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O'Malley, Wexler join Paul Hastings in NY

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker has hired two prominent attorneys, Joseph O'Malley and Bruce Wexler, as partners in its New York office. With the new addition, Paul Hastings aims to strengthen its international intellectual property litigation practice. O'Malley and Wexler, former employees of IP boutique firm Fitzpatrick, Cella, Harper & Scinto LLP, enjoy reputations as leading patent litigators in New York, and have represented well-known pharmaceutical and chemical companies. The firm intends to leverage on their expertise to assist its clients based in U.S., Asia, and Europe.

Paul Hastings considers IP litigation practice its core area and is looking to recruit additional patent expertise that can cater to the firm's life science clients. Recognizing the important synergies between intellectual property law and business goals, the IP litigation practice group of Paul Hastings focuses on various aspects of IP law, which includes patent litigation, patent preparation and prosecution, trademark, copyright, trade secrets, IT/e-commerce, and IP transactions and licensing.

O'Malley was ranked as one of the top intellectual property attorneys in New York in the 2005 and 2006 editions of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business whereas Wexler was a former law clerk in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The two have won the 2004 Burton Award for Legal Writing.

09-26-2006

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Saul Ewing's bid to solidify Washington presence

Philadelphia-based Saul Ewing plans to expand its Washington, DC practice by acquiring boutique firm Schmeltzer Aptaker & Shepard. Though Saul Ewing has in principle agreed to combine operations with the smaller firm, the final decision awaits shareholder's approval. The necessary formalities of the merger process are likely to be completed by October 1, 2006. As part of the merger agreement the new firm, named Saul Ewing LLP, will have 25 attorneys. Saul Ewing currently has six attorneys along with 12 labor and employment lawyers and plans to add two new associates to its total strength. The merger of operations will allow Saul Ewing to diversify into other practice areas including labor and employment, corporate and public policy law, and simultaneously strengthen its presence in Washington.

It is noteworthy to mention that last year Schmeltzer Aptaker merged its operations with Washington-based firm Harris Ellsworth & Levin to form its international trade practice group. As a result of this merger, Saul Ewing's attorney strength will now be nearing 300. Saul Ewing is also exploring possibilities to expand its presence in New Jersey. Currently the firm has five attorneys at its Newark office and is looking to expand its presence to relatively new locations including New England, Florida, and Ohio. In addition to its offices in Philadelphia and Washington, DC, the firm has offices in Harrisburg and Chester brook, Pennsylvania, Baltimore, Maryland, Princeton, and Newark, New Jersey, and in Wilmington, Delaware.

09-26-2006

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DLA Piper unveils strategy to streamline international operations

U.S.-based DLA Piper intends to further strengthen its European Merger & Acquisition practice group. The firm will create 35 new management positions, while its international practice will be differentiated into eight sector-focused groups. The firm also plans to promote partners of its European offices to senior management positions, to encourage their involvement in the firm's decision-making process. The additional responsibility of financial reporting will be shifted from regional managing partners to the individual heads of the group. The strategy implemented by the firm follows the review of its operations in UK, Asia, and Europe.

From 19 to more than 1000 people, DLA Piper has consistently increased its strength ever since May 2002 and has made significant progress in its Continental Europe operations. With increase in size and geographical reach, the firm feels that implementation of new management structure is essential to efficiently manage operations.

The law firm has embarked on massive growth strategy in Asia, where it intends to strengthen its banking practice and capital markets capability. To boost its Asia banking practice, the firm recently hired Andrew Wang, former head of legal department of Bank of China. Earlier this year, the firm braced up its Asian practice by hiring Henry Wang, former General Counsel of Shanghai GM Automotive; and Jeffrey Tan, former Motorola Asia-Pacific General Counsel.

09-25-2006

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Vinson & Elkins props up Asia practice with office in Hong Kong

Vinson & Elkins bolstered its presence in Asia by opening its seventh international office in Hong Kong. The firm's operations in Hong Kong will be taken care of by Jay Cuclis, former partner of the firm's international practice in the U.S. With its presence in Hong Kong, the firm intends to cater to clients throughout East Asia, as well as in other international markets such as Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the Middle East.

After Fulbright & Jaworski and Baker Botts, Texas-based Vinson & Elkins is the third firm to expand its presence in Asia. The firm's offices in Beijing, Tokyo and Shanghai now have more than 20 lawyers and legal professionals focusing on general corporate advisory matters, foreign direct investment, M&A, structured and syndicated finance, project finance, joint ventures and energy restructuring, intellectual property protection, and dispute resolution. As part of the growth strategy, Vinson & Elkins is also working towards expansion of its practice in New York and London

Hong Kong has emerged as an important financial center with focus on international trade and investment. The region's tremendous progress has seen influx of major U.S.-based law firms like Baker & McKenzie, DLA Piper, and Jones Day setting up their shops.

09-25-2006

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Dewey and Orrick explore options for possible merger

The latest buzz making the rounds in the nation's legal circles is the possible merger of New York-based Dewey Ballantine and San Francisco-based Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe. If that rumor becomes fact, it will create a 1200-lawyer strong law firm, one of the country's largest, with revenue reaching the $1 billion mark.

With merger discussions still in progress, there is no concrete conclusion about the final decision or of things to come. However, both the law firms are well aware of each other's strengths. Dewey Ballantine's specialty is representing investment banks in M&A, while Orrick's corporate strength is in representing underwriters and issuers of municipal bonds, asset-backed securities, and mortgage-backed securities. If the merger happens, the newly created law firm will be the largest multifaceted firm with diversified practices areas covering major destinations of the world.

Both law firms have had impressive growth in the current financial year. Since last year, Orrick has recorded an increase of 14% in its turnover to $554m, and Dewey Ballantine has registered an increase of 3 percent in its turnover to $392m. The possible merger would have the benefit for Dewey Ballantine of assisting in its efforts to spread operations across Europe. Last year, Orrick Herrington took over part of the operations of Paris firm Ram-baud Martel, and acquired control of London and Moscow offices of Coudert Brothers.

09-22-2006

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Crowell & Moring embarks on dual growth strategy

Crowell & Moring has embarked on a dual growth strategy by expanding its geographic presence, opening a new office in New York and simultaneously augmenting its litigation and intellectual property practice group with the inclusion of prominent attorneys. Trial lawyer William J. McSherry, erstwhile partner-in-charge of Arent Fox, joined the firm as partner in the Litigation group, and Janet M. Macleod, former attorney at Dorsey & Whitney, joined the intellectual practice group of the firm.

During his tenure at Arent Fox, McSherry served as lead trial counsel in several litigations involving insurance-backed film finance transactions. Macleod focused her practice on the acquisition and enforcement of patents for clients in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and chemical industries, and in academic research institutions. Macleod is an expert in counseling on patent issues including infringement, validity, freedom to operate, licensing, and business development.

The recent initiative by the firm is part of an effort to expand its client base and increase revenue. In future, Crowell & Moring's New York office intends to expand some of the firm's core practice groups, such as the Antitrust, Corporate, Intellectual Property, Litigation, and White Collar & Securities Litigation Groups. Based in Washington, D.C., the firm also has offices in Brussels, Irvine, California, and London.

09-22-2006

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Nation's largest maritime law practice firm created

The creation of the US's largest maritime law practice firm by the merge of operations between New York - based Healy & Baillie LLP and Philadelphia's Blank Rome has grabbed the attention of the legal fraternity across the country. The merger is likely to benefit Blank Rome in a big way as it allows the firm to venture into the Asian legal market. Blank Rome, a law firm with 500 attorneys, will have access to resources of Healy & Baillie, which is the only U.S.-based maritime law firm in Hong Kong with a local license to practice Hong Kong law. The merged firm, renamed Blank Rome, will have a workforce of 40 attorneys focusing on maritime and general international commercial law.

As part of the merger process, attorneys of Healy & Baillie lawyers in New York and Connecticut will join Blank Rome's office in New York. The firm has a combined strength of 23 lawyers based in New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and Hong Kong. The firm's maritime practice includes maritime casualties, marine insurance, pollution, carriage of goods under bills of lading, charter party disputes and arbitration, ship financing, and maritime personal injury and wrongful death, while Blank Rome's maritime group has worked primarily in legislation and regulation. According to the website of Blank Rome, the merger follows Blank Rome's recently announced strategic alliance with Brussels-based public affairs and public relations agency Interel.

09-20-2006

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