SCG Member News Roundup: October 2024

News from the Network

In the Spotlight

Fraser Trebilcock (US: Michigan) announced a strategic alliance with Cheltenham Law, PLLC. As both firms have a strong presence in the Greater Lansing and Detroit regions, this collaboration brings together two prominent law firms seeking to strengthen their opportunities in Michigan. This arrangement allows Fraser Trebilcock to use its knowledge and expertise in the areas of family law, criminal defense, and estate planning, among others, to enhance its presence in the Greater Lansing and Detroit regions.

Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp (US: Los Angeles, CA) announced their launching of a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory (DEI) practice group devoted to helping organizations navigate the external complexities that threaten to impinge the positive outcomes derived from DEI-related initiatives. The DEI Advisory practice group is an extension of MSK’s nationally recognized Labor & Employment department, which includes former in-house counsel to major companies and entertainment trade associations. Drawing on their varied perspectives—and the input of related practices such as litigation, regulatory, and immigration—MSK is providing strategic advice on the full spectrum of issues surrounding DEI initiatives. For the full press release, please click here.

Robinson+Cole (US: Massachusetts) announced that it has once again achieved Mansfield Certification Plus. This marks the firm’s fifth consecutive year of certification, and the second consecutive “Plus” designation, which recognizes that Robinson+Cole is committed to having at least 30% of talent pools considered for leadership roles consist of historically underrepresented groups, that the firm’s advancement processes are transparent, and that the firm has demonstrated measured progress in increasing inclusivity.

In the News

Adler Pollock & Sheehan (US: Rhode Island) announced Meaghan Kelly has joined the firm. Meaghan’s practice focuses on all aspects of trusts and estates – including estate and tax planning, taxation, probate, trust administration, including modification and reformation proceedings, offer in compromises, voluntary disclosure settlements, and guardianships proceedings. Nicole Benjamin, James Oswald, Patricia Rocha and John Tarantino were named in the 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America. They were recognized in the following categories: Nicole Benjamin (Complex Litigation, Class Action, IP), James Oswald (Product Liability, Mass Torts, Appellate), Patricia Rocha (Commercial Litigation, Product Liability, Toxic Tort), and John Tarantino (General & Commercial Litigation). The firm also announced Robert Brooks has once again been named to Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers guide. The attorneys named to Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Corporate Employment Lawyers were selected based upon independent journalistic research, submissions by firms and clients, and vetting by peers. Daniel Holmander and Jeffrey Techentin have been named IP Stars 2024 by Managing Intellectual Property Magazine.  Daniel was named a Patent Star and Jeffrey was named a Patent Star and Trademark Star. Both Daniel and Jeffrey have been recognized as IP Stars since 2014. 

AGM Abogados (Spain) announced María Royo Codesal has joined as Partner. She will lead the firm’s Labour Law practice in Madrid. An outstanding labor lawyer, María brings over 15 years of experience in labor and business law. Additionally, Alex Carbonell Real-Salas has joined as Partner in the Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and Commercial and Corporate practice in Barcelona.

Clark Wilson (Canada: British Colombia) announced Matthew Ostrow has joined as a Partner with the Family Law group.  With over 13 years of experience in family law, his services include: divorce, spousal support, mediation, parenting and marriage agreements, appellate practice, and collaborative family law.

CNPLaw (Singapore) announced the firm has received “Recommended,” “Recognized,” and “Notable” rankings for 2024 from Asialaw Profiles across various practice areas and for several individuals. Tan Min-Li (Capital Markets) and Bill Jamieson (Investment Funds) were recognized as Distinguished Practitioners, and Subramaniam Pillai (Dispute Resolution) was recognized as a Notable Practitioners. CNP has received a ranking of “Recommended” for the following practice areas: Capital Markets, Investment Funds, Labour and Employment, Private Equity, and Technology and Telecommunications. The firm has also been “Recognized” for its strength in the following practice areas: Banking and Finance, Corporate and M&A, Construction, Dispute Resolution, and Regulatory. CNP is proud to be recognized as a “Notable” firm in the following practice areas: Antitrust and Competition (New), Banking and Financial Services (New), Consumer Goods and Services, Energy (New), and Real Estate. The firm also announced it acted as Singapore counsel to ICICI Bank Limited, Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited, IndusInd Bank Limited and Axis Bank Limited on the term loan of INR 3,750 crores (approximately USD 470 million) raised by Data Infrastructure Trust (“DIT”), an infrastructure investment trust sponsored and managed by Brookfield Asset Management, for the purpose of refinancing existing debt of American Tower Corp. The deal was led by Bill Jamieson and Daniel Ng.

DSM Avocats à la Cour (Luxembourg) announced that Managing Partner Mario Di Stefano and Tax Partner Dr. Alex Pham, Ph.D. are “Highly regarded” by the ITR World Tax’s newly published ranking. In addition, the firm is recommended in: Tax Controversy (Tier 2), Transactional Tax (Tier 2), and General Corporate Tax (Tier 3).

Field Law (Canada: Alberta, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon) announced the firm has recently launched their annual Community Fund Program for this year. Over the past eleven years, Field has awarded $835,000 (CAD) to support over 140 individuals and organizations, contributing to numerous charitable initiatives throughout Alberta and the Northwest Territories in Canada. Awardees are chosen based on the positive impact they have on their communities and the “Pay It Forward” effect of their projects. In 2024, Field will be awarding another $80,000 (CAD) to participants focused on areas such as education, healthcare, at-risk youth, homelessness, diversity, women’s organizations, community, sports, arts, and culture. Additionally, a portion of the funding will be granted to a community project idea from a post-secondary student as part of their “Next Generation Award,” further promoting community impact. The firm also announced Tracy Zimmer has joined the firm. Tracy specializes in professional regulation and labor and employment law. She has represented both employers and employees and has experience as general counsel and independent counsel for professional regulators. 

Fraser Trebilcock (US: Michigan) announced that John Fifarek has joined the firm. John is an attorney with over four decades of experience in real estate matters advising property owners, developers, buyers, sellers, commercial landlords and tenants in the development, sale, purchase and leasing of property, environmental, land use and planning matters, and in court and administrative proceedings.

Hall & Wilcox (Australia: Melbourne) announced the firm has strengthened its national construction team with the appointment of partner Alex Hartmann, who brings over 30 years of experience in construction law. The firm won Banking and Finance Team of the Year at the Australian Law Awards 2024. In the latest podcast season of ‘Doing Business in Australia’, Hall & Wilcox’s international experts explore issues for companies looking to do business in Australia. This season is hosted by Partner Mark Dunphy. The firm advised on the Building Communities Consortium Ground Lease Model 2 Project, which won Social Infrastructure Project of the Year at the 2024 Global Partnership Awards. Partner Nicole Tumiati advised the shareholders in Vasco Trustees, one of Australia’s largest fund service providers, on the sale of Vasco Trustees and associated entities to TMF Group, a leading provider of global administrative services. Partners Natalie Bannister and Vanessa Murphy led a team that advised Arena REIT on its $120 million capital raising and portfolio acquisition of six early learning centre properties. The firm was again named an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency.

McBrayer (Kentucky) announced Member Mari-Elise Paul has been selected to lead the firm’s formidable Intellectual Property practice. Mari-Elise takes the helm of a practice that has seen extensive, innovative growth in recent years, and operates at the highest level within the Commonwealth. Mari-Elise has long been a respected IP figure on both the national and international stage and now has brought her experience and expertise to the firm.

Richards, Layton & Finger (US: Delaware) announced the firm has once again been selected by Law360 as a Delaware Regional Powerhouse. Law360 reported that Richards Layton is known as a “center of excellence” for corporate law, adding that the firm serves clients in a wide variety of industries, including manufacturing, energy, entertainment, tech, healthcare, and finance. Law360 called out the firm’s recent wins on behalf of Gilead Sciences, IDT Corp., and Nogin, as well as the launch of its new Mediation and Arbitration practice and milestone 125th Anniversary. Additionally, the firm announced its new Arbitration & Mediation practice. Led by Greg Williams and Kevin Gross, the firm is deepening its existing Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) practice as they remain focused on expanding services and meeting the needs of all parties involved. Seventeen attorneys have been recognized in the 2025 edition of Benchmark Litigation, more lawyers than from any other Delaware firm.  A definitive guide to the world’s leading litigation firms and lawyers, Benchmark has also ranked Richards Layton in its top “Highly Recommended” firm category. The following attorneys were recognized: Robert Burns, Susan Hannigan Cohen, Brock Czeschin, Catherine Dearlove, Raymond DiCamillo, Kevin Gallagher, John Hendershot, Travis Hunter, Rudolf Koch, Jeffrey Moyer, Srinivas Raju, Blake Rohrbacher, Lisa Schmidt, Chad Shandler, Robert Stearn Jr., Robert Whetzel, Gregory Williams. In additiona, the firm has again been named a Top Performer and Compass Award winner by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), which highlights law firms and corporations with strong commitments to building a more inclusive legal profession. The LCLD is an organization of over 400 corporate legal officers and law managing partners devoted to promoting inclusiveness in their organizations, with the ultimate goal of building a more equitable and diverse legal profession. Director Raymond DiCamillo has been elected as a Fellow of the American College of Governance Counsel. Fellowship in the college is by invitation only, offered to exceptional lawyers who are experts in their field and have demonstrated a high level of knowledge, professionalism, and commitment to the advancement of governance practice. Edward Little has been named as an Associate Regulatory Counsel Member of the Federation of Regulatory Counsel (FORC).  FORC is a national association of attorneys specialized in insurance regulatory law whose mission is to raise and uphold the standard of excellence in the practice of regulatory law.  Applicants must pass a rigorous vetting and interview process and meet a number of benchmarks before being chosen as FORC counsel members. Additionally, an astonishing 33 attorneys have been named Top Lawyers in Delaware Today magazine’s list of the best lawyers in the state.  The magazine polls lawyers throughout Delaware to compile its annual Top Lawyers list.  Four Richards Layton lawyers were designated “top vote getters” after receiving the most votes from their peers in their respective practice areas.

Starn O’Toole Marcus & Fisher (US: Hawaii) announced that firm Director Sara Strona and Litigation Associate Kari Noborikawa have been selected as 2024 Hawaii Emerging Legal Stars by Hawaii Business Magazine. Sara is a Director and focuses her practice in the areas of commercial real estate transactions, leasing, business sales and acquisitions, and corporate law. Kari is a Litigation Associate and focuses her practice in commercial litigation. 

Wiley (US: Washington, DC) announced Sarah Amick, a noted environmental lawyer with more than 15 years of regulatory, public policy, and trade association experience, has joined the firm as special counsel in the Environment & Product Regulation Group.