Womble Bond Dickinson announced today that Wilka Toppins has joined the firm’s Houston office as a partner in the Corporate and Securities Group and member of the Global Business Team. Toppins has over 30 years of experience counseling global business clients on international and cross-border transactions, general corporate and commercial matters, corporate immigration, and labor and employment law.

“The international marketplace is complex, challenging, and increasingly vital to businesses operating within the United States,” said Corporate Practice Group Leader Jamie Francis. “Wilka’s extensive experience advising national and multinational clients on corporate and commercial transactions adds immediate depth and specialization to our growing Global Business Team.”

Jeff Whittle, Houston Office Managing Partner, adds: “As we see business and legal priorities shift on a truly global scale, attorneys like Wilka are key to evolving with the needs of our clients. She will be particularly instrumental as we continue to capitalize on and provide support for client opportunities in Houston, Mexico, and other Latin American countries.”

Her arrival marks the latest in a string of strategic additions as the firm continues to deepen its growing Global Business bench, including Alan Enslen, Josh Mullen, John Scannapieco, and José Luis Vittor.

“My practice is unique in that it extends to six continents, so I was particularly drawn to Womble’s commitment to cross-border collaboration,” said Toppins. “I am excited to expand the footprint of the firm’s Global Business Team and look forward to contributing to its ongoing success – both within Houston and around the world.”

Before entering private practice, Toppins worked for several prominent companies, including Exxon, where she handled litigation matters in federal and state courts, and SBC Communication, where she focused on business transactions, mergers, and acquisitions.

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About Womble Bond Dickinson
Womble Bond Dickinson is a transatlantic law firm with more than 1,100 lawyers based in 26 UK and US office locations serving clients across every business sector. The firm provides core legal services including Commercial; Corporate; Employment and Pensions; Dispute Resolution and Litigation; Finance: Banking, Restructuring, Insolvency; IP, Technology and Data; Private Wealth; Projects, Construction and Infrastructure; Real Estate; and Regulatory Law.

“Womble Bond Dickinson,” the “law firm” or the “firm” refers to the network of member firms of Womble Bond Dickinson (International) Limited, consisting of Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP and Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP. Each of Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP and Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP is a separate legal entity operating as an independent law firm. Womble Bond Dickinson (International) Limited does not practice law. Please see www.womblebonddickinson.com/us/legal-notice for further details.

Sidley Welcomes Transactional Labor and Employment Lawyer Cathryn Le Regulski to Support
Growing Corporate Practices

Washington, D.C. – Sidley Austin LLP is pleased to announce that Cathryn Le Regulski has joined the firm’s Labor, Employment, and Immigration group as a partner in its Washington, D.C. office. Previously, Ms. Le Regulski was a partner in the Labor and Employment practice at DLA Piper LLP.

Ms. Le Regulski works on more than 100 M&A transactions each year, including SPACs, representing companies in connection with M&As (both buy-side and sell-side), spinoffs and divestitures, financings, restructuring, and IPOs. She provides strategic advice and support on employment matters for a variety of clients, including private equity firms, emerging and venture capital-backed companies, global enterprises, and publicly traded companies. Ms. Le Regulski has recently focused her practice on life sciences and technology sectors but has experience working with corporate clients across many industries.

“Our expanding private equity and M&A practice will benefit from her experience providing strategic advice and support on employment matters,” said Kate Roberts, co-chair of Sidley’s Labor, Employment and Immigration group and a partner in Sidley’s office in Los Angeles. “Cathryn has built a strong reputation as a valued transactional advisor and has built long-lasting relationships with corporate clients over the years. She also has the trust of many founders and executive teams that seek out her counsel on change in control transactions to protect their interests.”

The Labor, Employment, and Immigration group represents a broad client base, including U.S. and non-U.S. manufacturers; banks and other financial institutions; private equity firms, hedge funds, and other investment entities; utilities; railroads; airlines; services firms; healthcare providers; internet and other technology companies; colleges and universities; not-for-profit civic and charitable institutions; and governmental agencies.

With 2,000 lawyers in 20 offices around the globe, Sidley is a premier legal adviser for clients across the spectrum of industries. Follow Sidley on Twitter @SidleyLaw.

Attorney Advertising – Sidley Austin LLP, One South Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60603, +1 312 853 7000. Sidley and Sidley Austin refer to Sidley Austin LLP and affiliated partnerships as explained at www.sidley.com/disclaimer.

Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to announce that Patrick J. Trostle has joined the firm’s New York office as the head of the Distressed Debt and Special Situations Fund Group and as a partner in the firm’s Global Energy Practice Group. Mr. Trostle’s arrival strengthens the firm’s restructuring and distressed-debt capabilities in the Energy Practice Group on the East Coast, complements teams in Texas and Europe, and will serve clients on a global scale.

“We are excited to welcome Patrick to the firm and our New York office,” said Mark D. Wasserman, Co-CEO of Eversheds Sutherland. “Patrick’s deep experience and growing international client roster are a great fit for our global practice and will further strengthen our restructuring and bankruptcy team.”

“Our clients in the global energy markets have a variety of needs that often intersect with bankruptcy and restructuring, and Patrick’s knowledge in the field will help the firm to continue to meet those needs in what is a growing practice area for us,” added Lino Mendiola, Co-Head of Global Energy at Eversheds Sutherland.

“We are able to support Patrick’s clients with the extensive global footprint they are seeking,” said Bankruptcy Partner Mark D. Sherrill who will be working closely with Mr. Trostle. “We are thrilled that he’s joining the firm and will anchor our restructuring practice in New York.”

Mr. Trostle is a New York attorney with more than 25 years of experience representing clients in a wide variety of bankruptcy, restructuring, litigation, compliance, and transactional matters.

He has represented debtors and official creditors’ committees in numerous cross-border cases, as well as investment funds, derivatives counterparties, insurance companies, banks, multinational corporations, trustees, and court-appointed examiners in many of the largest insolvency cases ever filed.

He has served as appellate counsel in several bankruptcy cases before the US Supreme Court and testified as an expert witness on New York law in an Australian administration proceeding. Mr. Trostle’s pro bono work in developing the largest grid-connected solar energy project in east Africa has received awards from The Financial Times and The American Lawyer, among others in the press.

Prior to joining Eversheds Sutherland, Patrick was a partner in the Business Reorganization, Bankruptcy, and Creditors’ Rights group of a New York-based firm, where he also served as the chair of the High Yield, Distressed Debt, and Special Situations Fund group. Prior to this, he was a partner in an international firm where he was the chair of the New York Restructuring and Bankruptcy practice. He began his career in private practice as an associate in the Bankruptcy and Corporate departments of a top global firm, following a clerkship in the US Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.

About Eversheds Sutherland
As a global top 10 law practice, Eversheds Sutherland provides legal services to a global client base ranging from small and mid-sized businesses to the largest multinationals, acting for 70 of the Fortune 100, 61 of the FTSE 100 and 128 of the Fortune 200.

With more than 3,000 lawyers, Eversheds Sutherland operates in 74 offices in 35 jurisdictions across Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the United States. In addition, a network of more than 200 related law firms, including formalized alliances in Latin America, Asia Pacific and Africa, provide support around the globe.

Eversheds Sutherland provides the full range of legal services, including corporate and M&A; dispute resolution and litigation; energy and infrastructure; finance; human capital and labor law; intellectual property; real estate and construction; and tax.

Eversheds Sutherland is a global legal practice and comprises two separate legal entities: Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP (headquartered in the UK) and Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP (headquartered in the US), and their respective controlled, managed, affiliated and member firms. The use of the name Eversheds Sutherland is for description purposes only and does not imply that the member firms or their controlled, managed or affiliated entities are in a partnership or are part of a global LLP. For more information, visit eversheds-sutherland.com.

Barnes & Thornburg has announced that Andrew J. Detherage will become the firm’s next managing partner, effective early November 2022. Detherage will succeed Robert T. Grand, who assumed the role in 2014 and is stepping down in fall 2022 at the completion of his second term.

Grand has led Barnes & Thornburg during seven years of consecutive growth, adding eight new offices and increasing gross revenue by nearly 40 percent. He will continue to practice in the firm’s Government Services and Finance group and remain active in practice development and community involvement.

Detherage, a partner with the firm’s Litigation group, has been with Barnes & Thornburg his entire legal career, which began in 1990; he has been a partner since 1999. He is chair of Barnes & Thornburg’s Strategic Planning Committee, a member of the Management Committee, and co-chair of the Insurance Recovery and Counseling practice.

“I am humbled and honored to be elected as Barnes & Thornburg’s next firm managing partner and look forward to continuing to work closely with Bob, the Management Committee and the Strategic Planning Committee over the next year,” Detherage said. “Bob’s leadership has marked an extraordinary period of growth and prosperity for the firm, and I couldn’t be more excited to continue on that path while doubling down on our commitment to our lawyer-focused culture, DEI, and delivering exceptional client service.”

Detherage has played an integral role in the firm’s expansion, including the opening of offices in New York, Boston, Raleigh, Ann Arbor and Salt Lake City, and recent expansion in Delaware, a strategic pillar of Barnes & Thornburg’s Northeast footprint. Along the way, the full-service firm has added tremendous depth to a number of key practices, including M&A, investment funds and asset management, life sciences, intellectual property, white collar and investigations, and litigation, among others.

“Having known and worked side by side with Andy during most of my career, I am confident that the future leadership of Barnes & Thornburg is in excellent hands,” Grand said. “He cares immensely about this firm and all of its people, and he will be a passionate and thoughtful steward for the organization as we embark on the next chapter of our progress and development.”

Focused on sustained organic growth favoring targeted lateral acquisition over large-scale combinations, Grand has led Barnes & Thornburg in expanding the firm’s gross revenue from $346 million in 2014 to $506.2 million in 2020 – a 38 percent increase, per The American Lawyer. When he took over as firm managing partner, Barnes & Thornburg ranked 90th on the AmLaw 200; in 2020, the firm ranked 78th while also setting new highs in profits per equity partner and revenue per lawyer.

During Grand’s leadership tenure, the firm has opened eight new offices while growing its foothold in existing markets and increasing attorney headcount from 580 to 700.

RICHMOND, Va. (November 8, 2021) – The Virginia law firm, Gentry Locke is pleased to welcome John P. (J.P.) Brown to its Richmond office. Brown will work in the firm’s insurance litigation practice.

“J.P.’s litigation experience and knowledge of Virginia’s state and federal courts will be a tremendous asset to our clients. We are very excited to have him join our growing litigation team Richmond,” said Managing Partner, Monica T. Monday.

Brown joins Gentry Locke from an Am Law 200 firm, where he litigated cases in the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia.

He previously served as a judicial clerk to the Honorable Henry E. Hudson, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia; the Honorable Randolph A. Beales, Court of Appeals of Virginia; and several judges in the Circuit Court of Henrico County, Virginia. Before beginning his legal career, Brown served as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Marine Corps. During his commission, he received three Navy Marine Corps Commendation Medals.

Brown received his B.S. degree from the United States Naval Academy and his J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law.

Steptoe & Johnson’s partners have elected Gwendolyn Prothro Renigar as chair of its executive committee effective January 1, 2022. Renigar succeeds Philip “Phil” West who is returning full-time to his tax practice after completing his eight-year tenure as chair and growing Steptoe’s global footprint, practices, and performance. Partner Alfred Mamlet has been elected as vice chair.

Renigar, a litigation partner in the Washington, DC, office, currently serves as Steptoe’s vice chair (since 2018) and general counsel (since 2016) and is the first woman and youngest partner to lead the firm. Renigar brings a new perspective enhanced by her management experience and professional liability practice. She understands the opportunities and challenges facing law firms, having advised them as clients on issues such as professional responsibility, policy setting, and talent management. Born and raised outside the United States, Renigar has an international perspective that complements and reinforces the firm’s international practices and footprint.

Said West, “Gwen has worked closely with me to keep our firm focused and thriving during the pandemic. She will build on what we’ve achieved so far and keep us moving forward. Her commitment to our clients and our firm, and her knowledge of the industry make Gwen an ideal leader for Steptoe’s future.”

Renigar commented, “For the last eight years Phil has put our clients and talent first and he has led the firm through a period of tremendous change. Under his leadership, we have been fortunate to deliver year-over-year growth, launch new practice groups and industry teams, and expand client relationships. As I step into this role, I cannot thank him enough for all he has done for the firm and its clients. I am equally thankful to Alfred for sharing my vision and joining me to continue the firm’s progress. I am honored to carry forward the best of Steptoe.”

Mamlet is a strategic advisor to satellite company CEOs, GCs and other executives, where his deep industry knowledge leads to a broad range of work across regulatory, transactional and litigation matters. In addition to growing a robust telecommunications practice, Mamlet has led Steptoe’s lateral growth and strategic initiatives for a number of years, bringing 25 partners into the firm in the last two years alone, and building an intellectual property practice recognized as one of Steptoe’s most successful groups.

Mamlet remarked: “Our combination of lawyers, some who have been with Steptoe for their entire professional careers and others who have joined more recently, choose the firm every day for its combination of collegiality, extraordinary client service, and world-class practices. I look forward to continuing our growth, developing our talent, and managing our financial performance.”

About Gwen Renigar

Renigar focuses her practice on professional liability and fiduciary counseling and litigation. She represents law firms, healthcare industry participants, financial services providers, professionals, and even a government corporation, in litigation raising breach of fiduciary duty, commercial contract, malpractice, and professional liability claims, as well as in regulatory and internal investigations. Renigar also counsels law firms, employees and employers on risk management, loss prevention, policy setting and implementation, firm management, and personnel transition. Renigar received her law degree from Harvard Law School, and her undergraduate degree from Princeton University. She lives in the Washington area with her husband and two young children.

About Alfred Mamlet

Mamlet built and led the firm’s Intellectual Property practice, creating a team that has become one of the firm’s most successful. He currently focuses his practice on telecommunications, representing satellite operators and other technology companies on regulatory, transactional, and litigation matters. On the transactional side of his practice, Mamlet has handled more than 20 M&A transactions, joint ventures, licensing arrangements, and distribution and other complex commercial agreements. His recent litigation matters include obtaining more than $50 million in a commercial arbitration for Inmarsat, and prevailing in a jury trial for Artel in which the client was awarded punitive damages and attorneys’ fees. Mamlet obtained his law degree from the UC Berkeley School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Pomona College. He lives in the Washington area with his wife, and is the proud father of three children.

About Steptoe

In more than 100 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.

The diversity of the firm’s leadership is reflected across the firm. The majority of Steptoe’s nine offices are managed by women; the majority of Steptoe’s practice groups have women as leaders; the firm’s fourteen-person elected compensation committee includes six women; and the firm’s nine-person elected executive committee includes three women. The firm’s eight-person professional business services leadership is equally diverse, with half the c-suite made up of women, including three women of color, and other leaders who openly identify as LGBTQ+.

Tyler Attorney Reid Martin Honored by Texas Trial Lawyers Association

TYLER, TEXAS – Reid Martin, name partner in the Tyler-based law firm of Martin Walker P.C., is the recipient of the 2021 Reich Chandler Outstanding Advocate Award from the Texas Trial Lawyers Association (TTLA). The annual award recognizes a Texas attorney for the effective representation of clients and a demonstrated commitment to ethics and professionalism in the practice of law. The TTLA was founded in 1949 with a mission to protect the rights of Texas families and promote excellence in trial advocacy.

Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Mr. Martin focuses his practice on seeking justice for the victims of medical malpractice as well as individuals injured by dangerous products or the negligence of others. He has tried numerous jury trials to verdict in courtrooms across East Texas for more than 20 years, and was inducted into the Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame in 2020 by Texas Lawyer newspaper.

In addition, his experience and success has resulted in honors from a wide range of legal publications, including being listed in Best Lawyers in America, Texas Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, The National Top 100 Trial Lawyers, and Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Lawyers in America. He has also earned a Distinguished Peer Rating by Martindale-Hubbell for High Professional Achievement.

“Receiving this award is a great honor for me personally, as well as my firm and my family,” says Mr. Martin. “The late Reich Chandler demonstrated a dedication to the legal profession and devotion to family and faith that have been guiding principles throughout my career.”

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

Media Contact:
Mark Annick
800-559-4534
mark@androvett.com

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that the firm has been named the “Law Firm of the Year” in the area of Construction Law in the 2022 edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms.”Only one firm per legal practice receives this designation, making it particularly significant. Bradley was named “Law Firm of the Year” for Construction Law in the 2020 and 2018 editions as well.

Bradley has held a national Tier 1 ranking in Construction Law since the list’s inception and also earned Tier 1 metropolitan rankings in Construction Law in Birmingham, Charlotte, Houston, Jackson, Nashville, and Washington, D.C. Overall, the firm earned four national Tier 1 rankings and 156 metropolitan Tier 1 rankings across all 10 of its offices.

“Being recognized as the top law firm in the nation for Construction Law is a tremendous honor and is a testament to the exceptional work and high level of client service provided by our attorneys and professional staff,” said David W. Owen, a partner and leader of Bradley’s Construction and Government Contracts practice groups and co-chair of the firm’s Energy team. “We are proud of this continued recognition of our team and Bradley’s numerous other practices ranked in the 2022 ‘Best Law Firms’ list.”

The firm’s Construction Practice Group attorneys advise clients on projects in the United States, Canada and Mexico, as well as in more than 35 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, the Middle East, the Caribbean and South America. The team handles every aspect of large-scale construction projects, from initial contract negotiation and bid preparation to project close-out and dispute resolution. Several of Bradley’s construction lawyers hold degrees in engineering, building science or architecture, and have previous experience working in the construction industry.

The 2022 edition of “Best Law Firms” includes rankings in 75 national practice areas and 127 metropolitan areas. Rankings are based on client evaluations, peer reviews from leading attorneys, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a national or metropolitan ranking, a law firm practice area must have at least one lawyer in that practice ranked as a “Best Lawyer.”

The full methodology for the U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” is available here.

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.

HOUSTON – The Houston-based trial firm Bissinger, Oshman, Williams & Strasburger LLP is recognized in the 2022 edition of the Best Law Firms among the top Houston-based commercial litigation firms by U.S. News & World Report and The Best Lawyers in America.

Selection is based on extensive client and attorney feedback, practice-specific peer review, and editorial evaluation. The full 2022 Best Law Firms listing can be found at https://bestlawfirms.usnews.com.

To be eligible for consideration, a firm must have at least one lawyer included in the annual Best Lawyers in America guide. Name partners David Bissinger, Jason Williams, and John Strasburger were all recognized among the nation’s top commercial litigation attorneys in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers.

The honor not only solidifies BOWS’ reputation among the top commercial litigation boutiques in the country, but also caps an exciting year for the firm. In July, the firm became Bissinger, Oshman, Williams & Strasburger LLP with the addition of Mr. Strasburger as a new name partner.

The addition of the veteran bet-the-company litigator further bolstered the firm’s expertise in complex disputes involving private equity, energy, trade secrets and employment covenants, hedge funds, financial derivatives, corporate-governance disputes, and bankruptcy litigation, as well as international banking, real estate, and construction disputes.

Most recently, Ross Smith Jr. joined the firm as an associate, with Mr. Bissinger calling the graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law and Northwestern University “an exceptional addition” to the firm. Mr. Smith’s practice includes representation of corporate and individual clients in complex commercial cases involving breach of contract, trade secret, non-compete, and insurance disputes.

The Houston native is a former analyst for a consulting firm where he provided forensic accounting, economic damages analysis, and business valuation for expert and attorney teams involved in civil litigation. He also has extensive research experience related to cyberprivacy issues under U.S. constitutional law and international law.

About Bissinger, Oshman, Williams & Strasburger
Bissinger, Oshman, Williams & Strasburger LLP is a Houston-based business trial and transaction firm focused on providing impactful, cost-effective solutions to complex disputes and transactions requiring careful attention, extensive experience, and a high level of sophistication. For more information, visit https://www.bowslaw.com.

Top 100 U.S. law firm Akerman LLP is pleased to announce that it has expanded its Tax Practice Group with partner Lorie Fale in Miami. Fale provides state and local tax counsel related to corporate transactions, reorganizations, financings, in addition to tax planning, refund claims and tax controversy.

“I am confident that Lorie’s extensive experience in both state and local tax law, tax planning and corporate transactions will make her an invaluable asset to our ever-expanding Tax group,” said Peter Larsen, Chair of the Tax Practice Group. “Her thorough understanding of Florida tax law will further enhance our current client offerings.”

Fale has more than 24 years of experience as a Florida state tax controversy specialist, dealing with all aspects of Florida audits, refunds, and assessment management. Prior to practicing law, Fale worked as a Certified Public Accountant where she gained invaluable accounting experience which enables her to fully understand the impact of state tax opportunities and exposures on a client’s budgets, forecasts, reserves and financial statements.

Fale’s comprehensive multistate taxation practice includes nexus issues, income apportionment/allocation, sales and use tax, transfer tax, payroll tax, and tax reporting requirements. In addition, she has 25 years’ experience with creating and implementing tax-efficient corporate structures.

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 Tax Practice Group advises domestic and foreign corporations, partnerships, individuals and nonprofit institutions on a wide range of international, federal and state and local tax issues, tax audits and tax litigation. The group represents clients in complex transactions and creates tax efficient structures and innovative solutions. Akerman also provides tax planning services associated with in-bound and out-bound investments in Latin America and the Caribbean, and serves as counsel to foreign companies and individual investors looking to do business in the United States.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that the 2022 edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” has awarded the firm four Tier 1 national rankings in the practice areas of Construction Law, Criminal Defense: White-Collar, Litigation – Construction, and Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants. The firm also earned 156 Tier 1 metropolitan rankings across all 10 of its offices.

Additionally, Bradley was recognized as a “Law Firm of the Year” in the area of Construction Law. Only one firm per legal practice receives this designation, making it a particularly meaningful achievement. Bradley was named “Law Firm of the Year” for Construction Law in the 2020 and 2018 editions as well.

“We are honored to be so prominently recognized and featured in the ‘Best Law Firms’ list this year,” said Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters. “These national rankings demonstrate the significant capabilities of our attorneys and their strong commitment to serving our clients.”

The 2022 edition of “Best Law Firms” includes rankings in 75 national practice areas and 127 metropolitan areas. Rankings are based on client evaluations, peer reviews from leading attorneys, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. To be eligible for a national or metropolitan ranking, a law firm practice area must have at least one lawyer in that practice ranked as a “Best Lawyer.”

The complete list of the firm’s Tier 1 metropolitan rankings, organized by market/office, is provided below:

Birmingham

Antitrust Law
Appellate Practice
Arbitration
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law
Commercial Finance Law
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Copyright Law
Corporate Compliance Law
Corporate Law
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Economic Development Law
Education Law
Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law
Employment Law – Management
Energy Law
Environmental Law
Financial Services Regulation Law
Franchise Law
Government Relations Practice
Health Care Law
Insurance Law
Labor Law – Management
Land Use & Zoning Law
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Litigation – Antitrust
Litigation – Banking & Finance
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Environmental
Litigation – ERISA
Litigation – Health Care
Litigation – Insurance
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Labor & Employment
Litigation – Land Use & Zoning
Litigation – Patent
Litigation – Real Estate
Litigation – Tax
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Mortgage Banking Foreclosure Law
Municipal Law
Nonprofit / Charities Law
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Project Finance Law
Public Finance Law
Real Estate Law
Securities / Capital Markets Law
Tax Law
Trademark Law
Trusts & Estates Law
Water Law

Charlotte, N.C.

Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
First Amendment Law
Health Care Law
Litigation – Intellectual Property

Dallas

Commercial Litigation
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Health Care Law

Houston

Construction Law
Energy Law
Litigation – Construction

Huntsville, Ala.

Appellate Practice
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law
Litigation – First Amendment
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Patent
Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Patent Law
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Trusts & Estates Law

Jackson, Miss.

Appellate Practice
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation – Banking & Finance
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Environmental
Litigation – Insurance
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Real Estate
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Real Estate Law

Montgomery, Ala.

Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Insurance
Litigation – Labor & Employment
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Public Finance Law
Tax Law

Nashville, Tenn.

Administrative / Regulatory Law
Arbitration
Banking and Finance Law
Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)
Commercial Litigation
Construction Law
Corporate Law
Economic Development Law
Eminent Domain and Condemnation Law
Employment Law – Management
Energy Law
Entertainment Law – Motion Pictures & Television
Entertainment Law – Music
Government Relations Practice
Health Care Law
Labor Law – Management
Land Use & Zoning Law
Litigation – Banking & Finance
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Litigation – Construction
Litigation – Health Care
Litigation – Intellectual Property
Litigation – Labor & Employment
Litigation – Patent
Litigation – Tax
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Mediation
Mergers & Acquisitions Law
Municipal Law
Patent Law
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Public Finance Law
Real Estate Law
Tax Law
Trusts & Estates Law

Tampa, Fla.

Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law
Commercial Litigation
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Employment Law – Management
Labor Law – Management
Litigation – Bankruptcy
Real Estate Law

Washington, D.C.

Construction Law
Criminal Defense: White-Collar
Litigation – Construction
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Product Liability Litigation – Defendants

The full methodology for the U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” is available here.

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.

Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, is pleased to announce that DCM Lawyers, a specialized labor and employment law firm in Portugal, is joining its global platform (hereinafter DCM | Littler). With offices in Lisbon and the Algarve, DCM | Littler is comprised of three lawyers, two trainee lawyers and three paralegals.

“We are thrilled to add DCM | Littler as we continue to strengthen our wide-ranging capabilities in Europe and beyond,” said Erin Webber, Littler’s Managing Director and President. “As global companies face ever-evolving labor and employment challenges, especially as those challenges relate to COVID-19 and hybrid work models, expansions like this empower us to deliver the customized, high-quality legal counsel they need – combining teams well-versed in local laws and culture with expansive resources and experience.”

The addition of DCM | Littler underscores Littler’s global growth strategy that includes combining with top firms focused on labor and employment law in important international markets. Following recent expansions into Ireland and Spain, Portugal represents the twelfth European country in which Littler now has a presence. In addition to broadening its reach in Europe, Littler continues to grow in North America, South America and Asia. With this latest expansion, the firm now has more than 1,600 attorneys practicing across 26 countries.

DCM | Littler – founded by managing partner David Carvalho Martins – represents both local and international employers in a variety of industries. The firm counsels clients on a range of labor and employment matters, including hiring and employment screening, collective bargaining and trade union relations, transfer of undertakings, restructurings, data protection issues, immigration and global mobility, and tax and social security issues. DCM | Littler also represents clients in dispute resolution and litigation cases, both administrative and judicial, and in compliance, investigations and disciplinary procedures.

“Littler has a well-deserved reputation for excellence in labor and employment law, and the firm’s unique and exclusive focus in this area on a global scale will provide a significant value to our clients,” said Carvalho Martins. “We are excited to be part of the firm’s robust global footprint and to work together to deliver practical, strategic and innovative counsel to companies operating both locally and across the globe.”

Carvalho Martins has nearly two decades of experience advising national and multinational companies on labor and employment matters, including collective bargaining, compliance with working time regulations, use of flexible and remote work arrangements, and data protection and privacy matters, among several others. He is a guest lecturer at the University of Lisbon law school and a member of the board of directors of the Portuguese Labor Law Association. He is joined by attorneys Cláudio Rodrigues Gomes – who represents clients in labor litigation, dispute resolution and employments aspects of transactions and restructurings – and Catarina Venceslau de Oliveira, whose practice mainly focuses on hiring, dispute resolution, data protection and compliance. Other members of DCM | Littler include trainee lawyers Tiago Sequeira Mousinho and Francisco Salsinha; and paralegals Ana Amaro, Gonçalo Asper Caro and Inês Cruz Delgado.

“On the heels of expansions over the past year into Spain and Brazil – both of which have close ties with Portugal – joining forces with DCM | Littler adds an important element to our services,” said Stephan Swinkels, a Littler shareholder who helps lead the development and integration of the firm’s global practice. “This addition will be a boon to our offering not only in Portugal, but across Europe, Latin America and other Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa and Asia.”

Peter Susser, Littler’s Global Practice Leader and chair of the firm’s International Employment Law practice, added that “this dynamic group of lawyers has carved out a space for themselves as go-to labor and employment counsel in Portugal, and we look forward to collaborating with them to help clients in the region navigate an increasingly complex legal environment.”

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. For more information, visit www.littler.com.

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Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Kerri L. Alessi has joined the firm’s New York office as of counsel in the Real Estate practice group, which continues to strategically expand its nationally recognized practice with the additions of leading partners Christy L. Reuter and Sonia Kaur Bain as well as associate Matthew J. Crawford.

Kerri joins Blank Rome from Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler LLP. She has significant experience practicing real estate law, notably concentrating on the representation of both landlords and tenants in commercial leasing transactions, commercial real estate financing, and the acquisition and disposition of commercial real property. She is well versed in negotiating all aspects of lease transactions, as well as subleases, management agreements, brokerage agreements, surrender agreements, telecommunications agreements, construction agreements, access and license agreements, and other transactional real estate matters. Her engagements include representing clients in the acquisition, sale, or financing of property located at some of the most prestigious addresses in Manhattan, with various transactions being nominated or recognized as leading real estate deals by the Real Estate Board of New York.

Admitted to practice in New York and Connecticut, Kerri earned her J.D., cum laude, from Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, and her B.A. from Fordham University. In addition to her legal practice, Kerri devotes time to pro bono projects and has been honored for her pro bono legal work by Legal Services for New York City.

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.

For the full announcement, read how Blank Rome expands in California with a hospitality team.

Farrell Fritz is pleased to announce that, for the tenth consecutive year, the firm has received a Tier 1 Ranking by Best Lawyers. We are listed in the 2022 edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers’ “Best Law Firms.”

Farrell Fritz has been ranked as a Tier 1 firm on Long Island in Employment Law – Management, Litigation – Trusts & Estates, Real Estate Law and Trusts & Estates Law. We have been ranked as a Tier 2 firm in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Health Care Law. We have been ranked a Tier 3 firm in Labor Law – Management.

Within New York City, Farrell Fritz has been ranked as a Tier 1 firm in Litigation – Trusts & Estates and a Tier 2 firm in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation – Bankruptcy.

The firm received a Tier 3 ranking nationally in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Litigation – Bankruptcy.

Rankings were derived from a combination of our clients’ feedback, ratings from attorneys at other firms and the information we provided in response to a Best Lawyers survey.

Buchalter is pleased to announce it has signed a lease to occupy the 15th floor in Fox Tower in downtown Portland. With fifty attorneys and support staff, Buchalter will be moving into 17,000 square feet of the downtown Portland skyscraper by April 1, 2022.

“We chose Fox Tower because TMT Development and Vanessa Sturgeon provided an unparalleled level of service and worked with us on finding exactly what we were looking for in downtown Portland,” said Adam Bass, President and Chief Executive Officer of Buchalter.

In October 2019, Buchalter announced that Ater Wynne, a full-service business law firm based in Portland, had merged its practice into Buchalter significantly expanding the Firm’s presence in the Pacific Northwest. Ater Wynne Managing Partner, Todd Mitchell, became Managing Shareholder of the Portland office and a member of Buchalter’s Board of Directors.

“We are thrilled with our new office space,” said Mitchell. “Buchalter believes in Portland and this is a vote in favor of the downtown core and our business and professional community. We are excited about being at Fox Tower and believe being downtown will help us grow and continue to thrive here.”

Buchalter recently added a number of new attorneys, including high profile Portland Shareholders David Elkanich, Kirstin Day, and William “Bill” Keeler. Elkanich chairs the Firm’s newly launched Professional Responsibility industry group. He focuses his practice primarily on legal ethics, risk management, and discipline defense advising lawyers, law firms, and in-house legal departments on a variety of ethics issues, including conflicts of interest, confidentiality, fee disputes, internal investigations, law firm dissolutions and partnership disputes, and malpractice and professional liability cases. Senior Counsel Amber Bevacqua-Lynott was also brought on as a member of the Professional Responsibility group. Prior to joining Buchalter, Bevacqua-Lynott worked in the Oregon State Bar’s Disciplinary Counsel’s Office where she successfully first-chaired several dozen civil trials, and investigated or prosecuted hundreds of disciplinary matters. She was Chief Assistant Disciplinary Counsel and Deputy Director of Regulatory Services, and acted as Chief Trial Counsel during the last six years of her tenure.

Day, a member of the Firm’s Real Estate practice group, brings over 20 years of experience to her national practice in leasing, acquisition/disposition, development and financing of regional shopping centers and other retail properties, Class A office buildings, and industrial properties.

A member of the Tax & Estate Planning practice group, Keeler has extensive experience in representing families, individuals, and trustees in various estate and trust disputes. His practice focuses on all matters involving estates, trusts, and conservatorships. He has been designated as an expert witness in trust, estate and conservatorship litigation as well as in related tax cases.

Additionally, attorneys Sean Belcher and Cassie Spector recently joined Buchalter in Portland. Belcher focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, commercial finance, and general corporate and business law. Spector is a commercial litigation attorney.

The move to Fox Tower is especially meaningful to Buchalter as it has a significant connection to the property. Tom Moyer founded TMT Development and his company constructed Fox Tower. Buchalter’s Chief Operating Officer, Chief Legal Officer, and Executive Vice President Kalley Aman’s grandfather, Walter Aman, worked closely with Tom at TMT Development and played a leading role in the financing and construction of Fox Tower. Walter was with TMT until his passing in 2005, only a few years after Fox Tower was completed.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Buchalter to Fox Tower. Downtown Portland is starting to feel a little more like home again, and we appreciate Buchalter’s long-term commitment to the downtown we all love,” added Vanessa Sturgeon, President and CEO of TMT Development.

Cayla Wardenburg, Vice President at Jones Lang LaSalle Brokerage, Inc. added, “we are confident we found the perfect fit for the Buchalter team in Fox Tower. Relocating within the urban core can provide a great deal of opportunity in the current moment through both improving economics and aligning space to fit all your business needs. Buchalter’s move follows the ‘flight to quality’ theme we’ve been seeing from many relocations, a move that draws people to the office with high-quality space, great amenities, and access to parking.”

National Law Journal Recognizes Ward, Smith & Hill in its Hall of Fame Verdicts

Record patent infringement awards for VirnetX highlighted in national honors

LONGVIEW, Texas – The National Law Journal has recognized high-stakes trial law firm Ward, Smith & Hill in its Top Hall of Fame Verdicts, a list of the nation’s largest jury verdicts between 2016 and 2020.

The Longview-based law firm was recognized by the publication for its role in securing verdicts for software and technology company VirnetX in separate patent infringement trials against tech giant Apple in 2016 and 2020.

In 2020, a legal team including trial lawyers from Ward, Smith & Hill won a $502.8 million judgment after jurors found that Apple had infringed the company’s patented network security technology. The case is VirnetX Inc. v. Apple Inc v. BBVA Compass.

In 2016, the trial team won a $302.4 million verdict after a jury found Apple had infringed internet security patents owned by VirnetX. The case is VirnetX Inc. v. Cisco Systems, Inc.

Ward, Smith & Hill is frequently hired as local counsel in high-profile intellectual property trials in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern and Western District of Texas, one of the busiest patent litigation dockets in the U.S.

The firm’s trial successes have earned respect and accolades from legal peers and clients. Most recently, Benchmark Litigation, which singled out Mr. Ward and firm partner Wes Hill as “Litigation Stars” for their intellectual property work.

Earlier this year, six firm attorneys were honored in the 2021 Texas Super Lawyers listing, with Mr. Ward included among the Top 100 attorneys in Dallas-Fort Worth, recognition he has received since 2003. The national legal guide The Best Lawyers in America featured several Ward, Smith & Hill attorneys for work in a range of practice areas, including intellectual property, patent, and personal injury litigation.

The firm has also earned recognition in the global legal guide, IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading Patent Professionals.

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.

Venable Foundation, the philanthropic arm of law firm Venable LLP, is pleased to announce it has awarded impact grants totaling $500,000 benefiting nine organizations in the firm’s respective communities, including Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. These organizations are providing enhanced services for school-aged youth that aim to bring students up to grade-level proficiency through intensive tutoring and family engagement. The grant recipients are Elev8 Baltimore ($100,000) in Baltimore; Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) ($70,000) and Reading Partners Los Angeles ($30,000) in Los Angeles; Springboard Collaborative ($50,000) and City Year New York ($50,000) in New York; Reading Partners San Francisco Bay Area ($25,000) and Good Samaritan Family Resource Center ($75,000) in San Francisco; and The Literacy Lab ($60,000) and City Year DC ($40,000) in Washington, DC.
“As we all know, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing academic achievement gaps for students, and their learning has been significantly disrupted. These impact grants provide an opportunity for the Venable Foundation to invest in organizations intent on providing schools and students with the resources they need to grow their skills and be successful. We are pleased to be able to award deeper funding that extends beyond the Foundation’s typical grant size,” said Lindsay B. Meyer, president of the Venable Foundation.
Robert L. Waldman, vice president of the Venable Foundation, added, “The Foundation is working to sustain and grow nonprofit capacity to address learning disruptions that have been experienced over the past school year through rigorous tutoring and other intensive educational supports to make up for any learning losses.”
• Elev8 Baltimore has been partnering with schools, families, and the community to ensure that every student is prepared for school, college, and a career. This is accomplished through strategic opportunities that impact student outcomes, family engagement and leadership, and the health and wellness of youth. Funds will help Elev8 to expand its comprehensive academic tutoring to six Baltimore City public schools.
• Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) serves 2,100 youth, ages 6 through 24, through its transformational after-school program, which includes core academics, a full music program, a visual arts department, and athletic leagues. Funding will help HOLA ramp back up to pre-COVID-19 in-person numbers and will position the organization to reinstate its first-grade class, provide additional academic services, and integrate new technology into classrooms to help close the education gap.

• Reading Partners Los Angeles provides one-on-one literacy tutoring for kindergarten through fourth grade students from under-resourced schools. Funding will help with the costs associated with a hybrid digital/in-person model. This includes hot spots for the AmeriCorps members, resources for students, licenses for online assessments, and programs and technology enhancements, such as larger monitors for guided learning.

• Springboard Collaborative exclusively serves children from low-income communities who are furthest behind grade-level expectations in reading, providing 90 minutes to three hours of daily instruction outside of school hours. This year, funding will help the organization to grow its presence from 4 to 12 public schools in New York City.

• City Year New York (CYNY) partners with systemically under-resourced schools to help bridge the gap between what students need and what most schools are equipped to provide. In collaboration with the NYC Office of Community Schools, CYNY will be expanding to 18 schools this year.

• Reading Partners San Francisco Bay Area empowers students to develop mastery of key reading skills through data-informed, curriculum-driven tutoring led by trained volunteers. Impact grant funding will assist with the purchase of technology to make hybrid learning possible.

• Good Samaritan Family Resource Center has partnered with the San Francisco Unified School District to support families experiencing disparities in school readiness and academic achievement to improve outcomes. This fall, Good Samaritan will begin to address these learning disparities by providing academic support to 100 high-need students facing learning struggles, school disconnection, and cultural and linguistic isolation.

• The Literacy Lab’s mission is to address inequities by providing children from low-income households with individualized reading instruction to improve their literacy skills, leading to greater success in school and increased opportunities in life. In the 2021-22 school year, the Literacy Lab will be scaling its programming in the metropolitan DC area and Baltimore City to meet the growing needs of students in both regions.

• City Year DC partners with systemically under-resourced schools to help bridge the gap between what students need and what most schools are equipped to provide. For the 2021-22 school year, an expanded list of 20 schools will receive embedded services to meet the growing demand. An anticipated 6,000 students are expected to participate in City Year programs, with the majority residing in Wards 7 and 8. On average, these students will receive 15 additional hours of tutoring, coaching, or intervention throughout the school year.

The Venable Foundation was established in 1983 to support a wide variety of charitable, civic, and cultural endeavors, and serve public interest law needs in our communities. In the past 12 years, the Venable Foundation has granted more than $32 million to worthy organizations that provide critical support to those in need. These include children’s services and funding for disadvantaged families and individuals; homeless shelters and food programs; community organizations, hospitals, hospices, and local chapters of national health organizations; and educational, artistic, and cultural events and organizations. In 2020 alone, the Foundation awarded more than $4.1 million in grants to 353 nonprofit organizations in Washington, DC, Baltimore, New York City, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The Foundation is funded by the partners of Venable LLP.
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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/.

Stinson LLP proudly expands its Business Litigation practice and welcomes Partner Jonathan Ripa to the team. Ripa brings far-reaching experience in intricate business litigation and merger enforcement matters in many industries throughout the nation.

Before joining Stinson, Ripa was an attorney with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), where he enforced antitrust laws by investigating mergers and litigating merger challenges. His vast government experience enables him to provide a unique and valuable perspective when advising clients on antitrust matters.

“I am excited to deploy my skills as both an advisor and litigator on behalf of Stinson’s clients,” said Ripa. “During my time at the FTC, I gained a deep understanding of competition law and the complex and ever-changing world of business.”

Pete Schwingler, a partner in the firm’s Business Litigation division, echoed those sentiments.

“Jon’s recent FTC experience will help clients and colleagues navigate the ever-changing enforcement climate,” Schwingler said. “Whether in healthcare, technology, banking or other industries, Jon’s background on the other side of the table is a tremendous asset to our firm and our clients.”

Ripa is admitted to practice law in Minnesota, Virginia, and Washington, DC. He received his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School and his undergraduate degree from Lehigh University.

About Stinson LLP
Stinson LLP collaborates with clients ranging from individuals and privately held enterprises to national companies and international public corporations. Our accomplished attorneys leverage deep knowledge and experience to deliver practical guidance, helping clients minimize risks and realize opportunities. We take pride in our collaborative approach, our lasting relationships, and our unique perspectives. Connect with us at one of our 12 offices nationwide and at stinson.com.

ComplianceHR, a joint venture of Littler and Neota Logic, has expanded its technology solutions for employers faced with new COVID-19 vaccine and testing requirements, as well as a rise in reasonable accommodation requests from employees.

The company’s ComplianceHR SmartScreen™ application – which has been used more than one million times to date – now provides optional COVID-19 test and vaccination tracking workflows. Included in the most recent update, employers can capture negative test results, track employee tests, track accommodation forms and ask unvaccinated employees a question to ensure they are following company COVID-19 testing and vaccination policies. The application also offers accommodation guidance and template forms to help employers manage the influx of exception requests. These enhancements have been added in response to changing regulations and the pressing need for employers to screen workers returning to the workplace, and are designed to enhance the application’s previous ability to screen employees before entering the office via kiosk or mobile device.

“As more and more clients started requiring vaccination, we saw an opportunity to support the new challenges they were encountering related to reasonable accommodation requirements and compliance with COVID-19 testing policies,” said Kimball Norup, Chief Executive Officer of ComplianceHR. “The new features in ComplianceHR SmartScreen provide a quick and streamlined solution to vaccination and test tracking, easing the burden of executing vaccination programs for HR and administrative team members.”

The White House’s recently released COVID-19 Action Plan includes mandates that employees working for large private companies, the federal government, federal contractors and healthcare entities be vaccinated against the virus. With the implementation of mandatory vaccine policies, employers must also manage and evaluate requests for reasonable accommodation from employees who object to a vaccine mandate. Even before President Biden’s announcement and full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Littler’s survey of more than 1,600 employers found an increasing openness to vaccine mandates, with nearly half (46 percent) of respondents more strongly considering requiring vaccination amid the spread of the delta variant.

Launched in July 2020, ComplianceHR SmartScreen already provided employers with an automated solution for screening employees for COVID-19-related symptoms and risk factors, as well as tracking employees’ vaccination status. In addition to helping companies safely return employees to the workplace, the web-based solution allows employers to maintain employee privacy by tracking important information without a need for paper or spreadsheets.

About ComplianceHR
ComplianceHR combines the unparalleled experience and knowledge of Littler, the world’s largest global employment law practice, with the power of Neota Logic’s innovative AI software platform. ComplianceHR’s suite of solutions provides quick, straightforward, cost-effective and comprehensive answers to the countless compliance issues employers confront in an ever-changing and complex regulatory environment. For more information, visit www.compliancehr.com.

(Houston – Nov. 1, 2021) Chamberlain Hrdlicka’s Tax Planning & Business Transactions Group, led by Habeeb ‘Hobbs’ Gnaim, represented Landmark Industries (Landmark) in entering into an agreement to sell its fuel and convenience store business to Shell Retail and Convenience Operations LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Shell Oil Products US (Shell).
Landmark is a long-time client of Habeeb ‘Hobbs’ Gnaim, Shareholder in the Firm, who is also on the Firm’s Management Board and the Section Leader of the Firm’s Tax Planning & Business Transactions. Gnaim, who practices both tax planning and corporate transactions, has a long history of representing various clients in the fuel supply and convenience store industry.
The transaction between Landmark and Shell, one of the largest in 2021 for Chamberlain Hrdlicka, was supported by the legal team led by Habeeb ‘Hobbs’ Gnaim, with assistance of Caroline Cho, senior counsel, as well as associates, Michael Farrell and Renee Bayer.
Landmark, a staple in the Houston market, operates its Texas’ fuel and convenience stores under the well-known Timewise brand, agreed to sell 248 company-owned fuel and convenience retail sites to Shell. The contract also included supply agreements for an additional 117 independently operated fuel and convenience sites. The agreement covers the sale of:
• The remaining 50% share in Texas Petroleum Group, LLC (TPG), previously a 50/50 joint venture between Shell Oil Products US and Landmark. TPG includes 170 company-owned fuel and convenience sites and supply agreements for 63 independently operated fuel and convenience sites; and
• Landmark’s retail gas station network, including 78 company-owned fuel and convenience sites and 54 supply agreements for independently operated fuel and convenience sites.
Chamberlain Hrdlicka’s Tax Planning & Business Transactions practice, which is a thriving section within the Firm that consists of hybrid attorneys that practice both tax and transactional law, helps clients understand the byzantine world of tax law and utilizes that highly specialized tax knowledge to clients’ best advantage when doing business transactions. The practice advises clients with transactions in order to maximize tax benefits – and avoid tax disasters. Whether the transactions are related to a business or involves a personal investment, the Tax Planning & Business Transactions team can help structure and carry out transactions in order to achieve the best corporate results under federal, state, local and international tax laws.
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.