McKool Smith Adds Ex-Vinson & Elkins IP Litigation Pro

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

McKool Smith PC has added a seasoned patent trial litigator to serve as a principal with a dual assignment in its Houston and Washington, D.C., offices, after he spent nearly 42 years working at Vinson & Elkins LLP, McKool Smith announced on Monday.

At McKool Smith, William “Bill” LaFuze will handle a wide range of intellectual property law issues, with a particular focus on patent litigation in the smartphone, computer, electronics, oilfield equipment, telecommunications and Internet-related fields, the firm said. LaFuze’s clients have included Chesapeake Energy Co., Motorola Corp., The Coca-Cola Co., Halliburton Co. and Harley-Davidson Inc., among others, his new employer said. More >>

Tags:  Vinson & Elkins LLP | Houston

Craig B. Whitney Joins Frankfurt Kurnit as Litigation and Intellectual Property Partner

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz, PC has added Craig B. Whitney as a partner in the firm’s Litigation and Intellectual Property Groups. Mr. Whitney joined the firm today.

“Craig Whitney is a rising star in the IP Litigation world and a perfect fit for our IP Litigation team,” said Frankfurt Kurnit Litigation Group Chair Edward H. Rosenthal. “We are thrilled that he is joining us.” More >>

Tags:  Frankfurt, Kurnit, Klein & Selz P.C. | New York

City’s Major Health Care Presence Prompts Polsinelli to Expand Legal Services to Nashville

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Polsinelli, U.S. News & World Report 2015 “Law Firm of the Year in Health Care,” opened a Nashville office with two well-known Nashville health care attorneys, Bobby Guy and Robert P. Dempsey.

“Nashville is recognized for its depth and leadership in health care,” said Polsinelli Chairman Russ Welsh. “We are committed to serving the health care industry and entering Nashville is a perfect complement for our national Health Care Practice. We are very excited to begin working with Bobby and Robert who will provide additional business insights to our clients and help us forge relationships in Nashville.” More >>

Tags:  Polsinelli PC | Nashville

Robins Kaplan LLP Continues National Expansion with Addition of Mountain View, California Office

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

National law firm Robins Kaplan LLP has expanded its national presence, opening an office in Mountain View, California. The office will focus on technology-centric consultation and litigation involving intellectual property, global business process sourcing, cybersecurity, and privacy, and will allow the firm to further support its clients’ needs in the Silicon Valley region.

“We are thrilled to plant our flag here in Mountain View,” noted Andrea Gothing, Partner in the firm’s Mountain View office. “The ever changing technology and patent issues facing Silicon Valley businesses are right in the sweet spot of our firm’s expertise, and we are excited to continue our extensive work on these matters in California and beyond.” More >>

Tags:  Robins Kaplan LLP | Mountain View | Silicon Valley

W. Scott Jenkins Jr. Joins Quarles & Brady’s Restructuring, Bankruptcy & Creditor’s Rights Practice Group

Monday, April 13, 2015

The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP today announced that W. Scott Jenkins, Jr. has joined the firm’s Phoenix office as a partner in its Restructuring, Bankruptcy & Creditor’s Rights Practice Group.

Jenkins serves as a legal advisor to over a dozen national, regional, and community banks, and helps financial institutions with real estate and commercial loan restructuring and workouts, loan and guaranty enforcement actions, judicial and non-judicial foreclosures, and receiverships and commercial bankruptcies. More >>

Tags:  Quarles & Brady LLP | Phoenix

Stroock Bolsters Litigation Practice Further with Two Partners and Special Counsel in New York and Miami

Monday, April 13, 2015

Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP, a national law firm with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington, DC, announced the addition of two new partners and a special counsel. Joining the firm are Michael C. Keats, a litigation partner in New York, and Laura Besvinick, an insurance litigation partner in Miami. Julie Nevins, who focuses on complex commercial litigation, has joined the firm as special counsel in Miami.

The continued expansion of the firm includes two recent additions in the Los Angeles office, Steven D. Atlee, a financial services/class action partner in the Litigation Practice Group, and Yousuf I. Dhamee, an investment management partner.

“The addition of these talented and experienced lawyers will bolster the firm’s strong national litigation practice in key practice areas – insurance, securities, commercial litigation and commodities,” said Alan M. Klinger, Stroock’s co-managing partner and co-chair of Stroock’s Litigation Practice Group. More >>

Tags:  Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP | Miami | New York

Dechert Advises Wells Fargo on Deal with GE Capital Real Estate

Monday, April 13, 2015

Leading international law firm Dechert LLP advised Wells Fargo in relation to its agreement to purchase commercial real estate loans valued at US$9 billion in the United States, UK and Canada from GE Capital Real Estate as part of an overall transaction valued at approximately US$23 billion. Wells Fargo purchased performing first mortgage loans, and private equity firm Blackstone acquired US and European equity assets as well as first mortgage loans in Mexico, Australia and the US, with Wells Fargo providing financing for certain of Blackstone’s acquisitions. More >>

Tags:  Dechert LLP | London | New York | Paris | San Francisco

Finnegan to Open Office in Seoul

Monday, April 13, 2015

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP, one of the world’s largest intellectual property law firms, announced today that it has received a license from the South Korean government to open an office in Seoul. Charles H. Suh will serve as managing partner of the new office, which will be located in the Mirae Asset Center 1 building in the heart of the Seoul international business district. More >>

Tags:  Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP | Seoul