Harness Dickey Launches Dallas Office Led by New Principal Gerald Welch

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Leading intellectual property (IP) law firm Harness Dickey opened the doors to its Dallas office today, establishing the firm’s first presence in a region experiencing significant economic growth. Principals Gerald T. Welch and Darin W. Deaver, along with associates Chris K. Miller, Christopher M. Cauble and Thomas E. Schiano, have joined Harness Dickey from Dentons to launch the new office.

A long-time Dallas-area resident, Welch brings with him more than 30 years of experience in patent prosecution, counseling and litigation in the electrical, telecommunications, life sciences and medical device industries for corporations in the U.S., Asia and Europe. More >>

Tags:  Harness, Dickey & Pierce, P.L.C. | Dallas

Leading Patent Attorney Jeffrey Lewis Joins Fried Frank’s Intellectual Property Litigation Practice

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP announced today that Jeffrey I.D. Lewis has joined the Firm as a partner in the Intellectual Property Litigation Practice, resident in the New York office. Mr. Lewis concentrates on patent litigation and also handles trademark matters, as well as other intellectual property and general litigation. A trained chemical engineer and registered patent attorney, Mr. Lewis represents both plaintiffs and defendants in a range of technology-related sectors but focuses primarily on pharmaceuticals, chemicals, biotechnology and life sciences; he has represented pharmaceutical innovators in numerous Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) patent litigations. More >>

Tags:  Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP | New York

Dentons advises L1 Energy in relation to its US$5.7 billion acquisition of RWE Dea

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Dentons has advised L1 Energy, the market leading global oil and gas investment fund of the LetterOne Group advised by Pamplona Capital Management, in relation to the completion and shareholder funding of its acquisition of RWE Dea AG, the oil and gas unit of RWE AG, Germany’s largest power generator, for debt and equity consideration of US$5.7 billion. More >>

Tags:  Dentons | London

Constangy, Brooks & Smith Adds Don Prophete as Named Partner

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Labor and employment law firm Constangy, Brooks & Smith, LLP announced today that nationally-recognized attorney Donald Prophete is joining the firm which will now be known as Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete, LLP.

Eleven other attorneys from across the country are also joining the firm, which will add offices in Denver and New York to its 25 current locations. The new attorneys come to the firm with a wide range of backgrounds and are part of a concerted effort by Constangy to remain well-positioned to represent employers in the challenges they face in a more tech-savvy, diverse workplace environment. More >>

Tags:  Constangy, Brooks, Smith & Prophete LLP | Atlanta | Denver | New York

Cadwalader Adds Chad Mills to Energy and Commodities Practice in Houston

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP, a leading counselor to global financial institutions and corporations, today announced that Chad Mills is joining the firm as Partner in its Energy & Commodities Practice in Houston. Mills is a leading practitioner in structured energy transactions and related energy trading agreements, project infrastructure development, mergers and acquisitions, and other corporate transactions for clients including energy providers, developers, investors and underwriters in gas, electric power and oil.

“Chad’s addition demonstrates our firm’s continuing ability to attract top talent,” said Patrick Quinn, Managing Partner. “Chad is a great fit with our firm’s emphasis on coordinating our expertise across all our practice areas to produce the best results for clients on their most complex matters. He embraces the opportunity to combine his energy transactional experience with our regulatory, financial, corporate and other strengths to best serve our clients, and we couldn’t be more pleased to have him join us.” More >>

Tags:  Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP | Houston

Japan’s Atsumi & Sakai opens in London

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Atsumi & Sakai has established an office in London, becoming the first Japanese firm to open its doors in the UK.

The London office, which operates under the name Atsumi & Sakai Europe Limited, advises clients on all aspects of Japanese law, with a focus on M&A, banking, capital markets and securities regulation.
Corporate partner Ryuichi Nozaki has relocated from Tokyo to head Atsumi & Sakai’s London office. He is supported by Tokyo-based senior partner Hiroki Mori, who oversees the firm’s European practice group in Japan. More >>

Tags:  Atsumi & Sakai | London

Willkie Advises GFI Group in $778 million Sale to BGC Partners

Monday, March 2, 2015

GFI Group Inc. and BGC Partners, Inc. announced on February 27 the successful completion of BGC’s tender offer for GFI shares. Willkie advised GFI Group in an agreement announced earlier this month with BGC Partners under which GFI’s board of directors unanimously agreed to support BGC’s tender offer for all of the outstanding shares of GFI common stock at $6.10 per share in cash. The deal is estimated to be valued at approximately $778 million. The agreement brings to a close a long, protracted takeover battle that began last summer. More >>

Tags:  Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP | London | New York | Washington

Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP Serves as Counsel in $1.5 Billion Common Stock Offering

Monday, March 2, 2015

Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP announced today that it served as sole lead counsel to Health Care REIT, Inc. (NYSE: HCN) in the completion of its public offering of 19,550,000 shares at a price of $75.50 per share for total gross proceeds of approximately $1.5 billion. The offering was the company’s largest overnight common stock offering in its history. More >>

Tags:  Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP | Toledo

Shearman & Sterling Advises Francisco Partners on Proposed Acquisition by Mitel Networks of Mavenir Systems

Monday, March 2, 2015

Shearman & Sterling is advising Francisco Partners LLP in the proposed $560 million acquisition by its portfolio company, Mitel Networks, of Mavenir Systems.

Mavenir Systems (NYSE:MVNR) provides software-based mobile networking solutions that enable service providers to deliver next generation services over 4G LTE networks. More >>

Tags:  Shearman & Sterling LLP | Palo Alto | San Francisco

Proskauer Advises American Realty Capital Hospitality Trust in Closing of Equity Inns Lodging Portfolio Acquisition for $1.8 Billion

Monday, March 2, 2015

Global law firm Proskauer advised American Realty Capital Hospitality Trust, Inc. (ARC Hospitality) in connection with the completed acquisition of the Equity Inns Lodging Portfolio from affiliates of the Whitehall Real Estate Funds sponsored by Goldman Sachs for $1.8 billion, exclusive of closing costs. More >>

Tags:  Proskauer Rose LLP | New York