Joinder, Inc. (Joinder), a solutions-based engagement platform that puts corporate legal departments in control of their deadlines, tasks, and records, today announced the official launch of its newest solution, Joinder Intake. This announcement marks the first dedicated legal department work request solution integrated with Slack, with an upcoming launch for Microsoft Teams.

Don Keller, Joinder CEO, said: “Our clients have consistently identified intake as a point of pain for their legal operations. Handling work requests through email or scattered chat messages is disorganized and inefficient. Joinder’s solution brings order and security to chaos, bringing legal departments closer to their internal clients and demonstrating impressive efficiency.”

With Joinder Intake, any member of a company’s workspace can request legal assistance directly from Slack, with requests collected in a secure Joinder workroom where they can be assigned, tracked, and completed by the legal team.

“Our company uses Slack as our core communication platform, but it’s not well suited for receiving and managing legal requests,” noted Mark Janoff, Chief Business Officer, Brava, and early adopter to the solution. “That’s why I’m excited about Joinder Intake. It will enable our legal team to maintain the ease and simplicity of Slack communications while adding much-needed organization, discipline, and efficiency to the legal request process.”

Joinder Intake is a no-cost solution for Slack workspaces. Companies that register for the solution will also receive a 30-day free trial to the full Joinder app. Legal departments can immediately benefit from Joinder Intake by visiting legalintake.joinderapp.com.

Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm, and the National Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad Litem Association for Children (National CASA/GAL Association) today announced Tawanna Brown, of Verona, New Jersey, an incoming freshman at Seton Hall University, as the 2021 recipient of the Akerman Academic Excellence Scholarship.

The Akerman Scholarship, which awards $2,500 a year for up to four years of higher education, is funded through an endowment established in 2015 as part of the firm’s historic $1 million pledge to the National CASA/GAL Association. The endowment supports young adults who have spent part of their childhood in the foster care system, by helping minimize the financial burden of higher education. The honorees demonstrate outstanding academic commitment and readiness for success. The scholarship endowment is currently supporting four scholars, contributing $10,000 annually to their educational pursuits.

“Tawanna has faced more obstacles in her 18 years than most people do in their entire lifetime, yet she found the strength to persevere and rise above it,” said Beth Zafonte, chair of Akerman’s Philanthropic Council. “Tawanna’s struggles have motivated her not only to work hard, but also to help others who are currently in similar situations. She is truly an inspiration and Akerman is honored to award her with this scholarship.”

“Assisting youth who have experienced foster care as they continue on their path to success is an important initiative of the National CASA/GAL Association. The scholarship provided through this partnership with Akerman is one of the many ways that we are able to offer tangible support to help youth achieve their full potential,” said National CASA/GAL Association CEO Tara Lisa Perry. “Tawanna has an incredibly bright future ahead of her, and we are honored to support her in her educational endeavors.”

Brown is a steadfast advocate for children in foster care, having entered foster care herself at 12 years old. As such, she is a devout member of the New Jersey Department of Children and Families Youth Council. The council was created to provide children who are currently in or have been in foster care with a voice. On this council, Brown is responsible for curriculum review, webinars, training courses, and the development of new policies, agendas and course programs. Additionally, she participated in the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office Summer Internship and the Howard University Crump Summer Law Program, working to get closer to achieving her dream of becoming a lawyer and continuing her advocacy work.

“We are so proud of Tawanna. She is a great example of what belief in oneself and the pursuit of excellence can yield even in the face of adversity,” said Marla Higginbotham, executive director of CASA for Children of Essex County.

Studies demonstrate the invaluable benefits a CASA volunteer brings to a child’s life. Children with a CASA/GAL advocate are more likely to do better in school. Only 50 percent of youth in foster care earn a high school diploma, compared to 91 percent of all students nationwide. Only 15 percent of foster youth attend postsecondary institutions, with only about three percent completing college due to insufficient support, lack of appropriate guidance, and unmet financial needs. The goal of the Akerman Scholarship is to help these students afford higher learning so that they will be more successful after they age out of foster care and live independently.

Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that David Sewell has joined the firm’s Financial Transactions practice and Fintech industry group as a partner in the expanding New York office.

David focuses his practice on advising banks, nonbank financial institutions, and fintech companies on federal banking laws and regulations, with a particular focus on anti-money laundering procedures, sanctions, and financial crime compliance issues. He deals regularly with federal and state bank regulatory and law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Reserve Board and Federal Reserve Banks, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Office of Foreign Assets Control, and state banking departments.

“We’re pleased to welcome David to our team as the financial marketplace continues to evolve and particularly with respect to fintech and the growth of cryptocurrencies, which are coming under increasing scrutiny from regulators around the world,” said Chian Wu, chair of Perkins Coie’s Financial Transactions practice. “David’s private sector and government experience—including with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York—will be very valuable to our clients in New York and beyond.”

David counsels clients on investments, activities, supervisory examinations, and formal and informal enforcement actions and provides regulatory advice on charter and licensing matters as well as requests for interpretive relief. He also helps financial institutions develop and refine their compliance policies and procedures. In addition to his time in private practice, David served as counsel and assistant vice president at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and as executive director for regulatory strategy and engagement at JPMorgan Chase.

“David’s strong background at the intersection of banking and government oversight will benefit our clients in navigating a complex regulatory environment,” said Ron Sarubbi, Perkins Coie’s New York office managing partner. “His understanding of the banking and technology sectors will help us to continue to provide our clients with both effective and insightful legal counsel.”

David joins Perkins Coie from Debevoise & Plimpton, where he was counsel in the New York office. He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center, his M.A. from Columbia University, and his B.A., with high honors, from Wesleyan University.

Corporate legal teams traditionally respond to ediscovery demands with a matter-centric collections approach. It seems logical; put a custodian on hold, collect their data to preserve it, and you’re off to the races. Unfortunately, this standard approach does not translate well to collaboration data sources like Slack.

In this discussion, we’ll explore the challenges organizations encounter trying to do discovery the old way, address why old thinking is unsustainable, and share insights on how to stop introducing unnecessary risk and cost by modernizing your ediscovery approach with a “collect once-use many” solution. At the end of the session, you’ll also see a quick demo of how Hanzo Hold can help corporate legal teams modernize their ediscovery workflows, prepare for the wave of discovery requests and investigations that involve data from collaboration platforms.

Presented by: Brad Harris, VP of Product, Hanzo

Brad Harris is the VP of Product at Hanzo, a pioneer in the contextual capture, and preservation of dynamic web and collaboration content for corporate legal and compliance departments. He leads product vision and innovation for the company. Brad has more than 30 years of experience in the high technology and enterprise software sectors, including assisting Fortune 1000 companies to enhance their e-discovery preparedness through technology and process improvement. Brad is a frequent author and speaker on data preservation and e-discovery issues and is a member of The Sedona Conference WG1 and WG6.

The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) has announced that Brigid E. Heid, a Member at Eastman & Smith Ltd. in Columbus, Ohio, has accepted an invitation to join the IADC, the preeminent invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests.

Ms. Heid regularly assists businesses and business owners with the legal risks they encounter in the workplace. She counsels clients on best practices and procedures; handbooks; wage and hour, employee leave and discipline, and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission matters; internal investigations; and protecting intellectual property and confidential information. She also represents employers in state and federal court and administrative agencies throughout Ohio.

Ms. Heid currently serves as chair of the Employment Law Committee of the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys. She is a past president of the Columbus Bar Association (CBA) and currently serves on the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates as the CBA representative.

Ms. Heid received her J.D. (with honors) from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and her Bachelor of Arts (summa cum laude) from The Ohio State University.

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.

New York – Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Christy Reuter has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner in the Real Estate group. As a leader in the hospitality sector, Christy brings more than 25 years of experience guiding clients in hospitality transactions and related business law matters. Before joining Blank Rome, Christy was a partner at Meister Seelig & Fein, where she chaired the Hotel & Hospitality group and was a member of the Corporate and Real Estate groups. Prior to that role, Christy founded Reuter Law PLLC and spent seven years as general counsel at Cipriani, a world-renowned global hospitality company.

“Clients consider Christy a trusted advisor and look to her for counsel on both real estate and high-level business and legal matters,” said Grant S. Palmer, Blank Rome’s Managing Partner and CEO. “Her time as a general counsel at a global hospitality group gives her unique insight into the concerns and priorities of in-house legal and business teams working in the hospitality industry. We’re pleased to welcome her to Blank Rome and our New York office.”

Christy advises hospitality groups, restaurants, and hotels in all phases of real estate transactions and has experience in joint ventures, shareholder and operating agreements, commercial leases, and license and management agreements. She also advises clients on employment, non-disclosure, contractor, and vendor agreements, as well as intellectual property matters. With a focus on both domestic and international companies, Christy helps clients expand their businesses in the United States, Japan, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Turkey, Monaco, Hong Kong, and Switzerland.

“There is great momentum in the hospitality industry right now—restaurants and hotels are eager to make deals now that cities are reopening and travel is resuming,” said Samantha Wallack, Partner and Co-Chair of the Real Estate practice group. “Christy’s deep background in the hospitality industry and her experience in a wide range of real estate and other business matters will greatly benefit our restaurant and hotel clients as they navigate through the pandemic and beyond.”

“Blank Rome’s reputation as a top-tier firm with skilled lawyers and professionals and a collaborative, collegial culture drew me to the firm,” said Christy. “Additionally, the firm is well-established and highly regarded in locations across the country that are critical to my clients, and I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues throughout the country and growing my practice on Blank Rome’s platform.”

Christy earned her J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law and her B.A. from State University of New York at Albany.

New York – Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Christy Reuter has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner in the Real Estate group. As a leader in the hospitality sector, Christy brings more than 25 years of experience guiding clients in hospitality transactions and related business law matters. Before joining Blank Rome, Christy was a partner at Meister Seelig & Fein, where she chaired the Hotel & Hospitality group and was a member of the Corporate and Real Estate groups. Prior to that role, Christy founded Reuter Law PLLC and spent seven years as general counsel at Cipriani, a world-renowned global hospitality company.

“Clients consider Christy a trusted advisor and look to her for counsel on both real estate and high-level business and legal matters,” said Grant S. Palmer, Blank Rome’s Managing Partner and CEO. “Her time as a general counsel at a global hospitality group gives her unique insight into the concerns and priorities of in-house legal and business teams working in the hospitality industry. We’re pleased to welcome her to Blank Rome and our New York office.”

Christy advises hospitality groups, restaurants, and hotels in all phases of real estate transactions and has experience in joint ventures, shareholder and operating agreements, commercial leases, and license and management agreements. She also advises clients on employment, non-disclosure, contractor, and vendor agreements, as well as intellectual property matters. With a focus on both domestic and international companies, Christy helps clients expand their businesses in the United States, Japan, Abu Dhabi, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Turkey, Monaco, Hong Kong, and Switzerland.

“There is great momentum in the hospitality industry right now—restaurants and hotels are eager to make deals now that cities are reopening and travel is resuming,” said Samantha Wallack, Partner and Co-Chair of the Real Estate practice group. “Christy’s deep background in the hospitality industry and her experience in a wide range of real estate and other business matters will greatly benefit our restaurant and hotel clients as they navigate through the pandemic and beyond.”

“Blank Rome’s reputation as a top-tier firm with skilled lawyers and professionals and a collaborative, collegial culture drew me to the firm,” said Christy. “Additionally, the firm is well-established and highly regarded in locations across the country that are critical to my clients, and I look forward to collaborating with my new colleagues throughout the country and growing my practice on Blank Rome’s platform.”

Christy earned her J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law and her B.A. from State University of New York at Albany.

Davis Wright Tremaine LLP is pleased to welcome back former associate Brian Nixon as a partner in the firm’s technology, communications, and privacy & security practice (TCPS). Nixon rejoins the Washington, D.C., office where he will focus on advertising, technology, emerging media, and data-driven initiatives across industries.

“Brian’s strengths align perfectly with areas where we are leading the market and seeing increased demand,” said Wendy Kearns, co-chair of the TCPS practice. “His expertise across numerous industries will help us expand our services and broaden our reach on both coasts. We’re excited to welcome him back.”

Nixon rejoins the firm after a decade at Loeb & Loeb LLP, where he was partner. His work focuses on drafting and negotiating service agreements for online marketing, merchandising, publishing, promotions, media, sponsorships, entertainment, branded and integrated marketing, and social media.

“The explosion of digital media is presenting unprecedented opportunities and Brian is well-positioned to help clients make the most of them,” said Nancy Libin, also co-chair of the TCPS practice. “His deep understanding of the transactional and privacy issues arising from mobile commerce, online behavioral advertising, content license agreements, and other data-powered businesses like sports betting make him an extremely valuable addition to our national team.”

Nixon previously practiced for seven years at DWT. Before beginning his legal career, he worked as a technology consultant specializing in the development and implementation of e-business solutions for international companies.

Nixon is the second associate to rejoin to the firm this summer. In June, Brad Miller rejoined the firm’s media & entertainment practice in Los Angeles.

“As a DWT alumnus, I jumped at the chance to return to the firm to help support the strong growth in the tech practice,” said Nixon. “This firm was incredibly supportive as I was growing my practice earlier in my career and I’m excited to be back with more experience under my belt. I’m also impressed by how committed DWT is to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion and look forward to supporting and contributing to those efforts.”

Nixon received his undergraduate degree from The University of Maryland, College Park, and his law degree from The George Washington University Law School.

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

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Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP is pleased to announce that the firm’s Charleston office has added six attorneys over the past five months. Jeff Bogdan, Greyson Land, Paige Chamberlain Ornduff, Jonathan Wilson, Alex Breazeale, and Olivia Daly bring a range of experience and strengthen the firm’s legal services in the Lowcountry. Jeff, Greyson, Paige, and Jonathan are new to Parker Poe, whereas Alex and Olivia transferred to the firm’s Charleston office from Columbia and Greenville, respectively.

Jeff Bogdan focuses on estate planning and probate while also bringing a wide array of litigation experience. He is a former staff attorney for the South Carolina Supreme Court. He has a passion for the Charleston community and is a graduate of the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce’s Leadership Charleston program.

Greyson Land represents clients in the areas of construction, development, and condemnation. He chairs the Charleston County Bar Association’s CLE Committee. He is a former a law clerk with the South Carolina House of Representatives’ Labor, Commerce, and Industry Committee.

Paige Chamberlain Ornduff represents developers, homebuilders, contractors, and owners with pre-construction, construction, and post-construction issues. Paige is a member of the S.C. Bar board of governors and serves as president-elect of the South Carolina Bar Young Lawyers Division. She is also a volunteer with the S.C. Special Olympics and Habitat for Humanity.

Jonathan Wilson focuses on litigation involving construction, development, and condemnation. Jonathan is a major in the U.S. Army Reserve Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps. He is also a former assistant attorney general in New York and a former assistant district attorney in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He has tried dozens of jury and bench trials to verdict.

Alex Breazeale primarily focuses her practice on commercial contracts, construction, and business disputes. She also represents clients in False Claims Act and whistleblower cases. She is a former supply chain analyst at Michelin North America.

Olivia Daly practices primarily in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, general corporate law, corporate finance, and commercial lending. Olivia is a former clerk for the Honorable Tilman E. Self in the United States District Court for the Middle District of Georgia. Prior to attending law school, Olivia worked for a government contracting agency in Washington, D.C.

“We are happy to have Jeff, Greyson, Paige, Jonathan, Alex, and Olivia join our Charleston office,” says Ashley Cooper, managing partner of Parker Poe’s Charleston office. “They bolster our capabilities and deepen our local bench in several areas, including construction, estate planning, litigation, and corporate finance. They also reflect our firm’s commitment to serving our communities.”

While the legal tech landscape has evolved enormously over the last decade, the COVID-19 pandemic accelerated legal professionals’ adoption of innovative technologies for them to successfully do their jobs. What’s more, the pivot to working remotely has markedly changed day-to-day operations for general counsel and corporate law departments, making technology and access to resources more critical than ever. According to a recent survey from the American Bar Association, more than half (54%) of lawyers reported working from home nearly 100% of the time post-pandemic. Another 25% said they worked from home between 25% and 75% of the time.

Another challenge with working remotely involves quick access to knowledgeable and experienced colleagues to provide insight, advice, and input, all while assisting with research necessary to the job.

Generally, today’s GC doesn’t have the pre-pandemic convenience of sitting next to a colleague and preparing notes, and technology has become essential in helping to fill that void.

Bridging the Knowledge Gap with Technology
GC’s have been quick to respond to these new ways of working, and in doing so have increased their adoption of legal tech 41% from 2019 to 2020. Further, Thomson Reuters 2021 State of Corporate Law report identified the top five areas that corporate law departments are looking to fill with technology solutions:
● Legal business intelligence
● Contract AI for analysis, risk assessment, or due diligence
● Contract management
● Legal workflow automation
● Document management

As legal professionals increasingly adopt emerging technologies, they are implementing new ways to improve efficiency and accuracy.

The Rise of AI
While no one is envisioning a fleet of cyborg robo-lawyers to emerge and take the place of legal departments, more than 30 years of improvements in artificial intelligence (AI) are driving the latest technology that lawyers have at their disposal.

AI is helping today’s GC by improving the speed and accuracy of research. Machine learning facilitates the use of natural language searches, allowing legal professionals to use plain English and question answering to streamline the research process. GC’s can get to the answer faster and more accurately without feeling like they must learn a new skill or technical vocabulary because the technology inherently works the way they do.

Of course, AI is only as good as its training and few GCs have the bodies or time to create their own custom solution. Offerings that combine enhanced data with human expertise and AI are delivering out of the box value for GCs.

Visualizing Data and Trends
The GC’s role has always been data-driven, and a big advantage tech provides today’s legal professionals is the ability to visualize and present data in new and innovative ways. When it comes to research and discovery, graphical interfaces make it faster and easier to navigate specific topics and find relevant resources by using maps and dashboards generated automatically with just a few keystrokes. Identifying market trends, accurately mapping key terms in a document, and quickly comparing multiple documents or versions of the same document are just a few of the tasks that visualization can help make more efficient.

Data also needs to be assembled and presented in a way that can be easily digested and understood. By integrating relevant data into prebuilt – or custom – charts, graphs, and other visuals, legal professionals can share real-time trends, identify outlying data points, and discover new insights from even the largest data sets. Visualizations can help improve their communication with colleagues and partners, enabling new insights quickly on complex topics.

Comparing legal content across multiple jurisdictions and borders has long been a pain point and necessary expense for GCs. Software can compare regulations across the country or across the globe, such as data privacy regulations or employment wages and taxes – and can do so faster and more accurately than a room full of paralegals and attorneys.

Investing in Technology
Now is the time for GCs to invest in technology to improve their efficiency and performance. Legal tech spending is expected to account for 12% of in-house budgets by 2025, and the majority of GC’s feel that investment in technology represents their best opportunity to improve efficiency and performance while keeping costs in check.

In today’s hybrid workplace, corporate law departments must have access to the latest tools and technology in order to maximize their efficiency and keep pace with the growing challenges of a post-pandemic world. Now is the time to re-envision the corporate law department and identify the ideal balance of people, processes, and technology that will help provide your organization make accurate decisions faster, while mitigating risk.

By Emily Colbert, VP of Thomson Reuters Practical Law.

The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) has announced that Adam M. Shienvold, a Member at Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, has accepted an invitation to join the IADC, the preeminent invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests.

“I am honored to be invited as a new member of the prestigious International Association of Defense Counsel and to join my distinguished colleagues of the corporate defense bar who rely on the IADC to provide valuable, high-level education and professional support and development opportunities,” Mr. Shienvold said.

Mr. Shienvold focuses his practice on civil litigation and dispute resolution, with emphasis on commercial and business litigation; regulatory, administrative, and municipal litigation; and product liability defense in state and federal courts.

Among Mr. Shienvold’s professional affiliations are the Product Liability Committee of DRI-The Voice of the Defense Bar and the Pennsylvania Bar Association, for which he serves in the House of Delegates. He also was appointed by the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas as an arbitrator for civil cases. In addition, he is a founding member and currently serves as vice president of the Hon. William W. Lipsitt American Inn of Court.

Mr. Shienvold received his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School and his Bachelor of Arts from George Washington University.

Milwaukee and Washington, D.C. – Foley & Lardner LLP is proud to announce that Andrew Wronski and David Sanders have been named managing partners of Foley’s Milwaukee and Washington, D.C. offices, respectively, both effective as of August 1, 2021. Wronski succeeds partner Linda Benfield, who held the position since 2011 and was elevated to the firm’s Management Committee earlier this year. Sanders succeeds partner Scott Fredericksen, who served the firm in this role since 2010.

“We’re thrilled that Andy and David have accepted the roles as office managing partners,” said Jay Rothman, Foley chairman and CEO. “Andy, a native of Milwaukee, and David, a native of the Washington, D.C. area, have both been practicing at Foley for more than two decades and exemplify the firm’s core values – particularly our commitment to client service, our people, citizenship, and diversity and inclusion. I look forward to seeing the Milwaukee and Washington offices grow and further expand their already well-established reputations under Andy’s and David’s leadership.”

As office managing partners, Wronski will be responsible for the nearly 300 lawyers and legal professionals in Milwaukee and Sanders will be responsible for the more than 140 lawyers and legal professionals in Washington, D.C. They will both focus on growing their respective offices, expanding Foley’s presence in their local markets and continuing to steward community involvement. Wronski and Sanders will also both continue to build and expand on the firm’s diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Wronski, an accomplished trial lawyer, is the former vice chair of Foley’s Litigation Department. He serves as one of the firm’s professional responsibility partners and counsels firm lawyers and clients through complex ethical and professional responsibility issues. He is also a former president and director of the Milwaukee Bar Association and a member of the Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association and the Seventh Circuit Bar Association.

“I am honored to succeed Linda Benfield, who has been the trusted leader of the Milwaukee office for the last 10 years and will now be a remarkable addition to the firm’s Management Committee,” said Wronski. “I hope to meet the standard she has set and I look forward to continuing the Milwaukee office’s numerous civic involvements, including the firm’s new and innovative national partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. I also look forward to unveiling our new conference center in support of community partners and initiatives. Most of all, I am excited to help Foley continue its leading role in the Milwaukee legal and business communities and identify new opportunities for growth.”

Sanders is an acclaimed business lawyer with proven excellence in leadership roles who has built an impressive reputation in the Washington legal and business communities. He serves as vice chair of Foley’s Business Law Department and co-chair of the Trade Secret/Noncompete Specialty Practice. He is also co-chair of the firm’s LGBTQ Allies Committee, and a member of Foley’s Recruiting Committee and Diversity & Inclusion Action Council.

“I feel privileged to be entrusted with Scott Fredericksen’s legacy, and those before him, of leading our attorneys in support of the firm’s mission to deliver the very best in client service, as well as building an office that reflects the diversity of the Washington community in which we practice,” said Sanders. “Scott has done an excellent job in this role and I look forward to continuing his work of advocating for our employees to set them up for the highest level of success, both professionally and personally. Washington is a vibrant and dynamic market and I want to grow the Foley office to reflect and embody that same sentiment.”

About Andrew Wronski
A proud native of Milwaukee, Wronski is dedicated to the local community as well as to the legal profession. Having practiced in Wisconsin for 25 years, Wronski is uniquely positioned to assist clients with issues and disputes within the state, with extensive litigation and trial experience in both state and federal courts. He also regularly litigates, tries, and arbitrates cases that are nationwide in scope, working closely with clients to confront complex disputes that disrupt business and generate commercial and financial uncertainty. He guides clients in assessing and managing risk; proposing creative, practical, and cost-effective dispute resolution strategies; and, where business resolutions prove elusive, achieving the client’s legal, business, and strategic goals through litigation.

Wronski received his JD, summa cum laude, from the University of Minnesota and his BA, magna cum laude, from Marquette University.

About David Sanders
Sanders was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area. From 2010 through 2017, he served as co-chair of the firm’s Transactional & Securities Practice. His practice is concentrated on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, employment, noncompete and trade secret issues, executive employment and termination agreements, leases, license agreements, general corporate matters, and the drafting and negotiation of all types of contracts and corporate documents. He counsels public and private corporations and other business entities, including corporations and limited liability companies. Sanders served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center (2015-2020), teaching a class titled, “Negotiating a Mergers and Acquisitions Transaction.” He also spearheads Foley’s work with the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Practicum, which provides pro bono legal services to social entrepreneurs and individuals who cannot otherwise afford legal services.

Sanders serves on the board of directors and is general counsel of The Children’s Charities Foundation, a nonprofit organization benefiting at-risk children and youth in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Additionally, from 2013-2020, Sanders sat on the board of directors for the Washington-based Amputee Coalition, the nation’s leading organization on limb loss. He also serves as the coalition’s general counsel.

Sanders earned his JD from Georgetown University Law Center and his BA from the University of Michigan.

Gittings Global – NE79734

Redgrave LLP, the premier law firm focusing exclusively on eDiscovery and information law, is proud to announce that Martin T. Tully has joined the Firm as a Partner in Chicago. Tully comes to Redgrave with over three decades of high-stakes litigation experience in addition to extraordinary depth in information law issues and most recently was a Founding Partner at Actuate Law LLC.

“We are thrilled to welcome Martin to the Firm. He is a force in the information law field and brings to Redgrave an impressive resume of work concerning eDiscovery and information governance. In addition, Martin’s extensive experience and insights in the areas of data privacy and cybersecurity will be essential as he leads the growth of our capabilities in this continually developing space,” said Managing Partner Jonathan Redgrave. “Martin’s depth of knowledge, dedication to excellent counsel, and ability to provide practical guidance and advice to will be a tremendous benefit to our client engagements. He is also a fantastic thought leader and has provided essential commentary and analysis of key information law issues. We look forward to his contributions to pushing the envelope on these initiatives at Redgrave.”

Tully is nationally recognized for his extensive experience focused on discovery-related issues in complex commercial litigation. He routinely counsels clients on best practices for efficient and effective legal, technology, and business solutions and is skilled at navigating the space between the law and technology. At Redgrave, Tully will also utilize his significant background regarding data privacy and cybersecurity to expand the Firm’s focus in this space. His deep knowledge of data privacy and security laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (CCPA), the NYDFS Cybersecurity Regulation, and rapidly emerging national and foreign privacy laws and security regulations, allow him to strategically advise clients regarding compliance and best practices in this evolving field. Tully has represented clients in investigating, responding to, and remediating various data breach and data security incidents, as well as conducting corporate vulnerability assessments and developing updates and enhancements to data security policies and procedures.

“Redgrave is the authority in the information law field, and joining the Firm is an exciting step in my legal career. The level of work and the types of matters that the Firm tackles are unrivaled, and I embrace the opportunity to be part of this such a dedicated, knowledgeable, and unique team of attorneys and business and technology professionals,” said Tully. “My time at Actuate Law, LLC has only helped to solidify my passion for counseling clients on significant and challenging information law issues. Joining Redgrave will allow me to expand my work with clients facing complex global business and regulatory environments. I look forward to future collaboration with my former firm in very synergistic ways and see this move as a strategic and scalable benefit to all parties involved.”

In addition to his significant litigation background, Tully has written and presented extensively on a variety of eDiscovery, information governance, data privacy, cybersecurity, and legal technology topics. Among others, he is a co-author of the chapter “Electronic Discovery in Civil Litigation” in the American Bar Association Guide for In-House Counsel: Practical Resource to Cutting Edge Issues and was a drafting team member for The Sedona Principles, Third Edition: Best Practices, Recommendations & Principles for Addressing Electronic Document Production. Also, Chambers USA has recognized Tully as a top lawyer in the field of E-Discovery & Information Governance for multiple years in a row.

Tully received his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law, cum laude and Order of the Coif, and his B.A. from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

By Rebecca L. Palmer

As K-12 schools begin to reopen this fall and kids return to school, the debate over who has the final say in deciding what is best for minor children’s health and safety as they return to in-person learning continues. The Center of Disease Control (CDC) has released its operational strategy for schools to open, including recommendations for mask usage, physical distancing, and hygiene. Recently, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis blocked mask mandates in the state’s schools, stating that parents have the right to decide if their children would wear mask coverings.

Another layer of complexity is added when co-parenting a minor child comes into play due to a divorce, and the parents disagree on health and safety protocols, including wearing a mask. In most divorce cases, during the custody process, a parenting plan is put together that outlines how co-parenting will be handled, what each parent is responsible for, and who has decision-making authority. If coming to an agreement with your former spouse is proving to be difficult even with a parenting plan, here are few tips to keep in mind:

• Remain focused on the well-being of the child. Your views may be different but keeping your child healthy should override any negative feelings between former spouses. A small goal would be to have the same ground rules in both homes around safety and hygiene.

• Lean on the recommendations published by the CDC or the school districts. In most cases, this will be the mandate implemented by the schools. Even if you have opposing opinions, it will be helpful for the child to follow the official guidelines to reduce further isolation based on the parents’ opposing opinions and perhaps exclusion from the parents’ school year.

• Document all communication. In cases when working out a solution becomes impossible, make sure you document all communication. Documenting conversations, frequency, and outcomes will give a court representative some context into the issues you are having, and these notes can be used if a 3rd party is needed to resolve the conflict.

• Review your family court order. If you believe that the decisions made by your co-parent are putting your child in harm’s way, it may be time to revisit the court order and move forward with judicial intervention.

There are still many uncertainties around COVID-19 and returning to school is a stressful time for kids and parents. Throughout this year and probably a few years to come, there will be new health and safety protocols for each of us, so being flexible with some grace and understanding toward your co-parent as we settle into this “new normal” will benefit everyone in the long run.

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

Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm, is pleased to announce that it has expanded its Bankruptcy and Reorganization Practice with partner John Thompson in Washington, D.C.

“The COVID-19 pandemic continues to bring companies across all industries significant disruption, distress or uncertainty,” said Bankruptcy and Reorganization Practice Group Chair Andrea Hartley. “John has valuable experience representing debtors, creditors, acquirers, landlords and equity holders, both in and out of court, across a broad range of industries. His work will be critical to helping our clients navigate financial complexities as a result of the current market.”

Thompson focuses his practice on complex Chapter 11 cases and debtor and creditor rights. He handles business reorganizations and cross-border insolvency matters. Thompson has served as a key team member in the representation of numerous high-profile Chapter 11 debtors, including Enron, Worldcom, Northwest, and LyondellBasell. He also represented a number of creditors in the Takata, First Energy, White Star, and Lehman bankruptcies, and regularly advises financial institutions on trading contract and derivatives issues.

Dedicated to giving back to his community, Thompson frequently volunteers and handles pro bono matters. He served as counsel of record in the restructuring of a nonprofit school for emotionally disturbed adolescents and represented African-American police officers in their employment discrimination litigation against the city of Baltimore. Thompson actively participates in pro bono activities on behalf of veterans and military service members and serves as co-chair of the legislative committee for the American Bankruptcy Institute’s Veterans Task Force.

Before earning his law degree, Thompson served as a captain and helicopter pilot in the United States Army. During his service, Thompson commanded a company of 275 soldiers stationed at Fort Eustis, Virginia, and led an air cavalry platoon of the 24th Infantry Division based in Fort Stewart, Georgia.

Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C., is pleased to announce that Paula L. Finch has joined the firm as counsel in the Business Services practice group, based in Greensfelder’s St. Louis office.

“We are thrilled to welcome Paula to Greensfelder, where she will be a tremendous asset to our clients for their business services needs across a broad range of industries,” said Greensfelder President and Chief Executive Officer Kevin T. McLaughlin. “Paula is an accomplished commercial transactions attorney and also brings a particular skill set and focus through her leadership as an entrepreneur and as a supporter of minority and women-owned businesses.”

Ms. Finch represents closely held businesses and public companies in commercial transactions, acquisitions, negotiations, contracting, and supplier diversity business opportunities and certifications. She has worked with large multi-state businesses in acquisitions, with family-owned companies starting new enterprises, and with individual entrepreneurs. She has served clients in the manufacturing, technology, transportation and logistics, construction, real estate, insurance and professional services industries. For minority and women-owned businesses, Ms. Finch frequently assists in certifications, creating new business ventures and negotiating contracts.

Prior to joining Greensfelder, Ms. Finch ran a certified Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE) firm as a solo practitioner, concentrating on transactions, contract drafting and negotiations, supplier diversity certification, and other business-focused areas of practice. Previously, she also served as general counsel for a large packaging manufacturer, managing all facets of transactions including acquisitions, vendor and sales contracts, and day-to-day legal issues.

Ms. Finch received her J.D. from the Indiana University Robert H. McKinney School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from Purdue University.

Milwaukee and Washington, D.C. – Foley & Lardner LLP is proud to announce that Andrew Wronski and David Sanders have been named managing partners of Foley’s Milwaukee and Washington, D.C. offices, respectively, both effective as of August 1, 2021. Wronski succeeds partner Linda Benfield, who held the position since 2011 and was elevated to the firm’s Management Committee earlier this year. Sanders succeeds partner Scott Fredericksen, who served the firm in this role since 2010.
“We’re thrilled that Andy and David have accepted the roles as office managing partners,” said Jay Rothman, Foley chairman and CEO. “Andy, a native of Milwaukee, and David, a native of the Washington, D.C. area, have both been practicing at Foley for more than two decades and exemplify the firm’s core values – particularly our commitment to client service, our people, citizenship, and diversity and inclusion. I look forward to seeing the Milwaukee and Washington offices grow and further expand their already well-established reputations under Andy’s and David’s leadership.”

As office managing partners, Wronski will be responsible for the nearly 300 lawyers and legal professionals in Milwaukee and Sanders will be responsible for the more than 140 lawyers and legal professionals in Washington, D.C. They will both focus on growing their respective offices, expanding Foley’s presence in their local markets and continuing to steward community involvement. Wronski and Sanders will also both continue to build and expand on the firm’s diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Wronski, an accomplished trial lawyer, is the former vice chair of Foley’s Litigation Department. He serves as one of the firm’s professional responsibility partners and counsels firm lawyers and clients through complex ethical and professional responsibility issues. He is also a former president and director of the Milwaukee Bar Association and a member of the Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association and the Seventh Circuit Bar Association.
“I am honored to succeed Linda Benfield, who has been the trusted leader of the Milwaukee office for the last 10 years and will now be a remarkable addition to the firm’s Management Committee,” said Wronski. “I hope to meet the standard she has set and I look forward to continuing the Milwaukee office’s numerous civic involvements, including the firm’s new and innovative national partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. I also look forward to unveiling our new conference center in support of community partners and initiatives. Most of all, I am excited to help Foley continue its leading role in the Milwaukee legal and business communities and identify new opportunities for growth.”

Sanders is an acclaimed business lawyer with proven excellence in leadership roles who has built an impressive reputation in the Washington legal and business communities. He serves as vice chair of Foley’s Business Law Department and co-chair of the Trade Secret/Noncompete Specialty Practice. He is also co-chair of the firm’s LGBTQ Allies Committee, and a member of Foley’s Recruiting Committee and Diversity & Inclusion Action Council.

“I feel privileged to be entrusted with Scott Fredericksen’s legacy, and those before him, of leading our attorneys in support of the firm’s mission to deliver the very best in client service, as well as building an office that reflects the diversity of the Washington community in which we practice,” said Sanders. “Scott has done an excellent job in this role and I look forward to continuing his work of advocating for our employees to set them up for the highest level of success, both professionally and personally. Washington is a vibrant and dynamic market and I want to grow the Foley office to reflect and embody that same sentiment.”

About Andrew Wronski

A proud native of Milwaukee, Wronski is dedicated to the local community as well as to the legal profession. Having practiced in Wisconsin for 25 years, Wronski is uniquely positioned to assist clients with issues and disputes within the state, with extensive litigation and trial experience in both state and federal courts. He also regularly litigates, tries, and arbitrates cases that are nationwide in scope, working closely with clients to confront complex disputes that disrupt business and generate commercial and financial uncertainty. He guides clients in assessing and managing risk; proposing creative, practical, and cost-effective dispute resolution strategies; and, where business resolutions prove elusive, achieving the client’s legal, business, and strategic goals through litigation.
Wronski received his JD, summa cum laude, from the University of Minnesota and his BA, magna cum laude, from Marquette University.

About David Sanders

Sanders was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area. From 2010 through 2017, he served as co-chair of the firm’s Transactional & Securities Practice. His practice is concentrated on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, employment, noncompete and trade secret issues, executive employment and termination agreements, leases, license agreements, general corporate matters, and the drafting and negotiation of all types of contracts and corporate documents. He counsels public and private corporations and other business entities, including corporations and limited liability companies. Sanders served as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center (2015-2020), teaching a class titled, “Negotiating a Mergers and Acquisitions Transaction.” He also spearheads Foley’s work with the Georgetown Entrepreneurship Practicum, which provides pro bono legal services to social entrepreneurs and individuals who cannot otherwise afford legal services.

Sanders serves on the board of directors and is general counsel of The Children’s Charities Foundation, a nonprofit organization benefiting at-risk children and youth in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Additionally, from 2013-2020, Sanders sat on the board of directors for the Washington-based Amputee Coalition, the nation’s leading organization on limb loss. He also serves as the coalition’s general counsel.

Sanders earned his JD from Georgetown University Law Center and his BA from the University of Michigan.

Chamberlain Hrdlicka welcomes Associates Belinda Be and Austin McCarthy to the firm’s Atlanta office. Be and McCarthy will join the nationally recognized Tax Controversy & Litigation practice, composed of attorneys experienced in advising and representing taxpayers before federal, state and local taxing authorities and in all federal and state courts in which tax disputes are litigated. The attorneys are the latest additions to Chamberlain’s Atlanta office, which has been experiencing rapid growth in 2021, adding seven additional lawyers to its headcount since January.

Belinda Be
Be defends clients in tax audits, appeals and litigation. Prior to joining Chamberlain Hrdlicka, she managed a case load of workers’ compensation claims, defending employers and insurers. Be also has experience conducting depositions of claimants, interviewing witnesses and employers, and leading meetings with physicians to aid in preparing to respond and object to discovery interrogatories and prepare settlement evaluations on behalf of clients. Additionally, she has worked through the discovery process on behalf of her clients requesting production of documents and requests for admissions. Be was recognized in the inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch for 2021. She served as a student-attorney for the Georgia State University Philip C. Cook Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic and drafted successful requests for reconsideration of returned offers in compromise to the IRS, conducted conferences with IRS appeals officers and obtained 75% tax relief for a sole proprietor. Be worked for the U.S. Department of Justice’s U.S. Trustee Program, which is a component of the DOJ that oversees bankruptcy. In this role she assessed individuals and business entity debtors’ disclosure statements, reorganization plans for adequacy to pay creditors and drafted motions and petitions.
Be earned her undergraduate degree from University of California, Los Angeles and her dual law degree and master’s degree in business administration from Georgia State University.

Austin McCarthy
McCarthy represents individuals and business entities at all stages of tax controversy. Prior to joining Chamberlain Hrdlicka, he started his legal career with the Internal Revenue Service Office of Chief Counsel as a trial attorney. McCarthy advised international, corporate and partnership taxpayers on controversy issues regarding tax credit valuations, offshore transactions, private equity and entity structure. He also provided analysis on tax controversy issues involving Section 170(h) charitable contributions of real estate and Section 482 transfer pricing. Additionally, McCarthy has experience working with tax-motivated investment transactions with a local boutique law firm and private investment company.

McCarthy earned his undergraduate degree from Boston University and his law degree from Emory University, where he served as executive articles editor for the Emory International Law Review.

Hanzo, a technology pioneer in preserving, collecting, reviewing, and exporting complex collaboration and dynamic web-based data sources, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Julien Masanès as Chief Executive Officer. He succeeds Keith Laska, who will continue to contribute to the company from a position on the Board.

“During this time of global change, where people have shifted to working remotely for the foreseeable future, we are seeing a massive shift in how businesses communicate and this presents Hanzo a once-in-a-generation opportunity to help enterprises manage the risk associated with this new reality,” said Kevin Gibson, Executive Chairman of Hanzo. “Julien is a founder of the company and most recently held the role of COO. He combines a deep background in the technology of digital preservation for legal, compliance, and other applications with strong operational leadership skills to provide the balance between short-term delivery and strategic insights that build the business for tomorrow.”

Previously, Masanès was CEO of Internet Memory Research and served as CEO for the Internet Memory Foundation. He has been a founder and strategic advisor to several other technology and media companies. Masanès was instrumental in helping Hanzo realize its strategic initiatives of developing innovative technology that augments Hanzo’s dynamic web archiving capabilities to help enterprises solve the unique discovery and information governance challenges collaboration data sources like Slack and Google Workspace present enterprises. Going forward Hanzo remains committed to a unified cloud platform of end-to-end data intelligence and risk management to support digital-first organizations.

“I am thrilled to be leading Hanzo during a time when there is so much opportunity in the market. We are passionate about delighting our customers with unique solutions that solve the emerging challenges collaboration applications present legal and compliance teams and I look forward to accelerating our innovation to be the preeminent leader in enterprise information governance and discovery solutions,” said Masanès.

Hanzo is used by forward-thinking organizations looking for solutions that overlay best practices for the matter management, identification, targeted collection, early case assessment, and surgical exporting of critical data to industry-standard data review systems. Hanzo brings simplicity and control to legal and compliance teams over their dynamic and complex data sources such as Slack, Google Workspace, Confluence, Jira, Trello, among others.

Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that Brian Turoff has joined the firm’s Labor & Employment practice as a partner in the firm’s expanding New York office. Brian’s addition increases the firm’s national Labor & Employment practice to 67 attorneys. Amid continued growth, the practice has added 27 attorneys since June of 2019.

Brian counsels and litigates on behalf of clients in connection with all aspects of employment law and traditional labor law, including restrictive covenant matters, wage-and-hour compliance, discrimination and harassment issues, employment-related agreements and policies, and government audits and investigations. An experienced, hands-on advocate, he represents clients across a range of industries, including healthcare, financial services, media and entertainment, staffing, real estate, technology, and hospitality.

“Brian is a multitalented attorney who has established an impressive practice in New York and beyond, and his addition further builds the continuing strategic growth of our Labor & Employment practice,” said Ann Marie Painter, chair of Perkins Coie’s Labor & Employment practice. “Employers across industries are continuing to face a range of challenges related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, government compliance and investigations, and issues related to economic change, and we know that Brian’s experience will benefit our clients.”

Brian regularly represents clients in traditional labor matters, such as collective bargaining, grievance arbitration, labor-management relations, and disputes under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA).

“We’re excited to welcome Brian to the firm and our growing New York office, where we continue to make strategic investments in new attorneys,” said Ronald Sarubbi, managing partner of Perkins Coie’s New York office. “In addition to our nationwide Labor & Employment practice, Brian will also support our corporate and transactional practice groups in the New York market and throughout the firm.”

Brian joins the firm from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP where he led the New York employment and labor practice. He received his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center and his B.A., magna cum laude, from Binghamton University.

Perkins Coie’s Labor & Employment practice represents employers in all facets and at all stages of labor and employment relations. With a national reach, substantive depth, and trial experience, our attorneys routinely confront some of the most challenging issues facing employers in the modern workplace, including issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, #MeToo and other sensitive internal investigations, employee misclassification litigation, employee privacy, and the use of biometrics in the workplace.