May 13, 2025
DALLAS, TX—Dallas litigation firm Crawford, Wishnew & Lang announced its addition of attorney Alexis Wright. Wright received her law degree from UNT Dallas College of Law before beginning her legal career in Dallas at a prominent litigation firm. Wright started her career by counseling and representing individuals and businesses in a variety of civil cases, including premises liability, tort, and general negligence matters.
May 9, 2025
MOORHEAD, MN—PowerHouse Mediation welcomed Lisa Borgen, who will offer mediation, arbitration, and consensual special master services in both civil and family law matters. Lisa served as a Minnesota District Court Judge from 2006 until her retirement in 2013. She then transitioned to a leadership role as Vice President at American Crystal Sugar Company, overseeing Human Resources and Labor Relations until her retirement in December 2024. A seasoned ADR neutral, Lisa is rostered in both Minnesota and North Dakota. She is widely recognized for her fairness, efficiency, and creative problem-solving—qualities she now brings to her work helping attorneys and clients achieve balanced, solution-focused outcomes.
April 28, 2025
FORT WORTH, TX—Varghese Summersett has received the Richard L. Knight Rotary Minority Business Award — a prestigious honor presented by the Rotary Club of Fort Worth to recognize minority-owned businesses that exemplify core values and best practices. Varghese Summersett was ultimately named the recipient of the 2025 award, which was presented by Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker.
Newsletter Signup
Subscribe to the Talk of the Town Newsletter to get latest lawyer news.
May 19, 2025
BOSTON, MA—Sunstein LLP announced that the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has upheld a sweeping patent infringement defense jury verdict win for its client, Ingenico Inc., a major global provider of point-of-sale payment terminals, software, and services, affirming the trial court’s ruling that patent claims asserted against Ingenico in district court are invalid in view of a prior art device known as the DiskOnKey. The decision, in addition to being a complete vindication for Sunstein’s client, resolves a split among district courts regarding the scope of inter partes review (IPR) estoppel and provides noteworthy implications for patent litigants and future validity challenges.
In Ingenico Inc. v. IOENGINE LLC, case number 23-1367, the Federal Circuit held for the first time that estoppel from IPRs applies to invalidity theories based on prior art patents and printed publications, not to the actual prior art references. The ruling upholds a Delaware federal jury’s 2022 verdict invalidating IOENGINE LLC’s flash drive patents. The jury found that two of the asserted claims were not infringed, thus did not reach the question of validity as to those claims.
When PayPal was sued in 2018 by IOENGINE alleging infringement of three patents, Ingenico sued IOENGINE, seeking declaratory judgment of noninfringement. In parallel, Sunstein also filed multiple IPR petitions with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), successfully invalidating more than 150 of IOENGINE’s patent claims.
May 19, 2025
MILWAUKEE, WI—Quarles & Brady LLP announced today that Jon Stone has been appointed national chair of the firm’s Research Institutions & Higher Education (RIHE) team. Stone also will lead the Patent — University Research and Technology Transfer team. Stone, a Milwaukee-based partner, also is co-chair of the Artificial Intelligence team and has served as an adjunct professor at Marquette University Law School since 2016.
May 19, 2025
JACKSONVILLE, FL—Burr & Forman LLP announced that H. Timothy Gillis has joined its Jacksonville, FL office as a Partner in the Corporate Practice Group. Tim is a Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent-rated attorney and focuses his practice on transactional business law and commercial litigation. He advises private equity funds and their portfolio companies, major retailers, franchisors and franchisees, commercial real estate developers, financial institutions, and other clients.
May 19, 2025
NEW YORK, NY—Hogan Lovells announced today that Edward So has joined the firm’s Corporate & Finance practice as a partner in the New York office and Head of Derivatives – Americas. Joining from White & Case, So focuses on derivatives transactions over a wide spectrum of asset classes, including cash and synthetic fixed income, rates, equity, credit, commodity, and FX products.
May 19, 2025
MINNEAPOLIS, MN—Carlton Fields has opened a new office in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The new office will be led by trial attorneys Jenny Covington and Molly Jean Given, who will serve as co-office managing shareholders and boast a renowned national product liability defense practice and experience trying high-stakes cases across the country. In addition to Covington and Given, David Carrier and Jenna Durr are joining the new office as shareholders. They all previously practiced at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP.
May 19, 2025
LAS VEGAS, NV—Cozen O’Connor has announced veteran Nevada insurance litigator Frank Toddre, II, one of the Ninth Circuit’s leading appellate and civil rights attorneys and a former senior deputy attorney general in Nevada, has joined the growing ranks of its award-winning Global Insurance Department. Toddre, who comes to the firm from Lewis Brisbois, joins Cozen O’Connor as a member and will work out of its Las Vegas office. Toddre focuses his practice on bad faith insurance litigation, Sec 1983 Civil Rights defense, insurance coverage litigation, personal injury defense, and appellate litigation.
May 19, 2025
CHICAGO, IL—Honigman LLP announced today that Evan Knott joined its Chicago office as a partner in the Litigation Department. Knott, who spent nearly two decades at Reed Smith, is the second Reed Smith partner to move his insurance and reinsurance recovery practice to Honigman, following Partner Noel Paul’s recent move. Knott and Paul will be joined by Associate Lauren Gubricky, who also arrives today from Reed Smith. Knott represents corporate policyholders and insurers in complex insurance coverage disputes and litigation. Gubricky was an associate at Reed Smith for more than four years, where she represented corporate policyholders in state and federal court as they navigated high-stakes coverage and bad faith litigation.
May 15, 2025
MINNEAPOLIS, MN—Meagher + Geer announces that Molly Ryan has rejoined its Minneapolis office as a partner in the Employment Services and Commercial Litigation practice groups. Molly is an MSBA Certified Labor and Employment Law Specialist with over two decades of experience partnering with employers to navigate complex workplace challenges. She has extensive experience representing employers in all stages of litigation – both individual and class-wide – in state and federal courts and arbitration, as well as before federal, state, and local administrative agencies.
May 15, 2025
NEW YORK, NY—Frost Brown Todd (FBT) has added respected commercial litigator Michael Richter as Partner in the firm’s Business & Commercial Litigation practice. Richter is licensed in New York, and has handled an array of complex commercial litigation in state and federal courts spanning California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, and Texas. He advises clients in a variety of highly regulated and innovation-focused industries.
May 15, 2025
LOS ANGELES, CA—Signature Resolution announced that Hon. Stephanie Bowick (Ret.) has joined its panel of neutrals, further strengthening the organization’s deep bench of accomplished mediators, arbitrators, and referees. With 34 years of experience as an attorney and judge, Bowick is a trusted choice for parties seeking resolution across a wide range of civil disputes.
May 15, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Holland & Hart LLP announced the expansion of its specialized environmental appellate capabilities with the addition of Jennifer Scheller Neumann and Amelia Yowell as Of Counsel in the firm’s Washington, DC office. Both women join the firm following distinguished careers at the US Department of Justice’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), bringing extensive experience in environmental appellate litigation and regulatory matters.
May 15, 2025
BOSTON, MA—Alison T. Holdway, a Litigation shareholder in global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP’s Boston office, has been appointed to the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s City Awake advisory board. City Awake is designed to engage young professionals and encourage rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s success. As a member of the advisory board, which comprises young leaders from Chamber member organizations, Holdway will help guide programming that offers civic and community engagement, along with cultural and social experiences.
May 15, 2025
BOSTON, MA—Morgan, Brown & Joy partner Alexandra L. Pichette co-chaired the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) program, “Roadmap to the ADA Interactive Process,” on May 9, 2025. Pichette and fellow faculty explored the rights of employees with disabilities seeking accommodations in the evolving landscape of paid family and medical leave, remote work, and workplace redesign.
May 14, 2025
WEST PALM BEACH, FL—Jones Foster announced that attorney Stephen C. Richman has joined the firm as a shareholder in its Complex Litigation and Dispute Resolution practice group. The addition of Mr. Richman marks the latest expansion of the firm’s Litigation team, which has grown by five attorneys over the past year in response to rising demand for complex litigation counsel in the dynamic South Florida market. Mr. Richman represents businesses and individuals in commercial litigation, class actions, and professional liability matters.
May 14, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Quarles & Brady announced that Intellectual Property attorney Li Zhu has rejoined the firm’s Washington, D.C., office as a partner. Zhu is dual-qualified in the U.S. and China, and helps brands protect and enforce their intellectual property (IP) across borders — including a decade of on-the-ground practice in China. She has extensive experience leading cross-border enforcement campaigns to dismantle counterfeit networks and stop unauthorized sales, designing global anti-counterfeiting strategies and conducting trademark and copyright portfolio reviews to uncover enforcement vulnerabilities and develop comprehensive protection plans.
May 14, 2025
SAN FRANCISCO, CA—International law firm Withers has welcomed veteran tech litigator Jessica Nall as partner and leader of the firm’s Executive Crisis Management and Defense practice in San Francisco. Jess joins Withers from Baker McKenzie, where she led the government enforcement defense and investigations practice on the US West Coast.
May 14, 2025
GREENVILLE, SC—Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd P.A. is growing its litigation team with the addition of associate D. Dalton Barfield to the firm’s Greenville office. Dalton focuses on toxic tort and products liability litigation. He previously practiced at a regional law firm where he defended individuals, businesses and municipalities in government liability, premises liability and motor vehicle collision cases.
May 14, 2025
BOSTON, MA—Wiggin and Dana LLP announced that Katherine Rubino has joined the firm as a partner in the Corporate Department and Emerging Companies and Venture Capital, Intellectual Property and Life Sciences practice groups in Boston. She will also work closely with wiggin(x), a division of Wiggin and Dana that serves emerging and high-growth companies, their investors and their founders. Rubino supports innovative companies with corporate issues foundational to their business, with an emphasis on protecting and monetizing the value of their IP portfolio.
May 14, 2025
COLUMBIA, SC—Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP announced the launch of its new Data Center industry group. Fueled by the explosive growth of the artificial intelligence sector and the ongoing need for advanced computing power, this industry group allows the firm to harness and unify our existing capabilities in the rapidly evolving sector, one that requires expertise across many legal domains. This strategic expansion demonstrates the firm’s continued commitment to supporting clients in their ever-evolving business needs. The Data Center group will focus on providing comprehensive legal and advisory services tailored to the complex needs of data center operators, developers, investors, and lenders.
May 14, 2025
JACKSONVILLE, FL—Marshall Dennehey announced that James P. Hanratty, shareholder and office managing attorney of the firm’s Jacksonville office, was admitted to membership of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC). Hanratty is the casualty litigation supervisor for the firm’s Jacksonville office, where he oversees a team of experienced attorneys handling corporate, commercial and civil litigation matters, including workers’ compensation across Northern Florida.
May 14, 2025
HOUSTON, TX—Chamberlain Hrdlicka represented Page in signing a definitive purchase agreement to be acquired by Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering. The transaction was supported by Umair Karowadia, Marianne Standley, Pearson Wolk, David Pierson, Aly Dossa, Joshua Sutin, Jack Li, and Will Cowan. Page is a long-standing client of Gnaim, Practice Chair of Chamberlain Hrdlicka’s Tax Planning & Business Transactions Section, and is a globally recognized multidisciplinary firm specializing in design, architecture, and engineering. Pending regulatory approvals, the acquisition will create the second-largest architecture firm in the United States and greatly strengthen Stantec’s position as the largest integrated engineering and architecture firm in North America.
May 13, 2025
LOS ANGELES, CA—Stinson LLP welcomed Ashley Fickel as a partner in the firm’s Business & Commercial Litigation Division. Based in the firm’s Los Angeles office, Fickel focuses his practice on business and real estate litigation, financial services litigation, class action defense and data privacy and cybersecurity. He is the third attorney to join the firm’s recently established Century City office in Los Angeles.
May 13, 2025
SACRAMENTO, CA—Buchalter announced that Josh Escovedo has been named Co-Managing Shareholder of the firm’s Sacramento office, joining James “Jim” Dyer in the leadership role. Dyer, a founding Shareholder of the office since 2017, has helped guide its transformation into one of Sacramento’s largest and most dynamic law practices. Escovedo is a seasoned litigator with a practice spanning intellectual property, real estate, business, and sports law. Dyer has long been a trusted advisor to clients throughout California and beyond. He is a seasoned corporate and bank regulatory attorney with more than 30 years of experience.
May 13, 2025
BOSTON, MA—Morgan, Brown & Joy announces that Sandra D. Preston has joined the firm as Executive Director, marking a significant step in the firm’s continued growth and operational leadership. Preston, who brings nearly three decades of experience managing critical functionalities for prominent law firms, will oversee all business operations including finance, IT, human resources, marketing, payroll, and day-to-day operations.
May 13, 2025
BOSTON, MA—Casner & Edwards partner Steven M. Ayr chaired the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education’s (MCLE) program, “How & Why to Do an F Reorganization,” on May 8. The program provided a high-level overview of what an F-reorganization is, when it is a useful legal and tax strategy (and when it isn’t), and how and when an F-reorganization is typically accomplished. Ayr focuses his practice on a wide variety of business and corporate matters, representing businesses and their founders in a range of industries through all stages of their life-cycle.
May 13, 2025
PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL—Nason, Yeager, Gerson, Harris & Fumero, P.A. represented Southern States Land & Timber LLC (SSLT) in the successful acquisition of two state and federally permitted wetland mitigation banks located in Florida’s Panhandle: the Garcon Peninsula Mitigation Bank, L.L.C., and the Pensacola Bay Mitigation Bank.
Both transactions were handled by firm shareholder John J. Fumero, who is Board Certified as a specialist in State and Federal Government and Administrative Practice by The Florida Bar, and associate Kyle Horth.
SSLT purchased the Garcon Peninsula Mitigation Bank, which operates a 337-acre mitigation bank in Santa Rosa County. The Garcon bank restores and enhances degraded wet prairie habitats and is authorized to market and sell mitigation credits within portions of Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Escambia Counties.
In a separate transaction, SSLT also acquired the Pensacola Bay Mitigation Bank, a 1,205-acre site also located in Santa Rosa County. This bank is authorized to market and sell wetland mitigation credits throughout the Pensacola Bay watershed, which includes parts of Escambia, Santa Rosa, and Okaloosa Counties.
A mitigation bank is a designated site where ecological restoration, enhancement, or preservation efforts are undertaken to compensate for environmental impacts caused by permitted development projects. Under Section 404 of the federal Clean Water Act and Chapter 373 of the Florida Statutes, developers may offset impacts to wetlands by purchasing credits from a permitted mitigation bank like Garcon or Pensacola Bay.
Fumero manages the firm’s Environmental, Governmental, and Land Use Practice Group. The firm’s attorneys are highly experienced in all aspects of environmental, land-use, administrative, governmental, and real estate law, as well as governmental affairs representation and litigation related to those practice areas.
May 13, 2025
MINNEAPOLIS, MN—Lommen Abdo, P.A. announced the addition of four lawyers and two paralegals to its estate planning team: Attorneys Jeanne Morris, Ronald London, Susan Bullard and Chris Luehr, and paralegals Tara Solander-Hicks and Heather Kurtz. Jeanne Morris is known for her strong client relationships and deep commitment to service. Ron London brings extensive experience advising privately-owned businesses and their owners. Susan Bullard specializes in estate planning, probate, trust administration, business succession planning, and legal counsel for privately owned businesses, partnerships, and limited liability companies (LLCs). Chris Luehr is a dedicated husband, father, and estate planning attorney who specializes in guiding individuals and families through the complexities of wills, trusts, probate, and asset protection.
May 13, 2025
MINNEAPOLIS, MN—Lommen Abdo announced the admission of Joseph A. Wetch, Jr. as a Shareholder of Lommen Abdo, P.A. Joseph Wetch has practiced law since 2001, representing clients in federal and state courts across Minnesota and North Dakota. His litigation experience spans a wide range of practice areas, including personal injury, commercial disputes, construction law, contract issues, and oil, gas, and mineral matters.
May 13, 2025
SEATTLE, WA—McGlinchey Stafford announced that Rhiannon D. Funke has joined the firm’s Financial Services Litigation team in Seattle office as Of Counsel. With two decades of litigation experience, she brings a deep familiarity with the intersection of real estate and financial services law to the firm’s national platform.
May 13, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C.—King & Spalding announced today that Patrick J. Murphy, who has more than 25 years of experience in leading litigation, compliance, and investigations roles at life sciences and healthcare companies, has joined the firm’s Special Matters and Government Investigations practice group as a partner. He is based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office.
May 13, 2025
ATLANTA, GA—Craig Samuel has joined Carlton Fields’ Business Transactions Practice as a shareholder in the firm’s Atlanta office. He was most recently a shareholder at Hartman Simons & Wood LLP. Samuel focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, private equity, joint ventures, corporate finance, and complex real estate transactions.
May 12, 2025
MINNEAPOLIS, MN—Moss & Barnett announced that attorney April E. King has joined the firm. April joins Moss & Barnett with 20+ years of experience counseling on the gamut of issues arising in probate and trust administration; estate and incapacity, business, and tax planning; and guardianship and conservatorship.
May 12, 2025
SAN FRANCISCO, CA—Frost Brown Todd (FBT) has added commercial litigator Simon Levy as a Partner in the firm’s Business & Commercial Litigation practice in San Francisco. Levy is a trial lawyer whose practice focuses on civil litigation matters related to securities, employment, and general business litigation. In his securities practice, he represents broker-dealer firms and other licensed individuals in the securities industry, having personally handled dozens of successful securities arbitrations.
May 12, 2025
LOUISVILLE, KY—JAMS announced that Steven S. Reed, Esq., has joined JAMS. Mr. Reed joins JAMS following over 20 years in corporate leadership positions in health care. Mr. Reed is located in Louisville, KY and will serve as an arbitrator and mediator, handling business and commercial, employment, health care, insurance, and wrongful death and personal injury matters.
May 12, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Jerrob Duffy, who previously served as the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Chief of the Litigation Unit for the Criminal Fraud Section, has joined Hogan Lovells as a partner in the Investigations, White Collar, and Fraud (IWCF) practice in the Washington, D.C. office. Duffy joins from Squire Patton Boggs, where he has cultivated a significant practice around financial services regulatory defense that reflects the macroeconomic trends in the commercial lending sector.
May 12, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Honigman LLP announced today that Brian Brookey is joining the firm as a partner in the Intellectual Property (IP) Litigation Practice Group of the IP Department in its Washington, D.C. office. Brookey, who joins Honigman from Tucker Ellis, is the third partner to join the firm’s D.C. office this year.
Brookey focuses his practice on IP litigation, regularly representing clients in patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret matters.
May 12, 2025
SOUTH PALM BEACH, FL—Jennifer Fulton has been selected to serve as Board Member at Large for the South Palm Beach County Bar Association’s (SPBCBA) 2025-2026 Board of Directors. Fulton, an attorney in Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas’ Boca Raton office, was installed during the SPBCBA’s 63rd Annual Installation Gala on May 3, 2025. At SSRGA, Fulton focuses her practice on probate, trust and estate administration, estate planning, and litigation support.
May 9, 2025
NASVILLE, TN—Adams & Reese continues its growth in Nashville with the addition of Aubrey Harwell and Trey Harwell. They will be joined by a group of attorneys from the Neal & Harwell firm, which Aubrey Harwell co-founded in 1971. Trey Harwell will lead a new Crisis Management practice team at Adams & Reese. For more than 50 years, Aubrey Harwell has practiced at the national level in the white-collar criminal defense space. For close to 30 years, Trey Harwell has represented clients in high-profile crisis management and significant corporate matters.
May 8, 2025
NEW ORLEANS, LA—A jury has awarded $3 million to the family of Jeanine Henderson, a 72-year-old mother from New Orleans who died from mesothelioma, a rare and incurable cancer caused by asbestos exposure, after a lifetime of using Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder.
After a two-month trial, attorneys from Dean Omar Branham Shirley successfully proved that Ms. Henderson’s daily use of the talc-based powder was directly linked to her illness. The legal team also presented clear evidence that Johnson & Johnson knew of the potential dangers and intentionally concealed the risks associated with use of its product.
Earlier this year, a federal bankruptcy court judge in Texas denied Johnson & Johnson’s third attempt to declare bankruptcy to avoid trials in cases brought by women and their families in ovarian cancer cases tied to Baby Powder. Last year, the DOBS legal team secured several verdicts against Johnson & Johnson, including a $63.4 million verdict on behalf of a South Carolina man who used the company’s Baby Powder in place of deodorants. The firm’s 2024 wins also include $45 million for a mother of six in Chicago.
May 8, 2025
NEW YORK, NY—King & Spalding announced that private equity and M&A lawyer Jason Osborn has joined the firm’s Corporate practice group as a partner in its New York office. Osborn focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions.
May 8, 2025
LOS ANGELES, CA—King & Spalding announced today that Will Rollins has joined the firm’s Business Litigation practice group as a partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office. Rollins is a former Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California who tried high-profile cases arising out of complex criminal and national security investigations.
May 8, 2025
MIAMI, FL—Panter, Panter & Sampedro (PPS) is proud to announce that it has awarded Anabelle Garcia of Miami Killian Senior High School as the 2025 recipient of the Lorraine Silverstein Law Studies Scholarship. The scholarship was presented to Garcia during the Miami Killian Senior High School Awards Ceremony on May 1 in the in the Killian Performing Arts Center (KPAC). Garcia was honored with the scholarship after demonstrating her strong commitment to the International Law Studies Academy (ILSA).
May 8, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Venable LLP announced that Meaghan Kent has rejoined the firm as a partner in the Intellectual Property (IP) – Advertising, Brand, and Copyright Group. Ms. Kent is a seasoned intellectual property (IP) litigator and counselor who advises media, consumer product, and software companies on IP protection, risks, and claims, with notable experience regarding artificial intelligence (AI) and copyright.
May 8, 2025
INDIANAPOLIS, IN—Barnes & Thornburg announced that Joshua P. Hollingsworth has been appointed co-chair of the firm’s Mergers and Acquisitions practice group. Hollingsworth, is based in Indianapolis and has been with the firm since 2005. He shares co-chair duties for the M&A practice alongside Kepten Carmichael. Hollingsworth has over two decades of experience serving as a trusted advisor to clients ranging from established public companies and private equity funds to innovative startups.
May 8, 2025
PHILADELPHIA, PA—Rachel Fendell Satinsky, a shareholder at Littler has been honored with the Edward D. Ohlbaum Volunteer Award from the Pennsylvania Innocence Project (Project). Fendell Satinsky was selected as the 2025 recipient due to her outstanding leadership and work in securing the release of two individuals after decades of being wrongfully convicted. The mission of the Project is to exonerate those convicted of crimes they did not commit, to prevent innocent people from being prosecuted and convicted, and to help those wrongfully convicted transition to freedom.
May 8, 2025
WILMINGTON, DE—Maron Marvel announced the strategic addition of a highly respected team of trial lawyers from Lavin, Cedrone, Graver, Boyd & DiSipio, effective July 1, 2025. Known for their deep trial experience in high-stakes general liability and toxic tort litigation, the Lavin Law team will join Maron Marvel’s Philadelphia office, reinforcing the firm’s ability to deliver consistent, strategic outcomes for clients nationwide. Their integration also brings expanded trial capacity in some of the nation’s most dangerous jurisdictions, including Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.
May 8, 2025
BOSTON, MA—David J. Dykeman, co-chair of the Life Sciences & Medical Technology Practice of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP, and Roman Fayerberg, co-chair of the Boston office’s Intellectual Property (IP) & Technology Practice, presented on the DeviceTalks Boston panel, “Positioning IP for Funding & Exits,” April 30. The session focused on best practices and pitfalls to avoid in building strategic patent portfolios to close funding, stay competitive, and secure an exit.
May 7, 2025
CHICAGO, IL—Sidley announced that Brian Fahrney has begun his tenure as the firm’s Executive Committee Chair, and that he will continue serving on Sidley’s Management Committee. Mr. Fahrney succeeds Michael Schmidtberger, who had served as Chair of the committee since January 2018, and will remain a partner in the firm’s market-leading Investment Funds practice.
May 7, 2025
CHICAGO, IL—Littler welcomes back Richard Kienzler, who returns to the firm as a shareholder in the Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets Practice Group. Kienzler, who was previously a shareholder with Littler, rejoins the firm’s Chicago office after serving as general counsel for RHM Staffing Solutions.
May 7, 2025
SARASOTA, FL—Richard S. Loudermilk has rejoined Shumaker as Senior Counsel, bringing with him nearly 30 years of experience navigating all phases of the asset recovery process. Rich was previously a partner in Shumaker’s Litigation group from 2009 to 2011, after which he left to open his own practice focused primarily on creditors’ rights and asset recovery. His return enhances the capabilities of Shumaker’s Litigation and Disputes Service Line, further strengthening the firm’s ability to guide clients through complex financial and regulatory challenges.
May 7, 2025
ST. PETERSBURG, FL—Shumaker Partner David Delrahim has been appointed to the Pinellas County Law Library Board of Trustees by Chief Judge Shawn Crane, with the appointment officially signed on May 1, 2025. In this appointment, David will serve as a trustee for Pinellas County’s only public law library. The law library plays a critical role in supporting the legal community and pro se litigants and ensures continued access to vital legal resources for practitioners, judges, and the public.
May 7, 2025
NEW YORK, NY—Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas LLP (SSRGA) announces the expansion of its Matrimonial and Family Practice with the addition of Eric I. Wrubel, Alexis L. Cirel, Jennifer Sundt and Rose H. Vacanti Gilroy. All four attorneys will join the firm’s existing Matrimonial and Family Law group, catapulting its already prestigious practice to new heights by adding complex financial matters of ultra-high net worth clients and introducing nuanced and cutting-edge representation to the LGBTQ+ community.
May 7, 2025
Miami, FL—JAMS announces that Myriam Lehr, Retired Judge, 11th Judicial Circuit, has joined JAMS. Ms. Lehr joins JAMS after serving 27 years as a judge in the 11th Judicial Circuit of Florida.
May 7, 2025
BOSTON, MA—Davis Malm announces that shareholder Allison Ahern Fillo presented on the Boston Bar Association’s (BBA) webinar, “How Immigration Changes Could Affect Your Clients (Even If You’re Not an Immigration Lawyer),” on May 6. During the program, Allison and her fellow panelists presented an overview of the recent changes in immigration law, covering new policies on topics ranging from asylum to courthouse arrests and new barriers to entry at airports. The program discussed how these changes may have wider effects on businesses and their employees.
May 6, 2025
BOSTON, MA—Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP announced that five of its attorneys have been named to the 2024 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll by the D.C. Courts for contributing 50 hours or more of pro bono service in the past calendar year. Recognized for their commitment to public service, the honorees include Katherine Henry, David Long Jr., John Parker Sweeney, and Timothy Willman, who all received High Honors, along with Erin K. Sullivan.
May 6, 2025
CHICAGO, IL—Winston & Strawn announced today the launch of its Secondaries and Liquidity Solutions Group, a multidisciplinary team that expands on the firm’s longstanding work delivering strategic counsel across the full spectrum of private equity secondaries market activity, including GP-led continuation fund and other sponsor-side fund restructuring transactions, and traditional LP secondaries.
May 6, 2025
BOSTON, MA—Greenberg Traurig, LLP’s Life Sciences & Medical Technology Group hosted a roundtable discussion with the Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council (MassMEDIC) in the firm’s Boston office April 23. The half-day event brought together forward-thinking executives from the medical technology community to engage in an open, collaborative conversation and covered strategic approaches for navigating the fast-moving commercial and policy landscape that is shaping the medtech industry.
May 6, 2025
PROVIDENCE, RI—Partridge Snow & Hahn (PSH) announces that attorney Sean M. Fontes will present, “Employment Law in Rhode Island’s Top Industries: Healthcare, Construction, & Manufacturing in a Shifting Federal Landscape,” on a Rhode Island Bar Association webinar on Thursday, May 8. Registration is available here. The program will cover key developments in labor and employment law, including talent recruitment strategies, workforce development rules, and evolving policies on remote work and workplace safety.
May 6, 2025
TAMPA, FL— Chloe A. Denney has joined Shumaker as an Associate in the firm’s Corporate, Tax and Transactions Service Line, where she advises clients on a range of corporate and tax matters. She brings a strong academic foundation and a passion for solving complex legal challenges to her growing practice.
May 5, 2025
TOLEDO, OH— Jeff M. Smith has joined Shumaker as a Partner in the firm’s Litigation and Disputes Service Line, bringing a wealth of experience across trial, appellate, and dispositive motion practice. He represents clients in complex civil litigation spanning industries such as health care, banking, construction, food manufacturing, real estate, and agribusiness.
May 5, 2025
CHICAGO, IL—Honigman LLP announced today that Kenneth (Ken) Goldstein is joining the firm as a partner in the Private Client Practice Group and Corporate Department in its Chicago office. Goldstein joins the firm from Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP. He focuses his practice on wealth preservation, advising individuals and business owners on nearly every aspect of their estate and tax planning needs.
May 5, 2025
CHICAGO, IL—Venable LLP announced the addition of Charles “Cully” H. Wahtola, III as partner in the firm’s Construction Law Group in Chicago. With more than 25 years of experience, Mr. Wahtola brings a wealth of knowledge and skill, enhancing the firm’s capabilities in handling complex construction matters. Mr. Wahtola focuses his practice on the litigation, arbitration, and mediation of high-stakes design and construction disputes.
May 5, 2025
TAMPA, FL—Burr announced that Francis Morency has joined the firm’s Tampa office as an associate. Francis’s practice focuses on creditors’ rights, bankruptcy, and commercial litigation matters across a variety of industries.
May 5, 2025
HOUSTON, TX—Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP announced that Charles L. Sharman has been named one of the recipients of the Houston Bar Association’s (HBA) 2025 President’s Award, which recognizes outstanding service to the organization. Honorees will be recognized at the HBA Annual Dinner on May 15. Mr. Sharman was selected for the award by outgoing HBA President David Harrell in recognition of his role as the 2024-2025 co-chair of the HBA Historical Committee. His contributions included working on the HBA Living History Project, which captures the stories and perspectives of seasoned members of Houston’s legal community.
May 2, 2025
MINNEAPOLIS, MN—Meagher + Geer announced that Alexander Tibor has been made Partner at the firm. Zander’s practice focuses on helping clients navigate large loss claims under liability and property insurance programs.
May 2, 2025
BIRMINGHAM, AL—Starnes Davis Florie LLP announced that Stephanie Tunnell has joined the firm as an associate. Stephanie focuses her practice on civil litigation, with a concentration in commercial litigation.
May 2, 2025
SEATTLE, WA—Dickinson Wright announced that it has combined with Ashbaugh Beal and opened a full-service office in Seattle with an elite group of eleven attorneys. This new office marks a pivotal milestone as it becomes Dickinson Wright’s inaugural location in the Northwest, bringing together a distinguished group of attorneys who specialize in a diverse range of areas, including construction, corporate, real estate, and litigation. Leading this impressive team are Members Joe Campos, Robert Marconi, Richard Skalbania, Aaron Thomson, Christopher Ferrell, and Brittany Rivers. Emily Douglas and Matthew Runkel will join as Of Counsel, while Khalid Aziz, Emily Krueger, and Kristen Moran will contribute as Associates. Additionally, the firm welcomes three dedicated paralegals and five support staff, all committed to providing top-notch service.
May 2, 2025
NASHVILLE, TN—Walker Entwistle joins Thompson Burton, PLLC, as partner, and Christina Willow joins as paralegal, announced managing partner Walt Burton. Entwistle is a transactional attorney focusing on commercial lending, representing financial institutions in a wide range of bilateral and syndicated loan transactions. Highly respected by clients, community leaders, and legal professionals alike, Christina Willow contributes over 25 years of legal expertise. As a paralegal at Thompson Burton, she specializes in commercial lending, real estate, and corporate transactions.
May 1, 2025
PHOENIX, AZ—Quarles & Brady LLP announced today that Monika Calamita, a highly respected attorney who focuses on all stages of public finance and real estate finance, has joined the firm’s Phoenix office as a partner in its Real Estate Practice Group. With public finance projects, Calamita advises on new money and refunding financings, multistate and multicampus financings, direct loan financing, publicly and privately offered financings, government financings and lease transaction financings.
May 1, 2025
MILWAUKEE, WI—Quarles & Brady LLP announced today that Dawn David, who brings extensive experience leading clients through high-stakes, complex intellectual property (IP) litigation, has joined the firm’s Milwaukee office as a partner in its Intellectual Property Practice Group. With more than a decade of experience, Ms. David handles matters involving patents, trade secrets, trademarks, trade dress, copyrights and false advertising.
May 1, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Sidley announced that Barbara Stettner has joined the firm’s Securities Enforcement and Regulatory practice in Washington, D.C. Ms. Stettner joins from A&O Shearman, where she served as U.S. Head of Financial Services Regulatory. Ms. Stettner advises U.S. and foreign financial institutions on regulatory and compliance obligations under state and federal securities laws.
May 1, 2025
NEW YORK, NY—Sidley announced that Chris Jackson has joined the firm’s Global Finance group as a partner in Sidley’s office in New York. He was previously a partner at A&O Shearman. Luke Maiman also joins as counsel. Mr. Jackson represents fund managers, underwriters, issuers, investors, lenders, and borrowers in various debt fund finance products.
May 1, 2025
PARSIPPANY, NJ—Day Pitney LLP announced today the appointment of two new leaders to its business unit leadership team, effective May 1. Rachel A. Gonzalez (Partner, New Jersey) has been appointed the Business Unit Leader of the firm’s Employment and Labor Business Unit, succeeding Heather Weine Brochin. Gonzalez represents management in traditional labor law, employment counseling, and litigation. David M. Waizer (Partner, New Jersey) has been appointed the Business Unit Leader of the firm’s Private Equity and Finance Business Unit, succeeding Namita Tripathi Shah. In his legal practice, Waizer represents venture capital funds, strategic investors, and emerging growth companies at all stages of the business lifecycle.
May 1, 2025
ATLANTA, GA—Juan Dawson has joined Stites & Harbison, PLLC’s Atlanta office as an attorney in the firm’s Torts & Insurance Practice Group. He brings experience dealing with complex regulatory matters representing clients in federal and state administrative proceedings, strengthening the firm’s capabilities in the Southeast and nationally.
May 1, 2025
IRVINE, CA—JAMS shared its 2024 global caseload statistics. In this third annual report, now known formally as the JAMS Resolution Report 2024, information has been captured regarding the number and types of international matters handled in 2024. Last year, 21,390 new cases came into JAMS, representing a 10% gain from 2023. Of these new cases, 266 were international—a 5% increase over the prior year—involving parties from countries and regions around the globe, including Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Europe, India, Japan, Mexico, Latin America and the Caribbean, the Middle East, Singapore, the U.K. and the U.S.
May 1, 2025
MEMPHIS, TN—Baker Donelson has elected 16 new shareholders across the Firm. The newly elected shareholders and their primary areas of practice and office locations are: W. Preston Battle IV (Financial Services Litigation and Compliance; Memphis, Tennessee), Jason B. Bloom (Complex Litigation and Class Actions; Fort Lauderdale, Florida), Chelsea N. Hayes (Labor & Employment; Johnson City, Tennessee), Emily Olivier Kesler (Government Enforcement and Investigations; New Orleans, Louisiana), Stephen F. McStravick (Real Estate/Finance; Knoxville, Tennessee), Will Middleton (Corporate; Charleston, South Carolina / Raleigh, North Carolina), Jerrick D. Murrell (Health Care Litigation; Memphis, Tennessee), Vivien F. Peaden (Corporate; Atlanta, Georgia), Craig Penny (Health Law; Chattanooga, Tennessee), Brian C. Pike (Office of General Counsel; Nashville, Tennessee), Kenny L. Saffles (Commercial Litigation; Nashville, Tennessee), Ida Sassani (Logistics, Energy and Manufacturing Litigation; Atlanta, Georgia), P. Lee Smith (Corporate; Washington, D.C.), Iain Stauffer (Health Law; Raleigh, North Carolina), Hunter Threet (Corporate; Nashville, Tennessee), and Chad M. Wilgenbusch (Financial Services Transactions; Memphis, Tennessee).
