Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna, LLP

WHITEMAN OSTERMAN & HANNA LLP EXPANDS
Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, the Capital Region’s largest law firm, planning to increase office space at their current location in One Commerce Plaza in Albany.

The law firm currently leases 47,180 square feet of space on the 18th and floors. They plan to extend their lease to the 20th floor, which will lead to the acquirement of an additional 9,424 square feet; creating 1.3 acres of workspace the employees at Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP.

20th floor of One Commerce Plaza is the building’s penthouse. Saratoga Associates worked on the design for the penthouse, which will consist a conference center, partner, associate and paralegal offices, secretarial stations interior war room space. The new office design includes a stairwell from the floor to the soon-to-be newly renovated 20th floor.

Workstation sizes nationwide have decreased nationwide. Management offices have decreased 13% in size, professional offices and clerical offices have shrunken 15% and 10% respectively. Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP intends do the opposite and maximize space and increase individual productivity. Staff can interact and produce as a whole in the projected war room space, or project room.

In January, Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP merged with Shanley Sweeney Reilly and Allen. As a result of this merger, Whiteman Osterman & Hanna plans to increase window office space to accommodate for the new attorneys.Workspaces encouraging collaboration are on the rise nationwide. The expansion of the Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP office will serve as an environment conducive to efficiency and privacy in light of the recent merger.

Offices with employees in close proximities increases interaction, which in turn increases synergy and brainstorming, it also encourages distraction as a result of acoustics. Maximizing space at WOH will eliminate distraction and promote privacy and personal space. The growth will also accommodate anticipated future personnel growth. Expansion is expected to be complete between October and November.

01-30-2007

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Rogers Towers

Rogers Towers Announces New Shareholders, New Attorney Jacksonville
Rogers Towers is pleased to announce a new lawyer to the firm as well as three associates recently promoted to shareholder.

Ellen M. Avery-Smith practices in the areas of land use, environmental and real estate law. Her practice includes all aspects of real estate transactions from pre-purchase due diligence to entitlement of land to purchase and development of property. Prior to joining Rogers Towers, Ellen practiced law at Foley & Lardner LLP and The St. Joe Company. She worked for several years representing residential, commercial and mixed-use developers in the land use and environmental permitting of real property. She has counseled clients on pre-purchase due diligence matters through post-purchase horizontal and vertical development. Ellen is a member of The Florida Bar, including the Environmental & Land Use Law Section. She attended the University of Florida, where she earned a B.S., and then studied at Florida State University College of Law to earn her Juris Doctor (J.D.).

Sarah C. H. Crass has practiced in both federal and state courts in areas of complex commercial litigation and civil trial practice, including contract litigation, business torts, construction litigation, trade secret litigation and telecommunication tax litigation. She has mediation and arbitration experience as well trial experience. Sarah earned her J.D. from Boston University School of Law, and her B.A. (with Honors) from the University of Florida. She is a member of The Florida Bar, The New Jersey Bar and The New York Bar. Sarah also serves as Board Member and Treasurer for the North Florida Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Cristine M. “Cristy” Russell’s practice includes appellate practice, commercial litigation, and First Amendment law in both state and federal courts. Cristy received her J.D., with honors, from the University of Florida College of Law where she was inducted into the Order of the Coif. She received her B.A. from Davidson College where she graduated, cum laude, in 1995. Before joining Rogers Towers in 2000, she clerked for a United States District Judge from 1998-2000. She is a member of The Florida Bar and is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts of Florida, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth and Eleventh Circuits, and the United States Supreme Court.

Margaret B. Wetherbee practices in the area of commercial real estate law. Her practice focuses on commercial real estate acquisitions, development and sales; commercial leasing; and commercial real estate and construction lending. She represents both lenders and borrowers in connection with commercial real estate lending transactions and corporate assets-based lending transactions. In addition, she represents real estate owners and developers in the acquisition, development (commercial and residential), sale and leasing of real estate. She earned her J.D. from Cumberland School of Law at Samford University, and a B.A. from Davidson College. Margaret is involved with the Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens. She is also a member of The Florida Bar.

"We are very pleased to add such high quality lawyers as shareholders of our firm," said Douglas A. Ward, managing director of Rogers Towers. "Margaret, Sarah and Cristy have been superbly serving our clients for a long time now. We also welcome Ellen as an excellent addition to our land use team.

01-30-2007

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Lester Schwab Katz & Dwyer, LLP

New Partners
The firm is pleased to announce that David H. Motola, Steven P. Orlowski, Lawrence A. Steckman and Harry Steinberg have become members of the firm.

Mr. Motola’s work involves general liability matters, labor law claims, products liability cases, motor vehicle accidents, premises liability matters, construction-related claims and commercial matters. Mr. Motola also acts as outside general counsel for clients overseeing their respective nationwide litigation and commercial matters.

Mr. Orlowski’s practice involves the defense of premises and automobile liability matters as well as personal injury matters arising from construction-related accidents involving the application of the New York State Labor Law and violations of the industrial code. He also has extensive litigation and trial experience defending asbestos products manufacturers and building construction companies where asbestos products were installed, in the New York City Asbestos Litigation.

Mr. Steckman continues to focus his practice on securities and derivatives litigation, securities arbitration and securities regulatory matters and the defense and prosecution of claims under the RICO statute

Mr. Steinberg practices in our appellate department, where he writes and argues appeals in state and federal appellate courts, as well as serving as appellate counsel in connection with ongoing trials.

01-30-2007

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Kronish, Lieb, Weiner & Hellman, L.L.P.

Cooley’s Bankruptcy Practice Advises Former New York Met in Brooklyn Housing Project Renovation
Cooley Godward Kronish’s Bankruptcy and Restructuring Practice is advising former New York Met baseball player Mo Vaughn and his partner, Eugene Schneur, in their dramatic effort to transform a housing development in Brooklyn, N.Y.

On January 17, 2006, Judge James M. Peck of the Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York signed an order approving the sale of Noble Drew Ali Plaza to Mr. Vaughn and Mr. Schneur’s company, Omni New York LLC, for $21 million. Omni New York has committed to vastly improve the quality of life in the complex, located in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Mr. Vaughn has devoted his post-baseball career to rehabilitating and revitalizing economically distressed communities in the New York City area and elsewhere in the country.

In addition to the purchase price, Omni New York will spend $23 million to rehabilitate and upgrade the structure, the appearance and the security of the five buildings and grounds of the complex. This expenditure equates to approximately $60,000 in renovations per apartment. The scope of the improvements for the buildings will include new lobby areas, elevators and upgraded heating systems, and the addition of 300 security cameras and security guards. Apartment improvements will include new floors, windows and complete renovation of the kitchens and bathrooms. There will be no displacement of any tenants during the rehabilitation.

“This is a win-win for everyone involved, especially the tenants of Noble Drew,” said James Beldner, the Cooley partner leading the bankruptcy representation. “It is also a powerful example of how entities such as the Creditors’ Committee, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the City of New York and the local union have collaborated for the common good – in a profitable way.”

In addition to Mr. Beldner, Cooley bankruptcy attorney Gregory Plotko is also advising on the matter.

Cooley’s Bankruptcy & Restructuring Practice represents secured lenders, official and unofficial creditors’ committees, equity committees, employee and retiree committees, tort committees, investors in distressed situations, debtors, companies and governmental entities in the negotiation of complex reorganizations. Major cases the Firm has handled include litigations in the Enron, Montgomery Ward, Federated Department Stores, Pacific Gas and Electric Company and USG Corporation Chapter 11 cases.

01-30-2007

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Groom Law Group, Chartered

Brigen Winters quoted in New York Times
Brigen Winters was quoted in a January 28, 2007, New York Times article regarding deferred compensation limits legislation being considered by Congress.

01-30-2007

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Groom Law Group, Chartered

Brigen Winters contributes to PlanSponsor article regarding Deferred Comp Limits
Brigen Winters contributed to a January 17, 2007 PlanSponsor article regarding the Senate Finance Committee's approval of a measure that could limit the earnings corporate executives can defer into non-qualified deferred compensation (NQDC) plans.

01-30-2007

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Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Greenberg Traurig Los Angeles Elevates Three Women to Shareholder and Three Associates to Of Counsel
Greenberg Traurig LLP has named three new shareholders in its Los Angeles office: Michelle Flores, labor and employment; Valerie Ho, litigation and Robyn Polashuk, corporate media. Three associates also have been elevated to of counsel: Grace Chung, tax, trusts & estates; Joseph Geisman, intellectual property and entertainment and Lisa Nitti, entertainment.

“Each of these individuals has a proven track record for delivering exceptional service, creative thinking and strategic business counseling in their respective practice areas,” said Jeff Scott, co-managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurig’s Los Angeles office. “Companies in every industry sector face a daunting array of challenges stemming from technological advances, evolving employment laws and more. The dedication these individuals exhibit in representing client interests accurately reflects our firm’s overall commitment to excellence.”

Michele Flores’ practice focuses on labor and employment litigation. She has served as primary counsel in jury and bench trials as well as arbitration hearings in a wide variety of disputes ranging from wage and hour and wrongful termination to all forms of employment discrimination. She also prepares workplace policies and procedures manuals and advises clients on employment matters such as internal investigations, FMLA and other leave requirements and employee discipline. Flores also has experience in intellectual property and general business litigation. Flores graduated from UCLA School of Law in 1993 and was named a rising star in Los Angeles Magazine’s Southern California Super Lawyers in 2006.

Valerie Ho is a member of the firm’s litigation group where she concentrates on representing clients in intellectual property matters. She has significant trial experience involving patent cases especially with respect to flat panel display monitors and LCD technology, as well as in trademark, trade dress, anti-counterfeiting and copyright matters. She also has represented clients in complex commercial litigation and entertainment disputes involving, among other things, defamation and First Amendment issues. Ho has a J.D. from UCLA School of Law. She speaks Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese.

Robyn Polashuk's practice focuses on the distribution of cable and broadcast television networks and programming across a variety of platforms and technologies -- from traditional franchise cable and direct broadcast satellite to video-on-demand, high definition and IP video. She has particular experience in content protection issues related to television distribution. Polashuk joined the firm as of counsel in 2005, after nearly a decade of business and legal affairs experience in the entertainment industry. A graduate of Harvard Business School’s Cable Television Executive Management Program, she obtained her J.D. from the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) School of Law and holds an M.A. from the Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Southern California.

Grace Chung represents domestic and foreign entities and individuals in tax matters, particularly with respect to cross-border transactions. As a member of the tax, trusts and estates department, she advises entrepreneurs and closely held companies at every stage, from formation, acquisition and financing through reorganization, expansion and succession. She also has experience in taxation relating to entertainment and e-commerce, and international estate and gift tax. She obtained her law degree from Cornell Law School.

Joseph Geisman’s practice focuses on the development, prosecution and protection of intellectual property rights, including trademarks, copyrights and rights of publicity. He counsels clients on the enforcement of trademarks and service marks and negotiates agreements and other documents related to the transfer of intellectual property rights. Geisman also searches and clears trademarks, prosecutes trademark applications in the United States, supervises the prosecution of foreign trademark applications by acting as lead counsel to associates in foreign countries, and manages international and domestic trademark portfolios. In addition, he represents clients in a variety of entertainment, First Amendment and fair use matters. Named a rising star in Los Angeles Magazine’s Southern California Super Lawyers in 2004, 2005 and 2006, he obtained his J.D. from UCLA School of Law in 1999.

Lisa Nitti is a member of the entertainment group and her practice encompasses the crossover of new media and entertainment. She represents clients in film and television programming and the development of cutting-edge, creative film financing strategies. This past year she represented a leading global software company in several major projects involving original content for the Internet, online concerts, music and video games. She also has extensive experience representing financiers and independent producers in film financing deals, and preparing offering documentation in connection with venture capital funds for single movies, film slates and blind pools. In addition, Nitti represents several clients involved in reality TV programming. She has a J.D. from UCLA School of Law.
Pertinent GT Biographies: Grace Chung, Michelle Lee Flores, Joseph Geisman, Valerie W. Ho, Lisa M. Nitti, Robyn R. Polashuk

01-30-2007

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