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Paul Hastings opens Chicago office, adds 2 partners

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker opened doors of its new office in Chicago as well as added two new partners from rival firm Jones Day - Steve Catlett and Rick Chesley. With this, the firm now has 18 offices across the globe. The firm is committed to expand its expertise in key practice areas like bankruptcy and restructuring, private equity, and litigation.

Steve Catlett, a traditional litigation guru, handles ERISA and trade secret cases, while Rick Chesley, who will take the position of Office Chair, is an expert in bankruptcy and restructuring with over two decades of experience. The firm hopes to enhance its capabilities by serving a wide array of clienteles from top companies who have established their offices in Chicago as well as maintain international ties.

The firm intends to solidify its position as a significant, full-service firm by relocating a few existing attorneys to help the two new partners who exert great deal of influence on the business community in Chicago. The Los Angeles-based full-service international law firm was established in 1951 and has more than 1,100 attorneys in 18 offices whose clientele lists reads like a corporate who's who.

11-23-2006

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V&E’s International Trade Practice group grows

International law firm Vinson & Elkins further expanded its international trade law practice group in its Washington, DC office. The firm added 14 new faces comprising a team of five partners, one counsel, eight associates, and five analysts. The move comes as part of the firm's vision to solidify its position among the world's foremost energy law firms in the international arena.

These new additions, led by partners William H. Barringer, Christopher A. Dunn, James P. Durling, Kenneth J. Pierce, and Daniel L. Porter are noted specialists in all aspects of international trade law. The combined team has a great deal of experience ranging from anti-dumping to advising governments and businesses on trade policy disputes and negotiations for international trade. The group who moved from law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher is ranked among top international trade attorneys practicing in the country. On their part, the new lawyers are upbeat about the firm's heightened global outreach which makes it a good pedestal for a dynamic international trade practice.

Set up in 1917, internationally renowned law firm Vinson & Elkins has about 700 lawyers in its rolls across the globe offering legal services to a wide array of clients.

11-22-2006

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Charlotte law firms notch top ranks

The National Law Journal recently declared its annual list of the largest U.S. law firms. Among the biggest movers and shakers were Kennedy Covington and Parker Poe, two well-known mid-sized law firms in Charlotte, who crossed the 200-lawyer mark and also moved ahead in the national rankings.

Parker Poe climbed 29 steps on the ladder with a total of 205 lawyers in its roster, 31 of them added recently. With 22 recent additions, Kennedy Covington Lobdell & Hickman grew to 208 lawyers and moved up 11 places in the ranking. Among the veteran firms, Moore & Van Allen with its 247 attorneys climbed up four places; but Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice dropped seven rungs with the desertion of 13 lawyers from its roster. The new additions at Parker Poe practice in commercial real estate, litigation, government, and health-care areas, while at Kennedy Covington, the new recruits look after transactional work such as real estate, financial services, and business law.

Legal pundits at Kennedy state that the firm will not expand for expansions sake, but strive to serve their clients better. Their counterparts at Parker Poe however lay more emphasis on geographical expansion by opening up offices in newer destinations to facilitate its lawyers to serve more clients in newer areas. Among the other notable names who could maintain their position in the list include Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough with 379 attorneys; Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart of Greenville with 331 lawyers; and Nexsen Pruet Adams Kleemeier of Columbia with 182 lawyers.

11-22-2006

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Upbeat Florida firms hunting for lawyers

Keeping an eye on the upswing in the local real estate market, many South Florida-based law firms are renewing their attempts to strengthen their expertise in areas like real estate and construction. The area's increasing Latin American ties, coupled with the strong real estate market has drastically improved its potential for attracting international business. These firms had earlier made a few rapid additions to their existing work force, particularly in the areas of real estate, commercial litigation, and corporate securities and transactions.

As a part of their strategies to draw in more talent from bigger destinations, these firms have increased starting salaries. Holland & Knight raised its starting salaries by $15,000, promptly followed by large firms like Akerman Senterfitt and Greenberg Traurig who were coerced into raising the levels as well to keep at par. Law firms in the area hope to generate more work from the growing international business attracted by the region's growing economy.

Holland & Knight appointed more than 6 new partners in its real estate practice group in Southern Florida. Of the 17 new partners inducted by Greenberg in its Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach offices, 11 of them have joined the litigation and corporate teams, while four joined the real estate practice group.

11-21-2006

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Tripp Scott annexes Duke Mullin

In an expansion bid Fort, Lauderdale-based Tripp Scott annexed four-lawyer firm Duke, Mullin & Galloway in a merger which will be effective beginning December 1. The new firm will function under the name of Tripp Scott. The combined force will operate with 45 lawyers. Mullin, Amy J. Galloway and Salvatore H. Fasulo, currently partners at Duke Mullin, will take over as Directors at Tripp Scott, whereas Davis W. "Bill" Duke Jr., founding partner of Duke Mullin, will become an of counsel attorney at Tripp Scott. The new firm will focus on commercial and civil litigation, real estate, trust and estates, government, labor and employment, environment, healthcare, and maritime litigation.

Duke Mullin's existing clients are likely to benefit greatly from the merger as the firm's clients will be able to get access to Tripp Scott's full range of services apart from benefiting from the latter's close association with government affair activities.

11-21-2006

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Survey anticipates rise in compensation for legal services

The Robert Half Legal 2007 Salary Guide predicts that first year associates, attorneys with one to three years of experience, and other legal support positions can expect significant increase in base compensation. The survey states that the recruitment outlook is optimistic and that new business development and continued regulatory activities are major factors driving the demand for legal professionals; especially for those in specialty areas such as corporate governance, litigation, and intellectual property.

The survey forecasts that in 2007, the average starting salaries for attorneys is expected to rise 4.6 percent; base compensation for first-year associates may increase by 7.9 percent; and starting salaries for licensed attorneys with one to three years of experience at small firms may witness a 7.4 percent climb. The guide also forecasts an increase in the average starting salaries for paralegals and legal administrators with a 6.1 percent and 6.3 percent rise respectively. Additionally, corporate attorneys can expect their average compensation to increase by 4.6 percent in 2007.

Robert Half Legal 2007 Salary Guide is created by surveying thousands of job orders and placements throughout the country. It is widely used by law firms and in-house legal departments in the U.S. to gauge the compensation for legal professionals.

11-20-2006

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Cravath Swaine & Moore announces four promotions

Wall Street law firm Cravath Swaine & Moore joined the bandwagon of law firms across the U.S. building up its partnership strength and revamping their top management. Effective January 1, 2007, three associates in their corporate practice group - Craig Arcella, Andrew Thompson, Damien Zoubek, together with litigation lawyer Teena-Ann Sankoorikal will receive new posts as partners in the firm's New York office. The date will also witness a change in the top management of Cravath Swaine & Moore.

The shuffle will see Evan Chesler taking over from litigation specialist Robert Joffe as presiding partner, and Allen Parker assuming duties of deputy presiding partner. Joffe, who was leading the firm since 1999, will return to full-time practice.

Out of the several US firms who have adopted the strategy of promotions and change in management, the noteworthy ones are that of the west coast firms - Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati recently promoted 16 and 13 associates, respectively. Other prominent firms including Sullivan & Cromwell, Latham & Watkins, Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCloy, and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton have also witnessed major revamps in their management structures.

11-20-2006

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