Steptoe & Johnson LLP is pleased to announce the arrival of Charles Michael as a partner in the Complex Commercial Disputes Group. Based in the firm’s New York office, Mr. Michael will primarily focus on commercial litigation matters as well as regulatory and criminal investigations.

Mr. Michael has successfully handled a wide range of commercial litigation matters. He has obtained favorable settlements and dismissals on behalf of clients accused of securities fraud, intellectual property infringement, antitrust violations, wrongful termination and breach of contract. He has represented clients bringing claims for breach of fiduciary duty, trademark infringement and professional malpractice. Mr. Michael was recently part of the trial team that obtained a complete victory after a bench trial of a $120 million suit relating to a collateralized debt obligation transaction. He also secured a preliminary injunction preserving a medical practice’s contractual option to buy the company supplying the practice’s non-medical support staff, and won an appellate decision reversing the trial court and dismissing a $200 million fraud and alter ego suit against a private equity firm. More >>

Cooley is further bolstering its New York corporate practice with the addition of partner Joshua Kaufman. Kaufman joins Cooley from the New York office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP. As a member of the business & finance practice, he will advise on capital markets and other corporate work.

A former Lehman Brothers investment banker, Kaufman focuses his legal practice on equity and debt capital markets work, representing US and foreign private issuers as well as underwriters across a wide array of complex transactions. He also advises public companies on other significant transactions and provides counsel on matters of corporate law and governance, federal securities law, public reporting requirements and exchange regulations. More >>

On July 13, 2015, MarkWest Energy Partners, L.P. and MPLX LP announced they have signed a definitive merger agreement whereby MarkWest would merge with, and become a wholly owned subsidiary of, MPLX. The combined companies are expected to have a combined market capitalization of $21 billion. Cravath is representing MarkWest in connection with this transaction.

The merger would be a unit‑for‑unit transaction, generally expected to be tax‑free, plus a one‑time cash payment to MarkWest unitholders, in which the common unitholders of MarkWest would receive 1.09 MPLX common units and a one‑time cash payment of approximately $3.37 per MarkWest common unit, for total consideration of $78.64 per MarkWest common unit, based on fully diluted units currently outstanding and the closing price of MPLX’s units on July 10, 2015. Marathon Petroleum Corporation, which is an affiliate of MPLX, is contributing the $675 million to fund the cash component of the merger consideration. More >>

King & Spalding continues to expand its litigation practice in New York with the addition of partner Peter J. Isajiw. Isajiw concentrates his practice on complex commercial and securities litigation, as well as regulatory investigations. He joins King & Spalding from Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, where he was a partner. More >>

Pillsbury today announced Assistant United States Attorney and firm alumna Carolina A. Fornos will rejoin the firm as a partner in the Litigation practice in the New York office. Fornos spent six years as an associate in Pillsbury’s New York office and almost nine years in the Civil and Criminal divisions of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. She also has worked in the Office of the White House Counsel, where she helped vet potential candidates for presidential appointments.

“As a former assistant, Carolina has a deep knowledge of criminal and civil investigations, as well as substantial experience in regulatory proceedings,” said Litigation practice co-leader Ken Taber. “She adds significant bench strength to these key growth areas of our practice.” More >>

Saul Ewing LLP, a full-service law firm with more than 270 lawyers in 11 East Coast offices, today announced that John A. Basinger has joined the firm as a partner in the Commercial Litigation Practice.　 He will be resident in the firm’s Newark, NJ and New York, NY offices.

Mr. Basinger brings to Saul Ewing deep experience in contract and business tort, intellectual property, product and premises liability, construction defect, criminal and civil rights disputes. He has also advised organizations in corporate compliance and government investigations. Mr. Basinger also brings significant experience to the firm in the area of alternative dispute resolution. More >>

White and Williams is pleased to welcome Erica Kerstein as a Partner in the New York office. Erica joins the Commercial Litigation Department and will practice in the Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith and the Directors and Officers Groups.

“Erica is a great addition to the firm and further strengthens our growing New York presence,” said Michael Olsan, Chair of the Commercial Litigation Department. “She brings unique experience to our strong insurance coverage practice.” More >>

Troutman Sanders LLP announced today that Michael F. Tomlinson and Jeffrey H. Weitzman have joined the firm’s Real Estate practice as partners in the Charlotte and New York offices, respectively. In addition, Matthew C. Jordan and Devin Catlin have joined the firm as associates in Charlotte. All four lawyers practiced previously at K&L Gates.

Tomlinson focuses his real estate practice on representing a variety of real estate investors in their acquisition, financing and disposition of retail, office, and industrial properties. He also represents various retail, office, multi-family and industrial developers in joint ventures, leasing, acquisitions, sales and financing transactions. More >>