SCG Member News Roundup: December 2024

News from the Network

In the Spotlight

Adler Pollock & Sheehan (US: Rhode Island) announced John Tarantino was included in a list compiled by Innovator Magazine of 13 innovators and trailblazers who inspire and make an enormous impact in their respective areas. Click HERE to read the article. Additionally, Shareholder Hamza Chaudary was appointed by the First Circuit Court of Appeals to the Merit Selection Panel to assist with the selection of the next U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge in Rhode Island.

Dunton Rainville (Canada: Quebec) announced the firm and Hackett Campbell Bouchard have joined forces, creating a new legal leader in the region. This merger responds to the growing needs of local businesses and individuals in an increasingly complex legal and economic environment in Quebec. The new firm will combine the complementary skills of the two teams to offer first-rate personalized legal advice.

Fraser Trebilcock (US: Michigan) announced attorney Douglas Austin has been named the Best Lawyers in America® 2025 Real Estate Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Lansing. This is a high distinction, as only one attorney in each practice area in each community is identified as “Lawyer of the Year.”

Richards, Layton & Finger (US: Delaware) announced that firm director Paul Altman was selected as the 2024 recipient of the Martin I. Lubaroff Award by the American Bar Association Business Law Section’s LLCs, Partnerships and Unincorporated Entities Committee.  This prestigious award, considered to be one of the highest honors that a business entity attorney can receive, was presented to Paul at the 2024 LLC Institute on Thursday, November 7 in Tampa, Florida.

In the News

Adler Pollock & Sheehan (US: Rhode Island) announced the firm has been recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms® in 34 practice areas. Geoffrey Millsom has been named Chair of the firm’s Litigation Department.  Geoff is the Chairman of the Firm’s Banking and Financial Services Group. His practice focuses on complex litigation, business disputes, government investigations and employment issues in the banking, consumer finance, investment advisory and wealth management industries. 

AGM Abogados (Spain) announced that the firm is recognized in the 2025 Leaders League ranking for its excellence in three key practice areas: Corporate Tax, Corporate/M&A, and Restructuring & Insolvency. Additionally, 23 professionals have been ranked in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®.

CNPLaw (Singapore) announced the firm has once again been recognized for four consecutive years as one of Singapore’s Best Law Firms in The Straits Times Singapore’s Best Law Firms 2025 list. The firm has been recognized in the following 11 practice areas: Arbitration & Dispute Resolution, Banking and Finance, Corporate & Commercial, Conveyancing, Employment, Inheritance & Succession, Private Wealth Management, Insolvency & Restructuring, Intellectual Property, Investment Funds, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Real Estate (Commercial Property, Construction, Funds). This year, the firm was ranked in the new category of “Advice to Charities and Non-profit Organizations”. CNP has consistently received the highest recommendations (5 stars) in the areas of Mergers & Acquisitions and Corporate & Commercial.

Field Law (Canada: Alberta, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon) announced the hiring of Duncan Cameron and Patty Ko to the Edmonton office. Duncan’s practice focuses on civil litigation, particularly on health law and professional regulatory law. His clinical experience working with various mental health institutions as a doctoral student and postdoctoral fellow has given him a background advantageous in health law. Patty’s practice focuses on Wills, Estate, and Trusts, providing comprehensive legal support in estate planning, administration, and dependent adult matters. Her experience spans various navigating high-conflict and litigious situations, from family support claims, beneficiary conflicts, and property disputes to wills and administration challenges. 

Fraser Trebilcock (US: Michigan) announced the hiring of attorney Charles Lasky who will work primarily in the firm’s Lansing office. Charles has over four decades of experience with a primary focus on real property law: commercial and residential real estate, real estate development, tax incentive financing, tax law, business law: business mergers, sales and acquisitions, business entity formation, corporate law, and financial institution law.

Hall & Wilcox (Australia: Melbourne) announced the firm has relocated its Darwin office to larger premises, reflecting its growing presence in the Northern Territory. The firm announced the nine startup businesses selected for Frank Lab 2024, its flagship accelerator program designed to fast-track the growth of high-potential businesses solving a range of problems. Hall & Wilcox has advised on a number of important deals recently. Partners Shaun Whittaker and Ben Cotter led a team advising on Queensland’s largest social and affordable housing project, which will deliver 490 new homes in Far North Queensland. A cross-practice team, including consultant John Hutchinson and partners Vanessa Murphy, Jane Baddeley and Anthony Bradica, advised Scentre Group and Barrenjoey Private Capital on the successful launch of a new private fund and the acquisition of a 50 per cent interest in an Adelaide shopping center. Partner Nicole Tumiati, supported by partner Ben Hamilton, advised on the sale of recruitment software company Onboarded to UK-based provider The Access Group.

McBrayer (US: Kentucky) announced the firm has been recognized in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms®. The firm received Metropolitan Tier 1 ranking in Commercial Litigation, Criminal Defense: White Collar, Education Law, Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law, Employment Law – Individuals, Health Care Law, Land Use and Zoning Law, Litigation – Insurance, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Litigation – Real Estate, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Real Estate Law, and Trademark Law. On the Metropolitan Tier 2 level, the firm was ranked in Administrative/Regulatory Law, Civil Rights Law, Construction Law, Corporate Law, Employment Law – Management, Energy Regulatory Law, Insurance Law, International Mergers and Acquisitions, Litigation – Insurance, Litigation – Labor and Employment, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs, Real Estate Law, and Utilities Law. Finally, at Metropolitan Tier 3 the firm was ranked in Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights /Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Criminal Defense: General Practice, Health Care Law, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Banking & Finance, Litigation – Bankruptcy, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Trusts and Estates, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants, and Tax Law.

Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp (US: Los Angeles, CA) announced the addition of Mike Marino as a partner in the firm’s Labor & Employment practice. Mike joins MSK from Warner Bros. Discovery, where he served most recently as Senior Vice President, Legal, Employment, overseeing all employment law-related matters for the company’s studio production business units.

Richards, Layton & Finger (US: Delaware) announced nineteen attorneys have been named in four Lawdragon 500 guides in 2024: Leading Bankruptcy Lawyers, Leading Dealmakers, Leading Environmental Lawyers, and Leading Litigators. Additionaly, the firm has been recognized for excellence in 29 practice areas in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms® rankings, including receiving the survey’s top Tier 1 ranking in 24 practice areas.  Two of the firm’s practices—Mergers & Acquisitions Litigation and Securitization and Structured Finance Law—also achieved national ranking.

Robinson+Cole (US: Massachusetts) announced six lawyers have been recognized in the 2024 Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars guides for Massachusetts. The firm also announced it received 3 first-tier metropolitan rankings in the 2025 Edition of Best Law Firms® for Massachusetts: Information Technology Law, Land Use & Zoning Law, and Real Estate Law. Additionally, Robinson+Cole received six national rankings: Tier 1 ranking for Land Use & Zoning Law, Tier 2 rankings for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, Information Technology Law, and Real Estate Law, and Tier 3 rankings in, Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law.

Turner Padget (US: South Carolina) announced the addition of Robert McNair Peele, III, as a shareholder in the firm’s Columbia office. Peele is an experienced litigator who defends businesses and professionals in civil litigation claims. He counsels clients in cases involving insurance coverage, premises liability, trucking and transportation, professional liability, construction defect, and negligence.

Wynn Williams (New Zealand) announced the promotion of Tim McGuigan to the firm’s partnership. Based in the Firm’s Ōtautahi Christchurch office, Tim is an experienced litigator who specializes in regulatory and prosecution work. He has particular expertise in environmental compliance, monitoring and enforcement issues, as well as conducting prosecution work on behalf of several councils.