The law firm of McKee Nelson has launched a new team whose primary focus in on “covered bonds”. This type of bond is one that is sponsored by a bank, and which if defaulted, is maintained by a group of loans or receivables. Covered bonds are more common in Europe, but the US is catching up. The team is part of the structured finance practice group, and is led by Washington partner John Arnolz and New York partner Kenneth P. Martin.
Source: www.law.com
Tags: New York
Curtis Mallet-Prevost Colt & Mosle has made a big move in Latin America by making an alliance with the native firm of Fernandez Quiroga Ayarragaray & Ocampo. But, the firm is nowhere new to the area. Curtis has advised clients in Latin America for over a century and had an office in Buenos Aires in the 1920s. Curtis currently has five offices in the US, and four in Europe.
Source: www.thelawyer.com
Tags: Curtis, Mallet-Prevost, Colt & Mosle LLP
The Greenberg Traurig Tampa office boosts its litigation practice with the addition of two new associates, Richard J. Mockler and Don Crawford. Mockler joins Greenberg from Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP and prior to that, Holland and Knight. Crawford previously practiced at Paul Hastings. Both associates will concentrate on commercial, real estate, land use, environmental, and other complex litigation.
Source: www.marketwatch.com
Tags: Greenberg Traurig LLPThe National Association of Women Lawyers (NAWL) have released a report containing a new plan for the advancement of women’s legal careers. It is hoped that this report will finally increase the percentage of women in top legal positions. It has been stuck at 15 % for years, despite the same number of men and women graduate from law schools each year. The report focuses on three central points of action: allowing junior attorneys the understanding of how to climb the ranks, financially compensating senior attorneys who monitor a diverse group, and calling for accountability for the ways in which women treated and given opportunities.
Source: www.law.com
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati has boosted their practice in Asia by welcoming Eva H. Wang back to their firm, where she was once an associate. Wang was previously general counsel and vice president of legal affairs at Spreadtrum communications, a leading NASDAQ Chinese company. Wang brings her expertise of corporate law to the Shanghai office as partner.
Source: www.quamnet.com
Tags: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati P.C. | ShanghaiChristensen, Glaser, Fink, Jacobs, Weil & Shapiro, LLP, who launched a new office in Las Vegas in mid January, just now has staffed a full office. The office has reached 8 lawyers: four from Snell & Wilmer and two from Lionel Sawyer & Collins. Managing partner, Jim Mace, left Snell & Wilmer to open the office. With him came attorney Mandy Shavinsky who joined as partner. Later, Snell’s Corey Eschweiler and Joe Schmitt jumped over. From Lionel Sawyer, attorneys Lance Coburn and Adam Smith are new to the team, as well as, Tony May from Albright Stoddard Warnick Albright. Christensen, Glaser concentrates on complex litigation in the areas of construction, environmental and corporate law
Source: www.lvbusinesspress.com
Baker Botts has added energy lawyer, Kevin Keenan, to its Global Projects group. Keenan was previously at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, in both London and Houston. At Baker Botts, he will remain in Houston as Partner. Keenan acquired his Juris Doctorate at Georgetown University Law Center.
Tags: Baker Botts LLP | HoustonRumors are hitting the fan. Partners at Heller Ehrman received information on Baker & McKenzie. The info reportedly did not include any mention of a merger. Both firms are not talking, but they are also not denying. If the two firms did join forces, it could possibly create the largest US firm with a turnover of about $2.5 bn.
Source: www.nylawyer.com
Only three UK firms have made the cut for the top 10 global law firms in terms of Profits per equity partner (PEP), seen by data compiled by both Legal Week and The American Lawyer. Slaughter and May, Linklaters and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer are the lucky few. Seven U.S. firm s made the list, including Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz who took the No. 1 slot. with a whopping 4.945 million PEP. Cravath Swaine & Moore takes second place with 3.300 million PEP. The honor of highest revenue was taken by the firm Clifford Chance with 2.660 million, followed by Linklaters with 2.589 million. This placement has not chanced from last year. Freshfields, on the other hand, has climbed two rungs to make it to third place with 2.358 million.
Source: www.legalweek.com
Finally a L.A. Law firm is given first place of American Lawyer magazine’s A-List. For the past five years, since the beginning of A-List, New York had held the No. 1 spot. NY’s Debevoise & Plimpton has held the honor of being the best for four years. It’s finally Los Angeles’ turn, and more specifically, Munger, Tolles & Olson’s turn. The firm owes this win to its commitment to pro bono work (3,200 hours more than last year), its 11% increase of revenue per lawyer, associate satisfaction, diversity,
Source: www.latimes.com
Tags: Los Angeles