Fowler White Burnett, P.A. announced today that Ms. Kristen M. Lynch and Ms. Leticia Vega have joined the firm as its newest shareholders. Working out of Fowler White Burnett’s downtown Ft. Lauderdale office and their downtown Miami office, respectively, Lynch and Vega’s practice will focus on estate planning, planned giving, probate, guardianship administration, retirement planning, and IRA matters.
Simpson Thacher Represents Apax in Acquisition of Orange Communications SA and Related Financing
Simpson Thacher represented Apax Partners (“Apax”) in connection with the acquisition of Orange Communications SA by funds advised by Apax for a purchase price of approximately CHF 2 billion, which closed on February 29, 2012. Orange Communications SA is one of the leading mobile operators in Switzerland, and was previously controlled by France Telecom SA. Simpson Thacher also represented Apax in the connection with the senior credit facilities, bridge credit facilities and high yield bond offering related to the acquisition.
Tags: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP | New York Simpson Thacher Represents Cadence Bancorp, LLC in Acquisition of Encore Bancshares, Inc.
The firm is representing Cadence Bancorp, LLC in its acquisition of Encore Bancshares, Inc. for $20.62 per share. The transaction was announced on March 6, 2012 and reflects a total value of approximately $250 million. Encore Bancshares, Inc. is a financial holding company headquartered in Houston, Texas, that provides banking, investment management, financial planning and insurance services to privately-owned businesses, professional firms, investors and affluent individuals. Cadence Bancorp, LLC is a bank holding company that was formed in 2010 to invest in community banks. Cadence Bancorp, LLC is also headquartered in Houston, Texas.
Tags: Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP | New York 
Two Environmental Litigators Join Whiteford Taylor & Preston
Washington, DC. Whiteford Taylor & Preston announced today that Barry S. Neuman and Lynn M. Gallagher, both formerly of Carter Ledyard & Milburn LLP, have joined the firm’s litigation practice in the Washington, D.C., office.
Tags: Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, L.L.P. 
McDermott Expands Silicon Valley Intellectual Property Litigation Team
International law Firm McDermott Will & Emery LLP is pleased to announce that S. Michael Song has been named a partner in the Firm’s Intellectual Property (IP) Litigation Practice Group, based in the Silicon Valley office.
Tags: McDermott Will & Emery LLP | Silicon Valley 
Jones Day Welcomes Mass Tort Litigation Partner Barbara Harding in Washington
The global law firm Jones Day has announced that Barbara Harding, an experienced litigator with an extensive focus on science in mass tort cases, has joined the Firm as a partner in the Business and Tort Litigation (USA) Practice in Washington. Ms. Harding was formerly a partner in the Washington office of Kirkland & Ellis.
Tags: Jones Day 
Thomas E. Butler Joins LeClairRyan
Thomas E. Butler joined the law firm of LeClairRyan as a shareholder in the firm’s Litigation Department. He will be resident in the firm’s Manhattan office at Third Ave. and E. 53rd St.
Tags: LeClair Ryan, PC | New York 
Gardere Represents BP in Sale of Hugoton Basin Properties to LINN Energy, LLC
Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP represented BP America Production Company (NYSE:BP) in its $1.2 billion sale of Hugoton Basin properties to an affiliate of LINN Energy, LLC (Nasdaq:LINE) in a transaction that was signed Feb. 28, 2012. Included in the sale are the Jayhawk gas processing plant located in Hugoton, Kansas and BP’s interest in approximately 2,400 wells in the Hugoton natural gas field. Completion of the sale remains subject to customary regulatory approvals and conditions. The acquisition is expected to close in March 2012.
Tags: Foley & Lardner LLP | Houston 
Davis Polk Advises PepsiCo, Inc. on Its $2.75 Billion Notes Offering
Davis Polk advised PepsiCo, Inc. on its registered offering of $750 million aggregate principal amount of 0.75% senior notes due 2015, $1.25 billion aggregate principal amount of 2.75% senior notes due 2022 and $750 million aggregate principal amount of 4% senior notes due 2042. Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated acted as joint book-running managers for the offering.
Tags: Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP | New York 
Foley Hoag Represents Alere on $270M-Plus Deal to Acquire eScreen
Foley Hoag LLP represented Alere Inc. as it entered into a binding agreement to purchase eScreen Inc., a technology firm that specializes in toxicology screening and employee health products and services.
Tags: Foley Hoag LLP 