May 27, 2026
ORLANDO, FL—President and Lead Attorney, Michael T. Gibson has obtained the AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell for 2026. In addition to the AV Preeminent Rating, he also earned the Martindale-Hubbell Client Champion Gold Award, a prestigious legal award that honors attorneys who excel in client satisfaction and service.
May 26, 2026
MILWAUKEE, WI—The Kryder Law Group, LLC announced its expansion from Illinois to Wisconsin. The Chicago, Illinois-based personal injury law firm was founded in 2002 by Attorney, Andrew S. Kryder. Since that time the firm has steadily grown, recently being named to the Inc.5000 fastest growing companies in 2025. The firm is consistently recognized as a leading personal injury law firm. It has earned this reputation through aggressive litigation and exceptional client communication.
May 8, 2026
PHOENIX, AZ—Rafi Law Services today unveiled its executive leadership team, establishing a strong operational foundation to drive continued growth, foster innovation and elevate the client experience. The newly formed MSO provides operational, administrative and business support to Rafi Law Group and affiliated firms, enabling scale while preserving attorney independence. The leadership team includes William A. Kelhoffer, Chief Operating Officer, who leads day-to-day operations and operational strategy; Linda Suazo, Chief Performance Officer, who oversees performance optimization, operational efficiency and client outcomes; Celestina DeLeon, Chief Human Resources Officer, who leads talent development and organizational culture initiatives; Letisha Ulibarri, Chief Administrative Officer, who oversees finance, HR and IT functions to ensure operational alignment and continuity; and Andrew F. Halaby, Chief Legal Officer, who provides oversight on legal structure and governance to support compliant growth while preserving attorney independence.
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May 29, 2026
FT LAUDERDALE, FL—Ball Janik LLP has welcomed Jake Scott as an associate in its Fort Lauderdale office. Scott joins the Construction Defect Practice Group, bringing experience across construction litigation that includes construction defect, contract dispute, and negligence matters, along with a track record of representing construction professionals through depositions, court appearances, and trial preparation to support the firm’s steady growth and client service statewide.
May 29, 2026
NEW YORK, NY—Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas LLP (SSRGA) announced that it served as legal counsel to St. John’s University on the successful closing of Wagner College’s $30 million acquisition of the former St. John’s University campus on Staten Island. The real estate transaction was finalized on Friday, May 22, concluding a highly coordinated and cooperative effort between both prominent educational institutions to preserve the 16.5-acre property for academic use. SSRGA Managing Partner Jeffrey Schwartz and Partner Kelly Kulak led the legal strategy to navigate and close the complex institutional transaction. The transaction expands Wagner College’s historic Grymes Hill presence, adding 10 state-of-the-art academic and administrative buildings to its inventory. The acquisition ensures that the campus, which was shuttered by St. John’s University in 2024, will remain an intellectual and community anchor for the borough of Staten Island.
May 28, 2026
TUSTIN, CA—Western State College of Law at Westcliff University today announced the appointment of Justice Halim Dhanidina (Ret.) as its next Dean and Professor of Law, marking a defining moment in the institution’s evolution. A former Justice of the California Court of Appeal and the first Muslim judge in California history, Dean Dhanidina brings to Western State a rare combination of judicial leadership, courtroom experience and academic engagement, positioning the college at the forefront of a rapidly transforming legal education landscape. His appointment represents both a historic milestone and a forward-looking investment in the future of legal education. During his tenure on the California Court of Appeal, Second District, Dean Dhanidina became the first South Asian American justice in California history and the first Muslim appellate-level judge in the United States. These distinctions reflect a career defined by excellence, leadership and a deep commitment to broadening access within the legal profession.
May 28, 2026
SARASOTA, FL—Jaclyn E. Foster has joined Shumaker’s Wealth Strategies and Corporate, Tax & Transactions Service Lines as an Associate, bringing a business-forward approach to protecting clients’ legacies through estate and tax planning, probate, and trust administration. In her practice, Jaclyn works alongside her clients to create tailored plans that protect their current assets, simplify wealth transfer, and provide long-term peace of mind.
May 28, 2026
TAMPA, FL—Nicki Hancock has joined Carlton Fields as Chief Human Resources Officer. – She was most recently Vice President of Human Resources and occupational health at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. With more than 20 years of HR management experience, Hancock has significant experience in compensation and benefits, engagement and culture, and talent management. She previously served as Vice President of Human Resources for HCA Brandon Regional Hospital and Citrus Memorial Hospital.
May 28, 2026
SAN DIEGO, CA—Marc Campopiano has joined Perkins Coie’s Environment, Energy & Resources practice as a partner in San Diego. Marc represents real estate developers, energy companies, transmission line developers, utilities on large and master-planned communities, major renewable and traditional power projects, large-scale transmission lines, energy storage facilities, gas pipelines, and energy transition matters.
May 28, 2026
BOSTON, MA—Sherin and Lodgen LLP announces that Partner and Employment Department Chair Brian J. MacDonough chaired the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) program, “Roadmap to the ADA Interactive Process,” on May 5. MacDonough presented the sessions, “Interplay between the ADA and Other State/Federal Leave Laws,” “What is Considered a “Reasonable” Accommodation?,” and “Accommodations for Mental Health Issues.” Presenters shared insights on how employment lawyers must advise clients about medical leave, remote work, and workplace redesign in the context of determining the rights of employees with disabilities seeking accommodations. The program covered the interactive process under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and parallel state law, complicated by the evolving workplace layered on top of new leave statutes and the post-pandemic work environment.
May 28, 2026
PROVIDENCE, RI—Partridge Snow & Hahn (PSH) announces that Jordan Walsh has joined the firm as an associate in the Corporate & Business practice group. Walsh advises privately held businesses, founders, and investors on mergers and acquisitions and a broad range of corporate matters. Her practice is focused on deal execution and practical business counsel.
May 28, 2026
MIAMI, FL—Panter, Panter & Sampedro (PPS) announced that it has awarded Ava Arosemena and Julian Garcia of Miami Palmetto Senior High School each with the 2026 scholarship. Ava Arosemena serves as the co-captain of the Variations dance team and is a youth group leader at her church. She is also the founder of the nonprofit organization Fearless Through Faith, which provides community outreach and support programs. Julian Garcia has spent five years playing baseball for Miami Palmetto Senior High School.
May 28, 2026
BOSTON, MA—Casner & Edwards partner Molly Wilson Chung presented the Konenki Menopause Solutions webinar, “Menopause, Marriage, and Divorce: What Midlife Women Need to Understand Emotionally, Relationally, Financially, and Legally,” on May 5, 2026. Chung discussed what divorce involves from a legal and financial perspective, including key considerations before taking next steps. Chung focuses her practice on family law and divorce litigation.
May 28, 2026
BOSTON, MA—Morgan, Brown & Joy Partner Alexandra L. Pichette presented the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) program, “Roadmap to the ADA Interactive Process,” on May 5, 2026. Pichette and fellow faculty explored the interactive process under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and parallel state law, and discussed how employment lawyers can advise clients about medical leave, remote work, and workplace redesign in the context of determining the rights of employees with disabilities seeking accommodations. Pichette represents employers in labor and employment matters in state and federal court, in private arbitration, and before administrative agencies.
May 28, 2026
NASHVILLE, TN—Bass, Berry & Sims announced the addition of four new attorneys as part of the firm’s strategic growth plan. Joining the firm as counsel is Christian Mahre, along with attorneys Stefan R. Kostas, Stephanie Allen O’Hara, and Justin K. Powers. Christian Mahre joins as a Counsel in Nashville. He advises private equity sponsors and both public and private companies. Stefan Kostas joins as an Associate in Nashville. He counsels clients on corporate issues, including mergers and acquisitions and other strategic transactions. Stephanie O’Hara joins as a Public Finance Attorney in Knoxville, Tennessee. She has more than 15 years of experience providing counsel to governmental entities, municipal officials, and public agencies. Justin Powers joins as an Associate in Nashville. He represents regional and national developers, buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants on a range of commercial real estate transactions
May 27, 2026
PHILADELPHIA, PA—Willig, Williams & Davidson announced that partner Lauren M. Hoye has been selected to serve on the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Section on Labor and Employment Law. This group is focused on promoting a more thorough understanding of the legal problems encountered in the field of labor and employment. Hoye advocates for labor unions and individual employees before state and federal courts around the country.
May 27, 2026
ATLANTA, GA—Bradley has added Joshua B. Portnoy as a partner in the Real Estate Practice Group, continuing the growth of the firm’s Atlanta office. With the addition of Mr. Portnoy, the Atlanta office now has more than 70 attorneys representing clients nationally and throughout the Southeast. Mr. Portnoy previously served for more than six years as general counsel for Hatteras Sky, a nationwide commercial real estate company focused on hospitality and multifamily development.
May 27, 2026
PITTSBURGH, PA—Cohen Seglias announced the addition of senior counsel Steve Toprani to the firm’s Construction Group in Pittsburgh. Toprani focuses his practice on construction law and commercial litigation, drawing on his background as a former C-suite executive and prosecutor to advise organizations on risk, compliance, and governance.
May 27, 2026
BIRMINGHAM, AL—Burr & Forman announced that Partner Rik Tozzi has been named the firm’s Head of Litigation, a newly created leadership position designed to further strengthen the firm’s approach to high-stakes disputes, trial readiness, and client service across its footprint. As Head of Litigation, Tozzi will oversee matters proceeding toward trial and provide strategic leadership on litigation staffing, trial preparation, client service, and coordination across practice groups and offices.
May 27, 2026
NEW YORK, NY—Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that Heather Miles has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner in its Transactions Practice Group. Miles’ arrival enhances the firm’s capabilities across the Innovative Technology, Manufacturing, and Health Care & Life Sciences Sectors and supports the continued growth of Foley’s national corporate platform. Miles, who joins Foley from Goodwin Procter, advises both companies and investors on the legal and strategic issues that shape high-growth businesses. Her practice spans technology and innovation-driven industries, including manufacturing, industrials, health care, energy, and infrastructure.
May 27, 2026
HOUSTON, TX—Schouest, Bamdas, Soshea & BenMaier (SBSB) announced the addition of Andrew Robbins as a partner in the firm’s Houston office, where his wealth of experience across diverse litigation practices will strengthen the firm’s maritime, commercial litigation and construction defense teams. Mr. Robbins will focus his practice on maritime law. His experience in maritime and aviation law includes handling complex litigation regarding vessel collisions, air accidents, wrongful deaths, cargo issues, injuries and environmental incidents under the Oil Pollution Act of 1990.
May 27, 2026
DALLAS, TX—Bradley continues to expand its presence in Dallas with the addition of C. Kelly Rentzel as counsel in the Banking & Financial Services Practice Group. Prior to joining Bradley, Ms. Rentzel served as general counsel and corporate secretary for a national publicly traded homebuilder, where she managed the company’s internal legal department and external counsel, provided legal support for capital markets activities, and played a key role in the company’s sale.
May 27, 2026
MIAMI, FL—Kluger, Kaplan, Silverman, Katzen & Levine is expanding its bench, promoting Marissa A. Reichel to Partner and adding three attorneys to deepen its capabilities across commercial and fiduciary disputes. Reichel’s elevation reflects both her individual contributions and the firm’s strategic investment in its growing Probate, Trust, Guardianship and Fiduciary Litigation practice. The firm also welcomed Alejandro Anselmi, Amy K. Brown, and Cameron Duran, each of whom brings meaningful litigation experience across key practice areas as the firm responds to a steady increase in demand driven by South Florida’s population growth, business expansion, and influx of high-net-worth individuals.
May 27, 2026
INDIANAPOLIS, IN—FBT Gibbons continues to advance its Product Tort & Insurance Litigation practice group with the addition of Carolyn Riggs as a partner in the firm’s Indianapolis office. Riggs’ arrival strengthens the firm’s bench in complex product litigation, particularly matters involving coordinated proceedings, national exposure, and significant risk. Riggs joins FBT Gibbons from Ice Miller and brings extensive experience defending corporate and insurance clients in high exposure product and catastrophic injury litigation.
May 27, 2026
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL—Mansfield, Bronstein & Stone, LLP announced that Kathleen Achille has joined the firm as a Partner. Achille brings more than 25 years of legal experience to the firm’s litigation practice, where she will focus on complex civil litigation and trial advocacy. Achille joins the firm following a successful tenure as the Managing Attorney for the Florida Litigation Group at a Plantation-based firm.
May 27, 2026
COLUMBUS, OH—Roetzel & Andress is welcoming several attorneys to its Columbus office, adding depth across key practice areas and strengthening its team serving businesses throughout the region. In addition, the firm recently named Scott G. Brown shareholder-in-charge of the Columbus office. Brown, a member of the Corporate, Tax & Transactional Group, advises businesses on corporate structuring and transactions, as well as trademark registration and protection. His practice includes mergers and acquisitions, fundraising, contract negotiation and trademark and copyright matters.
May 27, 2026
ATLANTA, GA—Arnall Golden Gregory LLP (AGG) has announced that Evan D. Harms and Sarah M. Bangs have joined the firm as partners in its Real Estate practice. Evan is located in AGG’s Washington, D.C. office and Sarah is located in the Atlanta office. The expansion also includes the addition of Daniel A. Habif, a Real Estate associate in AGG’s Atlanta office.
May 27, 2026
BOCA RATON, FL—Cole Schotz P.C. announced the arrival of Joseph M. Landolfi, Jr. as a member in the firm’s Tax, Trusts & Estates and Corporate Transactions Departments in Boca Raton, Florida. Mr. Landolfi brings more than 20 years of experience practicing law in South Florida, where he has advised on estate and wealth preservation planning, asset protection planning, corporate and transaction matters, elder law and special needs planning.
May 27, 2026
NEW YORK, NY—Eversheds Sutherland continues the strategic expansion of its global litigation platform with the addition of Michael Robotti as a partner in its New York office. A former Assistant US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY), where he served for eight years, Mr. Robotti deepens the firm’s global White-Collar Disputes and Investigations practice.
May 26, 2026
CHICAGO, IL—Neal Gerber Eisenberg (NGE) announced that Brian P. Murray has joined the firm as a partner in its Intellectual Property practice group, with a focus on life sciences. Brian brings more than a decade of experience advising clients on complex intellectual property matters across the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and advanced technology sectors. His practice spans both patent litigation and strategic counseling, with significant experience serving as lead counsel in federal courts on matters involving biotechnology, biosynthesis, pharmaceuticals, and engineering-driven technologies.
May 26, 2026
BIRMINGHAM, AL—Ogletree Deakins welcomes Brooke Nixon to the firm’s Birmingham office as a shareholder. Nixon joins from Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP, where she was a partner. Backed by two decades of legal experience, Nixon’s practice spans the full spectrum of labor and employment law with a focus on employment litigation, workplace compliance, and traditional labor relations. She counsels and represents employers of all sizes, from startups to some of the nation’s largest companies, across Alabama and beyond, to develop proactive workplace strategies to minimize legal risk and avoid costly litigation.
May 26, 2026
LOS ANGELES, CA—Lathrop GPM LLP announced that Ronald Valenzuela has been named Partner in Charge of the firm’s Los Angeles office. He succeeds Laura Reathaford, who has served in the leadership role since January 2022. Laura has stepped aside to provide Ron with the opportunity to lead the office while she continues to focus on expanding her practice and supporting her clients with the personalized counsel she is known for. During her tenure as Partner in Charge, Reathaford successfully advanced the office’s visibility and exemplified top-tier client service. As Partner in Charge, Valenzuela will lead the Los Angeles office as it continues to grow its visibility and capabilities in key areas, including litigation, franchise, labor and employment, and environmental tort.
May 26, 2026
NEW YORK, NY—Lowenstein Sandler LLP has announced that Scott D. Fisher has joined the firm’s Transactions & Advisory Group as partner in its Mergers & Acquisitions and Capital Markets & Securities practices. He will be based in the firm’s New York City office. A former partner at Steptoe, Fisher advises corporate clients, investment funds, and individuals on a wide range of corporate and securities matters, including public and private offerings of debt and equity, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and corporate governance.
May 26, 2026
BOCA RATON, FL—With South Florida now ranked among the fastest growing and most important private wealth markets in the country, international law firm Cozen O’Connor today announced highly regarded estate and tax planning attorney Drew W. Barsalou has joined its award winning Private Client, Trusts and Estates practice. Barsalou, who collaborates with clients, accountants, financial advisers, and attorneys to develop comprehensive, tax-efficient estate and asset protection plans for high net worth individuals, joins the firm as a member and will work out of its Boca Raton office. Barsalou comes to the firm from Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart and concentrates his practice on sophisticated estate and tax planning for high net worth families — guiding clients from initial consultation through the execution of a wide range of estate planning documents.
May 26, 2026
NASHVILLE, TN—Bradley announced that partner J. Hunter Robinson and associate Erik Halvorson, attorneys in the firm’s Banking & Financial Services Practice Group, will receive the Tennessee Bar Association’s Justice Joseph W. Henry Award for Outstanding Legal Writing, the TBA’s highest legal writing honor. Mr. Robinson and Mr. Halvorson were selected for their article, “One Domino Falls: Tennessee Supreme Court Reshapes Foreclosure Claims,” which was published in the March/April 2025 issue of the Tennessee Bar Journal. Mr. Robinson represents clients in litigation and compliance matters across the country. Mr. Halvorson represents individuals and business entities at both the trial and appellate court levels with a focus on resolving commercial disputes and financial services related litigation.
May 22, 2026
ALTON, IL—Simmons Hanly Conroy supported the Alton Firefighters Local 1255 Third Annual Golf Tournament as a Gold Sponsor. The tournament took place on May 8, 2026, at Woodlands Golf Club, and was organized as a four-person scramble and welcomed golfers of all skill levels for a day of friendly competition, contests, prizes, and community camaraderie. All proceeds benefited Alton Firefighters Local 1255 and their continued service to the community. This marked the third year the tournament brought together golfers and community supporters in celebration of the Alton Fire Department’s dedication and service.
May 21, 2026
WEST PALM BEACH, FL—Jones Foster announces that private wealth and tax attorney Richard C. Vaughan has been elected to the Board of Directors of the Palm Beach County Estate Planning Council (PBCEPC) for the 2026-2027 term, effective July 1, 2026. As a member of the Board of Directors, Mr. Vaughan will help support the organization’s mission of advancing collaboration and professional development among estate planning professionals throughout South Florida. Mr. Vaughan concentrates his practice in estate planning, trust and estate administration, business planning, and transactional corporate law.
May 21, 2026
ATLANTA, GA—Ogletree Deakins announced that Jim Murphy, office managing shareholder in Washington, D.C., has been selected as co-chair of the firm’s newly renamed Government Contracting and Compliance Practice Group. This change coincides with the expansion of the group’s resources to deliver integrated compliance solutions across the full lifecycle of government contracting.
May 21, 2026
WEST PALM BEACH, FL—Shutts & Bowen LLP announced that Irma Qureshi has joined the firm’s West Palm Beach office as a Partner in its Real Estate Practice Group. Qureshi is the firm’s third attorney hire for the West Palm Beach office in the first half of 2026 and the second partner-level addition to its Real Estate group in the past six weeks, reflecting the office’s strategic growth amid increasing demand for sophisticated legal counsel in Palm Beach County’s evolving real estate market.
May 21, 2026
BOSTON, MA—Barnes & Thornburg welcomes Michael J. Leard as a partner in its Boston office, advancing the firm’s efforts to elevate and grow its premier litigation practice in Massachusetts and nationally.
Leard brings nearly 15 years of experience representing individuals and companies of all sizes in commercial litigation and product liability matters, including pharmaceutical, medical device, and consumer product mass tort litigation.
May 21, 2026
BOSTON, MA—Morgan, Brown & Joy partner Shane R. Goodrich presented the webinar, “The New Religious Agenda: Navigating Higher Standards and EEOC Scrutiny,” to the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) Employment Law Committee on April 20, 2026. Goodrich discussed current EEOC guidelines, cases, and trends, as well as important takeaways for employers pertaining to religious accommodations and practices. Goodrich is an experienced and skilled litigator who represents employers in a variety of labor and employment litigation.
May 21, 2026
BOSTON, MA—Ligris + Associates PC announces that Boston-based real estate law firm Alavi + Braza, P.C. has joined the firm in a move that significantly expands capabilities for both law firms in commercial and residential real estate, lender representation, and condominium development services across Massachusetts. As part of the integration, 12 professionals from Alavi + Braza, including Ali Alavi, Gina Braza, John McMahon, Joseph Uliano, and George Webber, as well as seven members of the Alavi + Braza professional staff, join Ligris. They bring more than two decades of experience representing buyers, sellers, investors, developers, and lenders in complex real estate transactions. Known for managing high-volume closings and complex deals with efficiency and precision, the Alavi + Braza team strengthens Ligris’ ability to deliver end-to-end real estate legal services.
May 20, 2026
MINNEAPOLIS, MN—A Minnesota jury has awarded $10.2 million to Daniel Heyer and his wife, Nicole Heyer, in a mesothelioma lawsuit against St. Louis-based Vi-Jon LLC and other major body powder companies involving allegations that asbestos-contaminated cosmetic talc products caused Mr. Heyer’s cancer.
This is believed to be the second highest mesothelioma-related personal injury award in Minnesota history.
Vi-Jon manufactured store-brand baby powders, body powders and foot powders using talc for years. The trial highlighted several store-brand powders, including Walmart’s “Equate,” Target’s “Up & Up” and Walgreens’ talcum powders. Despite receiving repeated warnings about asbestos in talc, the evidence showed that Vi-Jon did not investigate or test its products and even assured customers to continue selling it after Vi-Jon had stopped manufacturing and destroyed its remaining inventory.
According to evidence presented at trial, Mr. Heyer was exposed over decades to baby powder, body powder and foot powder, including store-brand talc products sold by Target, Walmart and Walgreens. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in late 2024 at age 43 and given a year to live. He testified in the trial, but he is on oxygen and confined to a wheelchair, and his health is rapidly declining.
The jury found that Vi-Jon and several other major companies, including Gold Bond, Merck (Dr. Scholl’s), Johnson & Johnson and Perrigo Co. of Tennessee, manufactured talc powder products in a defective and unreasonably dangerous condition and failed to provide adequate warnings regarding the risks associated with the products, concluding that those defects directly caused Mr. Heyer’s mesothelioma.
Simon Greenstone Panatier is a pioneering trial firm leading the way in nationwide litigation against cosmetic talc companies such as Vi-Jon that have endangered the public for decades without being held accountable.
The case is Daniel J. Heyer and Nicole Heyer v. Vi-Jon, LLC, case number: 62-CV-25-5182 in the Second Judicial District Court of Ramsay County, Minnesota.
May 20, 2026
CHEYENNE, WI—Holland & Hart LLP announced today that Jasmine Peters, former Civil Assistant United States Attorney (AUSA) and state circuit court magistrate, has joined the firm’s Commercial Litigation Practice Group in Cheyenne. Peters spent nearly five years as a Civil AUSA for the District of Wyoming, where she handled a wide range of federal civil matters—from Federal Tort Claims Act defense and civil rights cases to oil and gas disputes, foreclosures, and bankruptcy proceedings. She also served as the office’s Financial Litigation Coordinator and Civil Rights Coordinator, overseeing complex financial investigations and managing matters that spanned attorney, investigative, and administrative functions.
May 20, 2026
JACKSON, MS—Bradley announces that partner Margaret Oertling Cupples has been recognized with the 2026 Outstanding Community Service Award by the Capital Area Bar Association (CABA). Ms. Cupples was presented with the award at the CABA’s annual Evening Honoring the Judiciary event held on May 12. Ms. Cupples, managing partner of Bradley’s Jackson office, concentrates her practice on civil appeals and commercial litigation, with a focus on writing briefs and motions, and has participated in dozens of appeals before the Mississippi Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, as well as the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Sixth circuits.
May 20, 2026
AUSTIN, TX—Eversheds Sutherland welcomes Kathryn Nordick as senior counsel in the firm’s US Finance Practice Group, based in Austin. Her addition underscores the practice’s continued investment in Texas and further strengthens its capabilities for advising corporate borrowers, private equity sponsors, private credit lenders and financial institutions on multifaceted and high-value financing transactions. Ms. Nordick enhances a team known for pragmatic, business-minded counsel across a wide range of financing matters. With more than 20 years of experience, she contributes a strong track record advising clients on multifaceted financing matters.
May 20, 2026
NEW YORK, NY—Reed Smith today announced the launch of Private Equity Behind the Scenes, a 30-part series designed to help private equity stakeholders navigate an increasingly complex and competitive market. Drawing on the perspectives of 72 lawyers across 11 practices, the series delivers actionable guidance for sponsors, investors, portfolio companies, lenders, and advisors facing heightened regulatory scrutiny, tighter financing conditions, evolving operational pressures, and more sophisticated deal structures. The series explores the real-world issues shaping today’s private equity landscape, from acquisitions and exits to restructuring, disputes, compliance, financing, and value creation strategies, with a focus on helping clients anticipate challenges, move faster, and make more confident business decisions.
May 19, 2026
NASHVILLE, TN—Epstein Becker Green announced today that Kim Harvey Looney has joined the firm’s Health Care and Life Sciences practice as a Member of the Firm in Nashville. She joins from K&L Gates. Looney advises for-profit and nonprofit health care providers, academic medical centers, physician practices, post-acute providers, ambulatory surgery centers, and integrated delivery systems on the full range of regulatory compliance, fraud and abuse, and transactional matters.
May 19, 2026
PITTSBURGH, PA—Epstein Becker Green announced today that William P. Lewis has joined the firm as a Member of the Firm in the Employment, Labor and Workforce Management practice in Pittsburgh. Lewis brings more than a decade of experience representing employers, multiemployer benefit funds, and companies in high-stakes labor relations, ERISA and employee benefits law, and employment litigation matters.
May 19, 2026
NASHVILLE, TN—Buchalter announced the addition of nine attorneys to its Nashville office further strengthening the firm’s presence in the Southeast and significantly broadening its labor and employment, litigation, and corporate capabilities. The group joins Buchalter from Barton LLP and represents a meaningful investment in the firm’s long-term growth in the region. The new attorneys joining Buchalter’s Nashville office include Partners Leslie Goff Sanders, Daniel Crowell, and Kendra Samson, all members of the Labor and Employment Practice Group. They are joined by Stephen Stovall, Senior Counsel in Labor and Employment; Eric Lyons, Senior Counsel in Labor and Employment and Litigation; Ali Fowler, Special Counsel in Labor and Employment; Julie-Karel Elkin, Of Counsel in Corporate; and Labor and Employment Associates Molli Guinn and Brenton Urick.
May 19, 2026
ALTON, IL—For the 15th consecutive year, Simmons Hanly Conroy has renewed its platinum sponsorship of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization (ADAO), reaffirming a partnership that has made the firm the nonprofit’s longest-running corporate supporter. Simmons Hanly Conroy is widely recognized as one of the nation’s largest mass torts firms and a leader in the legal representation of mesothelioma patients and their families. The renewed sponsorship reflects the firm’s ongoing investment in the fight to eliminate asbestos exposure and secure justice for the community it serves.
May 19, 2026
MIAMI, FL—Tarter Krinsky & Drogin announced today the opening of a new office in Miami, Florida, marking the latest step in the firm’s strategic geographic expansion and reinforcing its ability to serve clients with national and multi-jurisdictional needs. Located at 1111 Brickell Avenue in the center of Miami’s financial and commercial district, the new office builds on the firm’s established presence in New York and Los Angeles, reflecting the growing importance of the South Florida market for clients across multiple industries.
May 19, 2026
LOS ANGELES, CA—Blank Rome LLP announced that Patrick Harder and Brandon J. Davis have joined the firm as partners in the Real Estate practice group and industry team in the Los Angeles office. The pair is nationally recognized for their work in public-private partnerships (“PPPs”) and large-scale infrastructure project development and finance, representing clients on some of the most significant infrastructure projects in the country. Patrick joins from Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, and Brandon joins from Nossaman LLP. They previously worked together at Nossaman and are reuniting at Blank Rome as a team.
May 19, 2026
BOSTON, MA—Boston law firm Sherin and Lodgen LLP announces that Partner and Hospitality Practice Group Chair Joshua M. Bowman moderated the panel, “From Listing to Closing: What It Takes Today,” at the Boston University (BU) 2026 Hospitality Real Estate Symposium on April 22. Bowman, a member of the BU School of Hospitality’s Real Estate Advisory Board, facilitated the discussion on the current realities of executing real estate transactions, as well as the operational, financial, and market dynamics required to successfully move deals across the finish line in today’s environment.
May 19, 2026
BOSTON, MA—Davis Malm shareholder John F. Tocci presented at the Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce’s (CCCC) Wage & Hour and Seasonal Immigration Compliance seminar on May 5. The seminar brought together attorneys and members of the U.S. Department of Labor to discuss recent dramatic changes in immigration and employment-related laws. This included standards and practices affecting how hospitality industry and seasonal businesses in Massachusetts engage and pay employees. Mr. Tocci was joined by Thomas Carroll, Community Outreach & Resource Planning Coordinator of the U.S. Department of Labor – Wage and Hour Division, and Matthew Lee, Partner of Lee & Novi.
May 19, 2026
LOS ANGELES, CA—JAMS announced that Hon. David S. Cunningham lll (Ret.) has joined its panel. He brings over four decades of legal and judicial experience. Based in the Los Angeles Resolution Center, Judge Cunningham will serve as an arbitrator, mediator and neutral evaluator, handling business and commercial, cybersecurity and privacy, employment law, environmental law, family law, insurance, mass torts and personal injury matters.
May 18, 2026
PTTSBURGH, PA—Blank Rome LLP announced that Justin N. Leonelli has joined the firm as a partner in the Business Litigation group and the Energy industry team in the Pittsburgh office. A highly regarded construction, infrastructure, and energy practitioner, Justin advises clients across the full lifecycle of complex construction and energy projects, bringing continuity from contract negotiation through execution and, when necessary, dispute resolution. Justin joins Blank Rome from K&L Gates, reuniting with former colleagues Robert P. Zinn, Megan A. Wotherspoon, and Rachel Cheasty Sanders, who joined earlier this year.
May 18, 2026
NEW YORK, NY—Stinson LLP welcomed Maggie Burrus as a partner in the firm’s New York City office, where she joins the Bankruptcy & Creditors’ Rights Practice Division. Her arrival further strengthens the firm’s growing East Coast presence and expands its capabilities in complex restructuring and insolvency matters. Burrus advises clients in sophisticated bankruptcy and insolvency matters, bringing a strategic and practical approach to Chapter 11 proceedings and related disputes. S
May 18, 2026
SAN FRANCISCO, CA—Faegre Drinker announced today that Matthew McCullough has joined the firm’s intellectual property group in the San Francisco office. He joins from a global law firm where he was a partner in that firm’s intellectual property group. McCullough represents clients in intellectual property litigation, with a particular focus on high-tech patent and trade secrets litigation involving cutting-edge technologies, such as AI, cloud services and infrastructure, telecom, and network security.
May 18, 2026
NEW YORK, NY—Moritt Hock & Hamroff today announced that Parag Parekh has joined the firm as a partner in its expanding Condominium & Cooperative Services (“Condo & Co-Op”) practice. He will be based in the firm’s Midtown Manhattan office, led by Partner David Fitzhenry. Previously a partner at Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg Atlas, Parekh brings more than 15 years of experience advising boards and representing developers, purchasers, sellers, and investors in commercial and residential real estate matters. He began his career as an assistant attorney in the Real Estate Finance Bureau of the New York State Attorney General’s Office.
May 18, 2026
WINSTON-SALEM, NC—G. Gray Wilson has joined the national law firm Baker Donelson as a shareholder in the Firm’s Winston-Salem office, continuing to grow the Firm’s presence in North Carolina following the office’s opening in December 2025. Mr. Wilson brings decades of experience defending health care providers, professionals, and businesses in complex, high-exposure litigation. His practice focuses on professional liability and medical malpractice matters involving catastrophic injury, wrongful death, and significant damages claims.
May 18, 2026
DETROIT, MI—Honigman LLP announced today that Michael E. Carter is joining the firm as senior counsel in the Investigations and White Collar Defense Practice Group within the Litigation Department. Based in Detroit, Carter joins Honigman after serving as Executive Director of the Federal Community Defender Office (FCDO) of the Eastern District of Michigan. In transitioning to private practice, Carter will focus on white collar defense—representing individuals in investigations and prosecutions and advising on complex criminal proceedings.
May 18, 2026
NATIONAL—Barnes & Thornburg welcomes Dwayne Piñon, Emily Tremmel and Meredith Williams as counsel in the firm’s Healthcare Department. The additions bring exceptional depth across pharmacy law, healthcare transactions, federal fraud and abuse compliance, and government enforcement — reinforcing Barnes & Thornburg’s position as a leading national healthcare law firm. Piñon, who joins the Chicago office, brings nearly 30 years of in-house legal experience at Walgreens and a background as a licensed pharmacist to his healthcare regulatory practice. Tremmel, who is located in Chicago, has spent the past three decades advising physicians and healthcare entities on corporate and regulatory matters, both in private practice and as in-house counsel. Williams, who joins the D.C. office, advises healthcare clients on federal fraud and abuse compliance, regulatory strategy, and government investigations, drawing on more than 20 years as a senior attorney at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General.
May 15, 2026
CHICAGO, IL—McCready Law has expanded into Iowa, Wisconsin, and Michigan with new offices in Davenport, Milwaukee, and St. Joseph, strengthening its presence as a robust Midwest trial practice. Rudy Longman will lead the St. Joseph office, Samantha Johnson and Michael McCready will lead the Davenport office, and McCready will lead the Wisconsin office. The expansion gives clients in these markets direct access to local legal support and the firm’s broader resources for preparing and bringing cases to trial.
May 15, 2026
CHARLOTTE, NC—Segal McCambridge announced the opening of its new office in Charlotte, North Carolina, marking the firm’s 21st office location nationwide. The opening reflects the firm’s continued investment in its growth and expanding client base across the Southeast. The Charlotte office, located at 3440 Toringdon Way #205, will be led by Shareholder Michael S. Litrenta. Litrenta is a litigator with a proven track record for guiding businesses across a range of industries through complex, high-exposure disputes and is known for his practical, strategic approach focused on positioning matters for efficient resolution while remaining trial-ready.
May 14, 2026
SEATTLA, WA—Foster Garvey announced the promotions of two senior leaders. Effective May 1, 2026, Scott Flichtbeil was promoted to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Andrew Randles was promoted to Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Scott is based in Seattle and previously served as the firm’s Chief Operating Officer for nearly five and a half years and before that, as CFO. Andrew is based in Portland and was previously the firm’s Director of Finance & Accounting.
May 14, 2026
BOSTON, MA—Greenberg Traurig, LLP Shareholders Prashant Girinath, Ph.D., Abdullah Malik, and Win Rutherfurd presented at the Harvard Business School (HBS) Entrepreneurship Summit March 29. The full-day event brought together more than 30 founders from leading companies across artificial intelligence, robotics, logistics, fintech, health, sustainability, and more. Attendees gained insights from industry experts, engaged in thought-provoking discussions, and connected with venture capitalists, fellow entrepreneurs, and business leaders.
May 14, 2026
NEW YORK, NY—Withers announced that Emily Borich has joined the firm as counsel on the US intellectual property team, strengthening Withers’ trademark and copyright capabilities on both the East and West Coasts. Based in New York, Emily will support clients across the sports, entertainment, consumer goods, and luxury law sectors. Emily’s practice spans the full lifecycle of brand and creative asset protection, including prosecution, strategic counseling, transactions, enforcement, and litigation.
May 14, 2026
JACKSON, MS—Bradley welcomed back Mary Clay Morgan to the firm’s Jackson office as counsel in the Labor & Employment and Litigation practice groups. Ms. Morgan rejoins the firm after serving as chief operating officer and general counsel for a prominent accounting and advisory firm specializing in government disaster recovery, grant compliance, healthcare, and construction services across the Southeast.
May 14, 2026
SAN DIEGO, CA—Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that Travis Jang‑Busby has joined the firm’s San Diego office as a partner in its Labor & Employment Practice Group. His arrival builds on Foley’s continued growth in California and marks the firm’s fifth partner hire in the state over the past three months and its 10th firmwide during that period, underscoring sustained momentum and continued investment across key markets and practices. Jang‑Busby, who joins from Blank Rome, advises companies and management on a wide range of labor, employment, and commercial matters.
May 13, 2026
BIRMINGHAM, AL—Robert Baxley has joined the national law firm Baker Donelson’s Birmingham office as a shareholder in the Firm’s Commercial Litigation Group. Mr. Baxley provides strategic counsel across a broad range of commercial litigation and appellate matters and represents clients in complex disputes involving significant legal exposure and reputational risk.
May 13, 2026
NEW YORK, NY— Lowenstein Sandler has announced that Ivan J. Presant has joined the firm as a Mergers & Acquisitions partner in its Transactions & Advisory Group. Presant brings more than 30 years of experience advising buyers, sellers, and investors on complex U.S. and cross-border transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, licensing arrangements, recapitalizations, tender offers, and corporate control matters. He will be based in the firm’s New York City office. Presant represents public and private companies across a broad range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, retail, food and beverage, financial services, fintech, and health care.
May 13, 2026
DALLAS, TX—Blank Rome LLP announced that Buffey E. Klein has joined the firm as a partner in the Finance, Restructuring, and Bankruptcy group and the Financial Services industry team in the Dallas office. A Chambers-ranked bankruptcy and restructuring practitioner with more than 25 years of experience, Buffey represents national and regional financial institutions, creditors, lenders, and landlords in complex commercial bankruptcy, insolvency, and commercial litigation matters. She joins Blank Rome from Husch Blackwell LLP, where she most recently served as Dallas Office Managing Partner.
May 12, 2026
CHARLOTTE, NC—Shumaker’s Intellectual Property team has secured a major legal victory on behalf of patent owner Yukon Packaging, LLC (Yukon) in its ongoing patent infringement lawsuit against Jones Sustainable Packaging, LLC, (Jones) after a federal judge granted Yukon’s request for a preliminary injunction.
In a Memorandum & Order filed May 8, the United States District Court for the Western District of North Carolina ruled that Yukon is likely to succeed on its claims that Jones infringed Yukon’s U.S. Patent No. 12,595,110, which covers insulated cold-chain shipping container technology.
The lawsuit focuses on Yukon’s patented three-piece insulated shipping container system, designed to help maintain safe temperatures for sensitive products during shipping and transit.
As part of the ruling, the court ordered Jones and related entities to immediately stop making, marketing, selling, using, or advertising the disputed product, referred to in the case as the “accused hinge-break product,” while the lawsuit moves forward.
In its decision, the court found that Yukon showed a strong likelihood of success on the merits of its patent infringement claims and demonstrated that it would likely continue to suffer irreparable harm without an injunction in place. The court cited evidence that Yukon lost market share and business opportunities after Jones introduced the accused product.
Under the order, Jones, its affiliated entities, and anyone acting in concert with the company are prohibited from continuing to market or distribute the accused product in any size for the duration of the litigation.
Shumaker Partner Alex Long argued the motion for preliminary injunction, along with colleagues Tom BenGera and Laura Pasternak. Marshal Adkins also assisted the team, arguing a related Motion to Strike.
May 12, 2026
NASHVILLE, TN—Farrah Usmani has joined Barnes & Thornburg LLP’s Entertainment, Media and Sports Practice in Nashville. Usmani represents performing artists, songwriters, producers, promoters, venues, festivals, with a practice spanning recording, publishing, distribution, and asset purchase agreements, as well as executive employment and new business formation.
May 12, 2026
MIAMI, FL—Panter, Panter & Sampedro (PPS) announced that it has awarded Lia Fife of Miami Killian Senior High School as the 2026 recipient of the Lorraine Silverstein Law Studies Scholarship. Fife will attend the University of Central Florida this fall to pursue her studies in the legal field. The Lorraine Silverstein Scholarship was established at Miami Killian Senior High School to support students who demonstrate academic excellence and a dedicated commitment to their community. Fife’s application stood out for her personal growth and her clear vision of how a legal education can empower both herself and those around her.
May 12, 2026
JACKSONVILLE, FL—In the legal community, advocacy often happens in the courtroom. But for Eddie and Chuck Farah, senior partners at Farah & Farah, some of the most important advocacy happens in the heart of the community they have served since 1979. This month, the firm is proud to announce its sponsorship of the G.O. Session collaboration, a partnership with Jacksonville Beach’s Ink Factory Brewing and the non-profit Here Tomorrow. The initiative honors the legacy of Garrett Opper, a Marine veteran, St. Johns County firefighter, and lifeguard who tragically lost his battle with the invisible scars of service in 2022. The collaboration centers on the release of the “G.O. Session” Hazy IPA and “Stoke Water” (a non-alcoholic sparkling water). As the official sponsor, Farah & Farah is matching proceeds from sales and donations throughout the month of May—Mental Health Awareness Month—to benefit Here Tomorrow. Based in Neptune Beach, the organization provides immediate, no-cost mental health support and suicide prevention specifically tailored to veterans and first responders.
May 12, 2026
CHARLOTTE, NC—Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP announced today that Michele M. Glessner, M. Madison McCraw, and Samuel C. Merritt have joined the firm as partners in Charlotte. Their arrival enhances Womble’s IP capabilities in the Southeast and supports continued growth in the Charlotte market. Collectively, the group brings complementary experience spanning trademark and copyright portfolio management, patent prosecution, and IP litigation. Their practices cover the full lifecycle of IP protection, including portfolio strategy, clearance and freedom-to-operate analysis, enforcement, dispute resolution, and counseling across a range of industries, including manufacturing, technology, financial services, retail, apparel, and consumer products.
May 12, 2026
CHARLOTTE, NC—Womble Bond Dickinson announced today that Kyle Agee has joined the firm’s Charlotte office as a partner in the Corporate & Securities Practice Group on the Private Wealth Team. Kyle focuses his practice on tax, estate, and succession planning for owners of closely held and family businesses, high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and fiduciaries.
May 12, 2026
NEW YORK, NY—The Venable Foundation announced today that it has awarded $5,000 public interest fellowships to five students attending Columbia Law School, Fordham University School of Law, and New York University School of Law. The annual program, celebrating its 18th year, supports New York City-based law school students committed to working for a nonprofit or a federal, state, or local government agency during the summer. Students are chosen based on their academic performance, demonstrated leadership qualities, and commitment to using the law to further the public good. This year’s Venable fellows and internship assignments include Melat Eskender of Columbia Law with Neighborhood Defender Service in New York City; Neo Nguyen of Fordham Law with Volunteers of Legal Service in New York City; Jake Schneebaum of Fordham Law with the New York City Commission on Human Rights; Michelle Howard of NYU Law with the Native American Rights Fund in Washington, D.C.; and Alisha Zhao of NYU Law with the Asian Law Caucus in San Francisco, California.
May 12, 2026
BOSTON, MA—Casner & Edwards partner Sharon C. Lincoln presented the session, “Navigating Attorney General Oversight and Investigations,” at the 2026 Conference on Representing & Managing Tax-Exempt Organizations on April 23, 2026. Lincoln and fellow presenters discussed how to approach an Attorney General inquiry or investigation, the scope of Attorney General authority, and governance and communications considerations in managing an investigation. Lincoln’s practice focuses on advising nonprofit entities on the wide range of issues related to their tax-exempt status.
May 12, 2026
LOS ANGELES, CA—Christina S. Chang and Carron Joan Mitchell have joined Barnes & Thornburg LLP’s Entertainment, Media and Sports Practice Group in Los Angeles. Mitchell’s practice spans entertainment, sports, media, intellectual property and corporate, with particular depth in the music industry. Chang’s practice is uniquely positioned within the creator economy, where she advises multi-hyphenate digital creators, emerging media companies, brands, sports teams, advertising agencies, nonprofits, and entrepreneurs on brand development, IP ownership, content monetization, and complex commercial partnerships.
May 12, 2026
NEW YORK, NY—Glenn Agre Bergman & Fuentes LLP has strengthened its Employment and Trade Secrets Litigation practice by naming Reid Skibell chair and adding Joseph Gallagher as a lateral partner in its New York office, the firm announced today. These moves expand the firm’s already strong practice, which represents both employers and employees, as plaintiffs and defendants, in employment and related disputes. Glenn Agre’s Employment and Trade Secrets Litigation practice focuses on mission-critical mattersSkibell has been appointed chair, guiding the practice’s client relationships and strategic direction. A nationally ranked leading litigator, he is trusted by both employers and employees in their most sensitive matters.
May 12, 2026
BOSTON, MA—Morgan, Brown & Joy Partner Andrea E. Zoia presented on the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) program, “Responding to Workplace Misconduct Claims,” on April 29, 2026. Zoia and fellow faculty explored best practices for addressing workplace misconduct claims with the objectives of minimizing legal and organizational risks at the forefront, while also ensuring compliance with applicable legal frameworks. They also discussed best practices relating to internal workplace investigations, as well as practical and legal considerations from both the employer and the employee perspectives.
May 12, 2026
IRVINE, CA—JAMS announced the launch of its Technology Industry Group, a dedicated offering designed to address the growing volume and complexity of disputes stemming from rapid innovation across technology-driven industries. The JAMS Technology Industry Group brings together mediation, arbitration and other ADR services tailored to disputes involving AI, intellectual property, software and SaaS, cybersecurity, cloud computing, blockchain, digital assets, FinTech, HealthTech, medical and biotechnology, telecommunications and digital platforms.
May 12, 2026
LOS ANGELES, CA—Barnes & Thornburg announced today the arrival of Joseph Balice as a partner, a move that bolsters the firm’s Insurance Recovery practice and further expands its Los Angeles office following the recent addition of litigator Joo Cha Webb. His move also comes on the heels of the addition of a nationally recognized 12-lawyer Insurance Recovery team across the East Coast, reinforcing the firm’s strategic growth strategy in key practices and markets. Balice brings nearly two decades of experience representing policyholders in disputes involving denied, delayed or underpaid insurance claims. He has worked across virtually all lines of commercial and professional insurance, helping clients recover over $400 million in coverage benefits.
May 11, 2026
ATLANTA, GA—Burr & Forman LLP announced that Cameron Myers has joined the firm as Chief Financial Officer. Based in Atlanta, he will partner with the Executive Committee to advance the firm’s growth strategy and lead its financial operations.
May 11, 2026
BOSTON, MA—JAMS announced that Hon. Thomas Drechsler (Ret.) has joined its panel. He brings decades of experience as a trial lawyer and Superior Court judge. Judge Drechsler served on the Massachusetts Superior Court from 2014 to 2026. He handled a broad docket of civil and criminal cases, including business disputes, employment matters, personal injury claims, civil rights actions and serious felony trials.
May 11, 2026
BIRMINGHAM, AL—Bradley has added partner Scott S. Frederick to the firm’s Birmingham office, continuing the strategic growth of its Real Estate Practice Group. Mr. Frederick joins the firm from Baker Donelson. Mr. Frederick concentrates his practice on representing developers, buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants in the acquisition, development, leasing, financing, and disposition of real estate assets across the United States
May 11, 2026
NAPLES, FL—Quarles & Brady LLP today announced that Jennifer Nackley, a highly accomplished trust and estate attorney, has rejoined the firm’s Naples office as a partner. Previously, she practiced at a Florida estate planning/administration boutique firm. With more than 30 years of private practice experience in wealth preservation, Nackley counsels multigenerational families on estate planning and the transition of wealth, while minimizing estate, gift and generation-skipping taxes.
May 8, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Reed Smith announced the addition of Amanda A. Rapp as a partner in the firm’s Financial Industry Group, affiliated with its Washington, D.C., office. Rapp focuses her practice on commercial real estate financing, with particular depth in Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing and tax credit transactions.
May 8, 2026
NEW YORK, NY—Morgan Lewis continues to bolster its global litigation and labor and employment capabilities with the arrival of Michael Edney and James La Rocca as partners in the firm’s Washington, DC and New York offices, respectively. Both join from Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, building on the firm’s recent addition of a trio of partners who joined from the same firm last month and further enhancing its integrated disputes and workplace platform. Mike focuses his practice on white collar defense, regulatory enforcement, and complex commercial litigation. James maintains a robust labor law practice alongside an active employment litigation practice.
May 8, 2026
NEW YORK, NY—Morgan Lewis continues to bolster its global litigation and labor and employment capabilities with the arrival of Michael Edney and James La Rocca as partners in the firm’s Washington, DC and New York offices, respectively. Both join from Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP, building on the firm’s recent addition of a trio of partners who joined from the same firm last month and further enhancing its integrated disputes and workplace platform.
May 8, 2026
BOSTON, MA—Davis Malm shareholder John F. Tocci co-presented at Suffolk University Law School’s Second Annual Justinian Law Panel, “Exploring Italian Culture in Modern Concepts,” hosted by the Suffolk University Italian American Law Students Association on March 18. The panel brought together attorneys and members of the Justinian Law Society of Massachusetts to discuss their career paths, professional experiences, and the value of involvement in affinity bar associations. Mr. Tocci was joined by John Powers, Clerk Magistrate of Suffolk Superior Court; Domenic Coppola of Drago & Toscano; and Phillip Boncore of the Law Offices of Phillip Boncore.
May 8, 2026
NASHVILLE, TN—Thompson Burton PLLC announced that Sarah K. Laird has joined the firm as part of its commercial real estate practice. Laird brings a deep, nationally focused transactional practice representing owners, developers, investors, and sponsors in commercial real estate matters throughout the United States. Laird’s practice spans acquisitions and dispositions, development projects, and leasing matters across a broad range of asset classes.
May 7, 2026
NASHVILLE, TN—Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that Shannon Goff Kukulka has joined the firm’s Nashville office as a partner in its Executive Benefits & Employee Compensation Practice Group and a member of its Health Care & Life Sciences and Manufacturing Sectors. Joining from Holland & Knight, Kukulka brings extensive experience advising employers on complex employee benefits and executive compensation matters spanning regulatory, transactional, and compliance issues.
May 7, 2026
HOUSTON, TX—Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC welcomed Zeshan Mohiuddin as an associate in its Houston office. He will join Lightfoot’s product liability, personal injury and commercial litigation teams. Mohiuddin brings with him significant litigation experience, spanning insurance defense, construction, product liability and personal injury and commercial matters across state and federal courts.
May 7, 2026
GARDEN CITY, NY—Tarter Krinsky & Drogin announced today that David Wechsler has joined the firm as a partner in its Trusts & Estates Group, further strengthening the firm’s capabilities in advising clients on sophisticated estate and trust matters. Wechsler focuses his practice on all aspects of trusts and estates law, including estate planning, trust formation and administration, wills, probate, and estate administration.
May 7, 2026
CHICAGO, IL—Bass, Berry & Sims announced its expansion into the Chicago market with the addition of new members Robert H. Newman and Jason W. Gordon, who enhance the capabilities of the firm’s IP, Media & Technology Practice with their deep experience representing global consumer brands and technology companies in the areas of marketing, privacy, and intellectual property. The firm’s new office is located at 300 North LaSalle Drive and will also include current Bass, Berry & Sims attorneys Bryan P. Bylica, Delaney Durst and Shelley R. Thomas.
May 7, 2026
CLEVELAND, OH—DiCello Levitt, one of the largest plaintiffs’ law firms in the country, has launched Rectifi, a new personal injury-focused platform designed to serve the legal needs of individuals and families across Ohio. Rectifi handles matters involving birth injuries, civil rights violations, dangerous products, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect and abuse, personal injury, sexual assault and sexual abuse, and trucking accidents.
May 7, 2026
NATIONAL CITY, IL—Foley & Lardner LLP announced today the launch of LearningLab, an innovative on-demand learning platform designed to help clients and other in-house counsel access and earn timely continuing legal education (CLE) credit, along with additional practical business programming, more easily and at no cost. LearningLab offers a growing library of high-quality CLE programs and business-focused legal insights relevant to in-house practitioners. It is designed to make CLE simpler and more flexible, allowing users to earn credit at their convenience and without fees or travel.
May 7, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Eversheds Sutherland welcomes Brandon Hill to the US Capital Markets and Investments practice group as counsel in the Washington, DC office. With over 20 years of financial regulatory experience in both the public and private sectors—including more than 15 years at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)—Mr. Hill will enhance the team’s capabilities advising clients, including registered funds, broker-dealers and fintech companies, on complex issues involving regulatory compliance and product development.
May 7, 2026
IRVINE, CA—JAMS shared its 2025 global caseload statistics. Now in its fourth year, the JAMS Resolution Report captures the number and types of international matters handled. In 2025, 21,939 new cases* were filed with JAMS, representing an increase over the prior year. JAMS handled a total of 28,345 active cases** during the year. Of the new cases, 308 were international, marking an increase of nearly 16% over 2024.
May 7, 2026
BOSTON, MA—Casner & Edwards announces that Peter F. Cifichiello has joined the firm as a partner in the Business & Corporate and Mergers & Acquisitions groups. Cifichiello advises small and mid-cap companies, entrepreneurs, investment entities, and financial institutions on a wide range of corporate transactional matters. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, equity and convertible financings, and corporate structuring and governance.
May 6, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Venable Foundation announced today that it has awarded $770,000 in grants to 101 nonprofits across the United States during its first round of giving this year, supporting operations, programming, and other community-focused initiatives. The grants include $222,500 to 28 organizations in Washington, D.C., $160,000 to 16 organizations in Baltimore, $190,000 to 28 organizations in New York City, $90,000 to 11 organizations in Los Angeles, $37,500 to five organizations in San Francisco, $30,000 to five organizations in Chicago, $25,000 to five organizations in Miami, and $15,000 to three organizations in Denver.
May 6, 2026
DALLAS, TX—Family law and appellate lawyer Richard Orsinger has earned the 2026 Patrick A. Nester Outstanding Achievement in CLE Award for his career-spanning dedication to the promotion and advancement of continuing legal education. His commitment to mentoring and education is evidenced by more than 275 CLE presentations he has written and presented over his 50-year career. His programs have covered topics impacting family law, rules of evidence and rules of procedure, contract law, business law, fiduciary law, trust law, appellate procedure and many other subjects.
May 6, 2026
NEW ORLEANS, LA—Real estate attorney Paul Simoneaux has joined the national law firm Baker Donelson as of counsel in the Firm’s New Orleans office. Mr. Simoneaux focuses his practice on commercial real estate sales, development, financing, and leasing. He brings more than 30 years of combined legal and financial experience.
May 6, 2026
SAN FRANCISCO, CA—Womble Bond Dickinson announced today that David M. Van Atta has joined the firm as a partner in its Real Estate Practice Group in San Francisco. Van Atta brings more than five decades of experience advising clients on complex real estate transactions, development projects, and land use matters. Since 1970, he has been a leading practitioner in common interest developments and community association law, helping shape the field through his work with developers, lenders, investors, and associations across California and beyond.
May 5, 2026
NEW YORK, NY—Dilworth Paxson LLP announced that Robert L. Baker, Jr., Michael J. Willner, and Jesse M. Dimitro from Scarinci Hollenbeck LLC are joining the firm’s Real Estate practice, further strengthening the firm’s capabilities in complex commercial real estate transactions, leasing, and related litigation. Baker joins the firm as a partner in the Cherry Hill, N.J. office. He has more than two decades of experience advising clients on sophisticated commercial real estate transactions. Baker joins the firm as a partner in the Cherry Hill, N.J. office. He has more than two decades of experience advising clients on sophisticated commercial real estate transactions. Dimitro joins the firm as a senior associate in New York. His practice is focused on commercial and residential real estate transactions.
May 5, 2026
NEWARK, NJ—FBT Gibbons continues to grow its national Real Estate platform with the addition of Matthew D. Fielding in its Newark office. Fielding strengthens the firm’s real estate bench in the Northeast, advising financial institutions, developers, and corporate clients on complex commercial real estate and finance transactions. Fielding brings more than a decade of experience structuring, negotiating, and closing sophisticated real estate transactions.
May 5, 2026
MIAMI, FL—Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman (WSHC+B) announces the arrival of Mariela Malfeld as Partner in the firm’s Miami office, where she will practice within the firm’s Litigation Division – with a focus on Construction Law. Malfeld is a Florida Bar Board Certified attorney in Construction Law who represents contractors, owners, designers, and sureties in complex commercial disputes in state and federal courts, and domestic and international arbitrations.
May 5, 2026
TOLEDO, OH—With more than four decades as a litigator, Shumaker Partner Peter Silverman became increasingly disillusioned by a legal system that often rewards prolonged litigation rather than early resolution. In 2019, Silverman founded the Early Dispute Resolution (EDR) Institute, developing a structured risk-informed approach designed to help parties settle disputes before they escalate into costly, years-long legal battles. This month, the American Arbitration Association (AAA) began rolling out the EDR Mediation program nationwide, marking the organization’s first new mediation offering in decades. The EDR Institute trained and qualified the mediators who serve on the AAA’s EDR Mediation panel.
May 5, 2026
BOCA RATON, FL—Weiss Serota Helfman Cole + Bierman (WSHC+B) announces that Shana H. Bridgeman joined the firm as Partner in the firm’s Boca Raton office and a member of the firm’s Labor and Employment Division. Bridgeman has more than 22 years of legal experience, including 19 years representing management, businesses, and municipal clients in labor and employment matters throughout Florida
May 5, 2026
NEW YORK, NY—Marshall Dennehey announced today that veteran insurance coverage attorney Alexander J. Mueller has joined the firm’s New York City office as a Shareholder in the Professional Liability Department. Previously, Mueller was a longtime partner at Mendes & Mount, LLP in New York. Mueller joins the firm’s Insurance Services Practice Group with more than 20 years of experience representing domestic and international insurers in insurance coverage matters, including the defense of complex insurance coverage disputes
May 5, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Fenwick announced today that Anna Uhls has joined the firm in its growing Washington, D.C. office. Her arrival reflects Fenwick’s continued, client‑driven expansion in the D.C. region to support and bring solutions to technology and life sciences companies at moments of heightened scrutiny. Uhls’ deep experience navigating congressional oversight and her bipartisan credentials and relationships will play a critical role in growing the firm’s congressional investigations practice alongside litigation partner Jon Lenzner, further strengthening the firm’s capabilities at the intersection of government investigations, congressional oversight, and enterprise‑wide risk.
May 5, 2026
LOS ANGELES, CA—Norton Rose Fulbright today announced that litigators Jayme Long, Stephanie Peatman and Alexander Giraldo have joined the firm’s Los Angeles office as partners on the product liability and consumer disputes practice team, materially enhancing the firm’s US litigation platform, deepening its California presence and expanding its capacity to handle complex, multi-jurisdictional matters and trials nationwide. The three partners are joined by senior counsel Jason Kort in San Francisco, counsel Gabby Consolo in Los Angeles and counsel Rosie Quick in Chicago. They are supported by a long-time consulting lawyer as well as a team of four business services professionals.
May 5, 2026
BOSTON, MA—Partridge Snow & Hahn (PSH) successfully secured a decisive victory on behalf of tenured faculty members at Tufts University, with the Massachusetts Superior Court ruling that the university violated their tenure contracts and state wage law.
Following a 12-day bench trial in December 2025, the Court held that Tufts’ compensation policies requiring faculty to fund a significant portion of their salaries through external research and penalizing faculty through salary reductions and/or reductions to part-time status if they failed to meet this funding requirement breached the professors’ tenure contracts and violated the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. The Court also found that the university’s actions violated the Massachusetts Wage Act, as faculty were expected to continue working full-time despite being reclassified as part-time. The Court issued a declaratory judgment barring Tufts from applying these compensation plans to the affected faculty members, all of whom were granted tenure prior to the policies’ implementation.
PSH attorney Jennifer A. Henricks represented eight tenured professors at Tufts University School of Medicine, who argued that the university’s policies undermined the core tenure protections of economic security and academic freedom. Kevin T. Peters and Thomas Brown of Fox Rothschild LLP served as co-counsel.
Henricks is Counsel in PSH’s Litigation & Disputes Practice Group and is based in the firm’s Boston office. A seasoned trial lawyer, she represents individuals, companies, nonprofits, and institutions in complex commercial disputes in state and federal courts. Known for her strategic precision and strong courtroom advocacy, she has achieved successful outcomes across all stages of litigation, including trial and appeal. Henricks is an Associate Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and has been recognized as a Massachusetts Super Lawyers Rising Star annually since 2017.
This ruling follows a 2024 decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, which vacated a prior summary judgment in favor of Tufts and remanded the case for trial to examine the customs, practices, and reasonable expectations governing compensation and full-time status for tenured faculty. The Superior Court’s decision reinforces the contractual and statutory protections afforded to tenured professors and clarifies limits on institutional changes to longstanding compensation structures.
May 5, 2026
BOSTON, MA—Morgan, Brown & Joy attorneys Alexandra L. Pichette and Daniel R. Fishman presented at the Boston Bar Association’s (BBA) 2026 Employment Law Conference on April 15, 2026. Pichette, a member of the conference Advisory Committee, presented on the session, “Charging Ahead: Navigating Current and Anticipated Changes to your Employment Law Practice before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (‘EEOC’) and the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (‘MCAD’),” addressing the EEOC’s focus on “reverse discrimination claims” and priorities under the Trump administration, the distinctions between the Charge stage of a discrimination claim before the EEOC and the MCAD, and the impact that the MCAD’s proposed revisions to its procedural regulations may have on practitioners and parties appearing before the MCAD.
May 5, 2026
BOSTON, MA—Jacqueline Tambone deGrandpre and Elizabeth E. Georgiopoulos, shareholders in global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP’s Boston office, presented the Boston Bar Association webinar “eDiscovery and Artificial Intelligence: 2025 Year in Review and 2026 Trends” April 14. The panel was moderated by deGrandpre, with Georgiopoulos serving as a panelist. They were joined by Luis Carlos Balaguer Escobar, a law clerk/JD at Greenberg Traurig, and Wayland Rabin, vice president of analytics at Innovative Driven. Panelists discussed recent developments in eDiscovery and artificial intelligence, including the top trends in eDiscovery and AI, along with the case law, software, and related tools that shaped these developments. The webinar also covered the top eDiscovery and AI trends to watch in 2026.
May 4, 2026
INDIANAPOLIS, IN—Former Indiana Utility Regulatory Commissioner Angela Weber has joined Barnes & Thornburg as counsel in the firm’s Government Services and Finance Department, adding depth to its Energy and Utilities practice group. Her work will include counseling clients on general rate cases, periodic rate adjustment (tracker) proceedings, certificate of public convenience and necessity cases, preapprovals, financings, acquisitions, disputes, investigations, rulemakings and service area-related cases.
May 4, 2026
HOUSTON, TX—Segal McCambridge announced the opening of its new office in Lexington, Kentucky. The office, located at 3499 Blazer Parkway, Suite 330, will be led by Shareholder Kimberly van der Heidien. Van der Heiden concentrates her practice on workers’ compensation defense and general civil litigation, including premises liability, personal injury, and product liability. With over 30 years of experience, she represents employers, insurers, and businesses in complex litigation and administrative proceedings, managing matters from initial claim evaluation through resolution.
May 4, 2026
HOUSTON, TX—Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP announced that Kindall C. James, a partner in the firm’s Houston office, has been elected as a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation (ABF). Ms. James is a labor and employment attorney with vast experience defending employers in a wide variety of employment-related disputes before state and federal courts in Texas and Louisiana, state and federal agencies, and private arbitrators.
May 4, 2026
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Redgrave LLP announced that Rishi P. Chhatwal has joined the Firm as a Partner in its Washington, D.C., office. Rishi has held senior legal roles at a major telecommunications company, a major cryptocurrency exchange, and a global professional services firm, giving him a rare firsthand understanding of the eDiscovery, information governance, and regulatory challenges that organizations face today.
May 4, 2026
CHICAGO, IL—Barnes & Thornburg announced that Michael Lisak has joined the firm as counsel in its Product Liability and Mass Torts practice group in Chicago. His arrival comes after the practice recently expanded with the addition of Derek Smith in Chicago and Joo Cha Webb in Los Angeles. Lisak brings substantial experience representing major corporate clients in toxic and mass tort litigation, pharmaceutical and medical device product liability, and environmental and toxic tort matters.
May 4, 2026
LOS ANGELES, CA—Reed Smith today announced the addition of Bryan Ikegami as a partner in its Global Corporate Group, resident in the Century City office. Ikegami’s practice focuses on representing private equity funds and their portfolio companies in complex transactions. He led the West region of his previous firm’s private equity and M&A practice.
May 4, 2026
HOUSTON, TX—Womble Bond Dickinson announced today that Eric L. Muñoz has joined the firm’s Finance, Bankruptcy and Restructuring Practice Group as a partner in Houston, strengthening its debt financing capabilities in the energy sector. Muñoz brings nearly 20 years of experience representing borrowers, issuers, and investors in complex financing transactions, with a practice spanning syndicated and private credit facilities, high-yield and bridge financings, acquisition financings, project finance, and hedging and other derivative transactions.
May 4, 2026
ATLANTA, GA—Ogletree Deakins announced its ODCares 2026 charitable cause: suicide prevention and awareness. ODCares is an annual firmwide project that promotes teambuilding and fosters connection among colleagues while supporting an important cause. Now in its second year, ODCares reflects the firm’s commitment to community impact and to the well-being of its attorneys and business professionals. To address and raise awareness about this critical issue, ODCares 2026 will reinforce that suicide prevention starts with the communities in which we live and work. Offices and administrative department teams will foster genuine connections with each other while making a meaningful impact both locally and through three pre-vetted organizations.
May 4, 2026
NEW YORK, NY—Littler has added RyAnn Hooper as of counsel in its New York City office. Hooper joins the firm from New York Life Insurance Company, where she served as Head of Employment Law, and brings two decades of experience advising on labor relations, employment law and workforce strategy across the public and private sectors—including 10 years at the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
May 4, 2026
PORTLAND, OR—Buchalter announced the addition of a Tax and Estate Planning team in its Portland office. The group joins Buchalter from Stoel Rives LLP and significantly enhances the firm’s private client, tax, and estate planning platform in the region. The Portland team is led by Partners Susan Bock and Emily Karr, both members of Buchalter’s Corporate Practice Group and the Tax, Benefits and Estate Planning Practice. They are joined by Senior Counsel Kersten Broms, Attorney, Oleg Perry, and paralegals, Lori Kovacevic, Hanh Truong, and Sarah Pugh.
May 4, 2026
ROCHESTER, NY—Littler announced that Katharine Lennox has joined the firm as a shareholder in its Unfair Competition and Trade Secrets Practice Group in Rochester. Lennox joins from McGuireWoods and brings nearly 15 years of experience as a litigator and counselor in unfair competition, trade secret, and restrictive covenant matters.
May 4, 2026
CHICAGO, IL—Epstein Becker Green announced today that Alison Fethke has joined the firm’s Health Care and Life Sciences practice as a Member of the Firm in Chicago. She is a recognized attorney with extensive experience advising medical device and pharmaceutical companies on complex regulatory compliance, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requirements, and government investigations. Fethke joins from Ropes & Gray.
May 4, 2026
DALLAS, TX—Norton Rose Fulbright continues to strengthen its rapidly-growing corporate, M&A and securities practice with the addition of high-profile partners John Bonnet III and Mark Pendleton to its Dallas office. They are joined by senior counsel Larry McFarland and associate Hannah Choi. This team’s arrival further expands the firm’s capabilities in private equity, healthcare and energy transactions. John brings decades of experience in M&A deals, debt and equity financings, investment funds, commercial lending transactions, corporate governance, contracts, general business transactions and other business law matters. Mark’s practice concentrates on the sales and acquisitions of companies and their assets, mergers and financing transactions, private equity platform structures and funds, corporate governance, regulatory matters, joint ventures and other types of corporate and commercial transactions.
May 4, 2026
WEST PALM BEACH, FL—Blank Rome LLP announced that Sean P. Coyle and Vijay S. Choksi have joined the firm as partners in the Corporate, M&A, and Securities group and the Cannabis industry team in its West Palm Beach office. Sean and Vijay bring extensive experience advising clients on complex transactions across a range of highly regulated sectors. Together, they deepen the firm’s ability to serve clients in South Florida and nationwide with sophisticated transactional and regulatory counsel. They join Blank Rome from Fox Rothschild LLP.
May 4, 2026
NEW YORK, NY—Rottenstreich Farley Bronstein Fisher Potter Hodas LLP (RFB+Fisher Potter Hodas) has added Derek A. Cohen, a highly decorated former federal prosecutor and nationally recognized trial specialist. Mr. Cohen joins RFB+Fisher Potter Hodas as a partner from Baker Botts LLP and will supplement the firm’s high-stakes litigation practice, while continuing his investigations, criminal defense and regulatory practices. Mr. Cohen’s colleague, Joseph Perry, an alumnus of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and a former clerk for the New York State Court of Appeals, will join the firm as Senior Counsel. Mr. Perry is a litigator and former state prosecutor with experience in a wide variety of civil, criminal and appellate litigation.
May 1, 2026
SARASOTA, FL—A team of attorneys from Shumaker has secured a significant win at the federal appellate level, successfully defending a subrogation services company against claims of age and disability discrimination and retaliation.
Attorneys Jason Collier, Duane Daiker, and Ryan Guerin represented Vengroff Williams, Inc. and its division, Second Look, Inc., in a case that reached the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. The court ultimately upheld a lower court’s decision to dismiss the lawsuit, finding no evidence that the employee’s termination was based on unlawful discrimination or retaliation.
The case involved Deborah Grey, a former salesperson who alleged she was fired because of her age and lingering health issues following COVID-19. Court records show Grey was hired in 2021 and later raised concerns about returning to in-person work after experiencing COVID-related symptoms. She was terminated shortly thereafter. However, the court found that the company’s decision was based on documented concerns about her workplace behavior, attitude, and productivity, not discriminatory intent.
In its ruling, the Eleventh Circuit agreed that Grey did not present sufficient evidence to support claims of bias. The court also found that her comparisons to other employees were not valid and that there was no pattern of discriminatory treatment.
May 1, 2026
COLUMBUS, OH—Shumaker’s Columbus office continues its growth with the addition of associates Katherine “Kate” H. Crawford and Nicole L. Kalmbach, further strengthening the firm’s capabilities in health law and litigation. Kate joins Shumaker as a member of the firm’s Health Law Service Line. She brings deep knowledge of the health care industry and advises clients on a broad range of regulatory and compliance matters. Nicole joins Shumaker as a member of the firm’s Litigation & Disputes Service Line. Diligent and solutions-oriented, she assists business owners with a wide range of commercial disputes.
