There has not been a formal application for a new nuclear plant in over 25 years; however, rising energy costs and efforts to slow global warming have lead to renewed interest in nuclear energy. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission expects about 30 applications for new reactors in the next few years. Firms with nuclear energy practices like Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman; Morgan, Lewis & Bockius; and Winston & Strawn, have been very busy and are adding new lawyers to keep up with the demand. Pillsbury, for example, has been assisting energy companies with their NRC applications. The firm has added six new lawyers in the past few months, and wants to add another six by the end of 2008.
Source: www.nylawyer.com
Paris Private Equity Partner Leaves Linklaters
Michel Frieh, of Linklaters Paris, has announced that he is leaving the firm to set up his own practice. Formerly with Willkie Farr & Gallagher, the private equity lawyer joined Linklaters in 2004. The firm recently named a record 38 associates as partner, raising the firmwide number to 540. There are now about 30 partners in Paris; David Swinburne, Frieh’s replacement in the private equity practice, was one of the recently promoted attorneys.
Source: www.legalweek.com
Reed Smith IP Lawyers Move to Gibbons
A group of Reed Smith intellectual property lawyers, led by longtime head of Reed Smith’s IP practice, Louis M. Heidelberger, left the firm this week. The group, which also included partner Thomas J. McWilliams and associates Edward F. Behm Jr., Justin C. Allen and Todd A. Norton, will be joining Gibbons’ Philadelphia office. Heidelberger is looking forward to being a part of firm management, serving as co-administrative director of the Philly office and being a part of the firm’s executive committee. Gibbons is well known for its IP work, and has 35 attorneys working in that area. The Philadelphia office opened in May of 2005, and expanded quickly thanks to a merger with litigation boutique Hecker Brown Sherry & Johnson.
Source: www.law.com
Reed Smith Gains Three Corporate Lawyers in LA
Three new corporate lawyers have joined Reed Smith’s Los Angeles offices. Irell & Manella partner Ken Ikari and O’Melveny & Myers counsel Susan Alker are joining the firm’s LA office as partners, and Alschuler Grossman partner Ramsey Hanna is joining the Century City office as counsel. Reed Smith’s corporate and securities group has grown to 140 lawyers over the past few years. All three lawyers cite Reed Smith’s national and international platform as a big draw to the firm; the firm has over 1,500 lawyers and 21 offices worldwide.
Source: www.law.com
Fox Rothschild Merges with Princeton, NJ-Firm
Fox Rothschild, a Philadelphia-based firm, has settled a deal with MillerMitchell PC of Princeton, NJ. Currently, 150 of Fox Rothschild’s 400 attorneys are based in New Jersey. With the merger, MillerMitchell brings its corporate, intellectual property and business trial practice to Fox Rothschild. Just last year the firm also merged with Grotta, Glassman & Hoffman, P.C., of Roseland, adding 53 lawyers to its ranks.
Source: www.njbiz.com
Korean Firms Prepare for Opening of Legal Market
Under the KORUS FTA, Korea has agreed to phased-opening of the domestic legal services market to international firms. In preparation for the opening, local firms are working to stay competitive and build their practices. The law market opening will occur in three phases, over a span of at about five years. In the first phase after FTA implementation, U.S. lawyers can establish offices and work as “consultants” on issues related to U.S. and international law. In the second phase, two years after implementation, U.S. firms can affiliate with Korean firms and split revenue on cases. In the final phase, five years after implementation, U.S. firms can establish joint ventures with Korean firms and U.S. firms can hire Korean lawyers. In this new market, leading U.S. firms will have an edge in M&A work, capital markets and cross-border business deals.
Source: www.times.hankooki.com
Loeb & Loeb Increases Profits and Expands
Loeb & Loeb has hired three more lawyers for its LA office. Laura Wytsma, a patent litigation partner in Los Angeles, comes from Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal. The firm also brought in two associates, Timothy Bellamy and Paul Sagan, for the entertainment and media group. The firm now has 260 attorneys, up from 195 in 2005. Earnings also increased last year; the firm reported a 23 percent increase in revenue and a 27 percent boost in profits per partner. After hard times in the mid-1990s, Loeb & Loeb has rebounded nicely, increasing profitability by remaining midsized and focused. This success has attractive top lateral candidates; already nine lawyers have joined the firm this year.
Source: www.nylawyer.com
NY Lateral Hires at Cadwalader
Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft hired three new Special Counsels for its New York office. Michael Anglin has joined the firm’s Global Finance Department; he specializes in real estate finance, acquisitions, dispositions, and leasing. Christopher Mirick and Gary Ticoll have joined the Financial Restructuring group. Mirick practices in the areas of business reorganizations and debtors’ and creditors’ rights. Ticoll represents clients in chapter 11 bankruptcy cases and out-of-court financial restructurings.
Source: www.home.businesswire.com
Former NY Chief Deputy Attorney General Hired at Paul Weiss
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison has recruited former New York chief deputy attorney general, Michele Hirshman. Hirshman worked under ex-Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, and previously she was a prosecutor Southern District U.S. Attorney’s Office. At Paul Weiss, Hirshman will focus on internal investigations and white-collar criminal defense.
Source: www.law.com
Salary Hikes in Two Regional Firms
Two more firms just announced a first-year associate salary increase. Flaster Greenberg of Cherry Hill, New Jersey raised its starting pay for all offices from $120,000 to $130,000. According to the firm’s managing shareholder, the pay increase follows the firm’s expansion over the past five years, and is its way to remain competitive in recruiting. The firm’s offices are located in Philadelphia; Vineland, Morristown, Egg Harbor Township and Cherry Hill, NJ and Wilmington, Delaware. Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll will also increase starting salaries on July 1 from $125,000 to $135,000. This $10,000 raise will be applied to associate levels.
Source: www.nylawyer.com
