Lynne Halbrooks, the former acting inspector general for the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), has joined Holland & Knight as a partner in its Washington, D.C., and Northern Virginia offices. She served as DOD’s acting inspector general from 2011 to 2013.

Ms. Halbrooks, who joined DOD as its first independent general counsel in 2009, served as the principal deputy inspector general from 2009 to 2011 and 2013 to 2015. She was previously general counsel for the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction and spent four years with the U.S. Senate as the deputy sergeant at arms and general counsel to the Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper. Ms. Halbrooks also served as deputy director in the Executive Office for United States Attorneys and as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Eastern District of Wisconsin. More >>

On the heels of its recent announcement of the addition of 60 lawyers in Chicago, Cozen O’Connor is proud to announce the addition of ten attorneys and government professionals and the formation of the firm’s State Attorneys General Practice.

The new additions include partners Bernie Nash, Lori Kalani, JB Kelly and Milton Marquis—all of whom were formerly partners at Dickstein Shapiro. As leaders of the nation’s leading State Attorneys General Practice, they focus on legal and policy matters and investigations brought by state attorneys general across the country. Additional members of the practice include Maria Colsey Heard, Ann-Marie Luciano, and Chris Allen, all of whom are partners; associate Bryan Mosca; Senior Advisor Chris Tampio; and AG Policy Coordinator Emily Lundahl. More >>

Covington is significantly expanding its government contracts practice with 20 lawyers from one of the nation’s top government contracts groups, including its former chair and leaders in contractor tort liability, bid protests, procurement fraud, trade secrets and employment.

The group of five partners and 15 other lawyers from McKenna, Long & Aldridge expands and deepens Covington’s capabilities across a range of government contracts matters. Frederic Levy, until recently the chair of McKenna’s government contracts practice, will serve as co-chair of Covington’s government contracts group with Alan Pemberton and Jennifer Plitsch. More >>

NetScout Systems, Inc. received unconditional clearance from the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) for its proposed acquisition of the Communications Business of Danaher Corporation. The clearance follows the issuance of a Second Request by the DOJ, which occurred on December 24, 2014, and effectively extended the waiting period imposed by the HSR Act. As part of a negotiated timing agreement, NetScout agreed to delay close of the transaction until late May, making the DOJ’s early decision to terminate its investigation without imposing any remedies a welcome development in the deal timeline. More >>