Buchalter announces the opening of its new Sacramento office with the addition of seven lawyers. James (Jim) K. Dyer joined the firm as managing shareholder of the new office from Downey Brand LLP, where he was a partner. The firm also signed Gwenn O’Hara and her team, including Valerie Collanton, Meghan Cox, and Ann Springgate, from the California Power Law Group where O’Hara was the founding partner.

“The decision to open an office in Sacramento was an easy one as the city’s real estate, technology, government, financial services, environmental, and energy industries are all thriving. However, we insisted on waiting until we found the right fit culturally for Buchalter, and I am thrilled to welcome Jim, Gwenn and their teams to the firm,” said Adam J. Bass, President and Chief Executive Officer of Buchalter. “We look forward to further increasing our presence in Sacramento and the Central Valley in the near future.”

In a news release, the firm said Dyer’s role at Buchalter will focus on establishing the firm’s presence in the state capital, spearheading the new Financial Regulatory and Compliance Group and offering valuable insight as a member of the firm’s Board of Directors.

The news release continues:

He has more than 25 years of experience as a corporate and financial institutions lawyer with a background in public accounting and in his practice, he assists clients – private and public enterprises and financial institutions – on a range of corporate matters including corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and regulatory compliance. He regularly serves as outside general counsel to a number of these organizations in the California Central Valley, advising them as they develop new products, services or enter new markets. Jim earned his J.D. from Texas Tech University School of Law, and his B.A. from California State University, Sacramento.

“Buchalter is very well-established in the California market, and I’m excited for the opportunity to deepen that footprint and lead the new team as we counsel Sacramento and other Central Valley businesses on some of the most pressing corporate, finance, and real estate matters,” said Jim. “In addition to the leadership opportunity, I was drawn to Buchalter because of its entrepreneurial-like culture. It is unique in today’s law firm market.”

Gwenn’s role at Buchalter will include chairing the new Energy & Natural Resources Group firm-wide. She represents public and private entities, assisting with large infrastructure projects, and the development, negotiation, and administration of traditional energy, gas and renewable portfolios. Gwenn represents a major grid operator with contract and regulatory matters and advises on the management of a portfolio of energy contracts that reached $46 billion. She advises on complex transmission and interconnection issues, utility rate cases, and represents clients at the CPUC, CEC, CARB, and FERC. Her public finance work has involved representing cities, counties, and state agencies in public finance transactions as bond or underwriter’s counsel. Gwenn received her B.A. and J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley.

“I am thrilled to be a part of Buchalter’s expansion into Sacramento and the Central Valley,” said Gwenn. “The firm’s strong regional footprint will allow us to expand the Energy and Natural Resources practice state-wide while providing our existing clients with a full range of business services and an exceptional experience.”

Buchalter also announced that both Anna Crivelli and Weston Rockers joined as associates formerly with Downey Brand. Anna focuses her practice on representing financial institutions in a variety of corporate, regulatory, and compliance matters. She also represents general business clients on a variety of corporate and real estate matters. She earned her J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley School of Law and her B.A. from California Polytechnic State.

Weston’s practice focuses primarily on representing lending institutions, landlords, tenants, and developers on issues related to commercial leasing, purchase and sale, acquisition and development, and project finance. Weston also has experience counseling clients on entity formation, business and asset purchase and sale transactions. He earned his J.D. and M.B.A from Pepperdine University and his B.S. from the University of Kansas.

Valerie specializes in complex litigation and has represented a broad range of clients before state and federal courts. She represents her clients on a variety of matters, including those involving energy, antitrust, trade secrets, intellectual property, labor and employment issues, and more. Valerie received a B.A. Degree in Political Science from San Francisco State University and her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

Meghan focuses on energy matters including power purchase agreement negotiation, generator interconnection matters and regulatory issues. Prior to joining California Power Law Group, she worked at a national law firm specializing in public finance and, before entering law school, served as a budget analyst at the California State Treasurer’s Office. Meghan earned her B.A. in history from California State University, Sacramento, and her J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.

Ann has significant legal experience in the public and private sectors, specializing in contracts, transactional finance, corporate law, policy development, and regulatory compliance. She has advised public and private entities on asset-based and project financings, stock and asset purchases, mergers and acquisitions, and secured and unsecured credit facilities. Ann received her B.A. from University of California, Davis, her J.D. from UCLA School of Law and an LL.M. from the University of Cambridge. Ann will split her time between the Sacramento and San Francisco offices.

Dylan Wiseman, Buchalter’s Recruiting Chair for Northern California, was instrumental in the opening of the firm’s Sacramento office. “I am excited to see the opening of our Sacramento office come to fruition and I look forward to working with such a talented team of attorneys,” said Dylan. He will also serve as chair of the Litigation Practice Group in Sacramento. The new office is located at 500 Capitol Mall, Suite 1900.

DLA Piper announced the addition of David Sager to the firm’s litigation practice as a partner in the Short Hills, New Jersey, office.

Sager, who has more than 25 years of experience as a litigator, represents clients in the US and abroad in deal-related litigation, class action defense, real estate, franchise and distribution, securities and intellectual property matters, the firm said in a news release.

“David has developed a strong reputation as a top-notch litigator,” said James Brogan, co-chair of DLA Piper’s US Litigation practice. “His significant international experience will complement our global platform, and we’re certain that his understanding of franchise issues across so many industries will be immediately valuable to our clients.”

“We’re excited to welcome David to the firm, and we look forward to expanding our litigation capabilities here in New Jersey,” said Andrew Gilbert, co-managing partner of the firm’s Short Hills office. “With a host of regulatory changes expected in Washington, our clients will need experienced litigators like David in the years to come.”

Sager most recently chaired both the Commercial and Business Litigation Practice and the Franchise and Distribution Practice at Lowenstein Sandler. He is the latest addition to DLA Piper’s Litigation practice, which in recent months has also welcomed George Karavetsos (Miami), Thiru Vignarajah (Baltimore), Matthew Graves (Washington, DC) and Louis Ramos (Washington, DC).

Sager earned his J.D. from Duke University School of Law, and his B.A. from the University of Michigan.

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Quarles & Brady LLP toay announced that BTI Consulting Group has named partners Rowan P. Smith and Anthony A. Tomaselli to the 2017 BTI Client Service All-Stars list.

Smith and Tomaselli were recognized exclusively by corporate counsel for their leadership in outstanding client service. BTI, a strategic research provider that examines client experience through independent research, named 319 individual attorneys from 160 law firms to the 2017 list, the firm said in a news release.

The release continues:

Smith is a partner in the firm’s Phoenix office and focuses his practice on technology and intellectual property law, including patent prosecution, copyright and trademark registration, licensing, and technology-related transactions. He also counsels clients on non-patent matters, such as the registration and protection of copyrights, the filing and prosecution of trademark applications, and the protection of trade secrets

Based in the firm’s Madison office, Tomaselli is an intellectual property litigator, focusing on intellectual property matters, including patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, licensing, and restrictive covenant disputes. In the past three years, Tomaselli has litigated cases that have resulted in verdicts for his clients totaling nearly one billion dollars. Tomaselli was previously the National Chair of the firm’s IP Litigation Team for over ten years. He also served on the firm’s client development committee, recruiting committee and associate review committee.

Robert A. Wade, who has counseled healthcare institutions for more than 25 years, has joined Barnes & Thornburg LLP’s South Bend office as a partner in the Healthcare Department.

Wade represents large health systems, hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, physician groups, physicians and other medical providers on a variety of legal issues.

“We are excited to have Bob join Barnes & Thornburg, as he brings a tremendous wealth of experience,” said Laura Seng, chair of the firm’s healthcare department. “The healthcare industry has undergone numerous changes in recent years and will continue to evolve. Bob’s addition to our healthcare team will provide clients with important counsel on critical issues they face.”

Wade has experience with matters involving the Stark Law, Anti-Kickback Statute, False Claims Act, and Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act, the firm said in a news release. Additionally, he counsels clients in developing, monitoring and documenting effective healthcare compliance programs. He also represents healthcare clients being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Office of Inspector General. Currently, he serves as Compliance Expert to the Board of Commissioners of Halifax Health, a hospital system in Daytona Beach, Florida, advising on all aspects of their Corporate Integrity Agreement.

The release continues:

Wade joins the firm’s national healthcare group that advises all types of providers on complex regulatory issues related to Medicare and Medicaid compliance, adherence to state and federal licensure regulations, and the impact of the Affordable Care Act, among other issues.

He is a frequent speaker at national and regional healthcare legal, compliance and regulatory conferences. He has been recognized on The Best Lawyers in America and Indiana Super Lawyers lists for his work in healthcare law since 2009. He serves on the editorial advisory boards for Strategies for Health Care Compliance and for the Report on Medicare Compliance.

Wade earned his J.D., summa cum laude, from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where he served as the managing editor for The Ohio State University Law Journal and was a member of the Order of the Coif and Omicron Delta Kappa. He received his bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, from Bowling Green State University.

Employment and labor law firm Littler has added Gary Clayton as a shareholder in its Dallas office. Clayton joins from ADP, LLC, a global provider of cloud-based human resources management solutions, where he served as senior director of privacy programs. Clayton has experience in privacy, data protection, data governance and cybersecurity.

“Employers are facing daunting challenges in an era of rapid technological developments impacting the workplace and continued data breaches that often originate with employees,” said Tom Bender and Jeremy Roth, Littler’s co-managing directors. “With extensive experience advising with some of the world’s largest companies, Gary will further strengthen our ability to counsel clients navigating employee privacy and data protection issues in a technology-driven workplace.”

In a news release, the firm said that Clayton, as a member of Littler’s Workplace Privacy and Data Security practice, will work closely with practice co-chairs Philip Gordon and Rod Fliegel to counsel clients on compliance with U.S. and international privacy and data protection laws and regulations. Drawing on his vast experience building, implementing and assessing privacy programs, procedures and training, Clayton will also counsel clients on establishing privacy policies and strategies that reduce the risk of data breaches and exposure to litigation and government enforcement actions.

The release continues:

During his time at ADP, Clayton developed and managed global privacy programs for the company with an emphasis on employment-related data and served as regional privacy officer for Latin America. Prior to joining ADP, Clayton founded a consulting firm that advised several Fortune 500 companies, government agencies and intelligence organizations in the development and implementation of privacy governance and training.

Clayton has advised companies in the airline, automotive, energy, financial services, retail, technology and travel industries, among others, and has provided professional privacy services to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Office of National Risk Assessment and the Federal Trade Commission. Clayton has also testified before Congress, state legislatures, government agencies and international organizations on privacy, data breaches, risk prevention and workplace monitoring.

“Cybersecurity and data privacy continue to be among the most pressing issues facing companies. I’m excited to join Littler, a firm that combines a strong record of innovation with a well-deserved reputation as the foremost authority in advising on issues related to workplace privacy,” Clayton said. “I look forward to working with Phil, Rod and the many other talented lawyers at Littler who have a deep understanding of the key issues impacting employers that want to take advantage of the many opportunities offered by technology and big data, while ensuring compliance with the complex array of laws governing this space.”

Clayton has tried more than 30 cases to verdict or judgment in federal and state courts. He has also published numerous articles, reports and books on data privacy and compliance, and is a member of the International Association of Privacy Professionals, a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US) and a fellow of the Ponemon Institute’s Responsible Information Management Council. Clayton received his J.D. from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University and his B.A. from Louisiana State University.

Law firm Sayles Werbner  announced the promotion of associate Sawyer Neely to shareholder.

“Sawyer has amassed an impressive record of success for his clients and has proven himself to be a formidable presence in the courtroom. His promotion is well-deserved,” said firm founder Richard A. “Dick” Sayles.

In a release, the firm said Neely represents both plaintiffs and defendants in personal and business disputes throughout Texas in matters involving direct and derivative shareholder claims, securities claims, trade secret and copyright battles, catastrophic personal injury, and various complex business and tort cases.

Neely also acts as local counsel for a number of out-of-state companies and lawyers with Texas litigation, and he is retained to conduct internal investigations regarding, among other issues, workplace safety, environmental compliance, discrimination, and harassment.

A 1999 graduate of Vanderbilt University and a 2003 graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, Neely has been recognized six times on the annual Texas Rising Stars listing of the state’s top young attorneys. While in law school, Neely assisted victims of domestic violence in the District of Columbia Superior Court through Georgetown’s Domestic Violence Clinic. He is also active in the Dallas legal community and his children’s school.

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Lowenstein Sandler LLP announced that Leiv Blad has joined the firm as a partner and co-chair of the firm’s antitrust practice in Washington, D.C. Blad joins with Zarema Jaramillo, who becomes senior counsel in the firm’s antitrust practice. Both join from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius.

In a news release the firm said, Blad has spent nearly two decades representing domestic and international companies in complex antitrust investigations and litigation, including matters involving price fixing and monopolization, including defending clients in the pharmaceutical and financial services industries, both of which have been the subject of government scrutiny for pricing practices.

Jaramillo has antitrust experience, providing counseling and representing clients in investigations related to mergers and acquisitions and complex antitrust class actions. She represents clients from the financial services, technology, life sciences, and telecommunications and other sectors before the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice, and foreign competition agencies. Jaramillo also advises clients in government investigations and civil litigation involving violations of U.S. Securities Law and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

The release continues:

Said Mr. Blad, “Lowenstein’s sophisticated and accomplished team in D.C. impressed me, as did the firm’s entrepreneurial culture and client focus. I was particularly struck by the fact that every attorney I met throughout the firm could articulate with great clarity the strategy of his or her practice group and of the firm. I don’t know of another firm with that kind of strategic focus. I am grateful to be part of such a strong team as we help steer our clients through an evolving antitrust environment.”

“Leiv is a leader among his peers with a strong reputation in the antitrust arena. Zarema brings important additional strengths to the team,” said Jeffrey Blumenfeld, Co-Chair of Lowenstein’s antitrust practice. “Leiv’s extensive experience navigating the D.C. landscape will be invaluable to our clients. As we continue to grow our Washington office, Leiv and Zarema add to our already significant capabilities in core sectors including life sciences and financial services.”

Gary Klein of Klein Landau provided legal search services to the firm on this placement.

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National law firm Dykema announced that Sandra Cotter, director of the firm’s Regulated Industries Department and Leader of its Government Policy & Practice group, was elected to the Michigan Chamber Foundation Board of Directors. The charitable arm of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, the Michigan Chamber Foundation sponsors public policy studies on key business climate issues and also sponsors the Young Entrepreneurs Academy to guide middle and high school students with business start-up opportunities.

In a release, the firm said Cotter, who is based in Dykema’s Lansing office, focuses her practice on insurance regulation and legislation, campaign finance and election law, liquor licensing and regulation, public policy litigation and legislation, and general corporate work for nonprofit corporations. She has frequent contact with Michigan’s executive office, state legislators and various agencies, including the Department of Insurance and Financial Services and the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. She is also a registered lobbyist in the state.

Cotter has been an active member of the Nonprofit Council for Charitable Trusts since its inception in 2004. She has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® each year since 2013 and named a Top Lawyer by dBusiness Magazine each year since 2010.

Cotter received a B.S. from Michigan State University and a J.D. from the University of Michigan.

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Jackson Walker announces the election of 10 attorneys to the firm’s partnership. The new partners in each city are:

• Austin – Kimberly Gdula, Ben Rhem, Cassie Ross
• Dallas – Chris Bankler, Steven Dimitt, Jordan Smith
• Fort Worth – Carrie Miller
• Houston – Courtney Carlson, Amanda Shaw-Castro
• San Antonio – Ann Leafstedt

Chris Bankler, Dallas, Litigation – Chris Bankler’s practice focuses primarily on dispute resolution for businesses and financial institutions. He represents clients in a variety of litigation matters, including general business disputes, fraud claims, breach of fiduciary duty cases, and breach of contract claims. Chris has served as counsel on over 100 cases in state and federal courts as well as FINRA and AAA arbitrations. His distinguished understanding of financial matters has made him a go-to counselor for national banks, community banks, credit unions, and investment and private equity firms. He also represents officers and directors of public and private companies in high-stakes corporate defense cases.

Courtney Carlson, Houston, Litigation – Courtney Carlson represents clients in a wide range of business and commercial litigation matters with particular emphasis on the energy and financial industries. While she practices in both state and federal courts, she focuses on litigation within the state of Texas and receives regular requests to give CLE presentations focused on procedure and related state court issues. Courtney is also involved in environmental litigation matters. She has participated in litigation related to site cleanup and remediation projects and advises clients on the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA).

Steven Dimitt, Dallas, Litigation – Steven Dimitt handles both litigation and transactional matters for land use, construction, and business clients.  Recently, Steven has focused his practice on representing religious institutions against municipalities regarding violations of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Person’s Act (RLUIPA). Highlights of his practice include the successful representation of a church in a federal court lawsuit, which resulted in the church obtaining the necessary zoning approvals that the local municipality had previously refused to provide.

Kimberly Gdula, Austin, Litigation – Civil litigator Kimberly Gdula represents a wide range of clients, from Fortune 500 companies to small businesses and trusts. In commercial litigation, she represents clients in several areas, including contract actions, fiduciary litigation, real estate litigation, insurance defense, partnership disputes, and antitrust suits. She also defends health care providers and insurance companies in contract disputes and malpractice claims.

Ann Leafstedt, San Antonio, Corporate & Securities – Ann Leafstedt works with family offices and businesses to create and implement strategic plans to achieve their goals. Ann guides clients in entity formation, acquisitions, entity governance, drafting contracts, and other corporate matters. She works with businesses to provide solutions for day-to-day issues and to execute complex corporate transactions. Ann’s experience includes succession planning for family offices, negotiating financing transactions, and representing clients in business combinations. She works with multi-disciplinary teams of tax, real estate, IP, and other specialists to help clients navigate all aspects of deals. Ann represents clients in a variety of industries, including energy, construction, heavy equipment, and ranching. She also regularly advises nonprofit organizations on a pro bono basis.

Carrie Bowers Miller, Fort Worth, Finance – Carrie Miller represents a diverse range of clients, including financial institutions, real estate developers, and mining companies in a wide range of business transactions. She helps clients create efficient strategies to achieve their business goals. Her real estate work involves the negotiation, structuring, and documentation of financing, as well as all phases of development, from acquisition to disposition. Her financial experience includes negotiating single-asset and portfolio transactions, multi-state transactions, loan participations, and multi-creditor facilities.

Ben Rhem, Austin, Environmental & Legislative – Ben Rhem practices energy and environmental law. He advises power generation, oil and gas and mining companies in state and federal compliance matters. Ben regularly works with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the Environmental Protection Agency. He also helps clients with regulatory issues related to FERC, PHMSA, the Railroad Commission of Texas, and MSHA. Ben has assisted in the development and financing of over two dozen wind and solar energy projects, as well as numerous natural gas-fired power plants. He was selected to the Super Lawyers – Rising Stars list by Thomson Reuters in 2016.

Cassie Ross, Austin, Real Estate – Cassie Ross is a real estate attorney who represents purchasers, sellers, borrowers, developers, landlords, and tenants in a variety of real estate transactions. She advises clients in the acquisition, disposition, financing, development, management, and leasing of retail, industrial, office, single-family residential, multi-family, and mixed-use projects.  Her experience also includes the representation of clients in the acquisition, disposition, financing, and development of unimproved land. Cassie was selected to the Super Lawyers – Rising Stars list by Thomson Reuters from 2012 – 2016, and was named to the Legal Rising Stars in Real Estate Law list by S.A. Scene magazine from 2012 – 2014. 

Amanda Shaw-Castro, Houston, Energy – Amanda Shaw-Castro’s practice is focused on energy and commercial finance transactions and multi-state real estate portfolio transactions. Amanda routinely helps both borrowers and lenders negotiate, structure, and document complex commercial finance transactions. Amanda assists lenders with all aspects of energy based loans, including revolving line of credit and letter of credit facilities. Amanda’s real estate practice includes representing multinational private and public companies in the acquisition of large multi-state portfolios ranging in value from 250 million to 8.1 billion dollars. 

Jordan Smith, Dallas, Energy – Jordan Smith’s practice is focused on energy, natural resources, real estate, and general corporate transactions. In oil and gas, Jordan negotiates agreements related to upstream exploration and production and advises clients on title issues, water rights, horizontal drilling under special field rules, and lease development obligations. Highlights of his career include the representation of private investment funds in negotiating joint venture investments with operators to develop and produce oil and gas assets around the United States. Jordan is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation. He was selected to the Rising Stars list by S.A. Scenemagazine in 2013 and 2015, and was selected to the “Best S.A. Lawyers” in Energy and Oil and Gas Law list by S.A. Scene magazine in 2015.

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Members of an invitation-only organization of top trial lawyers have singled out attorney Mark Lanier as its Trial Lawyer of the Year, while recognizing The Lanier Law Firm among the Top 25 most influential litigation firms in the United States.

Lanier accepted the awards at The National Trial Lawyers’ February 2017 Trial Lawyers Summit in South Beach, Florida. In addition, members elected Lanier to the position of president-elect of The National Trial Lawyers; he will serve as president in 2018.

“Lawyers have an awesome charge in our society today and an obligation to use our courts to provide individuals with a level playing field,” Lanier said. “I’m proud of the justice that our firm has been able to attain for our clients, and I’m honored that our efforts have been recognized by ours peers in this way.”

In a release, the firm said:

The national honors for Lanier individually and the firm as a whole follow a string of large, high-profile jury verdicts on behalf of individuals and business interests. Most recently, the firm secured a second significant jury verdict in multidistrict litigation (MDL) against Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary DePuy Orthopedics for injuries caused by defective metal-on-metal hip implants. Jurors returned a verdict of more than $1 billion for six patients who were injured by the defective DePuy implant in December 2016. A fourth MDL bellwether trial, which will involve 10 patients, has been scheduled by U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade in Dallas for September 2017.

The National Trial Lawyers summit included guest speakers addressing legal and business trends and a keynote address by NFL legend Joe Montana.

S. David Smith and Melissa Gutierrez have joined Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP’s Banking and Financial Services Team in its Houston office.

“We are excited to welcome David and Melissa to the firm as part of our plan of continued strategic growth in Texas,” said Bradley’s Houston Office Managing Partner Ian P. Faria. “They are a great addition to our experienced team of attorneys assisting lenders, servicers and other financial institutions in litigation, enforcement and regulatory compliance matters across the country.”

Smith joins the firm as a partner who specializes in representing financial institutions engaged in the mortgage, auto finance, credit card, and payday lending areas. Smith is board certified in Consumer and Commercial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and he currently serves as chair of the Board of Trustees of the Texas Center for Legal Ethics. He earned his J.D. from the Dedman School of Law at Southern Methodist University and his Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University.

Gutierrez is an associate focusing on commercial litigation matters, with an emphasis on financial services, consumer finance and real property litigation. She earned her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center and her Bachelor of Business Administration from Texas A&M University. While in law school, Gutierrez was senior articles editor of the Houston Journal of International Law and a member of Moot Court.

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DLA Piper announced that Edward “Smitty” Smith, former legal advisor to past Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Tom Wheeler, has joined the firm’s Telecommunication practice, part of the firm’s global Intellectual Property and Technology practice, as a partner in the Washington, DC office.

Smith recently was responsible for advising the chairman of the FCC on wireless telecommunications, engineering and technology, and consumer affairs. In this role, he led legal and policy teams on major issues involving the cutting edge of technological development. Smith oversaw FCC policymaking on such issues as 5G technology, satellites, spectrum sharing, autonomous vehicle communications, small-cell deployment, and unmanned aviation systems. Previously, Smith was Chief of Staff and Senior Counsel of the FCC’s Incentive Auction Task Force, a multibillion-dollar radio spectrum allocation project.

Prior to joining the FCC, Smith was special advisor at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration. As special advisor, Smith launched the agency’s State Broadband Data and Development Grant Program, a $350 million grant program to improve the quality of broadband data nationwide. Smith also helped lead the agency’s Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, a $4.7 billion effort to extend and develop services to reach rural and underserved areas, worked to improve wireless broadband access for public safety agencies, and helped provide financial assistance to low-income families transitioning from analog to digital television.

At DLA Piper, Smith will focus his practice on telecom matters and advise clients on the full range of issues in the wireless, broadband and satellite sectors.

“Smitty brings experience, expertise and leadership that will further strengthen the accomplished telecom team we’ve built,” said Michael Senkowski, co-chair of DLA Piper’s Telecommunication practice. “He has an excellent reputation for his government service and his strong knowledge of the telecommunications and technology sectors will be a great benefit to our clients.”

“Given the changes in Washington, there’s a great deal of uncertainty about the regulatory environment facing companies in the years ahead,” said Jeff Lehrer, managing partner of DLA Piper’s Washington, DC, office. “Adding Smitty bolsters a team that already had a firm understanding of the industry and the FCC, which today is unquestionably as important, if not more important, than it’s been at any point in recent years.”

Smith received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.A. from Brown University.

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Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP announced the launch of its Venture Capital and Emerging Business Practice Group. This specialty practice group is led by co-chairs and partners Adam C. Hull, Rick Jordan and Glenn T. Singleton, and includes participation from lawyers across all specialty areas, such as intellectual property, labor, tax and executive compensation.

In addition, the group added Majorie Mastin Winters to the firm’s Austin office in January. Winters counsels entrepreneurs in matters related to formation, structuring, intellectual property protection and financing. Her background also includes acting as director and of counsel for a program that serves the specific needs of early-stage, high-growth companies.

“Gardere has long been active in the early-stage market, but primarily has focused efforts on later-stage investments,” says firm chair Holland N. O’Neil. “With this initiative and the addition of Majorie, we are deploying increased resources to provide earlier-stage clients with increased access to sophisticated legal services and market connections. Simultaneously, our expanded activity in this space will, among other things, provide our venture fund and other investor clients with additional looks at early-stage companies.”

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Brendan Delany has joined Blank Rome LLP as a partner in the Finance, Restructuring and Bankruptcy group. He is based in the Firm’s Washington, D.C., office and comes to Blank Rome from Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP.

In a release, the firm said Delany focuses his practice on the financial services, energy and commodities, and real estate sectors, counseling clients in transactions related to energy finance, real estate finance, and mergers and acquisitions. He represents borrowers, energy trading companies, hedge funds, hedge providers, REITs, developers, and various types of financial institutions in connection with domestic and international financing and trading transactions pertaining to a wide variety of assets, including commercial real estate, metals, energy, and agricultural commodities, power plants, and other assets.

The release continues:

“We are excited to welcome Brendan to Blank Rome,” said Alan J. Hoffman, the Firm’s Chairman and Managing Partner. “Brendan is dedicated to client service and has become well-known as a trusted adviser who goes above and beyond for his clients. His wide breadth of transactional experience will be a great addition to our D.C. office and will add significant depth to our finance, energy, and real estate practices.”

Delany assists clients with cross-border repurchase agreement transactions, intermediation agreements, inventory financing, asset-based loans, secured power plant financings, and other commercial real estate financings. He represents clients in domestic and non-U.S. jurisdictions, including Asia, South and Central America, Europe, and Australia. Mr. Delany has represented privately held and publicly traded entities in a broad range of corporate matters and energy transactions, including acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, and restructurings. He has represented renewable energy facility developers, REITs, energy companies, hospital owners and operators, hospital providers, shopping center developers, government agencies, and financial institutions involved in financing arrangements related to the acquisition, disposition, financing, development, management, and leasing of real property.

“In addition to bolstering our energy and finance practices, Brendan’s extensive real estate finance experience will further enhance our well-established real estate group,” said Lawrence F. Flick II, chair of Blank Rome’s financial services industry team. “Our real estate attorneys handle all facets of real estate law, including real estate financing and other related transactions that range from middle-market, single property secured loans to large-scale, multiple property/multi-state credit facilities, and Brendan will be an excellent asset to the team and our clients.”

“I’m thrilled to join Blank Rome, primarily for the vast platform the Firm has to offer,” said Delany. “Blank Rome has engaged in some very exciting growth and expansion in recent years in areas that will be of great benefit to my clients and my practice, including real estate, energy, and financial services. Additionally, I have known Jason Eig, James Kelly, and other members of Blank Rome for many years, and I look forward to working with them again.”

Aside from his legal work, Delany is a member of the board of trustees of the Connelly Foundation in Philadelphia, and currently serves as a member of the board of directors of the Franklin Lyle Stroud, M.D. Foundation for Learning Disabilities and as an adviser to the board of directors of the Washington Jesuit Academy.

Delany received his J.D. from Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law where he was a published member of the Catholic University Law Review. He received his B.S.F.S. from Georgetown University’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service.

Last month, the firm added two energy partners in Pittsburgh and last year welcomed Partner Sophia Lee in Philadelphia, as well as former U.S. Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham and former Vice-Chairman of the International Energy Agency Joseph P. McMonigle in Washington, D.C., as principals in Blank Rome Government Relations LLC.

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Timothy A. Brinkley has joined the Chicago office of law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP in its Business Law Practice Group.

Brinkley focuses his practice on providing legal counsel to existing franchisor companies and companies that have an interest in franchising their business.

In a release, the firm said Brinkley drafts and updates franchise disclosure documents and handles other aspects of federal and state regulatory compliance with respect to franchising. He negotiates and prepares complex franchise transactional documents, including master franchise agreements, area development agreements, asset purchase agreements for the refranchising of company stores or buy-back of franchised locations, assistance and workout agreements with struggling franchisees, and inter-creditor agreements with national and regional banks.

Prior to joining the firm, Brinkley served as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel at Burger King Corporation and Tim Hortons USA, Inc., both a part of Restaurant Brands International. He worked for both brands after a change of corporate ownership and helped implement aggressive changes to the U.S. franchising portfolio of each, including the refranchising and transfer of hundreds of restaurants to new franchisee owners. He provided day-to-day legal counsel to the U.S. executive teams at each brand and oversaw U.S. franchising regulatory compliance.

“I look forward to bringing my in-house perspective to the outstanding Franchise and Distribution team at Quarles & Brady to better serve our clients in the Chicago region and nationally,” says Brinkley. “The firm’s franchise expertise is well established, and I am excited to help grow this expertise and extend it to the Chicago office.”

He received his law degree from Loyola University Chicago School of Law, his master’s degree from Southern Illinois University, and his bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University.

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Dykema has added government contracts attorneys John C. Dulske and Bryan Kost to its Government Policy & Practice Group in the firm’s San Antonio office. Prior to joining Dykema, both practiced at Dulske & Gluys in San Antonio, which Dulske formed in 2002.

In his practice, Dulske, who joins the firm as senior counsel, focuses on federal procurement litigation, contract administration and claims litigation, as well as bid protest work, including a mix of administrative and appellate work. He has been actively involved in trial practice in San Antonio and South Texas, with experience in both State and Federal Courts, including the United States Court of Federal Claims in Washington, D.C.

Dulske received his J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law, and a B.A. in Economics from Kenyon College.

Kost, who joins the firm as a senior attorney, also focuses his practice on federal procurement litigation, contract administration and bid protest work before the Government Accountability Office, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the United States Court of Federal Claims. He has also maintained an extensive trial practice spanning 24 years in both Texas State and Federal District Courts.

Kost received his J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law, and a B.A. in American Studies from the University of Texas at Austin.

“John and Bryan’s vast government contracts experience immediately strengthens our Government Policy Practice,” said Sandi Cotter, Director of Dykema’s Regulated Industries Department and Leader of the firm’s Government Policy & Practice Group. “Their expertise in this important field will greatly benefit Dykema and our clients.”

“We are very excited to add such well-regarded attorneys to our San Antonio office,” said Dan Harkins, Office Managing Member of Dykema’s San Antonio Office.

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The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP and its firm chair Kimberly Leach Johnson announced that partners Lucy R. Dollens and Kelli A. Edson have been selected as new office managing partners inn the firm’s Indianapolis and Tampa offices, respectively. The appointments are effective immediately.

Dollens succeeds D. Linden Barber, who has been the office managing partner since the Indianapolis office opened in 2014. Barber will continue to serve as Director of the firm’s DEA Compliance and Litigation practice in the Health Law group.

“As a founding partner of the Indianapolis office, Lucy has displayed incredible institutional knowledge and understanding of the challenges facing our clients,” said firm chair Kimberly Leach Johnson. “She regularly exhibits the values and characteristics associated with a firm leader, and we are confident the care and thoughtfulness she provides for clients will translate into her office managing partner role.”

Dollens serves as the Indianapolis Commercial Litigation office chair and the Indianapolis recruiting chair. She focuses her practice on commercial litigation. Dollens represents clients facing business disputes in federal and state trial and appellate courts, bankruptcy courts, proceedings involving governmental agencies, and class action suits. Dollens’ practice extends to areas such as breach of contract, product liability, premises liability, toxic torts and restrictive covenants. Licensed in both Indiana and West Virginia, Dollens also has extensive experience representing financial institutions, servicers, and consumer finance companies in consumer and commercial contexts.

In Tampa, Edson succeeds David A. Beyer, who became office managing partner in 2012. Beyer will continue to serve as a partner in the firm’s Franchise & Distribution practice.

“Kelli embodies the firm’s shared vision to pursue excellent legal work, strengthen client relationships and give back to the community through pro bono efforts,” said firm chair Kimberly Leach Johnson. “Her genuine dedication to client service and helping colleagues succeed will enable her to lead the Tampa office and continue David’s vision for the firm.”

Edson is partner in the firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice and serves as the Tampa Commercial Litigation office chair. She is also the Tampa recruiting partner and a member of the Associate Development Committee.

As a founding partner in the Tampa office, Edson provides counsel for clients on various litigation matters including trusts, real estate, insurance, investments, contracts, bankruptcy, torts, products liability, class actions, premises liability, landlord/tenant disputes, securities, intellectual property, telecommunications, technology and unfair trade practices.

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Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C., announces that attorney Andrew M. Hartnett has joined the firm as an officer with the Securities & Financial Services industry group. Based in the firm’s St. Louis office, Hartnett most recently served as Commissioner of Securities for former Missouri Secretary of State Jason Kander.

“We welcome Andrew to Greensfelder and to our growing team of Securities and Financial Services attorneys,” said Greensfelder Chief Executive Officer Timothy R. Thornton. “In addition to his extensive experience in data security matters, Andrew brings a regulator’s perspective on important industry challenges and issues that impact our clients in Missouri and throughout the nation.”

Inn a news release, the firm reported:

As Commissioner of Securities from 2013 to 2016, Hartnett directed the Missouri Securities Division and heard cases filed by the Enforcement Section of the Division. In this role, he spearheaded the drafting and passage of the Missouri Senior Savings Protection Act – one of the first statutes of its kind in the country created to prevent financial exploitation of senior citizens. In addition to his policy work in Missouri, Hartnett helped formulate policy nationwide through his work at the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA), particularly on cybersecurity, leading the team that created the cybersecurity program now used by most state regulators. He chaired the Broker-Dealer Section and the Enforcement Section for NASAA as well as committees focused on cybersecurity, technology, and federal legislation. Hartnett also has spoken at conferences and other events nationwide on topics including state securities regulations, cybersecurity, and protection for senior investors.

“Andrew’s securities knowledge and experience with both the Missouri Securities Division and NASAA will be great assets to our firm,” said Christopher A. Pickett, an officer and leader of Greensfelder’s Securities & Financial Services industry group. “His contributions will be instrumental to helping our clients including financial institutions navigate complex regulatory and compliance issues, as well as manage critical business issues and litigation.”

Hartnett said, “I look forward to helping to grow Greensfelder’s Securities and Financial Services practice while also enhancing services to the firm’s existing clients in the sector. I believe the experience and knowledge I have gained as Missouri’s Commissioner of Securities as well as my work with regulators in other states will be beneficial to addressing clients’ regulatory and compliance issues to help them focus on their businesses.”

Prior to his time as Commissioner of Securities, Hartnett served as Chief of Staff to then-Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster and as an Assistant Attorney General in the Consumer Protection Division, handling all aspects of consumer protection, antitrust and securities investigations and litigation. He began his career in private practice in St. Louis.

Hartnett earned his law degree (cum laude) from Saint Louis University School of Law, his Master of Arts from New York University and his Bachelor of Arts (summa cum laude) from Catholic University of America.

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Hogan Lovells announced that Andrew Keller, a senior government official and former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Counter-threat Finance and Sanctions (TFS) in the State Department’s Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs (EB), will join the firm’s International Trade and Investment practice as a partner in its Washington, D.C. office.

As Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of State, Keller led the Department’s efforts on economic sanctions and counter-threat finance matters. Keller held this position at a critical time for the United States government. He played a key leadership role in developing and implementing the sanctions relief aspects of the nuclear agreement with Iran known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA); coordinating with counterparts in Europe and Asia on Russia sanctions; and developing and implementing the easing of sanctions against Cuba, the firm said in a release.

The release continues:

With lead responsibility for outreach to the private sector, one of Andrew Keller’s primary functions at the State Department was to explain U.S. sanctions policies and regulations to industry in the United States and abroad, and to coordinate with European, Asian, and other counterparts on sanctions and counter-threat finance policy and implementation. Keller served as a primary liaison between the State Department and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) of the United States Department of Commerce, on economic sanctions and related export controls. In that capacity, he was responsible for the State Department’s foreign policy review of OFAC and BIS license applications.

At Hogan Lovells, Keller will concentrate his practice on sanctions, counter-threat finance, national security and export control regulatory, policy, legislative and enforcement matters.
“We are delighted that Andrew is joining our practice,” said Beth Peters, Co-Director of the firm’s International Trade and Investment Group. “He has had an unparalleled vantage point for viewing and influencing how sanctions regulations and policy are developed, interpreted, and implemented both in the U.S. and in foreign countries, and he will bring that unique perspective to strengthen the value of the counsel we provide to our clients on a global scale.”

“As the Trump administration’s position becomes clearer on a number of key sanctions programs, our clients must be ready for change and a potentially more aggressive approach to enforcement,” added Alice Valder Curran, Global head of the firm’s Government Regulatory practice. “Andrew’s background in sanctions and enforcement matters will be extremely valuable to our clients worldwide as they look for guidance and prepare for anticipated regulatory volatility and increased compliance risk, especially with respect to Iran, Russia, and Cuba.”

Before serving as Deputy Assistant Secretary, Keller served in senior positions at the State Department and on Capitol Hill. He twice served in the State Department’s Office of the Legal Adviser: as a Deputy Legal Adviser from 2013 to 2015 and as an Attorney-Adviser from 2002 to 2009. In that capacity, his work included leading priority initiatives on behalf of the Secretary of State, handling counterterrorism, law enforcement, intelligence, and other matters, and leading U.S. delegations in treaty negotiations.

From 2009-2013, he served as Deputy Chief Counsel and then Chief Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations (SFRC). During that time, he provided strategic, policy and legal guidance to then-Chairman Senator John Kerry, other Senators, and the committee staff on the range of foreign policy, international trade and national security-related matters pending in the SFRC and the Senate.

“Hogan Lovells’ global client base and wide range of practices will provide the ideal platform for me,” said Keller. “I look forward to bringing my government agency experience, and expanding the firm’s international trade, sanctions regulatory, legislative and enforcement capabilities.”

Keller served as a law clerk to the Honorable Royal Furgeson, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. He received a J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law and a B.A. from Swarthmore College.

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, announced that Anita L. Boomstein has joined the New York office as chair of the firm’s global payments practice. Boomstein joins the firm from Hughes Hubbard and Reed LLP, where she was a partner in the banking and financial services practice.

Boomstein’s practice focuses on payment systems, credit cards and consumer financial services, the firm said in a news release. Boomstein has experience advising brick-and-mortar retailers, e-commerce companies and issuers as they navigate payments and loyalty programs and the regulatory hurdles that come from integration of such programs. She regularly develops, negotiates, documents and supervises legal work pertaining to the creation of the full spectrum of credit, debit, prepaid, loyalty and gift card programs, including strategic alliances involving virtual accounts and electronic money transfers, the firm says.

The release continues:

“The world of fintech is evolving at a breakneck pace, and Anita knows the landscape extraordinarily well. Her years of experience in global payments will prove invaluable to our clients, no matter how complex or novel the challenges they face,” said Craig D. Miller, co-chair of the firm’s financial services practice. “She adeptly handles a variety of payment and regulatory compliance matters, including intelligent solutions for privacy and data protection, and we look forward to working with her.”

Focusing on financial services law, credit cards and payment systems, electronic commerce, privacy and cybersecurity, and the development of financial products and services for banks and nonbanks, Boomstein is well-versed in the regulatory scheme affecting all industry players. Boomstein has represented a range of clients, from Fortune 100 companies to new startup ventures, ensuring regulatory compliance across payment projects for businesses of all kinds.

“Anita is a highly regarded lawyer known for handling critical industry matters involving emerging payments, credit card programs, electronic commerce and other issues affecting clients in the consumer financial services area,” said Richard E. Gottlieb, co-chair of Manatt’s consumer financial services practice. “Few understand the workings of the card and payments business as deeply as Anita, making her strategic guidance an immediate asset to clients. We’re excited to welcome Anita to Manatt.”

“I was drawn to Manatt’s seasoned network of financial services professionals and their synergistic practices,” Boomstein said. “Manatt’s broad-based yet sophisticated capabilities in the sector make the firm a well-positioned adviser to clients navigating a transformative financial industry. I’m excited to be a part of such an accomplished group.”

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