By Rebecca L. Palmer
As parents, we want to raise happy children and provide them with the tools to pursue their passions. Sometimes these pure intentions are interrupted by a change of relationship status. Planning for the future is difficult during a divorce proceeding but putting together a joint plan for your child’s education is as important as the division of assets, spousal support, and custody.
The Florida Compulsory Education law states that children must attend school from six to sixteen, but no law requires parents to pay for their child’s education. Private versus public school may be a point of contention between separating spouses, but there is also the question – where does the financial responsibility lie?
The ideal scenario is for each parent to provide equal support, but that is not possible due to a difference of income or lack of accountability in many cases. Private elementary and intermediate education can rival higher learning institutions’ fees, and Florida’s 4-year college tuition has become more expensive, with the average in-state tuition climbing to approximately $15,000 a year without living expenses.
After working with many divorcing couples concerned about their child’s education, I recommend that along with child and spousal support agreements, my clients also negotiate a primary, intermediate, and higher education tuition and expenses agreement as part of their divorce settlement. The agreement should outline what each parent is responsible for and provide a clear understanding of variables such as tuition limits, how and when payments will be made, what expenses will be covered, and considerations that cover when parents would stop paying educational costs in the case of job loss or a decrease in income. This legal document will be held up by a court of law, just like other financial support agreements.
Another way that separated spouses can plan for a child’s future education without negotiating each payment long after the separation is by establishing saving accounts. Two popular options include setting up a trust or escrow account or a 529 College Saving Plan. A trust or escrow account can be established in a child’s name with the sole intention of paying tuition. The trustee will use the account to pay for college when it is time. The 529 College Savings Plan allows you to make the most out of the compound interest from invested funds. Withdrawals from the 529 Savings Plan are tax-free as long as they are used for qualified higher education expenses.
A child’s learning starts at home. Whether you are together or divorced, teaching your children the importance of education and making sure you plan how to provide financial support is critical. Support provided by both parents to pursue their goals is worth investing in.
Rebecca L. Palmer, Esq. is a Family & Marital Law attorney practicing in Orlando, FL. She is the Managing Partner of the Rebecca L. Palmer Law Group, and she can be reached at rebecca@rlpvlawgroup.com

Chamberlain Hrdlicka White Williams & Aughtry is pleased to welcome Senior Counsel John Kirbo to the firm’s Atlanta office. He will join the nationally-recognized Tax Controversy & Litigation practice, composed of attorneys experienced in fighting federal tax cases. Kirbo is the latest addition to Chamberlain’s Atlanta office, which has been experiencing rapid expansion in 2021, adding nine additional lawyers to its headcount since January.

“John is a great addition to the Tax Litigation practice here in Atlanta,” said David Aughtry in the firm’s Tax Controversy & Tax Litigation practice. “With extensive experience in Federal District Court and tax litigation, John brings a wealth of knowledge to the team and helps us strengthen our commitment to our clients.”

Kirbo is an experienced tax attorney with a background in civil litigation and criminal defense, primarily in Federal District Court. He has represented clients against the Department of Justice, the Internal Revenue Service, the Georgia Department of Revenue, and local taxing authorities. He is skilled at solving complex problems through litigation or other more creative means.

Prior to joining Chamberlain, Kirbo served as a partner at Kirbo & Kirbo in Albany, where he handled all of the firm’s litigation needs for clients ranging from international businesses to working class individuals and handled certain closely held business transactions and planning as well.

Kirbo earned his undergraduate degree from Mercer University, his law degree from Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law and master of laws in taxation from the University of Alabama School of Law.

About Chamberlain Hrdlicka
Chamberlain Hrdlicka is a diversified business law firm with offices in Atlanta, Houston, 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 appellate law, bankruptcy, commercial and probate litigation, construction law, corporate, employee benefits, energy and maritime law, ERISA, estate planning and administration, intellectual property, international and immigration law, labor and employment, privacy and data security, real estate, securities and finance, tax controversy and tax planning.

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Buchalter is pleased to announce its Arizona office has signed a new lease in the prestigious Scottsdale Quarter at 15169 N Scottsdale Rd. Buchalter’s Arizona office will be moving their 45 attorneys and support staff into the new 20,000 square foot space by early March, 2022.

“The Scottsdale Quarter is exactly what we are looking for to accommodate our growth in Arizona,” said Adam Bass, President and Chief Executive Officer of Buchalter. The new space is a perfect fit as it allows us to continue to grow and thrive, and is in the highly desirable Kierland area of Scottsdale.”

Buchalter’s Arizona office opened in 2005. Office Managing Shareholder Craig Cartwright has been overseeing the Arizona office during its expansion and subsequent move next year. The Firm announced Cartwright’s elevation as the new Arizona Office Managing Shareholder earlier this year.

“We are thrilled with our new location,” said Cartwright. “The Scottsdale Quarter represents the best of what this community has to offer in terms of office space and amenities, and most importantly will allow us to continue our expansion in Arizona.”

Buchalter’s Arizona office has expanded with the acquisition of several new groups of attorneys this year, including high-profile Shareholders Quinn Wheeler and Robert Miller. Miller, a member of the Insolvency & Financial Law Practice group, focuses his practice on distressed business situations of all kinds, including chapter 11 restructurings, non-bankruptcy workouts, turnarounds, and distressed company mergers and acquisitions. His clients range from private equity firms to institutional lenders, companies in distress, fiduciaries, and other key constituencies in chapter 11 cases, as well as buyers and sellers of distressed debt.

Wheeler, a member of the Commercial Finance Practice group, has extensive experience representing clients in secured and unsecured commercial loan and credit transactions, as well as forbearances and other workout transactions. His practice focuses on asset-based financing, receivables-based financing, acquisition financing, time-share financing, real estate secured financing, structured finance, and syndications.

Of Counsel Phillip Donnelly also joined Buchalter’s Arizona office earlier this year. With over thirty years of experience working in the banking, finance, real estate, and aviation industries, his practice focuses on corporate governance, banking and regulatory compliance, complex litigation management, and human resources support.

Additionally, Khaled Tarazi, Ali Elliott, and Erin Scott joined Arizona’s ranks. Tarazi focuses his practice on distressed business situations, including non-bankruptcy workouts and chapter 11 restructurings. Both Elliott and Scott focus on all aspects of commercial real estate and real estate finance transactions.

“We are so proud to have added so many talented attorneys to our team in Arizona this year, and look forward to more growth in 2022,” added Bass.

Buchalter was represented in the lease negotiations by Executive Managing Director Pat Williams and Managing Director John Pierson of JLL, a leading Fortune 500 professional services firm specializing in real estate and investment management. With an annual revenue of $16.6 billion, JLL has operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of more than 95,000 as of September 30, 2021.

The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) has announced that Kenneth Gutsch, a partner at Richmond & Quinn in Anchorage, Alaska, has accepted an invitation to join the IADC, the preeminent invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests.

Mr. Gutsch practices in the areas of personal injury/premises liability, product liability, construction defect, professional malpractice and insurance coverage litigation. He has drafted amicus curiae briefs on behalf of the Defense Counsel of Alaska Anchorage and the Property Casualty Insurers’ Association of America on tort issues before the Alaska Supreme Court.

Mr. Gutsch is a member of the American and Alaska bar associations and the Defense Counsel of Alaska. He also is a past president of Alaska Special Olympics, and has been a member of Rotary International since 2008.

Mr. Gutsch received his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from Knox College. He served in the Peace Corps (Senegal) from 1983-1985.

About the International Association of Defense Counsel
The IADC is the preeminent invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests. Founded in 1920, the IADC has members who hail from six continents, 51 countries and territories, and all 50 U.S. states. The core purposes of the IADC are to enhance the development of skills, promote professionalism, and facilitate camaraderie among its members and their clients, as well as the broader civil justice community. For more information, visit www.iadclaw.org.

Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, is pleased to announce the opening of an office in Saltillo, Coahuila, Mexico. The office, which is Littler’s third in Mexico, is located in Plaza Santa Isabel.

“Mexico continues to be an important market for the firm. I’m proud of our successes there over the last 10 years and look forward to our continued growth trajectory with the expansion of our local footprint,” said Erin Webber, Littler’s Managing Director and President. “Saltillo is a key location for many of our clients operating in Mexico and our team is well equipped to continue to provide high-quality labor and employment legal services throughout the region.”

The Saltillo office opening comes as Littler prepares to celebrate the tenth anniversary of establishing its Mexico City and Monterrey offices in January 2012, and also follows the recent addition of a team led by renowned labor lawyer Jorge Sales Boyoli to the firm’s Mexico City office. Saltillo is a growing market and a hub for several key industries for Littler’s clients, including automotive, aerospace, pharmaceuticals and agriculture.

“We are excited to expand in Mexico through a new office in Saltillo,” said León Rodríguez, Office Managing Shareholder of Littler’s Mexico offices who will also lead the new Saltillo location along with shareholders Monica Schiaffino, David Leal, Tania Terrazas and Jorge Sales. “We’re well established in Mexico City and Monterrey and are already known in Saltillo. But having a physical space in close proximity to our clients and courts in the area will be invaluable and reinforces Littler’s brand of local everywhere.”

Littler associates Luis Héctor Cortés Salazar and Rogelio Alanis Robles will split their time between the new Saltillo office and the firm’s office in Monterrey. Both have more than a decade of experience advising local and international employers in Mexico. Cortés Salazar focuses his practice on counseling employers on complex individual labor issues before Local and Federal Boards of Conciliation and Arbitration and the new Labor Courts across Mexico. Alanis Robles provides employment law advice and strategic consulting, while also representing clients in immigration, data privacy and harassment claims in the workplace.

In addition, Alondra Valdez Padilla, who recently joined Littler as an associate, will be based in the Saltillo office. With wide-ranging experience advising clients on labor matters, Valdez Padilla represents employers in individual labor litigation, negotiates labor disputes and counsels on labor issues in the workplace.

Littler’s international operations span four continents – North America, South America, Asia and Europe – and include Austria, Belgium, Brazil (via a correspondent counsel relationship), Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, France, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Poland, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom, the United States (including Puerto Rico) and Venezuela. The firm’s global capabilities also include lawyers with exceptional international experience, including practitioners dually licensed in the U.S. and Australia, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, Russia and South Africa.

About Littler

With more than 1,600 labor and employment attorneys in offices around the world, Littler provides workplace solutions that are local, everywhere. Our diverse global team and proprietary technology foster a culture that celebrates original thinking, delivering groundbreaking innovation that prepares employers for what’s happening today, and what’s likely to happen tomorrow.

DALLAS – Texas trial firm Lyons & Simmons, LLP, is proud to announce that firm attorneys Chris Carr and Stephen Higdon have been named partner.

“Chris and Stephen are integral members of this team and have proven themselves to be some of the finest trial lawyers in the country,” said firm co-founder Chris Simmons. “We are pleased to be able to recognize their results and contributions inside and outside the courtroom.”

Carr has represented injured plaintiffs in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases across the country. He has tried dozens of cases to verdict before juries or judges, as well as arbitrated cases to final award. His products liability work has received Texas Super Lawyers recognition. He earned his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law.

Higdon has extensive courtroom experience in cases involving catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death, leading to his selection to Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers’ Texas Rising Stars listing, as well as recognition on Best Lawyers in America’s Ones to Watch and D Magazine’s Best Lawyers Under 40 in Dallas listings. He is a graduate of Texas Tech University School of Law, summa cum laude and Order of the Coif.

“Chris and Stephen share the most critically important traits of all great trial lawyers,” said firm co-founder Michael Lyons. “They are exceptionally bright, habitually dedicated to their clients’ cause, and highly motivated to win. Their peers have recognized that, our firm recognizes that, and their success demonstrates that.”

About Lyons & Simmons, LLP
Dallas-based Lyons & Simmons, LLP, is a trial boutique representing clients in wrongful death, personal injury, products liability, and complex “bet-the-company” business litigation matters across the country. To learn more, visit https://www.lyons-simmons.com.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Vivian Hood
904.220.1915
vhood@jaffepr.com

Social Media: @bradleylegal, #legalnews, #lawyers, #realestate

ROBERT N. FLOWERS AND LAWRENCE J. MCFARLAND JOIN BRADLEY’S REAL ESTATE PRACTICE IN DALLAS

DALLAS (December 16, 2021) – Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce the arrival of Robert N. Flowers and Lawrence J. McFarland to the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group in Dallas.

“Robert and Larry both have extensive experience in assisting banks, financial institutions, developers and property owners with a wide array of services, obtaining successful outcomes for their clients,” said Bradley Dallas Office Managing Partner Richard A. Sayles. “We are pleased to welcome them to the firm and know that our clients will greatly appreciate their commitment to excellence.”

Brooks R. Smith, chair of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group, added, “We are excited to add two such impressive professionals to our team, reaffirming the firm’s dedication to building on our capabilities in banking and real estate and continuing to enhance the high level of service that we are accustomed to providing and our clients expect to receive.”

Mr. Flowers joins the firm as a partner and focuses his practice on representing financial institutions of all sizes, as well as other businesses, in transactions and regulatory matters. Mr. Flowers also provides clients with strategic business counseling, advises clients on acquisition transactions, works with clients on corporate governance and regulatory compliance, and helps navigate lending transactions in connection with secured and unsecured credit facilities. He earned his J.D. from Southern Methodist University and his B.S. from Texas A&M University.

Mr. McFarland joins the firm as counsel and works with clients on commercial real estate transactions, focusing on acquisition, development, equity investment, leasing and complex finance transactions. Mr. McFarland assists clients with various commercial real estate matters, as well as property management and real estate-related regulatory issues. He is a graduate of the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and received his B.S. from Texas A&M University.

Bradley’s Real Estate Practice Group is deeply embedded in the commercial real estate industry, serving every sector of the market, including office, multi-family, industrial, healthcare and medical, hospitality, and residential tract development, whether through acquisitions, financing, lending, leasing, construction, regulatory, tax, and other legal counsel, guidance or advice. The team handles complex, multimillion-dollar projects for large institutions, as well as routine transactions for clients whose primary interests are in real estate investment or development.

About Bradley
Bradley combines skilled legal counsel with exceptional client service and unwavering integrity to assist a diverse range of corporate and individual clients in achieving their business goals. With offices in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, the firm’s nearly 550 lawyers represent regional, national and international clients in various industries, including banking and financial services, construction, energy, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, real estate, and technology, among many others.
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Stinson LLP is pleased to announce that Cody S. Rogers has joined the firm’s Washington, D.C. office as a partner in the Tax Credit Finance practice group. Rogers brings with him a wealth of experience in community development finance and New Markets Tax Credit transactions. He has significant experience assisting investors, lenders, community development entities, and project developers close transactions that qualify for federal and state new markets tax credits and other federal, state, and local initiatives. He has represented clients on a wide array of projects including rural broadband projects, manufacturing facilities, farmers’ cooperatives, charter schools, nonprofits and community centers, children’s hospitals, and homeless shelters.
“I am thrilled to be joining a dynamic group of attorneys at Stinson and to continue my work in the community development world focused on New Markets Tax Credit projects,” said Rogers. “I view my role as not only an advocate for my clients but a champion for the communities where the projects are located.”
Rogers’ practice focuses on lenders, investors, nonprofits, community development entities and developers in New Markets Tax Credit transactions. He has significant experience supporting diverse clients with unique funding needs and opportunities.

Rogers is admitted to practice law in Virginia and the District of Columbia. He received his J.D. from the University of Virginia Law School and his undergraduate degree from the University of Utah.

Buchalter is pleased to announce the promotions of nine attorneys to Shareholder.

“We are delighted to share the news of this well-deserved recognition for Anne Marie, Trina, Brian, Jeff, David, Michael, Josiah, Roger, and Nikole. All are outstanding representations of Buchalter and dedicated members of the Firm – their impressive expertise will continue to add value to both our clients and the Firm,” said Adam Bass, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Anne Marie Ellis, a Shareholder in Orange County, focuses her practice on product liability defense, personal injury litigation, commercial litigation, premises liability, regulatory compliance, and client counseling.

Katharine (“Trina”) H. Falace, Shareholder in the Firm’s Napa Valley office, is a business litigator with extensive trial experience. She regularly handles lawsuits in the areas of business, real estate and land use representing multiple wineries and vineyard managers.

Brian T. Harvey, member of the Insolvency Practice group in Los Angeles, has extensive experience with matters involving insolvency, creditors’ rights, finance, real estate, receiverships, and commercial litigation.

Jeffery Judd is a seasoned litigator in San Francisco who has focused his practice on disputes involving trade secrets, corporate ownership and governance, real estate, and general commercial and finance issues.

David E. Mark in Los Angeles focuses his practice on all aspects of commercial litigation, with particular emphasis on complex commercial litigation, creditor’s rights litigation, real estate litigation, and intellectual property litigation.

Michael Muse-Fisher represents public and private companies in a variety of state, federal and administrative cases involving contract disputes, commercial litigation, real estate disputes, licensing and intellectual property matters, eminent domain/inverse condemnation, government tort liability, breach of fiduciary duty, as well as land-related torts. He is based in the Firm’s Sacramento office.

Josiah Reid, Shareholder in the Firm’s Arizona office, concentrates his practice primarily in the areas of commercial real estate finance, acquisition, development, leasing, joint ventures, and related corporate work.

In the Firm’s Orange County office, Roger L. Scott’s specialty in labor and employment law has led him to develop expertise in various areas of litigation that frequently intersect with employment disputes.

Nikole Zoumberakis’ practice covers a wide range of corporate, partnership and general securities matters, including mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings and private equity transactions, with a focus on fund formation and investment advisor representation. She is a member of the Corporate Practice group in Los Angeles.

“We are so proud of our new Shareholders and how their careers have developed. All are very fine lawyers and in keeping with Buchalter tradition, we look forward to continue having them at the Firm for years to come,” added Bass.

Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that James (Jim) Go has joined the firm’s Intellectual Property practice as a partner in its Seattle office.

Jim focuses his practice on patent preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patents in the related fields of electrical and computer engineering. He provides counsel on patent reexaminations, preparation and prosecution, opinion of patent infringement and validity, strategic intellectual property planning, patent portfolio management, due diligence, litigation support and general intellectual property matters.

“The depth and breadth of Jim’s IP background will be of great benefit to our clients across the technology sector, many of whom have large and complex IP portfolios,” said David Fournier, firmwide chair of Perkins Coie’s Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Counseling practice. “Jim has a highly successful track record in helping his clients procure, manage, and enforce their IP and we’re excited to welcome him to our Intellectual Property practice.”

Jim counsels clients across range of technology industry sectors, including computer software and hardware, Internet and electronic commerce technology, digital and analog circuits, photonics, semiconductor processes, networking, communications and related technologies.

“Jim’s patent prosecution and counseling experience will be an asset to our clients in Seattle and beyond and particularly as we continue to see strong demand for our IP-related legal services,” said Perkins Coie’s Seattle office managing partner James Williams. “We are continuing to make strategic investments in our Seattle office and business practices and are thrilled that an attorney of Jim’s caliber has joined us.”

Jim earned his J.D. from the Santa Clara University Law School. He also holds an M.S. in Computer Engineering from the University of Southern California and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington. He joins Perkins Coie from Christenson O’Connor Johnson Kindness, where he was an intellectual property member. Previously, Jim was the managing partner of the Seattle office of Blakely Sokoloff Taylor and Zafman, where he also served on the firmwide management committee.

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 attorneys 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.

Los Angeles Jury Returns $780,000 Verdict for Talc User Who Died from Mesothelioma

Award is second talc-asbestos verdict this year in LA County for Simon Greenstone Panatier lawyers

LOS ANGELES – Simon Greenstone Panatier trial lawyers secured a $780,000 jury verdict for the family of an 86-year-old woman who died from cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The jury issued its decision on December 10, 2021, after a 10-day trial. The case was resolved between the parties before punitive damages were considered.

Doreen Myers died in 2018 from pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lungs caused by asbestos exposure. During trial, lead attorney Stuart Purdy presented evidence establishing Ms. Myers as a decades-long user of Avon products and that she was exposed to asbestos-contaminated talcum powder supplied by Whittaker Clark & Daniels (WCD).

WCD was once one of the largest U.S. suppliers of cosmetic talc used in popular consumer products, including those marketed by Avon. According to trial testimony, although WCD was aware that its North Carolina talc mine was contaminated with asbestos, the company did nothing to address the contamination or warn consumers. Talc and asbestos minerals are frequently found together in mining operations.

“Doreen Myers was an incredible mother and grandmother who worked hard to provide for her family and to establish a loving environment in her home,” said Mr. Purdy. “Her cancer was a preventable one. WCD knew they had serious issues with the talc they were supplying and had established testing policies which enabled them to hide the risks from their customers. Their false assurances were relied on by countless manufacturers.”

Earlier this year, Simon Greenstone Panatier trial lawyers secured a $4.8 million verdict on behalf of a 78-year-old mesothelioma victim in the first civil jury verdict in Los Angeles County since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020.

The Myers family was represented at trial by Mr. Purdy and Michael Reid of the Los Angeles office of Simon Greenstone Panatier, which also has offices in Dallas, New York and Houston.

The case is Michelle Roedel, Individually and as Successor-In-Interest to the Estate of Doreen Myers, Deceased, and Steven Myers vs. Whittaker, Clark & Daniels, Los Angeles Superior Court, Case No. BC720136.

About Simon Greenstone Panatier

Simon Greenstone Panatier, P.C., is a nationally recognized trial law firm with a reputation for creative and aggressive representation of clients in a wide variety of catastrophic personal injury matters nationwide.

Media Contact:

Rhonda Reddick

800-559-4534

rhonda@androvett.com

WILMINGTON – Barnes & Thornburg has added Steve Herst to the firm’s Wilmington office as a partner in the Government Services and Finance Department. Herst is the latest partner to join the Wilmington office since its expansion in June.

“Steve is well-versed in substantive unclaimed property and escheat matters, making him a go-to source for clients nationwide,” said Richard J. Hall, chair of the firm’s Government Services and Finance Department. “In addition, his hands-on, practical knowledge of the processes for resolving unclaimed property disputes in Delaware and nationally is unmatched and will be valuable for our clients seeking to navigate these issues.”

Herst represents public and private businesses and regulators in unclaimed property matters and escheat-related issues. In Delaware, he is deeply familiar with the state’s unclaimed property audit program and Voluntary Disclosure Agreement program. Most recently, Steve was a principal with Specialty Audit Services, a firm that partners with more than 25 state governments on unclaimed property examinations. Steve advises clients nationwide regarding multistate abandoned property examinations, voluntary disclosures, and annual compliance. He also advises clients on corporate transactional matters, administrative law and commercial litigation matters.

“We are thrilled to continue our growth in Wilmington by adding Steve to our deep bench of government services attorneys,” said Thomas McGonigle, partner in charge of the Wilmington office. “Steve works hard, is an excellent lawyer and his practice is well-aligned with the strengths of our team. He is in a great position to meet the demands for unclaimed property counsel in Delaware and serve firm clients on other important matters.”

Herst earned his J.D. from Rutgers Law School and his B.A. from the University of Delaware.

With more than 700 attorneys and other legal professionals, Barnes & Thornburg is one of the largest law firms in the country. The firm serves clients worldwide from offices in Atlanta, California, Chicago, Delaware, Indiana, Michigan, Minneapolis, New York, Ohio, Raleigh, Salt Lake City, Texas and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit us online at www.btlaw.com or on Twitter @BTLawNews.

Turner Padget Graham & Laney, P.A. announces that Columbia-based Hannah Stetson has been elected shareholder of the firm, effective January 3, 2022. Stetson is a member of the firm’s Workplace Litigation team.

“We are delighted to add Hannah to our shareholder ranks. Her hard work, dedication, exemplary commitment to client service and the legal industry makes her the ideal candidate. She demonstrates admirable leadership in the firm through her ongoing support of our associate development program. Hannah is well-deserving of this recognition,” said C. Pierce Campbell, chief executive officer of Turner Padget.

Stetson dedicates her practice to counseling, training and defending businesses and employers, including startups and small to mid-size businesses. In addition to advising employers throughout the Carolinas, Stetson has leveraged her employment law experience to champion Columbia’s small business community. She was part of a team of Turner Padget lawyers who developed the firm’s Palmetto Propeller initiative to provide pro bono assistance to startups and small businesses in the Southeast. Since its implementation, Stetson has counseled startup and small business owners on policies and best practices that help their companies grow and thrive in Columbia’s marketplace. Within the firm, she cultivates the development of young lawyers’ careers and previously served as co-chair of the firm’s Associate Committee.

Stetson earned her undergraduate degree from the University of South Carolina and her law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law.

Turner Padget exceeds expectations by taking your interests, your business and our relationships personally. Our depth of knowledge, technical strength and diverse experience makes us sharp, talented business thinkers able to see our clients’ needs holistically and get to the core of the problem quickly. As one of South Carolina’s largest law firms, Turner Padget has expanded into neighboring states with offices located in Augusta, Charleston, Columbia, Florence, Greenville and Myrtle Beach, along with strategic alliances in Florida and North Carolina. http://www.turnerpadget.com/

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Contract Logix, a leading provider of data-driven contract lifecycle management (CLM) software announced it was awarded “Easiest to Use” software and having the “Highest User Adoption” within G2’s Winter 2022 Mid-Market Contract Lifecycle Management Implementation Index. The company was also named a “High Performer” in all G2 Winter 2022 Grid® Reports for Contract Lifecycle Management Software including Enterprise, Mid-Market, and Overall for the fourth consecutive quarter. G2 scores products and sellers based on actual customer reviews of the software, as well as data aggregated from online sources and social networks.

The company also announced the winners of the Contract Logix 2021 Digital Contract Transformation (DCX) awards. The winning organization and individual were recognized for driving excellence and commitment to contract lifecycle management (CLM) and for demonstrating how DCX can have a significant positive impact on business processes, as well as improve collaboration, mitigate risk, increase compliance, and finalize business faster.

Digital Contract Transformation of the Year Award Winner: Organizational Category
TAWANI Enterprises, for dramatic improvements in streamlining and automating its contracting processes to deliver improved compliance, visibility, and efficiency gains. TAWANI’s diverse private equity portfolio consists of startups and mature innovative companies in various industries, as well as not-for-profit interests through Foundation work and military history and education organizations. Prior to digitally transforming its CLM, these various entities were generating numerous requests, via various channels, that were sent to the Legal team, a manual process that was difficult to organize and manage. This created inefficiencies tracking the stage and status of contracts in-progress, delaying deadlines, creating risk, and introducing communications breakdowns across departments. By digitally transforming its contract management with a centralized request/intake process, automated workflows for alerts, approvals, and reviews, TAWANI is able prioritize tasks, manage expectations, and serve internal clients faster and more accurately.

Digital Contract Transformation of the Year Award Winner – Individual Category:
Jacki Barnett, Senior Contract Specialist, Medallion Midstream for raising the profile of CLM within her company, her successful internal user adoption campaign, and significant improvements in the areas of contract collaboration, analytics, time to execution, and obligation management. With a distributed workforce of Field, Business Development, Legal, and Finance teams across 25 different corporate entities, Medallion Midstream needed to centrally manage and digitize the company’s contracts and contracting processes. Barnett successfully spearheaded digital contract transformation at Medallion, rolling out a CLM process and platform that allows the organization to instantly locate answers to contract-related questions with real-time insights, execute contracts 90% faster, and transform the creation of compliance reports for financial teams from a days-long process to a simple request.

“Contract Logix is proud to honor our 2021 Digital Contract Transformation Award winners. We are honored to work with so many individuals and organizations that have made contract management a best-in-class function, and it was enlightening to review the fantastic submissions we received” said Rick Ralston, CEO, Contract Logix. “By taking a leadership role in the contract management space, our award winners have shown how a commitment to CLM excellence can help an organization mitigate risk, increase compliance, and finalize business faster. Our customers are our greatest asset, and we celebrate this well-earned achievement.”

Over the past 18 months, Contract Logix has seen a triple digit increase in the number of contracts and documents, digital contract requests, completed tasks, and automatic workflows triggered by its customers. This tremendous growth is evidence of high user adoption and the need and desire for nearly every industry to digitally transform and automate contracting processes to help mitigate risk and increase security, control, and visibility.

Venable LLP is pleased to announce that Michael L. Morkin has joined the firm as a partner in the Litigation Practice in the Chicago office. Mr. Morkin is a recognized practitioner in international arbitration and litigation.

With experience leading the largest and busiest international arbitration practice in the world, Mr. Morkin has seen it all. He has handled arbitrations in Asia, Latin America, Europe, the Caribbean, and throughout the United States under the rules of institutions, including the International Court of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC), United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL), American Arbitration Association (AAA), London Maritime Arbitrators Association, and numerous ad hoc arbitrations. Relying on his extensive experience, he has won more than $1 billion in arbitration awards for clients across numerous industries.

Mr. Morkin also previously served as the managing partner of a prominent multinational law firm’s Chicago office. Having successfully managed that significant business to record headcount, brand recognition, revenue, and profit, Mr. Morkin brings a unique commercial understanding to his already successful track record as counsel.

“Venable’s strong platform and values continue to attract talented attorneys like Mike,” said Stuart P. Ingis, chairman of Venable. “Mike is highly regarded within, and well beyond, Chicago’s legal and business communities. We welcome him to our growing Chicago office.”

Geoffrey R. Garinther, chair of Venable’s Litigation Division, said, “Mike possesses substantial experience representing clients in complex disputes across a variety of venues, especially in international arbitrations. He will be of great value to current and prospective clients.”
Commenting on his move to Venable, Mr. Morkin said, “Venable has a very unique and attractive culture where excellent lawyers come together and enjoy working with each other. Knowing Venable’s strong track record of entering and successfully growing offices in difficult legal markets, I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of their commitment to this region.”
Mr. Morkin received his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1990 and his B.A. from Augustana College in 1987.

Venable LLP is an American Lawyer Global 100 law firm headquartered in Washington, DC that serves as primary counsel to a worldwide clientele of large and mid-sized organizations, nonprofits, high-net-worth entrepreneurs, and other individuals. With more than 850 professionals across the country, including in California, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Washington, DC, the firm strategically advances its clients’ objectives in the United States and around the globe. Venable advises clients on a broad range of business and regulatory law, legislative affairs, complex litigation, and the full range of intellectual property disciplines. For more information, please visit https://www.venable.com/.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that J. David Pugh, a partner in the firm’s Birmingham office, has been elected to a second two-year term as the Southeast Region chair on the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) Executive Committee.

ABC, the national construction industry trade association that helps more than 21,000 members and represents all specialties within the U.S. construction industry, is comprised primarily of firms that perform work in the industrial and commercial sectors.

“We are proud of David’s continued leadership in the construction industry at the national level and the remarkable work he does with ABC and for the firm’s clients,” said Bradley Birmingham Office Managing Partner Dawn Helms Sharff.

A member of Bradley’s Construction Practice Group, Mr. Pugh represents owners, general contractors, subcontractors, engineers, architects, insurers, and sureties throughout the United States and has experience with both private and government construction projects. He has advised clients at every stage of a construction project and drafted and negotiated contracts for large-scale projects. Mr. Pugh has participated in trials, hearings, appellate arguments, mediations and arbitrations throughout the country and has argued before the United States Supreme Court.

Bradley’s award-winning Construction Practice Group has been recognized as the nation’s “Law Firm of the Year” for Construction Law by U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” in 2018, 2020, and in 2022, a designation only given to one law firm in the country per legal practice area each year. The firm’s construction attorneys counsel clients on projects in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as more than 35 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and South America. Several of Bradley’s construction attorneys have degrees in engineering, building science or architecture and have previous practical experience working in the construction industry.

About Bradley
Bradley combines skilled legal counsel with exceptional client service and unwavering integrity to assist a diverse range of corporate and individual clients in achieving their business goals. With offices in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, the firm’s nearly 550 lawyers represent regional, national and international clients in various industries, including banking and financial services, construction, energy, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, real estate, and technology, among many others.

SEATTLE (December 15, 2021)—Perkins Coie is honored to be recognized by the Weyerhaeuser Company, one of the world’s largest private owners of timberlands, as the recipient of its inaugural Law Department Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award. Perkins Coie received the award for demonstrating the “strongest commitment” to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) among Weyerhaeuser’s outside legal counsel.

Weyerhaeuser established the annual award to highlight its core value of inclusion and to measure its outside law firms’ efforts to create diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environments. In selecting Perkins Coie, Weyerhaeuser highlighted the firm’s “broad approach” to improving DEI, including through hiring, promotions, attorney and staff development, and increased educational training.

“We are honored to be recognized as Weyerhaeuser’s leading law firm for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion, and we applaud Weyerhaeuser for establishing this new and important award to help drive positive change,” said Genhi Givings Bailey, Perkins Coie’s chief diversity & inclusion officer. “Perkins Coie is committed to doing everything we can to improve inclusion within the legal industry because we know that diverse teams deliver better results for our clients.”

“We truly appreciate Weyerhaeuser’s leadership and focus on improving diversity, equity, and inclusion within the legal profession,” said Katie O’Sullivan, the chair of Perkins Coie’s Firmwide Executive Committee. “We’re continuing the implementation of our firmwide Strategic Diversity & Inclusion Plan to increase opportunities and advancement for diverse attorneys, including in leadership positions and on client teams.”

Perkins Coie has made significant progress over the past decade toward building a diverse and inclusive culture. The firm’s 2022 new partner class is 64% diverse, inclusive of women, people of color, LGBTQ+, and persons with disabilities.

In addition to improving the diversity of its leadership and partner promotions, Perkins Coie has committed to donating $2.5 million to groups that promote racial equality through legal representation, policy advocacy, and community-based activities. The firm is also taking on pro bono initiatives that address inequality in policing, the criminal justice system, and economic justice—efforts that last year contributed to the firm achieving the highest number of pro bono hours in its history.

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.

Media Inquiries: Please email Justin Cole, Senior Media Relations Manager.

Barnes & Thornburg has added Scott Budlong, a skilled securities and corporate attorney, as a partner in the firm’s New York office. Budlong, who joins the Corporate Department, has spent his career advising private fund managers, family offices and other financial market participants on a number of securities regulatory and transactional matters.

Budlong’s transactional counseling covers working with buy-side and other clients on investment, trading and liquidity issues in the context of IPOs and other SEC-registered transactions, PIPEs, SPAC transactions, SEC-registered and exempt resales and securities aspects of bankruptcies, restructurings, and other special situations. He also has experience advising on compliance with insider trading and market manipulation laws, shareholder activism, reporting and disclosure under Section 13, reporting and transaction planning under Section 16, and short selling and compliance with Regulation M and Regulation SHO.

“This year has brought increased regulatory scrutiny of the securities markets, and the need to identify and surmount challenges in that space will continue in 2022,” said David Gotlieb, chair of the firm’s Corporate Department. “Scott’s counsel will be invaluable as we help our clients successfully navigate a rapidly evolving market.”

In addition to securities transactions and regulation, Budlong counsels board committees and individual directors on corporate governance matters, including fiduciary duties, conflicts of interest, and independence requirements. He also advises hedge funds and other institutional investors who are engaged in activism or who have representation on public company boards.

Budlong previously was a partner at the financial services boutique Kibbe & Orbe LLP, where he practiced for 12 years and which became part of Crowell & Moring this year. Prior to this experience, Budlong served as chief securities and governance counsel at Marsh McLennan and was a counsel in the capital markets practice at Debevoise & Plimpton LLP. He began his career at Coudert Brothers LLP.

“Scott has been practicing in New York and London for almost three decades, bringing with him an unmatched grasp of global securities markets and regulation,” said Robert J. Boller, partner in charge of the New York office. “He’ll be an asset to our team and is a prime example of the strong talent we have attracted over the past year to join the firm’s Corporate group in New York.”

Budlong received his B.A. in Religion from Amherst College, a certificate in European Studies from the University of Geneva, and his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law.

SEATTLE (December 14, 2021)—Perkins Coie is pleased to announce the launch of the firm’s racial equality grant program, which will provide at least $2.5 million over the next five years to organizations focused on advancing racial equality through legal representation, policy advocacy, and community-based activities.

Eligible local or national organizations can now apply for grants here. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis and the deadline for applying for consideration of 2022 grants is February 28, 2022. The racial equality grant program will prioritize disbursing grants to organizations that focus on pursuing social and economic justice, regionally or nationally, and that have not historically had ready access to other funding sources.

“The past two years have starkly highlighted the racial inequality that persists across our nation,” said Sunita Bali, a Perkins Coie partner and co-chair of the racial equality grant program. “We know that issues of race and ethnicity still too often determine access to opportunity, and we recognize that effective legal representation, policy advocacy, and community-based activities can be critical in opening up opportunities for diverse communities. We hope our program will help make a difference to grassroots organizations engaged in this work, and the communities they serve.”

The initiative is part of a set of commitments that Perkins Coie first announced last year in the wake of the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and many others.

Since then, the continued rise in violence based on race or ethnicity, including anti-Asian and antisemitic violence, has only increased the need for support of organizations aimed at improving racial equality and social justice in the United States. These initiatives are developed by our attorneys and staff, integrated into the firm’s practices, and regularly communicated to all firm personnel.

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.

Media Inquiries: Please email Justin Cole, Senior Media Relations Manager.

By Rebecca L. Palmer
The end of the year is a time for celebration and deep reflection. When we look back and review proud moments and achievements, we are more likely to take stock of what we want our lives to look like and what we need to do to achieve these goals. This is also a time of year when couples realize they are not satisfied in their marriage, and their relationship is standing in the way of their happiness.
In my law practice, it is common to see an increase of divorce filings spike after the holidays. Many couples decide to hold off on announcing their breakup until after family obligations, so most filings are submitted from January through March. After two years of stress, financial strain, and political discord around Covid, divorces continue to be filed at a high rate.
The pandemic has put unprecedented strain on relationships. It has tested couples with a complete disruption of their work-life, isolation from family and friends, gaps in childcare, and loss of loved ones. The entire shift in social connections has revealed many relationships built around other activities such as children’s activities, social gatherings, and work-related travel. The removal of these activities has caused many couples to realize that they do not have a connection beyond these events.
Even couples on solid ground may be susceptible to breakups because the pandemic has taken away well-established roles that provided comfort and stability. The pandemic’s significate stress demanded a great deal of vulnerability and communication. For some, this tested their relationship and the inability to communicate about these hardships, chipping away at its foundation.
Even though the emotional stress of the holiday season and Covid has caused an increase in divorce, filing for divorce is a practical option that allows couples to file joint taxes for one last year and gives them a runway to complete the divorce proceedings.
With all the stress during this time of year, particularly if you are in the midst of a breakup, it is a good reminder for us all to take a moment and remind ourselves that even though next year may be very different, today is a gift.
Rebecca L. Palmer, Esq. is a Family & Marital Law attorney practicing in Orlando, FL. She is the Managing Partner of the Rebecca L. Palmer Law Group, and she can be reached at rebecca@rlpvlawgroup.com