement attorney – as well as an aide, strategist and researcher to candidates for every office from state representative to president – Mr. Yost brings a unique perspective to white collar matters.
Mr. Yost received his J.D. from University of Virginia School of Law and his B.A. from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Prior to joining Bradley, he served as an Assistant Attorney General and Special Projects Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General in the Office of the Virginia Attorney General.
Bradley has 10 attorneys who are CIPP/US certified. Accredited by the American National Standards Institute, the CIPP is recognized as a leading global privacy and data protection credentialing program. The CIPP/US designates professionals who demonstrate a strong foundation in U.S. private-sector privacy laws and regulations and an understanding of the legal requirements for the responsible transfer of sensitive personal data to/from the United States, the European Union, and other jurisdictions.

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.

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden is pleased to announce that John W. Weiss has joined the firm’s Holmdel office as a Partner and Chair of the firm’s Bankruptcy, Restructuring and Creditors’ Rights practice, as of February 23, 2022.

“I am thrilled to welcome John to our firm,” said firm Chair and Managing Partner Michael S. Stein. “Establishing a bankruptcy and reorganization practice has been part of our strategic growth plan to provide comprehensive counsel to our clients. Having an Am Law 100 lawyer of John’s caliber leading the practice will enhance the quality of service we provide to our clients and add further depth to the firm.”

Weiss has more than 20 years of experience serving as a valued business partner to his clients across the country, providing strategic counsel in complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings and helping them navigate restructuring and bankruptcy transactions and litigation. He also has extensive national experience representing defendants in avoidance actions, as well as advising professional service firms (such as accounting firms, financial advisory firms, and investment banks) on bankruptcy retention and fee-related issues, including counseling such firms as to related policies and procedures, risk mitigation, and forms and documentation, and appearing in court on their behalf, when necessary.

“I am excited to join Pashman Stein and build a sophisticated bankruptcy and restructuring practice that provides the high-quality service our clients expect, but in a more cost-effective manner. I look forward to being part of a team known for its excellent litigation platform, advocacy and client service, and to collaborating across practice areas to support the needs of clients in all aspects of their businesses, including when faced with bankruptcy and restructuring issues” Weiss said.

Weiss earned his J.D. from the Pennsylvania State University and his B.A. from The Ohio State University. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Delaware.

About Pashman Stein Walder Hayden

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden is a multi-specialty law firm with a reputation for professional excellence. Headquartered in Hackensack, New Jersey with offices in Monmouth County, New Jersey and Westchester County, New York, the firm serves a diverse client base including Fortune 500 companies, emerging growth entities and entrepreneurial businesses, professional athletes, celebrity influencers, fashion models, law firms, judges, lawyers, governmental entities, non-profit organizations, and individuals. Recent honors include being named Law Firm of the Year-Finalist (2021) and, for the fourth year in a row, awarded Appellate Litigation Department of the Year (2021), by the New Jersey Law Journal; and named 2020 Pro Bono Law firm by the New Jersey State Bar Association. For more information, please visit www.pashmanstein.com.

Sidley is pleased to announce that Joanna Rubin Travalini has joined the firm’s Securities Enforcement and Regulatory group as a partner in its Chicago office. Ms. Travalini’s practice focuses on regulatory investigations and enforcement, internal investigations, securities litigation, and accountants and professional liability. She joins Sidley from Winston & Strawn, where she was a partner in the Securities Litigation Group.

In her practice, Ms. Travalini represents financial institutions, accounting firms, public companies, and their executives and employees in regulatory investigations and enforcement proceedings, including investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), and state regulatory agencies. Joanna also has represented clients in litigation adverse to these agencies. She is knowledgeable about SEC regulations, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, and PCAOB rules and auditing standards.

Previously, Ms. Travalini was a project manager at Deloitte, where she analyzed quality assurance reviews and assessed regulatory and risk issues for member firms. Earlier in her career, she was an audit senior in Deloitte’s audit and enterprise risk services practice, where she conducted audits and attestations for clients in the financial services and manufacturing industries and performed client risk assessments under Sarbanes-Oxley. She is also a CPA.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Joanna to Sidley,” said Yvette Ostolaza, chair-elect of Sidley’s Management Committee and global co-leader of Sidley’s Litigation group. “Joanna’s depth of experience, including her CPA qualifications, as well as her formidable litigation and investigations knowledge, makes her a strong addition across multiple practice areas. She is a terrific complement to our outstanding team.”

Sidley is “Built to Win” at each stage of the litigation process, and counts more than 750 litigators worldwide. With true geographic reach, the firm can field winning litigation teams in virtually any forum where its clients find themselves facing a dispute.

With more than 2,000 lawyers in 20 offices around the globe, Sidley is a premier legal adviser for clients across the spectrum of industries. Follow Sidley on Twitter @SidleyLaw.

Sunstein LLP is pleased to announce that firm partner Timothy M. Murphy has been named the firm’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) litigation chair.

“We are delighted to have Tim serve as the chair of the PTAB Litigation Practice Group,” said Kerry L. Timbers, Sunstein’s managing partner. “Tim’s experience handling appeals and other proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeals Board along with his understanding of the process makes him an outstanding choice to lead the team and continue to provide value to our clients.”

Murphy’s practice focuses on developing and implementing strategies for maximizing the value of clients’ patent portfolios for litigation, licensing or acquisition, and for protecting clients’ key technologies and avoiding allegations of infringement. He has extensive experience with patent office litigation matters such as patent interference proceedings, inter partes review, and reexamination proceedings.

Sunstein’s Patent Trial and Appeals Board practice group attorneys successfully defend and uphold contested patents before the PTAB for clients who operate businesses in the United States and internationally. Our reputation for providing practical legal guidance, litigating against patents asserted by others, and protecting and defending mission-critical patents is unmatched.

About Sunstein LLP
Sunstein LLP is widely recognized as a top intellectual property firm which uses innovative approaches to solve clients’ problems and delivers significant value by helping them both win immediate objectives and address long-term business goals. For more information, visit https://www.sunsteinlaw.com/.

Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that the firm has expanded its Orlando office as Todd Miller and Andrew Finkelstein join as partners, Richard Caron joins as of counsel, and Kylie Brown joins as an associate. The addition of these lawyers, who will work collaboratively across the firm’s Finance, Transactions, and Real Estate Practice Groups and its five Florida offices, strengthens Foley’s foothold on the Florida market

The group focuses on complex transactional matters, including structured finance and secured lending, private equity and mergers and acquisitions, and real estate and other commercial transactions. They counsel clients from an array of industries such as banking and financial services, real estate, automotive, manufacturing, telecommunications, technology, hospitality, and more.

“We are pleased to welcome this skilled group of attorneys to our Orlando office as we continue to grow our presence in that market,” said Jay Rothman, Foley’s chairman and CEO. “Their extensive experience in transactions, finance, mergers and acquisitions, and real estate will benefit our clients seeking counsel on a variety of complex transactional matters.”

The incoming group commented, “We couldn’t be more excited to join Foley. This is an incredible opportunity for us to grow our practices and build on the strong reputation Foley has earned itself in the dynamic Florida market and beyond. With Foley’s resources, highly skilled team, and unmatched commitment to client service, we are confident it’s exactly the right firm to grow our practices within the years to come.”

Todd Miller – Partner, Finance Practice Group
Todd Miller focuses his practice on structured finance and secured lending transactions, including asset-backed loans. His structured finance practice includes timeshare loans, credit cards, auto, trade receivables, and other asset type securitizations on behalf of originators, underwriters, and conduit sponsors. Additionally, Miller has experience working on domestic and international project finance transactions, including real estate, equipment, and aircraft.

Andrew Finkelstein – Partner, Transactions Practice Group
Andrew Finkelstein has extensive experience representing clients in a broad range of transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, leveraged buyouts, venture capital financings, joint ventures, and other direct investments. He also advises companies in securities law matters, including SEC reporting, compliance, and corporate governance. Finkelstein counsels clients across a variety of industries, including banking and financial services, telecommunications, technology, manufacturing, distribution, consumer products, employee outsourcing, real estate, hospitality, restaurant chains, and more.

Richard Caron – Of Counsel, Real Estate Practice Group
Richard Caron advises clients in real estate and other commercial transactions, with a focus on the resort and hospitality industries and master-planned real estate development. His practice also includes representing private equity lenders and financial institutions in structured finance and secured lending transactions, including securitizations and other asset-backed loans.

Kylie Brown – Associate, Finance Practice Group
Kylie Brown represents companies in structured finance, mergers and acquisitions, and general corporate matters.

The addition of this team is the latest in a series of lateral hires to join Foley’s Orlando office. With this group, the firm has added seven attorneys in Orlando in the past few months, spanning across its corporate and litigation practices.

5 years ago, SDV opened its doors in Southeast Florida. Today, the office has grown exponentially, has a team of legal professionals and has hopes to expand even further. The growth the Naples office has experienced is nothing short of monumental. “This is a welcomed expansion. The needs of our clients grew and so did we.” says Gregory D. Podolak, Managing Partner at SDV. “I love the client base that we have. Our client base consists of a diverse range of commercially sophisticated entities, and we get to workday in and day out with people who recognize and appreciate the complexity of the things we do, they recognize that it requires diverse perspectives, risk managers, general counsel, outside coverage council, and liability council to be able to find one cohesive vision for a successful outcome.”

Offering significant value to relationships is the core of SDV’s success. Strong relationships with likeminded individuals helped SDV thrive and earn the respect of its clients and colleagues. The firm has stayed true to that model to this day.

A New Era: SBSB Law and Eastham Announce Merger
Firms join forces to create legal powerhouse in Maritime and Catastrophic Claims
HOUSTON – Schouest, Bamdas, Soshea & BenMaier PLLC, or SBSB Law, and Eastham, Watson, Dale & Forney, LLP announced today they have finalized a merger that brings together two of the most highly respected law firms in the country. The merger will combine Eastham’s renowned Maritime and Catastrophic Claims practice with SBSB’s highly respected Maritime, Longshore, Defense Base Act, and Insurance Defense practices, to create a legal powerhouse.

In the Maritime sector, the new firm, which operates as SBSB Eastham, combines SBSB’s deep bench of maritime and trial lawyers with Eastham’s decades-long history as a leader in Admiralty and Maritime law.
“Merging our firms allows us to leverage the expertise and depth of experience of both firms,” said SBSB Founder and Managing Partner John Schouest, who leads the combined firm. “The result is a team that is even more formidable. When it comes to maritime groups, I don’t know of any other with this much experience.”
“We are very excited to be joining forces with SBSB,” said SBSB Eastham Partner Robert L. Klawetter. “Not only will we be working with an outstanding group of lawyers, but we are also thrilled to be able to provide our clients with the experience, outstanding attorneys and resources this merger provides.”
SBSB Eastham partner Christina Schovajsa added, “We are confident that Clarence Eastham would be very pleased to see the legacy of the firm he founded 82 years ago continue.”
In just seven years, SBSB Law has become one of the nation’s leading firms in Admiralty and Maritime law, among other areas. The firm’s partners have decades of Admiralty and Maritime experience representing a wide array of clients, including activities associated with inland waterways, brown water commerce, offshore exploration and production, international and Jones Act shipping, and international cruise lines. The firm is also known for its deep bench of highly skilled litigators who handle a wide variety of defense work, from Defense Base Act and Longshore claims, to Class Action Defense, Commercial Litigation, General Liability, Trucking and Insurance.
Established in 1939, Eastham routinely acts on behalf of the world’s leading Protection & Indemnity Clubs and other liability underwriters and has played a key role in representing parties in virtually all of the major maritime disasters on the Texas Gulf Coast for decades. It provides legal services to a wide variety of industries, including domestic and international shipping companies, the offshore drilling industry, inland towing companies, and intermodal equipment providers and freight brokers.
“The practice of maritime law is one of our cornerstones,” said Susan Noe Wilson, SBSB Eastham Partner and Head of Litigation. “While SBSB’s current maritime work is primarily brown water – energy field, oil and gas, waterways – Eastham is primarily a blue water maritime firm. Combining the two makes this a very good marriage for all involved, especially our clients.”
The new firm’s key practice areas include Admiralty and Maritime, Defense Base Act, Longshore, Business and Commercial Litigation, Business Transactions, Personal Injury Defense, Energy, Environmental and Toxic Torts, Transportation and Trucking, General Liability, Insurance, Labor and Employment, Federal and State Workers’ Compensation, Premises Liability, Arbitration, and Appellate.
In all, SBSB Eastham has approximately 110 lawyers in six cities across the country – Houston, Corpus Christi, New Orleans, Chicago, Boca Raton, and Milwaukee.
SBSB Eastham is a group of experienced attorneys who have come together to form a law firm focused on client needs. The firm’s goal is to be the go-to resource at every stage of the legal process, bringing deeper experience, deeper commitment, and deeper insights to help solve the most complex issues. In consultation or in the courtroom, the firm will aggressively pursue a client’s best interests. For more information about the firm and its team of attorneys, visit www.sbsb-eastham.com.

Media Contact:
April Arias
800-559-4534
april@androvett.com

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that Christopher L. Hawkins, a partner in the firm’s Birmingham office, has been appointed by the Eleventh Circuit Court to serve as a U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Middle District of Alabama. Mr. Hawkins will be sworn in next week.

“It is a tremendous honor for Chris to be appointed to serve as a federal judge in Alabama and is a testament to his professionalism and integrity,” said Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters. “Chris has consistently demonstrated a commitment to excellence in the practice of law and through his bankruptcy and restructuring work, and we know that he will continue to uphold that legacy in this new role.”

Mr. Hawkins joined Bradley in 2001 and has represented clients in a variety of bankruptcy and insolvency related matters across the country, more recently focusing his practice on advising large financial institutions on bankruptcy compliance and bankruptcy-related regulatory and enforcement matters. He has regularly represented debtors and creditors in out-of-court business restructurings and Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases, as well as creditors and financial institutions in bankruptcy-related litigation.

In November 2021, Mr. Hawkins was selected for inclusion as a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. He is wrapping up a two-year term as co-chair of the Consumer Bankruptcy Committee of the American Bankruptcy Institute and was recognized as the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Committee Member of the Year in 2019-2020. Mr. Hawkins also was named to the 2022 edition of the Lawdragon 500 Leading U.S. Bankruptcy & Restructuring Lawyers list.

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.

The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP today announced the addition of Business Law partner Martin Zivitz to its Indianapolis office. Before joining Quarles & Brady, Zivitz was a partner at a national law firm and a vice president and general counsel for a medical management company.

“Martin’s experience as a transactional lawyer will immediately bring additional depth to our M&A team,” said Will Schultz, the firm’s Business Law national chair. “His law firm and corporate general counsel background make him an excellent fit for our growth plans in Indianapolis, as well as for our corporate transactional practice overall.”

Zivitz counsels publicly and privately held business clients on corporate matters such as mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic alliances, commercial transactions, private equity investments and other complex transactions. He represents businesses of all sizes and from multiple industries including healthcare, skilled nursing, education, technology, energy, manufacturing and distribution, and financial services. He holds a Juris Doctor and Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University.
The hire of Zivitiz highlights the firm’s expansion in the Indianapolis market, as the office now has 30 attorneys, the most since the office opened in 2014.

“I’m pleased to join Quarles & Brady as I share the firm’s commitment to understanding our clients’ industries and business objectives and helping them achieve their goals,” said Zivitz. “I look forward to contributing to an already exceptional and experienced business law team.”

About Quarles & Brady LLP

Quarles & Brady, founded in 1892, is a full-service AmLaw 200 firm with approximately 475 attorneys offering an array of legal services to clients ranging from individuals to small entrepreneurial businesses to Fortune 100 companies. The firm has practices focused in health care and life sciences, business law, labor and employment, real estate, intellectual property, data privacy and security, and complex litigation. Its 10 U.S. offices are in Chicago, Indianapolis, Madison, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Naples, Phoenix, Tampa, Tucson and Washington, D.C. Additional information can be found at quarles.com, as well as on Twitter,LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook.