Law Firm News

---

Law Firm News

Firm Name

News Title

News

News Date

25383 matches |  2948-2954 displayed

1  421 422 423 424 425  3627

---

King & Spalding

King & Spalding Represents Pramerica Real Estate Investors In U.S. $110 Million Real Estate Financing in Dubai
King & Spalding, a leading international law firm, announced today that it is representing a Luxembourg-based Shari’ah-compliant fund advised by Pramerica Real Estate Investors in connection with a U.S. $110 million acquisition and Shari’ah-compliant financing of a majority stake in the European Business Centre in the Dubai Investment Park from Kleindienst Real Estate Broker, a Dubai-based real estate establishment.

Hypo Real Estate Bank International AG is providing the financing. King & Spalding structured the acquisition and Shari’ah-compliant financing, which will be on a non-recourse basis and is Pramerica’s first financing in the Middle East.

The King & Spalding legal team on the transaction was led by partner Jawad Ali (London, Dubai) with assistance from counsel Mike Rainey (London) and associates Nabil Issa (Dubai), Robin Balmer (London), Fadi Mudarres (London), and Marcus Young (London).

07-18-2007

---

Hunton & Williams, LLP

Hunton & Williams strengthens Capital Markets & Securitization practice; Steven Becker joins in New York
Hunton & Williams LLP today announced that Steven H. Becker has joined the firm in its New York City office, as a partner with its asset securitization practice group and capital markets team. Becker joins Hunton & Williams from the structured finance and corporate and financial institutions practice group of Thacher Proffitt & Wood LLP and brings with him extensive experience in a wide range of mortgage finance and securitization matters.

Hunton & Williams boasts one of the nation’s leading securitization practices, with more than 40 lawyers focused on securitization and structured finance matters. The firm's clients include some of the most active participants in the mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities markets, and the firm has handled securitization transactional matters involving the public issuance of more than $1 trillion in mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities.

“Our securitization practice continues to grow at a significant pace, and we are delighted to have Steven join us,” said Kevin Buckley, co-head of the firm's asset securitization practice. "Steven’s substantial mortgage finance experience complements our existing mortgage securitization practice and bolsters our capital markets and finance practice in New York." Mike Nedzbala, who co-heads the practice with Buckley, added "Steven’s practice also dovetails with the firm's structured finance, asset-backed lending and restructuring, bankruptcy and workout practices. Our clients will benefit from the breadth of Steven's experience."

Licensed to practice in New York and New Jersey, Becker received his undergraduate degree in economics from Cornell University and law degree with high honors from Rutgers University. Prior to attending law school, he worked in the mortgage industry for four years at the Prudential Home Mortgage Company, Inc.

07-18-2007

---

Godfrey & Kahn

Godfrey & Kahn Adds Attorney to Corporate and Real Estate Practice Groups
The law firm of Godfrey & Kahn, S.C. is pleased to announce that Mary Beth Collins has joined the Corporate and Real Estate Practice Groups in the firm’s Madison office.

Collins worked at another law firm in Madison prior to joining Godfrey & Kahn. Previously, she was a law clerk for Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Patience Drake Roggensack.

Collins received her law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School, her M.A. in Latin American, Caribbean and Iberian Studies from the University of Wisconsin and her undergraduate degree in English Education, summa cum laude, from Appalachian State University.

07-18-2007

---

Dickstein Shapiro LLP

Dickstein Shapiro Helps Bread for the City Achieve Favorable Victory
Thanks to the hundreds of hours of pro bono work by Dickstein Shapiro LLP attorneys, local non-profit Bread for the City (BFC) has $50,000 in additional funds to spend on food & clothing, legal, medical, and social services for vulnerable DC residents.

In May 2003, BFC discovered that its payroll company, FirstPay Inc., had embezzled approximately $137,000 from its bank account and, according to media reports, $11 million from more than 250 organizations. This theft threatened to undermine Bread for the City’s ability to fully carry out its mission to feed the hungry, clothe the poor, care for the uninsured, and otherwise advocate for needy residents in Washington, DC. Over several years, and with direct and adverse impact to the people BFC serves, BFC paid more than $90,000 to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service in an effort to re-pay the debt caused by the embezzlement.

In 2005, Dickstein Shapiro partner Lawrence Garr took on the case as pro bono counsel for Bread for the City. After two years of hard work by Mr. Garr and other members of the firm, the IRS Office of Appeals reversed course and required BFC to pay only $50 of the $50,000 balance (tax and interest) it owed the IRS.

“Dickstein Shapiro has been heroic in its pursuit of justice for Bread for the City,” stated George Jones, Bread for the City Executive Director. “The attorneys were relentless in persuading the IRS to recognize BFC’s position as a victim of embezzlement and a provider of crucial services in the DC community, and we are relieved and grateful for the result.”

“This matter has been as rewarding to Dickstein Shapiro as it is to Bread for the City,” said Mr. Garr. “I am pleased that my partner Paul Taskier, a BFC Board Member, called on me in 2005 and that we, with the support and assistance of Nina Olson, the National Taxpayer Advocate, and Congressman Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) were able to help BFC achieve a measure of justice.”

This victory is only one of the many successes that Bread for the City and Dickstein Shapiro have enjoyed throughout a 10-year relationship. In addition to providing hundreds of volunteer hours, each year Dickstein Shapiro supports Bread for the City’s Holiday Helpings Program, which provides needy DC residents with holiday meals. Last year alone, Dickstein Shapiro staff and attorneys donated more than $140,000 to this important effort.

Bread for the City is a private, non-profit organization that provides free services including food, clothing, medical care, legal assistance and social services for over 10,000 vulnerable DC residents each month.

07-18-2007

---

Dickstein Shapiro LLP

James R. Murray Joins Dickstein Shapiro’s Insurance Coverage Practice
Dickstein Shapiro LLP is pleased to announce the addition of James R. Murray as partner in the firm’s Insurance Coverage Practice. Mr. Murray focuses his practice on insurance coverage and complex civil litigation. With more than 20 years of experience in the litigation and settlement of insurance coverage matters on behalf of policyholders, Mr. Murray has represented clients in disputes involving casualty insurance, first-party property policies, aviation coverage, broker liability, kidnap and ransom coverage, clergy abuse claims, directors and officers lines, and all manner of London-market issues.

“We are thrilled to have Jim join the firm’s nationally recognized Insurance Coverage Practice,” said Michael Nannes, Chairman of Dickstein Shapiro. “Jim’s extensive insurance coverage experience, combined with his ability and wherewithal to take a case through verdict if need be, is a tremendous asset to our clients.”

Mr. Murray’s trial experience ranges from environmental contribution cases to breach of contract, bank fraud, trademark infringement, and professional liability. He has represented large policyholders such as Boeing and Wells Fargo, and non-profit organizations such as the United Cerebral Palsy Association. Currently, Mr. Murray serves as insurance coverage counsel to the Catholic Archdiocese of Seattle regarding underlying claims of past abuse by clergy members.

In 2004, the Western District of Washington Bankruptcy Court appointed Mr. Murray Special Insurance Coverage Counsel for the Catholic Diocese of Spokane, and he was lead counsel for that Diocese until all insurers settled months prior to trial. The Diocese recovered more than $20 million from the settling carriers, allowing it to emerge from bankruptcy in 2007.

“Dickstein Shapiro has an unparalleled depth of insurance knowledge in its lawyers, and it excels at creative and innovative approaches to dispute resolution,” said Mr. Murray. “I look forward to working with the nation’s leading team of insurance attorneys representing solely policyholders.”

Prior to joining Dickstein Shapiro, Mr. Murray was a founding partner of Gordon Murray Tilden LLP, a trial boutique in Seattle. Before that, he was a litigation and insurance coverage partner in Covington & Burling LLP’s Washington, D.C. office.

Recognized by peers and clients alike, Mr. Murray is listed in the 2007 Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business guide for the Litigation: General Commercial practice area in Washington state. According to the guide, the “astute” Mr. Murray is well—known in the insurance sector and “is not an emotionally charged litigator—he understands the issues and where the bottom line is and he makes the winning argument based on reason.” Mr. Murray also has been recognized by his peers as a “Super Lawyer” in Washington Law & Politics annually since 2000. He is a frequent speaker at national and regional conferences on trial practice and insurance coverage issues, ranging from direct examination technique to allocation theory.

Mr. Murray received a B.A. in philosophy from the University of Montana and a B.A. in law from Oxford University. He received a B.C.L. from Oxford University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School. He also was a Rhodes Scholar.

Dickstein Shapiro’s premier Insurance Coverage Practice represents policyholders around the country in disputes with insurance carriers. Of the firm’s 400 attorneys in Washington, DC, New York, and Los Angeles, more than 90 devote the majority of their time to insurance coverage matters. Attorneys at all levels are involved in the Insurance Coverage Practice, including attorneys with extensive settlement and litigation experience at the trial and appellate levels.

07-18-2007

---

Bryan Cave LLP

Bryan Cave Leads $1.9 Billion Energizer, Playtex Transaction
Bryan Cave LLP provided legal counsel to Energizer Holdings Inc. in its successful bid to acquire Playtex Products Inc., a deal that has brought much national media attention since its announcement on July 12. The total value of the transaction is approximately $1.9 billion.

St. Louis Partner Bill Seabaugh heads Bryan Cave’s work on the deal, with St. Louis Partner Mark LaVigne and Associates Ashley Baker and Vyas Suresh as key participants in the corporate team. St. Louis Partner Denis McCusker is leading the effort to refinance the outstanding Playtex debt concurrently with closing via a tender offer. Lawyers in the London, New York and Washington offices also have played important roles in the transaction.

The transaction was approved unanimously by the boards of directors of both companies, but still is subject to the approval of Playtex shareholders and government antitrust regulators. The deal is expected to close in the fall of this year. Energizer anticipates that the acquisition will boost its 2008 fiscal results.

Energizer is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of batteries and flashlights and a global leader in the business of providing portable power. Energizer is also the parent company of Schick-Wilkinson Sword, the second largest manufacturer of wet shave products in the world. Playtex is a leading manufacturer and marketer in the skin, feminine and infant care industries.

In 2003, Bryan Cave attorneys across the firm represented Energizer in its purchase of the Schick-Wilkinson Sword shaving product business from Pfizer.

07-18-2007

---

Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Trent M. Murch Joins Greenberg Traurig's Corporate and Securities Practice
The international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP announced today that Trent M. Murch has joined its Chicago office as a shareholder in the Corporate and Securities practice.

Mr. Murch will continue to focus his practice on securitization transactions. Mr. Murch has extensive experience regarding recent developments in federal securities laws, including Regulation AB and Securities Offering Reform. His practice includes counseling clients through the process of preparing Regulation AB compliant registration statements, guiding clients through the review process with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and conducting issuances off of newly effective Regulation AB compliant registration statements. In addition, Mr. Murch has significant experience with respect to the periodic reporting requirements under Regulation AB, as well as the filing rules for free writing prospectuses under Securities Offering Reform.

“Trent's arrival represents another step forward for our Structured Finance and Derivatives Practice. We are looking forward to the contributions we know Trent will make, both in Chicago and in our firm more generally,” said Paul T. Fox, Co-Managing Shareholder of the Chicago office.

Prior to joining Greenberg Traurig, Mr. Murch was Counsel in the Chicago office of Kaye Scholer LLP. He earned his J.D., magna cum laude, University of Illinois College of Law and his B.S., magna cum laude, Bradley University.

07-18-2007

---

25383 matches |  2948-2954 displayed

1  421 422 423 424 425  3627