Blank Rome LLP is pleased to welcome Craig B. Fields, Holly L. Hyans, Nicole L. Johnson, and Mitchell A. Newmark to the Firm’s New York office as Partners in the Tax, Benefits, and Private Client group. Craig, Nicole, and Mitchell joined on February 15 and Holly will join in early March. The Firm expects to continue expanding the team over the coming weeks. At Blank Rome, Craig serves as Co-Chair of the Tax, Benefits, and Private Client group and leads the national State and Local Tax practice. The prominent group regularly litigates state and local tax matters and counsels clients on state and local tax planning throughout the country. They join from Morrison & Foerster LLP where Craig served as co-chair of the tax department and chair of the firm’s state and local tax group, and Holly was a founding member of the group.

Collectively, the group has decades of experience representing clients in state and local tax controversies before administrative tribunals and judicial courts in jurisdictions throughout the United States and has resolved hundreds of cases throughout the country. They have secured successful outcomes for clients in state general jurisdiction courts and tax courts as well as appellate courts for a multitude of clients spanning a wide range of industries, including retail, manufacturing, and financial services, among others. They also have significant experience advising clients on all state and local income, gross receipts, franchise, sales & use, excise, and miscellaneous taxes and fees and state unclaimed property obligations. Additionally, the group counsels clients on state and local aspects of sophisticated planning and transactional matters, such as acquisitions, dispositions, restructurings, and asset-based financing transactions. They also successfully counsel individuals and estates regarding residency, domicile, and multistate taxability in audits and appeals. The group frequently writes about and speaks on state and local tax issues with leading media outlets and organizations.

Fields was selected as a fellow of the American Bar Foundation in 2019, and serves as an advisory board member for various professional organizations, publications, and centers, including the Georgetown Law Center, the National Multistate Tax Symposium, the Journal of State Taxation, Bloomberg BNA State Tax, and State Tax Notes. He received the NYU School of Professional Studies Paul H. Frankel Award for Outstanding Achievement in State and Local Taxation in 2017. Fields earned his LL.M. from New York University School of Law, his J.D. from Duke University School of Law, and his B.A. from Queens College.

Hyans serves on the advisory boards of the Hartman State and Local Tax Forum at Vanderbilt University Law School, the NYU Institute on State and Local Tax, and Bloomberg BNA State Tax. She earned her J.D., Order of the Coif, from New York University School of Law where she served as a staff member of the New York University Law Review, and her B.A. from Brooklyn College of the City of New York. She previously clerked for the Honorable Pierre N. Leval, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Johnson was appointed to the New York Tax Appeals Tribunal Advisory Panel in 2018 and serves as a member of the Law360 Tax Authority State & Local Editorial Advisory Board. She was named a Rising Star in Tax by Law360 in 2019. Johnson earned her J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law, and her B.S.B. from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. In 2006, she served as a law clerk for the Honorable Michael B. Thornton, U.S. Tax Court.

Newmark was named a Law360 Tax MVP in 2019. He serves as co-chair of the State Practice, Procedure, and Liaison Committee of the Tax Section of the New Jersey Bar Association, and is a member of the Tax Section of the New Jersey Bar Association Executive Committee and Executive Council, which he previously chaired. He was a member of the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on the Tax Court for 11 years until he termed out in 2018. Earlier in his career, Newmark spent six years as a deputy attorney general at the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office. From 1996 to 1997, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable Irwin I. Kimmelman, New Jersey Superior Court, Appellate Division. Newmark earned his LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center, his J.D. from Widener University School of Law, and his M.B.A. and B.A. from Rutgers University.

Farrell Fritz is pleased to announce that Joanna Hazelton has recently been appointed to the Executive Council of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, Long Island Chapter. Founded in 1967, the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America is dedicated to finding cures for Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, and improving the quality of life of children and adults affected by these diseases.

Joanna, a Westbury, NY, resident, is a corporate associate in the firm’s Uniondale office. She received her J.D. and her B.A. from Hofstra University.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that Christopher C. Lam, managing partner of the firm’s Charlotte office, has been named by the Charlotte Business Journal (CBJ) as one of Charlotte’s 2020 “Most Admired CEOs.”

The awards recognize established local leaders who have a strong vision for their companies, have shown commitment to culture in the workplace, and made significant contributions to the Charlotte community.

“We congratulate Chris on this wonderful recognition of his outstanding leadership here at Bradley and in the Charlotte community,” said Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters.

A member of Bradley’s Litigation Practice Group, Mr. Lam helps clients protect their business interests in disputes related to contracts, business torts, product liability, earn-outs, trade secrets, non-competes, LLCs and partnerships, defamation, motorsports, and private equity investments. His clients include individuals, start-up businesses, middle market companies, and public corporations. He also regularly counsels clients in business issues and contract drafting and negotiation.

Mr. Lam is a leader in several professional and civic organizations. He currently serves as president of the Mecklenburg County Bar and is a member of the North Carolina Humanities Council Board of Trustees. He is a past co-chair of the North Carolina Bar Association’s Administration of Justice Committee. He also is a past chair of the Business Litigation Committee of the International Association of Defense Counsel, an invitation-only, peer-reviewed organization of approximately 2,500 attorneys from more than 50 countries around the world. In addition, he serves on the Board of Visitors for Duke University’s Sanford School of Public Policy.

About Bradley
Bradley combines skilled legal counsel with exceptional client service and unwavering integrity to assist a diverse range of corporate and individual clients in achieving their business goals. With offices in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, the firm’s nearly 550 lawyers represent regional, national and international clients in various industries, including banking and financial services, construction, energy, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, real estate, and technology, among many others.

Porzio, Bromberg & Newman P.C. (“Porzio”) is pleased to announce that Carol A. Sigmond has joined its New York office as Of Counsel on the Real Estate team. Sigmond focuses her practice on construction and real estate matters, such as mediation, litigation, appeals, arbitration, contract preparation, suretyship, and bid protests. Prior to joining Porzio, Sigmond was Managing Partner of the New York office at Cohen Seglias.

Sigmond has a substantial practice representing New York clients in construction-defect litigation. Carol helps her clients expedite the construction project by ensuring that the proper contracts are in place. Carol also has extensive experience preparing contract documents, including design-build, construction management, guaranteed maximum price, and fixed-price contracts.

Sigmond is an experienced mediator and is on the New York County Supreme Court Commercial Division Roster of Volunteer Mediators and the American Arbitration Association’s Roster of Construction Industry Arbitrators.

A prominent voice in the legal industry, Sigmond is the current Vice President of the New York State Bar Association and the former President of the New York County Lawyers Association. Carol is a frequent speaker and author on topics relating to construction law and publishes “The Co-Op Condo Help Line” appearing monthly in various Mann Report publications. She is also a member of Law360‘s 2019 Construction Editorial Advisory Board.

Sigmond received her B.A. from Grinnell College and her J.D. from The Catholic University of America School of Law.

She is admitted in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, Maryland, District of Columbia, Virginia, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia, U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit, U.S. Court of Federal Claims and the U.S. Court of International Trade.

“Sovos Brands announced that Isobel Jones has joined the company as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel. Ms. Jones brings extensive experience advising public and private companies and boards across a range of industries, most recently as the first in-house General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Sun Basket, an e-commerce startup.” was announced on Cision PR Newswire.

“Prior to Sun Basket, Ms. Jones was General Counsel at a number of food and beverage companies including Diamond Foods, Annie’s Homegrown, and Peet’s Coffee and Tea. She also served as Associate General Counsel of Del Monte Foods Company, where she specialized in securities compliance, corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and debt offerings.”

Read the article.

Michael Best announced today the addition of RWR Legal into its Austin office operations, effective immediately.

The combination, which will greatly benefit both Michael Best and RWR Legal clients, will add three senior corporate and securities attorneys. RWR Legal connects high-growth clients with the talent, mentoring, and resources required for success.

Rick Ressler, RWR Legal’s Managing General Counsel, will step into the leadership role as Michael Best’s new Austin Office Managing Partner; Shari Wynne Ressler will join Michael Best as a Partner focusing on strategic development; and Stephen Aguilar will join as Senior Counsel. All three will be members of Venture Best®, Michael Best’s team dedicated to counseling entrepreneurs, investors, emerging companies, and start-ups.

Since the firm’s founding over 23 years ago, RWR Legal has served as counsel for thousands of companies, providing sophisticated, large firm expertise to the entrepreneurial and start-up ecosystem in Austin.

Combining with RWR Legal will enhance the Austin office’s capabilities that span a number of key industries in the region, including the technology, healthcare, and CPG sectors. The incoming team will also work closely with Michael Best’s existing national platform in the cannabis, agribusiness, food and beverage, beauty product, and regulatory realms.

About the Attorneys

Rick Ressler has more than three decades of varied and extensive multinational securities and corporate legal experience, focusing his practice on financing, transactions, and mergers and acquisitions. In his capacity as a strategic and trusted advisor, he represents companies and investors of all sizes. Ressler earned his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School and his B.A., magna cum laude, from Princeton University.

Shari Wynne Ressler provides legal and strategic counsel on labor and employee benefits matters. She is a self-made serial entrepreneur whose purpose is to connect clients with talent, mentorship and resources needed for success and is dedicated to building diversified industries and robust startup ecosystems. Ressler is deeply engrained in the Austin’s start-up community and is active in a number of local groups focusing on innovation. This includes involvement on committees for the Central Texas Angel Network, the Food Lab at the University of Texas at Austin and the Austin Development Zone. Ressler earner her J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley School of Law and her B.A. from the University of California at Davis.

Stephen Aguilar handles immigration, corporate and entertainment matters on behalf of his clients. He provides counsel for trials and appeals and represents clients in transactional matters. He is an active member of the Mexican-American Bar Association and the Community Justice Program, which provides free legal services to those in need. He earned his J.D. from St. Mary’s University School of Law and his B.A from the University of Texas at Austin.

In addition to the three attorneys joining Michael Best, Melanie Shepard also joins as a paralegal.

About Venture Best®

Venture Best, the emerging company and venture capital team at Michael Best, works closely with high impact entrepreneurs and emerging businesses, as well as the angel and institutional venture capital investors that finance them. The Venture Best Team represents a substantial number of start-up and emerging companies in biotechnology, information technology and software, medical device, electronics, and other high-technology sectors. This emerging company practice allows Michael Best to introduce venture capital and private equity investors to early- and mid-stage investment opportunities. For more information, visit venturebest.com.

About Michael Best & Friedrich LLP

Michael Best is a leading law firm, providing a full range of legal services to clients on a global, regional, and local basis. The firm has more than 340 legal professionals, including more than 250 attorneys, serving clients in 11 offices across the U.S. in Colorado; Illinois; North Carolina; Texas; Utah; Washington, D.C.; and Wisconsin. Michael Best’s areas of practice include: intellectual property, labor and employment relations (including employee benefits), litigation, corporate and transactional, environmental and natural resources, privacy and cybersecurity, real estate, regulatory, and tax. The firm serves a variety of industries, such as advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, banking & financial services, digital technology, energy, food and beverage, higher education, and life sciences. For more information, visit michaelbest.com.

Arent Fox LLP is pleased to announce the expansion of its Patent practice and Life Sciences group with the addition of Counsels Daniel C. Stelter and Laurence H. Posorske, Ph.D. Stelter joins the firm’s San Francisco office, while Posorske joins Arent Fox in Washington, DC.

“Daniel and Larry bring more than five decades of combined experience to Arent Fox, and we couldn’t be more excited to welcome them to the firm,” said Richard LaCava, Patent Practice Leader. “Between Daniel’s in-house experience and Larry’s scientific background, they’ll complement our existing IP and Life Sciences teams, providing tailored, strategic, and business-oriented legal advice to our clients.”

Stelter joins Arent Fox following a 13-year tenure at Cardinal Health, Inc., where he served as the Vice President and Chief Counsel of Intellectual Property. In that capacity, Stelter was the principal IP counsel leading the IP strategy for a Fortune 20 global health care company with diverse businesses operating in competitive fields such as medical device manufacturing, nuclear imaging manufacturing, pharmaceutical distribution, and healthcare technologies. Earlier in his career, Stelter was in-house counsel for a global paper and packaging company, as well as for an industrial technologies company that provided multi-million dollar capital equipment to major aerospace and automotive companies.

At Arent Fox, Stelter brings in-house experience to clients seeking counsel on managing diverse intellectual property portfolios, including patent assets, unpatented inventions, trade secrets, trademark assets, copyrights, design rights, and internet/software rights. He routinely counsels product development and marketing teams as it relates to navigating complex IP landscapes and competitive pressures.

Stelter also possesses extensive hands-on experience with complex transactions involving intellectual property rights, including technology licensing and complex business mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. In particular, Stelter leverages his transactional experience to provide counsel during corporate business development initiatives such as conducting due diligence on the acquisitions of, and investments in, unique products and services businesses. He also advises clients when assessing and acquiring new product or service platforms in support of global business growth strategies.

Posorske’s practice focuses on the representation of technology-based companies of all sizes in matters relating to patents and technology licenses and strategic counseling on the structure and enforcement of intellectual property portfolios. He has legal and patent experience with everything from novel proteins and recombinant DNA to monoclonal antibodies, biopharmaceuticals, plant patents and more. Additionally, Posorske has significant research experience as an industrial research scientist in the fields of enzymology, biotechnology, food processing, papermaking, and biomass-to-energy conversion.

For clients, Posorske has prepared and prosecuted domestic and international patent applications, including re-examination, interference, and appeals. He’s also opposed and defended more than 25 patent oppositions before five different jurisdictions, including the European, Japanese, and Korean Patent Offices. Furthermore, Posorske has experience drafting and negotiating patent and technology licenses and joint development agreements for medical devices, diagnostic techniques, and nutritional products.

Stelter received his JD from the University of Dayton School of Law, his BS, with honors, in Mechanical Engineering, from the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and his MSc in Mechanical/Aerospace Engineering from the University of Dayton Graduate School of Engineering. Posorske earned his JD from Georgetown University Law Center, his Ph.D. from Cornell University, and his BA from the University of Wisconsin.

Arent Fox is one of the few go-to firms for novel and high-profile patent issues. Clients seek us out for our creativity and business approach to their legal issues. With more than 60 full-time patent professionals, we offer a full range of services related to the acquisition, enforcement, and commercial exploitation of patent rights and assets.
Smart In Your World

Founded in 1942, Arent Fox is internationally recognized in core practice areas where business and the law intersect. With more than 450 lawyers and professionals, the firm provides strategic legal counsel and multidisciplinary solutions to a global roster of corporations, governments, and trade associations.

Veteran Dallas trial lawyers Michael Lyons and Chris Simmons have formed Lyons & Simmons, LLP, a trial firm focused on handling personal injury and wrongful death matters as well as complex business disputes in Texas and throughout the United States.

Firm co-founders Lyons and Simmons have a proven record of obtaining outstanding results for their clients in high-stakes, high-exposure cases across the country. They have tried complex cases before judges, juries and arbitrators involving life-altering personal injuries, wrongful death, and “bet-the-company” business disputes.

“We have been involved in some of the most consequential and technically challenging cases in Texas and around the country, and I know we have made a difference for our clients,” said  Lyons. “That record of success will continue with Lyons & Simmons going forward.”

Lyons and Simmons were previously partners in the Dallas-based trial boutique Deans & Lyons, LLP. Also joining Lyons & Simmons are attorneys Chris Carr and Stephen Higdon.

“Mike and I share a common viewpoint that it’s our job to level the playing field for every client,” said Simmons. “Unfortunately, our clients are often facing the most challenging situation they will ever encounter when we are brought in. What comes with that is a tremendous responsibility to do everything we can to get the best possible outcome.”

Known for an aggressive approach that utilizes innovative technology and creativity, Lyons has earned the respect of his peers, earning professional accolades for personal injury and business litigation work including multiple year recognitions as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area by Texas Super Lawyers, as well as recognition by Best Lawyers in America, and among D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas. He is a member of the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums, as well as a member of America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators.

Simmons is a warrior for his clients who combines strategic and creative problem-solving abilities with highly skilled advocacy. He has obtained record-setting results for his clients and has earned recognition as one of the top 100 young lawyers in Texas by Texas Super Lawyers, has been included in D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas, and has received a Professional Excellence Award from Texas Lawyer.

About Lyons & Simmons LLP

Dallas-based Lyons & Simmons, LLP is a Texas Dallas-based trial boutique representing clients in wrongful death, personal injury, products liability and complex “bet-the-company” business litigation matters across the country. To learn more, visit http://www.Lyons-Simmons.com.

Steptoe & Johnson LLP is pleased to announce its continuing investment in its premier energy practice with the arrivals of Donna Byrne and John Perkins. Byrne, who brings extensive experience in Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) enforcement and compliance matters as well as federal litigation, joins as a partner. Perkins, who previously served as acting branch chief in FERC’s Office of Administrative Litigation, joins as of counsel. Both will be based in Steptoe’s Washington office.

In welcoming Byrne and Perkins to the firm, Steptoe Chair Phil West commented: “Steptoe has a 40-year history of having one of the best energy practices in the country and we are committed to remaining preeminent in this space. Donna has built a reputation as a go-to lawyer for FERC enforcement investigations and litigation, and John brings vast experience in FERC litigation for power, gas, and oil. Together, their arrivals – along with the arrivals of seven other partners and counsel in the past five years – will further cement Steptoe as the destination firm for high-value enforcement defense and FERC litigation, as well as the very best regulatory counselling available.”

Byrne’s practice focuses on representing electric power and natural gas market participants in proceedings before FERC. She has represented clients in numerous FERC enforcement investigations, both public and non-public, involving alleged market manipulation, as well as alleged violations of reliability standards. She has represented clients in complex contract litigation and other commercial disputes, including litigation arising out of the California energy crisis and issues related to Regional Transmission Organization withdrawal.

Byrne’s representations have included one of the first, and several of the most prominent, FERC enforcement cases since the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 2005) triggered the start of the modern FERC enforcement era. A number of these cases have proceeded to federal court litigation, including appeals. She represented clients in two of the eight Federal Power Act civil penalty actions that FERC has filed since the passage of EPAct 2005. As a result, Byrne has been at the forefront of litigating a number of significant and precedential legal issues these cases have presented.

Byrne was recognized in Chambers USA 2019 in the electricity regulatory and litigation category where clients described her as “an excellent critical thinker and good strategist…she is very meticulous, hard-working and fights hard for her clients.”

Byrne remarked: “I am excited about the opportunity to work with the talented members of the firm’s highly distinguished Energy Group. I’m confident that Steptoe will provide an excellent platform to grow and expand my practice in the coming years.”

Perkins is a trial lawyer and former acting branch chief in FERC’s Office of Administrative Litigation. He represents electric utilities, pipelines, and other energy clients in FERC rate proceedings, and supports transactional lawyers on federal regulatory matters related to mergers and acquisitions. Perkins has experience advising companies seeking market-based rates, stated rates, and formula rates; filings to maintain market-based rates; and filing complaints and comments with respect to Regional Transmission Organizations.

Perkins’ representations have included novel and complex rate proceedings. They include a first-of-its kind fuel security cost of service agreement in ISO New England where he served as co-lead trial attorney in an expedited hearing proceeding to determine a generation units’ and connected LNG import facility’s cost of service rates. Perkins also served as lead trial attorney in a hearing at FERC to determine the cost of service rates for a unique, critical path transmission investment in CAISO.

Steptoe has one of the most respected energy practices in the United States. For nearly a decade, the practice and its lawyers have received the highest rankings in the legal directories Chambers and The Legal 500. In 2019, Steptoe was the only firm to receive top-tier rankings from Chambers USA in both the nationwide electric and pipeline categories, and the only firm to receive top-tier rankings in electric by both Chambers and The Legal 500.

Byrne received her B.A. from Boston College and her J.D. from George Washington University. She served as a law clerk to the Honorable Daniel T. K. Hurley of the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Byrne currently serves on the board of directors of the Energy Bar Association.

Perkins received his LL.M., with highest honors, from George Washington University and his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Arkansas. He earned his B.A. from Rhodes College.

Global law firm Hogan Lovells is pleased to announce that Ben Garcia has joined the firm’s Finance practice as a partner in New York.

Garcia joins the firm from Milbank, where he was special counsel in the Capital Markets Group. He advises leading financial institutions, investment banks, private equity sponsors and corporate issuers in domestic and cross-border offerings of debt and equity securities. As part of his practice, he advises financial institutions and multinational companies on a wide range of infrastructure-related projects in Latin America.

Garcia has led a number of the most prominent recent capital markets transactions in Latin America. He has represented major sponsors and investment banks in project financings in the oil and gas, transportation and renewables sectors in Mexico, Peru, Chile and Colombia. He has worked on transactions ranging from investment grade offerings of debt and equity securities to high yield and structured bonds throughout Europe and Latin America, as well as sovereign offerings by the Dominican Republic and Guatemala. Additionally, Garcia has experience advising on M&A transactions, commercial financings and leveraged buyouts. He is fluent in Spanish and German.

Garcia’s arrival follows several high-profile additions to the New York office last year, including leading sports transactions lawyer Michael Kuh, and Peter Marta, former global head of the legal cybersecurity team at JPMorgan Chase.

Garcia earned his J.D. from Columbia University School of Law and an A.B. from Harvard University in Government.

Tiffany D. Presley, an experienced commercial transactions and supply chain attorney, has joined Barnes & Thornburg’s Indianapolis office as a partner in the firm’s Corporate Department.

As a strategic legal and business adviser to her clients, Presley counsels publicly and privately held companies on commercial transactions and contracts, supply chain issues and joint ventures. Her clients range from family-owned businesses to Fortune 150 companies in the manufacturing and technology industries. She joins the firm from Quarles & Brady.

Having earned a joint MBA and J.D., Presley was named an “Up and Coming Lawyer” by the Indiana Lawyer in 2015 and is active in the Indianapolis legal and business community. She is a member of the Indianapolis Bar Association, Marion County Bar Association, Economic Club of Indiana strategic planning committee and Indiana State Bar Association.

Presley earned her J.D. from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law and her MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University, where she also earned a bachelor’s degree.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that J. Thomas Trent Jr., a partner in the firm’s Nashville office, is one of only two attorneys in Tennessee to win a 2020 Client Choice Award. Produced by Lexology, Client Choice annually recognizes lawyers worldwide for excellent client service.

“Our firm is very proud of Tom’s selection as one of only two Client Choice Award winners in our state this year,” said Bradley’s Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters. “Tom is a leader in economic development and real estate law who sets a very high bar for the client service that he and Bradley provide to our clients.”

Chair of Bradley’s Economic Development Practice Group and a member of the firm’s Real Estate team, Trent represents clients regionally and nationally, including major manufacturing companies, corporate users of commercial real estate, institutional investors, developers, and lenders. He has 40 years of experience in real estate and economic development law.

Trent also has been a frequent speaker or panelist at commercial real estate, finance, healthcare, and economic development seminars and programs, including the Tennessee Governor’s Conference on Economic Development (numerous years), Tennessee Economic Development Council, Tennessee Municipal League, American College of Real Estate Lawyers, the International Council of Shopping Centers (TN/KY Idea Exchange), NAIOP, and a number of other organizations.

Lawyers can be nominated for Client Choice only by corporate counsel. This year’s 490 winners across 82 jurisdictions worldwide were chosen from a pool of more than 2,000 individual client assessments. Winners were selected though surveys of in-house counsel subscribers to Lexology and feedback at several international in-house counsel events and via the Client Choice website. The criteria for Client Choice focus on an ability to add real value to clients’ business above and beyond the other players in the market. Attorneys are rated on the following client service criteria: quality of advice, commercial awareness, industry knowledge, strategic thinking, billing transparency, tailored fee structures, value for money, responsiveness, effective communication, clarity of documentation, sharing of expertise, appropriate staffing, project management, use of technology, loyalty, and ethics. To view all 2020 winners, visit www.ClientChoice.com.

About Bradley
Bradley combines skilled legal counsel with exceptional client service and unwavering integrity to assist a diverse range of corporate and individual clients in achieving their business goals. With offices in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, the firm’s nearly 550 lawyers represent regional, national and international clients in various industries, including banking and financial services, construction, energy, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, real estate, and technology, among many others.

Perkins Coie is pleased to announce that Diana Bowman has joined the firm’s Construction and Real Estate Litigation practices.

Bowman is the latest addition to the Chicago office, joining on the heels of Construction practice Partners Michael Hanahan and Kevin Kolton. To accommodate Perkins Coie’s continued growth in the Chicago area, the firm will move to a larger, more collaborative office space at 110 North Wacker Drive in 2021.

Bowman represents owners and design professionals from both public and private entities in a wide range of litigation and transactional matters. Her practice focuses on contract drafting, negotiations, claim avoidance strategies, and navigation of alternative dispute resolutions, along with disputes involving commercial, residential, infrastructure, and energy-related construction projects.

She has deep experience with advising clients on resolving claims during the construction of the project and mitigating disruption. Diana has prosecuted and defended claims involving construction and design defects, construction delay and disruption, mechanics liens, and payment and performance bonds.

Bowman earned her J.D. from the Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology; her LLM in Real Estate from the University of Illinois at Chicago’s John Marshall Law School; and her B.A., with honors, from DePaul University.

The U.S. law firm of Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is pleased to announce that partner Brian S. McGrath and a team of four attorneys have joined the firm in the Consumer Financial Services Practice in New York. Formerly with McGlinchey Stafford, the group includes McGrath and Victor Matthews, who also joins as a partner, and associates Ashley R. Newman, Ronald Park, and Mitra Singh.

In addition to running a complex bet-the-company litigation practice, McGrath served as managing partner of McGlinchey’s New York office. His background includes a mix of public sector practice and private practice, having served early in his career as Special Assistant District Attorney in the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, NY, on secondment from Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP (previously Dewey Ballantine LLP).

According to McGrath, Hinshaw’s deep bench in the Consumer Financial Services sector, the firm’s national platform, and its commitment to diversity and inclusion helped convince the team to make the move. A 2018 Fellow of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), McGrath is committed to diversity in the legal industry and intends to actively participate in the firm’s LGBTQ Affinity Network. “The firm’s commitment to diversity and inclusion is a big part of who I am and something I’ve made part of my own practice,” said McGrath.

Brian S. McGrath
McGrath advises companies in the mortgage lending sector, representing companies in lender liability litigation, and litigation under federal consumer protection statutes, the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). He represents companies in a wide range of complex commercial litigation matters, including financial services, intellectual property, antitrust, and white-collar criminal investigations. Beginning his legal career at Dewey Ballantine in 2000, he developed a sophisticated and diverse practice. While at Dewey, he handled two related cases of first impression that went to the U.S. Supreme Court, resulting in a landmark decision on the doctrine of licensee estoppel. He also practiced law at Hogan Lovells US LLP prior to joining McGlinchey Stafford in 2015. McGrath received his B.A. from The State University of New York at Geneseo, and his J.D. magna cum laude from The State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law.

Victor Matthews
Matthews represents mortgage lenders, servicers and other financial services companies in a wide array of litigation matters, including consumer financial services, real estate and general commercial litigation. With almost 15 years of experience, he also advises companies in title insurance defense and contested mortgage foreclosure litigation, as well as a broad range of other issues. He received his B.A. from Binghamton University and his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law.

Ashley R. Newman
Newman has a general commercial litigation and arbitration practice, representing companies in breach of contract claims, fire damage and business interruption litigation, construction defect cases, and insurance coverage disputes related to risk management, commercial general liability and directors and officers liability. She also advises financial services companies on FDCPA and consumer fraud claims. She began her law practice at Herrick, Feinstein LLP before joining McGlinchey Stafford in 2015. She received her B.A. summa cum laude from Villanova University and her J.D. cum laude from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law.

Ronald Park
Park represents banks, mortgage servicers and investors, lenders and other consumer financial services companies in a wide array of litigation matters, with a focus on defending consumer litigation claims in lender liability cases. In addition, he advises banks and financial institutions in various disputes related to state and federal consumer protection, licensing, lending, usury, leasing and sales laws, and defends claims related to TILA, RESPA, Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act (HOEPA) and FCRA. Prior to joining McGlinchey Stafford, he served as an Agency Attorney in the New York City Department of Buildings. He received his B.A. from New York University and his J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, serving as a summer law clerk for the Honorable Ruben Franco of the New York City Civil Court.

Mitra Singh
Singh has a commercial litigation and consumer financial services litigation practice, including litigating contested mortgage foreclosures, bankruptcy, and real estate and title issues. He also defends financial services companies in cases related to payment disputes and claims arising under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA), FDCPA and FCRA. He received his B.S. magna cum laude from St. John’s University and his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law.

The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) has announced that Camille Neddo Johnson, a partner at Snow, Christensen & Martineau in Salt Lake City, has accepted an invitation to join the IADC, the preeminent invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests.

Johnson counsels and educates business clients and public employers regarding risk management initiatives and strategies that prevent or minimize employment claims. She advises clients on employment policies and practices, discipline and terminations, the protection of confidential information, wage and hour practices, executive agreements and compensation plans, separation agreements, independent contractor relationships, and the investigation of employment claims. She serves as both advisor and litigator, having had extensive experience defending clients in employment litigation. Johnson has a significant and varied litigation and trial practice, which includes the defense of leading pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in mass tort and coordinated litigation.

Johnson received her J.D. from the S.J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Utah.

About the International Association of Defense Counsel
The IADC is the preeminent invitation-only global legal organization for attorneys who represent corporate and insurance interests. Founded in 1920, the IADC has members who hail from six continents, 51 countries and territories, and all 50 U.S. states. The core purposes of the IADC are to enhance the development of skills, promote professionalism, and facilitate camaraderie among its members and their clients, as well as the broader civil justice community. For more information, visit www.iadclaw.org.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that George R. Parker, a partner in the firm’s Montgomery office, has been selected for membership as a Fellow of the Alabama Law Foundation.

“We are very proud of George’s achievements throughout his distinguished law career and we congratulate him on his selection as an Alabama Law Foundation Fellow,” said Bradley Montgomery Office Managing Partner Bobby Poundstone.

The Alabama Law Foundation Fellows Program honors lawyers who have been members of the state bar for at least 10 years and who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to their profession and to the community. No more than 1 percent of Alabama Bar members are invited into fellowship.

A member of Bradley’s Litigation Practice Group, Mr. Parker focuses his practice on pharmaceutical and medical device, product liability, mass tort and class action matters. His general commercial litigation experience includes representing commercial real estate corporations, trucking companies, bus lines, insurance companies and their insureds, as well as financial and credit institutions in matters involving credit card fraud, credit reporting and mortgage-related issues. He has also spent significant time representing individuals and entities on a pro bono basis.

Mr. Parker is a member of the Alabama State Bar Board of Bar Commissioners for the 15th Circuit (Montgomery) as well as its Executive Committee. He previously served as president of both the Alabama State Bar Young Lawyers Section and the Montgomery County Young Lawyers Section. He is also a graduate of the Alabama State Bar Leadership Forum and has been an active member of its Alumni Section.

Affiliated with the Alabama State Bar, the Alabama Law Foundation provides access to justice for all and respect for and understanding of the law. The charitable, tax-exempt organization makes annual grants to organizations that provide free legal aid to the poor in civil cases, for projects that improve the administration of justice and for law-related education.

About Bradley
Bradley combines skilled legal counsel with exceptional client service and unwavering integrity to assist a diverse range of corporate and individual clients in achieving their business goals. With offices in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, the firm’s over 500 lawyers represent regional, national and international clients in various industries, including financial services, healthcare, life sciences, real estate, construction, technology, energy, insurance, and entertainment, among many others.

Neal Gerber Eisenberg (NGE) is pleased to announce the addition of David A. Wheeler as a partner in the Intellectual Property practice group. Prior to joining the firm, Wheeler was a partner at Chapman Spingola LLP.

During his three-decade career, Wheeler, a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), has counseled companies on issues related to cyber security and data privacy, intellectual property, information technology and eCommerce. His practice extends across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, energy, finance, entertainment, education, hospitality and medicine. Wheeler has additional experience addressing personal information collection, compliance and use policies, data security requirements, breach notification compliance, incident response, PCI-DSS compliance and cyber governance counseling.

A former software developer, Wheeler has an in-depth understanding of the technical aspects of intellectual property, technology, privacy and data security issues. Wheeler counsels clients on a range of intellectual property issues, including trademark and copyright prosecution and litigation, new gTLDs and forced recovery of domain names. Additionally, Wheeler resolves social media issues, such as addressing false statements, harassment and infringement issues related to social media platforms.

Wheeler joins an intellectual property practice group comprised of nearly 40 dedicated attorneys, responsible for protecting and leveraging the IP assets of some of the most cutting-edge technology and Fortune 500 companies. He is the second addition to the group this year joining Vanessa Colman, formerly of Groupon and now counsel in the firm’s Intellectual Property and Corporate & Securities practice groups.

Wheeler received his J.D. with moot court honors from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law, his M.B.A in finance from Loyola College in Maryland and his B.S. in information systems management from the University of Maryland.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce that Tiffany M. Graves, Bradley’s pro bono counsel, has been appointed to the board of directors of the Association of Pro Bono Counsel (APBCO) and will be the commencement speaker at the 178th commencement ceremony for Hollins University in Roanoke, Va., on May 24. Graves received her Bachelor of Arts from the school.

Graves began serving a three-year term on the APBCO board Jan. 1.

“We are very proud of Tiffany’s leadership and the direction she provides for our firm’s pro bono initiatives,” said Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters. “Tiffany is an outstanding addition to the board of the Association of Pro Bono Counsel.”

Bradley partner Dylan C. Black, chair of the firm’s Pro Bono Committee, added, “Our firm will continue to benefit from Tiffany’s involvement in the pro bono industry. We thank Tiffany for her ongoing work and career devoted to helping to ensure access to justice for those who are less fortunate.”

“I am excited to serve on the APBCO Board and look forward to contributing to the important work of the law firm pro bono community in this new way,” said Graves.

The APBCO is a membership organization of over 200 attorneys and practice group managers who run pro bono practices at more than 100 of the world’s largest law firms. The group’s mission is to maximize access to justice through the delivery of pro bono legal services.

Graves oversees the development and administration of Bradley’s pro bono programs. Previously, she served as executive director of the Mississippi Access to Justice Commission, for which she promoted initiatives to improve and expand access to civil justice to the nearly 700,000 Mississippians living in poverty. Graves also formerly served as interim director and adjunct professor for the Pro Bono Initiative at the University of Mississippi School of Law, and as executive director and general counsel for the Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project.

Graves also is active with numerous other professional and community organizations and activities. These include the Community Advisory Board of the MIND Center at the University of Mississippi Medical Center and the Millsaps College Board of Visitors. She is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and an Inaugural Fellow of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation Community Leadership Network.

Through Bradley’s pro bono program, the firm’s attorneys across all of its offices devote a significant amount of time each year to pro bono work and community service. In 2019, the firm’s attorneys and staff performed more than 15,400 hours of pro bono service valued at more than $5 million.

About Bradley
Bradley combines skilled legal counsel with exceptional client service and unwavering integrity to assist a diverse range of corporate and individual clients in achieving their business goals. With offices in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, the firm’s nearly 550 lawyers represent regional, national and international clients in various industries, including banking and financial services, construction, energy, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, real estate, and technology, among many others.

On behalf of RevoLaze, LLC, Kristi Browne and Sarah Dunkley of Patterson Law Firm won a $32,262,488.50 legal malpractice jury verdict against attorney Mark Hogge and Dentons. This is a win for RevoLaze against a firm that claims to be the largest law firm in the world.

The trial took place in Cleveland, Ohio and lasted three weeks. “The verdict did not surprise me,” said Kristi Browne, “but it was gratifying. The jury was particularly attentive throughout the trial, asked good questions, and thoroughly deliberated.”

RevoLaze, a small Cleveland, Ohio technology company, owns patents that have revolutionized the denim industry. In 2015, Dentons and Hogge were disqualified from representing RevoLaze in a patent enforcement case in the International Trade Commission. The disqualification occurred after a defendant in that case, The Gap, raised a conflict of interest. “The case is important because it shows that a law firm cannot evade its duty of loyalty by organizing itself as a Swiss verein,” said Sarah Dunkley.

Kristi Browne and Sarah Dunkley relocated to Cleveland for a month, and worked with local Cleveland counsel, Tom Anastos. A five-lawyer team from Jones Day represented Dentons and Hogge.

This is believed to be the largest legal malpractice judgment in Ohio history.

Venable LLP is pleased to announce the addition of two high-profile real estate partners to its growing national Real Estate Practice – J. Michael Pickett and Thomas C. Klanderman. Pickett, formerly a partner in the real estate practice at Morgan Lewis, will split his time between the firm’s Washington, DC and Tysons offices. Klanderman, also previously a partner at Morgan Lewis, will be based in the firm’s DC office. In addition, Bryan J. Hoynak is joining as counsel and Noah M. Tischler is joining as an associate in the DC office.

Thomas (Ted) Millspaugh, national chair of Venable’s Real Estate Practice, said, “We are delighted that Michael and Thomas will be joining our team. They are long-standing leaders in the world of real estate transactions, both in the mid-Atlantic region and nationally. And they have provided a very broad range of services for a sterling base of clients, who themselves are leaders in the industry. They will fit in nicely and complement the group extremely well.”

Pickett counsels clients on all aspects of commercial real estate transactions. These include single-asset and portfolio sales and acquisitions, equity investments, joint ventures, financings for borrowers and lenders, and real estate debt restructurings. Among Pickett’s clients are real estate developers, REITs, investors and operators, banks and other financial institutions, and pension and other fund advisers.

Commenting on his move to Venable, Pickett said, “We are very honored and excited to be joining Venable’s long-established, top-notch real estate practice. We feel that our practices will integrate naturally within Venable’s platform and that we will be able to bring an even broader real estate and finance skill set to our clients.”

Klanderman’s practice encompasses all facets of commercial real estate, specializing in complex development transactions, joint venture arrangements, ground lease transactions, acquisitions and sales, borrower- and lender-side finance work, and hotel franchise and management arrangements across the range of asset types. Klanderman counsels national and regional developers, financial institutions, equity investors, owners, and operators.

Commenting on his move to Venable, Klanderman said, “Venable’s national real estate practice offers top talent, a wide range of expertise, and a deep bench that we are confident will be a great asset to our clients. We are thrilled by the opportunity to join this premiere group.”

Hoynak advises real estate developers, owners, and investors in a wide range of commercial real estate transactions, including sales and acquisitions, financing, joint ventures, development, and leasing. He also has experience assisting clients with syndicated corporate loan transactions.

Pickett received his J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis in 1989, and his B.A. from DePauw University in 1986. Klanderman received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center in 1996, and his B.A. from the State University of New York at Binghamton in 1986. Hoynak received his J.D. from Washington and Lee University School of Law in 2010, and his B.A. from Dickinson College in 2007. Tischler received his J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 2015, and his B.A. from Temple University in 2012.

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Venable LLP is an American Lawyer Global 100 law firm headquartered in Washington, DC that serves as primary counsel to a worldwide clientele of large and mid-sized organizations, nonprofits, high-net-worth entrepreneurs, and other individuals. With more than 850 professionals across the country, including California, Delaware, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Washington, DC, the firm strategically advances its clients’ objectives in the U.S. and around the globe. Venable, which is celebrating its 120-year anniversary, advises clients on a broad range of business and regulatory law, legislative affairs, complex litigation, and the full range of intellectual property disciplines. For more information, please visit https://www.venable.com/.