James Snyder has joined Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago as a partner in its Global Finance practice. He was formerly a partner at Winston & Strawn LLP.

Snyder is focused on commercial finance matters, including corporate lending transactions, acquisition finance, specialty lending and other complex investments.

In a release, the firm said Snyder has experience representing both banks and alternative lenders in senior secured and unsecured credit facilities, first-out last-out, unitranche and other one-stop financings, first and second lien transactions, mezzanine and subordinated financings, and cash flow and asset-based transactions. He has counseled both lenders and borrowers in connection with debtor-in-possession financings, bankruptcy exit facilities, workouts and restructurings. Snyder also has advised private equity firms as well as public and private corporations in debt financings and general corporate matters.

“Jamie has substantial experience advising middle market and large-cap companies across the credit spectrum, and we are pleased to welcome him to the firm,” said Craig Griffith, member of Sidley’s Executive Committee and its Global Finance practice. “He will be a key resource in guiding our clients, particularly those in the traditional banking and alternative lending spaces, through transactions within the changing global finance market.”

Snyder’s arrival follows that of Andrew Cardonick, another Global Finance partner who recently joined the firm in Chicago.

Dawn Knepper has joined Buchalter as a shareholder and member of the Labor & Employment Practice in the Orange County Office. Knepper joined Buchalter from Ogletree Deakins.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dawn to the firm and to our accomplished Labor and Employment Practice Group,” said Adam J. Bass, President and Chief Executive Officer of Buchalter.

Representing employers in employment law including litigation and counseling in both federal and state courts, Knepper has experience defending employers in a myriad of employment actions, including employment-related lawsuits and agency claims. Knepper’s experience includes successfully defending employers in both jury and bench trials and in arbitration proceedings including actions alleging discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination. Knepper advises employers concerning litigation avoidance, wage and hour laws, leaves of absence, employee discipline, hiring and termination issues, privacy claims, and other issues arising in the human resources context.

In a release, the firm said Knepper also has experience in assisting clients in planning and conducting reductions-in-force (RIFs) and multiple employee terminations, including evaluating issues and preparing materials relating to the WARN Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and the Older Workers Benefit Protection Act.

“Buchalter’s full-service platform and superior resources offered the ideal opportunity and transition for my practice. I am confident that joining Buchalter – an innovative and full service firm – will allow me to strengthen my efforts in successfully serving my client base,” said Knepper.

Knepper is a member of the Labor and Employment Law Sections of the American Bar Association, State Bar of California, and Orange County Bar Association, and the Employment Law Section of the Texas Bar Association. She is Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Knepper earned her J.D. with honors from Golden Gate University School of Law in 2000 and her B.A. from the University of Texas, Austin in 1996.

“We are pleased to welcome Dawn to our Orange County office. Her talent and experiences contribute to the unmatched team of attorneys we have here at Buchalter,” said Martin P. Florman, Orange County Office Managing Partner.

Pamela Madere, formerly a director at Coats Rose PC, and Scott Schepps, formerly a shareholder at Fizer Beck Webster Bentley & Scroggins, have joined Jackson Walker LLP as partners. Madere will practice in the firm’s Austin office, with Schepps practicing in the Houston office.

Madere joins Jackson Walker’s Real Estate practice where she will represent clients before state and local governments. She is the Chair of the Real Estate Council of Austin and the immediate past President of the Central Texas Association of Realtors.

In a release, the firm said Madere represents owners and developers of real property before city, county, and state authorities, dealing with real estate contracts, zoning, subdivisions, site plans, development permits, development agreements, easements, condemnation, Municipal Utility Districts, environmental matters, water and wastewater regulations, and traffic issues.

Madere is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas Law School where she teaches a course on negotiations. She currently serves as Chair of the Real Estate Council of Austin, Past President of the Central Texas Commercial Association of Realtors, Chair Elect of the Real Estate Council of Austin, and President Elect of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel.

Schepps joins Jackson Walker’s Wealth Planning section.

The firm said his clients include closely held business owners, corporate executives, real estate developers, private equity firm principals, physicians, other attorneys, professional athletes and many others. His practice covers most aspects of wealth planning and probate, including preparation of incapacity documents, revocable and irrevocable trusts, and business succession.

Langley & Banack, Inc. announced Bruce Toppin III joined the San Antonio law firm.

Toppin counsels financial institution directors, officers, and shareholders in the areas of ownership succession, executive compensation and enforcement actions. He also has experience representing both lenders and borrowers in a range of secured and unsecured debt financings, including term loans, lines of credit, government guaranteed loans, loan participations, modifications, renewals and assumptions.

Toppin holds a B.B.A. from Texas Tech University and a Juris Doctorate from St. Mary’s University School of Law. He is involved with the Texas Association of Bank Counsel and Independent Bankers Association of Texas.

Dallas-based litigation boutique Bailey Brauer PLLC announces the recent hiring of associate Adam Bell, along with the addition last year of veteran business litigator Gary Powell.

“From the beginning, Bailey Brauer has been dedicated to providing aggressive, creative legal solutions to clients who expect sophisticated representation, and that is not something we will compromise just for the sake of growth,” firm co-founder Alex Brauer says. “We feel confident that Adam and Gary fit that focus in a way that will add tremendous value for our clients.”

In a release, the firm said Powell, who joined Bailey Brauer as of counsel from Locke Lord LLP, represents clients at the federal, state and appellate levels on matters involving contracts, business torts, real estate, fiduciary duty claims, lease disputes, agency contracts, tortious interference, insurance coverage disputes, and deceptive trade practices. His expertise includes franchise, distribution, telecommunications, and uniform commercial code litigation.

Bell represents companies and individuals in complex commercial litigation and government investigations, and also assists clients in regulatory and transactional reviews. He joins Bailey Brauer from Amarillo-based Brown & Fortunato, P.C.

“We are excited to welcome lawyers of this caliber,” said firm co-founder Clayton Bailey. “Both Gary and Adam are exceptional litigators who are also fine trial and appellate attorneys.”

Jackson Walker announces the election of six attorneys to its partnership. The new partners in each city are:

• Austin – Emilio Nicolas
• Dallas – Pete Hyndman
• Houston – Jamila Brinson, Luke Gilman, William Stowe
• San Antonio – George Hinchey

In a release, the firm said:

Jamila Brinson is a labor and employment and litigation attorney who partners with clients to prevent and resolve employee and litigation disputes. She is a zealous advocate for her clients; from labor and employment disputes to commercial disputes to media, trademark and copyright litigation, Jamila listens to her clients and creates legal strategies to obtain the best possible result. She is also certified by the State Bar of Texas as a Guardian Ad Litem and volunteers through Houston Volunteer Lawyers on behalf of parents seeking guardianship of an incapacitated adult child. Prior to obtaining her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center, Jamila served two years as a United States Peace Corps Volunteer.

Trial and appellate attorney Luke Gilman focuses his practice on litigation and arbitration with an emphasis on technology and media-related disputes and internal investigations. Luke has developed particular areas of expertise in First Amendment and defamation litigation, international and domestic arbitration, and technology-related disputes and investigations, in addition to a general commercial and contract litigation practice. Luke received his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center, where he was selected to the Order of the Barristers, received a Distinguished Service Award from the faculty, and served on the Houston Law Review. Prior to law school, Luke worked for eight years working in the field of information technology. He is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and serves on the Board of the Hispanic Bar Association of Houston (HisBA).

George Hinchey’s practice focuses on real estate, with his experience revolving around acquiring and disposing of office buildings and commercial retail centers, developing commercial retail centers, and representing landlords leasing and ground leasing to commercial tenants. George has been recognized by Thomson Reuters as a Rising Star and by S.A. Scene as a Best Lawyer, which made him one of the youngest real estate lawyers in San Antonio to receive that recognition. He is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and a Las Casas Foundation Board Member and Director.

Pete Hyndman is a transactional attorney whose practice areas include corporate and securities and mergers and acquisitions. Pete advises clients on the strategic and legal implications of internal entity governance and structuring, significant business transactions and contracts, and legal compliance. His knowledge and client base span industries such as energy, healthcare, and technology. Pete received his J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law and served as an editor at the Texas Review of Entertainment and Sports Law.

Emilio Nicolas is an experienced content and information attorney. His practice includes entertainment, media, technology, and intellectual property litigation and transactional work, with a particular emphasis on copyright, trademark, and privacy law. When Emilio is not advocating for his clients and their intellectual property and business rights in court, he is representing and counseling his clients on their intellectual property and media rights management, clearance, and licensing matters, their entertainment and media industry transactions, and their internet privacy and compliance matters. He has been named a Rising Star by Thomson Reuters. He is also a Trustee of the Copyright Society of the USA, a subcommittee co-chair for the ABA Intellectual Property Litigation Committee, and a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation.

Trial lawyer William Stowe concentrates on commercial litigation matters involving complex contract disputes, business torts, government procurement, and health care litigation. William represents clients in a wide array of business disputes and has extensive experience representing clients in matters involving government contracts, having defended or prosecuted bid protest actions in nearly a dozen states and at the federal level. He also has far-reaching experience with, and knowledge of, federal and state open records laws. He is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, a member of the Houston Bar Association’s Law and Media Committee, and a member of the Bar Association for the Fifth Federal Circuit. William has been admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit as well as the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of Texas. William is also an Eagle Scout.

Perkins Coie announced that Devin P. McComb has joined the firm’s Seattle office as a partner in the Real Estate & Land Use practice.

In a release, the firm said McComb’s practice includes transactional real estate law, with a primary focus on the acquisition, disposition, financing, leasing and development of commercial, industrial and agricultural properties. He counsels landlords and tenants on leasing transactions for office, warehouse, industrial, retail and medical spaces, with substantial experience in developing and standardizing leasing programs for owners of a variety of asset classes. The industries with which McComb works vary from affordable housing developers in and around the Pacific Northwest to purchasers of healthcare facilities and medical office buildings throughout the country.

“Devin is an exceptional real estate attorney and well-regarded in the Puget Sound area, where there is always a number of significant real estate projects underway,” said Mark Birnbaum, Chair of Perkins Coie’s Real Estate & Land Use Practice. “His proven aptitude, judgment and knowledge representing owners, lessors and investors comes from his substantial transactional experience in the real estate market. We’re delighted to welcome him to the firm.”

The firm said McComb has coordinated the legal team on behalf of a municipal port district in a 65-acre mixed-use development that will include apartments and other housing, a hotel, offices, retail spaces, restaurants and marine sales and service businesses. He also has led teams and created unique approaches for pension fund management groups and investors to maximize their processes for acquiring and leasing office and retail spaces. McComb  also provides real estate due diligence counsel in the context of major mergers, acquisitions and other business transactions.

He joins the firm from Stoel Rives LLP, where he was a partner. He earned his J.D. with honors from the Chicago-Kent College of Law and received his B.A. from Willamette University.

“The Seattle marketplace and surrounding areas continue to be one of the fastest-growing real estate markets in the country,” said James Williams, Perkins Coie’s Seattle office managing partner. “The addition of Devin adds considerable depth to our strong bench of knowledgeable real estate attorneys and helps us better serve our clients’ needs.”

Kai Haakon Liekefett has joined the Sidley Austin LLP’s New York office as a partner in its M&A group. Liekefett will lead Sidley’s shareholder activism practice in New York.

Liekefett was formerly with Vinson & Elkins LLP, where he founded and led its shareholder activism practice.

In a release, the firm said Liekefett has more than 15 years of experience practicing in corporate law in New York, London, Germany, Hong Kong and Tokyo. His practice focuses on shareholder activism, in particular on proxy contests. He has worked on director-election contests, withhold-the-vote campaigns, shareholder opposition to M&A transactions, and other activism campaigns. In the last two years alone, Liekefett has been involved in more than 20 proxy contests, the firm said.

“Shareholder activism is at record levels, both here in the U.S. and worldwide,” said Scott Freeman, co-leader of Sidley’s global M&A and Private Equity groups. “Kai’s extensive experience advising large and small-cap companies as well as investors on these matters will be a great resource to our clients.”

Segal McCambridge Singer and Mahoney, Ltd. announced the promotion of Dinesh Dadlani from of counsel attorney to shareholder. The firm has also named Dadlani the managing shareholder of the firm’s Jersey City office.

Dadlani has practiced in Segal McCambridge’s Jersey City office since 2008 when he joined the firm as an associate with litigation experience.

“My tenure with Segal McCambridge has prepared me for my new role as Managing Shareholder of the firm’s Jersey City office,” said Dadlani. “Because of my tenure, I take on this role with an immediate understanding of the firm’s client-focused, result-driven thought-leadership, and I expect there to be a seamless transition as I step into this position.”

In a release, the firm said Dadlani has worked on the defense of corporations, including construction companies and a bi-state municipal agency in personal injury and commercial litigation matters. In addition, he has defended manufacturers and distributors in asbestos litigation and property owners and contractors in property contamination matters. Dadlani has experience in the labor and employment sector, representing transportation manufacturers in personal injury and employment matters.

“Dinesh is an outstanding attorney who has established himself as a strong leader and is a consummate team player. He is vested in the progression and growth of the firm as a whole and the Jersey City practice specifically,” said Mark Crane, managing shareholder of the firm’s Chicago office.

Dadlani  also has counseled and defended clients in arbitration, mediation and administrative hearings.

He received his J.D. from Widener University School of Law and his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Delaware. He is active in the Jersey City professional community, serving on the Hudson County Civil Practice Committee of the Hudson County Bar Association, and is also a member of the Hudson County Ethics Committee. Dadlani is currently a member of Segal McCambridge’s firm-wide Diversity Committee.

Dykema announced that its Executive Board elected 12 new members to the firm effective January 1, 2018. Dykema’s new partners, their resident office and practice descriptions are:

Maria A. Diakoumakis – Bankruptcy, Chicago
Diakoumakis has represented secured creditors, landlords, equipment lessors, indenture trustees, Chapter 11 trustees, unsecured creditors, and liquidating trustees in all aspects of corporate restructuring matters, including chapter 7, 11 and 13 proceedings, out-of-court workouts, and assignments for the benefit of creditors. She regularly represents secured lenders and mortgage servicers in a wide range of bankruptcy litigation matters, and in cash-collateral, relief from stay, and plan confirmation proceedings. Diakoumakis has successfully defended multimillion dollar preference and fraudulent transfer lawsuits on behalf of creditors in various industries in multiple jurisdictions throughout the nation.

She earned a J.D., cum laude, from the John Marshall Law School, and a B.S., with highest honors, from DePaul University.

Larissa Sanchez Fields – Commercial Litigation, San Antonio
Fields primarily represents insurance companies in coverage disputes and high-exposure bad faith cases arising from catastrophic weather events. She shares in the management of a broad docket of hurricane, hail, and windstorm litigation all over Texas. She serves as trial counsel in insurance bad faith cases, and also has extensive experience representing clients in the financial services and real estate industries. She regularly advises financial institution clients on a wide variety of litigation matters including those involving trusts, accounts, and probate matters. Fields is also a military spouse and spends much of her time advocating for licensing accommodations for military spouse attorneys throughout the United States.

She earned a J.D. from the Tulane University Law School, and a B.B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin.

Anthony J. Frasca – Taxation & Estates, Ann Arbor
Frasca focuses his practice on sophisticated estate and business succession planning for high net-worth individuals and families, with an emphasis on tax-efficient planning and philanthropic giving, and on assisting tax-exempt organizations, including with respect to nonprofit formation, governance, and various tax-related issues. He also assists individuals with the creation and implementation of complex estate plans for the purpose of achieving both tax and non-tax objectives.

Frasca earned a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School, and a B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Dayton.

Melanie L. Fry – Commercial Litigation, San Antonio
Fry’s practice focuses on appellate law. She has briefed and won cases in the Texas Courts of Appeals, the Supreme Court of Texas, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of the United States. In addition, Fry regularly handles case-dispositive motions and jury charges. Her experience includes high-stakes matters such as personal injury and product defects, contract and business tort claims, consumer financial services disputes, and oil and gas law.

Fry earned a J.D., cum laude, from Baylor University School of Law, and a B.A., summa cum laude, from Abilene Christian University.

Noah S. Hurwitz – Labor & Employment, Ann Arbor
Hurwitz is a labor and employment attorney with experience managing complex disputes in an array of practice areas. In addition to defending employment cases and counseling clients regarding state and federal employment laws, Hurwitz advises clients on drafting employment agreements containing restrictive covenants and non-disclosure provisions regarding confidential and proprietary information. He also litigates disputes involving trade secrets and breaches of contract, with additional expertise in eDiscovery and data protection. Hurwitz has successfully argued appeals before the Michigan Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Hurwitz earned a J.D., cum laude, from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law, and a B.A. from the James Madison College at Michigan State University.

Courtney F. Kissel – Government Policy, Bloomfield Hills
Kissel’s practice primarily focuses on state constitutional law, insurance law, Indian law, election law, and public utility law. Kissel has represented a number of universities in relation to a variety of constitutional issues, including issues related to university funding, constitutional autonomy, and academic freedom. She has also represented a variety of clients in analyzing issues under the Open Meetings Act and the Freedom of Information Act, including applicability and compliance issues. In addition, Kissel has acted as a special attorney general to the State of Michigan on several projects as well as advised the Governors of the State of Wisconsin and the State of Indiana on different issues related to State-Tribal relations and federal Indian law.

She earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Wisconsin Law School, and an A.B., with highest distinction, from the University of Michigan.

Van Lindberg – Intellectual Property, San Antonio
Lindberg focuses his practice on the intersection of technology and law, with particular experience in the area of open source, with extensive work addressing the legal, economic, and social aspects of engaging with open source communities. He is the author of the book “Intellectual Property and Open Source” and helps businesses with everything from open source compliance to business strategy. In 2012, he was named one of “America’s Top 12 Techiest Attorneys” by the American Bar Association Journal. Outside of open source, Lindberg represents companies in high-stakes IP litigation and inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

He earned a J.D. and a B.S. from Brigham Young University.

Elisa J. Lintemuth – Labor & Employment, Grand Rapids
Lintemuth’s practice focuses on litigation, with an emphasis on employment litigation, commercial litigation, and ERISA litigation. She is experienced in successfully resolving disputes in both state and federal courts and in administrative proceedings before the EEOC and Michigan Department of Civil Rights. In ERISA litigation matters, Lintemuth has successfully defended challenges to ERISA plan administrators’ and claims fiduciaries’ decisions regarding life, health, and disability benefits. In addition, she regularly counsels and trains employers regarding their obligations under state and federal employment laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the Michigan Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act.

Lintemuth is a member of the Board of Directors of the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park. She received her J.D., summa cum laude, from Michigan State University College of Law and her B.A., summa cum laude, from Denison University.

Jeana R. Long – Financial Services Litigation, McAllen
Long primarily represents lenders in lawsuits against borrowers and guarantors in courts throughout Texas and in arbitration proceedings. She also represents lenders in defensive lawsuits. Long has extensive experience representing both secured and unsecured creditors in bankruptcy cases, including contested matters and adversary proceedings. Recognizing the importance of client education, she regularly hosts CLE and educational seminars for clients and potential clients covering a wide range of topics, including general collection litigation, collection in probate, bankruptcy for lenders and foreclosure.

Long earned a J.D., summa cum laude, from the Texas Tech University School of Law, and a B.A., summa cum laude, from The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Cody D. Rockey – Business Litigation, Ann Arbor
Rockey represents corporate and individual clients in antitrust and competition matters, including civil litigation and criminal investigations. He also advises clients on antitrust issues related to business combinations—mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures—including complying with pre-closing notification requirements and responding to government investigations. And he counsels clients on antitrust compliance. In addition, Rockey maintains a commercial and business litigation practice, assisting clients in resolving their disputes in both federal and state court, as well as through arbitration.

Rockey earned a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School, and a B.A., with high honors and highest distinction, from the University of Michigan.

Michael R. Vogt – Real Estate, Bloomfield Hills
Vogt’s practice involves all aspects of real estate litigation, including land use and zoning, eminent domain, landlord/tenant, commercial foreclosures, and a variety of contractual disputes related to the purchase, sale, leasing, and management of commercial real estate. In addition to his real estate practice, he also has significant experience representing lenders in contractual claims against borrowers and guarantors in courts throughout Michigan, as well as representing judgment creditors in post-judgment collection actions.

Vogt earned a J.D. from the John Marshall Law School, and a B.A. from Michigan State University.

Jeanne M. Whalen – Corporate Finance, Bloomfield Hills
Whalen’s practice focuses on general corporate, contracting, and acquisition matters, with an emphasis on technology and health care-related transactions, particularly with respect to dental service organizations, health systems, and assisted living facilities. Her experience includes public and private company mergers and acquisitions and joint venture transactions; representing technology companies and other companies engaging in technology-related transactions; and general corporate representation including counsel to Boards of Directors, entity formation and capitalization, shareholder agreements, and customer and supplier relationships.

Whalen earned a J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Toledo, and a B.S.E., magna cum laude, from the University of Michigan.

Litigation attorney Chad J. Ray has joined Munck Wilson Mandala as a senior associate.

Ray has a background in chemistry and represents clients in a variety of complex commercial litigation matters, particularly patent litigation matters, spanning electronics, automotive, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, biologics and medical devices.

In a release, the firm said Ray, a trial lawyer and registered patent attorney, Ray has experience with both jury and bench trials, on appeal to the Federal Circuit and United States Supreme Court, as well as in proceedings before the U.S. Patent Office’s Patent Trial and Appeals Board. Ray also has experience providing pro bono criminal defense representation with notable successes helping individuals charged with serious felonies, including first degree murder and armed robbery.

Prior to his legal career, Ray earned a B.S. in chemistry, magna cum laude and Phi Betta Kappa, from the University of New Mexico. He then earned a Ph.D. from Duke University for physical chemistry research, developing and applying nanotechnology methods for the study of complex biological molecule interactions. As an undergraduate and graduate chemistry student, Ray received numerous accolades and awards for his research, teaching and community service. He continued his research as a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Pittsburgh prior to law school.

Ray received his J.D., cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School where he was submission editor for the Michigan Telecommunications and Technology Review. Ray previously practiced law at Jenner and Block, LLP, in Chicago, Illinois. He is a Trial Bar member of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and maintains a license to practice law in both Illinois and Texas.

Trial lawyer Courtney Ervin has joined commercial litigation boutique Hicks Thomas LLP.

“Courtney is a highly skilled and effective trial lawyer,” said Hicks Thomas co-founder John B. Thomas. “She is an exceptional advocate and has great instincts. Her addition enhances our diversity and positions us to serve our client needs well into the future.”

In a release, the firm said Ervin has handled multimillion-dollar complex commercial litigation involving a variety of issues and has litigated claims involving many types of contractual challenges. Her focus is on high-stakes commercial litigation in state and federal court and arbitration. She has experience in contract disputes, business torts and insurance coverage. While many of her clients are in the energy industry, Ervin regularly represents those involved in other businesses including insurance, real estate, private equity and information technology.

Ervin was profiled as one of the leading Energy Litigation lawyers in the U.S. in 2016 by The Legal 500 and has repeatedly earned a place on the Texas Rising Stars list recognizing up-and-coming lawyers. She earned her law degree from the University of Houston Law Center, magna cum laude, and her bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University. Ervin is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Houston Bar Association and the Texas Bar Foundation.

Jennifer Fraser, a member in Dykema’s Intellectual Property & IP Litigation Department, has been appointed as leader of Dykema’s Trademark Practice Group.

Fraser has been recognized as a leading trademark practitioner in Washington, D.C., by World Trademark Review for seven consecutive years and has also been selected as a Washington, D.C., Super Lawyer® for five consecutive years. Prior to joining Dykema more than two years ago, she practiced at a national intellectual property firm, serving as chair of its Trademark and Copyright Section.

In a release, the firm said Fraser’s trademark law practice ranges from U.S. and foreign clearance and prosecution to litigating rights before the courts and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Fraser is an to many billion-dollar international companies and well-known brands on day-to-day trademark and counseling issues, and is frequently called upon to assist in enforcement and defense in U.S. District Courts around the country when the house mark and other important issues are at stake.

Early in her career, Fraser served as an Examining Attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). She remains active in trademark policy and issues affecting the USPTO and brand owners and is active in the Intellectual Property Owners Association and the International Trademark Association (INTA). Fraser currently serves as the INTA USPTO Subcommittee Chair for the U.S. Trademark Office Practice Committee and also as a member of the INTA North America Global Advisory Counsel.

“Trademarks are the face of a company and critically important to businesses,” said Fraser. We look forward to continuing to identify areas of concern to our clients and empowering Dykema attorneys and staff to help our clients strengthen trademark portfolios and address challenges. We are are well-positioned to help our clients with that mission.”

Fraser received a J.D. from the Howard University School of Law, and a B.A. in History, as well as a minor in Justice Studies, from the University of New Hampshire.

Jennifer Nijman and Susan Franzetti announce the addition of E. Lynn Grayson, to Nijman · Franzetti LLP of Chicago.

“Susan and I are thrilled to have Lynn practicing with us. Lynn is among the most experienced and respected lawyers in environmental law and is a perfect addition to our growing environmental law boutique,” said Jennifer Nijman.

“Lynn’s nationwide connections and experience are second to none and will only further assist our client’s nationwide interests,” said Susan Franzetti. “We could not have asked for a better addition to the firm.”

Grayson joins Nijman · Franzetti from the Chicago office of Jenner & Block where she practiced for 24 years and was Jenner’s Environmental Department Chairwoman. She has also served as the Chief Legal Counsel for the Illinois Emergency Services and Disaster Agency and the State Emergency Response Commission. Prior to this, she prosecuted federal and state environmental cases as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois.

Grayson also serves on the Board of Directors of the DC-based Environmental Law Institute. In 2017, she was elected Secretary of the Chicago Bar Association. She is a frequent author and speaker on environmental law and policy matters. She received the City of Chicago Recognition Award for Service to the Environmental Community and was recognized as Best Lawyers’ Chicago Environmental Lawyer of the Year.

“Jenner & Block is an exceptional firm, and I have many professional and personal friends there,” she said. “But it is a matter of timing and my growing envy for what Susan and Jennifer created. They each left great firms and in 10 years established what is really without equal in the country. The more I considered how beneficial their law firm model could be to my clients, the easier the decision became.”

Freeborn & Peters LLP has expanded its Insurance and Reinsurance Industry Team with the addition of attorneys Melissa B. Murphy, Steven D. Pearson, Michael J. Braggs and Sarah E. Chibani.

Murphy and Chibani are based in the firm’s Tampa, Fla., office. Pearson joins Freeborn’s Chicago office, and Braggs is based in the firm’s Richmond, Va., office.

Last year, Freeborn opened its first Florida office, in Tampa, and combined with New York City firm Hargraves, McConnell & Costigan P.C. In 2016, the firm combined with Richmond, Va., law firm Brenner, Evans & Millman P.C.

“We are thrilled to welcome Melissa, Steve, Michael and Sarah to the firm as we continue to expand the breadth and depth of our services to our insurance industry clients,” said Joseph T. McCullough IV, a partner and leader of Freeborn’s Insurance and Reinsurance Industry Team. “Our group’s reputation in the industry among the regional, national and international markets is exceptional as we continue to recruit highly knowledgeable and experienced insurance and reinsurance practitioners.”

Lawrence P. Ingram, a partner and member of the Insurance and Reinsurance Industry Team and head of Freeborn’s Tampa office, said, “Melissa and Sarah are great additions to our insurance industry team in Tampa. Our clients will greatly benefit from their combined experience in diverse commercial and insurance coverage litigation matters.”

In a release, the firm said Murphy is a partner who focuses her practice on business and commercial litigation. She has practiced in the area of real property litigation, contracts and indebtedness, and enforcement of restrictive covenants. She also has experience in insurance brokerage issues, as well as working with financial institutions. Prior to joining Freeborn, Murphy practiced at Cobb Cole, focusing on similar matters. She received her J.D. (magna cum laude) from Florida State University College of Law and her Bachelor of Arts (summa cum laude) from Florida State University.

Also a partner, Pearson focuses in the areas of insurance non-compete, insurance coverage, bad faith, reinsurance, non-medical professional liability defense and complex general commercial litigation. He also litigates large-scale attorney fee disputes and has testified as an expert witness in such matters. In addition, he has served as national and regional counsel for a number of insurance companies in a broad array of industry sectors. Most recently, Pearson was a partner at Cozen O’Connor. He previously spent 24 years at Meckler Bulger Tilson Marick & Pearson LLP. He received his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Minnesota.

Braggs is an associate who focuses his practice primarily on personal injury defense. He has trial experience and has handled all aspects of litigation, including trying more than 100 cases to verdict before judges and juries, both civil and criminal. He also has served as counsel in numerous mediations and arbitrations. Prior to joining Freeborn, Braggs served as staff counsel for GEICO, conducting negotiations and settlement agreements on behalf of GEICO insureds, as well as handling and managing significant circuit court litigation from inception through trial. He also served as an assistant public defender in the Office of the Public Defender in Fredericksburg, Va. Braggs received his J.D. from the University of Richmond School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from North Carolina State University.

Also an associate, Chibani focuses her practice on insurance coverage litigation, professional liability defense and complex commercial litigation. Prior to joining Freeborn, Chibani was an associate in the First-Party Property insurance law group at Cole, Scott & Kissane, P.A., in Miami. She received her J.D. (cum laude) from the University of Miami School of Law and her Bachelor of Arts from Boston University.

Charles Haag has joined Winston & Strawn LLP’s Transactions Department as a partner in Dallas. Haag is a capital markets and securities attorney who joins Winston from Jones Day.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Charlie to the team as we continue to build on the firm’s momentum and strategic growth,” said Winston Chairman Tom Fitzgerald. “He is a widely-recognized and respected capital markets lawyer in the Dallas area who will enable us to continue raising the bar as we advise our clients on their most critical and complex transactions.”

Inn a release, the firm said Haag has more than two decades of experience counseling companies and financial institutions in a wide variety of securities offerings and capital market transactions, including venture capital, IPOs, high yield and investment-grade debt, convertible securities, tender offers, spin-offs, reorganizations, and M&A/takeovers, and also advises on corporate governance, fiduciary duties, SEC reporting obligations, and public market communications. In addition, he has been active in the REIT space, a Winston focus in Dallas and at the firm generally.

In February 2017, Winston opened a Dallas office, the firm’s second in Texas, with the addition of 21 partners from eight different firms.

“As the opening of Winston’s Dallas office approaches its one-year anniversary, we are fortunate to have maintained the momentum we have enjoyed since last February as we continue to attract top quality talent to the office and the Firm,” said Bryan Goolsby, the firm’s Dallas office managing partner. “Charlie’s addition not only provides us an acknowledged top tier capital markets partner, but his REIT expertise also favorably augments our national REIT practice.”

Haag’s experience spans financial services, hedge fund and private equity, power, technology, retail and consumer, REITs, construction, and metals and mining, the firm said.

“The mark Winston has made in Dallas and the broader Texas legal market, in a remarkably short time frame, has caught everyone’s attention,” Haag notes. “I look forward to working with this dynamic team and leveraging Winston’s exceptional platform to expand my practice and help grow Winston’s client base in Texas.”

Weston L. Hall

The Dallas-based trial law firm Chamblee Ryan has promoted firm attorney Weston L. Hall to partner.

In a release, the firm said Hall is experienced in a range of litigation matters, including commercial, trucking/transportation, construction, general liability/personal injury, medical malpractice and premises liability. In addition to trying cases, he has successfully navigated mediations and settlement negotiations. He also consults with corporate clients on contracts, entity formation, and other commercial matters.

“Weston has demonstrated time and again keen insight and a strong work ethic central to reaching favorable outcomes for our clients,” said founding partner Bill Chamblee. “We are very pleased to be able to reward his hard work by naming him a partner here at Chamblee Ryan.”

Shawna Dalrymple

The firm also announced that senior associate Shawna Dalrymple is now Board Certified in Consumer and Commercial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Dalrymple’s practice focuses on a wide variety of civil litigation, including medical malpractice, personal injury, premises and product liability, as well as veterinary malpractice.

“Achieving board certification is a real challenge and demonstrates Shawna’s level of knowledge and expertise in consumer and commercial law. It is an important milestone in her career and adds value to our firm,” said Mr. Chamblee. “We are confident that her understanding of commercial law and her litigation skills will exceed the expectations of her clients.”

Radha V. Bachman has joined FisherBroyles, LLP as a partner in the firm’s Tampa office. Bachman represents health care clients across the spectrum in corporate, transactional and regulatory matters. Her clients include hospitals and health systems, physicians, ambulatory surgery centers and senior living facilities.

Bachman serves on the Florida Bar Health Law Certification Committee as well as the Health Law Executive Council. As a former member of the America Health Lawyers Association’s Women’s Leadership Counsel and a Leadership Council on Legal Diversity 2017 Fellow, Bachman is often asked to speak on issues involving mentoring and diversity in the legal profession.

“We are excited to have Radha join the firm and expand our footprint in Florida. She is a highly respected and accomplished health care transactional attorney who adds further strength to our established health and pharmacy law group. Our healthcare team is diverse enough to handle just about any legal matter faced by an entity or individual operating in this space,” said Daniel Weidenbruch, FisherBroyles Florida Managing Partner.

“Attorneys are beginning to realize that the Law Firm 2.0® platform provides them the opportunity to prosper while concentrating on meeting their clients’ needs without the usual maladies of BigLaw,” said FisherBroyles Co-Founder and Managing Partner James M. Fisher, II. “Our focus on leveraging advanced technology to transform the practice of law has provided FisherBroyles with a platform that continues to attract the highest caliber of legal talent from traditional law firms and provides high-quality, cost-effective legal services that benefit our clients and partners.”

Prior to joining FisherBroyles, Bachman was a partner at Carlton Fields and an associate at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, both in Tampa. She has developed a niche practice in health care licensing matters as well as hospital operations and physician practice matters.

“I am thrilled to be taking a proactive step towards being better able to address my clients’ needs in a value-driven model while also having access to a platform of accomplished partner attorneys who have the pedigrees and training to handle matters of every size and scope. FisherBroyles is a perfect fit for me in terms of culture, client-centeredness and professional values,” said Bachman. “Leveraging the cutting-edge technologies and practices of FisherBroyles will enable me to increase my responsiveness and client service while maintaining my commitment to providing the highest quality legal representation to both existing and future clients.”

Bachman received her J.D. from University of Florida, Fredric G. Levin College of Law and her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University. She is Board Certified in Health Law by the Florida Bar and has been consistently recognized as a Florida Super Lawyer. She is also licensed as a Health Care Risk Manager in Florida.

Dykema announced the addition of James Azadian to its Los Angeles office, where he will be a member of the firm’s nationwide appellate practice. He specializes in complex federal and state court civil appeals raising cutting-edge and core business issues, the First Amendment to the Constitution, Article 1 of the California Constitution, and the application of California’s anti-SLAPP statute in federal court.

In a release, the firm said Azadian has served as counsel in more than 200 appeals and writ proceedings covering a wide variety of industries and subjects. He frequently serves as special counsel to other law firms in preparing advocates for oral argument and in assisting with the preparation of appellate briefs as well as critical motions at the trial court level in cases where an appeal by either side seems inevitable or where the outcome of the case will impact an entire series of litigation for the client. Azadian is widely published and frequently cited as a leading authority on appellate advocacy.

Azadian has served as an adjunct professor teaching courses in Appellate Advocacy at Pepperdine University School of Law, Law and Economics at UCLA, the Supreme Court Practicum at Northwestern University School of Law, and Legal Ethics at USC. He is the current Chair of the Appellate Lawyer Representatives of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, as appointed by Ninth Circuit Chief Judge Sidney Runyan Thomas, a group of only 18 appellate attorneys chosen as representing the very best in the field of appellate advocacy. He also serves as the current Chair of the Orange County Bar Association’s Appellate Law Section, an elected position. In addition, Azadian is a court-appointed mentor to civil practitioners through the Ninth Circuit Mentorship Program, and has served two terms as a court-appointed member of the Ninth Circuit’s Advisory Committee on Rules of Practice and Internal Operating Procedures.

“James represents the very best of our nation’s appellate practitioners and Dykema’s continuing commitment to further strengthening the depth of its appellate bench,” said Jeffrey Huron, Managing Member of Dykema’s Los Angeles Office. “His first-rate reputation is well known throughout California and nationally, among firms and jurists alike. Before he joined Dykema, we regularly employed his pre-trial strategy and appellate services on our clients’ most critical matters. We saw that, time after time, James delivered bottom-line results. Clients come to him because he gets results, it is that simple.”

Michael Wippler, who serves on Dykema’s Executive Board added, “James brings to the table one of those rare, but essential, combinations of superb mastery of practice with a superior intellect mitigated only by common sense and the ‘big picture.’ I have seen him take the most complicated issue and translate it into the most solvable problem. It is a talent that is rare among litigators. He will continue to add to the sterling legacy of Dykema’s appellate practice, dating back to the firm’s founding in 1926.”

Before joining Dykema, Azadian was the Hiring Shareholder and Chair of Southern California-based Enterprise Counsel Group’s appellate, writs, and constitutional law practice, as well as its regulatory practice. He started out in private practice as an appellate associate with the Washington, D.C., office of Sidley Austin LLP, right after he had completed his judicial clerkships with Ninth Circuit Judge Consuelo Maria Callahan and District Judge Ricardo Manuel Urbina of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.

Azadian graduated from Pepperdine University School of Law and was awarded a B.A. in Political Science and Economics from UCLA.

Azadian has received numerous accolades for his appellate work. He was just recently recognized as one of the Top 40 Under 40 Attorneys in California by the Los Angeles Daily Journal and the San Francisco Daily Journal, and as a Super Lawyers Rising Star in the field of Appellate Law each year since 2010. Azadian was also recognized this past year as one of Pepperdine University’s 40 Under 40 Honorees. Additionally, he was elected to the American Registry as one of North America’s Top Attorneys, in recognition for achieving consistently successful outcomes on appeal. Azadian is also nationally recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America®, as currently featured in the 24th Edition of Best Lawyers®.

Buchalter has added shareholders J. Craig Cartwright and Kevin T. Lytle as members of the Real Estate Practice Group in the Scottsdale office. Both shareholders are joining Buchalter from DLA Piper.

In a release, the firm said Cartwright represents lenders, developers, real estate investment trusts, investors, and national corporations in a broad range of real estate transaction matters, including sales and acquisitions, secured lending, property development, commercial leasing, bankruptcy workouts, and construction-related matters.

Lytle has experience in real estate transactions involving sales and acquisitions, leases, sale-leasebacks, construction and permanent loans, acquisition loans, refinancings, loan and lease modifications and intercreditor agreements. His clients include public and private real estate investment trusts, individuals, and commercial entities.

“When we look at the priorities of the firm for 2018 and beyond, Craig and Kevin are exactly the type of talent we want here,” said Adam J. Bass, President and Chief Executive Officer of Buchalter. “We are very excited to welcome Craig and Kevin. They are a force in the real estate industry and exceptional additions to the firm in general and the Scottsdale office in particular.”

Cartwright earned his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1996 and his B.S. from the University of Kansas in 1993.

“The growth of the firm is truly remarkable, and I am excited to be joining such an excellent group of lawyers that provide clients with outstanding service and a full range of business solutions,” said Cartwright.

Lytle earned his J.D. from the University of Nebraska, School of Law in 1996 and his B.S. from the University of Nebraska in 1989.

“Our practice is a perfect fit with Buchalter’s talented Real Estate Practice. I look forward to integrating my clients and providing them access to the impressive resources the Firm offers,” added Lytle.