Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce the addition of Greg Suess as a senior advisor to the firm’s Entertainment & Media and Corporate & Securities practice groups in Birmingham.

“Greg’s unique background at the crossroads of corporate, tech, media and entertainment law allows him to provide strategic counsel to key executives and talent across a variety of industries,” said Bradley’s Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters. “We’re pleased to welcome Greg to the firm and know that his experience providing strategic services to industry and market leaders will be an asset to our team and our clients.”

“Bradley has a sterling reputation for excellence and serves an elite client base. I’m pleased to become a senior advisor to the firm and work alongside the entertainment, media, and corporate teams to strengthen and expand these practices,” said Mr. Suess.

Prior to joining Bradley, Mr. Suess was a partner at Glaser Weil, a leading Los Angeles-based, full-service law firm where he was with the firm for more than 24 years. Peter Weil, managing partner of Glaser Weil, said, “Greg has a gift for creating win-win situations for his clients and partners. We look forward to the opportunity to collaborate with Greg and his new firm in future matters across the Southeast and to provide Bradley with a powerhouse ally in California.”

Mr. Suess added, “I am proud of my more than 20 years of partnership with Peter and the Glaser Weil team and look forward to the opportunity to work with them in the future as part of Bradley.”

In addition, Mr. Suess will continue in his position as a founding partner of Activist Artists Management, LLC (Activist.co), a top-tier, full-service music and talent management firm with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville and Atlanta. Activist represents an A-list roster of music artists, actors, writers, directors, brands and family offices and was founded on the notion that artists, actors, brands and family offices can create positive change in the world through leveraging their voices via media and entertainment. Mr. Suess established and leads Activist’s Family Office & Corporate Division, which advises Forbes 400 families and emerging businesses at the cross-section of media, entertainment, and technology.

Mr. Suess graduated from the University of Southern California and earned his J.D. and M.B.A. from Pepperdine University’s School of Law and Graziadio School of Business, graduating in three years with honors while working for Michael Milken.

Mr. Suess recently relocated from Los Angeles to Mountain Brook, Alabama, with his wife, Michelle Suess, and their two children, Avery and Wyatt. Ms. Suess is an Alabama native, an alumna of the University of Alabama, and a strategic communications executive.

About Bradley
Bradley combines skilled legal counsel with exceptional client service and unwavering integrity to assist a diverse range of corporate and individual clients in achieving their business goals. With offices in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, the firm’s almost 600 lawyers represent regional, national and international clients in various industries, including banking and financial services, construction, energy, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, real estate, and technology, among many others.

About Activist
Activist Artists Management is a top-tier, full-service music and film/TV talent management, integrated media, and advisory firm with offices in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, and Atlanta. Activist was founded on the notion that artists, actors, and brands can create positive change in the world. Activist works with a range of music and entertainment clients, including Dwight Yoakam, Bobby Weir, Grateful Dead, Dead & Company (co-manager Azoff/Moir), The Lumineers, Alec Benjamin, Empire of the Sun, and Michael Franti & Spearhead. The Activist Film & Television Department represents iconic actors, including Oscar, Golden Globe, and Tony Award-nominee Ken Watanabe (The Last Samurai, Inception, Godzilla, and Broadway’s The King and I) and Tony Award-winner and GRAMMY Award-nominee David Alan Grier (A Soldier’s Play, A Soldier’s Story, Joe Pickett), notable screenwriters Terry Rossio (Pirates of the Caribbean, Godzilla vs. Kong) and Jeff Eastin (White Collar), and Oscar-winning media company Lion Forge Animation (Hair Love). Along with actively measuring and reducing the firm’s own carbon footprint, Activist supports vetted and diverse carbon-fighting tours and projects to eliminate significantly more greenhouse gas pollution than we create, making our operations climate positive.

About Glaser Weil
Glaser Weil is one of the country’s premier full-service law firms, particularly well known for its prowess in litigation. Indeed, Benchmark Litigation, the definitive guide to America’s leading litigation firms, awarded Glaser Weil its highest ranking of “Highly Recommended” – one of only 25 law firms in California to earn this elite status.

Houston – February 14, 2022 – Dykema, a leading national law firm, today announced that it is expanding its presence in Texas with a new Houston office. The office, which is Dykema’s 14th nationwide, has come to fruition with the recent joining of top business litigators Isaac Villarreal and Andy Green.

Villarreal and Green establish the office alongside existing Dykema Senior Counsels Nicholas Zugaro and Basil Umari who have been affiliated with the Dallas office but will now sit in Houston. Also joining the Houston office is commercial litigation associate Amanda D. Gordon, who worked closely with Villarreal and Green at their former firm. In addition to these five resident Houston attorneys, several other attorneys from Dykema’s Texas offices regularly practice in Houston and will split their time between offices.

“Dykema is committed to expanding its platform and deepening our already robust footprint in Texas,” said Len Wolfe, Dykema’s Chair and CEO. “Houston is a key market for our clients and a hub for several areas where we have strong practices including oil and gas, healthcare, life sciences, bankruptcy, and major commercial litigation. Our new presence here will allow us to leverage our large national platform to better serve our clients in the state and serve Houston’s greater business community. Further, both Isaac and Andy have deep Houston roots and excellent local legal reputations so are well-poised to help us continue our Houston expansion.”

This move comes just weeks after Dykema announced an office opening in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, adding seven seasoned capital markets lawyers and marking the firm’s first footprint in that state.

Villarreal, Green, and Gordon previously practiced in the Houston office of Dallas-based firm McCathern, Shokouhi, Evans, Grinke. They work together as a litigation team, with Villarreal serving as a trial lawyer and Green focusing on all pre-trial aspects of litigation. They counsel a wide range of clients in Houston and Texas, from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies.

“For years, we sought the right team to build a Houston office and we have finally found that team,” added Chris Kratovil, Managing Member of Dykema’s Houston and Dallas offices. “Dykema has litigators that have practiced against Isaac, Andy, and Amanda, so we know first-hand how talented they are and how well their practices complement our platform. To say that we are very excited for them to join Basil and Nick to found our Houston office is an understatement.”

Advancing Dykema’s National and Texas Strategy

As a premier firm with Midwestern roots, Dykema has developed a national footprint focused on serving Fortune 1000 and middle-market companies. Building on its roots and driven by the needs of its clients, the firm has extended its platform nationally by developing sophisticated practices in areas including automotive, consumer financial services, energy, electric distribution, infrastructure finance, intellectual property, and pharmaceutical/medical device litigation. With more than 380 lawyers and government policy advisors, Dykema continues to engage in strategic expansion discussions with leading attorneys who can add further depth to key practices.

Throughout 2021, Dykema strategically added bench strength in key regional markets including Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Lansing, and Washington, D.C.

Houston as the fourth-largest city in the United States and the largest legal market in Texas is a natural addition for Dykema’s team of top-ranked practitioners. While Houston is widely known for its importance in the global energy market and the oil and gas industry, it is also a diversified legal market that counts healthcare and life sciences as its second-biggest economic sector. In the legal industry, the Bankruptcy Court for the Houston Division of the Southern District of Texas has emerged as the “go-to” federal district for major bankruptcies alongside Delaware and the Southern District of New York. It is also a major commercial litigation hub and a venue where the firm regularly handles litigation matters.

About the Lawyers

Isaac Villarreal is a seasoned litigator with more than 10 years of experience in business and complex commercial matters. He has served as the first-chair counsel in at least 50 trials and arbitrations and has won a substantial majority of those cases. Villarreal helps clients navigate contract claims and business torts, real estate and construction matters, liens and bond claims, collections, and probate and estate disputes. He counsels midmarket and closely held businesses in the region, often serving as outside counsel for these entities. Villarreal also handles transactional matters on behalf of his clients.

Villarreal is a member of several bar associations, including the State Bar of Texas’ Alternative Dispute Resolution and Litigation Section, and is active in Houston’s Hispanic legal community. He received an M.A. and B.A. from Southwest Texas State University and a J.D., magna cum laude, from Thurgood Marshall School of Law at Texas Southern University.

Andy Green handles commercial litigation and transactional matters on behalf of businesses in the real estate, construction, energy, and financial services sectors. His practice focuses primarily on civil litigation, along with occasional transactional matters including commercial finance and corporate funding and formations. Green is also a certified mediator and has completed training with the A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center at the University of Houston.

Green has an active pro bono practice and has worked with the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program and the Houston Chapter of Amigos de las Americas. Green received a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.

Basil A. Umari has more than 20 years of experience representing debtors, liquidating trustees, official creditors’ committees, secured creditors, unsecured creditors, equity holders, officers and directors, patent holders, landlords, tenants, and asset purchasers in corporate bankruptcy matters. He also has extensive experience in bankruptcy litigation representing liquidating trustees in litigation trusts and companies in preference actions and claims objections brought by trustees.

Umari earned a J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law and a B.A., cum laude, from Amherst College.

Nicholas Zugaro represents clients in a range of industries – including oil and gas, healthcare, construction, food service, retail, and manufacturing – across all stages of corporate bankruptcy matters. He has extensive experience in bankruptcy litigation and has prosecuted and defended numerous companies in preference actions and claims objections brought by trustees. He has also tried numerous complex commercial cases to juries and the bench in state and federal court.

Zugaro earned a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Houston Law Center, and a B.S. from Texas A&M University.

Amanda Gordon handles all aspects of commercial and business litigation from client origination through trial. She is also a certified mediator in both civil and family law.

Gordon earned a J.D. from South Texas College of Law and a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Houston.

About Dykema
Dykema serves business entities worldwide on a wide range of complex legal issues. Dykema lawyers and other professionals in 14 U.S. offices work in close partnership with clients – from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies – to deliver outstanding results, unparalleled service, and exceptional value in every engagement.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce the addition of partners Ben Dachepalli and Timothy Ford to the firm’s Construction Practice Group.

“Ben and Tim are leading attorneys in Florida with significant experience working with construction industry professionals on strategic legal and business solutions,” said Bradley Tampa Office Managing Partner R. Craig Mayfield. “We are excited to welcome them to the firm and know that their background and their involvement in the local legal and civic community will enhance the already high level of service we are able to provide our construction clients.”

David W. Owen, leader of the firm’s Construction Practice Group, added, “The addition of Ben and Tim reflects yet another important step in our strategic growth plan for the Florida market, building upon a team of exceptional attorneys equipped to handle public and private projects of all sizes throughout the country.”

Mr. Dachepalli is experienced in litigating complex construction claims regarding contract disputes, construction defects, design errors, surety bonds, insurance, and construction liens, and negotiating construction-related agreements. He also advises clients on construction licensing matters and defends them in administrative proceedings and complaints against their construction licenses. He collaborates with clients to understand their businesses to provide comprehensive strategies that go beyond legal issues and contracts. Mr. Dachepalli serves as national coordinating counsel for a large, publicly traded REIT, providing strategic advice and counsel on matters impacting projects across the United States. As a member of the Tampa Housing Authority Board of Commissioners and a former member of Florida’s Construction Industry Licensing Board, Mr. Dachepalli is actively engaged in the community and construction industry. He is board certified by the Florida Bar in Construction Law and is recognized for his construction practice in Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America® and Florida Super Lawyers. Mr. Dachepalli is a current member of the Board of Directors for the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council, past chair of the Indo-U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Tampa, and a member of the American, Hillsborough County, and Florida Bar associations.

Mr. Ford represents owners, developers, contractors, construction managers, design professionals and subcontractors in all phases of the construction process, with an emphasis on complex construction litigation, including insurance disputes and defect claims. He is recognized for his construction practice by Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America® and Florida Super Lawyers. Mr. Ford is board certified by the Florida Bar in Construction Law and is an active member of the American Bar Association’s Forum on Construction Law as a current board member of the Forum’s Governing Committee. He has also held leadership roles with the Florida Bar and the Hillsborough County Bar Association. Mr. Ford is an active member of the Tampa Bay Community and a pro bono volunteer lawyer with Building for Good (B4G), a national nonprofit organization that links other nonprofits and charities with skilled construction lawyers.

Bradley’s award-winning Construction Practice Group has been recognized as the nation’s “Law Firm of the Year” for Construction Law by U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” in 2022, 2020, and 2018, a designation only given to one law firm in the country per legal practice area each year. The firm has held a national Tier 1 ranking in Construction Law every year since the rankings began. The Construction Practice Group also was named the “2020 Practice Group of the Year” by Law360, and was ranked No. 3 on Construction Executive’s list of “The Top 50 Construction Law Firms” in 2020.The firm’s construction attorneys counsel clients on projects throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as more than 35 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and South America. Several of Bradley’s construction attorneys have degrees in engineering, building science or architecture and have previous practical experience working in the construction industry.

About Bradley
Bradley combines skilled legal counsel with exceptional client service and unwavering integrity to assist a diverse range of corporate and individual clients in achieving their business goals. With offices in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, the firm’s almost 600 lawyers represent regional, national and international clients in various industries, including banking and financial services, construction, energy, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, real estate, and technology, among many others.

Chamberlain Hrdlicka is pleased to announce that it has elevated three of its shareholders to equity status and elevated three attorneys to shareholder. Moving up to equity shareholders are Atlanta-based attorney Erica L. Opitz and Houston-based attorneys David N. Calvillo and Kellen R. Scott. Additionally, Atlanta-based attorneys Patrick J. McCann, Jr., Steven M. Wyatt and Houston-based attorney Kelly Boss Shields were elevated to shareholder. These promotions were affirmed during the firm’s virtual annual meeting held on Feb. 5, 2022.

“We are excited for the elevation of these attorneys to our shareholder ranks,” said Larry Campagna, Chamberlain Hrdlicka’s managing shareholder. “They have played key roles in the firm’s success over the past few years through their hard work and commitment to client service. We look forward to seeing what else they achieve for our firm and within the legal industry.”

David N. Calvillo
Calvillo has successfully tried, litigated and arbitrated matters in diverse practice areas, including breach of contract, business separation, commercial liability, construction, tax controversy, shareholder rights, professional malpractice, personal injury and wrongful death, employment, debt collection and intellectual property. He is a Board-certified Civil Trial Specialist and a Texas CPA. Calvillo earned his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Texas School of Law and his Master of Laws degree in taxation from Georgetown University Law Center. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the State Bar of Texas and has been listed as a Texas “Super Lawyer” for fourteen (14) consecutive years.

Erica L. Opitz
Opitz is a member of the Corporate, Securities and Finance practice group and often serves as a client’s outside general counsel. She assists clients with corporate governance, commercial contracts, mergers and acquisitions and privately held securities matters. Opitz represents clients in a variety of industries, including moving and storage, merchant services, certified public accounting, investment management, manufacturing and building supply distribution industries. She also serves as the Atlanta office’s primary drafter of Georgia legal opinions. Opitz earned her undergraduate degree from Binghamton University and her law degree from Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law.

Kellen R. Scott
Scott maintains a general civil litigation practice in state and federal courts, with emphasis on employment law, restrictive covenants and trade secret matters. He counsels employers and businesses in state and federal courts, arbitration proceedings, and in matters before state and federal administrative agencies, including the Department of Labor, the Texas Workforce Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Evansville and his law degree from South Texas College of Law Houston.

Patrick J. McCann, Jr.
McCann is a member of the Tax Controversy and Litigation Practice based in Atlanta, Georgia. He focuses his practice on representing taxpayers at all stages of tax controversy including examination, appeals and litigation. McCann has advised clients on a full range of federal tax controversy matters including federal income tax, corporate income tax, partnership tax matters, employment taxes, estate and gift tax issues and tax shelter penalty and promoter examinations. He also advises clients on various tax planning and restructuring matters designed to withstand future scrutiny from the Internal Revenue Service. McCann earned his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University, his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and his Master of Laws in Taxation from the University of Florida Levin College of Law.

Kelly Boss Shields
Shields is a litigation attorney who maintains a diverse litigation practice, representing clients in probate and fiduciary litigation, labor and employment litigation, complex commercial litigation and arbitration. She has successfully represented both plaintiffs and defendants in federal and state courts in a variety of cases including will contests, trust disputes, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, FLSA, Title VII, ADA/ADEA, contractual disputes, and construction disputes. Shields graduated magna cum laude from Washington and Lee University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and psychology. Shields then graduated with honors from the University of Texas School of Law. She was named to 2021 Best Lawyers in America “Ones to Watch” and 2021 Super Lawyers “Rising Star.”

Steven M. Wyatt
Wyatt is a member of the Tax Controversy Practice Group and the Estate & Income Tax Planning & Estate Administration Practice Group. He has experience in wealth and asset protection planning, life insurance planning, incapacity planning, and other matters dealing with pre-mortem and post-mortem planning. Wyatt currently serves as chairman of the Tax Section of the Alabama State Bar Association. He is also past president of the Tuscaloosa Estate Planning Council. While in law school, he served as the editor of the Alabama Law Review. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama, his law degree from the University of Alabama School of Law and his Master of Laws in Taxation from New York University School of Law.

About Chamberlain Hrdlicka
Chamberlain Hrdlicka is a diversified business law firm with offices in Atlanta, Houston, Philadelphia and San Antonio. The firm represents both public and private companies, as well as individuals and family-owned businesses across the nation. The firm offers counsel in appellate law, bankruptcy, commercial and probate litigation, construction law, corporate, employee benefits, energy and maritime law, ERISA, estate planning and administration, intellectual property, international and immigration law, labor and employment, privacy and data security, real estate, securities and finance, tax controversy and tax planning.

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Katten announced today that corporate attorney John Corrigan has joined its Private Credit practice as a partner in LA to advise public and private companies and investors in M&A transactions and handle a range of other client matters.

“John’s comprehensive understanding of complex corporate transactions and his pragmatic approach to client service allow him to close a wide range of deals effectively and efficiently. This makes him an ideal addition to our team,” said Michael Jacobson, chair of Katten’s Private Credit department, a diverse team of attorneys active on behalf of some of the most prominent players in the middle-market finance industry. The practice has advised on more than 500 finance transactions annually over the past two years.

Domestic and cross-border deals are among Corrigan’s work advising public and private companies and investors in M&A transactions. He represents technology and life sciences companies in a number of industries, including software, cryptocurrency, health care IT, biotech and pharmaceutical. He also represents venture capital and private equity funds targeting technology and life sciences companies, and handles equity co-invests, equity kickers and exits, among other matters.

Before joining Katten, Corrigan was at Goodwin Procter LLP.

Combining technical knowledge with sophisticated problem-solving skills, Katten’s Private Credit practice routinely handles large, high-value transactions. Featured in the group’s extensive portfolio are a number of alternative lenders as well as lead arrangers, administrative agents, secured and unsecured creditors, proprietary lenders, junior capital providers, and borrowers.

The practice represents clients on the full spectrum of commercial finance transactions, regularly handling senior secured and unsecured loans, asset-based loans, first- and second-lien loans, unitranche and mezzanine debt, and warrants/equity kickers. It handles preferred equity, equity co-investments, private investment in public equity (PIPE), as well as distressed and bridge loans. The team shows particular strength advising clients on health care finance, junior capital, sports finance, franchise finance and insurance finance and is a go-to resource for international organizations in cross-border engagements.

These standout offerings position Katten to handle multinational and multicurrency financings and set the firm apart from others in the market that focus primarily on traditional bank-side work.

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.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that Michael Williams, a partner in the firm’s Jackson office, has been selected as a 2022 Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD). In addition, Shundra Manning, an associate in the firm’s Nashville office, and Gabriella Alonso, an associate in the firm’s Houston office, have been selected as 2022 LCLD Pathfinders.

The LCLD Fellows and Pathfinder programs are among the most comprehensive legal talent development programs in the country. They are designed to increase diversity at the leadership levels of the nation’s law firms and corporate legal departments. With more than 350 members, the LCLD is a national organization made up of general counsel and law firm managing partners who participate in programs designed to attract, inspire, and nurture the talent in society and within the members’ organizations, thereby helping a new and more diverse generation of attorneys ascend to positions of leadership. The LCLD was launched in 2009.

“We congratulate Michael on his selection as a LCLD Fellow and Shundra and Gabriella on their participation in the LCLD Pathfinder Program,” said Bradley Director of Inclusion and Diversity George D. Medlock, Jr.

The LCLD Fellows Program was designed to connect high-potential attorneys from distinguished organizations for a year-long professional development series focused on leadership and relationship building. The program offers unique opportunities to network with and learn from the top leaders in the legal field. The program provides Fellows exclusive access to numerous virtual training methods and networking opportunities, including class meetings, leadership lunches, accountability partners, and mentoring and alumni networking.

The LCLD Pathfinder Program is designed for diverse, high-potential, early-career attorneys at LCLD member organizations. The goal of the program is to provide Pathfinders with practical tools for developing and leveraging professional networks through relationship-building skills, foundational leadership skills, and an understanding of career development strategies. The program provides Pathfinders exclusive access to a variety of virtual training methods and networking opportunities, including class meetings, regional meetings, e-Learning modules, compass conversations with LCLD alumni, and program facilitators.

Bradley joined LCLD in 2020 and is proud to participate in the Fellows, Pathfinder, Alumni and 1L Scholars Programs to prepare future generations of diverse talent for the highest positions of leadership.

About Bradley
Bradley combines skilled legal counsel with exceptional client service and unwavering integrity to assist a diverse range of corporate and individual clients in achieving their business goals. With offices in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, the firm’s almost 600 lawyers represent regional, national and international clients in various industries, including banking and financial services, construction, energy, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, real estate, and technology, among many others.

Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that Kwan-Ho (Alex) Chung, PhD, has joined the firm’s Intellectual Property practice as a partner in the patent prosecution group of the Washington, D.C. office. Alex is the latest addition to the firm’s growing Intellectual Property team on the East Coast, which has recently added partners Ngai Zhang, Drew Schulte, and Lori Gordon.

Alex focuses his practice on representing U.S., European, Korean, and Japanese companies in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, chemical, and medical device industries. Alex has extensive experience providing strategic IP counsel to his clients in the areas of procuring, managing, enforcing, and defending patent rights. Additionally, he is skilled at navigating multi-jurisdictional patent protection.

“Alex’s legal talents and technical experience representing life sciences clients in highly technical transactions make him a valuable addition to our practice,” said David Fournier, firmwide chair of Perkins Coie’s Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Counseling practice. “As a U.S. patent co-inventor with a PhD in neuroscience, he has a deep personal understanding of patent protection and the myriad complexities of our clients’ portfolios and work.”

Alex’s practice also includes providing patentability, infringement, validity, and freedom-to-operate opinions, and conducting due diligence analysis on IP portfolios. He is a co-inventor of a U.S. patent on RNA interference (RNAi) expression vector.

“Washington, D.C., is a key market for patent prosecution, and Alex’s addition further builds out our capabilities for the East Coast and beyond. We’re excited that Alex is joining our growing team,” said Val Dahiya, Perkins Coie’s Washington, D.C., office managing partner.

Alex received his JD from the George Washington University Law School, his PhD in neuroscience from the University of Michigan Medical School, his MS in immunology and genetic engineering from Seoul National University, and his BS in microbiology from Seoul National University. Alex joins Perkins Coie from Jones Day, where he was a member of the Intellectual Property and Korea practices.

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 attorneys 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.

In a continued expansion of both its D.C. office and regulatory and compliance practices, Stroock welcomed partner Tom Firestone as co-chair of its White Collar & Internal Investigations practice group and partner in the National Security, CFIUS and Compliance and Litigation groups.

Tom is nationally recognized as an authority on white collar and international organized crime, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, anti-corruption compliance, sanctions, anti-money laundering, the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and Interpol and extradition matters. Tom’s extensive background in government service and private practice contribute additional depth to the firm’s client services and complement its national security, litigation and Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) practices.

“Anti-corruption matters and investigations are increasing with the rise in enforcement and global cooperation,” said Alan Klinger, Stroock’s Co-Managing Partner. “Tom is a tremendously impressive practitioner with invaluable, remarkably deep experience. His unique background and perspective will further strengthen our bench as we guide clients through the increasingly complex landscape of government regulation and enforcement.”

Tom represents major multinational companies and individuals in sensitive government investigations and compliance matters related to anti-corruption, money laundering, fraud, sanctions and national security. He has led cross-border investigations, served as global compliance counsel to a major multinational corporation, served as part of a monitor team and has represented individuals in Interpol proceedings and extradition cases. He joins from Baker & McKenzie, where he co-chaired its North America government enforcement practice and
served as a member of its Global Compliance and Investigations Steering Committee. He is also recognized by Best Lawyers in America in the area of white collar criminal defense.

Prior to entering private practice, Tom spent 14 years at the U.S. Department of Justice as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Eastern District of New York prosecuting domestic and international organized crime. While with the DOJ, he also served as Resident Legal Advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. He has testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee and UK House of Lords about international organized crime, corruption, and money laundering, twice won the State Department Superior Honor Award, and drafted the original version of the Foreign Extortion Prevention Act, currently pending before Congress.

Stroock’s White Collar & Internal Investigations attorneys are steeped in prosecutorial and judicial experience. The team includes former assistant U.S. attorneys, federal judges and a former branch chief of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. The group conducts complex internal investigations for boards of directors, board committees, corporations and individuals in connection with financial services regulatory and compliance matters, government enforcement actions, government contracting and workplace issues.

“A seasoned team is critical to guiding clients through the complexities and sensitivities of compliance and investigations work,” Firestone said. “I look forward to working with Stroock’s team to guide our clients in mitigating risk and maximizing positive outcomes.”

Tom earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School, his M.A. from the University of California at Berkeley, and his B.A. from Harvard College.

Hello,
I wanted to share that Shareholder Derrick Lam was named new co-chair of Littler’s Career Advocacy Program (CAP), joining Pittsburgh Office Managing Shareholder Ted Schroeder. CAP is one of the firm’s key inclusion, equity and diversity sponsorship programs. The full press release is below.

We hope this achievement is something you could include on your website or in your media spread. If you would like more information, I’m happy to reach out to Derrick for you.

Thank you,
Gina
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LITTLER APPOINTS DERRICK LAM AS NEW CO-CHAIR FOR
AWARD-WINNING CAREER ADVOCACY PROGRAM

(February 15, 2022) – Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has named Shareholder Derrick Lam (Los Angeles) as the new co-chair of its Career Advocacy Program (CAP), joining Office Managing Shareholder Ted Schroeder (Pittsburgh). CAP is one of the firm’s key inclusion, equity and diversity sponsorship programs.

“Derrick is the ideal candidate to lead this program alongside Ted. His first-hand experience with CAP will be instrumental as we continue to build on the success of the program and ensure that we are providing meaningful and intentional professional development opportunities for our diverse attorneys,” said Erin Webber, Littler’s managing director and president. “On behalf of the firm, I congratulate Derrick and look forward to his contributions as he takes on this new role.”

In 2016, Lam joined CAP as an associate Protégé and has continued to serve in a promoted Protégé capacity since his elevation to shareholder in 2020. Additionally, Lam is active in the firm’s ‘Ohana affinity group and a number of diverse organizations, including the Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the National Employment Law Council and the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association, of which he currently serves as a board of governors member.

“CAP was such a critical element to my path to shareholder and I am grateful for the opportunity to be part of such an amazing program,” added Lam. “Working with my Advocate and having access to the client Champions was truly invaluable. It provided me with practical skills and gave me the tools and resources needed to forge my career path here at the firm. I am excited to serve in this leadership role and look forward to collaborating with my co-chair Ted Schroeder as we further expand the program.”

CAP is designed to ensure that diverse attorneys gain the skills and opportunities needed to advance to the firm’s shareholder ranks, as well as develop into high-performing leaders. The program matches diverse associates (Protégés) with shareholder Advocates who encourage and foster their career growth. The program also includes client Champions who serve as corporate allies and an additional resource to the Protégés. Since its inception, CAP has been a tremendous success – over the past eight years, Protégés have represented on average 24% and up to 40% of the new shareholder classes.

Littler’s innovative inclusion, equity and diversity programs and initiatives have earned numerous recognitions, including a perfect score of 100% on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2022 Corporate Equality Index for LGBTQ+ workplace equality for the 14th consecutive year, the Gold Standard Certification by the Women in Law Empowerment Forum for the last decade and being named one of the “Best Law Firms for Women” by Seramount (formerly Working Mother Media). A full list of the firm’s accolades can be found here.

About Littler

With more than 1,600 labor and employment attorneys in offices around the world, Littler provides workplace solutions that are local, everywhere. Our diverse global team and proprietary technology foster a culture that celebrates original thinking, delivering groundbreaking innovation that prepares employers for what’s happening today, and what’s likely to happen tomorrow. For more information, visit www.littler.com.

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Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that the firm has significantly expanded its Salt Lake City office and Business Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice Group as Ken Black, Monica Call, David Jordan, and David Mortensen join as partners, and Jordan Bledsoe and Wesley Harward join as senior counsel. The addition of this team of highly skilled and respected lawyers, who will work collaboratively across the firm’s Health Care and Life Sciences, Energy, Manufacturing, and Innovative Technology Sectors, enables Foley to provide a full-service offering in the region.

The group focuses on complex business litigation, advising on areas such as intellectual property (IP), securities, commercial contracts, business tort, antitrust and unfair competition, and professional liability. They have represented business and individual clients on a number of civil matters, including environmental cases and mining cases, as well as IP litigation involving patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights, and trade dress.

“We are pleased to add such a stellar team of great lawyers to our growing office in the dynamic Salt Lake City market,” said Jay Rothman, Foley’s chairman & CEO. “The team brings a sophisticated and holistic approach to complex business litigation in our key sectors and will enhance our client service both in the Salt Lake City area and across the country.”

The incoming group commented, “Foley offers a broad platform and substantial resources that will enable us to expand our practices and better serve the legal needs of our clients. Additionally, the firm’s commitment to client service and its open and collaborative culture is exactly the right platform for us. We are excited to join the firm’s growing presence in Salt Lake City and look forward to building upon Foley’s strong reputation nationwide.”

This group helps build continued momentum for Foley in Salt Lake City, following the addition of the Intellectual Property Litigation Team in October 2021.

Ken Black – Partner
Ken Black’s practice encompasses complex business litigation, with an emphasis on intellectual property, securities, professional liability, and other commercial disputes. He represents clients in trademark, trade dress, copyright, right of publicity, and patent disputes. Black has also handled commercial litigation in a variety of other substantive areas, including antitrust, real property, construction, franchise/distribution, and other contract and tort matters.

Monica Call – Partner
Monica Call has extensive experience in business litigation, focusing on commercial contracts, business tort, antitrust and unfair competition, intellectual property, securities, professional liability, and corporate governance disputes. She represents businesses and individual clients in government investigations and corporate control cases, and she has also litigated license agreements, trademark, and patent disputes.

David Jordan – Partner
David Jordan’s practice focuses on commercial litigation. He represents businesses and individuals in a wide variety of civil matters, including complex business litigation, antitrust cases, intellectual property cases, mining cases, securities cases, government investigations, and other commercial disputes. David is the former U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah.

David Mortensen – Partner
David Mortensen represents clients in complex business litigation involving intellectual property, breach of contracts, business torts, fraud, negligence, and defamation. He regularly works with Utah’s largest cities in cases involving civil rights, government contracting, and emergency medical litigation. Mortensen’s commercial litigation experience in other substantive areas includes natural resources, water rights, environmental contamination, federal Native American law, bankruptcy, and securities and antitrust disputes.

Jordan Bledsoe – Senior Counsel
Jordan Bledsoe represents clients in a wide range of disputes, including matters involving breach of contract, trade secret misappropriation, Lanham Act violations, trademark and copyright infringement, business torts, partnership disputes, products liability, and personal injury defense.

Wesley Harward – Senior Counsel
Wesley Harward represents clients in matters involving contract disputes, business torts, and intellectual property. He also has experience drafting and preparing opinions for publication, drafting bench memoranda, and researching legal issues in both civil and criminal cases.

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.

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Jackson Walker is pleased to announce the election of 14 attorneys to the Firm’s partnership—the largest class to date. On Friday, February 11, 2022, the following attorneys were named partners:

Austin: Craig Bennett and Michael Roberts
Dallas: Lindsey Marsh Brown, Blake Dietrich, Lamar Dowling, James Miers, Brian Oates, and Machir Stull
Houston: Joel Glover, Jeremy Sheng, and Sang Shin
San Antonio: Art Cavazos, Amanda Crouch, and Reagan Marble

In addition to electing 14 new partners, the Firm also congratulates Bart Cicuto, Noah Speck, and Austin Thomas on their promotion from associates to senior counsel.

“At Jackson Walker, we are committed to developing our people as partners and elevating them as leaders within the Firm,” said Managing Partner Wade Cooper. “We are so proud to celebrate each of these individuals and recognize the incredible work they have done.”

Meet JW
Founded more than 130 years ago, Jackson Walker helps businesses of all sizes navigate the increasingly complex legal landscape. With more than 400 attorneys across seven Texas-based offices, the Firm represents Fortune 500 companies, multinational corporations, major financial institutions, insurance companies, and a wide range of public companies and private businesses around the globe. The Firm is ranked nationally in 27 practice areas in the U.S. News’ “Best Law Firms” rankings, and has 14 Chambers-ranked practices.

The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) has announced that Brendan J. Malley, Senior Vice President and Head of Litigation for QBE North America in New York City, has accepted an invitation to join the IADC, the preeminent invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests.

Mr. Malley manages the litigation function for QBE North America, which is a global insurance leader based in New York City and part of QBE Insurance Group Limited headquartered in Sydney, Australia. Mr. Malley is responsible for all business, claims, and extra-contractual disputes and litigation involving the QBE companies and all coverage opinion work on all lines of business.

Mr. Malley received his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from Fairfield University.

About the International Association of Defense Counsel
The IADC is the preeminent invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests. Founded in 1920, the IADC has members who hail from six continents, 51 countries and territories, and all 50 U.S. states. The core purposes of the IADC are to enhance the development of skills, promote professionalism, and facilitate camaraderie among its members and their clients, as well as the broader civil justice community. For more information, visit www.iadclaw.org.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce the arrival of the following six associates to the firm’s Alabama offices: Joe FitzGerald, Anna Akers Hornsby, Stephanie A. Johnson, Mason Rollins, Carmen Weite and Britney M. Williams.

“This exceptional group of young attorneys have already demonstrated significant client service in their careers, and we are pleased to welcome them to our firm,” said Bradley Birmingham Office Managing Partner Dawn Helms Sharff.

The six associates and their areas of focus, by office, are as follows:

Birmingham

Ms. Johnson’s practice is focused primarily on commercial real estate transactions where, as a member of the Real Estate Practice Group, she counsels clients in development, acquisitions, dispositions, and financing. She reviews comments on due diligence terms, including title commitments and related exception items, surveys, and zoning on behalf of lender, seller and buyer clients. Ms. Johnson also has experience coordinating with title companies and adverse parties to ensure marketable title where needed, and advises regional lenders in development and term loans with secured properties located throughout the Southeast. She has a J.D. (cum laude) from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, a master’s degree from Florida State University, and a B.A. (cum laude) from Samford University.

Mr. Rollins is a member of Bradley’s Construction Practice Group who represents general contractors, subcontractors, owners, architects, and engineers related to the many issues that may arise related to construction. His practice focuses on assisting clients with drafting contracts designed to avoid disputes, as well as litigating and arbitrating matters to final resolution. Mr. Rollins regularly litigates disputes involving breach of contract, construction defects, project delays, differing site conditions, change orders and additional work, contract termination, lien and bond claims, design, and insurance coverage issues. He earned a J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law and his B.S. (summa cum laude) from the University of Alabama.

A member of the Litigation Practice Group, Ms. Weite litigates a wide array of civil and commercial disputes, including business torts, breach of contract, employment-related matters, environmental law, insurance coverage, and product liability. She has experience with written and document discovery, taking depositions, and drafting and arguing motions. Ms. Weite also advises clients on business issues such as contract drafting and negotiation, litigation risk management, and commercial transactions. She is a graduate (cum laude) of the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Florida.

Ms. Williams is a member of Bradley’s Banking and Financial Services Practice Group, where she represents broker-dealers and registered representatives in securities arbitrations and in claims involving allegations of sales practice violations, unsuitability, misrepresentation, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duty. She has experience drafting pleadings in order to represent clients in all stages of arbitration, including discovery, electronically stored information disputes, dispositive motion practice, and mediation. Ms. Williams has a J.D. (cum laude) from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, an M.B.A. from the University of Florida’s Hough Graduate School of Business, and a B.A. (magna cum laude) in Economics from Spelman College.

Huntsville

Mr. FitzGerald is a member of the firm’s Corporate and Securities Practice Group. He focuses his practice on corporate transactions and general corporate matters, including private equity mergers and acquisitions. He currently serves in the Alabama Army National Guard as a Brigade Level Senior Operations Officer and recently served as the Commander of a Special Forces Advanced Operations Base in Trans-Saharan Africa. Prior to attending law school, Mr. FitzGerald served as a U.S. Army Special Forces Officer and was a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch, where he worked primarily with small businesses. He is a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law and received his undergraduate degree from the University of Montevallo.

Montgomery

As a member of the Healthcare Practice Group, Ms. Hornsby represents a variety of healthcare providers in regulatory and litigation matters, including audits, recoupments, and medical malpractice claims. She assists clients in qui tam litigation and other government investigations related to Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, and False Claims Act violations. Ms. Hornsby is a member of the Birmingham Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Section and has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Mid-South Super Lawyers. Ms. Hornsby is a graduate (cum laude) of the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University and received her B.A. in Political Science from Berry College.

About Bradley
Bradley combines skilled legal counsel with exceptional client service and unwavering integrity to assist a diverse range of corporate and individual clients in achieving their business goals. With offices in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, the firm’s almost 600 lawyers represent regional, national and international clients in various industries, including banking and financial services, construction, energy, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, real estate, and technology, among many others.

The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) has announced that Nicholas J. Hoffman, a partner at McGuireWoods in Los Angeles, California, has accepted an invitation to join the IADC, the preeminent invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests.

“I am honored to have been nominated as a member of the prestigious International Association of Defense Counsel,” Mr. Hoffman said. “I look forward to building lasting relationships through the IADC for years to come.”

Mr. Hoffman is a trial attorney who handles a wide range of matters, including product liability, mass tort, intellectual property, unfair competition, business tort and other complex commercial disputes. He represents clients in the technology, biotechnology, medical devices, consumer products and entertainment industries. He is part of a team that serves as national trial counsel for one of the world’s largest medical device companies.

Mr. Hoffman received his J.D. from the University of California Los Angeles School of Law and his Bachelor of Science from the University of California Los Angeles.

About the International Association of Defense Counsel
The IADC is the preeminent invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests. Founded in 1920, the IADC has members who hail from six continents, 51 countries and territories, and all 50 U.S. states. The core purposes of the IADC are to enhance the development of skills, promote professionalism, and facilitate camaraderie among its members and their clients, as well as the broader civil justice community. For more information, visit www.iadclaw.org.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that Jackson partners W. Wayne Drinkwater and Stephen M. Wilson have been named 2022 BTI Client Service All-Stars for providing superior client service. Mr. Drinkwater also earned the designation of “All-Star MVP” for being listed in the All-Stars list for consecutive years.

BTI defines each of the 565 honorees as being practical, savvy, knowledgeable, able to deal with complexity, available, and nimble. Bradley is one of 103 firms with two or more All-Stars for 2022.

“Wayne and Steve have consistently demonstrated their ability to provide exceptional client service, and the firm is proud to once again have multiple attorneys honored in this list,” said Bradley Jackson Office Managing Partner Margaret Oertling Cupples. “Their recognition is well-deserved, and it showcases the firm’s commitment to ensuring clients receive high-level legal service and responsive communication.”

The 21st annual list, which is published by The BTI Consulting Group, is based on more than 350 in-depth interviews with key legal decision makers at organizations with $700 million or more in revenue. Interviews are confidential, and the attorney names are provided in an unprompted manner. Attorneys cannot self-nominate, self-refer or pay for inclusion in the list.

Mr. Drinkwater has extensive experience in major business, commercial and constitutional litigation. He has tried some of Mississippi’s most significant cases and handled more than 70 appeals, arguing more than 30 of them in state and federal courts across the country. A former law clerk of former U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger, Mr. Drinkwater is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. He also is an Advocate of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Mr. Drinkwater has been included in The Best Lawyers in America® for 25 years and has been listed in Chambers USA in the area of Commercial Litigation since 2003.

Mr. Wilson is a corporate transactional lawyer and provides legal counsel to clients on acquisitions, joint ventures, tax, economic development and finance transactions. He has extensive experience managing corporate transactional and state and local tax matters, including over 100 separate business acquisitions, over 30 separate joint ventures and strategic alliances, state and local tax planning and controversy resolution, industrial development and economic incentives, and finance transactions. Mr. Wilson has been recognized in Chambers USA since 2006 and in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2008 in the area of Corporate Law.

About Bradley
Bradley combines skilled legal counsel with exceptional client service and unwavering integrity to assist a diverse range of corporate and individual clients in achieving their business goals. With offices in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, the firm’s almost 600 lawyers represent regional, national and international clients in various industries, including banking and financial services, construction, energy, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, real estate, and technology, among many others.

Contract Logix announced that 2021 was a record-breaking year for its platform’s usage growth as customers continue to digitize contracts and modernize business processes. Over the past 12 months, Contract Logix has seen a triple-digit percentage increase in the number of contracts and documents, digital contract requests, completed tasks, and automatic workflows triggered by its customers. This tremendous growth is evidence of the need and desire for organizations to digitally transform and automate contracting processes to simplify the way they mitigate legal and financial risk, maximize corporate and regulatory compliance, and finalize business faster.

Key Facts:

Recent research from World Commerce & Contracting and KPMG, found that “only 11% of organizations consider their end-to-end contracting process to be ‘very effective,’” and the vast majority (76%) have made digitization of the contracting process a priority. These statistics provide evidence that digital transformation is accelerating, and that the digitalization of contracts and contract lifecycle management (CLM) processes (also known as digital contract transformation or DCX) should be fundamental to overall digital transformation efforts.

Contract Logix’s growth shows that more and more organizations are not only embracing, but also accelerating their DCX efforts. Over the past year, the company continues to see tremendous growth in its software usage data, including:
103% increase in contracts and documents managed in its platform
343% increase in contracts executed using e-signatures
339% increase in automated contract workflows triggered
255% increase in converted contract requests
603% increase in tasks created in the software

As part of Contract Logix’s strategy to continuously enhance the value of its platform for customers, the company rolled out many new and innovative contract collaboration, security, and workflow automation capabilities over the past 12-months. This included its groundbreaking Collaboration Room technology, a real-time collaboration capability that makes contract version tracking, review, and negotiation fast, simple, and frictionless, as well as an automated document comparison capability to quickly see and track a complete history of contract edits. The company also added Adobe Sign to its list of leading e-signature provider packaged integrations.

The company’s success did not go unnoticed. The Contract Logix platform was awarded “Easiest to Use” software and having the “Highest User Adoption” within G2’s Winter 2022 Mid-Market Contract Lifecycle Management Implementation Index. It was also named a “High Performer” in all G2 Winter 2022 Grid® Reports for Contract Lifecycle Management Software including Enterprise, Mid-Market, and Overall, for four consecutive quarters.

To celebrate the customers who helped the company achieve its growth, Contract Logix also announced its first annual Digital Contract Transformation Awards in December 2021 to recognize those that have digitally transformed their contract management processes into an intelligent and data-driven function.

Executive Comments:

“Data contained in legal agreements is one of our customers’ most valuable assets and digitally transforming their contracting efforts allows them to harness that data to deliver actionable business intelligence. Our data-driven approach to contract management helps our customers quickly mitigate risks, simplify and speed up business processes, and improve their overall compliance.”
Tim Donaghy, CTO, Contract Logix
“We’re extremely proud that customers continue to get value from the Contract Logix platform and that our solution delivers the business insights necessary for them to make data-driven decisions about their contracts. We have over fifteen years of experience helping customers automate and digitize all phases of contract lifecycle management to support their broader digital transformation efforts, and we are excited to continue that journey with them.”
Karen Meyer, CEO, Contract Logix

Dallas and Washington, D.C. – Sidley Austin LLP is pleased to announce that Sean Royall has joined the firm as a partner in the firm’s Dallas and Washington, D.C. offices. Sean’s practice focuses on antitrust and consumer protection litigation and government investigations. He joins Sidley from Kirkland & Ellis, where he was a partner in their Antitrust and Competition practice. Sean also previously served at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as the Deputy Director of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition. Sean will become a co-leader of the firm’s global Antitrust and Consumer Protection litigation and investigations practice.

Sean, who has spent his entire career handling complex antitrust litigation matters and government investigations, is among the country’s most experienced and highly regarded antitrust lawyers. He has long been ranked in Band 1 by Chambers and Partners, which describes him as “top of the field” and “a star in the antitrust world both in counseling and litigation.” He is a highly experienced courtroom litigator with a stellar track record for winning high-stakes cases. Sean is equally effective navigating complex government investigations and advising clients on the details of a wide range of strategic antitrust issues. His antitrust career, both in government and private practice, has included work on major mergers and acquisitions, as well as lead roles in complex litigation matters that often intersect with other areas of law, including patent law, various federal regulatory regimes, consumer protection, and privacy. Sean has deep experience representing clients across a range of industries, including pharma, healthcare, e-commerce, telecom, financial services, energy, transportation, software, and semiconductors.

Sean also has a nationally prominent reputation for his work in the consumer protection area, where he developed unique knowledge in leading FTC investigations focused on advertising, marketing, privacy, and data security issues. Sean brings to this area of his practice both the deep insight and appreciation of enforcement priorities of a former government prosecutor and the skills of an accomplished litigator.

“With anticipated growth in enforcement actions by both the FTC and DOJ and a continued stream of new antitrust litigation, Sean’s vast experience inside the government as well as in private practice will be extremely valuable to our clients,” said Yvette Ostolaza, global co-leader of Sidley’s Litigation practice and chair-elect of Sidley’s management committee. “Sean is a terrific fit with Sidley’s strategic emphasis on practices with a heavy governmental and regulatory nexus adding to the firm’s deep bench of former high-level government officials from dozens of agencies, and we are excited to have him join us.”

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

With more than 2,100 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.

Shapiro, Lifschitz & Schram is pleased to announce the addition of attorney, Sandra D. Buchko, who counsels clients involved in real estate transactions, including landlord and tenant office and retail leasing matters, acquisitions and dispositions of commercial properties, hospitality, financing and related corporate matters.

“We are thrilled to welcome Sandy to our team,” said Steven H. Schram, principal and co-president of Shapiro, Lifschitz & Schram. “Her corporate background and experience representing national and international shopping center developers and tenants in leasing transactions broadens our legal services and enhances our commitment to client service.”

Buchko advises public, private for profit and non-profit clients on office and retail, bank, hotel, assisted living, multifamily and charter school real estate acquisition and disposition transactions. She represents clients on a wide range of single asset and portfolio acquisitions and dispositions that have included multi-state hotel and assisted living portfolios, urban and suburban office buildings, bank and retail pad sites, strip and enclosed mall shopping centers and charter schools. Buchko also represents clients in like-kind exchanges and financing matters related to real estate assets, including multi-family, office and retail centers.

She serves as a board member and investment committee member with Building Hope, an area representative for the Virginia Board of Governors, Real Property section and an Awards Committee member with NAIOP – Virginia.

Buchko earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and her law degree from Campbell University, Norman Adrian Wiggins School of Law.

Shapiro Lifschitz & Schram is a Washington, D.C.-based law firm delivering solutions for clients in the areas of business, construction, power and energy, real estate and commercial litigation. The firm has a proven track record of success representing clients in sophisticated deals and big-ticket, complex litigation at both the trial and appellate levels. With state-of-the-art document management and electronic discovery techniques, sophisticated graphics capabilities and seasoned lawyers, Shapiro, Lifschitz & Schram creates client-centered solutions to close deals and win cases. For more information, please visit the firm’s website, http://www.slslaw.com.

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DALLAS – Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP, has added two respected patent and trademark partners, continuing the growth of its intellectual property practice. Dr. Frank Amini, Ph.D., joins the firm’s Houston office and Bobby Voigt joins the Austin office.

“The protection of intellectual property continues to grow in importance across all industries. We made a commitment to growing this practice in 2020, and the addition of Frank and Bobby is another step toward building one of the strongest groups in Texas,” said firm founder John Shackelford. Both Dr. Amini and Mr. Voigt join the firm from Winstead PC.

Dr. Amini’s practice focuses on patent prosecution, IP licensing, transactions and litigation support on matters involving materials science, nanotechnology, biotechnology, the life sciences and the chemical arts. A Certified Licensing Professional, he also drafts and negotiates license agreements in connection with the acquisition of commercialization rights for numerous technologies, including medical diagnostics, medical devices, fluid purification processes, software, and databases.

He is a graduate of Chicago-Kent College of Law and holds a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Texas and a Ph.D. in biological chemistry from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

Mr. Voigt’s comprehensive patent practice focuses on patent preparation and prosecution, and the acquisition, licensing and transfer of intellectual property rights, including domestic and foreign patents, trademarks and copyrights for large and small companies, universities and individuals. He also represents clients before examiners and provides counsel on the strategic development of IP portfolios.

He is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and earned his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan.

About Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP
Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP, is a transactional, litigation, aviation and entertainment law firm with attorneys and offices in Dallas, Houston, Frisco, Fort Worth, and Austin, Texas; Nashville, Tennessee; and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Learn more about the firm at http://www.shackelford.law.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that Birmingham associates Stanley E. Blackmon and T. Brooks Proctor have been selected to the Alabama State Bar’s (ASB) 2022 Leadership Forum.

“Stanley and Brooks are exceptional young attorneys who have demonstrated the high standards of the legal profession in their practice, and we are proud of their involvement and interest in growing their leadership skills,” said Bradley Birmingham Office Managing Partner Dawn Helms Sharff.

The ASB Leadership Forum is recognized as a dynamic and highly effective model for nurturing and developing leadership skills and values among a select group of qualified, promising lawyers each year. Graduates become models of ethical and professional behavior both within and outside the legal community.

Mr. Blackmon concentrates his practice on high-stakes and appellate litigation throughout the federal and state court systems, with a focus on legal strategy, motion practice and appeals. He has litigated a variety of cases, maintains an active pro bono practice, and has been recognized for his appellate work in Chambers USA, Mid-South Super Lawyers and in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch. Mr. Blackmon is a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law and received his undergraduate degree from Mississippi State University.

Mr. Proctor represents clients in a broad range of litigation matters, including contract disputes, business torts, general commercial litigation, and class actions. He has handled a variety of cases in both federal and state courts and has experience in all stages of litigation. Mr. Proctor is a graduate of the University of Alabama School of Law and received his Bachelor of Arts from Washington and Lee University.

A complete list of the current Leadership Forum Class can be found on the ASB website.

About Bradley
Bradley combines skilled legal counsel with exceptional client service and unwavering integrity to assist a diverse range of corporate and individual clients in achieving their business goals. With offices in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, the firm’s almost 600 lawyers represent regional, national and international clients in various industries, including banking and financial services, construction, energy, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, real estate, and technology, among many others.