Snell & Wilmer Expands Nationally Recognized Water Law Practice with Karlene Martorana and Rhett Larson

Monday, November 2, 2026

Snell & Wilmer is pleased to announce that Partner Karlene E. Martorana and Counsel Rhett B. Larson have joined the firm’s Environmental and Natural Resources group in Phoenix. Their arrival marks a strategic expansion of the firm’s water law capabilities as businesses and governments confront evolving water challenges, including the long-term management of the Colorado River and increasing demands on limited water resources. Martorana rejoins Snell & Wilmer following nearly a decade in-house with global mining companies, bringing a business-minded perspective on how resource companies weigh legal risk, permitting, and water supply.

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Tags:  Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. | Phoenix

Akin Adds Leading Data Center and Infrastructure Real Estate Lawyer Brian Zurawski in Chicago

Monday, November 2, 2026

Akin announced today that Brian Zurawski has joined the firm’s corporate practice as a real estate partner in Chicago, expanding its real estate capabilities at the intersection of data centers and infrastructure. As demand for transactional support across data center developments, power generation projects and related infrastructure investments continues to grow, Brian brings strategic support on the real estate aspects of complex development, financing, investment and corporate transactions. Zurawski spent the majority of his career with Baker McKenzie before joining Akin.

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Tags:  Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP | Chicago

Troutman Pepper Locke Continues Private Equity and Investment Funds Practice Growth With Addition of Partner Jennifer Gullotti East

Monday, November 2, 2026

Troutman Pepper Locke has welcomed Jennifer Gullotti East as a partner in the firm’s Private Equity and Investment Funds Practice Group, bringing significant fund capabilities and supporting the continued expansion of its private equity platform. East joins Troutman Pepper Locke from Kirkland & Ellis, where she counseled institutional fund sponsors on structuring, negotiating, forming, and operating private investment funds and related management companies.

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Tags:  Troutman Pepper Locke LLP | Washington

Former New York Appellate Division Justice John R. Higgitt Joins Quinn Emanuel

Monday, November 2, 2026

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP, announced that John R. Higgitt, a former associate justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Judicial Department, has joined the firm as a partner in its New York office. Higgitt brings to Quinn Emanuel more than two decades of experience in the New York State court system, including more than eight years as a judge.

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Tags:  Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan, LLP | New York

Sidley Adds Competition Litigator Elaine Whiteford in London

Friday, October 30, 2026

Sidley is pleased to announce that Elaine Whiteford has joined the firm’s Litigation practice group in Sidley’s office in London, where her practice will focus on competition and antitrust litigation, investigations, and related matters. Whiteford joins from Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP, where she was a partner in their Litigation and Antitrust & Competition practices.

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Tags:  Sidley Austin LLP | London

FBT Gibbons Adds Former In-House Construction Counsel Christopher A. Villa as Dallas Real Estate Partner

Thursday, October 29, 2026

FBT Gibbons is continuing the strategic growth of its Real Estate practice group and Dallas office with the addition of Christopher A. Villa as a partner. Villa brings a rare combination of in-house design-build experience and private-practice disputes work, further strengthening the firm’s ability to advise clients from the earliest project decisions through execution and dispute resolution as it expands its development and construction work across Texas and nationwide. Villa joins the firm from The Beck Group, where he served as senior counsel supporting the company’s construction, architecture, and design-build operations.

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Tags:  FBT Gibbons LLP | Dallas

Sullivan & Cromwell Adds Ryan Shores as Partner and Antitrust Group Co-Head, Strengthening Antitrust Litigation Capabilities

Thursday, October 29, 2026

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP announced today that Ryan Shores has joined the Firm as a partner and co-head of its Antitrust Group, resident in its Washington, D.C. office. Mr. Shores brings extensive experience representing clients in high-stakes antitrust litigation, merger reviews and challenges, and government investigations. He also previously served in a senior leadership role in the U.S. Department of Justice where he oversaw the Department’s antitrust review of major online platforms. Prior to joining the firm, Shores served as an antitrust Partner in the Washington office of Cleary Gottlieb.

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Phelps Expands Tax Planning Capabilities With Nashville Partner David Gilinsky

Thursday, October 29, 2026

Phelps welcomes David Gilinsky as a partner in the law firm’s growing Nashville office. A transactional tax lawyer with extensive experience inside public companies, he adds value to each deal with practical advice for businesses. From tax planning integral to mergers and acquisitions, inbound and outbound investments and operations and real estate dispositions, Gilinsky strengthens the firm’s ability to support clients in structuring transactions, managing tax risk and pursuing other business endeavors.

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