SINGLE PARTNER PLACEMENTS
Highly skilled Fund Formation partner joins Cozen O’Connor in New York.
Ekwutozia Nwabuzor, formerly at Lowenstein Sandler, joins Cozen O’Connor’s growing New York office as a Member in their Corporate and Private Equity practice. Ms. Nwabuzor focuses her practice on forming private investment funds and alternative investment vehicles. She has particular expertise representing emerging fund managers in their formation and investment matters. Ms. Nwabuzor started her career at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett.
Cooley makes key hire in the emerging companies and venture capital space in San Francisco.
Rising superstar Emerging Companies and Venture Capital Partner, Emma Mann-Meginniss, who served as Goodwin Procter’s Co-Chair of the Women’s Health and Wellness Practice, as well as the Hiring Partner for their San Francisco office, has joined Cooley’s market-leading ECVC team in San Francisco. Emma was recognized in Venture Capital Journal in 2023 and is well known as a tremendous leader in the space in the Bay Area.
Highly recognized Life Sciences Patent trial lawyer and FDA expert becomes Chair of Polsinelli’s Hatch Waxman & Biologics Practice.
Chad Landmon, former Chair of Axinn’s Intellectual Property and FDA practice groups, has joined Polsinelli in Washington, D.C. and will serve as his new firm’s Chair of the Hatch Waxman & Biologics group. Chad is a heavyweight in representing major generic pharmaceutical companies and has litigated more than 60 cases in the past decade alone. Chad has advised on all of the top 10 generic drugs ranked by cost savings and nearly half of the top 100 drugs ranked by sales volume.
Financial Services Litigation leader joins Sheppard Mullin’s quickly expanding Chicago office.
Tom Panoff, former leader of Mayer Brown’s Antitrust Financial Services and Insurance Industry Team and Co-Leader of the firm’s Banking and Finance Litigation Group, has joined Sheppard Mullin’s quickly growing Chicago office. Tom has tried cases before trial and appellate courts across the country, handling matters in over 30 states and nearly 50 U.S. District Courts. Tom’s clients include leading financial institutions, fintechs, mortgage lenders and alternative investment funds.
Sheppard Mullin lands Private Equity superstar in Chicago.
Mike Wilson, formerly Co-Chair of the Corporate and Transactional Department and Leader of the Venture Capital & Emerging Companies section of the Private Equity Practice Group at Locke Lord, has joined Sheppard Mullin in Chicago to help lead the build out of the firm’s national Private Equity and ECVC practices.
Mintz hires accomplished Trademark litigator and Brand Protection partner in San Francisco.
Laura Franco, formerly a leader of the Trademark Professionals and Brand Protection teams at Winston & Strawn, has joined Mintz in San Francisco and will help lead the firm’s build out in that space on the West Coast. Laura also Co-Chaired her former firm’s Latino Lawyers Group.
Sheppard Mullin adds nationally recognized Healthcare Transactional and Regulatory leader in Chicago.
Doug Swill, formerly a transactional and regulatory partner who once led legacy firm Drinker Biddle’s national Healthcare practice, has joined Sheppard Mullin from Faegre Drinker. Doug is a Chambers recognized dealmaker whose clients have described him as “very practical and business savvy.” He regularly represents non-profit healthcare entities as well as for-profit organizations advising on a wide range of big-ticket transactions and regulatory matters. Doug has handled some of the largest health system and hospital combinations in the industry.
Corporate deal pro joins Brown Rudnick in Boston.
John Cushing, formerly a leader in the Corporate practice at Goulston & Storrs, has joined Brown Rudnick’s growing Corporate team as a partner in Boston. John is a trusted advisor to emerging company clients and mature, privately held businesses at every stage of their business life cycle.
Former Senior Vice President of Greenberg Traurig joins King & Spalding in Houston.
Preeminent trial lawyer, Mary-Olga “Mo” Lovett, who has tried more than 50 cases, with in excess of $100 billion at stake over her career, has joined King & Spalding’s Houston office to take a leadership role in her new firm’s Texas-based commercial litigation practice. Mo was one of the founding members of her previous firm’s Texas presence and served as the Managing Partner of the Texas Region for several years, most recently serving as GT’s Senior Vice President on the firm’s Global Executive Management Committee. She is one of the most highly regarded trial attorneys in the state, recognized as Band 1 in Chambers, and is the only trial attorney recognized in four separate categories by LAWDRAGON.
Highly respected White Collar, Investigations and Litigation Pro joins Mintz in San Francisco.
Marc Axelbaum, formerly the leader of Pillsbury’s White Collar and Investigations practice in Northern California, as well as the firm’s Co-Leader of the Trust & Estates and Wealthy Private Client Litigation practice, has joined Mintz as a Member in their Growing San Francisco office. Marc will help lead the build out of Mintz’s Litigation and White Collar practices in Northern California. Chambers USA states that Marc is a “go to resource for corporate and individual clients to handle sensitive internal and regulatory investigations, as well as defending enforcement actions. Marc is thorough, thoughtful, strategic, and is extremely good on his feet.”
Well-known healthcare transactional and regulatory stalwart joins Mintz’s highly regarded, national healthcare practice in San Francisco.
Dan Cody, formerly a partner at Jones Day, who has 20 years experience representing clients across the healthcare and life sciences sectors, including in the digital health industry, has joined Mintz in San Francisco to help lead the buildout of the firm’s Healthcare offering in California. Dan has been recognized in multiple industry publications as a top-flight practitioner in the space. He represents hospitals, health systems, physicians, post-acute care entities, digital health, and medical technology companies and investors in a broad range of complex regulatory, compliance, privacy, and transactional matters.
Renewable Energy and Life Sciences Private Equity powerhouse joins Mintz in New York.
Andrew Hulsh, a leading Private Equity partner with a significant practice in both the Renewable Energy and Life Science sectors has joined Mintz as a Member in their New York office. Andrew has led top financial sponsors and their portfolio companies, strategic acquirers and other investors in U.S. and cross border M&A buyout transactions, growth equity investments and other investment transactions throughout the United States, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Israel. Additionally, Andrew has extensive Capital Markets expertise, having been involved in more than 100 initial and secondary public offerings, as well as private placements of equity and debt securities.
Orrick lands gaming innovation regulatory and digital commerce visionary in Washington, D.C.
Behn Dayanim, formerly the Chair of both Advertising, Gaming & Promotions and Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice Groups at Paul Hastings, joins Orrick to become the Global Head of Digital Commerce and Gaming . Behn is a heavyweight in the industry, recognized by multiple publications in both Gaming and Fintech including Chambers Global, Chambers USA, and was recently named Best Regulatory Lawyer of the Year by Gambling Compliance. He will help take Orrick’s market-leading Sports & Betting Practice Group to the next level.
Reed Smith expands Domestic Fund Finance capabilities with partner hire in Washington, D.C.
Christopher Davis, formerly a Senior Attorney in Morison Foerster’s Washington, D.C. office, joins Reed Smith as a Partner in their Financial Industry Group, focusing on Fund Finance, structuring, documenting and negotiating credit facilities provided to a broad array of investment funds.
Reed Smith lands Financial Services Investigation and Litigation heavyweight in San Francisco.
J.H. Jennifer Lee, the former leader of ArentFox Schiff’s Consumer Financial Services Team and Cannabis Banking Practice Group has joined Reed Smith’s San Francisco office to help lead the firm’s strategic growth on the West Coast in the Crypto and Digital Assets space. Jenny currently serves in leadership of the ABA’s Consumer Financial Services Sub-Committe. She formerly served as an enforcement attorney for three years at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Washington, DC (CFPB).
Orrick expands its Direct Lending practice with partner hire in Boston.
Greg Bilton, formerly a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Boston office, joins the rapidly growing Direct Lending practice of Orrick.
Cooley bolsters its business litigation practice in Boston with rising star.
Shamis Beckley, highly successful complex litigation and investigations pro, joins Cooley’s fast-growing Boston office. In addition to a tremendous track record representing healthcare-oriented companies in False Claims Act cases and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services investigations, Shamis brings extensive experience representing clients in securities investigations, enforcement actions, and anti-corruption matters.
Orrick lands White Collar & Government Investigations heavyweight in Washington, D.C.
Joseph Walker, one of the nation’s leading white collar and regulatory compliance advisors and former U.S. Department of Justice trial lawyer, has joined Orrick’s Washington, D.C. office. Joe is the former Global Chair of Squire Patton Boggs White Collar and Government Investigations Practice. Prior to joining his previous firm, Joe led many of the most important FCPA enforcement actions handled by the DOJ. In fact, Joe was the lead prosecutor on the first ever joint FCPA enforcement action between the SEC and the DOJ against KPMG and Baker Hughes (that investigation is now the template for agency-led FCPA enforcement). Joe will take a leadership role in helping to build out Orrick’s Global White Collar Practice.
Cozen O’Connor continues growth in Canada by adding the former Litigation Counsel for the British Columbia Securities Commission.
Laesha Smith, a highly recognized Commercial Litigation and Investigations attorney, has joined Cozen O’Connor as a Member in their Vancouver office from McEwan Partners. Prior to moving to Vancouver, to join the BCSC, Ms. Smith practiced in London with Allen & Overy. She started her career in New York at Cleary Gottlieb. She is currently dual admitted in both British Columbia and New York. This move was facilitated in collaboration with Warren Smith of Smith Legal Search, one of the leading recruiting organizations in Canada.
Raines Feldman recruits Corporate M&A star to Chair its National Corporate Practice
Derek Dundas has joined Raines Feldman from Troutman Pepper in Orange County. He will Chair the firm’s National Corporate Practice and lead the build out of its platform in both California and New York. Derek began his career at Latham & Watkins and has focused his practice on representing public and private companies, ranging from emerging growth to large publicly held multi-nationals, on a wide range of corporate and capital markets transactions.
Foremost IP Litigator & ITC 337 heavyweight joins McKool Smith in Washington, D.C.
Blair Jacobs, one of the leading and most highly recognized IP Litigation and ITC 337 stars in the high technology industry has joined McKool Smith’s new Washington, D.C. office to help lead their growth efforts in that market. Mr. Jacobs has represented some of the biggest and best known technology companies in their most complex and contentious Intellectual Property matters for three decades. He is also considered a leading appellate practitioner, and has served as lead counsel on several precedential decisions that have shaped patent law. Prior to joining his current firm, Mr. Jacobs led the ITC 337 practice at Paul Hastings.
Highly regarded Life Sciences, Healthcare & Technology trial attorney joins Greenberg Traurig in San Francisco
Rodney Hudson, a very experienced and well-regarded trial attorney, who focuses his practice in the Life Sciences and Healthcare sectors, has joined Greenberg Traurig in San Francisco. Prior to joining his current firm, Rodney was one of the drivers of Drinker Biddle’s Products Liability and Mass Torts practice on the West Coast.
Leading global project development & finance expert joins Mintz in Washington, D.C.
Ayaz Shaikh, internationally recognized Project Finance & Energy lawyer, whose experience spans 25 years and 30 countries, across 5 continents, has joined Mintz as Co-Chair of their Project Development & Finance Practice Group. Mr. Shaikh has led pioneering transactions across the globe including the World Bank’s first Prototype Carbon Fund investment implementing the Kyoto Protocol, establishing the model framework for future emissions credits generating clean energy projects. Kristopher Kirkwood follows Mr. Shaikh as Of Counsel.
Leading Technology, M&A and Private Equity Partner Joins Reed Smith in the Silicon Valley.
Craig Lilly, a highly regarded Silicon Valley-based partner joins Reed Smith’s Global Corporate Group from Baker & McKenzie. Prior to joining his previous firm, Craig chaired Greenberg Traurig’s SV Corporate practice.
Leading Authority on Healthcare related antitrust issues joins Sheppard Mullin in the nation’s capital.
Bevin Newman, AI Global’s 2018 Healthcare M&A Attorney of the year, joins Sheppard Mullin as a partner in their Healthcare and Antitrust practice groups in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Ms. Newman has been consistently recognized as a top lawyer in the healthcare industry since 2008.
Labor & Employment pro joins Reed Smith in Philadelphia.
Lori Armstrong Halber joins the Philadelphia office of Reed Smith as a partner in the firm’s highly ranked Labor & Employment practice group. Ms. Armstrong Halber was formerly a partner at Fisher Phillips.
Private Equity Fund Formation heavyweight joins Kirkland & Ellis in San Francisco.
Ken Muller, former Co-Chair of Morrison & Foerster’s Private Equity Fund Group, joins Kirkland & Ellis’ market leading practice as a partner in the firm’s San Francisco office.
Highly regarded Labor & Employment partner joins Reed Smith in Chicago.
Experienced Labor & Employment partner, Tom Posey, joins Reed Smith in Chicago from Faegre Baker Daniels. This placement was jointly facilitated with FCRP International.
Leading International Trade Partner establishes West Coast presence for Crowell Moring.
David Stepp, a highly recognized International Trade Partner, formerly at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, joins Crowell Moring in Los Angeles, to expand the firm’s trade capabilities to the West Coast.
Energy Regulatory Icon Joins Reed Smith in Houston.
Peggy Heeg, former Executive Committee Member and Co-Chair of Norton Rose Fulbright’s US Energy Regulatory Practice Group, joins Reed Smith in Houston to greatly expand the firm’s pipeline development and oil & gas regulatory capabilities. Prior to joining her previous firm in 2003, Ms. Heeg served as the Executive Vice President and General Counsel of El Paso Corporation.
International Energy Deal Pro Joins Reed Smith in Washington, D.C.
The Head of Dentons’ U.S. Regions Emerging Markets and Energy Strategies Group, Jonathan Cahn, joins Reed Smith’s Washington, D.C. office, bolstering the firm’s Global Energy and Natural Resources transactional practice. Mr. Cahn has particular expertise representing significant sovereign investment entities in outbound, multi-national transactions, particularly in the oil and gas sectors.
Perkins Coie Starts Its Venture Capital and Emerging Companies Practice in New York.
A veteran emerging companies partner and former Co-Chair of Lowenstein Sandler’s Brooklyn Entrepreneurial Center, Charles Torres, joins Perkins Coie in New York. Mr. Torres will help lead the expansion of Perkins’ top-tier venture capital and emerging companies practice on the East Coast.
Mintz Levin continues to grow its Intellectual Property Group in Washington, D.C. with prominent Bio-Pharma attorney.
Top pharmaceutical and biotech patent attorney, Mark Pino, joins Mintz Levin’s Washington, D.C. office from Womble Carlyle. Mr. Pino brings extensive legal and industry expertise, including having worked as a medicinal chemist at Agouron Pharmaceuticals, where he contributed to the discovery of Viracept, an anti-HIV inhibitor.
Top Land Use Partner joins Nossaman in San Francisco.
* Prominent Land Use partner, Michael Durkee, from Mckenna Long & Aldrich into the San Francisco office of Nossaman. Mr. Durkee is widely recognized for his expertise and is considered one of California’s top creative land-use minds.
Brown Rudnick expands Corporate practice with high-profile hire in New York.
* Todd Emmerman, into the New York office of Brown Rudnick. Mr. Emmerman formerly served as Co-Chair of Katten Muchin’s Corporate Practice and was a Member of that firm’s Executive Committee.
Top litigator from DLA joins Perkins Coie to start the firm’s Life Sciences Products Liability practice.
* Products Liability Partner, Julie Hussey, from DLA Piper, into the San Diego office of Perkins Coie. Ms. Hussey has extensive Toxic Tort and Class Action Litigation experience in the drug, medical device and food & beverage industries. She will help lead the build-out of Perkins Coie’s Life Sciences Products Liability Practice.
Elite Estate Planning partner joins Perkins Coie in Chicago.
* Private Client and Estate Planning partner Domingo Such, into Perkins Coie, to start that firm’s Personal Planning Practice Group in Chicago. Mr. Such was formerly a partner in the Private Client Practice Group at McDermott Will & Emery. He is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and has been named as a Worth Magazine Top 100 Estate Planning Attorney in the United States.
Reed Smith opens in Silicon Valley by luring away top Corporate partner.
* The opening of Reed Smith’s Palo Alto office through the placement of Corporate partner Richard Scudellari. Mr. Scudellari joined Reed Smith from Morrison & Foerster.
Former Chairman of Morgan Lewis returns to Philadelphia joining Reed Smith.
* Internationally recognized Corporate and Securities partner, Howard Schecter, into Reed Smith’s New York and Philadelphia offices. Mr. Schecter was previously the leader of the Global M&A Practice at Orrick and prior to that, he served as the Managing Partner and Chairman of Morgan Lewis.
Copyright and Trademark expert moves to Reed Smith in Los Angeles.
* Intellectual Litigation partner, Kathyleen O’Brien, from Morrison & Foerster, into the Century City office of Reed Smith.
Akin Gump starts Outsourcing & Technology Transactions Practice with high profile hire in Dallas.
* Outsourcing & Technology Transactions partner, Michael Brito, from Fulbright, into the Dallas office of Akin Gump, to lead the firm’s Global Outsourcing and Technology Transactions Practice.
Big ticket securities litigator joins Orrick in New York.
* Richard Martin, internationally recognized Securities Litigation partner and former Executive Committee Member and Managing Partner of Heller Ehrman’s New York office, into Orrick.
*All starred placements made prior to Miles Partner Placement.