Form left: Jenny L. Martinez, Donald E. Godwin and Bruce W. Bowman Jr.

Texas trial lawyer Donald E. Godwin has announced that Bruce W. Bowman Jr. and Jenny L. Martinez have become name shareholders in the newly rebranded trial law firm, Godwin Bowman & Martinez, which has offices in Dallas and Houston.

“Bruce and Jenny have distinguished themselves as outstanding trial lawyers, and are highly regarded for their tireless efforts and dedication to excellence on behalf of our clients,” says Chairman and CEO Donald E. Godwin, a founding member of the firm in 1980. “We are proud to recognize Bruce and Jenny in the rebranding of our firm as we continue our unwavering commitment to the success of our clients.”

Bowman serves as the firm’s Executive vice president and general counsel. Martinez is executive vice president and secretary/treasurer. Together they co-chair the firm’s commercial litigation section.

Bowman represents plaintiffs and defendants in many areas of commercial litigation, including securities, trade secret litigation, trust and estate litigation and professional liability. In a news release, the firm said he played a significant role in the firm’s successful defense of Halliburton during the historic Deepwater Horizon/BP Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill litigation as a member of the firm’s trial team.  Having been board certified in civil trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1978, he has been recognized for many years among the ranks of Texas Super Lawyers.  In addition, he is a longtime member of the prestigious American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA).

Martinez is a trial lawyer whose practice includes banking, trust and estate litigation, contracts, business torts, energy, and real estate.  A key member of the firm’s trial team in the successful defense of Halliburton in the landmark Deepwater Horizon/BP Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill litigation, she has been named multiple times to the list of Texas Super Lawyers, and to D Magazine’s list of the Best Lawyers in Dallas.

Lowenstein Sandler has been recognized for a fifth year by Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers as one of 50 Best Law Firms for Women as a leader in the industry for its best practices in retaining and promoting women lawyers.

In a news release, the firm said its support of flexible schedules and time away from the office, telecommuting privileges, generous leave policies and parenting perks, along with full-time work demands that take into account work-life balance are just a few of the perks that make Lowenstein Sandler a prominent place for women to work. “We are proud to be recognized for our continued commitment to the professional advancement of women in the legal industry” says Donatella Verrico, Chief Human Resources Officer.

Adds Chairman and Managing Partner Gary M. Wingens, “Lowenstein Sandler has long been committed to supporting women in the legal workplace dating back to our founder Alan Lowenstein, a social justice pioneer, who was deeply devoted to creating a positive environment for colleagues of all backgrounds and experiences. We’re honored to receive this recognition for the fifth time.”

Neal, Gerber & Eisenberg LLP has been recognized with two honors recently: of the 50 best law firms for women  and one of the top Illinois law firms for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) inclusiveness and equality.

For the eighth consecutive year, the firm has been included on Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers’ list of the 50 best law firms for women in recognition of the firm’s commitment to retaining and promoting women lawyers.

This annual list recognizes law firms that implement family friendly policies and promote career development initiatives that help retain women attorneys and advance them into the leadership pipeline.

The firm was praised for hiring consultants that helped the firm identify and eradicate gender bias in the workplace. The firm was also commended for launching coaching and business development initiatives for female partners, and offering a flexible work schedule that permitted a third of the firm’s women attorneys to work reduced hours in 2015.

“We’re very proud to once again be recognized by Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers for our commitment to women,” said Patricia S. Cain, partner and co-chair of the firm’s Women’s Network. “The firm works hard to support female attorneys in what can be a difficult profession. We firmly believe that doing so not only benefits our colleagues, but significantly benefits our clients as well.”

Neal Gerber Eisenberg’s Women’s Network looks to address the unique needs of women in the workplace through a variety of venues, including lunch-and-learn programs, networking and social events, a parent mentoring program, and a policy group focused on advocacy issues important to women’s professional success. The firm encourages women to attain leadership roles at the firm and consistently seeks innovative solutions to the unique issues impacting women in the workplace.

In June of this year, Leah A. Schleicher, partner in the Real Estate practice group, represented the firm in the inaugural Women in Law Hackathon, a Shark Tank-style pitch competition aimed at generating new and effective ideas to close the gender gap in law firms.

Neal Gerber Eisenberg and other firms included on the list will be honored at the Best Law Firms for Women Gala Awards Luncheon on September 21.

LGBT Award

The firm also has again been honored as one of the top Illinois law firms for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) inclusiveness and equality by Equality Illinois. The firm has received this distinction each year since 2006.

“Neal Gerber Eisenberg is proud to once again be recognized by Equality Illinois as one of the top Illinois law firms for LGBT inclusiveness and equality,” said Scott J. Fisher, firm managing partner. “As we celebrate our 30th anniversary, I am proud that we continue to focus on maintaining a culture of equality and inclusion to support our LGBT attorneys and staff, and to promote creativity, opportunity and professional development throughout the firm to better serve our clients.”

Equality Illinois, the state’s oldest and largest organization advocating for LGBT equality, conducts an annual survey to identify the top Illinois law firms for providing a welcoming and fair work environment for LGBT employees, and engaging with the LGBT community.

The firm is a member of the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago, regularly supports various law student organizations, including OUTLaw, is an annual sponsor of Equality Illinois’ Justice for All Gala as well as various Lambda Legal events, and participates in the National LGBT Bar Association’s Lavender Law Conference and LGBT Legal Expo.

Neal Gerber Eisenberg and other recognized firms were honored at the “Raising the Bar” breakfast on July 26, which featured U.S. District Court Judge Staci M. Yandle, the first openly LGBT judge in the Seventh Circuit and the first African-American District Judge in the Southern District of Illinois. The firm was also included in the Equality Illinois publication “Raising the Bar: Law Firms Leading the Way to LGBT Equality.” This publication highlights top firms, publicizes the survey findings, and includes recommendations for firms seeking to increase their workplace diversity and equality.

Texas lawyers Andy Taylor and George Hittner have joined forces in the new Texas-based law firm TaylorHittner.

In a release, the firm said it will assist political and business clients with litigation, appeals and interactions with local, state and federal governments, including providing expertise in complex commercial litigation, election law matters and general counsel services. In addition to the firm’s Houston office, both attorneys will be available by appointment in Austin, Brenham and La Grange.

“Our firm is designed to handle litigation, appeals and the legal issues that exist at the intersection of business, public interest and government. Our varied experience in and out of government will serve our clients well,” says Taylor, a troubleshooter for Republican and business causes around the state, including several high-profile victories against the City of Houston.

Taylor is a former first assistant attorney general for the state of Texas and former partner at the firm now known as Locke Lord. Named by Texas Monthly as “one of the 25 most powerful people in Texas politics,” he is a veteran of numerous high-profile cases, including two he personally argued before the U.S. Supreme Court.

“TaylorHittner has the experience businesses need when dealing with government issues, and we also provide small and mid-sized businesses with savvy, efficiently managed general counsel services,” says Hittner, who previously worked as general counsel, corporate secretary and senior vice president for governmental relations at Arizona-based American Traffic Solutions Inc., a market leader in traffic enforcement safety equipment.

Hittner has managed hundreds of lawsuits, including several cases that were favorably resolved by state supreme courts and federal courts of appeal, the release says. He previously worked as a White House appointee to the U.S. Department of Labor and as an associate at Haynes and Boone in Houston, where he also ran for city council.

The two are joined by associate Amanda Peterson. The release says other lawyers will be added.

The firms of Loewinsohn Flegle Deary LLP and Simon, Ray & Winikka LLP have merged to become Dallas-based Loewinsohn Flegle Deary Simon LLP. The 15-lawyer firm works in high-stakes and employment law litigation, business disputes, bankruptcy claims, and general counsel services.

“It’s not every day that you see two firms with our capabilities teaming up, which is why the media and other lawyers are taking notice,” says name partner Craig Simon.

The release from the firm continues:

In The Dallas Morning News, name partner Alan Loewinsohn is noted for his prior work in high-profile cases involving professional athletes Shaquille O’Neal and Hakeem Olajuwon and others. The complete article is available online at dallasnews.com.

Mr. Loewinsohn spoke with Texas Lawyer about how the merger discussions began in early 2016 with the goal of expanding combined services for clients in various industries.Read the full article HERE.

The Dallas Business Journal quoted Mr. Simon about the unique capabilities that Loewinsohn Flegle Deary Simon brings to every case: “There are very few, if any, firms of our size that can provide the broad and deep knowledge and track record in the courtroom and through negotiation that we bring to the table,” he told the publication in the article you can read HERE.

Loewinsohn Flegle Deary Simon LLP is a business-friendly law firm based in Dallas. The firm’s attorneys represent both plaintiff and defense clients from various industries in a wide variety of matters inside and outside the courtroom, including business disputes, employment law, bankruptcy litigation and business restructuring, product liability, and general counsel services, among others.

Dallas-based trial law firm Deans & Lyons, LLP, is expanding its Texas footprint with the addition of five prominent trial attorneys in the firm’s newly opened Houston office at 1001 Fannin St., Suite 1925.

Joining the firm are veteran Houston trial lawyers Tom Sartwelle, Matt Pletcher and Jeff Nobles, previously with the Houston office of Beirne, Maynard & Parsons, LLP, and Chad Castille and Matt McCracken, previously of Houston-based Serpe Jones Andrews Callender & Bell, PLLC.

According to a release published by the firm, Castille will serve as managing partner of the Houston office. His practice is concentrated on complex civil litigation, representing individuals, small businesses and Fortune 500 corporations in a diverse array of industries. His expertise includes cases involving medical and hospital negligence, oil and gas, commercial and residential construction, pharmaceutical liability, medical devices, catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death, and commercial business disputes and torts.

Read the article.

Parsons McEntire McCleary & Clark PLLC announces the opening of its new law practice focused upon trials, arbitrations, appeals, and dispute resolution nationwide and in all forums.

PMMC opens with 10 attorneys and with offices in Houston and Dallas. Name shareholders are Jeff Parsons, Sawnie McEntire, Roger McCleary, and David Clark. David Walton, Kristen McDanald, and Rob Rosen are also shareholders in the new firm. The associates are Brandon Montminy, Sarah Sparling, and Ryan Starbird.

Jeff Parsons, a former member of the Texas State Bar Association Board of Directors, is PMMC’s chair. Sawnie McEntire is manager of PMMC’s Dallas office, and Roger McCleary is PMMC’s vice-chair.

In a release, the firm said PMMC’s attorneys have experience handling complex commercial and personal injury litigation and arbitration disputes, including complex business litigation involving contract, fraud, misappropriation of trade secrets, tortious interference, unfair competition, and other business claims; energy industry litigation; major construction cases; complex insurance coverage disputes; intellectual property cases; defense of products liability and other wrongful death and bodily injury litigation; class action, banking, finance, and securities litigation; environmental and toxic tort lawsuits; fidelity and surety claims; and myriad other types of claims.

According to the release, PMMC’s clients include AIG, AWAC, Capital One, Cushman & Wakefield, CWS Capital Partners, Hallmark Financial, Hubbell, Ironshore, Level 3 Communications, Lexington, LVL Claims, Matthews International, Superior Energy, Universal Protection Services, York Risk Services, and Wood Group.

The Dallas-based law firm Standly Hamilton, LLP, announces that personal injury attorney Stephen Blackburn has joined the firm.

Blackburn is a trial lawyer who focuses his practice on cases involving serious personal injuries, wrongful death and dangerous water contamination. He previously worked with the Baron & Budd law firm in Dallas.

Blackburn also has experience representing people and communities in environmental contamination claims, in addition to working on cases involving dangerous medical devices, pharmaceutical drugs and exposure to toxic chemicals and other dangerous products.

“I am very excited about continuing my work at Standly Hamilton by helping people who often are facing life-altering injuries that were caused by a corporation or someone else’s negligence,” says Blackburn. “Chris Hamilton and I have worked together over the years, and we both are looking forward to protecting our clients’ rights and growing the firm.”

A graduate of the University of Michigan Law School, Blackburn earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida. He is admitted to practice law in both Texas and California, including the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas and the Northern and Central Districts of California.

Blackburn is a member of the American Bar Association, American Association for Justice and the Public Justice Foundation.

Foley & Lardner LLP has announced  that Andrew Hurst has joined the firm’s Business Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice as partner in the Washington, D.C. office. Hurst joins Foley with more than two decades of experience litigating matters related to civil fraud and white collar criminal defense.

Hurst represents life sciences companies, health care providers, government contractors and other corporations in civil fraud litigation, with a focus on False Claims Act (FCA) matters. Hurst also represents corporations and individuals in connection with criminal investigations and prosecutions by the Department of Justice and other federal and state entities. He has experience representing defendants and targets in a number of areas, including Medicare and Medicaid fraud, campaign finance, economic espionage, computer crimes and Independent Counsel investigations.

“Andrew’s experience effectively combines FCA and regulatory issues, providing a strong platform that our clients in the life sciences and health care industries will find very valuable,” said Michael Gay, chair of Foley’s Litigation Department.

In addition, Hurst has extensive experience serving as outside general counsel for a number of small and mid-size emerging companies.

“We are thrilled to have Andrew join the Foley team. He has an established litigation practice that will complement our Washington, D.C. office and national litigation department very well,” said Scott Fredericksen, managing partner of Foley’s Washington, D.C. office.

Prior to joining Foley, Hurst was at Reed Smith LLP.

Quarles & Brady LLP has been named to list of the 2016 Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers Best Law Firms for Women. Working Mother recognizes firms for leading the industry in creating and using best practices in retaining and promoting women lawyers.

The full list of the 2016 Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers Best Law Firms for Women is posted here with highlights on representation of women and women of color in key leadership roles, and usage and promotion rates for reduced-hour lawyers, among other key points. Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers co-founded the Best Law Firms for Women initiative in 2007 to recognize firms that lead the industry in initiatives for women’s business development and career advancement, plus offer flexible work arrangements and generous paid parental leave, among other important benefits.

In a release, the firm said:

This year, women represent 30% of nonequity lawyers, the highest percentage in the past nine years while 20% of equity partners were women compared with a national average of 18%. The number of Best Law Firms reporting three or more women among the top ten rainmakers increased from 16% to 22% over the last year (at the 46 winning firms that responded).

For the first time this year, the proportion of female equity partner promotions is the same for firms with one-tiered tracks and two-tiered tracks. At single-tier firms, female equity partner promotions increased one percentage point, year over year, to 34%. At two-tiered firms, the promotion rate increased to 34% from 30% in 2015. The number of nonequity partner promotions going to women (36%) increased one percentage point, year over year.

Jennifer Owens, editorial director of Working Mother Media, says, “Working Mother and Flex-Time Lawyers’ Best Law Firms show how to make it work. Despite intense pressures, the success of the firms in creating workable solutions for working families shows their commitment and ingenuity to create a progressive future for their firms.”

Subha Barry, VP & General Manager, Working Mother Media, says, “As we celebrate the Best Law Firms for Women, there is still much work to be done, with only 18% of equity partners being female nationwide, reported by the National Association of Women Lawyers. With grit and client centeredness, women lawyers can continue to find growing success as rainmakers and a pathway to leadership positions.”

Deborah Epstein Henry, president of Flex-Time Lawyers LLC, adds, “In reflecting on the decade since we began the Best Law Firms for Women initiative, we are pleased to see firms competing to make their environments more hospitable for women to both work and thrive. The greater level of awareness and commitment to make change is what will enable women to propel to the next level.”

Birmingham, Alabama-based Maynard Cooper & Gale, P.C. announces that the firm has elected veteran leader Greg Curran as chairman of the firm. Curran is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and has most recently served as chair of the firm’s Business Section.

Jeff Grantham, another tenured leader of the firm, was elected vice-chairman and chief strategy officer. He also is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and has served as chair of the firm’s Litigation Section.

Curran will succeed Mark Drew who served as managing shareholder of the firm for the last decade. Drew has been appointed executive vice president and general counsel of the firm’s long-time client, Protective Life Corporation. With this appointment, he will continue a legacy of Maynard Cooper alumni leadership at Protective Life.

“Mark has been a great leader for the firm for the past ten years and he will be missed. We will stay true to our culture and remain focused on executing the firm’s strategic plan. Providing value to our clients and our people will be at the center of all we do,” said Curran.

In the past decade, Maynard Cooper has expanded across Alabama into markets including Huntsville and Mobile, and is expanding outside the state with the opening of an office in San Francisco. The firm has grown from 145 attorneys in 2006 to 240 today.

Jeff Grantham commented, “We are grateful for Mark’s years of leadership. He will be a great asset to Protective Life’s management team. He has set a high bar but the firm is blessed with distinguished clients and a deep bench of talented individuals. We will continue to focus on the needs of our clients, invest in our talent and execute on growth opportunities.”

Barnes & Thornburg LLP announced today that David Wood, John Corbett and Joshua Rosenberg have joined the firm’s Litigation Department and Insurance Recovery and Counseling Practice Group. The trio arrives from Anderson Kill’s Ventura, California, office, where Wood served as co-managing shareholder.

Wood, a partner, and Rosenberg, an associate, reside in Barnes & Thornburg’s Los Angeles office, while Corbett, of counsel, is based in Dallas. They are the latest attorneys to join the firm’s growing litigation bench, which in the last three months has added Anthony Son and Lee Hutton in Minneapolis; Elizabeth Brandon in Dallas; Brett Pyrdek in Chicago; and Michael Battle in Washington, D.C.

Earlier this year, Barnes & Thornburg’s insurance recovery group was named an “Insurance Practice Group of the Year” by Law360 for its successful representation of clients in several noteworthy litigation matters. Members of Barnes & Thornburg’s Insurance Recovery and Counseling Practice Group have litigated against virtually all major insurance carriers in trial and appellate courts across the country.

“David, John and Josh have helped corporate and individual policyholders resolve insurance coverage disputes throughout the U.S. and will add to our deep bench of insurance recovery lawyers across the country,” said Charles Edwards, co-chair of the firm’s Insurance Recovery and Counseling Practice Group. “We welcome this high-caliber group who will vigorously advocate on behalf of clients facing risks with significant insurance implications.”

The firm’s release continues:

About the Attorneys

David Wood has more than 30 years of experience in high-profile insurance disputes and recovery litigation involving Fortune 1000 corporations and corporate directors and officers spanning many different industries, including financial services, healthcare, high tech, telecommunications, hospitality, construction, manufacturing and automotive. He represents publicly- and privately-owned corporations in enforcing their claims under professional errors and omissions, D&O liability, special risk and general liability policies, and fidelity bonds, among others. He also assists clients on insurance coverage matters concerning data breaches and other cybersecurity issues.

Wood is a frequent speaker and author on insurance policy enforcement topics and often serves as a subject matter expert for media regarding notable insurance cases and issues. Additionally, Wood is treasurer and a member of the board of directors of the Atlantic Legal Foundation based in New York. Closer to home, he is a director and past president of the Casa Pacifica Centers for Children & Families serving abused and neglected children. He is recognized as a leading practitioner in his field, including a peer rating of “AV Preeminent® by his peers as listed in Martindale-Hubbell®. In 2016, he was selected for the fourth time by his peers for recognition in Southern California Super Lawyers for Insurance Coverage.

Wood received his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law after graduating cum laude from Williams College. He is admitted to practice in state of California and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the U.S. District Courts for the Central, Eastern, Northern and Southern Districts of California.

John Corbett represents corporate policyholders in a wide variety of industries ranging from construction and transportation to telecommunications and healthcare management. He has extensive experience in obtaining recoveries under general liability, cyber insurance,
director and officers (D&O) and professional errors and omissions (E&O) policies.

Corbett received his J.D., cum laude, from the Pepperdine University School of Law and his M.A. and B.A. from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He is admitted to practice in the states of California and Texas.

Joshua Rosenberg works exclusively with policyholders within his insurance recovery practice and concentrates on corporate and commercial litigation as well. Previously, he worked as a land use and planning legal consultant. Prior to that, Rosenberg was a judicial intern for Hon. Dana M. Sabraw in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California.

Rosenberg received his J.D. from the Pepperdine University School of Law and his B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles. He is admitted to practice in the state of California and before the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Harold D. Pope has joined Dykema in its Litigation Department as a senior counsel in the firm’s Detroit office. Prior to joining Dykema, Pope practiced at the Jaffe Raitt Heuer & Weiss office in Detroit.

Pope focuses his practice on representing local and national companies in State and Federal Courts on matters regarding commercial; products liability; defense of sex, age and race discrimination claims for corporate employers; personal injury; franchise termination and disputes over exclusive market areas; disputes between automotive suppliers and manufacturers; construction claims; general contact; small corporation disputes; professional malpractice; and directors’ and officers’ liability. His experience includes the dismissal and resolution of several multimillion dollar commercial disputes.

Pope is active in professional organizations, previously holding many leadership positions. He is a Past President for the National Bar Association, Past Chair for the National Bar Institute, and Past Chair for the American Bar Association (ABA) Council on Racial and Ethnic Justice. Pope is also a past member of the ABA Board of Governors, the State Bar of Michigan Judicial Qualifications Committee and previously served on the Board of Trustees for the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Foundation. He is a current member of the Wolverine Bar Association, the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association, the ABA House of Delegates Nominating Committee, and the ABA Audit Committee.

Pope has received numerous honors and awards, including the National Bar Association’s C. Francis Stradford Award, the State Bar of Michigan’s Champion of Justice Award, the D. Augustus Straker Bar Association Trailblazer Award, the Wolverine Bar Association’s Damon J. Keith Community Service Award, and the National Bar Association Commercial Law Section’s Cora T. Walker Legacy Award.

“Harold’s deep experience in product liability and commercial litigation matters enhances the strength of our Detroit office,” said Peter Kellett, Dykema Chairman and CEO. “His extensive involvement in professional organizations and the business community serve as a great model for other attorneys to follow. We are excited that he has joined the firm.”

Pope received his J.D. from Duke University Law School, and a B.A., summa cum laude, in Political Science from Concordia College.

Buchalter Nemer was recently named as one of the 2016 Best Places to Work in Orange County. This county-wide survey and awards program was designed to identify, recognize and honor the best places of employment in Orange County, benefiting the county’s economy, its workforce and businesses, the firm said in a release.

“We’ve experienced prolific growth in our Orange County office having quadrupled in size in the last decade—and this recognition is a testament to our strategic, smart lawyers who not only efficiently meet our client’s demands, but who also create a work environment that is collaborative, welcoming and enjoyable for all,” said Adam Bass, President and Chief Executive Officer of Buchalter Nemer. “I’m pleased to accept the honor on behalf of the firm and thank the Orange County Business Journal for their consideration.”

Buchalter Nemer entered a two-part selection process to be considered for the award, which included an evaluation of the firm’s workplace policies, practices and demographics and an employee survey, which was worth approximately 75 percent of the total evaluation. The awards program was created in 2009 and is a project of the Orange County Business Journal and Best Companies Group.

The ranking of the winning organizations was released in a special section of the Orange County Business Journal’s July 25 issue.

Jeffrey M. Griffin has joined McDonald Sanders of Fort Worth as an associate attorney, the firm announced.

Griffin received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Texas Tech University in 2011 with a concentration in energy commerce and oil and gas. In 2014, he earned his law degree from Texas Tech University School of Law, where he was a member of the Energy Law Interest Group. His practice focuses on the areas of business transactions, real estate and oil and gas.

“As our firm grows, it is important that we add exceptional lawyers to our ranks. Jeff fits that bill and we are excited about his future with our firm and his contributions to our clients,” said Rick Sorenson, president of McDonald Sanders.

Buchalter Nemer has added three counsel to its Los Angeles office. Terese A. Mosher Beluris joined as of counsel in the healthcare practice, Stephen J. Strauss joined as of counsel in the intellectual property practice and Michael Zerman joined as special counsel in the real estate practice.

“Our firm is in a strategic growth period right now and I’m pleased that our full-service offering and entrepreneurial spirit was the right fit for Terese, Stephen and Michael,” said Adam Bass, President and Chief Executive Officer of Buchalter Nemer. “I have no doubt that they will contribute in significant ways to the healthcare, IP and real estate practices and I’m excited to see their respective practices grow at the firm.”

The firm’s release continues:

Terese A. Mosher Beluris joins Buchalter Nemer as of counsel from McDermott Will & Emery where she was a Partner. In her practice, Terese regularly litigates actions on behalf of health care services plans, management services organizations and providers involved in commercial and managed care disputes. In the managed care arena, Terese has litigated putative class actions and other actions on behalf of health plans, health care providers and intermediaries. She has been lead trial counsel in significant matters concerning the imposition of liability upon health care service plans following the default of multiple system operators (MSOs) and other intermediaries, the defense of pharmaceutical utilization review under the precepts of California Business and Professions Code Section 2056 and alleged violations of due process or fair procedure.

She earned her J.D. from Loyola Law School and her B.A., magna cum laude, from Tufts University.

Stephen J. Strauss joined Buchalter Nemer as Of Counsel from Fulwider Patton LLP where he was a Partner. For over 30 years, Stephen has specialized in domestic and international trademark, copyright and unfair competition matters, including licensing, Internet domain name disputes and litigation. He has prosecuted over two thousand U.S. and foreign trademark and service mark applications, and won over 60 UDRP decisions. Stephen is known for his representation of a number of internationally recognized celebrities, sports personalities, recording artists, chefs, authors and media and entertainment companies. He also represents a wide range of diverse clients including restaurants, banks and financial institutions, clothing and toy manufacturers, magazine and book publishers.

He earned his J.D. from Southwestern Law School and his B.A. and M.A. in Political Science from American University.

Michael Zerman joined Buchalter Nemer as Special Counsel from Zuber Lawler & Del Duca LLP where he was a Partner. Michael focuses his practice on real estate transactions, including purchase & sale, mortgage financing, leasing, and construction agreements. He represents pension funds, developers, financial institutions, government entities, REITs, retail chains and health care organizations and regularly handles matters related to office buildings, industrial properties, shopping centers, apartment properties, hotels, pro-sports facilities and mass-transit sites.

He earned his J.D. from the University of Arizona, cum laude, and his B.A. from Wesleyan University.

Fish & Richardson announced that three principals – including Natalie Arbaugh of Dallas – have been named to the Profiles in Diversity Journal (PDJ) 2016 list of the “Women Worth Watching.” According to the PDJ, the women selected for this honor “are forging ahead with global acclaim in strategies that are making a difference in their workplace, marketplace and around the world.”

In a release, the firm said Arbaugh is a commercial business and intellectual property (IP) litigator with a reputation for top-notch client service, creative problem solving, and courtroom excellence. She has tried nearly 30 cases as lead counsel or second chair including many high-profile business and IP disputes such as trademark and anti-counterfeiting litigation, trade secret, non-compete, and non-solicitation litigation.

She leads the firm’s EMPOWER Women’s Initiative, which provides expanded professional and business development opportunities, mentoring, training, and support to Fish’s female legal staff. She received her J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, from the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law in 2001 and her B.A., with honors, in business administration from the University of Florida in 1995.

Also selected for this honor were Fish principals Linda Liu Kordziel of Washington, D.C., and Boston’s Cynthia Johnson Walden, Practice Group Leader of the firm’s Trademark and Copyright Group.

Profiles in Diversity Journal is dedicated to promoting and advancing diversity and inclusion in the corporate, government, nonprofit, STEM, and higher education sectors.

DLA Piper has named Frank Ryan, a partner in the firm’s New York office, U.S. co-chair of its Intellectual Property and Technology practice, effective July 1, 2016.

Ryan will co-chair the U.S. practice with John Allcock, a partner in the firm’s San Diego and Silicon Valley offices, who is also global co-chair of the practice group.

In his practice, Ryan advises U.S. and multinational clients with a focus on litigation, intellectual property, media and sports, and complex commercial matters. He has successfully represented clients in a number of cases at trial and is well-versed in content distribution agreements, patent litigation and intellectual property portfolio development and protection.

Ryan previously led the New York office’s Intellectual Property and Technology practice and now serves as the deputy chair of the firm’s Global Media, Sports and Entertainment sector. He also serves on the firm’s Executive Committee and Global Board.

Image by Marc van der Chijs

Google’s self-driving car project has created a general counsel position—and hired Kevin Vosen, the chief legal officer of The Climate Corporation to fill it—as it prepares to shift from moonshot to company, reports Kirsten Korosec for Fortune.

“Alphabet’s Google has teams of lawyers. And even the Google self-driving project, which is housed under X (the division where the company’s experimental projects reside), has lawyers. But until now, it’s never had one dedicated to the project full time and of this level of seniority,” she writes.

The article points out that the hiring comes at a critical time as Google aims to commercialize self-driving cars by 2020. With a CEO and a director already in place, a chief lawyer has been a missing piece.

Read the article.

Ahmad, Zavitsanos, Anaipakos, Alavi & Mensing P.C. has been named best in class in patent litigation by Intellectual Asset Management Patent Survey in 2015 and again in 2016 and was named one of the 10 largest IP firms in Houston in 2016 by the Houston Business Journal.

In a release, the firm said AZA’s IP patent stable includes partners Demetrios Anaipakos, Amir Alavi and Steve Mitby; and Of Counsel David Warden, Brian E. Simmons and Scott W. Clark. Three on the team are board certified civil trial lawyers, and three on the team including associate Alisa Lipski are licensed as patent attorneys before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. A number of our lawyers have formerly been chemists, engineers, electrical engineers and biochemists. AZA lawyer Ifti Ahmed, a former engineer, served as a law clerk to both Judge Alan D. Lourie of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and to Judge John Ward of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.

Read the article.