Chadbourne & Park Open New Climate Change Practice

Chadbourne & Parke LLP will open a new Climate Change practice in order to address the legal and economical ramifications of the growing global warming crisis. This addition is primarily a response to clients’ environmental concerns. The group will be led by former New York Governor George E. Pataki and former Commissioner of the New York Department of Environmental Conservation John P. Cahill.
Source: www.earthtimes.com

Tags:  New York

Thompson & Knight Expands With San Antonio Branch

Law firm Thompson & Knight LLP has announced the opening of an office in San Antonio. Firm attorneys Jason Davis, Marina Garcia Marmolejo, and Michael McCrum will head the office, which focuses on complex litigation. This is Thompson & Knight’s fifth Texas office, with other locations in Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth and Houston.
Source: www.openpr.com

Tags:  Thompson & Knight LLP | Austin | San Antonio

California IP Firm Opens in Seattle

California law firm Fenwick & West LLP has opened an office in Seattle. Corporate attorneys Stephen M. Graham, Roger M. Tolbert and Alan C. Smith will head the office, which will focus on life sciences. Representatives of the firm said that they had been eying the Seattle market for some time, adding that it is attractive because of its similarities to both the Bay Area and Silicon Valley.
Source: sev.prnewswire.com

Latham Edges Toward Top Revenue Spot

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP is in serious danger of losing its spot at the top of revenue lists this year. Latham & Watkins has announced earnings of over two billion for 2007, an increase of 23%. If Skadden even slightly under performs, it will lose its long-standing title of highest-grossing law firm in the nation.
Source: www.law.com

Tags:  Latham & Watkins LLP

Firms Rush to Take Advantage of Mortgage Mess

Since the subprime meltdown, an estimated 20 firms have opened subprime practice groups, totaling at least 500 attorneys. One of the first firms was Greenberg Traurig, whose practice began in August with 48 lawyers. This is the biggest rush to open new groups since the savings & loan crisis two years ago.
Source: www.crainsnewyork.com

Cadwalader Bags Top Attorney

R. Ronald Hopkinson, a top private equity attorney, has been recruited by Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft. Hopkinson was previously the global head of private equity at Latham & Watkins. Hopkinson had been with Latham since he was a first year in 1988.
Source: www.nylj.com

Tags:  Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, LLP

Fredrikson & Byron Open in Shanghai

Minneapolis-based firm Fredrikson & Byron will open an office in Shanghai, the firm has reported. The new office will be helmed by attorney Ruilin Li and will house two additional attorneys.
Source: www.bizjournals.com/twincities/

Tags:  Fredrikson & Byron P.A. | Shanghai

Ballard Spahr Joins Subprime Fray

Ballard, Spahr, Andrews & Ingersoll has become the latest in a string of firms to open a Subprime Practice group. These groups deal with the financial aspects of litigation and government mandates that have come out of the recent subprime meltdown. Ballard, Spahr’s team is pulled from a variety of practices including consumer finance, real estate, investment management and bankruptcy.
Source: www.dsnews.com

Tags:  Ballard Spahr LLP

LA Entertainment Attorney Switches Coasts

Lisa Bonner, a Los Angeles entertainment attorney, has moved to Dreier’s New York office. Bonner previously founded and managed Bonner Law, which represented a wide range of entertainment and media clients. She remains outside counsel for Vibe magazine and Code Black Entertainment.
Source: www.nylawyer.com

Tags:  Los Angeles

Manatt Merges with SF Firm

Los Angeles law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips has announced the completion of its merger with Steefel, Levitt & Weiss. Manatt’s San Francisco employees will move into Steefel’s offices, and will be managed by partner Christopher L. Wagner.
Source: www.nylwayer.com

Tags:  Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP | Los Angeles