Top Legal Industry News for September 2021

Thursday, September 16, 2021

Welcome back to another edition of the National Law Review’s legal industry news column. Read on for the latest law firm, innovation, and hiring news selected by the National Law Review editorial team!

Law firm employment and relocation

Jones Walker LLP added Alysse McLoughlin as a partner to its State & Local Tax (SALT) team. Ms. McLoughlin has experience in tax planning, state tax litigation and other financial services, having previously served as the director of state tax at Barclays Capital and as a state tax advisor for Lehman Brothers. She has also been ranked by Chambers USA for her expertise in tax law since 2017.

“We have known Alysse and have respected her professionalism and talent for years,” said Bill Backstrom, director of Jones Walker’s Tax Practice Group. “We are very happy to welcome you to our team. Her background with a multinational investment bank, global financial services company and the IRS is a huge asset to our SALT team. We look forward to working with her and seeing her immediate impact in helping our customers’ interests. “

David M. Hill joined Burg Simpson Eldredge Hersh & Jardine as an Associate Attorney. He previously served as an external judicial officer and clerk in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and the Fifth Judicial District Court in Wyoming, and earned a master’s degree in business management and supply chain management.

Mr. Hill will work in the Simpson Castle office in Cody, Wyoming, where he represents clients on matters such as real estate, leases, estate planning, contracts and personal injury.

Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP has partnered corporate attorney Lisa R. Jacobs in the firm’s Philadelphia office. She has worked with a variety of clients including healthcare providers, food and beverage companies, and professional sports teams, and has worked in areas such as private equity transactions, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance.

“I have known, respected and worked with Lisa Jacobs for many years,” said Stradley Ronon Co-Chairman and Managing Partner Jeffrey A. Lutsky. “I couldn’t be more excited to have her at Stradley.”

Pierce Atwood welcomed Nicholas Gladd as a partner in his energy practice in its Washington DC and Portland offices. Mr. Gladd brings extensive knowledge of energy regulation and has held positions with the FERC law firm and the Energy Bar Association.

“Nic’s extensive and extensive expertise in energy law and litigation will help us support our growing number of utilities, energy project developers, energy marketers, investors and more. We are fortunate that Nic has chosen to bring his talent and expertise to Pierce Atwood and we look forward to welcoming him to our team of highly qualified energy lawyers, ”said Jared S. des Rosiers, Chairman of the Pierce Atwood Energy Practice Group.

Pro bono & recognition

Good2BSocial is one of the fastest growing private companies on Inc. Magazine’s annual Inc. 5000 list, which surveys America’s small business growth. Companies in 2021 are ranked according to their growth from 2017 to 2020.

“We are very pleased to have our first appearance at the Inc. 5000. It is especially important that we have made the list now, given the challenges so many companies have faced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. We would like to thank all of our employees, customers and partners who have supported us on this path, ”said Guy Alvarez, founder and CEO of Good2bSocial.

“The 2021 Inc. 5000 list feels like one of the most important company lists ever made. Building one of the fastest growing companies in America each year is a remarkable achievement. Building one in the crisis we went through is just amazing. That kind of accomplishment takes hard work, bright minds, great leadership, and the help of many people, ”said Scott Omelianuk, editor-in-chief of Inc. Magazine.

The Boston Bar Association (BBA) Labor and Employment Steering Committee elected Sherin and David I. Brody von Logden as co-chair for the 2021-2022 term. The committee plans the activities of the Labor and Employment Section of the association and develops political initiatives.

Mr. Brody represents individuals in a variety of labor and employment matters in federal and state courts in Massachusetts and has served on the BBA’s Labor and Employment Steering Committee since 2018.

Matthew Sarna of DLA Piper received the 20/20 Partners Young Leader Award from the Business Bankruptcy Section of the American Bar Association (ABA) Business Law Section. The award is reserved for attorneys who demonstrate commitment to corporate bankruptcies, community engagement, professionalism, and leadership. Mr. Sarna was one of 19 recipients.

Mr. Sarna focuses on corporate bankruptcy and restructuring matters, helping debtors pick up the remains of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Sarna is also involved in pro bono matters and helps veterans receive discharge updates through the National Veterans Legal Service Program.

Awards and innovation in the legal industry

The International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) has elected new board chairs and members for 2021-22. The IADC focuses on legal reform and the professional development of attorneys.

IADC members represent some of the largest companies in the world, including members of the FORTUNE 500, and are leaders in corporate and insurance law.

The new CEOs are:

• President

Spencer H. Silverglate

Clarke Silverglate, PA

Miami, Florida

• President-elect

Mark R. Beebe

Adams and Reese LLP

New Orleans, Louisiana

• Immediate past president

Andrew S. Chamberlin

Ellis & Winters LLP

Greensboro, North Carolina

• Vice President for Insurance

Thomas F. Lysaught

QBE North America

Chicago, Illinois

The new IADC board members (three-year term) are:

• J. Dominic Campodonico

Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani, LLP

San Francisco, California

• Daniela Karollus-Bruner

CMS Reich-Rohrwig Hainz

Vienna, Austria

• Christopher A. Kenney

Kenney & Sams, PC

Boston, Massachusetts

Americas Lodging Investment Summit named Vedder Price’s transaction to sell L’Ermitage Beverly Hills Hotel, led by Michael M. Eidelman, shareholder and chairman of the bankruptcy, bankruptcy and recovery group, as Single Asset Transaction of the Year.

The United States District Court for the Central District of California appointed Mr. Eidelman as special master overseeing the sale of the L’Ermitage Beverly Hills Hotel, which the United States government sold to illegally laundered funds from a major international money laundering scandal known as 1MDB . The scandal allegedly involved the misappropriation of billions of dollars by the Malaysian development company 1MDB. The hotel property was sold to EOS Investors for $ 100 million following a competitive auction with 50 competing bids.

“The Vedder Price team is honored to be recognized by The Americas Lodging Investment Summit,” said Eidelman. “We couldn’t be happier with the outcome of the sale. The transaction underscores our industry knowledge as well as our hard work. “

Ward and Smith have created a new service that covers mandatory vaccines in the workplace and possible exemptions from mandatory vaccination guidelines. The new service allows North Carolinians to speak to an attorney about mandatory vaccines through a phone call or virtual meeting for a flat fee of $ 300.

“One of the real concerns, out of the numerous calls we have received on the matter, is from people stressed out about the possibility of losing their jobs and livelihoods if they choose not to be vaccinated,” said Ken Gray, labor law attorney. “That’s why we developed this service. We regularly help employers create workplace guidelines and help them understand their rights as well as the rights of their employees. With this service, even individual workers can understand their rights and have correct information under the law here in North Carolina. “

Workers can be exempt from the requirement if they have a disability or religious beliefs, but these exemptions have their limits.

“Not all employers are covered by ADA or Title VII. In addition, the adjustment process is different for each job, depends on the circumstances of the employee, or can change depending on the needs of the company. For example, if a company decides that this employee will work remotely, the accommodations may be different. “

Those interested in contacting Ward and Smith for more information can call 800-998-1102.

Jackson Lewis launched a video training series covering Title IX team training duties and sexual misconduct allegations for higher education institutions. The training covers the May 2020 Title IX Regulations and the July 2021 Title IX Guidelines of the U.S. Department of Education.

“Providing truly effective Annual Title IX team training can be challenging, but it is essential to ensuring fairness, compliance and campus security,” said Josh Whitlock, director at Jackson Lewis’ Charlotte, NC office and creator of the new video training series. “Individuals serving as coordinators, investigators, hearing officers, appellants, and counselors on allegations of sexual misconduct are often daunting and always impactful roles. Your training must respond to complex and changing legal requirements and prepare you to master sensitive situations with skill and care. This series offers a comprehensive, efficient, inexpensive and versatile solution. Our team put deep thought and literally hundreds of hours into creating the training content and platform. We pride ourselves on the value the series offers and we’ve had great feedback from the dozen of schools that are already using it. “

The course includes seven training modules, 15 hours of hands-on breakdowns, real-world examples, quizzes and other interactive elements, and on-demand access on any device with unlimited sharing within the institution.

Copyright © 2021 National Law Forum, LLCNational Law Review, Volume XI, Number 259