Charles “Skip” Watson has joined Greenberg Traurig, LLP as an appellate practice shareholder in its Austin office. Watson is a member of the Texas Supreme Court Rules Advisory Committee.

“We are excited to have Skip join our Appellate Practice. He is an accomplished board certified civil appellate specialist with an exceptional track record, particularly in the Texas Supreme Court,” said Dale Wainwright, chair of the Texas Appellate Practice. “Skip’s addition reflects our continuing commitment to appellate excellence that results in critical victories. Welcoming Skip to Greenberg Traurig further supports our commitment to clients in Texas and nationwide.”

In a release, the firm said Watson focuses his practice on high-stakes appeals in Texas. For nearly two decades, he has advised the Texas Supreme Court as an appointed member of its 50-member Rules Advisory Committee. The court unanimously adopted the Standards for Appellate Conduct drafted by the State Bar Appellate Section that Watson chaired.

The firm said he joins GT shareholder Elliot H. Scherker as one of fewer than 300 appellate attorneys nationally to be elected as a fellow in the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. Watson currently chairs the Academy’s Federal Appellate Rules Committee.

“I am looking forward to joining Greenberg Traurig’s appellate and energy practices in Austin, working alongside some of the best practitioners in the profession,” Watson said. “The firm’s highly regarded attorneys, culture of collaboration, and strong presence in Texas are important to my clients. In turn, it is my goal to utilize my experience to further grow the practice here.”

“The addition of Skip to Greenberg Traurig’s Appellate team in Texas adds another four decades of appellate experience and an accomplished track record of client successes, as well as deepening Greenberg Traurig’s energy expertise. He is a great addition to our Texas Appellate Group and our National Appellate Practice,” Scherker, co-chair of the firm’s National Appellate Practice, said.

Akerman LLP announced Scott A. Meyers has been named managing partner.

“Scott is a proven leader, accomplished member of our management team and exceptionally skilled at firm operations. Having Scott in this new role will accelerate our efforts to deliver an exceptional client experience through increased efficiencies across our firm,” said Akerman chairman and CEO, David I. Spector. “Prior to his appointment as managing partner, Scott served as the founding office managing partner of our Chicago office. During his tenure, he led the growth of that office from seven lawyers to nearly 60 in four years. He has the experience and esteem necessary to help lead Akerman as we build upon the firm’s vibrant legacy, and chart our next chapter.”

“I look forward to expanding upon the successes we achieved in Chicago and replicating them on a national scale,” said Meyers. In addition to serving as managing partner, Meyers will continue his complex commercial litigation legal practice focusing on securities, trade secrets, restrictive covenants and unfair competition, with an emphasis on hedge funds, investment advisers, private debt and equity funds, money managers and insurance brokerage companies.

The firm also announced the following leadership changes: Meg George succeeds Scott Meyers as office managing partner in Chicago. Beth Alcalde will serve as the firm’s inaugural professional development partner, overseeing professional development activities for the firm’s associates. Christopher Duke succeeds Alcalde as office managing partner of Akerman’s Palm Beach County, Fla., offices. Francisco Rodriguez will serve as deputy recruiting partner, responsible for identifying and recruiting lateral candidates to join Akerman’s growing enterprise.

Foley & Lardner LLP announced that Jessica Matelis, who most recently served as a senior counsel in the Division of Enforcement at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, is joining the firm’s Washington, D.C. office as a partner in the Securities Enforcement & Litigation Practice.

While at the SEC, Matelis led investigations into a wide range of potential violations of the federal securities laws, including financial statement fraud, disclosure fraud, auditor misconduct, insider trading, conduct of investment companies and investment advisors, and market manipulation. In addition to her investigations, Matelis litigated a complex, multi-year insider trading case in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Prior to her time at the SEC, Matelis spent more than 10 years in private practice at international law firms in Washington, D.C., including a four-year stint as an associate at Foley. In her private practice, she represented public companies, boards of directors, officers, investment advisors, and accounting and auditing firms in various securities regulatory, enforcement and compliance matters before the SEC, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., and other federal and state regulatory agencies.

“Jessica’s experience in private practice combined with her deep knowledge of the SEC enforcement process further strengthens and diversifies the firm’s Securities Enforcement & Litigation Practice,” said the group’s chair, Beth Boland. “Our attorneys and clients will particularly benefit from her recent government experience, and we are pleased to welcome her back to Foley.”

“The unique experiences and insights that Jessica brings from her time at the SEC in Washington, along with her specialized knowledge of the securities industry, enhances our effectiveness in representing clients before the SEC and PCAOB,” said Scott Fredericksen, managing partner of Foley’s Washington, D.C. office. “Jessica adds significant expertise to the firm’s already deep bench of securities and enforcement litigators and further expands the capabilities of our securities team in D.C.”

Law firm Hogan Lovells has appointed David McClune as its chief marketing officer.

New York-based McClune joined the firm on May 29. He most recently was CMO for Shearman & Sterling. McLune succeeds London-based global CMO Serena Simmons who is retiring in mid-June.

Said Hogan Lovells CEO Stephen J. Immelt: “We are delighted to add a professional of David’s caliber and reputation to work with our partners, lawyers, and marketing and business development (M&BD) team. Serena has been a strong presence at the firm for more than a decade. The success we have enjoyed across all the different parts of our M&BD activities, including our brand, our client development, our industry and sector marketing, and many others are a testament to her leadership and skill.”

“Hogan Lovells is widely recognized in the market as a successful and dynamic firm with unique trans-Atlantic strengths,” McClune said. “With it reaching the impressive US$2 billion revenue milestone last year, it is clear that this is a firm with strong strategic goals and a focus on delivering practical and creative solutions for clients around the world.”

He continues: “The Hogan Lovells marketing and business development team has a strong market reputation and operates on a genuinely global basis.”

In a release, the firm said McClune’s responsibilities at Shearman included global business development, marketing, client relationship strategies, corporate and media affairs, strategic pricing, and marketing communications across 27 countries. He also played a leading role in strategy development, looking at emerging or new markets; identifying strategic ‘practice gaps’; improving profitability of clients, practices and offices; lateral partner recruitment and integration; and the opening of new offices.

Before joining Shearman & Sterling in 2014, McClune spent 15 years at Allens Linklaters in Australia where he was Marketing Director. Earlier in his career, McClune was Global Executive Manager for public affairs at Australian Tourist Commission, where he worked on the country’s Olympic bid. He was also Chief of Staff and Senior Adviser on Policy and Media to the Health Minister for the Queensland Government.

Segal McCambridge Singer and Mahoney, Ltd. has added Joseph L. Kish to the firm. Kish joins the firm as a shareholder in its Chicago office.

“We are excited to have Joe become part of our firm. Joe’s extensive experience and expertise in handling complex business litigation and his outstanding reputation within the Chicago legal community will be tremendous assets to the firm as we continue to expand and diversify our practice, both in Chicago and nationally,” said Mark Crane, Segal McCambridge managing shareholder.

The firm said Kish has experience in complex business litigation, including intellectual property matters, antitrust, business torts, fraud, breach of contract, technology and cybersecurity, employment, professional negligence and other areas of civil litigation.

“I was drawn to Segal McCambridge because of its national litigation practice and its plan for continued national growth. The firm has dedicated significant resources to this plan which will allow me to better service my current clients and, at the same time, allow me to expand my practice here in Chicago and across the country,” Kish stated.

Kish is licensed to practice in Illinois and California. Kish received his Juris Doctorate degree from DePaul University College of Law in Chicago and his B.G.S. in Economics and Political Science from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Attorneys Justin R. Cruz and Ben Roxborough have joined Michael Best in its Denver office. Both join the firm’s Litigation Practice Group, focusing their practices on intellectual property litigation.

“We’re ecstatic to welcome Justin and Ben to our expanding Denver office,” said John Scheller, Litigation Practice Group Chair. “It’s truly an exciting time for our team. Ben and Justin’s IP litigation experience complements our already-deep bench strength in the Western States.”

In a release, the firm said Cruz has experience resolving IP related disputes through litigation. He has worked on cases involving utility patents, design patents, trade dress, copyrights, as well as challenging the validity of patents through Post-Grant Proceedings before the United States Patent Office (USPTO). He has experience in areas such as medical devices, software systems, IoT, agricultural, mining, and oil and gas.

Roxborough focuses his practice on intellectual property and commercial litigation, with an emphasis on patent, trademark, and false advertising disputes. He is a dual-qualified lawyer in the U.S. and Australia.

Prior to joining Michael Best, Cruz worked at one of the largest boutique intellectual property firms based in the Rocky Mountain region. He received his J.D. from DePaul University and his B.A. from the University of Colorado.

Previously, Roxborough clerked for Judge William J. Martínez and Magistrate Judge Kathleen M. Tafoya in the District of Colorado and for Chief Judge James D. Peterson and Judge William M. Conley in the Western District of Wisconsin. Roxborough received his J.D. equivalent in Australia from The College of Law – Sydney, his LL.M. from Stanford Law School, and his B.S. from the University of Wollongong in Australia. He also serves as an adjunct lecturer at the University of Denver Sturm College of Law in false advertising and patent law.

Laura Stevens has been promoted to executive vice president and general counsel of Cengage, an education and technology company.

She joined Cengage in 2003, and worked on efforts to ready the business for the transition to digital. Based in the Boston headquarters, Stevens will serve on the executive team and will lead the legal function in support of the company’s strategy, Cengage said in a release.

“Among the many impressive highlights of Laura’s career here at Cengage are her forward-thinking efforts to realign our Intellectual Property licensing function to enable the Cengage Unlimited model, the industry’s first-of-its kind subscription service,” said Michael Hansen, CEO, Cengage. “Laura has been a powerhouse on our Legal team over the years, and I welcome the addition of her voice on the Executive Team as we continue to break with tradition to increase access to education.”

In her previous role as senior vice president and deputy general counsel, Stevens designed and recruited a 50+ person legal team to reflect a rapid print-to-digital transformation. In addition, she established the Cengage Privacy Office, creating industry-leading standards for responsible data stewardship. The company said Stevens continues to drive legal efforts around industry-wide implementation of anti-piracy bestpPractices with partners, which have resulted in a double-digit decrease in counterfeit texts among some of the company’s largest distributors.

Over the past 15 years, Stevens served a number of roles within the Cengage (and formerly Thomson Learning) legal team, including assistant general counsel, intellectual property, and publishing counsel. Prior to Cengage, she was an attorney at Brown Raysman LLP in New York City.

Stevens holds a B.A. in Political Science and Art History from the University of Rochester and a J.D. from Columbia Law School.

Jackson Walker has added Elizabeth Carol Freeman and Michelle Rosenblatt as partners in the Houston and Austin offices, respectively. In addition, the firm added Jason C. Rodgers as senior counsel in the Fort Worth office.

Freeman has more than 20 years’ experience in bankruptcy practice with out-of-court workouts and complex bankruptcy and reorganization matters. Prior to joining Jackson Walker, She was the permanent law clerk to the Chief Bankruptcy Judge for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.

“Liz’s significant experience with chapter bankruptcy proceedings and workouts, her strong work ethic, and her strategic and savvy approach to legal issues are just some of the reasons why she is a very valuable member of our team,” said Houston partner Bruce J. Ruzinsky, who heads the Bankruptcy practice group.

Freeman is Board Certified in Business Bankruptcy Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and received her J.D. from Baylor Law School. She is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute, and American Inns of Court.

Rosenblatt, who concentrates on U.S. and international tax, estate, and wealth preservation planning, joined the Wealth Planning practice.

“Michelle is recognized as an expert in tax, estate, and wealth preservation and speaks often on such topics in the U.S. and overseas. Adding Michelle to the group enhances JW’s ability to serve high net-worth individuals and family offices seeking comprehensive wealth preservation services across domestic and international borders,” said Sam K. Hildebrand, Austin partner and head of the Wealth Planning practice group. “We are fortunate to welcome her as a partner in Austin and look forward to working with her to develop creative solutions for our clients.”

Outside the office, Rosenblatt teaches the course Financial Methods for Lawyers at the University of Texas at Austin School of Law. She received her J.D. from Pepperdine School of Law and has been admitted into the Texas and California Bar Associations. Michelle is actively involved in the Austin Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas, and the Texas Bar CLE.

A former member of the Division of Enforcement at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Jason Rodgers helps clients navigate and defend SEC and other government agency investigations, and assists companies addressing whistle-blower issues. He also has a background in complex commercial litigation, with experience in civil disputes over securities fraud, mortgage-backed securities, private equity partnership disputes, and public contracts.

“Jason is a brilliant attorney, deeply skilled in SEC enforcement practices, and, most importantly, is a high-character person. He is a perfect fit for Jackson Walker and exactly the type of person we were looking to help us build our white collar practice,” said Jay Dewald, chair of the White Collar Defense & Government Enforcement practice. “I am very pleased to welcome a former SEC enforcement attorney of his caliber. His understanding of the Commission’s priorities, personnel, practices, and regulations will benefit our clients greatly—both those facing such investigations and those seeking to avoid them.”

Rodgers received his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law, where he served as associate editor of the Texas Law Review. Following his graduation from law school, he clerked for the Honorable Jacques L. Wiener Jr., United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Hogan Lovells has appointed Burkhart Goebel as the new global head of the firm’s Intellectual Property practice, as of 1 July.

In a release, the firm said the IP practice at Hogan Lovells represents more than 50 percent of the world’s top 100 brands. The team comprises 400 IP professionals worldwide who advise on the entire life cycle of IP assets – covering contentious and non-contentious trademark, domain name, patent, copyright and trade secret matters, as well as IP transactions. The team works across numerous sectors, and is particularly active in TMT, automotive, energy and life sciences.

Burkhart Goebel commented: “Our Intellectual Property practice is truly first class. We work on some of the most complex and high profile matters globally – such as the recent Eli Lilly patent dispute in the UK Supreme Court, LEGO copyright dispute in China and SABIC joint venture with ExxonMobil in the U.S. The intellectual property of a global brand has never been more critical to business growth, innovation and survival – this is an exciting time to be leading the team and we are grateful to Andreas for his leadership, passion and commitment over the last 15 years.”

Current head of IPMT Andreas von Falck, who headed the practice since 2003, will remain at Hogan Lovells and continue with his active portfolio of client work. Burkhart Goebel will stand down from his current role as Continental Europe Managing Partner. His replacement will be announced in due course.

The national defense firm of Foley & Mansfield announced that it has opened an office in Denver, Colorado, to accommodate regional and national clients in commercial litigation and insurance defense matters.

The office will be led by Dustin J. Priebe, a litigator licensed to practice in Colorado and California.

“We have been closely examining our opportunities to expand in the Denver area and are extremely pleased to see our plan come to fruition with Dustin’s involvement,” says founding partner Kyle Mansfield. “His energy and experience will be a tremendous asset to our clients and to the firm.” “It is a enormous opportunity to participate in the firm’s expansion into the Denver and greater Colorado area,” adds Priebe. “With a healthy business climate and great standard of living, I see ample opportunities to better serve clients and continue to expand our footprint in the region.”

This is the third office the firm has opened in the last two years, in addition to Kansas City and Indianapolis, the firm said in a release. Foley & Mansfield now has 14 offices across the U.S. The new Denver office is located at 7887 E. Belleview Avenue, Suite 1215, Englewood, Colorado 80111.

Veteran Beijing-based lawyers James M. Zimmerman and Scott J. Palmer have joined Perkins Coie’s Beijing office as partners. Zimmerman will join the firm’s Business practice, and Palmer will join the Intellectual Property practice.

In a release, the firm said the two have worked in China for most of the past three decades.

“It’s a significant gain for the firm to welcome Jim and Scott, two esteemed lawyers who bolster our growing teams in Beijing and Shanghai,” said Michael House, Managing Partner of Perkins Coie’s Beijing office. “Their exceptional experience and impressive track records in China further our ability to counsel our clients—particularly U.S. companies—in the transactional, regulatory, trademark, litigation and e-commerce areas.”

Geoffrey Vance, Managing Partner of Perkins Coie’s Shanghai office, adds: “The addition of Jim and Scott is a game-changer for Perkins Coie China and further demonstrates our commitment to maintaining a tier-one China practice and growing our offices here.”

Zimmerman previously led Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP’s Beijing office and has worked in the country since the late 1990s. He counsels U.S. companies across a broad range of industries on corporate, transactional, regulatory and litigation matters. He has experience with M&A, labor and employment and dispute resolution as well as with investments related to joint ventures, manufacturing, liquidation and dissolution.

He is the Chairman Emeritus of the American Chamber of Commerce in China and has served as its chairman and vice chairman on multiple occasions. He is the lead author of the ABA China Law Deskbook, a legal reference for companies doing business in China. He is regularly recognized as one of China’s leading business lawyers in the categories of Chinese Law, Dispute Resolution and General Corporate Law in the AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers Survey, and the International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers for Arbitration, and as a Leading Individual in the category of Corporate/M&A for foreign law firms in China in the AsiaPacific Legal 500: The Guide to Asia’s Commercial Law Firms. Zimmerman earned his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law, and received his M.B.A. and B.A. from the University of California, Irvine.

Scott also joins Perkins Coie from Sheppard Mullin, where he was a partner. Fluent in Mandarin, he has spent his entire legal career in China beginning in the early 2000s. He advises clients on in-bound China IP enforcement, particularly with trademark, copyright, trade dress, patent and unfair competition matters involving IP. Scott manages IP portfolios for large multinational companies, including registration, prosecution, acquisition, maintenance, licensing, enforcement, and litigation of IP rights. His practice also includes customs registration/enforcement of IP, and the enforcement of IP on e-commerce sites, in social media and on mobile apps in China. Scott regularly advises on technology transfers, brand development and advertising, cross-border registration and enforcement of IP, complex IP litigation, as well as product quality and product approval/registration compliance for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and health foods. Scott also advises technology and telecommunications companies on Internet regulatory, Internet governance, and cyber security matters involving China.

Palamer was listed in Chambers Global and Chambers Asia as a Leading Lawyer (Intellectual Property) for 2018, and has been listed each year since 2011. He also has been listed as a Leading Individual by the World Trademark Review (2010-2018) and is recommended by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2016-2018). Scott earned his J.D. from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Bloomington, and received his B.A. from Northern Arizona University.

“As our offices in Beijing and Shanghai have grown in recent years, we’ve seen a sharp increase in clients seeking specialized assistance as they enter or expand their presences in those markets,” said John Devaney, Firmwide Managing Partner. “Jim and Scott’s knowledge and experience after many years in China address our clients’ growing needs in Asia when it comes to investments in a wide array of matters including joint ventures, banking and finance, evolving regulations, data privacy, cryptocurrency and IP enforcement.”

Also joining them at Perkins Coie will be a team of associates, paralegals and support staff.

Gauri Prakash-Canjels, Ph.D. has joined Litigation Economics, LLC as a principal in its Washington, DC office.

In a release, the firm said Prakash-Canjels has worked on more than 150 cases, including intellectual property, antitrust, breach of contract, natural resource damages, personal injury and other matters. She is a seasoned expert and has served as an expert in federal and state courts as well as mediation and the Federal Trade Commission hearings, according to the firm.

Prior to being a principal at Litigation Economics, Prakash-Canjels was a consulting director at Brewer Attorneys and Counselors (formerly, Bickel and Brewer). She was a managing director and founding member of GreatBridge Consulting, Inc. Prior to founding GreatBridge Consulting in 2012, Prakash-Canjels was a principal at The Kenrich Group, a national business and litigation consulting firm.

Her background includes academic, corporate, economic consulting, and non-governmental organization positions.

Lisa M. Gingerich has joined Michael Best‘s Transactional Practice Group as a partner. Gingerich will be based in the firm’s Milwaukee office, focusing her practice on healthcare law.

In a release, the firm said Gingerich represents a variety of clients in the healthcare industry including hospitals, religious and charitable organizations, physician groups, ancillary providers, and suppliers. Gingerich works on transactions, strategic opportunities, and implementation and corporate compliance. She has successfully negotiated and completed numerous acquisitions, reorganizations, mergers, divestitures, and joint ventures, according to the release.

“Lisa’s impressive background and her breadth of experience will add great value to our clients in the healthcare space,” said David Krutz, firm Managing Partner. “Her industry-leading knowledge and her reputation will be a tremendous asset in our growing healthcare practice.”

“The firm’s priority in expanding its work in the healthcare industry, combined with the growth and all-encompassing talent of the Michael Best Strategies’ healthcare team, will allow me to expand my service offerings to my clients,” said Gingerich. “I’m looking forward to joining the firm and working alongside my new colleagues.”

Prior to joining Michael Best, Gingerich was a shareholder at a large Wisconsin-based law firm. She started her legal career at Legal Action of Wisconsin, representing low income clients in Southeastern Wisconsin. Gingerich is frequently a speaker on physician practice management, compensation and leasing arrangements, development of strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions and physician practice models topics. She has also been recognized as AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale Hubbell® and listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in Health Care Law.

Gingerich received her J.D., Dean’s Scholar, from California Western and her B.A., Chancellor’s Scholar, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Nikia L. Gray has been named managing partner of Quarles & Brady LLP’s Washington, D.C. office, effective May 1, 2018.

Gray succeeds Larry P. Cote, who served in the role since 2014, and will now focus on leading the DEA Compliance & Litigation Practice Group in Washington D.C.

“Nikia is a skilled litigator whose years at Quarles & Brady have proven her to be an excellent leader committed to client service, expanding our inclusion initiatives, and supporting the overall success of the firm,” said Kimberly Leach Johnson, Firm Chair of Quarles & Brady. “I am grateful for Larry’s years of leadership and am confident that Nikia will take the blueprint that has been created and continue to grow and advance our D.C. office.”

Gray, who joined Quarles & Brady in 2007, is a partner in the Intellectual Property Group. Before beginning her private law practice, Gray worked for several years as a physicist, developing optical software solutions for the illumination industries.

“I am honored to follow in the footsteps of an exemplary leader such as Larry,” said Gray. “He is a steward of the firm in the truest sense, and I look forward to continuing the office’s upward trajectory in the ever-important D.C. market.”

Gray is actively involved in firm administration, including serving as the Washington D.C. Chair of Quarles & Brady’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, the Washington D.C. Chair of Quarles & Brady’s Women’s Forum, and a member of the IP Litigation Client Development Committee. She was selected as a 2018 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity fellow and has been named in Southwest Super Lawyers® – Rising Stars (2014–2017: Intellectual Property), a 2012 Up & Comer by Inside Tucson Business, and a 40 Under 40 honoree by Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (2012). She received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and J.D. from the University of Arizona–James E. Rogers College of Law.

Emily R. Lyons has joined Michael Best as an associate in the Transactional Practice Group. Lyons will be based in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office, focusing her practice on regulatory matters for the firm’s Agribusiness, Food & Beverage clients.

“Having provided regulatory and legal advice to clients across the country as counsel to IDFA, Emily brings a unique perspective and set of relationships and experiences to help us continue the expansion of our depth and breadth of practitioners serving the agriculture, food and beverage sectors,” said Dave Crass, Co-Chair of the firm’s Agribusiness and Food & Beverage Industry Team. “With the recent activities of FDA and USDA, Emily will be a great asset to our group and clients.”

In a release, the firm said Lyons has experience in complex regulatory matters including food safety, food labeling and marketing, environmental, worker safety, sustainability and organic standards. “Having grown up on a dairy farm and with a strong background in food, environmental, and safety regulation of livestock operations and food processors, Emily has an extensive understanding of the food processing business and leverages her experience to help clients navigate the complex and often changing regulatory environment. She is experienced in obtaining successful outcomes in issues that arise with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),” according to the release.

“Learning how a client’s business operates is invaluable in providing quality legal advice,” said Lyons. “I’m looking forward to bringing that skill set combined with my experience as in-house counsel to a national trade association to assist farmers and food and beverage companies with their legal and regulatory compliance issues, be they international or domestic.”

Lyons will be a member of the firm’s Agribusiness and Food & Beverage industry team, whose lawyers and technical experts work with producers, food companies and processors, among other industry clients. Michael Best’s team frequently collaborates with members of Michael Best Strategies LLC, the firm’s government relations and public affairs affiliate, to provide clients a full range of strategic services regarding the regulatory and policy challenges and opportunities in these industries.

Prior to joining Michael Best, Lyons served as the director of regulatory affairs and counsel for the International Dairy Foods Association where she was responsible for working with members and government agencies on environmental, worker safety and sustainability issues, as well as food and safety defense. Lyons also managed contracts, provided statutory and regulation interpretations, and oversaw active litigation, handled in-house discovery, and monitored association activities for antitrust issues.

Lyons received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Vermont Law School where she served as the head note editor of the Vermont Law Review. She also earned her B.S., with honors, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Hughes Hubbard & Reed announced that Ryan Fayhee has joined the firm as a partner and will be head of the Sanctions, Export Control and Anti-Money Laundering Group within the larger International Trade Practice.

Fayhee, a U.S. Department of Justice veteran, joins the firm from Baker McKenzie. At DOJ, Fayhee served as the National Export Control Coordinator, the principal attorney overseeing export control and sanctions investigations and prosecutions nationally.

In a release, the firm said Fayhee represents companies, boards of directors, audit committees and senior executives in internal and government facing cross-border investigations, and advises clients on compliance and acquisition due diligence with a focus on sanctions, export controls, anti-money laundering, anti-corruption and cybersecurity. Fayhee has experience assisting multinational companies facing crises and other high-profile reputational risks.

“International Trade is an increasingly important component of our transnational business,” said Ted Mayer, the Chair of Hughes Hubbard. “We think Ryan brings substantial strengths in export controls and sanctions that will prove extremely valuable to our clients on their most sophisticated issues.”

During his 11 years at the DOJ, Fayhee prosecuted cases involving export controls, sanctions, cybercrime, trade secret theft and espionage. He received recognition from the U.S. Attorney General for devising a model approach to the identification and disruption of foreign military supply and proliferation networks. Fayhee also led an investigation and prosecution of a multinational company that resulted in the largest criminal fine to date for sanctions violations.

Fayhee’s government experience also includes service as a trial attorney with the DOJ’s Civil Fraud Section, where he handled matters arising under the False Claims Act; he was also an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois.

“Ryan Fayhee brings tremendous experience and a unique perspective to the complex OFAC, money laundering and cyber-related investigations and compliance matters that our clients increasingly face,” said Joanne Osendarp, Chair of Hughes Hubbard’s International Trade Practice. “We are thrilled to have him join our talented team.”

“As companies continue to confront the increasingly dynamic landscape and intense enforcement environment around sanctions, export controls and related issues affecting global supply chains, I am confident my clients will benefit from Hughes Hubbard’s platform,” said Fayhee, “and I’m looking forward to collaborating with a group of distinguished colleagues who share an absolute commitment to client service.”

Fayhee received his J.D. cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center and his B.A. from Purdue University.

Jennifer L. Galloway has joined Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP’s Tampa office as counsel in the Banking and Financial Services Practice Group. She will serve as co-chair of the firm’s Small Dollar Lending team.

“We welcome Jennifer to our Tampa office,” said Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Beau Grenier. “Jennifer brings deep experience in diverse financial matters, including regulatory and compliance issues, and she is a great fit for our Florida-based team of banking and financial services attorneys.”

In a release, the firm said Galloway focuses on consumer financial services laws and regulations affecting banks, non-depository banks, including small dollar lenders, and other financial institutions. Her compliance work includes assisting clients with developing, implementing and maintaining compliance management systems, performing internal compliance audits for clients, preparing clients for outside audits, and preparing related lending documents and disclosures. She also counsels financial services companies regarding Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) preparedness, implementation and operational strategies for complying with the CFPB’s regulations. In addition, Ms. Galloway assists business with all aspects of corporate law.

Galloway received her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law, her M.B.A. from Stetson University, and her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Georgia.

Wayne P. Bunch, Jr. has joined FisherBroyles, LLP as a partner in the Franchising practice group, based in the firm’s Houston office.

“Wayne brings to FisherBroyles a deep background in franchise law both in private practice and as general counsel and CEO of a franchise company,” said Julie Innmon, FisherBroyles Texas area managing partner. “Wayne’s multi-layered experience in diverse business and franchise issues is a great asset to our clients. We are thrilled to welcome him to the firm.”

Bunch said, “I am excited to bring my franchising practice to FisherBroyles, which provides clients with exceptional service and Big Law-caliber legal representation along with efficiencies that are intrinsic to the firm’s distributed partnership platform. I look forward to continuing to grow the firm’s franchising practice in representing clients in a broad spectrum of industries on the complex transactional and regulatory issues that are so crucial to business success.”

In a release, the firm said Bunch has structured, documented and helped launch a multitude of franchise programs for companies across a variety of industries, including restaurants, video game stores, furniture stores, optometry clinics, haircut salons, billiard halls, recruitment firms, and companies involved in real estate, insurance, pet care service, durable medical equipment sales, automobile repairs, tax services and educational art.

Bunch most recently was a partner in the Franchise and Distribution Practice Group at DLA Piper in Houston. He also is former member of the Franchise and Corporate practice groups at Jackson Walker LLP, also in Houston. Previously, he served as general counsel and CEO for Crescent City Beignets, Inc., where he was instrumental in establishing Crescent City as a national franchise company with locations from Georgia to California. For Crescent City Beignets, he was responsible for establishing the legal and business infrastructures necessary for aggressive franchise growth as well as managing the franchisor/franchisee relationship. Utilizing the franchise model, he expanded Crescent City to a system that included nearly 40 franchisees with more than 100 units in development.

Bunch received his J.D. from Louisiana State University Law Center, his Master of Laws from McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific, and his Bachelor of Science from Louisiana State University.

Barnes & Thornburg LLP has added Gray Mateo-Harris as a partner in the Labor & Employment Law Department. Joining from Ogletree Deakins, Mateo-Harris will reside in the firm’s Chicago office, which has added five partners this year.

Mateo-Harris, a native Spanish speaker from the Dominican Republic, has clients including employers in the manufacturing, retail, technology and real estate industries.

In a release, the firm said Mateo-Harris has experience defending employers in litigation at both the state and federal court level through trial and appeal, including in restrictive covenant and contract- and tort-based actions, as well as with respect to alleged violations of wage payment and equal employment opportunity laws. She represents clients in arbitrations, mediations and administrative proceedings, including before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the Illinois Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board. Her traditional labor practice includes assisting clients with union-avoidance issues, election proceedings, collective bargaining, grievance and contract arbitrations, and unfair labor practice charges.

“We’re off to an incredibly strong start with recruiting this year and the pipeline remains full of exceptional and diverse talent who are attracted to an ascendant practice in a full-service firm,” said Ken Yerkes, chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Law Department, which has added partners Amy Zdravecky, Dawn Collins and Tae Kim in recent weeks. “Gray’s sophisticated experience in employment litigation and traditional labor law and commitment to excellent client service make her a true asset for our practice.”

Mateo-Harris provides pro bono representation to several nonprofit organizations on employment matters, and has represented indigent clients as part of the Circuit Court of Cook County Domestic Violence Clinic and the Northern District of Illinois Judicial Settlement Assistance Program. She is actively involved with the National Bar Association, the Black Women Lawyers Association, the Women’s Coalition, the Hispanic National Bar Association, the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She routinely mentors underrepresented students and attorneys through the Chicago Committee and the University of Illinois. Mateo-Harris also serves as a hearing officer and board member of the Cook County Sheriff’s Merit Board.

“Gray is the ‘complete package’ when it comes to tackling the most complex employment issues and offering proactive counseling to clients,” said Mark Rust, managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg’s Chicago office. “We’re thrilled to have her aboard.”

Mateo-Harris received her J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law and a B.S from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, both cum laude.

DLA Piper announced that Boston-based partner Larissa Park has been named co-head of the firm’s Patent Prosecution practice, partners Matthew Satchwell and Keith Medansky have been named co-heads of the Chicago Intellectual Property and Technology practice, and partner Nicholas Papastavros has been named head of IPT in Boston.

Park will serve as the co-head of Patent Prosecution alongside Daniel Christenbury, who has been serving as the sole head of the practice since 2005. She concentrates on patent and other intellectual property strategy, counseling, prosecution, diligence and litigation in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and federal courts, with a focus on the tech sector.

Satchwell and Medansky succeed Christina Martini in Chicago. Satchwell focuses his patent litigation practice on representing clients in the automotive device, semiconductor, integrated circuit, navigation, mobile communications device, power electronics and communications technology industries. Medansky’s practice focuses on a range of transactional and litigation matters pertaining to trademarks, copyrights, software, anti-counterfeiting and technology. He has particular experience in counseling clients in matters involving the protection of website content and domain names and in developing cyberspace and copyright policies.

Papastavros succeeds Mike McGurk as head of the Boston IPT practice and focuses his practice on technology-related litigation and licensing matters, with a particular emphasis on patent, trade secret, trademark and copyright disputes. He also has significant experience handling intellectual property transactions and related due diligence, and negotiating content, distribution, services and data reseller agreements.