Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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Salans

Salans involved in the raising of the first French FCPR targeting investments in China
The management company, Cathay Capital Private Equity, recently created Cathay Capital I, which will accompany middle-sized companies in their growth and transmission strategies in France and in China. This first closing of fund-raising raised approximately 50 M€, of which 75% came directly from the managers of the French and Chinese companies, and 25% by institutional investors.

Salans advised Cathay Capital PE to set up the structure of the FCPR (Paul Morel, Partner in the Paris office assisted by Guillaume Panuel).

05-30-2007

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Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo P.C.

MINTZ LEVIN ADDS HOLLIS-EDEN GENERAL COUNSEL ERIC LOUMEAU TO ITS GROWING SAN DIEGO OFFICE
After nearly eight years as Vice President and General Counsel of San Diego-based Hollis-Eden Pharmaceuticals, Eric Loumeau has returned to private practice, joining the San Diego office of Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. as a Member in the Corporate group.

Mr. Loumeau is the first of what is expected to be several high-profile additions, as Mintz Levin expands its international life sciences practice to the West Coast. He brings vast experience representing public life science and technology companies in complex transactions, and advising them on securities laws and corporate governance and compliance matters, all of which will be an immediate and significant benefit to Mintz Levin clients throughout California and beyond.

"This is a big day for Mintz Levin," said Craig Hunsaker, Managing Member of the firm's San Diego office. "Many of us know Eric well - as a former colleague, client, or from working opposite him on deals. He is an outstanding, focused lawyer and tireless worker; but as important, he is a terrific person. You cannot help but respect and admire him, not only for what he does but for who he is. We know Eric was in high demand, and could not be more pleased that he has chosen to join the Mintz Levin team."

At Hollis-Eden, in addition to serving as the company's General Counsel, Mr. Loumeau was Chief Compliance Officer, responsible for ensuring the company's compliance with Sarbanes Oxley and related SEC and NASDAQ rules and regulations. He oversaw nearly a dozen financings and acquisitions, and negotiated numerous licensing, research and clinical trial agreements, including with the U.S. government.

Prior to joining Hollis-Eden, Mr. Loumeau was a Partner at the San Diego office of Cooley Godward LLP, where his practice encompassed a full range of corporate and securities matters for public and private companies including financings and mergers and acquisitions. In particular, he completed more than 20 public offerings, both equity and debt, for many life science and technology industry leaders, including such local companies as: Amylin Pharmaceuticals, QUALCOMM, Aurora Biosciences, DataWorks Corporation, The Titan Corporation and Hollis-Eden. He has also represented numerous investment banks including Merrill Lynch, UBS Securities, Robertson Stephens, DLJ Securities and Jefferies & Co., in major offerings. Mr. Loumeau began his career at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom where he gained significant experience representing private and public companies in corporate and securities matters.

"Eric brings with him a unique perspective, having been highly successful in private practice and as General Counsel of a public drug discovery company," said Steve P. Rosenthal, Co-Managing Member of Mintz Levin. "He has an 'insider's' understanding of the issues facing life science companies whether they are under intense regulatory scrutiny, looking for financing or preparing for a public offering. His combination of experience managing public company legal affairs from the inside, and structuring complex debt and securities transactions as outside counsel, will be of immeasurable benefit to current and future Mintz Levin clients."

Mr. Loumeau attended Harvard Law School and the University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law, where he earned his law degree. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Finance from Brigham Young University.

Mintz Levin represents biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, as well as research institutes and institutions of higher education, located throughout the United States, Europe and Asia, in a broad range of transactional, regulatory, counseling and intellectual property matters. The firm's life sciences service teams include more than one hundred attorneys and senior professionals with industry-specific experience and knowledge of finance, management and systems, clinical strategy, regulatory affairs, licensing, patents, corporate transactions, tax, manufacturing, accounting, product economics and real estate.

05-30-2007

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Lathrop & Gage LLP

National Fortune® 500 Survey Names Lathrop & Gage as a Go-To Law Firm
In a recent survey of the Fortune® 500 by Corporate Counsel magazine, several clients listed Lathrop & Gage L.C. as a "Go-To" law firm. Both Deere and Company and YRC Worldwide said Lathrop & Gage is a Go-To firm in the areas of Labor & Employment and Litigation, while Longs Drug Store Corporation hailed the firm as a resource for Intellectual Property.

Less than 1 percent of all law firms in the United States were listed as "Go-To" firms. They were selected by interviewing the general counsel of Fortune 500 companies who were asked to identify the outside law firms they turn to for assistance when they need results.

Lathrop & Gage's Litigation practice has more than 180 litigators. Additionally, the firm is home to 44 Intellectual Property attorneys and 34 Labor & Employment attorneys. More than half of the firm’s attorneys have received Martindale Hubbell’s highest rating, dozens are listed in Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America and several are inducted into the prestigious American colleges of their practice areas.

05-30-2007

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Healy & Baillie, L.L.P.

Blank Rome in the Israeli Market—in Hebrew
Blank Rome recognizes Israel’s potential for economic growth and expansion and strives to become part of that growth. Blank Rome’s legal and government relations teams consists of over 500 attorneys and government relations professionals located in New York, Washington, DC, Pennsylvania, Florida, New Jersey, Delaware, Ohio, and Hong Kong. The Firm, founded over 60 years ago, provides counsel in a broad range of areas of the law and government relations.

Blank Rome has long represented American, Israeli, and other clients around the world. We are experienced in sophisticated and complex matters and transactions that may help Israeli enterprises hoping to begin business or expand existing business in the U.S. Our services include:

* intellectual property, high tech, biotech, and chemical industries, including complex patent and trademark work, licensing, and technology transfers in the life science industries, and work with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
* government contracts, including homeland security and the military industry
* government relations and services including: lobbying on the federal, state, and local government levels; public relations services; and strategic communications
* securities, mergers and acquisitions, financial services, and tax law
* immigration law, including obtaining non-immigrant visas for a wide range of both American and international employers

In addition to the above, we provide a wide range of services to businesses operating in many industries.

Through our strategic alliance with Brussels-based public affairs and public relations agency Interel, Blank Rome can also provide a seamless U.S.–E.U. legal, government relations and lobbying, and strategic communications service to businesses increasingly impacted by decisions made on both sides of the Atlantic. We also have the largest maritime law practice in the U.S., serving the shipping industry around the world.

Blank Rome perceives the tightening of its connections with the Israeli market as a strategic goal, and therefore invests personnel, time, and resources to develop relationships with leaders in the Israeli business and legal communities. We are interested in meeting with business people, attorneys, and others who might have need of our services and an interest in working with us.

05-30-2007

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Healy & Baillie, L.L.P.

Philadelphia Managing Director and Former City Solicitor Joins Blank Rome
Pedro A. Ramos, Philadelphia’s managing director and former city solicitor, will join Blank Rome LLP, effective June 11, as a partner in the employment, benefits and labor practice group, and also as a principal in Blank Rome Government Relations LLC, the Firm announced today.

Mr. Ramos brings more than 15 years of public and private sector experience to Blank Rome. Before his appointment as city solicitor, he practiced at another law firm, served as the vice president and chief of staff to the president of the University of Pennsylvania, and was president of the Philadelphia School Board. He has also served on numerous civic and corporate governing boards.

Mr. Ramos joined Philadelphia city government in March 2004, as city solicitor, and was appointed managing director in April 2005. As managing director, he served as the city's chief operating officer, responsible for overseeing 16 operating departments and offices. A hands-on manager, he directed city resources for numerous highly complex national and regional events, including the Live 8 benefit concert. He also supervised the Philadelphia's emergency response to Hurricane Katrina, and the urgent repatriation of 4,200 Americans from Beirut, Lebanon, through Philadelphia International Airport. Mayor John F. Street, in recognition of Mr. Ramos’ extensive experience in managing challenging situations, appointed him to co-chair the nationally recognized Emergency Preparedness Review Committee (EPRC). Since then, Ramos has led a marked transformation in the city’s emergency preparedness, planning, and response capabilities.

As Philadelphia city solicitor, Mr. Ramos served as the chief legal counsel for the city, the mayor, the city council and all city boards and commissions, and managed a staff of more than 350 in the city’s Law Department, including 185 attorneys. He is credited with making significant improvements in the collection of delinquent taxes, with helping to resolve a labor dispute involving a high-profile show visiting Philadelphia, and led the legal challenge to proposed SEPTA fare and service reductions in 2004.

Mr. Ramos also has extensive experience in education, public education, and higher education. From 2002 until 2004, he served as vice president and chief of staff to then–University of Pennsylvania President Judith Rodin. Mr. Ramos advised the president and was responsible for the administrative oversight of independent university functions. He was also the administration’s liaison to the standing Trustee Committee on Neighborhood Initiatives, the ad hoc Committee on Diversity, and the Social Investment Subcommittee of the Investment Committee. Mr. Ramos chaired the group of vice presidents charged with implementing the president's Neighborhood Initiatives, and drove an effort to revamp Penn's housing assistance program. During his tenure at Penn, Mr. Ramos also co-chaired the Education Transition Team for Governor Ed Rendell.

Prior to joining Penn, Mr. Ramos engaged in private practice as a partner at Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll LLP, a Philadelphia-based national law firm. He primarily concentrated on employee benefits, including tax, labor, and fiduciary law. He handled matters relating to tax-exempt organizations, ERISA fiduciary law, and the impact of insurance company seizures, rehabilitations, and liquidation on employee benefit plans, sponsors, service-providers, and fiduciaries.

From 1995 to 2001, Mr. Ramos served on the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia and was the youngest person to be elected vice president (1996, 1997 and 1998) and president (1999 and 2000). Mr. Ramos was very active in policy matters during his tenure on the board. At the request of the mayor, Mr. Ramos joined the labor negotiations with the teachers' union in 2000. He also served as one of the city's negotiators with the offices of Governors Ridge and Schweiker regarding school funding, and ultimately helped to forge a new state–city partnership structure and secured an increase in school funding.

Mr. Ramos has held several board positions, and currently serves on the boards of directors of the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC), the African American History Museum, and the Police Athletic League (PAL). He has served on the regional advisory boards for Mellon/PSFS and PNC. He has also served on various nonprofit boards, including the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC); the Samuel S. Fleisher Art Memorial; Congreso de Latinos Unidos, Inc.; the University City District Special Services District; the Philadelphia Award; Philadelphia Futures; the Hispanic Bar Association of Pennsylvania Legal Education Fund; and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Philadelphia.

Mr. Ramos has been recognized with various civic awards, including the Leon J. Obermayer Award for 2000, the annual Puerto Rican Festival's Citizen of the Year Award for 2000, and the Philadelphia Education Fund Giving Forward Award for 2002. A survey by Leadership Philadelphia of 4,800 Philadelphians recently identified Mr. Ramos as one of the area's top “connectors,” defined as leaders who connect for the common good.

Mr. Ramos received his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School and his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Ramos is an Eisenhower Exchange Fellow, with a focus on early childhood education policy in France.

05-30-2007

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Venable Baetjer & Howard

Venable Bolsters West Coast Real Estate Team with Addition of Samuel Spira to Los Angeles Office
In a move that adds a highly-skilled transactional attorney to its Los Angeles office and further strengthens an already robust national real estate practice, Samuel R. Spira has joined Venable LLP as a partner.

Mr. Spira began his career in real estate more than two decades ago as an analyst for the Milken Family affiliate Western Realty Investors. Soon afterwards, he earned a law degree and has since represented developers, owners, lenders and managers of real estate in transactional matters including the financing, acquisition and disposition of properties.

His work has involved structuring transactions and ownership interests, negotiating construction contracts, arranging for construction and long-term financing, and drafting licensing and leasing agreements for major residential, office, and retail projects, including a number of Southern California mixed-use projects.

Most recently, as a partner with Ervin Cohen & Jessup LLP in Beverly Hills, Mr. Spira represented JSM Construction in the purchase, development, and continuing preparation of the Environmental Impact Statement in connection with the real property exchange/acquisition of a 10.5 acre US Army Reserve site in West Los Angeles. While the preliminary plans for the development of the site have not yet been made public, the initial value of the exchange (JSM Construction will be obligated to construct replacement facilities for the US Army at three new sites in exchange for the fee title to theWest LA property) is estimated at $100 million.

“Venable’s national platform and commitment to growing its already considerable real estate practice made this a very enticing opportunity for me,” said Mr. Spira. “What made my decision to join Venable all the more easy was that I am being reunited with my colleagues from the former Gorry Meyer & Rudd firm.” Gorry Meyer & Rudd L.L.P. and Whitwell Jacoby Emhoff LLP were integrated with Venable in July 2006 to form Venable’sLos Angeles office. Mr. Spira was an associate and then a partner at Gorry Meyer & Rudd from 1997 to 2005.

“Sam has a deep understanding of the intricacies of real estate transactions on the buy, sell and lender side,” said Timothy J. Gorry, partner in charge of Venable’s Los Angeles office. “His homecoming is welcome, and we look forward to further increasing our depth of West Coast real estate work.”

“My clients are involved in sophisticated transactions that can often benefit from legal counsel in more than one specialty. Being able to tap into the vast knowledge pool that Venable has created – whether it is in government affairs, taxation, land-use, corporate securities, or any number of practice areas – will provide my clients with a true, one-stop shop,” added Mr. Spira.

Experienced in structuring financings for large-scale construction projects, Mr. Spira represented a developer in connection with more than $100 million in construction and mezzanine financing for a mixed-use project in Santa Ana, CA. In another mixed-use project, he advised on a $78 million loan for construction and mezzanine financing of a 180-unit condominium project in North Hollywood, CA that also includes 14,000 square feet of retail space. On the residential side, he represented a developer of a 33-unit condo development in Pasadena, CA in connection with the borrower obtaining loan proceeds in excess of $33 million.

Mr. Spira has also been involved with business transactions for private and public companies. He has represented both sellers and acquirers of businesses including the owner of a lumber company in its sale to a public company for more than $100 million; corporate lenders and borrowers in connection with secured and unsecured credit facilities; and has represented corporate participants in joint ventures and other contractual arrangements. In addition, Mr. Spira has represented institutional lenders, including KeyBank, N.A., in hundreds of millions of dollars in lending transactions.

A former nationally ranked tennis player, who spent a brief time on the professional tour, Mr. Spira attended the University of California at Berkeley and received his J.D. from the University of West Los Angeles School of Law.

Mr. Spira is Venable's latest addition to a roster of attorneys with prominent real estate backgrounds. In April, Ralph Miles, former special counsel to New York City Council and bond counsel to New York State Urban Development Corporation and Dormitory Authority, joined the firm’s New York Cityoffice. Last fall, the firm added Deborah Rochkind, the former Director of Real Estate for AOL, who joined the Tysons Corner office. And last December, Joseph Ryan, who directed numerous large-scale, multi-property transactions while serving as Executive Vice President and General Counsel at Marriott International, joined Venable's Washington, DC office.

Earlier this year, Venable expanded its Intellectual Property capabilities in Los Angeleswith the addition of a five-attorney team from Liner Yankelevitz Sunshine & Regenstrief LLP. Joining Venable then was JoAnna M. Esty, who recently finished a year-long stint as chair of the California State Bar IP Section Executive Committee, along with former research scientist Dr. Stefan J. Kirchanski, who both joined the firm as partners. Also added were IP Of Counsel J. Alison Grabell and associates Jenna F. Leavitt and Jennifer V. Whiting.

05-30-2007

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Thompson & Knight LLP

T&K Attorney Named One of "The Nation's Top 10 Antitrust Lawyers"
Thompson & Knight is pleased to congratulate Partner Gregory S.C. Huffman on being named one of "The Nation's Top 10 Antitrust Lawyers" by United States Lawyer Rankings 2007.

Lawyers are nominated for inclusion in the United States Lawyer Rankings by members of the Bar, Judiciary, and by senior management of large corporate and institutional clients. Lawyers are not allowed to nominate themselves, nor any members of their own firm. Lawyers are ranked based on confidential questionnaires which are graded out of 100 points. Only attorneys with a minimum of 90 points or higher are eligible to be included in the rankings.

The questionnaire includes general inquiries on the attorney's legal ability, negotiating skills, drafting skills, oral advocacy skills, and ability to develop creative solutions when faced with new issues. Other questions include: does the attorney get personally involved to the appropriate level in his/her cases; how well does the attorney staff a case or matter; how much does the attorney add to the body of knowledge in his/her practice area; and would you retain this attorney to handle a matter for yourself or a close family member?

Huffman is a Partner in the Trial Practice Group of the Firm's Dallas office and leads the Antitrust Practice Specialty Group. He has over 30 years of trial experience and focuses his practice on antitrust, complex commercial litigation, and criminal investigations. He is a frequent speaker and writer on antitrust, litigation, and professional topics.

05-30-2007

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