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Former Republican opts out of Harris Beach citing personal reasons

In a surprising development, former Republican Congressman John LaFalce has opted out of Rochester-based Harris Beach PLLC due to personal commitments, which were clashing with the interests of the firm’s clients. Soon after leaving Congress, LaFalce, who also served as honorary Chairman of Erie County Citizens Against Casino Gambling had difference of opinion with the firm on certain issues, primarily on the issues of casino gambling. The firm states that it had mutual understanding with LaFalce over the issue and it was a joint decision that LaFalce should discontinue his services to the firm’s Buffalo office.

The split will free LaFalce to become more actively involved in other issues of importance to him. LaFalce joined Harris Beach in June 2003, after serving in the House of Representatives from 1974 to 2002. LaFalce, a Town of Tonawanda Democrat and former ranking minority member of the House Financial Services Committee, has expressed his concerns related to consumer protection and financial services for several years.

Harris Beach is one of the nation's oldest law firms, dating back to 1856, and offers legal services to clients including Fortune 500 corporations, privately-held companies, emerging technology businesses, financial institutions, healthcare providers, educational institutions, not-for-profit organizations and foundations, local governments and authorities, and individuals.

11-08-2006

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Paul Hastings explore chance to open first German office soon

In order to strengthen its operations in Europe, Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker is exploring possible locations for its first German office. The firm is planning to pass over Frankfurt and choose Munich since the latter offers the firm greater opportunities for its real estate finance and private equity teams. Backed by client demand and more real estate funds looking to invest in the emerging market, the firm has planned the German launch. As reported by thelawyer.com, Paul Hastings currently has a six lawyer German practice in the London office, which is likely be transferred to Germany to launch the new office. However, the firm has not finalized the date of the launch. The development is in line with the firm’s strategic plan to significantly increase its revenue from Europe. The firm is targeting 20 per cent growth for the UK office, which would mean a turnover of nearly $15 million this fiscal year.

11-08-2006

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Fulbright & Jaworski in an expansion mood

With a new office recently opened in Beijing, international law firm Fulbright & Jaworski has embarked on an Asia expansion mission. The firm aims to build up their China office and its cross-border transactional, energy, project finance and disputes practices. Fulbright has had an office in Hong Kong since 1990. Due to Fulbright's rapid expansion in the Asian market in practice areas like energy, project finance, cross-border transactions, and disputes, the firm's officials realized the importance of opening another office on mainland China in order to offer world-class service to its international clients.

Jeffrey A. Blount who had served the firm's Hong Kong office since 1990 and is currently Fulbright's International Department co-head, will serve as Chief Representative and Partner-in-Charge of the Beijing office, while retaining his post as Partner-in-Charge of the Hong Kong office. Assisting him is Michael Arruda as the energy practice group leader in Asia.

Meanwhile, the firm's New York office has hired prominent litigators Daniel R. Murdock, and Philip M. Smith as partners. Murdock, who was lead defense counsel on several large securities fraud class actions, will now serve as Of Counsel. The combined force of the two new recruits will help the firm strengthen its capacity in state and federal actions, trials and appeals; NASD, NYSE, AAA and other private arbitrations; bankruptcy proceedings and complex workouts; and SEC, Federal Reserve, FDIC, DOJ and other administrative and criminal investigations and enforcement actions. The duo will continue practicing in various areas like commercial and securities litigation, antitrust, class actions, securities regulatory enforcement, private international law and white collar criminal defense. The firm hopes to strengthen its litigation practice with the inclusion of the duo's wide ranging experience.

With more than 1000 lawyers in 15 major international locations, Fulbright & Jaworski is a leading full-service international law firm. The firm's lawyers have also represented several of China's prominent multinational companies in globalization of their businesses.

11-07-2006

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Bleier, Mittelman joins Reed Smith as Partner, Counsel

Reed Smith recently hired former Mellon Financial Corporation General Counsel Michael E. Bleier as partner and David T. Mittelman who will serve the firm's San Francisco office as Counsel in the Corporate & Securities Practice Group.

After nearly 14 years of service as General Counsel and manager of legal affairs for Mellon, Bleier will look after Reed Smith's corporate and litigation practice as a regulatory expert. As an outstanding regulatory lawyer, the firm hopes to benefit hugely from his joining the firm as a partner. Due to Bleier's expertise in the financial services regulatory arena the banking industry holds him in high esteem

Meanwhile the firm's San Francisco office will benefit from the addition of David T. Mittelman to its roster. Mittelman, who earlier served the US Securities and Exchange Commission, will serve as Counsel in its Corporate & Securities Practice Group. The firm hopes to strengthen its Corporate & Securities Practice with the help of Mittelman's in-depth knowledge about various aspects of securities law and additionally hopes to expand the securities practice, both nationally and internationally

At present multi-specialty law firm Reed Smith has attorney strength of more than 1,100 lawyers spread over 13 U.S. and four European cities, with room for further expansion after its merger with Richards Butler on January 1, 2007.

11-07-2006

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Baker & McKenzie overhauls New York management

In an effort to streamline the firm's operations, Baker & McKenzie has revamped its New York office management structure. The firm also laid out a new plan to capitalize on its recent lateral acquisitions, which doubled the size of the New York office. In its new strategy, Baker & McKenzie plans for significant growth in the size and depth of its New York practices, with special emphasis on corporate and banking transactional practices, litigation, tax, and intellectual property. By reinforcing the firm's prioritized practice areas with additional strength; they have deepened major client relationships and generated more transactional deal flow, thereby sharply improving their profitability.

As part of the change in management structure, the firm has constituted a three-member executive committee. The increase in staff strength and the formation of an international executive committee encouraged the firm to take such an initiative. This new management structure will effectively deal with a much larger and growing office. Managing partner Charles Niemeth will lead the management team with other members, including former Coudert Chairman Clyde Rankin. Moreover, the firm's management board recently inducted Latin representatives, Barcelona-based corporate partner Rafael Jimenez-Gusi and Venezuela-based projects partner Roberto Mendoza.

Baker & McKenzie's recent growth in New York was headlined by the September 2005 acquisition of Coudert's flagship office. Other key additions in M&A and banking & finance law in New York since 2004 have included several prominent attorneys and partners. Last month, Baker & McKenzie added two corporate & securities partners in New York, Jonathan Stapleton, and Margaret Paradis.

11-06-2006

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Kavinoky expands presence; opens office in Inland Empire

Criminal defense firm The Kavinoky Law Firm, headquartered in Wooden Hills, has expanded its operations in California by opening up a new office in Riverside. The new office will also act as the firm's training center, where it will host occasional interactive sessions, conferences, and meetings for both the legal community and consumers. With the majority of their clients in Riverside and San Bernardino, the firm's new office will be an ideal location. The firm has a significant presence in California and offers legal services to clients based in or around Los Angeles, Ventura, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Sacramento, or San Francisco Counties.

Established in 1994, the firm is headed by Southern California's premier criminal defense attorney, Darren T. Kavinoky, who offers expert counseling and legal services in drug cases, domestic violence, homicide, property crimes, theft crimes, identity theft, firearm offenses, white collar crime, asset forfeiture, and crimes of violence and defiance.

11-06-2006

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Day, Berry & Howard, and Pitney Hardin to merge operations

New Jersey's oldest and largest law firm, Pitney Hardin LLP, is finalizing plans to merge its operations with Connecticut-based Day, Berry & Howard LLP. The proposed merger, expected to be complete by January 2007, will create the new firm Day Pitney LLP. With attorney strength of 395, the new firm will have offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Boston, and Washington, D.C. Besides their respective lawyers, the two firms employ about 450 staff members including paralegals, administrative assistants, and office managers.

The new firm, Day Pitney, will offer clients deeper capabilities in such practice areas like litigation and corporate law, government investigations, labor and employment, employee benefits, trust and estates, international estate planning, energy law, and intellectual property prosecution and litigation.

The merger opportunity will also allow both the firms to expand into new geographical regions across the US. Day, Berry & Howard's strength in Boston, Connecticut, New York and Washington, D.C. will complement Pitney Hardin's status as a premier New Jersey and New York City law firm. For Day Berry, the merger brings not only a middle-Atlantic presence but also some key practice areas including labor union management, franchises, patent prosecution, and public M&A, whereas Pitney Hardin, is looking to serve its clients in a more efficient and productive manner through this merger.

11-03-2006

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