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Venable Baetjer & Howard

Venable Attorneys Gain Recognition as Market Leaders from Clients and Peers in Latest Chambers USA Rankings
Continuing an upward trend in attorney peer and client rankings, Venable LLP markedly boosted its performance in the fourth annual Chambers USA survey of America’s leading business lawyers.

In the new Chambers U.S. directory for 2006, six of the firm’s practice groups – Corporate/M&A, Commercial Litigation, Employment Defense, Real Estate, Healthcare and Employee Benefits – were ranked in the top tier for Maryland and recognized for outstanding work in Washington and Virginia, up from four a year ago.

The firm’s Washington-based Environmental group, Financial Services Regulatory Enforcement and Investigations practice, and the Government Contracts group, as well as the Virginia Construction group were all recognized among the market leaders.

In all, Chambers cited 35 Venable attorneys among its roster of the country’s leading lawyers, up from 29 last year. Chambers’ rankings are compiled from interviews of the area’s top business leaders and legal advisors

“The firm has experienced continued growth across a number of major areas in the past year and it’s heartening to see that momentum recognized by clients and other attorneys in our respective markets,” said Venable chair James L. Shea, himself a repeat in the 2006 directory in the litigation category.

Added managing partner Karl A. Racine, “As Chambers expands its own presence in the United States, we’re very pleased to broaden our own representation in the directory – the recognition given to our attorneys is especially satisfying because it’s based on peer reporting and word-of-mouth, which is where so much reputational excellence resides.”

Here are some Venable highlights from this year’s Chambers survey:

The ""high-quality"" Commercial Litigation group, ranked top tier in Maryland, won praise for being “thorough, professional, client-oriented and technically talented” and for its “holistic” approach to dispute resolution. “Extraordinarily well-spoken,"" James Shea is regarded as an ""extremely smart, straightforward litigator who fights hard but fair."" Respected by judges and practitioners, James Archibald is ""organized, methodical and effective,” while Paul Strain is “prepared and charismatic - he deals with situations with confidence and grace.” James Gray is “experienced and skillful,” making “you go through every single step and work for all you've got.” Michael Schatzow “will dive into a case and become a really passionate believer in his client's cause.” Virginiapartner William Dolan, a “huge presence” in the courtroom and boardroom, is called “The Man” for his skill at handling contentious matters and for his “outstanding” white-collar and internal investigations work.

The Corporate/M&A practice maintained its top rank in Maryland and was among the best inNorthern Virginia. Noted for excellence in private company work, the corporate group was acclaimed for “high quality” counsel in restructurings and for working through complicated problems. Jim Hanks is noted as “a leading expert on corporate law issues.” Tax partner Bryson Cook is cited for innovation and for his ""creative structures."" Tuck Washburne is particularly appreciated for his “experience and client focus,” and is noted for his representations of both MBNA America Bank and Mercantile Bankshares in recent acquisitions. Michael Baader, partner in charge of the Baltimore office and chair of its corporate transactions group, is a “great lawyer and a wonderful guy,” who recently represented Ritz-Carlton in a worldwide series of $300 million agreements with mixed-use resorts. Virginiacorporate partner Thomas France has represented information security company SafeNet in its recent acquisition of MediaSentry, a provider of anti-piracy and business management services for the entertainment industry.

The top-tier Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation team, “extremely thorough, timely and outstandingly available,” has handled a major workforce reduction program for a leading international financial services company. Barbara Schlaff is “attentive, knowledgeable, easygoing, levelheaded and intelligent;” she was especially cited for her ability to “boil complex issues down to a simple level.” Ken Hoffman is “excellent, technically skilled and extremely thorough.”

Another top-tier practice, Employment Defense, was described as “extremely responsive,” in “offering clients the resources of a large firm with the feel of a boutique.” Jeffrey Ayres is praised as a “tenacious and skilful,” and noted for a recent big win for a Marriott International in a discrimination suit. Ronald Taylor, cited as “one of the foremost experts on OSHA matters in the state, if not the country,” is “terrific, extremely pragmatic and he doesn't make a mountain out of a molehill.” Robert Ames, called by one Chambers respondent as “the preeminent labor attorney in Maryland,” “achieves business-oriented results.” George Johnston, appreciated for his “experience, focus and judgment,”is also considered a “real scholar and great for esoteric points of law.” Todd Horn, in his first appearance on the list, was admired as a “fantastic litigator - one of the best in the courtroom, with a tremendous presence.” Patrick Clancy is also seen as “top-notch” for complex employment litigation. In the firm’s Virginia office, David Smith was praised for his over 30 years' experience on traditional labor counseling and dispute work.

Making its first appearance in Chambers, Venable’s top-tier Healthcare group isone of the most respected in the field, with a “full gamut of resources.” Connie Baker is sought out by physicians and hospitals for her regulatory experience and skill in credentialing. John Sarbanes, called “talented and thoughtful,” is active in the senior living industry and also handles tax-exempt financing advice for nonprofit hospitals. And Peter Parvis is known for his regulatory expertise and niche in planning law.

The full-service Real Estate group, ranked top-tier inMaryland, is praised for producing “top-band work.” A “splendid and diligent” adviser, practice co-chair Kevin Shepherd “does a great job” for his clients. Jim Wright is a “wonderful attorney - one of the best in Baltimore.” Russell Reno, “one of the deans of real estate law,” has ""seen virtually everything, is great with the fundamentals,” and masterminds “creative solutions to difficult problems.” First-time Chambers pick Jan Guben is admired for his “organizational and drafting abilities, great judgment and common sense.” In the Washington office, Philip Horowitz, who recently became president of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, was noted for his recent representation of Westfield Realty in its $1 billion sale of 12 buildings in Northern Virginia, and also Louis-Dreyfus Property’s development of both 1101 New York Avenue, NW and the new headquarters for the SEC adjacent to Union Station. Stefan Tucker was called hands-down “the best real estate tax lawyer in DC” by one Chambers’ admirer; Tucker’s “advice goes beyond the usual chapter and verse. He also has an excellent grasp of a company's business objectives.”

Venable’s Environmental Criminal Defense group is “one of the finest enforcement practices in town,” according to Chambers. An “extremely commanding presence,” practice co-chair Judson Starr is “the only person I would refer clients to for criminal environmental issues,” raves one Chambers respondent. Starr’s co-chair and former Justice Department Environmental Crimes Section Chief Joseph Block was also noted for his work on compliance and internal investigations. Peggy Strand, praised for her passion and strong work ethic, was noted for wetlands and natural resources expertise.

The Construction group in Virginia was noted as a “big mover in the area,” and lauded for its “depth and breadth of expertise.” “Exceptional” attorney Wayne Lalle brings an “encyclopedic knowledge of the law and the industry”and a “focus on the business endgame.”

The national Financial Services practice is highly regarded for successfully handling the defense of enforcement proceedings before regulatory agencies. Chambers cited the firm’s 2005 success in crafting a global settlement for a leading insurance company in alleged fraud claims by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency – “the first time a federal banking agency entered into a global settlement with any commercial company.” Practice Chair Ronald Glancz is respected for his successes in the regulatory enforcement field

The “leading and well-respected” full-service Government Contracts practice was noted for its frequent work in representing contract services clients in bid protests, “where the core group of lawyers has the resources to do ‘an extremely good job,”’ Chambers noted. The practice was also cited for handling intellectual property and corporate governance matters on behalf of government contractor firms. Group chair Thomas Madden was called a “strong litigator” and “a really well-known force,” as well as “highly capable” in critical cost issues.

As one of The American Lawyer's top 100 law firms, Venable LLP has lawyers practicing in all areas of corporate and business law, complex litigation, intellectual property and government affairs. Venable serves corporate, institutional, governmental, nonprofit and individual clients throughout the U.S. and around the world from its headquarters in Washington, D.C. and offices in Maryland, New York and Virginia. For more information, visit www.venable.com.

06-23-2006

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Warner, Norcross & Judd, LLP

Kathryn Hickner-Cruz Joins Warner Norcross
Kathryn Hickner-Cruz has joined Warner Norcross & Judd LLP as an associate.

Hickner-Cruz concentrates her practice in business law, with an emphasis on contracts, business entities and franchise law. Prior to joining the Southfield office of Warner Norcross, she was an associate with Raymond & Prokop, P.C. She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan.

A native of Williamston, Hickner-Cruz holds a bachelor of arts degree with distinction in the history of art from the University of Michigan. She also holds a doctor of jurisprudence magna cum laude from Wayne State University Law School where she was Order of the Coif and a senior articles editor for The Wayne Law Review.

She now resides in Farmington Hills with her husband, Vincent, and their three children.

06-23-2006

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Warner, Norcross & Judd, LLP

Linda Paullin-Hebden Joins Warner Norcross
Linda Paullin-Hebden has joined Warner Norcross & Judd LLP as a partner.

Paullin-Hebden concentrates her practice in corporate and commercial law, with an emphasis on securities law, investment adviser regulation and mergers and acquisitions. She has worked extensively with public and closely held corporations, as well as non-profit entities.

Prior to joining the Southfield office of Warner Norcross, she was a partner with Raymond & Prokop, P.C.

Paullin-Hebden is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and the American Bar Association, serving on the Business Law sections of both organizations.

Paullin-Hebden holds a bachelor of arts degree with honors in political science from Alma College in Alma, Mich. She also holds a doctor of jurisprudence cum laude from Wayne State University Law School.

She now resides in Farmington Hills with her husband, Tom, and children, Brad and Travis.

06-23-2006

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Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP

Sonnenschein Names Elliott I. Portnoy Next Chairman
Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP announced today that Elliott I. Portnoy will become the next chairman of the law firm. He will succeed current chairman Duane C. Quaini after a planned transition period in 2007, the year in which Quaini’s term of office expires. Quaini, 61, has been chairman of the firm since 1997. Portnoy, 40, will become the youngest and first partner outside Chicago, where the firm was founded 100 years ago, to serve as chairman.

“Sonnenschein is very fortunate to have Elliott Portnoy as its next chairman. Elliott is a true leader, and I am confident that our clients, attorneys, staff and friends will join with me in endorsing his selection,” said Quaini. “In addition to being an outstanding lawyer and one of our country’s leading public policy management strategists, Elliott is among the most caring individuals I know. His remarkable combination of talent, vision and humanity make him the right choice to guide Sonnenschein into what I believe will be a period of unprecedented progress and achievement

Portnoy is based in Sonnenschein’s Washington, D.C., office, where he will remain resident. He is a member of the firm’s Policy & Planning Committee and serves on its strategic planning steering committee.

“I am deeply honored by the confidence my partners and colleagues have shown in me,” said Portnoy. “I look forward to continuing to merit their trust as together we begin Sonnenschein’s second century of meeting our clients’ needs. We are committed to further building an integrated network of high-value practices in the key business centers that matter most to our clients, with an unwavering commitment to excellence, diversity and integrity.”

Portnoy joined Sonnenschein in 2002 as the founding chair of the firm’s Public Law & Policy Strategies Group, which is consistently ranked as one of the preeminent public policy practices in the nation. Under his leadership, the group has experienced dramatic growth and launched multiple new practice offerings, and recently received national recognition in the 2006 Chambers USA Guide to America’s Business Lawyers. Portnoy has directed many of the firm’s large and high-profile representations with public policy components.

Portnoy received a J.D. degree, cum laude, from Harvard Law School and a Ph.D. in politics from Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar. He is the founder and board president of the Kids Enjoy Exercise Now (KEEN) Foundation, a nonprofit organization with branches in the United States and England that provides free recreation opportunities to children with severe and profound disabilities. He has served on the board of directors of several additional Washington-area nonprofit groups, and is the recipient of numerous awards from community and professional organizations for his community service and advocacy efforts. Portnoy has been recognized in Time magazine, as “Humanitarian of the Year” by the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington, and as a “Washingtonian of the Year” by Washingtonian magazine for his community service efforts.

Since 2000, Sonnenschein has doubled in size. It currently is the 48th largest law firm in the country with 2005 gross revenues of $448 million, according to American Lawyer magazine. The firm has enjoyed five consecutive years of record achievement and growth, adding hundreds of attorneys in both new and established practice areas.

Sonnenschein, with more than 700 attorneys and other professionals in 10 U.S. cities and a global reach, serves the legal needs of many of the world’s largest and best-known businesses, nonprofits and individuals. For more information, visit www.sonnenschein.com.

06-23-2006

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Proskauer & Rose, LLP

Richard Rowe Appointed Co-Chair of National Conference of Lawyers and CPAs
Richard Rowe, a nationally-recognized expert in securities law and a partner in Proskauer Rose's Washington, D.C. office, has been appointed co-Chair of the National Conference of Lawyers and Certified Public Accountants. The organization, which is sponsored jointly by the American Bar Association (ABA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), addresses critical issues of importance to both the legal and accounting professions.

""We congratulate Richard on this prestigious appointment,"" said Ronald Papa, co-Chair of Proskauer's Corporate Department. ""This honor is a true testament to his expertise in securities law and his stature in the legal community.""

The National Conference consists of nine members appointed by the president of the ABA and nine members appointed by the president of the AICPA. In addition, both organizations appoint a co-Chair from their field and together the two head the Conference.

Mr. Rowe, a preeminent authority on securities law, represents clients in all related areas including accounting-related SEC regulations and international securities matters. Over the course of his career he has been issuer's counsel for underwritten offerings in the United States and abroad; represented public companies and their officers and directors in connection with periodic reporting of proxy solicitation, the resale and acquisition of securities, and avoidance of inadvertent investment company status; and handled merger and acquisition transactions, including tender offers and proposed buyouts and anti-takeover activities. For 15 years prior to joining Proskauer, Mr. Rowe served in various positions in the SEC, ending his tenure as Director of the Division of Corporate Finance. He was also previously the Vice President of Shareholders Management Company.

The attorneys in Proskauer's Washington, D.C. office practice in diverse areas of the law including: health care; commercial litigation and arbitration; patent and life sciences law and litigation; Internet, copyright, computer and intellectual property law; grand jury and white-collar crime; labor and employment; securities regulation and enforcement; corporate ethics and governance; and antitrust.

06-23-2006

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Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur, L.L.P.

Hugh McKay named 96th President of Cleveland Bar Association
Hugh E. McKay, a partner with the law firm of Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, was announced as the Cleveland Bar Association's 96th president at the association's annual meeting on June 15, 2006. His agenda? Among other items, The "3Rs Program": get 500 lawyers to volunteer their time in the Cleveland public schools to help the students pass the Ohio Graduation Test, help them appreciate our legal system, and help them get on to rewarding careers, including maybe even going to law school. . .

06-23-2006

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Pepper Hamilton, L.L.P.

Michael B. Staebler of Pepper Hamilton Appointed to MEDC Executive Committee and Corporation Board
Michael B. Staebler, a partner with Pepper Hamilton LLP and a member of the firm’s executive committee, has been appointed by Governor Jennifer Granholm to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) Executive Committee and Corporation Board, effective June 20, 2006.

Mr. Staebler leads Pepper’s SBIC practice and is co-chair of the firm’s investment funds practice. He concentrates his practice in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, venture capital, real estate, and forming and advising SBICs. He is particularly experienced in the formation, management and operation of venture capital firms, and in the financing of growing small and medium-sized businesses.

Mr. Staebler has served on numerous federal and state advisory committees concerning venture capital and economic development as well as the boards of numerous private businesses and charitable organizations. He has been a member of the Advisory Committee to the Investment Division of the U.S. Small Business Administration concerning operation of the SBIC program. He also has served as a director of the Michigan Strategic Fund, a public agency that created and administers a wide variety of venture capital and economic development programs in Michigan.

Formed in 1999 through an alliance between the State of Michigan and several local communities, MEDC (www.michigan.org/medc) promotes economic growth by developing strategies and providing services to create and retain good jobs and a high quality of life in Michigan.

Pepper has been practicing in downtown Detroit since 1979, and was one of the first national law firms to enter the Detroit market. Lawyers in the office handle corporate and securities (including venture capital and SBIC), bankruptcy and reorganization, environmental (litigation and regulatory), labor and employment, litigation, public finance, real estate and tax matters. The office offers clients all the resources of a large, multi-office firm with a national and international practice.

Pepper Hamilton LLP is a multi-practice law firm with 400 lawyers in six states and the District of Columbia. The firm provides corporate, litigation and regulatory legal services to leading businesses, governmental entities, nonprofit organizations and individuals throughout the nation and the world. The firm was founded in 1890.

06-23-2006

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