Lewis Roca announced eight lawyers have been recognized as 2022 Colorado Super Lawyers® and two lawyers have been named 2022 Colorado Rising Stars®. Additionally, Frederick J. Baumann and James M. Lyons were named among the Top 100 lawyers in the 2022 Colorado Super Lawyers® listing. Frederick J. Baumann was also named one of the Top 10 lawyers in the 2022 Colorado Super Lawyers® listing.

Lewis Roca 2022 Colorado Super Lawyers®:

Denver
Frederick J. Baumann – Business Litigation
Scott M. Browning – Business Litigation
Chad S. Caby – Bankruptcy: Business
James M. Lyons – Business Litigation
Michael Plachy – Business Litigation
Kenneth F. Rossman – Business Litigation
Douglas B. Tumminello – Business Litigation
James R. Walker – Tax

Lewis Roca 2022 Colorado Rising Stars®:

Denver
Abby Harder – Business Litigation
Caitlin McHugh – Business Litigation

Lawyers named 2022 Colorado Super Lawyers® are selected based on peer nominations, evaluations, and independent research. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis.

About Lewis Roca

Lewis Roca is an Am Law 200 law firm serving clients globally in complex litigation, intellectual property, business transactions, gaming, government relations, labor and employment, and regulatory counseling. Its offices are located in Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Reno, Silicon Valley, and Tucson. To learn more about the firm, please visit us at our website at www.lewisroca.com.

Trial lawyer and former federal Judge T. John Ward of Ward, Smith & Hill is among five recipients to earn the 2022 Texas Bar Foundation’s Outstanding 50 Year Lawyer Award.

The Texas Bar Foundation honor is given to attorneys who have practiced law for more than 50 years and who adhere to the highest principles and traditions of the legal profession. Judge Ward joins a long list of esteemed practitioners who have received the honor since it was established in 1974.

The Texas Bar Foundation will recognize Judge Ward at its annual dinner in June.

Judge Ward is a former U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas who managed one of the busiest dockets in the federal judiciary. In 12 years on the bench, he handled more than 150 jury trials, presided over hundreds of patent cases, complex commercial cases and class-action lawsuits, and held more than 150 claim construction hearings. He developed an impeccable reputation as one of the leading authorities on complex issues surrounding intellectual property.

During his tenure as a federal judge, Judge Ward served on the Judicial Conference Committee on Court Administration and Court Management, an appointment by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist from 2003 to 2006. He was reappointed in 2009 for a second term by Chief Justice John Roberts. Chief Judge Paul R. Michel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit requested Judge Ward serve as a member of the National Patent Jury Instruction Project.

Throughout his career, Judge Ward has received many accolades for his work as a trial judge and trial attorney, including the Texas Chapters of the American Board of Trial Advocates Trial Judge of the Year in 2009; American Lawyer magazine’s Top 25 Most Influential People in IP (Intellectual Property) in 2010; and Managing Intellectual Property magazine’s Outstanding Achievement in Intellectual Property in 2012. Judge Ward is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.

Since returning to private practice in 2011, Judge Ward has focused on handling patent disputes, commercial litigation, mediations and arbitrations.

Longview, Texas-based Ward, Smith & Hill, PLLC, has tried more than 350 cases to verdict, earning a national reputation in high-stakes claims involving complex commercial litigation, intellectual property law, oil and gas matters, bad faith insurance claims, and serious personal injury claims. The firm frequently assists lawyers nationwide in complex cases before Texas juries. To learn more about the firm, visit http://www.wsfirm.com.

Top 100 U.S. law firm Akerman LLP is pleased to announce that it has expanded its Houston and Los Angeles offices with Labor and Employment Practice Group partner Mishell Parreno Taylor. Parreno Taylor focuses her practice on employment litigation in federal and state courts and administrative agencies across the country.

“Mishell distinguishes herself from several of her peers with her ability to effectively handle employment compliance and litigation in circumstances involving multilingual and multicultural human capital across the globe,” said Labor and Employment Practice Group Chair Eric Gordon. “Her unique skillset will strengthen our practice and our presence in both Texas and California.”

Parreno Taylor partners with stakeholders in organizations of all sizes, ranging from local to global corporations on a broad spectrum of employment law issues, including defending clients against individual and class-wide claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, and retaliation. Additionally, she handles both individual and class action/Private Attorney General Act (PAGA) wage and hour litigation in matters involving claims of missed meal and rest periods, unlawful deductions, misclassification, expense reimbursement, and off-the-clock work.

Parreno Taylor uses her deep multijurisdictional employment litigation experience to counsel clients in workplace crisis management and prevention. She has served as the key negotiator in high stakes workplace negotiations including exiting executives during threatened litigation. She conducts and oversees sensitive employee investigations involving post #metoo claims of harassment, inappropriate conduct, and whistleblower claims. Parreno Taylor also counsels organizations on COVID-19 workforce response, including compliance with government-related restrictions across the globe, managing remote workers, reorganizations, workplace safety related issues, and unemployment insurance and leave requirements under state and federal emergency legislation created during the pandemic.

Parreno Taylor is also focused on helping organizations build workplaces of the future through collaborating with global clients to develop innovative solutions for achieving diversity, equity, and inclusion objectives. She also serves as a trusted advisor to clients on a wide range of employment related issues across California and Texas, including counseling on hiring/onboarding procedures, testing, developing workplace policies and practices, anti-harassment/discrimination compliance and training, wage and hour compliance, leave administration, and termination decisions.

About Akerman

Akerman LLP is a top 100 U.S. law firm recognized among the most forward-thinking firms in the industry by Financial Times. Its more than 700 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world’s most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and help drive innovation and growth.

Akerman’s Labor & Employment Practice Group defends employers throughout the United States in all types of litigation under federal, state and local employment laws, including the Fair Labor Standards Act. Adept at class and collective actions defense, the group represents clients in connection with employment law compliance, collective bargaining and NLRB proceedings, ADA public access, global workforce issues, immigration and non-compete and trade secret advice and litigation.

Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that it has moved into a new client-centric office space in the heart of Austin’s downtown business district amid continued growth of the firm’s Texas operations. Perkins Coie’s Austin office, the latest expansion of the firm’s national presence, occupies the 17th floor of a trophy-class office building at 405 Colorado Street.

Since Perkins Coie’s move into the Austin market in 2020, the firm’s original three-attorney team has grown to a diverse group of 19 lawyers and 20 business professionals. The breadth and experience of the Austin-based attorneys positions them to counsel a wide range of innovators and industry-leading companies, particularly in the areas of emerging companies and venture capital law, healthcare, technology transactions, and patent litigation and prosecution.

“We hope to maintain the strong momentum we have created in a short period of time to become a leading full-service, tech-focused law firm in the Austin market,” said Jose Villarreal, Perkins Coie’s Austin office managing partner. “Our move into a collaborative and client-centric new office space provides us a dedicated downtown home, from where we will continue to provide effective legal counsel to an expanding number of clients in Austin and beyond.”

The firm’s Austin attorneys offer full-service capabilities for startups, emerging firms, and established tech companies, as well as global leaders in the retail, transportation, healthcare, and pharmaceutical industries.

The office occupies a full floor in the new 405 Colorado Street building in downtown Austin and features floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the space with sweeping views of the city. It also incorporates dedicated private spaces that underline the firm’s values and commitment to its people and their wellness, including a meditation and wellness room, and a mother’s room.

“Our continued growth in Austin, and more broadly in Texas, is a reflection of the successful legal counsel we provide to clients and our commitment to deepen our investment in key technology and innovation hubs across the country,” said Bill Malley, Perkins Coie’s firmwide managing partner. “We see many strategic opportunities in Texas as Austin, Dallas, and Houston continue to expand and attract investment as business centers for startups, medium-sized companies, and global corporations.”

Perkins Coie has long been recognized for excellence in the legal industry and for its commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive work culture. The firm was ranked as the #1 U.S. employer among the 2021 “Best Workplaces in Consulting & Professional Services” by Great Place to Work®, has been recognized as one of Fortune’s “100 Best Companies to Work For®” for 19 consecutive years, and has also been recognized as an Inclusion Blueprint Champion by Diversity Lab. Perkins Coie has also earned the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s top rating of 100% in the Corporate Equality Index, a national benchmarking survey on corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ workplace equality, for 14 straight years.

Perkins Coie is a leading international law firm that is known for providing high value, strategic solutions and extraordinary client service on matters vital to our clients’ success. With more than 1,200 lawyers in offices across the United States and Asia, we provide a full array of corporate, commercial litigation, intellectual property, and regulatory legal advice to a broad range of clients, including many of the world’s most innovative companies and industry leaders as well as public and not-for-profit organizations.

Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Saul Breskal has joined the firm’s Los Angeles office as a partner in our nationally recognized Real Estate practice. Representing hospitality and entertainment clients in real estate transactions and ground-up development both domestically and internationally, Saul joins Blank Rome from Glaser Weil and is the latest addition to Blank Rome’s growing Real Estate group, which recently welcomed leading partners Christy Reuter, Sonia Kaur Bain, and J.J. Broderick, of counsel Kerri Alessi, and associates Kaitlyn West, Christina Preminger, and Matthew Crawford.

“Saul is a fantastic addition to our outstanding real estate team,” said Grant S. Palmer, Blank Rome’s Managing Partner and CEO. “He brings a successful track record of managing all aspects of a real estate transaction—from purchase agreements and due diligence to financing, joint venture negotiations, escrow, and closing—which makes him a great fit for the group. We are thrilled to welcome him to Blank Rome.”

In his practice, Saul represents commercial real estate investors, developers, and high-net-worth individuals in the entertainment and hospitality sectors on a range of commercial and residential real estate transactions. He has represented film studios, hotels, and casinos in connection with the purchase, finance, and construction of complex projects, including as lead counsel for Las Vegas CityCenter, the largest privately funded construction project in the United States. Saul also advises public agencies in ground leasing work for public-private partnerships.

“Saul’s background and relationships in the hospitality sector will greatly benefit our clients during this critical time,” stated Samantha Wallack, Partner and Co-Chair of the Real Estate group. “His strong experience and network in the entertainment landscape will further strengthen and complement Blank Rome’s West Coast real estate team and expand upon our firm’s national hospitality and gaming services, enhancing our cross-practice capabilities in several key markets. We are excited to have him on board.”

“Blank Rome’s global reach and full suite of legal services made it the ideal firm for me to continue growing my practice and serving my clients in the United States and around the world,” added Breskal. “I look forward to helping the firm expand its real estate offerings on the West Coast and to being part of such a renowned team of talented attorneys.”

Saul earned his law degree from the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Cape Town in South Africa. He is active in pro bono work on behalf of The Village by Cornerstone and ETTA, organizations that provide housing and services to adults with special needs.

Lawyers at the Martin Walker law firm in Tyler say while the number attached to the recently announced Texas portion of the settlement with opioid manufacturers and distributors – $1.85 billion – is a big one, what matters most is the fact most of those dollars are headed to local communities, where the tragedy of the opioid epidemic continues to play out every day.

“It’s easy to assume the opioid story is over,” says Reid Martin, co-founder of Martin Walker. “But the truth is, people continue to suffer and die from the opioid epidemic. That’s why these dollars are so important.”

Under the settlement agreed to by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, 15 percent of the funds will go to the state of Texas, 15 percent to cities and counties and the remaining 70 percent to an opioid abatement council. The council will apportion monies to local communities to treat opioid victims.

The Texas portion of the deal is part of a larger $26 billion settlement opioid manufacturers and distributors agreed to late last week. Initial checks may go out as soon as April.

In all, the Martin Walker firm represented 29 counties that brought claims against opioid manufacturers and distributors, including Smith County and Smith County Judge Nathaniel Moran, who functioned as a leader for the efforts on behalf of rural counties in Texas. He worked together with Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, who spoke for the state’s more populous counties and who was represented by attorney Jeffrey Simon. Mr. Simon and other lawyers, working together with representatives from the Texas Attorney General’s office, negotiated the deal.

“This took a tremendous amount of effort and an awful lot of persistence, but now we’re going to see the payoff,” says attorney Jack Walker. “I expect that in many cases, these dollars will mean the difference between life and death for those struggling with opioid addiction.”

Martin Walker PC is a Tyler-based law firm with significant trial expertise representing individuals statewide in high-stakes litigation, including medical malpractice, catastrophic injuries involving 18-wheeler accidents, oilfield injuries, wrongful death, and product liability. For more information visit: http://www.martinwalkerlaw.com/

Katten announced today that Geoffrey G. Young has joined the firm’s Commercial Litigation practice in New York, building on the firm’s high caliber of talent representing clients in complex commercial disputes.

“Geoff is a highly experienced litigator with a successful track record of strategizing, minimizing risks and resolving matters with favorable outcomes for his clients,” said David Crichlow, chair of Katten’s Commercial Litigation practice, and member of the firm’s Executive Committee and Diversity Committee. “Equally important is the fact that Geoff is also a dedicated leader in the diversity, equity and inclusion space, particularly when it comes to recruiting and creating a pipeline of diverse talent.”

Young has advised on all phases of the litigation process from the pre-litigation stage through trial verdict of high-stakes cases in multiple jurisdictions, including New York state and federal courts. His practice concentrates on complex commercial disputes, with a focus on disputes in the life sciences, financial services and media and entertainment sectors. He has litigated disputes related to pharmaceutical drugs and clinical trials, consumer class actions, financing agreements, media broadcasting services and technology services. Young also has extensive experience prosecuting and defending intellectual property disputes.

He has represented clients in a wide range of industries, including aviation, biotech, financial services and investment, mass media, oil and gas, public relations and communications, and transportation. He has counseled high-net-worth individuals and public figures, including some in the entertainment industry, on in-court and out-of-court disputes.

Young has handled domestic and international arbitrations under a variety of rules, including those of JAMS (formerly known as Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc.), the American Arbitration Association (AAA), the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). He also maintains a strong commitment to pro bono work, devoting significant attention to capital punishment matters.

Prior to joining Katten, Young was a partner at Reed Smith and held various DEI leadership roles, most recently as the firm’s Executive Director of Diverse Recruiting, in which he guided the firm’s strategy for recruiting diverse attorneys at all levels. He has also held several DEI leadership roles in the legal community.

“Geoff’s distinguished career and contributions very much align with Katten’s focus on embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive environment so our attorneys and business professionals at every level can achieve increasing success, and our clients can be more effectively represented,” Crichlow said. “At Katten, Geoff will have an opportunity to make a meaningful impact, strengthening our New York team.”

Early in his career, Young served as a law clerk for the Honorable Sandra L. Townes in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York.

Katten is a full-service law firm with approximately 700 attorneys in locations across the United States and in London and Shanghai. Clients seeking sophisticated, high-value legal services turn to Katten for counsel locally, nationally and internationally. The firm’s core areas of practice include corporate, financial markets and funds, insolvency and restructuring, intellectual property, litigation, real estate, structured finance and securitization, transactional tax planning, private credit and private wealth. Katten represents public and private companies in numerous industries, as well as a number of government and nonprofit organizations and individuals. For more information, visit katten.com.

Diana Perez Gomez, shareholder in Chamberlain Hrdlicka’s Houston Labor & Litigation Practice, has been named one of “Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women of 2020-21” by Houston Woman Magazine. Each of the honorees was nominated by a reader of Houston Woman Magazine and then selected by the staff of the publication.

According to Beverly Denver, publisher of Houston Woman Magazine, “Those selected as Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women of 2020-21 have earned an enviable reputation for their expertise in a particular field or arena. They are knowledgeable, credible and trustworthy. The thoughts and actions of these women influence the thoughts and actions of others. It is our distinct pleasure to introduce these remarkable women to our readers and to others in our community.”

In recognition of her professional accomplishments, Gomez was also recently invited to serve as a mentor during the 9th annual Bizwomen Mentoring Monday, held concurrently by the Houston Business Journal and sister publications in 40+ markets nationwide, offering career coaching to some 10,000 women looking to advance their careers.

Denver added, “Due to COVID issues, the popular recognition program was paused during the past two years. We here at Houston Woman Magazine couldn’t be happier about its revival in 2022.”

A celebration dinner, attended by honorees and guests, was held Thursday night, Feb. 24 at the Junior League of Houston. Included in the crowd were a number of past honorees; elected officials and celebrities. Since 2008, Houston Woman Magazine has published an annual, keepsake edition featuring Houston’s 50 Most Influential Women of the Year.

Gomez is a shareholder at Chamberlain Hrdlicka’s Houston office, where she serves on the firm’s Board of Directors, as the national co-chair for the labor and employment practice, as well as the national chair for the Pro Bono Committee. With extensive experience in civil lawsuits in state and federal courts, she focuses on complex labor and employment disputes by providing a full-range of employment law services to her clients from pre-termination counseling, investigations, EEO training, handbook review, drafting of policies, COVID-19 plans, defense in administrative proceedings (EEOC charges, unemployment hearings) and arbitrations as well as all aspects of trial from pre-suit through appeal. Gomez has successfully defended all types of employment law matters in state and federal court including claims involving ERISA, FLSA, discrimination, and retaliation.

Between 2008 and 2009, she has served as the Chief of Staff at U.S. Department of Education Office of Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development in Washington D.C. Her government experience also includes serving as a committee member on the City of Houston Mayor’s Transition Team – Education Committee, as vice chair of the City of Houston Municipal Civil Service Commission, vice chair of the City of Houston Police Officers’ and Fire Fighters’ Civil Service Commission, and as a commissioner on the Harris County Sheriff’s Civil Service Commission.

Gomez holds bachelor’s degree in political science from the Texas A&M University and has received her law degree from the University of Texas at Austin. Very involved in the legal community, she is a co-chair for District Four of the Texas Bar Foundation. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Houston Bar Association (HBA), where she currently serves as the treasurer and chair of the HBA’s County Law Library Committee and the HBA’s Employment and Personnel Committee. She has previously served in numerous other HBA committee chair positions and volunteer roles, including the Law and the Media Committee, HBA Dispute Resolution Committee, HBA Ambassador, HBA’s Administration of Justice Committee for the Criminal District/Appellate Bench Bar Conference, and HBA’s Harvest Celebration Fundraising Committee. She is the past president of the Hispanic Bar Association of Houston, where she currently sits on the Board of Directors. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the Mexican-American Bar Association of Houston, as a member of the Harris County Bench Bar Pro Bono Awards Committee, and as a committee member for the inaugural and second Southern District of Texas Houston/Galveston Bench-Bar Conferences. Furthermore, she sits on the Board of Directors for the Houston Zoo Development Corporation.

Recipient of many accolades, Gomez was named to the Texas Super Lawyers list by Super Lawyers® consecutively every year since 2013 and was among the Texas Super Lawyers 2020 Top Women. She was selected as a Top Lawyer in 2017, 2019 – 2021 by Houstonia Magazine; received Latina Lawyer Under 40 Award from the Mexican American Bar Association of Texas Foundation in 2012; was the recipient of the Houston Bar Association’s President’s Award in 2016; was a recipient of the Hispanic Bar Association of Houston’s President’s Award in 2007, 2009, 2015 and 2019; was awarded the Local Heroes Recognition by the Houston Lawyer Magazine in 2009; and the Woodrow B. Seals Outstanding Young Lawyer of Houston Award from Houston Young Lawyers Association in 2008. She is the Life Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, Texas Bar Foundation and the Houston Bar Foundation.

About Chamberlain Hrdlicka
Chamberlain Hrdlicka is a diversified business law firm with offices in Houston, Atlanta, Philadelphia and San Antonio. The firm represents both public and private companies, as well as individuals and family-owned businesses across the nation. The firm offers counsel in civil appeals; bankruptcy, restructuring, & creditor rights; commercial litigation; condemnation and eminent domain law; construction & real estate law; corporate, securities and finance; employee benefits & executive compensation; energy and maritime law; ERISA; estate & income tax planning & estate administration; exempt organizations; federal white collar criminal defense; immigration & international law; insurance law; intellectual property; labor & employment; paycheck protection program audits & investigations; privacy & data security; probate & fiduciary litigation; state & local tax; tax controversy; tax planning & business transactions; and technology & IP transactions. For more information, visit: www.chamberlainlaw.com.

Dallas Trial Lawyer Randy Johnston Inducted into D Magazine’s Hall of Fame

Veteran trial lawyer is one of only 50 selected for inaugural list

DALLAS – Trial lawyer Randy Johnston joins rare company among some of the very best lawyers in North Texas with his selection for D Magazine’s inaugural Best Lawyers in Dallas Hall of Fame.

A well-known courtroom talent and widely acknowledged and respected expert on legal ethics, he’s also a published poet, songwriter and avid guitar player. So, while Mr. Johnston may be one of just 50 attorneys selected for the prestigious Hall of Fame, it’s not surprising that he’s the only one to memorialize the honor in song.

“… every once in a while, there’s a pat on the back,” Mr. Johnston’s song reads. “Someone recognizes you’ve been on the right track. That you’ve done good work, helping clients who needed you. That the years that have passed have not defeated you. So, thank you, D Magazine, for calling my name. Along with all the others in your Best Lawyers Hall of Fame.”

For video of Mr. Johnston performing the ballad, click here.

“It’s really a great feeling,” said Mr. Johnston, co-founder of Dallas-based Johnston Tobey Baruch. “I am very proud to be named among some of the most talented legal professionals in this region.”

The Best Lawyers in Dallas Hall of Fame is published in D Magazine’s March edition.

Mr. Johnston handles cases involving professional malpractice and breaches of fiduciary duty, as well as a wide range of business disputes. In both his legal career and his art, he warns people of scammers who commit business or partner fraud, stockbroker/investment fraud, and accounting and money management malpractice on consumers.

He is also Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and has been featured among D Magazine’s annual Best Lawyers in Dallas list since 2013.

About Johnston Tobey Baruch:
Johnston Tobey Baruch is a dynamic law practice based in Dallas. Its trial and appellate attorneys have a broad range of litigation, arbitration and appellate experience. They are pioneers in the handling of legal and accounting malpractice, investment fraud and business disputes. They also have an enviable track record with insurance bad faith matters, commercial litigation and fiduciary litigation, as well as civil, family and criminal appeals for many prominent Texas companies and individuals. For more information, visit johnstontobey.com.

Cohen Seglias is pleased to announce that Richard Reice has joined the firm as a partner in the New York office. He is a member of the Labor and Employment Group.

“Richard’s proactive approach to workplace and labor issues makes him a valuable business partner for our clients,” said managing partner George Pallas. “His arrival adds depth to our employment capabilities and we know that he will be an asset to our team.”

Richard is an experienced labor and employment law counselor litigator and trial attorney who works with management-side clients across industries to address their labor and employment issues. He regularly advocates for clients in employment discrimination and restrictive covenant/trade secrets protection matters before state, federal and appellate courts. He was responsible for the first seizure order ever issued by a U.S. court under the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act on behalf of a client working to regain possession of misappropriated trade secrets. Richard has additional experience in drafting and negotiating employment and collective bargaining agreements, restrictive covenant agreements, workplace policies and procedures, and guidelines for harassment prevention.

A court-appointed mediator in the Southern District of New York, Richard utilizes his dispute resolution and litigation experience to resolve matters in court or in arbitration. He is a graduate of the Yeshiva University Benjamin Cardozo School of Law and received his B.A. from the University of Michigan. Richard has been recognized in the New York Metro Super Lawyers for Employment & Labor list since 2015, and was noted as an Employment Trailblazer by the National Law Journal in 2019.

PHOENIX (February 28, 2022)—Perkins Coie is honored to announce that Diane Johnsen has joined the firm’s national Litigation and Appellate practice. Diane joins the firm after fourteen years of service as a judge on the Arizona State Court of Appeals.

Diane will become a member of Perkins Coie’s Appeals, Issues, and Strategies group, where she will serve clients across offices. She is also the newest addition to the firm’s Phoenix office, which manages a range of commercial litigation, including patent and other intellectual property disputes, public law and constitutional issues, business torts, contracts, antitrust litigation, product liability, corporate governance, securities, professional liability, and environmental litigation, as well as bankruptcy, environmental and natural resources, energy, water law, and white-collar criminal defense matters.

Diane was appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals in 2006 and served as the court’s chief judge during 2014-15. In 2020, she received both the Arizona Judicial Branch’s “Judge of the Year Award” and the Arizona State Bar Association’s James A. Walsh Outstanding Jurist Award. “Diane’s vast judicial experience, and her insights into the judicial process will be enormously valuable to our clients,” said Jessica Everett-Garcia, the national chair of Perkins Coie’s Litigation practice. “We’re thrilled to welcome Diane to our litigation and appellate practice amid strong demand for our counsel and as we continue to manage many complex cases for clients in and beyond Phoenix.”

“Diane’s experience on the court of appeals bench will be an asset to our Phoenix office, and it allows us to further expand upon the range of legal counsel and services we are able to provide our clients,” said Todd Kerr, the managing partner of Perkins Coie’s Phoenix office. “I’m excited to welcome Diane to the firm and to continue our growth in Phoenix.”

Diane received her Juris Doctor from Stanford University, where she was an associate editor of the Stanford Law Review, her Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from the University of Arizona, and a Master of Laws in Judicial Studies from Duke University. Before taking the bench, Diane was a commercial litigation attorney at Munger, Tolles & Olson in Los Angeles and at Osborn Maledon in Phoenix.

Perkins Coie is a leading international law firm that is known for providing high value, strategic solutions and extraordinary client service on matters vital to our clients’ success. With more than 1,200 lawyers in offices across the United States and Asia, we provide a full array of corporate, commercial litigation, intellectual property, and regulatory legal advice to a broad range of clients, including many of the world’s most innovative companies and industry leaders as well as public and not-for-profit organizations.

Foley & Lardner LLP is proud to announce its partnership with No One Left Behind to support the evacuation of Afghan allies and their families following the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan.
No One Left Behind is the leading nationwide non-profit committed to ensuring that America keeps its promise to Afghans and Iraqis eligible for Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) programs. The organization’s mission includes advocating for the SIV programs as well as evacuating and resettling SIV recipients and their families. In collaboration with its Board of Advisors, No One Left Behind works to advocate for allies with the U.S. government and Congress, provides subject matter expertise to the media, and partners with large organizations in the private and non-profit sectors to enable opportunities for these new Americans.
Together as partners, Foley is committed to advancing No One Left Behind’s mission to resettle every Afghan and Iraqi interpreter in the United States. With the support of 139 Foley attorneys across 19 of the firm’s offices, Foley is providing legal services in various areas to support this effort. Those services include filing humanitarian parole applications to help bring Afghan allies and their families to the United States, reviewing service contracts for emergency evacuation flights from Afghanistan and housing of Afghan allies following their arrival in the United States, and advising on matters such as fundraising, tax, and other non-profit governance issues.
Since entering its partnership with No One Left Behind in September 2021, 440 Afghan allies and their family members have been referred to Foley for legal assistance. To date, there are 352 humanitarian parole applications in progress. Foley attorneys have filed applications with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services for dozens of families fleeing the Taliban, with many more in process. Those numbers continue to grow week by week.
“Six months after the Taliban captured Afghanistan, No One Left Behind is still making a critical difference for America’s Afghan allies,” said Foley partner and Afghan Ally project team leader Christopher Swift. “Our attorneys are proud to support this organization and even prouder to help our Afghan friends find the safety and liberty that they deserve.”
“More than 60,000 Afghan Special Immigration Visa applicants remain at risk in Afghanistan, waiting for their SIV or humanitarian parole applications to be approved so they may evacuate to safety in the United States,” said Philip Caruso, chair of the board of directors for No One Left Behind. “With so many in need, it’s critical to have partners like Foley donating time to bring our allies to America.”
Foley is committed to providing meaningful pro bono opportunities for its attorneys and quality legal services to those who most need our help. The firm’s commitment to conscience and community – established by its founding partners and still a core value to this day – includes providing quality pro bono legal services that ensure every person and organization has access to the justice system regardless of financial means.

Today Wiggin and Dana LLP announced that Jack Sousa, managing principal of Lev Berlin & Sousa, P.C., the corporate and securities boutique law firm based in Norwalk, CT, has joined Wiggin and Dana, supporting the continued growth of the firm’s corporate and transactional practice. Sousa will be resident in Wiggin’s Stamford office as a partner in its Emerging Companies and Venture Capital and Mergers and Acquisitions practice groups.

Sousa, who had been managing Lev Berlin & Sousa since 2016, has a broad-based corporate and commercial practice with a focus on venture capital, private financing, and emerging growth companies, as well as mergers and acquisitions. His addition bolsters the firm’s global ECVC practice, especially in the key New York to Boston corridor. According to Pitchbook, Wiggin and Dana is among the most active firms in venture capital transactions in the Northeast, representing more than 250 clients in 2021, possessing a deep understanding of the issues faced by venture capitalists and other investors, and emerging growth companies at all stages of their life cycle.

“Jack delivers a deep understanding of the Northeast’s expanding startup market and venture capital landscape that critically positions our strategic growth to meet the demand we’re seeing in the region and beyond,” said Tim Diemand, Wiggin and Dana’s Managing Partner.

Sousa counsels venture-backed, startup and early-stage companies on their corporate, transactional, regulatory, and private financing needs, with substantial experience advising venture, family office, and high net worth investors in Connecticut and throughout the Northeast. He has closed venture capital transactions totaling more than $100 million in a broad range of industries, including software, digital media, manufacturing, and retail. In addition, Jack has handled numerous acquisitions and mergers in a variety of industries. A Connecticut native, Jack holds a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law in New York and a B.A. from Boston College.

“Jack immediately increases our group’s ability to serve clients’ growth and business objectives,” said Bill Perrone, chair of Wiggin and Dana’s Corporate Department.

“In considering moving the practice to another platform, Wiggin has stood out far and away as the most impressive group for emerging companies and venture capital work and M&A,” said Sousa. “The breadth and depth across the firm’s corporate practice among a dynamic group of lawyers provide the ideal platform for clients’ commercial and transactional legal needs while maintaining a focus on hands-on, personal service that is a fundamental core value of our practice over the last decade.”

About Wiggin and Dana

Wiggin and Dana is a national law firm with more than 160 attorneys. We are a true partnership of highly talented, creative, and experienced lawyers dedicated to exceeding our clients’ expectations every day. With offices in Connecticut, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, DC, and Palm Beach, we represent clients throughout the United States and globally on a wide range of sophisticated and complex matters. From defending the Fortune 500 in “bet-the-company” litigation to helping the next generation of inventors bring new technologies to market, to preserving the wealth that family businesses worked so hard to create, we pride ourselves in offering value-driven solutions and results.

Blank Rome Welcomes Matrimonial and Family Law Partner in New York

Addition Continues Expansion in the Firm’s New York Office

New York — Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Sophie Jacobi-Parisi has joined the firm’s nationally recognized Matrimonial & Family Law practice group as a partner in the New York office, which continues to strategically expand with talented attorneys across key areas of law. Sophie focuses her practice on a wide range of matrimonial and family law matters, with notable experience in navigating complex custody cases. Prior to joining Blank Rome, Sophie was a partner at Warshaw Burstein LLP.

“Sophie is a well-known and respected family law attorney who serves as a steadfast advocate for her clients and utilizes her significant legal experience to skillfully counsel on divorce and custody proceedings,” said Grant S. Palmer, Blank Rome’s Managing Partner and CEO. “Sophie is an excellent addition to our East Coast team of matrimonial and family law attorneys and growing New York office, which recently welcomed Leslie Marlow, Hank Gracin, and Patrick Egan, a respected corporate and securities law team, as well as leading real estate and hospitality partners, Christy L. Reuter and Sonia Kaur Bain.”

Sophie’s practice focuses on helping families going through separations as well as divorces with a particular emphasis on navigating complex custody cases. For example, Sophie has in-depth experience navigating custody matters involving children with special needs, including Individualized Education Programs. She also has litigation and trial experience in New York’s Family and Supreme Courts and frequently negotiates prenuptial, separation, and settlement agreements.

“The marriage, divorce, and child custody landscape is changing drastically in this modern age as new social and economic issues continue to arise,” said Brett S. Ward, Partner and Co-Chair of the firm’s Matrimonial & Family Law practice group. “Sophie’s strong legal talent and fresh perspective will complement our national practice as we rise to meet these multifaceted challenges and further support the high-level service that we provide to our clients on both coasts.”

As a thought leader, Sophie is often called upon to speak at events, author articles, and appear as a guest on podcasts to share her knowledge of matrimonial law and related issues, including how to have a healthy and transparent marriage, raise children, negotiate pre- and post-nuptial agreements, and undergo a divorce.

“I am excited to join Blank Rome, which has a stellar client network, broad service offerings, and an equally impressive matrimonial practice, all of which are integral to my growing practice,” added Sophie. “It is a privilege to be in the company of so many skilled practitioners in the matrimonial space who also share a dedication to this type of work, and I look forward to growing my practice in New York as well as Connecticut and collaborating with the firm’s West Coast matrimonial and family law team based in Los Angeles to accomplish great successes for our clients and their families.”

Sophie serves as a co-chair and executive committee member of the New York State Bar Association, Family Law Section. She previously served as a member of the board of directors of Promise Project, a nonprofit organization associated with Columbia University that supports and works with underserved children with learning disabilities. She started her career as a staff attorney with the Legal Aid Society, Juvenile Rights Practice, where she represented children in legal proceedings in the Bronx Family Court.

Sophie earned her J.D. from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law, her M.A. from the Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work, and her B.A. from Bucknell University.

Since January 1, 2022, Blank Rome has welcomed the following leading partners across its U.S. offices, enhancing the firm’s services and capabilities throughout its various practices:
 Consumer Finance Partner R. Andrew “Andy” Arculin Joins Blank Rome in Washington, D.C.
 Corporate Litigation Partner Barak Bassman Joins Blank Rome in Philadelphia
 Prominent Energy Finance Partner David E. Kronenberg Joins Blank Rome
 Blank Rome Expands Corporate, M&A, and Securities Group with Leading Team in New York

About Blank Rome

Blank Rome is an Am Law 100 firm with 13 offices and more than 600 attorneys and principals who provide comprehensive legal and advocacy services to clients operating in the United States and around the world. Our professionals have built a reputation for their leading knowledge and experience across a spectrum of industries and are recognized for their commitment to pro bono work in their communities. Since our inception in 1946, Blank Rome’s culture has been dedicated to providing top-level service to all of our clients and has been rooted in the strength of our diversity and inclusion initiatives. For more information, please visit blankrome.com.

Lewis Roca, a mainstay of the Colorado legal community and with a presence in Denver since 1903, has completed its office move to the newly opened McGregor Square development. Lewis Roca has introduced “hoteling” and other forward-thinking office concepts at its space at McGregor Square, a 650,000 square-foot mixed-use development in Denver’s historic Lower Downtown.

“This new office prominently features an inclusive, welcoming communal space with floor to ceiling windows,” said Caitlin McHugh, managing partner of Lewis Roca’s Denver and Colorado Springs offices. “It is modern and fresh – very evocative of the neighborhood.”

The office move is Lewis Roca’s first in Denver in more than 35 years. The firm’s new address features a hotel, luxury condos, retail space, and a nearly 30,000 square-foot public plaza in addition to the office tower in which Lewis Roca’s office is located. The development is within close walking distance of Union Station and Coors Field.

“We embarked upon the design with intention, creating a space people will want to come back to and choose to come back to, added McHugh. We have taken the knowledge gained from these past two years about how we interact with our clients and each other and incorporated that into our innovative space planning, which will allow us to use cutting-edge technology to provide superior service and maintain a high-energy workplace.”

Shared office arrangements, or “hoteling,” are part of Lewis Roca’s new hybrid work environment. Lawyers committed to being in the office four days a week or more may have an assigned office, while those not in as often may opt to share an office. The hoteling arrangement offers lawyers flexible work accommodations while optimizing the use of the firm’s physical footprint. The new location is a paperless environment with more efficient space for library and records storage.
About Lewis Roca
Lewis Roca is an Am Law 200 law firm serving clients globally in complex litigation, intellectual property, business transactions, gaming, government relations, labor and employment, and regulatory counseling. Its offices are in Albuquerque, Colorado Springs, Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Reno, Silicon Valley, and Tucson. To learn more about the firm, please visit us at our website at www.lewisroca.com.

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Arent Fox LLP and Schiff Hardin LLP completed their merger, effective March 1, 2022. The new firm operates under the name ArentFox Schiff and is led by Chair Anthony V. Lupo and Firmwide Co-Managing Partners Cristina A. Carvalho and Joseph J. Krasovec III. The newly combined firm is home to more than 600 lawyers and policy professionals and serves as a destination for an international client base of corporations, governments, private individuals, and trade associations.

ArentFox Schiff provides comprehensive, industry-focused transactional, regulatory, and litigation counseling from offices in seven US markets — Washington, DC, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Boston, San Francisco, and Ann Arbor.

“After working tirelessly over the last three months to complete the combination, we’re thrilled to open our doors as ArentFox Schiff today,” said Lupo. “Our clients, lawyers, and staff have eagerly anticipated this day and we look forward to applying our enhanced capabilities in bet-the-company litigation, first-class transactional, and superior regulatory counseling to our clients’ most important business challenges and opportunities.”

ArentFox Schiff is a leader in providing comprehensive legal counsel to the finance and corporate sectors and remains a destination for clients in the real estate, environmental and agricultural, beverage and food, consumer products and product liability, health and life sciences, fashion and retail, and sports and entertainment industries.

“We’ve officially doubled our Corporate, Finance, and Litigation capabilities, offering our clients more resources, expanded talent and experience, and a broader geographic reach,” added Carvalho. “This combination creates opportunities for our lawyers and clients in new markets and expanded areas of law. I can’t wait to see what we can accomplish as a firm and on behalf of our clients in the years ahead.”

“Our clients will be impressed by the collective talents, team culture, and deeper bench of attorneys at ArentFox Schiff,” said Krasovec. “There’s an excitement buzzing through our hallways and virtual spaces, and we’re eager to put that momentum to work.”

Combined, the firm offers significant breadth and depth of experience in practice areas that include Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring, Complex Litigation, Government Relations, Intellectual Property, International Trade & Investment, Private Clients, and general regulatory counseling. Learn more about ArentFox Schiff at the new website, www.afslaw.com.

About ArentFox Schiff
ArentFox Schiff LLP is internationally recognized in core industries where business and the law intersect. With more than 600 lawyers and policy professionals the firm serves as a destination for an international roster of corporations, governments, private individuals, and trade associations. Learn more at afslaw.com.

Sidley is pleased to announce that Frank Favia, former general counsel at Guaranteed Rate, a leading financial services company that is one of the largest retail mortgage lenders in the U.S., has rejoined the firm’s Litigation group as a partner in Chicago. Most recently as general counsel, Mr. Favia led a legal department of over 200 lawyers, compliance professionals and staff, and was a member of the company’s executive leadership team.
Previously, Mr. Favia spent 14 years at Sidley in the Litigation group, where he focused on white collar and commercial litigation matters. He also served as a co-leader of the firm’s Private Equity Litigation practice, working on matters including M&A litigation, employment issues, and post-closing disputes related to indemnification, working capital, earn-outs, and purchase price adjustments. Mr. Favia also represented private equity firms’ portfolio companies in a wide variety of matters, including significant litigation and investigations, employment matters, and litigation avoidance strategies.
“We are thrilled to have the opportunity to bring Frank back to Sidley,” said Yvette Ostolaza, chair-elect of Sidley’s Management Committee and global co-leader of Sidley’s Litigation group. “He was instrumental in the growth of our PE litigation practice and our lawyers and clients are excited to have him back as a colleague and advisor.”
Sidley has approximately 750 litigation lawyers in North America, Asia, and Europe that practice in virtually every area of business disputes, including commercial trials, intellectual property, class action defense, appellate, international arbitration, and white collar. The firm’s “built-to-win” approach to litigation earned Sidley recognition as a finalist in The American Lawyer’s 2020 “Litigation Department of the Year” competition. “Built-to-win” emphasizes diversity, bringing together dynamic, cross-functional teams from different disciplines, practices, and perspectives to handle the most complex litigation matters and deliver winning results.

PHOENIX (February 28, 2022)—Perkins Coie is honored to announce that Diane Johnsen has joined the firm’s national Litigation and Appellate practice. Diane joins the firm after fourteen years of service as a judge on the Arizona State Court of Appeals.

Diane will become a member of Perkins Coie’s Appeals, Issues, and Strategies group, where she will serve clients across offices. She is also the newest addition to the firm’s Phoenix office, which manages a range of commercial litigation, including patent and other intellectual property disputes, public law and constitutional issues, business torts, contracts, antitrust litigation, product liability, corporate governance, securities, professional liability, and environmental litigation, as well as bankruptcy, environmental and natural resources, energy, water law, and white-collar criminal defense matters.

Diane was appointed to the Arizona Court of Appeals in 2006 and served as the court’s chief judge during 2014-15. In 2020, she received both the Arizona Judicial Branch’s “Judge of the Year Award” and the Arizona State Bar Association’s James A. Walsh Outstanding Jurist Award. “Diane’s vast judicial experience, and her insights into the judicial process will be enormously valuable to our clients,” said Jessica Everett-Garcia, the national chair of Perkins Coie’s Litigation practice. “We’re thrilled to welcome Diane to our litigation and appellate practice amid strong demand for our counsel and as we continue to manage many complex cases for clients in and beyond Phoenix.”

“Diane’s experience on the court of appeals bench will be an asset to our Phoenix office, and it allows us to further expand upon the range of legal counsel and services we are able to provide our clients,” said Todd Kerr, the managing partner of Perkins Coie’s Phoenix office. “I’m excited to welcome Diane to the firm and to continue our growth in Phoenix.”

Diane received her Juris Doctor from Stanford University, where she was an associate editor of the Stanford Law Review, her Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from the University of Arizona, and a Master of Laws in Judicial Studies from Duke University. Before taking the bench, Diane was a commercial litigation attorney at Munger, Tolles & Olson in Los Angeles and at Osborn Maledon in Phoenix.

Perkins Coie is a leading international law firm that is known for providing high value, strategic solutions and extraordinary client service on matters vital to our clients’ success. With more than 1,200 lawyers in offices across the United States and Asia, we provide a full array of corporate, commercial litigation, intellectual property, and regulatory legal advice to a broad range of clients, including many of the world’s most innovative companies and industry leaders as well as public and not-for-profit organizations.

On February 28, 2022, Ralph C. Martin II joined Boston law firm, Prince Lobel, in the firm’s Litigation, White Collar Defense, and Internal Investigations practice groups.

Mr. Martin brings 40 years of legal, trial, and business experience to the firm, having been Chief Legal Officer for Northeastern University as well as the Suffolk County District Attorney from 1992 – 2002. He has a broad depth of professional experience as an active trial lawyer, with significant experience in the areas of corporate investigations, government investigations, white-collar defense, regulatory affairs, public/private partnerships, and general civil litigation.

As Chief Legal Officer for Northeastern University, he served on the eight-member Senior Leadership Team, which directs the overall strategic direction of the university under the leadership of the president. Mr. Martin also oversaw compliance, risk, labor relations, public safety and policing, and city and community relations.

Before joining Northeastern, Mr. Martin was the managing partner of the Boston office of Bingham McCutchen, an 1,100-lawyer international law firm. He has more than 30 years of experience as a trial lawyer and as a state and federal prosecutor.

Mr. Martin is also the former Suffolk County District Attorney, having served as the elected prosecutor for Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop from 1992–2002. During his nearly 10 years in office, he was credited with helping to oversee substantial changes in the way law enforcement collaborated with other agencies to make dramatic improvements in crime prevention and prosecution.

Mr. Martin is the first African American district attorney in Suffolk County’s history. He was recognized for his leadership by former President Bill Clinton and former Attorney General Janet Reno, and traveled across the country to both lecture and consult on the business and strategy of managing and reducing crime.

Mr. Martin has been credited to have the ability to “see around corners when others can’t” and is a skilled problem solver who is not intimidated by complexity or extreme positions. It has been suggested that “City on a Hill,” an ongoing Boston crime drama on Showtime, is based on Mr. Martin’s career as Suffolk County’s District Attorney.

Mr. Martin served as an adjunct associate professor of legal studies at Brandeis University in 2000 and 2001 and as a lecturer on civil trial practice at Northeastern University School of Law from 1987-92.

He holds a J.D. from Northeastern University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Brandeis University.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, today announced the addition of Mark Chutkow as Leader of the firm’s Government Investigations and Corporate Compliance Team. Chutkow, who will reside in the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office, comes to Dykema after serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for 24 years, including the past 17 in the Eastern District of Michigan.

As the leader of Dykema’s Government Investigations and Corporate Compliance practice, Chutkow will help companies and executives navigate through complex, high-stakes government enforcement and civil litigation matters. His practice extends from fraud, RICO, and corruption matters to environmental enforcement actions. Chutkow’s experience spans routine compliance audits, high-stakes, high-profile investigations, and courtroom litigation.

“Mark is a top-tier, highly respected trial attorney and counselor who has more than two decades’ worth of invaluable experience leading and overseeing high-profile law enforcement matters,” said Mike Cooney, Director of Dykema’s Litigation Department. “His background as a Federal Prosecutor handling nearly every type of civil and criminal case will be a tremendous resource for our clients. We’re thrilled for Mark to lead our Government Investigations and Corporate Compliance Team.”

As a Federal Prosecutor, Chutkow first served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Seattle before transferring to the Eastern District of Michigan, where he headed the Public Corruption Unit and later the 85-prosecutor Criminal Division. In those roles, he investigated, tried, and supervised cases resulting in convictions of some of the most recognized names in local government. Chutkow also obtained and oversaw record-breaking criminal fines and penalties against global manufacturers and officials engaged in consumer fraud, corruption, and kickback schemes.

Throughout his career, Chutkow has received numerous honors, including multiple Director’s Awards for Superior Performance from the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, as well as recognition from IRS Criminal Investigation, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. He received the Leonard R. Gilman Award for the practice of criminal law from the Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Michigan. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers.

Chutkow earned a J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School and a B.A., cum laude, from Yale University.