Ten Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP attorneys have received recognition in D Magazine’s 2016 Best Lawyers in Dallas list.

“The recognition in D Magazine of our partners, who specialize in numerous disciplines of law, demonstrates the quality of our lawyers across the firm,” says Gardere Chair Holland N. O’Neil. “We are honored to have this group of attorneys recognized among the best in the Dallas legal community, and we congratulate them on this achievement.”

Gardere attorneys named to the 2016 Best Lawyers in Dallas list, and their areas of practice, include:

Beverly B. Godbey – Insurance Law
Carrie B. Hoffman – Labor & Employment
Peter L. Loh – Business/Commercial Litigation
Joyce Mazero – Franchise Law
Michael H. Newman – Corporate Law: General
Alan J. Perkins – Corporate Law: Mergers & Acquisitions
Frances E. Phillips – Environmental Law
Larry Schoenbrun – Corporate Law: General
David H. Timmins – Insurance Law
Peter S. Vogel – Digital Information Law

The complete list of honorees will be featured in the publication’s May issue. Each year, D Magazine conducts a search for the best local legal professionals, inviting nearly 9,000 attorneys from the Dallas-Fort Worth area to vote for their peers. Finalists are selected by an independent panel of anonymous lawyers and D Magazine‘s editorial staff. The complete list can be found at www.dmagazine.com.

Attorney Michael Lyons, co-founder of the Dallas-based trial law firm Deans & Lyons, LLP, and firm partner Brian Lauten have earned selection to the 2016 D Magazine list of the Best Lawyers in Dallas.

“Brian and I take great pride in the work we do on behalf of our clients and appreciate earning the recognition of our peers,” says Mr. Lyons, who was named to the list for the fifth time.

In a release, the firm said:

Lyons has earned a reputation for using innovative trial strategies and a client-first approach in representing victims of catastrophic personal injuries, medical malpractice, product liability and wrongful death. He is equally respected for his work in complex business disputes, having successfully represented small businesses and large companies in “bet-the-company” litigation involving breach of contract, shareholder and royalty disputes, securities claims, business torts, and director and officer liability. Mr. Lyons is one of the few attorneys to earn recognition for both business and personal injury litigation in the listing of Dallas’ top attorneys.

This is Mr. Lauten’s second appearance on the list of Dallas’ best. He has extensive experience handling complex commercial litigation involving legal malpractice, professional liability, business and commercial torts, breach of fiduciary duty, contract disputes, and labor and employment matters. He is also a skilled appellate lawyer who has argued before the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the various Texas courts of appeal. Mr. Lauten is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Board Certified in Civil Trial Law Advocacy by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, and Board Certified in Civil Pretrial Practice by the National Board of Legal Specialty Certification.

Michael J. Rivera has joined Schiff Hardin LLP as a partner in the Financial Markets and Products Group.

The firm said Rivera defends businesses and individuals in criminal and civil government investigations and enforcement proceedings and conducts internal investigations.

He has experience in securities and financial investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) and Department of Justice (DOJ). He also counsels companies on compliance and regulatory issues under the federal securities, anti-money laundering, and anti-corruption (FCPA) laws.

He is resident in the firm’s Washington, D.C. and New York offices.

In a release, the firm said:

In addition to working over two decades in private practice at Fried Frank LLP, and, most recently, Venable LLP, Mike gained valuable experience as a government investigator and prosecutor. From 2010-2013, Mike served as Chief Investigative Counsel for the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP). At SIGTARP, Mike managed a premier white collar fraud unit of seasoned federal prosecutors and law enforcement agents engaged in investigations and prosecutions of complex financial frauds. Mike also functioned as SIGTARP’s lead liaison to the senior staff of law enforcement agencies, federal prosecutor offices, securities and bank regulators, and President Obama’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force (FFETF).

“Mike’s breadth of experience makes him a valuable counselor to a wide variety of our clients, from public companies, hedge funds, and accounting firms to securities professionals, executives, and lawyers,” said Marci A. Eisenstein, Schiff Hardin’s Managing Partner. “He is a welcome addition to our firm, particularly as we build out our regulatory capabilities in Washington, D.C.”

Paul Dengel, leader of the firm’s Financial Markets and Products Group, said, “As a public servant, Mike led complex, high-profile securities fraud investigations. In private practice, he helps clients understand, anticipate, and respond to investigations. Relying on his counsel, our clients can make smarter compliance decisions.”

Mike began his legal career as a staff attorney in the Enforcement Division of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), where he conducted investigations into insider trading, disclosure and reporting violations, fraudulent securities transactions, and other violations of the federal securities laws.

“Given the current regulatory and enforcement climate, companies must be more mindful than ever of their compliance policies and obligations,” said Mike. “I look forward to advising Schiff Hardin’s clients on current and pending securities regulations and, when necessary, guiding them through complex investigations and enforcement proceedings.”

Mike earned his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and his B.S. from St. John’s University, where he graduated magna cum laude.

Environmental lawyer Laura Whiting has joined Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP as a partner in the firm’s Dallas office.

Whiting joins Gardere’s environmental practice group where she will assist clients with all aspects of compliance and permitting for heavily regulated industry and real estate development. For all businesses, she anticipates more state, federal and citizen enforcement, incident investigations, regulatory advocacy, and product stewardship requirements, as well as the ongoing need to conduct thorough due diligence and cost-effective remediation and cost recovery, the firm said in a release.

The release continues:

She brings more than 27 years of experience in the chemical manufacturing, power generation, airline, and oil and gas industries. Ms. Whiting joins the Firm from Occidental Chemical Corp. where she served as senior counsel for the company’s environmental, health, safety, process safety, product stewardship, quality assurance and security functions.

Ms. Whiting began her legal career at Gardere before joining the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as an assistant regional counsel and enforcement attorney for Region 6. While at the EPA, she represented the government in multimedia, hazardous waste, federal facility and release reporting enforcement cases, regulatory development and policy matters. Prior to joining Occidental, she was a partner at Hunton & Williams LLP and also practiced environmental law at Winstead PC.

“We are excited that Laura is rejoining Gardere as a partner in our environmental practice group,” says Gardere Chair Holland N. O’Neil. “Laura’s extensive environmental background, including her experience in the chemicals industry, will further enhance our expertise in this practice area.”

Ms. Whiting currently serves on the board of directors with the Dixon Water Foundation, an organization dedicated to ensuring that present and future generations of Texans have the water resources they need. She is also a Texas state trustee for The Nature Conservancy and previously chaired the Environmental Health Commission for the City of Dallas, as well as the Dallas Nature Center, now Audubon’s Cedar Ridge Preserve.

“It is a great pleasure to rejoin the Firm where I started my career,” says Ms. Whiting. “Gardere’s environmental attorneys are among the most respected in their field, and I am honored to join this highly regarded group of professionals.”

Nearly a dozen Beck Redden employees, along with other members of Houston’s legal community, recently volunteered at the Houston Food Bank during “Legal Frenzy Friday,” part of the Food from the Bar campaign. Hundreds of attorneys and staff form Houston-area law firms donated their by working a 3-hour volunteer shift, which was a Houston Food Bank volunteer bonus day.

In a release, the firm said:

Beck Redden’s participation was spearheaded by associate Kate Skagerberg, who serves as a board member of f.r.e.s.h. Young Professionals, which was formed to support the mission of the Houston Food Bank, along with Beck Redden partner, Alistair Dawson, who is on the Food from the Bar Steering Committee.

“I was proud of our firm’s representation at Legal Frenzy Friday,” Skagerberg said.  “It was wonderful to work with my colleagues for such a worthwhile cause and to see the entire Houston legal community come together to help those in need.”

In addition to volunteering, as part of the Food from the Bar Campaign, Beck Redden employees are also collecting non-perishable food items at their offices as well as having an online donation for the Houston Food Bank. Food from the Bar is a month-long effort led by Houston’s legal community to close the meal gap in Southeast Texas. By donating their time, food and funds, firms and legal organizations help the Houston Food Bank distribute more meals to neighbors in need during the summer months and beyond.

Houston Food Bank

The Houston Food Bank is America’s largest food bank in distribution to its network of 600 hunger relief charities in 18 southeast Texas counties. Named top charity in Texas by Charity Navigator for financial performance and accountability, the Houston Food Bank provides 74 million nutritious meals to food pantries, soup kitchens, senior centers and other agencies, feeding 800,000 people each year. Fresh produce, meat and nonperishables are distributed from the warehouse at 535 Portwall, and hot meals are prepared and distributed from Keegan Center, a 15,000 square foot industrial kitchen. Additional community services range from nutrition education to assistance with food stamp applications and hands-on job training. Red Barrels offer a convenient way for grocery shoppers to donate nonperishables for their neighbors in need.

Some lawyers at Reed Smith, already unhappy about low morale, attorney layoffs and lateral losses, voiced their displeasure at the way the firm’s potential merger with Pepper Hamilton was announced, according to a report on Above the Law.

Kathryn Rubino quotes one source as saying, “So far the merger has led to bickering in the hallway. Morale has taken another nosedive.”

Another quote: “I mean the partners are happy cuz they can avoid bringing in business again, just buy someone else’s. The associates are just like great, dust résumé off.”

Read the article.

The global law firm Reed Smith is in talks to combine with the smaller Pepper Hamilton of Philadelphia, the firms confirmed, according to a report on Bloomberg BNA.

“Based on these preliminary discussions, we see many potential benefits to joining forces,” said a Reed Smith spokesman, in a statement. “There remains a significant amount of work to do with Pepper Hamilton to assess those benefits and before any transaction would be ready to bring to the Reed Smith partnership.”

“If the two firms move forward to completion, Reed Smith, which has 1,620 lawyers in the U.S., Europe, Asia and the Middle East, would acquire Pepper Hamilton’s 490 lawyers scattered throughout 13 U.S. offices,” the report says.

Read the article.

A Georgia lawyer who admitted to stealing hundreds of thousands from clients was sentenced to nearly four years in prison and ordered to pay restitution, reports The Florida Times-Union.

Before Chief U.S. District Judge Lisa Godbey Wood sentenced him, Donald Carlton Gibson told Wood that he had tried his very first case in the courtroom where he stood before her with a “surreal sense of shame…”

“Instead of that man full of promise,’’ Gibson said, “I am here to be judged for what I am. I’m a thief.”

Read the article.

Lisa J. Banks, co-founding partner of Katz, Marshall & Banks, LLP, is co-author of the recently released book “Whistleblower Law: A Practitioner’s Guide.”

Available in eBook and print formats from its publisher, ALM’s Law Journal Press, the book is a practical, comprehensive guide to rapidly evolving whistleblower law and the numerous and often complex issues facing practitioners today from both sides of the whistleblower bar, the firm said in a release. Banks, along with Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP Partner Jason Schwartz, have written a balanced view of the law useful to both whistleblower advocates and defense counsel alike.

The book’s topics include:

• Major legislation, including the False Claims Act of 1863, the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002, and The Dodd-Frank Act;

• Whistleblower protection for employees across a broad spectrum of industries, including the nuclear and environmental, consumer and investor, and transportation fields;

• Survey of state whistleblower laws in the 50 states and the District of Columbia;

• Whistleblower incentive programs, including those from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and Internal Revenue Service;

• Unique challenges faced by whistleblowing attorneys and compliance officers; and

• Employer considerations, including preventative measures, investigations, disclosures, privilege and settlements.

In her review of the book, Danielle Brian, Executive Director of the Project on Government Oversight, said: “As a federal government watchdog, I often work with corporate and government insiders with first-hand knowledge of matters vital to the public interest. Whistleblowers are the first and best line of defense against waste, corruption, and other misconduct by the government and its contractors. This book is simply without equal as a comprehensive, non-biased guide to the current landscape of federal and state whistleblower law.”

Roel Campos, former Commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and current Chair of the Securities Enforcement Practice at Hughes Hubbard & Reed added: “Lisa Banks and Jason Schwartz have given lawyers an excellent resource for navigating the growing maze of whistleblower laws that impact on nearly every practice area today. For attorneys involved in the heavily regulated financial markets, where whistleblowers are playing in increasing role, the authors not only equip practitioners with an in-depth knowledge of statutes and case law, but they also provide insightful practice tips for that can help both sides of the bar counsel their clients on the handling of whistleblower issues as they arise and unfold. This fresh look at whistleblower law and practice is a go-to resource for in-house counsel, compliance officers and whistleblowers alike.”

Bernard Gaffney has joined Wilson Elser’s Hartford, Connecticut, office as of counsel.

Formerly a partner with Rome McGuigan, P.C.in Hartford, Gaffney practices as a corporate transactional attorney and litigator, focused on matters involving commercial contracts and agreements, general and product liability and professional disputes.

In a release, the firm said Gaffney has experience in all aspects of litigation, from sensitive corporate investigations to taking first chair jury trials to verdict.

The  release continues: In handling transactional matters, Gaffney has assisted his corporate clients from the inception of deals, providing strategies and legal advice, through the drafting and negotiating various major business agreements to conclusion. He is admitted to practice in Connecticut and Massachusetts.

“When we opened the Hartford office in 2011, we focused on establishing a foothold in the Government Affairs and Lobbying arenas,” explained Brian Del Gatto, regional managing partner of Wilson Elser’s New England Region. “We are now making a concerted effort to grow our litigation and transactional practices with Bernard on board and the 40 attorneys split between our Stamford, CT, and Boston, MA, offices.”

Gaffney obtained his B.A. degree from Saint Anselm College (1989) and his J.D. degree from Suffolk University Law School (1993), where he was editor in chief of the Adelphia Law Journal and president of Delta These Phi Law Fraternity.

Earlier this year, Jim Perras, of counsel, joined the firm’s Hartford office. His practice focuses on government affairs and insurance regulatory and compliance matters.

Veteran real estate lawyer William “Bill” Ellis has joined Akerman LLP‘s Los Angeles office as a partner in the Real Estate Practice Group.

Ellis is former general counsel of global real estate conglomerate Reading International Inc. Prior to Reading, Ellis was a real estate partner at Sidley Austin, and he began his career at Morgan, Lewis and Bockius in Los Angeles.

“Bill is an industry veteran, who is known for his experience in complex real estate transactions for institutional investors and lenders,” said Richard Bezold, Real Estate Practice Group Chair. “He brings tremendous market knowledge in the hospitality and retail sectors, and adds important depth to our fast-growing practice in Los Angeles and across the region.”

In a release, the firm said Ellis has more than 30years of transactional real estate experience handling workouts and restructurings, leasing, acquisitions, dispositions, financings, joint ventures and developments across the United States. He works with private equity funds, global financial institutions, investment banks, real estate investment trusts, investment funds and private developers based both in New York and on the West Coast. He also has significant experience in corporate and securities transactions, including corporate mergers and acquisitions and initial public offerings.

Ellis previously served as general counsel and NASDAQ-listed Reading International Inc., the successor to Reading Railroad and now developer, owner and operator of retail and commercial real estate in Australia, New Zealand and the United States, including entertainment-themed retail centers, multiplex cinemas and live theater assets in Chicago and New York.

Akerman LLP has announced continuing growth in the New York and Dallas markets with the addition of new partners in both offices.

In New York, labor and employment partners Bran Noonan, Sarir Silver and associate Vincent Avery have joined the firm. The new team joins Akerman’s Labor & Employment Practice Group from Gordon & Rees LLP.

“With the ever-evolving labor and employment law landscape, we continue to add exceptional lawyers where our clients need us the most,” said Eric Gordon, chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group. “The growth of our national team in New York enhances our ability to counsel clients on a range of workplace matters, particularly in the business-critical realm of employment litigation and compliance.”

In a release the firm reported:

Noonan focuses his practice on employment litigation. He has experience representing businesses in both state and federal courts in a wide range of employment actions, including Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Title VII, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), and New York human rights and labor laws. He also regularly represents clients in various complex commercial matters, such as those involving issues of unfair competition, restrictive covenants, breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud.

Noonan previously served as an adjunct professor at New York Law School and as associate editor of the New York State Bar Journal. In his efforts to give back to the community, Noonan has assisted several organizations and individuals in various pro bono matters, including AmeriCorps in connection with the development of public school educational programs.

Silver focuses her practice on employment litigation. She is experienced in all areas of employment law such as the ADA, ADEA, Title VII, Title III, New York State Human Rights (NYSHR), New York City Human Rights (NYCHR), New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD) and Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA). Silver defends employers against claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful termination, retaliation and other employment claims in state courts, federal courts and administrative agencies. She also counsels management concerning employment law issues in employee terminations, employment discrimination, sexual harassment, equal employment opportunity, employee handbooks, family and medical leave, and compliance with federal and state employment laws.

Avery focuses his practice on defending employers in state and federal litigation involving all types of employment-related lawsuits, ranging from individual and class-based wage and hour litigation under the FLSA, New York Labor Law (NYLL), New York Hospitality Wage Order, and New Jersey Wage and Hour Law (NJWHL), to single and multi-plaintiff discrimination and retaliation claims asserted under various employment statutes. He also routinely counsels employers on various wage and hour issues including overtime pay, minimum wage issues and prevailing wage concerns, among others.

New York has grown into Akerman’s second largest office, tripling headcount to nearly 90 lawyers and other professionals in just 2 1/2 years, the firm says. In addition to Noonan and Silver, the office has welcomed three other partners since 2016 began, including corporate transactional lawyers Lorenzo Borgogni and Jack Habert, and real estate transactional lawyer Dianne Penchina.

The firm has further expanded its Dallas office with securities and commercial litigation partner Bryce Benson in the Litigation Practice Group. He joins Akerman’s national bench of trial lawyers and enhances the firm’s core strengths in the financial services sector.

“Bryce is an experienced litigator, whose strong financial sector focus extends Akerman’s capabilities in complex disputes at the federal and state level,” said Lawrence Rochefort, Litigation Practice Group Chair. “His practice enhances our ability to serve clients with securities and commercial litigation needs and adds important depth to our team in Dallas and nationally.”

Benson’s practice focuses on securities litigation, including the representation of broker-dealers in Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) arbitrations, regulatory investigations and enforcement proceedings. He also has experience litigating complex commercial cases and business disputes, including cases involving claims for breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, negligent misrepresentation, and other business torts in state court, federal court and in arbitration proceedings. Benson represents Fortune 500 corporations, mid-size companies and individuals in a variety of industries, including financial services, energy, health care, technology and manufacturing.

Benson joins Akerman’s Dallas office after the team recently welcomed bankruptcy and restructuring partners John Mitchell and David Parham from Baker & McKenzie.

Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP announces that attorneys Chris Deskin, Rick Jordan, Mike Seely and Glenn T. Singleton have been elected to partnership, effective April 1.

“These distinguished attorneys demonstrate integrity, expertise across a breadth of specialties, professional initiative and a dedication to providing our clients with exceptional service,” says Gardere Chair Holland N. O’Neil. “We applaud their accomplishments and are honored to welcome them to the firm’s partnership.”

Deskin is a tax attorney in the Firm’s Dallas office. He focuses his practice on trusts and estates, with an emphasis on estate planning and federal tax-related matters, business succession planning, marital property planning and asset protection planning. Deskin is a 2005 graduate of The University of Texas School of Law.

Jordan works in Gardere’s corporate practice group and splits his time between the firm’s Dallas and Austin offices. He focuses his practice on venture capital financings, mergers and acquisitions, securities regulation and corporate governance. Jordan is a 2008 graduate of Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law.

Seely is a trial attorney in Gardere’s Houston office. He represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of matters including complex commercial litigation, oilfield litigation, professional malpractice, real estate disputes, collection of unpaid invoices and promissory notes, and other business torts. Seely is a 2007 graduate of South Texas College of Law.

Singleton works in Gardere’s corporate practice group in Dallas. He focuses his practice on representing buyers, sellers, investors, fundless sponsors, joint ventures and other business entities in sophisticated debt and equity financings and other complex business transactions. Singleton is a 2007 graduate of University of Georgia School of Law.

Eight associates and a partner at  Houston-based Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing have been named to the annual Texas Rising Stars list, which recognizes the top young attorneys in the state.

The lawyers include partner Elizabeth Pannill Fletcher and associates Jamie Alan Aycock, Sammy Ford IV, Benjamin Foster, Tiffany Joud, Alisa Lipski, Michael McBride, Adam Milasincic and Monica Uddin.

Only 2.5 percent of eligible attorneys are chosen for Texas Rising Stars, which recognizes lawyers who are 40 or younger, or who have been in practice no more than 10 years. Selection is based on peer nominations and editorial review.

Read more about the AZA Rising Stars.

William J. Kohler has joined Dykema’s Corporate Finance Practice Group as senior counsel in the firm’s Detroit office.

Kohler has held leadership positions at major corporations in the automotive industry throughout his career. Most recently, he served as Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of global automotive suppliers Dura Automotive Systems, LLC, and Global Automotive Systems, LLC, and previously was Vice President and General Counsel for the North and South American automotive operations of Johnson Controls, Inc.

In a release, the firm said he has advised some of the world’s largest automakers and suppliers. He has led some of the automotive industry’s larger and more complicated acquisitions and divestitures, negotiated specialized supply agreements involving the sale and purchase of billions of dollars in critical components, created key joint ventures, and established international operations and distribution networks. He has also led development of significant intellectual property arrangements, including technology licensing and joint development arrangements, and authored the article “Current and Potential Legal Issues Pertaining to Automated, Autonomous and Connected Vehicles.”

“In addition to his strong background in the automotive sector, Bill brings deep expertise on corporate governance and regulatory matters,” said Wilhelm E. Liebmann, Leader of Dykema’s Corporate Finance Practice Group. “He has ties to leaders in Washington, a good grasp of state and local economic development initiatives and has counseled a variety of clients on cross-border matters.”

“Bill’s résumé and years of experience working with automotive heavyweights make him a great fit at Dykema,” said Brendan J. Cahill, Director of Dykema’s Automotive Industry Group. “His background and experience will be a great value for our clients.”

Kohler received a J.D. from the University of Michigan and a A.B. from the University of Michigan Honors College. He also received an M.B.A. from Michigan State University.

Janis Hui Ozaki has joined Dykema as senior counsel in the firm’s Los Angeles office. She joins Dykema’s Litigation Department.

In a release, the firm said Ozaki has extensive experience handling business and real estate disputes, including those relating to leasing, purchase and sale agreements, contract breaches, partnership disputes, and fraud. She has represented clients in Hong Kong, China, Mexico and Canada. She speaks fluent Cantonese and conversational French, and is part of the Hong Kong Association of Southern California, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles, the Southern California Chinese Lawyers Association, the Asian Pacific American Bar Association, the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association, ProVisors, and Bruin Professionals.

Ozaki was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers from 2012-2016 and has been listed annually among the Top Women Attorneys in Southern California by Los Angeles Magazine. She also is a lecturer in law at the UCLA School of Law.

“Janis is a great addition to our Los Angeles office as senior counsel,” said Michael P. Wippler, Managing Member for Dykema in Los Angeles. “She’s a talented attorney who’s made a name for herself in Southern California along with her extensive work with clients in several countries. She has a track record of strong client service and will be a valuable addition to our team.”

Ozaki received her J.D. at the UCLA School of Law and her B.A. in economics at Dartmouth College.

Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP announces that Partner Cristina Portela Solomon has been inducted as president of the Houston Association of Women Attorneys, effective April 1.

The AWA is the only organization in the Houston area that focuses exclusively on the advancement of women law students, lawyers and judges. Ms. Solomon’s appointment was formally announced at the organization’s AWA Premier Women in Law Luncheon held on March 23.

“Cristina has established herself as one of the most respected and capable attorneys in the Houston legal community,” says Gardere Chair Holland N. O’Neil. “She is a tireless advocate for the advancement of women in the practice of law, as evidenced by her impressive professional achievements and dedication to AWA.”

Solomon is a partner in Gardere’s labor and employment practice group.

“She is a seasoned trial lawyer who represents clients on employment matters in both state and federal court,” the firm said in a release. “She devotes a significant amount of her practice to trade secret litigation and has developed a reputation throughout Texas for successfully prosecuting and defending cases involving emergency relief in injunctive proceedings. Solomon, who is fluent in Spanish, often represents clients in employment matters throughout Latin America and Mexico.”

Under the AWA bylaws, the president must first serve as president-elect for the year preceding her term. Each year, the president-elect is nominated by the incoming president and approved by a majority vote of AWA members. In addition to serving as the organization’s president-elect, Solomon has acted as chair of the AWA Foundation’s Board of Trustees and also served on the nominating committee for the annual Premier Women in Law luncheon, the foundation’s primary fundraising event.

“Cristina has assembled a remarkable Board, who will continue building on the accomplishments of the organization,” says Christina Ponig, the outgoing AWA Houston president. “The Board is poised to do great things this year in the Houston legal community, guided by Cristina’s capable leadership. This will be an outstanding year for the AWA.”

The AWA Houston began in 1976 as a small group of women attorneys gathered in an empty courtroom to discuss ways to combine their strengths to improve opportunities for all women lawyers and promote recognition of their capabilities. Today, the AWA hosts a variety of fundraisers, educational events and scholarships designed to empower women to maximize their potential for success in the legal profession.

Hogan Lovells announced that Julie Brill, a Commissioner at the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), will join the firm’s Washington, D.C. office as a partner and co-director of the Privacy and Cybersecurity Practice on April 1. Her FTC service will conclude on March 31.

As co-director of the Privacy and Cybersecurity practice, Brill succeeds co-director and founding partner Christopher Wolf, who will transition to a senior status at the firm. She will be joined in leadership with Marcy Wilder, co-director of the Privacy and Cybersecurity practice; Harriet Pearson, leader of the firm’s Cybersecurity Solutions Group and Cyber Risk Services business unit; and Eduardo Ustaran, a partner in the firm’s London office, and leader of the firm’s European data protection practice.

“Julie’s keen intelligence and reservoir of knowledge about privacy and data security law, combined with her commitment to consumer privacy, make her a natural leader for our privacy practice,” the firm said in a release. “She is renowned as a global leader in privacy law and public policy, and is widely-recognized for her distinguished work at the FTC. We are confident she will build upon her years of experience to provide exemplary client service and practice leadership.”

Brill was appointed to the FTC by President Obama and unanimously confirmed as a commissioner in 2010.

Prior to serving on the Commission, she was an Assistant Attorney General in North Carolina and Vermont for more than 20 years. Before joining the Vermont Attorney General’s office, she was an associate at a New York law firm.

Brill earned her B.A. from Princeton University magna cum laude, and her J.D. from New York University School of Law, where she had a Root-Tilden Scholarship for her commitment to public service.

Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm, announced the expansion of its Corporate Practice Group with New York partners Lorenzo Borgogni and Jack Habert. Joining from Proskauer Rose and Willkie Farr & Gallagher, respectively, they enhance Akerman’s core strengths in complex M&A and capital markets transactions.

“Growing client needs in New York and other key markets are driving the expansion of our practice across the United States,” said Mary Carroll, Corporate Practice Group Chair. “Lorenzo and Jack are highly accomplished lawyers who have been involved in a variety of high profile domestic and international transactions. Their combined backgrounds and cross border experience support the work of our clients across diverse markets.”

In addition to Borgogni and Habert, Akerman’s Corporate Practice Group recently welcomed partner Mason “Max” Drake, co-resident in Chicago and New York, and partner Paul Quinn, co-resident in Chicago and Fort Lauderdale. Drake joined from Greenberg Traurig LLP, Quinn from Paul Hastings LLP.

Lorenzo Borgogni
Borgogni represents public and private companies in domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions, with a focus on Italian buyers. He has structured, negotiated and completed more than $40 billion worth of M&A transactions for deal principals, including funds and strategic buyers and financial advisors. His experience includes cash and stock-for-stock mergers, tender offers, stock and asset purchases, leveraged/management buyouts, spin-offs, going-private transactions, and joint ventures and divestitures across multiple sectors, including financial services and healthcare.

He also advises clients in connection with takeover defense initiatives and corporate governance matters, including proxy fights, consent solicitations and activist matters. In addition, Borgogni represents domestic and foreign issuers in connection with offerings of debt and equity securities.

Jack Habert
Habert concentrates his practice on negotiating and documenting structured finance and complex derivatives transactions and the regulatory analysis of securities, commodities and insolvency issues relating to such transactions. He advises major financial institutions, investment advisers, mutual funds, hedge funds and other corporate entities as either providers or end users of such financing and derivatives transactions.

From September 2010 through January 2012, Habert served as an attorney fellow at the SEC’s Division of Trading and Markets. In this role, he advised and assisted the agency with drafting rules that implemented various provisions of Dodd-Frank, including joint rules with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission on the definitions of swap and security-based swaps, swap and security-based swap dealers, and major swap and security-based swap participants, as well as SEC rules about business conduct standards, new trading platforms, clearing and reporting security-based swaps and conflicts of interest in asset-backed securities.

National law firm Wilson Elser announced that Arron Nesbitt, partner, and Linda Knight, of counsel, have joined the firm’s Denver office.

“Arron and Linda are excellent additions to the firm,” said Joseph Bermudez, regional managing partner of Wilson Elser’s Denver office. “Their abilities as litigators in several of our key practice areas will add tremendous value to Wilson Elser and for our clients.”

Formerly a partner with Taylor Anderson LLP in Denver, Nesbitt focuses his practice in the areas of wrongful death, catastrophic personal injury, mass tort and other complex matters in state and federal courts nationally, routinely for product liability and trucking clients.

Nesbitt also is a trial attorney, averaging one jury or bench trial per year over the course of his 17-year career.

Admitted to practice in Arizona, California, Colorado and Texas, Nesbitt also serves as defense counsel for excess carriers in specialty insurance litigation and has served as national product liability counsel for various manufacturers of automobiles, medical devices, stun guns and other products.

Nesbitt, who is AV Preeminent rated by Martindale-Hubbell, obtained his B.A. degree from Northern Arizona University (1993) and his J.D. degree from Golden Gate University School of Law (1999).

Knight, previously an associate with Taylor Anderson, practices in a variety of civil litigation defense areas, including specialty insurance litigation for primary and excess carriers, premises liability, product liability, tort defense, real estate litigation and general commercial litigation.

Selected for inclusion in Rising Stars for Colorado Super Lawyers, Knight earned her B.A. degree from the University of Denver (2004) and her J.D. degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law (2007), where she was a member of the Appellate Team and staff editor of the Transportation Law Journal.