LexisNexis Legal & Professional has launched Lexis Answers, a new artificial intelligence (A.I.) enhancement within its flagship Lexis Advance offering, the company announced.

“Using powerful machine learning, cognitive computing and advanced natural language processing technologies, Lexis Answers transforms legal research by understanding the user’s natural language question and delivering the clearest, most concise and authoritative answer, in addition to finely tuned, comprehensive search results,” the company said in a news release.

The release continues:

Unlike traditional search approaches, which require users to translate their query into key words or use Boolean syntax, the Lexis Answers service allows users to enter their query in the form of a natural language question. With the input of a couple of words, the Lexis Answers service can begin anticipating and recommending Suggested Questions to the user. After analyzing millions of annotated legal documents and other content, Lexis Answers delivers the single best possible answer via a Lexis Answer Card. Each Lexis Answer Card links directly to the specific text within the document—rather than just the document itself—significantly speeding up the research process for common legal questions.

“Lexis Answers represents a paradigm shift in legal research. By delivering specific and actionable answers at the top of their search results, we’re saving users effort previously spent analyzing pages of search results and legal documents—enhancing their workflow and empowering them to get more done in less time,” said Sean Fitzpatrick, Managing Director of North American Research Solutions at LexisNexis. “Whether users need answers to common legal questions or they seek deeper insights into more complex queries, Lexis Answers makes it easier and faster to get the specific information they seek.”

Advancing more accurate and complete research, this new A.I. capability suggests related topics that help users logically and intuitively expand their search. It also delivers more comprehensive “traditional” search results tailored to the user’s question and can be further refined using robust filtering options. All of the words within the search question, and added equivalents, are highlighted within the search results and full-text results documents—making it easier for users to find information and determine relevance.

“Today’s announcement of Lexis Answers showcases the significant investments LexisNexis has made in pursuing advanced technologies that transform legal research to better meet the needs of the data-driven lawyer,” said Jeff Pfeifer, vice president of Product Management at LexisNexis. “And our work with Lexis Answers is just beginning. Over time we plan to refine and build this technology out to make it more sophisticated, more inclusive and smarter—delivering a service that actually learns from our users in order to surface the answers they need, save them time and provide even greater actionable insights.”

A.I. technologies have been an important part of the LexisNexis product portfolio for many years. In 1990, LexisNexis pioneered the use of machine learning, and in 1993, launched its first data visualization application—decades before the mainstream use of these technologies. Since these initial forays, LexisNexis has been actively pursuing natural language processing, text-mining, machine learning and other advanced capabilities to deliver state-of-the-art technology to customers and advance legal research into the future. A.I.-enhanced products from LexisNexis include Lexis Advance, Lexis® Litigation Profile Suite, LexisNexis MedMal Navigator®, the Lex Machina® Legal Analytics® platform, Ravel Law and Intelligize®.

Lexis Answers was developed by a team of experts at the LexisNexis Raleigh Technology Center. LexisNexis created its Raleigh, NC based cognitive computing center of excellence in 2015. This group is dedicated to developing artifical intelligence solutions for data-driven lawyers. A team of data scientists, computational linguists, advanced engineering and product management professionals will develop a series of A.I.-powered solutions releasing throughout 2017 and beyond.

Lexis Answers is now available to Lexis Advance subscribers at no additional cost.

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Michael Best & Friedrich LLP announced eight attorneys have been promoted to the firm’s partnership. The new partners are Michael D. Bess, Benjamin E. Evans, Benjamin T. Johnson, Laura M. Konkel, Michelle E. Kouba, Paulette M. Mara, Justin M. Mertz, and David J. Trautschold.

Michael D. Bess (Chicago) is a member of the Litigation Practice Group serving as a strategic counselor in complex commercial and criminal cases. Bess has significant drafting expertise and has proved instrumental in securing case dismissals, defeating class certifications, and preserving or reversing judgments on appeal. Bess’s experience spans a wide variety of fields, including securities and consumer fraud class actions, product liability, employment discrimination, white collar, criminal, civil rights, environmental, False Claims Act investigations, and state common law actions.

Benjamin E. Evans (Madison) is a member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group whose practice focuses on preparing, filing, and prosecuting U.S. and international patent applications in the mechanical arts field. Evans provides a broad array of IP legal advice, including reviewing patentability and clearance searches, conducting due diligence and infringement analyses, attacking competing patents and defending clients’ patents through inter partes reviews and ex parte reexaminations, and responding to U.S. Patent and Trademark Office actions.

Benjamin T. Johnson (Chicago) practices in the Labor & Employment Relations Practice Group and defends employers against employment discrimination claims. Johnson has particular experience defending against Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) claims and counseling on ADA issues such as reasonable accommodation and service animal requests. He also advises on wage and hour matters, including auditing employee classifications to minimize potential employer liability, and defends clients against class action litigation. An experienced litigator, Johnson handles claims under Title VII, the ADA, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and related state and local laws.

Laura M. Konkel (Madison) is a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group and handles all aspects of trademark and copyright prosecution and enforcement. Konkel counsels clients on trademark selection and protection issues in the U.S. and internationally, including clearance, prosecution, maintenance, licensing, due diligence, and enforcement, including opposition, cancellation and infringement proceedings before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and global courts and trademark offices.

Michelle E. Kouba (Chicago) is a member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group handling all aspects of U.S. and international trademark law. Kouba helps clients build and protect their IP portfolios while providing actionable advice on brand management. She focuses her practice on clearance, prosecution, and enforcement matters and has experience handling proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and coordinating foreign trademark enforcement and litigation for clients based in the U.S. and around the world. Kouba also has assisted clients protect their proprietary rights on the Internet including matters involving domain-name disputes.

Paulette M. Mara (Washington, D.C.) is a member of the firm’s Transactional Practice Group and Life Sciences Industry Group. She is experienced in representing pharmaceutical, medical device, biotech, and healthcare companies in regulatory, transactional, and litigation matters. Mara is known for bringing a strategic and practical approach to her work within the life sciences, agribusiness, and financial services industries, with a focus on FDA regulatory matters, research and development, intellectual property licensing, co-development and co-promotion strategic alliances, privacy, compliance, litigation, and product protection.

Justin M. Mertz (Milwaukee) is a member of the Corporate & Transactional Practice Group providing strategic counseling to businesses on bankruptcy, commercial loan negotiation, and real estate. Mertz negotiates and drafts complex contracts, especially in the area of commercial and residential real estate, and performs the financial and cash flow analyses that inform successful business strategies and decisions. He also represents clients in general litigation matters, including non-compete agreements, real estate developments, condominium disputes, and tax liabilities for distressed companies. His extensive courtroom experience comprises cases on both federal and state levels.

David J. Trautschold (Milwaukee) practices in the Intellectual Property Practice Group and helps clients obtain patents and manage their intellectual property portfolios. Trautschold has a biomechanical engineering background and has deep experience with consumer products. He has experience drafting utility and design patent applications, prosecuting patent applications to allowance, conducting right-to-use and patentability searches, analyzing patents for validity, developing global patent filing strategies, enforcing IP rights against competitors, and defending clients from infringement allegations through non-infringement positions and post-grant proceedings.

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Blank Rome LLP announced that Mark M. Lee has joined the firm as a partner in the white collar Defense & investigations practice in the Philadelphia office. He joins from Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP where he was chair of the firm’s white collar defense and corporate investigations practice group.

In a news release, the firm said:

Formerly an Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) for the District of Delaware, Lee has a traditional white collar defense practice, counseling his clients on everything from pre-indictment negotiations to plea negotiations and trials. He assists both private and public sector entities in internal investigations, and offers them compliance counseling. Mr. Lee regularly acts as an interface between his clients—both businesses and individuals—and the government agencies with which they come into contact.

“We are very excited to welcome Mark to the Firm,” said Alan J. Hoffman, Chairman and Managing Partner. “Mark has built a highly regarded practice and he is well-respected in the legal and business communities. Several of us at Blank Rome have known Mark for a number of years and I’m confident that his approachability and eagerness to collaborate across practices will further enhance our white collar group.”

As an AUSA, Mr. Lee organized and directed complex investigations. He has managed federal grand jury investigations and white collar criminal prosecutions in a wide variety of matters, including money laundering, public corruption, tax evasion, financial institution and mortgage fraud, and theft of identity, ERISA, and government funds. He has tried cases before the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and has successfully filed nine appellate briefs before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Notably, Mr. Lee recently defended a sitting U.S. congressman on multiple criminal charges, such as RICO, bank fraud, wire fraud, bribery, obstruction of justice, and money laundering.

Additionally, Mr. Lee has directed several federal investigations involving various technologies, including peer-to-peer software applications, social networking websites, and wireless and mobile networks and devices. His background also includes digital and computer forensic investigations.

“At his core, Mark is a problem solver,” said Shawn M. Wright, Co-Chair of the White Collar Defense & Investigations practice. “Whether at trial or in negotiations, Mark is a relentless advocate for clients, consulting with the respective agency or prosecutorial authority and resolving compliance issues under government scrutiny. Our group and our clients will undoubtedly benefit from Mark’s experience and perspective. We’re thrilled to have him on the team.”

In addition to his white collar practice, Mr. Lee also advises clients on matters concerning cybersecurity and data privacy, including assessments of policies and procedures, data breach preparation, and breach response and remediation.

“Blank Rome’s white collar defense & investigations practice group has a deep bench of exceptional attorneys,” said Mr. Lee. “I look forward to collaborating with attorneys across the Firm’s practices and offices to service my existing clients and strategically expand my practice. This is a perfect fit.”

Outside of his legal practice, Mr. Lee is a mentor to the youth in his community and serves on the Board of Directors of the National Black Child Development Institute. Mr. Lee’s pro bono and community investment activities center on education. For example, during his time as an AUSA, Mr. Lee coached a high school mock trial team in Delaware.

Mr. Lee earned his J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law, and his B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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Andrey Tomkiw, former managing member of Michigan business boutique law firm Tomkiw Mackewich, plc., has joined Dinsmore as a labor & employment partner.

In a news release, the firm said Tomkiw counsels business owners on a range of issues including litigation avoidance, general corporate matters, and sophisticated employee relations. He has represented business owners in front of numerous state and federal agencies, including the EEOC, NLRB, MDCR, UIA, MIOSHA, MERC, OFCCP and the DoL. He’s highly skilled in developing and implementing litigation avoidance strategies, and he’s a staunch client advocate when matters go to trial.

Tomkiw is an active member of the local business and legal community, recognized as a top attorney in the state of Michigan for eight consecutive years and holds an AVVO 10/10 Superb Rating.

“I spoke with several firms, but Dinsmore seemed to be the best fit. The addition of my practice gives our firm increased visibility and opportunities to better serve [Michigan] clients,” Tomkiw said.

Tomkiw assures his current clients they can expect the same level of counsel, attention to detail and value at Dinsmore that he has provided in the past and he looks forward to continue serving their future legal needs.

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Miller & Chevalier Chartered announced that the firm’s members elected Marc J. Gerson, member and vice chair of the Tax Department, as chair of the firm effective July 1, 2017. Gerson will assume the role following the lengthy and venerable tenure of current Chair Anthony F. Shelley, who steps down after 10 years of service on the Executive Committee, including almost six years as chair.

“Marc is an incredibly talented, thoughtful lawyer who has served in a number of leadership roles in his career, and he is an excellent choice to lead Miller & Chevalier as the firm closes in on its 100th anniversary in 2020,” Shelley said. “I have great confidence in Marc’s dedication to and vision for the firm, and know he will continue to build on our past accomplishments as he leads us into the future.”

In a release, the firm said:

Gerson was an Associate at Miller & Chevalier starting in 1995 and rejoined the firm in 2007 after serving as Majority Tax Counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means. In that role, he acted as the staff liaison to Committee on Ways and Means members, the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance, the Joint Committee on Taxation, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and served as counsel on all major tax legislation enacted in the 109th Congress. At Miller & Chevalier, he has served as Chair of the Lawyer Development Committee and as a member of both the Compensation and Nominating Committees, in addition to his current position as Vice Chair of the Tax Department.

“My fellow Members and I appreciate Tony’s diligent and successful stewardship of the firm over the past several years,” Gerson said, “and I am honored to be selected to serve as the next Chair of Miller & Chevalier’s Executive Committee.”

Shelley, who joined the firm in 1987, is the firm’s third-longest serving Chair after firm founder Robert N. Miller and esteemed Tax Member David W. Richmond. “It was one of the highlights of my career to serve as Chair of Miller & Chevalier,” he said. “I’ve had the wonderful privilege of leading the firm during a period that saw us welcome a number of new Members and enjoy great successes on behalf of our clients.” He also oversaw Miller & Chevalier’s March 2016 move into a new, trophy-class office building at 900 Sixteenth Street, NW, in the heart of Washington’s central business district.

In addition to Gerson, the firm’s Executive Committee will include Vice Chair Maria O’Toole Jones, Tax Department Chair George A. Hani, Litigation Department Chair Andrew T. Wise, International Department Chair Kathryn Cameron Atkinson, Employee Benefits Department Chair Theresa S. Gee, and At-Large Member Adam P. Feinberg.

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Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP announced that Jack Quinn has joined the firm’s Washington, D.C., office as a partner in the litigation group and as chair of the firm’s federal regulatory and government practice.

“Jack is a tremendous addition,” said William T. Quicksilver, Manatt’s chief executive officer and managing partner. “His experience both in and out of government adds a further dimension to our strong national practices, serving clients who face major crises that may involve litigation, regulatory, public policy or legislative elements. Companies and individuals under government scrutiny at all levels will benefit from his exceptional legal and crisis management counsel. Jack has honed truly extraordinary skills at the intersection of law, public policy, politics and communications, and his professionalism has earned him a great reputation and great relationships across partisan political divides.”

In a news release, the firm said:

Immediately before joining Manatt, Quinn chaired Quinn Gillespie & Associates, a bipartisan public affairs firm he co-founded in 2000 to provide government relations and strategic communication services. His clients spanned the high tech, financial services and insurance, telecommunications, industrial and healthcare fields. In recent years, he also practiced law as a solo practitioner and served as co-counsel in major mass tort litigation.

“Jack is a Washington legend,” said Douglas Boggs, Manatt’s D.C. office administrative partner. “A definitive Capitol insider, he knows the executive and legislative realms from the inside out. When trouble strikes, Jack is who you want to help navigate the regulatory and political shoals inside the Beltway. We are thrilled to welcome him to Manatt.”

Quinn added, “I have long been an admirer of Manatt’s unique approach — bringing top-tier lawyering, notably in the litigation group, together with astute business consulting and strategic advocacy. This seamless combination of disciplines mirrors my own career to this point, and allows the firm to provide particularly creative, highly effective solutions for clients. The energy and engagement here are infectious, and I look forward to working with this talented team.”

Quinn’s government service includes serving as counsel to the president of the United States. In that role, he advised President Bill Clinton and senior White House staff on the legal aspects of policy proposals, legislation, and certain classified and unclassified executive actions, as well as on investigations undertaken by both independent counsel and congressional committees. At the time of his appointment as White House counsel, Quinn was chief of staff and counselor to Vice President Al Gore.

Quinn practiced law at an Am Law 100 firm for more than 20 years. Early in his career, he worked on Capitol Hill, serving on staff for the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs and for a member of the Senate Finance Committee.

He has served on the boards of several companies, including Alternative Packaging Systems, The Water Company, Constellis Holdings Inc. (where he co-chaired the governance and compliance committee), the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, Fannie Mae and the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial.

After earning an undergraduate degree from Georgetown University College of Arts and Sciences, Quinn received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, where he was an editor of the Georgetown Law Journal.

Employment and labor law firm Littler has added Renea I. Saade as a shareholder in the Anchorage office. Saade was previously a partner in the labor and employment group at Stoel Rives LLP.

“Renea has an impressive background counseling employers in Alaska as well as throughout the Pacific Northwest, and is a great addition to our Anchorage office,” said Doug Parker, office managing shareholder in Anchorage and Portland. “She serves as a trusted adviser to her clients and her depth of experience, especially in the energy, construction and government contracting industries, will be a significant benefit to the firm.”

In a news release, the firm said:

Saade counsels employers on a wide range of issues that arise in the workplace, including accommodation and leave requests, wage and hour compliance, enforcement and defense of non-competition and non-solicitation agreements, workplace investigations, discipline and terminations. She regularly advises employers on developing, updating and enforcing employee contracts and policies and has particular experience advising government contractors on the complex requirements and unique risks they face in managing their workforces. Saade often serves as an independent workplace investigator and trainer on various employment law issues, including the prevention of discrimination and harassment in the workplace. She also represents employers before governmental agencies and local courts.

“Littler’s capabilities and experience in the labor and employment space are exceptional and I’ve long had a high regard for Doug Parker and the firm’s work in Alaska and the Northwest,” Saade said. “I look forward to drawing on Littler’s unparalleled platform and resources to continue to support the labor and employment law needs of companies operating in this region.”

Outside of her legal practice, Saade serves as board president of YWCA Alaska and is a member of several community and legal organizations, including the Kohanic Broadcasting Board of Directors, the Anchorage Association of Women Lawyers Board of Directors, Mother Attorneys Mentoring Association of Seattle, the Washington Defense Trial Lawyers and DRI. She is a regular speaker and author on employment law developments, and is an active member, presenter and trainer for the Alaska Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management. Saade also provides pro bono counsel to several public broadcasting and social service non-profit organizations.

Saade has been named one of “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business” in Alaska by Chambers USA each year since 2014. She received her J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law and her B.A. from the University of Washington.

DLA Piper announced that Danish Hamid has joined the firm’s Corporate practice as a partner in Washington, DC.

Inn a release, the firm said Hamid is an international lawyer who focuses on cross-border business transactions, regulatory compliance and internal investigations. He has significant experience drafting and negotiating complex international sales, licensing, outsourcing, distribution, joint venture and foreign government and military procurement contracts. For nearly 20 years, Hamid has counseled clients on a variety of regulatory matters, including those related to the US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and other anti-bribery laws, anti-money laundering, data privacy, US economic sanctions and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS).

The release continues:

“Danish has a deep understanding of both domestic and global compliance requirements, which will serve our clients well in today’s challenging regulatory landscape,” said John Gilluly, DLA Piper’s US chair of the Corporate practice. “His skills and knowledge integrate closely with our leading global white collar and regulatory practices.”

Hamid has led numerous internal investigations and corporate matters in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America for publicly-traded and private companies. He regularly advises C-level managers, company boards, audit committees, and outside auditors on investigations and related government disclosure strategies. Hamid has also counseled a variety of businesses on implementing and auditing compliance programs, and is regularly called upon to support regulatory due diligence efforts in the context of M&A transactions, private placements, capital market deals, joint ventures, and reseller, vendor, and business partner relationships. His clients range from emerging companies to prominent multinational public companies in the technology, healthcare and life sciences, investment banking, venture capital, energy, defense, aerospace, and education fields.

“With so much uncertainty in Washington, particularly within the life sciences and technology industries, it’s more important than ever for companies to ensure they’re staying on track,” said Jeff Lehrer, managing partner of DLA Piper’s Washington, DC, office. “Danish’s attention to detail in leading investigations across various industries and his reputation for efficiently and effectively handling clients’ needs will be very valuable to our clients.”

Hamid joins from Cooley, where he was the co-chair of the firm’s FCPA and International Anti-Corruption Practice. He is the most recent addition to DLA Piper’s Washington, DC, office in recent months, following partners Raphael Larson, John Rah and Anna Spencer.Additionally, the firm’s Corporate practice has added partners throughout the US this year, including Jeff Legault (New York), Omari Sealy (Miami) and Paul Wassgren (Los Angeles).

Hamid received his J.D. from George Washington University, where he was a member of The George Washington International Law Review. He earned his B.A., with honors, in Jurisprudence from the University of Oxford.

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Lisa Glahn has joined Foley & Lardner LLP’s Construction Practice as a partner in the Boston office.

Glahn’s practice focuses on construction, real estate and project development, where she counsels on strategic deal structuring, contract formation, complex litigation and claims resolution, among other issues. She represents clients in both the public and private sectors, including contractors, developers, lenders and owners through all project phases.

“Lisa has a versatile practice and can offer services from the transactional commencement of a project until the last dispute is resolved in litigation,” said Jeffrey Blease, chair of Foley’s Construction Practice. “She’s particularly adept at litigating and managing trial teams on complex, high-stakes projects that involve multiple parties.”

In a news release, the firm said:

Glahn has successfully handled construction litigation cases and disputes related to waste-to-energy and EPC projects, design-build ventures, and hospital, university, real estate and transportation development projects. On the transactional side, she drafts and negotiates general contracts, subcontracts, consultant agreements, construction management agreements, development agreements and other project related documents.

“Lisa has the judgment and experience to handle the most complex construction issues, of which there are many across Boston’s burgeoning industries and real estate market,” said Susan Pravda, managing partner of Foley’s Boston office. “In addition to the excellent service she provides to clients, Lisa regularly lends her professional skills to the local community and supports organizations that promote the greater good.”

From 2004 to 2005, Glahn worked as a special assistant district attorney with the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, where she tried more than 30 cases and advocated for social justice and human rights on behalf of underrepresented and marginalized constituencies. She serves on the board of the non-profit organization Women in Construction, and is a former board member of the National Association of Women in Construction – Boston Chapter. Lisa is also a member of the American Bar Association, Massachusetts Bar Association and Women’s Bar Association.

Prior to joining Foley, Glahn was a member at Mintz Levin.

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Hogan Lovells announced that Christopher Moore has joined the firm’s Corporate Practice as a partner in Northern California.

“Chris is a tremendous addition to our global M&A team, with deep expertise advising clients on both public and private transactions,” said David Gibbons, Global Head of Hogan Lovells’ Corporate Practice Group. “His joining is another step in our focused effort to increase the capabilities of our M&A practice in key markets.”

Moore joins from Weil, Gotshal & Manges on the heels of the addition of market-leading M&A partners Richard Climan, Keith Flaum, Jane Ross and IP and Technology Transactions partner John Brockland, all of whom Moore worked with extensively at his prior firm.

“Chris is a superb M&A lawyer. Our clients very much enjoyed working with him at our prior firm, and we are elated that he has decided to join us at Hogan Lovells,” said Climan.

Moore focuses on representing major technology and life sciences companies on a wide range of domestic and cross-border transactional matters, including acquisitions, divestitures, and joint ventures. He has played a leading role on teams advising Eli Lilly on its acquisition of CoLucid Pharmaceuticals; zulily on its sale to Liberty Interactive; XenoPort on its sale to Arbor Pharmaceuticals; Adobe Systems on its acquisition of Aviary; Synopsys on its acquisitions of Protecode, Gold Standard Simulations, Cigital and Codiscope; and Vonage on its acquisitions of Telesphere Networks, Simple Signal and iCore Networks.

“I’m excited to again team up with Rick, Keith, and Jane as part of the top-ranked Hogan Lovells corporate team,” said Moore. “Hogan Lovells’ platform and market leading expertise in key areas will help us continue to deliver top-tier M&A services to clients across the globe.”

Moore received a B.A. cum laude and a J.D. from the University of California Los Angeles.

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Buchalter announces that Matthew S. Covington and Jeffrey M. Hamerling have joined the San Francisco office, and Alissa Pleau-Fuller has joined the Sacramento office. All are members of the Litigation Practice Group and joined from Archer Norris.

Prior to Archer Norris, both Covington and Hamerling were Partners with DLA Piper.

Buchalter also announced that it added an attorney in San Francisco to its Insolvency & Financial Law Practice, Jeannie Kim.

As a result of their industry acumen, both Covington and Hamerling devote significant portions of their practices to petroleum companies, focusing on franchise, distribution, commercial and environmental matters. Both are also known for their experience with the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act, having handled cases that established major precedents in the petroleum retail industry.

“Matt and Jeff bring impressive resumes having extensive experience representing petroleum company clients in complex environmental matters,” said Adam J. Bass, President and Chief Executive Officer of Buchalter. “We have been looking to expand our representation of this industry for quite some time, and Matt, Jeff and Lisa are a great cultural fit.”

Covington is a member of the American Bar Association’s sections on Litigation Environmental Law. Covington earned his J.D. cum laude at Harvard Law School in 1991, and received his B.A. with honors from Stanford University in 1988.

Hamerling is a member of the American Bar Association’s Environmental Law and Natural Resources subsection. He is also a member of the San Francisco Bar Association and serves on the Board of Directors for Contra Costa Legal Services. Hamerling received his J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law and his B.A. with honors from the University of California, Berkeley.

“I’m thrilled at the opportunity to join the firm during such an exciting time at Buchalter, and add our experience and expertise to the already exceptional capabilities the firm offers its clients,” said Matt. “I look forward to continuing to grow our practice with the impressive platform Buchalter provides.”

In February of this year, Buchalter opened a Sacramento office which has grown to 14 attorneys with the addition of Pleau-Fuller. Pleau-Fuller focuses her practice on serving the litigation needs of franchisors, including petroleum marketing companies. She has also worked on matters involving refinery and cogeneration facilities. Pleau-Fuller received her J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law with distinction in 2008, her M.B.A. from California State University, Sacramento in 2004, and her B.A. from the University of California, Davis in 2000.

Prior to joining Buchalter, Kim served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Deborah J. Saltzman, United States Bankruptcy Judge in the Central District of California, Riverside and as a judicial extern to the Honorable Maureen A. Tighe, United States Bankruptcy Judge in the Central District of California, San Fernando Valley Division, and the Honorable Carla M. Woehrle, United States Magistrate Judge, Central District of California, Western Division. She earned her J.D. at Loyola Law School, Postgraduate Diploma in International Political Thought from the University of St. Andrews, and her B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles.

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Global law firm Hogan Lovells announced that it will combine with Collora, a Boston-based litigation/investigations firm with a strong focus in life sciences and healthcare, as well as financial services and technology. The combination is expected to become effective Sept. 1, at which time all partners, lawyers, and business services members of Collora will join Hogan Lovells, the firm said in a news release.

“The addition of Collora enhances Hogan Lovells’ capabilities to serve clients in one of the most dynamic and growing markets in the US. Boston is home to global leaders in technology, life sciences, healthcare, and financial services,” according to the release. “The area boasts elite academic and research institutions and world-class medical facilities. Economic development in the Boston metropolitan area is fuelled by an active financial services and investment community. The new office will be focused on litigation and investigations with a particular emphasis on the life sciences and healthcare sectors; over time, Hogan Lovells expects to add regulatory, corporate transactions, and IP capabilities.”

“The Boston region is a key strategic market in the United States. Although we have worked closely with clients in the area for years, it more recently became clear to us that there was a need for an office that had strong roots in the community,” says Hogan Lovells CEO Steve Immelt. “Collora is a firm that shares our values, our culture and our approach. We have worked with them for many clients over the years. It has highly regarded practices in litigation and investigations, with a particular focus in life sciences, which fits very well with our own practices. We also intend to focus on the financial services, technology industries and education sectors, where we already have strong practices in other markets. We are delighted to welcome the Collora team and look forward to working with them for the benefit of our clients.”

The release continues:

The combination provides Collora and its clients with access to a network of services and practitioners that seamlessly work to provide a cohesive client experience globally. Hogan Lovells is recognized as a global leader in life sciences and healthcare, with specialists in areas such as regulatory, intellectual property, transactions, and disputes. Together, the two firms have more than 500 lawyers practicing in the life sciences and healthcare industry.

Collora has several well-known trial advocates who represent both companies and individuals in government investigations, complex civil litigation, professional licensing and discipline matters and other litigation matters, with a particular focus on financial services, technology and the life sciences industry. The firm includes former federal and state prosecutors, judicial law clerks, law professors and a former chief justice of the Massachusetts Appeals Court.

“Hogan Lovells has a strong global reputation and offers us depth and reach that brings a new and exciting dimension to what we are able to offer our clients,” said Bill Lovett, who is currently the Managing Partner of Collora, and will serve as the Office Managing Partner of the Hogan Lovells Boston office. “We looked very hard at making sure that the business and cultural fit would be right for us – for nearly thirty years our firm has been committed to serving our clients and contributing to our community. Based on many years of working together for some of the same clients, we know Hogan Lovells brings those qualities to the table across the entire firm. No other Boston firm has Hogan Lovells’ global reach. We look forward to making these skills available to our clients and to new Boston-area clients as well.”

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National law firm Dykema announced the addition of Michael Klein to its Litigation Department and Insurance Industry Group as a member in the firm’s Austin office. Klein joins Dykema after practicing at the Austin office of Sedgwick LLP.

Klein has more than 35 years of experience representing clients as a trial lawyer. He has tried nearly 50 matters to final award or judgment in both state and federal courts, as well as arbitration. While his most recent work involves first party insurance coverage and bad faith as well as insurance regulatory litigation, he also has experience with extensive and wide-ranging business and commercial litigation, as well as complex real estate litigation and trade secrets.

Klein also represents large, national healthcare and insurance clients in governmental investigations, declaratory judgment actions and injunctive matters involving insurance regulatory and consumer protection issues. He has extensive experience in healthcare Prompt Pay litigation and advising payors/insurers on the implications of the statute.

“Michael’s reputation as a top-flight litigator precedes him,” said Keith Shuley, Managing Member of Dykema’s Austin office. “He has extensive experience with various forms of litigation and knows well how to navigate federal and state courts in Texas. We’re very excited to add him to our Austin office.”

Klein, who is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, received a J.D. from The University of Houston Law Center and a B.B.A. from The University of Texas.

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Berkeley Research Group announced that Janice Jacobs, a managing director in the firm, has joined Edward Buthusiem and Katherine Norris in BRG’s Healthcare Corporate Compliance and Risk Management (CCRM) practice.

Jacobs has more than 30 years of healthcare industry experience, including hospital accounting and auditing, inpatient, outpatient and professional fee coding, compliance and revenue cycle management.

Before joining BRG, Jacobs was a director at a professional services firm, where she developed a Regulatory Compliance and Coding practice. She also was a director in the Healthcare Compliance and Investigations practice of a global management consulting firm, where she worked on engagements at the country’s top Academic Medical Centers, including Stanford, Duke, Johns Hopkins, Thomas Jefferson and the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Jacobs is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in the State of Pennsylvania, a Certified Professional Coder and a Certified Professional Compliance Officer with the American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC), a Certified Coding Specialist and an AHIMA-Approved ICD-10 Trainer with the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) and a Radiation Oncology Certified Coder with the American Medical Auditing Company (AMAC).

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San Antonio business attorneys William McDonough, Peter Broderick and James McDonough have joined Jackson Walker LLP as partners in the San Antonio office, as well as associate Art Cavazos.

“We continue to attract an outstanding next generation of lawyers and are delighted to have Jimmy, Pete and Billy join our team,” said Stephanie Chandler, leader of the firm’s San Antonio Corporate and Securities group. “We expect to see substantial opportunities in the San Antonio market in the coming years, and their extraordinary experience in a wide range of sophisticated matters will be vital in meeting the needs of the business community here. Their addition further expands our already strong San Antonio footprint.”

In a news release, the firm said:

Pete Broderick counsels both private and municipal clients with real estate development, economic development, and land use planning projects. He also has an extensive commercial real estate practice representing landlords and tenants of commercial properties of all kinds, with particular emphasis on retail and office leasing.

Jimmy McDonough counsels public and private companies and financial institutions in a broad array of corporate finance transactions. He also regularly represents clients in all types of commercial real estate transactions, including both developed and undeveloped site acquisitions and dispositions, portfolio convenience store (with fuel) acquisitions and dispositions, mortgage lending transactions and commercial office and retail leasing transactions.

Billy McDonough advises a diverse range of businesses engaged in mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, and joint ventures. He represents sellers, purchasers and targets in a number of industries, including the medical device, downstream energy, multi-unit fuel retail, and financial institution industries. He also advises private and public clients in general corporate matters.

Art Cavazos, Jr., a senior level associate, focuses on businesses transactions in various industries including oil and gas, finance, construction, healthcare, agriculture, insurance services and telecommunications.

San Antonio office managing partner Scott Rose stated that “the addition of such outstanding professionals as Billy, Pete and Jimmy, all with deep roots in our community, adds to the vibrant fabric of the office and further evidences Jackson Walker’s strong commitment to San Antonio.”

These four additions bring the growth of the San Antonio office to seven new lawyers since the beginning of 2017. Steve Jacobs, Steve Seidel, and Noah Speck joined the firm in San Antonio earlier this year. The firm also landed six IP litigators in Houston in March and added three lawyers in Austin in April.

“We are proud of our success in attracting so many talented individuals to our firm,” said firm-wide managing partner Wade Cooper. “They are making our great Texas firm even better.”

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Intellectual property attorney Seth Horwitz and estate planning and probate attorney Catherine Bright Haws have joined the Dallas office of Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal, LLP, as of counsel.

“Seth and Catherine are talented lawyers who embrace the high standards that clients expect from our firm,” said Carrington Coleman Managing Partner Bruce Collins. “Each brings an impressive understanding of the needs of their clients in their individual practice areas.”

In a news release, the firm said Horwitz’s experience in patent preparation and prosecution bolsters the firm’s formidable intellectual property and technology law practice. His work includes patent portfolio management; inter partes review (IPR); trademark registration and opposition; copyright licensing and enforcement; domain name arbitration; and identity theft, privacy and publicity rights matters. A registered patent attorney, his work encompasses a variety of technologies including:

· Network architectures
· Software as a service (SaaS)
· Semiconductor lithography and device architectures
· Optics
· Security Systems
· Image compression and processing
· Industrial machines
· Firearms

A 1998 graduate of Rice University with degrees in electrical engineering and math, and a 2001 graduate of Columbia University School of Law, Horwitz joins Carrington Coleman from the Dallas office of Glast, Phillips & Murray, PC.

Board certified in estate planning and probate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Haws is an advisor to clients on estate planning and probate matters, including:

· Will and trust agreement preparation
· Planning for a potential mental incapacity
· Probate and estate administration
· Family business formation and succession
· Fiduciary litigation
· Estate, gift and generation-skipping tax planning

A 2001 graduate of Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law, Haws joins the firm from Key Harrington Barnes, PC.

Carrington Coleman is a 47-year-old Dallas-based law firm focused on litigation and transactional services in the real estate, oil and gas, securities, construction, information technology, professional services, health care industries, and family law, among others. The firm also represents public entities and provides counsel in the areas of corporate transactions, corporate governance, banking, bankruptcy/restructuring, intellectual property, employment, and estate planning. Learn more about the firm at www.carringtoncoleman.com.

Foley & Lardner LLP announced that Karen Mangasarian has joined the firm’s Chemical, Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Practice as a partner in the New York office.

Mangasarian regularly counsels a diverse group of life sciences clients across a wide range of technology areas, including small molecule pharmaceuticals, pharmaceutical formulations, biologics, diagnostic and therapeutic methods in molecular and cellular biology, immunology, microbiology, biochemistry, genomics and computational biology, the firm said in a news release.

The release continues:

“Karen’s extensive experience handling a variety of intellectual property matters for clients in the life sciences space, paired with her deep background in pharmacology and biochemistry, aligns well with our focus on helping clients maximize the value of, and protect, their technology,” said Kristel Schorr, Chair of the firm’s Chemical, Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Practice.

Mangasarian works closely with her clients to provide patent counseling services, including obtaining international and domestic patent rights, creating competitive patent strategies, strategic planning, licensing and product life cycle management. She also has experience with post-grant procedures, such as interferences, re-examinations, oppositions and litigation.

“Karen brings an exceptional depth of patent counseling knowledge to Foley,” said Peter Wang, Managing Partner of the firm’s New York City office. “Her experience complements our office’s strong Patent Litigation and Trademark, Copyright & Advertising Litigation practices, as well as our robust national patent counseling work. We are delighted to have her join us as an integral part of our team.”

Prior to joining Foley, Mangasarian was a partner at Ropes & Gray LLP.

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Michael Best announces that Michael T. Graham has joined its Chicago office as a partner in the firm’s Labor & Employment Relations Group, where Graham will chair the firm’s growing ERISA Litigation Practice. This addition comes on the heels of several recent lateral hires in the Chicago office, including Mircea Tipescu and Peter Huh.

“We fully expect Michael to hit the ground running as he will be in great demand,” said Amy Schmidt Jones, Chair of the Labor & Employment Relations Practice Group. “With profound changes taking place in the employment sector, the two decades of experience Michael brings with him will help strengthen our practice and provide extraordinary counsel to our clients.”

Graham joins Michael Best from McDermott Will & Emery, and brings nearly 20 years of experience in Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) Litigation and employee benefits controversy matters on behalf of Fortune 500 employers, employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) trustees, plan administrators, and plan sponsors. He focuses his practice on employee benefits matters, including counseling plan administrators, fiduciaries and employers on proper statutory and regulatory compliance as well as administrative benefit claims and appeals procedures. He also counsels clients on preventive measures to avoid litigation and assists in developing defense plans in the event that litigation arises, the firm said in a news release.

“We’re thrilled that Michael has joined our Chicago office,” said Kerryann Haase Minton, Michael Best’s Chicago Office Managing Partner. “We’re always searching for talented and sophisticated attorneys and the experience Michael brings in employment benefits litigation will be a great addition to our team.”

Graham frequently litigates fiduciary breaches, ESOP issues, and medical and pension benefit denial claims in front of federal and state courts, and in front of the U.S. Department of Labor. He also dedicates a part of his practice to counseling plan administrators, fiduciaries and sponsors on Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) requirements and liabilities.

“There is a significant amount of ambiguity currently in the employment sector,” said Graham. “With a number of regulations and requirements set to come down, I expect employers to be very active in the near term and I believe Michael Best has positioned itself well to address their client’s needs in the employee benefits, ERISA litigation and labor and employment areas.”

Graham received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Valparaiso University School of Law, and his A.B. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Mlegal, a national legal search firm, announced todaythat four industry professionals with partner recruitment experience have joined in the San Francisco Bay Area: Natasha Innocenti, Carter W. Brown, Suzanne Kane, and Karina Robles.

“My new colleagues are consummate professionals who know law firms inside and out and work at the highest level of professionalism and integrity,” said CEO Joe Macrae. “They are a fantastic fit for a legal recruiting firm known as a trailblazer because they’ve all exhibited that same quality throughout their careers. We expect that adding such significant talent to Mlegal will have an immediate and significant impact on the firm and our ability to dramatically expand our services to clients in the Bay Area and beyond.”

Founded by Macrae in 2001, Mlegal began by focusing on law firms based outside of San Francisco and Silicon Valley that were seeking to grow in the region. In 2015, the company embarked on an expansion plan at the urging of clients who wanted the firm’s unique expertise on a broader scale. Mlegal added the East Coast team led by partner recruiter Brad Bruner, whose practice emphasized New York as well as other key markets on the East Coast and in Texas. Bruner, a former technology and corporate attorney at Orrick and Fenwick & West and senior in-house counsel at well-known technology companies, serves as Mlegal’s Managing Partner, East Region.

In a release, the company said:

In addition to California and New York, the firm now has offices in Houston and Atlanta, and plans to launch in Washington and London.

Seth Zachary, Chairman of Paul Hastings, commented, “We have been very pleased with the deep market knowledge and insights Mlegal brings to the table. Mlegal’s ability to articulate our message and to deliver the superb quality of candidate that we are seeking has been a valuable catalyst to our progress.”

The new members of the Mlegal team include:

Natasha Innocenti, a legal search veteran and founder of Innocenti Partners, joins as Partner in San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Innocenti is widely recognized as one of the top partner recruiters in the San Francisco Bay Area, having led the Northern California partner practice at Major, Lindsey and Africa for eight years before launching her own firm. She has placed or assisted in placing more than 200 law firm partners in her 20-plus years in the business.

Carter W. Brown, a tested legal search executive with more than 30 years of experience, joins as Chief Business Officer. His experience includes 11 years as CEO of Major, Lindsey & Africa, as well as tenures at Coblentz Patch Duffy & Bass, Law Finance Group, and Richardson.

Suzanne Kane, an internal law firm recruitment leader for more than 20 years, joins as Managing Director. She has helped vet, hire, and integrate more than 100 law firm partners. Kane served for 16 years as a Manager of Attorney Recruitment & Development at Latham & Watkins. Most recently, Suzanne was U.S. Legal Recruitment Director at Dentons, where she led the hiring of partners and others in the U.S. and other regions worldwide.

Karina Robles joins as Human Resources Administrator and San Francisco Office Manager. Her prior experience includes serving as Senior Administrator to the Northern California partner practice group at Major, Lindsey & Africa, as well as office management roles at several other prominent Bay Area organizations.

The new hires join veteran Mlegal Bay Area recruiters Martha Angell and Bridget McCarthy.

“I couldn’t be more proud to join the masterful team Joe has assembled,” commented Innocenti. “I’ve competed against Mlegal for years and am now excited to work alongside Joe and his amazing team on our common mission to redefine what excellence is in the legal search profession.” Innocenti brings to Mlegal a special skill set in representing women partners, who comprise about 40% of her practice, as well as expertise in representing government lawyers.

Mlegal’s enhanced presence in San Francisco continues the momentum created through other recent notable hires, including:

Catherine Raine Wilde, a former Baker Botts attorney and in-house attorney at GE Capital who went on to become a respected presence on the Houston legal recruiting scene for many years, helped found the Houston office as Managing Director.

Patty Morrissy, whose distinguished legal recruiting career includes high-level internal management positions at Paul Weiss and Sullivan & Cromwell, and serving as an Associate Dean at Cardozo School of Law, joined the New York office as Managing Director.

Andrea SoRelle, a successful partner recruiter who previously worked with Houston-based Johnson Downie and Heidrick & Struggles, among others, joined the Houston office as Managing Director.

Barnes & Thornburg LLP has added Richard Kaye to its Atlanta office as a partner in the Corporate Department, where he works on domestic and international transactions.

In a news release, the firm said Kaye focuses on commercial and corporate law and represents multinational corporations, governmental entities, and emerging growth companies. He advises clients on domestic and cross-border M&A transactions, real estate, franchising construction, foreign investment, joint venture and partnering agreements, commercial contracts, and commercial and trade transactions, among other complex matters.

“Rich has a strong transactional practice in the U.S. and we can parlay his international experience when working with European and Asian clients with respect to their operations here,” said Stuart Johnson, managing partner of the firm’s Atlanta office. “He will nicely complement our corporate and M&A capabilities in this market and across the country.”

Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, Kaye was a member at Sherman & Howard LLC. His arrival comes on the heels of Robert Lockwood, a partner in the Intellectual Property Department, who joined the Atlanta office earlier in the year.

Beyond his law practice, Kaye is a member of the Advisory Board of Metro Atlanta Chamber and a member of the Georgia Economic Developers Association. He is former chair of the American Bar Association’s International Commercial Transactions, Franchising and Distribution Committee.

Kaye earned his J.D. from Emory University School of Law and his B.A. from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and also studied at the University of Paris IV, Sorbonne. He is admitted to practice in the state of Georgia and before the Georgia Supreme Court, the Court of Appeals of Georgia, the U.S. District Court for the Northern and Middle Districts of Georgia and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.

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