Stephens Law is a premier law firm focused exclusively on handling serious personal injury and wrongful death claims. We have over two decades of experience and a proven track record of success in helping individuals and families who have been harmed by the wrongdoing or negligence of others.

Our team is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in everything we do, while providing trustworthy, compassionate representation to our clients. We leverage our vast experience, cutting edge technology, advanced resources, unquestionable preparedness, and our reputation to pursue the best results for our clients.

We seek to maximize our client’s restitution and compensation, while understanding that families and loved ones will likely never fully know their old way of life again. We strive to be “Difference Makers” and to be true advocates for the seriously injured. At Stephens Law, we take your trust seriously and personally and always seek to serve our clients and our community with honor and integrity.

If you or someone you knows ever needs a personal injury or wrongful death lawyer with a proven record of success in the courtroom, please give us a call to see how we can help.

Michael Best is pleased to announce the addition of nine partners as members of its LLC.

The new partners include:

Eric J. Callisto—Energy Law, Madison
Callisto is the chair of the firm’s Regulatory practice group. Callisto has extensive experience in energy and environmental matters, particularly the regulation of utilities at both the state and federal levels. He helps clients with regulatory filings and issues before state public utility commissions, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) audits and investigations, and electric transmission and Regional Transmission Organization (RTO) policy matters.

Adrienne S. Ehrhardt, Privacy & Cybersecurity, Madison
As chair of the firm’s Privacy & Cybersecurity practice group, Ehrhardt is known to give practical and actionable legal advice. She counsels clients on the many complex aspects of privacy and data management matters. Her extensive background includes experience with issues relating to the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), and the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), as well as privacy programs and cyber security issues.

Denise L. Greathouse, Labor & Employment Relations, Milwaukee
Greathouse is a member of the firm’s Labor & Employment practice group. She represents management clients in regard to labor and employment matters. Clients rely on Greathouse’s informed guidance involving OSHA and Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) issues, workplace investigations, labor arbitration, employment tort and breach of contract lawsuits, employee safety and health, Medicare/Medicaid billing disputes and Social Security disability

Michelle E. Kouba, Intellectual Property, Chicago
Kouba handles all aspects of U.S. and international trademark law, helping clients build and protect their IP portfolios while providing actionable advice on brand management. Her practice focuses primarily on clearance, prosecution, and enforcement matters. Her practice focuses primarily on clearance, prosecution, and enforcement matters. She has experience handling proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board and coordinating foreign trademark enforcement and litigation for clients based in the U.S. and around the world.

Molly S. Lawson, Intellectual Property, Milwaukee
Lawson is a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property practice group experienced in all phases of obtaining patent protection both in the United States and internationally. Her patent prosecution and patent clearance practice is focused on computer software and hardware technologies, including wireless networks and communication protocols, vehicle and industrial machinery control systems, including RFID technology and near-field communications, imaging systems and applications (including computed tomography and radiographic image creation, analysis, and management), productivity and messaging software and services, cryptographic and security applications, and web-based applications and business methods.

Lee M. Seese, Litigation, Milwaukee
Seese is a member of the firm’s Litigation practice group with substantial experience in insurance recovery, complex commercial litigation, product liability, and construction matters. He is well versed in all aspects of pre-trial litigation and has tried cases before state and federal courts. His appellate work is also noteworthy, including arguing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Ryan T. Sulkin, Privacy & Cybersecurity, Chicago
Bringing a robust background in privacy and cybersecurity, Sulkin focuses his practice in the areas of information technology, outsourcing, data protection, licensing, e-commerce, and intellectual property. He serves clients across industry sectors, including financial services, hospitality, manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals. Sulkin’s experience with privacy and cybersecurity issues includes compliance with multinational regulatory requirements (specifically cross-border data transfers), evaluation and negotiation of agreements for cloud-based solutions, creation of website privacy policies and terms of use, investigation and management of potential data security incidents, and compliance with PCI-DSS and applicable breach notification laws.

David J. Trautschold, Intellectual Property, Milwaukee
Clients look to Trautschold for help in obtaining patents and in managing their intellectual property portfolios. His proven track record as a patent prosecutor, together with his academic training as a biomechanical engineer, give him the depth of technical knowledge and legal experience needed to tackle the issues facing client innovators. Trautschold has experience with consumer products such as outdoor power equipment, furniture, office supplies, computer accessories, power tools, motorcycles, medical devices, and robotic storage and dispensing systems. He has also worked on industrial machinery and software applications.

Betsy T. Voter, Corporate, Salt Lake City
Voter focuses her practice on financial services, securities law, and regulatory compliance. Voter advises clients to take a proactive approach to meeting their regulatory requirements, in line with their practical and operational needs. In her past role as general counsel for a brokerage and clearing firm, she developed an informed perspective on advising clients who conduct their business in a regulatory environment. She has extensive experience in advising clients on compliance with federal and state securities laws and their impact on broker-dealers, investment advisors, and public companies.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is proud to announce that it is celebrating the firm’s 150th anniversary this year. Founded in 1870 in Elyton, Alabama, before moving to Birmingham the following year, Bradley has grown to 10 offices with nearly 550 lawyers in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and the District of Columbia.

“This significant milestone is an opportunity to celebrate the past 150 years with our attorneys, staff, clients, and friends, and to focus on the future of the firm as we continue to carry forward our strong tradition of excellent client service,” said Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters. “Bradley’s extraordinary legacy is reflective of the highest standards of value, ethics, and professional excellence in the practice of law – standards that have guided us through to the present day.”

As one of only a handful of U.S. law firms to reach this milestone, Bradley is proud to have developed a national reputation for serving businesses around the world in the banking and financial services, construction, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, pharmaceutical and life sciences, real estate, and technology industries.

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.

Freeborn & Peters LLP is pleased to announce that Joseph T. McCullough IV has been elected as Chair of the Firm’s Executive Committee, effective Jan. 1.

McCullough, Partner in the Litigation Practice Group, is the Leader of the Firm’s Insurance/Reinsurance Industry Group. He has served as a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee for many years.

Freeborn’s Insurance and Reinsurance Industry Group was recommended by the 2019 Legal 500 United States Guide for Insurance: advice to insurers and the Reinsurance team was ranked in the 2019 Chambers USA-Guide to Leading Lawyers for Business.

For more than 35 years, McCullough has devoted his practice to representation of insurance and reinsurance companies in both life & health and the property & casualty matters. He has acted as counsel to insurers and reinsurers from around the world in more than 150 arbitration, court, and administrative proceedings, including some of the highest-profile cases in the industry. In 2019, McCullough received a Nationwide ranking for Insurance: Dispute Resolution: Reinsurance in the Chambers-USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. He is one of only six attorneys nationwide to receive that honor. He has also been recognized as a Litigation Trailblazer by The National Law Journal.

McCullough received his J.D. (cum laude) from Northwestern University School of Law, a Postgraduate License in European Law (highest honors) from University of Gent, Belgium and his Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) from Georgetown University.

Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Dean S. Nordlinger has joined the Firm’s Washington, D.C., office as a Partner in the Corporate, M&A, and Securities group, which welcomed Partner Stacy H. Louizos earlier this week in the New York office. Dean brings more than 20 years of experience representing privately held and closely held companies of all sizes, private equity firms, and entrepreneurs from a broad range of industries. Dean joins from Miles & Stockbridge, P.C., where he served as principal.

Nordlinger has extensive experience representing clients on both sides of corporate and transactional matters. Often serving as a virtual in-house counsel for his clients, Nordlinger’s work includes representing businesses or individuals as buyers and sellers on mergers, stock and asset acquisitions and sales, management buyouts, spinoffs, joint ventures and other strategic transactions, and debt and equity financing transactions. Additionally, he advises clients on a variety of other business and corporate matters, including entity formation, ownership structure, operating agreements, shareholders agreements, employee incentive compensation plans, non-compete agreements, loan transactions, and succession planning.

His corporate experience leverages a deep understanding for matters involving government contracts, derived from his work with several private entities that also provide services to state and federal agencies. He will collaborate with the Firm’s Government Contracts group, one of the top government contracts practices ranked nationally in Chambers USA and notably recognized for handling sophisticated litigation, counseling, and transactional matters for government contractors, on providing more comprehensive services to clients and creating additional synergies across the Firm’s practices. Notably, Nordlinger will enhance Blank Rome’s capabilities in its Aerospace, Defense, and Government (“ADG”) M&A practice, further strengthening the Firm’s position as one of the few firms with top-tier national corporate and government contracts practices who are skilled at counseling clients on the web of complex transactions and considerations that are unique to the ADG sector.

With his move to Blank Rome, Dean plans to continue his active role in the community and build upon past representation of pro bono clients. Dean earned his J.D. from the Georgetown University Law School, his M.B.A. from the University of San Diego, and his B.A., cum laude, from the University of Michigan.
About Blank Rome

Androvett Legal Media & Marketing, a full-service marketing and public relations agency based in Texas, is pleased to announce the addition of April Arias as public relations manager. 

Arias, who will be part of Androvett’s Houston office, joins the company with more than six years of media and public relations experience, along with nearly 18 years as an award-winning broadcast journalist. 

“Androvett has long been a respected leader in the industry, so to join this incredible team is an honor,” said Arias. “I am excited to take on this new challenge and look forward to using what I know to help serve Androvett’s many amazing clients.” 

In her previous work for Dallas’s The Power Group and her own consulting firm, Arias Communications, Arias handled public relations, media relations and social media for clients in the energy, commercial real estate, food and beverage, lifestyle and technology sectors.  

Before entering media and public relations, Arias was an award-winning television journalist. Her work as producer and executive producer for KPRC-TV in Houston earned multiple industry awards, including three Lone Star Emmys and honors from the Houston Press Club and Texas Associated Press Broadcasters. 

A native Houstonian, Arias has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas A&M University in College Station. She currently serves as immediate past president of the Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals.  

“As we continue to build and grow our company, it is important to build it with people who have the knowledge and expertise that can benefit our clients,” said Mike Androvett, president and CEO of Androvett Legal Media & Marketing. “We are so excited to welcome April to our team. With her background as a former broadcast journalist and her breadth of experience in media and public relations, we believe she will be an incredible asset to our Houston team.” 

Learn more about Arias. 

Androvett Legal Media & Marketing is an award-winning, full-service marketing and public relations agency with unparalleled experience serving the communications needs of businesses and organizations across the U.S. Entering its 25^th year, Androvett has offices in Dallas and Houston. For a complete listing of agency services, visit www.androvett.com.  

The boutique Family Law firm Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson is pleased to announce that 10 attorneys have been selected for inclusion in the 2020 Lawdragon guide: 500 Leading Family Lawyers in America.

ONDA partners Richard Orsinger, Keith Nelson, Scott Downing, Jeff Anderson, Will Reppeto III, Brad LaMorgese, Amber Alwais, Paula Bennett, Lon Loveless and Holly Rampy Baird are among the attorneys featured in this year’s listing, which contains the best Family Law attorneys for divorce, separation, asset division and custody issues.

“Our firm works hard to develop the best solutions for our clients and give them the outcome they deserve when Family Law matters are concerned,” said partner Brad LaMorgese. “We are grateful that our commitment to clients is also recognized by our peers in the legal industry.”

The guide is compiled by Lawdragon’s editorial team after reviewing submissions, conducting independent research and vetting nominees through a board of peers. The Family 500 Lawyers is the first guide of its kind and includes representation from every state.

The Lawdragon honor is only the latest national recognition for the firm, which was recently included in the prestigious US News – Best Lawyers Best Law Firms list with a Tier 1 ranking, as well as the Best Lawyers in America legal guide.

Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson, LLP, is a nationally recognized firm with more Top 100 Super Lawyers in Texas than any other law firm in the state. With offices in Dallas, Frisco, Fort Worth and San Antonio, Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson, LLP, is one of Texas’ largest Family Law firms. Each partner is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, as well as a member of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists. To learn more about Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson, visit http://www.ondafamilylaw.com.

Alston & Bird has expanded its antitrust and commercial litigation capabilities with the addition of senior trial attorney Jason Levine as a partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Levine arrives from Vinson & Elkins LLP, where he was a partner for eight years.

A versatile first-chair trial and courtroom lawyer for 24 years, Levine has spent his career litigating high-stakes business cases and defending against bet-the-company antitrust class actions. He has tried 14 jury, bench, and arbitral trials across the country and served as lead counsel in a wide array of commercial disputes encompassing all manner of contract and business tort claims. Complementing his trial practice, Levine has also briefed more than two dozen cases on appeal, including in the U.S. Supreme Court.

Levine has represented companies as both plaintiffs and defendants in commercial disputes, including cases seeking money damages from the federal government. He has also served as lead defense counsel to major global companies in several of the country’s largest antitrust class actions and multidistrict proceedings involving claims of price-fixing in the technology industry. Additionally, he often advises and represents clients in exigent matters involving injunctive relief.

Among his recent victories, Levine was lead trial counsel to a global shipbuilder in winning the award of a $1.5 billion subcontract for naval warships in a two-part international arbitration trial against the prime contractor, a large multinational defense firm; he served as lead counsel to more than 225 dialysis clinics in litigation against the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for years of underpayment for dialysis services provided to veterans and secured a close-to-trial settlement of $538 million; and he tried to a jury a $100 million breach of contract case filed against a Fortune 500 client by a former business partner, winning a full defense verdict on the plaintiffs’ claim and a summary judgment award of $14 million for his client on its own affirmative claim.

A frequent commentator on litigation risks in the high-tech industry, Levine is also active in legal and professional circles. He is a member of the Liability Reform Litigation Advisory Committee of the U.S. Chamber Litigation Center and serves on the Executive Committee of the Litigation Practice Group of the Federalist Society for Law and Public Policy Studies. A former adjunct professor of constitutional law at Georgetown University Law Center, he also clerked for the Hon. Randall R. Rader, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Levine is the most recent addition to Alston & Bird’s Washington, D.C. office. He follows Kathleen Benway, who joined in December from Wilkinson Barker Knauer as government investigations partner; Richard Slowinski, who joined from Baker McKenzie as tax partner in October; and Jane Lucas, who joined in September from the White House as public policy and health care counsel.

Alston & Bird has expanded its federal and international tax capabilities with the addition of Shawna Tunnell as tax partner in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Tunnell joins from Hogan Lovells, where she was a partner and practiced for more than 20 years.

At the heart of her practice, Tunnell advises both private and publicly traded REITs on a broad range of tax planning and transactional issues – from taxable and nontaxable acquisitions and dispositions to public offerings of equity and debt securities. She also advises clients in forming, operating, and investing in joint ventures, partnerships, and limited liability companies, including private equity and real estate investment funds.

In addition to real estate, Tunnell’s clients span the media and entertainment, technology and telecom, and energy sectors. She also assists nonprofits with exemption, reporting, and investment matters.

Her client work includes serving as tax counsel to a leading private equity real estate firm in forming several $500 million-plus investment funds and advising a publicly traded REIT on a $3 billion combination and spin-off transaction.

Tunnell is a frequent writer and speaker on trends and issues affecting the taxation of REITs, including the impact of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. A member of the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts, she is also a member of the board of advisors to the University of Kansas College of Liberal Arts & Sciences.

Tunnell is the most recent partner addition to Alston & Bird’s tax practice, which was named “Law Firm of the Year” in 2020 by U.S. News-Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms.” She follows Richard Slowinski, who joined from Baker McKenzie as tax partner in October.

Breaking News: Reichman Jorgensen Scores $236 Million patent verdict for Densify against VMware.

“When you assemble a diverse group of the most talented lawyers in the country you can achieve great things.” – Courtland Reichman, Managing Partner

Read AMLaw’s coverage of the verdict.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, today announced the addition of Denise L. Mayfield to its Intellectual Property Practice Group as a Member in the firm’s Austin office. Mayfield joins Dykema from Husch Blackwell LLP’s Austin office.

For more than 25 years, Mayfield has utilized her advance degree in genetics and background in pulmonary medicine, reproductive medicine, and genetics in her patent prosecution and litigation practice. She assists domestic and international clients in identifying, protecting, licensing and litigating bet-the-company technologies.

In her practice, Mayfield works closely with internal corporate and university technology transfer professionals in patent portfolio development and prosecution, product commercialization strategies, technology transfer and regulatory compliance resolution. She represents companies directly in negotiating technology licenses, cooperative research agreements, joint venture agreements, international distribution and marketing programs, patent litigation matters and university pooling arrangements.

Mayfield has experience handling a wide range of patent matters, including genetic testing, disease detection and screening tools, veterinary medicine, vaccines, orthopedic devices, dental devices, chemical purification, extraction techniques, plant products, and cannabis products and production materials.

Mayfield, who is also admitted to practice in Washington, D.C., and Colorado, earned a J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law, an M.S. in Genetics and Physiology from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and a B.A. in Biology from Trinity University. Denise is also a registered patent attorney.

Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, is pleased to announce that Scott Meyers has assumed his role as the firm’s chairman and CEO. Meyers begins a three-year term, succeeding Andrew Smulian.

Meyers will further advance the firm’s strategic, client-driven roadmap, and address challenges affecting the firm’s many communities. Prior to stepping into his role as chairman and CEO, Meyers served as firm managing partner, helping execute firm strategy, which included the launch of Akerman’s 24th and 25th offices in Atlanta and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and its office expansions in Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C.

Meyers joined Akerman in 2014 as founding office managing partner in Chicago, where he led the office’s rapid growth from eight to 55 lawyers in four years. His leadership helped strengthen the firm’s deep bench across all client-driven practice groups and sectors.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce a major expansion of its national healthcare practice with the addition of antitrust partners Mark J. Horoschak, Brian A. Hayles, and Michael P. Fischer, along with senior attorney Najla Long, to the firm’s Charlotte office.

All four join Bradley from Womble Bond Dickinson, bringing their extensive transactional and litigation experience to Bradley’s Healthcare Practice Group. Led by Mark Horoschak and Brian Hayles, the highly regarded team routinely represents leading health systems across the country in transactional matters, as well as in antitrust investigations and litigation. Their addition deepens the expertise of Bradley’s nationally recognized group of healthcare attorneys and advisors, and also expands the firm’s broad-based antitrust and competition practice.

“We are thrilled to welcome Mark, Brian, Michael, and Najla to Bradley and to our top-flight healthcare practice,” said Jonathan M. Skeeters, Bradley’s Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner. “Their expertise in healthcare antitrust matters is second to none and their addition marks a significant milestone in the growth and expansion of the firm.”

Travis G. Lloyd, chair of the firm’s Healthcare Practice Group, added, “Mark, Brian, Michael, and Najla are highly respected in the healthcare antitrust arena, having been on the front lines of major transactions and high-profile litigation for many years. We know firsthand of their outstanding work, and we are so pleased to welcome them to our healthcare practice.”

The addition of this team reflects the firm’s continued investment in North Carolina which encompasses the addition of 11 lawyers since summer 2018, including a six-lawyer team led by Rob Marcus from the former Smith Moore Leatherwood firm and, most recently, Jon Ferry from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of North Carolina.

Bradley Charlotte Office Managing Partner Christopher C. Lam said, “We are very excited that this new group of highly experienced healthcare antitrust attorneys helps us to further diversify the capabilities of our Charlotte office, while also enhancing core strengths of our firm nationally.”

Horoschak represents numerous national and regional health systems in a variety of capacities. He regularly appears before federal and state antitrust enforcement agencies in securing clearance for mergers, joint ventures and other transactions. He also has served as counsel for health systems throughout the country in antitrust litigation involving managed care contracting, medical staff privileges, economic credentialing, physician recruitment practices, nurse salary determinations, and exclusive provider arrangements.

“Joining Bradley is an honor and a great opportunity for my clients to benefit from the firm’s existing talent in diverse practice areas, and I couldn’t be happier about also getting to continue working with colleagues with whom I have collaborated for years,” Horoschak said.

Previously, Horoschak served as Assistant Director of the Bureau of Competition of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). In that capacity, he was responsible for antitrust enforcement policy governing healthcare systems and served as trial counsel in lawsuits challenging hospital mergers. Prior to that position, he served as an attorney-advisor for the FTC chairman and as chief of staff for the agency during the transition between the Reagan and Bush presidential administrations. He received his J.D. from the College of William and Mary Law School and his Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) from American University.

Hayles is a seasoned antitrust attorney who provides guidance to clients across the country on hospital and physician practice mergers, antitrust litigation and investigations, and managed care contracting practices. He has significant experience practicing before the FTC, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division, and numerous state attorneys general. In addition, Hayles’ deep commitment to pro bono service includes his practice before the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, through which he routinely pursues claims for disability benefits on behalf of military veterans.

“I am thrilled to join Bradley’s healthcare team of attorneys that I have come to know and appreciate as among the most accomplished in the industry,” Mr. Hayles said. “My national practice in antitrust and trade regulation blends well with the firm’s focus areas and key strengths, and I am excited for the opportunities this move will create for my clients.”

Hayles received his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law and his Bachelor of Science from North Carolina State University.

Fischer focuses his practice on advising clients in the healthcare sector and has significant experience in provider transactions and managed care contracting. He regularly represents clients before the FTC, the DOJ’s Antitrust Division, and state competition regulators. He also counsels clients on Hart-Scott-Rodino Act issues.

Fischer received his J.D. (with honors) from the University of North Carolina School of Law. He also holds a Master of Arts (with honors) from Wake Forest University and a Bachelor of Arts (with distinction) from the University of North Carolina.

Long counsels healthcare and other clients on a wide variety of antitrust and competition issues. Her experience includes advising public and private companies in M&A issues involving the FTC and DOJ. Her practice also includes litigating competition-related disputes, as well as assisting clients with creating and maintaining effective antitrust compliance programs.

Long received her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from Harvard University.

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 over 500 lawyers represent regional, national and international clients in various industries, including financial services, healthcare, life sciences, real estate, construction, technology, energy, insurance, and entertainment, among many others.

Foley & Lardner LLP is pleased to announce that 18 lawyers have been elected to the firm’s partnership, effective February 1, 2020.

“We are proud to announce our new partners, all of whom represent our firm’s core values and our vision for the future,” said Jay Rothman, Foley Chairman & CEO. “Foley is committed to attracting top talent, and I’m especially proud to have 10 women joining the partnership this year. I congratulate all of our new partners on their well-deserved accomplishment and wish them continued success in this next phase of their careers.”

The firm’s new partners include:

Natalie C. Annis, Business Law, Tampa

Annis is a member of the Estates & Trusts Practice. She represents clients in developing, implementing and managing sophisticated estate plans, including developing comprehensive strategies to achieve diverse wealth preservation and succession planning goals, estate and gift tax planning and asset protection. After the death of an individual, Natalie assists personal representatives, trustees and advisers on post-mortem planning and related tax strategies, as well as ongoing estate and trust administration matters.

Chase J. Brill, Intellectual Property, Washington

Brill is a patent attorney in the firm’s Mechanical & Electromechanical Technologies Practice and PTAB Trials Group. He counsels clients on a wide range of intellectual property matters, including patent prosecution, licensing, defense of infringement allegations and due diligence investigations. He also has significant experience with complex U.S. Patent Office proceedings such as inter partes review trials, ex parte reexamination and supplemental examination.

Katherine P. Califa, Intellectual Property, Washington

Califa is a member of the Intellectual Property and Trademark, Copyright & Advertising Practices, as well as the Medical Devices Industry Team. She advises clients on ways to develop, protect, manage and maximize the value of their intellectual property. Califa regularly counsels clients regarding the selection, procurement and enforcement of brands and other intellectual property assets in the United States and abroad. In addition, she represents clients before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, works on online and brick-and-mortar brand infringement matters, negotiates favorable settlements for complex disputes and provides intellectual property counseling related to business acquisitions and related due diligence.

Amy A. Ciepluch, Business Law, Milwaukee

Ciepluch is a member of the Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation Practice. She works closely with private and public companies on the design, drafting and ongoing legal compliance of their retirement, health and welfare programs. Ciepluch advises companies on a range of compliance issues, including issues involving correction of plan operation errors, benefit plan claims and appeals, participant election change requests and options for plan design changes.

John T. Dunlap, Business Law, Milwaukee

Dunlap is a member of the Corporate, Finance and Government Solutions Practices, as well as the Energy Industry Team. He assists clients in numerous industries with a broad range of commercial, transactional and financial matters. Dunlap works extensively with clients in the energy industry, counseling utility companies, developers and investors in the development, sale and acquisition of both traditional and renewable energy facilities. He also advises clients involved in the financing of energy facilities, including tax equity financing.

Jonathan (Jon) H. Gabriel, Business Law, Boston

Gabriel is a member of the Transactions Practice, as well as the Health Care Industry Team. He advises public and private companies and private equity investors in a wide range of industries. Jon focuses on complex mergers and acquisitions and growth equity financings. He also advises growth companies, from start-up and early-stage through public offering or acquisition, on formation, financing, strategic transactions, cross-border and corporate governance.

Michelle Y. Ku, Litigation, Dallas

Ku is a member of the Litigation Practice and the Energy Industry Team. Her practice focuses on high-stakes trials and appeals of business cases involving tax controversy, intellectual property, oil and gas and commercial issues. Ku’s creative legal reasoning and strategy have helped her clients win significant verdicts or settlements, including a multi-million dollar jury verdict in a recent business fraud and theft case. In addition to taking her clients’ cases from initial investigation through trial and into successful appeals, Ku counsels clients on dispute avoidance and implementing creative, business-oriented strategies geared toward minimizing risk and liability in business operations.

John L. Litchfield, Litigation, Chicago

Litchfield is a member of the Labor & Employment, Business Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Government Solutions Practices and is a leader in the firm’s Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) Compliance Team. His primary practice includes counseling clients on a wide range of employment-related matters, including disability discrimination, FMLA claims and sexual harassment. John also represents employers in federal and state employment and non-compete litigation matters. He also regularly conducts on-site training for clients and their employees covering diversity and inclusion, workplace conduct and sexual harassment prevention.

Benjamin J. Morris, Litigation, San Diego

Morris is a member of the Litigation and Construction Practices. He advises and counsels owners, developers, contractors, engineers, subcontractors and suppliers throughout all phases of complex construction projects and construction litigation. Morris also handles business and complex litigation, including defense of trade secret misappropriation, breach of contract, unfair competition and consumer class action claims. His commercial clients have included biopharmaceutical companies, consumer electronics manufacturers, technology companies, consumer products companies, banks and engineering and construction firms.

Michelle E. P. Nunez, Business Law, Boston

Nunez counsels private funds, advisers and institutional investors on U.S. legal and regulatory matters. She advises clients on a variety of matters relating to private fund investments, including structuring and forming funds, regulatory and compliance of existing funds, fund governance and investment adviser compliance. She has specific expertise in the structuring and formation of direct lending funds sponsored by U.S. managers and marketed outside the United States, in the application of U.S. securities and investment laws on non-U.S. investment advisers. She also advises impact investors on the legal and regulatory issues surrounding launching private funds that focus on achieving social benefit as well as financial returns.

Rachel Kingrey O’Neil, Litigation, Dallas

O’Neil is a member of the Litigation Practice, as well as the Hospitality & Leisure and Energy Industry Teams. She represents clients in a variety of complex litigation matters, including director, officer and shareholder disputes, fiduciary duty claims, health care business disputes, business fraud claims, breach of contract, and banking and intellectual property disputes. O’Neil handles litigation matters from inception through completion, including pre-suit investigation, motion and pleading practice, discovery, mediation, settlement, trial and appeal. Rachel has recently served as lead counsel in two jury trials and obtained winning verdicts for her clients in both cases.

Lori A. Rubin, Litigation, Washington

Rubin is a member of the Government Enforcement Defense & Investigations Practice and the Health Care Industry Team. Her practice is devoted to defending clients nationwide in government investigations and enforcement actions, conducting internal investigations particularly as related to allegations of fraud, and health care litigation. Rubin is a False Claims Act lawyer, and she has represented health care providers, hospitals, medical device companies and other health care organizations, as well as government contractors and other recipients of government funding, in investigations and litigation initiated by the federal government, whistleblowers or the company itself. She also appeals and litigates Medicare reimbursement rules and decisions in federal court on behalf of health care providers, and she counsels and defends clients from allegations of website noncompliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Stephen B. Sandover, Litigation, New York

Sandover is a member of the Securities Enforcement & Litigation Practice. He represents multinational financial services firms in investigations and inquiries brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, state Attorney General offices, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the National Futures Association and the International Stock Exchange, among various other government agencies and regulators. Sandover regularly conducts internal investigations on behalf of clients facing allegations of securities fraud and other regulatory and compliance breaches.

Howard (Wes) W. Taylor, Business Law, Madison

Taylor is a member of the Estates & Trusts Practice. He advises individuals and families on estate planning, business and wealth succession planning, tax-minimizing planning, disposition and management of sensitive assets, charitable planning, the creation and administration of family foundations, special-needs trust planning, trust and estate administration and beneficiary mediation. He enjoys working with families to develop effective, customized and streamlined plans that meet individualized goals, are optimized to provide maximum flexibility and provide peace of mind. He also is an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School, where he teaches Federal Estate and Gift Tax.

Dorothy (Dottie) E. Watson, Business Law, Houston/Orlando

Watson is a member of the Environmental Regulation Practice, as well as the Energy and Manufacturing Industry Teams. She works with clients on a wide range of environmental matters, including compliance counseling, rulemaking, permitting, site remediation, brownfield redevelopment, corporate transactions and litigation matters. She has advised municipalities and public utilities in addition to both privately held and publicly traded companies. Watson also works in the areas of land development, real estate and municipal law, including review of land titles, surveys, development plans, drafting and negotiation of purchase agreements and crafting of municipal ordinances.

Kathleen (Kate) E. Wegrzyn, Business Law, Milwaukee

Wegrzyn is a member of the Commercial Transactions & Business Counseling and Distribution & Franchise Practices and the Food & Beverage and the Manufacturing Industry Teams. Her areas of focus include counseling businesses on general corporate and commercial matters, including commercial contracts, dealer arrangements, licensing issues, supply chain contracts, marketing and promotion agreements and logistics and transportation contracts.

Joanna A. White, Business Law, Jacksonville

White is a member of the Real Estate Practice. Her practice is focused on the acquisition, disposition, leasing and finance of various asset classes, including multifamily, office (including medical office), retail shopping centers and vacant land (including timber). She represents and provides counsel to investment firms, institutional lenders, family offices and private equity funds, among others, in high-profile acquisitions and dispositions.

Jonathan (Jon) P. Witt, Business Law, Detroit

Witt is a member of the Corporate Practice, as well as the Automotive and Manufacturing Industry Teams. He represents both public and private acquirers and targets in domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions. Witt represents businesses on a wide range of matters, including company formation, capital raising, equity holder agreements, employee and consulting agreements, commercial arrangements, joint ventures and strategic planning. He works with businesses transitioning ownership to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), issuers in public and private equity and debt securities offerings, and public companies on federal securities law compliance, disclosure and reporting obligations and corporate governance.

Barnes & Thornburg has added Michelle N. Bradford as partner in the Litigation Department in Washington, D.C. As an experienced litigator and former federal prosecutor, Bradford handles issues in connection with white collar criminal defense and complex civil litigation.

Bradford spent over a decade serving as an assistant United States attorney for the Criminal Division of the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia. In this capacity, she prosecuted cases related to healthcare fraud, tax fraud, money laundering, as well as public corruption matters. She tried nearly 30 felony jury trials more than 20 felony and misdemeanor bench trials.

Bradford also served in the Civil Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, where she handled a variety of civil cases and defended federal agencies in issues regarding Title VII of the Civil Rights Act; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act; the American with Disabilities Act; the District of Columbia Human Rights Act; the Federal Tort Claims Act; the Administrative Procedure Act; as well as the Freedom of Information Act.

Prior to joining Barnes & Thornburg, Bradford was a shareholder at a financial services law firm, where she represented clients, individuals and companies, in government investigations and proceedings involving securities fraud; healthcare fraud, complex financial fraud; the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; the False Claims Act; and the Anti-Kickback Statute, among others. Further, Bradford has experience serving as counsel for companies conducting internal investigations.

Outside of the office, Bradford is an adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center, teaching trail advocacy, and has served as a faculty member for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy (NITA). She also serves as board vice president of the Center of Abused Persons, a nonprofit that provides support to victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse.

Buchalter is pleased to announce and welcome its newest Shareholder, Rajnish Puri to its Los Angeles office. Puri’s practice focuses on corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financings, joint ventures, private placements of equity and debt securities, and other business transactions, with an emphasis in private, middle market, and emerging growth companies. His clients include corporations, partnerships, entrepreneurs, and family-owned businesses in a wide range of industries, including aerospace, bio-agriculture, digital media, entertainment, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing, and wealth management industries.

Puri, with over two decades of experience, also serves as outside general counsel to his clients, advising them on corporate governance, executive employment arrangements, shareholder and partnership matters, and business succession planning.

Puri received his J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles, and his M.B.A. and B.S. degrees from universities in India.

Foley & Lardner announced today that Kate Sullivan Morgan has joined the firm’s San Francisco office as a special counsel in its Business Law Department and Insurance Practice Group. Drawing on nearly a decade of experience both in-house and at top tier international law firms, Morgan specializes in complex multi-state insurance and health care regulatory issues.

Morgan has advised health insurance and managed care clients on a broad range of regulatory matters, including the Affordable Care Act, state and federal mandated benefits, state and national health care reform, HIPAA, agent and broker issues, company formation and licensing, individual and group health laws, and issues related to the nuances of managed care and self-funded plans. Morgan also provides regulatory advice regarding non-traditional healthcare models to third party administrators, consulting companies and financial institutions, including negotiating with state insurance regulators to obtain insurance license exemptions for such models.

In addition, Morgan has significant experience with provider contracting issues, including accountable care organizations and other complex risk and pay-for-performance financial reimbursement models. She has negotiated and drafted contracts between insurers/HMOs and provider organizations, including large hospital-physician systems, physician organizations and independent practice associations, and she has advised on a variety of payment structures. Morgan has also counseled on joint ventures, provider-owned payors, recoveries, provider data requests, risk mitigation, performance measurement, and variety of multi-party agreements.

Morgan’s arrival comes directly on the heels of Foley’s addition of Lewis Zirogiannis, who joined the firm’s San Francisco office last month as a partner in its Government Enforcement Defense & Investigations Practice Group.

Morgan comes to Foley from Dentons, where she was a member of the Insurance Practice Group. Before that, she was assistant general counsel at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

Wright Close & Barger LLP is pleased to announce that three experienced attorneys have joined the firm.

Trial lawyer and appellate specialist James Marrow has joined the firm as partner. With more than 20 years in practice, Marrow has handled trials and arbitrations on both sides of the docket. He has worked on appeals in state and federal court and is board certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. He joined the firm effective February 1.

Before joining the firm, Marrow practiced at the appellate specialty firm Hogan & Hogan. He also previously served as a staff attorney with the Texas 14th Court of Appeals where he handled a wide range of appellate proceedings and assisted the court’s justices in drafting nearly 100 opinions.

A graduate of South Texas College of Law in Houston, Marrow is admitted to practice before the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of Texas. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Rice University.

Also recently joining the firm are associates Elizabeth Turco and Michael Hurta. Turco is an experienced trial and appellate lawyer, and previously practiced at Dobrowski, Larkin & Johnson. She has handled both commercial litigation and appeals in state and federal courts. Turco is a 2013 graduate of Baylor Law School and earned her undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Hurta is an experienced litigator, and previously practiced at Berg & Androphy, where he represented government contractors, whistleblowers of government fraud, and criminal defendants. He has been part of several victorious trial teams in federal court.

Hurta clerked for the Hon. Eva Guzman at the Texas Supreme Court, and for the Hon. George P. Kazen of the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. He earned his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law in 2015, and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin.

Wright Close & Barger LLP is a Houston-based civil trial and appellate firm handling complex trial and appeals work for clients across Texas. Our lawyers have a track record for achieving favorable resolutions in cases involving catastrophic personal injury, insurance coverage, intellectual property, oil and gas, product defects, commercial disputes, arbitration and mediation, trade secrets, and trust and estate litigation, among others. We also assist with pretrial motions, special evidence problems, challenges to expert witnesses, and the critical work on the court’s charge to the jury. To learn more, visit http://www.wrightclosebarger.com/.

Farrell Fritz is pleased to announce that Nicholas T. Terzulli has been appointed to the Long Island Business Development Council’s Advisory Board. The Long Island Business Development Council (LIBDC) was established over four decades ago with a focus on growing the economy on Long Island and revitalizing the East End. Today, the LIBDC continues to help businesses expand and create new jobs.

Nick, an East Meadow, NY, resident, is an associate in the firm’s real estate practice group. He earned his J.D. at New York Law School and his B.A. from American University.

Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, has added Lawrence D. Levien in its Washington, D.C., office. Levien joins from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, where he was a partner in the labor and employment practice.

Levien focuses his practice on the negotiation and administration of collective bargaining agreements and of complex multiparty transactions. He advises clients on corporate acquisitions, bankruptcies and divestitures, with an emphasis on companies facing economic difficulties or industrywide dislocations. He also has a deep understanding of issues related to underfunded multiemployer-defined benefit plans, and potential withdrawal liability facing companies in those circumstances

Levien previously served in the Appellate Court and Litigation Section of the National Labor Relations Board. He also has written professionally as a reporter and correspondent before and during his legal career.

Levien received his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his B.A., cum laude, from Williams College.