Foley & Lardner LLP announced that James Nicholas and Donald Schroeder have joined the firm’s Labor & Employment Practice as partners in the Boston office.

In a release, the firm said Nicholas represents and counsels employers on a wide range of federal and state employment issues, including wage and hour, employment classification, wrongful termination, discrimination and harassment, leaves of absence and the enforcement of noncompetition and nondisclosure agreements. He has represented clients in numerous actions before federal and state courts in cases involving claims for wage and hour violations, defamation and shareholder disputes, among others. A significant portion of his litigation experience involves defending employers against wage and hour class actions brought under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage and hour laws.

The release continues:

Schroeder has extensive national trial experience in state and federal courts representing Fortune 500 clients on a wide range of employment matters, including restrictive covenant litigation, wage and hour class actions and single plaintiff discrimination cases. His trial experience includes state and federal court jury trials, bench trials and employment arbitrations throughout the United States. Schroeder’s client base spans a number of industries including staffing, healthcare, sports, higher education and technology.

Schroeder also regularly handles traditional labor matters related to union avoidance training, unfair labor practice proceedings, union elections, mass picketing, labor arbitrations and collective bargaining negotiations. In his traditional labor work, Schroeder routinely appears before the National Labor Relations Board.

“We look forward to having Jim and Don on our team. Their strong track record litigating complex cases and vast experience will help ensure our clients remain compliant and protected across a myriad of employment issues,” said Kevin Hyde, chair of Foley’s Labor & Employment Practice.

In addition, both Nicholas and Schroeder have experience drafting C-Suite level employment agreements and advising clients on the terms and use of offer letters, employee handbooks and personnel policies.

“Our clients will benefit from Jim and Don’s decades of combined experience related to employment issues and proceedings. We are excited to add them to our robust litigation bench in Boston,” said Susan Pravda, managing partner of Foley’s Boston office.

In addition, they will be joined by their former colleagues, Jill Collins (Washington, D.C. office) and Erin Horton (Boston office), who are mid-level associates.

Hogan Lovells announced that Gejaa T. Gobena will join the firm’s Investigations, White Collar and Fraud (IWCF) practice as a partner in its Washington, D.C. office.

Prior to joining Hogan Lovells, Gobena served as Deputy Chief of the Fraud Section in the Criminal Division of the United States Department of Justice (USDOJ). As Deputy Chief, Gobena led the Criminal Division’s fifty-attorney health care fraud unit, supervising prosecutions brought by Medicare Fraud Strike Force teams across the country and spearheading the Unit’s recent shift to investigating and prosecuting broader corporate health care fraud schemes. In that position, he oversaw the prosecution of over a thousand individuals for health care fraud, including last week’s historic national health care fraud takedown which involved charging more than 300 individuals accused of committing fraud costing the government US$900 million.

In a release, the firm said:

Gobena will supplement Hogan Lovell’s substantial national IWCF practice by counseling clients as they navigate internal and government investigations, particularly health care fraud investigations. He will further assist Hogan Lovells’ clients looking to mitigate risk following the new USDOJ directive to pursue executives of target corporations more aggressively.

“Government agencies are evolving their enforcement strategies through innovations in technology, data and new legal theories,” said Crispin Rapinet, global head of the firm’s ICWF practice. “The range of Gejaa’s DOJ experience handling both False Claims Act cases as a younger lawyer and then in fraud prosecutions for the Criminal Division gives him tremendous skill as well as insight into the personalities and priorities driving DOJ decision-making, all of which will be of great value to our clients.”

During his tenure as DOJ Deputy Chief, Gobena supervised teams that prosecuted large corporate entities in cities throughout the country. He also worked and advised on non-health care fraud prosecutions and policy matters, including matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.

Earlier, Gobena was part of the HEAT (Health Care Fraud Prevention and Enforcement Action Team) initiative in Detroit, where he worked with teams of investigators from Office of Inspector General-Health & Human Services, Federal Bureau of Investigation and numerous other law enforcement agencies to prosecute health care fraud cases to verdict before earning his promotion to supervisor.

And for several years before that, Gobena handled civil False Claims Act and qui tam matters for DOJ’s Civil Division.

“Our firm continues to identify and hire talented lawyers with government agency credentials and experience to provide our clients with a complete understanding of how enforcement agencies are pursuing investigations,” said Dennis Tracey, head of Litigation for the Americas. “Gejaa is a confident, personable and engaging litigator with a demonstrated thoughtful and thorough approach to handling legal challenges.”

In 2015, Gobena received the Award for Excellence from the Health and Human Services Department of the Office of the Inspector General. He also received the Assistant Attorney General’s Award for Distinguished Service in 2013, and the Attorney General’s Award for Fraud Prevention in 2011.

He earned his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law and his B.A. from The University of Virginia.

Quarles & Brady LLP today announced that it has achieved Gold Standard Re-Certification by the Women in Law Empowerment Forum (WILEF) for the six consecutive year. This year’s list includes 31 firms.

“We are proud to have made this list for the sixth year in a row,” said Darlene Austin, director of diversity & employee relations & corporate social responsibility. “Our repeated certification is proof positive that Quarles & Brady is committed to inclusive leadership among all attorneys in our firm; this is part of our culture. We are honored to have been recognized as one of the six firms to have met all of WILEF’s criteria.”

In a release, the firm said Gold Standard Certification emphasizes the leadership roles achieved by women partners, rather than the policies or practices of the firm or the overall number or percentage of women in the partnership. Law firms with 300 or more practicing lawyers in the United States were eligible if they successfully demonstrated that women represented a meaningful percentage of their equity partners, of their highest leadership positions, of their governance and compensation committees, and of their most highly compensated partners. To be certified, firms had to meet at least four of the six criteria:

• Women account for at least 20 percent of U.S. equity partners or, alternatively, one-third of non-lateral attorneys that became U.S. equity partners within the previous 12 months.
• Women represent at least 15 percent of firm and U.S. branch office heads combined.
• Women make up at least 20 percent of the firm’s primary governance committee.
• Women represent 20 percent or more of the firm’s compensation committee.
• Women make up at least 25 percent of practice group leaders or department heads.
• Women represent at least 15 percent of the top half of U.S. equity partners in terms of compensation.

About WILEF

Founded in 1997 by Elizabeth Anne “Betiayn” Tursi, with the support of R.R. Donnelley and several successful senior women attorneys, and subsequently of law firm and corporate sponsors, WILEF is dedicated to assisting women in law to assume leadership roles within the NLJ 250 and Fortune 1000 legal departments and within their respective communities. WILEF presents cutting edge programming that provides an educational and networking forum for women in law.

Texas trial law firm Deans & Lyons, LLP announces that civil litigation attorney Lana P. Beverly has joined the firm’s Dallas office as an associate.

“Our firm is built on talented and aggressive attorneys who are fearless in the courtroom,” says firm co-founder Michael Lyons. “Lana brings some impressive credentials and we are very excited to add her to our team here in Dallas.”

Beverly joins the firm from the Dallas office of Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP.

In a release, the firm said her experience includes representing both plaintiffs and defendants in civil litigation in state and federal courts. She focuses her practice on business disputes, including cases involving breach of contract, construction, breach of fiduciary duty and employment issues, as well as professional liability matters. She also represents clients in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death claims.

While serving as a judicial clerk for the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Beverly authored four appellate opinions involving criminal issues of first impression. She also worked as a judicial extern for the North Carolina Court of Appeals.

Beverly earned her law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law in 2010 where she was the Notes Editor and Staff Member of the North Carolina Journal Of Law & Technology. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and was a National Merit Achievement Scholar.

Deans & Lyons, LLP has offices in Dallas and Houston.

Litigation associate Erin Nowell from the Dallas office of Simon Greenstone Panatier Bartlett, PC, has earned a spot on the 2016 National Bar Association “40 Under 40 Best Advocates” list, which recognizes the country’s leading young attorneys  for their legal accomplishments.

With approximately 65,000 members, the National Bar Association is the oldest and largest network of African-American attorneys and judges in the U.S., the firm said in an announcement. Award recipients are vetted by a panel of former association presidents and key individuals, in addition to a separate evaluation covering nominees’ advocacy, innovation, leadership and community involvement.

“Erin is very deserving of this recognition based on her immense passion for achieving justice for those who have been injured through no fault of their own,” says Jeffrey Simon, a founding shareholder of Simon Greenstone Panatier Bartlett. “We are not surprised she rose to the top of the hundreds of nominees for this award.”

A graduate of the University of Texas School of Law, Nowell devotes her practice to representing victim of serious injuries and wrongful death caused by toxic substances such as asbestos, benzene and silica, as well as dangerous pharmaceuticals and other defective products. She will be honored at the 40 Under 40 Awards Gala on July 18 during the group’s annual convention in St. Louis.

“I am honored to be in the company of such accomplished lawyers from across the nation,” says Nowell. “Hard work truly pays off, and I am fortunate to be at a firm where I am able to help my clients fight for justice each day.”

Quarles & Brady LLP lawyer J. Michael Hearon has been included in the National LGBT Bar Association’s 2016 class of the 40 under 40 Best LGBT Lawyers.

“I am very pleased to receive such an honorable distinction on behalf of the countless LGBT members that make up a significant part of the legal profession,” said Hearon. “This recognition truly reflects the global legal industry’s commitment to diversity and inclusion across all spectrums.”

The LGBT Bar established this award to recognize outstanding lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender legal professionals under the age of 40 who have distinguished themselves in their field and demonstrated a profound commitment to LGBT equality, the firm said in a release.

Hearon is a member of the firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice Group where he focuses his practice on advising and defending financial institutions regarding lender liability and consumer protection issues.

Hearon received his law degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law, his MBA from Georgetown University, and his Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Transylvania University.

Foley & Lardner LLP announced that Zaldwaynaka (Z) Scott has joined the firm’s Government Enforcement, Compliance & White Collar Practice as a partner in the Chicago office. The firm says she has decades of experience managing high-stakes white collar matters in both private and public sector roles, including the United States Department of Justice and the State of Illinois.

In a release, the firm said Scott, a former executive inspector general for the Office of the Governor of Illinois, is a seasoned trial lawyer with experience in complex commercial litigation, corporate internal investigations, corporate compliance matters and white collar defense. Her federal and criminal litigation experience includes representing Fortune 1000 corporations, private companies and individuals in accounting and commercial fraud, public corruption, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act matters, civil tax appeals and criminal tax prosecutions, money-laundering, and investment and financial institution fraud. She has also led and represented companies in complex and extensive government regulatory and criminal grand jury investigations.

The release continues:

“We look forward to adding Z’s trial experience and internal investigation knowledge to our team. Her successful track record across complex litigation and strong proactive compliance counseling will enhance our white collar footprint,” said Lisa Noller, chair of Foley’s Government Enforcement, Compliance & White Collar Practice.

While serving as executive inspector general for the Office of the Governor of Illinois, Scott established and managed an internal compliance and investigative agency for the Illinois government and the state’s public universities. She oversaw more than 200 internal investigations of state vendors and state employees, as well as counseling members of the governor’s cabinet and state senior managers, including agency directors on issues related to personnel policies, internal controls, ethics and systemic personnel problems. In addition, Scott served as a federal criminal prosecutor with the United States Attorney’s Office, where she held various management positions, including chief of the General Crimes Section.

“Our clients will be well served by Z’s extensive experience working with various agencies across the government of Illinois on pressing issues and investigations, and we are thrilled to welcome her to our team,” said Myles Berman, managing partner of Foley’s Chicago office.

Prior to joining Foley, Scott was a partner at Kaye Scholer.

Brian P. Corrigan recently joined Farrell Fritz’s estate litigation department as a partner.

Prior to joining Farrell Fritz, Corrigan was a partner at Holland & Knight in New York, NY.

Corrigan is the vice chair of the New York State Bar Association’s Trusts and Estates Section’s Committee on Legislation; a member of the Nassau County Bar Association’s Surrogate’s Court Trust & Estate Committee; and a member of the New York City Bar Association.

Corrigan , a Garden City, NY resident, earned his Juris Doctorate from Hofstra University School of Law, where he was a Research Editor for the Hofstra Labor & Employment Law Journal. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree, cum laude, from Providence College.

He is admitted to practice in New York State. He is also admitted in all State Courts in New York; the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York; the U.S. Tax Court; and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Corrigan has been selected to the 2011-2015 New York Metro Super Lawyers Rising Stars lists.

National law firm Wilson Elser announced that a national insurance coverage team of 11 attorneys has joined Wilson Elser in three offices – Chicago, Los Angeles and New Jersey.

“Like Wilson Elser, this team’s insurance coverage practice is truly national in scope and reputation,” said Daniel J. McMahon, Wilson Elser chairman. “Their addition to the practice further deepens our already strong bench of attorneys in one of the firm’s core practice areas and will provide our clients with a wealth of experience in all facets of insurance coverage and bad faith matters.”

The team – led by partners Michael Duffy, Chicago; Paul White and David Simantob, Los Angeles; and Mark Vespole, New Jersey – primarily represents insurers in coverage matters, extra-contractual liability, bad faith and reinsurance matters. They previously were with Chicago-based law firm Tressler LLP.

They work on insurance coverage issues, draft insurance policy language, and litigate coverage and bad faith cases for general and specialty lines insurance and reinsurance companies.

The 11 are:

Chicago
Michael Duffy, Partner
Ashley Conaghan, Associate
Abigail Rocap, Associate

Los Angeles
Paul White, Partner
David Simantob, Partner
Linda Tai Hoshide, Partner

New Jersey
Mark Vespole, Partner
Joanna Crosby, Partner
Kathleen Williams, Partner
Katherine Tammaro, Partner
Matthew Major, Associate

Partner Michelle Schulz has been named co-chair of Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP’s international practice, effective immediately. She will lead the group alongside co-chair and partner Charles E. Meacham in Houston.

Since joining Gardere in December 2013, Schulz has served as co-chair of the Firm’s international trade group and has been instrumental in its success. She will continue in that role in addition to serving as co-chair of the international practice. In her new role, Schulz will work with Mr. Meacham to further integrate Gardere’s diverse international practice areas and design end-to-end solutions for international business expansion. In addition, Schulz will facilitate collaboration among the Firm’s international groups in the U.S. and Mexico on matters, including energy, infrastructure, international dispute resolution, corporate, tax, transportation and trade. She also will cultivate the Firm’s broad international network of trusted attorneys and advisors across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East.

“Having served as co-chair of Gardere’s international trade group, Michelle is well-known throughout the Firm and in the industry for both her leadership and legal expertise,” says Meacham. “Her depth of experience will be a great benefit to the international team and to its clients, and I look forward to partnering with her.”

“Charlie has been highly influential in the international practice’s ongoing success, and it is an honor to join him as a leader of this prestigious group,” says Schulz. “Gardere’s international attorneys are among the most respected in their field, and I am privileged to collaborate with this group on opportunities to further enhance our presence in the global marketplace.”

With more than 15 years of experience representing clients in international trade, including over 10 years as a founding partner of a trade boutique, Schulz provides an entrepreneurial spirit and innovative ideas for international growth. She represents Fortune 500 companies, large defense and aerospace contractors, manufacturers, and oil and gas companies in international trade compliance and enforcement matters, including U.S. government investigations, internal audits, disclosures, licensing, and counseling on international trade regulations governing exports and imports.

Irene A. Zoupaniotis has joined Farrell Fritz‘s Uniondale office as a labor & employment associate.

From February 2013 to August 2015, Zoupaniotis was a litigation associate at an insurance defense law firm in NYC. She also held the following positions: Judicial Fellow, The Honorable Leonard B. Austin, Appellate Division 2nd Department (September 2012 to February 2013); Intern, NYS Division of Human Rights, Office of Sexual Harassment Issues (Spring 2012); Intern, NYC Office of Labor Relations (Summer 2011); and Judicial Intern, The Honorable Nicholas G. Garaufis, U.S. District Court E.D.N.Y. (Summer 2010).

Zoupaniotis, an Astoria, NY resident, earned her Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, from Hofstra University School of Law. She was an Articles Editor for the Hofstra Labor & Employment Law Journal. Irene received her Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from the William E. Macaulay Honors College at Queens College. She earned her Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Columbia Law School, where she was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.

She is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey and the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.

Zoupaniotis is fluent in Greek.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP announced that it advised TSSP, a leading special situations investment platform of TPG, on its agreement with Hunt Oil Co., a privately held oil and gas exploration and production company, to develop certain of Hunt Oil’s assets in the Midland Basin in Texas.

The development area covers approximately 18,000 net acres across Martin, Glasscock, Midland and Upton counties. Under the agreement, TSSP has committed up to $400 million to fund the development which is expected to take approximately three years to deploy.  Additional terms were not disclosed.

The Kirkland team was led by corporate partners Anthony Speier and David Castro and associates Christopher Heasley, Nick Wenker, Ryan Martin and Lindsey Jaquillard; debt finance partners William Bos and Lucas Spivey; tax partner Chad McCormick and associate Joe Tobias; environmental transactions partner Paul Tanaka and associate Stefanie Gitler; restructuring partner Ryan Bennett; and litigation partner Anna Rotman.

Read more details.

Platinum Equity and Stone Canyon Industries, LLC announced it has signed a definitive agreement for Platinum Equity to sell BWAY Corp. to Stone Canyon Industries LLC for $2.4 billion.

BWAY is a North American manufacturer of rigid metal and plastic containers used to package industrial, bulk food and retail goods. The sale is subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions, and is expected to close in August 2016.

Latham & Watkins LLP represented Platinum Equity in the transaction with a corporate deal led by Washington, D.C. partner David Brown and associates Daniel Kecman, Mariclaire Petty and Alexander Sevald. Advice was also provided on tax matters by New York partner Lisa Watts and associate Matthew Dewitz; on intellectual property matters by Washington, D.C. counsel Kieran Dickinson and Los Angeles associate Aryeh Richmond; on employee benefits matters by Washington, D.C. partner David Della Rocca and associates Matthew Conway and Nikhil Kumar; on environmental matters by Washington, D.C. partner James Barrett; on real estate matters by Chicago partner David Shapiro and associate Patrick Maloney; on government contracts matters by Washington, D.C. counsel Kyle Jefcoat; on export controls and sanctions matters by Washington, D.C. partner William McGlone and on debt financing matters by Washington, D.C. partners Scott Forchheimer, Patrick Shannon and Shagufa Hossain.

Platinum Equity acquired BWAY in 2012. In January 2013 BWAY acquired Ropak, a complementary producer of rigid plastic containers.

“BWAY’s success is a testament to strong collaboration with Ken Roessler and his management team and the value of truly integrating M&A with operations at every level of the investment,” said Platinum Equity Partner Louis Samson.  “The company is well positioned for continued success going forward.”

Samson said that BWAY’s EBITDA grew approximately 45% from 2012 to 2016 thanks to a combination of operational improvements and growth through acquisition.

“We have had a great partnership with Platinum Equity and we are proud of everything our teams have accomplished together,” said BWAY CEO Ken Roessler. “Today we have a fundamentally sound business with great momentum, and we are poised for continued growth and long-term profitability as we transition to Stone Canyon’s ownership.”

“BWAY’s success is a testament to strong collaboration with Ken Roessler and his management team and the value of truly integrating M&A with operations at every level of the investment. The company is well positioned for continued success going forward,” said Platinum Equity Partner Louis Samson.

Jim Fordyce, co-CEO of Stone Canyon Industries, said his firm is excited about BWAY’s potential and looks forward to working with Roessler and the management team.

“BWAY is a world class company with a great leadership team, dedicated employees and a very bright future,” said Fordyce.  “We look forward to working with Ken to help BWAY continue delivering on its strategic and operational plan as the company takes the next step in its evolution.”

Goldman, Sachs & Co. is serving as financial advisor to Platinum Equity and Latham and Watkins is serving as Platinum Equity’s legal counsel. BMO Capital Markets is serving as financial advisor to Stone Canyon Industries and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher is serving as its legal counsel.

Foley & Lardner LLP announced that Natalie Annis and Jamil Daoud have joined the firm’s Estates & Trusts Practice in the Tampa office.

The firm, in a release, said Annis represents professionals, executives, business owners, retired individuals and families in developing, implementing and managing sophisticated estate plans.

The release continues:

She works with financial advisors, accountants, insurance professionals and other advisors to assist clients in developing comprehensive strategies to achieve diverse wealth preservation and succession planning goals, including estate and gift tax planning and asset protection.

Daoud has experience creating asset protection structures using various domestic planning techniques. He has designed and implemented basic and complex trust plans and designed limited liability company operating agreements and corporate buy-sell agreements to accomplish a variety of investment, tax and business objectives. He also has experience with the negotiation and implementation of premarital agreements.

“Natalie and Jamil have immense experience across an array of complex estates and trusts issues. Their comprehensive knowledge will greatly benefit our growing client base,” said Daniel Hess, chair of Foley’s Estates & Trusts Practice.

In addition, both Annis and Daoud have experience advising clients on advanced planning and gifting strategies using irrevocable trusts, including dynasty trusts, grantor trusts, life insurance trusts, gifting trusts and trusts for minors.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Natalie and Jamil. They are highly regarded attorneys and bring a great deal of experience to our office and their practice areas,” said Randy Wolfe, managing partner of Foley’s Tampa office.

About Foley & Lardner LLP
Foley & Lardner LLP is a corporate law firm that provides legal and related services for complex issues facing companies today. With approximately 900 attorneys in 20 offices, Foley combines international reach with a local focus across a full range of legal services in various industries, including technology, health care, sports and manufacturing. Foley has been recognized by clients and the legal industry for its strong commitment to client service excellence and innovation. Learn more at Foley.com.

Lauren Kilgore  of Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP has been named to the 2016 Best of the Bar list published by the Nashville Business Journal.

Kilgore is one of just five attorneys practicing media and entertainment law to be selected to the 1^4th annual listing of the leading attorneys in Nashville and Middle Tennessee. She also was nominated based on her work in litigation and dispute resolution.

“Having worked in the entertainment business before entering the law profession, Lauren offers a unique perspective on the industry that her clients have come to depend upon,” says firm managing partner John Shackelford. “This is a well-deserved honor.”

An associate at Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, Kilgore focuses her practice on entertainment, intellectual property, and commercial and business litigation. She represents recording artists, publishing companies, Internet companies and record labels in both transactional and litigation matters.

Kilgore has served as a Board Member of the Young Lawyers’ Division of the Nashville Bar since 2013, and she was selected last year to the inaugural class of the Nashville Bar Foundation’s Leadership Forum Program for up-and-coming local lawyers. She also was selected to the 2015 listing of Tennessee Rising Stars, which recognizes the top young attorneys in the state.

A graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School, Kilgore served as Senior Technology Editor of the Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law and as the Moot Court Board’s Executive Justice for the National First Amendment Moot Court Competition. She earned her undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from Birmingham-Southern College. She resides in Cherokee Park with her husband, Sgt. Matthew Dixon, a 19-year veteran of the Metro Police Department, and their two daughters, Josephine and Arabella.

To determine its Best of the Bar selections, the Nashville Business Journal accepted public nominations for a two-month period, with finalists selected by peer vote. The final list featured 79 attorneys in 17 separate practice categories. The honorees were recognized at a June 2 reception at the City Winery. The complete list of winners can be found on online at http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville.

Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP is an aviation, general business and entertainment law firm representing aircraft owners, operators and servicers, financial institutions, recording artists, real estate owners and developers, automobile dealerships, record labels, and other businesses in legal matters across the country.

DLA Piper announced that Joe Kernen has been named managing partner of the firm’s Philadelphia’s office and Nancy Rappaport chair of the office Litigation practice. Kernen succeeds Carl Buchholz, and Rappaport succeeds Kernen in the litigation role.

Buchholz, who passed away on May 23, 2016, served as office managing partner since 2014. He led the office through significant expansion and substantially raised its profile locally and regionally, while championing its deep commitment to pro bono service focused particularly on veterans, seniors and education. The Philadelphia office is currently comprised of more than 100 employees, including approximately 55 lawyers.

In a release, the firm said:

Kernen, who joined DLA Piper legacy firm Piper and Marbury as an associate months after it opened its Philadelphia office in 1992, maintains a diverse litigation practice with an emphasis on commercial disputes and class action matters for international, national and local clients. He also regularly counsels and defends companies in employment matters. In his previous role as office litigation practice group leader and hiring partner, he was integrally involved in the office’s recent expansion.

Rappaport focuses her practice on product liability and mass tort litigation, including the defense of multinational manufacturers in catastrophic injury cases arising from the use of consumer and commercial outdoor power equipment, agricultural and construction equipment, and exposure to asbestos and chemicals. She also acts as national counsel for various manufacturers, litigates cases in state and federal courts nationwide, and counsels clients in preparing manuals and warranties for new products.

Quarles & Brady LLP has announced that the firm’s Washington, D.C. office has a new location. The firm is now located at 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20006.

“Our expansion and relocation allows us to better execute on the firm’s strategic goal of enhancing our presence in the D.C. market,” said Larry Cote, Washington, D.C. office managing partner. “The design of our new office maximizes the efficient use of space through same-sized offices and several collaborative work areas, which encourages teamwork, assists in recruiting top talent, and greatly supports our efforts to provide exceptional service to our clients.”

In a release, the firm said:

The space, designed by Chemistry in PlaceSM, focuses on flexibility, collaboration, and client service. The office will house a permanent collection of photographic images of Washington, D.C. taken by students from the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design at George Washington University. The new office also showcases the latest innovative products in furniture and floor covering from Steelcase and Milliken.

“This new office space is perfect for what we need moving into the future,” said Kelly Williams, Washington, D.C. office manager. “1701 Pennsylvania gives us the opportunity to expand, and we are looking forward to adding additional members to our D.C. office.”

The office will retain its existing phone and fax numbers. The firm occupies suite 700, located on the seventh floor of the building. To learn more about 1701 Pennsylvania Avenue, click here.

Jason Tomitz has joined Farrell Fritz as a tax associate in the firm’s Uniondale office.

Prior to joining Farrell Fritz, Tomitz was an associate at Kramer, Levin, Naftalis & Frankel, LLP in New York, NY. He was a summer associate at the same firm from June to August 2010. He  was a legal intern at Monteiro & Fishman, LLP from June to August 2009.

Tomitz, a South Huntington, NY resident, earned his Juris Doctorate, summa cum laude, from Hofstra University School of Law, where he was a research assistant to Dean Nora Demleitner from June 2009 to April 2011. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Albany.

He is admitted to practice in New York and is a member of the New York State Bar Association.

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.

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 experience 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.

Sartwelle has nearly 50 years of experience and has tried cases throughout Texas involving commercial business disputes; catastrophic personal injury; products liability; and medical, hospital and legal malpractice. He tried to verdict a case involving the first Texas corporation to be indicted for murder. He is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law and by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Civil Trial Advocate and a Civil Pretrial Practice Advocate. He is also Board Certified by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys as a Legal Malpractice and Medical Malpractice Specialist and serves as an officer with that organization. He joins as of counsel.

Pletcher is an experienced trial lawyer with a focus on cases involving commercial business disputes, products liability, professional negligence, and employment, health care, pharmaceutical, medical device and biotech litigation and civil appeals. In addition, he has successfully represented clients in a variety of civil claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. He joins as partner.

Nobles is an appellate lawyer with experience handling a variety of civil appeals in state and federal courts throughout Texas. He has successfully represented plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of complex trials and appeals involving commercial business disputes, catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death, and products litigation. He is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a former chair of the Houston Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section and the Appellate Pro Bono Committee. He joins as partner.

McCracken’s trial and appellate experience includes cases involving professional liability with an emphasis on doctor and hospital litigation. He also handles matters involving a variety of industries including manufacturing, energy, telecommunications, and health care. He has briefed and argued major cases to state and federal appellate courts in Texas including the Texas Supreme Court. He has been an invited lecturer on legal ethics issues. He joins as partner.

Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (Legal Aid) has announced the recipients of its 16th Annual Women’s Advocacy Awards to be presented on July 12 in Dallas. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas will receive the Business Leadership Award; Rev. Larry James and  CitySquare will receive the Nonprofit Leadership Award; Paul Zoltan will receive the Louise Raggio Women’s Legal Advocate Award; and Randy Johnston will receive the Champion of Justice Award.

The Women’s Advocacy Awards (WAA) supports civil legal aid for victims of domestic violence. Each year, the WAA recognizes exceptional advocacy on behalf of women living in poverty. This year’s event will be held at 6 p.m., July 12, 2016, in Arlington Hall at Lee Park.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) has a long history of working to advance opportunities for women and children in Texas. BCBSTX has provided numerous grants through its “Healthy Kids, Healthy Families” initiative, partnering with nonprofits to offer sustainable programs to underserved communities and provides safe environments for growth. Notable among these are partnerships with the Caring for Children Foundation, which provides immunizations to uninsured children through its Care Van fleet, and the Texas Women’s Empowerment Foundation, which provides urban gardens along with healthy cooking demonstrations and mentoring provided to residents in need, as well as “Kids Meals,” a Meals-on-Wheels-style summer program that helps feed young children who may not otherwise have regular meals outside the school year due to limited economic and transportation resources.

BCBSTX also created the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas STEM Scholarship, which provides $20,000 scholarships to underprivileged high school seniors seeking college study in a STEM-related field. In a related effort, BCBSTX’s WISE group (Women Improving the Strength of the Enterprise) hosts Dallas Girl Scouts at its state-of-the-art facility, providing a full day of STEM-related activities for young girls. In addition, leadership within BCBSTX actively demonstrates its support through the encouragement of executives to hold Board seats with organizations including Texas CASA, REAL School Gardens, and It’s Time Texas. The organization also promotes advancement of women from within and encourages female leadership to participate in programs such as the Leading Women’s Executive program.

Larry James

Larry James has been involved in developing and implementing holistic, justice-focused approaches to congregational and community service and outreach throughout his career. Since 1994, James has provided executive leadership for CitySquare (formerly Central Dallas Ministries), a faith-based, human and community development corporation that battles poverty and its various related expressions in several inner city neighborhoods in Dallas and beyond. First serving as Executive Director and then President and CEO, James began his CEO role with a vision for CitySquare’s future fund development and external community endeavors. CitySquare offers a variety of services to its clients: legal services, youth and children’s ministry, affordable workforce housing, initiatives related to work force development and technology training, housing interventions for homeless persons, and spiritual development to neighbors living in the communities of East and South Dallas.

James, a native of Richardson, Texas, is married to Brenda Erwin. The couple, who reside in one of the neighborhoods CitySquare serves, have two grown daughters.

Paul Zoltan

Paul Zoltan is a long-time pro bono attorney volunteer specializing in immigration law. In 2014, inspired to do more when the influx of Central American women and children to Texas soared, Zoltan launched a pro se asylum workshop model that would multiply the representation provided to these refugees. In the last two years, more than 150 asylum applications for women and children have been completed at and submitted through these workshops. Through this project, Zoltan is credited with saving the lives of immigrant women and children who fled horrific and violent circumstances in their home countries.

Zoltan also mentors other attorneys, and works closely with the Catholic Charities team of AmeriCorps lawyers, whose caseloads number as high as 250 individuals and families. He helped the organization start its own legal program for immigrant children, training and mentoring staff in their representation of children in immigration court. He is a passionate advocate who fights against poor attorney practices in the field of immigration law, and is an inspiration not only to immigration lawyers, but also to those who practice in the area of public service law.

Randy Johnston

Randy Johnston has been a great supporter of women’s causes and legal aid for the poor for many years. Johnston, whose law practice focuses on the professional and ethical practice of law, is known both as “the lawyer with a ponytail” and the attorney who will sue other lawyers for malpractice and client abandonment. A founding supporter of the Dallas Bar Association’s Law Jam, a musical fundraising for the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (DVAP), a joint program of the Dallas Bar Association and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas. During Law Jam 2, Johnston auctioned off the right for the winning bidder to cut off his ponytail following the performance of his blues band, Blue Collar Crime. Two groups paid $7,000 each for the right to cut off his ponytail, and all of the proceeds went to DVAP.  Randy was awarded a Presidential Citation by the Dallas Bar Association for his efforts to aid the poor.

He is a highly sought after speaker, presenting more than 100 speeches designed to educate other lawyers on how to avoid client problems while complying with the ethical rules and standards of professionalism. Johnston is proud to practice law with Robert Tobey, Chad Baruch, and his son, Coyt. He is married and the proud father of eight children, five of whom are strong, independent women.

Ramona’s Story

Ramona’s husband tried to kill her in front of a crowd of bystanders when he lifted her off of the ground by the throat. Before bystanders could intervene, Ramona was thrown onto the concrete sidewalk and she lost consciousness. A witness called police, but the abuser had fled the scene and his family and friends refused to cooperate with authorities or share the husband’s location.

With her husband on the run, Ramona, the mother of two children, filed for divorce pro se. Unsure how to proceed on her own, she applied for help at Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas (Legal Aid). With the assistance of the Legal Aid attorney, Ramona amended the petition for divorce, and located and served her husband, who was in jail. Legal Aid assisted Ramona in finalizing the divorce, where she obtained sole managing conservatorship of her children, permanent injunctions against further abuse by or contact from her ex-husband, and no visitation of the children by their father.

The Women’s Advocacy Awards event helps provide critical civil legal aid for women like Ramona. This year’s WAA event takes place from 6-8 pm on Tuesday, July 12 in Arlington Hall at Lee Park in Dallas. Additional information is available on the 16th Annual Women’s Advocacy Awards Facebook event page, https://www.facebook.com/events/1572399809724590/permalink/1580695462228358, or by contacting Sam Prince at princes@lanwt.org.