Ogletree Deakins Expands New York City Office, Adds Shareholder Frank Birchfield

Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Ogletree Deakins), one of the largest labor and employment law firms representing management, is pleased to welcome William F. “Frank” Birchfield as a shareholder in its New York City office. Birchfield joins Ogletree Deakins after practicing as a partner in the employment group at the employment defense firm Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. With the addition of Birchfield, Ogletree Deakins continues the rapid growth across its network of offices. Since January, the firm has increased its shareholder ranks in its Austin, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Diego, St. Louis, and Washington offices.

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Tags:  Ogletree Deakins | New York

Willkie Advises on $878 Million Deal to Take Private American Greetings Corporation

On April 1, card maker American Greetings Corporation announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to go private in a deal valued at $878 million. Willkie represented Peter J. Solomon Company, financial advisor to the Special Committee of the Board of Directors of American Greetings, in the transaction. The buyout will be made by a newly organized entity owned by the Weiss Family, which founded the company in 1905. The buyout group includes the company’s Chairman, Morry Weiss; Director and Chief Executive Officer, Zev Weiss; and Director, President and Chief Operating Officer, Jeffrey Weiss and related persons and entities. The deal also provides for a $240 million investment by a subsidiary of Koch Industries. Under the agreement, American Greetings Class A and Class B shareholders, excluding the Weiss Family and related entities, will receive $18.20 per share in cash.

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Tags:  Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP | New York

Patton Boggs LLP Opens Dubai Office, Strengthens Presence, Expands Service Offerings in MENA Region

Patton Boggs LLP has strengthened its presence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with the opening of a permanent office in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.). Patton Boggs now boasts four offices in the MENA region: in addition to the new Dubai location, the firm maintains offices in Doha, Qatar; Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. and an affiliate office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

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Tags:  Squire Patton Boggs | Dubai

Holland & Knight Expands Middle East Presence, Hires Oliver Agha to Head Islamic Finance Practice

Holland & Knight is pleased to announce that Oliver Agha has joined the firm as a partner and will head its Islamic finance and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) practices. Mr. Agha’s addition will strengthen the firm’s presence in the Middle East and bolster the firm’s banking and finance, infrastructure, and real estate capabilities in the region.

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Antitrust Partners Bill Blumenthal and Ken Glazer Joining Sidley Austin LLP in Washington D.C.

Sidley Austin LLP announced today that William Blumenthal, a former General Counsel of the Federal Trade Commission, and Kenneth L. Glazer, a former Deputy Director of the Bureau of Competition at the Federal Trade Commission, will be joining Sidley as partners in the Washington, D.C. office. Karen Kazmerzak, formerly an attorney with the Bureau of Competition, also will be joining the firm as counsel.

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