VDMA Law (South Africa) announced it opened a new office in Stellenbosch during the course of September 2022. Stellenbosch has increasingly become the top destination for specialist service providers and decision makers in business. It is therefore the opportune time for VDMA to expand its footprint into Stellenbosch.

“Earlier this year we celebrated VDMA’s 12th anniversary and since the inception of the firm, we have considered not only the future of the firm itself, but ensuring that the future of the firm is aligned with the future of our clients” said Pieter van der Merwe, VDMA’s Managing Partner, “and we are confident that our Stellenbosch office will aid in our goal of ensuring that VDMA remains the boutique corporate and commercial law firm of choice in South Africa.”

Brydon, Swearengen & England (Missouri) announced that its partners, William “Trip” England, Dean Cooper and Charles Smarr, have been selected again for inclusion in the 2022 edition of Best Lawyers in America. Mr. Smarr is listed in Food and Beverage Law, Mr. Cooper in Energy Law, and Mr. England in Energy and Communications Law.

Richards, Layton & Finger (Delaware) announced Fred Cottrell, a leader in Delaware’s intellectual property bar, has been named chair of Richards, Layton & Finger’s Litigation Department. He handles significant litigation before the District of Delaware and in Delaware’s state courts, including major IP, antitrust, products liability, and commercial litigation. Chad Shandler was selected as the Litigation Department’s vice chair. He has expertise in complex financial, commercial, trusts and estates, intellectual property, and insurance litigation. Kelly Farnan is the new head of the firm’s Intellectual Property Group. She focuses her practice on complex commercial and intellectual property litigation in Delaware’s state and federal courts. The firm also announced that nine directors in Richards Layton’s Litigation Department were recently recognized in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America, and two associates were named among the Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch.”

Scharf Banks Marmor LLC (Illinois: Chicago) announced Susan H. Rider, former Vice President & Deputy General Counsel for Labor, Employment & Employee Benefits at Exelon Corporation, has joined the firm. Ms. Rider served as a trusted advisor to senior leadership and led the nationwide team of labor, employment and benefits lawyers at Exelon Corporation and its then subsidiary Constellation. Among her many accomplishments at Exelon was her work with human resources and executive leadership to increase diversity and inclusion in the company’s workforce. At Scharf Banks Marmor, Susan leverages her many years of experience in corporate law to assist employers with the myriad labor and employment challenges they face. She is actively involved in the firm’s Equity Audit Practice as well as employment counseling and pre-dispute resolution practice.

Rifkin Weiner Livingston LLC (Maryland) announced that the firm and a number of attorneys have again been recognized by Best Lawyers for its 2023 edition. The firm is recognized again as a 2023 Tier 1 “Best Law Firm” and our attorneys have been recognized in the practice areas listed: Alan M. Rifkin, Best Lawyers: Sports Law, Commercial Litigation; Arnold M. Weiner, Bet-The-Company Litigation, Commerical Litigation, Criminal Defense: White Collar, Professional Malpractice Law- Plaintiffs; Michael V. Johansen, Government Relations Practice; Jamie Eisenberg Katz, Business Organizations (Including LLCS and Partnerships), Real Estate Law; Barry L. Gogel, Commercial Litigation, Professional Malpractice Law- Plaintiffs; Brad I. Rifkin, Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Government Relations Practice; Michael T. Marr, Medical Malpractice Law- Defendants.

Richards, Layton & Finger (Delaware) announced new Directors Matthew D. Perri and Drew G. Sloan, and Counsel Jake Crosetto. Matthew Perri focuses his practice primarily on litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery and the Delaware Supreme Court. He handles complex corporate governance, corporate control, fiduciary duty, contractual, appraisal, and other commercial disputes. Matt also assists special committees of boards of directors in investigations relating to stockholder demands and whistleblower complaints. Matt is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America. He has a BA from Binghamton University and a JD from the University of Virginia School of Law. Drew Sloan advises clients on Delaware alternative entity matters, with a particular focus on private equity funds and structured finance transactions. He provides counsel and legal opinions in connection with a wide range of formation, operational, and governance matters involving Delaware partnerships and limited liability companies. Drew serves on the board of directors of the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula. He earned a BA, with honors, from Rutgers University and a JD from Villanova University School of Law. Jake Crosetto focuses on a broad range of transactional matters, with an emphasis on transactions involving Delaware entities. He assists with numerous aspects of structured finance transactions and advises on secured transactions, debtor-in-possession lending, mergers and acquisitions, and venture capital investments. Jake received a BA, cum laude, from Lycoming College and a JD from Temple University School of Law.

Beauchamps LLP (Ireland) partner Barry Cahir has been appointed as president of INSOL Europe. He was appointed during the INSOL Europe Annual Congress recently held in Dubrovnik, Croatia.