Law Firm News

---

Law Firm News

Firm Name

News Title

News

News Date

25383 matches |  5811-5817 displayed

1  831 832 833 834 835  3627

---

Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP.

John Curp Inducted into the Ohio State Bar Foundation
John P. Curp, a partner in the Columbus office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP, has been inducted into the 2007 Fellows Class of the Ohio State Bar Foundation. Membership to the Foundation is extended by invitation to lawyers whose careers demonstrate dedication to the highest ideals of the legal profession and the welfare of their communities. Membership recognizes Ohio lawyers who have demonstrated a commitment to the Foundation mission of promoting public understanding of the law and improvements in the system of justice throughout Ohio.

Curp has a multidisciplinary business practice with an emphasis on real property, commercial transactions, land use, enterprise zone, tax issues and creditors rights. Curp is a member of the Ohio State Bar Association and as a member of the Columbus Bar Association, he serves as Chair of the Professionalism Committee and as a member of the Admissions Committee.

Curp, a resident of Grandview Heights, obtained his law degree from the Indiana University School of Law. As a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, he graduated with University Honors from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, where he received his undergraduate degree in business finance.

05-21-2007

---

Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, L.L.P.

NATIONAL PARTNER AMY L. SOMMERS NAMED WINNER AT EXPATRIATE PROFESSIONAL WOMEN'S SOCIETY OF SHANGHAI AWARDS
Amy L. Sommers, national partner in the Shanghai office of global law firm Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P., was named a winner in the Expatriate Professional Women's Society of Shanghai (EPWS) 2007 Businesswomen Awards at a ceremony held March 10. Sommers was selected from five finalists to receive the award in the Professional Excellence category.

EPWS (http://www.epws-shanghai.org/) is an informal, nonprofit, membership-based group established to provide a professional, social and cultural network for expatriate working women in Shanghai. Its annual Businesswomen Awards recognizes extraordinary women of all nationalities who have excelled in their professions with dedication, inspirational leadership and innovative ideas. Five finalists in each of five categories are selected by a panel of prominent Shanghai business leaders and professionals for their business acumen, business and professional honors and accomplishments, and contributions to the community. From these, an overall winner in each category is chosen.

“We are very pleased that the EPWS has chosen to recognize Amy’s excellence as an expatriate woman making a lasting impact on her profession in China,” said Ken Kurosu, who oversees Squire Sanders’ Asia practice. “In addition to her key role in the establishment of the Squire Sanders Shanghai office, she has made invaluable contributions to the development of the practice of law in China, and has worked actively and tirelessly to promote business relations between the United States and China.” Squire Sanders has a history of nearly 25 years in China, with full-service offices in Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Beginning her tenure at Squire Sanders at 2004 in its Beijing office, Sommers was instrumental in the launch of its Shanghai office later that same year. She has significant experience with corporate and customs legal issues in China. Her practice includes cross-border client representation ranging from business transactions such as distribution, manufacturing and investments, to resolving conflicts. Her experience includes a variety of international business and commercial transactions such as commercial financings, mergers and acquisitions, private placements of securities and dispositions of businesses. She advises clients regarding the formation of partnerships, limited liability companies and corporations.

Sommers is co-chair of the China Law Committee of the American Bar Association Section of International Law and Vice Chair of the Legal Committee of the American Chamber of Commerce - Shanghai. She is an active member of the Shanghai Foreign Correspondents Club and of the Washington State China Relations Council, of which she previously served as a board member and vice president. She is also a member of the article referee board of the Pacific Rim Law and Policy Journal of the University of Washington.

She has made significant contributions to China’s efforts to develop its legal profession by assisting Shanghai’s Jiaotong University (“Jiaoda”) in identifying US candidates for recruitment as adjunct teachers and guest lecturers in its law school, founded in 2003, and assisting with the establishment of its library. She has also devoted effort to promoting exchanges and community development through various organizations both in China and the United States, and played a key role in a variety of outreach efforts between the Chinese and US business and legal communities.

Other nominees in the Professional Excellence category were Carola Hantelmann, representative head coordinator and German vice director, Chinese-German University of Applied Sciences, Tongji University; Jean S. K. Lee, professor of management, China Europe International Business School; Dr. Michelle Lu-Ferguson, physician with World Link Medical and Dental Centers; and Maria Korolov Trombly, founder and CEO of business and trade publication content provider Trombly Ltd.

05-21-2007

---

Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, L.L.P.

SQUIRE SANDERS’ STRONG CEE PRESENCE PRAISED
Chambers Europe 2007 singles out for praise the growing regional strength of the Central and Eastern European (CEE) offices of global law firm Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.

The legal directory’s inaugural edition gives high rankings to the banking and finance and corporate/mergers and acquisitions (M&A) practices as well as the competition and antitrust, dispute resolution, private equity, real estate and telecommunications practices.

The rankings are the result of in-depth interviews with lawyers and clients about the local legal landscape. The interview results are compiled and analyzed. Here’s how Squire Sander ranks:

The firm’s CEE banking and finance team has growing cross-border finance capability, Chambers Europe 2007 states, and is notable for its “knowledge and degree of devotion to the work” that goes “far beyond just legal service.” The corporate/M&A practice in the firm’s CEE offices “not only excel[s] in transactional details like privatizations and M&A, but also provide[s] advice in a wealth of other practices.” Kevin T. Connor, who has responsibility for the firm’s Central European practice, is praised for his “personality, great attention to detail and excellent communications skills.”

The firm’s CEE private equity practice, which is coordinated by Mara L. Babin, is “definitely becoming more visible,” and one real estate client notes that Squire Sanders is “the only international firm that has never disappointed me.”

Chambers Europe 2007 commends Squire Sanders’ Prague office in six practice areas including the top-ranked dispute resolution practice and “star lawyer” Luboš Tichý, who is described as “one of the most experienced arbitration lawyers.”

The banking and finance practice in Prague is noted for its “multinational capabilities,” while the corporate practice is praised for its “excellent work ethic.” The directory credits Vladimira N. Papirnik, the Prague office’s managing partner, for the strength of the two practices. The firm’s focus on real estate results in a market reputation for having “successfully jumped aboard the property train.” Real estate lawyer Jeffrey A. McGehee has “excellent foresight and the ability to communicate complex issues effectively.” In the telecommunications, media and technology arena, Petr Slach “delivers great regulatory work” as part of a practice team that has evolved into an “all-around player.”

Squire Sanders’ Budapest office is “excellent, they are top everywhere in the region,” according to Chambers Europe 2007, which singles out the corporate practice and notes “particular strength in energy, banking and telecoms.” In Slovakia, the firm’s banking and finance practice is “taking its own share of the market,” while the general business law practice is noted for major transactions.

05-21-2007

---

Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett, LLP

Firm Represents Blackstone in Acquisition of Alliance Data
Simpson Thacher is representing The Blackstone Group in its announced acquisition of Alliance Data Systems Corporation for approximately $7.8 billion, including the assumption of certain debt. Under the terms of the agreement, Blackstone will acquire all of the outstanding common stock of Alliance Data for $81.75 per share in cash. Alliance Data Systems is a leading provider of loyalty and marketing solutions derived from transaction-rich data.

The attorneys working on the deal include Wilson Neely, Elizabeth Cooper, Keri Richardson and Jon Strauss (M&A), Jay Ptashek and Alden Millard (Credit), Gary Mandel and Sean Austin (Tax), Greg Grogan (Benefits), John Walker (Bank Regulatory), Lori Lesser and Marcela Robledo (Intellectual Property), Jonathan Youngwood and Sarah Dunn (Litigation), Adeeb Fadil and Tim Mulvihill (Environmental).

05-21-2007

---

Shearman & Sterling LLP

Shearman & Sterling Advises Saudi Basic Industries Corporation on the Acquisition of General Electric's Plastics Division
Shearman & Sterling LLP is advising Saudi Basic Industries Corporation as counsel on its $11.6 billion acquisition of General Electric's plastics division.

The following Shearman & Sterling attorneys are involved in the transaction: Stephen M. Besen and John J. Madden (both partners, Mergers & Acquisitions, New York), Ronald M. Bayer (partner, Finance Group, New York), Peter H. Blessing (partner, Tax, New York), John J. Cannon III (partner, Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits, New York), Jason R. Lehner (partner, Capital Markets, Toronto), Kenneth S. Prince (partner, Antitrust, New York) and Thomas B. Wilner (partner, International Trade & Government Relations, Washington).

05-21-2007

---

Shearman & Sterling LLP

Shearman & Sterling Advises on Italy’s Largest IPO this Year to Date
The Rome office of Shearman & Sterling acted as U.S. and English counsel to Goldman Sachs Capital Partners, as selling shareholder, and Prysmian S.p.A., as issuer, in connection with the initial public offering in Italy and the private placement to institutional investors internationally of Prysmian S.p.A.’s ordinary shares. The €1.2 billion global offering, representing approximately 46% of Prysmian’s share capital, was more than four times oversubscribed and is the largest IPO in Italy this year to date. Prysmian’s shares were listed on the Blue Chip Segment of the Borsa Italiana.

The Prysmian Group is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and installers of energy and telecommunications cables, with 54 plants in 20 countries and more than 12,000 employees worldwide. The offering represents a success for Goldman Sachs, which purchased the energy and telecommunications cables businesses that now form the Prysmian Group from Pirelli & C. S.p.A. in 2005.

The Shearman & Sterling team was led by Rome-based Capital Markets and M&A partner Michael Bosco, assisted by associates Mei Lian, Ethan Perry, Edward Balsamo and David Ingrassia and trainees Francesco Liberatori and Marco Giorgi. The transaction also involved lawyers from the firm’s International Tax Group led by London-based partner Bernie Pistillo and associate Sara Clevering.

05-21-2007

---

Piper Rudnick, L.L.P.

DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach advises eTel in its takeover by Telekom Austria
DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach, one of the leading law firms in Central and Eastern Europe, advised eTel Group Limited on the sale of all operating subsidiaries to Telekom Austria AG for a total value of EUR 93m. The sale was completed when the Austrian competition authorities issued the necessary permits.

In addition to the sale of eTel Austria, the transaction included the sale of eTel subsidiaries in Poland, Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Germany, and required the co-operation of legal consultants from all legal jurisdictions concerned. The regulatory side of the transaction become key, when competitors opposed the sale. The Austrian regulator and federal competition authorities issued the necessary permit in April, although some additional requirements have to be met, such as the planned divestment of some eTel Austria AG's infrastructure.

eTel is the leading alternative full service telecommunications provider in Central and Eastern Europe with subsidiaries in many countries of the region. It operates telephony, internet and data solutions over owned and managed infrastructure. eTel offers business and private clients a wide range of high-end, tailor made solutions, as well as the necessary supporting services.

"DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach assisted eTel in every country it operates in. This simplified the transaction for eTel's management. A deal like this one clearly shows the advantage of a strong, seamlessly integrated international legal organisation", says Wolfgang Freund, Corporate partner at DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach in Vienna.

Wolfgang Freund headed the DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach team advising eTel Group Limited. Regulatory and Governmental Affairs partner Claudine Vartian assisted on the regulatory aspects of the deal.

05-21-2007

---

25383 matches |  5811-5817 displayed

1  831 832 833 834 835  3627