Data and technology management company eTERA Consulting has announced the addition of two new team members. Joining the eTERA team are Zach Paro, Project Manager, and Tracy Marshall, Senior ESI Specialist.

The company’s news release continues:

As Project Manager, Paro will coordinate and oversee client projects across the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) which will include collections, processing, hosting, review and production. Paro will serve as the single point of contact for clients and will pull from nearly a decade of experience to ensure their expectations are exceeded. Previously, Paro worked as a Project Manager for a large eDiscovery consulting firm and looks forward to working with eTERA as the company continues its upward growth trajectory. Paro graduated with a B.A. in English and Literature from the University of Minnesota at Twin Cities.

Bringing more than a decade of experience, Marshall joins eTERA as a Senior ESI Specialist. Earlier in her career, Marshall developed the LAW PreDiscovery (LAW) software training certification and has trained more than 1,000 legal professionals in the software. Marshall will process client data with LAW, while maintaining workflows, evaluating projects and working with the project management team to ensure a quality and accurate deliverable for the client. She will manage project tracking sheets and record processing metrics in addition to creating reports and maintaining quality control. In her previous role, she was an EDD Project Manager at a major technology consulting firm.  Marshall received her A.A.S. as a Legal Assistant from the Nebraska College of Business at Omaha and her B.S. in Human Resource Management from Bellevue University.

“Bringing Zach and Tracy on board will allow our existing team to focus on developing new, innovative solutions to address client roadblocks and needs,” said eTERA’s Managing Director of Global Operations, Jerry Drew.  “Zach and Tracy will play a key role in further progressing the level of service and support we provide to our clients, especially as we grow our service offerings and expand into new markets. We certainly look forward to what is to come.”

Texas lawyers Andy Taylor and George Hittner have joined forces in the new Texas-based law firm TaylorHittner.

In a release, the firm said it will assist political and business clients with litigation, appeals and interactions with local, state and federal governments, including providing expertise in complex commercial litigation, election law matters and general counsel services. In addition to the firm’s Houston office, both attorneys will be available by appointment in Austin, Brenham and La Grange.

“Our firm is designed to handle litigation, appeals and the legal issues that exist at the intersection of business, public interest and government. Our varied experience in and out of government will serve our clients well,” says Taylor, a troubleshooter for Republican and business causes around the state, including several high-profile victories against the City of Houston.

Taylor is a former first assistant attorney general for the state of Texas and former partner at the firm now known as Locke Lord. Named by Texas Monthly as “one of the 25 most powerful people in Texas politics,” he is a veteran of numerous high-profile cases, including two he personally argued before the U.S. Supreme Court.

“TaylorHittner has the experience businesses need when dealing with government issues, and we also provide small and mid-sized businesses with savvy, efficiently managed general counsel services,” says Hittner, who previously worked as general counsel, corporate secretary and senior vice president for governmental relations at Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions Inc., a market leader in traffic enforcement safety equipment.

Hittner has managed hundreds of lawsuits, including several cases that were favorably resolved by state supreme courts and federal courts of appeal, the release says. He previously worked as a White House appointee to the U.S. Department of Labor and as an associate at Haynes and Boone in Houston, where he also ran for city council.

The two are joined by associate Amanda Peterson. The release says other lawyers will be added.

The firms of Loewinsohn Flegle Deary LLP and Simon, Ray & Winikka LLP have merged to become Dallas-based Loewinsohn Flegle Deary Simon LLP. The 15-lawyer firm works in high-stakes and employment law litigation, business disputes, bankruptcy claims, and general counsel services.

“It’s not every day that you see two firms with our capabilities teaming up, which is why the media and other lawyers are taking notice,” says name partner Craig Simon.

The release from the firm continues:

In The Dallas Morning News, name partner Alan Loewinsohn is noted for his prior work in high-profile cases involving professional athletes Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon and others. The complete article is available online at dallasnews.com.

Mr. Loewinsohn spoke with Texas Lawyer about how the merger discussions began in early 2016 with the goal of expanding combined services for clients in various industries.Read the full article HERE.

The Dallas Business Journal quoted Mr. Simon about the unique capabilities that Loewinsohn Flegle Deary Simon brings to every case: “There are very few, if any, firms of our size that can provide the broad and deep knowledge and track record in the courtroom and through negotiation that we bring to the table,” he told the publication in the article you can read HERE.

Loewinsohn Flegle Deary Simon LLP is a business-friendly law firm based in Dallas. The firm’s attorneys represent both plaintiff and defense clients from various industries in a wide variety of matters inside and outside the courtroom, including business disputes, employment law, bankruptcy litigation and business restructuring, product liability, and general counsel services, among others.

Dallas-based trial law firm Deans & Lyons, LLP, is expanding its Texas footprint with the addition of five prominent trial attorneys in the firm’s newly opened Houston office at 1001 Fannin St., Suite 1925.

Joining the firm are veteran Houston trial lawyers Tom Sartwelle, Matt Pletcher and Jeff Nobles, previously with the Houston office of Beirne, Maynard & Parsons, LLP, and Chad Castille and Matt McCracken, previously of Houston-based Serpe Jones Andrews Callender & Bell, PLLC.

According to a release published by the firm, Castille will serve as managing partner of the Houston office. His practice is concentrated on complex civil litigation, representing individuals, small businesses and Fortune 500 corporations in a diverse array of industries. His expertise includes cases involving medical and hospital negligence, oil and gas, commercial and residential construction, pharmaceutical liability, medical devices, catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death, and commercial business disputes and torts.

Read the article.

Parsons McEntire McCleary & Clark PLLC announces the opening of its new law practice focused upon trials, arbitrations, appeals, and dispute resolution nationwide and in all forums.

PMMC opens with 10 attorneys and with offices in Houston and Dallas. Name shareholders are Jeff Parsons, Sawnie McEntire, Roger McCleary, and David Clark. David Walton, Kristen McDanald, and Rob Rosen are also shareholders in the new firm. The associates are Brandon Montminy, Sarah Sparling, and Ryan Starbird.

Jeff Parsons, a former member of the Texas State Bar Association Board of Directors, is PMMC’s chair. Sawnie McEntire is manager of PMMC’s Dallas office, and Roger McCleary is PMMC’s vice-chair.

In a release, the firm said PMMC’s attorneys have experience handling complex commercial and personal injury litigation and arbitration disputes, including complex business litigation involving contract, fraud, misappropriation of trade secrets, tortious interference, unfair competition, and other business claims; energy industry litigation; major construction cases; complex insurance coverage disputes; intellectual property cases; defense of products liability and other wrongful death and bodily injury litigation; class action, banking, finance, and securities litigation; environmental and toxic tort lawsuits; fidelity and surety claims; and myriad other types of claims.

According to the release, PMMC’s clients include AIG, AWAC, Capital One, Cushman & Wakefield, CWS Capital Partners, Hallmark Financial, Hubbell, Ironshore, Level 3 Communications, Lexington, LVL Claims, Matthews International, Superior Energy, Universal Protection Services, York Risk Services, and Wood Group.

The Dallas-based law firm Standly Hamilton, LLP, announces that personal injury attorney Stephen Blackburn has joined the firm.

Blackburn is a trial lawyer who focuses his practice on cases involving serious personal injuries, wrongful death and dangerous water contamination. He previously worked with the Baron & Budd law firm in Dallas.

Blackburn also has experience representing people and communities in environmental contamination claims, in addition to working on cases involving dangerous medical devices, pharmaceutical drugs and exposure to toxic chemicals and other dangerous products.

“I am very excited about continuing my work at Standly Hamilton by helping people who often are facing life-altering injuries that were caused by a corporation or someone else’s negligence,” says Blackburn. “Chris Hamilton and I have worked together over the years, and we both are looking forward to protecting our clients’ rights and growing the firm.”

A graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Blackburn earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida. He is admitted to practice law in both Texas and California, including the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas and the Northern and Central Districts of California.

Blackburn is a member of the American Bar Association, American Association for Justice and the Public Justice Foundation.

Foley & Lardner LLP has announced  that Andrew Hurst has joined the firm’s Business Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice as partner in the Washington, D.C. office. Hurst joins Foley with more than two decades of experience litigating matters related to civil fraud and white collar criminal defense.

Hurst represents life sciences companies, health care providers, government contractors and other corporations in civil fraud litigation, with a focus on False Claims Act (FCA) matters. Hurst also represents corporations and individuals in connection with criminal investigations and prosecutions by the Department of Justice and other federal and state entities. He has experience representing defendants and targets in a number of areas, including Medicare and Medicaid fraud, campaign finance, economic espionage, computer crimes and Independent Counsel investigations.

“Andrew’s experience effectively combines FCA and regulatory issues, providing a strong platform that our clients in the life sciences and health care industries will find very valuable,” said Michael Gay, chair of Foley’s Litigation Department.

In addition, Hurst has extensive experience serving as outside general counsel for a number of small and mid-size emerging companies.

“We are thrilled to have Andrew join the Foley team. He has an established litigation practice that will complement our Washington, D.C. office and national litigation department very well,” said Scott Fredericksen, managing partner of Foley’s Washington, D.C. office.

Prior to joining Foley, Hurst was at Reed Smith LLP.

Quarles & Brady LLP has been named to list of the 2016 Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers Best Law Firms for Women. Working Mother recognizes firms for leading the industry in creating and using best practices in retaining and promoting women lawyers.

The full list of the 2016 Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers Best Law Firms for Women is posted here with highlights on representation of women and women of color in key leadership roles, and usage and promotion rates for reduced-hour lawyers, among other key points. Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers co-founded the Best Law Firms for Women initiative in 2007 to recognize firms that lead the industry in initiatives for women’s business development and career advancement, plus offer flexible work arrangements and generous paid parental leave, among other important benefits.

In a release, the firm said:

This year, women represent 30% of nonequity lawyers, the highest percentage in the past nine years while 20% of equity partners were women compared with a national average of 18%. The number of Best Law Firms reporting three or more women among the top ten rainmakers increased from 16% to 22% over the last year (at the 46 winning firms that responded).

For the first time this year, the proportion of female equity partner promotions is the same for firms with one-tiered tracks and two-tiered tracks. At single-tier firms, female equity partner promotions increased one percentage point, year over year, to 34%. At two-tiered firms, the promotion rate increased to 34% from 30% in 2015. The number of nonequity partner promotions going to women (36%) increased one percentage point, year over year.

Jennifer Owens, editorial director of Working Mother Media, says, “Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers’ Best Law Firms show how to make it work. Despite intense pressures, the success of the firms in creating workable solutions for working families shows their commitment and ingenuity to create a progressive future for their firms.”

Subha Barry, VP & General Manager, Working Mother Media, says, “As we celebrate the Best Law Firms for Women, there is still much work to be done, with only 18% of equity partners being female nationwide, reported by the National Association of Women Lawyers. With grit and client centeredness, women lawyers can continue to find growing success as rainmakers and a pathway to leadership positions.”

Deborah Epstein Henry, president of Flex-Time Lawyers LLC, adds, “In reflecting on the decade since we began the Best Law Firms for Women initiative, we are pleased to see firms competing to make their environments more hospitable for women to both work and thrive. The greater level of awareness and commitment to make change is what will enable women to propel to the next level.”

Birmingham, Alabama-based Maynard Cooper & Gale, P.C. announces that the firm has elected veteran leader Greg Curran as chairman of the firm. Curran is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and has most recently served as chair of the firm’s Business Section.

Jeff Grantham, another tenured leader of the firm, was elected vice-chairman and chief strategy officer. He also is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and has served as chair of the firm’s Litigation Section.

Curran will succeed Mark Drew who served as managing shareholder of the firm for the last decade. Drew has been appointed executive vice president and general counsel of the firm’s long-time client, Protective Life Corporation. With this appointment, he will continue a legacy of Maynard Cooper alumni leadership at Protective Life.

“Mark has been a great leader for the firm for the past ten years and he will be missed. We will stay true to our culture and remain focused on executing the firm’s strategic plan. Providing value to our clients and our people will be at the center of all we do,” said Curran.

In the past decade, Maynard Cooper has expanded across Alabama into markets including Huntsville and Mobile, and is expanding outside the state with the opening of an office in San Francisco. The firm has grown from 145 attorneys in 2006 to 240 today.

Jeff Grantham commented, “We are grateful for Mark’s years of leadership. He will be a great asset to Protective Life’s management team. He has set a high bar but the firm is blessed with distinguished clients and a deep bench of talented individuals. We will continue to focus on the needs of our clients, invest in our talent and execute on growth opportunities.”

Barnes & Thornburg LLP announced today that David Wood, John Corbett and Joshua Rosenberg have joined the firm’s Litigation Department and Insurance Recovery and Counseling Practice Group. The trio arrives from Anderson Kill’s Ventura, California, office, where Wood served as co-managing shareholder.

Wood, a partner, and Rosenberg, an associate, reside in Barnes & Thornburg’s Los Angeles office, while Corbett, of counsel, is based in Dallas. They are the latest attorneys to join the firm’s growing litigation bench, which in the last three months has added Anthony Son and Lee Hutton in Minneapolis; Elizabeth Brandon in Dallas; Brett Pyrdek in Chicago; and Michael Battle in Washington, D.C.

Earlier this year, Barnes & Thornburg’s insurance recovery group was named an “Insurance Practice Group of the Year” by Law360 for its successful representation of clients in several noteworthy litigation matters. Members of Barnes & Thornburg’s Insurance Recovery and Counseling Practice Group have litigated against virtually all major insurance carriers in trial and appellate courts across the country.

“David, John and Josh have helped corporate and individual policyholders resolve insurance coverage disputes throughout the U.S. and will add to our deep bench of insurance recovery lawyers across the country,” said Charles Edwards, co-chair of the firm’s Insurance Recovery and Counseling Practice Group. “We welcome this high-caliber group who will vigorously advocate on behalf of clients facing risks with significant insurance implications.”

The firm’s release continues:

About the Attorneys

David Wood has more than 30 years of experience in high-profile insurance disputes and recovery litigation involving Fortune 1000 corporations and corporate directors and officers spanning many different industries, including financial services, healthcare, high tech, telecommunications, hospitality, construction, manufacturing and automotive. He represents publicly- and privately-owned corporations in enforcing their claims under professional errors and omissions, D&O liability, special risk and general liability policies, and fidelity bonds, among others. He also assists clients on insurance coverage matters concerning data breaches and other cybersecurity issues.

Wood is a frequent speaker and author on insurance policy enforcement topics and often serves as a subject matter expert for media regarding notable insurance cases and issues. Additionally, Wood is treasurer and a member of the board of directors of the Atlantic Legal Foundation based in New York. Closer to home, he is a director and past president of the Casa Pacifica Centers for Children & Families serving abused and neglected children. He is recognized as a leading practitioner in his field, including a peer rating of “AV Preeminent® by his peers as listed in Martindale-Hubbell®. In 2016, he was selected for the fourth time by his peers for recognition in Southern California Super Lawyers for Insurance Coverage.

Wood received his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law after graduating cum laude from Williams College. He is admitted to practice in state of California and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the U.S. District Courts for the Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of California.

John Corbett represents corporate policyholders in a wide variety of industries ranging from construction and transportation to telecommunications and healthcare management. He has extensive experience in obtaining recoveries under general liability, cyber insurance,
director and officers (D&O) and professional errors and omissions (E&O) policies.

Corbett received his J.D., cum laude, from the Pepperdine University School of Law and his M.A. and B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is admitted to practice in the states of California and Texas.

Joshua Rosenberg works exclusively with policyholders within his insurance recovery practice and concentrates on corporate and commercial litigation as well. Previously, he worked as a land use and planning legal consultant. Prior to that, Rosenberg was a judicial intern for Hon. Dana M. Sabraw in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

Rosenberg received his J.D. from the Pepperdine University School of Law and his B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles. He is admitted to practice in the state of California and before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Harold D. Pope has joined Dykema in its Litigation Department as a senior counsel in the firm’s Detroit office. Prior to joining Dykema, Pope practiced at the Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss office in Detroit.

Pope focuses his practice on representing local and national companies in State and Federal Courts on matters regarding commercial; products liability; defense of sex, age and race discrimination claims for corporate employers; personal injury; franchise termination and disputes over exclusive market areas; disputes between automotive suppliers and manufacturers; construction claims; general contact; small corporation disputes; professional malpractice; and directors’ and officers’ liability. His experience includes the dismissal and resolution of several multimillion dollar commercial disputes.

Pope is active in professional organizations, previously holding many leadership positions. He is a Past President for the National Bar Association, Past Chair for the National Bar Institute, and Past Chair for the American Bar Association (ABA) Council on Racial and Ethnic Justice. Pope is also a past member of the ABA Board of Governors, the State Bar of Michigan Judicial Qualifications Committee and previously served on the Board of Trustees for the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation. He is a current member of the Wolverine Bar Association, the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association, the ABA House of Delegates Nominating Committee, and the ABA Audit Committee.

Pope has received numerous honors and awards, including the National Bar Association’s C. Francis Stradford Award, the State Bar of Michigan’s Champion of Justice Award, the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association Trailblazer Award, the Wolverine Bar Association’s Damon J. Keith Community Service Award, and the National Bar Association Commercial Law Section’s Cora T. Walker Legacy Award.

“Harold’s deep experience in product liability and commercial litigation matters enhances the strength of our Detroit office,” said Peter Kellett, Dykema Chairman and CEO. “His extensive involvement in professional organizations and the business community serve as a great model for other attorneys to follow. We are excited that he has joined the firm.”

Pope received his J.D. from Duke University Law School, and a B.A., summa cum laude, in Political Science from Concordia College.

Jeffrey M. Griffin has joined McDonald Sanders of Fort Worth as an associate attorney, the firm announced.

Griffin received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Texas Tech University in 2011 with a concentration in energy commerce and oil and gas. In 2014, he earned his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law, where he was a member of the Energy Law Interest Group. His practice focuses on the areas of business transactions, real estate and oil and gas.

“As our firm grows, it is important that we add exceptional lawyers to our ranks. Jeff fits that bill and we are excited about his future with our firm and his contributions to our clients,” said Rick Sorenson, president of McDonald Sanders.

Buchalter Nemer has added three counsel to its Los Angeles office. Terese A. Mosher Beluris joined as of counsel in the healthcare practice, Stephen J. Strauss joined as of counsel in the intellectual property practice and Michael Zerman joined as special counsel in the real estate practice.

“Our firm is in a strategic growth period right now and I’m pleased that our full-service offering and entrepreneurial spirit was the right fit for Terese, Stephen and Michael,” said Adam Bass, President and Chief Executive Officer of Buchalter Nemer. “I have no doubt that they will contribute in significant ways to the healthcare, IP and real estate practices and I’m excited to see their respective practices grow at the firm.”

The firm’s release continues:

Terese A. Mosher Beluris joins Buchalter Nemer as of counsel from McDermott Will & Emery where she was a Partner. In her practice, Terese regularly litigates actions on behalf of health care services plans, management services organizations and providers involved in commercial and managed care disputes. In the managed care arena, Terese has litigated putative class actions and other actions on behalf of health plans, health care providers and intermediaries. She has been lead trial counsel in significant matters concerning the imposition of liability upon health care service plans following the default of multiple system operators (MSOs) and other intermediaries, the defense of pharmaceutical utilization review under the precepts of California Business and Professions Code Section 2056 and alleged violations of due process or fair procedure.

She earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Tufts University.

Stephen J. Strauss joined Buchalter Nemer as Of Counsel from Fulwider Patton LLP where he was a Partner. For over 30 years, Stephen has specialized in domestic and international trademark, copyright and unfair competition matters, including licensing, Internet domain name disputes and litigation. He has prosecuted over two thousand U.S. and foreign trademark and service mark applications, and won over 60 UDRP decisions. Stephen is known for his representation of a number of internationally recognized celebrities, sports personalities, recording artists, chefs, authors and media and entertainment companies. He also represents a wide range of diverse clients including restaurants, banks and financial institutions, clothing and toy manufacturers, magazine and book publishers.

He earned his J.D. from Southwestern Law School and his B.A. and M.A. in Political Science from American University.

Michael Zerman joined Buchalter Nemer as Special Counsel from Zuber Lawler & Del Duca LLP where he was a Partner. Michael focuses his practice on real estate transactions, including purchase & sale, mortgage financing, leasing, and construction agreements. He represents pension funds, developers, financial institutions, government entities, REITs, retail chains and health care organizations and regularly handles matters related to office buildings, industrial properties, shopping centers, apartment properties, hotels, pro-sports facilities and mass-transit sites.

He earned his J.D. from the University of Arizona, cum laude, and his B.A. from Wesleyan University.

Fish & Richardson announced that three principals – including Natalie Arbaugh of Dallas – have been named to the Profiles in Diversity Journal (PDJ) 2016 list of the “Women Worth Watching.” According to the PDJ, the women selected for this honor “are forging ahead with global acclaim in strategies that are making a difference in their workplace, marketplace and around the world.”

In a release, the firm said Arbaugh is a commercial business and intellectual property (IP) litigator with a reputation for top-notch client service, creative problem solving, and courtroom excellence. She has tried nearly 30 cases as lead counsel or second chair including many high-profile business and IP disputes such as trademark and anti-counterfeiting litigation, trade secret, non-compete, and non-solicitation litigation.

She leads the firm’s EMPOWER Women’s Initiative, which provides expanded professional and business development opportunities, mentoring, training, and support to Fish’s female legal staff. She received her J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 2001 and her B.A., with honors, in business administration from the University of Florida in 1995.

Also selected for this honor were Fish principals Linda Liu Kordziel of Washington, D.C., and Boston’s Cynthia Johnson Walden, Practice Group Leader of the firm’s Trademark and Copyright Group.

Profiles in Diversity Journal is dedicated to promoting and advancing diversity and inclusion in the corporate, government, nonprofit, STEM, and higher education sectors.

DLA Piper has named Frank Ryan, a partner in the firm’s New York office, U.S. co-chair of its Intellectual Property and Technology practice, effective July 1, 2016.

Ryan will co-chair the U.S. practice with John Allcock, a partner in the firm’s San Diego and Silicon Valley offices, who is also global co-chair of the practice group.

In his practice, Ryan advises U.S. and multinational clients with a focus on litigation, intellectual property, media and sports, and complex commercial matters. He has successfully represented clients in a number of cases at trial and is well-versed in content distribution agreements, patent litigation and intellectual property portfolio development and protection.

Ryan previously led the New York office’s Intellectual Property and Technology practice and now serves as the deputy chair of the firm’s Global Media, Sports and Entertainment sector. He also serves on the firm’s Executive Committee and Global Board.

Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP announced that Michael Drankoski has been named the firm’s new executive director, effective immediately. He will replace Judy Vetkoetter upon her retirement from Gardere later this year.

Drankoski has more than 20 years of experience working with AmLaw 100 firms, with a primary focus on information technology. He joins Gardere from Norton Rose Fulbright’s Dallas office, where he held the position of director of administration, overseeing all non-attorney functions in that office.

“Michael’s extensive background in legal management makes him the ideal fit to assume the executive director position,” says Gardere Chair Holland N. O’Neil. “He is a results-oriented leader, who I am confident will provide the best support for our attorneys, staff and clients.”

As executive director, Drankoski will oversee Gardere’s administrative functions throughout the Firm’s five offices and will play a key role in the firm’s Dallas office move this fall.

Quarles & Brady LLP has announced that Daniel G. Radler will become the firm’s managing partner, effective Dec. 1, 2016. Fredrick G. Lautz, who has served in the position since its inception in 2007, will continue to support key strategic growth initiatives, including lateral recruitment, following the transition.

Radler will be the second managing partner in the firm’s history. Lautz, the first to assume the role after the unexpected passing of Firm Chair Pat Ryan, has overseen the firm’s significant success and growth over the last nine years, including the opening of new offices in Indianapolis, Tampa, and Washington, D.C. In a release, the firm said his tenure has been marked by a strong commitment to attract the nation’s most talented attorneys, particularly within the firm’s key practice areas, including franchise & distribution; financial services; business law; health & life sciences; intellectual property litigation; and data privacy.

The release continues:

The firm has also strengthened its financial and operational positions as a result of its measured growth under Lautz’s leadership. In addition to opening three new locations, the size of the Chicago office has doubled from 50 attorneys to 110 attorneys today, and the firm’s other offices have experienced significant growth as well.

“Our approach to client service has always been to source talented attorneys in increasingly demanding regional markets and industry sectors, and then build offices around those practitioners,” said Lautz. “Dan is a brilliant attorney and tremendous leader, and I’m excited about the direction in which he’ll be taking the firm over the next several years.”

“Quarles & Brady’s growth has been and continues to be rooted in the legal savvy and client service that is the hallmark of our firm,” said Kimberly Leach Johnson, firm chair of Quarles & Brady. “It’s about delivering excellence and Fred has been a tremendous champion for it, not only in his own work, but in the expectations all of us in the firm extend to each other. Dan carries that same fierce commitment to excellence. His knowledge and experience will continue to advance our focus on new and more innovative ways to deepen our expertise and serve our clients even more strongly.”

As a former engineer, Radler brings a practical solutions mindset to the managing partner role. During his 19 years at Quarles & Brady, he has served in leadership roles that include national chair of the Intellectual Property Practice Group and a member of the Executive Committee.

“I’m honored to be following in Fred’s footsteps, and continuing the growth trajectory and tremendous momentum he has created for the firm,” said Radler. “Additionally, I am firmly vested in building upon the firm’s core values surrounding client service, innovation, diversity and inclusion, and civic involvement.

About Dan Radler

In addition to his J.D., Radler holds degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Mechanical Systems Engineering, adding a substantive level of technical knowledge to his grasp of IP law. Before he became an attorney, Radler spent several years as an engineer designing and testing propulsion systems for advanced technology aircraft, and later working as a project manager responsible for the design and construction of automated materials handling systems and warehouses.

In private practice, he advises clients on all aspects of intellectual property law with a particular focus on patent procurement; patent re-examinations; infringement and validity opinions; and licensing in a variety of disciplines, including materials handling equipment, heavy machinery, manufacturing and molding processes, fluid dynamics, printing technology, hydraulics, seals, bearings, and general mechanical and electro-mechanical devices.

About Fredrick Lautz

Lautz is a corporate attorney by trade but has been fully ensconced at Quarles & Brady’s helm, supervising the partnership, guiding the firm’s strategic and operational growth, and working hand-in-hand with the firm chairperson to chart Quarles’ long-term course. He has maintained a singular focus on the firm’s business objectives, continuously conferring with partners to maintain a strong sense of developing trends and themes and how they inform the delivery of superior legal services

Lautz practices law in the areas of mergers & acquisitions and corporate finance & securities, working with clients of all types and sizes, including financial institutions, mutual funds, and manufacturing, retail, distribution, and professional services companies. He advises businesses on corporate governance matters, buy/sell agreements, executive and equity compensation programs, general operational matters, and securities offerings (including public and private offerings of equity and debt securities). His experience representing mutual funds and investment advisors includes organization and initial registration, board composition and corporate governance matters, regulatory compliance, share distribution structures and relationships, and acquisitions and reorganizations.

Ralf Rodriguez has joined Foley & Lardner LLP’s Construction Practice as of counsel in the Miami office, the firm announced. Rodriguez has international experience litigating including construction law, commercial litigation, white-collar criminal defense and transportation law.

Rodriguez represents domestic and international general contractors, construction managers, sureties and other construction professionals in the United States and abroad in the negotiation, litigation, arbitration and mediation of construction and design defect claims, insurance claims and surety bond claims, among others. He has experience representing clients in zoning waivers, landlord and tenant disputes, environmental compliance, bankruptcy litigation and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Rodriguez has assisted clients in connection with a variety of construction projects, including sports arenas, high rise condominium developments, manufacturing plants and hydroelectric power facilities. Projects include the Florida Marlins Baseball Park, the Florida Citrus Bowl, the Miami Intermodal Center and the Cerro De Aguila Hydroelectric Power Plant in Peru.

“As our clients look to expand globally, Ralf’s international experience litigating complex construction matters will be an extremely valuable asset,” said Jeff Blease, chair of Foley’s Construction Litigation Practice.

In a release, the firm said:

Rodriguez also represents corporate clients in internal investigations and government inquiries by defending regulatory actions and fraud claims, including advice regarding compliance with anti-corruption laws such as the False Claims Act, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and similar legislation. He has worked with numerous corporate clients to structure and reassess corporate compliance and training programs, and has counseled clients to complete numerous investigations of sensitive matters in foreign jurisdictions, including Latin America and the Caribbean.

In addition to his legal practice, Rodriguez served as a law enforcement professional with the Department of Treasury and completed many public corruption and organized crime investigations, while working closely with the U.S. Attorneys’ Office for the Southern District of Florida.

“Ralf’s knowledge and experience will serve our clients well, as the local construction industry continues to boom,” said William Davis, managing partner of Foley’s Miami office.

Prior to joining Foley, Rodriguez was at Peckar & Abramson.

Hogan Lovells announced that Michael Turrill has joined the firm’s Los Angeles office as a partner in the Litigation, Arbitration and Employment (LAE) Practice Group.

Turrill focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, including the defense of consumer-related class actions under federal and state consumer protection laws, business torts and unfair competition litigation, intellectual property matters, employment litigation and contractual and partnership disputes. He represents clients in multiple industries including real estate, consumer goods, food and beverage, financial services, energy, and entertainment and media sectors.

“Mike’s extensive commercial litigation expertise complements our capabilities to address a number of rising issues across a variety of industries,” said Dennis Tracey, Head of Litigation in the Americas at Hogan Lovells. “His diverse background in the litigation space and team-focused qualities exemplify the firm’s approach to collaboration across several practices to better serve our clients.”

Prior to joining Hogan Lovells, Turrill was a partner in the L.A. office of an AmLaw 200 law firm. Turrill’s experiences include litigating in both state and federal courts as well as before arbitration panels around the country and internationally.

“Mike’s work in the real estate, consumer class action and media and entertainment space, including digital media, fit squarely within the core practice areas of the Los Angeles office and the firm,” said Barry Dastin, Office Managing Partner of Hogan Lovells’ Los Angeles office. “He is a well-known and widely respected lawyer in the community, and his arrival builds upon significant recent additions to our office, including Stephanie Yonekura, former Acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, and Paul Salvaty, both of whom have strengthened our litigation team led by Michael Maddigan.”

Turrill earned his J.D. from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law, and his B.A. in History from Brown University. He was previously named Pro Bono Attorney of the Year by the University of Southern California’s Public Interest Law Foundation. Mike served for three years as adjunct professor at the USC Gould School of Law.

Veteran trial lawyer James Edward “Jim” Maloney has opened a solo practice in Houston, at The Esperson Buildings, 815 Walker St., Suite 1150.

Educated at Yale and a graduate of the Harvard Law School, he began his career at Baker Botts where he spent the next 35 years representing leading business executives and major corporations, with a client list that has included:

• Shell Oil Company
• Pennzoil-Quaker State
• Reliant Energy and its predecessors
• Match.com
• Novartis
• Lyondell Chemical Company
• Southern Pacific Railroad Company
• Ford Motor Company
• Bridgestone-Firestone
• T. Boone Pickens

When he left Baker Botts in 2012, Maloney had headed the firm’s securities litigation section and had also served as the longtime chair of the firm’s employment committee.

More recently, he was a partner at Andrews Kurth. There, his clients included a major international oil and gas exploration company and a number of special and conflicts committees of boards of directors at public companies and master limited partnerships. He has been involved in securities litigation work, corporate takeover disputes, corporate investigations, class actions and complex commercial disputes in both state and federal courts.

Over more than 40 years of practice, Maloney has tried more than 100 cases to jury and bench verdicts and managed thousands of others to successful resolution, he said in a release.