Bingham McCutchen has recruited Japanese lawyer, Hiroshi Iyori, for its Tokyo office. Iyori joins Bingham’s antitrust practice from Asahi Law Offices. Prior to entering private practice, he was the secretary general and then commissioner of the Japan Fair Trade Commission. Bingham plans to expand its Tokyo office to more than 50 attorneys by the fall. The Japanese practice focuses on large-scale cross-border, corporate, mergers and acquisitions, finance, antitrust and intellectual property matters.
Source: www.nylawyer.com
Two Corporate Partners Join Fulbright in Houston
The Houston office of Fulbright & Jaworski has gained two international corporate partners. Kevin Trautner joins from King & Spalding, where he specialized in finance and M&A. Charles Powell left Haynes & Boone, where he was the head of the technology practice, providing counsel related to venture capital, securities offerings and mergers and acquisitions.
Source: www.nylawyer.com
Three Trial Practice Lawyers Join Thompson & Knight
Thompson & Knight has built up its 170-lawyer Trial Practice group by hiring three laterals. Robert F. Brodegaard joined the firm’s New York office as a partner, Richard J. Zook is a partner in Houston, and Jennifer Rudenick has joined the Firm’s Dallas office as an associate. Brodegaard’s practice focuses on international dispute resolution and U.S. commercial litigation. Zook is a trial lawyer who specializes in handling complex business lawsuits in state and federal courts and in arbitration. Rudenick deals especially with litigation and dispute resolution.
Source: www.newyork.dbusinessnews.com
Thompson & Knight Hikes Associate Pay
Thompson & Knight announced that effective Aug. 1, its first and second-year associates will receive a pay raise. In all of its U.S. offices, starting salaries will be $160,000 and those for second-years will be $170,000. The compensation structure for other associate classes has yet to be determined. This Dallas-based firm is the fifth TX firm behind Vinson & Elkins, Andrews Kurth, Locke Liddell & Sapp, and Susman Godfrey to raise associate salaries in the last two weeks.
Source: www.nylawyer.com
Susman Godfrey Raises Associate Salaries
Houston-based Susman Godfrey has joined the ranks of Texas firms raising associate salaries. The firm raised salaries to $160,000 for first-years, $170,000 for second-years, $175,000 for third-years, $180,000 for fourth-years and $190,000 for fifth years. Unlike other firms, Susman’s pay hikes have no hour requirements attached. For example, starting in their third year, Vinson & Elkins associates must bill 2,000 hours in order to be eligible for the full raise.
Source: www.law.com
Sullivan & Cromwell Loses Private Client Partner to McDermott
Sullivan & Cromwell has lost long-time partner Henry Christensen. The private client partner is leaving for McDermott Will & Emery after 37 years with Sullivan & Cromwell. Christensen will head the Chicago firm’s New York and international private client group, focusing on international estate planning. There are about 40 attorneys in McDermott’s private client practice, but until this recent hire it has lacked a New York and international presence.
Source: www.legalweek.com
Womble Carlyle Sees New Atlanta Office in the Future
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice has announced plans to relocate its Atlanta office from One Atlantic Center to the tower being built at 271 17th St. in Atlantic Station. The firm plans to move its 70 lawyers to four floors, or 100,000 square feet, in the 25-story building in March of 2009. Ford & Harrison is also considering a move into the new tower.
Source: www.nylawyer.com
Dreier Snags Five-Lawyer IP Team
Dreier recruited a five-lawyer intellectual property group from Greenberg Traurig. Albert L. Jacobs, the former national head of Greenberg’s IP practice, Daniel A. Ladow, the former head of Greenberg’s New York IP litigation group, and Gerald F. Diebner will become partners at Dreier. Elizabeth S. Lapadula joins as of counsel, and one associate is also making the jump. This team specializes in patent litigation, especially in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical areas. Last year Dreier also added four IP attorneys from Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner.
Source: www.nylaywer.com
Locke Liddell Is Third TX Firm to Boost Pay
Locke Liddell & Sapp is the third Texas-based firm to raise associates’ salaries in Texas and Washington, D.C. Following Vinson & Elkins and Andrews Kurth, Locke Liddell has also raised first years’ pay to $160,000 and second years’ pay to $170,000. Additional raises for other associate classes are still under discussion. Locke Liddell is based in Houston and Dallas.
Source: www.law.com
Edwards Angell Opens in D.C., Builds IP Practice
Edwards Angell Palmer & Dodge has opened an office in Washington, D.C., and has hired four intellectual property attorneys to work in the new office. James Armstrong and William Brooks, formerly with Armstrong Kratz Quintos Hanson & Brooks LLP, join the firm as partners. Armstrong specializes in patent preparation/prosecution, expert legal opinions, trademarks and litigation in the technical areas of chemical engineering, primarily polymers, biotechnology, materials, process machinery and semiconductors, as well as mechanical engineering. Brooks focuses his practice in the areas of patent prosecution, expert opinions and litigation with experience in all aspects of electrical and mechanical engineering. IP associates Gi-In An and Reina Kakimoto also joined from Armstrong Kratz. Edwards Angell’s IP group is made up of more than 70 lawyers and patent agents who have degrees in technological and scientific disciplines.
Source: www.earthtimes.org
