Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP acquires Needle & Rosenberg, a top intellectual property law firm in Atlanta. Needle & Rosenberg boosts Ballard’s patent practice with the addition high caliber IP attorneys and professionals. This expansion gives Ballard a strong foothold in the Southeast and reinforces their strength on IP matters.

www.lawfuel.com

The Atlanta based firm of Troutman Sanders expands its practice by merging with Washington, D.C. based Ross, Dixon & Bell. The merger will give Troutman Sanders offices in 15 cities with a total of 750 attorneys. The deal will not only add new offices on the West Coast and in Chicago but will also double the firm’s presence in Washington, D.C.

Source: www.bizjournals.com

Husch Blackwell is merging with Welsh & Katz, an intellectual property firm in Chicago. With the addition of the Welsh team, Husch’s Chicago IP group will nearly double. Husch Blackwell was already the combination of two firms: Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin and St. Louis-based Husch & Eppenberger. They completed the merger in March of this year. Husch Blackwell will move to Welsh & Katz’s downtown Chicago office. javascript:submitbutton(‘save’); Save Save

Source: www.kansascity.com

Ballard Spahr has launched a new practice group: distressed real estate. The aim, if not self-explanatory, is to help clients affected by the weakening real estate markets. The group consists of 16 attorneys spread across 10 of the firm’s offices throughout the US. These numbers may change depending on how the markets change.

Source: www.legaltimes.com

Beth Parker, longtime Bingham McCutchen partner, will be joining Arnold & Porter July 7th. Parker centers her practice on civil litigation, particularly in the areas of intellectual property, commercial, antitrust, constitutional and civil rights. Parker became a partner at Bingham in 1989.

Source: www.law.com

Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges has snagged an in-house litigator from Samsung Electronics. John Kim, previously senior intellectual property litigation counsel for the company, has joined the firm’s Silicon Valley office. starting June 9th. Kim has an excellent academic record, having graduating Cornell University with a mechanical engineering degree, and having received his J.D. from American University Washington College of Law. http://www.law.com/jsp/ihc/PubArticleIHC.jsp?id=1202422258508

Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has hired a partner from Akin Gump for its executive compensation and employee benefits group. Tristan Brown joins as Partner in Simpon Thacher’s Palo Alto office. The firm welcomes him with open arms.

Source: www.earthtimes.org