After combining with mid-size Chicago firm Sachnoff & Weaver, Reed Smith has made Chicago the site of its 21st office. Sachnoff added 130 attorneys to the firm, pushing its numbers to 1,500 lawyers firmwide. Back in January, Reed Smith also combined with London-based Richards Butler, adding 300 and creating new practice groups in Shipping, Energy, and Trade & Commodities. Reed Smith is one of the largest 15 law firms in the world, and projects its annual revenues to be about $900 million.
Source: www.prnewswire.com

Jenner & Block has launched its new Climate and Clean Technology Law practice. Co-chaired by partners Robert L. Graham and Gabrielle Sigel, prominent environmental law attorneys, the practice will counsel clients on legal issues surrounding climate change and other energy-related matters. The firm already represents big-players in the energy and green technology industries, and is positioned to address the interests of large established companies, as well as start-ups.
Source: www.prnewswire.com

Stibbe has recruited finance partner Ivan Peeters from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer to join its Brussels office. Peeters will be Stibbe’s first dedicated finance partner, with a practice focusing on securitization work. The firm’s Brussels office has made two other lateral hires within the past year, while Freshfields on the other hand, has lost several partners recently to other firms. In Germany, Haarmann has hired two new corporate partners, pushing its numbers up to 17 lawyers. Joern Hirschmann joins from Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson, and former Allen & Overy (A&O) senior associate Holger Erwin has moved as well. Another independent German firm, Georg, recently acquired a five-lawyer public law team from Clifford Chance’s Frankfurt office.
Source: www.legalweek.com

Williams Mullen, Virginia’s third largest law firm, and North Carolina-based Maupin Taylor, P.A. announced today that they have merged. With 300 attorneys, the combined firm is now one of the largest in the Southeast, and has offices in Raleigh, Research Triangle Park and Wilmington, N.C.; Charlottesville, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Richmond, Tysons Corner, and Virginia Beach Va.; Washington, D.C.; and London. The firm’s name will remain Williams Mullen, and Joey Smith continues to serve as the chairman and CEO.
Source: www.triangle.dbusinessnews.com

When deciding their recent pay increases, DLA Piper set patent litigators on a different scale than other associates. First year patent litigators are put on the $160,000 pay scale while other associates in California receive the standard $145,000. Patent litigators often have science or engineering degrees, and are in high demand with clients who are willing to pay high rates for their services. As a result, many firms already offer these attorneys higher compensation, often through bonuses or other means. Though DLA has always rewarded attorneys with a technical or science background, the firm decided to increase its starting pay after competitors such as Fish & Richardson raised salaries to $160,000.
Source: www.law.com