SCG Member News Roundup: February 2026

News from the Network

In the Spotlight

Adams and Reese (US: Louisiana) Tariffs Alert: We have received numerous questions regarding last week’s U.S. Supreme Court decision on tariffs. Click HERE for an excellent analysis of the Court’s opinion, as well as the concurring and dissenting opinions.

Amit, Pollak, Matalon & Co. (Israel) has announced that the Israeli Metropolitan Mass Transit System is rebuilding the subway system and, as such, they are set to publish “mega tenders” for the 3 lines currently being planned, which will include 109 stations and over 150 kilometers of track. This amounts to more than $20 billion USD. If you have clients in this space, please contact the firm’s Voting Representative, Stephen Rozen (sbr@apm.com) for more information.

McGinnis Lochridge (US: Texas) announced that as of January 1, Austin-based partner Carl Galant has become the firm’s managing partner. He succeeds Doug Dodds, who served as managing partner for 15 years and will now refocus on his legal practice. Dodds decided last year to step down from the position at the end of 2025, prompting a succession process that led to Galant being elected by unanimous vote of the firm’s partnership.

Robinson+Cole (US: Massachusetts) announced their Boston office recently relocated to a larger, more modern space designed to foster collaboration and innovation.

Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher (US: Hawaii) announced that John Kelly has been named a Director of the firm. John focuses his practice in the area of commercial litigation, with particular concentration in intellectual property rights. John is also the head of the firm’s Intellectual Property practice group, he has assisted a number of clients, from individuals and startups, to large and established corporations with a wide range of intellectual property matters. 

In the News

Adler Pollock & Sheehan (US: Rhode Island) announced Christian Capizzo as Co-Chair of their Energy & Telecommunications Practice and Environmental Practice. Additionally, the firm announced the promotion from Counsel to Shareholder for Erin Hockensmith and Christopher Yagoobian. Erin is co-chair of the firm’s Construction & Public Contracts Practice Group. Christopher is a member of the firm’s litigation group. The firm also announced the promotion of Associate to Counsel for Nickolas Arnold, Patrick Coyne, and Patrick Sampson. Nickolas is a member of the firm’s Business & Corporate Law, Cannabis, Health Care, and Real Estate Groups. Patrick Coyne is a member of the firm’s Business & Corporate Law Group. Patrick Sampson is a healthcare and litigation attorney.

AGM Abogados (Spain) announced the appointment of Jordi Abras as a new Partner in the Administrative Law Department at the Barcelona office. With more than 20 years of experience, Jordi Abras has built a solid career in the field of Administrative and Constitutional Law. A Law graduate from Universitat Pompeu Fabra, he began his career in 2001 in the Administrative and Constitutional Law department at Cuatrecasas. In 2004, he joined PwC, where he spent over a decade working in its Public Law practice. Since 2017, he has served as Partner in Administrative Law at Crowe Legal and Tax until his recent incorporation into AGM Abogados.

Bass, Berry & Sims (US: Tennessee) announced that Ben Schrader, a former U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutor with experience in both the Middle District of Tennessee and the District of Columbia, has joined the firm as a member in its Nashville office. Ben most recently served as Chief of the Criminal Division at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Tennessee, where he oversaw criminal prosecutions involving financial and healthcare fraud, public corruption, racketeering and other criminal conspiracies, money laundering, and asset forfeiture.

CNPLaw (Singapore) announced that their Capital Markets and Investment Funds practices and their lawyers, Tan Min-Li and Bill Jamieson, have been recognized in the Chambers Asia Pacific Guide 2026. This is the sixth time that they have been recognized in this guide.

Hall & Wilcox (Australia: Melbourne) celebrated 23 partners and 14 practice groups being recognized in the Chambers and Partners Asia Pacific Guide 2026. The firm has advised on significant matters for their clients, including MAXI-PRESS Australia and its parent company JENSEN-GROUP NV (listed in Brussels) on the acquisition of Filterfab (Australia) and the shares of Filterfab (NZ), supporting MAXI-PRESS’ position in the industrial laundry consumables market and its long-term growth strategy; global travel-tech leader FlixBus on its entry into the Australian market; the shareholders of Blue Connections on its sale to Cirrus Network Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of ASX-listed entity Atturra; and leading Australian private debt manager Revolution Asset Management on its strategic partnership with non-bank mortgage lender ColCap Financial. The firm’s attorneys have received individual accolades, including partner John Bassilios, recognised in the Chambers Fintech 2026 Guide; partner Scott Butler, named 2025 Male Advocate of Change by WIRQ – Women in Insolvency and Restructuring Queensland; partner Fay Calderone, named in the 2025 edition of ALW/NZLW Elite Women; partner Kate Frost, named Service Provider of the Year at the Northern Territory Insurance Industry Awards; and Special Counsel Belinda Walsh, appointed as an Honorary Lawyer to the Executive Committee of the NSW Workers Compensation Self Insurers Association – the first woman to hold the position. The firm also launched a first-of-its-kind tenancy disputes solution practice to support housing providers and build-to-rent operators in Australia, and was ranked #4 in Prosple’s Top 100 Graduate Employers for Law in Australia and #25 best overall across all industries.

Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp (US: Los Angeles, CA) announced the election of three new partners effective January 1, 2026, all based in the firm’s Los Angeles office: Dina Burton, Lia Momtsios, and Valentine Shalamitski. Dima Budron, promoted from associate, is a key member of MSK’s Entertainment Transactions practice. Lia (Natalia) Momtsios, promoted from associate, is a member of MSK’s Tax and Trusts & Estates practice. Valentine Shalamitski, promoted from of counsel, is in MSK’s Commercial Litigation practice.

Richards, Layton & Finger (US: Delaware) announced that M&A Advisor has selected the firm as an award winner in the 20th Annual Turnaround Awards, honoring leading restructuring, distressed M&A, and turnaround transactions, firms, and professionals. The firm’s work has been recognized in three categories: Distressed M&A Deal of the Year, Cross-Border Restructuring of the Year, and Chapter 11 Reorganization of the Year. The firm also announced that associate Randall Ainsworth has been chosen for the National Black Lawyers Top 40 Under 40 list for the second consecutive year. Randall focuses his practice on litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery and Delaware Supreme Court involving corporate governance, corporate control, mergers and acquisitions, appraisal, fiduciary duties, and other commercial disputes.

Rifkin Weiner Livingston (US: Maryland) announced that six of their attorneys have again been recognized by Super Lawyers for its 2026 edition. Alan Rifkin was recognized in the Entertainment and Sports section. Arnold Weiner, Barry Gogel, and Devon Harman were recognized in the Business Litigation section. Brad Rifkin was recognized in the Government Relations section. Michael Berman was recognized in the E-Discovery section.

Robinson+Cole (US: Massachusetts) announced Erica Kerstein has been named Chair of its Insurance + Reinsurance group. The Roffe Group announced Christine Rutigliano has been named President, elevated from her role as Executive Vice President. The firm also announced the election of Zhuoyao (Joy) Hui, Kathryn Mullin, and Austin Provost as Partners. In addition, the firm promoted Jonathan Cabot, William Daley, Emily Deans, Kiernan Ignacio, Tasnuva (Taz) Islam, Judy Lu, Rita Nerney, and Abigail Preissler to Counsel. The new Counsel represent a range of practice areas, including business transactions, finance, litigation, environmental, insurance, and managed care and ERISA litigation.

Scharf Banks Marmor ( US: Chicago, IL) announced that Partner Darren Cahr, head of the Firm’s Intellectual Property and Advertising Practice, has for the 14th consecutive year, been named to the World Trademark Review’s prestigious WTR 1000 list of top global trademark professionals. Darren was recognized in the WTR 1000 for both his trademark enforcement and litigation work, and his counseling and strategy practice.

Turner Padget (US: South Carolina) announced the election of Shareholder Richard Dukes to the firm’s Executive Committee, succeeding Franklin Shuler, Jr., upon the completion of his term. The firm is also proud to announce that Robyn Madden has been elected as a shareholder again, recognizing her significant contributions since rejoining Turner Padget in April 2025.

Wiley (US: Washington, DC) announced that Jason McCullough has joined the firm as a partner in its White Collar Defense & Government Investigations Practice. A former federal prosecutor and trial lawyer with the U.S. Department of Justice, McCullough brings two decades of experience spanning public and private practice, focused on complex criminal and civil enforcement matters – including national security-related investigations, foreign influence matters, and other white-collar enforcement challenges.

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