Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, announced today that Megan A. Christensen has joined the firm’s Tax, Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice as a partner in its Washington, D.C., office. Christensen comes to Manatt from Blank Rome LLP.

Christensen concentrates her practice on federal income taxation and advises both taxable and tax-exempt clients on a broad array of issues, including the New Markets Tax Credit program, exempt status, nonprofit governance, Subchapter S corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies. She also counsels clients with regard to federal and state civil tax matters, including audits, administrative appeals, and litigation. More >>

Steptoe & Johnson LLP is pleased to announce a major expansion of its Financial Services practice with the arrival of Micah Green and his six-member team. Mr. Green, who has joined the firm as a partner in the Washington office, will lead the firm’s Financial Services practice and co-chair the Government Affairs & Public Policy Group.

Also joining Steptoe as partners are Carolyn Walsh and Matthew Kulkin, and as senior policy advisors Michael Dunn, a former commissioner and acting chair of the Commodities Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and Richard Shilts, a former director of the CFTC’s Division of Market Oversight. Two associates, Mara Giorgio and Grace Kim, round out the group, which is also bolstered by the recent arrival of Steptoe partner Dan Mullen, a former investigations branch chief within the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s enforcement office. Together, the newly expanded Financial Services practice will bring together professionals in the legislative, regulatory, compliance, enforcement and financial litigation practices. More >>

Pillsbury today announced aviation lawyer Charles Donley will join the firm’s highly ranked Aviation practice as a partner in its Washington, DC office. He comes to Pillsbury from Squire Patton Boggs, where he was the leader of the Aviation practice, and has considerable experience across all aspects of aviation law, including regulatory, transactional and litigation matters.

“We are thrilled to have Charles join our squadron,” said Aviation practice leader Ken Quinn. “He brings a depth of knowledge and experience in the complex and changing legal framework in international aviation that is invaluable to clients. It will be a huge boon to our rapidly expanding global aviation services.” More >>

Morgan Lewis continues to grow its litigation and white collar services with the addition of Louis Ramos as a partner in Washington, DC.

In addition to white collar litigation, Mr. Ramos will assist clients with the areas of internal investigations and compliance counseling for life science companies including pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers. He has substantial experience conducting internal investigations for global companies in the US and internationally and brings a depth of knowledge particularly in the areas of anti-corruption and anti-bribery, including the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and the Anti-Kickback Statute, and extensive experience in False Claims Act litigation.

Mr. Ramos joins Morgan Lewis from Pfizer, where he was an Assistant General Counsel in the Compliance Division, responsible for all compliance matters in Canada, China, Korea, Japan, and within Latin America. He led a team of lawyers conducting investigations concerning matters related to corruption and bribery, as well as privacy, research and development, and manufacturing issues. He has also practiced at other global law firms, and for six years he was an Assistant US Attorney in the District of Columbia, where he was the lead prosecutor in nearly 50 bench and jury trials.

“I am pleased to welcome Lou, a very experienced strategist and highly skilled trial lawyer, to Morgan Lewis,” said Firm Chair Jami McKeon. “His work on behalf of pharmaceutical clients and his contributions to our white collar and government investigations capabilities on both US coasts and in London, Dubai and Singapore, enhance the services we provide around the world and distinguish Morgan Lewis as a leader in this important area.”

“Lou’s considerable regional expertise in government investigations, including the FCPA, are of critical importance to our global client base, which will benefit from his addition to the firm,” said Gordon Cooney, leader of the firm’s Litigation practice. “He bolsters our team’s capabilities in these key areas, including in Asia, where we have significantly expanded our overall capacity and talent.”

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, announced today that Simon H. Boyce has joined the firm’s Energy and Natural Resources practice as a managing director in its Washington, D.C., office. Boyce previously served as the deputy director and legislative counsel for the Navajo Nation Washington Office, where he advised tribal government officials and represented the Nation before federal agencies on energy and natural resources issues, as well as telecommunications and economic development matters. More >>

Continuing the strong growth that led to the rise to the #5 position on Law360’s largest IP boutiques, Novak Druce acquired another partner in its Washington D.C. office. Sunwoo Lee, Ph.D., recently departed the Washington D.C. office of Fox Rothschild to join Novak Druce as the Co-Chair of the Asia Pacific Practice Group. Dr. Lee’s well-rounded practice is a combination of IP litigation, prosecution, and counseling. More >>

Crowell & Moring LLP is pleased to announce the addition of partner Thomas A. Lorenzen to the firm’s Environment & Natural Resources Group. Lorenzen joins the firm from Dorsey & Whitney LLP. Prior to re-entering private practice in 2013, Lorenzen served for a decade as an assistant chief in the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Environment and Natural Resources Division, where he oversaw the government’s legal defense of all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rules and regulations. More >>

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, announced today that Brian E. Ashin has joined the firm’s Corporate and Finance practice as a partner in its Washington, D.C., office. Ashin comes to Manatt from Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati.

Ashin’s practice focuses on project finance, mergers, acquisitions, private equity and corporate finance transactions involving the energy, infrastructure, entertainment, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate and retail industries. He has represented lenders, arrangers, sponsors, borrowers, and equity investors in project finance, infrastructure finance, banking, acquisition finance, project development, project-related structured finance, and general corporate transactions in the energy sector (including renewable energy and other innovative energy technologies such as geothermal, biofuel, fuel cell, solar and wind), both in the United States and internationally. Ashin also has experience working with new and established venture-backed companies in the clean technology and sports industries. More >>