Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP partners Lela M. Hollabaugh, Lindsey C Boney IV and Tripp Haston have been named by Who’s Who Legal as among the world’s leading life sciences attorneys. They are listed in the Product Liability chapter of the 2019 edition of Who’s Who Legal: Life Sciences.

“We congratulate Lela, Lindsey and Tripp on their most recent Who’s Who Legal: Life Sciences recognition,” said Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters. “Bradley’s Life Sciences attorneys continue to distinguish themselves as nationally recognized leaders in their field.”

The firm said Bradley’s Life Sciences Industry Team represents clients involved in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, molecular testing services, drug delivery systems, clinical labs (CLIA), genomic labs, bioinformatics, genomic medical clinics, research institutions, contract research organizations, animal sciences, plant sciences, and healthcare. This year, Bradley was named the Product Liability Firm of the Year by the LMG Life Sciences Awards. In addition, the firm earned Tier 1 national rankings in the 2019 edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions, as well as Tier 1 “Best Law Firms” metropolitan rankings for Product Liability Litigation – Defendants for Birmingham; Jackson, Miss.; Montgomery, Ala; Nashville, Tenn.; and Washington, D.C.

Hollabaugh is managing partner of Bradley’s Nashville, Tenn., office and a member of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group and Life Sciences Industry Team. She has served as the lead trial lawyer in more than a dozen jury trials, as well as more than two dozen bench trials, arbitrations and administrative hearings. She represents leading pharmaceutical, medical device and other product manufacturers in matters ranging from individual lawsuits to mass tort cases.

Based in the firm’s Birmingham office, Boney is a member of Bradley’s Litigation Practice Group and Life Sciences Industry Team. He regularly represents pharmaceutical and medical device companies in national mass tort litigation, often as a member of mass tort national counsel teams for cases involving regulatory and legal strategy issues. He also has represented numerous national and international companies in a variety of other matters.

Also based in the Birmingham office, Haston co-chairs Bradley’s Life Sciences Industry Team and represents a broad spectrum of clients on regional, national and international engagements. He represents medical device and pharmaceutical clients in products liability litigation. In addition, he has served numerous clients as national trial and coordinating counsel, as well as a national team member in individual actions and in mass tort and multidistrict litigation. His experience has involved matters throughout the United States, Europe, Asia and South America.

The 2019 edition of Who’s Who Legal: Life Sciences is scheduled to be published in March 2019 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 directory 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.

Clifton Dugas has joined Foley Gardere’s Real Estate Practice Group as a partner in its Dallas office.

The firm said Dugas has more than 20 years of experience in the real estate industry, including commercial lenders, loan servicers and borrowers in acquisitions; acquisitions and dispositions of office, multifamily, retail, mixed-use, raw land, and industrial commercial real estate; commercial transactions; and clients in the vacation ownership and timeshare industry. He also has experience with transactions involving health care, student housing, publishing facilities, oil and gas properties, and residential investment portfolios.

The firm said Dugas’ representative experience includes serving as the primary leasing counsel for a globally integrated asset manager assisting office properties nationwide with leasing, sales, acquisitions and property management issues, as well as representing a private Canadian real estate lending company with numerous, fast-moving deals ranging in value from $10 million to more than $100 million. In addition, he previously represented a large institutional lender with over $1 billion in troubled real estate assets.

“Clifton’s breadth of experience in both real estate and real estate lending will add significant depth and strength to our growing real estate practice in Texas and nationally,” said David Cook, chair of Foley’s Real Estate Practice Group. “Clifton will quickly become a vital resource for our clients, meeting their current and evolving business needs by applying two decades’ worth of experience in areas spanning real estate finance, development and lending.”

Dugas joins Foley from Polsinelli PC, where he was an equity shareholder in the financial services department, which included the real estate and commercial lending practice groups. Prior to that, he was managing director and chief legal officer at Lantern Asset Management LLC, a full-service commercial real estate asset management platform that managed a $1.1 billion portfolio of timeshare and resort construction, along with hypothecation loans and real estate property.

“We are thrilled to add Clifton to our expanding team,” said Michael Newman, managing partner of Foley Gardere’s Dallas office. “Clifton provides invaluable knowledge and diligence to his clients, pulling from his experience in private practice and as an in-house counsel, and uniquely understands their business needs and strategies, all of which will make Foley Gardere’s Real Estate Practice even deeper.”

Dykema’s National Pro Bono and Diversity Counsel Heidi A. Naasko was selected as the 2018 Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award by the United Community Housing Coalition (UCHC). She was recognized at the UCHC annual meeting in November.

The firm said Naasko was selected for the honor in thanks for her support of the UCHC’s 36th District Court Eviction Defense Clinic. Not only did Naasko take cases directly in one of the busiest eviction courts in the nation, but she also encourages other attorneys from large and small firms, as well as corporations, to volunteer and take eviction cases. She also assisted in efforts to increase the right to representation for defendants in eviction proceedings to reduce homelessness in Detroit.

The UCHC is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that provides comprehensive housing assistance to Detroit’s low-income residents. Since 1973, the organization has worked with tenants, homesteaders, homeowners, the homeless and community organizations, rebuilding neighborhoods and providing affordable housing, religious, civil rights, labor and housing advocacy to improve, preserve and expand affordable housing opportunities for low-income Detroiters.

In addition to her role administering Dykema’s Pro Bono program and mentoring lawyers in various areas of public interest law, Naasko maintains a substantive poverty law practice. Her caseload includes representation of unaccompanied immigrant children who are child victims of human trafficking and have either been victims of crime in their country of origin or in the United States. She also represents domestic violence survivors in divorce, child custody, immigration matters, and personal protection orders.

She also works with Dykema’s business clients to create pro bono partnerships with a focus on identifying relevant, succinct and high-profile opportunities.

Naasko, who earned a J.D., cum laude, from Boston University and a B.A. from the University of Michigan, is also a past recipient of the Washtenaw County Bar Association’s Annual Pro Bono/Public Service Award, as well as the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award.

Littler is expanding its presence in Wisconsin with the addition of Michael R. Gotzler who will open a new office in Madison, Wisconsin, located at 10 East Doty Street, Suite 800.

“As our work across Wisconsin continues to expand, the time was right to invest in a full-time presence in the state capital,” said Jonathan Levine, managing shareholder of Littler’s Wisconsin offices. “Mike is a real entrepreneur, an innovative and creative thinker who will immediately enhance our ability to provide labor and employment services to the business community in one of the most vibrant areas of the state.”

Tom Bender and Jeremy Roth, Littler’s co-managing directors added, “We’re excited to have someone of Mike’s caliber help us grow our regional footprint in the Midwest. Madison is not only an attractive expansion opportunity based on the legal services sought by our clients, it’s a natural fit for the firm as a whole and our growing technology and artificial intelligence practices.”

Gotzler, previously a founding partner of employment boutique Clark & Gotzler, has more than 20 years of experience advising businesses on all employment-related matters. Gotzler also spent a decade serving as general counsel of a human resources firm that provided temporary staffing, executive recruiting, consulting and other services throughout the U.S.

“Madison is my home and this is a terrific opportunity to open and build an office for a leading firm like Littler, which is known for its innovation and technology, vast resources and experienced, savvy practitioners,” said Gotzler. “Madison continues to gain national attention as one of the best places to live, work and grow a business and ranks as one of the fastest growing technology employment markets in the nation. The larger platform and unparalleled labor and employment resources Littler offers will enable me to provide expanded services and solutions to my clients both locally and nationally.”

Gotzler’s practice includes employment litigation before courts and administrative agencies, as well as ADA/FMLA leave and accommodation issues, wage and hour compliance, non-compete disputes, independent contractor and joint employment issues, labor relations and NLRB proceedings, and preventive audits and training.

Gotzler received his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School, with honors, and his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Phi Beta Kappa.

Barnes & Thornburg has added James Van Horn as a partner in the firm’s Finance, Insolvency and Restructuring Department in Washington, D.C.

Van Horn works with senior management, investors, creditors and other stakeholders in matters ranging from out-of-court workouts and pre-packaged and pre-arranged Chapter 11 reorganizations to cram down plans of reorganization and sales of substantially all assets. He represents corporate debtors, secured creditors, asset purchasers, official committees of unsecured creditors, liquidating trustees, receivers, investors and other stakeholders in bankruptcy courts and other courts throughout the United States.

“Jim is a seasoned bankruptcy attorney with significant restructuring experience across the manufacturing, retail, energy and real estate industries,” said Karen McGee, managing partner of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. “He’ll complement and expand our creditors’ rights and bankruptcy representation capabilities in the Beltway and nationally.”

Previously, Van Horn was a partner at McGuireWoods. He holds an MBA in finance, is a Certified Public Accountant, a Certified Insolvency and Restructuring Advisor, and a Certified Valuation Analyst. He was a senior consultant in the bankruptcy and restructuring services practice of FTI Consulting, Inc. and a senior associate in the business recovery services division of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, as well as an adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business teaching corporate finance and restructuring.

Van Horn earned his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and M.B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business; and he received his B.A. from Pennsylvania State University.

Lawrence “Larry” M. Hadley has joined Glaser Weil as a partner and chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Department. Hadley focuses his intellectual property litigation practice on patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets.

In a release, the firm said he has trial and appellate experience before both federal and state courts, and the International Trade Commission.

He works in the firm’s Century City and Orange County offices.

“Larry is a welcome addition to lead the firm’s Intellectual Property Litigation Department. His experience working on unique and broad intellectual property litigation in the technology and material science industries adds tremendous value and enables the firm to offer supplementary resources to better serve our clients,” said Patricia L. Glaser, Chair of the firm’s Litigation Department.

He has experience as a commercial ship and naval officer and licensed pilot.

Hadley earned his J.D. from The George Washington University Law School, where he was Order of the Coif. He received a B.S., with high honors from the United States Merchant Marine Academy.

A Louisville lawyer with a history of drug and alcohol abuse has been charged with threatening to kill two attorneys involved with his child custody case, reports the Louisville Courier Journal.

Brendan McLeod, who advertises himself as an “aggressive criminal attorney” on his Facebook page, was charged with retaliating against participants in a legal process, for allegedly threatening attorneys Mark Dobbins and Forrest Kuhn, according to the report by Andrew Wolfson.

“In the criminal case against McLeod, Louisville Metro Police Lt. Mike O’Neil said McLeod told a third party he would kill both Dobbins, who represents McLeod’s ex-wife, and Kuhn, a lawyer appointed as guardian ad litem for his children,” writes Wolfson.

Read the Courier Journal article.

Gail Serota, a partner in Florida’s Weiss Serota Helfman Cole & Bierman, died Sunday in a snorkeling accident in Biscayne Bay. She was 65.

The Miami Herald reported that her husband Joseph, one of the founders of the firm, said he and his wife loved to be on their boat and often spent days in the Ragged Keys. His wife, who loved the water, went snorkeling Sunday afternoon and got caught in a current, Serota said.

He said the two met while students at Princeton. Gail Serota turned down going to law school at Stanford to attend the University of Miami, where he was studying. The two married in 1980.

Read the Miami Herald article.

Emily Weber has joined Foley & Lardner LLP’s Health Care Practice as a partner in its Denver office.

In a release, the firm said Weber brings more than a decade of experience in the health care industry, both in private practice and as in-house counsel for major academic medical centers and teaching hospitals. She has experience advising health systems, medical centers, schools of medicine, community hospitals, and physician groups on a wide range of matters, including complex health care and clinical research regulations and transactions, HIPAA and Affordable Care Act compliance, health care fraud and abuse, and data privacy issues. In addition, Weber has experience with joint ventures, affiliations, practice acquisitions, provider agreements, compliance programs, and governance documents.

The firm said Weber has advised some of the nation’s largest academic health systems on data and innovation matters and has successfully handled data security compliance and governance for personalized medical programs. Her experience includes setting up a sophisticated, multi-institutional enterprise data warehouse and complementary biobank for a precision medicine program.

Weber joins Foley from Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, where she was a shareholder in the firm’s Denver office. Before entering private practice, she served as associate general counsel at the University of Colorado Health and, previously, as associate counsel at Temple University Health System Inc. and as associate counsel and compliance officer at Vail Valley Medical Center.

“Emily’s considerable industry knowledge and hands-on regulatory and compliance experience adds significant depth to our growing national health care practice,” said Judith Waltz, co-chair of Foley’s Health Care Practice Group. “With the addition of Emily, our team continues its client-driven growth in the areas where clients need us most, particularly as the regulatory landscape for the U.S. health care sector continues to shift.”

“We are pleased to welcome Emily to the firm,” said Geoffrey Bracken, managing partner of Foley’s Denver office. “She will be a remarkable asset to our clients and an important resource in enhancing our presence, both in the Colorado market and nationally, as we continue to grow our Denver office.”

Erin Jane Illman and Steven T. Snyder, attorneys in Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP’s Charlotte office, are among the first North Carolina lawyers to earn the new Privacy and Information Security Law Specialty certification through the State Bar Board of Legal Specialization.

“We congratulate Erin and Steve on earning distinction as North Carolina board-certified Privacy and Information Security Law attorneys,” said Bradley Charlotte Office Managing Partner Christopher C. Lam. “Erin’s and Steve’s leadership in this emerging industry has established Bradley as the go-to firm for advice and counsel on the ever-evolving complex issues of privacy and data security. Our clients greatly benefit from Erin’s and Steve’s deep knowledge and experience for helping businesses address growing privacy threats and deal with data loss or misuse of information assets. This certification is a confirmation of their demonstrated skill and highest standards of commitment to this critical area of importance to businesses.”

Created by the North Carolina State Bar, the Board of Legal Specialization certifies qualified North Carolina lawyers as specialists in designated areas of law. The new specialty certification focuses on North Carolina, as well as federal and international law, and is based upon the Certified Information Privacy Professional-US (CIPP/US) national certificate issued through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

Illman and Snyder both hold CIPP/US status, accredited by the American National Standards Institute. Snyder also holds the IAPP-issued Certified Information Privacy Technologist (CIPT) credential. Illman and Snyder also serve on the North Carolina Bar Association’s Privacy and Security Committee.

A partner and co-chair of Bradley’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Practice Group, Illman regularly advises clients on state and federal privacy and data security requirements, global data protection laws, and guides clients on risks and potential liabilities associated with inadequate privacy and data security practices. She also manages privacy-related enforcement actions and litigation. Her practice includes representing companies in reactive incident response situations, including insider cybersecurity threats, electronic and physical theft of trade secrets, and investigation, analysis, and notification efforts with respect to security incidents and breaches. In addition, Illman counsels clients on a variety of e-commerce, electronic marketing, digital contracts, and emerging technologies such as blockchain. She also has broad experience in complex loan transactions, including trade finance, capital-backed subscription lines, and multi-bank, multi-state and international lending arrangements.

Barnes & Thornburg has added Bradley J. Walz as a partner in the Corporate Department in Minneapolis, where he works on business and transactional issues. Previously, Walz was a shareholder at Winthrop & Weinstine.

The firm said Walz has experience in helping companies monetize and protect their assets. He has advised on the buying, selling and licensing of IP assets, trademark agreements, software development agreements, compliance matters, cloud computing, and data privacy matters. He has managed global trademark portfolios for companies in the fast food, beer and hops, esports, jewelry, software, and aftermarket engine parts industries. He is also experienced in transferring global trademark portfolios as part of international acquisitions, and resolving trademark, copyright, false advertising, and cybersquatting disputes through district court litigation and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

Walz’s addition is the ninth to the firm’s Minneapolis office in 2018.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Bradley,” said Connie Lahn, Barnes & Thornburg’s Minneapolis office managing partner. “His experience assisting emerging companies in the early stages of their life cycle and his understanding of their unique financial needs is a perfect complement to Barnes & Thornburg’s entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to providing exceptional value to our clients.”

Walz is an adjunct professor in the University of St. Thomas School of Law’s trademark clinic. In addition, he serves on the board of directors at the Little Free Library. Walz earned his J.D. from the University of St. Thomas School of Law and his B.S. in business economics from the University of St. Thomas.

Ian J. Block has joined Neal Gerber Eisenberg as a partner in the Intellectual Property practice group. Block joined the firm from Kirkland & Ellis LLP, where he was a partner.

The firm said Block has experience in intellectual property with an emphasis on trademark and trade dress issues. He focuses his practice on litigating disputes concerning trademark, trade dress, utility and design patent, copyright, and advertising. Block’s trademark practice includes clearance, prosecution, and enforcement. He also advises clients on IP issues associated with corporate transactions, such as IP licenses and assignments, and on advertising clearance.

“We are thrilled to have Ian join our growing group of more than 40 intellectual property professionals,” said Michael Kelber, co-chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property practice group. “His presence deepens our litigation bench and further strengthens our ability to serve the IP needs of our clients through the United States and around the world.”

Block has been recognized as an “Illinois Rising Star” in intellectual property litigation by Super Lawyers magazine every year since 2014. He received his J.D. from The University of Chicago Law School and his B.A. from Georgetown University.

Peter N. Cubita has joined Davis Wright Tremaine as counsel in its New York office.

Cubita joins the firm from Ballard Spahr, where he was of counsel.

“Peter is widely and rightly regarded as one of the ‘deans’ of the closed-end bar, and we’re thrilled that he’s chosen to join our team,” said Claude Goetz, chair of DWT’s consumer finance practice.

Three months ago, DWT added Bradford Hardin, also a practitioner in fair-lending and closed-end credit matters. Hardin joined the practice from WilmerHale in Washington, D.C.

“The additions of Peter and Bradford over the past few months have significantly broadened and deepened our capabilities in fair-lending and closed-end credit matters, both in counseling and advocacy contexts. These additions were driven largely by the expressed needs of our market-leading clients,” noted Goetz.

The firm said Cubita’s experience includes regulatory compliance, transactional, governmental enforcement, and class action matters, with experience in the motor vehicle retail finance and leasing areas.

Previously, Cubita worked as an in-house attorney at Ally Financial Inc., and was at Weil, Gotshal & Manges.

Bloomberg Law reports that a New York lawyer who commingled his own funds with client funds in his personal bank account will no longer be practicing law.

Reporter Bernie Pazanowski writes that John Shasanmi used his personal account for client funds, rather than opening an attorney trust account or maintain bookkeeping record.

Shasanmi was investigated for professional misconduct and charged with two counts of larceny involving over $600,000 in client funds he allegedly used for personal purposes.

Read the Bloomberg Law article.

Kerianne Kane has joined Northeast office of Saxe Doernberger & Vita, P.C. (SDV) as an associate.

In a release, the firm said Kane has a background in state and federal litigation and a practice previously focused on issues involving Metro-North Railroad. Her experience includes defense of claims under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act and whistleblower complaints under the Federal Railroad Safety Act as well as defense of insureds in personal injury and property damage matters.

The firm said Kane is also experienced in complex litigation matters involving business disputes, securities fraud and intellectual property infringement.

Beth Stephens has joined FisherBroyles, LLP as a partner in the firm’s Atlanta office and Health and Pharmacy Law practice group.

“It is a pleasure to welcome Beth to FisherBroyles and to our dedicated team of Atlanta-based partners,” said Ted Lavender, an Atlanta-based FisherBroyles partner and member of the Health and Pharmacy Law practice group. “Beth’s significant experience involving ERISA and other diverse healthcare plan issues, along with her public policy background, will provide valuable insights and support for our healthcare clients.”

Stephens said, “I am very eager to continue my practice and contribute to the successes of FisherBroyles clients who benefit greatly from the firm’s cloud-based partnership model and the top-level experience of the firm’s former Big Law partners.”

In a release, the firm said Stephens focuses her practice on the representation of ERISA and other self-funded employer healthcare plans and their fiduciaries, as well as plan participants, in healthcare reimbursement disputes. She also defends clients under consumer protection laws, including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and deceptive trade practices laws.

Prior to joining FisherBroyles, Stephens was the senior director of public policy & advocacy at Georgia Watch, a non-profit consumer advocacy organization. In that role, she developed educational resources for healthcare consumers, authored policy papers, and lobbied on behalf of consumers at the state and federal levels on various issues, including healthcare, access to civil justice, and financial services. Her work has included collaboration with government agencies, policymakers, legislators, academic partners, professional associations, advocacy groups, and other stakeholders.

Previously, Stephens was an attorney in the Health Law Unit at the Atlanta Legal Aid Society, where she represented low-income Georgians in a variety of civil legal matters.

Stephens received her J.D. (magna cum laude) from the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from Emory University.

Dykema announced the addition of Kenneth J. Sachs to its Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Group as a member of the firm’s Bloomfield Hills office. Sachs joins Dykema after practicing in the Troy, Mich., office of Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C., for more than a decade.

In a releqse, the firm said Sachs has experience advising clients regarding employee benefit plans, executive benefit programs and business planning. He also represents public and private entities concerning their corporate, fiduciary and governance responsibilities. Sachs routinely designs, drafts and establishes retirement plans, welfare plans, medical plans (insured and self-funded), fringe benefits and various other programs provided to employees.

The firm said Sachs also assists clients with audits, non-discrimination testing and the proper administration and funding of such plans. He also counsels clients in regard to incentive compensation programs, implications of mergers and acquisitions, contracts, and a variety of many other matters.

“We’re extremely happy to further expand our practice by adding an attorney with Ken’s experience and capabilities,” said Margaret Hunter, Leader of Dykema’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Practice Group. “His breadth of knowledge in a wide variety of employee benefits and executive compensation matters will serve as a tremendous resource to Dykema and its clients.”

Sachs earned an LL.M. in Taxation from Wayne State University Law School, a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School, and a B.A. in History from the University of Michigan.

The widow of Sidley Austin partner Gabe MacConaill has some harsh words for the stress that her husband endured while working at the firm before he took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot in October.

Above the Law, referring to an American Lawyer article by the widow, Joanna Litt, describes her feeling of helplessness as she saw her husband’s mental and physical condition decline while he was working on a big case:

“He told me his body was failing him. I picked him up and we decided he should go to the emergency room. He actually said to me on the way there, “You know, if we go, this is the end of my career.”

She said that she knows Biglaw didn’t directly kill her husband, but his condition was influenced by “a high-pressure job and a culture where it’s shameful to ask for help, shameful to be vulnerable, and shameful not to be perfect.”

Read the Above the Law article.

Robert G. Frucht has joined Freeborn & Peters LLP as a partner in the Corporate Practice Group in the firm’s New York office.

“We are excited to welcome Bob to our growing New York office and corporate team,” said Daniel Hargraves, managing partner of Freeborn’s New York office. “As a leader in corporate and securities law, Robert offers valuable insights for our expanding roster of corporate clients in New York and across all the firm’s offices.”

Freeborn also recently added Christopher A. Pesch as a corporate partner in its New York office, which was formed in March 2016 through the combination with New York City firm Hargraves, McConnell & Costigan P.C.

Frucht focuses his practice on domestic and international transaction-based corporate and securities law. His work includes debt and equity financings involving both public offerings and private placements, negotiated mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, financing transactions, and general corporate counseling. He has cross-border transactional experience involving the U.K., India, Russia, Hong Kong and British Virgin Islands.

Prior to joining Freeborn, Frucht was a partner with Riker Danzig Scherer Hyland & Perretti LLP.

Frucht received his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and his Bachelor of Arts from Cornell University.

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP announced that 17 attorneys have joined the firm as associates across the firm’s offices in Birmingham; Charlotte, N.C.; Nashville, Tenn.; and Washington, D.C.

“We are excited to welcome this new group of highly motivated attorneys as new associates across multiple practice groups and Bradley offices,” said Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Jonathan M. Skeeters. “We look forward to their contributions to the successes of our clients.”

The firm’s new associates in each Bradley office are as follows:

Birmingham

Kaylee M. Beauchamp is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. She served as a judicial extern for the Judge Michael P. Mills of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Mississippi. She received her J.D. (summa cum laude) from the University of Mississippi School of Law, where she was executive editor of the Mississippi Law Journal and Federal Courts Law Review. She also volunteered at the Mississippi Innocence Project, conducting legal research, screening cases, and interviewing witnesses. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Sewanee: The University of the South.

Rachel A. Conry is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. She clerked for Judge Kevin C. Newsom on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit. She received her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, where she was articles editor for the Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology and was a member of the Moot Court Board. She received her Bachelor of Science (cum laude) from Vanderbilt University.

K. Laney Gifford is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. She served as a judicial intern for Judge R. David Proctor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. She earned her J.D. (summa cum laude) from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, where she served as both student materials editor and junior editor for the Cumberland Law Review. She received her Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) from Auburn University.

Claire B. Johnson is a member of the Environmental Law Practice Group. She received her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, where she was development editor for the Environmental Law and Policy Annual Review and was on the staff of the Vanderbilt Journal of Transnational Law. During her time at Vanderbilt, she also served as president of the Energy and Environmental Law Society and initiated a sustainability program for the law school. In addition, she served as the public interest stipend director of the Legal Aid Society and as vice president of the Women’s Law Student Association. She received her Bachelor of Science (cum laude) from Clemson University.

Riley McDaniel is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. He was an extern for Judge Richard W. Story of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. He received his J.D. (with honors) from Emory University School of Law, where he served as managing editor of the Emory Law Journal. He received his Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) from Auburn University.

Alexander G. Thrasher is a member of the Construction Practice Group. Prior to law school, he worked as a project manager for an industrial contractor. He received his J.D. (magna cum laude) from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, where he was the recipient of the Daniel Austin Brewer Professionalism Award. He also was selected to serve as a Judge Abraham Caruthers Teaching Fellow and as a research editor of the Cumberland Law Review. He received his Bachelor of Arts from Washington University in St. Louis.

Davis S. Vaughn is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. He received his J.D. (summa cum laude) from the University of Mississippi School of Law, where he served on the executive boards of the Mississippi Law Journal and the Federal Courts Law Review. While in law school, he also worked with the Mississippi Innocence Project and helped with the initial representation of three innocence claims. He received his Bachelor of Arts (cum laude) from the University of Alabama.

Charlotte

Dexter C. Hobbs Jr. is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. He clerked for Judge Louis Bledsoe of the North Carolina Business Court. He received his J.D. (with honors) from the University of North Carolina School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of North Carolina.

Nashville

Elliot A. Bertasi is a member of the Healthcare Practice Group. Prior to law school, he worked for the U.S. Agency for International Development in Washington, D.C., and in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. He received his J.D. (cum laude) from Duke University School of Law, where he was executive editor of the Alaska Law Review and co-director of the Street Law Society. He received his Bachelor of Arts (summa cum laude) from the University of Tennessee.

Shundra Crumpton is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. She received her J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, where she was a member of the Legal Aid Society Board, Black Law Student Association, and the Labor and Employment Law Society. During law school, she also worked in the Turner Family Community Enterprise Clinic. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Vanderbilt University.

Elizabeth B. Holland is a member of the Real Estate Practice Group. She served as a judicial intern for Judge Sharon G. Lee of the Tennessee Supreme Court. She received her J.D. (magna cum laude) from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where she was a research editor for the Tennessee Law Review and CLE editor of Transactions: The Tennessee Journal of Business Law. She received her Bachlor of Science (magna cum laude) from the University of Georgia.

Alexandra C. Lynn is a member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group. Prior to law school, she worked as a research technician for the Center for Environmental Biotechnology and completed graduate-level coursework in translational biology at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. She received her J.D. (with high honors) from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where she was an articles and aquistions editor of the Tennessee Law Review and the publications editor of Transactions: Tennessee Journal of Business Law. She received her Bachelor of Science (with honors) from the University of Tennessee.

Daniel Paulson is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. He received his J.D. from Vanderbilt University Law School, where he was on the staff of the Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law. He received his Bachelor of Arts (with honors) from Calvin College.

Caroline Dare Spore is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. She clerked for Judge Julia Gibbons of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. She received her J.D. (summa cum laude) from Washington University School of Law, where she was senior executive editor of the Washington University Law Review. During law school she spent a semester working in Washington University’s Low Income Taxpayer Clinic, where she assisted clients involved in disputes with the Internal Revenue Service. She received her Bachelor of Arts (with honors) from Washington University in St. Louis.

Mike Stephens is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. He interned for the Civil Rights and Claims Division of the Office of the Tennessee Attorney General. He received his J.D. (magna cum laude) from Wake Forest University School of Law, where he served as executive editor of the Wake Forest Law Review and as a board member for the Wake Forest Moot Court. He received his Bachlor of Arts (magna cum laude) from Clemson University.

Rachel E. Taylor is a member of the Healthcare Practice Group. Previously she worked as a licensed life and health insurance agent. She received her J.D. from the University of Kentucky College of Law, where she served as a staff editor and a member of the disciplinary committee for the Kentucky Law Journal. She also served as treasurer of the Women’s Law Caucus. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Western Kentucky University.

Washington, D.C.

Stephanie J. Dinan is a member of the Construction Practice Group. She clerked for Judge Anthony C. Epstein of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C. She also worked as an extern for the Williamsburg Commonwealth Attorney’s Office. She received her J.D. (cum laude) from William & Mary Law School, where she was managing editor of the William & Mary Journal of Women and the Law. She received her Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) from James Madison University.