Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP

Sutherland Adds Prominent Insurance and Financial Services Litigator Phillip E. Stano
Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP announces Phillip E. Stano has joined the Litigation Practice Group as partner resident in the firm’s Washington office. Stano will focus his practice on complex commercial insurance and financial services class action litigation.

“We are pleased to welcome Phil to Sutherland,” said Nicholas T. Christakos, a member of the firm’s executive committee and leader of the commercial insurance and class action litigation group. “We expect his significant litigation experience will serve as a gateway from the regulatory, corporate, tax and other work we do for large insurance companies to class action litigation.”

Prior to joining the firm, Stano was a partner with Jorden Burt LLP, where he concentrated on complex class action, market conduct, financial services litigation and government relations. Stano has been lead counsel in dozens of attempted class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country. He previously coordinated litigation work for the American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI), where he helped shape emerging litigation developments and issues of interest to the life insurance industry. Stano also organized and directed the ACLI’s study group on market conduct litigation. He is recognized in the industry both as an authority in this area and as the first to mobilize the life insurance industry in response to market conduct class actions. He was named by the American Tort Reform Association as Legal Reform Champion for 2005 for his judicial and other tort reform efforts in numerous states.

Stano frequently writes and speaks on insurance industry litigation topics. He has published several articles in the Journal of Insurance Regulation and in ABA Tort and Insurance Products Section (TIPS) publications. Additionally, Stano has been a frequent lecturer at TIPS meetings, as well as meetings of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC), the Association of Life Insurance Counsel (ALIC) and the National Organization of Life and Health Guaranty Associations.

02-13-2007

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Shannon, Gracey, Ratliff & Miller, LLP

Shannon Gracey Lawyer to speak as part of a panel on water rights sponsored by the Greater Fort Worth Real Estate Council
Cheryl Coon has been asked to speak as part of a panel on water rights sponsored by the Greater Fort Worth Real Estate Council on the evening of March 26th.

02-13-2007

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Schottenstein Zox & Dunn Co., LPA

Zox to Lead Columbus Bar Foundation
Having served as the Columbus Bar Association president from 1986-1987 and as its Foundation president in 1990, Benjamin L. Zox, senior counsel at Schottenstein Zox & Dunn Co., LPA (SZD) and fellow of the Columbus Bar, will continue his enduring service to the Association as the new Columbus Bar Foundation director of development.

In this new capacity, Zox will collaborate with potential donors to gather support for the Foundation, which seeks to promote access to the legal system and improve the administration of justice. Zox has adamantly served as an advocate for expanding the resources that strengthen the local justice system and enhance the development of central Ohio attorneys in the areas of professionalism and diversity.

Zox is the immediate past chairman of the board at SZD and served as president of the firm for 12 years. He has over 40 years experience practicing business and real estate law, and represents major local companies and their families. Zox has been named one of The Best Lawyers in America, Real Estate Law, for the past seven years and an Ohio Super Lawyer since 2004.

Currently on the board of directors for the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Zox is also trustee and vice chairman of the Leo Yassenoff Foundation and president of the Legal Aid Society.

02-13-2007

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Saul Ewing, LLP

Former Vice President and Chief Counsel, North America for Taro Pharmaceuticals Joins Saul Ewing as Life Sciences Partner
Tanya Dobash Berlage, former Vice President, Chief Counsel, North America of Taro Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc., has joined Saul Ewing LLP as a Partner in the Firm?s growing Life Sciences Practice Group, resident in the Firm?s Baltimore, MD office.

A senior level executive of a publicly traded multinational corporation, Ms. Berlage is deeply versed in the issues facing the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device industries and understands the special needs of the participants. For the past six years, Ms. Berlage has managed Taro Pharmaceuticals? corporate and commercial legal matters in the United States, Canada and Europe. While at Taro Pharmaceuticals, she worked on matters involving all stages of the pharmaceutical product life cycle, from product development and approval to manufacturing, sales, marketing and distribution. Ms. Berlage oversaw commercial litigation matters for the company?s North American operations. She also served on the company?s Operating Committee and chaired the company?s Compliance Committee.

After representing biotechnology and medical device companies for several years, Ms. Berlage joined Taro Pharmaceuticals in 2001 as the company began unprecedented growth. Ms. Berlage helped lead the company?s expansion into the branded prescription pharmaceutical business and the branded over-the-counter consumer products business. Well beyond knowing the intricacies of life sciences transactions, Ms. Berlage has a deep understanding of the practical and strategic needs of businesses. Ms. Berlage structured, negotiated and helped implement numerous transactions, including product and company acquisitions, divestments, in-licenses and outlicenses, strategic alliances, joint ventures, research and development agreements, marketing and distribution arrangements, manufacturing and supply agreements, clinical research agreements and a variety of other business arrangements.

?Tanya?s legal skills, business acumen and impeccable reputation in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries will strengthen and complement our already strong Life Sciences practice,? said Managing Partner David S. Antzis. ?She is a recognized authority on strategic alliances between the bio-technology and pharmaceutical industries and we are thrilled that she has decided to bring her skills and experience to Saul Ewing.?

?I am impressed with Saul Ewing?s commitment to its Life Sciences practice, as well as the high caliber of its clients and attorneys,? Ms. Berlage said. ?The Firm is well-positioned to meet the needs of the growing biosciences industry. Saul Ewing?s reputation for excellence is well established, and I look forward to contributing to the continued growth of Saul Ewing?s premier Life Sciences practice. I am especially excited to be resident in the Baltimore office in light of the incredible scientific talent in this region, and Maryland?s concerted effort to create a business climate that nurtures the growth of its bioscience sector.?

In recent years, Saul Ewing LLP has strategically built its Life Sciences Practice Group by bringing on attorneys with professional scientific, pharmaceutical and other life science-related backgrounds. In the past two years alone, Saul Ewing has added Bernard Rhee, a licensed pharmacist who practiced as a pharmacist for eight years before becoming a lawyer; Guido Galvez, a former molecular biologist; Damon Brown, a former chemist; Chris Lee, a biologist and former research assistant at The Institute for Genomic Research; Aida Lebbos, a former attorney in the technology transfer office at the University of Maryland; George Ritchie, a patent litigator; Mark Gruhin, a life science transactional attorney, and Christopher Hall, a former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania who investigated numerous issues regarding potential violations of FDA statutes and regulations.

?We believe that the life sciences industry is poised to drive the economy in Maryland and we have assembled the deepest bench of life science attorneys in the region,? said Robert A. Spar, Articles Nexis Partner and Co-Chair of the Life Sciences Transactions and Strategic Alliances Practice Group.

?When it comes to meeting the needs of our biotech clients, whether it involves patent due diligence, technology transfer, licensing, venture capital financing, strategic alliances, risk management, litigation or facilitating pharmaceutical development, we have the hands on experience to get it done quickly and efficiently.?

Ms. Berlage was previously an attorney with Wiggin & Dana in Stamford, Connecticut, where she was a member of the Business and Biotechnology & Life Sciences Practice Groups and represented domestic and international clients on numerous issues including mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financing, collaborative and strategic alliances, clinical research agreements and development and manufacturing arrangements. Ms. Berlage began her legal career at Curtin & Steingart in Minneapolis, where she represented an international medical device company and a wide range of other corporations. Ms. Berlage earned her undergraduate degree at Smith College in 1989 and her law degree at Washington & Lee University School of Law in 1994, where she was a member of the Washington & Lee Law Review.

02-13-2007

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Thacher Proffitt & Wood LLP

Thacher Proffitt Ranked for Bank and Thrift Merger Transactions
Thacher Proffitt was included in American Banker's 2006 league tables for bank and thrift merger transactions as follows:

* #9 (tied) - Top Legal Advisers by Number of Deals
* #13 - Top Lead Legal Advisers by Vaule of Deals

Associated Practices
Banking
Corporate & Securities

02-13-2007

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Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett, LLP

Firm Advises NXP Semiconductors in Acquisition of Cellular Communications Business
The Firm is advising NXP Semiconductors in its acquisition of the cellular communications business of Silicon Laboratories Inc. (Nasdaq: SLAB) for US$285 million in cash. NXP may pay up to an additional US$65million contingent upon the achievement of certain milestones in the next three years. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2007, subject to closing conditions, including regulatory approvals. NXP is a top 10 semiconductor company. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company has 38,000 employees working in 26 countries across the world.

The Simpson Thacher team working on this deal includes: Sean Rodgers, Adam Corndorf and Rafael Berckholtz (M&A); Lori Lesser, Mark Solomon and Robyn Rahbar (Intellectual Property); Steve Todrys and Jenifer Marsh (Tax); Jamin Koslowe and Andy O'Brien (Employee Benefits); Michael Naughton, Ken Ehrhard and Olivier Antoine (Antitrust); and Daniel Janow (Paralegal).

Lawyers:
• Olivier Antoine
• Rafael Berckholtz
• Adam B. Corndorf
• Kenneth C. Ehrhard
• Jamin R. Koslowe
• Lori E. Lesser
• Jenifer J. Marsh
• Michael C. Naughton
• Andrew J. O'Brien
• Robyn J. Rahbar
• Sean D. Rodgers
• Steven C. Todrys

02-13-2007

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Simpson, Thacher & Bartlett, LLP

Simpson Thacher Represents Cap Cana in “Best Asset-Backed Bond” Offering in 2006
Latin Finance has named Cap Cana, S.A.’s November 2006 bond offering as the “Best Asset-backed Bond” in 2006. Simpson Thacher represented Cap Cana, S.A., and the offering was underwritten by Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.

This was the largest ever corporate debt offering by a Dominican Republic issuer. The bonds had the lowest coupon of any Dominican Republic corporate issuer and were rated at the sovereign ceiling by Moody's and Fitch. The notes are guaranteed on a senior secured basis by a portion of Cap Cana's real property and by a pledge of certain receivables to be generated from the sales of real estate properties, the construction of which is being financed with the net proceeds of the bonds.

Cap Cana is developing the largest resort and second home destination in the Caribbean and one of the largest in the world. When fully developed, the Cap Cana resort will have five championship golf courses - three of which will be Nicklaus Signature courses, one of the largest inland marinas in the Caribbean, several 5-star luxury hotels and over 10,000 housing units, including estate homes, villas and condominiums.

The Simpson Thacher team for this transaction included Jaime Mercado, Ferish Patel and Eduardo Triulzi (corporate), Rob Holo, Jonathan Cantor and Hallie Grainer (tax), Steve Stickler (real estate), summer associate Alex de la Cruz and paralegal Anne Dana.

Lawyers:
• Jonathan E. Cantor
• Robert E. Holo
• Jaime Mercado
• Ferish P. Patel
• Steven C. Stickler

02-13-2007

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