Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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Carlton Fields

Former SEC Attorney Joins Carlton Fields in the Miami Office
The law firm of Carlton Fields is pleased to announce that Donna K. Knapton has joined the firm in the Miami office.

From 1996 to 2006, Knapton was an attorney with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement both at SEC headquarters in Washington, D.C. and at the SEC’s Southeast Regional Office in Miami, Florida. She became Senior Counsel with the SEC in 1999. Knapton has had responsibility for scores of SEC investigations, including investigations of public companies, accounting firms, broker-dealers, investment advisors, and hedge funds involving issues such as accounting fraud, audit failure, market manipulation, insider trading, fraudulent offerings, and illegal securities touting.

Knapton received her LL.M., with distinction, in Securities and Financial Regulation from Georgetown University Law Center in 2000. She received her J.D., cum laude, from the University of Miami School of Law in 1996 and her B.S. from the University of Florida in 1988.

01-17-2007

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O'Melveny & Myers, LLP

FORMER ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY DANIEL N. SHALLMAN JOINS O'MELVENY & MYERS
O'Melveny & Myers LLP announced that
Daniel N. Shallman, Assistant United States Attorney in the Public Corruption & Civil Rights Section of the United States Attorney's Office for the Central District of California, has joined the Firm's Global Enforcement & Criminal Defense Practice as a Counsel in the Los Angeles office. Shallman's practice will focus on representing individuals and institutions in white collar and securities enforcement matters.

"Dan is a highly regarded and talented lawyer who has developed an excellent reputation both as a trial lawyer in the United States Attorney's Office and as a civil litigator in private practice. The insights and experience he brings to our firm will be sought after by our clients," said James R. Asperger, the Practice Chair of O'Melveny & Myers' Global Enforcement & Criminal Defense Practice.

O'Melveny's Global Enforcement & Criminal Defense Practice is home to a number of former government prosecutors, including eight former Assistant United States Attorneys; two former Chiefs in the United States Attorneys Office; two former Securities & Exchange Commission lawyers; and a former United States Attorney.

As former prosecutors, O'Melveny's white collar lawyers transform their experience of handling high-profile trials and complex investigations on behalf of the government into successful defense strategies for O'Melveny's clients. They are prepared to gain control over and successfully defend against multi-front litigation onslaughts from criminal, regulatory and administrative agencies, civil litigants, Congressional committees, and the media. Examples of recent representations include:

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O'Melveny represented a California hospital in a seven-month trial that ended with a deadlocked jury (after deliberations that lasted four months, the longest for any criminal case in California history). A month later, as a direct result of O'Melveny's mistrial win, the federal government agreed to dismiss all civil and criminal charges.
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O'Melveny represents the Special Committee of the Board of a software manufacturer that was an early target of the SEC's investigation into misdated option grants. For the past year, we have represented the Special Committee in an internal probe, which uncovered approximately 50 instances of misdated options.
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O'Melveny represents a leading technology company in SEC and DOJ investigations as well as private securities and derivative actions involving the options granted to its CEO and two other senior officers, whose compensation was covered extensively in the press.

Shallman said, "When I decided to re-enter private practice, I was drawn to O'Melveny & Myers because of its strong reputation of attracting lawyers from the United States Attorney's Office. Coupled with O'Melveny's strong pro bono and community service commitments, it was an easy decision to make. I look forward to working with an outstanding group of white collar and enforcement lawyers and helping the firm serve its many clients."

Daniel N. Shallman
Mr. Shallman served for over seven years as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California in Los Angeles, where he was a member of the Public Corruption & Civil Rights Section. In 2006, as a result of his successful investigation and prosecution of a high profile corruption case, Mr. Shallman received the United States Department of Justice's "Director's Award for Superior Performance as an Assistant United States Attorney." Prior to that, he was an associate in private practice in Los Angeles, where he represented corporate and individual clients in a broad range of civil litigation matters, including securities, antitrust, and entertainment litigation. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois, with honors, in 1992 and his J.D. from the University of Chicago in 1995. Mr. Shallman also is active in local civic activities, including serving as Chair of the Young Lawyers Division and Geller Leadership Project of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles

01-17-2007

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Foley & Lardner

Foley Chicago Attorneys Named Illinois “Super Lawyers”
Foley & Lardner LLP announced today that 27 partners have been named 2007 Illinois “Super Lawyers” by Law & Politics Media, Inc.

Chair of Foley's Intellectual Property Department Sharon R. Barner was also named to the Top 50 Women Illinois “Super Lawyers” list for 2007 and partner Michael M. Conway was named to the Top 100 Illinois “Super Lawyers” list.

The Foley attorneys named and their primary practices as classified by Law & Politics are:

* Sharon R. Barner, intellectual property litigation;
* Myles D. Berman, political law;
* Richard (Dick) Bromley, tax;
* Michael M. Conway, business litigation;
* Dewey B. Crawford, securities and corporate finance;
* James D. Dasso, general commercial litigation;
* Scott E. Early, general commercial litigation;
* Jay Erens, business law;
* Craig S. Fochler, intellectual property litigation;
* John N. Gavin, business law;
* Paul F. Hanzlik, energy;
* James R. Hellige, estate planning and probate;
* Richard C. Johnson, bonds/government finance;
* Christopher N. Knight, bonds/government finance;
* John D. Lien, construction litigation;
* John W. McCaffrey, energy;
* William J. McKenna, business litigation;
* John B. Palmer III, tax;
* Mark L. Prager, bankruptcy and creditor/debtor rights;
* John P. Ratnaswamy, energy;
* E. Glenn Rippie, energy;
* John L. Rogers III, energy;
* George T. Simon, securities and corporate finance;
* Michael J. Small, bankruptcy and creditor/debtor rights;
* Robert M. Stephenson, white collar criminal defense;
* William C. Weinsheimer, estate planning and probate; and
* Michael H. Woolever, employee benefits/ERISA.

To compile the annual list, Law & Politics surveyed more than 47,000 lawyers across Illinois, asking them to vote for the best lawyers they have personally observed in action. The final list features the top five percent of Illinois attorneys in more than 60 areas of practice. The list will be published in the February 2007 issues of Illinois Super Lawyers and Chicago magazine.

01-17-2007

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Carlton Fields

Carlton Fields Attorney, Mark P. Rankin, Appointed to the Board and Selected Co-Chair of the Criminal Law Committee of The Federal Bar Association
Carlton Fields Tampa attorney, Mark P. Rankin, was recently appointed to the Board of the Federal Bar Association (FBA). In addition, Rankin was selected to serve as Co-Chair of the Criminal Law Committee of the FBA.

Rankin practices in the firm’s White Collar Crime and Government Investigations Practice Group. Prior to joining Carlton Fields, he was an Assistant Federal Public Defender with the Federal Public Defender’s Office, where he served as a trial and appellate counsel to criminal defendants charged with a wide range of cases including fraud offenses, drug offenses, immigration matters, and firearms offenses. Rankin received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1999 and his B.S. in Criminal Justice, magna cum laude, from Old Dominion University in 1996.

The Federal Bar Association is dedicated to the advancement of the science of jurisprudence and to promoting the welfare, interests, education, and professional development of all attorneys involved in federal law. Members run the gamut of federal practice from attorneys who are practicing in small to large legal firms, attorneys in corporations and federal agencies, and members of the judiciary. The FBA is the catalyst for communication between the bar and the bench, as well as the private and public sectors. The Criminal Law Section of the FBA is a section with a mission to enhance the practice of criminal law in all federal courts (civilian and military), as well as to foster a productive and ongoing dialogue among the federal bench, defense bar, and prosecutors.

01-17-2007

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Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC

Buchanan Ingersoll Snags Three Intellectual Property Attorneys In Silicon Valley
Intellectual Property attorneys Karineh Khachatourian and Jeffrey M. Ratinoff recently joined the Silicon Valley office of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney as special counsel and senior attorney, respectively. Their arrival, along with special counsel Bryan J. Sinclair, who joined the firm's intellectual property practice late last year, brings Buchanan's Intellectual Property practice to 107 attorneys.

Khachatourian was a partner at the San Francisco based law firm, Gordon & Rees, where she headed the firm's San Francisco intellectual property litigation practice. Both Khachatourian and Ratinoff previously worked for an international law firm in the area of intellectual property litigation in Silicon Valley. Sinclair joined Buchanan from White Field, Inc., where he served as general counsel to several private and public companies. Prior to that, he was a partner in the intellectual property litigation and antitrust groups of Dechert LLP. The addition of Khachatourian, Sinclair and Ratinoff reflects Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney's commitment to growth in Silicon Valley.

About Khachatourian

Khachatourian focuses her practice in intellectual property disputes concerning trade secret misappropriation, trademark infringement, unfair business practices, patent infringement, antitrust, securities and a variety of business torts. She has extensive federal, state and appellate court experience representing high-technology clients, specifically, silicon wafer inspection, integrated circuit simulation tools and computer software. Her trial experience includes a three month term at Santa Clara District Attorney's Office as a volunteer district attorney in the misdemeanor unit where she tried six jury and bench trials with five wins.

Khachatourian received her J.D. from George Washington University National Law Center. She graduated from New York University, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. She is admitted to practice law in California and Massachusetts. She serves as judge pro tem for the Santa Clara Superior Court, and is a member of the Forum for Women Entrepreneurs and Executives Silicon Valley chapter.

About Ratinoff

Ratinoff focuses his practice on protecting clients' intellectual property rights and in commercial disputes, particularly in the areas of trade secret misappropriation and trademark, copyright and patent infringement actions. He has federal, state and appellate court experience representing high-technology clients, primarily in the semiconductor and computer hardware and software industries.

Ratinoff received his J.D. degree from Vanderbilt University and his B.A. degree from the University of California, San Diego, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa. He is admitted to practice in California and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and the Northern and Central Districts of California. He is also a member of the San Francisco Bar Association, Santa Clara County Bar Association and Santa Clara County Bar Association's Barristers Committee.

About Sinclair

Sinclair focuses his practice on representing and counseling clients in intellectual property litigation, complex commercial litigation, intellectual property counseling, licensing and protection, and corporate transactional matters.

Bryan received his J.D. degree from the St. Thomas University School of Law, with honors, in 1993, where he served as an editor of the St. Thomas Law Review and was a member of the Moot Court Board. Following law school, he served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable Peter T. Fay of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Bryan earned a B.A. degree from Southern Methodist University in 1989, where he played on the golf team and served as both a student and a teaching assistant while studying abroad in Rome, Italy, in 1988-89. He is admitted to practice in California and the District of Columbia, as well as before the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Central Districts of California, the District of Columbia, the 11th Circuit and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.

01-17-2007

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Baker & Hostetler, L.L.P.

Baker Hostetler Grows White-Collar Crime and Investigations Practice with Addition of Three Prominent Attorneys
Baker Hostetler announced today the expansion of its White-Collar Defense and Corporate Investigations (“WCDCI”) Practice Group with the addition of three prominent attorneys. Partners John W. Moscow and Patrick Hannon join the firm in New York and Jack A. Blum joins as Of Counsel in both New York and Washington, D.C.

“Moscow, Blum and Hannon bring strong experience to the firm’s White-Collar Group, which already comprises a seasoned team of highly regarded former prosecutors and regulators. With a wealth of government and courtroom experience in the white-collar and anti-money laundering enforcement areas, they join a practice with exceptional experience and a proven reputation for results. This expansion of our WCDCI Practice Group further strengthens our ability to serve and protect our clients’ interests in both domestic and international matters,” said Steven Kestner, Executive Partner of the Firm.

Mr. Moscow, in the course of 30 years working with New York District Attorney Robert M. Morgenthau, rose to become one of the most prominent state white-collar prosecutors in the United States. He is best known for the closing of the Bank of Credit and Commerce International (“BCCI”), and other prosecutions involving financial crimes both nationally and internationally. Mr. Moscow has conducted numerous securities, bank fraud and money laundering investigations and prosecutions in collaboration with the SEC, NASD, New York Federal Reserve Bank and New York State Banking Department. As Chief of the Frauds Bureau, he also initiated and led the investigation into Tyco International which resulted in the conviction of its CEO, CFO and Lead Director. Mr. Moscow will focus his practice on advising and representing financial institutions in regulatory, civil and criminal litigation matters, as well as white-collar defendants in investigations and at trial.

Mr. Blum is an internationally recognized legal authority on money laundering, tax enforcement, congressional, state and foreign governmental investigations, regulatory compliance and related federal legislation, including the USA PATRIOT Act. During his fourteen year tenure as counsel to various United States Senate Committees, including the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Subcommittee on Antitrust and Monopoly, Mr. Blum played a key role in conducting several high-profile investigations, including the investigation of BCCI, General Noriega’s drug trafficking and the Lockheed Corporation’s overseas bribes scandal. He often serves as an expert witness and consultant on fraud and money laundering for U.S. and foreign government agencies. Mr. Blum also chaired the United Nations Experts Group on asset recovery. Mr. Blum will focus his practice on advising businesses dealing with congressional investigations and conducting internal investigations into complex money laundering and international tax evasion disputes.

Mr. Hannon joins the firm with more than 20 years of experience as an attorney concentrating in domestic and international banking, corporate and securities transactions and as an investment and private banker specializing in equity, fixed income and derivative financing and investment transactions for U.S. and international institutional and individual clients. After serving in senior executive and managerial roles at one of Wall Street’s leading global investment banks for over a decade, Mr. Hannon left the securities industry in 2001 to work on Holocaust restitution matters and resume the practice of law. His practice with Mr. Moscow and Mr. Blum will focus on advising and representing institutional and individual clients in civil, criminal and regulatory matters involving complex financial transactions.

All three attorneys join the firm from Rosner, Moscow & Napierala LLP. Concurrently, Mr. Blum also served as Of Counsel at Lobel, Novins & Lamont.

01-17-2007

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Baker & McKenzie, L.L.P.

Baker & McKenzie Closes Over US$3.5 Billion in Russian Securitisation Deals
Baker & McKenzie, the global law firm, closed more than US$3.5 billion in Russian securitisation deals during the past year. Deals include a multiple-award winning transaction and three firsts for Russia: the first residential mortgage securitisation (RMBS); the first leasing receivables securitisation; the first Diversified Payment Rights deal and the highly innovative securitisation of consumer loans.

"2006 was a very important year for the Russian securitisation market," said Vladimir Dragunov, Moscow-based partner and head of Baker & McKenzie's Russian Securitisation and Structured Finance Group. "We have seen a number of pioneering transactions coming to market. Consumer receivables, auto loans, leasing receivables, residential mortgages and future flow assets have been securitised so far. These deals pave the way for other Russian issuers to gain financing through the securitisation technology. The volume for asset types that have already been securitised is growing rapidly and Russian originators are keen to securitise new asset classes. The regulators have also demonstrated attention to the need to establish a specific legal and regulatory framework for the securitisation market to facilitate its growth."

Baker & McKenzie's Moscow securitisation practice works closely with its global practice partners, especially in London and New York. Jonathan Walsh, London-based co-head of the Firm's Global Securitisation practice, said, "Vladimir's CIS practice continues to go from strength to strength and is an important part of our global securitisation practice." Laurence Pettit, Partner in the New York securitisation practice, said, "The Firm's cross-border expertise is vital to the growth of this potentially enormous market and enables us to complete these novel transactions."

Highlighted deals include:

Russia's first residential mortgages securitisation
Baker & McKenzie acted for Vneshtorgbank raising approximately US$90 million of securitised debt. The Firm acted as the deal counsel. Barclays Capital and HSBC acted as joint lead managers of the issue. The Class A Notes were rated A1 by Moody’s (the highest rating so far for a Russian securitised note) and BBB+ by Fitch. Subsequently, the Firm also advised the originator, Commercial Bank Sovfintrade Ltd in connection with its Euro165 million residential mortgages securitisation arranged by Barclays Capital and Gazprombank. The Class A Notes were rated A3 by Moody’s.

Russia's first ever leasing receivables securitisation
Baker & McKenzie acted on the Red Arrow deal, securitising rolling stock leasing receivables from the Russian Railways. The Firm represented the originators, leasing companies "Magistral Finance", "Investment Partner" and "Financial Company Incorporated Depositors". Morgan Stanley, CIT Finance Investment Bank and JSC TransCreditBank acted as joint lead managers of the issue. The notes were denominated in Russian roubles but settled in US Dollars raising approximately US$450 million of securitised debt. The Class A Notes were rated Baa2 by Moody’s and BBB- by Standard & Poor’s.

Russia's first ever Diversified Payment Rights deal
Alfa-Bank raised almost a US$1 billion of funding in two issuances. The Firm acted as Russian counsel to the joint lead managers Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein and Merrill Lynch International. The notes received a Baa3 rating from Moody's. The Firm also acted as Russian counsel to the joint lead managers Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein and Merrill Lynch International in the inaugural Diversified Payment Rights securitisation for MDM Bank raising approximately US$500 million in securitised funding.The notes were rated Baa3 by Moody's.

Securitisation of consumer loans for Russian Standard Bank
The Firm advised HVB, JPMorgan and Barclays Capital as the joint lead managers of Euro 300 million securitisation of consumer loans for Russian Standard Bank, which financed the take-out of the earlier Euro 220 million securitisation warehouse facility. The Class A1 Senior Notes were rated BBB by Standard & Poor’s and Baa2 by Moody’s. The Firm has also previously structured the first ever Russian law “true sale” securitisation for Home Credit and Finance Bank securitising Euro 300 million consumer loan receivables.

This deal received the Euromoney EEMEA award for 'Innovation of the Year' in 2006 as well as the Structured Finance International 'Best Securitisation of Emerging Market Assets' award.

Securitisation of auto loans
Finally, the Firm also worked on the US$430 million Taganka deal, a transaction securitising auto loans originated by MDM Bank. The Firm represented the trustee, TMF Trustee Limited.

01-17-2007

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