Foley & Lardner LLP announced that Natalie Annis and Jamil Daoud have joined the firm’s Estates & Trusts Practice in the Tampa office.

The firm, in a release, said Annis represents professionals, executives, business owners, retired individuals and families in developing, implementing and managing sophisticated estate plans.

The release continues:

She works with financial advisors, accountants, insurance professionals and other advisors to assist clients in developing comprehensive strategies to achieve diverse wealth preservation and succession planning goals, including estate and gift tax planning and asset protection.

Daoud has experience creating asset protection structures using various domestic planning techniques. He has designed and implemented basic and complex trust plans and designed limited liability company operating agreements and corporate buy-sell agreements to accomplish a variety of investment, tax and business objectives. He also has experience with the negotiation and implementation of premarital agreements.

“Natalie and Jamil have immense experience across an array of complex estates and trusts issues. Their comprehensive knowledge will greatly benefit our growing client base,” said Daniel Hess, chair of Foley’s Estates & Trusts Practice.

In addition, both Annis and Daoud have experience advising clients on advanced planning and gifting strategies using irrevocable trusts, including dynasty trusts, grantor trusts, life insurance trusts, gifting trusts and trusts for minors.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Natalie and Jamil. They are highly regarded attorneys and bring a great deal of experience to our office and their practice areas,” said Randy Wolfe, managing partner of Foley’s Tampa office.

About Foley & Lardner LLP
Foley & Lardner LLP is a corporate law firm that provides legal and related services for complex issues facing companies today. With approximately 900 attorneys in 20 offices, Foley combines international reach with a local focus across a full range of legal services in various industries, including technology, health care, sports and manufacturing. Foley has been recognized by clients and the legal industry for its strong commitment to client service excellence and innovation. Learn more at Foley.com.

Lauren Kilgore  of Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP has been named to the 2016 Best of the Bar list published by the Nashville Business Journal.

Kilgore is one of just five attorneys practicing media and entertainment law to be selected to the 1^4th annual listing of the leading attorneys in Nashville and Middle Tennessee. She also was nominated based on her work in litigation and dispute resolution.

“Having worked in the entertainment business before entering the law profession, Lauren offers a unique perspective on the industry that her clients have come to depend upon,” says firm managing partner John Shackelford. “This is a well-deserved honor.”

An associate at Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, Kilgore focuses her practice on entertainment, intellectual property, and commercial and business litigation. She represents recording artists, publishing companies, Internet companies and record labels in both transactional and litigation matters.

Kilgore has served as a Board Member of the Young Lawyers’ Division of the Nashville Bar since 2013, and she was selected last year to the inaugural class of the Nashville Bar Foundation’s Leadership Forum Program for up-and-coming local lawyers. She also was selected to the 2015 listing of Tennessee Rising Stars, which recognizes the top young attorneys in the state.

A graduate of Vanderbilt University Law School, Kilgore served as Senior Technology Editor of the Journal of Entertainment and Technology Law and as the Moot Court Board’s Executive Justice for the National First Amendment Moot Court Competition. She earned her undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from Birmingham-Southern College. She resides in Cherokee Park with her husband, Sgt. Matthew Dixon, a 19-year veteran of the Metro Police Department, and their two daughters, Josephine and Arabella.

To determine its Best of the Bar selections, the Nashville Business Journal accepted public nominations for a two-month period, with finalists selected by peer vote. The final list featured 79 attorneys in 17 separate practice categories. The honorees were recognized at a June 2 reception at the City Winery. The complete list of winners can be found on online at http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville.

Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP is an aviation, general business and entertainment law firm representing aircraft owners, operators and servicers, financial institutions, recording artists, real estate owners and developers, automobile dealerships, record labels, and other businesses in legal matters across the country.

Jason Tomitz has joined Farrell Fritz as a tax associate in the firm’s Uniondale office.

Prior to joining Farrell Fritz, Tomitz was an associate at Kramer, Levin, Naftalis & Frankel, LLP in New York, NY. He was a summer associate at the same firm from June to August 2010. He  was a legal intern at Monteiro & Fishman, LLP from June to August 2009.

Tomitz, a South Huntington, NY resident, earned his Juris Doctorate, summa cum laude, from Hofstra University School of Law, where he was a research assistant to Dean Nora Demleitner from June 2009 to April 2011. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Albany.

He is admitted to practice in New York and is a member of the New York State Bar Association.

Dallas-based trial law firm Deans & Lyons, LLP, is expanding its Texas footprint with the addition of five prominent trial attorneys in the firm’s newly opened Houston office at 1001 Fannin St., Suite 1925.

Joining the firm are veteran Houston trial lawyers Tom Sartwelle, Matt Pletcher and Jeff Nobles, previously with the Houston office of Beirne, Maynard & Parsons, LLP, and Chad Castille and Matt McCracken, previously of Houston-based Serpe Jones Andrews Callender & Bell, PLLC.

Castille will serve as managing partner of the Houston office. His practice is concentrated on complex civil litigation, representing individuals, small businesses and Fortune 500 corporations in a diverse array of industries. His experience includes cases involving medical and hospital negligence, oil and gas, commercial and residential construction, pharmaceutical liability, medical devices, catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death, and commercial business disputes and torts.

Sartwelle has nearly 50 years of experience and has tried cases throughout Texas involving commercial business disputes; catastrophic personal injury; products liability; and medical, hospital and legal malpractice. He tried to verdict a case involving the first Texas corporation to be indicted for murder. He is Board Certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in Personal Injury Trial Law and by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Civil Trial Advocate and a Civil Pretrial Practice Advocate. He is also Board Certified by the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys as a Legal Malpractice and Medical Malpractice Specialist and serves as an officer with that organization. He joins as of counsel.

Pletcher is an experienced trial lawyer with a focus on cases involving commercial business disputes, products liability, professional negligence, and employment, health care, pharmaceutical, medical device and biotech litigation and civil appeals. In addition, he has successfully represented clients in a variety of civil claims under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act. He joins as partner.

Nobles is an appellate lawyer with experience handling a variety of civil appeals in state and federal courts throughout Texas. He has successfully represented plaintiffs and defendants in a wide variety of complex trials and appeals involving commercial business disputes, catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death, and products litigation. He is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a former chair of the Houston Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section and the Appellate Pro Bono Committee. He joins as partner.

McCracken’s trial and appellate experience includes cases involving professional liability with an emphasis on doctor and hospital litigation. He also handles matters involving a variety of industries including manufacturing, energy, telecommunications, and health care. He has briefed and argued major cases to state and federal appellate courts in Texas including the Texas Supreme Court. He has been an invited lecturer on legal ethics issues. He joins as partner.

Nine practice groups and 23 individual attorneys with Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP have been recognized in the annual Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business.

“We are thankful to our clients and peers for providing Chambers USA with the positive input that helped us achieve our recognition,” says Gardere Chair Holland N. O’Neil. “The Firm’s inclusion in these prestigious rankings is a testament to our attorneys’ hard work and the level of service we are committed to delivering our clients.”

The firm’s Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional) and Leisure & Hospitality practices once again received national recognition in the publication. In addition, partner Joyce Mazero, co-chair of the firm’s global supply network, received the prestigious Band 1 national ranking in Franchising for the ninth consecutive year. In the publication, she is lauded by her clients for her business acumen, with one stating in the publication that “she has a practical business focus in what she does and I’ve seen that proven over and over.”

The following Gardere attorneys also received individual national Chambers recognition:

Marshall J. Doke Jr. – Government: Government Contracts
Douglas K. Eyberg – Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional)
Leonard H. (Len) MacPhee – Franchising
Cynthia Brotman (Cindy) Nelson – Leisure & Hospitality
Clifford J. Risman – Leisure & Hospitality
N. L. (Larry) Stevens III – Energy: Oil & Gas (Transactional)

In the publication, Gardere clients stated that the firm provides “excellent, totally dedicated client service. It’s as good as it gets,” and noted, “Their level of knowledge and experience is high and that enables them to give practical and focused advice.”

The following firm practices were recognized among the best in Texas: Antitrust, Bankruptcy/Restructuring, Corporate/M&A, Environment, Insurance, Labor & Employment and Real Estate.

Additionally, these Gardere attorneys received individual Chambers recognition for their work in Texas:

Val J. Albright – Tax: Litigation
Chris Converse – Corporate/M&A
Craig B. Florence –  Litigation: General Commercial
Ronald M. Gaswirth – Labor & Employment
Randy D. Gordon –  Antitrust
Kevin L. Kelley – Real Estate
Stephen A. McCartin –  Bankruptcy/Restructuring
Andres S. Medrano –  Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity)
John P. Melko – Bankruptcy/Restructuring
Holland N. O’Neil – Bankruptcy/Restructuring
Alan J. Perkins – Corporate/M&A
Frances E. Phillips –  Environment
Clifford J. Risman –  Real Estate
Deirdre B. Ruckman – Bankruptcy/Restructuring
Rachel Powitzky Steely – Labor & Employment
Peter S. Vogel – Technology: Corporate & Commercial
Kimberly A. Yelkin –  Insurance Regulation

Chambers and Partners uses phone interviews with thousands of attorneys and clients to identify lawyers and law firms that demonstrate qualities most valued by clients, such as legal ability, professional conduct, client service, diligence and commitment.

Law firm Quarles & Brady LLP has announced that 46 attorneys from the firm’s offices have been ranked in the 2016 edition of the Chambers USA directory.

“We are very proud of the recognition earned in Chambers by our attorneys,” said Kimberly Leach Johnson, firm chair of Quarles & Brady. “I know this honor is the result of great dedication and insight. Our focus on excellence is demonstrated by the service provided and this recognition is proof positive of that focus.”

Quarles & Brady attorneys were ranked as follows:

• Jean C. Baker – Intellectual Property
• David A. Beyer – Franchising
• David L. Bourne – Banking & Finance
• Daniel E. Conley – Litigation: General Commercial
• John F. Dienelt – Franchising
• Joseph A. Drazek – Environment (including water rights)
• Robert H. Duffy – Labor & Employment
• Steven P. Emerick – Corporate/M&A
• Mary N. Fertl – Real Estate
• Michael J. Fischer – Labor & Employment
• Diane M. Haller – Real Estate
• Patricia M. Hutter – Corporate/M&A
• Michael A. Jaskolski – Intellectual Property
• David B. Kern – Labor & Employment
• Janine M. Landow-Esser – Environment: Mainly Transactional
• Paul L. Langer – Insurance: Dispute Resolution
• Scott L. Langlois – Real Estate
• Anthony C. Marino – Banking & Finance
• Don P. Martin – Litigation: General Commercial
• Adrianne C. Mazura – Labor & Employment
• Thomas P. McElligott – Natural Resources & Environment
• Robert F. Messerly – Real Estate
• Brian K. Moll – Corporate/M&A
• Roger N. Morris – Healthcare
• Ann M. Murphy – Banking & Finance
• David P. Olson – Labor & Employment: Employee Benefits & Compensation
• Michael J. Ostermeyer – Real Estate
• Nancy K. Peterson – Natural Resources & Environment
• Jeffrey S. Piell – Labor & Employment
• Pamela M. Ploor – Labor & Employment
• Joseph E. Puchner – Real Estate
• Stephanie J. Quincy – Labor & Employment
• Robert D. Rothacker – Labor & Employment: Employee Benefits & Compensation
• John A. Rothstein – Litigation: General Commercial
• James A. Ryan – Litigation: General Commercial
• Donald K. Schott – Litigation: General Commercial
• Sean M. Scullen – Labor & Employment
• Walter J. Skipper – Corporate/M&A
• Derek L. Sorenson – Real Estate
• Grant S. Sovern – Labor & Employment: Immigration
• Peter A. Tomasi – Natural Resources & Environment
• Margaret Utterback – Banking & Finance
• Arthur A. Vogel, Jr. – Natural Resources & Environment
• Kim Marie Wynn – Banking & Finance
• Ted Yi – Real Estate
• Michael D. Zeka – Real Estate

Foley & Lardner LLP announced that Dana Lach has returned to the firm’s Health Care Finance, Public Finance and Finance & Financial Institutions Practices in the Milwaukee office.

In a release, the firm said Lach has extensive experience counseling health care and other nonprofit organizations, including colleges and universities, in tax-exempt and taxable bond transactions, commercial loans, non-traditional financing products such as commercial paper programs and securitizations, and derivative transactions. Lach regularly serves as counsel to investment banks, purchasers and commercial banks in connection with tax-exempt and taxable financing transactions. Lach’s participation as borrower’s or underwriter’s counsel on more than 150 securities transactions has totaled in excess of $20 billion.

“Dana’s deep experience structuring complex securities transactions across many public sectors, particularly the health care industry, will play a key role as we work to sustain and grow our established public finance bench,” said Laura Bilas, chair of Foley’s Public Finance Practice.

Lach has worked on post-issuance compliance, including ongoing tax, covenant and disclosure compliance. She has helped develop policies and procedures for both tax and primary and secondary market disclosure requirements and has provided guidance on remedial actions for changes in use of bond financed facilities and information reporting for the U.S. Internal Revenue Service Form 990, Schedule K.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dana back to Foley. Her immense knowledge in the health care, nonprofit and municipal financing arenas will contribute vastly to our existing and expanding client base,” said Linda Benfield, managing partner of Foley’s Milwaukee office.

The law firm Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. announced that John L. Senica has joined the firm’s Chicago office as an attorney in the Business Services Practice Group.

The also announced expanding its Chicago office space on the 33rd floor of its current building at 200 West Madison St.

Senica has more than 30 years of experience in corporate law, working in finance, secured lending, private equity and venture capital. He represents clients in business, commercial lending and commercial real estate transactions. He works with closely held companies and commercial lenders and handles matters related to business planning, commercial finance and mergers and acquisitions, the firm said in a release.

Prior to joining Greensfelder, Senica was the founding member and Resident Director of the Chicago Office of Miller Canfield, where he also served as a Senior Principal. Previously, he practiced in business transactional law for more than a decade as an equity partner at an Am Law 50 national law firm.

“John is a great addition to our firm as he brings decades of experience in corporate law and helps to further broaden Greensfelder’s transactional practice in Chicago,” said David B. Goodman, Managing Officer of Greensfelder’s Chicago office. “John’s insights and experience from opening and growing Miller Canfield’s office in Chicago also will be invaluable as we continue to expand and build Greensfelder’s presence in the Chicago market.”

Senica said, “As a Chicago native, I have a strong affinity for Midwest people, values and culture, and I was particularly drawn to Greensfelder’s culture and rate structures that I believe are highly appealing to middle market businesses and banks in Chicago and across the nation. I also am impressed by the firm’s deep commitment to Illinois expansion, as well as the depth of talent at the firm across a wide range of practice areas including real estate, franchising, health care and energy.”

Senica joins Greensfelder as the firm moves its Chicago office to expanded space with about 52 percent more square footage than the space it previously occupied since the office first opened in November 2008.

Senica is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and formerly served on the Board of Directors of the LaSalle Street Council. He earned his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law and holds a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame.

Ernest Aliseda has joined Dykema in its Commercial Litigation Practice Group as a member in the firm’s McAllen, Texas office.

Prior to joining Dykema, Aliseda served as General Counsel/Chief Legal Officer for the Loya Insurance Group companies, where he handled general legal matters and managed and oversaw diverse litigation throughout the country. Aliseda is also a former State District Judge for both the 398th and 139th State District Courts in Hidalgo County.

In a release, the firm said Aliseda will advise and represent clients in commercial and general litigation matters, along with serving as a mediator and arbitrator in personal injury, commercial, employment, international and personal injury law cases.

“We are very pleased and fortunate to add an attorney of Ernie’s stature to our roster,” said Diann Bartek, Office Managing Member of Dykema’s McAllen office. “His reputation precedes him. There is no doubt that his strong background in commercial litigation and his experience as a judge will be extremely valuable to the firm and its clients.”

Aliseda is a governor-appointed Regent of the University of Texas System Board of Regents and a State Bar of Texas President-appointed member of the Board of the Texas Bar College. He received his law degree from the University of Houston Law Center and his undergraduate degree from Texas A&M University.

He is board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in personal injury trial law, along with being trained as a mediator, arbitrator, and litigation management professional. He is also a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves, where he serves as a military judge.

Foley & Lardner LLP announced that Lou Cohen and Elgie Sims Jr. have joined the firm’s Business Law Department as of counsel in the Chicago office.

“We are thrilled to welcome Lou and Elgie. Together, they add unique transactional and public policy experience combined with a deep understanding of the Chicago market that will significantly enhance our offerings to clients,” said Myles Berman, managing partner of Foley’s Chicago office.

In a release, the firm said Cohen has led and handled high-profile real estate transactions for international and domestic lenders, developers, real estate investment trusts, public pension funds, pension fund advisors, insurance companies and governmental entities. He served as lead counsel for the owner and redeveloper of the Chicago Soho House Club, and represented the City of Atlanta in negotiations surrounding the development of the $1.4 billion stadium for the Atlanta Falcons. His practice is focused on commercial real estate development, including acquisitions and dispositions, venture structuring and formation, leasing, lending, restructuring and workouts.

“Lou is an accomplished and well-known real estate attorney in Chicago and the Midwest. His ability to manage complex real estate transactions will be a great service to our institutional and other major real estate clients,” said Fred Ridley, chair of Foley’s Real Estate Practice.

Sims, who is currently the Illinois state representative for the 34th District, will focus on government affairs and municipal finance as a member of the firm’s Government & Public Policy and Public Finance Practices. Sims has an extensive background representing clients and spearheading complex legislative initiatives before various branches of federal, state and local governments. Several of his legislative accomplishments include passage of Illinois’ film tax credit, which helped the film industry generate over $330 million in spending in 2015, and changes to Illinois’ nursing home reimbursement model. As state representative, he was the chief House sponsor of Senate Bill 1304, which established a clear policy and guidelines for police body-worn cameras and police reform initiatives. He currently serves as chairman of the Illinois House Judiciary Criminal Committee and a member of the Business and Occupational Licenses, Elementary & Secondary Education; Curriculum and Policies, Higher Education, Transportation, Regulation and Roads and Revenue and Finance Committees.

“As a lawyer and legislator, Elgie’s knowledge of the intricacies behind local and state government policies will benefit a broad range of our clients, from Fortune 500 businesses to health care companies to non-profit organizations. We look forward to adding his Midwest expertise to our established national bench,” said David Ralston, chair of Foley’s Government & Public Policy Practice.

Prior to joining Foley, Cohen was a partner at Locke Lord.

Some U.S. companies are now paying a top hourly rate of $2,000 to partners at the country’s biggest law firms, according to a report on a survey released by BTI Consulting Group.

The report says the top rate of $2,000 an hour in 2015, up from $1,600 last year, represents a 25 percent one-year increase.

BTI conducted more than 300 independent, individual interviews with CLOs and general counsel at Fortune 1000 companies and large organizations.

The company said GCs pay the highest rates for:

• Bet-the-company IP work
• Enterprise level M&A related litigation
• Large-scale government investigation
• Defense against high-profile activist hedge funds

Read the article.

Lawyers who won a $9.5 million settlement in a conspiracy case involving bar exam review courses will get a second chance to seek $2 million in attorneys’ fees, the 9th Circuit has ruled, according to a report by Courthouse News Service.

Plaintiffs sued West Publishing, which offers BarBri prep courses, and Kaplan in 2008, claiming the two colluded to block competition in the market for bar review courses.

The opinion also noted that the appellate court has reversed the trial judge’s denials and reductions of attorneys’ fees three times in a related case. Because of that pattern, the panel ordered that the case be assigned to a different judge on remand.

“In light of the history of this case and related litigation, it is clear to us that the district judge would have ‘substantial difficulty in putting out of his … mind’ his previously expressed erroneous findings and conclusions and that ‘reassignment is advisable to preserve the appearance of justice,'” according to the opinion.

Read the article.

Litigator Sean M. Whyte has joined Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP as a partner in the firm’s Dallas office. He joins the firm from Alston & Bird, where he has practiced since 2011.

In a release, the firm said Whyte’s litigation practice includes complex commercial litigation, consumer class actions and products liability. He has practiced before state and federal courts, with class-action experience that includes defending clients in cases involving Internet sales practices, consumer fraud and other federal statutes. He has also represented clients in regulatory and government investigative matters involving federal agencies, including the U.S. Department of Energy and the Federal Trade Commission.

“Sean’s versatile expertise will further allow our litigation group to offer the best solutions for our clients,” says Gardere Chair Holland N. O’Neil. “Our litigation partners are among the most respected in their field, and we are honored to have Sean join our team.”

While at Alston & Bird, Whyte worked on litigation that resulted in a victory in the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in the first case to consider Texas’ Anti-SLAPP statute. He also helped win the first dismissal of a federal action under the Texas Health and Safety Code statute granting limited immunity to telecommunication providers related to 911 calls. He began his legal career at Jones Day in 2004 where he assisted on litigation resulting from Hurricane Katrina and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Whyte received a juris doctor degree from The University of Texas School of Law in 2004, where he was an articles editor for the Texas Law Review. He completed course work for a doctorate degree in applied philosophy at Bowling Green State University and obtained a master’s degree from the same school in applied philosophy in 1996. He also earned his bachelor’s degree in philosophy in 1994 at West Virginia University. Prior to law school, Whyte served as a senior lecturer and adjunct philosophy instructor at universities in Ohio and Michigan.

In addition to his legal practice, Whyte serves as the co-vice chair of the Law Day Committee for the Dallas Bar Association. In 2014, he was named to the Texas Rising Stars list for his work in business litigation, and he was awarded Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year by the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program in 2010.

“It is an honor to join Gardere’s well-known and respected litigation practice,” Whyte said. “I am proud to be joining this exceptional group of professionals.”

Theodore M. Sullivan has joined Quarles & Brady LLP‘s Washington, D.C. office as a partner in its Health & Life Sciences Practice Group.

Sullivan counsels and advises clients on Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations and matters related to over-the-counter drug regulation, drug exclusivity issues, food and dietary supplement labeling and advertising, and import detention of FDA-regulated products. He has worked closely with clients in guiding new drugs and medical devices through the FDA’s approval processes, and has assisted clients resolving conflicts with the agency regarding approved products.

He received his law degree, with honors, from Chicago-Kent College of Law and his bachelor’s degree from George Mason University.

Dr. Joseph Eng has joined Hogan Lovells’ New York office as counsel in its Intellectual Property Media & Technology Practice Group.

Eng will focus his practice at Hogan Lovells on patent litigation, patent prosecution, and transactional matters. He has represented clients in patent infringement lawsuits in federal district courts across the United States as well as before the International Trade Commission, in cases involving microelectronic devices, semiconductor processing, polymer coatings, optical fibers, medical devices, and respiratory protective devices. Eng’s litigation experience includes representing major pharmaceutical companies in Hatch-Waxman litigation.

Registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Eng has worked on numerous patent prosecution matters in the fields of pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, peptide delivery systems, therapeutic uses of neurotoxins, consumer electronics, fuel cells, biofuels, petroleum refining, polymers, and automotive parts, the firm said in a release.

Eng’s experience in transactional matters includes licensing, conducting due diligence reviews, advising on asset purchase agreements, and preparing opinions of counsel regarding freedom to operate, patent invalidity, and non-infringement.

Eng holds a Ph.D. in physical chemistry from Columbia University, a J.D. from Fordham University, and B.S. degrees in both chemistry and physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Eng previously worked as a post-doctoral fellow at Exxon’s Corporate Research Center and at Bell Labs, Lucent Technologies. He was also a Member of Technical Staff at Bell Labs, where he was in charge of developing a research program in semiconductor surface characterization.

Beck Redden associate Joshua D. Lee received news that he passed the bar on Friday, April 29, 2016, was sworn in on May 2 and almost immediately used his new license to help a veteran avoid eviction.

Lee volunteered at the Houston Bar Association’s Veterans Legal Initiative Clinic, and consulted with a veteran who had a bench trial set for the morning of May 3, whereby he was to be evicted from his rental home. The veteran participates in a program through which the government pays a significant portion towards his rent each month for the remainder of this life; however, he would become ineligible to continue receiving funds with an eviction on his record.

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Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm, has announced the continued expansion of its Tax Practice Group with the addition of veteran trusts and estates partner Paul Collins in New York. He joins the firm from Schiff Hardin.

“Paul brings many years of experience in trusts and estates planning, probate and fiduciary disputes,” said Jonathan Gopman, chair of Akerman’s Trusts & Estates Practice. “He will be a trusted resource for clients who need help navigating the delicate situations that often arise in family-related disputes and wealth preservation strategies.”

Collins has more than 30 years of experience in the planning and administration of trusts and estates, both domestic and international.

“His particular strength is in fiduciary litigation, such as contested probate and accounting matters, guardianships, disputes over inherited property, and the construction of wills and trusts,” the firm said in a release. “He has represented clients in the Surrogate’s Courts and other courts in New York, as well as Connecticut courts, and often seeks to resolve disputes through mediation or arbitration.”

Collins has represented various charitable organizations in establishing and then advising on their ongoing operations. He has also administered the estates of a number of authors and artists.

Collins joins one of the country’s leading tax teams, according to Law360, which recently named Akerman “Tax Practice Group of the Year” for achieving some of the greatest client successes in the industry. Akerman’s Tax Practice Group continues to see rapid growth in the New York market. Collins is the sixth partner to join the office since January, including labor and employment litigators Bran Noonan and Sarir Silver from Gordon & Rees; corporate lawyers Lorenzo Borgogni from Proskauer Rose and Jack Habert from Willkie Farr & Gallagher, and real estate transactions lawyer Dianne Greenberg Penchina from DGP Partners.

Dallas appellate lawyer and strategist Deborah Hankinson of Hankinson LLP has earned recognition on D Magazine’s 2016 listing of the Best Lawyers in Dallas. This is the 11th time the former Texas Supreme Court justice has been recognized in the annual list based on her expertise in appellate law, arbitration, mediation and trial consulting.

Earlier this year, Hankinson was one of just 48 attorneys nationwide selected to The National Law Journal’s inaugural ADR Champions listing, which honored the leaders and trailblazers in alternative dispute resolution. Last year, Ms. Hankinson was named a Texas Trial Legend by the Dallas Bar Association. She also has earned honors for her work from The Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, Texas Super Lawyers, Benchmark Appellate, Texas Lawyer, Dallas Business Journal, Martindale-Hubbell and Lawdragon.

She has been honored by such organizations as the Women’s Advocacy Project, Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas, Texas Equal Access to Justice Foundation, American Board of Trial Advocates, Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and the State Bar of Texas.

Hankinson is Board Certified in Civil Appellate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. She serves on the Board of Directors for the American Arbitration Association.

D Magazine’s 2016 listing of the city’s top attorneys was determined through peer nominations submitted by thousands of attorneys throughout North Texas. An independent panel of distinguished lawyers helped the magazine’s editors select the honorees. The complete listing is featured in the May 2016 edition of D Magazine and online at www.dmagazine.com.

Litigator and firm alumnus Leonard (Len) D. Venger will rejoin Buchalter Nemer as a senior advisor and chair of the Litigation Practice and Entertainment Industry Groups in Los Angeles, the firm has announced.

A former managing partner at Buchalter Nemer, Venger was lead trial attorney and handled numerous complex business and commercial litigation matters. For the past 13 years, he was executive vice president and head of Global Litigation at Sony Pictures Entertainment, Inc., where he was responsible for litigation matters relating to the company and its operating divisions around the world.

“Len was a very important part of the firm’s past and we’re thrilled to welcome him back,” said Adam J. Bass, president and chief executive officer of Buchalter Nemer. “As companies continue to face high-stakes litigation, Len’s experience and expert counsel will prove invaluable.”

As chair of the Litigation Practice Group, Venger will lead and oversee critical aspects of heavily litigated and high-stakes cases. In addition to managing case evaluation, strategy, staffing and overall handling of litigated matters, he will develop educational curriculum and master classes to ensure that firm expertise matriculates through counsel of all ages and experience. Venger will also take a leadership role in the firm’s Cybersecurity Practice Group and will serve on the Ethics and Risk Management Committee.

Venger earned his J.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles School of Law and his B.A. in economics from the University of California at Los Angeles.

BigLaw firms Reed Smith and Pepper Hamilton have ended talks about a possible merger, both firms announced in separate statements.

“Early last week, both firms confirmed they were holding discussions to create a mega-firm that would have nearly 2,500 lawyers worldwide and annual revenue of $1.5 billion,” according to a report by The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Reed Smith has 1,900 attorneys in 27 offices in the U.S., Europe, Asia and the Middle East, but has lost staff in recent months through departures and layoffs, and its financials dipped in 2015 compared with the prior year, the report says.

Read the article.