Veteran Beijing-based lawyers James M. Zimmerman and Scott J. Palmer have joined Perkins Coie’s Beijing office as partners. Zimmerman will join the firm’s Business practice, and Palmer will join the Intellectual Property practice.

In a release, the firm said the two have worked in China for most of the past three decades.

“It’s a significant gain for the firm to welcome Jim and Scott, two esteemed lawyers who bolster our growing teams in Beijing and Shanghai,” said Michael House, Managing Partner of Perkins Coie’s Beijing office. “Their exceptional experience and impressive track records in China further our ability to counsel our clients—particularly U.S. companies—in the transactional, regulatory, trademark, litigation and e-commerce areas.”

Geoffrey Vance, Managing Partner of Perkins Coie’s Shanghai office, adds: “The addition of Jim and Scott is a game-changer for Perkins Coie China and further demonstrates our commitment to maintaining a tier-one China practice and growing our offices here.”

Zimmerman previously led Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP’s Beijing office and has worked in the country since the late 1990s. He counsels U.S. companies across a broad range of industries on corporate, transactional, regulatory and litigation matters. He has experience with M&A, labor and employment and dispute resolution as well as with investments related to joint ventures, manufacturing, liquidation and dissolution.

He is the Chairman Emeritus of the American Chamber of Commerce in China and has served as its chairman and vice chairman on multiple occasions. He is the lead author of the ABA China Law Deskbook, a legal reference for companies doing business in China. He is regularly recognized as one of China’s leading business lawyers in the categories of Chinese Law, Dispute Resolution and General Corporate Law in the AsiaLaw Leading Lawyers Survey, and the International Who’s Who of Business Lawyers for Arbitration, and as a Leading Individual in the category of Corporate/M&A for foreign law firms in China in the AsiaPacific Legal 500: The Guide to Asia’s Commercial Law Firms. Zimmerman earned his J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law, and received his M.B.A. and B.A. from the University of California, Irvine.

Scott also joins Perkins Coie from Sheppard Mullin, where he was a partner. Fluent in Mandarin, he has spent his entire legal career in China beginning in the early 2000s. He advises clients on in-bound China IP enforcement, particularly with trademark, copyright, trade dress, patent and unfair competition matters involving IP. Scott manages IP portfolios for large multinational companies, including registration, prosecution, acquisition, maintenance, licensing, enforcement, and litigation of IP rights. His practice also includes customs registration/enforcement of IP, and the enforcement of IP on e-commerce sites, in social media and on mobile apps in China. Scott regularly advises on technology transfers, brand development and advertising, cross-border registration and enforcement of IP, complex IP litigation, as well as product quality and product approval/registration compliance for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and health foods. Scott also advises technology and telecommunications companies on Internet regulatory, Internet governance, and cyber security matters involving China.

Palamer was listed in Chambers Global and Chambers Asia as a Leading Lawyer (Intellectual Property) for 2018, and has been listed each year since 2011. He also has been listed as a Leading Individual by the World Trademark Review (2010-2018) and is recommended by The Legal 500 Asia Pacific (2016-2018). Scott earned his J.D. from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law, Bloomington, and received his B.A. from Northern Arizona University.

“As our offices in Beijing and Shanghai have grown in recent years, we’ve seen a sharp increase in clients seeking specialized assistance as they enter or expand their presences in those markets,” said John Devaney, Firmwide Managing Partner. “Jim and Scott’s knowledge and experience after many years in China address our clients’ growing needs in Asia when it comes to investments in a wide array of matters including joint ventures, banking and finance, evolving regulations, data privacy, cryptocurrency and IP enforcement.”

Also joining them at Perkins Coie will be a team of associates, paralegals and support staff.

The New York lawyer caught yelling racist comments at Spanish-speaking restaurant workers in a viral video was treated like a pariah by fellow attorneys at a Queens court Thursday, lawyers there told The New York Post.

And Aaron Schlossberg will have to find a new place to work because his landlord kicked him out of his office space after the video went public.

Schlossberg was in court Thursday representing Queens medical center Aimes Enterprises Inc. — a day after footage emerged of the lawyer threatening to have workers at a Manhattan eatery “kicked out of my country.”

The NY Post article quotes two lawyers who were in court that day: ““I was taken aback that he would have the balls to come to court in front of all of his colleagues after his crazy outburst.” And: “Why would he do that? His reputation will be shot. What a dope!”

Read the NY Post article.

Lisa M. Gingerich has joined Michael Best‘s Transactional Practice Group as a partner. Gingerich will be based in the firm’s Milwaukee office, focusing her practice on healthcare law.

In a release, the firm said Gingerich represents a variety of clients in the healthcare industry including hospitals, religious and charitable organizations, physician groups, ancillary providers, and suppliers. Gingerich works on transactions, strategic opportunities, and implementation and corporate compliance. She has successfully negotiated and completed numerous acquisitions, reorganizations, mergers, divestitures, and joint ventures, according to the release.

“Lisa’s impressive background and her breadth of experience will add great value to our clients in the healthcare space,” said David Krutz, firm Managing Partner. “Her industry-leading knowledge and her reputation will be a tremendous asset in our growing healthcare practice.”

“The firm’s priority in expanding its work in the healthcare industry, combined with the growth and all-encompassing talent of the Michael Best Strategies’ healthcare team, will allow me to expand my service offerings to my clients,” said Gingerich. “I’m looking forward to joining the firm and working alongside my new colleagues.”

Prior to joining Michael Best, Gingerich was a shareholder at a large Wisconsin-based law firm. She started her legal career at Legal Action of Wisconsin, representing low income clients in Southeastern Wisconsin. Gingerich is frequently a speaker on physician practice management, compensation and leasing arrangements, development of strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions and physician practice models topics. She has also been recognized as AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rated by Martindale Hubbell® and listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in Health Care Law.

Gingerich received her J.D., Dean’s Scholar, from California Western and her B.A., Chancellor’s Scholar, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Dallas attorney, ADR authority, and former Texas Supreme Court Justice Deborah Hankinson has been selected to D Magazine’s listing of the Best Lawyers in Dallas for appellate law.

Hankinson is the founder of Hankinson LLP.

In 2016, Hankinson was selected to The National Law Journal’s inaugural ADR Champions list, recognizing trailblazers from across the nation. She serves on the board of directors of the American Arbitration Association. She is a Fellow of the College of Commercial Arbitrators and the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers.

In addition to earning D Magazine honors, Hankinson has received recognition from The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, Texas Super Lawyers, Benchmark Appellate, Texas Lawyer, Dallas Business Journal, Martindale-Hubbell and Lawdragon. She also was honored as a Texas Trial Legend by the Dallas Bar Association.

The Best Lawyers in Dallas listing is based on a thorough review of peer nominations by D Magazine editors and an anonymous panel of the city’s most respected attorneys.

Akerman LLP has added 13 labor and employment lawyers to its Labor and Employment Practice Group in seven months. Those include partners Zachary Bulthuis from Huntington Legal Solutions, Michelle Lee Flores from Cozen O’Connor and Jeffrey Horton Thomas from Thomas Employment Law, all of whom join the Los Angeles office, in addition to Jeffrey Kimmel from Meister Seelig & Fein LLP in New York and Jessica Travers from Littler Mendelson P.C. in Jacksonville, Fla.

In a release, the firm said that, since 2016, the team’s headcount has more than doubled in size from 21 to 50 lawyers in Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Texas, Washington, D.C. and across Florida.

The release continues:

“We are dedicated to growing our capabilities for clients in areas where they need us most,” said Eric Gordon, chair of the Labor and Employment Practice Group. “Employers today are faced with a new set of uncertainties brought on by significant shifts in U.S. employment and immigration policies. The expansion of our team in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and across Florida advances our ability to problem-solve on the ground with our clients while serving their interests nationally.”

Zachary Bulthuis
A versatile lawyer with experience litigating employment, commercial and intellectual property disputes, Bulthuis focuses his practice on representing management in labor and employment disputes. His clientele is diverse, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to local businesses and individuals.

Bulthuis has extensive courtroom experience, and has obtained success for his clients in both alternative dispute resolution and trial settings. His work includes litigation of, and advice on, wage and hour, California’s Private Attorney General Act (PAGA), trade secret, reimbursement and unfair competition claims arising from employment relationships. Bulthuis frequently provides outside general counsel services on myriad legal and business issues, including advising on licensing and employment policies and disputes, and advice and preparation of a wide range of contracts.

Michelle Lee Flores
Lee Flores is an employment litigation and consulting lawyer with deep experience handling jury and bench trials, arbitration, mediation and pre-litigation negotiations involving sex, race, religion, age and disability harassment and discrimination, and wage and hour violations, including class actions and wrongful termination. Lee Flores, a nationally recognized employment advisor, counsels clients on employment compliance, internal investigations, discipline, terminations, reductions in force, wage and hour matters and cannabis in the workplace. She formulates and guides clients on workplace policies and procedures manuals, drug testing policies, employment contracts and separation agreements, and harassment and discrimination prevention policies, including preventive counseling and in-house training. Regarded as a thought leader on employment matters, Lee Flores has been quoted in the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, The Economist, Variety, Fast Company, Corporate Counsel, SHRM and Law360, among others. Lee Flores has received many honors and recognitions, most recently she was voted for the fifth year in a row as a Southern California Super Lawyer.

Active in the community and across prominent professional organizations, Lee Flores also leads the efforts of several business and civic institutions. Those include her involvement as trustee of the boards of the Mexican American Bar Foundation and the University of California Press Foundation, among many others.

Jeffrey Horton Thomas
From Fortune 500 corporations to mid-market employers, Horton Thomas focuses his practice on representing employers and management in all aspects of California and federal employment law before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. He regularly defends employers on issues involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, disability accommodation, wage and hour, and PAGA lawsuits and administrative actions. His clients span various sectors including hospitality, technology, retail, professional services, manufacturing and apparel. Clients value his aggressive approach and mature judgment in defending litigation.

On the thought leadership front, Horton Thomas also has served as a contributing employment law editor to Modern Restaurant Management magazine and is a regular legal guest on KABC Talk Radio’s “So, What’s Your Problem.”

Jeffrey Kimmel
With a diverse national practice focusing on employment law and complex commercial litigation, Kimmel represents clients in federal and state courts, as well as in various arbitration forums and before federal, state and local administrative bodies. His clients operate across multiple sectors, including technology, entertainment, hospitality, real estate, insurance and financial services and range in size from small, closely held companies to publicly traded corporations with thousands of employees. Kimmel routinely represents management in matters relating to wage and hour violations, wrongful termination and anti-discrimination and regularly counsels employers on day-to-day human resources and legal compliance issues.

Kimmel represents high level executives in connection with the negotiation of employment contracts and compensation packages. Kimmell also works with many high net worth and high profile individuals on employment related matters to limit personal exposure arising from their direct or indirect employment relationships.

Jessica Travers
Travers focuses her practice on helping large and small employers avoid and resolve conflicts with employees. She is an experienced litigator handling a variety of intricate employment issues, including overtime and minimum wage, discrimination and retaliation, whistleblowing, workplace harassment, employee leave and reasonable accommodations, employee class and collective actions, and non-compete and breach of contract claims. Her clients span various industries, including the hospitality, retail, transportation and energy sectors.

Travers’ representation of employers occurs before federal and state agencies, state and federal courts, the courts of appeal and arbitral forums. Whether the matter is small or complex, she brings the same amount of subject-matter expertise, efficiency, tenacity and experience to reach the best resolution for the client. Travers understands litigation can be costly and burdensome for companies. Thus, she believes litigation avoidance is key to her clients’ overall success and uses her extensive litigation experience to counsel employers on implementing lawful policies, handling workplace conflicts within the law and mitigating workforce risks. Travers is also a frequent speaker on these topics.

Akerman’s Labor and Employment Practice Group also has recently welcomed associates Zoe Bekas and Steven Gallagher from Thomas Employment Law and Jade Brewster from Constangy, Brooks, Smith and Prophete LLP in Los Angeles, Chris Eby from Semple, Farrington & Everall P.C. in Denver, Tiffany Hendricks from Perlman, Bajandas, Yevoli & Albright P.L. in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Melissa Overbeck from Bracewell LLP in New York, Sasha Segall from Loeb & Loeb LLP in West Palm Beach, Fla. and Paul Rutigliano from Meister, Seelig & Fein in New York. They bring experience in employment litigation and counseling for employers.

Corporate law attorney Brian Lidji of Lidji Dorey & Hooper has again been named to D Magazine’s list of the Best Lawyers in Dallas.

The annual recognition of the most respected lawyers in North Texas will be featured in the May 2018 edition of the magazine. Lidji earned his place on the 2018 list based on his exceptional work in mergers and acquisitions, the firm said in a release.

This marks the 13th time that Lidji has been named to the D Magazine list of Best Lawyers in Dallas.

“I’m humbled and honored to be recognized by my peers again this year,” said Lidji. “Being selected to D Magazine’s Best Lawyers list never gets old.”

Lidji has more than 30 years of experience in M&A and general corporate matters. His clients range from energy independents to consumer and technology companies. He has a portfolio of work in mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, securities law, business law, contract negotiations and a wide variety of other business transactions, the firm said.

His work also has earned recognition from The Best Lawyers in America every year since 2006 and Texas Super Lawyers each year since the inaugural 2003 listing. He also serves on the executive board of the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law, his alma mater.

The full listing of Dallas’ top attorneys appears on the D Magazine website.

Nikia L. Gray has been named managing partner of Quarles & Brady LLP’s Washington, D.C. office, effective May 1, 2018.

Gray succeeds Larry P. Cote, who served in the role since 2014, and will now focus on leading the DEA Compliance & Litigation Practice Group in Washington D.C.

“Nikia is a skilled litigator whose years at Quarles & Brady have proven her to be an excellent leader committed to client service, expanding our inclusion initiatives, and supporting the overall success of the firm,” said Kimberly Leach Johnson, Firm Chair of Quarles & Brady. “I am grateful for Larry’s years of leadership and am confident that Nikia will take the blueprint that has been created and continue to grow and advance our D.C. office.”

Gray, who joined Quarles & Brady in 2007, is a partner in the Intellectual Property Group. Before beginning her private law practice, Gray worked for several years as a physicist, developing optical software solutions for the illumination industries.

“I am honored to follow in the footsteps of an exemplary leader such as Larry,” said Gray. “He is a steward of the firm in the truest sense, and I look forward to continuing the office’s upward trajectory in the ever-important D.C. market.”

Gray is actively involved in firm administration, including serving as the Washington D.C. Chair of Quarles & Brady’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, the Washington D.C. Chair of Quarles & Brady’s Women’s Forum, and a member of the IP Litigation Client Development Committee. She was selected as a 2018 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity fellow and has been named in Southwest Super Lawyers® – Rising Stars (2014–2017: Intellectual Property), a 2012 Up & Comer by Inside Tucson Business, and a 40 Under 40 honoree by Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (2012). She received her B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and J.D. from the University of Arizona–James E. Rogers College of Law.

Emily R. Lyons has joined Michael Best as an associate in the Transactional Practice Group. Lyons will be based in the firm’s Washington, D.C., office, focusing her practice on regulatory matters for the firm’s Agribusiness, Food & Beverage clients.

“Having provided regulatory and legal advice to clients across the country as counsel to IDFA, Emily brings a unique perspective and set of relationships and experiences to help us continue the expansion of our depth and breadth of practitioners serving the agriculture, food and beverage sectors,” said Dave Crass, Co-Chair of the firm’s Agribusiness and Food & Beverage Industry Team. “With the recent activities of FDA and USDA, Emily will be a great asset to our group and clients.”

In a release, the firm said Lyons has experience in complex regulatory matters including food safety, food labeling and marketing, environmental, worker safety, sustainability and organic standards. “Having grown up on a dairy farm and with a strong background in food, environmental, and safety regulation of livestock operations and food processors, Emily has an extensive understanding of the food processing business and leverages her experience to help clients navigate the complex and often changing regulatory environment. She is experienced in obtaining successful outcomes in issues that arise with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA),” according to the release.

“Learning how a client’s business operates is invaluable in providing quality legal advice,” said Lyons. “I’m looking forward to bringing that skill set combined with my experience as in-house counsel to a national trade association to assist farmers and food and beverage companies with their legal and regulatory compliance issues, be they international or domestic.”

Lyons will be a member of the firm’s Agribusiness and Food & Beverage industry team, whose lawyers and technical experts work with producers, food companies and processors, among other industry clients. Michael Best’s team frequently collaborates with members of Michael Best Strategies LLC, the firm’s government relations and public affairs affiliate, to provide clients a full range of strategic services regarding the regulatory and policy challenges and opportunities in these industries.

Prior to joining Michael Best, Lyons served as the director of regulatory affairs and counsel for the International Dairy Foods Association where she was responsible for working with members and government agencies on environmental, worker safety and sustainability issues, as well as food and safety defense. Lyons also managed contracts, provided statutory and regulation interpretations, and oversaw active litigation, handled in-house discovery, and monitored association activities for antitrust issues.

Lyons received her J.D., magna cum laude, from Vermont Law School where she served as the head note editor of the Vermont Law Review. She also earned her B.S., with honors, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Hughes Hubbard & Reed announced that Ryan Fayhee has joined the firm as a partner and will be head of the Sanctions, Export Control and Anti-Money Laundering Group within the larger International Trade Practice.

Fayhee, a U.S. Department of Justice veteran, joins the firm from Baker McKenzie. At DOJ, Fayhee served as the National Export Control Coordinator, the principal attorney overseeing export control and sanctions investigations and prosecutions nationally.

In a release, the firm said Fayhee represents companies, boards of directors, audit committees and senior executives in internal and government facing cross-border investigations, and advises clients on compliance and acquisition due diligence with a focus on sanctions, export controls, anti-money laundering, anti-corruption and cybersecurity. Fayhee has experience assisting multinational companies facing crises and other high-profile reputational risks.

“International Trade is an increasingly important component of our transnational business,” said Ted Mayer, the Chair of Hughes Hubbard. “We think Ryan brings substantial strengths in export controls and sanctions that will prove extremely valuable to our clients on their most sophisticated issues.”

During his 11 years at the DOJ, Fayhee prosecuted cases involving export controls, sanctions, cybercrime, trade secret theft and espionage. He received recognition from the U.S. Attorney General for devising a model approach to the identification and disruption of foreign military supply and proliferation networks. Fayhee also led an investigation and prosecution of a multinational company that resulted in the largest criminal fine to date for sanctions violations.

Fayhee’s government experience also includes service as a trial attorney with the DOJ’s Civil Fraud Section, where he handled matters arising under the False Claims Act; he was also an Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of Illinois.

“Ryan Fayhee brings tremendous experience and a unique perspective to the complex OFAC, money laundering and cyber-related investigations and compliance matters that our clients increasingly face,” said Joanne Osendarp, Chair of Hughes Hubbard’s International Trade Practice. “We are thrilled to have him join our talented team.”

“As companies continue to confront the increasingly dynamic landscape and intense enforcement environment around sanctions, export controls and related issues affecting global supply chains, I am confident my clients will benefit from Hughes Hubbard’s platform,” said Fayhee, “and I’m looking forward to collaborating with a group of distinguished colleagues who share an absolute commitment to client service.”

Fayhee received his J.D. cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center and his B.A. from Purdue University.

Jennifer L. Galloway has joined Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP’s Tampa office as counsel in the Banking and Financial Services Practice Group. She will serve as co-chair of the firm’s Small Dollar Lending team.

“We welcome Jennifer to our Tampa office,” said Bradley Chairman of the Board and Managing Partner Beau Grenier. “Jennifer brings deep experience in diverse financial matters, including regulatory and compliance issues, and she is a great fit for our Florida-based team of banking and financial services attorneys.”

In a release, the firm said Galloway focuses on consumer financial services laws and regulations affecting banks, non-depository banks, including small dollar lenders, and other financial institutions. Her compliance work includes assisting clients with developing, implementing and maintaining compliance management systems, performing internal compliance audits for clients, preparing clients for outside audits, and preparing related lending documents and disclosures. She also counsels financial services companies regarding Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) preparedness, implementation and operational strategies for complying with the CFPB’s regulations. In addition, Ms. Galloway assists business with all aspects of corporate law.

Galloway received her J.D. from Stetson University College of Law, her M.B.A. from Stetson University, and her Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Georgia.

Wayne P. Bunch, Jr. has joined FisherBroyles, LLP as a partner in the Franchising practice group, based in the firm’s Houston office.

“Wayne brings to FisherBroyles a deep background in franchise law both in private practice and as general counsel and CEO of a franchise company,” said Julie Innmon, FisherBroyles Texas area managing partner. “Wayne’s multi-layered experience in diverse business and franchise issues is a great asset to our clients. We are thrilled to welcome him to the firm.”

Bunch said, “I am excited to bring my franchising practice to FisherBroyles, which provides clients with exceptional service and Big Law-caliber legal representation along with efficiencies that are intrinsic to the firm’s distributed partnership platform. I look forward to continuing to grow the firm’s franchising practice in representing clients in a broad spectrum of industries on the complex transactional and regulatory issues that are so crucial to business success.”

In a release, the firm said Bunch has structured, documented and helped launch a multitude of franchise programs for companies across a variety of industries, including restaurants, video game stores, furniture stores, optometry clinics, haircut salons, billiard halls, recruitment firms, and companies involved in real estate, insurance, pet care service, durable medical equipment sales, automobile repairs, tax services and educational art.

Bunch most recently was a partner in the Franchise and Distribution Practice Group at DLA Piper in Houston. He also is former member of the Franchise and Corporate practice groups at Jackson Walker LLP, also in Houston. Previously, he served as general counsel and CEO for Crescent City Beignets, Inc., where he was instrumental in establishing Crescent City as a national franchise company with locations from Georgia to California. For Crescent City Beignets, he was responsible for establishing the legal and business infrastructures necessary for aggressive franchise growth as well as managing the franchisor/franchisee relationship. Utilizing the franchise model, he expanded Crescent City to a system that included nearly 40 franchisees with more than 100 units in development.

Bunch received his J.D. from Louisiana State University Law Center, his Master of Laws from McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific, and his Bachelor of Science from Louisiana State University.

Barnes & Thornburg LLP has added Gray Mateo-Harris as a partner in the Labor & Employment Law Department. Joining from Ogletree Deakins, Mateo-Harris will reside in the firm’s Chicago office, which has added five partners this year.

Mateo-Harris, a native Spanish speaker from the Dominican Republic, has clients including employers in the manufacturing, retail, technology and real estate industries.

In a release, the firm said Mateo-Harris has experience defending employers in litigation at both the state and federal court level through trial and appeal, including in restrictive covenant and contract- and tort-based actions, as well as with respect to alleged violations of wage payment and equal employment opportunity laws. She represents clients in arbitrations, mediations and administrative proceedings, including before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Illinois Department of Human Rights, the Illinois Department of Labor and the National Labor Relations Board. Her traditional labor practice includes assisting clients with union-avoidance issues, election proceedings, collective bargaining, grievance and contract arbitrations, and unfair labor practice charges.

“We’re off to an incredibly strong start with recruiting this year and the pipeline remains full of exceptional and diverse talent who are attracted to an ascendant practice in a full-service firm,” said Ken Yerkes, chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Law Department, which has added partners Amy Zdravecky, Dawn Collins and Tae Kim in recent weeks. “Gray’s sophisticated experience in employment litigation and traditional labor law and commitment to excellent client service make her a true asset for our practice.”

Mateo-Harris provides pro bono representation to several nonprofit organizations on employment matters, and has represented indigent clients as part of the Circuit Court of Cook County Domestic Violence Clinic and the Northern District of Illinois Judicial Settlement Assistance Program. She is actively involved with the National Bar Association, the Black Women Lawyers Association, the Women’s Coalition, the Hispanic National Bar Association, the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois and the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She routinely mentors underrepresented students and attorneys through the Chicago Committee and the University of Illinois. Mateo-Harris also serves as a hearing officer and board member of the Cook County Sheriff’s Merit Board.

“Gray is the ‘complete package’ when it comes to tackling the most complex employment issues and offering proactive counseling to clients,” said Mark Rust, managing partner of Barnes & Thornburg’s Chicago office. “We’re thrilled to have her aboard.”

Mateo-Harris received her J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law and a B.S from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, both cum laude.

D Magazine has selected Frank L. Branson, Debbie Branson and Chip Brooker of The Law Offices of Frank L. Branson to the 2018 Best Lawyers in Dallas list. All three attorneys have been singled out for their work in tort cases involving personal injury plaintiffs.

In a release, the firm said Branson has earned numerous record verdicts and settlements, along with some of the legal profession’s highest honors. He has been honored by D Magazine every year since the inception of its Best Lawyers edition in 2001. In addition, Branson has been honored by Texas Lawbook as one of its “Lions of the Texas Bar;” included on Super Lawyers’ list of the Top 10 lawyers in Texas for 11 straight years and The Best Lawyers in America guide since 1987.

Debbie Branson has earned placement on D Magazine’s Best Lawyers list for seven years. She is also continuously honored in The Best Lawyers in America and Texas Super Lawyers listings for her accomplishments in the courtroom. For her work with the community, she received the Linz Award in 2016.

For the second time, Chip Brooker has joined his colleagues on the D Magazine list. His work representing the firm’s clients in wrongful death and personal injury cases involving defective products, workplace and oilfield accidents, and trucking/transportation accidents has led to his recognition by The Best Lawyers in America, as well as Texas Super Lawyers and Texas Rising Stars.

DLA Piper announced that Boston-based partner Larissa Park has been named co-head of the firm’s Patent Prosecution practice, partners Matthew Satchwell and Keith Medansky have been named co-heads of the Chicago Intellectual Property and Technology practice, and partner Nicholas Papastavros has been named head of IPT in Boston.

Park will serve as the co-head of Patent Prosecution alongside Daniel Christenbury, who has been serving as the sole head of the practice since 2005. She concentrates on patent and other intellectual property strategy, counseling, prosecution, diligence and litigation in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and federal courts, with a focus on the tech sector.

Satchwell and Medansky succeed Christina Martini in Chicago. Satchwell focuses his patent litigation practice on representing clients in the automotive device, semiconductor, integrated circuit, navigation, mobile communications device, power electronics and communications technology industries. Medansky’s practice focuses on a range of transactional and litigation matters pertaining to trademarks, copyrights, software, anti-counterfeiting and technology. He has particular experience in counseling clients in matters involving the protection of website content and domain names and in developing cyberspace and copyright policies.

Papastavros succeeds Mike McGurk as head of the Boston IPT practice and focuses his practice on technology-related litigation and licensing matters, with a particular emphasis on patent, trade secret, trademark and copyright disputes. He also has significant experience handling intellectual property transactions and related due diligence, and negotiating content, distribution, services and data reseller agreements.

Barnes & Thornburg LLP has added Amy Zdravecky as a partner in the Labor & Employment Department. Joining from Miller Canfield, Zdravecky will spend time in the firm’s Chicago and Grand Rapids offices. Her arrival follows a recent expansion of the labor and employment department with the addition of partners Dawn Collins and Tae Kim in Los Angeles.

In a release, the firm said Zdravecky is an employment and labor law attorney who counsels employers in a number of industries. Her labor practice focuses on proceedings before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). She also has experience with state and federal employment laws, including Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

“We’re thrilled to welcome Amy to the firm,” said Ken Yerkes, chair of Barnes & Thornburg’s Labor & Employment Department. “She brings significant new breadth and depth to our nationally recognized traditional labor expertise and, following recent additions in Los Angeles, is the latest example of our commitment to adding talent, not just numbers.”

The firm said Zdravecky also assists clients involved in contract negotiations, discrimination matters, union-organizing campaigns, arbitrations, collective bargaining and NLRB elections. In addition, she provides training on union avoidance, general employee relations and sexual harassment. Her clients include employers in the retail, hospitality, warehouse, distribution, manufacturing, food production, transportation and healthcare industries.

“Amy is a fantastic asset to our local, regional and national labor and employment law practice,” said Bob Sikkel, managing partner of the firm’s Grand Rapids office. “Grounded in years of experience, her counsel will be extremely valuable to management who are continually facing a variety of labor and employment challenges.”

Zdravecky earned her J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and her B.A from the University of Michigan.

Audry X. Casusol has joined Sidley Austin LLP as a partner in its Tax and Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice in the New York office. Formerly a partner with Greenberg Traurig LLP, Casusol represents public and private companies and private equity clients based in the United States and around the world in their executive compensation and governance matters.

In a release, the firm said Casusol concentrates her practice on executive compensation and employee benefits, primarily related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, IPOs, restructurings and spin-offs. She advises boards of directors, compensation committees and management on compensation arrangements, administrative and regulatory compliance with tax, employment and securities laws, corporate governance and disclosure obligations regarding employee benefits, executive compensation and related matters. In her practice on employee benefits and executive compensation matters, she also has experience with convertible securities, debt/equity exchanges, effect of tax treaties and other uniquely structured entities.

“Audry has repeatedly been lauded for her work, notably when it comes to M&A matters, and she’ll be a welcome addition to our firm,” said Sam Gandhi, managing partner of Sidley’s New York office. “Additionally, her deep understanding of corporate governance and executive compensation and employment benefits will make her a sought-after resource for clients navigating a complicated and quickly evolving landscape.”

Foley Gardere announced that Orrin Harrison III has joined the firm’s Business Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice as of counsel in the Dallas office. He joins from Dallas-based Gruber Hail Johansen Shank.

Harrison has more than 40 years of experience in complex commercial litigation and dispute resolution, largely involving accounting, antitrust, board counseling, corporate investigation, director-and-officer defense, mergers and acquisitions, and securities. He primarily represents clients in the energy and financial services sectors. In his career, Harrison has served as chief outside litigation counsel to three national companies – two energy companies and one financial services company – and has been involved in more than 150 complex mediations.

“Orrin’s extensive litigation and trial experience adds significant depth to our growing practice both in Texas and nationally,” said Michael Gay, chair of Foley’s Litigation Department and Business Litigation & Dispute Resolution Practice Group. “As corporations continue to relocate their headquarters into Texas’ largest metropolitan areas, and as commercial issues on the national level continue to evolve, Orrin will be instrumental in helping to navigate these issues for our clients.”

Harrison has appeared pro hac vice in the trial courts of Alabama, Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Utah and Wyoming and has argued appeals before the Supreme Courts of Alabama, Louisiana, Texas, Utah and Wyoming, as well as in the 5th and 11th U.S. Courts of Appeals.

Harrison is a board member of Dallas-based MapleMark Bank and Maple Financial Holdings, Inc., and a life fellow of the American Bar Foundation, Dallas Bar Foundation, Southwestern Legal Foundation and Texas Bar Association. He is also a member and former president of both the Dallas Bar Association and Dallas Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and well as a member of the American Bar Association, International Society of Barristers and Texas Access to Justice.

“Orrin has built an exemplary commercial-litigation practice and brings complementary expertise in the energy and financial services sectors,” said Michael Newman, office managing partner of Foley Gardere’s Dallas office. “That paired with his prominent standing and exemplary reputation in the Dallas legal community makes him a strong fit for our expanding office. We look forward to having him join our team.”

In addition, Chelsea Hilliard has joined Foley’s Business Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice as an associate in the firm’s Dallas office from Gruber Hail. Her practice focuses on commercial, securities and other types of litigation.

On April 1, 2018, Foley combined with Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP. The combined firm operates as Foley Gardere in Austin, Dallas, Denver and Houston. In Mexico City, the firm operates as Foley Gardere Arena. All other offices operate as Foley & Lardner LLP.

Hogan Lovells announced the election of five partners to the firm’s board.

The firm issued the following information in a news release:

• Clay James has been elected to the At Large seat. Clay James is a partner in the firm’s IPMT team, based in our Denver and Silicon Valley offices. He is a litigator and trial lawyer who tackles high-stakes intellectual property disputes, class actions, privacy and data security cases and complex commercial litigation, with a focus on technology-related matters. Clay has acted as lead counsel in dozens of patent, copyright and trade secret cases including acting as lead counsel for Sun Microsystems Inc for seven years. He has also served as Chairman of the Intellectual Property Section of the Colorado Bar Association.

• Joaquín Ruiz Echauri has been elected to the Continental Europe seat. Joaquín Ruiz Echauri heads up the firm’s Spanish Insurance and Reinsurance practice and also our Product Litigation and Compliance practice. He joined the firm in 2007 and deals with Iberian and Latin American insurance and reinsurance, payment services and product liability matters. His practice has been recognized by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500 as a leading top tier practice for the last five consecutive years. He has significantly grown the team in Spain from one partner and one associate, to three partners, one counsel and 16 associates.

• Richard Lorenzo has been elected to the U.S. (other than D.C.) seat. Richard C. Lorenzo is Managing Partner of Hogan Lovells’ Miami office. His 22-year international commercial litigation and arbitration legal career has included representing clients across the U.S. and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. He is experienced in the civil law systems and political landscapes of Spanish-speaking jurisdictions, which complements his English-language arbitration practices and procedures, providing bilingual and bicultural services to clients. He is one of the region’s most accomplished attorneys and is frequently invited to serve as a speaker for his knowledge and insight into arbitration trends and practices in Latin America. In addition to this legal career, Richard is an adjunct professor of International Arbitration and Litigation at Florida International University College of Law and serves as Chair of the Hispanic National Bar Foundation, a non-profit focused on attaining greater access to higher education for Hispanics and to increase diversity in the legal profession.

• Cate Stetson has been re-elected to the Washington region U.S. seat. Cate Stetson is co-head of the firm’s U.S. Supreme Court and Appellate practice group, a Chambers-ranked appellate litigator, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. She has more than 80 cases to her name, including in the Supreme Court, nearly all federal courts of appeals, and multiple state appellate courts. Her experience spans appeals presenting questions of administrative law and procedure, antitrust law, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the False Claims Act, class certification, civil procedure, and constitutional, contract, copyright, employment, energy, environmental, food and drug, health care, insurance, patent, telecommunications, and tort law. Before joining Hogan Lovells, Cate served as a judicial clerk to The Honorable Stanley S. Harris of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and The Honorable David S. Tatel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

• Adrian Walker has been elected to the London seat. Adrian Walker is a founder of the firm’s Infrastructure Energy Resources and Projects practice which he led for 10 years. He co-leads the firm’s Social Enterprise and Business Integrity Groups. He is recognized for his expertise in promoting the most challenging projects in developed and emerging market, across economic and social infrastructure. A former member of the World Economic Forum’s Social Innovation Council, he has spent his career asking “why not”, helping the public and private sectors improve people’s lives through better access to energy and services whilst championing mission led business that is inclusive of all its stakeholders.

Clay, Joaquín, Cate and Adrian begin or continue their roles as of 1 May. Richard will begin his role as of 1 July.

Michael Best announced that Velvet Johnson has joined the firm’s Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice Group as senior counsel in Washington, D.C.

In a release, the firm said Johnson’s arrival comes on the heels of other recent hires to the group, including partners Ryan Sulkin and Elizabeth Rogers in Chicago and Austin, respectively.

Johnson concentrates her practice advising clients on various matters of internet policy, regulatory compliance, privacy and cyber-related issues, in addition to providing counsel on numerous cross-border business issues.

“Velvet has an incredibly strong background on cybersecurity matters from her time working in the government,” said Adrienne Ehrhardt, Chair of Michael Best’s Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice Group. “Her reputation and breadth of experience in Washington, D.C. will certainly enhance our group’s ability to address client’s needs, particularly as it relates to policy assessment and legal frameworks. Her addition comes at a key period in time as well with the European Union’s enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation beginning later this month.”

Prior to joining Michael Best, Johnson spent nearly a decade in various legal and policy advisory roles both within the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD). Much of her time was spent advising on matters related to federal cybersecurity legislation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure, and national security law guidelines. In her latter role, she represented the DoD in multiple National Security Council-led Cybersecurity Interagency Committees, Working Groups, and senior-level policy forums. After her time with the government, she spent two years as a cyber strategy consultant with a global management consulting firm where she was responsible for managing and executing security and risk programs on behalf of her clients.

“We’re thrilled that Velvet has decided to join us here in Washington, D.C.,” said Kevin Barner, Michael Best’s Washington, D.C. Office Managing Partner. “Her addition will help our clients navigate the complex regulatory and compliance challenges they will inevitably face.”

Johnson received her J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law and her B.S. from the University of Richmond. In addition to her university degrees, Johnson also earned a cybersecurity certification from Georgetown University and the Certified Information Privacy Professional/United States (CIPP/US) credential through the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP).

Foley & Lardner LLP announced that Ashley McDow has joined the firm’s Bankruptcy & Business Reorganizations practice as partner in the Los Angeles office. Prior to joining Foley, she was a partner at Baker Hostetler LLP.

In a release, the firm said McDow’s practice focuses primarily on bankruptcy and commercial law both nationally and in California. She represents businesses on all sides of the bankruptcy process, notably debtors in possession and creditor committees in Chapter 11 reorganizations, Chapters 7 and 11 trustees, as well as parties to various adversary proceedings. McDow advises clients across industries, including advertising, aviation, commercial real estate, entertainment, finance, franchising, health care, manufacturing, retail and technology.

“Ashley has a proven track record generating outstanding results for her clients,” said Jill Nicholson, chair of Foley’s Bankruptcy & Business Reorganizations practice. “Ashley’s experience will be a tremendous asset to our team, both on a national level and as we further expand our practice in California.”

The release continues:

A snapshot of McDow’s representative experience includes negotiating with secured creditors on behalf of debtors, representing unsecured creditors and liquidating trusts, handling settlement agreements and counseling on individual bankruptcy cases. Her work with Chapters 7 and 11 trustees, Chapter 11 reorganizations and a Chapter 9 bankruptcy case spans an array of businesses and notably includes assisting with the recovery and administration of patented and unpatented mining claims worth nearly $1 billion, as well as assisting with the defusing of a contentious dispute and negotiation of a settlement agreement in tandem with the claims.

In California, McDow has a strong local presence and is a leader in the legal community. She is chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Executive Committee of the Commercial Law Section and of the Executive Committee of the Commercial Law and Bankruptcy Section. She is also an active member of the Los Angeles County Bar Advisory Board. In addition, McDow is on the editorial board of the California Bankruptcy Journal, where she regularly authors publications on key issues in bankruptcy and commercial law.

“Ashley’s considerable experience across a range of bankruptcy and commercial law matters spanning many industries perfectly complements the firm’s growing practice in California,” said Jeff Atkin, managing partner of Foley’s Los Angeles office. “She is well respected by her peers both nationally and regionally, and we are thrilled to have her join our team.”