BCG in The News

06/27/06

Morrison & Foerster's new recruits
Lisa Weiss, former General Counsel to Sony BMG Music Entertainment, and Craigh Leonard from Bingham McCutchen have joined Morrison & Foerster. Both well-known corporate attorneys will practice in the firm's New York office. Joining Morrison & Foerster as a senior counsel, Leonard was formerly a Corporate Partner with Bingham McCutchen. Weiss was instrumental in structuring the merger that established Sony BMG as the world's second-largest recording company. After the merger, she served as General Counsel.

Private equity attorney joins Loeb & Loeb
Barry T. Mehlman has been added to the Corporate Department of Loeb & Loeb as partner. Mehlman is a specialist in representing private equity firms in issues related to purchase, sale, and management of middle-market businesses. Prior to this appointment, Mehlman was Of Counsel at Pitney Hardin and has served as attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission. A full-service firm, Loeb & Loeb has 225 attorneys in offices located in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Nashville.

McGuire Woods adds attorney to its litigation department
McGuire Woods has added Todd J. Poole to the Complex Products Liability and Mass Tort Litigation Department as associate. Poole specializes in complex litigation, representing companies in issues including toxic torts, products liability, property damage, and contract performance. Prior to his appointment, Poole was an associate with Bowman and Brooke and has earned his J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School in Nashville. McGuireWoods is a full-service law firm with around 750 lawyers in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

Clifford Chance hires two from Paul Hastings
Two senior attorneys from Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker have joined Clifford Chance. John P. Howitt and Ray Warman will strengthen the firm's finance and restructuring practice. The lawyers have joined the firm as a partner and counsel, respectively. The firm specializes in financing and leasing and believes that the addition will enhance the firm's ability to handle the complex aircraft financing transactions for global clients. The New York office of Clifford Chance now has 300 lawyers, including 60 partners.

DLA Piper announces new Litigation Chair in Baltimore
James Mathias is the new Litigation Chair in DLA Piper's Baltimore office. He will be responsible for the general management of this practice, which has approximately 75 lawyers. Neil J. Dilloff, who held the position before him, will continue as a partner in the litigation practice. DLA Piper has 3,100 lawyers and 58 offices in 22 countries internationally. It has leading practices in commercial, corporate and finance, human resources, litigation, real estate, regulatory and legislative, technology, media, and communications.

Foley & Lardner elects Chair of Intellectual Property Department
Sharon Barner has been elected Chair of Foley & Lardner's Intellectual Property Department. She will further strengthen the department, while focusing on areas of biotechnology, nanotechnology, IP litigation, trademark, and copyright. With more than 20 years of experience, Barner specializes in IP litigation and advises clients on technology issues. Most recently a partner at Foley's Chicago office, Barner has also served as Chair of the firm's IP Litigation Department.

Paul Hastings enhances its Paris Tax Department
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker has announced a new addition to the Tax Department in its Paris office. Allard de Waal was previously at Willkie Farr & Gallagher. He has been handling tax issues relating to transactional matters such as private equity transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and the tax structuring of private equity funds for more than 20 years. Paul Hastings is internationally known for a preeminent tax practice in telecommunications, real estate, executive compensation, and tax-exempt and tax-favored investments.