Brouse McDowell, a leading business law firm based in Northern Ohio, welcomes Daniel K. Glessner as the new managing partner of the firm. Glessner succeeds Marc B. Merklin who served as managing partner for eight years.

Since joining Brouse McDowell in 2008, Glessner has focused on corporate and health care issues, providing legal counsel for hospitals, physician group practices, dialysis centers, ancillary health care companies, and other health care entities. His experience includes corporate and real estate transactions, long-term care, medical staff and licensure issues, employment, general contracting, implementation of policies and procedures, Medicare, Medicaid and commercial payor audits and reimbursement issues, HIPAA, fraud and abuse, non-profit tax-exempt and managed care issues, contract negotiations, patient-related issues, and regulatory compliance concerns. In the continuing evolution of health care reform, Glessner works with health care clients to ensure their compliance with new and revised laws and to develop strategic models to respond to changes in the health care industry.

Glessner is certified by the Compliance Certification Board as a specialist in Healthcare Compliance. He has received several accolades for his health care law practice, including recognition by Ohio Super Lawyers® (2015-2020) and The Best Lawyers in America© (2012-2016, 2019-2020). In 2015 and 2019, he was Best Lawyers® Health Care Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Akron. He is a member of the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), the Society of Ohio Healthcare Attorneys (SOHA), the American Health Lawyers Association (AHLA), the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA) and the Ohio Hospital Association (OHA). He currently serves as the Co-chair of the Health Care Law certificate program at The University of Akron School of Law and is an adjunct professor at Widener University Delaware Law School.

Glessner also participates in a number of community non-profit and professional organizations. He is on the Board of Directors for the Hattie Larlham Foundation and the Boy Scouts of America Great Trail Council. In May 2019, he was the recipient of the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award, and in 2018, he received the William C. Zekan Outstanding Community Leader Award by the Boy Scouts of America, Great Trail Council.

While Glessner looks forward to leading the firm, he plans to continue his robust health care practice. Glessner received his JD from The University of Akron School of Law, his Masters of Taxation from The University of Akron College of Business Administration and his BS in Finance from The University of Dayton.

Vincent Brophy has joined Sidley Austin LLP as a partner in its global Antitrust/Competition practice.

Brophy will be based in London and split his time between the firm’s London and Brussels offices. He joins Sidley from Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP.

Brophy works in EU antitrust and competition matters. The firm said he is an adviser and litigator, defending clients in high-stakes matters in front of European competition authorities, notably the European Commission and UK Competition and Markets Authority, as well as in antitrust litigation. He counsels clients in the financial services sector, manufacturing and other industry sectors on high-profile mergers and antitrust investigations, cartel matters, regulations related to joint ventures and other EU regulatory matters.

Brophy is fluent and works in both English and French.

Barnes & Thornburg has added Misty Holcomb as director of state government affairs-Georgia in its Atlanta office. Holcomb is the newest member of the firm’s Government Services and Finance Department, which was joined by veteran government relations professional Zachary Johnson earlier this year.

In a release, the firm said Holcomb’s main practice areas include healthcare and the entertainment industry. She works in legislative, regulatory and public affairs matters. Holcomb also advocates for the entertainment industry, with a particular focus on the film and video game industries and Georgia’s entertainment tax incentive. In addition, she counsels healthcare clients regarding issues relating to independent physicians and medical records.

Holcomb previously worked in public affairs and as a legislative liaison with the Georgia Association of Health Plans, the Georgia Department of Corrections, the Georgia State Senate Press Office, and the Governor’s Floor Leader’s Office and in communications with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and the Georgia General Assembly.

Holcomb is active in Atlanta’s philanthropic and entertainment community, and works with the Georgia Studio & Infrastructure Alliance and is a sustainer member of Junior League of Atlanta and a former board adviser for the TAG Digital Media & Entertainment Society. She is also an actor with People Store Talent Agency and enjoys performing with Sketchworks Theatre Inc.

She earned her A.B.J. in broadcast news journalism from the University of Georgia.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that 19 firm attorneys have been elevated to partner, effective Jan. 1. The new partners are Anne Knox Averitt, Simon Turner Bailey, Brandon Bundren, Hillary Campbell, Anna Craft, Ann Phelps Hill, Bart J. Kempf, J. Riley Key, Ryan T. Kinder, Jonathan R. Kolodziej, Sarah K. Laird, Matthew K. Lilly, Andrew J. Narod, Jake Neu, Scarlett Singleton Nokes, Ryan P. Robichaux, John P. Rodgers, Erin D. Saltaformaggio, and J. Christopher Selman.

Averitt is a member of the Labor and Employment Practice Group. She has extensive experience in labor and employment matters and commercial litigation, representing clients of all sizes – from Fortune 500 companies to family-owned businesses – in industries that include retail, automotive, natural resources, manufacturing, healthcare, non-profit, communications, construction, and financial services. She also handles cases before arbitrators, administrative law judges, and federal and state court judges. In addition, she represents school boards in all aspects of their operations, including employment issues, special education issues, and due process hearings. She received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her Bachelor of Arts (summa cum laude) from Duke University.

Campbell is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. She represents clients in a broad range of litigation matters, including products liability litigation, trucking negligence, contract disputes, business torts, and general commercial litigation. A significant portion of her practice is devoted to representing manufacturers of products ranging from tires to medical devices to consumer products in products liability litigation. She received her J.D. (magna cum laude) from the University of Georgia School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) from the University of Georgia.

Craft is a member of the Litigation and Banking and Financial Services practice groups. She advises financial services companies on a variety of complex compliance and regulatory matters. Her practice has focused on the negotiation and implementation of consent judgments with various regulators and the proactive implementation of changes to business practices that are required as a result of new statutes and regulations. She received her J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. She also holds a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Arts (both summa cum laude) from the University of Alabama.

Hill is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. She focuses her practice on business and complex litigation. She has handled matters in trial and appellate courts throughout Alabama and across the country. She has been successful in representing private and publicly held corporations in all phases of high-stakes and complex litigation. In addition, she has litigated a broad range of class action cases. She received her J.D. (magna cum laude) from the University of Alabama School of Law and her Bachelor of Science (magna cum laude) from Vanderbilt University.

Key is a member of the Banking and Financial Services Practice Group. His practice focuses on counseling financial services clients facing regulatory and enforcement challenges in the mortgage, auto finance, debt collection, small dollar lending, and payments (credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, mobile payments, and cryptocurrencies) industries. He focuses a substantial portion of his practice on assisting financial institutions as they prepare for and work through Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and other federal and state-specific supervisory examinations. He received his J.D. (summa cum laude) from the University of Alabama School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) from the University of Alabama.

Kolodziej is a member of the Banking and Financial Services Practice Group. He represents all types of consumer financial service providers in regulatory compliance, examination and enforcement matters. His clients have included bank and non-bank mortgage servicers, mortgage originators, debt collectors, depository institutions, credit card issuers, small dollar lenders, reverse mortgage companies, investment firms, and various industry trade associations. He received his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) from Villanova University.

Robichaux is a member of the Government Affairs Practice Group. He focuses his practice on political advocacy and compliance, representing clients before the executive and legislative branches of government in Washington, D.C.; Montgomery, Ala.; and other states. His work in these areas includes representation of businesses, trade associations, political action committees, nonprofits, government contractors, and other individuals and entities that are involved in the political process. He previously worked as a political analyst in the U.S. Senate and the British Parliament and served as a legislative aide for former U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions. He received his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from Catholic University of America.

Selman is a member of the Construction Practice Group. He represents clients in a variety of industries, such as construction, government contracting, energy, and real estate. His construction practice involves the representation of owners, EPC contractors, general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers in a variety of issues and projects, both public and private. He also has experience advising and managing large commercial project disputes, particularly in the power-generation industry. His diverse general litigation practice primarily involves real estate disputes. He received his J.D. (cum laude) from the University of South Carolina School of Law and his Bachelor of Science (cum laude) from Auburn University.

Lilly is a member of the Construction Practice Group. He represents contractors, subcontractors, and developers in public and private construction projects focusing on risk mitigation and dispute avoidance throughout the construction process. His practice focuses primarily on clients involved in renewable energy projects and utility-scale solar construction projects, in particular. He received his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Notre Dame.

Kinder is a member of the Litigation and Energy practice groups. He concentrates his practice primarily in general and commercial litigation with a particular emphasis on energy disputes. He has represented commercial developers, commercial construction companies, and energy service companies. He handles contract review and participates in negotiations over legal terms for several oilfield service companies. He received his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) from Trinity University.

Bailey is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. He has represented clients in a variety of matters, including consumer protection cases, product liability cases, and commercial cases involving insurers, lenders, accountants, and other professionals. He also has an active pro bono practice and is a past recipient of the Jackson Young Lawyers Association’s Pro Bono Award. He received his J.D. (summa cum laude) from the University of Alabama School of Law and his Bachelor of Business Administration (summa cum laude) from Mississippi State University.

Saltaformaggio is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. She represents clients in a broad range of matters, including contract disputes, commercial litigation, and insurance and financial services litigation. She has handled a variety of matters in federal and state courts on behalf of her clients. She received her J.D. (summa cum laude) from Mississippi College School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from Kansas State University.

Bundren is a member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group. He focuses his practice on intellectual property and competitive practices litigation, including complex litigation involving non-compete, trade secrets, and unfair competition matters. He has a particular depth of experience appearing before state and federal courts in Texas and Tennessee. In addition, he has significant experience handling a variety of other types of complex commercial cases, including employment, products liability, securities, and real estate matters. He received his J.D. (cum laude) from Baylor University Law School and his Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University.

Kempf is a member of the Real Estate and Environmental Law practice groups. His diverse practice involves litigation, agency proceedings, enforcement actions, citizen suits, compliance and legislative counseling, and transactional matters concerning a broad range of environmental, land use, and natural resources law. For nearly a decade, he practiced environmental, land use and natural resources law in Washington, D.C., and formerly served as senior counsel on the staff of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, where he worked on environmental, energy, food safety, antitrust, nominations, and civil rights issues. He received his J.D. (cum laude) from Georgetown University Law Center. He also holds a Master of Education from the University of Virginia and a Bachelor of Arts from Sewanee: The University of the South.

Laird is a member of the Real Estate Practice Group. She focuses her practice on commercial real estate transactions, including real estate acquisitions, dispositions, development, lending, and leasing. Her practice includes representing financial institutions and corporate clients in real estate and commercial lending and healthcare companies in the acquisition of hospital systems. She received her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School and her Bachelor of Science (magna cum laude) from Freed-Hardeman University.

Neu is a member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group. He has advised clients ranging from individual inventors and entrepreneurs to large corporations with multinational concerns on how to structure their intellectual property portfolio, obtain and license rights, and protect their confidential information and data. He has worked with clients in industries ranging from sporting goods to alcohol to healthcare, with portfolios of dozens of foreign and domestic patent applications and trademark filings. He received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School and his Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) from Rice University.

Nokes is a member of the Government Enforcement and Investigations Practice Group. She represents clients in a range of matters related to government investigations, white-collar criminal defense, regulatory and compliance issues, civil litigation, and enforcement actions. Previously, she served for more than 12 years as an assistant U.S. attorney working in three different offices – Birmingham, Nashville, and Savannah, Ga. During her time as a federal prosecutor, she led the investigation and prosecution of more than 200 cases involving a wide variety of crimes including fraud, money laundering, identity theft, tax offenses, and RICO conspiracy. As a criminal healthcare fraud coordinator, she was responsible for overseeing cases involving durable medical equipment suppliers, physician groups, transportation companies, pharmacies, and billing companies. She received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her Bachelor of Science (summa cum laude) from Birmingham-Southern College.

Rodgers is a member of the Labor and Employment Practice Group. He represents public and private employers in employment-related litigation and assists them with employment policies, employee handbooks, workplace investigations, disciplinary actions, terminations and employment-related contracts. He actively litigates employment disputes on behalf of employers and has handled discrimination and retaliation, wage and hour, FMLA, and non-compete cases in both state and federal court. He received his J.D. (summa cum laude) from the University of Tennessee College of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from Indiana University.

Narod is a member of the Banking and Financial Services Practice Group. He represents financial services institutions in civil litigation and compliance matters across the country. His litigation experience includes a diverse range of issues facing financial institutions and mortgage servicers, including lender liability lawsuits and representation of clients in consumer litigation. He also devotes a significant portion of his practice to advising his clients regarding compliance with federal and state regulations. He received his J.D. (cum laude) from American University Washington College of Law and his Bachelor of Science from the University of Maryland.

Littler, the world’s largest employment and labor law practice representing management, is honored to present the inaugural Wesley J. Fastiff Ingenuity Award, named after one of the firm’s pioneering founders and designed to continue to inspire innovation and ingenuity throughout the firm. The winning team developed a concept for an internal technology application called Littler RISE that utilizes a mobile phone app and dashboard to tackle issues related to the retention and advancement of diverse lawyers.

Fastiff, who passed away in 2017, was recognized for his achievements representing employers and played a pivotal role in elevating Littler’s prominence as an innovative, diverse and global labor and employment powerhouse over his five decades with the firm.

All employees were eligible to enter and submissions were reviewed by a panel of judges that included members of Littler’s Innovation Advisory Council (IAC). The IAC is comprised of those leading Littler’s innovation strategy and focuses on providing holistic solutions to clients drawing on the firm’s extensive data capabilities, unique staffing solutions and more than a dozen technology offerings.

Nearly 40 submissions were entered with topics varying from technology applications to streamlining processes. Submissions were judged on five criteria: creativity, collaboration, potential value to the client or firm, scalability and overall impact.

The winning team included: Niloy Ray (Shareholder and eDiscovery Counsel, Minneapolis), Derrick Lam (Shareholder, Los Angeles), Yusra Siddiquee (Partner, Toronto), Kelly Chu (Associate, Los Angeles), Stella Chu (Associate, Miami), Surbhi Garg (Associate, San Jose), Hovik Nalbandyan (Associate, Los Angeles) and Andrea Ortega (Associate, San Francisco).

The firm also selected four projects as finalists:
– Adding Core Competencies to Time Capture: Jeanine Conley Daves (Shareholder, Greenville), Yvette Gatling (Shareholder, Tysons Corner, Va.), Kimberly Duplechain (eDiscovery Counsel, Washington, D.C.), Karimah Lamar (Special Counsel, San Diego), Bianca Black (Associate, Indianapolis), Michelle Holmes (Associate, Los Angeles) and Kimberli Williams (Associate, Los Angeles)
– ADA Toolkit: Jessica Marinelli (Associate, Denver)
– Application/Questionnaire to Determine Need for Formal Investigations: Stacie Cronberg, (Senior Marketing Manager, Kansas City)
– Harnessing the Power of Document Automation: Dónall Breen (Associate, London), Hannah Mahon (Partner, London) and Ben Smith (Trainee, London)

The Wesley J. Fastiff Ingenuity Award is indicative of the firm’s broader commitment to providing practical, innovative services to companies of all sizes across various industries. Littler is known as a leading innovative law firm and its suite of award-winning Service Solutions includes Littler CaseSmart (the firm’s approach to efficiently managing employment litigation), the Littler Pay Equity Assessment (a technology tool for conducting audits and guiding legal strategy) and Littler onDemand (a data-driven solution for employment law advice and counsel), among other solutions that provide greater efficiency, help shape legal strategies and inform critical employment decisions.

Buchalter announced that it has added two new shareholders – real estate shareholder Faith K. Bruins in San Francisco and intellectual property shareholder Thomas J. Speiss III in Los Angeles.

In a release, the firm said Bruins practices tax-advantaged real estate investment, development and finance with an emphasis on equity investment in affordable multifamily housing projects eligible for federal and state tax credits and related benefits under the Internal Revenue Code. Her clients include syndicators, direct investors, for-profit and nonprofit developers and community development entities. She has also represented lenders and deal sponsors, aiding them in structuring complex tax credit transactions intended both to maximize financial and tax benefits and to have a positive impact on communities.

Bruins earned her J.D. at Boston College Law School and her LL.M in Taxation at Boston University School of Law. She received her B.A. from Middlebury College.

Speiss’ practice focuses on global IP strategies and portfolio management. He has worked in global trademark counseling and litigation, including the development and management of trademark portfolios and trademark rights online, as well as related copyright protection.

Speiss earned his J.D from Villanova University School of Law in 1997, and his M.B.A from University of Southern California in 2005. He earned his B.S. from James Madison University in 1993.

Houston civil trial law boutique Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C., or AZA, has added five attorneys.

The new hires include:

• Samantha Brantley focused on corporate litigation
• H. Jared Doster focused on intellectual property law
• Louis Liao is an intellectual property attorney focused on patent litigation
• Luke Ott focused on commercial litigation
• Crystal V. Venning focused on complex commercial litigation including disputes arising from business contracts, government contracts and large construction projects

AZA is a trial firm working with high-stakes litigation for multinational companies, also representing individuals and mid-sized businesses with serious legal issues. The firm also manages company investigations, helping company boards, in-house counsel, and audit committees identify problems and ensure compliance before litigation ensues.

Read more about the new hires.

Carrington, Coleman, Sloman & Blumenthal, LLP, has added three attorneys to its Dallas office.

The new partners are Bruce Hendrick and George Lee, and senior associate Andrea Perez. In a release, the firm said they will work in corporate, mergers and acquisition and finance matters.

“These attorneys each have significant experience and expertise in transactional and regulatory matters here in Texas and nationally,” said Carrington Coleman’s Corporate & Finance practice group leader, Bret Madole. “Their addition is an exciting development in the continued expansion of our firm’s work on behalf of middle market clients.”

Hendrick’s practice focuses on business transactions within Texas. He has a background as a certified public accountant and holder of an LL.M in taxation. Before launching his legal practice, Hendrick had a career on Wall Street, closing a number of deals for Fortune 100 companies while with Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Citigroup.

Lee represents registered investment advisers, family offices, and private investment fund sponsors in matters intrinsic to the investment management industry, including fund formation, portfolio transactions, and securities compliance matters. The firm said he has been instrumental in helping shape state and federal rules including the SEC “Family Office Exception” under the Dodd-Frank Act and the Texas State Securities Board’s Exemptions from Registration rules for private fund management.

Perez works with public and private companies, private equity firms, and family businesses on a comprehensive range of complex corporate matters including mergers, entity formation, governance, intellectual property protection, and commercial contracts. She assists galleries, museums, auction houses, collectors, artists, and art professionals with their unique art-related legal needs, the firm said. She is also an adjunct professor of International Law and the Arts at Southern Methodist University’s Meadows School of the Arts.

Deborah Ruffins has joined Perkins Coie as chief marketing officer, responsible for leading all marketing and business development functions and initiatives.

Ruffins, who will be based in Perkins Coie’s Seattle office, was previously global head of strategic initiatives at Hogan Lovells. Prior to that, she led practice marketing and business development with responsibility for business strategy, marketing planning, and budgeting. Before joining Hogan Lovells, she led global business development efforts at Bingham McCutchen.

In addition to her law firm experience, Ruffins worked in the consulting field for nearly 20 years where she held leadership roles in marketing, business development, and sales at Accenture, PwC and Deloitte & Touche. She received her B.S. in Finance from Fordham University.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP announced that Jeff Allen, a senior attorney, and Casey L. Miller, an associate, both in the firm’s Nashville office, have received awards from the Nashville Bar Association (NBA) and were appointed to new NBA leadership positions.

Allen received the CLE Excellence Award from the NBA for his work developing quality CLE programming as co-chair of the NBA’s Entertainment, Sports and Media Law Committee. The CLE Excellence Award recognizes NBA members who have provided exceptional service to the NBA’s Continuing Legal Education program.

Allen also was appointed treasurer of the NBA for 2020.

Miller received the Enterprise Award from the NBA Young Lawyers Division (YLD) for her efforts in 2019 as co-chair of the YLD’s Carbolic Smoke Ball Committee, which raises money for CASA Nashville and Nashville Children’s Alliance. The organizations provide services to abused and neglected children.

In 2020, Miller will serve as a member of the executive board and director of professional development for the YLD. She will also serve as co-chair of the NBA’s Chancery and Circuit Court Committee, which monitors activity of the Chancery and Circuit Courts of Davidson County and makes recommendations regarding improvements in these courts.

A member of Bradley’s Media and Entertainment Practice Group, Allen focuses his practice on entertainment and intellectual property litigation, as well as entertainment transactional matters. In a release, the firm said he has handled cases involving personal management and songwriting contract disputes, complex royalty disputes, copyright termination, copyright infringement, trademark infringement, and right of publicity. In addition, he has negotiated personal management agreements, talent agreements, copyright transfer and assignment agreements, domestic and foreign licensing agreements, master recording agreements, production agreements, distribution agreements, and joint venture record label and publishing company agreements for entertainment industry clients. Allen also regularly prepares and completes copyright and trademark registration applications for music and entertainment clients.

Allen serves on the Executive Council of the Tennessee Bar Association’s Entertainment and Sports Law Section.

A member of Bradley’s Litigation Practice Group, Miller represents clients in a variety of commercial litigation and dispute resolution matters. She focuses her practice on business tort litigation, contract disputes, fiduciary-duty claims involving corporate directors and officers, intellectual property litigation, securities litigation, disputes over non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, and real estate litigation. She also represents organizations and individuals in government and internal investigations, advises clients in regulatory compliance matters, and handles related litigation and white-collar defense matters.

Steven Zager has joined King & Spalding’s Trial and Global Disputes practice as a partner in the Austin office.

In a release, the firm said Zager is a jury trial lawyer who represents clients in industries including medical devices, telecommunications, computer hardware and software, professional services, transportation, food and beverage, and chemicals.

Zager joined from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, where he was based in New York and led that firm’s Intellectual Property practice for many years. He is returning to Austin where he practiced earlier in his career.

Zager has been named a National Law Journal Intellectual Property Trailblazer, one of the top trial lawyers in America by the National Law Journal, and the Go To Lawyer for Litigation in Texas by Texas Lawyer. He was also named a Trial Ace by Law360.

Zager obtained his undergraduate degree and his JD from Vanderbilt University.

Brett Marston of Gentry Locke has been selected by the American Arbitration Association (AAA) to serve as an arbitrator on its Construction Panel. In addition to his role at the firm, Marston will handle AAA arbitration on construction-industry disputes.

The not-for-profit American Arbitration Association (AAA)-International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) is the largest private global provider of alternative dispute resolution services in the world. The AAA-ICDR aims to move even the most complicated, multi-faceted cases through mediation and arbitration fairly and cost effectively, with the goal of getting parties back to business as soon as possible. The AAA-ICDR Roster of Arbitrators and Mediators is composed of distinguished former judges and leaders in the legal and business communities with industry-specific knowledge and expertise.

Marston chairs the firm’s Construction Law practice group and has experience in construction contract negotiations and preparation, payment disputes, mechanic’s liens, bond claims, construction defects, delay claims, insurance and OSHA matters. He handles construction matters in federal and state courts, arbitration and mediation for general contractors, subcontractors, owners, design professionals and suppliers.

Marston was inducted into the Virginia Law Foundation Fellows Class of 2019, and is consistently selected for inclusion in the annual Virginia Super Lawyers list, has consecutively made their Virginia “Top 10” and “Top 100” lists, and has thrice been named Roanoke Lawyer of the Year for Construction Law by The Best Lawyers in America. Marston was named to the 2018 class of “Leaders in the Law” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly.

He earned his B.A. from the University of Virginia and his J.D., with distinction, from the George Mason University School of Law.

Moore & Van Allen PLLC announced that the four attorneys have been elected as the firm’s newest members: Amanda Carrano Franklin, Andrew R. Price, Nader S. Raja and Nick C. Russell.

Their new designation went into effect on Jan. 1, 2020. All four attorneys are based in Charlotte.

Amanda Carrano Franklin practices in the areas of business immigration and immigration related employer compliance. She works with large multinational corporations, mid-sized employers, and small business start-ups on the full range of employment-based nonimmigrant visas and permanent residence applications. Franklin additionally provides advice to employers on I-9 completion and retention, E-Verify, and H-1B and LCA compliance.

Andrew R. Price practices in the area of financial services. His practice focuses on representing banks, other financial institutions, and private equity sponsors in the structuring and documentation of secured and unsecured syndicated, club and bilateral credit facilities for companies in a wide variety of industries. His experience includes the representation of administrative agents and participant lenders in a broad range of corporate and commercial lending transactions, including acquisition-related financings, leveraged recapitalizations, and working capital facilities.

Nader S. Raja works with clients facing complex and high-stakes litigation, regulatory and reputational issues. He focuses on commercial litigation and white-collar criminal defense. In addition, Raja serves as chair of the firm’s Housing Rights Pro Bono Project, as co-champion of the Charlotte Triage Eviction Project, and is a member of the firm’s Recruiting Committee, Diversity Committee and Public Service Committee.

Nick C. Russell handles intellectual property matters, with a focus on patent preparation, prosecution, patent portfolio management, and patent investigations, such as freedom-to-operate, non-infringement and invalidity investigations.

Eileen Brown has been named the managing partner of Thompson Coburn’s Washington, D.C., office effective Jan. 1, 2020. Brown serves as a co-chair of Thompson Coburn’s national Transportation and Project Finance group and is a member of its Management Committee.

Brown is the second female managing partner of the D.C. office; she succeeds partner Margie Krumholz, who has led the office since 2008. Nearly 50 percent of the lawyers in Thompson Coburn’s D.C. office are women.

Brown represents government entities, financial institutions, and publicly traded companies in international, asset-based and project finance transactions, government guaranteed finance, and equipment leasing. She also represents local and regional transportation agencies, companies buying, selling and operating aircraft, and lenders and lessors to marine operating companies.

She has served as outside counsel to the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank) for 14 years, and has helped facilitate financings for transportation, energy, agricultural, mining and development projects around the world.

Brown joined Thompson Coburn’s Management Committee in 2019. She has been an active member of the Firm’s Total Commitment Women’s Initiative, led programming efforts in the D.C. region on behalf of the initiative, and served as a mentor to female attorneys.

Before joining Thompson Coburn, Brown was an attorney with the U.S. Maritime Administration, focusing on the Title XI loan guarantee program. She also served as counsel for International Registries, Inc. (IRI) when the IRI served as the corporate and maritime administrator for the Republics of Liberia and the Marshall Islands.

She is a member of the Maritime Law Association and a longtime member of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), which recently appointed her to the organization’s national Legal Committee.

A resident of Arlington, Virginia, Brown earned her J.D. from Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law and obtained a B.A. from Villanova University.

Miller & Chevalier Chartered announced the elections of Ann Sultan and James R. (Jim) Gadwood as Members of the firm. The promotion was effective Jan. 1.

The firm said Ann Sultan focuses her practice on internal and government investigations, international corporate compliance, and white collar defense, particularly the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and anti-money laundering laws and regulations. Sultan also advises public companies and senior executives on compliance assessments, due diligence, risk management, U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement actions, and interactions with external auditors in the context of accounting and financial reporting matters.

Jim Gadwood has a federal tax practice, including tax accounting, transfer pricing, opportunity zones, the non-deductibility of fines and penalties, debt-versus-equity determinations, and earnings-stripping rules. He regularly assists clients with special industry tax issues, including insurance companies, investment funds, and investor-owned utilities. He has represented taxpayers in connection with Internal Revenue Service (IRS) examinations, conferences with the IRS Independent Office of Appeals, and requests for advance pricing agreements, changes in accounting method, technical advice memoranda, and private letter rulings.

Parthiv Rishi has joined Sidley Austin LLP’s Singapore office as a partner in its global M&A and Private Equity practice. Rishi was previously a partner at Linklaters LLP, where he led the firm’s financial sponsor and private equity practice in Southeast Asia.

Rishi has advises major corporates and large financial institutions on all forms of corporate transactions, including M&A, joint ventures and corporate restructurings. In particular, he focuses his practice on advising private equity funds and financial sponsors, as well as their portfolio companies. Additionally, he is experienced in advising on renewables and infrastructure M&A. Rishi has an active cross-border client base extending across Europe and Asia. Most recently, he advised on deals in Singapore, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and India.

Lance J. Phillips has joined Eversheds Sutherland’s M&A and Private Capital teams in its Chicago office.

In a release, the firm said Phillips is the second M&A partner, and fifth partner overall, to join Eversheds Sutherland in Chicago since the firm opened an office there in 2019.

Phillips joins from Skadden’s corporate group in Chicago.

The firm said he advises public and private clients on domestic and international merger and acquisition transactions, divestitures, controlling and noncontrolling equity transfers, corporate finance, SEC and other regulatory compliance matters, share¬holder activism and corporate governance.

Dykema announced that its executive board elected nine new members to the firm effective January 1, 2020. Dykema’s new partners, their resident office and practice descriptions are listed below.
Gerald L. Aben – Health Care; Ann Arbor
Aben’s practice focuses on representing health care clients, including health systems, long term care and assisted living facilities, ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), and mental health providers on a range of corporate and regulatory matters. In particular, Aben counsels such clients on compliance and reimbursement issues as well as health facility and physician practice acquisitions and other changes of ownership, including related licensure and Medicare/Medicaid certification matters. Immediately following law school, Aben received an appointment to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a Presidential Management Fellow, where he primarily focused on budget and policy issues affecting that agency’s Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response.
He received a J.D., summa cum laude, from the Michigan State University College of Law and a B.M., with honors, from the University of Michigan.
Gregory K. Jones – Bankruptcy; Los Angeles
Jones concentrates his practice on bankruptcy cases and out-of-court restructurings. He represents lenders, creditors’ committees, debtors, assignees for the benefit of creditors, purchasers of assets in bankruptcy cases, lessors, and defendants in preference and fraudulent transfer lawsuits. Jones is involved in the Financial Lawyers Conference, is a member of the James T. King Bankruptcy American Inn of Court, and served as Director of La Cañada Flintridge Education Foundation.
He received both a J.D. and a B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Scott R. Kocienski – Taxation; Bloomfield Hills
Kocienski has experience in corporate, partnership and mergers and acquisitions tax matters, entity structuring, fund formation, tax credit planning, income tax planning, business succession and estate planning. He is also experienced advising clients on multistate tax planning, audits, dispute resolution, appeals, and litigation.
He earned a J.D., cum laude, from the Michigan State University College of Law, an LL.M. from Wayne State University Law School, and a B.S., cum laude, from Western Michigan University.
Virgil Ochoa – Corporate Finance; Dallas
Ochoa, who is a member of Dykema’s Dental Service Organizations (DSO) Industry Group, focuses his practice on mergers, acquisitions, and affiliations with DSOs, MSOs, the formation of corporate finance matters and international trade law. He regularly advises clients on a wide array of corporate matters, including assisting investors in buying, selling, or investing in DSOs, MSOs assisting dentists and other professionals in selling their practices, assisting DSOs in affiliating with dental practices, and creating regulatory corporate business models. Ochoa’s export control practice includes helping companies interpret the U.S. Export Administration Regulations, the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, the Federal Trade Regulations and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. He also represents clients in import-related matters before U.S. Customs and Border Protection authorities.
He earned a J.D., with honors, from The University of Texas School of Law, an M.A. from Webster University, and a B.A. from The University of Texas at El Paso.
Travis E. Plummer – Commercial Litigation; Austin
In his practice, Plummer counsels clients on general commercial, construction, insurance, and healthcare litigation. With offices in both Austin and San Antonio, he counsels clients throughout central Texas and has recently advised on matters regarding commercial transactions, construction disputes, healthcare litigation, insurance defense, company structures, intellectual property, Deceptive Trade Practices Act claims, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, and commercial leases. In construction matters, Plummer represents a variety of owners, contractors, and architects defending and prosecuting claims of construction defects, breaches of professional responsibility, and non-payment of contracts. Within the insurance industry, he represents insurers in first-party claims for property damage. Within the health care industry, Plummer represents providers and physicians in commercial disputes and administrative hearings. Plummer has represented numerous clients in securing favorable summary judgments and jury verdicts.
He earned a J.D., with honors, and a B.S. in Biology, with a minor in Medical Humanities, from Baylor University.
John F. Rhoades – Business Litigation; Detroit
Rhoades is a trial-experienced commercial litigation attorney licensed to practice in Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin. He represents automakers, suppliers, multinational corporations, and small businesses in a variety of commercial matters involving breach of contract, fiduciary duty, fraudulent misrepresentation, negligence, tortious interference and unfair competition. He also regularly represents some of the nation’s largest financial institutions in matters regarding creditors’ rights, mortgage banking, consumer lending, loan enforcement, bankruptcy, fraudulent transfers, and post-judgment proceedings.
Rhoades earned a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School, and an A.B., with high distinction, from the University of Michigan.
Jon A. Seppelt – Intellectual Property; Minneapolis
Seppelt’s practice focuses on the preparation and prosecution of foreign and domestic patent applications, intellectual property due diligence, portfolio management, and client counseling. He also has experience in providing opinions regarding patentability, freedom-to-operate, noninfringement, invalidity, and enforceability. Seppelt has experience serving as an in-house seconded patent attorney for a Fortune 500 medical device company, completing a number of internal projects and assisting in day-to-day operations. He also has experience with technology fields, including chemical technologies, high temperature plasma processes, oil and gas processes and equipment, medical devices and imaging equipment, filtration systems, fuel cell systems, consumer electronic devices, and many more.
He earned a J.D. from the William Mitchell College of Law and a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota, Institute of Technology.
John C. Sokatch – Commercial Litigation; Dallas
Sokatch’s practice focuses specifically on complex commercial litigation matters in state and federal court, appellate courts, and arbitration proceedings. He has served as first and second chair trying multiple cases to a verdict or arbitration award and provided oral argument and briefing to the Fifth Court of Appeals and Texas Supreme Court. Sokatch has experience handling a variety of matters, including limited liability company membership and partnership disputes; commercial real estate/landlord-tenant and development litigation; trade secret misappropriation; breach of contract, commercial sale of goods (UCC); breach of fiduciary duties (general partner, LLC manager, and financial planner disputes); Federal, state, and common-law trademark disputes; non-compete, non-solicitation, and non-disclosure agreements; and physician credentialing disputes.
He earned a J.D. from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and a B.A., cum laude, in Economics from the University of Oklahoma.
Boyd White III – Products, Class Actions, & Professional Liability; Detroit
White has first chair trial experience with major automotive industry clients and has tried multiple cases to verdict during the past three years. He has experience in all aspects of commercial litigation including discovery, trial pleadings, depositions, preparation of witnesses for trial and conducting trials. White’s civil trial experience is highlighted by his involvement in a week-long federal bench trial involving alleged banking losses suffered in a phishing scam, where he conducted direct examination of defense witnesses. Immediately prior to joining Dykema, he served as an Assistant Prosecuting Attorney in the Office of the Oakland County Prosecutor, where he tried multiple cases to verdict including both bench and jury trials.
White earned a J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law and a B.T.A. from the University of Michigan.

Hogan Lovells announced that 29 of its lawyers have been promoted to partner effective January 1 across a network of 45+ offices in 24+ countries, spanning Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas.

Each of Hogan Lovells’ five practice groups is represented in the 2020 partner promotions:

• Eight in Corporate (including in Transactional, Real Estate, and Tax)
• Seven in Litigation, Arbitration and Employment (including in Litigation, Arbitration, Investigations, White Collar and Fraud, and Employment)
• Nine in Global Regulatory (including in Communications, Environment and Natural Resources, FDA/ Medical Devices and Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology, Health, International Trade and Investment, Antitrust, Competition and Economic Regulation, and Regulated Payments Banking and Lending )
• Two in Finance (including in Business Restructuring and Insolvency, and Infrastructure, Energy, Resources and Projects)
• Three in Intellectual Property, Media and Technology

The new partners include:

• 14 in the Americas, spread across our Baltimore, Denver, Mexico City, New York, Northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C. offices
• Eight in the UK and Africa, in our London office
• Six in Continental Europe, spread across our Frankfurt, Luxembourg, Munich, Madrid, and Rome offices
• One in Asia Pacific and the Middle East, in our Tokyo office.
• 13 women and 16 men.

In addition to the 29 new partners, 56 lawyers have been promoted to counsel.

New partners are:

• Andrea Atteritano, LAE (Litigation), Rome
• Fiona Bantock, Corporate (Tax), London
• James Black, Global Regulatory (Financial Services Regulatory), London
• Carrie A. DeLone, LAE (Litigation), Washington D.C.
• Jennifer Dickey, LAE (Litigation), London
• Ana Maria Gutiérrez, Global Regulatory (Environment and Natural Resources), Denver
• Margaux J. Hall, Global Regulatory (Health Care), Washington, D.C.
• Sabrina Handke, Corporate (Real Estate), Munich
• George W. Ingham, LAE (Employment), Northern Virginia
• Alexander Koch, Corporate (Transactional), Luxembourg
• Lina R. Kontos, Global Regulatory (Medical Devices and Technology), Washington, D.C.
• Tony Lin, Global Regulatory (Communications, Internet and Media), Washington, D.C.
• James Maltby, Finance (Business Restructuring and Insolvency), London
• Liam Naidoo, LAE (Investigations, White Collar and Fraud), London
• Aaron Oakley, Intellectual Property, Media, and Technology, Denver
• George O’Brien, Global Regulatory (Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology), Washington, D.C.
• Luis Ernesto Peón Barriga, LAE (International Arbitration), Mexico City
• Hannah Quarterman, Corporate (Real Estate – Planning), London
• Alexander Stefan Rieger, Finance (Infrastructure, Energy, Resources and Projects), Frankfurt
• Christian Ritz, Global Regulatory (Antitrust, Competition and Economic Regulation), Munich
• Jonathan Russell, Corporate (Transactional), London
• Ignacio Sánchez, LAE (Investigations, White Collar and Fraud), Madrid
• Abigail C. Smith, Corporate (Transactional), Washington, D.C.
• Jane Summerfield, Global Regulatory (Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology), London
• Tomoe Takahashi, Intellectual Property, Media, and Technology, Tokyo
• Adriana V. Tibbitts, Corporate (Transactional), Baltimore
• Jared R. Wessel – Global Regulatory (International Trade and Investment), Washington D.C.
• Gabrielle (Gabi) M. Witt, Corporate (Transactional), Northern Virginia
• Ernest Yakob, Intellectual Property, Media, and Technology, New York

New counsel are:

• Ryan M. Adrian, Corporate (Transactional), Denver
• Christiane Alpers, Corporate (Commercial), Hamburg
• Oliver Bäcker, Intellectual Property, Media, and Technology, Dusseldorf
• Robert F. Baldwin III, Global Regulatory (Antitrust, Competition and Economic Regulation), Washington, D.C.
• John D. Beck, Finance (Business Restructuring and Insolvency), New York
• Alberto Bellan, Corporate (Commercial), Milan
• Maria Benbrahim, LAE (Employment), Amsterdam
• Nicole Böck, LAE (Litigation), Munich
• Christine Borries, Finance (Business Restructuring and Insolvency), Munich
• Dele F. Butler, Corporate (Transactional), Washington, D.C.
• Scott Campbell, Corporate (Real Estate), Denver
• Jordan P. Chase, Finance (Infrastructure, Energy, Resources and Projects), Denver
• Shantay Cong, Finance (Banking), Shanghai
• Adam A. Cooke, LAE (Litigation), Washington, D.C.
• Anneka Dalton, Intellectual Property, Media, and Technology, London
• Charles Elliott, Global Regulatory (Financial Services Regulatory), London
• Sebastian Faust, Global Regulatory (Antitrust, Competition and Economic Regulation), Dusseldorf
• Marion Fischer, Intellectual Property, Media, and Technology, Munich
• Anne W. Fisher, Global Regulatory (International Trade and Investment), Washington, D.C.
• Derrik E. Forshee, Corporate (Transactional), Baltimore
• Patrick Fromlowitz, Intellectual Property, Media, and Technology, Hamburg
• Mauricio Fuchs Tarlovsky, Finance (Infrastructure, Energy, Resources and Projects), Mexico City
• Sabrina Gäbeler, LAE (Employment), Frankfurt
• James Hewer, Finance (Business Restructuring and Insolvency), Perth
• Alex Hohl, LAE (Investigations, White Collar and Fraud), London
• Erin J. Howell, Corporate (Transactional), New York
• Scott Kaplan, Global Regulatory (Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology), Washington, D.C.
• Sarah-Lena Kreutzmann, Intellectual Property, Media, and Technology, Dusseldorf
• Lennart Lautenschlager, Finance (International Debt Capital Markets), Frankfurt
• Paul Leroy, Corporate (Transactional), Paris
• Joyce Leung, LAE (International Arbitration), Hong Kong
• Cristina Marin, Finance (Banking Transactional), Paris
• Virginia Martínez, LAE (Litigation), Madrid
• Soumitro Mukerji, Finance (Banking), Singapore
• Jean-Philippe Monmousseau, Corporate (Tax), Luxembourg
• Faraz Naqvi, Finance (Banking), London
• Michael Penners, LAE (Litigation), Hamburg
• Eduardo Pérez, Corporate (Transactional), Madrid
• Natalie Psaila, Corporate (Tax), London
• Aafke Pronk, Corporate (Transactional), Amsterdam
• Thomas P. Schmidt, LAE (Litigation), New York
• Tom Smith, LAE (International Arbitration), London
• Cecilia Stahlhut Espinosa, Global Regulatory (Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology), Mexico City
• Amelia Stawpert, Corporate (Transactional), London
• Martin Strauch, LAE (Litigation), Munich
• Tobias Strohmeier, Corporate (Real Estate), Dusseldorf
• Arpan A. Sura, Global Regulatory (Communications, Internet and Media), Washington, D.C.
• Matthew C. Sullivan, LAE (Investigations, White Collar and Fraud), New York
• David E. Thiess, Global Regulatory (Health Care), Washington, D.C.
• Gauthier Vannieuwenhuyse, LAE (International Arbitration), Paris
• Alice Wallace-Wright, Global Regulatory (Antitrust, Competition and Economic Regulation), London
• Danielle Wu, Corporate (Transactional), Singapore
• Phoebe Yan, LAE (Investigations, White Collar and Fraud), Shanghai (Hogan Lovells Fidelity)
• Andrew S. Zahn, Corporate (Transactional), Washington, D.C.
• Felipe Zilly, Intellectual Property, Media, and Technology, Dusseldorf
• Astrid Zourli, Finance (Business Restructuring and Insolvency), Paris

Trial law firm Ward, Smith & Hill announced that intellectual property attorney and former U.S. Magistrate Judge Charles “Chad” Everingham IV is joining the firm as partner.

Everingham joins Ward, Smith & Hill from Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, where he handled intellectual property cases and complex business disputes.

As magistrate judge in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Everingham conducted Markman proceedings and intellectual property trials involving medical devices, computer hardware and software, recreational equipment, advanced electronics, semiconductors, and automotive disputes. When Ward, Smith & Hill’s T. John Ward served as judge for the Eastern District, Everingham was his permanent law clerk.

The firm said in a release that, since rejoining private practice in 2011, Everingham has litigated a variety of intellectual property and other business matters for clients ranging from individuals to large corporations. He has defended clients against claims of patent infringement in the consumer electronics, telecommunications, energy, hospitality, and software industries. He has also prosecuted claims for trade secret misappropriation on behalf of a Texas neurosurgeon involving spinal implant technology.

Everingham has earned recognition as a leading practitioner in intellectual property law by Chambers USA, and he has been recognized for his IP and patent litigation work by The Best Lawyers in America since 2018.