Law Firm News

---

Law Firm News

Firm Name

News Title

News

News Date

25383 matches |  4922-4928 displayed

1  701 702 703 704 705  3627

---

Dorsey & Whitney, L.L.P.

Steven R. Schoenfeld Joins Dorsey & Whitney New York
Dorsey & Whitney LLP, a global law firm with over 600 lawyers worldwide, announced today that Steven R. Schoenfeld has joined the firm’s New York office as a partner in the Trial group. He joins a multidisciplinary team of trial lawyers at Dorsey that includes former federal prosecutors, securities enforcement lawyers and the former U.S Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. Prior to joining Dorsey, Schoenfeld was a partner at Torys (New York).

Schoenfeld’s practice at Dorsey will focus on commercial, corporate, financial and intellectual property litigation matters. He will also be a member of Dorsey’s Canada practice group.

Schoenfeld has an impressive track record of representing domestic and multinational clients in high-stakes matters involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, patent and trademark infringement, bankruptcy and other general commercial, corporate and financial litigation. He works with clients across multiple industries, including banking, energy, financial services, media, pharmaceuticals, retailing, telecommunications and technology. Schoenfeld also has extensive experience representing Canadian clients in U.S. litigation matters.

In making the announcement, Bob Dwyer, head of the Dorsey & Whitney New York office, said: “Steven is an accomplished litigator across many practice areas including complex commercial litigation, financial services and intellectual property matters. His breadth of experience makes him an ideal fit for our firm and the New York office as we continue to increase our representation of industry-leading companies on matters that are critical to their business operations. His background will be an excellent complement to our Trial practice in New York and on the East Coast, and his experience with Canadian clients will further support Dorsey’s Canada practice, which has offices in Toronto and Vancouver and is focused on providing U.S. legal services to Canadian clients.”

Schoenfeld received his J.D. from the New York University School of Law, and his B.A. summa cum laude from Princeton University.

06-08-2007

---

Willkie, Farr & Gallagher, LLP

Executive Compensation Group Advises on Yardville Acquisition
On June 7, it was announced that The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Hamilton, N.J.-based Yardville National Bancorp for $403 million in stock and cash, or approximately $35.00 per share. Willkie’s Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits Department advised Yardville CEO Patrick Ryan and COO Kevin Tylus in connection with their employment negotiations. Yardville is a commercial and consumer bank with approximately $3 billion in assets and 33 branches in central New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania. With $123 billion in assets, PNC is one of the nation's largest diversified financial services organizations providing retail and business banking, specialized services for corporations and government entities, wealth management, asset management and global fund services. The matter was handled by partner David Rubinsky and associates Pasco Struhs and Jordan Messinger.

06-08-2007

---

White & Case, LLP

EBRD Advised By White & Case on its Largest Russian Equity Deal to Date
White & Case represented the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in the acquisition of a 10 percent stake in RESO-Garantia, Russia's third largest retail insurer, for the equivalent of at least $150 million. In addition to being the bank's largest equity deal in Russia, this transaction is also EBRD's largest investment in the insurance sector to date.

EBRD's acquisition is part of a strategy to help prepare RESO-Garantia for an Initial Public Offering, and the final size of the investment will be subject to further adjustments and the price achieved by RESO-Garantia in its offering.

"This deal will allow our client, EBRD, to broaden its investment portfolio with a valuable asset, while making a solid contribution to Russia's insurance sector," said Marc Polonsky, the partner who led the White & Case team advising on this deal. "It will also help RESO-Garantia to further develop its business," he added.

White & Case has advised the EBRD for more than 15 years on many other important projects across Russia involving several industry sectors, including the $20 billion Sakhalin II (Phase 2) LNG Project, the €190 million project financing of the construction of a wastewater treatment plant in St. Petersburg and the $150 million financing of Russian companies jointly owned by SUAL and RUSAL groups to increase output at the Middle-Timan bauxite mine, situated 250 km south of the Arctic Circle.

The team was led by partners Marc Polonsky and Igor Ostapets in Moscow, and Doug Peel in London.

06-08-2007

---

Thompson Hine LLP

Thompson Hine Expands Corporate Practice
John M. Clapp has joined the law firm of Thompson Hine LLP as a partner in the New York office. As a member of the firm's Corporate Transactions & Securities practice, Mr. Clapp focuses his practice on securities offerings, corporate and structured financings, mergers and acquisitions, and restructurings.

When asked why he joined the firm, Mr. Clapp said, "I was attracted to Thompson Hine's focused and growing corporate and securities practice in New York as well as the firm's commitment to lateral partner integration. I'm excited to be part of a firm with top class dedication to client service."

Mr. Clapp has a broad-ranging international transactional practice with more than 20 years of experience. He has extensive experience in the energy, telecommunications, transportation and heavy industry sectors. He frequently advises clients on the application of U.S. securities laws to issuers outside the United States.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Clapp was a partner in the New York office of a large international law firm where he was lead counsel on several major transactions throughout the world.

Sharen Swartz Neuhardt, practice group leader of Thompson Hine’s Corporate Transactions & Securities practice, commented, "John is an excellent lawyer and we're excited to have him join our team. His international experience brings additional strength to our corporate practice. I look forward to working with him."

George J. Walsh III, partner-in-charge of the firm's New York office, added, "We welcome John to the firm and are delighted to have him join us as part of our continued growth initiative in the New York market."

Mr. Clapp earned his M.A., with honors, from the University of Cambridge Faculty of Law in 1985 and received his B.A., with honors, from the University of Cambridge in 1981. He is admitted to practice in the state of New York.

06-08-2007

---

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP

Girl Scouts to Honor Gibson Dunn at National Sing-Along Event
Girl Scouts of the USA will honor Gibson Dunn at the Sing-Along event marking its 95th anniversary on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on June 9 for the firm's role as its sole national legal pro bono counsel. Led by partner Stephanie Tsacoumis, Gibson Dunn attorneys are advising the Girl Scouts on unprecedented nationwide restructuring that aims to revitalize the Girl Scout brand, improve fundraising methods and realign the national Girl Scout council infrastructure.

06-08-2007

---

Adams & Reese LLP

David Whetstone Honored with FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award
J. David Whetstone, an attorney with the Mobile office of Adams and Reese, was recently awarded with the FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award. This special award, presented on behalf of the Director of the FBI, was formally created in 1990 as a way to honor individuals and organizations for their efforts in combating crime, terrorism, drugs, and violence in America. Every year, the Special Agent in Charge of each of the FBI’s 56 Field Offices recognizes one individual for his or her dedication to maintaining a safe community.

Whetstone is a member of the Governmental Relations Practice Team in the Special Business Services Practice Group. He served 22 years as District Attorney of Baldwin County where he gained extensive experience in representing the State of Alabama and other agencies. He argued several high-profile cases and participated in renown investigations and was routinely selected to specially prosecute cases outside of his jurisdiction. Whetstone has earned numerous honors and awards for his service including both in the courtroom and in the community including: District Attorney of the Year, 1998 and 2000; Governor’s Conservation of Achievement Award-Water Conservationist of the Year, 1994 and the Alabama "People Against Litter" Award.

Mr. Whetstone received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of West Florida in 1970, and earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of Alabama Law School. He began his legal career as an Assistant Attorney General to former Attorney General Bill Baxley, followed by six years of service as the Executive Director of the Alabama District Attorneys Association, where he represented the interests of District Attorneys throughout the State and created the Office of Prosecution Services. During that time, he also served on several commissions including Alabama’s first Criminal Code Commission as well as the Judicial Commission that was responsible for re-vamping Alabama’s Judicial Article. From 1980-1984, Whetstone had a general private practice in Gulf Shores, AL, and became Municipal Judge, as well as serving as a Special Attorney General.

06-08-2007

---

Zimmerman, Kiser & Sutcliffe, P.A.

ZKS Trial Teams Rack Up Wins
Congratulations to Bob Mansbach and Katie McKinley, shareholder and associate in the Litigation Group, on their recent trial victory. The case involved a plaintiff who contracted hepatitis A at the end of 2000, which was traced back to green onions in a Lake County Taco Bell by the Board of Health. The plaintiff ended up in the hospital in a coma due to liver failure and nearly received a liver transplant as a result of the illness. Since then the plaintiff has suffered a number of health issues including type-two-diabetes, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea and mental status changes he claims resulted from the hepatic A. The plaintiff filed suit against Taco Bell for his medical bills, permanent impairment and lost wages asking for $5.5 million. Taco Bell in turn filed suit against ZKS client Redi-Cut Foods who supplied Taco Bell with the food items in question.

During the course of the trial, the plaintiff presented a neurologist who stated that if the plaintiff had not made a full recovery of the liver it could be a condition called encephalopathy characterized by altered brain function and structure or he could be suffering from a non-liver related condition known as Pix disease. The defense presented the two physicians who treated the plaintiff while in the hospital and each of them testified that the plaintiff had made a full recovery of the liver thus eliminating the possibility of encephalopathy. Furthermore it was conceded by the expert witnesses that the recent health issues afflicting the plaintiff including the diabetes, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea and mental status changes were not possibly caused by the hepatitis A and there was no way they could be linked together.

While the jury was deliberating the defendants, both Taco Bell and Redi-Cut Foods, offered $852,000 to settle the case, which the plaintiff refused. When the jury came back they awarded a total of $250,000 to the plaintiffs, less than a third of what they were offered.

Congratulations to Bob Mansbach and Kristy Martin, shareholder and associate in the Litigation Group, who recently achieved a defense verdict for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. On June 13, 2003, Kelly L. Tilley, who was employed then by National Instore (as a contractor for Breyer’s Ice Cream) was in the Wal-Mart store in West Melbourne, checking the quantity of Breyer’s ice cream as well as a deep freezer to see if there was any ice cream she could put on the shelf. Ms. Tilley walked into the deep freezer located in the back room of the store and, because she could not find a ladder or someone to help her, attempted to climb up on a shelf to reach of a sleeve of ice cream cartons that was located above her head. She asserted that she slipped on some frost covered ice on the shelf, falling and injuring her previously injured neck and back.

Ms. Tilley underwent a spinal fusion of discs at L3-4 and L4-5 in November 2003. Her medical bills by the time of the trial were approximately $186,000. She claimed that she lost one year of income ($32,000). The defense offered a $30,000 settlement approximately one year before the trial, but the offer was declined.

06-08-2007

---

25383 matches |  4922-4928 displayed

1  701 702 703 704 705  3627