The law firm of McKee Nelson has launched a new team whose primary focus in on “covered bonds”. This type of bond is one that is sponsored by a bank, and which if defaulted, is maintained by a group of loans or receivables. Covered bonds are more common in Europe, but the US is catching up. The team is part of the structured finance practice group, and is led by Washington partner John Arnolz and New York partner Kenneth P. Martin.

Source: www.law.com

The New York based law firm of Willkie Farr & Gallagher has confirmed their strategic alliance with the UK law firm Dickson Minto. The alliance will strengthen Wilkie Farr’s presence in London and will also open doors for Dickson Minto in the US.

Source: www.legalweek.com

It is rare for partners at top New York law firms be the subject of lateral moves, but one attorney Witold Balaban is today. Balaban has been with Davis Polk since he graduated from New York University School of Law in 1993. He became partner in 2001. He now has a second law firm to add to his resume, that of Latham & Watkins. He will be joining the corporate practice.

Source: www.law.com

At least some one is getting something out of many businesses losing their shirts, along with millions of workers getting the boot. Bankruptcy attorneys are expecting to have much to work on, especially in bankruptcy hot spots like New York, Delaware, California, and Texas. Not only were there many bankruptcy cases from 2007, the outlook for the future shows this already large number will increase, says many big law firms.
Source: www.law.com

Joel H. Levitin has joined the firm of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP as partner in its New York office. Previously, Levitin was partner at Dechert LLP. Levitin has had much experience in the fields of bankruptcy and mergers and acquisitions. He is whole-heartedly welcomed by Cahill Gordon & Reindel.
Source: www.sunherald.com

Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft are losing two reinsurance partners. Head of the practice, Lawrence I. Brandes and Harry P. Cohen are joining other firms. Brandes has chosen the DLA Piper and will begin later this week. Cohen will join the New York office of Crowell & Moring at the start of May.
Source: www.law.com

Morris, Manning & Martin has hired a whole troupe of newbies to its firm, existing of three partners, four senior lawyers, and a of-counsel. Washington receives two new partners to join its Intellectual Property group: Christopher W. Raimund and Ping Wang, M.D. Savannah takes Joseph R. “Rusty” Ross and turns him into partner in its health care practice; he will also be working with the real estate group. Morris, Manning & Martin takes 21 year in-house counsel veteran of Fannie Mae, Allison Gould, for the firm’s Atlanta headquarters. Gould will join the commercial real estate lending group.
Source: www.atlanta.dbusinessnews.com

Dechert announces an addition to its New York office with the hiring of senior funds specialist Kevin Scanlan. Scanlan, who joins as partner, left Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe for Dechert. His focuses his practice on advising private equity groups as well as hedge funds on international and private investment fund formation and structuring.

O’Melveny & Myers has announced they recently offered partners 50 and older the opportunity to retire early. Typically O’Melveny partners usually qualify for the full retirement package at the age of 65 and the partial package at the age of 55. This has been seen by many as an attempt to raise profitability.
Source: www.legalweek.com

Robert M. Andersen, who comes from New York’s Dewey & LeBoeuf, has joined the team of Akerman Senterfitt, specifically their Environmental and Natural Resources Practice Group. Prior to Dewey, Anderson was former chief counsel of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, where he supervised 400 attorneys. As of now, Anderson has joined one of Florida’s largest law firms.
Source: www.law.com