National law firm Wilson Elser announces that Jim Perras has joined the firm’s Hartford, CT, office as of counsel.

Perras joins Wilson Elser with more than 18 years of experience working at high levels in the legislative and executive branches in the Connecticut state government.

Perras has advised top legislative leaders and commissioners, first as a senior executive adviser to a former president pro tempore of the Senate and most recently as a legislative and administrative adviser to the commissioner of the Insurance Department. He has worked closely with industry experts, associations, consumer advocacy groups and others to promote the successful passage of transformative insurance legislation.

“Jim is a welcome addition to our growing Government Affairs and Insurance Regulatory practices in Connecticut,” said Brian Del Gatto, regional managing partner of the Connecticut offices. “His keen ability to help our clients achieve their goals by understanding their businesses, the legislative process and key players in Connecticut politics, make him a tremendous asset to the firm and to the organizations we serve.”

Perras served on the House of Delegates for the Connecticut Bar Association and as a board member of the Town of Manchester Redevelopment Agency.

Perras earned his J.D. degree from Western New England School of Law (2010) and a B.A. degree from the University of Connecticut (1997).

Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP announced that partners Joyce Mazero and Leonard H. (Len) MacPhee will lead the firm’s Global Supply Network Industry Team from its Dallas and new Denver offices. Mazero and MacPhee were most recently partners with Perkins Coie LLP, where they led its Supply Chain and Franchise & Distribution Practice Groups.

Mazero has significant experience as lead project partner, assisting clients in developing strategy, structuring, negotiating, implementing and resolving disputes for product and service-based domestic and international franchise, distribution, manufacturing and logistics businesses. She has worked with structuring and negotiating group purchasing cooperatives and arrangements for global contract manufacturing and sourcing, international franchise systems, special venue licensing, dedicated transportation and outsourced logistics management.

“Joyce’s well-recognized international reputation as a strong advocate and trusted, strategic business advisor for her clients in the supply chain, food service, restaurant and retail industries reflects an important benchmark showcasing our commitment to ‘best in class’ legal services targeting these industries,” says Gardere Chair Holland N. O’Neil. “The continued growth of our international trade and supply chain expertise is greatly enhanced with the addition of Joyce.”

Mazero has served on the boards of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, International Franchise Association, Women’s Foodservice Forum and the American Bar Association’s Forum on Franchising. Mazero currently serves on the NRA’s Executive Supply Chain Advisory Council and as a trustee for the College of Merchandising, Hospitality and Tourism at the University of North Texas. She has received numerous awards for her work, including the Women’s Foodservice Forum Leadership Award, International Franchise Association Bonnie Levine Award and the Dallas Business Journal Women in Business Award. Mazero has consistently received the highest national ranking awarded by Chambers USA as one of the nation’s leading franchise attorneys, and she is recognized as a leading franchise attorney in Chambers Global, The Best Lawyers in America©, U.S. News & World Report, International Who’s Who of Franchise Lawyers and Franchise Times. She is routinely named a Texas Super Lawyer and among D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas, in addition to serving as a member of Franchise Times’ Legal Eagles Hall of Fame.

MacPhee will be opening and managing the Firm’s new Denver office. His work includes analyzing and advising clients on significant supply network matters, including pre-litigation work, structuring business strategies and negotiating contracts for the rollout, wind down and transition of product distribution networks across multiple supply chains. He frequently litigates business disputes and issues relating to supply network and distribution matters, as well as disputes involving contracts, business torts, trade secrets, trade dress, covenants not to compete, and enforcement of intellectual property rights before state and federal trial and appellate courts, including arbitration panels.

“Len brings a wealth of experience in supply chain and distribution matters, including franchise and commercial litigation,” says O’Neil. “Adding a well-established national practice with high-caliber Denver-based attorneys, led by Len, is the ideal way for Gardere to expand its footprint into Colorado, and we look forward to growing in that market.”

MacPhee is recognized as one of America’s leading franchise lawyers by Chambers USA, The Best Lawyers in America® and Colorado Super Lawyers. In 2014, he was named Franchise Law “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers® Denver. Mr. MacPhee received his J.D. from The Dickinson School of Law at Pennsylvania State University. He serves on International Franchise Association committees for the IFA Legal Symposium and IFA Annual Convention, and as a host of Denver’s Franchise Business Network.

Joining Mazero and MacPhee are partner Jess A. Dance and associate Sarah A. Walters.

Dance focuses his practice on franchise, distribution and supply chain matters, as well as complex commercial litigation. He frequently represents clients in litigation and arbitration, and on a pre-litigation basis relating to supply network, distribution, trade secrets, trade dress, covenants not to compete, and enforcement of contract and trademark rights. He also advises clients in supply and distribution contract drafting and negotiation. Dance previously served as an assistant attorney general with the Colorado Attorney General’s Office, representing state agencies in state and federal court in a variety of constitutional cases. He graduated with honors from the Georgetown University Law Center and has been recognized as a Colorado Rising Star by Super Lawyers. Dance has authored multiple articles for Law 360 and the International Law Office’s Franchising Newsletter – USA, and has presented at the IFA Legal Symposium and Denver Franchise Business Network events. In 2012, he was co-recipient of the Colorado Lawyer Committee’s “Team of the Year” award for his work on a pro bono case involving public school funding.

Walters focuses her practice on supply chain, franchise, distribution and logistics matters, counseling and coordinating projects for national and global clients for transactional, regulatory, governance and dispute resolution projects. This includes negotiation of a wide range of franchise and supply chain contracts on a domestic and international basis. Walters served as general counsel for a national franchisor, where she was responsible for the company’s franchise transactions, regulatory and corporate governance matters, and supply and distribution transactions. She is the host of Dallas’ Franchise Business Network and served as chair of the Dallas Bar Association Franchise Law Section in 2015.

Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, an Am Law 200 firm founded in 1909 and one of the Southwest’s largest full-service law firms, has offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston, Denver and Mexico City. Gardere provides legal services to private and public companies and individuals in the areas of corporate, energy, environmental, financial restructuring and reorganization, financial services, government affairs, hospitality, insurance, intellectual property, international, labor and employment, litigation, private equity, real estate and tax.

Bradley D. Coburn has joined Dykema’s Intellectual Property Department as a member of the firm’s Austin office, the firm announced. Prior to joining Dykema, Coburn practiced at Denko Coburn Lauff LLP and Fish and Richardson PC.

Coburn litigates intellectual property cases involving patent infringement, trademark infringement, copyright infringement, theft of trade secrets and unfair competition. He also counsels clients on IP licensing, trademark protection and prosecution, and employment issues related to protecting intellectual property.

“Bradley’s addition bolsters the firm’s presence and enhances its bench strength in Texas,” said Allan Gabriel, Director of Dykema’s Intellectual Property and Intellectual Property Litigation Department. “There is no doubt that his experience and proficiency in IP law will benefit our clients a great deal.”

Coburn received a J.D. from the University of Texas Law School and a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. After law school, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable James. R. Nowlin at the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. He has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer and is a former president of the Austin chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

Trial lawyer Robin L. Harrison, who has a 30-year track record of representing both plaintiffs and defendants in business disputes, has joined the Houston-based commercial litigation firm Hicks Thomas LLP as a partner.

A longtime Houston lawyer, Harrison focuses his practice on the trial and resolution of business disputes, including cases involving claims of fraud and misrepresentation, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duties, trade secret misappropriation and professional negligence. He previously was a name partner at Campbell Harrison & Dagley LLP.

On the plaintiff side, Harrison has won multimillion-dollar jury verdicts and settlements against major corporations and national accounting firms. He achieved prominence representing the class of thousands of former Enron employees who lost their retirement savings when the company collapsed. His defense work includes take-nothing verdicts for a Fortune 500 data processing company in trade secrets and employment cases and a significant defense judgment for an interstate pipeline company in a natural gas contract dispute.

Read more details.

Houston-based Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing has added nine attorneys.

The nine hires include Masood Anjom, associate; Jack Burleigh, of counsel; Cameron Byrd, associate; Nathan Campbell, associate; Scott W. Clark, of counsel; Hilary S. Greene, associate; Foster C. Johnson, associate; and Doug Salisbury, associate.

AZA is a trial firm working with high-stakes litigation for multinational companies, also representing individuals and mid-sized businesses with serious legal issues. The firm also manages company investigations, helping company boards, in-house counsel, and audit committees identify problems and ensure compliance before litigation ensues.

Read more about the new hires.

Hogan Lovells announces that Regina (Gina) Rodriguez has joined the Litigation and Arbitration Practice Group as a partner in the firm’s Denver office.

Rodriguez is a trial lawyer with experience across a range of industries as lead trial counsel in complex litigation and tort cases. Rodriguez has extensive experience representing drug and device manufacturers in complex litigation, including product liability, false claims act and commercial matters.

Before moving to private practice, Rodriguez was Chief of the Civil Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado, and before that served in the Assistant Attorney General’s Office in the United States Department of Justice.

In 2015, Rodriguez was named to the Colorado Diversity Council’s “Most Powerful and Influential Women” list and as a “Top Litigator” by Law Week Colorado. She was named the “Latina Lawyer of the Year” by the Hispanic National Bar Association and was given the Distinguished Alumni Award for Achievement in Private Practice by the University of Colorado School of Law.

“Gina is well known and highly regarded for her skills as a lawyer and as a leader. We are thrilled that she is joining us,” said Cole Finegan, Regional Managing Partner for the Americas and Denver office Managing Partner. “With a proven ability to handle complex and leverage-heavy matters, Gina is an ideal match to bolster our litigation offerings in Denver.”

In addition to her legal practice, Rodriguez is active in the community. She has been involved with the Girl Scouts of Colorado, the Colorado Law Alumni Board, the Denver Ballet Guild, and Latinas First Foundation. Rodriguez also gives her time to a myriad of legal associations, including the International Association of Defense Counsel and the American Board of Trial Advocates, as well as national and local bar associations such as the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, Hispanic National Bar Association, and Colorado Women’s Bar Association.

“Gina has an impeccable reputation as a trial lawyer and is well-known by the bench and bar in Colorado,” said Dennis Tracey, Head of Litigation for the Americas. “Her practice and experience in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries nicely complement the firm’s core strengths.”

“I am very excited to join the team at Hogan Lovells,” said Rodriguez. “It has a true global scale with deep practices, and it will provide a unique package that I can offer my clients.”

She earned her J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School and her B.S. from the University of Iowa.

The national trial and business law firm Rose•Walker LLP has added attorney Faith Eaton in the firm’s Dallas office.

Eaton’s practice will involve all aspects of commercial litigation, including business litigation, aviation and health care.

“We’re very happy that Faith is joining us,” says firm founder Martin Rose. “She’s the type of person who fits well with our notion of not just representing a client, but helping them solve their problems. And like the rest of us, she’s ready to go to court if that’s what it takes to get the job done.”

A graduate of St. Mary’s University School of Law, Eaton also holds an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Central Oklahoma.

Previously, Eaton worked as a probation officer for the Oklahoma County Juvenile Bureau, where she was responsible for managing a high case load, maintaining regular contact with wards of the juvenile division and their families, and providing progress reports to courts when needed.

During law school, she worked as a legal clerk for a San Antonio law firm and the San Antonio Criminal Defense Lawyers Association.

“This is an exciting opportunity to work with excellent lawyers on behalf of substantial and important clients,” Eaton says.

Rose•Walker LLP is a national trial and business law firm focusing on complex civil litigation and corporate legal matters. The firm has offices in Texas and Colorado.

Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is leaving Houston-based Bracewell Giuliani to join New York-based Greenberg Traurig as global chair of their cybersecurity and crisis management practice.

Bracewell & Giuliani LLP will be known as just Bracewell after Giuliani’s departure, reports the Houston Business Journal.

In a statement, the firm said Giuliani is leaving by amicable agreement, effective Jan. 19. In a separate statement, Greenberg Traurig LLP announced Giuliani has joined its New York office as global chair of the firm’s cybersecurity and crisis management practice and senior adviser.

Read the article.

Schiff Hardin LLP announces that Domenick Pugliese has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner in the Financial Markets and Products Group. With more than 25 years of experience, Pugliese focuses on the investment management business. He advises investment companies, investment advisers, and independent directors of investment companies. He joins the firm from Paul Hastings LLP, where he was a partner.

A former deputy general counsel for the Alliance Mutual Funds and in-house counsel to the Prudential Mutual Funds, Pugliese has broad experience regarding all aspects of Investment Company Act and Investment Advisers Act regulation. Dom focuses his practice on representing mutual funds and independent trustees and directors of mutual funds, as well as variable annuity trusts. He works with funds and fund boards of all types of investment companies, including mutual funds, closed-end funds, exchange-traded funds, and business development companies.

“With his experience both in-house and in private practice, Dom is a great addition to our firm as we grow our financial markets offerings,” said Marci A. Eisenstein, Schiff Hardin’s Managing Partner. “Clients participating in the U.S. securities and futures markets will value Dom’s insight as they maneuver increasingly complex legal and regulatory challenges.”

Paul E. Dengel, leader of the firm’s Financial Markets and Products Group, said, “Beyond investment management, Dom has invaluable experience in mergers and acquisitions of investment companies, and in fund structuring and creation. His versatile background is a strong addition to our group.”

In addition to his practice, Pugliese is a frequent speaker at industry conferences, particularly those relating to the roles and responsibilities of independent trustees. He also serves on the advisory board of the Investment Company Institute’s Independent Director Counsel Roundtable.

“As the SEC continues to impose new duties and responsibilities on mutual fund independent directors, clients need adept counsel more than ever,” said Pugliese. “My practice is dedicated to advising these clients. By joining Schiff Hardin, I am joining colleagues whose experience both complements and expands my practice.”

He graduated from the George Washington University Law School, earning his J.D. with honors and serving as a member of the George Washington University Law Review. He earned his B.S. from the State University of New York Binghamton.

Legal technology company Everlaw Inc. has closed an $8.1M Series A funding round, led by top venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz.

This funding comes five years after Everlaw’s launch and will enable the company to accelerate its mission to bring cutting-edge computer science and modern design principles to the legal field, the company said in a release. Everlaw’s eponymous ediscovery software is used by international law firms, corporations, and government agencies to prepare for litigation. The investment underscores the potential both of the company and of the legal technology field.

Legal software has lagged behind other industries. Lawyers have struggled with difficult-to-use tools and relied on antiquated manual approaches. Everlaw’s software changes that: it provides user-friendly, tech-advanced tools to help lawyers work more effectively. This allows legal teams to find evidence and construct the narrative needed to win in court.

2015 was a year of growth for the company:
● Named a “Vendor to Watch” in ediscovery by Gartner
● Powered major General Motors Ignition Switch litigation
● Released 24 new features and feature improvements
● Named a “101 Best Company to Work For” in the San Francisco Bay Area
● Grew team by 33 percent

Andreessen Horowitz, a leading Silicon Valley venture capital firm, has also invested in such companies as Facebook, Twitter, Airbnb, Box, Slack, Optimizely, and Zenefits. Andreessen Horowitz Partner Steven Sinofsky will be joining the Everlaw Board of Directors.

“This investment fuels our vision of a unified litigation platform with advanced artificial intelligence and data visualization, a beautiful user experience, and rich collaboration from discovery to the courtroom,” said Everlaw CEO AJ Shankar.

“At Andreessen Horowitz, we are always incredibly excited to see technology founders taking on the hard work of re-imagining an industry. It is super clear that mobile, machine learning, and cloud delivered via SaaS will revolutionize every vertical, including legal. We love the work that the Everlaw team has done to bring such high-powered efforts to an incredibly important part of the economy,” said Andreessen Horowitz Partner Steven Sinofsky.

National law firm Wilson Elser announced the opening of a New Orleans office, the firm’s 30th U.S. office and the fourth opened in the past 12 months.

Lisa Africk, formerly of Burleson LLP, has joined Am Law 200 firm Wilson Elser as regional managing partner of the new office, accompanied by Katherine May, a former Burleson associate.

“The opening of a New Orleans office is part of Wilson Elser’s strategic growth plan and a move to bolster all of our business lines,” said Daniel J. McMahon, Wilson Elser chairman. “We are committed to providing our clients with excellent lawyering and outstanding client service by staffing our offices with the most accomplished attorneys proximate to our clients nationwide.”

“A New Orleans office solidifies Wilson Elser’s foothold in the Gulf Coast Region, with recently enhanced offices in Dallas and Houston and new offices in Austin and Beaumont, Texas,” added McMahon. “With more than 60 services, the firm is well positioned to represent the thriving industry sectors indigenous to this region.”

Over the past five years, Wilson Elser has opened nine offices – Hartford, Connecticut; Louisville, Kentucky; Denver, Colorado; West Palm Beach, Florida; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Livonia, Michigan; Edwardsville, Illinois; and most recently, Austin and Beaumont, Texas.

“We are fortunate to have Lisa lead the firm’s expansion into Louisiana,” said Stratton Horres, regional managing partner of the Dallas office and the partner in charge of national lateral hiring. “With roots in New Orleans dating from her attendance at Tulane and a formidable reputation as a skilled attorney, she possesses the acumen of an effective leader and litigator.”

A practicing attorney for nearly two decades, Africk focuses on maritime, energy, construction litigation and employment. She has been named for inclusion in Louisiana Super Lawyers since 2013.

Africk is an active member of the New Orleans Bar Association board and is a member of the Louisiana Bar and Federal Bar associations, and the Tulane Law School American Inn of Court. She is committed to mentoring junior attorneys and law school students and has been involved in such programs with Tulane Law School and Louisiana State University Law School. Africk is an active community leader and dedicates time to pro bono work.

Africk graduated cum laude with her B.A. and J.D. degrees from Newcomb College of Tulane University (1984) and Tulane Law School (1999), respectively. She earned her M.S.W. degree from Tulane School of Social Work (1999).

The Texas-based trial and appellate law firm GODWIN PC has named Houston appellate attorney and firm President R. Alan York as Managing Shareholder and Chief Operating Officer, effective January 6, 2016.

“Alan’s appointment as Managing Shareholder is another indicator of the importance of our Houston office to the Firm,” says GODWIN PC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Donald E. Godwin. “As President, Alan has bolstered the Firm’s reputation for strong leadership, and, as Managing Shareholder, his leadership skills will benefit GODWIN PC even further.”

York succeeds Godwin as Managing Shareholder. Godwin will continue in his roles as Chairman and CEO.

Rounding out the firm’s Executive Committee, Bruce W. Bowman Jr. will continue in his dual role as Executive Vice President and General Counsel, while Jenny L. Martinez will maintain her position as Executive Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer.

In addition to his roles as Managing Shareholder, President and COO, York will continue to serve as Chair of the GODWIN PC Appellate Practice Section. Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, York provides trial support and error preservation, as well as appellate briefing and argument, on significant civil cases.

York has earned selection to The Best Lawyers in America for the past two years. He also has been honored as one of Houston’s Top 100 lawyers three different times on the annual Texas Super Lawyers list published by Thomson Reuters’ legal division, where he has been listed since 2003. York has also been recognized seven times among Texas Magazine‘s Top Lawyers in Houston, in addition to similar recent honors from Houstonia magazine. He is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest ranking for ethics and legal ability. York also serves as a trustee for the Houston Grand Opera and serves on the National Leadership Council of Lambda Legal.

According to a release, GODWIN PC, founded in 1980, is a mid-sized trial and appellate firm with a national practice. With offices in Dallas and Houston, GODWIN PC represents Fortune 500 and middle-market industry leaders in Mission Critical Litigation® throughout the United States. The firm is known for handling some of the biggest business litigation cases in Texas and elsewhere, including its successful representation of Halliburton in the landmark environmental litigation stemming from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, the release says.

Latham & Watkins LLP announces that Jonathan Lippman has joined the firm’s New York office as of counsel in the Litigation & Trial Department.

Lippman retired as Chief Judge of the State of New York and Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals last month after a four-decade career, including service in both trial and appellate courts, in the New York State Court system. He will provide strategic counsel to clients, including advice on New York law and appellate matters, investigations and monitorships. Lippman will also continue his efforts to champion access to justice for all, including those most in need, the firm said in a release.

During his tenure on the Court of Appeals, New York’s highest court, Chief Judge Lippman authored major decisions addressing constitutional, statutory and common law issues shaping the law of New York, the contours of state government and the lives of all New Yorkers.  As the state’s Chief Judge, he championed a broad range of novel pro bono efforts and took an active leadership role in identifying permanent funding streams for civil legal services.

Read the announcement.

Beck Redden LLP has announced that Patrice B. Childress has been elected to the partnership of the firm.

Childress joined Beck Redden as an associate in 2007. She is a 2001 graduate of the University of Notre Dame and a 2007 graduate of Marquette University Law School. Her practice includes energy, legal, business, and real estate sectors, among others.

She is a former editorial board member of the Houston Bar Association’s Houston Lawyer and recently completed terms on the board of directors of the Texas Young Lawyers Association and the Interface-Samaritan Counseling Centers, Inc. Additionally, she is a member of the American Bar Association, the Texas Bar Foundation, the Houston Young Lawyers Association, and is a Fellow of the Houston Young Lawyers Foundation.

Childress is also active in Beck Redden’s pro bono initiatives and regularly lends her time and talents to active service on behalf of organizations and causes that are important to her in the Houston community.

Schiff Hardin LLP announces that Marcy L. Rosen has joined the firm’s Ann Arbor, Michigan, office as an associate in the Tax Group. Rosen advises individuals and businesses on tax planning and controversies at the local, state, and federal levels.

Before joining Schiff Hardin, Rosen was a senior attorney in the Detroit office of an international law firm where she focused on state and local tax controversies and commercial litigation. In addition to her law practice, she serves as Co-Chair of the Federal Bar Association for the Eastern District of Michigan’s Diversity Committee, Regional Board Member of the Anti-Defamation League, and as an active member of the State Bar of Michigan’s Pro Bono Initiative.

“Schiff Hardin is a nationally renowned firm with a sophisticated tax practice,” said Rosen. “With this in mind, I knew the firm was the right choice to take my practice to the next level.”

She earned her J.D. (2004) from the University of Michigan Law School. She earned a B.A. in English Language and Literature from the University of Michigan (2001).

The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP announced that Chairman Emeritus John W. Daniels, Jr. received the Time Warner Cable Unity Award on Dec. 9 at the Milwaukee Urban League’s 56th Annual Equal Opportunity Day Luncheon. Daniels received the award in recognition of his years of leadership and advocacy, and the positive impact he has made on the Milwaukee community.

Daniels is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group, and is a strategic advisor to many of firm’s largest clients. During his tenure as chairman of Quarles & Brady, he grew the firm during the worst economy since the Great Depression, expanding its ranks of attorneys and adding new locations and national practice specialties. He is a champion of diversity and inclusion, and a much sought-after thought leader on multiple topics. Over the course of his storied career, Daniels has made significant contributions to the legal professional on the local and national level, as well as the Milwaukee community. He is a past national president of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, currently sits on the board of directors of Chicago United, is chairman of the board of Aurora Health Care, and is a former board chair of the Greater Milwaukee Committee.

Daniels also is the founder and host of the annual Fellowship Open Golf Tournament, whose principal objective is to work with and support organizations that have a meaningful and demonstrable difference in the lives of youngsters. Over the last 15 years, the Fellowship Open has donated more than $1 million to 70 local organizations serving Milwaukee’s youth. In 2011, Daniels helped established MKE Fellows, an extension of the Fellowship Open that provides career development activities for local African-American students at Atlanta’s Morehouse College and other historically black colleges around the country.

About the Milwaukee Urban League
The Milwaukee Urban League’s mission is to provide essential services and strong results-oriented programming to those who share with all of us a desire to be productive, contributing members of the community. A dedicated team of staff, volunteers, sponsors, and the Board open doors to information, skill development and other support to help African-Americans achieve their full potential and participate in the social mainstream, to secure economic self-sufficiency, parity and power, and civil rights.

About Quarles & Brady LLP
Quarles & Brady is an AmLaw 200 firm with more than 475 attorneys offering an array of legal services to corporate and individual clients that range from small entrepreneurial businesses to Fortune 100 companies, with practice focuses in health care and life sciences, business law, labor and employment, real estate, data privacy and security, and complex litigation. The firm has offices in Chicago; Indianapolis; Madison; Milwaukee; Naples, Florida; Phoenix; Scottsdale; Tampa; Tucson; and Washington, D.C. Additional information can be found online at quarles.com, as well as on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Special counsel Galen Mason of Foley & Lardner has been named to Crain’s Chicago “40 Under 40” list. The publication annually recognizes Chicago professionals under the age of 40 who are leaders in business, government, philanthropy and the arts.

Mason was recognized for his ongoing work and commitment to Catapult Chicago, a non-profit working space for digital start-up companies that he helped co-found in 2012. As a founding sponsor of Catapult, Foley has supported the group’s growth through leased office space and access to the firm’s business network and Foley Ventures. The firm’s lawyers also provide counsel and free office hours for Catapult’s companies.

Robert C. Creighton has been named managing partner of Farrell Fritz, effective Jan. 1, 2016. Current managing partner Charles M. Strain will continue as a partner serving on the firm’s management committee.

In announcing the transition in a news release, Strain said: “I have had the privilege of serving as the firm’s managing partner for the past 15 years. It is time to give one of my colleagues the opportunity to take on this responsibility. Bob Creighton is a superb lawyer, and equally important, he is thoughtful relating to his colleagues, respectful of the firm’s ethos and genuinely interested in the well-being of everyone at the firm. With his firm-first attitude, I am certain that Bob will be a terrific leader going forward and will add his own very positive imprint on Farrell Fritz over the next number of years. I look forward to supporting Bob in his new role and becoming a more active lawyer again.”

The release continues:

During Strain’s years as managing partner, which included a deep recession, the firm has grown and thrived. “Charlie’s strong leadership has been a key driver of our success,” Bob stated. “During his service as managing partner, he has quietly demonstrated enormous compassion and kindness that has reflected the firm’s culture time and time again. He is a great role model and mentor to me and many within Farrell Fritz. I look forward to continuing to work with him as we grow the firm, while remaining true to the firm’s culture and character.”

Creighton said the hallmarks of Farrell Fritz – commitment to clients, to the firm’s employees and to the community – will continue to guide the Firm’s management. He emphasized that Farrell Fritz will continue to grow organically by providing opportunity for advancement from within the firm and will continue to pursue strategic growth opportunities through lateral additions.

Everlaw announces the appointment of Olivia Lopez as a new product designer with the Berkeley, Calif.-based legal technology company.

A news release from the company says Lopez will lead development of the user experience and interface of Everlaw’s litigation platform and related design projects.

The International Franchise Association (IFA) has selected Philip Zeidman of DLA Piper as the first recipient of the Dennis Wieczorek Free Enterprise Award.

In February, the IFA Board of Directors voted to reinstitute the IFA Free Enterprise Award and rename it in honor of the late Dennis Wieczorek, IFA’s former general counsel and chair of DLA Piper’s Franchise and Distribution practice. Zeidman will receive the award during the IFA Annual Convention, February 20-23, in San Antonio. He had earlier received the William Rosenberg Award for the IFA Educational Foundation, and the Burton Award for Legal Achievement (American Bar Association/Library of Congress)

“Philip Zeidman’s enormous contributions to the principles of free enterprise, through his efforts to promote and foster the franchise model in the United States and around the world, have helped to make franchising the force it is today,” said IFA chair Melanie Bergeron. “We are proud to present this award to Philip Zeidman, who also happens to have been a close friend and colleague of Dennis Wieczorek,”

In a release, the firm said:

In addition to serving as IFA’s general counsel for virtually his entire career, Zeidman has engaged in a transactional practice, testified about franchising before government bodies, participated in judicial and administrative proceedings, taught at universities and appeared before business and professional groups in 35 countries. In addition, he has testified before the Commission of the European Union as well as before numerous US congressional committees, and advised several international governmental organizations.

“We are extremely proud that Phil is the recipient of this award – especially as it honors our late friend and colleague Dennis Wieczorek,” said Rich Greenstein, chair of DLA Piper’s Franchise and Distribution practice. “Phil’s tremendous career has taken him around the globe, and his efforts honor the strong traditions Dennis helped establish.”

Zeidman’s work within the IFA community to promote education and best practices began with planning the first Legal Symposium while still in government service. He has contributed countless publications, presentations and seminars on franchising, international distribution and licensing at IFA, American Bar Association and International Bar Association events. His government service included posts as General Counsel to the Small Business Administration and Special Assistant to the Vice President of the United States.

In 2013 Who’s Who named Zeidman Global Franchise Lawyer of the Year for the ninth consecutive year, every year the award had been given, reporting that he “received more votes from clients and peers than any other individual worldwide.” Best Lawyers selected Zeidman as a 2016 ‘Best Lawyer’ in America in the franchise law category. In 2015 Franchise Times magazine named Zeidman as a Legal Eagle and Chambers Global has ranked Zeidman for his leading practice every year since franchising has been ranked by the publication.