Trial lawyer Mark Lanier of Houston-based The Lanier Law Firm will be recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Association for Justice (AAJ) at the organization’s annual convention on July 14, 2015.

The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes an AAJ member of at least 20 years standing whose courtroom advocacy has powerfully advanced the rights of the wrongfully injured and who has significantly furthered the cause of justice and the mission of the Association.

The Washington, D.C.-based AAJ is the world’s largest trial bar, providing trial attorneys with information, professional support and a nationwide network that promotes a fair and effective justice system.

“To receive this award, the highest given by the AAJ, is a true milestone in my career,” says Mr. Lanier. “My ongoing commitment, and the commitment of every attorney in this firm, is to uphold the AAJ’s mission and to ensure that any person who is injured by the misconduct or negligence of others can obtain justice.”

Read the whole story.

Dallas attorney Jim Mueller, managing partner of family law firm VernerBrumleyMcCurley PC, has been appointed President of The National Advocates: Top 40 Under 40.

The invitation-only professional association is composed of the top lawyers from each state who meet stringent membership qualifications and whose practices focus on matrimonial and family law, bankruptcy law, immigration law, Social Security disability law, employment law, and wills, trusts and estates law.

“This group is made up of young, influential attorneys who exhibit superior leadership and performance, so it’s not surprising that Jim would rise to this position,” says VernerBrumleyMcCurley name partner Jimmy L. Verner Jr. “His clients are well aware of his honesty and integrity, and I’m sure this organization will benefit from those same qualities.”

Mueller concentrates his practice on complex divorce matters, high-asset property division and contested custody litigation in courts across Texas. He is Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and currently serves as a member of the Texas Academy of Family Law Specialists. He is a repeat honoree in the annual Texas Super Lawyers listing of the state’s top attorneys, among other professional honors.

Mueller earned his law degree with honors from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, and he received his undergraduate degree with high honors as a member of Phi Beta Kappa at Rhodes College.

The National Advocates provides networking opportunities, continuing legal education and advocacy training for its members, who serve individuals and families in the American legal system.

VernerBrumleyMcCurley provides concierge-style representation to its divorce clients, the firm said in a release.

Farrell Fritz announces that Katherine (Kate) A. Heptig has recently been named Chair of the Nassau County Bar Association’s Corporation, Banking & Securities Law Committee. She will serve a two-year term.

Heptig, a Rockville Centre, NY resident, provides general tax and corporate guidance to businesses and individuals. She earned her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and her B.A. from Hofstra University.

The Committee addresses various issues, including statutory developments, court decisions, regulatory bodies, and ADR agencies, and provides a forum for business attorneys. To learn more about the Nassau County Bar Association’s Committees, click here.

The Houston trial law firm Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C., or AZA, again has earned recognition among the nation’s top commercial litigation firms in the 2015 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.

In its Chambers USA profile, AZA is described by one client as a “very results-driven law firm, and the results they’ve given us are outstanding.” AZA attorneys also were called, “Highly skilled trial lawyers and litigators who are prepared to go to trial.”

In addition to the firm’s Chambers USA ranking, AZA partners Demetrios Anaipakos, John Zavitsanos andTodd Mensing received individual honors among the leading commercial litigators in the country. All three are nationally recognized trial lawyers who handle bet-the-company litigation.

Read the firm’s release.

Noted white-collar and general criminal defense lawyer John R. Teakell of Dallas is a featured author in a new book highlighting trends in state and federal criminal defense law along with thoughtful guidance to defendants needing legal help.

Teakell is one of 10 respected attorneys nationwide selected to contribute a chapter for “A Cup of Coffee with 10 of the Top Criminal Defense Attorneys in the United States.” In his chapter, Teakell outlines state and federal statutes and describes similarities and differences in investigations and procedures in the two systems.

“A Cup of Coffee with 10 of the Top Criminal Defense Attorneys in the United States,” is designed to provide practical information for people who need to know more about the criminal justice system and legal representation. The work debuted in March 2015 on Amazon.com and has been among the top sellers in the criminal defense law genre. Royalties from the book are being donated to Kiwanis International, a nonprofit organization that works with children in the United States and throughout the world.

“It can be overwhelming for people to find themselves in the criminal justice system for the first time,” Teakell says. “There are certain decisions that have to be made quickly, and there can be so much at stake. I’ve seen from experience how providing information can empower individuals to make better decisions.”

Teakell’s criminal law expertise has allowed him to serve as an expert source for local and national media, including the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Los Angeles Times, NBC Nightly News and many others. Forbes and Times magazines have named him among the nation’s top white-collar defense practitioners, while the National Association of Distinguished Counsel has honored him among the top one percent of attorneys in the United States. In addition, Teakell is a repeat honoree on the annual Texas Super Lawyers list.

In a release, the firm says the Law Office of John R. Teakell represents companies and individuals in a variety of white-collar and other criminal defense matters, including grand jury proceedings and internal investigations involving allegations of fraud, bribery, embezzlement, insider trading, stock option backdating, tax evasion, computer crimes and public corruption.

For more information on Teakell and “A Cup of Coffee with 10 of the Top Criminal Defense Attorneys in the United States,” contact Robert Tharp at 800-559-4534 or Robert@androvett.com.

Scott J. Fisher

Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP announced today a significant change in firm leadership. Litigation partner Scott J. Fisher will assume the role of managing partner from long-term leader Jerry H. Biederman.

The leadership shift is a significant step in investing in the firm’s future and will be effective Jan. 1, 2016, allowing for a planned transition for Fisher, 43, to assume the new role.

Biederman, 68, has been the only managing partner in the firm’s history and will remain active with the firm he helped found nearly 30 years ago. Since its inception, Neal Gerber Eisenberg has nearly quadrupled in size and has resisted, by design, the current legal trend of dramatic growth for the sake of growth.

“What sets Neal Gerber Eisenberg apart is that we retain many of the unique qualities that have been lost in the current law firm merger frenzy,” said Fisher, who will retain his active trial practice. “We have a distinct and compelling value proposition to offer clients. Our firm is positioned to service all of our clients’ needs in an atmosphere that is collaborative, innovative and diverse.”

Fisher said he is committed to focusing on Neal Gerber Eisenberg’s core strengths of intellectual property, strategic litigation, and the representation of middle market businesses and their owners. He is also firmly committed to maintaining the vision of the firm’s founders.

It was this vision that drew Fisher to Neal Gerber Eisenberg almost 10 years ago. “The firm has always enjoyed a sterling reputation as first-rate lawyers and business counselors who handle sophisticated matters as true professionals,” he said. “I look forward to building upon the tremendous foundation that Jerry, our partners and staff have put in place over the past 29 years.”

A diverse range of firm clients have remained committed to that model as well. In 2014, Neal Gerber Eisenberg represented 39 of the Fortune 100 companies and many of the best known private companies. The firm also acts as the trusted advisers to nonprofits, startups, growth companies and entrepreneurs.

Biederman is confident the leadership transition will be seamless.

“I have maintained a close relationship with Scott for nearly 10 years and know we are in good hands with the firm’s next generation of leaders,” said Biederman. “It has been an honor to serve Neal Gerber Eisenberg as managing partner for almost 20 years, and it’s reassuring to work with a successor who is no stranger to firm leadership and management. I respect Scott’s perspectives as a member of the firm’s executive committee and his leadership as chair of our General & Commercial Litigation practice group. I have the utmost confidence in his ability to guide the firm to continued success.”

Fisher received his J.D., with highest honors, in 1996 from Chicago-Kent College of Law and earned his B.A. from The Ohio State University in 1993. An experienced trial lawyer, he has been recognized repeatedly as a leader in the field.

Neal Gerber Eisenberg is a Chicago-based law firm whose attorneys share a culture of teamwork and devotion to personalized client service to advance our clients’ business interests. Our attorneys provide legal business solutions to public and private entities of all types—including Fortune 100 companies, financial institutions, nonprofits and high net worth individuals—in connection with domestic and global business transactions and litigation. Our full service firm is large enough to handle nearly any legal matter throughout the world, yet small enough that clients personally know the attorneys accountable to their matters.

Two lawyers, Cristen D. Feldman and David M. Feldman, have formed a new Houston law firm called Feldman & Feldman.

Cris Feldman holds a B.A. in both Political Science and English from Tulane University (1993) where he graduated Cum Laude and a J.D. from the University of Texas (1999). He is a former partner at Rusty Hardin & Associates.

David Feldman, Cris’s father, holds a B.A. in Political Science from LSU (1970) and a J.D., Summa Cum Laude, from South Texas College of Law (1976). He is a former partner in Vinson & Elkins and was managing partner of his own firm, Feldman, Rogers, Morris and Grover, L.L.P. He left private practice to serve as City Attorney under Mayor Annise Parker from April 2010 to January 2015.

Associates with the new firm are Christin L. Grant and Deidra Norris Sullivan.

Feldman & Feldman’s office is at 3355 West Alabama Street, Suite 1220 , Houston, TX 77098. The telephone number is 713-986-9471.

Christopher Kratovil, a member of Dykema, has been elected to membership in the Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation.

Fellows of the Texas Bar Foundation are selected for their outstanding professional achievements and demonstrated commitment to the improvement of the justice system throughout the state of Texas. Annually, only one-third of one percent of Texas State Bar members are invited to become Fellows.

Kratovil is a Member of Dykema’s Litigation practice in the Dallas office. His practice focuses on appellate matters with a particular concentration on matters in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and in the Texas courts of appeals. Kratovil represents clients in complex commercial disputes before tribunals ranging from small town Texas trial courts to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In addition to his extensive appellate work, Kratovil handles case dispositive briefing and argument, jury charges, complex motions, research intensive legal issues and error preservation in the trial courts. He is the author of several high-profile amicus curiae briefs, including one on behalf of United States Senator John Cornyn.

The Texas Bar Foundation is the largest charitably-funded bar foundation in the country. Founded in 1965 by lawyers determined to assist the public and improve the profession of law, the Texas Bar Foundation has maintained its mission of using the financial contributions of its membership to build a strong justice system for all Texans.

About Dykema

Dykema serves business entities worldwide on a wide range of complex legal issues. Dykema lawyers and other professionals in 15 U.S. offices work in close partnership with clients – from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies – to deliver outstanding results, unparalleled service and exceptional value in every engagement. To learn more, visit www.dykema.com and follow Dykema on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Dykema.

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The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP announced that Nicole A. Bashor, an associate with the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, has been appointed as an affiliate representative of the National LGBT Bar Association and Foundation board of directors.

“I am honored to serve on the board of the National LGBT Bar Association and Foundation,” said Bashor. “I join an accomplished group of professionals dedicated to promoting justice in and through the legal profession for the LGBT community.”

In 2014, the National LGBT Bar Association named Bashor one of the 40 Best LGBT Lawyers Under 40. The award honors LGBT legal professionals who have distinguished themselves in their field and demonstrate a commitment to LGBT equality. Bashor also is active in the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago, where she is first vice president on the board of directors, and serves as chair of the Community Outreach Committee.

About Quarles & Brady LLP

Quarles & Brady is a full-service law firm with more than 475 attorneys offering an array of legal services to corporate and individual clients that range from small entrepreneurial businesses to Fortune 100 companies, with practice focuses in health care and life sciences, business law, data privacy and security, and complex litigation. The firm has offices in Chicago; Indianapolis; Madison; Milwaukee; Naples, Florida; Phoenix; Scottsdale; Tampa; Tucson; and Washington, D.C. Additional information can be found online at quarles.com, as well as on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

In recognition of the firm’s trial successes in 2014, Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C., or AZA, has earned selection as a Litigation Department of the Year for 2015  by the publishers of Texas Lawyer newspaper.

The annual honor recognizes the Texas-based litigation groups that have excelled during the previous year based on courtroom results. Just three general litigation firms are chosen statewide for having the top litigation departments.  AZA claimed the top spot among all Texas firms in their size category. The firm is featured in a June 1 profile story in Texas Lawyer titled, “Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing More Than a ‘Tough Name’” (subscription required).

Read the story.

Cooley is enhancing its higher education practice with the addition of Katherine “Kate” Lee Carey who is joining the firm’s San Diego office as Special Counsel.

Carey has more than 14 years of experience in the legal, accreditation, administrative and regulatory aspects of higher education institutions and companies that provide services to the education industry. Most recently she served as the General Counsel and Vice President for Government Affairs at West Coast University and American Career College in California.

“Kate not only has tremendous hands-on experience but she is a highly-regarded leader in the formulation of California higher education policy,” said Mike Goldstein, the Washington, DC-based head of Cooley’s higher education practice. “Her arrival will strengthen our ability to assist our clients in their dealings with a complex web of regulatory agencies at all levels of government.”

In addition to her unique insider’s perspective regarding the day-to-day legal issues facing nationally and regionally accredited institutions, Carey brings deep experience in the development and implementation of legislative and policy priorities at the federal and state levels, including preparing legislative strategies and working on advocacy efforts. She currently serves on the Board of the California Association of Private Postsecondary Schools and on the Advisory Board for the California Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education.

A release from Cooley continues:

“Beyond her regulatory and policy expertise, Kate will provide strong leadership and expert guidance on legal issues relating to general business matters such as labor and employment law, student-related concerns and processes, litigation management and dispute resolution,” said Jay Vaughan, Cooley education partner who also focuses on regulatory issues impacting Cooley’s West Coast clients.

About Cooley’s Higher Education Practice

Cooley is at the forefront of the global transformation of the education and edtech sectors. The firm’s 2014 merger with DC-based regulatory firm Dow Lohnes has created a premier education industry practice, benefiting from Cooley’s long history as a leading technology law firm and coupled with best-in-class emerging company, business, IP and litigation practices to serve efficiently this fast-changing global sector.

About Cooley LLP

Cooley’s lawyers solve legal issues for entrepreneurs, investors, financial institutions and established companies. Clients partner with Cooley on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters, and high-stakes litigation, often where innovation meets the law.

Cooley has 850 lawyers across 12 offices in the United States, China and Europe.

Quarles & Brady LLP has announced that Mark W. Bina, a partner in the firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution and Health Law Practice Groups, has been elected to the board of directors of Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS).

CVLS is the oldest civil pro bono organization in Chicago, comprised of more than 3,000 attorneys who donate free legal services to thousands of low-income residents. Bina’s election to the board continues the firm’s association with the more than 50-year-old organization. CVLS operates 22 legal clinics across the Chicago area, hosted evenings and weekends at community organizations and churches.

Bina succeeds Quarles & Brady partner Christopher N. Skey on the board of directors. Firm associate Adam J. Falkof was recently elected to the CVLS Junior Board. All three practice out of the firm’s Chicago office.

“Mark is a distinguished pro bono attorney in his own right, and will be a great addition to the CVLS board of directors,” said Skey. “Quarles & Brady is extremely proud of its longtime relationship with this organization.”

Bina’s practice encompasses a variety of matters affecting businesses in state and federal trial and appellate courts across the country. In 2013, he received an award for excellence in pro bono service from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Chicago chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

About Quarles & Brady LLP

Quarles & Brady is a full-service law firm with more than 475 attorneys offering an array of legal services to corporate and individual clients that range from small entrepreneurial businesses to Fortune 100 companies, with practice focuses in health care and life sciences, business law, data privacy and security, and complex litigation. The firm has offices in Chicago; Indianapolis; Madison; Milwaukee; Naples, Florida; Phoenix; Scottsdale; Tampa; Tucson; and Washington, D.C. Additional information can be found online at quarles.com, as well as on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Hogan Lovells has announced that , focusing on complex international disputes involving joint ventures, international investments, service agreements, construction projects, hospitality, banking and securities.

Haridi counsels corporations and financial institutions from across the globe in proceedings under the arbitration rules of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the International Centre for Dispute Resolution (AAA/ICDR), the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA), and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).

“We are thrilled to welcome Samaa to our global IA group and the New York office in particular. As the demand for international arbitration continues to grow, clients expect us not only to have a deep bench, but also the best lawyers with the unique set of skills, experiences, and know-how needed in different regions of the world and different industries,” said Daniel E. González, Global Head of Hogan Lovells’ International Arbitration practice. “Samaa, as a recognized international arbitrator and advocate, is exactly the kind of partner we want and clients expect.”

Haridi serves on the Board of Directors of the Arab Bankers Association of North America (ABANA) and JDRF (formerly known as the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation). She is a member of the panel of arbitrators of the American Arbitration Association’s International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR), the panel of arbitrators of the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA), and the panel of arbitrators of the Dubai International Arbitration Center (DIAC). Additionally, Haridi is qualified to practice in New York, California, and England & Wales, and is trilingual in English, French, and Arabic – routinely handling work in all three languages.

“I am excited to join Hogan Lovells and to reunite with my former colleagues and friends Ollie Armas, Luis Enrique Graham, Thomas Pieper and Carlos Martinez,” said Haridi. “We all pretty much started our international arbitration careers at Thacher Proffitt &Wood. We took circuitous paths but we’re back together now and I am very excited to plug into the phenomenal platform of Hogan Lovells. I am so pleased to join a firm with such a strong reputation in New York, and worldwide.”

Haridi joins from Weil, Gotshal & Manges where she was a partner in the International Arbitration practice in Weil’s New York office.

About Hogan Lovells

Hogan Lovells is a leading global legal practice providing business-oriented legal advice and high-quality service across its exceptional breadth of practices to clients around the world.

“Hogan Lovells” or the “firm” is an international legal practice that includes Hogan Lovells US LLP and Hogan Lovells International LLP. For more information, see www.hoganlovells.com.

James S. Brady, Office Managing Member of Dykema’s Grand Rapids office, has received the Marion Hilligan Public Service Award from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School to reflect a lifetime of community service. He was honored earlier this month during the annual Law Day luncheon hosted by the law school and the Grand Rapids Bar Association.

The Marion Hilligan Public Service Award is given in recognition of “contributions by a lawyer in public service to area governmental bodies or community organizations, reflecting greater individual responsibility in promoting public health and welfare through law.” The award is named after the law school’s first Associate Dean of its Grand Rapids campus, who made profound contributions to the school’s development.

Brady’s practice focuses on business and commercial litigation, white collar investigations, criminal law, health care fraud and environmental and energy law. He is former United States Attorney for the Western District of Michigan.

Outside of his practice, Brady’s involvement in the community and his reputation as a mentor are well-known. He serves as chair of Emmanuel Hospice, as a board member and former chair of St. Ann’s Skilled Nursing Home, and as a board member of Catholic Charities West Michigan. He previously taught at Cooley Law School and has acted as the past chair of the Western Michigan University Foundation and past president of the Grand Rapids Bar Association.

Western Michigan University and Thomas M. Cooley Law School affiliated in 2014, combining the status of a nationally-ranked, public, comprehensive research university with the commitment to practical legal education of an independent, non-profit, national law school.

Brady received his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School, a B.S. from Western Michigan University , and is a graduate of Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School.

About Dykema

Dykema serves business entities worldwide on a wide range of complex legal issues. Dykema lawyers and other professionals in 15 U.S. offices work in close partnership with clients – from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies – to deliver outstanding results, unparalleled service and exceptional value in every engagement. To learn more, visit www.dykema.com and follow Dykema on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Dykema.

Farrell Fritz commercial litigation partner Peter B. Zlotnick has been selected to serve as a member of the Fourth cohort of the Berrie Fellows Leadership Program (BFLP) affiliated with the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and with the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey.

The highly-selective, eighteen month Program is dedicated to developing Fellows’ leadership and organizational skills to be applied to their community, religious and professional organizations.

Zlotnick, a Tenafly, NJ, resident, earned his J.D. degree from Yeshiva University’s Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, his Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and his B.A. degree from Colgate College.

The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP today announced that 44 attorneys from the firm’s offices have been ranked in the 2015 edition of the esteemed Chambers USA directory.

“We are honored to have our attorneys recognized for their excellence in Chambers,” said Kimberly Leach Johnson, firm chair of Quarles & Brady. “The rankings provide an affirmation of the firm’s sustained efforts toward excellence.”

Quarles & Brady attorneys were ranked as follows:

• Jean C. Baker – Intellectual Property
• David Beyer – Franchising
• Daniel E. Conley – Litigation: General Commercial
• John F Dienelt – Franchising
• Joseph A. Drazek – Environment (including water rights)
• Robert H. Duffy – Labor & Employment
• Steven P. Emerick – Corporate/M&A
• Mary N. Fertl – Real Estate
• Michael J. Fischer – Labor & Employment
• Diane Haller – Real Estate
• Patricia M. Hutter – Corporate/M&A
• Michael A. Jaskolski – Intellectual Property
• David B. Kern – Labor & Employment
• Janine Landow-Esser – Environment: Mainly Transactional
• Paul Langer – Insurance: Dispute Resolution
• Scott L. Langlois – Real Estate
• Ely A. Leichtling – Labor & Employment
• Don P. Martin – Litigation: General Commercial
• Adrianne Mazura – Labor & Employment
• Thomas P. McElligott – Natural Resources & Environment
• Robert Messerly – Real Estate
• Brian K. Moll – Corporate/M&A
• Roger Morris – Healthcare
• David P. Olson – Labor & Employment: Employee Benefits & Compensation
• Michael J. Ostermeyer – Real Estate
• Nancy K. Peterson – Natural Resources & Environment
• Jon E. Pettibone – Labor & Employment
• Jeffrey Piell – Labor & Employment
• Pamela M. Ploor – Labor & Employment
• Joseph E. Puchner – Real Estate
• Stephanie J. Quincy – Labor & Employment
• Robert D. Rothacker – Labor & Employment: Employee Benefits & Compensation
• John A. Rothstein – Litigation: General Commercial
• James A. Ryan – Litigation: General Commercial
• Donald Schott – Litigation: General Commercial
• Sean M. Scullen – Labor & Employment
• Walter J. Skipper – Corporate/M&A
• Derek L. Sorenson – Real Estate
• Grant S. Sovern – Labor & Employment: Immigration
• Peter Tomasi – Natural Resources & Environment
• Christopher Townsend – Energy & Natural Resources: Regulatory
• Arthur A. Vogel, Jr. – Natural Resources & Environment
• Ted Yi – Real Estate
• Michael D. Zeka – Real Estate

About Chambers USA

Chambers USA ranks attorneys and law firms based on reputation. Researchers spend six months speaking with clients and lawyers across the United States and conduct thousands of in-depth telephone interviews. Law firms and individual attorneys are then ranked based on the interviews. Ranking criteria includes technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial awareness and astuteness, diligence, commitment and other qualities most valued by clients. Inclusion in the guide is based solely on the research team’s findings. No one can buy their way in.

About Quarles & Brady LLP

Quarles & Brady is a full-service law firm with more than 475 attorneys offering an array of legal services to corporate and individual clients that range from small entrepreneurial businesses to Fortune 100 companies, with practice focuses in health care and life sciences, business law, data privacy and security, and complex litigation. The firm has offices in Chicago; Indianapolis; Madison; Milwaukee; Naples, Florida; Phoenix; Scottsdale; Tampa; Tucson; and Washington, D.C. Additional information can be found online at quarles.com, as well as on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook.

Dykema, a leading national law firm, announced that Gina Torielli has received the Barbara R. Smith Award from Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit for her role as a member of the Grand Bargain Mediation Team for the City of Detroit Bankruptcy. She and other team members were honored during the Goodwill Industries of Greater Detroit’s Awards Luncheon on May 18, 2015 at the Detroit Athletic Club.

The Barbara R. Smith Award is given in recognition of those individuals who have made a significant community contribution to the Southeast Michigan region. The annual luncheon recognizes the volunteers, employers, trainees, leaders and businesses that are dedicated to putting Metro Detroit residents back to work.

Torielli is a Senior Counsel in Dykema’s Ann Arbor office. Her practice focuses on taxation and public finance, and in that capacity she has advised many nonprofit organizations and governmental entities on issues relating to tax exemption, tax-exempt financing and state and federal tax issues.

Beyond her practice, Torielli is very active with community organizations. Earlier this year, she was also awarded the United Way of Washtenaw County’s Volunteer of the Year award for her role serving as the organization’s volunteer site coordinator and trainer for its IRS-sanctioned Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program. She is also a board member of the Solar Circle, a non-profit organization which promotes solar power in Tanzania.

Goodwill works to enhance the dignity and quality of life of individuals and families by strengthening communities, eliminating barriers to opportunity, and helping people in need reach their full potential through learning and the power of work.

About Dykema

Dykema serves business entities worldwide on a wide range of complex legal issues. Dykema lawyers and other professionals in 15 U.S. offices work in close partnership with clients – from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies – to deliver outstanding results, unparalleled service and exceptional value in every engagement. To learn more, visit www.dykema.com and follow Dykema on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Dykema.

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DLA Piper announces that Earl Adams, Jr., of counsel in the firm’s Baltimore and Washington, DC offices, has been named a member of Bowie State University Board of Visitors.

The Bowie State University Board of Visitors serves as an advisory group that assists with the advancement of the university’s mission and vision. They work directly with the university president and provide feedback on the university’s initiatives and strategic direction.

In his law practice, Adams represents national clients before all branches of federal, state and local government, including various administrative agencies, and in development transactions involving public-private partnerships. Adams is active in a range of civic organizations, serving on the boards of the Seed School of Maryland and the Parks Foundation of Prince George’s County. He was also appointed by the Governor Maryland to be a director on the board of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority. His other activities include serving on the 2008 Obama-Biden Transition Team for the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Boston College Law School National Alumni Assembly.

About DLA Piper

DLA Piper is a global law firm located in more than 30 countries throughout the Americas, Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East, positioning it to help companies with their legal needs around the world. In certain jurisdictions, this information may be considered attorney advertising.

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Hogan Lovells has announced that Kelly Tubman Hardy has joined its Corporate Practice in the firm’s Baltimore office focusing on corporate and securities law, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances, corporate governance, securities compliance and general business law.

Hardy advises clients on cross-border transactions, including M&A and joint ventures, in established and emerging markets throughout the world.

“Kelly’s track record of success advising global clients and leading cross-border transactions makes her ideally suited to join the Hogan Lovells Corporate team. And her experience in Mexico – both practicing law and teaching at Mexican law schools – and advising Latin American clients will immediately complement Hogan Lovells’ practice in Mexico,” said David Gibbons, Global Head of Hogan Lovells’ corporate practice.

In addition to awards for her legal prowess, including recognitions by Chambers USA, Baltimore SmartCEO and Legal 500 Latin America, Hardy has been recognized by a number of regional organizations for her activities as a Baltimore community leader. The Daily Record named her one of Maryland’s Top 100 Women and the Baltimore Mayor’s Hispanic Affairs Liaison recognized her work at Education-Based Latino Outreach in Baltimore City.

“Kelly has strong roots in the Baltimore community and an international client base” said Baltimore Office Managing Partner Steve Barley. “We are thrilled she is joining Hogan Lovells. She is a talented lawyer who will offer immediate value to our clients.”

Hardy is a member of the Board of Directors of the Baltimore World Trade Center, the Board of Directors of Appleseed Mexico in Mexico City, and the Board of Trustees of the SEED School of Maryland. She received a J.D. with honors from the University of Maryland School of Law; an M.B.A. from the University of Maryland; and a B.A. cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania.

Hardy joins from DLA Piper where she was Regional Office Head for Corporate and Securities.

About Hogan Lovells’ Corporate Practice

With 350 partners and more than 1,000 lawyers worldwide operating in 22 jurisdictions throughout Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States, Hogan Lovells provides exceptional, high-quality trans-Atlantic transactional strength and strong local capability throughout our broad global network. We are ideally placed to advise on complex deals in highly regulated sectors, working at the intersection between government and business. We regularly advise on the most significant, complex, and sophisticated global M&A transactions, ranking in the top 10 worldwide for M&A deals in Q1 2015 (Bloomberg).

About Hogan Lovells

Hogan Lovells is a leading global legal practice providing business-oriented legal advice and high-quality service across its exceptional breadth of practices to clients around the world.

“Hogan Lovells” or the “firm” is an international legal practice that includes Hogan Lovells US LLP and Hogan Lovells International LLP. For more information, see www.hoganlovells.com.

Farrell Fritz associate Robert M. Harper has been elected to the Suffolk County Bar Association’s board of directors. On June 5, 2015, he will be sworn in at the Association’s Installation Dinner at The Larkfield in East Northport, NY. He will serve a three year term.

Harper focuses his practice in estate litigation. He is active in the SCBA, serving as co-chair of the Surrogate’s Court Committee and an officer of the Suffolk Academy of Law. He earned his J.D. degree from Hofstra University School of Law and his B.S. degree from Boston College.