Gustave Newman, a criminal defense lawyer in a host of headline-grabbing cases who genially cajoled skeptical juries and cowed hostile witnesses with his booming baritone, died on Monday in Manhattan at the age of 90, reports The New York Times.

“A lion of New York’s white-collar criminal defense bar, Mr. Newman achieved one of his greatest courtroom successes in 1993, when, after a contentious five-month trial, he managed to win the acquittal of Robert A. Altman, a Washington lawyer who, with Clark M. Clifford, a former defense secretary, had been accused in a scandal involving global money-laundering and illegal transfer of capital,” writes Sam Roberts. “The episode, involving the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, cost depositors an estimated $12 million.”

Newman is believed by some to have tried 400 cases, according to the report.

Read the NYT article.

Join Our LinkedIn Group

Andrew Eisenberg has joined the Michael Best firm as a partner in the Intellectual Property and Corporate Practice Groups in its Austin office.

Inn a release, the firm said Eisenberg has worked on the development of action plans, legal strategies, and intellectual property portfolios that are directly related to a company’s business goals. Eisenberg has experience in a broad range of matters, including trademarks, patents, corporate formations, licensing, as well as funding and securities issues. He has also worked with a range of companies, including single employee startups to fortune 500 companies.

The news release continues:

“We’re thrilled that Andrew is joining our practice here in Austin,” said Stephen Gigot, Chair of Michael Best’s Intellectual Property Practice. “His strategic thinking and depth of experience working in the startup ecosystem in Austin will enhance the scope of our intellectual property and corporate team, and further credential our firm in a region that is a hotbed for entrepreneurial activity.”

As a founder of the Small Business Festival and a former general counsel for an Austin-based medical startup, Eisenberg has personal experience and insight into issues and legal challenges facing entrepreneur, startups, and growth stage companies.

“The choice for me to join Michael Best was simple,” Eisenberg said. “The firm continues to penetrate new markets, and their intellectual property and corporate teams carry a tremendous reputation for client service that I’m excited to be a part of.”

Aside from his legal work, Eisenberg is an active volunteer and mentor in the Austin community. Among other things, he participates as a judge for the University of Texas – Texas Venture Labs Investment Competition, volunteers as a mentor with Profit Mover Team, and organizes “Startup Law Austin”, a monthly presentation series for inventors and entrepreneurs looking to start a company or protect their assets.

Eisenberg received his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School and his B.S.E., cum laude, from the University of Michigan.

Join Our LinkedIn Group

Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. expanded its litigation team with the recent addition of three attorneys in the firm’s St. Louis office.

Katherine M. Fowler, Jonathan H. Garside and Erika N. Reynolds joined the firm May 1 as officers in the Litigation Practice Group. The three previously were partners at Fox Galvin in St. Louis, practicing in the areas of pharmaceutical, medical malpractice, environmental, class action and product liability litigation.

Fowler acts as lead trial counsel defending businesses in complex civil litigation, including pharmaceutical, high exposure birth injury and medical malpractice litigation, product liability, environmental and class action litigation. She has successfully defended hospitals, nurses and physicians in personal injury and wrongful death claims and has represented a major pharmaceutical company as regional counsel. She also is the founder of the Let’s Start Legal Clinic, which provides pro bono legal representation to women and families impacted by incarceration. Ms. Fowler earned her law degree from Saint Louis University Law School and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Dayton.

Garside is a trial lawyer with experience handling product liability, medical malpractice, pharmaceutical and commercial litigation. In the area of product liability, he has successfully defended manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, construction and farm equipment and consumer products. In class actions, he has obtained dismissals and other favorable results for clients including an association of major health insurers, a nationally known hospital, an international automaker and drug manufacturers. In addition, he represents a major hospital system in complex medical malpractice cases. Mr. Garside earned his law degree from Washington University School of Law and his Bachelor of Arts from the University of California-Berkeley.

Reynolds represents businesses including large international companies in all phases of commercial litigation. She is experienced in mass tort, medical negligence defense, environmental, pharmaceutical and medical device litigation, as well as employment law matters. Her experience includes representing energy, health care and pharmaceutical companies. Her professional involvement has included the Defense Research Institute, Mound City Bar Association, Missouri Organization of Defense Lawyers and the Society for Human Resource Management. Ms. Reynolds earned her law degree from the University of Virginia Law School and her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Dayton.

Join Our LinkedIn Group

Akerman LLP has announced that Christian George has been appointed office managing partner of the Jacksonville office, and Irene Bassel Frick has been appointed office managing partner of the Tampa office.

“Christian and Irene are outstanding stewards of Akerman, who are helping us advance the needs of our clients and achieve impact in the community,” said Andrew Smulian, Akerman Chairman and CEO. “They are valuable additions to our management team and we look forward to their many contributions.”

In a release, the firm said:

George is a partner in Akerman’s Litigation Practice Group and most recently served as the local practice group leader for the Jacksonville office. He is a member of the Board of Governors of the Jacksonville Bar Association and is the president-elect of the Young Lawyers Division of The Florida Bar. George represents businesses and individuals in a broad range of commercial litigation issues, with an emphasis on counseling clients in the financial services sector. His work is recognized by Benchmark Litigation, Jacksonville Business Journal, and other publications.

Frick also is a partner in Akerman’s Litigation Practice Group and is a member of the firm’s Client Experience Team. She previously served as a member of the firm’s Associate Professional Evaluation Committee. In the community, Frick is a founder and member of the Bay Area Legal Services Pearl Society and previously served as the president of the Hillsborough Association for Women Lawyers. She represents businesses, financial institutions and insurers in a variety of business disputes, with an emphasis on class action defense and ERISA litigation. She is recognized for her work by the Florida Association for Women Lawyers as well as The Best Lawyers in America and other publications.

Join Our LinkedIn Group

Sidley Austin LLP announced that Richard Alonso has joined the firm as a partner in its Washington, D.C. office. He will be a member of the firm’s Environmental practice.

Alonso has dealt with the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) regulatory process and has experience with environmental compliance and enforcement issues, including federal and state enforcement defense strategies, the firm said in a news release.

The release continues:

Prior to building a private practice, Alonso served as chief of the Stationary Source Enforcement Branch at the EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. He had earlier served at the EPA in the Water Enforcement Division. During his tenure with the EPA, he had responsibility for enforcing the Clean Air Act (CAA), Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Act. He managed and negotiated CAA enforcement cases, including New Source Review (NSR) cases, with power plants and manufacturing facilities and was instrumental in developing CAA policies and regulations. Alonso also held key roles in cases relating to defeat devices and engine certification requirements under the CAA’s Title II mobile source program. He is known as a national authority on EPA automotive and fuel regulatory programs, including the Renewable Fuels Standard program.

“Rich’s firsthand experience in both private practice and the public sector will make him a valuable asset for our clients looking for advice in addressing their complex environmental challenges at both the federal and state levels,” said David Buente, co-leader of Sidley’s Environmental practice. “We are delighted to welcome Rich to our outstanding team of lawyers dedicated to assisting clients with every aspect of environmental law.”

Alonso represents clients including large trade associations, manufacturers and energy companies in environmental compliance and enforcement matters before both state and federal agencies. He focuses his practice on CAA issues, including NSR applicability and permitting, EPA rulemaking efforts, legal challenges to EPA actions, and CAA enforcement defense and compliance counseling. Mr. Alonso’s CAA experience includes the development of State and Federal Implementation Plans, permitting programs, and policies applicable to stationary sources, fuel regulations, automotive engine certifications and regulation of ozone depleting substances. He has tackled cutting-edge environmental issues for a variety of industrial sectors, including the implementation of climate change regulations, permitting of greenhouse gas emissions, and regulation of methane emissions from oil and gas operations.

Join Our LinkedIn Group

Miller & Chevalier has announced that William P. Barry joined the firm as a member in the Litigation department.

In a news release, the firm said Barry advises clients on securities enforcement and white collar defense matters, with a particular emphasis on representing boards, senior executives, and companies in matters related to Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), anti-money laundering, accounting, and related issues.

The release continues:

Prior to joining Miller & Chevalier, Barry served as a partner at Richards Kibbe & Orbe LLP, counselling public companies, investors, investment and retail banks, and non-U.S. companies seeking investments from U.S. entities.

“I’m pleased to join a firm with experts in a variety of disciplines necessary to cross-border business in today’s marketplace, who advise and protect companies, boards, and individuals in critical junctures,” Barry said. “The goal is to serve your clients best when they need you the most, and I can’t think of a better place to do that than at a firm with nearly a century of tradition, history, and stability whose lawyers operate on the cutting edge of emerging market trends.”

“I’ve known Will personally and professionally for over 25 years,” said Mark Rochon, Chair of Miller & Chevalier’s Litigation practice. “I’ve always been impressed with his judgment, calm assessment of complicated issues, and ability to work well with everyone. He is a dynamic addition to Miller & Chevalier.”

Barry’s move comes on the heels of another key litigation addition, as civil and criminal attorney Preston L. Pugh joined the firm in April.

Barry’s influence expands far beyond his work in the Washington, DC area; he has advised clients with interests around the world, including Brazil, Canada, China, India, Russia, and Switzerland. He was selected by Benchmark Litigation as a National Star for White Collar Crime and Securities Litigation in 2017 and has been recommended by The Legal 500 United States in White Collar Criminal Defense four years running.

“We are very pleased to welcome Will to Miller & Chevalier,” said Anthony F. Shelley, Chair of the firm’s Executive Committee. “His securities enforcement and white collar experience will be a valuable asset to our growing Litigation department.”

A frequent author and speaker on corruption topics, Barry is a member of the American Bar Association’s International Anti-Money Laundering Committee and International Anti-Corruption Committee. He is also the chairman of Olney Boys & Girls Club (OBGC), a non-profit organization that currently serves close to 6,000 children and their families in Maryland. Over the course of its nearly 50-year history, OBGC has provided more than 45,000 children with safe after-school sports programs emphasizing both physical and emotional development.

Barry earned a B.A. from Wesleyan University in 1991 and a J.D. from George Washington University Law School in 1995.

Join Our LinkedIn Group

Commercial litigator Peter J. Most has joined Arent Fox LLP as a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office. Most joins the firm’s Complex Litigation group and will focus his practice on securities litigation, real estate, commercial fraud, and professional liability.

“We are happy to welcome Peter to the firm,” said Los Angeles Managing Partner Aaron H. Jacoby. “Peter’s success rate in high-stakes securities litigation, as well as other significant financial and real estate disputes, is a great addition to our deep bench of litigators in Los Angeles and across the firm.”

A release from the firm says:

Previously a principal at McKool Smith, Most has experience representing large US financial institutions in connection with their purchases of nearly $1 billion of Parmalat-related securities. Additionally, Most has represented US financial institutions in litigation against Wall Street banks in connection with the purchase of more than $1 billion of Enron and Enron-related securities. He has also represented a large international bank in a $500 million fraud action against another international bank related to the sale of Enron-related derivative securities and structure financings. Each of the matters resolved favorably for Mr. Most’s clients.

Most is the latest addition to Arent Fox’s Complex Litigation practice, which has added highly-regarded commercial litigator, John S. Purcell in Los Angeles and Brian P. Maschler in San Francisco.

In addition to large financial institutions, Mr. Most has represented lenders and borrowers, investment companies, local governments, and real estate developers, among others, in their complex disputes.

Most‘s six-year tenure on the United States District Court Merit Selection Panel for Magistrate Judges recently ended and he currently serves on the Los Angeles County Bar Association’s Judicial Appointments Committee. In addition, Mr. Most serves the Los Angeles Superior Court as both Judge Pro Tern and Mediator. He earned his bachelor’s degree, manga cum laude, from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his law degree from George Washington University National Law Center.

Join Our LinkedIn Group

Blank Rome LLP announces that Elizabeth E. Klingensmith has joined the firm as a partner in the Corporate Litigation group and member of the Energy industry team. She is based in the firm’s Houston office and joins Blank Rome from Haynes and Boone, LLP.

Klingensmith is the latest addition to the firm’s Houston office, which has experienced steady growth since opening six years ago.

In a news release, the firm said:

Blank Rome launched its Houston presence when it combined with Abrams, Scott & Bickley in June 2011, adding leading litigation attorneys with significant energy industry experience. The firm continued its growth in Houston with the addition of the maritime lawyers of Bell, Ryniker & Letourneau, P.C., in August 2013. Two years later, Blank Rome added 23 attorneys and additional staff from the intellectual property law firm of Wong, Cabello, Lutsch, Rutherford & Brucculeri L.L.P. The Houston office continued to diversify in 2016, adding three attorneys in the labor & employment, real estate, and intellectual property and technology groups. The Firm also continues to expand its national energy team, most recently welcoming Partners Amy L. Barrette and Jeremy A. Mercer from Norton Rose Fulbright in its Pittsburgh office.

“We’re thrilled that Liz is joining us in Houston,” said Alan Hoffman, Blank Rome’s Chairman and Managing Partner. “Liz is a natural go-getter and our Houston office and energy industry team will provide her with the opportunity to further develop her already strong energy litigation practice. Liz is also passionate about engaging young and diverse professionals within the energy sector and we look forward to the mentorship she’ll provide for young attorneys at Blank Rome and beyond.”

Klingensmith’s primary focus is oil and gas litigation. She routinely represents large and small companies in disputes arising from oil and gas operations and transactions in Texas and North Dakota. She has also counseled oil and gas clients in Oklahoma and Louisiana on a pro hac vice basis. Whether in a small-town courtroom or before an arbitration panel comprised of industry experts, she comes prepared with an understanding of the law and facts, and a full appreciation of her clients’ business objectives. She capably simplifies complex issues into a persuasive story whether for judge, jury, or mediator.

“Liz is an all-around talented litigator with impressive experience in the oil and gas sector. There are natural synergies between the energy markets in Houston, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, particularly as it relates to Marcellus Shale work, and Liz will be a great asset to our teams and our clients in these regions,” said Barry Abrams, Administrative Partner of Blank Rome’s Houston office.

In addition to her energy-focused work, Klingensmith frequently handles commercial disputes in the construction, real estate, transportation, banking, and professional services industries. She has extensive experience with disputes that involve claims for breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, post-judgment enforcement, theft of trade secrets, breach of employment agreements, conversion, and declaratory judgment.

“I am very excited to join such a highly regarded and accomplished team of attorneys in Blank Rome’s Houston office,” said Ms. Klingensmith. “It was evident from my first meeting with Blank Rome just how much head and heart the Firm put into establishing and building the Houston office. I cannot wait to continue to build the Firm’s profile in Houston, and collaborate with the Firm’s deep bench of talent in other offices. I know this new chapter at Blank Rome will serve my clients well.”

Klingensmith serves as the Young Energy Professionals Committee Chair for the Institute for Energy Law, and is passionate about engaging the next generation of energy professionals. The YEP Committee held its first National Young Energy Professionals Law Conference in March 2017.

Klingensmith received her B.A. and B.M. from Rice University and her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center.

Join Our LinkedIn Group

Veteran energy company in-house counsel Todd L. Grimmett has joined The Lanier Law Firm as a member of the commercial litigation team. His hiring bolsters the firm’s growing focus on lawsuits affecting the oil and gas industry, the firm said in a news release.

Grimmett most recently served as an in-house counsel for Oklahoma City-based Chesapeake Energy Corp., one of the nation’s largest natural gas producers. For the past six years, Grimmett represented Chesapeake in a number of civil litigation matters and provided legal counsel for the company’s upstream and midstream divisions. In addition, he directed responses to regulatory inquiries and investigations and was responsible for managing the company’s e-discovery department.

Before joining Chesapeake in 2011, he served as a trial lawyer with several Oklahoma-based law firms and tried cases in jurisdictions throughout the Southwest.

“Todd is an exceptional young lawyer with a deep understanding of the energy sector as well as a wealth of practical experience in the courtroom,” said Mark Lanier, who founded the firm nearly 25 years ago. “This combination of skills will be a great asset as we take on an increasing number of cases related to oil and gas disputes, as well as other civil ligation matters.”

In his new role, Grimmett is reunited with Regan E. Bradford, former Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary for Chesapeake, who joined the Lanier Law Firm in 2016.

Grimmett earned his law degree in 2006 from the University of Oklahoma College of Law, and served as an intern in the office of the Oklahoma Attorney General while in law school. He received his undergraduate degree in business administration from Oklahoma State University in 2001.

The firm has offices in Houston, Los Angeles, and New York.

Join Our LinkedIn Group

Freeborn & Peters LLP announces that Chad J. Richman and Neal L. Wolf have joined the firm’s Chicago office as partners. Richman is a member of the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group and Wolf is a member of Freeborn’s Bankruptcy and Financial Restructuring Practice Group.

Richman has experience in a broad range of real estate, finance, transactional and general business matters. His real estate practice includes acquisitions and dispositions, development, leasing, fund formation, venture structuring, and complex financing involving all types of real estate uses. Mr. Richman also regularly represents publicly and privately held companies on a wide spectrum of structuring and operational issues.

Richman gained experience in transactional real estate while practicing at the global law firm of DLA Piper. Prior to practicing law, he participated in the development of a mixed-use property in downtown Chicago and also served as a judicial extern to the Honorable Ronald A. Guzman in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Richman graduated from The John Marshall Law School ranked first in his law school class and received his Bachelor of Arts from Miami University.

Wolf focuses his practice in the areas of business reorganizations, workouts, debt restructuring and business bankruptcy, as well as business litigation. His diverse insolvency and bankruptcy practice experience has involved the representation of secured and unsecured creditors, creditors’ committees, debtors, trustees, liquidating trusts, lessors, and purchasers of stock or assets of insolvent entities. His business litigation experience has included the successful trial and arbitration of cases involving a broad spectrum of issues, including but not limited to the Uniform Commercial Code, “lender liability” law, fraudulent conveyance avoidance, preference avoidance, partnership disputes, state and federal securities law issues, business torts, and contract law.

In the course of his career, Wolf has appeared in the federal and state courts and regulatory agencies of more than 40 states and the Territory of Puerto Rico.

Most recently, Wolf was a partner at Tetzlaff Law Offices LLC in Chicago. He previously practiced at Much Shelist, P.C.; the former Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP; Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and Winston & Strawn LLP.

Neal is a Fellow of the American College of Bankruptcy. He earned his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School and his Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) from Princeton University.

Join Our LinkedIn Group

Hogan Lovells announced that Jason Hadges will join the firm’s Government Regulatory practice group as a partner in the Washington D.C. office, working in the firm’s Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology Regulatory Practice.

“There are few attorneys with the substantial first-hand regulatory experience that Jason has gained throughout his career at DEA and FDA,” said Alice Valder Curran, Head of Hogan Lovells Government Regulatory Practice Group. “His deep knowledge and familiarity with the relevant laws, agency policies and precedents will offer our life sciences clients a particularly informed perspective on regulatory issues, especially with regard to enforcement actions.”

Hadges joins the firm after five years in the Office of Chief Counsel of the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), where he was a senior attorney in the Diversion and Regulatory Litigation Section. Before DEA, Hadges spent more than eight years at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as an Associate Chief Counsel in the Office of Chief Counsel, where he focused on criminal enforcement and counseling FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations. During that period he also served as a Special Assistant US Attorney on a number of prosecutions. His legal career started as a criminal defense attorney in the US Navy Judge Advocate General’s Corps.

“Jason’s experience, coupled with his keen analytical skills and practical, results-oriented approach, will be a significant addition to our enforcement and compliance capabilities, especially with regard to controlled substances, but also pharmaceutical products more broadly,” said Philip Katz, chair of the firm’s Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology Practice. “DEA and FDA compliance is a large and growing part of our work, both anticipatorily and in response to agency inspections and enforcement actions. Jason joins and further bolsters the strong team we have in place, and allows us to do even more for our clients around the globe.”

“I am looking forward to joining and collaborating with the Hogan Lovells lawyers, who are well known for providing smart, creative, and practical advice to the complex legal issues faced by their pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients,” said Hadges. “Our shared goal is to continue expanding the firm’s ability to provide knowledgeable counsel and advocacy to help clients successfully operate businesses in highly regulated environments, and I’m excited to get started.”

Hadges earned his J.D., summa cum laude, from The American University, Washington College of Law and a B.A. from Duke University.

Join Our LinkedIn Group

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, announced that Kalidou Gadio has joined the firm’s Washington, D.C., office as a partner and co-chair of its Africa and Middle East/North Africa (MENA) practice. Gadio joins from the African Development Bank, where he served as general counsel.

The African Development Bank is a multilateral development finance institution established to contribute to the economic development and social progress of African countries. One of only five such organizations in the world, the bank invests billions of dollars annually in the continent. As general counsel, Gadio advised the bank’s board of governors through two capital replenishment cycles, including the organization’s largest general capital increase of $100 billion. He joined the bank in 1989, serving in various leadership positions until being named chief legal officer in 2008.

At Manatt, Gadio will advise companies and entrepreneurs on entering and navigating emerging markets, identifying opportunities and mitigating risks. He will also counsel foreign governments and development institutions on initiatives such as legislative reforms, financial policies and institutional strengthening.

“Kalidou has a very unique background, combining practical project finance and corporate experience with a sophisticated understanding of international law,” said William T. Quicksilver, Manatt’s chief executive officer and managing partner. “Having worked with government leaders and executives in Africa and from around the globe, he is finely attuned to opportunities in cross-border finance and investment. His credentials will resonate with clients doing business internationally, especially in Africa and the Middle East, and he is a significant addition to the firm.”

Gadio’s practice will also focus on advising government and private-sector clients on international project finance and public-private partnerships, including joint ventures, project structures, legal due diligence, risk allocation, financing arrangements (bank and bond), and relevant security packages and considerations. Gadio will also advise private equity funds as they continue to invest in Africa. He will work closely with Africa and MENA practice co-chair Douglas Boggs.

“Technology and innovation are driving tremendous growth in Africa and the Middle East, particularly in the areas of infrastructure and energy,” said Boggs, who also serves as Manatt’s Washington, D.C., office administrative partner. “And private-sector investment is a critical partner in that growth. The opportunities for Western businesses and investors are significant, but require a thorough understanding of the political and financial realities on the ground, as well as developed relationships with players at the highest levels. Having worked with Kalidou for many years at the African Development Bank, I can confidently say he has both. We are thrilled to welcome Kalidou to Manatt.”

Gadio added, “Africa represents a new frontier for business and economic development. The continent is in the midst of an unprecedented transformation, with advances in the areas of policy, industry and infrastructure improving the quality of life for the people of Africa, which has been my life’s work. When I decided to return to private practice, it was important to me that it be at a nimble, forward-thinking firm that appreciated the big picture while executing the details flawlessly. In Manatt, I’ve found that, along with the entrepreneurial spirit and high-level experience in international project finance, technology and private equity that I was looking for. I’m energized by the possibilities and excited to begin working with clients.”

After earning undergraduate degrees from the University of Mohamed V and the Institut d’Etudes Judiciaires of Paris, France, Gadio received a post master degree from the Sorbonne, University of Paris II. He studied at the Paris Bar Training Center and earned his LL.M. from Harvard Law School.

Join Our LinkedIn Group

Valin L. Woodward has joined Langley & Banack, Inc. in its New Braunfels, Texas office. Woodward is a native of New Braunfels and an active member of the community.

The primary focus of Woodward’s practice is family law, including divorce, property divisions, child custody, child support, enforcement, modification, paternity, grandparent access, termination and adoptions, and pre- and post-marital agreements. She also assists clients with the preparation of wills, durable powers of attorney, medical powers of attorney and directives to physicians. Woodward has experience with the probate of wills and other heirship proceedings.

Woodward is a Fellow of the State Bar of Texas, and admitted to practice in United States District Court: Western, Southern, Eastern, and Northern Districts of Texas; U.S. Court of Appeals, 5th Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, 11th Circuit; and the Supreme Court of the United States.

Woodward holds a bachelor’s degree from The University of Texas at Austin where she graduated cum laude, and a Juris Doctorate from St. Mary’s University School of Law, graduating with honors.

Langley & Banack, Inc. is one of San Antonio’s largest locally owned and operated law firms, the firm said in a news release. The New Braunfels office currently is led by Justin Morley.

Join Our LinkedIn Group

Timothy J. Muris has joined Sidley Austin LLP as senior counsel in the firm’s Antitrust/Competition practice.

Muris, a former chairman of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), has experience inantitrust enforcement as well as in key consumer protection issues, including advertising, consumer finance and privacy regulation, the firm said in a release.

The release continues:

During his lengthy tenure with the FTC, Muris held multiple high-level posts and was the only person ever to direct both of the FTC’s enforcement bureaus. It was under his leadership that the FTC established the National Do Not Call Registry and brought numerous high-profile cases against firms for misusing government practices to raise prices. He also led the agency’s efforts to bring lawsuits against physicians for price-fixing and in challenging fraudulent and deceptive advertising and health claims to protect consumers. In addition, Muris is responsible for spearheading the FTC’s efforts to implement increased antitrust scrutiny of intellectual property issues and hospital mergers.

Muris has also spent a significant amount of time in private practice representing clients before the FTC, the U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission as well as other domestic and international agencies. He regularly advises clients on antitrust issues in high-stakes mergers and acquisitions, as well as on important consumer protection issues pertaining to advertising, consumer finance and privacy. He serves as a George Mason University foundation professor at the Antonin Scalia Law School, a post he’s held since 1988.

“Tim is recognized as being among the best antitrust lawyers in the U.S. and we are delighted he chose to join Sidley,” said Mark Hopson, managing partner of Sidley’s Washington, D.C. office. “He’s earned the respect of both the business and government communities for his vast knowledge of antitrust and consumer protection practices. Having Tim on our team puts us in an enviable position and adds to our already considerable capabilities in helping clients navigate these challenging issues.”

Join Our LinkedIn Group

Hogan Lovells has elected a new partner to its board with the appointment of Bruce Oakley as The Americas representative. Leopold von Gerlach has been re-elected as the representative for the Continental Europe region, and Ben Higson has been re-elected to the 45 and under seat. All begin or continue their roles with immediate effect.

The Hogan Lovells Board comprises 12 members in total and has supervisory responsibility for overseeing the affairs of the firm, but without executive responsibility for strategy, management, and operating decisions. It provides input to the CEO and Hogan Lovells’ International Management Committee. Members of the Board make up the Compensation Committee and are part of the Equity Elevation and Partner Admission Committees which they chair. Membership of the Board is designed to reflect the broad scope of the business, with members representing a combination of geographic and other backgrounds.

Bruce Oakley is managing partner of the firm’s Houston office. He has more than 25 years’ experience as a trial lawyer in Houston.

The Board will now include:

Chair (and “At Large”): Nicholas Cheffings
CEO: Steve Immelt
AsiaPacific Middle East: Andrew McGinty
Continental Europe: Leopold von Gerlach
Washington, D.C. area: Cate Stetson
London: Ruth Grant
The Americas: Bruce Oakley
The Americas (except D.C.): Miguel Zaldivar
45 and under: Ben Higson
“At Large” representatives: Marie-Aimée de Dampierre, Craig Hoover, Phoebe Wilkinson

“I am honored to welcome Bruce Oakley to the Board and look forward to continuing to work with Leopold von Gerlach and Ben Higson,” said Hogan Lovells Chair Nicholas Cheffings. “The Board plays an important role in the governance of Hogan Lovells, in its relationship with our management team, and in listening to, and representing, the views of partners. The high level of participation in this election process is testament to that.”

Join Our LinkedIn Group

DLA Piper announced that healthcare and life sciences compliance lawyer John Rah has joined the firm’s Litigation practice as a partner in Washington, DC.

In a news release, the firm said Rah advises pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, healthcare providers and suppliers and managed healthcare organizations on corporate compliance program development and operations designed to mitigate the risk of fraud and abuse. He counsels clients on investigations and informal inquiries by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) and the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG).

Rah’s work also includes conducting internal investigations for health care companies involving potential violations of relevant policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance with the anti-kickback, Food Drug and Cosmetics Act . He also has been involved in negotiating and implementing Corporate Integrity Agreements (CIAs), Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs), and state consent decrees, and regularly interacts with the OIG and other relevant agencies in connection with these integrity agreements, the firm said.

“John is one of the nation’s leading compliance lawyers,” said Loren Brown, co-chair of DLA Piper’s global and US Litigation practices. “In particular, John is in a league of his own when it comes to counseling major life sciences and healthcare companies through significant regulatory and enforcement challenges. We are confident that our clients will value his advice and counsel, and that he will enhance our global platform immediately.”

“As our healthcare provider clients look to navigate through the complexities of federal regulations, particularly given the evolving regulatory landscape, the insights John gained through his work with the OIG will be extremely valuable,” said Jeff Lehrer, managing partner of DLA Piper’s Washington, DC, office. “John’s skillset will also complement our growing white collar enforcement team in Washington and our growing Litigation practice.”

Rah, who previously was a partner at Morgan Lewis, is the latest addition to the firm’s Litigation practice in Washington, DC, which recently added Matthew Graves, Raphael Larson and Louis Ramos. Other additions to the practice elsewhere in the US include Eric Christofferson (Boston), George Karavetsos (Miami), David Sager (Short Hills, New Jersey), and Thiru Vignarajah (Baltimore).

Rah received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center, and his B.A. from New York University.

Join Our LinkedIn Group

The new Association of Women Lawyers of the Eastern District of Texas (WLED) was established with the first general order of 2017 issued by Eastern District Chief Judge Ron Clark in recognition of “the large number of outstanding female lawyers who practice in the Eastern District and the contribution they have made and continue to make to the district.”

WLED, an affiliate of the Eastern District of Texas Bar Association, will provide mentoring and networking opportunities for women lawyers practicing in the Eastern District.

Judge Clark appointed Elizabeth “Beth” Forrest from the Plano, Texas, office of Siebman, Burg, Phillips & Smith, LLP, as Chairperson for the WLED Organizational Committee. Amanda Abraham of The Roth Law Firm in Marshall, Texas, has been named Secretary/Treasurer, and Evelyn Chen, in-house counsel at Ericsson in Plano, has been named Vice Chairperson.

Eastern District Judge Marcia Crone of Beaumont, Texas; Eastern District Chief Bankruptcy Judge Brenda Rhoades of Plano; and Eastern District Magistrate Judges Caroline Craven of Texarkana, Texas; Nicole Mitchell of Tyler, Texas; Christine Nowak of Sherman, Texas; and Kimberly Priest Johnson of Plano will serve as the inaugural judicial liaisons to WLED.

“WLED’s goal is to provide a continuing forum where the many experienced women attorneys and judges in the Eastern District can provide advice and moral support to all our members, especially younger trial attorneys,” says Ms. Forrest. “Their insights and our shared experiences will help us develop our careers and assume the mantle of lead trial counsel in an increasingly competitive legal market.”

Membership in WLED is open to anyone who is committed to the group’s ethics and goals and who works toward the success of women trial attorneys, including fostering a deep bench of talented women lawyers as lead counsel in the Eastern District of Texas.

For more information on WLED and to learn how to become a member, contact Ms. Forrest at elizabethforrest@siebman.com.

Legal Aid of Northwest Texas will present the 17th Annual Women’s Advocacy Awards on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, at Arlington Hall at Lee Park, 3333 Turtle Creek Blvd. in Dallas.

The 6-9 p.m. event will include a cocktail reception, a raffle and a silent auction.

Honorees will include AT&T with the Business Leadership Award; Girls Embracing Mothers with the Nonprofit Leadership Award and Barry F. McNeil Louise Raggio Women’s Legal Advocate Award; and Jones Day with the Champion of Justice Award.

Tickets can be reserved on the LANWT’s website.

Winston & Strawn LLP has added three more partners to its litigation team in the firm’s recently opened Dallas office.

In a news release, the firm said Geoffrey Harper, Michael Bittner, and Chad Walker, who join the firm from Fish & Richardson, work in complex commercial, business, and intellectual property litigation matters.

“These lawyers are among the best at what they do and therefore a great fit,” said Tom Fitzgerald, chairman of Winston & Strawn. “We’re committed to building an office that is second to none in Dallas, and this is additional proof of that.”

“I know and have worked with these lawyers for years and their continued presence on our team is good for all of us and wonderful news for our clients,” said Tom Melsheimer, who, along with Bryan Goolsby, will serve as managing partner of Winston & Strawn’s Dallas office. “Litigation can be a battle and that means you want and need the best people around you. And these lawyers are the best.”

The firm’s release continues:

Mr. Harper is a nationally recognized trial lawyer who has first chaired more than 25 trials and arbitrations to verdict. Having litigated in 26 states and 4 countries, Mr. Harper is frequently sought by plaintiffs and defendants to handle litigation in state and federal courts around the globe. He has represented clients in multiple billion and trillion dollar class actions and has achieved numerous multi-million dollar verdicts for clients. Mr. Harper has been recognized on Texas Super Lawyers and Texas Rising Stars lists, and has had several of his verdicts cited as some of the top trial victories of the year. His practice emphasizes complex commercial litigation, including contractual disputes, class actions, securities litigation, intellectual property disputes, employment disputes, arbitrations, and general commercial litigation.

Mr. Bittner’s practice is focused primarily on intellectual property disputes with an emphasis on patent litigation. He is responsible for leading the largest joint defense group ever (over 400 defendants) in the Eastern District of Texas. Mr. Bittner was named a Texas Rising Star in Intellectual Property Litigation by Super Lawyers magazine in 2015, 2016, and 2017.

Mr. Walker’s practice emphasizes patent litigation, qui tam/whistleblower litigation, business litigation, and complex litigation. He has participated in numerous trials, including six where he served as lead trial counsel. Mr. Walker also has technical experience as a co-op engineer in the Software Engineering Group for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, and a co-op engineer in the Systems Engineering Group. Mr. Walker was named a Texas Rising Star in Intellectual Property and Business Litigation for the years 2014-2016.

Winston & Strawn entered the Dallas market in February 2017 with an all-star team of 21 partners from eight different firms. Led by Managing Partners Bryan Goolsby and Tom Melsheimer, nearly 50 transactional lawyers and litigators now work in Winston & Strawn’s Dallas office.

Join Our LinkedIn Group

Barnes & Thornburg LLP has added Will Russ to its Dallas office as a partner in the Real Estate Department.

Russ advises investors, developers and operating companies with significant real estate assets. His practice focuses on M&A deals, secured financings, and projects across the energy value chain, including pipelines, gathering systems, refineries, traditional and renewable power plants. For his energy and infrastructure clients, Russ negotiates surface-use agreements, easements and rights-of-way, renewable power leases, and ground leases for commercial and industrial uses, the firm said in a release.

“Will has handled a variety of real estate transactions for leading energy companies in Texas and across the country,” said Mark Bayer, manager partner of Barnes & Thornburg’s Dallas office. “He can lead complex projects from beginning to end, and he does so with the practical, business-oriented approach sought by our clients.”

Russ’ representation of traditional real estate clients includes acquisitions, dispositions and the formation of joint ventures and development programs in the industrial, multifamily, office, and retail sectors.

Russ joins from Vinson & Elkins and is reunited with former colleague Elizabeth Brandon. His arrival comes on the heels of another attorney with strong ties to the energy sector, Bill Jones, former general counsel to Texas Gov. Rick Perry. The Dallas office now has 14 attorneys since opening in 2015.

Russ earned his J.D. from Harvard Law School and his A.B. from Princeton University. He is admitted to practice in Texas.

Join Our LinkedIn Group