DALLAS – For their successful pursuit of justice in the face of adversity, Lyons & Simmons attorneys Michael Lyons, Chris Simmons, Chris Carr, and Stephen Higdon have been awarded the Dallas Trial Lawyers Association’s prestigious 2021 John Howie Award. The honor is based on the trial team’s work representing an Alabama mother who lost three children in a tragic West Texas highway accident.

Named for famed Dallas trial lawyer John Howie, a former DTLA president and relentless advocate for plaintiffs’ rights, the award is presented annually to attorneys and their clients in recognition for “the courageous pursuit of justice in the face of adversity.”

In May, the trial team secured a $5.9 million verdict against Dancar Energy Construction, LLC and one of its employees, finding them both responsible for a deadly highway crash that took the lives of three of Neva Rogers’ children. The deadly collision happened after a Dancar employee was speeding on his way to a job site in inclement weather and lost control. The verdict is reportedly the largest for a personal injury case in Midland County history, known as one of Texas’ most conservative venues.

“This was an unimaginable tragedy for Neva Rogers. As a parent, I cannot comprehend the immense pain she has endured,” said Lyons. “We knew the liability case was difficult against the company and we knew there was a probability this was not going to result in a favorable verdict. Despite knowing that from the outset, as parents we knew we had to take the case and see it through.”

In addition to the difficult venue and liability issues, the case presented unique challenges, including the late finding that Dancar had intentionally destroyed important evidence during the discovery process.

“They literally took 40 banker boxes of documents related to the case and lit them on fire,” said Simmons. “Had we not discovered what they did, they probably would have gotten away with all of this. The court ordered a forensic examination that revealed documents that weren’t produced – they were the center of our liability case. Without them we would have lost.”

Ms. Rogers offered appreciation of the firm’s dedication to the case.

“I wanted to get justice for my children,” she said. “The entire team was amazing. They made me and my family a priority. They treated me like family. I had a team of warriors fighting for me every step of the way.”

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 http://www.Lyons-Simmons.com.

Michael Best is pleased to announce the addition of Partner Jordan Koss, Senior Associate Kenneth Rosenzweig, and Associate Ashley Cross to the firm. Koss, Rosenzweig and Cross join the Corporate Practice Group and Venture Best, the firm’s team committed to handling matters impacting high growth companies and investors. Koss and Cross will be based in the firm’s Chicago office while Rosenzweig will be based in Denver. All three attorneys come from McDonald Hopkins LLC.

Koss has over a decade of experience in the fields of venture capital, startup and mergers and acquisitions. He has represented technology startups from an outside general counsel role in venture capital financings, private debt and equity offerings, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and commercial technology transactions.

Rosenzweig has focused his practice in the startup and venture capital space, bringing firsthand experience to his clients as a founder of Rowgatta, a company he founded in 2017. Rowgatta is an innovative fitness business for which Rosenzweig built digital and physical fitness products, led a successful financing round, developed the brand, and provided in-house counsel for legal matters.

Cross, as an associate with a focus on Startup and Venture Capital Practice group, has assisted on numerous venture capital and startup transactions, including venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance.

“Jordan, Kenny and Ashley all have strong track records of advising their clients in very nuanced finance matters and will greatly benefit the Venture Best and Venture Capital teams – which already consist of the most active group of venture lawyers in the country based on the 2020 Pitchbook rankings,” said Galen Mason, Co-Chair of Venture Best. “Their experience and initiative make them a great match for the firm, I’m confident that they will fit in well with the team in Chicago, Denver and nationally.”

Before joining the Michael Best team, Koss worked as a partner at McDonald Hopkins LLC in Chicago, where he served as the Head of the Tech Startup and Venture Capital Group. He previously worked in the tech startup, private equity and M&A groups at Fenwick & West LLP in San Francisco, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP in New York. He also was a partner at goodcounsel LLC, a top boutique firm in Chicago focused on early stage startup representation.

Prior to making his move to Michael Best, Rosenzweig was also an attorney at McDonald Hopkins LLC, where he served as an associate in the Startup and Venture Capital Practice Group. Before this position, he was a corporate associate at one of the largest law firms in New York City, Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Here, he advised financial sponsors, portfolio companies, corporations and senior executives, and developed a wide-ranging corporate practice where he gained experience working on all aspects of domestic and cross-border transactions.

Prior to her work at her previous firm, Cross served as a legal fellow for U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth where her work focused on solutions to voting rights issues, judicial nomination and confirmation processes, and tracking district and circuit court nominees. She also served as an in-house legal intern for Navistar Inc. where she drafted service contracts with international affiliates and analyzed corporate governance issues.

Michael Best’s Venture Best team is comprised of professionals who counsel early-stage businesses on financial, organizational and regulatory needs as they grow. Koss has years of experience working with emerging businesses and will continue focusing his practice in the space at Michael Best. Recognized by Illinois Super Lawyers in 2020 and 2021 as a Rising Star, Koss brings with him a strong reputation in the Chicagoland area.

Rosenzweig has also made a name for himself as an entrepreneur, having been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Men’s Journal, and NBC News on his accomplishments related to Rowgatta.

“Jordan and Ashley both come from positions of leadership, Jordan at his previous firm and Ashley within state government, demonstrating their strong ties in Chicago’s technology and venture capital scene, which is quickly growing,” said Kerryann Haase Minton, Managing Partner of the Chicago office. “I look forward to having additional teammates with venture experience join our growing Chicago office.”

Koss earned his B.A. in Public Policy Studies from Duke University, and his J.D., cum laude, from Cardozo Law School.

Rosenzweig earned his B.A. in Economics and History from The University of Michigan, and his J.D., magna cum laude, from Fordham University School of Law.

Cross earned her B.A. in Political Science, magna cum laude, from Carthage College, and her J.D. from Boston College Law School.

Washington, DC, October 26, 2021—Miller & Chevalier Chartered is proud to announce that Joseph (Joe) Rillotta has joined the firm as a member in the Litigation practice.

Rillotta’s substantial credentials include his role as a trial attorney at the Tax Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ), where he prosecuted tax and financial crimes in extensive grand jury investigations, jury trials, bench trials, and appellate proceedings. After the DOJ, Rillotta continued his federal service at the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), advising IRS leadership on misconduct allegations against IRS personnel and overseeing agency responses to inquiries by Congress and the Inspector General.

“Miller & Chevalier is well-known for providing unmatched counsel based on its members’ distinct combination of federal government and private sector experience, and I look forward to guiding clients through the most complex legal issues,” said Rillotta. “I am excited to be an immediate contributor to the firm’s dedication to collaboration and exemplary client service.”

Since his time with the DOJ and IRS, Rillotta has defended clients in white collar criminal matters, including cases involving the IRS and state revenue authorities. He has also worked with clients confronted with public corruption and procurement fraud allegations, alleged environmental and regulatory infractions, and accusations of violating securities rules and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

Rillotta has also represented clients in civil litigation in the U.S. Tax Court and other federal and state courts nationwide, challenging IRS assessments of tax and imposition of penalties, representing nonprofit organizations in matters implicating their tax-exempt status, and defending clients in False Claims Act matters.

“We’re thrilled that Joe, with his outstanding versatility and wide range of experience, is joining the firm,” said Andrew Wise, Chair of Miller & Chevalier’s Litigation Department. “In today’s scrupulous regulatory environment, Joe will add tremendous value for our clients across several practice groups.”

“Joe is a highly respected practitioner, whose exemplary reputation in both civil and criminal litigation make him a terrific addition to our team,” said Kathryn Cameron Atkinson, Chair of Miller & Chevalier. “His deep knowledge extends to several of the firms’ core practices, including tax, white collar, and international, and he will greatly benefit our clients and colleagues.”

At Miller & Chevalier, Rillotta will provide clients with a personal and dedicated approach in an array of tax and white collar matters, including in cases involving cross-border transactions and in investigations concerning potentially illicit financial activity. Before joining Miller & Chevalier, Rillotta was a partner at Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP.

Rillotta earned a J.D. cum laude from Harvard Law School and an A.B. magna cum laude from Harvard College.

About Miller & Chevalier

Founded in 1920, Miller & Chevalier is a Washington, DC law firm with a global perspective and leading practices in Tax, Litigation, International Law, Employee Benefits (including ERISA), White Collar Defense, and Internal Investigations, and Government Affairs. Miller & Chevalier is a top-ranked firm sharply focused on targeted areas that interact with the federal government. Over the past three years, the firm’s lawyers have represented more than 40 percent of the Fortune 100, one-quarter of the Fortune 500, and approximately 30 percent of the Global 100. Based in Washington, DC, a significant number of firm lawyers have held senior positions in the U.S. government and have written many of the regulations they currently help clients navigate. For more information on the firm, visit www.millerchevalier.com.

###
CONTACT:
Matt Kasik, Media Relations, Greentarget
mkasik@greentarget.com, 847-772-1155

Fitch, Even, Tabin & Flannery LLP will present a free webinar, “Leveraging Separate IPR Counsel to Maximize Litigation Success,” featuring Fitch Even partners Timothy P. Maloney and Paul B. Henkelmann.

The webinar will take place on Thursday, November 18 at 9 a.m. PST / 10 a.m. MST / 11 a.m. CST / 12 noon EST.

Most patents challenged in inter partes review (IPR) proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) are involved in co-pending litigation. A threshold question is whether litigation counsel will also handle the IPR proceedings. When engaging separate counsel for the IPR proceedings, cooperation between litigation and IPR counsel is paramount to a successful outcome both at the PTAB and in the district court. Numerous issues that require close coordination must be addressed, including whether to engage separate expert witnesses, claim construction, discretionary denial, validity (or invalidity) arguments, stays, discovery, objective evidence of nonobviousness, motions to amend, and estoppel.

During this webinar, we will cover these topics and more:
• Pros and cons of engaging litigation counsel or separate counsel for IPR proceedings
• Critical issues common to both litigation and IPR proceedings that require close coordination
• Practical guidance when working with separate litigation or IPR counsel
• Strategies for improving cooperation between litigation and IPR counsel

CLE credit has been approved for California, Illinois, and Nebraska. Other states may also award CLE credit upon attendee request.

Register for the event:
https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/9076644827648317454

Los Angeles, CA – Venable LLP is pleased to announce that Daniel C. Lorenzen has rejoined the firm as a partner in the Estate Planning Group in the Los Angeles office. Mr. Lorenzen advises clients on the full range of estate planning issues, including preparing wills and trusts, tax planning, business succession, and family wealth transfers.

Mitchell Evall, partner-in-charge of Venable’s Los Angeles office, said, “Dan is widely respected for the caliber of his counsel, and is known by clients to provide thorough yet efficient solutions tailored to each of their individual wealth planning needs. He is well liked and is a team player. We are thrilled to welcome him back to the firm and to our office.”

Mr. Lorenzen assists families in planning for wealth transfers to charities, family members, and future generations in practical, tax-efficient ways. His practice includes individuals, families, and closely held businesses that have contacts in California, the United States, and the world beyond. He advises clients on all of the traditional tools of wealth planning, with an eye for holistic planning to minimize federal, international, state, and local taxes. Mr. Lorenzen uses these tools in service of clients’ desires to raise capable and responsible children, to support charitable endeavors, and to live happy and productive lives.

Mr. Lorenzen represents the principal general partners of a number of funds, including private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds, and advises on the unique tax and other planning opportunities available to these fund managers. He also represents trustees, executors, and beneficiaries in the administration of trusts and estates, and litigates and settles disputes between trustees and beneficiaries. Mr. Lorenzen resolves trust and probate litigation matters regarding the interpretation of instruments, defending trustees’ conduct, and interpreting tax allocation clauses, for example. He has prepared federal estate and gift tax returns and has represented fiduciaries before the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the audit and appeals process regarding valuation and other tax issues.
Commenting on his move to Venable, Mr. Lorenzen said, “Both my clients and I enjoyed great success during my previous tenure at Venable. The firm offers a robust platform that is well suited to both the domestic and international aspects of my practice. I look forward to rejoining the team.”
Mr. Lorenzen received his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School in 2003, and his B.S. from Brigham Young University in 2000.

###

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/.

Barnes & Thornburg has added Eric Sussman as a partner in its Chicago office. Sussman joins the firm’s Litigation Department with a focus on white collar defense, governmental investigations, and high-profile commercial litigation.
Sussman was previously a deputy chief in the Financial Crimes and Special Prosecutions Unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago and handled numerous high-profile white collar criminal cases. He was also the First Assistant State’s Attorney for the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office, where he supervised over 800 lawyers and investigators in the criminal, appellate and juvenile justice bureaus as well as the civil actions bureau.
Sussman’s practice encompasses white collar defense, securities enforcement matters, internal investigations, and commercial litigation. He has represented corporations and executives in litigation and investigations with the Department of Justice (DOJ), Securities Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and several other government agencies.
“Eric routinely handles complex federal and state cases across the country and is a fierce advocate for his clients,” said Randy Brown, chair of the firm’s Litigation Department. “Following the additions of Kevin Dreher and Caroline Upton to the group in Chicago this summer, our team has seen tremendous growth and is positioned to provide clients with excellent service on a wide range of litigation matters.”
Sussman supports his clients in investigations with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), False Claims Act (FCA), and insider trading issues. Notably, Sussman has represented a CEO of a pharmaceutical company for an insider trading prosecution in the Southern District of New York, an international hedge fund around SEC and DOJ securities fraud prosecution, and several international medical device companies in FCPA investigations.
“We are excited to welcome Eric to our Chicago office as we continue growing our litigation bench,” said Michael Carrillo, Chicago office managing partner. “Eric’s work in the federal and defense side of white-collar litigation gives him a unique perspective that will further bolster the firm’s reputation in the market as a leader for comprehensive counsel in the white-collar realm.”
Sussman earned his B.A. from Amherst College, magna cum laude, and his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.
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, Boston, 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.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce the addition of Van P. East III to the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group as a partner in the Nashville office.

“Van is a talented real estate and corporate attorney with an excellent reputation in Nashville, and we are excited to welcome him to the firm,” said Bradley Nashville Office Managing Partner Lauren B. Jacques.

Brooks R. Smith, chair of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group, added, “Our team has been focused on strategic growth, and the addition of Van will enhance our capabilities in the real estate and finance industry, allowing us to proactively respond to the needs of our clients in Nashville’s booming market and beyond.”

Bradley’s Real Estate Practice Group is deeply embedded in the real estate industry and serves every sector of the market, including acquisitions, financing, lending, leasing, construction, regulatory, tax, and other matters. The team handles complex, multimillion-dollar projects for large institutions, as well as more routine ongoing transactions for clients whose primary businesses are in real estate investment or development.

Mr. East has extensive experience in commercial real estate, representing clients in purchasing, financing, leasing and selling commercial properties ranging from shopping centers to vacant land. He also works with clients on matters involving closely held business entities, including formations, conversions, mergers, acquisitions and dispositions, as well as restructuring ownership and control. Mr. East frequently organizes limited liability companies, corporations and partnerships for a variety of business purposes.

A graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School, Mr. East is an active member of the Tennessee Bar Association (TBA) and currently serves on the Executive Council of the Business Section. Through his involvement with the TBA, he participated in drafting legislation regarding Tennessee’s business entity statues, including the Tennessee Revised Limited Liability Company Act. Mr. East is also a Fellow of the Nashville Bar Foundation and has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2012.

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.

DALLAS – Experienced business trial lawyer Brian Shaw and intellectual property litigator Dr. Chad Ray have joined Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal LLP as partners, further bolstering the firm’s considerable strengths in those practice areas.

“Brian and Chad are exceptionally talented, accomplished attorneys,” said Carrington Coleman Managing Partner Monica Latin. “They bring expertise that complements the firm’s existing practices to better serve the needs of our clients. We are pleased to welcome them to our firm.”

Mr. Shaw has successfully tried high-profile, high-stakes lawsuits and arbitrations involving partnership disputes, shareholder rights, business divorces, and litigation involving contracts, oil and gas, employment, insurance coverage, construction, probate, bankruptcy and other corporate matters. He has also served as lead counsel in state and federal appellate courts. His business litigation work earned recognition in the 2021 Texas Super Lawyers legal guide. He is a 2006 graduate of Baylor University School of Law and is a Texas Bar Foundation Fellow. He joins the firm from the Rogge Dunn Group, P.C.

As a trial attorney and registered patent lawyer, Dr. Ray focuses his practice on patent litigation involving pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biologics, electronics, chemicals, and automotive components at trial and before the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board. He holds undergraduate and Ph.D. degrees in chemistry. Dr. Ray’s experience as a research scientist provided him broad technical expertise as he developed scientific instrumentation for the study of chemical and biological materials by repurposing the tools of nanotechnology. He earned his law degree in 2011 from the University of Michigan Law School. He joins Carrington from the Dallas office of Munck Wilson Mandala, LLP, and previously practiced at the Chicago office of Jenner & Block, LLP.

Also joining the Dallas-based law firm is litigation associate Tania Sethi whom Alex More, head of the Litigation Practice Group called “an excellent addition” for the firm. Ms. Sethi is an experienced litigation attorney and certified alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mediator. She earned her law degree from the Baylor University School of Law in 2017. She joins the firm from Clark Hill Strasburger.

About Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal, LLP
Carrington Coleman is a 51-year-old Dallas-based law firm focused on litigation and transactional services in the real estate, oil and gas, securities, construction, professional services, technology, and health care industries, among others. The firm provides counsel in corporate transactions, corporate governance, banking, bankruptcy/restructuring, intellectual property, litigation and appeals, employment, and family wealth/estate planning. Learn more about the firm at www.carringtoncoleman.com.

Global law firm Hogan Lovells advised Grupo Ganfer, a leader in Mexico known for its innovative production, marketing and exportation of agricultural products and services, in a joint venture with Nature Sweet.

The joint venture will provide Grupo Ganfer the means to expand its installed capacity for the exportation of small tomatoes among other vegetables. Grupo Ganfer is increasing its share leadership in its main business of small tomatoes and other vegetables that are grown in greenhouses.

Mexican agrobusiness exportation is at its highest point in 21 years, and is seen as one of the primary growth businesses in the years to come.

Hogan Lovells advised Grupo Ganfer in tax, corporate, and real estate matters in connection with the joint venture. The Hogan Lovells team included Jaime Espinosa de los Monteros, Federico De Noriega, Guillermo Gonzalez Frankenberger, Rocío Sánchez Arriola and Andrea López Campa.

Dallas – October 19, 2021 – Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced today that Dallas-based Member Eric White has been appointed to serve as assistant leader of the firm’s corporate finance practice group.

In his practice, White counsels clients on business law matters involving mergers and acquisitions, lending, private equity investments, leveraged buy-outs, and subordinated debt investments. He has represented numerous financial institutions with asset-based lending, leveraged buy-outs, leveraged recapitalizations, subordinated debt investments, equipment and project financings, and restructurings and workouts. Additionally, White has extensive experience with deals utilizing private equity and junior debt in the capital stack. He has completed deals with respect to the acquisition, maturation, and disposition of company platforms in the health care, energy, and manufacturing industries.

White also advises clients in general corporate matters related to formation, private financings, restructuring, equity-holder distributions, and regulatory compliance. He has worked with clients from a diverse array of businesses, such as an avionic equipment manufacturer, a hydraulic systems manufacturer, an exterior packaging distributor, and an operator of an adult assisted-living facility.

White received a B.B.A. in finance from the University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law.

About Dykema
Dykema serves business entities worldwide on a wide range of complex legal issues. Dykema lawyers and other professionals in 12 U.S. offices work in close partnership with clients – from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies – to deliver outstanding results, unparalleled service, and exceptional value in every engagement.

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

Social Media: @bradleylegal, #legalnews

BRIAN GILLETT JOINS BRADLEY’S LITIGATION PRACTICE IN DALLAS

DALLAS (October 19, 2021) – Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that Brian M. Gillett has joined the firm’s Dallas, TX, office as a senior attorney. Mr. Gillett will practice as part of the Litigation team.

“Brian is a highly skilled litigator, and we are pleased to welcome him to our Dallas office and the firm’s nationally recognized group of litigation attorneys,” said Dallas Office Managing Partner Richard A. Sayles.

Mr. Gillett is a trial attorney with experience handling high-stakes, complex commercial matters on both the plaintiff and defense sides at all stages of litigation in state and federal court and arbitration proceedings, from discovery through trial and appeal.

His practice focuses on business litigation matters, including disputes involving claims for breach of contract, fraud, and breaches of fiduciary duties. He has litigated both individual and class claims involving oil and gas disputes, intellectual property theft and infringement, and antitrust.

Mr. Gillett graduated summa cum laude from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Political Science and a B.S. in Spanish and earned his J.D. with highest honors from the University of Texas School of Law.

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.
###

Contract Logix has been named a “High Performer” for the third consecutive quarter in the Contract Lifecycle Management category of G2’s Fall 2021 Grid ® Report. G2 scores products and sellers based on actual customer reviews of the software, as well as data aggregated from online sources and social networks.

“Contract Logix is always proud of our G2 ratings because they are 100% based on our customer reviews,” said Jim Averill, Vice President of Customer Success, Contract Logix. “Our goal with every customer is to not only ensure they get fast time to value from our platform, but to continue delivering incremental value to their organization throughout the life of our relationship with them. Our experienced Customer Success team is key to making this happen and a major contributor to our High Performer recognition from G2. We’re honored to have the opportunity to help our customers optimize their businesses and minimize risk.”

Contract Logix continues to see triple-digit percentage growth in usage of its products as customers rapidly digitize contracts and business processes. The company’s contract management platform plays a foundational role in its customers’ digital transformation initiatives by giving them the tools and insights necessary to automate and streamline processes and finalize business faster while increasing compliance and mitigating risk. Contract Logix has over 15 years of working with its customers to ensure effective onboarding, user adoption, and ongoing CLM success. Its unique and proven customer success model is often referenced as a key differentiator in the company’s G2 reviews.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that Jon H. Patterson, a partner in the firm’s Birmingham office, is the recipient of Bradley’s 2021 Diversity Leadership Award.

Established in 2015, the Diversity Leadership Award recognizes a Bradley partner who demonstrates an exceptional commitment to promoting and advancing the firm’s goal of being a diverse and mutually supportive community.

“Jon is a valued leader who is dedicated to promoting the firm’s core values of diversity and inclusion,” said Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters. “We are thankful for his leadership and for all of our exceptional nominees who continue to cultivate a climate of inclusion, sensitivity, open-mindedness, and respect.”

George D. Medlock, Jr., Bradley’s Director of Inclusion and Diversity, added, “Since joining the firm Jon has been personally committed to creating an inclusive environment, engaging in honest discussions, staffing his matters with diverse teams, and mentoring diverse attorneys, and we are grateful for his contributions.”

Mr. Patterson is a member of Bradley’s Banking & Financial Services Practice Group and chair of the firm’s Artificial Intelligence and Legal Project Management Task Force. He serves as lead counsel for various national banks and mortgage servicers, managing the litigation of over 2,000 cases nationwide. Mr. Patterson routinely advises clients in defense of various claims arising out of alleged violations of state and federal law including the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Real Estate Settlement and Procedures Act (RESPA), the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Mr. Patterson also oversees the firm’s efforts in legal technology and process management to foster innovation.

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.

Davis Wright Tremaine’s nationally ranked energy team, which last year brought on a seven-lawyer group from Alston & Bird, has expanded again, welcoming former Federal Energy Regulatory Commission lawyer Fredrick Wilson as Counsel in Washington, D.C.

Wilson brings to the firm a full spectrum of energy industry experience, including a decade as an engineer at major electricity providers, 4+ years as a regulator at FERC, and 5+ years in private practice at White & Case.

“Fred has a depth of understanding that can only come from years of work in the trenches,” said Vid Prabhakaran, Davis Wright’s energy practice chair. “He brings to our team rare technical expertise and an intimate familiarity with FERC processes and deliberations. He also provides strong insight into the regulatory, operational and financial issues presented by complex industry transactions and projects. I’m thrilled to have him on board.”

“Initially, I was drawn to Davis Wright’s strong market reputation,” said Wilson. “As I got to see the firm from the inside, I was delighted to discover a dynamic culture and clear synergies with many existing team members. I believe we’re in the early stages of a new transition in energy markets and their regulatory oversight and I’m confident that Davis Wright provides the optimal platform for me to help clients successfully navigate these changes.”

During his tenure at FERC, Wilson acted as commission trial staff, leading proceedings involving electric transmission ratemaking, natural gas pipeline ratemaking, and RTO/ISO tariff compliance, among other issues. He also contributed to the development of federal policy in electric and gas markets as legal advisor to then-commissioner Colette D. Honorable.

At White & Case, where he worked most recently, Wilson’s regulatory clients included electric utilities, transmission owners, large industrial consumers of power, energy marketers, natural gas pipelines, shippers, and other service providers subject to the Federal Power Act, Natural Gas Act, and Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act.

Wilson received his undergraduate degree from Howard University, his MBA from Georgia State University, and his law degree from University of Houston Law Center.

Davis Wright’s 40-member energy group, located in California, Washington, D.C., New York, and the Pacific Northwest, was recently ranked among the top nationwide practices by Chambers USA in Electricity – Regulatory & Litigation. The team also placed in Band 1 for Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation in California.

Last year, the group added seven lawyers from Alston & Bird in Washington, D.C., including partners Sean Atkins and Michael Kunselman and counsel Andrea Wolfman, a former senior FERC executive who spent 24 years at the commission and led its enforcement office.

About Davis Wright Tremaine
Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is an Am Law 100 firm with more than 600 lawyers representing clients throughout the United States and the world. For more information, visit www.dwt.com.

The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) has announced that Amy M. Stewart, a partner at Stewart Law Group PLLC in Dallas, has accepted an invitation to join the IADC, the preeminent invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests.

“From my experience as a collegiate athlete and coach, I understand that the people you surround yourself with matter the most,” Ms. Stewart said. “What I know about IADC is that exemplary attorneys — who happen to be even better people — are involved in this organization. As a result, I am honored to be drafted to the IADC team.”

Ms. Stewart focuses her practice on commercial litigation, labor and employment, arbitrations (as an arbitrator and an advocate), and internal investigations. In addition, she has handled personal injury, wrongful death, and product liability cases.

Ms. Stewart is certified by the Association of Title IX Administrators as a Title IX investigator. She also is a certified arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association, presiding over commercial, construction, and employment matters. In addition, Ms. Stewart is certified as a Financial Industry Regulatory Authority arbitrator and was inducted into the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution Panel of Distinguished Neutrals.

Ms. Stewart received her J.D. from the University of Missouri School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from Wake Forest University, where she was the captain of the Women’s Basketball Team, an Academic All-ACC honoree, and served as an Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach before turning her sights to representing corporate clients in the court of law.

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.

By Rebecca L. Palmer

Mediation Week is here. Though it’s not on a national holiday calendar, this official week, October 17 – 23, proclaimed by Chief Justice Charles T. Canady of the Supreme Court of Florida, focuses on the importance of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) or mediation as an effective substitute to litigation.

Florida has been a leader in recognizing and promoting mediation, and state courts have utilized it for over 30 years. Mediation cases often involve divorce, child custody issues, disputes between family members, neighbors, business partners, landlords and tenants, and labor unions and management.

As legal professionals, our goal is to pursue the most favorable outcome for our clients. At times in our law practice, we have advised mediation as an option rather than taking the case to trial. Mediation is a method of dispute resolution in situations where the parties in a disagreement want to, or will be forced to, keep working together or maintain an ongoing relationship such as shared child custody, shared assets, or business partnerships. In mediation, the only people making decisions are those involved in the dispute. This is unlike arbitration or litigation, where a judge or an arbitrator makes the final decision.

Each case is unique, but we have seen the benefits of mediation which include the process being less expensive than a trial and that there is no public record of what goes on in your sessions. It gives both parties the power to reach a resolution based on the outlined outcomes and prevent having a resolution handed down through legal channels. In many situations, mediation is far better than a court hearing.

Building on the Chief Justice’s best wishes for those observing Mediation Week, we hope you take some time this week to revisit your legal options and discover the proper resolution process for you. Mediation can provide many benefits when it comes to resolving legal disputes.
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

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that J. Andrew Robison, a partner in the firm’s Birmingham office, has been named to the North American Regional Council of the World Services Group (WSG).

The WSG is a global network of elite global practice firms comprised of more than 23,000 members in more than 150 jurisdictions throughout the United States and Canada. Mr. Robison was named to a two-year term on the council at the WSG’s 2021 Annual Meeting held Oct. 6-7.

“Andy is an exceptional corporate attorney with innate leadership skills that will serve the WSG’s Regional Council well, and we congratulate him on this role,” said Bradley Birmingham Office Managing Partner Dawn Helms Sharff.

Mr. Robison is a member of Bradley’s Corporate and Securities Practice Group where he advises privately held companies and private equity funds and their operating companies in formation, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and corporate finance transactions. He also works with publicly traded clients in securities offerings, divestitures, proxy contests, and general corporate and securities law issues.

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.

MCCA Diversity Scorecard ranks Akerman Among Top 20 Large Law Firms in group 5 (more than 501 lawyers) for 2021
Top 100 U.S. law firm Akerman LLP has been ranked among the most diverse large law firms in the country by the Minority Corporate Counsel Association, the premier national group of in-house counsel from diverse backgrounds.

The MCCA released its Diversity Scorecard, which it calls “a ranking and scoring system designed to empower law firms with the data and analysis they need to develop a more effective diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategy.” Akerman was one of twenty firms of more than 500 attorneys named to the list of top achievers in DEI.

MCCA said the survey, reviewed and edited by outside experts, assesses law firms by demographics, recruitment, retention/attrition, and promotion for women and diverse groups, particularly those from underrepresented racial and ethnic backgrounds.

“Akerman has long regarded diversity and inclusion, throughout our ranks, as core to our mission in building a national firm that reflects the communities in which we live and work,” said Scott Meyers, Akerman Chairman and CEO. “We are thrilled that our efforts have been recognized by MCCA, and will continue our work in fostering an inclusive environment that empowers all our people,” he added.

“We are grateful for the MCCA’s recognition of our DEI efforts, and we are firmly committed to continuing this journey,” said Pedro Freyre, chair of the firm’s International Practice and of the firm’s Equality and Inclusion Committee.

“Akerman strives to be a welcoming home and great place to practice for all its attorneys and professionals,” said LaKeisha Marsh, chair of Akerman’s Government Affairs and Public Policy Practice and Higher Education and Collegiate Athletics Practice, as well as co-chair of the firm’s Women’s Initiative Network. “We are all extremely pleased to have our efforts and our persistence recognized by MCCA.”

Kasey Folk Dunlap, a partner in the Litigation Practice Group and co-chair of the Women’s Initiative Network, called the honor “a proud day for the firm’s women and lawyers of diverse backgrounds. I’m honored to be part of this important campaign for a more diverse and inclusive legal environment.”

MCCA said the Scorecard comes in response to years of requests from general counsel for a transparent industry benchmark to assess DEI metrics, develop actionable policies, and ultimately, drive competitive advantage. It relies on 14 years of data from the MCCA’s annual Law Firm Diversity Survey and was developed in active consultation with many leading general counsels and law firms.

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.

Hanzo, a technology pioneer in preserving, collecting, reviewing, and exporting dynamic, complex collaboration and web-based data, today announced support for preserve-in-place Slack ediscovery for organizations with Enterprise Grid.

Hanzo’s support for Slack’s legal hold allows customers to apply a hold directly from Hanzo Hold for one or more Slack users, suspending routine retention policies, and adopting a best practice for meeting preservation obligations. Once the preservation obligation no longer applies, managers can easily release the hold on the data.

The solution gives corporate legal teams options in how they manage their data and empowers them to reduce ediscovery costs by preserving data in the native application and only collecting it when needed.

“Preserving data in Slack gives enterprise legal teams the flexibility they need to balance risk and cost by limiting the copies of data,” said Brad Harris, VP of Product at Hanzo. “We take an approach that always seeks to empower the customer to control the amount of data they collect and reuse it across matters once collected which limits exposure from overcollection and redundant data.”

Slack data is mission-critical for companies as more and more organizations’ conversations are migrating away from email. Slack has added Legal hold to the Discovery API and relies upon partners like Hanzo to provide enterprise-grade data solutions to manage this data for discovery, information governance, and compliance.

This latest feature builds upon Hanzo’s commitment to simplify ediscovery management of complex data sources with innovative solutions that bring visual analytics to speed insights, and approaches that enable your team to limit the data to reduce cost and risk.

Hanzo is presenting an educational webinar, Three Things You Need To Know about Slack’s New Legal Hold on Thursday, October 28, 2021, at 1 pm ET / 10 am PT. Experts from IBM, Uber, and Slack will discuss how and when it’s advantageous to preserve Slack data in place and explore best practices to manage retention and respond effectively to discovery obligations.

Speakers
Jessica Abud, Manager Corporate Litigation, IBM
Will Anderson, eDiscovery Analyst, Uber
Max Baez, Product Manager, Slack
Brad Harris, VP of Product, Hanzo (Moderator)

Registration link:
https://www.hanzo.co/resources/hanzo-webinar-three-things-you-need-to-know-about-slacks-new-legal-hold

About Hanzo
Hanzo brings context and a greater understanding of enterprise data to corporate legal and compliance teams by providing in-house control over dynamic and collaborative data sources. This control allows organizations to reduce billions of dollars in risk, litigation, and compliance costs and elevate their corporate legal and regulatory compliance responses. Hanzo’s software empowers defensible preservation, targeted collection, and efficient review of dynamic content from enterprise collaboration applications and complex websites. Hanzo is SOC 2® Type 2 certified, demonstrating its commitment to data security and serves large corporations worldwide. Learn more at hanzo.co and follow updates on Twitter: @gethanzo or on LinkedIn.

Ball Janik LLP is pleased to welcome Dwight A. (Chaz) Marriott to its Miami office as a paralegal. Marriott brings extensive experience in construction defect litigation, having worked with large national firms in Miami, Washington D.C., and Atlanta.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Chaz to the Ball Janik family,” said Gabe Coelho, Special Counsel of the firm’s Construction Practice. “His 20 years of experience spanning major metropolitan areas of the United States in construction defects will be instrumental to our existing clients, in addition to assisting our firm’s growth in the years to come.”

Marriott has handled cases in major states across the country. He’s practiced in Florida, California, Colorado, Georgia, New York, Maryland, Texas, and Virginia. His expertise aided in the successful litigation of 25 trial cases and ten arbitrations spanning business litigation, bankruptcy family law litigation, construction defect litigation, and labor & employment litigation. He’s established himself in every major firm he’s worked in for the past 15 years, highlighted by his appointment as the senior paralegal of Kaplan Zeena LLP in Miami. Additionally, he’s been the appellate paralegal in most of his positions and has extensive experience in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals and the 3rd DCA.

“Joining Ball Janik is an exciting opportunity for me,” said Marriott. “The firm’s deep bench is the envy of the industry. The wealth of expertise the firm holds is a drawing force in my joining the firm. I cannot wait to add to that knowledge base.”

Marriott holds an undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University with a degree in political science.