Monthly Archives: July 2007

K&L Gates and Hughes & Luce in Merger Talks

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Merger talks have begun between Texas firm Hughes & Luce, and international powerhouse K&L Gates. Hughes & Luce has about 150 attorneys in offices in Dallas, Ft. Worth, and Austin, the majority working in Dallas. A combination of the two firms would create a firm of more than 1,500 lawyers in 24 offices the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Hughes & Luce is interested in the deal because the firm has increasingly seen a need to service clients outside of Texas. Additionally, the people and culture of K&L Gates seem like a good fit for the firm. For K&L Gates, having a stronger foothold in Texas is an attractive prospect considering that ten percent of Fortune 1,000 companies are located in Texas. The firms hope to come to an agreement and combine by the end of the year.
Source: www.dallasnews.com

Tags:  K&L Gates | Austin

Alston & Bird Hires Corporate and Securities Partner in Charlotte

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Alston & Bird has recruited Kris Manzano from Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw. She joins the firm as a partner in its Charlotte office, strengthening its corporate and securities practice. Manzano’s practice focuses on alternative investment products. She has experience handling private investment funds, investment adviser registration and compliance, foreign offerings, and private offerings of equity and debt securities. Alston & Bird has over 750 attorneys in offices in Atlanta, Charlotte, New York, the Research Triangle and Washington, D.C.
Source: www.charlotte.dbusinessnews.com

Tags:  Alston & Bird LLP | New York

Cooley Godward Welcomes Antitrust Partner

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Michael Knight will join Cooley Godward Kronish as a partner in the Antitrust & Trade Regulation practice group in Washington, D.C. Knight was formerly the Assistant Director of the Mergers II Division of the Bureau of Competition with the Federal Trade Commission. In that position, Knight managed staff investigations and the litigation of merger and civil non-merger matters. Since opening two years ago, Cooley’s D.C. office has expanded to 30 attorneys in various practice areas including corporate law, government contracts, international trade, patent counseling, intellectual property and commercial litigation. Because of the growth there, the firm expects to move to new and larger office space in September.
Source: www.sys-con.com

Tags:  Cooley LLP

Thompson & Knight Hikes Associate Pay

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Thompson & Knight announced that effective Aug. 1, its first and second-year associates will receive a pay raise. In all of its U.S. offices, starting salaries will be $160,000 and those for second-years will be $170,000. The compensation structure for other associate classes has yet to be determined. This Dallas-based firm is the fifth TX firm behind Vinson & Elkins, Andrews Kurth, Locke Liddell & Sapp, and Susman Godfrey to raise associate salaries in the last two weeks.
Source: www.nylawyer.com

Tags:  Thompson & Knight LLP | Dallas

Bingham Adds One in Tokyo

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Bingham McCutchen has recruited Japanese lawyer, Hiroshi Iyori, for its Tokyo office. Iyori joins Bingham’s antitrust practice from Asahi Law Offices. Prior to entering private practice, he was the secretary general and then commissioner of the Japan Fair Trade Commission. Bingham plans to expand its Tokyo office to more than 50 attorneys by the fall. The Japanese practice focuses on large-scale cross-border, corporate, mergers and acquisitions, finance, antitrust and intellectual property matters.
Source: www.nylawyer.com

Tags:  Tokyo

Two Corporate Partners Join Fulbright in Houston

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

The Houston office of Fulbright & Jaworski has gained two international corporate partners. Kevin Trautner joins from King & Spalding, where he specialized in finance and M&A. Charles Powell left Haynes & Boone, where he was the head of the technology practice, providing counsel related to venture capital, securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions.
Source: www.nylawyer.com

Tags:  Houston

Three Trial Practice Lawyers Join Thompson & Knight

Wednesday, July 25, 2007

Thompson & Knight has built up its 170-lawyer Trial Practice group by hiring three laterals. Robert F. Brodegaard joined the firm’s New York office as a partner, Richard J. Zook is a partner in Houston, and Jennifer Rudenick has joined the Firm’s Dallas office as an associate. Brodegaard’s practice focuses on international dispute resolution and U.S. commercial litigation. Zook is a trial lawyer who specializes in handling complex business lawsuits in state and federal courts and in arbitration. Rudenick deals especially with litigation and dispute resolution.
Source: www.newyork.dbusinessnews.com

Tags:  Thompson & Knight LLP | Houston

Susman Godfrey Raises Associate Salaries

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Houston-based Susman Godfrey has joined the ranks of Texas firms raising associate salaries. The firm raised salaries to $160,000 for first-years, $170,000 for second-years, $175,000 for third-years, $180,000 for fourth-years and $190,000 for fifth years. Unlike other firms, Susman’s pay hikes have no hour requirements attached. For example, starting in their third year, Vinson & Elkins associates must bill 2,000 hours in order to be eligible for the full raise.
Source: www.law.com

Tags:  Susman Godfrey LLP | Houston

Sullivan & Cromwell Loses Private Client Partner to McDermott

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Sullivan & Cromwell has lost long-time partner Henry Christensen. The private client partner is leaving for McDermott Will & Emery after 37 years with Sullivan & Cromwell. Christensen will head the Chicago firm’s New York and international private client group, focusing on international estate planning. There are about 40 attorneys in McDermott’s private client practice, but until this recent hire it has lacked a New York and international presence.
Source: www.legalweek.com

Tags:  Sullivan & Cromwell LLP | New York

Womble Carlyle Sees New Atlanta Office in the Future

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice has announced plans to relocate its Atlanta office from One Atlantic Center to the tower being built at 271 17th St. in Atlantic Station. The firm plans to move its 70 lawyers to four floors, or 100,000 square feet, in the 25-story building in March of 2009. Ford & Harrison is also considering a move into the new tower.
Source: www.nylawyer.com

Tags:  Womble Bond Dickinson temp