Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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Thelen, Reid, Brown, Raysman & Steiner, LLP

Pinsents' US ally Thelen Reid opens in London
Pinsent Masons' ally Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner is aiming to increase its presence in the investment banking market by opening a new office in London.

12-20-2006

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Thelen, Reid, Brown, Raysman & Steiner, LLP

Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP to Open London Office
Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP announced today that it will open a London office by year's end to service the firm's investment banking clients.

The decision to open a London office was made just two weeks after the firm was created through the December 1 merger of Thelen Reid & Priest and Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner. According to firm management, the timing of the expansion was accelerated to support immediate client needs in the area of real estate finance. A London office will be the firm's first in Europe and ninth office overall.

The firm's real estate finance practice, which is headed by partner Jeffrey Steiner, is nationally recognized for its representation of Wall Street investment banks and institutional lenders in complex structured finance transactions. Over the past several years, the firm has closed in excess of $25 billion of loans for financial institutions, including investment banks, private equity funds, commercial banks, insurance companies, and pension funds.

The London office will initially be staffed by two partners from the firm's Business and Finance Department and two mid-level associates, all relocating from the United States to London.

"The decision to open in London was driven by a need to provide services to some of our most important clients," said Co-Chair Stephen V. O'Neal.

Jeffrey Steiner added that European expansion is essential to the growth of the real estate finance practice. "Entry into the European market is essential to the practice," Steiner said. "But to open an office so soon after the merger is indicative of how the merger has been perceived by our clients. We had to move quickly to keep up with demand."

The London office will be Thelen's second international office to open this year, giving the firm a footprint in the key money centers of the world, New York, London, and Shanghai. The firm received its license for a Shanghai office in August, a few months prior to the merger that created the now 630-lawyer firm, which has over 250 lawyers in New York.

The firm will also continue to participate in Masons Thelen Reid, a joint venture with Pinsent Masons launched in 2003 focused on international construction and engineering clients.

12-20-2006

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Shughart, Thomson & Kilroy, P.C.

Law Firm Names Newest Shareholders
Attorneys James M. Humphrey and Kelly Flood have been named Shareholders at Shughart Thomson & Kilroy, P.C. effective January 1, 2007. After receiving Board of Director approval, Shareholders voted in Humphrey and Flood in early December based on their outstanding professional and civic accomplishments.

“I am particularly excited about having a stake in a firm that is run by such devoted professionals. I chose Shughart Thomson & Kilroy among a number of firms for a number of reasons. But the primary reason was based on the quality and character of the people who make up the firm,” says Humphrey who practices in the Business Litigation Practice Group.

Humphrey has been with the firm for six years and worked on a number of diverse litigation matters throughout his career. Some of the more time-consuming cases include H&R Block v. AOL, which was tried in the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri for three weeks and KCPL v. National Union Fire Ins. Co, which settled within the last 30 days before trial for multi-millions of dollars for the benefit of the client.

“Jim Humphrey brings tremendous talent to the Business Litigation Practice Group. As a graduate of the University of Creighton, Jim came to Kansas City serving two years as a law clerk to the Honorable Gary Fenner, United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri,” said Larry Ward, Chairman of the Board at Shughart Thomson & Kilroy.

Humphrey has been involved in a number of activities outside the firm including the Elwood Thomas Appellate Institute, the Ross T. Roberts Inn of Court, the MODL Trial Academy and the Greater Kansas City Bar Leadership Academy. He is also a graduate of the Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce and 2006 leadership class.

Flood who practices in the firm’s Phoenix office works in the area of General Civil and Complex Litigation.

“I have been with the firm since I started practicing and I have been committed to it’s success as much as my own. I want to thank everyone who invited me to join almost 7 years ago. Marty Harper and Brian Goodwin in particular who placed faith in me and gave me more opportunities, challenges and responsibilities than I dreamed being possible at the time,” said Flood a North Carolina native now living in Arizona.

Arizona Co-Manager and Shareholder Marty Harper says Flood is just what Shughart Thomson & Kilroy management considers when looking for ownership.

“Kelly’s legal work is first rate. She gets along great with clients, opposing counsel and staff members. She is viewed as a mentor by our newer lawyers. Kelly is deeply committed to our community and the long term growth of the Firm. She’s an ideal addition to the list of firm owners.

12-20-2006

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Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Beverage Industry Veteran Joins Pillsbury Jerry Jolly most recently served as director of the California Alcoholic Beverage Control board
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman announced today that it has hired Jerry Jolly as a consultant to the firm's Wine, Beer and Spirits Law practice. Jolly, who spent 31 years in public service, most recently was the director of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Jolly will counsel the firm's many beverage industry clients on how to navigate California's ever-complex regulatory scheme regarding the manufacture, sale and distribution of alcoholic beverage. He will maintain close contacts on behalf of the firm's clients with senior beverage regulators, and will keep clients abreast of legislative and regulatory changes in the industry.

"I have worked for many years with Jerry Jolly," said James M. Seff, head of Pillsbury's Wine, Beer and Spirits practice in San Francisco. "While rigorously enforcing the law, he always kept an open mind. What made him special is that he bent over backwards to solve problems without compromising his duties as director. We are looking forward to him bringing that same can-do attitude to Pillsbury."

Jolly joined the California ABC in 1975 and worked his way through the ranks of virtually every facet of the department. In February 2004, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Jolly director of the department, where he oversaw 400 employees in 24 district offices, and was responsible for regulating more than 75,000 licensed businesses. Under his tenure, Jolly increased the level of compliance through the enforcement of alcohol laws, streamlined the department's alcoholic beverage license application process and partnered with universities and community organizations to address underage drinking.

Pillsbury has had a leading beverage industry practice for most of its more than 135 years. Led by Seff, the team also includes Christopher Ball and Jeffrey Ross (litigation), Terrence Callan (antitrust), Ronald Bornstein and Thomas Gump (corporate), Richard Kirkpatrick and Robert Burlingame (beverage trademarks), Kevin Fong (appellate), Paula Weber (employment), and Tom Morgan, who is a senior legal analyst in alcoholic beverage licensing. The firm's broader Restaurant, Food and Beverage Industry practice represents a wide range of national and regional restaurant chains, early-stage restaurant companies, wineries, distilleries, packaged food companies, licensors, manufacturing companies, individual restauranteurs, franchisors, importers and wholesalers.

12-20-2006

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Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Pillsbury Client FPL Makes Billion Dollar Acquisition Transaction One of the Largest Nuclear Energy Deals Ever Signed
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman represented Florida's FPL Energy LLC (a non-regulated subsidiary of FPL Group Inc.) in the $988 million acquisition of the Point Beach Nuclear Plant in Wisconsin in one of the country's largest nuclear plant sales to date. In the deal announced today, FPL will purchase the 1,033-megawatt power plant from Wisconsin Electric Power Company.

The deal is expected to close in the third quarter of 2007. This is the largest of FPL Energy’s three nuclear plant acquisitions. Pillsbury was also counsel to FPL Energy in the Seabrook and Duane Arnold power plant sales.

"This was a collaborative and fully integrated effort between FPL's top leadership, business and engineering team, in-house counsel and our team, working together to ensure that no aspect of the deal was overlooked and that FPL could take advantage of an excellent opportunity to add to its nuclear portfolio," said Pillsbury partner John O'Neill, who led the team representing FPL. "Everyone played different roles to pull it together. As a result, FPL has expanded and diversified its low-cost, emission-free portfolio in the Midwest."

FPL will purchase the plant, its nuclear fuel and its associated inventories. The price includes $783 million for the plant itself and $215 million for fuel. The first unit at Point Beach is licensed to operate until 2030 and the second is licensed to run until 2033. Under the agreement, FPL will sell electricity to Wisconsin Electric through 2033. FPL also has an option to build a wind-power plant on Wisconsin Electric property.

O'Neill adds that this deal validates the ongoing renaissance for the nuclear power industry. Among the key factors driving growth is huge future, unmet capacity demand, particularly for clean alternatives; the recently enacted Energy Policy Act that offers strong incentives to the industry; and lower operating and fuel costs of nuclear plants, which are experiencing a very high rate of return for investors.

"FPL has long been a leader in clean renewables and this deal combines both nuclear capabilities as well as the option to build a wind-power plant, helping to meet demand and improve the quality of our environment," O'Neill said.

The Pillsbury team included partners O'Neill, John McDonald, counsel Michael Lepre and senior associates George Borovas, Robert Haemer and Jennifer Hong. The firm will also serve as lead regulatory counsel, working with FPL attorneys and Wisconsin counsel, in representing FPL in obtaining approvals from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin, Department of Justice, and various other regulatory agencies.

Pillsbury launched the first nuclear energy practice in the nation in 1960 and continues to provide cutting edge solutions to the nuclear industry to help clients achieve the benefits of nuclear energy, overcome regulatory obstacles, and maximize new opportunities. We have handled the NRC licensing of more power plants than any other firm, increasing efficiency to the point we can often shave several months off the nuclear plant licensing renewal process. The firm provides counsel on the full gamut of nuclear-related issues, from nuclear waste disposal, regulatory and litigation, licensing, nuclear security, M&A, and domestic and international transactional matters for the nuclear energy industry.

12-20-2006

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Mayer Brown LLP

Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw advises on £100 million refinancing and investment in Siblu Holdings by Barclays and Hermes Private Equity
Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP's London Corporate and Finance Groups have advised Siblu Holdings Limited ("Siblu"), France's leading holiday park group, on a £100 million transaction to facilitate its growth strategy. The deal involved the introduction of private equity into the company from Hermes Private Equity and the refinancing of 100 million Euros of existing debt by Barclays Bank as well as the provision of new capital to finance acquisitions. The transaction completed on 15 December 2006.

KPMG Corporate Finance sourced the funding and advised the management team. Management has reinvested 100% of its holding and Hermes and Barclays together have made a commitment of more than £40 million to support the management team in an acquisition programme.

Leslie Hurst, CEO of Siblu, said: "The French market for holiday-home ownership has grown rapidly over the last decade but there are still many opportunities to build the business. We have acquisitions in the pipeline and we look forward to working with Hermes to build on our leading position in the French market."

The Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP team was led by corporate partner Stephen Bottomley supported by corporate assistants Jeremy Cunningham, Sam Webster and corporate trainees Annemarie Payne and Olivia Yacoub with pensions assistant Joanna Myerson. Assistant Sahba Akhavan advised on finance aspects supported by trainee Ian Slingsby.

Deloitte and Linklaters advised Hermes Private Equity, with debt facilities provided by Barclays Leveraged Finance. Addleshaw Goddard advised Barclays Bank on the refinancing.

12-20-2006

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Lane Powell PC

Fulton Joins Lane Powell's Complex Litigation Team
Robert H. Fulton II has joined Lane Powell as an associate attorney in the Complex Litigation Practice Group, where he focuses his active trial practice on complex commercial litigation, toxic tort, product liability and employment discrimination.

Fulton was most recently an associate with Kingman, Peabody, Fitzharris & Ringer in Seattle where his practice concentrated on product liability and employment litigation. Other past work experience also includes serving as In House Counsel/Research Manager for the BERC Group (independent evaluation of Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation education grants) in Mill Creek, Wash., and working as an associate attorney in employment law and product liability with the Gaitan Group in Seattle. Fulton was also a Union Insurance Representative for the American Income Life Insurance Company in Redmond, Wash., and worked as Co-Founder/Head of the History Department at the Seattle Street School, providing instruction and counseling for 20-35 students. Additionally, Fulton is trained in multi-cultural communication, and has traveled to Japan and climbed Mount Fuji.

Fulton received his J.D. from The Ohio State University College of Law, and his B.A. from Montana State University.

12-20-2006

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