DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE ADDS HIGHLY EXPERIENCED EMPLOYMENT ATTORNEY TO ITS MARKET-LEADING TEAM

The New York labor and employment practice group at Davis Wright Tremaine, which recently earned the ranking of Highly Regarded/Band 1 from Chambers USA, has added another veteran practitioner to its ranks.

Lisa E. Dayan, who joined the firm as Of Counsel effective September 13, brings to the firm nearly three decades of experience advising clients on employment-related matters and representing employers in discrimination, wage and hour, and labor law cases before state and federal courts and government agencies.

Dayan’s arrival reunites her with Davis Wright employment partners Laura Sack, Lyle Zuckerman, and Roy Salins, who worked with her for years at Kauff McGuire & Margolis (KM&M) before they joined Davis Wright together in 2015 to start the firm’s East Coast Employment Services Group.

“We are all very familiar with Lisa’s wealth of experience, her commitment to excellence, and her reputation for providing top-notch client service,” said Sack, who co-leads the group with Zuckerman. “The opportunity to add her to our team was one we couldn’t pass up. Her skills, experience, and mindset make her perfectly suited for us, for the firm, and for the clients we serve. I’m thrilled to join forces with her again.”

Dayan has spent her entire legal career as a management-side labor and employment attorney. In addition to counseling countless clients on evolving L&E issues and representing them before courts and government agencies, she has extensive trial advocacy experience. She has also spent time in-house in employers’ legal departments.

“Davis Wright has an extraordinary group of experienced attorneys,” said Dayan. “I’m delighted to rejoin my former colleagues in growing their East Coast labor practice and I look forward to working with them to help clients navigate the increasingly complex labor and employment landscape.”

Dayan earned her B.S. degree from Cornell University and her law degree from New York University School of Law. She began her legal career as an associate in the labor and employment law group at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (where she and Sack first met as summer associates) and she practiced, most recently, for almost 20 years at KM&M.

Davis Wright Tremaine has one of the largest labor and employment practice groups in the country. In the latest rankings of the country’s leading law firms for business, Chambers USA named Davis Wright one of the two-dozen top labor and employment firms in the country. In addition to ranking the firm’s L&E team as Highly Regarded/Band 1 in New York, Chambers also awarded the team a Band 1 rating in Alaska and Washington state and named the team an L&E leader in Oregon and California.

By Rebecca L. Palmer
Opportunity, sacrifice, and disenchantment are never equal in a marriage and cannot be measured in dollars and cents. That is why negotiating alimony during a divorce proceeding can be a complex process. One partner typically feels like the other partner had an easier time throughout the marriage, and therefore, they deserve compensation commensurate to this feeling.
Negotiating support after a divorce is not something you plan for, but Florida has the 4th highest divorce rate in the country, and data shows 40 to 50 % of marriages in the U.S. will end in divorce. It’s good to be prepared when you enter into alimony settlement negotiations with statistics like these. Here are three tips to help get you through.
Manage your emotions:
There is always a level of emotion, from sadness to anger, when it comes to divorce and spousal support. If you want to get through the process quickly, my advice is to have a broad perspective and focus on the outcome, not the person or specific things. Try not to think about the settlement as what you are getting or what they are getting. Instead, focus on the entire financial picture and take a realistic view of what you both need. This is not the time to dig up the past but a time to look toward your future.
Understand your needs and what can be provided:
Before you enter negotiations, you should have a clear picture of the daily, monthly, and yearly budget during your marriage and what you will need moving forward, rather than accepting guideline calculations. This budget will also help drive a solution-oriented conversation and keep either side from asking for or denying support that does not align with income, assets, and spending. For instance, if your spouse makes $50K, you will not get $75K in support.
Structuring alimony options:
Heading to the court for a lump sum is not always the best approach to negotiation. Payment options may be more agreeable for the person who will be paying the support. With the help of a CPA, a conversation may take place about shared marital assets and the actual short-term and long-term needs of each individual, as well as the terms of the support. A specific monthly amount for an agreed-upon duration can be easier to manage and less disruptive to each party’s lifestyle. Payments can also be structured in increasing or decreasing increments depending on cash flow. This could also help sustain your former marital quality of life.
No matter who you are or what support you seek, divorce can be very stressful and emotionally draining. The key to a focused and meaningful alimony negotiation is preparation.
Rebecca L. Palmer, Esq. is a Family & Marital Law attorney practicing in FL. She is the Managing Partner of the Rebecca L. Palmer Law Group, and she can be reached at rebecca@rlplawgroup.com.

HOUSTON – The widely respected peer-review lawyer guide Texas Super Lawyers has selected three Bissinger, Oshman, Williams & Strasburger LLP partners among the state’s leading business litigators for 2021.

Name partners David Bissinger, Jason Williams and John B. Strasburger of the Houston-based trial firm were selected for their business litigation expertise through a rigorous process honoring no more than 5 percent of the state’s lawyers.

The Texas Super Lawyers list will appear in the October issues of Texas Monthly and Super Lawyers magazines. Owned by Thomson Reuters, Super Lawyers makes its selections based on lawyer surveys, careful research and extensive review by a blue-ribbon panel of top lawyers in the same practice areas.

“Our firm was founded on the premise that we will always protect our clients’ business interests as if they are our own,” said Mr. Bissinger. “We take that responsibility seriously. Achieving honors from a peer-review, competitive process like this one is an indication that we are delivering on that promise.”

Mr. Bissinger represents clients in disputes involving energy and technology matters, securities, trade secrets and employment covenants, executive compensation, corporate fiduciary, banking, and real estate. He also serves as an arbitrator in commercial disputes.

Mr. Williams’ practice focuses on energy, corporate fiduciary, securities, and construction litigation. A former chairman of the Houston Bar Association’s Securities Litigation and Arbitration Section and co-chair of the LegalLine Committee, he also serves on the board of Houston Achievement Place.

Mr. Strasburger has extensive experience in complex litigation involving private equity, energy, trade secrets and employment covenants, hedge funds, financial derivatives, corporate-governance disputes, and has tried international banking, real estate, and construction disputes.

The commercial litigation work of Messrs. Bissinger, Williams and Strasburger was also recently recognized in the annual Best Lawyers in America legal guide.

Earlier this year, firm associate Erin Bullard was selected to the companion Texas Super Lawyers Rising Stars listing of the state’s top attorneys under the age of 40 based on her civil litigation work.

About Bissinger, Oshman, Williams & Strasburger
Bissinger, Oshman, Williams & Strasburger LLP is a Houston-based business trial and transaction law 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.

John S. Moody Jr. Earns Consecutive Selection to Texas Super Lawyers

HOUSTON – Moody Law Group firm founder John S. Moody Jr. is recognized in 2021 as both a Texas Super Lawyer and Top 100 Houston real estate lawyer. His selection to the exclusive list places him among the top real estate law practitioners in the state. Mr. Moody has been named in the Texas Super Lawyers legal guide each year since 2013.

Texas Super Lawyers is a publication of Thomson Reuters profiling the state’s leading lawyers in more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of professional achievement.

Using peer nominations, evaluations, and independent research, selection is limited to no more than 5 percent of lawyers in Texas. The process aims “to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys that can be used as a resource for attorneys and consumers searching for legal counsel.” To learn more about the publication’s methodology or to view the complete list of 2021 honorees, visit SuperLawyers.com.

This is just the latest honor Mr. Moody has received for his real estate expertise. Earlier this year, he was selected as the Houston real estate “Lawyer of the Year” in the 2022 The Best Lawyers in America legal guide. His extensive knowledge of the commercial real estate landscape positions him as a trusted leader and featured speaker at various industry events. In August, he led a discussion at a Houston BisNow panel, exploring the outlook for the Texas and Houston commercial office markets.

Mr. Moody is Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. His practice focuses on real estate development, leasing, acquisitions, sales, and financing, representing developers, owners, families, financial institutions, investors, retailers, and private equity funds.

Moody Law Group is a Houston-based law firm that focuses exclusively on complex commercial real estate matters. With a team composed of seasoned and board-certified real estate attorneys, the firm remains one of the most experienced and uniquely equipped teams to guide developers, property owners, financial institutions, investors, retailers, and private equity funds through their legal and real estate challenges. To learn more about Moody Law Group’s commercial real estate expertise, visit www.moodylawgroup.com.

Two Kim Law Firm Attorneys Selected to Texas Super Lawyers

Firm founder John H. Kim earns repeat Top 100 honors

HOUSTON – Houston trial lawyers Denise H. Kim and John H. Kim of The Kim Law Firm have earned placements on the 2021 list of Texas Super Lawyers.

Recognized for her work in civil litigation, this is the first year Ms. Kim was named to the annual list. Her colleague Mr. Kim received additional honors in 2021 and is recognized as a Top 100 lawyer in Texas and Houston for business litigation.

Texas Super Lawyers is an annual legal guide published by Thomson Reuters that recognizes attorneys based on their professional achievements. Selection is determined through a multiphase process that includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. Inclusion on the Texas Super Lawyers list is restricted to the top five percent of attorneys practicing in Texas.

“Denise has achieved outstanding results for clients, and I am so proud to see her civil litigation work earn recognition,” said Mr. Kim. “We are honored to be included among the state’s top legal practitioners.”

Both attorneys continue to garner professional accolades. Earlier this year, Ms. Kim and Mr. Kim also earned repeat placements on The Best Lawyers in America.

“I was pleased to earn recognition from Texas Super Lawyers. I thank my firm colleagues and professional peers for their support,” said Ms. Kim.

The Kim Law Firm has recovered more than a half billion dollars for clients directly and through counterclaims in aggressive litigation. The firm represents entrepreneurs, business start-ups, mid-sized companies, and established national and international corporations in everything from contract and complex business disputes to insider trading allegations, product liability, and intellectual property disputes. For more information about the firm’s attorneys and practice areas, visit www.thekimlawfirm.com.

Media Contact:
Jennie Bui-McCoy
800-559-4534
Jennie@androvett.com

Rusty Hardin Named a Top 100 Lawyer for Business Litigation by Texas Super Lawyers

Three Rusty Hardin & Associates lawyers also earn repeat selection to 2021 list

HOUSTON – Houston trial lawyer Rusty Hardin has solidified his position as one of the state’s top litigators with his 18th consecutive placement on the list of Texas Super Lawyers. Mr. Hardin’s talent for reading juries and exceptional courtroom skills also earned him honors in 2021 among the Top 100 in both Texas and Houston for business litigation.

Joining Mr. Hardin on the list of 2021 Texas Super Lawyers are firm partners Lara Hollingsworth, Terry D. Kernell, and Joe Roden.

Recognized for the second year for her appellate work, Ms. Hollingsworth’s selection to the annual legal guide speaks to her extensive knowledge and mastery of complex legal and procedural issues. In May, she secured a Texas Supreme Court ruling that clarified when parties in litigation can use the Texas anti-SLAPP law.

Mr. Roden also continues to build on his reputation and expertise as an appellate lawyer. He is the immediate past chair of the Houston Bar Association appellate practice section and has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer since 2009.

Mr. Kernell is a lawyer with more than 30 years of experience handling complex cases in both federal and state courts. This is his 13th consecutive year to be selected to the Texas Super Lawyers guide for business litigation.

Mr. Hardin has been selected among the Top 100 lawyers in Texas three times since 2003, including placement among the Top 10 four times.

“I feel fortunate that I get to come into the office every day and work alongside such talented lawyers,” said Mr. Hardin. “I want to congratulate Lara, Terry, and Joe for their multiple and repeat honors to Texas Super Lawyers and also for the great work they continue to do for clients.”

Published by Thomson Reuters, Texas Super Lawyers is an annual legal guide that recognizes attorneys based on their professional achievements. Selection is determined through a multiphase process that includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations. Inclusion on the Texas Super Lawyers list is restricted to the top five percent of attorneys practicing in the state.

To view the complete list of 2021 honorees, visit SuperLawyers.com.

Rusty Hardin & Associates, LLP has built a solid reputation for taking on the causes of its clients and obtaining favorable results in commercial litigation, white-collar criminal defense, plaintiffs’ personal injury, appellate fights, and general civil and criminal litigation.

Media Contact:
Jennie Bui-McCoy
800-559-4534
jennie@androvett.com

Texas Lawyer’s ‘Best of 2021’ Edition Honors
Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson

Firm earns Best Family Law Firm in Dallas honors

DALLAS – Family Law firm Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson (ONDA) has earned top honors in Texas Lawyer’s “Best of 2021” edition as the best Family Law firm in North Texas.

ONDA earned the No. 1 ranking based on votes by readers of Texas Lawyer newspaper.

“We strive for the best outcomes for our clients facing family law disputes,” said ONDA partner Brad LaMorgese. “We are honored when others recognize that we put our clients first.”

In addition to the Texas Lawyer recognition, the firm has earned some of the legal industry’s highest honors. That includes the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, which recognizes name partners Richard Orsinger, Keith Nelson, Scott Downing and Jeff Anderson for their Family Law work. Mr. Orsinger for his Appellate practice, and Mr. Anderson for his work in Family Law Arbitration.

Firm partners William M. Reppeto III,  Brad M. LaMorgese, Amber Liddell Alwais, Paula A. Bennett, Lon M. Loveless, Paul Hewett, Holly Rampy Baird and R. Porter Corrigan also earned 2022 Best Lawyers recognition for representing individuals in Family Law.  Mr. LaMorgese received additional honors for his Appellate practice, and Ms. Bennett for her work with clients in Family Law Mediation.

In addition to the individual recognition, ONDA has been singled out in the U.S. News/Best Lawyers – Best Law Firms listing.

ONDA also solidified its national reputation with more Top 100 Texas Super Lawyers honorees than any other law firm for the third consecutive year last year.

Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson has served families for more than 30 years. With offices in Dallas, Frisco, Fort Worth and San Antonio, ONDA is one of Texas’ largest Family Law firms. Each partner is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, and each is a member of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists.

DALLAS – All lawyers with trial and appellate firm Johnston Tobey Baruch have been selected to the 2021 Texas Super Lawyers list, with shareholders Chad Baruch and Randy Johnston earning special honors by the peer-review guide to leading lawyers.

Mr. Baruch, an appellate specialist, made the Super Lawyers list of Top 100 attorneys in the state, the third year in a row he has been so honored. He and Mr. Johnston also made the Dallas-Fort Worth Top 100 list.

Mr. Baruch was chosen for his appellate expertise. Mr. Johnston, along with Robert Tobey and Coyt Johnston, were selected for their plaintiff’s work in professional liability cases.

Earlier this year, the four attorneys were selected by another prominent U.S. lawyer guide, The Best Lawyers in America.

“We’re always proud of these honors, especially when it involves recognition by our peers. But our greatest thrill comes from securing justice for our clients, whether it involves professional services providers or ordinary citizens,” said Mr. Baruch.

Super Lawyers honorees are selected through a patented process that involves peer nominations, independent research and peer review by other selected lawyers in the same practice areas. The rigorous selection process is designed to identify the top 5 percent of practicing lawyers in Texas. The list is published in October in the Texas edition of Super Lawyers magazine and in Texas Monthly. For the complete list of Texas Super Lawyers, visit https://attorneys.superlawyers.com/texas/.

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

Opportunity, sacrifice, and disenchantment are never equal in a marriage and cannot be measured in dollars and cents. That is why negotiating alimony during a divorce proceeding can be a complex process. One partner typically feels like the other partner had an easier time throughout the marriage, and therefore, they deserve compensation commensurate to this feeling.
Negotiating support after a divorce is not something you plan for, but Florida has the 4th highest divorce rate in the country, and data shows 40 to 50 % of marriages in the U.S. will end in divorce. It’s good to be prepared when you enter into alimony settlement negotiations with statistics like these. Here are three tips to help get you through.
Manage your emotions:
There is always a level of emotion, from sadness to anger, when it comes to divorce and spousal support. If you want to get through the process quickly, my advice is to have a broad perspective and focus on the outcome, not the person or specific things. Try not to think about the settlement as what you are getting or what they are getting. Instead, focus on the entire financial picture and take a realistic view of what you both need. This is not the time to dig up the past but a time to look toward your future.
Understand your needs and what can be provided:
Before you enter negotiations, you should have a clear picture of the daily, monthly, and yearly budget during your marriage and what you will need moving forward, rather than accepting guideline calculations. This budget will also help drive a solution-oriented conversation and keep either side from asking for or denying support that does not align with income, assets, and spending. For instance, if your spouse makes $50K, you will not get $75K in support.
Structuring alimony options:
Heading to the court for a lump sum is not always the best approach to negotiation. Payment options may be more agreeable for the person who will be paying the support. With the help of a CPA, a conversation may take place about shared marital assets and the actual short-term and long-term needs of each individual, as well as the terms of the support. A specific monthly amount for an agreed-upon duration can be easier to manage and less disruptive to each party’s lifestyle. Payments can also be structured in increasing or decreasing increments depending on cash flow. This could also help sustain your former marital quality of life.
No matter who you are or what support you seek, divorce can be very stressful and emotionally draining. The key to a focused and meaningful alimony negotiation is preparation.
Rebecca L. Palmer, Esq. is a Family & Marital Law attorney practicing in FL. She is the Managing Partner of the Rebecca L. Palmer Law Group, and she can be reached at rebecca@rlplawgroup.com.

Washington, D.C., 21 September 2021 – When the stakes are high, and lawyers get hired to fight for a client in distress, what comes next? How are tough cases built and tried? How are they won?

The Proof In Trial podcast series, produced by Global law firm Hogan Lovells, gives listeners a rare invitation into real life litigation. Narrated by partner Cate Stetson, co-head of the firm’s Appellate practice, each episode follows a single case, from initial dispute, through the trial and outcome. Each episode features not only the lawyers involved, but the clients who were impacted.
“Clients count on Hogan Lovells trial lawyers to take on the toughest cases not only around the world, but across a broad range of business and social justice issues,” said partner Des Hogan, global head of the firm’s Litigation, Arbitration, and Employment practice. “We wanted to create a platform to share some of this work in a way that’s interesting and easy to listen to—but also illustrates the real impact litigation has on clients.”

$152 Million Trade Secrets Verdict
In Episode 1, a software developer tells the story of creating industry leading property management software, only to have it stolen and copied by a one-time customer and would-be competitor.
The trade secrets case went to trial, twice, and although a COVID outbreak led to a mistrial, in the end a women-led Hogan Lovells trial team obtained a verdict of more than $152 million.

After the trial, the jury told a Hogan Lovells team that they had nicknamed partner Maria Boyce “The Juggernaut,” partner Cristina Rodriguez “The Crusher,” and senior associate Jillian Beck “The Confident One.”
“I started tearing up,” Boyce recounts in the podcast. “Because I realized that we had done our job for our client. We were able to get our client’s story in front of a jury, in front of eight people who understood what had happened, and who told our client that they had been aggrieved, and that they understood, and that they were doing their part to make it right.”

Public Servant Acquitted of Health Care Fraud Charges
Episode 2 opens with a former state lawmaker turning to Hogan Lovells partner Jim McGovern after being charged with health care fraud. Though our client had suffered addiction in his own family, he had been charged in connection with a broad investigation into an illicit pill mill operation. An executive at a diagnostic laboratory, he had nothing to do with writing painkiller prescriptions. He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, and his voice had been picked up on wiretap recordings. Law enforcement officials raided his house while he was out of the country.

“They went through all his stuff at his house while he wasn’t there,” McGovern said. “And you know what they found? Absolutely nothing. They found absolutely nothing incriminating in his home while they were having a press conference to publicly malign this man, who had served so honorably for his community over the past ten years.”
He had been publicly humiliated, his bank accounts were frozen, and he was desperate to prove his good name.
McGovern led the team that obtained an acquittal of all felony counts, and eventually all charges against our client were dropped.

Largest Wrongful Conviction Verdict in American History
In Episode 3, Des Hogan, who in addition to his work as a leading commercial litigator, has worked on more than 40 wrongful conviction cases, and Cate Stetson, who has argued death penalty cases before the Supreme Court, were asked it they could take on the case of half-brothers who had been wrongfully convicted in the brutal rape and murder of a young girl.

The brothers spent decades on death row before they were exonerated by DNA evidence and released from prison. Then the small amount of compensation they received was lost to an unscrupulous lawyer who was disciplined for his actions.

“We took this case on, on a pro bono basis, because we as a firm, and the individual lawyers who heard about it, felt compelled to do so,” Hogan said. It’s a case about injustice. It’s about civil rights abuses, and the power the police had over the lives of two black teenagers 40 years ago, who were intellectually disabled.”
Before the case could even go to trial, Stetson had to overcome the hurdle of qualified immunity by arguing on appeal that the actions of the officers involved with the brothers’ case were so egregious that they were not entitled to qualified immunity. She succeeded, paving the way for trial.

Des and his team told the brothers’ story, from the heart-wrenching night when they were taken from their mother, interrogated and coerced into signing false confessions, through their decades of imprisonment and time on death row. In the end, the brothers obtained the largest verdict for a wrongful conviction in U.S. history.

The Proof In Trial podcast is here, and listeners can find it on Spotify, Google Play, iTunes and other popular podcast platforms.

ENDS

Washington, D.C., 21 September 2021 – When the stakes are high, and lawyers get hired to fight for a client in distress, what comes next? How are tough cases built and tried? How are they won?

The Proof In Trial podcast series, produced by Global law firm Hogan Lovells, gives listeners a rare invitation into real life litigation. Narrated by partner Cate Stetson, co-head of the firm’s Appellate practice, each episode follows a single case, from initial dispute, through the trial and outcome. Each episode features not only the lawyers involved, but the clients who were impacted.

“Clients count on Hogan Lovells trial lawyers to take on the toughest cases not only around the world, but across a broad range of business and social justice issues,” said partner Des Hogan, global head of the firm’s Litigation, Arbitration, and Employment practice. “We wanted to create a platform to share some of this work in a way that’s interesting and easy to listen to—but also illustrates the real impact litigation has on clients.”

$152 Million Trade Secrets Verdict

In Episode 1, a software developer tells the story of creating industry leading property management software, only to have it stolen and copied by a one-time customer and would-be competitor.

The trade secrets case went to trial, twice, and although a COVID outbreak led to a mistrial, in the end a women-led Hogan Lovells trial team obtained a verdict of more than $152 million.

After the trial, the jury told a Hogan Lovells team that they had nicknamed partner Maria Boyce “The Juggernaut,” partner Cristina Rodriguez “The Crusher,” and senior associate Jillian Beck “The Confident One.”

“I started tearing up,” Boyce recounts in the podcast. “Because I realized that we had done our job for our client. We were able to get our client’s story in front of a jury, in front of eight people who understood what had happened, and who told our client that they had been aggrieved, and that they understood, and that they were doing their part to make it right.”

Public Servant Acquitted of Health Care Fraud Charges

Episode 2 opens with a former state lawmaker turning to Hogan Lovells partner Jim McGovern after being charged with health care fraud. Though our client had suffered addiction in his own family, he had been charged in connection with a broad investigation into an illicit pill mill operation. An executive at a diagnostic laboratory, he had nothing to do with writing painkiller prescriptions. He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, and his voice had been picked up on wiretap recordings. Law enforcement officials raided his house while he was out of the country.

“They went through all his stuff at his house while he wasn’t there,” McGovern said. “And you know what they found? Absolutely nothing. They found absolutely nothing incriminating in his home while they were having a press conference to publicly malign this man, who had served so honorably for his community over the past ten years.”

He had been publicly humiliated, his bank accounts were frozen, and he was desperate to prove his good name.

McGovern led the team that obtained an acquittal of all felony counts, and eventually all charges against our client were dropped.

Largest Wrongful Conviction Verdict in American History

In Episode 3, Des Hogan, who in addition to his work as a leading commercial litigator, has worked on more than 40 wrongful conviction cases, and Cate Stetson, who has argued death penalty cases before the Supreme Court, were asked it they could take on the case of half-brothers who had been wrongfully convicted in the brutal rape and murder of a young girl.

The brothers spent decades on death row before they were exonerated by DNA evidence and released from prison. Then the small amount of compensation they received was lost to an unscrupulous lawyer who was disciplined for his actions.

“We took this case on, on a pro bono basis, because we as a firm, and the individual lawyers who heard about it, felt compelled to do so,” Hogan said. It’s a case about injustice. It’s about civil rights abuses, and the power the police had over the lives of two black teenagers 40 years ago, who were intellectually disabled.”

Before the case could even go to trial, Stetson had to overcome the hurdle of qualified immunity by arguing on appeal that the actions of the officers involved with the brothers’ case were so egregious that they were not entitled to qualified immunity. She succeeded, paving the way for trial.

Des and his team told the brothers’ story, from the heart-wrenching night when they were taken from their mother, interrogated and coerced into signing false confessions, through their decades of imprisonment and time on death row. In the end, the brothers obtained the largest verdict for a wrongful conviction in U.S. history.

The Proof In Trial podcast is here, and listeners can find it on Spotify, Google Play, iTunes and other popular podcast platforms.

ENDS

Miami – September 21, 2021 – Expanding Stroock’s national litigation practice, the firm today announced that Naim S. Surgeon has joined as a Partner in its Miami office. Naim is the latest of 22 lateral hires in 2021, as the firm executes on its Stroock 2025 growth strategy.

“We are delighted to welcome Naim to expand our litigation and dispute resolution services for clients in South Florida and nationally,” said Executive Committee member and Litigation Practice Chair Michele Jacobson.

An experienced first-chair trial lawyer, Naim represents clients in class actions, securities and investment fraud, intellectual property disputes, and antitrust claims, and has arbitrated before JAMS, AAA, and the International Criminal Court.

Naim also serves as chief counsel in several federal equity receivership matters, including high-profile investor fraud, EB-5 fraud, and other fraud claims. In this role, he manages all aspects of the administration of the receivership estate while coordinating with applicable federal agencies and district courts.

“I am excited to be joining Stroock, a firm with a great reputation for litigation,” Naim said. “The firm’s culture and approach to client service align well with how I represent clients in the courtroom, with regulatory bodies and any mediation platform.”

“The welcomed addition of Naim is a tangible result of Stroock’s continued development in South Florida,” said Miami managing partner Laura Besvinick. “We’re thrilled that he is joining the firm and look forward to his immediate contributions.”

Naim earned his B.A. from Columbia University and his J.D. from the Rutgers University School of Law and was recently a fellow with Leadership Council on Legal Diversity.
###
About Stroock

Stroock provides strategic transactional, regulatory, and litigation advice to advance the business objectives of leading financial institutions, multinational corporations, and entrepreneurial businesses in the U.S. and globally. With a rich history dating back 140 years, the firm has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Washington, D.C. For more, visit www.stroock.com.

Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to announce that Dwight Floyd has been promoted to serve as the firm’s first US Chief Operating Officer (COO). Based in the Atlanta office, Mr. Floyd previously served as US Chief Pricing & Value Officer since 2019. As COO, he will oversee the following departments: HR, Conflicts & Client Information, Operations, Pricing & Value, Research & Knowledge Services, and Technology & Information Services. He will also be a key liaison to support the Global Executive Management Team in the implementation and execution of the firm’s global strategy. Mr. Floyd is assuming the role as Suzanne Sparrow, the firm’s current US Chief Administrative Officer, is retiring in October.

“Since joining our team, Dwight has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills, keen analytical and strategic thinking, and a strong ability to implement new ideas and initiatives,” said Mark D. Wasserman, Co-CEO of Eversheds Sutherland. “With his extensive industry knowledge and keen understanding of the firm’s short and long-term objectives, he is ideally situated to move us forward strategically and operationally.”

Mr. Floyd joined Eversheds Sutherland in 2017 as Director of Pricing & Value from another major law firm where he served as Manager of Legal Project Management. Prior to this role, he worked at another firm as Director of Knowledge Management and as a practicing business litigation partner before that.

Mr. Floyd holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law as well as an M.S. degree from Colorado State University and a B.A. from Clemson University. He is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell and is an Accredited Legal Pricing Professional (ALPP) by the True Value Partnering Institute.

Mr. Floyd’s promotion comes on the heels of three other significant hires for the firm: Darwin Conner as Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer (US), Kyle Weidie as Global Head of Digital Marketing and Ronan Hanrahan as Chief Transformation Officer (International).

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.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLPis pleased to announce that nine partners in the firm’s Dallas and Houston offices have been named to the 2021 edition of Texas Super Lawyers. In addition, Bradley Dallas Office Managing Partner Richard A. Sayles was named to the lists of “Top 100 in Texas” and the “Top 100 in Dallas/Fort Worth,” and Bradley Houston Office Managing Partner Ian P. Faria was named to the list of “Top 100 in Houston.”

“We are proud of this talented group of attorneys in our Dallas and Houston offices and congratulate them on this achievement,” said Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters. “Bradley has an exceptional team of practitioners in Texas who provide high-caliber service to our clients and to our firm, and this recognition is a testament to the capabilities we have across the state.”

The following Dallas partners have been named to the 2021 Texas Super Lawyers list:

– Ladd Hirsch, Business Litigation
– Richard A. Sayles, Business Litigation
– William S. Snyder, Business Litigation

The following Houston partners have been named to the 2021 Texas Super Lawyers list:

– James A. Collura Jr., Business Litigation
– Jeffrey Davis, Civil Litigation: Defense
– Ian P. Faria, Construction Litigation
– Jon Paul Hoelscher, Construction Litigation
– Peter Scaff, Energy & Natural Resources
– David Smith, Consumer Law

Only the top 5 percent of lawyers in Texas are named Super Lawyers. Published by Thomson Reuters, Super Lawyers uses independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations to determine the honorees. The Super Lawyers list is published in Texas Super Lawyers Magazine and in various regional magazines and newspaper supplements in the state, as well as distributed to attorneys and ABA-accredited law school libraries.

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.

Miami – September 21, 2021 – Expanding Stroock’s national litigation practice, the firm today announced that Naim S. Surgeon has joined as a Partner in its Miami office. Naim is the latest of 22 lateral hires in 2021, as the firm executes on its Stroock 2025 growth strategy.

“We are delighted to welcome Naim to expand our litigation and dispute resolution services for clients in South Florida and nationally,” said Executive Committee member and Litigation Practice Chair Michele Jacobson.

An experienced first-chair trial lawyer, Naim represents clients in class actions, securities and investment fraud, intellectual property disputes, and antitrust claims, and has arbitrated before JAMS, AAA, and the International Criminal Court.

Naim also serves as chief counsel in several federal equity receivership matters, including high-profile investor fraud, EB-5 fraud, and other fraud claims. In this role, he manages all aspects of the administration of the receivership estate while coordinating with applicable federal agencies and district courts.

“I am excited to be joining Stroock, a firm with a great reputation for litigation,” Naim said. “The firm’s culture and approach to client service align well with how I represent clients in the courtroom, with regulatory bodies and any mediation platform.”

“The welcomed addition of Naim is a tangible result of Stroock’s continued development in South Florida,” said Miami managing partner Laura Besvinick. “We’re thrilled that he is joining the firm and look forward to his immediate contributions.”

Naim earned his B.A. from Columbia University and his J.D. from the Rutgers University School of Law and was recently a fellow with Leadership Council on Legal Diversity.
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About Stroock

Stroock provides strategic transactional, regulatory, and litigation advice to advance the business objectives of leading financial institutions, multinational corporations, and entrepreneurial businesses in the U.S. and globally. With a rich history dating back 140 years, the firm has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Washington, D.C. For more, visit www.stroock.com.

Eversheds Sutherland is pleased to announce that Dwight Floyd has been promoted to serve as the firm’s first US Chief Operating Officer (COO). Based in the Atlanta office, Mr. Floyd previously served as US Chief Pricing & Value Officer since 2019. As COO, he will oversee the following departments: HR, Conflicts & Client Information, Operations, Pricing & Value, Research & Knowledge Services, and Technology & Information Services. He will also be a key liaison to support the Global Executive Management Team in the implementation and execution of the firm’s global strategy. Mr. Floyd is assuming the role as Suzanne Sparrow, the firm’s current US Chief Administrative Officer, is retiring in October.

“Since joining our team, Dwight has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills, keen analytical and strategic thinking, and a strong ability to implement new ideas and initiatives,” said Mark D. Wasserman, Co-CEO of Eversheds Sutherland. “With his extensive industry knowledge and keen understanding of the firm’s short and long-term objectives, he is ideally situated to move us forward strategically and operationally.”

Mr. Floyd joined Eversheds Sutherland in 2017 as Director of Pricing & Value from another major law firm where he served as Manager of Legal Project Management. Prior to this role, he worked at another firm as Director of Knowledge Management and as a practicing business litigation partner before that.

Mr. Floyd holds a J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law as well as an M.S. degree from Colorado State University and a B.A. from Clemson University. He is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell and is an Accredited Legal Pricing Professional (ALPP) by the True Value Partnering Institute.

Mr. Floyd’s promotion comes on the heels of three other significant hires for the firm: Darwin Conner as Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer (US), Kyle Weidie as Global Head of Digital Marketing and Ronan Hanrahan as Chief Transformation Officer (International).

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.

Miami – September 21, 2021 – Expanding Stroock’s national litigation practice, the firm today announced that Naim S. Surgeon has joined as a Partner in its Miami office. Naim is the latest of 22 lateral hires in 2021, as the firm executes on its Stroock 2025 growth strategy.

“We are delighted to welcome Naim to expand our litigation and dispute resolution services for clients in South Florida and nationally,” said Executive Committee member and Litigation Practice Chair Michele Jacobson.

An experienced first-chair trial lawyer, Naim represents clients in class actions, securities and investment fraud, intellectual property disputes, and antitrust claims, and has arbitrated before JAMS, AAA, and the International Criminal Court.

Naim also serves as chief counsel in several federal equity receivership matters, including high-profile investor fraud, EB-5 fraud, and other fraud claims. In this role, he manages all aspects of the administration of the receivership estate while coordinating with applicable federal agencies and district courts.

“I am excited to be joining Stroock, a firm with a great reputation for litigation,” Naim said. “The firm’s culture and approach to client service align well with how I represent clients in the courtroom, with regulatory bodies and any mediation platform.”

“The welcomed addition of Naim is a tangible result of Stroock’s continued development in South Florida,” said Miami managing partner Laura Besvinick. “We’re thrilled that he is joining the firm and look forward to his immediate contributions.”

Naim earned his B.A. from Columbia University and his J.D. from the Rutgers University School of Law and was recently a fellow with Leadership Council on Legal Diversity.
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About Stroock

Stroock provides strategic transactional, regulatory, and litigation advice to advance the business objectives of leading financial institutions, multinational corporations, and entrepreneurial businesses in the U.S. and globally. With a rich history dating back 140 years, the firm has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Washington, D.C. For more, visit www.stroock.com.

Miami – September 21, 2021 – Expanding Stroock’s national litigation practice, the firm today announced that Naim S. Surgeon has joined as a Partner in its Miami office. Naim is the latest of 22 lateral hires in 2021, as the firm executes on its Stroock 2025 growth strategy.

“We are delighted to welcome Naim to expand our litigation and dispute resolution services for clients in South Florida and nationally,” said Executive Committee member and Litigation Practice Chair Michele Jacobson.

An experienced first-chair trial lawyer, Naim represents clients in class actions, securities and investment fraud, intellectual property disputes, and antitrust claims, and has arbitrated before JAMS, AAA, and the International Criminal Court.

Naim also serves as chief counsel in several federal equity receivership matters, including high-profile investor fraud, EB-5 fraud, and other fraud claims. In this role, he manages all aspects of the administration of the receivership estate while coordinating with applicable federal agencies and district courts.

“I am excited to be joining Stroock, a firm with a great reputation for litigation,” Naim said. “The firm’s culture and approach to client service align well with how I represent clients in the courtroom, with regulatory bodies and any mediation platform.”

“The welcomed addition of Naim is a tangible result of Stroock’s continued development in South Florida,” said Miami managing partner Laura Besvinick. “We’re thrilled that he is joining the firm and look forward to his immediate contributions.”

Naim earned his B.A. from Columbia University and his J.D. from the Rutgers University School of Law and was recently a fellow with Leadership Council on Legal Diversity.
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About Stroock

Stroock provides strategic transactional, regulatory, and litigation advice to advance the business objectives of leading financial institutions, multinational corporations, and entrepreneurial businesses in the U.S. and globally. With a rich history dating back 140 years, the firm has offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and Washington, D.C. For more, visit www.stroock.com.
PRESS CONTACT
Trish Lilley
plilley@stroock.com
212-806-1230

Former U.S. Attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California,
David L. Anderson and Sheila A.G. Armbrust, Rejoin Sidley

San Francisco – Sidley Austin LLP is pleased to announce that David L. Anderson and Sheila A.G. Armbrust have rejoined the firm as partners in its San Francisco office after serving as the U.S. Attorney and Assistant U.S. Attorney, for the Northern District of California, respectively. Mr. Anderson and Ms. Armbrust are members of the firm’s White Collar: Government Litigation and Investigations practice.

Productivity soared at the U.S. Attorney’s Office under Mr. Anderson’s leadership. Criminal filings rose across all case categories with a special focus on public corruption, corporate fraud, economic espionage, and organized crime. In numerous public appearances as U.S. Attorney, Mr. Anderson emphasized the importance of professional law enforcement to the safety of the community and the rule of law.

“We are thrilled to have Dave return to Sidley now that he has finished his tenure in the U.S. Attorney’s office,” said Sharon Flanagan, managing partner of Sidley’s office in San Francisco and a member of the firm’s Management and Executive and Committees. “As one of the nation’s leading trial attorneys, we welcome him back to the firm.”

Prior to his appointment as U.S. attorney, Mr. Anderson was a partner at Sidley with a far-reaching trial practice. Throughout his career, he has successfully tried challenging cases including complex securities fraud and intellectual property cases. His clients have ranged from leading cellular carriers and large financial institutions to individuals targeted in criminal, SEC, or other investigations.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Anderson was the First Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Northern District of California and an Assistant U.S. Attorney. At the outset of his career, he clerked under former Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy; for the Honorable J. Clifford Wallace of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; and the Honorable George H. Aldrich of the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands.

While at the U.S. Attorney’s office, Ms. Armbrust was part of the corporate and securities fraud section with an emphasis on investigating and prosecuting crimes affecting the safe delivery of healthcare, including mail and wire fraud, securities fraud, violations of the FDCA, trade secret theft, trademark violations, computer fraud and abuse, money laundering, and drug trafficking. She was also chair of the criminal division hiring committee where she led the hiring of more than 30 attorneys in 18 months.

Ms. Armbrust was an associate at Sidley prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s office working on a range of litigation matters including white-collar defense and investigations primarily for healthcare and life sciences clients. She also has considerable experience in both cyber and trade secrets investigations.

“Sheila was a rising star at the firm before she joined the public sector,” added Sharon. “With her trial experience and further developed investigations skills, we know she will be a highly valued resource to our clients.”

Sidley has approximately 750 litigation lawyers in North America, Asia, and Europe that practice in virtually every area of business disputes, including commercial trials, intellectual property, class action defense, appellate, international arbitration, and white collar. The firm’s “built-to-win” approach to litigation earned Sidley recognition as a finalist in The American Lawyer’s 2020 “Litigation Department of the Year” competition. “Built-to-win” emphasizes diversity, bringing together dynamic, cross-functional teams from different disciplines, practices, and perspectives to handle the most complex litigation matters and deliver winning results.

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.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that 10 of the firm’s partners have been named by Who’s Who Legal as among the world’s leading product liability defense practitioners. The attorneys listed in the Who’s Who Legal: Product Liability Defence 2021 are Lindsey C Boney IV, W. Wayne Drinkwater, James W. Gewin, William F. Goodman III, Tripp Haston, Lela Hollabaugh, Andy Johnson, Kim Bessiere Martin, Charles A. “Chuck” Stewart, and R. Thomas Warburton.

“We congratulate our accomplished attorneys who were recognized by Who’s Who Legal as among the top product liability defense practitioners in the world,” said Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters. “We are proud of their continued successes on behalf of our clients.”

Bradley’s acclaimed Product Liability team members represent clients in a variety of industries and jurisdictions throughout the state and federal court systems. Their representations involve litigation over a diverse range of consumer products, including tires, construction equipment, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, vehicles (both on- and off-road), component parts, industrial equipment, power tools, and building products. Many of the firm’s attorneys have leadership roles on clients’ legal defense teams for litigation in various multidistrict litigation and mass claim matters.

The Who’s Who Legal: Product Liability Defence seeks to identify the top lawyers in all aspects of the defense of product liability claims, including mass tort, class action and cross-border litigation. Only lawyers who receive the highest number of recommendations from peers and clients as determined through independent research are listed in the publication. The Who’s Who Legal guides are intended to serve as reference sources for companies seeking to corroborate the reputations of lawyers recommended by another party.

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.