DLA Piper has added a ‘Dealmaker of the Year’ from Nixon Peabody. Peter White was given said honor for his successful aiding in the financing of two new Major League ballparks in 2007. White joins DLA’s sports and entertainment group.

Source: www.jdjournal.com

Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith has made a huge lateral hire with 16 attorneys joining its New York office. Gregory S. Katz, is one of the 16; he the was deputy managing partner of Wilson Elser Moskowitz Edelman & Dicke’s New york office. The total group consists of six partners, three counsel, and seven associates.

Source:  www.law.com

Sidley Austin LLP has added a lateral tax partner to its New York office. Richard A. Leavy has joined the firm. He received his L.L.M. From New York University and his J.D. From Rutgers School of Law.

Source:  www.businesswire.com

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft has snagged a big one from DLA Piper. Drew G.L. Chapman, head of DLA Piper’s alternative asset management group, is joining Cadwalader’s New York branch. Chapman will be in charge of his new firm’s hedge fund practice.

Source:  www.law.com

Dana G. Fleischman has joined Latham & Watkins from Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton. Fleischman joins as partner in the firm’s New York office. She focuses her practice on broker-dealer regulation.

Source:  www.nylj.com

Mayer Brown has lost not only a finance partner, but also the co-head of its Latin American practice in one swell swoop. Peter V. Darrow has joined DLA as a partner. Mayer Brown lost another finance partner last week, by the name of Ron D. Franklin.

Source:  www.law.com

McKool Smith has announced its latest addition to its New York office. Six litigation attorneys have joined the firm. Sachin Bansal joins McKool Smith from Davis Polk & Wardwell; John C. Briody most recently practiced at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett; Yusuf A. Rangwala formerally practiced with Sullivan & Cromwell; Elizabeth Raskin was previously with Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld; Kevin Schubert formerally worked at the US Patent & Trademark Office for this new opportunity, and James H. Smith leaves Shearman & Sterling to join McKool Smith.

Source:  www.prnewswire.com

Haynes and Boone has gained a partner in its New York office. David Fleischer joins the firm as a partner. He focuses on business litigation in the entertainment, real estate and bankruptcy fields. Fleischer was most recently with Paul Hastings.

Source:  www.prweb.com

Although Lovells has plans to close its Chicago office, the firm will continue to expand its New York office following the merger with Hogan & Hartson. The firm will be focused on growing its corporate and finance groups. It is a possibility that some of the Chicago attorneys may transfer to the NY office.

Source:  www.thelawyer.com

Darby & Darby announced that it plans to shut its doors for the last time. The New York intellectual property boutique will dissolve because many of its partners left due to the fact that the firm could not find another firm with which to merge. Darby & Darby has 19 partners spread across four offices found in New York, Seattle, Florida and Frankfurt.

Source:  www.law.com