– Sidley Austin LLP is pleased to announce that Grace Jamgochian has joined the firm’s global M&A and Private Equity practice as a partner in New York. Prior to joining Sidley, Grace was a partner in the Mergers & Acquisitions practice group at Shearman & Sterling.
Grace has represented U.S. and multinational corporates and private capital investors in a wide variety of merger, acquisition, and investment transactions. Her experience includes domestic and cross-border public company mergers, private company buy-side and sell-side transactions, multi-jurisdictional asset carve-outs, minority investments, joint ventures, as well as activist matters. She has also provided counsel on takeover defense strategies and corporate governance matters. Grace advises strategic and private equity clients across all industries, including technology, media and telecommunications (TMT), infrastructure, and consumer markets.
“I had the pleasure of working closely with Grace for many years,” said Brien Wassner, a co-leader of Sidley’s Private Equity practice. “Her industry knowledge and strong experience make her an excellent addition to our team.”
“As our private equity and M&A practice continues its high-growth trajectory, we’re excited to welcome Grace and the outstanding skills she brings with her to Sidley,” said Brian Fahrney, co-leader of the firm’s global M&A and Private Equity practice. “Her breadth of experience will enhance the value we bring to our clients.”
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.

QUARLES & BRADY ADDS BUSINESS LAW PARTNER MARTIN ZIVITZ TO INDIANAPOLIS OFFICE

February 28, 2022 (Indianapolis) — 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.

QUARLES & BRADY ADDS BUSINESS LAW PARTNER MARTIN ZIVITZ TO INDIANAPOLIS OFFICE

February 28, 2022 (Indianapolis) — 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.

DALLAS – Makenzie Craft, who in her career has succeeded by mastering the importance of resolving matters efficiently and effectively while focusing on achieving clients’ goals, is joining Crawford, Wishnew & Lang, the firm has announced.

“I’m committed to the client in the same way CWL has developed its reputation, through creativity, attention to detail, and zealous advocacy,” Craft said. “I’m excited to be a part of the CWL team.” Craft represents clients in a variety of complex litigation matters including commercial, employment, product liability, and employment matters in state and federal courts, and arbitration tribunals. She is involved in all phases of litigation including drafting responsive pleadings, drafting dispositive motions, drafting written discovery, conducting document reviews, conducting plaintiff and fact witness depositions, assisting in trial preparation, and attending trial.

Makenzie graduated cum laude from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and was a Dean’s List member at both SMU and the University of Arkansas, where she competed as a full-scholarship member and captain of the women’s tennis team.

“Both in terms of her academic achievement and her professional accomplishments, Makenzie is a tremendous addition to our team,” partner Michael Lang said. “She will be an important part of guiding our clients at Crawford, Wishnew & Lang.”

Employment attorney Robert “Bobby” Lee has joined Dallas employment boutique Clouse Brown as Senior Counsel. Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Mr. Lee represents employers, executives, and other employees in all facets of the employment relationship.

“Bobby and I have known and worked with one another for years, and when the opportunity presented itself for Bobby to join to firm, we were both excited and jumped at the chance to make it happen,” said Clouse Brown partner Keith Clouse. “Bobby’s experience and personality align closely with the firm, and I believe he will be a great asset to our clients.”

A graduate of the University of Michigan School of Law, Mr. Lee has a diversity of prior experience: as a business owner, running the law firm of Lee & Braziel, P.C.; as a BigLaw attorney with Littler Mendelson; and as a public servant as counsel in the City of Houston Legal Department.

“I’ve worked in a variety of legal settings, so joining Clouse Brown was a logical fit,” said Mr. Lee. “A smaller firm provides tailored, personalized service, which truly benefits executives as they evaluate their personal and business goals.”

Mr. Lee’s legal practice also includes work as an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association, where he has made determinations regarding matters involving the employer-employee relationship and other legal matters involving tort or contract law. He is licensed to practice in Texas and has been admitted to the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Western and Eastern Districts of Texas; the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals; and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mr. Lee is a past chair of the Dallas Bar Association’s labor and employment law section, and past chair of the Tarrant County Bar Association’s labor and employment law section. His recognitions include accolades in D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas, as well as selection to the Texas Super Lawyers list for employment and labor law every year since 2012.

About Clouse Brown PLLC
Clouse Brown is a Dallas-based employment law boutique. The firm represents senior executives, business owners, physicians, corporations, and others in a variety of complex employment litigation, arbitration, and negotiation matters. For more information, visit ClouseBrown.com.

Today Wiggin and Dana announced its selection of counsel Anjali Dalal and associates Michael Addison and Jenna Cutler for leadership development with the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity.

Dalal will participate in LCLD’s 2022 Fellows program and Addison and Cutler will participate in the 2022 Pathfinders program. The Fellows and Pathfinders programs fast-tracks the professional development of the legal industry’s diverse, high-potential mid-career and early-career leaders, respectively.

“Anjali, Michael and Jenna have distinguished themselves through client service, cultural engagement and steadfast commitments to greater diversity, equity and inclusion at Wiggin and in the legal profession,” said Tim Diemand, Wiggin and Dana’s Managing Partner. “We’re thrilled to support their career advancement and reaffirm our commitment to advancing representation within our firm and the industry at large.”

“LCLD programming provides rising stars with additional tools for career, leadership and relationship development,” said Jana Simon, Wiggin and Dana’s Chief DEI Officer. “Our work with LCLD supplements our own efforts to ensure diverse talent are offered training development opportunities so that they can continue to thrive at all stages of their careers.”

Wiggin and Dana joined LCLD in 2021 as part of its strategic commitment to making tangible DEI progress across the firm and the legal profession. The firm’s action plan, DEI DRIVE, aims to drive Wiggin and Dana into the top 33 percent of its law firm peer group for diversity in five years, and the top 25 percent in ten years. Other important steps recently taken by Wiggin towards its DEI goals include the creation of a C-level leadership role fully dedicated to addressing DEI, as well as participation in the Mansfield Rule, which aims to boost representation of underrepresented lawyers in law firm leadership.

About Wiggin and Dana
Wiggin and Dana is a national law firm with more than 160 attorneys. We are a true partnership of highly talented, creative, and experienced lawyers dedicated to exceeding our clients’ expectations every day. With offices in Connecticut, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Palm Beach, we represent clients throughout the United States and globally on a wide range of sophisticated and complex matters. From defending the Fortune 500 in “bet-the-company” litigation to helping the next generation of inventors bring new technologies to market, to preserving the wealth that family businesses worked so hard to create, we pride ourselves in offering value-driven solutions and results.

OneTrust Appoints HP’s Kim Rivera as Chief Legal and Business Affairs Officer

Rivera brings business strategy and legal expertise to accelerate OneTrust’s mission to build trust as a competitive advantage

ATLANTA – 03/08/2022 – Today, OneTrust announced the appointment of Kim Rivera as its first Chief Legal and Business Affairs Officer. Rivera is a strategic advisor, executive and lawyer with a global perspective. She brings over 25 years of business, legal and leadership experience to the company. In this newly created role, Rivera will integrate trust, compliance, and business strategy at OneTrust. She will work with OneTrust’s growing community of customers and partners to help position trust at the core of business operations.

A C-suite executive with a proven record of delivering significant business impact through business and corporate development, Rivera has spent over 25 years building trust within organizations spanning technology, healthcare, and consumer products. Most recently, Rivera served as HP Inc.’s President of Strategy, Business Management and Chief Legal Officer, where she led corporate strategy and business development, customer support, corporate functions and the worldwide legal organization, including all aspects of legal and government affairs, brand security, compliance, and ethics. Earlier in her career, Rivera held senior executive positions at DaVita Healthcare, The Clorox Company, and Rockwell Automation.

Rivera is known as a strong and outspoken leader with a passion for developing people, teams, and culture in organizations. She was appointed to the Thomson Reuters Board of Directors in 2019 and to Cano Health’s Board of Directors in 2021. She has also held multiple non-profit board positions, including the California Latino Community Foundation and the Denver Metro Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Currently, she serves as Chair Elect of the Board of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity and is a Senior Fellow and Member of the Board of the American Leadership Forum of Silicon Valley. She is an advocate for and frequent speaker on diversity and inclusion (DE&I) in corporations and the legal profession, emphasizing women in leadership.

“Companies and boards of directors are grappling with how to effectively integrate privacy, legal, and governance requirements into their core business strategy and operations because that’s where the competitive advantage lies,” said Kim Rivera, OneTrust’s new Chief Legal and Business Affairs Officer. “OneTrust is building the technology for trust and is uniquely positioned to meet the challenges of these demands by collaborating with customers and partners to design and implement successful strategies. I look forward to building on the company, business, and platform that OneTrust has created as we continue to evolve and define its legacy.”

“Kim is an expert at evolving and integrating compliance and governance strategies to build trust as the core of business strategy,” said Kabir Barday, OneTrust CEO. “She’s the business mind behind what the OneTrust platform helps our customers accomplish: unifying privacy, security, and ethics to build trust. We’re incredibly excited for Kim to join our executive leadership team and rapidly accelerate our ability to help our customers build programs centered on trust.”

To learn more about building trust at the center of business, register for TrustWeek taking place May 23-26 in Atlanta.

About OneTrust
OneTrust is the category-defining enterprise platform to operationalize trust. More than 12,000 customers, including half of the Fortune Global 500, use OneTrust to make trust a competitive differentiator, implementing central agile workflows across privacy and data governance, GRC and security, ethics and compliance, and ESG and sustainability programs. The OneTrust platform is backed by 200 patents and powered by the OneTrust Athena™ AI and robotic automation engine.

In 2020, OneTrust was named the #1 fastest-growing company in America on the Inc. 500 with a 48,000% three-year growth rate. According to the IDC Worldwide Data Privacy Management Software Market Shares Report, 2020, “OneTrust is leading the market outright and showing no signs of slowing down or stopping.”

OneTrust has raised a total of $920 million in funding at a $5.3 billion valuation from Insight Partners, Coatue, TCV, SoftBank Vision Fund 2, and Franklin Templeton. OneTrust’s fast-growing team of 3,000 employees is co-headquartered in Atlanta and London with offices hubs across Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Travis J. Odom has joined Duane Morris LLP as a partner in the firm’s Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group in its Houston office. Prior to joining Duane Morris, Odom was a shareholder at Littler Mendelson P.C.

“We’re committed to expanding our presence in Texas with full-service offerings for our clients,” said Duane Morris Chairman and CEO Matthew A. Taylor. “Travis allows us to expand and enhance our employment capabilities in the region with a highly skilled attorney.”

“We’re excited to welcome Travis to the group and increase the depth of our labor and employment practice in Texas,” said Eve I. Klein, chair of the firm’s Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group. “Our clients have national and international labor and employment needs and our goal is to continue to build up our practice group to serve those needs across our extensive platform.”

“Travis’ experience in trade secret and noncompetition matters is a great fit for the work we’re performing for clients in Houston and throughout the country,” said Thomas W. Sankey, managing partner of the Duane Morris Houston office. “We’re happy to welcome him to our office and the firm.”

Odom represents and counsels clients in all types of labor and employment matters arising under federal and state laws, including unfair competition and trade secrets, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage-and-hour claims, unemployment benefit disputes and workers’ compensation. He appears in state and federal court, including appellate courts, and has specific knowledge of the Texas Covenants Not to Compete Act. Odom works with financial institutions, industrial services providers and retailers, among others.

“I’m looking forward to capitalizing on the opportunity to expand my practice at Duane Morris and to providing my clients with the comprehensive resources that the firm’s platform has to offer,” added Odom. “I’m excited to expand on the firm’s services in this region and build a strong employment practice in Texas.”

Odom is a graduate of the Baylor University School of Law (J.D., 2006), where he was the senior notes and comments editor for the Baylor Law Review, and Baylor University (B.A., 2002). He served as a briefing attorney to the Honorable Wanda McKee Fowler, justice of the 14th District Court of Appeals.

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

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.

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

Dykema, a leading national law firm, today announced the addition of Charlotte Garry Carne and Brett M. Gelbord as Senior Counsel to its Labor and Employment Practice Group. Carne will reside in Dykema’s Ann Arbor office, while Gelbord joins the firm’s Detroit office.

“We are extremely excited that Charlotte and Brett have joined our talented L&E roster,” said Ray Bissmeyer, Leader of Dykema’s Labor and Employment Practice Group. “Their respective experience and industry knowledge enhance our service offerings to clients and augment our already robust bench strength in Michigan.”

Carne’s practice focuses on a wide range of litigation and labor and employment law matters. She provides counseling and advice to management on employment law issues and how to avoid litigation. Carne also has experience handling complex litigation matters and labor negotiations. She has represented clients before state and federal courts, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, and various other state civil rights agencies and labor commissions.

Carne comes to Dykema with the experience of running her own boutique law firm, as well as stints working as a Law Clerk for Magistrate Judges at the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. She is licensed to practice in Michigan and California.

She earned a J.D. from the Pepperdine University School of Law and a B.A. in English from the University of Michigan.

Gelbord joins Dykema after practicing at Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP for seven years, prior to which he clerked for Hon. Nancy G. Edmunds in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. His practice focuses on providing practical and efficient guidance to employers on all manner of workforce-related issues. In addition to providing day-to-day employment counseling, Gelbord also represents employers in administrative proceedings and lawsuits at both the state and federal level on issues ranging from claims of employment discrimination and wrongful termination to the enforcement of non-competition agreements and the protection of trade secrets. He is licensed to practice in Michigan and New York.

He has represented clients in a variety of industries, with a particular focus on the cannabis, automotive, and technology sectors. Gelbord also has extensive experience with automotive supply chain disputes; acting as both a counselor and an advocate on matters ranging from payment disputes to complex quality, warranty, and indemnification claims.

He earned a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and B.A.s in English, with high honors, and Anthropology, with honors, from Queens College, City University of New York. He is a member of Leadership Detroit Class XXXVIII.

Dallas – Winston & Strawn LLP announced today the addition of Don McDermett as a partner in the Dallas office and as a member of the Corporate practice.

Don focuses his practice on a wide variety of corporate, securities, and transactional matters. He has held leadership positions in various merger and acquisition transactions across multiple industries and geographies, with particular focus on transactions in the technology and telecommunications sectors.

He provides strategic counsel on negotiated mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances and joint ventures, tax-free spinoffs, corporate reorganizations, and recapitalizations. Don represents both issuers and investment banking firms in IPOs (including SPACs) and other registered securities offerings, private placements, PIPEs, venture capital and private equity financings, and exchange offers.

In addition, Don counsels both public and private companies regarding corporate governance matters (including representation of boards, audit committees, and special committees), securities law compliance and disclosure matters, executive compensation matters, and activist investor and ESG matters, including proxy contests and implementation of “poison pill” and other defensive measures.

Committed to diversity, Don has supported and worked with state and national LGBTQ+ organizations, including Lambda Legal of Texas and the Human Rights Campaign.

“I am thrilled to be joining Winston as transactional activity in Texas continues to increase across a broad range of industries, particularly technology, telecommunications, and energy,” said Don. “I’ve long known and respected Winston’s team for the complexity of their work, and I look forward to an active collaboration that enhances client service. Additionally, I admire Winston’s commitment to diversity at all levels, and I am eager to assist the firm in its efforts to attract tomorrow’s legal talent from all walks of life.”

The knowledge and experience Don brings to legal practice is informed by his earlier tenure as senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary of Sterling Software, Inc., an NYSE-listed enterprise software company with global operations and annual revenues just under $1 billion. With experience both inside a major corporation and as lead outside counsel to substantial businesses, he applies focused perspective and insight to complex corporate and transactional projects.

“Don is highly respected around Dallas and throughout Texas as a top-notch M&A partner in the tech industry,” said Bryan Goolsby, Dallas managing partner. “As spin-offs, SPACs and other complex transactions continue to drive the movement of capital in technology and energy, Winston is fortunate to bring on a partner of Don’s caliber as we continue to grow our Texas presence.”
“We are gaining a champion of diversity and a powerful transactional partner with a commanding knowledge of the technology sector,” said Winston Chairman Tom Fitzgerald. “Don will be a significant addition to our growing team in Dallas, allowing us to expand our M&A and capital markets practices while broadening our ability to respond to client needs.”

Winston & Strawn LLP is an international law firm with 15 offices located throughout North America, Asia, and Europe. More information about the firm is available at www.winston.com.

Moore & Van Allen PLLC (MVA) is pleased to announce that Bradford Sneeden has joined the firm’s Public Affairs Group as a director, continuing growth of the team based in Raleigh. Sneeden most recently served as legislative counsel for North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein and previously was a policy advisor to the governor of North Carolina.

Sneeden joins Raleigh-based public affairs directors Cameron L. Henley and Towers Mingledorff, along with counsel Canaan Huie, who partner with clients at the state and federal level in Raleigh, Charlotte and across the Carolinas to strategically support their government relations needs.

“We are thrilled to welcome Bradford to our firm as a director in our expanding team of public affairs professionals based in Raleigh,” said Walter S. Price, managing director and head of MVA’s Public Affairs Group. “Bradford has a long track record of success working with clients, government officials and other business and community leaders to help draft and pass significant legislation. He is a great addition to our group’s team of experienced lobbying professionals.”

As legislative counsel to the state’s attorney general, Sneeden was responsible for the attorney general’s legislative agenda and representing the attorney general and the state’s Department of Justice before the North Carolina General Assembly. He helped lead the legislative committee of the North Carolina Governor’s Task Force for Racial Equity in Criminal Justice, served as legislative counsel as part of the attorney general’s team working on the national opioid crises and worked with bi-partisan leaders to pass significant legislation in criminal justice and public safety.

In his previous role as policy advisor to the North Carolina Governor, Sneeden helped develop policy proposals while initiating and supervising working relationships with executive branch officials, agency directors, elected officials, legislative staff, and legislative liaisons, as well as councils, task forces, businesses, and community groups. In addition, he counseled the governor on alignment of initiatives with the administration’s mission, goals, and priorities.

Sneeden received his J.D. from North Carolina Central University School of Law’s Evening Program and his Bachelor of Science from North Carolina State University.

MVA’s Public Affairs Group attorneys and professionals have decades of combined experience working with clients in the Carolinas and Washington, D.C., offering public affairs services, including developing and implementing government affairs and communications strategies. The firm’s Public Affairs Group is made up of attorneys, lobbyists and communications, media relations and event management professionals.

About Moore & Van Allen
Moore & Van Allen PLLC (www.mvalaw.com), founded in 1945, has nearly 400 attorneys and professionals serving clients in over 75 areas of focus. The attorneys at Moore & Van Allen provide sophisticated legal services within nationally recognized Litigation, Corporate, Financial Services, Intellectual Property, Bankruptcy, and Commercial Real Estate law practices for international banks and financial services companies, domestic and global manufacturers, retailers, individuals, and healthcare and technology organizations. The firm is ranked in the prestigious “Am Law Global 200” list, and U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers have recognized Moore & Van Allen in their 2022 “Best Law Firms” rankings, both regionally and nationally.

Sunstein LLP is pleased to announce that firm partner John W. Powell has been named vice chair of the firm’s Patent Practice Group.

“John is a tremendous asset to our team and he will be a great vice chair of our Patent Practice Group,” said Kathryn E. Noll, chair of the group and member of the firm’s Management Committee. “John’s in-house experience and technical knowledge positions him well to help grow our practice and to continue to meet and exceed our clients’ business goals.”

Powell focuses his practice on patent portfolio management and strategy, patent prosecution, and IP transactional work, including drafting and negotiating IP licensing and development agreements and other commercial agreements having an IP component. Before joining Sunstein in January 2021, Powell served in-house for nearly two decades as vice president and general counsel of American Superconductor Corporation and as in-house counsel at companies including Raytheon and Motorola.

Powell also has extensive experience mentoring startup companies in the clean energy industry and is currently involved with Cleantech Open – Northeast, which is a competition and accelerator program with the mission to find, fund and foster entrepreneurs with ideas to solve environmental and energy challenges.

Sunstein’s Patent Practice Group attorneys prosecute applications in a wide variety of technical areas for U.S. and international clients. In addition to preparing patent applications and advancing them to allowance and grant, the attorneys perform novelty, validity and freedom-to-operate searches; prepare clearance opinions; and handle appeals and other proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeals Board.

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/.

Lewis Roca announced eight lawyers have been recognized as 2022 Colorado Super Lawyers® and two lawyers have been named 2022 Colorado Rising Stars®. Additionally, Frederick J. Baumann and James M. Lyons were named among the Top 100 lawyers in the 2022 Colorado Super Lawyers® listing. Frederick J. Baumann was also named one of the Top 10 lawyers in the 2022 Colorado Super Lawyers® listing.

Lewis Roca 2022 Colorado Super Lawyers®:

Denver
Frederick J. Baumann – Business Litigation
Scott M. Browning – Business Litigation
Chad S. Caby – Bankruptcy: Business
James M. Lyons – Business Litigation
Michael Plachy – Business Litigation
Kenneth F. Rossman – Business Litigation
Douglas B. Tumminello – Business Litigation
James R. Walker – Tax

Lewis Roca 2022 Colorado Rising Stars®:

Denver
Abby Harder – Business Litigation
Caitlin McHugh – Business Litigation

Lawyers named 2022 Colorado Super Lawyers® are selected based on peer nominations, evaluations, and independent research. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis.

About Lewis Roca

Lewis Roca is an Am Law 200 law firm serving clients globally in complex litigation, intellectual property, business transactions, gaming, government relations, labor and employment, and regulatory counseling. Its offices are located in Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Reno, Silicon Valley, and Tucson. To learn more about the firm, please visit us at our website at www.lewisroca.com.

Trial lawyer and former federal Judge T. John Ward of Ward, Smith & Hill is among five recipients to earn the 2022 Texas Bar Foundation’s Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer Award.

The Texas Bar Foundation honor is given to attorneys who have practiced law for more than 50 years and who adhere to the highest principles and traditions of the legal profession. Judge Ward joins a long list of esteemed practitioners who have received the honor since it was established in 1974.

The Texas Bar Foundation will recognize Judge Ward at its annual dinner in June.

Judge Ward is a former U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas who managed one of the busiest dockets in the federal judiciary. In 12 years on the bench, he handled more than 150 jury trials, presided over hundreds of patent cases, complex commercial cases and class-action lawsuits, and held more than 150 claim construction hearings. He developed an impeccable reputation as one of the leading authorities on complex issues surrounding intellectual property.

During his tenure as a federal judge, Judge Ward served on the Judicial Conference Committee on Court Administration and Court Management, an appointment by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist from 2003 to 2006. He was reappointed in 2009 for a second term by Chief Justice John Roberts. Chief Judge Paul R. Michel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit requested Judge Ward serve as a member of the National Patent Jury Instruction Project.

Throughout his career, Judge Ward has received many accolades for his work as a trial judge and trial attorney, including the Texas Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates Trial Judge of the Year in 2009; American Lawyer magazine’s Top 25 Most Influential People in IP (Intellectual Property) in 2010; and Managing Intellectual Property magazine’s Outstanding Achievement in Intellectual Property in 2012. Judge Ward is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Since returning to private practice in 2011, Judge Ward has focused on handling patent disputes, commercial litigation, mediations and arbitrations.

Longview, Texas-based Ward, Smith & Hill, PLLC, has tried more than 350 cases to verdict, earning a national reputation in high-stakes claims involving complex commercial litigation, intellectual property law, oil and gas matters, bad faith insurance claims, and serious personal injury claims. The firm frequently assists lawyers nationwide in complex cases before Texas juries. To learn more about the firm, visit http://www.wsfirm.com.

Top 100 U.S. law firm Akerman LLP is pleased to announce that it has expanded its Houston and Los Angeles offices with Labor and Employment Practice Group partner Mishell Parreno Taylor. Parreno Taylor focuses her practice on employment litigation in federal and state courts and administrative agencies across the country.

“Mishell distinguishes herself from several of her peers with her ability to effectively handle employment compliance and litigation in circumstances involving multilingual and multicultural human capital across the globe,” said Labor and Employment Practice Group Chair Eric Gordon. “Her unique skillset will strengthen our practice and our presence in both Texas and California.”

Parreno Taylor partners with stakeholders in organizations of all sizes, ranging from local to global corporations on a broad spectrum of employment law issues, including defending clients against individual and class-wide claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation. Additionally, she handles both individual and class action/Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) wage and hour litigation in matters involving claims of missed meal and rest periods, unlawful deductions, misclassification, expense reimbursement, and off-the-clock work.

Parreno Taylor uses her deep multijurisdictional employment litigation experience to counsel clients in workplace crisis management and prevention. She has served as the key negotiator in high stakes workplace negotiations including exiting executives during threatened litigation. She conducts and oversees sensitive employee investigations involving post #metoo claims of harassment, inappropriate conduct, and whistleblower claims. Parreno Taylor also counsels organizations on COVID-19 workforce response, including compliance with government-related restrictions across the globe, managing remote workers, reorganizations, workplace safety related issues, and unemployment insurance and leave requirements under state and federal emergency legislation created during the pandemic.

Parreno Taylor is also focused on helping organizations build workplaces of the future through collaborating with global clients to develop innovative solutions for achieving diversity, equity, and inclusion objectives. She also serves as a trusted advisor to clients on a wide range of employment related issues across California and Texas, including counseling on hiring/onboarding procedures, testing, developing workplace policies and practices, anti-harassment/discrimination compliance and training, wage and hour compliance, leave administration, and termination decisions.

About Akerman

Akerman LLP is a top 100 U.S. law firm recognized among the most forward-thinking firms in the industry by Financial Times. Its more than 700 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world’s most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and help drive innovation and growth.

Akerman’s Labor & Employment Practice Group defends employers throughout the United States in all types of litigation under federal, state and local employment laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act. Adept at class and collective actions defense, the group represents clients in connection with employment law compliance, collective bargaining and NLRB proceedings, ADA public access, global workforce issues, immigration and non-compete and trade secret advice and litigation.

Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that it has moved into a new client-centric office space in the heart of Austin’s downtown business district amid continued growth of the firm’s Texas operations. Perkins Coie’s Austin office, the latest expansion of the firm’s national presence, occupies the 17th floor of a trophy-class office building at 405 Colorado Street.

Since Perkins Coie’s move into the Austin market in 2020, the firm’s original three-attorney team has grown to a diverse group of 19 lawyers and 20 business professionals. The breadth and experience of the Austin-based attorneys positions them to counsel a wide range of innovators and industry-leading companies, particularly in the areas of emerging companies and venture capital law, healthcare, technology transactions, and patent litigation and prosecution.

“We hope to maintain the strong momentum we have created in a short period of time to become a leading full-service, tech-focused law firm in the Austin market,” said Jose Villarreal, Perkins Coie’s Austin office managing partner. “Our move into a collaborative and client-centric new office space provides us a dedicated downtown home, from where we will continue to provide effective legal counsel to an expanding number of clients in Austin and beyond.”

The firm’s Austin attorneys offer full-service capabilities for startups, emerging firms, and established tech companies, as well as global leaders in the retail, transportation, healthcare, and pharmaceutical industries.

The office occupies a full floor in the new 405 Colorado Street building in downtown Austin and features floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the space with sweeping views of the city. It also incorporates dedicated private spaces that underline the firm’s values and commitment to its people and their wellness, including a meditation and wellness room, and a mother’s room.

“Our continued growth in Austin, and more broadly in Texas, is a reflection of the successful legal counsel we provide to clients and our commitment to deepen our investment in key technology and innovation hubs across the country,” said Bill Malley, Perkins Coie’s firmwide managing partner. “We see many strategic opportunities in Texas as Austin, Dallas, and Houston continue to expand and attract investment as business centers for startups, medium-sized companies, and global corporations.”

Perkins Coie has long been recognized for excellence in the legal industry and for its commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive work culture. The firm was ranked as the #1 U.S. employer among the 2021 “Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services” by Great Place to Work®, has been recognized as one of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For®” for 19 consecutive years, and has also been recognized as an Inclusion Blueprint Champion by Diversity Lab. Perkins Coie has also earned the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s top rating of 100% in the Corporate Equality Index, a national benchmarking survey on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality, for 14 straight years.

Perkins Coie is a leading international law firm that is known for providing high value, strategic solutions and extraordinary client service on matters vital to our clients’ success. With more than 1,200 lawyers in offices across the United States and Asia, we provide a full array of corporate, commercial litigation, intellectual property, and regulatory legal advice to a broad range of clients, including many of the world’s most innovative companies and industry leaders as well as public and not-for-profit organizations.

Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Saul Breskal has joined the firm’s Los Angeles office as a partner in our nationally recognized Real Estate practice. Representing hospitality and entertainment clients in real estate transactions and ground-up development both domestically and internationally, Saul joins Blank Rome from Glaser Weil and is the latest addition to Blank Rome’s growing Real Estate group, which recently welcomed leading partners Christy Reuter, Sonia Kaur Bain, and J.J. Broderick, of counsel Kerri Alessi, and associates Kaitlyn West, Christina Preminger, and Matthew Crawford.

“Saul is a fantastic addition to our outstanding real estate team,” said Grant S. Palmer, Blank Rome’s Managing Partner and CEO. “He brings a successful track record of managing all aspects of a real estate transaction—from purchase agreements and due diligence to financing, joint venture negotiations, escrow, and closing—which makes him a great fit for the group. We are thrilled to welcome him to Blank Rome.”

In his practice, Saul represents commercial real estate investors, developers, and high-net-worth individuals in the entertainment and hospitality sectors on a range of commercial and residential real estate transactions. He has represented film studios, hotels, and casinos in connection with the purchase, finance, and construction of complex projects, including as lead counsel for Las Vegas CityCenter, the largest privately funded construction project in the United States. Saul also advises public agencies in ground leasing work for public-private partnerships.

“Saul’s background and relationships in the hospitality sector will greatly benefit our clients during this critical time,” stated Samantha Wallack, Partner and Co-Chair of the Real Estate group. “His strong experience and network in the entertainment landscape will further strengthen and complement Blank Rome’s West Coast real estate team and expand upon our firm’s national hospitality and gaming services, enhancing our cross-practice capabilities in several key markets. We are excited to have him on board.”

“Blank Rome’s global reach and full suite of legal services made it the ideal firm for me to continue growing my practice and serving my clients in the United States and around the world,” added Breskal. “I look forward to helping the firm expand its real estate offerings on the West Coast and to being part of such a renowned team of talented attorneys.”

Saul earned his law degree from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. He is active in pro bono work on behalf of The Village by Cornerstone and ETTA, organizations that provide housing and services to adults with special needs.

Lawyers at the Martin Walker law firm in Tyler say while the number attached to the recently announced Texas portion of the settlement with opioid manufacturers and distributors – $1.85 billion – is a big one, what matters most is the fact most of those dollars are headed to local communities, where the tragedy of the opioid epidemic continues to play out every day.

“It’s easy to assume the opioid story is over,” says Reid Martin, co-founder of Martin Walker. “But the truth is, people continue to suffer and die from the opioid epidemic. That’s why these dollars are so important.”

Under the settlement agreed to by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, 15 percent of the funds will go to the state of Texas, 15 percent to cities and counties and the remaining 70 percent to an opioid abatement council. The council will apportion monies to local communities to treat opioid victims.

The Texas portion of the deal is part of a larger $26 billion settlement opioid manufacturers and distributors agreed to late last week. Initial checks may go out as soon as April.

In all, the Martin Walker firm represented 29 counties that brought claims against opioid manufacturers and distributors, including Smith County and Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran, who functioned as a leader for the efforts on behalf of rural counties in Texas. He worked together with Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, who spoke for the state’s more populous counties and who was represented by attorney Jeffrey Simon. Mr. Simon and other lawyers, working together with representatives from the Texas Attorney General’s office, negotiated the deal.

“This took a tremendous amount of effort and an awful lot of persistence, but now we’re going to see the payoff,” says attorney Jack Walker. “I expect that in many cases, these dollars will mean the difference between life and death for those struggling with opioid addiction.”

Martin Walker PC is a Tyler-based law firm with significant trial expertise representing individuals statewide in high-stakes litigation, including medical malpractice, catastrophic injuries involving 18-wheeler accidents, oilfield injuries, wrongful death, and product liability. For more information visit: http://www.martinwalkerlaw.com/

Katten announced today that Geoffrey G. Young has joined the firm’s Commercial Litigation practice in New York, building on the firm’s high caliber of talent representing clients in complex commercial disputes.

“Geoff is a highly experienced litigator with a successful track record of strategizing, minimizing risks and resolving matters with favorable outcomes for his clients,” said David Crichlow, chair of Katten’s Commercial Litigation practice, and member of the firm’s Executive Committee and Diversity Committee. “Equally important is the fact that Geoff is also a dedicated leader in the diversity, equity and inclusion space, particularly when it comes to recruiting and creating a pipeline of diverse talent.”

Young has advised on all phases of the litigation process from the pre-litigation stage through trial verdict of high-stakes cases in multiple jurisdictions, including New York state and federal courts. His practice concentrates on complex commercial disputes, with a focus on disputes in the life sciences, financial services and media and entertainment sectors. He has litigated disputes related to pharmaceutical drugs and clinical trials, consumer class actions, financing agreements, media broadcasting services and technology services. Young also has extensive experience prosecuting and defending intellectual property disputes.

He has represented clients in a wide range of industries, including aviation, biotech, financial services and investment, mass media, oil and gas, public relations and communications, and transportation. He has counseled high-net-worth individuals and public figures, including some in the entertainment industry, on in-court and out-of-court disputes.

Young has handled domestic and international arbitrations under a variety of rules, including those of JAMS (formerly known as Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc.), the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). He also maintains a strong commitment to pro bono work, devoting significant attention to capital punishment matters.

Prior to joining Katten, Young was a partner at Reed Smith and held various DEI leadership roles, most recently as the firm’s Executive Director of Diverse Recruiting, in which he guided the firm’s strategy for recruiting diverse attorneys at all levels. He has also held several DEI leadership roles in the legal community.

“Geoff’s distinguished career and contributions very much align with Katten’s focus on embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive environment so our attorneys and business professionals at every level can achieve increasing success, and our clients can be more effectively represented,” Crichlow said. “At Katten, Geoff will have an opportunity to make a meaningful impact, strengthening our New York team.”

Early in his career, Young served as a law clerk for the Honorable Sandra L. Townes in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Katten is a full-service law firm with approximately 700 attorneys in locations across the United States and in London and Shanghai. Clients seeking sophisticated, high-value legal services turn to Katten for counsel locally, nationally and internationally. The firm’s core areas of practice include corporate, financial markets and funds, insolvency and restructuring, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, structured finance and securitization, transactional tax planning, private credit and private wealth. Katten represents public and private companies in numerous industries, as well as a number of government and nonprofit organizations and individuals. For more information, visit katten.com.