Hogan Lovells has launched a new global LGBT and allies network, Pride+, aimed at enhancing support for and commitment to LGBT+ individuals. The launch also marks support of the International Day Against Homophobia, Bi-phobia and Transphobia.

In a release, the firm said Pride+ will expand upon a number of existing internal LGBT networks across the firm aimed at promoting LGBT inclusion, including in the UK, U.S., Continental Europe, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Pride+ will further promote equality across all 23 countries in which Hogan Lovells operates, promoting a culture of acceptance and understanding at work, regardless of barriers outside the workplace.

The release continues:

Through Pride+ the firm aims to:

• Show global support for the LGBT+ community and to create an inclusive working culture
• Provide a safe environment for LGBT+ individuals to come out (should they wish to) and to speak openly
• Raise awareness of issues facing LGBT+ communities and people in different countries
• Effectively challenge preconceived notions and stereotypes and inappropriate behavior or language.

A key part of Pride+ is encouraging support from LGBT+ allies. Hogan Lovells recognizes the importance of allies to advancing LGBT+ equality and the Pride+ network will provide allies with the means to show their support through events, education, and by advertising their membership of the network internally.

The senior sponsor of the global Pride+ network is David Hudd, Hogan Lovells Deputy Chief Executive Officer. He is supported by fellow partners Mark W. Brennan (Washington D.C.), Sian Owles (London), and Allan Wardrop (Hong Kong), and Head of Legal Project Management, Continental Europe, Christine Siler (Paris).

Speaking on the launch of Pride+, David Hudd commented:

“I am proud that we have chosen today to launch our global LGBT and allies network, Pride+. For Hogan Lovells to thrive professionally, it’s essential to create a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where our people can bring all of who they are to work. In this diverse world, we all need advocates and allies. This initiative will create a visible network of support for our LGBT+ people – no matter where they are.”

Hogan Lovells has long been one of the most progressive legal firms with regards to tackling LGBT+ matters and creating an inclusive working environment. The firm has achieved regular recognition for its work in LGBT+ advancement, including pro bono work.

Earlier this year, the firm was included in the Top 20 of the Stonewall Workplace Equality Index for the first time, having ranked consistently in the top 50 for several years. This followed being recognised for the eighth time by the Human Rights Campaign with a 100% Corporate Equality Index rating and named a best place to work for LGBT equality in December 2016 in the U.S.

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The complex bankruptcy and restructuring law firm Forshey Prostok announces the promotion of three attorneys and the addition of two lawyers to its Dallas/Fort Worth offices.

“This is an important milestone for the firm, and great news for the companies we represent on the bankruptcy and workout side,” said Jeff Prostok, a founding partner at Forshey Prostok. “These dedicated lawyers represent the best in the business, and we’re glad to have their level of expertise on our team.”

Suzanne K. “Suki” Rosen has been promoted to partner. She has extensive experience litigating complex commercial disputes, including avoidance actions and other business bankruptcy matters. Throughout her 20-year career, Ms. Rosen has helped clients substantially reduce outstanding bankruptcy claims, smoothing the reorganization process and providing higher recovery to creditors.

Matthew G. Maben also has been promoted to partner. His practice includes bankruptcy, business reorganizations and creditor’s rights. He also counsels debtors, creditors and trustees in restructuring and liquidation matters. He has been recognized three times among the “Leaders in their Field” in the prestigious Chambers USA legal guide.

Lynda L. Lankford, with more than 25 years’ experience in bankruptcy litigation, business reorganizations and creditor rights, has been promoted to of counsel. A former auditor who is Board Certified in Business Bankruptcy Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, she is uniquely positioned to provide key financial insights to the firm’s clients.

Matthias Kleinsasser joins Forshey & Prostok as a partner from Kelly Hart. He has extensive experience in bankruptcy litigation, as well as general business litigation in federal and state court. He began his legal career with a bankruptcy court clerkship, after which he practiced in the bankruptcy section of Weil, Gotshal & Manges.

Laurie Dahl Rea joins as of counsel. Her career includes two federal judicial clerkships, as well as extensive experience representing debtors and creditors in large reorganizations and liquidations. Immediately prior to joining Forshey Prostok, Ms. Rea served as the career law clerk to the Honorable Russell F. Nelms.

Forshey Prostok provides extensive experience in all areas of bankruptcy law. The firm’s scope of representation includes handling complex business reorganizations, enforcing of creditor’s rights, leading commercial and bankruptcy-related litigation, overseeing creditors’ committees, directing workouts, and closing bankruptcy acquisitions. Forshey Prostok is ranked by the Chambers USA legal guide and is home to lawyers who are AV-rated by Martindale-Hubbell.

Dallas-based litigation boutique Bailey Brauer PLLC has been recognized by BTI Consulting Group as one of the law firms with the “best brand standing” in the country, based on a survey of corporate counsel and executives at the world’s largest organizations.

In a news release, the firm said Bailey Brauer is among the smallest and youngest firms to earn this prestigious recognition, which is an indicator of how likely it is a firm will be considered for new work. The three-lawyer firm has enjoyed noteworthy successes in complex commercial litigation and appellate matters since its opening in 2013.

Selection to the BTI Brand Elite 2017 list is based on in-depth interviews with more than 600 corporate counsel and executives at the world’s largest and most influential companies. Respondents are asked about the law firms they hire and why. Final selection is based on intangibles that differentiate the law firms.

Read the release.

Dallas-based litigation boutique Bailey Brauer PLLC has been recognized by BTI Consulting Group as one of the law firms with the “best brand standing” in the country, based on a survey of corporate counsel and executives at the world’s largest organizations.

Bailey Brauer is among the smallest and youngest firms to earn this prestigious recognition, which is an indicator of how likely it is a firm will be considered for new work, according to a news release from the firm. The three-lawyer firm has scored successes in complex commercial litigation and appellate matters since its opening in 2013.

“We started our careers at big firms. So when we launched Bailey Brauer, we maintained that same sophisticated, aggressive form of client representation you expect from a large firm. But as a small firm, we have the added benefit of being able to provide much more individualized service,” said firm co-founder Clayton Bailey.

Selection to the BTI Brand Elite 2017 list is based on in-depth interviews with more than 600 corporate counsel and executives at the world’s largest and most influential companies. Respondents are asked about the law firms they hire and why. Final selection is based on intangibles that differentiate the law firms.

“In the BTI interviews, the GCs are not asked directly about any firm and instead are encouraged to talk about who they turn to for legal help,” said co-founder Alex Brauer. “We built this firm on relationships, and this recognition demonstrates that we have the trust of our clients.”

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Freeborn & Peters LLP announces that it is combining with the New York City firm of Hargraves, McConnell & Costigan P.C. The development, which establishes Freeborn’s first office in New York, represents a further geographic expansion for the Chicago-headquartered Freeborn, which last year combined with the Richmond, Va.-based Brenner, Evans & Millman P.C.

“A common client of the two firms urged the combination. We are always pleased when clients’ needs result in continuing strategic growth for the firm and for our internationally acclaimed insurance/reinsurance practice,” said Joseph T. McCullough IV, Leader of the Insurance/Reinsurance Practice Group and member of the Freeborn Executive Committee. “With the firm’s growing emphasis on international arbitration and litigation for other industries, New York is an ideal location in which to offer our sophisticated litigation capabilities. A presence in New York enables us to better serve our international, as well as domestic, clients.”

In a news release, the firm said:

The combination with Hargraves, McConnell & Costigan P.C. advances Freeborn’s strategy of geographically expanding its strongest practice areas when faced with demonstrable client demand. This objective is fulfilled through Hargraves’ strong reputation in the insurance and reinsurance industries in litigating and arbitrating disputes arising out of both domestic and international contracts. The combination also serves Hargraves by extending the scope, reach and depth of its practice.

“In seeking a partner for growth, there were very few other firms that had the same depth of knowledge and experience in insurance/reinsurance as Joe McCullough and his large team at Freeborn & Peters,” said Daniel Hargraves, Founder of Hargraves, McConnell & Costigan P.C. “We look forward to this combination and to collaborating with our new colleagues to the benefit of all our clients.”

Hargraves and his team in New York have extensive experience in complex commercial litigation and arbitrations across many industries, including reinsurance. He also has the unique distinction of being admitted to practice across three continents: before the Courts of the State of New York, U.S. Court of Appeals (Second and Third Circuits), and U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York; High Court of Justice of England and Wales; and Supreme Court of Queensland, High Court of Australia and Federal Courts of Australia.

According to Freeborn’s Co-Managing Partner Michael A. Moynihan, Freeborn has been able to maintain its independence and stature in a rapidly evolving profession by focusing on its strengths and expanding opportunistically from its legacy offices in Illinois. This is a testament to the firm’s dedication to its cultural identity, which enables it to attract well-credentialed attorneys with similar values.

“Our combination with Hargraves is a great example of our philosophy on growth,” Moynihan said. “We believe that practicing together with attorneys who share similar values produces superior legal results and best serves our clients. We anticipate additional expansion in other key markets for the firm.”

Freeborn plans to expand the New York office’s practice areas to include real estate, where the firm will draw on its existing national footprint to serve investors and developers in the multistate region in and around New York, and corporate law, where Freeborn will leverage its considerable experience with buyers and sellers of varying sizes to service clients with merger and acquisition needs in this region.

The combination will be complete on March 1, 2017. At that time, Freeborn will have four offices: Chicago; Springfield, Ill.; Richmond, Va.; and New York.

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Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP announced the launch of its Venture Capital and Emerging Business Practice Group. This specialty practice group is led by co-chairs and partners Adam C. Hull, Rick Jordan and Glenn T. Singleton, and includes participation from lawyers across all specialty areas, such as intellectual property, labor, tax and executive compensation.

In addition, the group added Majorie Mastin Winters to the firm’s Austin office in January. Winters counsels entrepreneurs in matters related to formation, structuring, intellectual property protection and financing. Her background also includes acting as director and of counsel for a program that serves the specific needs of early-stage, high-growth companies.

“Gardere has long been active in the early-stage market, but primarily has focused efforts on later-stage investments,” says firm chair Holland N. O’Neil. “With this initiative and the addition of Majorie, we are deploying increased resources to provide earlier-stage clients with increased access to sophisticated legal services and market connections. Simultaneously, our expanded activity in this space will, among other things, provide our venture fund and other investor clients with additional looks at early-stage companies.”

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The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP and its firm chair Kimberly Leach Johnson announced that partners Lucy R. Dollens and Kelli A. Edson have been selected as new office managing partners inn the firm’s Indianapolis and Tampa offices, respectively. The appointments are effective immediately.

Dollens succeeds D. Linden Barber, who has been the office managing partner since the Indianapolis office opened in 2014. Barber will continue to serve as Director of the firm’s DEA Compliance and Litigation practice in the Health Law group.

“As a founding partner of the Indianapolis office, Lucy has displayed incredible institutional knowledge and understanding of the challenges facing our clients,” said firm chair Kimberly Leach Johnson. “She regularly exhibits the values and characteristics associated with a firm leader, and we are confident the care and thoughtfulness she provides for clients will translate into her office managing partner role.”

Dollens serves as the Indianapolis Commercial Litigation office chair and the Indianapolis recruiting chair. She focuses her practice on commercial litigation. Dollens represents clients facing business disputes in federal and state trial and appellate courts, bankruptcy courts, proceedings involving governmental agencies, and class action suits. Dollens’ practice extends to areas such as breach of contract, product liability, premises liability, toxic torts and restrictive covenants. Licensed in both Indiana and West Virginia, Dollens also has extensive experience representing financial institutions, servicers, and consumer finance companies in consumer and commercial contexts.

In Tampa, Edson succeeds David A. Beyer, who became office managing partner in 2012. Beyer will continue to serve as a partner in the firm’s Franchise & Distribution practice.

“Kelli embodies the firm’s shared vision to pursue excellent legal work, strengthen client relationships and give back to the community through pro bono efforts,” said firm chair Kimberly Leach Johnson. “Her genuine dedication to client service and helping colleagues succeed will enable her to lead the Tampa office and continue David’s vision for the firm.”

Edson is partner in the firm’s Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice and serves as the Tampa Commercial Litigation office chair. She is also the Tampa recruiting partner and a member of the Associate Development Committee.

As a founding partner in the Tampa office, Edson provides counsel for clients on various litigation matters including trusts, real estate, insurance, investments, contracts, bankruptcy, torts, products liability, class actions, premises liability, landlord/tenant disputes, securities, intellectual property, telecommunications, technology and unfair trade practices.

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Veteran trial lawyer Jay Old has joined the commercial litigation firm Hicks Thomas LLP, where he will represent construction, insurance, petrochemical and healthcare companies, effective Jan. 1, the firm announced in a news release.

Old’s addition will also include the opening of offices in Austin and Beaumont, further extending the geographic reach of the Houston-based firm, now in its 20th year.

Five other lawyers from his firm will joined Hicks Thomas, including labor and employment attorney Jim Henges.

Old frequently speaks at continuing education programs for lawyers. He is also a former president of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel and chaired the Construction Law Section of the State Bar of Texas.

Read more about the new hire.

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Holland & Hart announced the addition of Kyle W. Parker and John C. Martin as partners, along with the opening of an office in Anchorage, Alaska. Three additional lawyers will join the firm, in addition to a policy expert.

In a news release, the 500-lawyer law firm said it has the largest environmental law practice in the country, as reported by Law360, and the addition of the Anchorage office will augment those strengths and create natural synergies with the firm’s offerings to clients in a myriad of industries.

“The practice alignment with Kyle and John and their team is very strong, as is the personal fit,” said Liz Sharrer, chair of Holland & Hart. “Kyle’s pioneering spirit as an Energy and Environment Trailblazer has been recognized by the National Law Journal. John was recently recognized by BTI Consulting as a Client Service All-Star. In addition, the team serves clients in burgeoning Alaska industries (and elsewhere) that align with our firm’s strengths. We have the utmost respect for the firm where Kyle and John and their team have previously served. Crowell & Moring is a world-class firm which has done an excellent job of combining service to the growing Alaska market with a Washington, D.C. connection.”

“John, Kyle, and the Anchorage team are highly regarded professionals in the environmental and energy fields,” said Angela B. Styles, chair of Crowell & Moring. “They remain friends of the firm, and we wish them the very best as they align their Alaska practice with the strengths of Holland & Hart.”

Joining the firm, effective January 17, are:

Kyle Parker (Anchorage, AK) has spent his entire legal career in Alaska counseling clients in the energy and natural resource industries with regard to securing approval for and the implementation of major resource development and energy projects at the state and federal level, from project permitting to negotiating complex agreements. Kyle also defends clients in environmental litigation, from response and cleanup actions, to civil and criminal enforcement actions.

John Martin (Washington, D.C.) is a Wyoming native who has practiced and worked in federal government agencies in Washington, D.C. John’s natural resources and environmental litigation practice focuses on complex, cutting edge Clean Water Act, wildlife, offshore oil and gas, and public lands issues on behalf of clients in extractive industries. John represents clients in administrative proceedings before the Interior Board of Land Appeals and the Environmental Protection Agency, and at all levels of court, including several U.S. Courts of Appeals.

Tali Birch Kindred (Anchorage, AK) focuses on environmental and natural resource permitting and litigation, natural resource project development, state and federal rulemakings, environmental compliance, and commercial litigation. Tali brings extensive industry and government experience having served as an Assistant District Attorney for the State of Alaska and in-house counsel at Shell Exploration & Production, Inc.

Jon Katchen (Anchorage, AK) focuses on natural resources project development, defense of governmental and citizen enforcement actions, financing associated with Alaska’s oil and gas production tax credits, and complex commercial litigation. Jon also counsels investors and resource development companies regarding economic development opportunities in Alaska.

Sarah Bordelon (Washington, D.C.) focuses on environmental permits for major resource and development projects. Sarah also litigates environmental and natural resource matters, participates in proposed state and federal rulemakings, advises clients on environmental compliance and enforcement matters, and conducts environmental due diligence on conventional and renewable energy projects.

Drue Pearce (Anchorage, AK and Washington, D.C.) joins the firm as a senior policy advisor. She provides strategic legislative and regulatory advice to a wide variety of natural resources, manufacturing, and energy clients as they navigate government relations, as well as legal and regulatory issues at the various state and federal agencies with jurisdiction over resource development projects. Drue brings a wealth of experience on energy, environment, economic security, and natural resources issues in North America, and specifically in Alaska and Canada.

“Holland & Hart is a natural resources powerhouse and has been doing business in Alaska for decades. We know their lawyers well and look forward to working with them. Alaska’s vast resources have never been more vital to the nation’s economic future, and the timing is perfect to join the country’s leading resources legal team at Holland & Hart,” said Kyle Parker.

The new Anchorage office will be located at 1029 W. Third Avenue, Suite 550, Anchorage, Alaska 99501.

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BTI Consulting Group’s 2017 ranking of U.S. law firms that corporate lawyers never want to face in court includes Dallas’ Bailey Brauer PLLC based on the firm’s successful work in high-stakes litigation across the nation.

In a news release, the firm, founded in 2013 by former big firm lawyers Clayton Bailey and Alex Brauer, said it has successfully represented major corporations, family-owned businesses and high-net-worth individuals in a variety of business disputes by relying on years of expertise trying and appealing cases and negotiating favorable settlements.

“It’s a point of pride to be on this impressive list,” says Bailey, who is widely recognized for his work in state and federal trials and appeals. “General counsel call on Bailey Brauer because we provide the experience and quality they expect while keeping a close eye on the bottom line.”

Read more about the award.

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Rusty Hardin & Associates, LLP, has added two lawyers to its team at the same time it is being recognized for both civil and criminal legal expertise and accomplishments among the nation’s Best Law Firms by U.S. News & World Report and The Best Lawyers in America, the firm said in a news release.

 “This is a great time for the hard-working team at our firm. We’ve added two terrific lawyers and we’ve been acknowledged by a national group for both our criminal and civil work,” said founding partner Rusty Hardin.

Attorney Chelsea Dal Corso joins Rusty Hardin & Associates from Bracewell, LLP, where she worked in the financial restructuring group, representing debtors and creditors in complex Chapter 11 proceedings. She clerked for Judge Marvin Isgur, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the Southern District of Texas. She earned her law degree from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law.

Lawyer Naomi Howard joins the firm from the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, where she served as briefing attorney. She received her law degree at St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio. Ms. Howard also spent time in Japan where she taught English and is one of few women to have trained as a sushi chef.

The firm is listed in the 2017 top tier of Houston metropolitan law firms for white-collar criminal defense and in the second tier for commercial litigation. It is extraordinary for a firm of only 14 lawyers to be honored in two such different categories. The Best Law Firms selection is based on a rigorous process that includes client and lawyer evaluations and peer review from other attorneys in the same practice areas.

Read more.

National trial law firm Edison, McDowell & Hetherington LLP announced the opening of its South Florida office. EMH now has offices in Texas, California and Florida.

Kristina “Tina” B. Pett and Wendy L. Furman, formerly of Pett Furman, PL in Boca Raton, are joining the firm as partners to launch the Florida office.

David McDowell, EMH’s managing partner, says, “We are thrilled to join forces with Tina and Wendy. We have worked with both for many years and have tremendous respect for them as lawyers and as people. Our clients requested that we have a physical presence in Florida, and we are excited to address that request with the caliber of lawyers found at Pett Furman.”

The firm’s release continues:

“We are responding to client demand. EMH is committed to providing outstanding legal work at competitive rates across the country. With offices in Texas and California, expansion to Florida is the logical next step,” says EMH founding partner Tom Hetherington.

EMH is a 43-lawyer trial firm that has handled complex commercial litigation in almost every state since the firm was founded in 2009.

Tina Pett and Wendy Furman, who have extensive experience in commercial and financial services litigation, say they are pleased to join a firm with a national reach.

“We now have a nationwide presence and EMH’s footprint will allow us to further serve our clients,” says Tina Pett.

Wendy Furman agrees, “Our clients know EMH and are pleased that we now have a platform that spans the country.”

The EMH Florida office is located at 2101 N.W. Corporate Boulevard, Suite 316, Boca Raton, FL 33431.

Biglaw’s compensation leader, Cravath Swaine & Moore, announced its 2016 year-end bonuses for associates this week, and the list has a familiar look, reports Above the Law.

“But there is, of course, one huge difference: back in June, Cravath raised base salaries for its associates, a move that led dozens of firms around the country to hike associate pay,” writes David Lat.

He added announced bonuses to new salaries and concluded that a first-year associate at Cravath will earn around $180,000 in total compensation.

“At the top of the scale, an eighth-year associate will earn almost $400,000 in total compensation ($280,000 for the first half of the year, $315,000 for the second half of the year, and $100,000 in bonus money), up from $380,000,” he writes.

Read the Above the Law article.

Atlanta-based Sutherland Asbill & Brennan is in merger discussions with Eversheds of London, the firms announced on Tuesday, reports Bloomberg Law.

The proposed merger could result in a law firm with more than 2,300 lawyers in 31 offices across 29 countries, the firms said in a joint statement. The merged entity would have revenue of more than $900 million, putting it into the top 40 law firms in the world, by revenue.

Bloomber described the announcement as depicting the discussions as being in an advanced, yet incomplete stage. It said that both firms have presented the proposed combination to their partners, who will likely vote on the deal before year-end.

Read the Bloomberg article.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram is reporting that Shannon Gracey Ratliff & Miller, one of Fort Worth’s storied law firms for more than 80 years, is shutting down at the end of the year, according to court records.

“The partners recently voted to dissolve at the end of 2016, and several of its attorneys are leaving to join other firms or start new ones, according to court records and interviews with those familiar with the situation,” reports Max B. Baker.

Some Shannon Gracey lawyers already have formed new firms or joined other Texas firms. The firm’s website lists about 30 lawyers now, with offices in Fort Worth, Dallas, Arlington, Austin, Houston and Rhome.

Dallas litigation boutique Estes Thorne & Carr PLLC has been recognized among the 100 largest women-owned businesses in North Texas by the Dallas Business Journal.

One of only two law firms to be included in the 2016 Top 100, this is the first time Estes Thorne & Carr has earned recognition, debuting at No. 58. When founded in 2008, the firm was among only a handful of women-owned law firms in Dallas and has since grown to be one of the largest and most respected in Texas.

“Some clients may come to us because we are a women-owned firm, but we’ve built lasting relationships based on the quality of our work and our dedication to seeing the client succeed,” said managing partner Jessica Thorne. “We are exceptionally proud of the accomplishments of this firm and that we have built a reputation as one of the leading litigation firms in North Texas on the basis of the work we do.”

Read the release.

Goodell DeVries received rankings in 10 practice areas in the 2017 “Best Law Firms” list by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers®, including being ranked Tier 1 Nationally for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions and Tier 1 Regionally for Commercial Litigation, Legal Malpractice Law (Defendants), Mass Tort/Class Action (Defendants), Medical Malpractice Law (Defendants), Personal Injury Litigation (Defendants), and Product Liability Litigation (Defendants).

The U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations, peer review from leading attorneys in their field, and review of additional information provided by law firms as part of the formal submission process. Clients and peers were asked to evaluate firms based on the following criteria: responsiveness, understanding of a business and its needs, cost-effectiveness, integrity and civility, as well as whether they would refer a matter to the firm and/or consider the firm a worthy competitor.

Firms included in the 2017 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a ranking signals a unique combination of quality and breadth of legal expertise, and reflects the high level of respect that a firm has earned among other leading lawyers and clients in the same community and practice areas.

“Goodell DeVries is very proud to once again be recognized as a top tier law firm both nationally and regionally,” says Linda S. Woolf, Managing Partner at the firm. “For the past 28 years, we have made it our mission to, not only provide our clients with efficient and effective results, but also to have a deep understanding of our clients’ business. This has enabled us to serve the dual role of advocate and trusted advisor. Having our clients and peers recognize our commitment and dedication in 10 practice areas is truly an honor.”

Goodell DeVries received rankings in the following areas:

National Awards
Tier 1, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants

Metropolitan Awards
Tier 1, Baltimore, Commercial Litigation
Tier 1, Baltimore, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants
Tier 1, Baltimore, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Tier 1, Baltimore, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants
Tier 1, Baltimore, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants
Tier 1, Baltimore, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Tier 2, Philadelphia, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants
Tier 2, Philadelphia, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants
Tier 3, Baltimore Litigation – Construction

For the first time, family law boutique Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson, LLP, has earned both national and metropolitan Best Law Firms honors in three practice areas from U.S. News & World Report and The Best Lawyers in America.

In a release, the firm said the recently released 2017 Best Law Firms list includes national honors for the firm’s appellate practice. Although the firm has consistently earned top Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan honors for its work, including recognition for family law eight consecutive years, this marks the firm’s first national ranking.

“It is exceptionally rare to find an Appellate attorney who focuses on Family Law work, and we are very proud to be working with two of the very best in the country,” said firm Partner Keith Nelson. “The expertise and insights of Richard Orsinger and Brad LaMorgese have proven invaluable to countless clients.”

To be eligible for Best Law Firms rankings, a firm must have at least one lawyer listed in the 2017 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Earlier this year, nine of the firm’s 15 attorneys were honored individually for their work in Family Law: Orsinger, Nelson and LaMorgese; Scott Downing, Jeff Anderson, Lon Loveless, Will Reppeto, Paula Bennett and Marilea Lewis. In addition, Orsinger and LaMorgese were honored in the area of appellate law, and Lewis was recognized for her mediation practice.

Final selection to The Best Law Firms list is based on client and attorney evaluations, along with peer review by attorneys within the same practice area and editorial review. The full 2017 Best Law Firms list can be found at http://bestlawfirms.usnews.com/.

For the fifth consecutive year, the commercial litigation and intellectual property firm Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C., or AZA, is being recognized among the nation’s Best Law Firms by U.S. News & World Report and The Best Lawyers in America.

Houston’s AZA is listed in the 2017 top tier of area metropolitan law firms for commercial litigation. The selection of Best Law Firms is based on a rigorous process that includes client and lawyer evaluations and peer review from other attorneys in the same practice areas, the firm said in a release.

Earlier this year nine AZA lawyers were selected for the 2017 edition of The Best Lawyers in America for their work in commercial and intellectual property litigation. The firm and its lawyers also received recognition in the Chambers USA 2016 guide, 2017 edition of Benchmark Litigation, and the  the 2016 Texas Super Lawyers list.

Read the article.

Dallas litigation boutique Estes Thorne & Carr PLLC has been recognized among the 100 largest women-owned businesses in North Texas by the Dallas Business Journal.

One of only two law firms to be included in the 2016 Top 100, this is the first time Estes Thorne & Carr has earned recognition, debuting at No. 58. When founded in 2008, the firm was among only a handful of women-owned law firms in Dallas and has since grown to be one of the largest and most respected in Texas.

“Some clients may come to us because we are a women-owned firm, but we’ve built lasting relationships based on the quality of our work and our dedication to seeing the client succeed,” said managing partner Jessica Thorne. “We are exceptionally proud of the accomplishments of this firm and that we have built a reputation as one of the leading litigation firms in North Texas on the basis of the work we do.”

Of the 65 companies reporting 100 percent female ownership to the Dallas Business Journal, Estes Thorne & Carr was the 35^th largest. To be eligible for the list, a company must self-report a minimum of 51 percent women ownership or control.