Homble Olsby, a boutique Norwegian labor and employment law firm comprised of 12 attorneys, is joining Littler‘s global platform. The expansion, Littler’s first into the Nordic region, brings the firm’s presence in Europe to seven countries, and follows recent openings in Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy.

Inn a release, the firm said Norway is widely viewed as a desirable place to do business and ranked seventh out of 190 countries in the World Bank’s 2019 “Doing Business” Report, and third out of 180 on Transparency International’s most recent Corruption Perceptions Index. Littler’s move into the country is part of a global expansion strategy that includes combining with the top firms focused on labor and employment law in significant international markets. The firm now has more than 1,500 attorneys across 85 offices and 20 countries.

“Norway has a strong, globally-focused economy and one of the highest per-capita GDPs in the world,” said Tom Bender and Jeremy Roth, co-managing directors of Littler, in a joint statement. “Homble Olsby, which is one of Norway’s largest employment practices with a strong reputation for client service, will be a great addition and will coordinate our work throughout the Nordic region, including Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden.”

Ranked by both Legal 500 and Chamber & Partners, Homble Olsby has a broad labor and employment law offering, including employment and human resources law, pensions law, GDPR and related areas.

“Littler’s global platform is very impressive and we are excited to be joining forces with the world’s leading labor and employment powerhouse,” Ole Kristian Olsby said in a statement. “The firm’s innovative approach to delivering legal services will benefit Homble Olsby’s existing and future clients – and we’re excited to be part of Littler’s expanding footprint.”

Homble Olsby was founded in 2007 by partners Runar Homble and Ole Kristian Olsby, later joined by Trond Erik Solheim, Tore Lerheim, Anders Reiremo and Merete Furesund, all of whom have careers in labor and employment law negotiations and litigation. They also advise on commercial and contract law matters, both as legal and strategic advisors. The partners are individually recognized in national and international rankings, Littler said in a release.

“We are excited to add our first Nordic global practice,” said Stephan Swinkels, a Netherlands-based Littler shareholder who helps lead the development and integration of the firm’s global practice. “I have encountered Homble Olsby several times in recent years and have had a very positive experience with the work they do domestically and with clients around the world.”

“Norway has been on our radar for some time as a strategic market,” said Peter Susser, Littler’s Global Practice Leader and chair of Littler’s International Employment Law practice. “Having already made great connections with Runar and Ole Kristian and their colleagues, we know Homble Olsby will nicely complement our existing collection of European and global offices, as they are well-regarded for their impressive work and exceptional service throughout the Nordic region.”

Freeborn & Peters LLP announced that the firm is listed in Vault’s 2019 Top 150 Under 150, which includes the leading midsize law firms “known for providing top-notch service and delivering big results.”

“It is an honor for Freeborn to be recognized as one of the nation’s top midsize law firms based on our outstanding reputation for delivering successes for our clients as well as our quality of life and career opportunities for our lawyers,” said Freeborn Co-Managing Partner William E. Russell.

Created in 2015, Vault’s Top 150 Under 150 recognizes “the best-known and most sought-after U.S. firms with fewer than 150 attorneys … but no less expertise” than the large, global law firms that are included in the Vault’s annual Top 100 ranking of the nation’s largest law firms. The Top 150 Under 150 list can be viewed here.

The Vault’s editorial and research teams created the Top 150 Under 150 list through analysis of survey data, news stories, trade journals and other legal publications, and published law firm rankings. Vault editors also assessed each firm for prestige, quality of life and professional growth opportunities.

The Vault’s rankings, ratings, lists and reviews of top companies in the legal and other professional services industries are targeted to students and laterals to help them in their career development. The Vault’s rankings and ratings are regularly featured and cited by news outlets including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Forbes, Fortune, and Money.

Arent Fox LLP and Posternak Blankstein & Lund LLP announced they have reached a formal agreement to merge, effective Jan. 1, 2019.

In a release, the firm said the merger will mark Arent Fox’s first expansion into the Boston market. Founded in 1980, Posternak is a 55-lawyer Boston-based firm focusing on business transactions and complex litigation.

“Posternak’s excellent reputation in Boston is a reflection of their legal talent and client-first approach,” said Arent Fox Chair Mark. M. Katz. “This is a firm that shares our values and commitment to service. Between our similar client focus and practice strengths – particularly in Corporate, Real Estate, Health and Life Sciences, and IP counseling – we saw this as a perfect match.”

With the merger, Arent Fox will have more than 450 attorneys focusing on regulatory, transactional, intellectual property, and litigation counseling. Beginning in 2019, the firm will operate in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Boston, where Arent Fox will have one of the largest offices in the city.

“We see a lot of ourselves in Posternak,” said Firmwide Managing Partner Cristina A. Carvalho. “They are a firm with talented attorneys and an excellent, collegial culture. In addition, Arent Fox advises a number of Boston-based companies in the life science, technology, and private equity fields. Those sectors are a real strength in Boston and they are an excellent fit for our regulatory and corporate services.”

“Arent Fox and Posternak share a vision for client service,” said Posternak Managing Partner Ira J. Deitsch. “Posternak has been incredibly successful in Boston and this deal creates an opportunity to build on those achievements. As a result of this merger, both firms will be better able to serve clients from gateway markets, while retaining the close relationships, responsiveness, and understanding of our clients’ business that are paramount. We look forward to joining the Arent Fox family.”

Perkins Coie has announced that its San Diego office will relocate on Dec. 10, 2018 to 11452 El Camino Real, Suite 300. The firm’s new 37,000-square-foot space will accommodate the office’s recent and planned growth in its existing and additional practice areas, the firm said in a release.

The release also said that Perkins Coie established an office in San Diego in June 2010 to serve the intellectual property needs of national and international clients with business in Southern California and support the firm’s growth strategy on the West Coast. The office quickly expanded to provide a full range of legal services. The firm’s other West Coast offices are located in Los Angeles, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, and Bellevue, WA.

“Our firm is proud to have had a presence in San Diego for more than eight years, and we look forward to continuing to serve clients in the region and maintaining our presence within the business community for years to come,” said Matthew Bernstein, Managing Partner of Perkins Coie’s San Diego office. “Our new space will enable us to continue with our planned attorney growth and will increase our presence in the San Diego community.”

Lando & Anastasi, LLP of Cambridge, Mass., announced the expansion of its professional team with the addition of five technology specialists in recent months.

Lachlan M. Blair, Ph.D. has joined L&A’s life sciences practice; Wilhelm E. Liano has joined the chemical and material sciences practice; and Mohamed J. Alghanami, Stephen W. Kerr, and Arash Sayyah, Ph.D. have all joined the firm’s computer technology & software and electronics practices.

Roetzel & Andress LPA announced that it represented C.S.I. Enterprises, Inc., a leading global corporate payments technology company based in Bonita Springs, Florida, in its agreement with Edenred, a Malakoff, France-based company. Edenred will acquire CSI in the $600 million transaction.

Inn a release, the firm said the transaction allows CSI to accelerate its growth strategies and leverage Edenred’s world leadership in transactional solutions, as well as help Edenred enhance its digital payment technology platform and significantly increase its North American presence. The transaction furthers a partnership between CSI and Edenred formed nearly two years ago, according to the law firm.

The deal is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close in early 2019.

The Roetzel team representing CSI was led by firm shareholder Christopher P. Reuscher, chair of the Corporate, Tax and Transactional practice group, along with the following Roetzel attorneys:

– Karen D. Adinolfi (shareholder)
– Lindsie Everett (associate)
– Laura (Megan) Faust (shareholder)
– Terrence S. Finn (shareholder)
– James D. Fox (shareholder)
– Paul A. Giordano (shareholder and Business Litigation practice group manager)
– Paul Heuerman (shareholder)
– Paul L. Jackson (shareholder and Roetzel president)
– Suzanne K. Ketler, Ph.D. (shareholder)
– Ronald S. Kopp (shareholder)
– Terrence H. Link III (shareholder)
– Lisa H. Lipman (shareholder)
– Jessica Lopez (associate)
– J. Breton McNab (associate)
– Chad L. Mowery (shareholder)
– Stephanie Y. Olivera (associate)
– Joseph M. Ruscak (shareholder)
– James K. Shaw (counsel)
– John B. Waters (counsel)

Katie Ashley, former director of legislation for Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, has joined Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP’s Nashville office as a senior advisor in Bradley’s Government Affairs and Economic Development practice groups.

“We are thrilled to welcome Katie to our firm as a senior advisor on diverse government affairs and economic development issues,” said Bradley Managing Partner and Chairman of the Board Jonathan Skeeters. “Katie’s experience and wealth of knowledge gained during her long tenure as a key official in the Tennessee governor’s administration will be great assets to our clients.”

In a release, the firm said Ashley represents clients before the executive and legislative branches of government in Tennessee and Washington, D.C., helping to develop successful strategies for achieving clients’ business goals.

As the chief legislative executive for Haslam, Ashley advised the governor, his senior staff and 23 department commissioners on political strategy and legislative affairs. The Office of the Governor’s press release states that during her eight-year tenure with the Haslam administration, Ashley played an essential role in budget matters and policy development that led to Tennessee being recognized as a national leader in education, economic development, efficient and effective government, and fiscal strength. Among her achievements, Ashley helped launch the Drive to 55 initiative, with the goal to increase to 55 percent the number of Tennesseans with a postsecondary degree or credential by the year 2025 to meet future workforce demands. Ashley’s legislative efforts also helped Tennessee become the first state in the nation to offer high school graduates a chance to earn a certificate or degree beyond high school free of charge and with a personal mentor.

Previously, Ashley worked for U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander in Washington, D.C.

Ashley received her Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) from the University of Tennessee at Martin, and is not an attorney.

Vangard, a part of Littler’s global platform, has opened a new office in Frankfurt, its fifth location in Germany. The new office will be headed by partners Christoph Crisolli and Peter Hoppenstaedt, who will be joined by partner Dr. Frank Zaumseil and associates Dr. Antje Peterhänsel, Dr. Stefanie Reiche, Ulrike Schulke, and Stephanie Koch.

“We’re continuing to expand globally to address the evolving business and legal needs of our clients,” Tom Bender and Jeremy Roth, co-managing directors of Littler, said in a joint statement. “Frankfurt is one of the key economic centers in Europe and having an office in this city further strengthens our presence throughout Germany. Led by Christoph and Peter, this outstanding group broadens our ability to provide local companies with comprehensive services covering the full range of workplace issues.”

Christoph Crisolli, who has led the Frankfurt office of Kliemt.Arbeitsrecht since 2005, specializes in restructuring, with an additional focus on international employment law. His recent work includes the merger of Dell and EMC, the relocation of the European supply chain of Olympus to Poland, and the reorganization of the works council structure at Western Union.

Peter Hoppenstaedt serves domestic and international clients with an emphasis on industrial codetermination matters. He also has extensive experience in the hotel industry and most recently guided the integration of Starwood in the Marriott Group.

“We are thrilled to be establishing vangard’s fifth office. It is an exciting opportunity that will offer tremendous perspectives for our younger colleagues, too,” said Crisolli. “Our long-time clients place great value on close, personal service and comprehensive advice in employment matters, and with vangard they find continuity at the highest level at home and around the world through Littler an international legal practice comprised of reputable firms spanning three continents to create a single source solution provider.”

“This top-notch addition complements vangard tremendously. We are very much looking forward to collaborating with our new colleagues, whose experience in the Frankfurt market represents a significant value-add for us and our clients,” said vangard founding partner Dr. Frauke Biester-Junker.

Thomas Griebe, a founding partner with vangard added, “The addition of the Frankfurt office strongly positions us in Gemany’s major economic centers and we are excited to have these seven attorneys part of our team as we continue to grow our presence and respond to the needs of our national and multinational clients.”

With the opening of the new office in Frankfurt, which is considered one of Europe’s most important and vibrant financial hubs, vangard and Littler continue to rigorously pursue their strategy, and the practice is strengthening both its national and international client service capabilities through this latest addition. vangard also serves clients through its offices in Hamburg, Berlin, Düsseldorf and Munich, and with this latest expansion will grow to 50 employment law experts across Germany.

Dallas-based litigation boutique Bailey Brauer PLLC has earned recognition among the Best Law Firms in the country for 2019 by U.S. News & World Report and The Best Lawyers in America. The firm was singled out for its appellate work.

Selection is based on extensive client and attorney evaluations, practice-specific peer review and editorial review. To be eligible for consideration, a firm must have a lawyer listed in the annual Best Lawyers in America guide. Firm co-founders Clayton Bailey and Alex Brauer are each recognized in the 2019 edition – Bailey for his appellate work and Brauer for commercial litigation.

“This firm works to provide our clients exceptional legal advice start to finish, from negotiating disputes and preparing for litigation to trying a case and following through on appeal,” said Brauer. “To be considered among the top firms is validation of our dedication to our clients.”

In October, Bailey was named a Litigation Star in commercial litigation for the fifth year in a row by the Benchmark Litigation legal guide. He was also recognized by Benchmark for his competition-based litigation practice, as well as his international arbitration work.

Bailey and Brauer were each selected to the 2018 Texas Super Lawyers listing for their business litigation work. The guide to Texas’ top lawyers is published annually by Thomson Reuters in Texas Monthly and Super Lawyers magazines.

Earlier this year, Brauer was recognized for a third consecutive time among D Magazine’s Best Lawyers in Dallas.

The FBI is investigating a lobbying contract between Jackson County in Misssouri and Biglaw firm Polsinelli, The Kansas City Star reports.

A federal judge referred to the investigation of a lobbying contract last week as she sentenced former Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders and top aide Calvin Williford to prison for conspiracy to commit wire fraud.

The article by Steve Vockrodt and Mike Hendricks explains:

Federal lobbying disclosures show that Polsinelli began lobbying for Jackson County in 2010 until the relationship was terminated in April 2018. Jackson County paid the law firm $1.27 million, largely for lobbying on transportation issues.

It’s not publicly clear what investigators are examining, but multiple sources have said part of the investigation concerns questionable travel expenses.

Read the KC Star article.

Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. announced the launch of its office in the Cortex Innovation Community, which the firm described as “a thriving innovation hub and technology district integrated into the historic Central West End and Forest Park Southeast neighborhoods of St. Louis.”

In a release, the firm said more than 20 Greensfelder attorneys from diverse practice groups staff the office on a rotational basis, with at least two lawyers on site each weekday. The attorneys provide legal services and general business counsel to entrepreneurs and start-up businesses that are part of the Cortex community. Greensfelder also plans to provide educational resources, including seminars, for community participants.

“The success of the St. Louis start-up community, of which Cortex is an integral part, is important to all players in the community, including law firms,” said Mark E. Stallion, a Greensfelder Officer and intellectual property attorney who leads the firm’s Cortex team. “The question is, are you going to sit on the sidelines and watch this development from a distance, or are you going to be a key contributor to the effort? Our desire at Greensfelder is to be a major part of Cortex as growth continues.”

Situated in the Cortex 4220 building, the Greensfelder Cortex team includes attorneys, both officers and associates, with significant experience advising businesses and entrepreneurs on the legal matters essential to their success and growth. They practice in areas that include employment law, intellectual property, litigation and business services, and serve diverse industries that range from technology and financial services to health care to media and retail, among others.

“One of the most common first mistakes of successful start-up companies is failure to get the right legal advice up front. We strive to educate this community in that regard, while also offering innovative and scalable fee structures that make it very palatable for start-ups to take advantage of our services,” Stallion added. “Our goal is to build constructive, long-term relationships with these entrepreneurs and start-ups to help make sure the community succeeds.”

Stallion said Greensfelder’s integration into the Cortex community also benefits the firm’s other clients, including large corporations and companies of all sizes, that already have existing relationships with businesses in Cortex or that may benefit from exploring new collaborative relationships.

Stallion added that Greensfelder’s Cortex team is purposefully diverse in terms of age, gender, ethnicity and race.

“We feel it is important that the makeup of our Greensfelder team on site reflects the rich diversity and inclusion that is distinctly prevalent both throughout the Cortex community and at our firm,” Stallion said.

In addition to Stallion, Greensfelder’s Cortex attorneys (and their practice areas) include the following:

– Cassie L. Barr (Business Services)
– Lauren A. Daming (Employment & Labor)
– John C. Drake (Litigation)
– Gino P. Gusmano (Litigation)
– Lauren B. Harris (Employment & Labor)
– Andrew M. Hartnett (Litigation)
– Clark Hedger (Litigation)
– Rachel M. Hirshberg (Business Services)
– Jennifer M. Horrom (Health Care)
– Audrie R. Howard (Employment & Labor)
– Karen M. Johnson (Intellectual Property)
– Carson Maricle (Business Services)
– Andrew M. Mitchell (Trusts & Estates)
– Erika N. Reynolds (Litigation)
– Juliane M. Rodriguez (Litigation)
– Debbie J. Sluys (Business Services)
– Zackary G. Smith (Litigation)
– Patrick J. Sweeney (Business Services)
– Camille P. Toney (Employment & Labor)
– Mary Ann L. Wymore (Intellectual Property /Litigation)

Cortex houses more than 250 technology-related start-up programs and established businesses and is considered the Midwest’s premier innovation hub of bioscience and technology research, development and commercialization. The community is surrounded by nationally ranked universities and medical centers and numerous cultural attractions and recreational amenities. The master plan for Cortex includes $2.3 billion in construction, more than 4.5 million square feet of mixed-use development, and 15,000 permanent, technology-related jobs. The community also connects to a new MetroLink light-rail station, which opened this summer.

Littler has named Thomas Burns as its chief financial officer (CFO), based in the firm’s Kansas City office. Burns, a financial executive with more than 25 years of experience across multiple industries, will be responsible for Littler’s accounting strategy and overseeing the firm’s financial operations.

“Tom has an impressive and long-standing track record of managing large and sophisticated finance departments across a wide range of industries. His deep experience will be instrumental as we continue to expand and improve upon our processes to achieve optimal organizational value,” said Littler’s Chief Operating Officer Robert Domingues. “Furthermore, as a local Kansas City resident, Tom represents the talented labor pool we are able to draw from to support Littler’s world-class Global Services Center.”

Burns has spent much of his career with DST Systems, Inc., a publicly traded company based in Kansas City. He started as the Director of Financial Planning & Analysis (2001-2007) and later served as CFO of the subsidiary DST Customer Communications (2007-2016) until its sale to Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. As part of that transaction, which he helped orchestrate, Burns joined Broadridge Customer Communications as the subsidiary’s CFO. “I was really impressed by Littler’s innovative and technology-driven approach to serving clients, where business and legal issues are addressed together to benefit the firm’s blue-chip client base,” Burns said. “Furthermore, the collective resources and talent in the Global Services Center is a true representation of a work environment of collaboration, innovation and connectedness.”

Burns began his career as an auditor and financial analyst and worked with premier professional services firms and corporations, including PricewaterhouseCoopers, UOP (n/k/a Honeywell UOP), Boots Pharmaceuticals (n/k/a Abbott) and the Quaker Oats Company (n/k/a PepsiCo). He earned his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and his BBA from Loyola University Chicago.

Littler Mendelson announced that Reliance, a Belgian labor and employment law boutique with 20 lawyers, is joining its global platform. The expansion brings Littler’s presence in Europe to six countries, while adding an outpost in Brussels, home of the European Union headquarters.

The firm said the move is part of Littler’s global expansion strategy that includes combining with the top firms focused on labor and employment law in significant international markets, which has led to a footprint of more than 1,500 attorneys across 82 offices and 19 countries. In addition to its office in Brussels, Reliance has an office in Mechelen.

“Given Belgium’s significant role in the European and global economies, it was important for Littler to find a well-regarded firm like Reliance, which represents top international clients and is recognized for its strength in all aspects of labor and employment law,” said Tom Bender and Jeremy Roth, co-managing directors of Littler, in a joint statement. “Reliance’s team can work seamlessly in Dutch, French and English – a unique attribute among Belgian firms. That ability, combined with the high caliber of Reliance’s attorneys, makes the firm a strong addition to our global platform and a logical next step in our expansion strategy.”

In a release, the firm said Reliance was founded in 2009 by partners Edward Carlier and Koen De Bisschop, who were later joined by Anne-Valérie Michaux and Erwin Crabeels. The firm works on labor and employment matters, including the defense of claims, collective bargaining and advice on works council matters, representation before government agencies, audits and training. The team also advises employers on such issues as compliance with the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation and other privacy and data security laws, global mobility, restructurings, hiring and termination, workplace discrimination and harassment, and non-compete agreements.

The release continues:

“It’s clear that Littler has an impressive expansion strategy, and we’re excited to join its growing global platform, particularly in Europe,” Carlier said. “Littler’s singular focus on labor and employment law and its reputation as an innovative and global firm is the perfect fit for Reliance. The firm’s presence in key global markets throughout Europe and its vast resources will complement our practice and provide our clients with additional legal offerings in one of the most important business and governmental centers.”

Carlier focuses his practice in all aspects of human resources law, including corporate restructurings. He counsels employers on the design and implementation of effective redundancy plans, and he regularly handles human resources-related conflicts and litigation. De Bisschop advises companies on international mobility, the design of competitive wage structures and data protection, while also counseling executives and directors in relation to their employment or management contracts.

“An office in Belgium – in combination with our existing practices in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom – is an important addition,” said Stephan Swinkels, a Littler shareholder who helps lead the development and integration of the firm’s global practice. “In addition to its strong reputation around Europe, Reliance’s even split of Dutch and French-speaking attorneys is a significant advantage and aligns well with our robust teams in the Netherlands and France.”

Peter Susser, Littler’s Global Practice Leader and chair of the firm’s International Employment Law practice, added that, “We’re excited to join with this talented group of 20 lawyers who have a well-earned reputation for counseling employers in Brussels and across Europe. Reliance has a great track record, and our clients from across the region and around the world should start seeing immediate value as a result of this combination.”

The law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP announced that it is expanding its presence in Minnesota with the opening of a full-service downtown Minneapolis office this month, the firm’s 11th location nationwide. The new office is located in theFifth Street Towers at 150 South 5th Street, Suite 1800.

“For many years we have serviced Minnesota-based clients from current and remote offices but as our work in the state continues to expand, the time was right to invest in a full-service downtown office location,” said Firm Chair Kimberly Leach Johnson. “As a firm with deep Midwest roots but a national presence and client base, Minneapolis is a great location for us to grow.”

Four current Quarles & Brady attorneys as well as an administrative team will operate from the location when it opens, including: Daniel Young, a partner specializing in Business Law, Isaac Roang, a partner in the firm’s Real Estate Law practice, Peter Kaiser, a business law attorney, and Michael Larson, an attorney in Quarles & Brady’s Intellectual Property practice.

“We’re building upon what we’ve started here in Minneapolis. Quarles & Brady has 11 attorneys admitted to practice in the state, and we have been serving clients here for years,” Young said. “I’m glad we will now have a dedicated office downtown to facilitate further growth.”

The firm’s Minnesota client base encompasses emerging businesses and many well-known companies in the manufacturing, technology, real estate, finance and healthcare industries, among others.

According to Young, who is involved in leadership positions across several Minneapolis charities, higher education initiatives and community groups, Quarles & Brady intends to continue to be an active member of the Minneapolis community and even expand that commitment as its presence grows. Quarles & Brady has a long history of community service, including supporting and sustaining its local communities through its Quarles Cares program and pro bono services.

The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that bay area law firm Archer Norris has filed for bankruptcy and plans to dissolve this fall.

The Walnut Creek firm, with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Newport Beach, deals mainly in business and insurance litigation, according to Chronicle reporter Rebecca Aydin. It is closing those offices, where it employs 124 people, according to a notice the firm sent to state officials, and expects all to lose their jobs.

A court-approved interim operations will allow the firm’s employees to be paid to keep working with clients until mid-September.

Read the SF Chronicle article.

Baton Rouge-based Kean Miller LLP has opened offices in The Woodlands, Texas, and Lafayette, Louisiana, by combining with the energy-focused law firm Dupuis & Polozola.

The firm said this expansion builds on Kean Miller’s Houston office opening in 2017 and strengthens the firm’s portfolio of legal and business services to energy, oil & gas, and petrochemical industry clients.

The 10 lawyers with Dupuis & Polozola work in upstream oil and gas exploration and production, handling transactional, regulatory, and litigation matters, as well as business and corporate, and real estate matters. The firm’s clients include global exploration companies and small independents operating in Texas, Louisiana, Colorado, Kansas, North Dakota and New Mexico.

“Lafayette is the hub of the south Louisiana energy corridor, and The Woodlands continues to experience unprecedented growth in corporate headquarters,” said Blane Clark, managing partner of Kean Miller. “Our two new offices strengthen our ability to offer strategic legal resources to our clients from east of New Orleans to the energy corridor of West Houston, and from the Gulf of Mexico to West Texas and beyond.”

James H. “Jimmy” Dupuis Jr.

The firm now has more than 160 attorneys after the union with Dupuis & Polozola. Joining Kean Miller as equity partners are James H. “Jimmy” Dupuis Jr. in The Woodlands and Kyle P. Polozola in Lafayette. The Woodlands office is located at 8301 New Trails Drive, Suite 100. The Lafayette location is at 2020 W. Pinhook Road, Suite 303.

“Combining our law firms makes great sense. We share a commitment to knowing our clients’ business inside and out, and to personalized client service,” said Dupuis. “Our clients will benefit from Kean Miller’s progressive approach and full-service offerings, and Kean Miller’s clients now have access to a team of upstream oil and gas attorneys experienced in Texas, Louisiana, and other producing states.”

Kyle P. Polozola

Polozola said he looks forward to playing a part in the cooperative efforts of talented lawyers across Kean Miller’s operations. “Our Lafayette office magnifies the existing firm presence across Louisiana and in Texas. With Kean Miller’s regional presence and deep bench of talented lawyers, we are an even more dynamic force in the Bayou State.”

Dupuis and Polozola, both experienced oil and gas and business attorneys, founded their firm in 2010. Dupuis earned his law degree from the Louisiana State University Paul M. Hebert School of Law; Polozola’s law degree is from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.

Employment and labor law Littler and Canine Companions for Independence, a non-profit organization that provides highly trained assistance dogs to people with disabilities at no charge, announced the formation of a strategic partnership.

Accommodating requests from employees and customers to bring service animals into their workplaces or facilities has become increasingly complex for companies, the firm said in a release. The issue is intensified by the rise in instances of people using fake vests to pass family pets off as service animals, which undermines the acceptance of legitimate service dogs and creates headaches for companies. As part of this partnership, Littler and Canine Companions will work together to address this issue and provide guidance for companies on managing service animal accommodation requests in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“Canine Companions is a very worthwhile organization and we look forward to working together to educate companies on the myriad issues surrounding service animal accommodation, while further raising awareness of the vital services Canine Companions provides in matching individuals with disabilities with assistance dogs,” said Tom Bender and Jeremy Roth, co-managing directors of Littler, in a joint statement.

“We have worked closely with Littler during the past year to raise awareness of the proper use of service dogs in the workplace and business facilities, and are excited to embark on this formal partnership,” said Canine Companions Chief Development Officer Barbara Barrow. “Littler’s depth of experience in the legal aspects of service-animal accommodation, as well as its commitment to expanding the availability of assistance dogs for people with disabilities, make the firm a perfect partner. We look forward to combining our resources to continue to provide support to people with disabilities and help prevent service-dog fraud.”

In their work together to date, Littler and Canine Companions hosted a breakfast briefing in San Francisco in October 2017 on employment and public accommodation requirements for service animals. Canine Companions was also featured at Littler’s 35th annual Executive Employer Conference in May 2018, including an interview from the conference floor on employee requests to bring service animals into the workplace. As part of its formal partnership, Littler and Canine Companions will be hosting a series of educational events in the coming months, including:

• Littler Breakfast Briefing in Washington, D.C., September 5, 2018
• Littler Breakfast Briefing in Philadelphia, September 6, 2018
• Littler Regional Employer Conference in Las Vegas, September 12, 2018
• Littler Regional Employer Conference in Reno, Nevada, September 13, 2018
• California State Council of SHRM in Redding, California, September 26, 2018
• California State Council of SHRM in Monterey, California, November 15, 2018

Peter Petesch, a shareholder in Littler’s Washington, D.C., office who regularly advises clients on service animal accommodations in the workplace, added: “As we continue to see an uptick in questions related to service animals from our clients, this partnership with Canine Companions will be beneficial in helping companies ensure a safe and sensible environment for employees and customers in accommodating these requests.”

AZA is ranked among the nation’s top mid-sized law firms and among the top 10 for quality of work and top 15 for hiring selectivity by Vault rankings.

Vault, which recently released its 20th law firm ranking guide to help law students and lawyers, included AZA in its “Top 150 Under 150.” This is a listing that uses employee surveys to identify the best law firms to work for across the country.

AZA, or Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C., was one of only 26 Texas firms included on the list. The only other mid-sized Texas-based firm on the list with AZA for top quality of work and selectivity in hiring is Susman Godfrey LLP.

AZA’s  top quality of work ranking can be seen here.

“It’s no surprise that AZA would rank at the very top among law boutiques. We are trial lawyers, and we get our newest attorneys into court immediately so that they are comfortable before a judge and jury. Plus, we represent Fortune 500 companies in complex commercial cases so the work is always interesting,” said firm founding partner John Zavitsanos.

AZA’s Fortune 500 clients include: Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (NYSE:APC), Apache Corp. (NYSE:APA), Chevron (NYSE:CVX), Enterprise Products Partners LP (NYSE:EPD), Group 1 Automotive (NYSE: GPI), Halliburton Corp. (NYSE:HAL), Huntsman (NYSE: HUN), Liberty Mutual, National Oilwell Varco Inc. (NYSE:NOV), Noble Energy (NYSE: NBL) and NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG).

AZA’s top hiring selectivity rankings can be seen here.

“We also pick our new lawyers carefully from the best law schools and take laterals from some of the best firms in the country,” Zavitsanos said.

Truda K. Chow has joined Michael Best as Chief Operating Officer. Chow most recently served as a senior advisor at LawVision Group, a professional and legal services consultancy.

In a release, the firm said Chow will work closely with firm leadership, including the chief finance officer, chief information officer and practice group managers, to oversee the firm’s operations, administrative, and human resources functions. She will collaborate with the chief marketing and business development office to execute firm strategy initiatives.

“Truda stood out above all other candidates in our extensive search as an experienced and intelligent leader who has counseled professional service organizations and law firms around the world,” said David Krutz, firm managing partner. “The law firm COO is more important than ever to an organization’s success, and Truda’s expertise will be a huge asset as we continue to strategically expand our services and business operations nationally.”

Chow has management experience in strategy, operations, finances, recruiting and retention, culture and mergers, the firm said. During her career, she provided national and international guidance, particularly in Asia, where she developed and implemented Asia regional strategies for multinational organizations. Prior to that, Chow held several positions in the legal industry and international consultancies providing counsel on global marketing and business development initiatives, growth, and investment strategies.

“I’m thrilled to join Michael Best,” said Chow. “Michael Best’s growing national presence coupled with the firm’s strong leadership in the industries they serve was a major draw in deciding to join the firm, and I’m looking forward to assisting in its continued strategic expansion.”

Chow received her M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Management, her J.D. from Loyola University’s School of Law, and her B.S. from the University of Illinois.

Law firm Hogan Lovells has entered into an association with Riyadh, Saudi Arabia-based ZS&R Law Firm. The firms will work together to provide legal advice to their national and international clients, the firms said in a release.

Riyadh-based ZS&R Law Firm was founded in 2017 by Dr. Najem Alzaid, Saad Alrashed and Turki Alsheikh. The three founding partners have backgrounds with international legal experience, multilingual capabilities, and are experienced in advising on national and cross-border transactions. ZS&R works in practice areas including projects, dispute resolution, banking and finance, capital markets and corporate and M&A.

Under the terms of the agreement, ZS&R Law Firm will operate in association with Hogan Lovells, and the two firms will work together on client matters while remaining separate legal entities.

“Saudi Arabia is a strategic market for our clients,” explained Miguel Zaldivar, incoming Regional Chief Executive for the Asia Pacific Middle East region. “Partnering with ZS&R Law Firm is part of our commitment to providing clients with a full service solution to their commercial and legal needs. We have had a relationship with the three founding partners of ZS&R Law Firm for some time, and we have viewed what they have achieved professionally with reverence. Together, they have created a truly outstanding legal practice in Riyadh, with a service offering which strongly aligns to the needs our clients.”

Alzaid, one of the founding partners of ZS&R Law Firm said, “This is an exciting time to be in Saudi Arabia. We will witness the public offering of Saudi Aramco and other privatisations, the fruition of key strategic plans such as Saudi Vision 2030 and the National Transformation Program, and we expect a new wave of foreign investment. We are pleased to work alongside Hogan Lovells supporting clients investing in the Kingdom as well as help our Saudi clients achieve their international ambitions.”

Steve Immelt, CEO of Hogan Lovells, added: “The association with ZS&R Law Firm is an important milestone which allows us to expands our ability to help clients in an important jurisdiction. Together with ZS&R we can provide clients with deep sector experience and knowledge in the Kingdom and across the wider Middle East. Most importantly, ZS&R’s client service ethos, and the principles by which they conduct business, align with our approach to the market.”