Goodwin Procter recently advised MAA, a Memphis-based real estate investment trust (REIT), on its announced merger with Colonial Properties Trust. The combined company, operating under the MAA name and trading on the NYSE under the symbol “MAA”, will have a market capitalization of $8.6 billion and will be the second largest publicly traded REIT portfolio of owned apartments with 85,000 multifamily units. The transaction is expected to close in the third quarter of 2013 and is subject to customary closing conditions.

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Covington & Burling is pleased to announce that Federal Election Commission General Counsel Tony Herman is returning to the firm and will resume his practice in a wide range of commercial litigation matters.

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Frost Brown Todd’s Columbus office is expanding with the addition of five top public law attorneys who have extensive experience representing municipal clients across the state. The addition of these attorneys is key to building Frost Brown Todd’s Government Services practice group in the Central Ohio area. Frost Brown Todd’s five new members are: Stephen J. Smith, Sr., Philip K. Hartmann, Stephen J. Smith, Jr., Jennifer D. Readler and Mitchell H. Banchefsky. The addition expands the office’s attorney count to 28.

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Stephen E. Chappelear has joined Frost Brown Todd’s Business Litigation practice group in the Columbus office. Chappelear has 36 years of experience in more than 60 trials. His practice focuses in the areas of business and complex litigation, construction law, employment, and intellectual property litigation. At Chappelear’s previous firm, he served as managing partner for the Columbus office from 2004-2010.

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Stites & Harbison, PLLC, welcomes attorneys Paul Durdaller, Member, and Valerie Richmond, Counsel, to the firm’s Atlanta office. Both Durdaller and Richmond join the Creditors’ Rights & Bankruptcy Service Group.

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