Buchalter announced that a team of attorneys, Evelyn Kahl, Michael Alcantar, Nora Sheriff, Donald Brookhyser, and Katherine “Katy” Morsony, have joined the firm as members of its Energy & Natural Resources Group in the San Francisco office.

Joining the firm from Alcantar & Kahl, the team, including two analysts and a legal administrator, provides regulatory and corporate counsel to private companies engaged in energy matters, the firm said. The group’s experience includes matters relating to climate change, electricity, natural gas, clean energy, and demand response.

“Enhancing the firm’s energy expertise has been a high priority for us, and we are thrilled to welcome this talented team of attorneys to Buchalter,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Adam J. Bass.

With more than three decades of experience in the energy industry, Kahl advises electricity and natural gas infrastructure owners, transporters, and end-users on the integration of California energy laws and regulations. She also has experience representing the regulated industries of water, telecommunications and transportation, most recently on the topic of passenger transportation using autonomous vehicles. Kahl earned her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of California, Hastings School of Law and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Concordia College.

“We are delighted to join Buchalter. With the firm’s well-established reputation and full service platform, our team will be able to service our clients on a larger scale,” said Kahl.

Alcantar’s experience includes energy policy and infrastructure development, legislative actions, administrative and judicial litigation, agency and regulatory compliance, engagement, and advocacy. He represents large industrial customers, conventional and renewable project developers, generation operations and procurement entities. Specifically, Alcantar handles solicitations, compliance, and the negotiation and development of successful agreements in support of new or repowered projects. Further, a significant part of his practice addresses project development, ongoing operations and regulatory compliance for large cogeneration or combined heat and power (CHP) resources under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA). He earned his J.D. from the University of Southern California, Gould School of Law and his B.A. from the University of Southern California.

“Buchalter’s growth and commitment to the future is remarkable,” added Alcantar. “I am excited to be joining lawyers that provide clients with outstanding service and effective business solutions.”

Sheriff focuses her practice on electric and natural gas regulatory and administrative litigation, legislative efforts, and end-use contractual transactions; she works to ensure clean energy tools are available for large end-use customers to help mitigate the impacts of the high cost of California power on California manufacturing. She received her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law, her B.A. in International Affairs at George Washington University, and her M.A. in International Affairs from California State University, Sacramento.

“I am so excited to continue to represent our clients at Buchalter and for the opportunity to grow our practice with the impressive platform Buchalter provides,” said Sheriff.

As a civil litigator and a utility law specialist, Brookhyser represents independent generators. He earned his J.D. from Georgetown Law and his B.A. from the University of Oregon. Morsony’s experience includes California’s energy efficiency and greenhouse gas programs. She earned her J.D. with honors from The University of Texas School of Law and her B.A. from Emory University where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Lui Chambers, an international business attorney and shareholder with Langley & Banack, Inc., has earned the ANSI-accredited Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) credential through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

The CIPP is the global standard in privacy certification. Developed and launched by the IAPP with leading subject matter experts, the CIPP is the world’s first broad-based global privacy and data protection credentialing program.

In a release, the firm said Chambers counsels clients on privacy and data protection, data breach response, cybersecurity and general cyber-contracting matters. Chambers has experience in crisis management, both in information privacy matters, as well as in general disaster response. Prior to joining Langley & Banack, she served as regional general counsel for a large multi-national corporation and was alternate incident commander of the regional incident response team.

In addition to crisis management, Chambers assists clients with drafting and implementation of cyber-security and general incident response plans and structures, enhanced compliance, and governance policies and protocols, the firm said. She also advises financial institutions and industry clients in the drafting and negotiation of their website development, website hosting, SaaS agreements and other internet and data-based service agreements.

“Unfortunately, laws and their communication are not keeping up with the rapid advances of technology. As a result, corporations, business owners, financial institutions and others in private and public industries are not adequately prepared when a data breach occurs,” said Chambers.

“A breach can involve the unauthorized access of personal information or otherwise confidential data, such as trade secrets, confidential business processes, corporate structures and more,” Chambers said.

“The challenge is that laws vary on state and federal levels as to what is considered confidential information in the first place and how to handle a breach or theft of such information or access to any system containing such confidential information,” she continued.

“That is why it is imperative for organizations, small and large, to have protective provisions and procedures in place both in their contracts, on their websites and in internal policies,” added Chambers.

Lui Chambers holds the following academic degrees: Juris Doctor, University of Houston Law Center, cum laude, 2008; Master of Business Administration, University of Chicago, 2000; M.Sc. (Econs), London School of Economics, 1993; and a B.A. with Joint Honors, 1989, Leeds University. She is fluent in German and Spanish.

Jeffrey J. Catalano has joined Freeborn & Peters LLP as a partner in the Litigation and Intellectual Property (IP) practice groups.

“We are thrilled to welcome Jeff to the firm,” said Jennifer L. Fitzgerald, a Partner and Leader of Freeborn’s Intellectual Property Practice Group. “With his experience and successes in high-stakes litigation and licensing matters, Jeff will further expand the depth and scope of both our trial and IP teams as we continue to focus on helping our clients achieve their business goals.”

Based in Freeborn’s Chicago office, Catalano focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation as well as IP-adjacent commercial litigation. His experience includes patent, copyright, trade secret, trademark and unfair competition disputes before federal courts, arbitrators, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and the International Trade Commission. He has in-depth experience related to patent licensing, including the licensing of standards-essential patents on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms.

Prior to joining Freeborn, Catalano was a shareholder at Brinks, Gilson & Lione in Chicago.

Catalano received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and his Bachelor of Arts from Miami University.

FisherBroyles, LLP has expanded its Cyber-Risk; Privacy & Data Security practice group with the arrival of new partner Stuart Panensky. Based in the firm’s Princeton, N.J. office, Panensky is the former co-chair of a boutique insurance law firm’s Cyber-Risk, Technology & Data Security practice group.

“Privacy and data security are very current issues with which the leadership of all of our clients are dealing,” said FisherBroyles, LLP General Counsel and Managing Partner of Litigation Joel M. Ferdinand. “The importance of offering the full spectrum of cyber and privacy legal services is absolutely unmistakable. Having Stu on board will allow us to further meet the cyber liability needs of our clients and, in particular, bolster the firm’s data breach incident response and technology liability capabilities. Stu will be an exciting addition to the Cyber-Risk; Privacy & Data Security and Litigation practice groups.”

Panensky said, “I am so pleased to be part of a firm that truly appreciates the relationship between cyber-risk, technology and privacy. This is a unique opportunity for me to offer my clients FisherBroyles’ full suite of privacy counseling. I am also very impressed with FisherBroyles’ own embrace of technology, as well as its deep bench in the privacy and technology areas across multiple industry sectors.”

Panensky is a business attorney and commercial litigator. His practice is concentrated in cyber-risk/technology, design professional and construction litigation, environmental liability, and other miscellaneous professional liability.

In a release, the firm said Panensky leads breach response investigations and provides legal advice on the nature of cyber occurrences, scope of data exfiltration, obligations to notify impacted consumers and/or state and federal government regulators, as well as contractual obligations to comply with the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards. As breach counsel, Panensky is networked with other breach response vendors (IT, forensics, e-discovery, public relations, breach notification and others) and coordinates them in data breach response efforts including print and email notification, call-center management, credit monitoring and restoration services, and other cyber-incident response activity.

The firm said Panensky provides legal counsel related to pre-breach cyber-risk preparedness including, without limitation, drafting incident response planning documents, hosting mock-breach “tabletop” presentations to clients, opining on privacy and data and information security company policies, and reviewing technology vendor/provider contract agreements and scope documents. He previously served as co-chair of the Claims & Litigation Management Alliance’s Cyber Liability Committee and frequently speaks and writes on cyber-risk.

Prior to joining FisherBroyles, Panensky was a partner at Traub Lieberman Straus & Shrewsberry LLP. He is admitted to practice law in state and federal courts in New Jersey and New York and has been recognized as a New Jersey Super Lawyer or Rising Star on multiple occasions. Mr. Panensky received his J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law and his Bachelor of Science in Cinema Studies from Ithaca College.

Jason Lewis and Jason Hopkins have joined DLA Piper’s Litigation practice as partners in Dallas.

Lewis is a former enforcement attorney with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission who handles civil and criminal regulatory investigations and litigation matters. His practice focuses on SEC enforcement, government investigations, internal corporate investigations, FCPA matters, white collar criminal defense, securities litigation, crisis management and business disputes.

Hopkins focuses on securities litigation, including defending civil and criminal investigations and lawsuits brought by the SEC, FINRA, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, IRS and DOJ, as well as state securities agencies and state attorneys general.

“Jason and Jason are talented trial lawyers with considerable experience in high-stakes criminal and civil matters,” said Loren Brown, co-chair of DLA Piper’s global and US Litigation practices. “They immediately enhance both our growing litigation team in Dallas and our trial bench nationally.”

“These additions will enhance our growing platform in Dallas, a crucial market for many clients, as we continue to expand there and across the state,” said Marc Katz, managing partner of the firm’s Dallas office. “They bring strong reputations as high-caliber individuals and attorneys who have a phenomenal litigation and regulatory investigation practice. We are extremely excited to welcome them to the firm.”

The firm’s expansion in Texas this year has also included Litigation partners Rob Hoffman, Michael Moore and Matthew Nickel; Employment partners Marc Katz and Isabel Crosby; and Corporate partner Steven Bartz in Dallas. In Austin, the firm recently welcomed Corporate partners David Parrish, Nicole Brennig, Elise Green, Philip Svahn, Sara Stinnett and Richard Cardillo.

Lewis and Hopkins join from Greenberg Traurig LLP. Lewis received his J.D. from Cornell Law School and his B.A. from the University of Oklahoma. Hopkins received his J.D. from the College of William and Mary and his B.A. from the University of Mississippi.

Foley Gardere LLP announced that Cynthia Harkness has joined the firm’s Finance practice as Of Counsel in the Austin office. Harkness joins Foley from Haddad Legal Group, P.C. where she was the head of the Business Transaction practice.

In a release, the firm said that, for more than 30 years, Harkness has counseled global businesses ranging from start-ups to large corporate entities in financial and structured transactions, mergers and acquisitions, dispositions of assets and entities, and creating and dismantling business entities. She also has experience counseling clients with regard to corporate bankruptcies, restructurings, risk management, licensing, and compliance and employment arrangements. Harkness advises clients in domestic and international financial and capital markets, as well as in the corporate, real estate, consumer and energy sectors.

Before entering private practice, Harkness was the general counsel of the Gapstone Group LLC; general counsel of The Weston Group; and senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Fieldstone Investment Corporation/Fieldstone Mortgage Company. She also has worked in varying in-house positions at Constellation Power Source, Inc., Enron Broadband Services, Enron Wholesale and Crédit Agricole Indosuez.

“Cynthia’s diverse transactional practice paired with her extensive in-house counsel experience provides our team with a unique perspective as we help our clients tackle some of today’s toughest issues,” said Laura Bilas, chair of Foley’s Finance practice.

The firm said Harkness also has business management experience and has been called upon to help clients build legal, compliance, human resources and quality control departments. As it relates to aiding human resource departments, Harkness has experience drafting and implementing policies and procedures, online training and online performance-management systems.

“Cynthia will be a great addition to Foley Gardere and to our Austin office as we expand our capabilities and services in the private equity and corporate practices,” said Kimberly Yelkin, managing partner of Foley Gardere’s Austin office.

Harkness also is a qualified as a FINRA Non-Public arbitrator.

Estes Thorne & Carr PLLC is celebrating its 10th anniversary as one of the largest women-owned law firms in North Texas. The Dallas Business Journal has ranked the firm among North Texas’ 100 largest women-owned businesses. And for six consecutive years, the firm has made the list of Best Law Firms by U.S. News – Best Lawyers in America.

In a release, the firm said the firm’s partners Dawn Estes, Jessica Thorne and Lori Carr have decades of big firm experience. Their varied practice includes commercial litigation, labor and employment matters, family law, construction, energy litigation, ERISA litigation, professional liability, and alternative dispute resolution. The firm also often serves as Texas local counsel.

“We seized an opportunity 10 years ago to create a firm that allowed us to unite our strengths, and we’ve never looked back,” said Estes, who was selected a Top 100 commercial litigator in Texas in 2017 by Super Lawyers. “We said we always wanted to swim in the deep end. By creating the right environment for us and our clients, we’ve never been out of our depth.”

Thorne, regularly recognized by Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers in America for her family law practice, credits the success of the firm to its devotion to serving clients. “We established a goal to be a law firm where collaboration, seamless integration and creative problem-solving represent the rule rather than the exception,” she said. “And we wanted to have fun.”

Carr, Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, is an experienced mediator and arbitrator who delivers expertise in all aspects of her practice, from litigation to workplace investigations, the firm said. “Our women-owned status made us unique 10 years ago, but today we’re known for the quality of our legal counsel, and that’s how we like it,” she said.

Carol Payne, also selected a Top 100 commercial litigator in Texas by Super Lawyers for 2017, said the future of the firm looks bright as it builds upon the vision and tenacity of the firm’s founding principals.

Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP (formerly Hunton & Williams and Andrews Kurth Kenyon) began its new fiscal year on April 1 with the promotion of the following 14 lawyers:

Administrative Law
Samuel L. Brown, San Francisco

Corporate
Brittany M. Bacon, New York
Taylor E. Landry, Houston
Lawton B. Way, Richmond

Energy & Infrastructure
Parker A. Lee, Houston
Chumbhot Plangtrakul, Bangkok

Labor & Employment
Ryan M. Bates, Washington
Robert T. Dumbacher, Atlanta

Litigation
Brian C. Pidcock, Houston
Bridget B. Vick, Houston
Thomas R. Waskom, Richmond

Public Finance
Clayton T. Holland, Houston

Tax & ERISA
Hilary B. Lefko, Washington
Jocelyn Tau, Houston

L-R: Scott Tuthill, Cynthia “Cindy” Brotman Nelson, Kevin L. Kelley, George C. Dunlap Jr.

Jackson Walker announced that Cynthia “Cindy” Brotman Nelson, George C. Dunlap Jr., Kevin L. Kelley and Scott Tuthill have joined the firm as partners in the real estate practice group in the Dallas office.

“We are privileged to have this exceptional group of lawyers join Jackson Walker,” said Wade Cooper, the firm’s managing partner. “They are well-known and highly respected in the real estate and legal communities, and we are very excited to call them our partners. Each of them brings unique experience and knowledge to the practice and shares our goal of providing unmatched client service in a great law firm environment.”

Kelley served as chair of the real estate practice and Nelson was chair of the hospitality practice at their previous law firm.

“We are thrilled to join Jackson Walker and work alongside attorneys we know and respect,” Kelley said. “The firm’s commitment to client service, efficiency, and low overhead adds a value we can continue to pass along to our clients.”

The addition of these four partners brings the total to seven partners who have joined Jackson Walker so far in 2018, the firm said. Also joining the real estate practice are associates James L. Miers and Ben Whitehill, who previously worked with the group, and Gabriela Rawlings.

Cynthia Brotman Nelson has more than 25 years’ experience representing and consulting institutional and entrepreneurial companies that develop, own, operate, finance, lease, and manage all types of commercial properties, with an emphasis on hotels and resorts and mixed-use developments. She handles complex commercial real estate and financing transactions, both within the United States and abroad. She received her J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law, where she received the American Jurisprudence Award and served as a member of Phi Delta Phi Honor Society, a law intern for a Western District of Texas judge, and a senior associate editor of St. Mary’s Law Journal.

George C. Dunlap Jr. has more than 30 years of experience in real estate, commercial finance, and investment funds and investor representation. His practice focuses on the representation of lenders and borrowers in loan transactions, acquisition and disposition transactions, and leasing and development matters. He represents clients in complex, large-scale projects such as major multifamily residential developments. Dunlap received his J.D. from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.

Kevin L. Kelley has more than 30 years’ experience in real estate development, investment, and finance in Texas and throughout the nation. His clientele includes commercial real estate developers, stakeholders in high-profile urban developments, hoteliers, and developers of corporate headquarters, campuses, and Fortune 500 companies. He is board certified in commercial real estate by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He received his J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law, where he served as an articles editor of St. Mary’s Law Journal.

Scott Tuthill has experience handling various commercial real estate transactions, particularly those involving the acquisition, financing, development, management, leasing, and disposition of office, industrial, multifamily, and retail development projects. He primarily works with senior executives and corporate counsel of domestic and global private equity funds, national retail companies, and national and regional real estate enterprises. He also has experience handling build-to-suit leases and acquisitions. Tuthill received his J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law.

Craig M. Borowski has joined Littler as a shareholder in the firm’s Indianapolis office. Borowski was previously a partner at Faegre Baker Daniels LLP. Borowski’s arrival marks the sixth lateral shareholder the firm has recruited since January.

“Craig is a skilled litigator and a fantastic addition to our team in Indiana,” said Alan L. McLaughlin, Littler’s Office Managing Shareholder in Indianapolis and Denver. “With a background that includes litigating more than 200 federal and state cases across the country, his deep knowledge of the employment and regulatory landscape will be a valuable resource for our clients.”

In a release, the firm said Borowski has experience defending employers in jury trials, appeals and single and multi-plaintiff litigation matters. Borowski’s trial victories include the defense of Fortune 500 companies against discrimination and retaliation claims in federal court in Indiana and against employment-related claims in Wisconsin state court, and he has defended employers in employment litigation in Indiana and more than 20 other states.

The firm said Borowski regularly represents companies before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission where he has defended more than 300 charges before the agency. He also represents clients before other federal, state and local administrative agencies and provides clients with proactive counsel on employment policy and personnel matters and training.

“I’m excited to join the strong team Littler has assembled here in Indiana, a state with a vibrant and growing economy,” Borowski said. “I’ve long admired Littler’s innovative approach, and I’m excited to join a firm with a deep focus on labor and employment law combined with a growing global footprint.”

Borowski received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Indiana University’s Robert H. McKinney School of Law and his B.S. from Indiana University.

Craig P. Chick has joined Foley Gardere’s Government Solutions Practice Group in its Austin, Texas office as Director of Public Affairs.

Chick is the founder of Capitol Partners Consulting and has been involved in Texas politics for over 20 year as a senior adviser in the Texas House and Senate on a variety of topics ranging from alcohol, economic development, electric generation and transmission, employment, environmental regulation, housing, immigration, pharmaceuticals, property rights, real estate, tax and transportation.

Consistently named to the Texas Lobby Power Rankings at CapitolInside.com, Chick has expertise in the sunset advisory process, drafting legislation, authoring interim reports, and directing political campaigns, the firm said in a release.

“We are thrilled that Craig has joined our Government Solutions Practice at our newly combined firm,” said Kim Yelkin, managing partner of Foley Gardere’s Austin office and co-chair of the State and Local Government Solutions Practice Group. “His joining Foley Gardere allows us to continue to strengthen and grow this practice group into a core practice area for the firm and its clients.”

“Our clients consider us as trusted advisers when they need to advance their cause before state and local governments throughout the country. Craig’s deep experience with and knowledge of Texas state government will strongly enhance the firm’s ability to provide a broad array of solutions for our clients in Texas,” said Washington, DC Partner David Ralston, chair of the firm’s Government Solutions Practice Group. “I’m also looking forward to working with Craig in Washington, and in other state capitols, as he assists our Texas clients with matters before the federal government and other state governments.”

Prior to founding Capitol Partners Consulting, Chick served as the Senior Business and Regulatory Advisor to Texas House Speaker Joe Straus from 2009-2012 during the 81st and 82nd legislative sessions. Chick handled business and regulator policy issues and monitored committees including the Committee on Business & Industry; the Economic and Small Business Development Committee; the Environmental Regulations Committee; the Energy Resources Committee; the State Affairs Committee; the Transportation Committee; and the Technology Committee.

Prior to his work in the Speaker’s office, Chick was the director of political affairs for the 90,000-member Texas Association of Realtors. He also was a senior policy adviser for Texas State Senator Kyle Janek of Houston and served for six years as chief clerk for Texas State Representative Fred Bosse of Houston.

Michael B. Pullano has joined Segal McCambridge Singer and Mahoney, Ltd. as a shareholder in the firm’s Philadelphia office.

“Mike has extensive litigation experience, the utmost integrity and the ability to contribute significantly to realizing our shared vision for the firm’s continued national growth,” said Mark Crane, Segal McCambridge managing shareholder.

Pullano focuses his practice on complex catastrophic injury cases in the products liability realm and in the defense of professional negligence matters. He has represented manufacturers and suppliers of heavy construction equipment, including fuel dispensers, refuse collection vehicles, and Liquified Propane Gas pumps and compressors.

“With Segal McCambridge’s nationally recognized reputation defending products cases, I knew joining the firm would allow me to better serve my clients who have a national presence,” said Michael Pullano. “Sharing in Segal McCambridge’s commitment to client service, joining the firm was the natural next step for me.”

In a release, the firm said Pullano has represented architects, engineers, attorneys and municipal professionals, including prosecutors and police officers in professional liability cases. His clients include public and private entities, including Fortune 500 companies, as well as individuals. He also has experience defending employment claims, and in defamation and civil rights matters.

Pullano previously was with Weber Gallagher in Philadelphia. Prior to his work in civil litigation, he worked as an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia. He received his J.D. from Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law and his B.A. from Catholic University in Washington, D.C.

Adam Ettinger has joined FisherBroyles, LLP as a partner and co-chair of its FinTech and Blockchain practice group, based in the firm’s Los Angeles and Palo Alto, Calif., offices.

“Adam is one of the most highly regarded attorneys practicing in the blockchain space, and our clients will benefit greatly from the significant experience and additional bench strength that he brings to FisherBroyles,” said Michael Pierson, FisherBroyles partner and co-chair of the FinTech and Blockchain practice group, based in the firm’s New York office. “Our FinTech and Blockchain practice group has quickly become one of the largest and most multidisciplinary of its kind at any law firm, serving as the ‘go-to’ counsel for many companies and entities operating in or investing in the fintech and blockchain space.”

In a release, the firm said the FisherBroyles FinTech and Blockchain practice group includes partners who are alumni of the SEC, Goldman Sachs, Deutsche Bank, and other premier investment backs, and have joined from America’s top law firms including Wilmer Hale, Morgan Lewis, Sheppard Mullin, Sidley Austin, Baker & McKenzie, Wilson Sonsini, and Cravath, Swaine & Moore, LLP. The team advises banks, broker-dealers, investment funds, exchanges, technology developers, wallet providers, and other companies making new and exciting uses of blockchain technology. To do so, the team includes partners from different practice groups including securities and private equity, data security and privacy, fund formation, intellectual property, real estate, and technology. They help clients invest in, fund, develop and market the innovative services and products that are revolutionizing the financial services and technology industries.

Kimberly Dempsey Booher, managing partner of FisherBroyles’ Los Angeles and Palo Alto offices, added, “We are thrilled to welcome Adam to our Los Angeles and Palo Alto offices, where we continue to strategically grow our team of highly experienced attorneys in key areas such as data security and privacy, intellectual property, litigation, corporate, real estate and insurance, among others.”

Ettinger said, “I am honored to join and help lead this top-caliber team. Since my first bitcoin technology development agreement in 2012, I have sought to work with the most innovative companies involved in blockchain technologies, and the smartest, most well-educated and experienced attorneys in the space. I am excited for the opportunities we have to help clients achieve success.”

Prior to joining FisherBroyles, Ettinger was a partner and co-leader of the Blockchain Technology and Digital Currency Team at Sheppard Mullin in Los Angeles. He focuses his practice on venture capital and angel financing, technology development, hardware manufacturing, channel relationships, licensing, and privacy for companies involved in many technologies including blockchain and digital currencies, social gaming, Internet advertising, mobile apps, ecommerce, SAAS, semiconductors, and networking. His clients have included AMD, Apple, BitGo, Brave, Comma.ai, DeviceScape, Fakespace, Get Satisfaction, Intel, Internet Devices (acquired by Alcatel), Lightning Labs, Magma Design, MasterCard, New Enterprise Associates, Network Solutions Inc., Nimble Collective, Orchestria (acquired by CA), S3 (acquired by HTC), Self Aware Games (acquired by Big Fish), Tivo, and Undertone Networks. He has represented investors in investments including Hootsuite, Houzz, The Social+Capital Partnership, and SpaceX.

Before Sheppard Mullin, Ettinger was an attorney at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP and served as lead corporate counsel for SmartAge.

The firm said Ettinger frequently writes and speaks on fintech and blockchain technology topics. He recently has presented on blockchain-related legal issues at the UCLA School of Law, Consensus 2017, the FinTech SV Cryptocurrency Law Panel, the State of Digital Money Conference, the USC Marshall School of Business (Lloyd Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies), the American Conference Institute’s Blockchain & Distributed Ledger Technology Conference, the American Conference Institute’s ACI Crypto Virtual and Digital Currency Conference, and the APEX All Payments Conference.

DLA Piper announced that Jeff Tsai has joined the firm’s Litigation, White Collar and Investigations practices as a partner in California, based out of the San Francisco and Los Angeles offices.

Tsai, who previously led Alston & Bird’s State Attorneys General team, represents companies in complex civil and criminal enforcement matters brought by state and federal agencies. He will help lead DLA Piper’s efforts nationally in assisting companies subject to investigative scrutiny by individual and multi-state attorneys general.

Tsai’s state attorneys general practice has included representations in multi-state investigations and lawsuits on a range of issues related to consumer protection, antitrust and health care. His representation has included many industries that are regularly the subject of state attorney general enforcement, such as Internet retail, daily fantasy sports, travel and online higher education.

Additionally, Tsai is active in defending white collar matters in investigations and trials, including representations involving trade secret theft and economic espionage, fraud and public corruption. In January, he served as first-chair counsel in one of the few federal criminal trade secret prosecutions to proceed to trial.

“As both a former federal prosecutor and former senior official in the office of the California attorney general, Jeff immediately will enhance our growing white collar and investigations platform globally,” said Loren Brown, co-chair of DLA Piper’s global and US Litigation practices. “Our clients continue to face a complex and changing regulatory environment at both the state and federal levels, and Jeff is uniquely suited to help them navigate these challenges.”

“As we continue to increase the breadth and depth of our white collar and corporate investigations capabilities in California, as well as our overall litigation platform, Jeff’s vast knowledge and experience will be an important strategic component of our offering,” said Sang Kim, managing partner of the firm’s Northern California offices.

“I’m thrilled with the opportunity to work with DLA’s dynamic team on the West Coast, and I look forward to helping the firm build out the White Collar and Investigations practices here and across the country,” Tsai said.

Tsai previously served as special assistant attorney general in the office of California Attorney General Kamala D. Harris, where he served as a senior advisor to former Attorney General Harris on criminal justice and consumer protection issues and litigation. He was also an assistant US attorney in Miami, a trial attorney for the Public Integrity Section of the Criminal Division of the US Department of Justice, and senior counsel to former Assistant US Attorney General Lanny Breuer. He started his career as a judicial law clerk for US District Judge Vanessa Gilmore in Houston. He received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and his B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin.

Michael D. Hornback has joined Littler as special counsel in the firm’s Lexington, Kentucky, office. He was previously an attorney with Wyatt, Tarrant & Combs LLP.

“Michael brings nearly two decades of impressive litigation experience, including representation of employers with local, national and international operations,” said Kevin Griffith, Lexington Office Managing Shareholder. “He has a strong track record and reputation in Kentucky and Tennessee and will make a great addition to our Lexington office.”

In a release, the firm said Hornback’s practice focuses on representing clients in all aspects of litigation before federal and state courts. He defends companies in a wide-range of employment matters, including discrimination, harassment and retaliation claims, and issues involving breaches of non-compete agreements and other contracts. Hornback also regularly represents clients before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

“I am excited to work with the talented team in the Lexington office and with my new colleagues across the firm’s global platform,” Hornback said. “As employers continue to confront new and existing risks in managing their workforces, I look forward to drawing on Littler’s depth and breadth of knowledge to serve my clients in Kentucky and Tennessee, as well as the many regions in which they operate.”

Hornback received his J.D. from the University of Arkansas School of Law and his B.A. from Eastern Kentucky University. He is a member of the Fayette County Bar Association’s board of directors and a member of the Rotary Club of Lexington.

DLA Piper announced that Tamany Bentz has joined the firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology practice as a partner in Los Angeles.

Bentz, who will be in the Trademark, Copyright and Media subgroup of the firm’s IPT practice, focuses on intellectual property litigation, including patent, trade secrets, trademark and copyright litigation.

“Tamany brings a diverse practice that aligns well with our strengths and will allow us to continue expanding our core intellectual property offerings,” said Ann Ford, co-chair of the firm’s US IPT practice.

Bentz, who joins DLA Piper from Venable LLP, will be reunited with her longtime colleague Douglas Emhoff, who joined the firm’s Media, Sports and Entertainment practice in October 2017.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Tamany again,” Emhoff said. “We collaborated on many cases over the years, and I’m looking forward to continuing to build out our growing IP litigation practice in Los Angeles with her and the rest of our team.”

“The reverberation that the recent expansion of DLA Piper in Los Angeles has caused in the LA legal market presents a unique and timely opportunity to grow my intellectual property practice and share my clients with some of the best IP lawyers in the country and the world,” Bentz said. “It was an opportunity I did not want to pass up.”

She earned her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, her M.B.E. from the University of Pennsylvania and her B.S. from Arizona State University.

Bentz is the latest addition to DLA Piper’s IPT practice, which has also recently added partners Michael Garfinkel, Miles Cooley and Benjamin Mulcahy in Los Angeles, Clayton Thompson and Jake Zolotorev in Silicon Valley, John Beahn and Margo Tank in Washington, DC, David Whitaker in Chicago, and Gina Reif Ilardi in New York.

Langley & Banack, Inc. announced that Charles H. Jackson III joined the firm as of counsel in its San Antonio office. Jackson’s practice concentrates on estate planning, probate, general and commercial business, and rural real estate.

Jackson holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Texas Law School. He also served in the Army Reserves from 1964-1970.

“I joined Langley & Banack because of its depth of practice areas, the extensive experience of team members, the firm being client driven, and providing a high level of service,” said Jackson.

Akerman LLP announced it has expanded its corporate, finance and private equity practice with the addition of corporate finance partner Robert J. Stein in New York.

Previously a partner in the debt finance group of an international law firm, Stein joins Akerman as the co-chair of its Corporate Finance and Lending Practice.

“Robby is a well-respected and exceptionally talented finance lawyer, whose extensive experience will deepen our strength in effectively and rapidly closing private equity and other corporate transactions while effectively mitigating risk,” said Carl Roston, co-chair of Akerman’s Corporate Practice Group. “Robby’s practice is a perfect complement to our growing corporate group and his addition further advances our capabilities in serving sophisticated private equity and other corporate clients nationwide.”

In a release, the firm said Stein focuses primarily on acquisition and other leveraged financing transactions for private equity sponsors, their portfolio companies, and other public and private companies. His recent work has included representing sponsor-backed clients in a wide array of sectors, including business services, consumer, healthcare, industrials, manufacturing, restaurants, software-as-a-service (SaaS) and other technology sectors and travel.

“Robby is an adept practitioner with the energy, vision and skills to co-chair our Corporate Finance and Lending Practice,” said Jonathan Awner, co-chair of Akerman’s Corporate Practice Group. “We are confident he will contribute to the growth and diversification of our practice and will help us continue to distinguish ourselves in corporate, M&A, finance and private equity work.”

Stein holds a J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and executive editor of the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law, and a B.A. from the University of Michigan.

Actuate Law LLC co-founding partners Martin Tully, left, Phil Tortorich, Dara Tarkowski, Doug Albritton and Charles Chejfec.

Five lawyers have  formed Chicago-based  boutique Actuate Law LLC, the new firm announced in a release.

“Actuate Law offers Big Law-caliber talent while proactively identifying innovative legal solutions for our clients, free from the restrictions of the traditional law firm model,” said Martin Tully, one of Actuate Law’s five founding partners. “Like the clients we serve, we constantly work toward achieving the triad of better, faster, and less costly. In that sense, we relish showing our clients why we are definitely not your grandfather’s law firm.”

In a release, the firm said members of the firm have experience in litigation, transactional and compliance services for businesses and individuals. Actuate Law’s primary practice areas include commercial litigation, class action defense, data security & privacy, electronic discovery, financial services, information governance, private client services/trusts & estates, white-collar investigations and litigation, and trade secret and non-compete litigation, the firm said.

“We chose the name Actuate Law to indicate our philosophy of moving our clients’ business goals to action and also to motivate needed change in the legal industry,” said Dara Tarkowski, co-founding partner of the firm. “As a ‘future-forward’ firm, we are primed to embrace the new technologies and innovative artificial intelligence approaches that are rapidly changing the marketplace. Our customized approach to legal services is decidedly different and evolved compared to the majority of Big Law firms.”

Actuate Law’s leadership includes co-founding partners:

Doug Albritton represents plaintiffs and defendants in commercial disputes throughout the country. A portion of his practice involves the prosecution and defense of trade secret and restrictive covenant cases, helping employers and employees navigate the myriad jurisdictional, legal and strategic issues in industries including accounting, software, healthcare, shipping logistics, natural resources, food, manufacturing, biotechnology and service contracts, among others. Albritton also has recovered more than $50 million through settlements and trial verdicts for plaintiffs. Previously with Akerman LLP, he received his J.D. (magna cum laude) from the University of Illinois College of Law and his Bachelor of Science (cum laude) from Illinois State University.

Charles Chejfec concentrates his practice in the area of healthcare fraud, representing private and government insurers that have been victims of large-scale fraud schemes. He has successfully tried to verdict and arbitrated claims involving medically unnecessary services, kickbacks, self-referrals and licensure violations. He has handled cases involving intellectual property, contract, fiduciary duty, tax, class action, non-compete and bankruptcy-related matters, among others. Previously with Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, Mr. Chejfec received his J.D. from The John Marshall Law School and his Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin—Madison.

Dara Tarkowski focuses her practice on complex litigation and consumer finance law, representing creditors in a range of litigation and regulatory matters. She serves as outside general counsel for a national debt buyer and collection agency. Tarkowski represents clients in matters pertaining to the FDCPA, FCRA and TCPA, as well as securities laws, state unfair and deceptive trade practices laws, state consumer protection laws, state licensing requirements, and state regulatory advocacy. Previously with Akerman LLP, she received her J.D. (cum laude) from Loyola University and her Bachelor of Science from Northwestern University.

Phil Tortorich concentrates his practice in the areas of taxes and estate planning, primarily representing ultra-high net worth individuals and their closely-held corporate groups and family offices (single and multi-family). In addition, he handlesplanning for captive insurance companies from concept and design to implementation, administration and ultimately winding down of the structure. Previously with Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, Tortorich received his J.D. (cum laude) from Loyola University Chicago School of Law and his Bachelor of Science from Loyola University.

Martin Tully has more than 25 years of national experience representing companies and individuals in complex commercial litigation concerning a broad array of fields and industries. Previously with Akerman LLP, he has experience in the fields of electronic discovery, information governance, and data security/data privacy. Tully is a Steering Committee member for The Sedona Conference Working Group 1 (Electronic Discovery Retention and Production). He also currently serves as the mayor of the Village of Downers Grove, Ill, a suburb of Chicago. He received his J.D. (cum laude) from DePaul University College of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Actuate Law currently is located at 901 West Jackson Blvd., Suite 204, in Chicago’s West Loop area. The firm soon will move to its permanent home in the Fulton Market area of Chicago.

The firm recently added three lawyers: Jeffrey Hansen, previously with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois; Andrea Halverson, previously with Vedder Price P.C.; and Lauren Cooper, previously with Akerman LLP, have each joined the firm.

Trial lawyer Courtney Ervin has joined commercial litigation boutique Hicks Thomas LLP, the firm announced.

“Courtney is a highly skilled and effective trial lawyer” said Hicks Thomas co-founder John B. Thomas. “She is an exceptional advocate and has great instincts. Her addition enhances our diversity and positions us to serve our client needs well into the future.”

Ervin was profiled as one of the leading energy litigation lawyers in the U.S. in 2016 by The Legal 500 and has repeatedly earned a place on the Texas Rising Stars list recognizing up-and-coming lawyers, the firm said in a release.

She earned her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center, magna cum laude, and her bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University.

Read details of the announcement.