Meet the Recruiters: Jack P. Hopper

Monday, August 3, 2015

legal recruiter jack hopperFor our series this week, we’re featuring Jack Hopper, Kinney’s enthusatic managing director!

Why did you become a legal recruiter?
I practiced law for ten years and was looking for a change. My best friend had become a legal recruiter and actually placed me in-house. He thought I would make a great legal recruiter, so I decided to make the switch in 1998 and have never looked back. It has been the best decision career-wise I have ever made.

What’s been your favorite placement and why?
I placed a young lawyer in Miami, Florida with an elite litigation boutique. I met him and knew right away he had the “right stuff”. The client was very particular pedigree wise, and I convinced them to interview my candidate, even though he was not the “best on paper”. They took my advice, interviewed him and called me to say, “You were right.” They made him an offer, and he is now a partner there.
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Akerman Expands Latin America & the Caribbean Practice with International Transactions Lawyer Arturo Banegas Masiá

Friday, July 31, 2015

Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm, today announced the expansion of the Latin America & the Caribbean Practice with the addition of partner Arturo Banegas Masiá in New York. He builds upon the firm’s strengths in cross-border transactions across the U.S. and Latin America, particularly within the heavily regulated financial services and telecommunications sectors.

“As a bilingual, dual-licensed lawyer, Arturo will help our clients effectively achieve their cross-border business objectives,” said Carlos Méndez-Peñate, co-chair of Akerman’s Latin American & the Caribbean Practice. “His extensive knowledge of structuring transactions will help to protect our clients’ investments throughout Latin America.” More >>

Tags:  Akerman LLP | New York

Michael Steele to Join London Office of Kirkland & Ellis as Finance Partner

Friday, July 31, 2015

Kirkland & Ellis International LLP is pleased to announce that Michael Steele will join the Firm’s London office as a partner in the Finance Practice Group. Mr. Steele advises private equity sponsors, credit funds and financial institutions across a broad range of complex and cross-border financing transactions, including leveraged and real estate finance, special situations investments, loan portfolio acquisitions, and restructurings. More >>

Tags:  Kirkland & Ellis LLP | London

Commercial Real Estate Attorney Joseph Ceccarelli Joins Wilson Elser’s NYC Office

Friday, July 31, 2015

National law firm Wilson Elser is pleased to announce that Joseph J. Ceccarelli has joined the firm’s New York City office as a partner. Ceccarelli was a founding and managing partner of Ceccarelli Weprin PLLC, specializing in business and commercial real estate litigation and transactional work. He also served as treasurer for now State Assemblyman David I. Weprin during four consecutive successful election campaigns for Finance Committee Chair of the New York City Council from 2002 through 2009.

“Joe is a welcome addition to our New York City office and our national commercial services team,” said Partner Thomas Manisero, chair of the firm’s Commercial Services practice. “His experience handling complex commercial transactional and litigation matters will benefit our clients across all industries. His particular specialty in commercial real estate enables us to bolster our capabilities in one of the city’s thriving business sectors.” More >>

Tags:  Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicker LLP | New York

Associate General Counsel, Lateral Associates Join Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP announces the arrival of a new partner and three lateral associates, including one to its Madison County, Ill. office.

Partner Christy J. Benton joins the firm from John Crane Inc. in Chicago, where she was Associate General Counsel – Litigation. Benton focuses her practice on Asbestos Litigation, Toxic Tort Litigation and Product Liability. She received her J.D. from the University of Detroit-Mercy School of Law in 1995 and her B.A. from Michigan State University in 1992.

Associate Kenneth C. Hoffmann joins Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP from Bollinger Connolly Krause LLC, where he was also an associate. He focuses his practice on Medical Negligence and Healthcare, Construction Litigation, and Product Liability. Hoffmann received his J.D from DePaul University College of Law in 2011 and his B.A. from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2008. More >>

Tags:  Swanson, Martin & Bell, LLP | Chicago

New Partner Joins Wyrick Robbins

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Wyrick Robbins is pleased to announce that Kyle Still has joined the firm as a partner in the Labor and Employment Practice Group. He regularly represents, counsels, and trains clients regarding all state and federal employment laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, the Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act, and state wage and hour laws. More >>

Tags:  Wyrick Robbins Yates & Ponton LLP | Raleigh

Polsinelli Dallas Growth on a Roll with Addition of New Attorneys and Move to Uptown’s Frost Tower

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Fresh off its move to Frost Tower, the Dallas office of Polsinelli makes way for five more attorneys, adding to the firm’s significant growth as it continues to expand its client service capabilities. The firm now occupies six floors of Frost Tower spanning 77,000 square feet of space in the building and has reached 41 attorneys in Dallas.

The five most recent additions include shareholder Allen J. Dickey and attorneys William B. Farnsworth and John Turnage, who focus on real estate finance matters. Shareholder David E. Olesky and Laurie Pierce, of counsel, will provide strategic guidance to health care professionals with complex health care litigation needs. More >>

Tags:  Polsinelli PC | Dallas

Chuhak & Tecson litigation team welcomes Kristen Hudson

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Chuhak & Tecson, P.C., is pleased to announce that Kristen Hudson, a highly successful and respected litigator, has joined the firm as a principal.

With a primary focus on representing businesses in complex commercial litigation, Hudson has won high-stakes legal challenges in state, federal and appellate courtrooms across the nation. She comes to Chuhak & Tecson after eight years at a litigation boutique, where she was a partner. More >>

Tags:  Chuhak & Tecson, P.C. | Chicago

Goulston & Storrs Welcomes Stephen Schweiger to Growing Real Estate Group in New York

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Goulston & Storrs is pleased to announce that Stephen Schweiger has joined the firm’s Real Estate practice in its New York office. Stephen joins the firm as a Director and will co-chair the firm’s Real Estate Capital Markets/Debt group along with Directors Adam Curry and James Lerner.

Stephen joins Goulston & Storrs from Riemer & Braunstein LLP. His practice focuses on representing financial institutions in connection with construction, mezzanine and permanent financing projects and credit enhancement for the issuance of taxable and tax exempt bonding. With extensive experience in the complexities of the New York lien law, Stephen is also well-versed in the workout and resolution of problem loans on national, local and regional levels, as we as commercial real estate conveyancing and leasing transactions. More >>

Tags:  Goulston & Storrs PC | New York