Paige D. Bartholomew of Farrell Fritz has been selected to receive the Hon. Judith S. Kaye Scholarship. The scholarship seeks to increase the number of women taking leadership roles in commercial cases litigated in New York’s state and federal courts.

Established by the New York Bar Foundation through a gift from the New York State Bar Association’s Commercial and Federal Litigation Section, the scholarship is awarded to female litigators and covers the cost of their registration at the 2019 Litigation Academy.

Bartholomew, a Massapequa, NY resident, earned her J.D. from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center and her B.A. from Siena College. She is a frequent contributor to Farrell Fritz’s New York Commercial Division Practice blog.

DLA Piper announced that R. David Whitaker has joined the firm’s Intellectual Property and Technology practice as a partner in the Chicago office. His arrival follows that of his colleague, Margo H.K. Tank, who recently joined the firm as a partner in the Washington, DC, office.

In a release, the firm said Whitaker and Tank, both of whom who will be in the Technology, Data and Commercial subgroup of the firm’s IPT practice, employ a team approach to advising traditional and emerging financial services companies and commercial enterprises, in transactional, legal and regulatory matters, particularly those related to digital financial services, contracting, and records management, including electronic signatures, records and payments. Whitaker also has experience with the practical application of laws governing electronic banking, letters of credit, payment systems and commercial and consumer financing.

“As the demand for legal and consulting services focused on online and mobile transactions continues to grow, the addition of David to our team will enable us to better meet the needs of clients who require legal, regulatory, operational and technical business solutions focused on digital transactions,” said Ann Ford, co-chair of the firm’s US Intellectual Property and Technology practice. “David’s vast experience in the financial and FinTech sectors will also significantly enhance our capabilities in that arena.”

“We are thrilled to welcome David to the firm, where our global platform will be a tremendous advantage to his clients,” added Brendan Head, co-managing partner of the Chicago office. “David’s experience leading consulting teams and his deep understanding of changes in the financial services industry and their potential implications for clients makes him a valuable addition to our team.”

Whitaker joins DLA Piper from Buckley Sandler LLP. He received his J.D. from the University of Illinois School of Law and his B.A. from James Madison College at Michigan State University.

Whitaker is the latest addition to DLA Piper’s IPT practice, which in addition to Tank has recently added partners John Beahn in Washington, DC, and partners Michael Garfinkel and Miles Cooley in Los Angeles.

A judge has put an end to the once-illustrious legal career of Raymond Ho, who became a partner at Arent Fox at the age of 33.

Above the Law reports on the sentencing of the one-time legal star  who the government referred to as a “prolific money launderer” who is alleged to have funneled $2.1 million through various accounts, including attorney trust accounts.

The sentencing memo summed up the case:

“After emigrating from Taiwan at a young age, he excelled in U.S. schools, earned two legal degrees, practiced law at some of the largest law firms in the country, and even opened his own patent law firm.

“The defendant, however, was not the upstart attorney his résumé would suggest. Rather, from at least March 2013 to February 2017, the defendant engaged in a large-scale money laundering scheme.”

Read the Above the Law article.

The business and entertainment law firm Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP, announced the promotion of Dallas attorney Michelle Snedden to equity partner and Dallas attorney Stephen Shellenberger and Nashville attorney Lauren Kilgore to non-equity partners.

“This firm is built upon on a broad foundation, which is evident by the diverse practices of these three attorneys,” said founding partner John Shackelford. “Their contributions have been key to this firm’s continued success, and we are pleased to recognize their work through these promotions.”

Snedden represents real estate owners and affordable housing developers in transactional matters involving low-income housing tax credits, historic tax credits, HOME Funds, tax-exempt bonds, and private and governmental financing sources. With experience involving HUD programs, she regularly represents FHA-approved lenders.

Shellenberger’s practice is focused on business and commercial litigation, as well as family law, wills, trusts and probate matters, personal injury and consumer protection matters. He previously worked with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and assisted the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas with the successful prosecution of drug and money laundering organizations in North and East Texas.

Kilgore is a Nashville-based litigator and entertainment attorney who represents a broad and diverse clientele of individuals and companies in commercial litigation. She also represents musicians, record labels and songwriters in recording, producing, distribution, publishing and incorporation matters.

Foley & Lardner LLP announced that the following of counsel and senior counsel have been elected to the partnership, effective February 1, 2018.

• Brett Belden, Intellectual Property, Milwaukee
• Alexis Bortniker, Business Law, Boston
• Pamela Brown, Business Law, Orlando
• Krista Cabrera, Litigation, San Diego
• Steven Cade, Business Law, Chicago
• Jean-Paul Ciardullo, Intellectual Property, Los Angeles
• Brooke Clarkson, Litigation, Washington, D.C.
• Maureen Easton, Business Law, Madison
• Casey Fleming, Business Law, Milwaukee
• Jonathan Friedman, Litigation, New York
• Ramy Hanna, Intellectual Property, New York
• Kimberly Klinsport, Litigation, Los Angeles
• Nicholas Lagerwall, Intellectual Property, Madison
• Jocelyn Lavallo, Business Law, New York
• Matthew Lee, Litigation, Madison
• Kevin Malaney, Intellectual Property, Milwaukee
• Brittany Nelson, Litigation, Washington, D.C.
• Kevin Shuler, Business Law, Tampa
• Tony Tootell, Litigation, Los Angeles

Hunter Lewis of the family law boutique Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson has been appointed to the Committee for a Qualified Judiciary or CQJ, a nonprofit organization that evaluates the qualifications of judicial candidates in Dallas.

“I am looking forward to working with this committee to qualify the candidates running for judicial positions,” said Lewis. “It’s an important responsibility and a significant service to voters. I have already served on my first panel and thoroughly enjoyed it.”

The CQJ, founded in 1982, has a mission to advance a competent, fair and impartial judicial system by deciding whether candidates are qualified based on merit, not political party. The goal is to inform voters about the candidates’ qualifications. The committee meets only during the election cycle and does not seek to endorse any candidate in a judicial race.

“We always encourage our attorneys to get involved in outside organizations,” said firm partner and co-founder Keith Nelson. “Hunter is a knowledgeable family law attorney and has lent his expertise to different committees.”

Board Certified in Family Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Lewis is a 2010 graduate of Baylor University School of Law. He has also earned selection to the Texas Super Lawyers listing each year since 2013 and was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America legal guide in 2016. A member of The National Advocate: Top 40 Under 40, he is active with the State Bar of Texas and the bar associations of Dallas, Collin and Tarrant counties, as well as the Texas Family Law Foundation and the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Foundation.

Buchalter announces a team of Greenberg Traurig lawyers have joined the firm and will be based in the firm’s Orange County, California office.

Intellectual property shareholder J. Rick Taché and his core team – senior counsel Erikson Squier and senior counsel Roger Scott are among those making the move. Taché will serve as the firm-wide co-chair of the Patent Litigation Group.

“Adding a highly-regarded and elite intellectual property shareholder such as Rick and his team to our patent and litigation groups is reflective of the type of talent we want to attract to properly service our clients,” said Adam J. Bass, President and Chief Executive Officer of Buchalter. “We are delighted to welcome Rick, Erik, and Roger to the firm.”

Taché practices in complex intellectual property litigation and focuses his practice on patent and trademark prosecution. He has handled complex disputes for clients in the aerospace, automotive, consumer products, cosmetics, internet, manufacturing, medical device, and software industries.

Taché earned his J.D. from the University of Detroit, Mercy School of Law and his LL.B. from the University of Windsor, in Canada. He earned his M.A. in sports administration from Ohio State University and a B.P.E from the University of New Brunswick.

“My practice fits extremely well within Buchalter’s expanding full-service platform,” said Taché. “I am thrilled to join the firm’s extremely talented patent and litigation teams with a demonstrated ability to serve high profile clients.”

Senior counsel Erikson C. Squier is an intellectual property attorney with experience in patent prosecution and litigation. Squier graduated with a J.D., cum laude from the Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology. He also received a B.S.E.E. from Purdue University West Lafayette.

Roger Scott represents clients in complex and civil litigation matters, with an emphasis on employment litigation. Scott earned his J.D., cum laude and his M.A. from The Catholic University of America. He studied at the University of California at Santa Barbara, where he graduated with his B.A.

“The addition of Rick and his skilled team offers Buchalter the ability to further our goal of providing our clients with exceptional legal services. Their extensive talents align with the Firm’s growth strategy and we are so pleased to be working with them,” said Martin P. Florman, Orange County Office Managing Partner.

Munck Wilson Mandala elected intellectual property associate Neil G. Ferrari as a new partner, effective Jan. 1, 2018. Ferrari is a member of MWM’s technology/intellectual property law group and has a broad range of legal experience in patent matters.

“Neil is one of the hardest working attorneys in our firm and I am pleased to see his commitment lead to this next phase of his legal career with us,” said William Munck, MWM’s managing partner. “He works on some of our most critical matters and brings fresh perspectives and innovation to client service.”

“We are fortunate to work with some of the most innovative clients in technology and Neil has been a big part of our responsive and expert client service,” said Austin managing partner Michael Rodriguez. “Neil’s partnership is well deserved.”

In a release, the firm said Ferrari represents clients in various intellectual property matters, including domestic and international patent preparation and prosecution, patent infringement and litigation matters, inter partes reviews, licensing, and financing/acquisitions. Ferrari’s technical experience includes electrical circuitry, semiconductor devices, telecommunication systems, software applications, computer architecture, lighting systems, control systems, aircraft components, monetary systems and medical devices.

Additionally, the firm said, Ferrari counsels companies on the identification, protection, development, and monetization of their intellectual property. Ferrari previously worked for an international law firm based in Munich, Germany, as well as a boutique intellectual property law firm in Dallas before joining MWM.

Ferrari is a member of the State Bar of Texas, the Dallas Bar Association, and the American Intellectual Property Law Association. He received his J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and he has B.S. in electrical engineering from Louisiana State University.

Munck Wilson Mandala is a technology-focused law firm with offices in Dallas, Austin and Marshall, Texas, with an emphasis on patent, trade secret, trademark and other intellectual property disputes.

Jeff Gifford has been appointed to lead Dykema’s Corporate Finance Practice Group, a team involved in corporate finance matters. Gifford takes over for Will Liebmann, who was selected to serve on the firm’s Executive Board.

Based in the firm’s San Antonio office, Gifford, who also previously served as Co-Leader of both the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions subgroup and the Family Business Transition Team, focuses his practice on counseling clients on mergers and acquisitions, public and private securities transactions, and domestic and international commercial transactions. He is experienced in the financial and healthcare industries, the firm said in a release.

“Exceptional client service has been, and will continue to be our first priority,” said Gifford. “I look forward to leading one of the firm’s premier practice groups and continuing the firm’s commitment in delivering outstanding results at every level.”

Gifford received a J.D. from University of Michigan’s School of Law and a B.A. in International Relations from Brigham Young University.

Heather Palmer has joined Sidley Austin LLP in its Houston office as a partner in its Environmental practice. She joins Sidley from Bracewell LLP.

In a release, the firm said Palmer advises clients in the energy, petrochemical, power and utility sectors. She handles a variety of regulatory counseling and enforcement matters, including onshore and offshore oil and gas regulation, solid and hazardous waste, oil and gas waste, wastewater and stormwater permitting, wetlands, water rights, Superfund litigation and compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act.

She also advises clients on environmental issues relating to shale play development, hydraulic fracturing and the permitting, construction and operation of liquefied natural gas import and export facilities in the U.S. On the transactional side, Palmer has experience identifying and managing sources of environmental risks, the firm said. This includes coordinating due diligence and advising clients on energy-related deals, M&A transactions, public offerings, financings, real estate transactions, bankruptcy and other matters where environmental issues become an important component.

“In the current regulatory environment, we are seeing an uptick in the number of challenges presented to our clients in energy-related transactions, particularly disputes over areas such as hydraulic fracturing and offshore oil and gas drilling,” said David Buente, co-leader of Sidley’s Environmental practice. “Heather’s substantial knowledge of the energy regulatory landscape, in addition to her experience working with federal and state energy and environmental agencies, will be beneficial in addressing various environmental concerns that may arise from transactions in the energy space.”

Attorney Charla D. Davies received Board Certification in Family Law by Texas Board of Legal Specialization (TBLS). Davies currently practices at Langley & Banack, Inc. where she is part of a group of 10 family law attorneys, five of whom are board certified.

Board Certification is a voluntary designation program certifying Texas attorneys in 22 specific areas of law. Board Certified attorneys must be licensed for at least five years, devote a required percentage of practice to a specialty area for at least three years, attend continuing education seminars, pass an evaluation by fellow lawyers and judges, and pass a 6-hour written examination. There are more than 100,000 attorneys licensed to practice in Texas; only 7,450 are Board Certified.

Davies received her Bachelor of Arts from The University of Texas at San Antonio and her Juris Doctorate from St. Mary’s University School of Law. Davies has represented clients in divorce, enforcement of property division, enforcement of child visitation and support, establishment of paternity, modification of custody and child support, grandparent’s rights, termination & adoption, as well as premarital and post marital agreements. She also practices Collaborative Law and is a member of both the Collaborative Law Institute of Texas and the Collaborative Professionals Association of San Antonio.

Laurie J. Rust has joined Littler as a shareholder in the firm’s Denver office. Rust, a labor and employment litigator, joins from Gordon & Rees.

“Laurie is a seasoned attorney whose client-centered approach will be an excellent addition to the firm,” said Alan McLaughlin, Denver office managing shareholder. “Her deep experience complements Littler’s singular employment law focus and we are excited to have her as part of the team in Denver.”

In a release, the firm said Rust represents employers in state and federal courts in matters involving the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) and the Family Medical Leave Act, among others. She routinely defends companies against employment-related charges and claims before administrative agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Colorado Civil Rights Division, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, and the California Division of Labor Standards Enforcement.

The firm said Rust has achieved a number of significant victories on behalf of her clients including dismissal of whistleblower retaliation claims, securing summary judgment on Title VII, Equal Pay Act and ADEA claims, and negotiating a favorable resolution of a Department of Labor wage and hour audit. During her first week at Littler, Rust secured summary judgment on NDAA and breach of contract claims.

The release continues:

In addition, Rust counsels employers on a wide range of issues, such as hiring, employee discipline and termination, accommodating disabilities and leaves of absences, wage and hour compliance, restrictive covenants, immigration compliance, recreational and medical marijuana, social media and trade secrets. She works with companies to draft employment agreements, employee manuals, severance agreements, and other employment policies and procedures. Rust also provides training on harassment and all aspects of employment law.

“I was attracted to Littler because of its reputation for delivering the highest quality legal services combined with its deep commitment to providing clients with new and innovative approaches to the law,” Rust said. “Littler is unmatched in the labor and employment space and I am excited to be part of such a growing and evolving law firm.”

Rust has spoken and published on a wide range of labor and employment topics and has been recognized in the industry as a Rising Star by Law & Politics. She earned her J.D. from the University of Colorado Law School and her B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Christopher K. Veatch has joined Perkins Coie’s White Collar & Investigations practice group as a partner in the Chicago office. Veatch joins the firm from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), where he was most recently Chief of the National Security & Cybercrimes Section at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois.

As Section Chief, Veatch led complex investigations of cyber, national security, fraud and financial crimes

Veatch joins the firm shortly after Perkins Coie’s recent hiring of two others from government positions: Adam Schuman in New York (former Special Counsel for Public Integrity in the New York State Governor’s Office) and Kevin Feldis in Anchorage (former First Assistant United States Attorney in Alaska).

“Perkins Coie is an industry leader with a deep national bench of white collar attorneys who provide strategic counsel to our clients in highly consequential matters,” said Markus Funk, Chair of Perkins Coie’s White Collar & Investigations practice. “Chris’s distinguished career with the DOJ was notable for his exemplary track record in investigating and prosecuting national security and cybercrime enforcement matters. His confidence and superb attention to detail are an asset in advising clients on the complex, sensitive and challenging problems they face in these highly regulated sectors, and the respect he enjoys among his peers is exceptional.”

Before and during law school, Veatch spent five years as a police officer. He earned his law degree (magna cum laude and Order of the Coif) from the Indiana University Mauer School of Law and joined the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as a Staff Attorney in the Enforcement Division, where he investigated violations of the federal securities laws, including insider trading, market manipulation and offering and financial fraud. In 2005, he joined the U.S. Attorney’s Office as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, and within five years was promoted to be a Deputy Chief of the General Crimes Section. Less than a year later, he was chosen to be the Deputy Chief of the newly-created National Security Section (as it was then known), and for the past five and a half years, Chris served as the Section’s Chief.

In a release, the firm said:

During his time as a federal prosecutor, Veatch took a series of cases to trial, and successfully argued his victories and other matters on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Among the complex and sensitive matters he has investigated and prosecuted are those involving cybercrime, securities, bank and accounting fraud, international bribery and money laundering schemes, copyright infringement, theft of trade secrets and economic espionage, and export control and U.S. sanctions programs, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations, Arms Export Control Act, International Emergency Economic Powers Act, Export Administration Regulations, Iranian Transactions and Sanctions Regulations, Iranian Transactions Regulations, and other Office of Foreign Assets Control sanctions programs, as well as other national security matters, including those involving international and domestic terrorism.

“Chris is a perfect fit for the Chicago Office. He is a proven first-chair trial lawyer in complex cases and is well-known and well-liked by many of our current partners already,” said Chris Wilson, Managing Partner of Perkins Coie’s Chicago office. “Chris adds even more depth to our national White Collar and Investigations practice, and he will be an important part of growing our Chicago office going forward. Most importantly, Chris provides a vital resource to our clients seeking guidance in the increasing regulatory environment surrounding cyber and securities enforcement. I’m delighted to welcome him to the firm.”

Willkie has announced the following attorney promotions, effective January 1, 2018.

Partners
Daniel Backer – Real Estate – New York
Mark Fine – Corporate – London
Bradley Friedman – Corporate – New York
Matthew Haddad – Corporate – New York
Geri Anne McEvoy – Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits – New York
Robert Rizzo – Corporate – New York
Heather Schneider – Intellectual Property – New York
Maximilian Schwab – Corporate – Frankfurt
Spencer Simon – Intellectual Property – New York
Axel Wahl – Corporate – Frankfurt

National Partner
Jennifer Tait – Corporate – London

Counsel
Ryan Brizek – Asset Management – New York
Mia Hayes – Communications & Media – Washington
Daniel Mencaroni – Asset Management – New York

Special European Counsel
Igor Kukhta – Corporate – Paris
David Lambert – Corporate – Paris

Employment and labor law Littler has expanded into Italy with the addition of a six-lawyer team in Milan led by Italian principals Carlo Majer and Edgardo Ratti.

Inn a release, the firm said this move marks the fourth European country Littler has entered in just over two years following expansion into Germany, France and the United Kingdom and brings its global footprint to more than 75 offices in 17 countries.

“Our strategy of combining forces with the best labor and employment law practitioners in key international markets has proven to be successful and we are excited to add Italy to our global platform,” said Tom Bender and Jeremy Roth, co-managing directors of Littler, in a joint statement. “In the last few years, we have established a presence in Europe’s three largest economies. Expanding into the fourth largest European economy by adding this talented team was a natural next step in deepening our services to the global employer community.”

Majer and Ratti each have nearly two decades of experience practicing labor and employment law in Italy and advising global and domestic companies. They join Littler Global with a team of four attorneys based in the Milan office.

“Littler provides an unparalleled platform to counsel Italian companies, as well as clients doing business in Italy, on all of their labor and employment needs,” said Majer and Ratti, in a joint statement. “Our deep experience in Italian labor and employment matters, coupled with Littler’s global reach, exceptional reputation for counseling multinational employers and technological capabilities, will provide significant value to our collective clients.”

Majer, who was previously a partner with the Italian labor and employment law boutique Lexellent, counsels clients on labor relations matters, corporate reorganizations and restructurings, and employment-related litigation. He is recognized as a leading labor and employment lawyer in Italy by Chambers & Partners and Legal 500, and is a member of the International Bar Association’s Employment and Industrial Relations Law Committee and the Italian Association of Employment Lawyers.

Ratti joins after a 20 year successful career started at labor and employment law boutique LabLaw, where he was a partner together with Majer. With extensive experience in labor law, Ratti advises clients on labor relations matters, restructurings and litigation.

“Adding an office in Milan led by two well-known and respected attorneys in the Italian market will expand our capabilities in Europe and further solidify our reputation as an international labor and employment powerhouse,” said Stephan Swinkels, a Littler shareholder who helps lead the development and integration of the firm’s global practice. Peter Susser, Littler’s Global Practice Leader and chair of the firm’s International Employment Law practice, added that “bringing Carlo and Edgardo’s team into Littler’s global platform will provide clients with seasoned Italian labor and employment counsel and further our ability to offer a localized approach in the many jurisdictions in which they do business.”

Eric T. Fingerhut has been appointed as the Office Managing Member of Dykema’s Washington, D.C., office. He succeeds Paul Laurenza, who served in the role for eight years.

“Dykema has been an active legal, legislative and policy counsellor in Washington, D.C., for four decades, spanning seven presidential administrations,” said Fingerhut. “I’m proud of the mark we’ve made in the District, and excited for the opportunity to lead our top-notch team of professionals as we help clients navigate a regulatory and legislative landscape that is evolving and unfolding with unprecedented speed.”

In a release, the firm said Fingerhut, who is a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group and Immediate Past Leader of the Trademark Practice, has more than 25 years of experience counselling clients on all aspects of global brand identity and reputation management. He advises many of the world’s best-known brand names in automotive, retail, food, hospitality and technology industries on trademark, copyright, right of publicity, advertising, marketing, domain name and new media legal issues. Additionally, Fingerhut litigates infringement, dilution, cybersquatting and unfair competition cases in U.S. district and appellate courts, as well as domain name arbitration proceedings and oppositions and cancellations before the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

An active member of the Washington, D.C., legal, service and arts communities, Fingerhut is a Past Chair of the D.C. Bar Council on Sections; a Board Member of HumanitiesDC (formerly known as the Humanities Council of Washington, DC); and a former Director of the Washington Area Bicyclists Association.

Fingerhut earned a J.D. from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, and a B.S. from Boston University.

DLA Piper announced that Joel Athey has joined the firm’s litigation practice as a partner in Los Angeles.

Athey, who previously served as the managing partner of Holland & Knight LLP’s Los Angeles office, focuses his practice on white collar criminal defense, US Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement, private securities litigation, internal corporate investigations, banking and regulatory investigations and litigations, consumer protection matters and complex civil litigation.

“As we continue to strategically grow our Los Angeles offices, including our local Litigation team, Joel’s practice will strengthen our capabilities in the areas of white collar criminal defense, securities and financial services litigation, among others,” said Stuart Liner, co-managing partner of the firm’s Los Angeles offices. “DLA Piper’s national and global platform is an ideal home for his litigation practice, and we believe Joel’s strong reputation and network of relationships in the legal community will be highly beneficial to our clients.”

In a release, the firm says Athey represents individuals and corporations in criminal investigations and prosecutions in federal and state courts, and works with clients in criminal grand jury investigations, post-indictment prosecutions, at trial, and sentencing. He represents companies conducting internal investigations of alleged wrongdoing and advises companies on compliance matters. He also represents companies and individuals in SEC and FTC investigations and enforcement actions.

In addition, he represents clients in a wide range of civil litigation matters, including defending legal professionals against fraud-based allegations and venture capitalists accused of misleading investors. He works with companies and banks in defending securities litigations. Athey has also represented officers and directors of failed financial institutions in criminal and regulatory investigations, and in post-takeover FDIC proceedings.

“Joel is a highly skilled and well-regarded litigator whose depth of experience in areas important to our clients makes him a valuable addition to the firm,” said Loren Brown, co-chair of DLA Piper’s global and US Litigation practices. “Particularly in Los Angeles, the demand for lawyers with experience in SEC enforcement and private securities litigation has grown substantially, and we are pleased that our clients will have the opportunity to be represented by an attorney of his skill and reputation.”

Athey received his J.D. from the Columbia University School of Law and his B.S. from Rutgers University.

Since merging with Los Angeles-based Liner LLP in October, DLA Piper has continued to expand its presence in the region, beginning with the addition of leading entertainment and IP litigator Douglas Emhoff, a partner in the firm’s Media, Sport and Entertainment sector who joined from Venable, where he was the chief architect of its substantial West Coast expansion.

Three lawyers in the family law boutique Orsinger, Nelson, Downing & Anderson, LLP have earned board certification in family ;aw by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. They are Chris Oldner, Holly Rampy Baird and R. Porter Corrigan II.

“We could not be more proud of Chris, Holly and Porter for receiving this well-deserved recognition,” says firm partner Keith Nelson.

Thirteen of the firm’s 17 attorneys are now board certified in family law, a distinction earned by less than 1 percent of Texas attorneys. In addition, Oldner is the second firm attorney certified in two practice areas, with his other certification being in criminal law.

A former state district court judge, Oldner joined the firm in 2017 after serving three full terms in the 416th District Court in Collin County, where he presided over criminal and civil cases, including family law bench and jury trials. He earned his law degree from the Texas Tech University School of Law and is a graduate of Baylor University.

A recent honoree on D Magazine’s 2018 Best Lawyers Under 40, Baird handles divorce and complex property division, modification actions, enforcement actions and child custody litigation. She has also earned spots on the Texas Rising Stars list of the Top 100 Up-and-Coming lawyers and the Top 50 Up-and-Coming Women lawyers.

A six-time Texas Rising Stars honoree, Corrigan has extensive experience in family law issues, such as divorce and child custody cases. A native of San Antonio, he is a graduate of St. Mary’s University School of Law and The University of Texas at Austin.

Former Dentons associate Michael Potere once said he wasn’t afraid of jail time for trying to extort his former employer, according to Above the Law, but now he has been sentenced to five months in prison.

Kathryn Rubino explains that Potere used access to a partner’s email account to download sensitive information about the firm. Then he threatened to release the information unless the firm gave him $210,000 and a piece of artwork.

Prosecutors had asked for a three-month prison sentence, but the U.S. district judge handling the case sentenced him to five months, plus a year of supervised release.

Read the Above the Law article.

The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP announced that Sherina Maye Edwards has joined the firm’s Chicago office as a partner in its Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Practice Group.

“The combination of Quarles & Brady’s national, full-service platform and flexible, collaborative approach to servicing its clients makes it a great platform from which to service the energy community’s legal needs,” said Edwards. “I am excited to take the next step in my career with such a phenomenal firm to develop a dynamic and robust energy regulatory practice.”

In a release, the firm said Edwards focuses her practice on electric reliability, water, natural gas and critical infrastructure issues. “An energy professional with solid regulatory experience including analyzing, formulating, and implementing public policy at the state level, she brings a wealth of knowledge on issues affecting the energy and public utility industry including grid modernization, natural gas infrastructure, cybersecurity, reliability and supplier and workforce diversity,” the firm said.

Prior to joining the firm, Edwards served a five-year term on the Illinois Commerce Commission, making her the youngest commissioner ever appointed in the state of Illinois. In 2016, Edwards was appointed by President Barack Obama and U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Anthony Foxx as Co-Chair of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Voluntary Information-Sharing System Working Group, which was created in accordance with the Pipelines Hazardous and Materials Safety Administration guidelines, where she provided recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation on information-sharing matters and best practices for the protection of proprietary and security-sensitive information.

“Sherina’s knowledge and experience in the energy industry is are second to none,” said national practice group chair Thomas McElligott. “We are extremely pleased to have her join the Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Practice Group.”

Edwards founded both the Women’s Energy Summit and the Women’s Energy Network of Chicago and is nationally recognized for being a champion for diversity and inclusion within the utility and energy space. In addition to serving on a number of civic boards, she was recently appointed to the board of directors for Intren LLC, a national construction company that primarily services the electric and gas industries. She received her law degree from Howard University School of Law and her bachelor’s degree, cum laude, from Spelman College.