The American Bar Association this week will take up the issue of poor performing law schools, considering a controversial proposal that would toughen the bar-pass standard for law schools.

“The proposal is likely to be vigorously debated and comes after criticism that the accrediting body has allowed schools to admit too many lower-achieving students who struggle to pass the bar,” predicts an in-depth article on the subject published by USA Today.

“Here’s what could change: Law schools have five years to show 75% of their graduates who take the bar exam have passed. The proposal would narrow that to two years,” the authors explain.

Some critics say the five-year rule has allowed schools to continue operating even with dismal bar-passage rates. “It’s virtually impossible to fail,” says Kyle McEntee, executive director of Law School Transparency, “although some schools are managing to come close.”

Read the USA Today article.

It was just a year ago when Brian Wallach, then an assistant U.S. attorney, received confirmation of a diagnosis of ALS.

Above the Law introduces the story:

“Just three months later, Wallach returned to Skadden Arps, the firm where he started his career, and he was welcomed back by the firm with open arms, despite his diagnosis. Although the average life expectancy for ALS is about two to five years, Wallach is doing more than simply tending to his own medical ailments. He and his wife, Sandra Abrevaya, recently launched I Am ALS, and they hope to raise $100 million of new funding to find a cure within three years.”

Read the Above the Law article.

CNN tells the story of Steven Wall, managing partner of internationally renowned law firm Morgan Lewis, who almost saw his career and his marriage destroyed by his alcoholism.

His drinking started in high school and continued into his work life as a lawyer, including one time with a boozy business lunch that resulted in a blackout. CNN’s Jeanne Sahadi tells how Wall largely gave up drinking for several years, but then the cravings became too strong for him to resist.

“Wall attributes his alcoholism to three factors: his heredity, his personality and how he handled the enormous stress of his job,” Sahadi writes. “He said he often felt the need ‘to turn off my brain and to release the intensity and the pressure of what we do.'”

Read the CNN article.

Employment attorney Terah Moxley of litigation boutique Estes Thorne & Carr PLLC has been promoted to partner.

“We are exceptionally pleased that Terah has accepted this new role,” said managing partner Jessica Thorne. “With her focus on building relationships and developing winning strategies for clients, Terah embodies what makes this firm special. She joined our firm early in her career, and it has been exciting watching her practice develop. We look forward to her continued success.”

In a release, the firm said Moxley, a Board Certified in Labor & Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, works to develop legal strategies and policies focused on keeping employers out of the courtroom, advising clients on issues including the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the Americans with Disabilities Act. She also has represented clients in state and federal courts and appellate venues on matters involving discrimination, harassment, and retaliation, as well as restrictive covenants.

“Estes Thorne & Carr is focused on complete client service. It is not just about mobilizing when there is a crisis,” said Moxley. “We are all about developing strategies unique to the individual client and helping to enhance its day-to-day business. This type of work is why I became a lawyer and what I appreciate about practicing at this firm.”

Moxley earned her law degree from Baylor University School of Law, graduating at the top of her class in 2010. She earned her undergraduate degree in political science from Texas Christian University in 2004. She is a member of the Dallas Women Lawyers Association, Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, and Texas Young Lawyers Association. Her work has earned her recognition on Texas Super Lawyers’ Rising Stars listing of the top young attorneys in the state.

Frederic L. Smith Jr., a partner in Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP’s Birmingham office, has been named by Who’s Who Legal as among the world’s leading M&A and governance lawyers. He is listed in the 2019 edition of Who’s Who Legal: M&A and Governance.

“We congratulate Frederic on his inclusion in the latest Who’s Who Legal guide, honoring the top attorneys who practice in areas of M&A and governance,” said Bradley Birmingham Office Managing Partner Dawn Helms Sharff. “Frederic has demonstrated outstanding legal skills and leadership that continue to earn him praise from his clients and peers.”

A member of Bradley’s Corporate and Securities Practice Group, Smith has more than 20 years of experience advising businesses on M&A transactions, contract negotiations, business succession issues, and joint venture and financing transactions. He also serves as outside general counsel to several privately held and family-owned businesses. Smith has experience in diverse industries and a particular focus representing companies in the construction, manufacturing, construction aggregates, oil and gas services, and real estate industries. He is a member of the American Bar Association’s M&A Committee, for which he chairs a working group that tracks judicial developments in M&A transactions.

The 2019 edition of Who’s Who Legal: M&A and Governance is scheduled to be published in April by London-based Law Business Research Limited. Only lawyers who receive the highest number of recommendations from peers and clients as determined through independent research are listed in the publication. The Who’s Who Legal directories lists more than 24,000 private practice lawyers from more than 150 national jurisdictions, covering diverse areas of corporate and commercial law. The guides are intended to serve as reference sources for companies seeking to corroborate the reputations of lawyers recommended by another party.

Business trial lawyer Jody Rodenberg of Sommerman, McCaffity, Quesada & Geisler LLP is featured in the January issue of Texas Monthly in a special section of Top Women Attorneys in Texas – those who were selected to the Texas Super Lawyers or Rising Stars list for 2018.

Rodenberg was selected to the Texas Rising Stars list based on her business litigation practice. To be considered for Rising Stars, an attorney must be 40 or younger or in practice no more than 10 years. Only 2.5 percent of eligible lawyers in Texas are chosen each year.

“I’m grateful to be included among such a talented group of women,” said Rodenberg. “This recognition comes from my peers, which means that the hard work we accomplish for our clients does not go unnoticed, and I appreciate that.”

Through an extensive selection process that involves nominations, independent research and peer evaluation, the Texas Super Lawyers legal guide each year recognizes the top attorneys in the state. Rodenberg was first named to the Texas Rising Stars list in 2017.

She also handles employment and ERISA litigation, personal injury, wrongful death and medical malpractice cases.

She is a 2011 graduate of Southern Methodist University’s Dedman School of Law and a member of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers.

Perkins Coie announced that “KoKo” Ye Huang has joined the firm’s International Transactions & Trade practice as a partner in the Seattle office.

In a release, the firm said Huang counsels on a broad range of employment-based immigration matters, including advising employers on best practices and compliance with disclosure and documentation requirements from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Labor, Department of State, and other government agencies. She also assists employers with securing work authorization for foreign national employees working in the United States and represents companies and individuals in the preparation of employment-based immigration petitions and permanent resident applications.

Huang joins Perkins Coie Partner Greg McCall as part of the Seattle office’s dedicated immigration team.

“KoKo’s hire to Perkins Coie further deepens our ability to counsel clients in this highly specialized area,” said Georges Yates, Co-Chair of Perkins Coie’s International Transactions & Trade practice. “Her strong skill set on a wide range of employment-based immigration matters, coupled with her experience working with various government agencies, makes her an exceptional addition to our team.”

The firm said Huang has experience in discrimination matters; harassment; wrongful discharge; wage and hour issues; federal, state and local employment statutes; hiring, and EEOC charges. She regularly presents to employers and human resources executives on timely immigration and employment law issues.

She joins Perkins Coie from Jackson Lewis P.C., where she was a principal in the firm’s Seattle office.

“As a Seattle native involved in several community and professional organizations, KoKo will be a tremendous asset to our emerging companies and venture capital clients in the Pacific Northwest,” said James Williams, Managing Partner of Perkins Coie’s Seattle office. “We are seeing an increased focus from many clients on foreign nationals who require U.S. visas and credentials from employers as well as a growing immigration compliance focus for companies. KoKo’s unique blend of labor and employment and immigration experience complements the needs of our regional and national clients.”

Huang received her J.D., cum laude, from the Seattle University School of Law and her B.A. from Bowdoin College in Maine.

Samantha E. Caluori has rejoined Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C.’s St. Louis office as an associate in the Business Services practice group. She previously held the same position with the firm from late 2016 through 2017.

“We are very pleased to welcome Sam back to Greensfelder, and we are excited to reap the benefits of the valuable experience she gained while serving in an in-house corporate position while away from the firm,” said Greensfelder Chief Executive Officer Timothy R. Thornton.

In a release, the firm said Caluori assists businesses with a variety of transactions including mergers and acquisitions. Her corporate transactions work involves exempt securities offerings and other governance matters, as well as commercial contracts, and entity formation and dissolution.

Prior to rejoining Greensfelder, Caluori served as in-house associate counsel for Energizer Holdings, Inc., the St. Louis-based manufacturer of batteries, flashlights and lanterns. With that company, Caluori was involved with commercial transactions, international and domestic supply agreements, and international distributorship arrangements, among other matters. She also assisted with due diligence and integration related to multiple acquisitions of global consumer products companies.

During law school, Caluori worked for the Consumer Protection Division of the Missouri Attorney General’s Office.

Caluori received her J.D. (cum laude) from St. Louis University School of Law and her Bachelor of Science from Iowa State University.

Holland & Hart announced the addition of Steve Clayton to the firm’s Salt Lake City office in the Real Estate Development practice. He previously was an in-house counsel for 12 years, helping a nascent real estate company grow into a private REIT, the firm said in a release.

Clayton services real estate owners, developers, and managers with a variety of matters from offer through diligence and acquisition, from leasing to ongoing management support. His experience extends into general transactional fields assisting real estate companies with related organizational, contracting, risk management, and operational matters.

Clayton  is an adjunct associate professor at the S.J. Quinney College of Law teaching contract drafting and co-teaching an intellectual property and business law survey course.

Family law boutique Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson, LLP, announced the addition of associate Jessica Anderson, who previously worked as a paralegal in the firm’s Dallas and Frisco offices.

“We are honored that Jessica decided to rejoin our firm following law school,” said firm partner Keith Nelson. “She has a passion for helping others, and it shows through her work ethic. She’s a great new addition to our team.”

In a release, the firm said Anderson will guide clients in matters involving divorce, modification, enforcement and child custody, and help navigate the transitional phase of divorce.

“Working as a paralegal at ONDA helped me understand what families go through during and after a divorce,” said Anderson. “I’m glad to be back at the firm as a lawyer and am ready to help our clients during what can be a difficult time in their lives.”

Anderson earned her law degree from the Texas A&M University School of Law, where she served as vice president of the Family Law Student Association. She earned her undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Texas Woman’s University. She is a member of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers.

BRG announced that Richard D. Gregorie has joined the firm as a managing director in its Global Investigations and Strategic Intelligence practice.

In a release, the firm said Gregorie’s career with the U.S. Department of Justice includes awards and high-profile prosecutions, including indictments of Panamanian General Manuel Noriega and the Medellin Drug Cartel.

“It’s not every day that you can add someone with Dick’s experience and pedigree—and he knows more about criminal law than anyone I’ve ever met,” said Frank Holder, leader of BRG’s Global Investigations and Strategic Intelligence practice. “Dick has worked on some of the biggest cases in recent memory, involving heads of foreign governments and international drug traffickers. He’s a well-known figure, having testified before Congressional committees and appeared on national television. His impressive experience in such areas as white collar crimes, sanctions and regulatory matters makes him a strong addition to our team at BRG.”

Gregorie began work in Miami in the early 1980s during the War on Drugs, joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Florida as chief of Narcotics. He also served that office as senior litigation counsel, chief Assistant US Attorney, and chief of the Criminal Division. As a result, he has extensive knowledge of money laundering, extraterritorial jurisdiction, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and complex multi-object conspiracies. Before coming to Miami, Gregorie prosecuted organized crime across New England, and he has tried cases related to terrorism, public corruption and fraud over the course of his career.

Gregorie received an unprecedented three Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Awards as well as the National Association of Former US Attorneys award as the outstanding Assistant US Attorney in the country. As senior litigation counsel and a teacher at the DOJ’s National Advocacy Center, he trained and mentored young prosecutors, and he contributed chapters in the 2011 and 2016 editions of the DOJ’s Federal Narcotics Prosecution Manual.

“BRG is regularly involved in high-profile investigations and business intelligence engagements, generating praise as a forward-thinking firm that provides strong expertise and perspectives to clients,” Gregorie said. “My more than four decades at the Department of Justice will dovetail nicely with BRG’s existing work, particularly in matters related to money laundering and the False Claims Act, and I’m excited to provide strategic counsel and serve as a spokesman for BRG.”

Deans & Lyons partner Chris Simmons has earned selection to D Magazine’s 2019 list of Best Lawyers Under 40, an honor based on peer review by other Dallas-area attorneys.

One of just 75 lawyers recognized this year, Simmons is making the list for the second time.

“Chris is an exceptional attorney who excels in the courtroom,” said Deans & Lyons co-founder Michael Lyons. “This is a firm built on results, and clients know that they can depend on Chris for the best possible outcome.”

In a release, the firm said Simmons handles complex catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases involving products liability, premises liability, professional negligence, industrial and workplace accidents and motor vehicles before judges, juries, and arbitrators in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and throughout the country. He also devotes a significant part of his practice to handling business disputes and commercial litigation in a variety of complex civil litigation matters involving breach of contract, business torts, and other business-related controversies.

“Serving as a counselor to my clients is a responsibility I take very seriously,” says Mr. Simmons. “My primary commitment is to help them navigate their way through what is often their most trying time.”

D Magazine’s 2019 listing of the Best Lawyers Under 40 was determined through a peer‐review voting process, with ballots submitted by thousands of area lawyers. An independent panel of attorneys assisted the magazine’s editors in selecting the final list. The complete list is featured in the January edition of D Magazine and is available online at www.dmagazine.com.

In addition to the D Magazine honors, Simmons was recognized on Texas Lawyer’s “On the Rise” list of young lawyers, one of the publication’s 2018 Professional Excellence Awards. He also has been chosen multiple times for Super Lawyers magazine’s Rising Stars’ listing of the top young plaintiff litigators in Texas, as well as being named among the top 100 Up-and-Coming lawyers in the state regardless of practice focus.

Veteran immigration lawyer Michael E. Durham has joined Barnes & Thornburg’s South Bend office as a partner in the firm’s Labor & Employment Department.

Durham, who has practiced immigration law for 17 years, was previously with Bose McKinney & Evans LLP.

“Globalization has fundamentally changed the way businesses and organizations address challenges related to their human resources in today’s economy,” said Kenneth J. Yerkes, chair of the firm’s nationally acclaimed Labor and Employment Department. “Michael’s immigration experience gives us added depth and resources that many of our clients increasingly are seeking as they maneuver around the realities of operating in a global environment.”

In a release, the firm said Durham assists businesses and individuals in a variety of immigration services. He advises employers such as hospitals, colleges and universities, technology companies, religious organizations and small companies in obtaining nonimmigrant and immigrant status for their employees.

He has experience working with physicians, post-doctoral researchers, professors, engineers, scholars, scientists, international business executives and managers and investors. Durham also represents individuals on a variety of family-based immigration and naturalization matters.

“We’re excited to have Michael join our South Bend office,” said Philip J. Faccenda, Jr., managing partner of the firm’s South Bend office. “We have a wealth of businesses and institutions throughout the region who seek sophisticated counsel about the various employment issues affecting their operations. Immigration policy is a hot topic these days, and we are happy to have Michael here to support our clients and answer their questions.”

Durham also counsels employers concerning I-9 verification compliance, E-Verify and related immigration-employment enforcement issues. Additionally, he has represented professional race car drivers, including a recent winner of the Indianapolis 500.

He is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. He is admitted to practice in Illinois and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh District and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Indiana.

Durham earned his J.D. from Notre Dame Law School and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado.

Attorney LeElle Slifer has been named partner by the Dallas-based trial law firm of Burns Charest LLP.

Slifer, who joined the firm as counsel in 2016, focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation involving a wide range of claims, including breach of contract, oil and gas royalty disputes, and patent infringement.

“Everyone who works with LeElle admires her legal expertise and intelligence, and her dedication and persistence in anticipating and meeting the needs of her clients,” said Dan Charest, co-founder of Burns Charest. “We are pleased to recognize those qualities in welcoming her to the partnership.”

Some of Slifer’s current representations include Kosmos Energy, in both Texas state court and before the International Chamber of Commerce, and Stonebriar Commercial Finance, in various federal and state courts across the nation. She currently represents wounded service members and their families bringing a civil action in the Eastern District of New York against six international banking organizations for allegedly conspiring with Iran to evade U.S. economic sanctions and conduct illicit trade-finance transactions.

Slifer has handled several significant appellate matters, including to the U.S. Supreme Court in Comcast Corp. v. Behrend. She represented the plaintiffs in DDR Holdings v. Hotels.com, where after winning a jury verdict of patent infringement in the Eastern District of Texas, her team secured an appellate victory at the Federal Circuit. Some of her other clients include Pizza Hut, Q Aviation, Black Stone Minerals, Torreya Partners, and Verdad Capital.

Slifer began her legal career in 2010 as a clerk to Judge Jerry E. Smith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. In 2011, she joined Susman Godfrey LLP in Dallas before transferring to the New York office in 2013. She is admitted to practice in both Texas and New York.

She earned her law degree, with honors, from Harvard Law School in 2010 where she was Editor-in-Chief of the Harvard Journal of Law & Public Policy and a member of the Harvard Federalist Society. Slifer received her undergraduate degree with high honors from Duke University in 2007.

Burns Charest has offices in Dallas, Denver, and New Orleans.

Above the Law reports that Cahill Gordon sources say that the overwhelming majority of senior litigation associates in a particular class are being asked to leave the firm before they’ve had the chance to go up for partnership.

Senior editor Kathryn Rubino explains:

“Multiple sources report the associates were told they weren’t partner or counsel material, given only a portion of their bonus and told they had six months to get out of Dodge. And even though pushing out these associates is being framed as connected to their inability to make the leap to the next level, sources say most of them weren’t even able to hear any reviews of their work.”

Read the Above the Law article.

Bloomberg Law reports that a second New York attorney caught in a money-laundering sting operation reported by 60 Minutes has received public censure.

The CBS program reported on an undercover probe by anticorruption advocacy group Global Witness in which lawyers in 13 different New York law firms met with an investigator posing as a German lawyer who represented a West African mining minister.

Even though the “minister” wanted to make some big purchases with money of questionable origin, only one lawyer immediately declined representation. Others were willing to discuss it and even offer suggestions, according to Bloomberg’s Martina Barash.

Read the Bloomberg Law article.

Freeborn & Peters LLP announced that the firm has elected Joseph L. Fogel as its new co-managing partner.

As co-managing partner along with William E. Russell, Fogel is responsible for development and execution of the firm’s overall growth strategy and its various industry initiatives.

“It is an honor to join Bill in this new leadership role and to help promote Freeborn and its rich history of serving clients and the community,” Fogel said. “I also feel fortunate to be able to support our work and attorneys following some of the most significant growth in our firm’s history, with the additions of offices in New York, Tampa (Fla.) and Richmond (Va.) all within the last three years. It is an exciting time at our firm and we are enthusiastic about what’s to come.”

Richard J. Traub, a Freeborn partner and chair of the firm’s Executive Committee, said, “We are thrilled to introduce Joe as Freeborn’s new Co-Managing Partner to help lead our firm through ongoing prosperity and success for our clients. Joe is an accomplished litigator whose deep knowledge and understanding of the law will be great assets as we continue to leverage Freeborn’s talented bench of attorneys and international-scope capabilities as a Litigation Powerhouse®.”

Russell added, “I am eager to work alongside Joe to continue to foster our firm’s core values of integrity, caring, effectiveness, teamwork, and commitment through our work and our relationships with our valued clients.”

Fogel joined Freeborn in 1994. He is a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group and serves as Co-Leader of the Complex Litigation Group. He has experience litigating complex business and commercial disputes in state and federal courts and arbitral forums around the country, the firm said in a release.

Prior to joining Freeborn, Fogel was associated with the firms Jenner & Block and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. He received his J.D. (with honors) from DePaul University College of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, San Diego.

John Duke has been named office managing partner for Hogan Lovells’ Philadelphia office effective January 1.

In a release, the firm said Duke is a corporate transactional partner whose corporate practice encompasses mergers and acquisitions, public equity offerings, joint ventures, corporate governance and public company compliance matters. He has advised on dozens of public offerings, including initial public offerings and other capital markets transactions, and has represented public and private companies in connection with mergers, acquisition and carve-out transactions.

In his new role, Duke succeeds Ginny Gibson, a former federal prosecutor and the first Assistant U.S. Attorney and Civil Chief in two federal districts. Gibson will continue with the firm, defending clients under federal and state scrutiny against accusations of fraud and regulatory violations.

Lando & Anastasi, LLP announced that Gregory K. Gerstenzang, Nathan T. Harris, Hannah R. Koyfman, Ph.D., and David M. Roccio have been elected partners of the firm.

In a release, the firm said Gregory K. Gerstenzang works with clients to leverage their intellectual assets through strategic patent portfolio development and management. He prosecutes patent applications domestically and abroad in a wide range of technologies. Gerstenzang uses the insight gained from nearly a decade of technical experience in the semiconductor industry to maximize clients’ return on their intellectual property.

Nathan Harris has an IP practice, with experience in patent and trademark prosecution, litigation, and counseling, as well as domain name disputes. Harris has handled matters involving a variety of technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning in the areas of computer vision, identity authentication, and text analytics, the firm said.

Hannah R. Koyfman, Ph.D. counsels clients in the life science industries to design and execute a global patent strategy. Her work includes drafting patent applications and prosecuting them to issue, as well as managing a prosecution strategy with foreign associates in numerous countries. She also performs freedom-to-operate analysis to help clients understand the extent and strength of third-party positions. In addition, she conducts due diligence on patent portfolios to help venture firms and large pharmaceutical companies gauge the value of their investments. Koyfman also has experience working as a member of litigation teams.

David M. Roccio’s practice focuses on obtaining patents and counseling clients on a range of patent-related issues. He has represented clients covering a broad spectrum of technologies, including Mobile AdHoc Network communications, switching and routing, data centers, uninterruptible power supplies, load centers, network-based conferencing/compression, programmable RF transceivers, digital imaging, and semiconductor devices and manufacturing, the firm said.

The lawyer who led Sullivan & Cromwell in the 1980s and 1990s died from injuries he suffered in a fire in his Manhattan apartment.

John Merow, 89, was found near his wife, Mary, 85, after the fire broke out in their apartment about 5 a.m. on Jan. 12, reports Above the Law. His wife was dead at the scene with severe burns, while Merow later died at a hospital.

“Merow, a graduate of Havard Law School, worked for Sullivan & Cromwell for 60 years,” writes Above the Law editor Staci Zaretsky. “He first joined the firm in 1958, became a partner in 1964, became the firm’s vice chairman in 1986, and continued his leadership ascent to become the firm’s chairman and senior partner in 1987. Merow served as chair until 1994, but retained the senior partner title for more than two decades before his death.”

The New York Post reported that police sources believe the fire started when Mary allegedly fell asleep on the couch with a lit cigarette in her hand.

Read the Above the Law article.