Movers & Shakers

Hunton & Williams LLP has added 93 new lateral attorneys, which significantly grows the firm's presence in Texas. The attorneys joined from Jenkens & Gilchrist's offices in Dallas, Austin, and Houston. Of those joining, 87 will be in Dallas, five in Austin, and one in Houston. The firm will open a new Austin office. The attorneys are enlarging the following practice areas: financial institutions, corporate, financial services, real estate, litigation, bankruptcy, tax, and estate planning. Patrick E. Mitchell, one of the new partners, will serve as the Dallas office managing partner, and Curtis G. Carlson, long-time Hunton & Williams partner, will serve as the office administrative partner. They will also be administratively responsible for the Houston office. In Austin, Chet A. Fenimore will serve as office managing partner and Jeanne 'Zonnie' P. Breckinridge will serve as office administrative partner.

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP is busy bringing practices like land use and labor and employment further into its fold. The Los Angeles-based firm picked up two new San Francisco partners ' Judy Davidoff and Arthur Friedman ' from Steefel, Levitt & Weiss, plus two associates for its real estate, land use, natural resources, and environmental practice. In February, San Francisco employment partner Jennifer Redmond and an associate came from Bingham McCutchen LLP. Top firms have been minimizing these practices because clients are less willing to bear ever-rising billing rates, but Sheppard attorneys say keeping up the firm's strength in these areas provides the long-term stability to weather economic downturns and is more important than just chasing the highest-end work.

Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLP announced the appointment of Robert A. Hager, a shareholder resident in the firm's Cleveland office, to chairman of the Real Estate & Construction Practice Group. Hager's practice focuses on commercial litigation and construction law. He has extensive experience representing developers, owners, contractors, and design professionals in all facets of construction law and litigation. Hager has represented school systems and health care facilities on major construction projects and clients engaged in construction contract negotiations, surety bond disputes, mechanics' lien claims and construction claims, and management issues. He represents clients in state and federal court litigation and in arbitration, mediation, and administrative proceedings involving business disputes and construction matters. He is also qualified to testify as an expert witness in various construction and commercial litigation matters.

The law firm of Phillips Lytle LLP, located in New York state, has named Karen A. DiNardo as partner effective immediately. DiNardo focuses in the areas of real estate transactions and financing, including acquisitions; dispositions; development; secured lending; and leasing for commercial, industrial, residential, mobile home, and retail projects.

Hunton & Williams LLP has added 93 new lateral attorneys, which significantly grows the firm's presence in Texas. The attorneys joined from Jenkens & Gilchrist's offices in Dallas, Austin, and Houston. Of those joining, 87 will be in Dallas, five in Austin, and one in Houston. The firm will open a new Austin office. The attorneys are enlarging the following practice areas: financial institutions, corporate, financial services, real estate, litigation, bankruptcy, tax, and estate planning. Patrick E. Mitchell, one of the new partners, will serve as the Dallas office managing partner, and Curtis G. Carlson, long-time Hunton & Williams partner, will serve as the office administrative partner. They will also be administratively responsible for the Houston office. In Austin, Chet A. Fenimore will serve as office managing partner and Jeanne 'Zonnie' P. Breckinridge will serve as office administrative partner.

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP is busy bringing practices like land use and labor and employment further into its fold. The Los Angeles-based firm picked up two new San Francisco partners ' Judy Davidoff and Arthur Friedman ' from Steefel, Levitt & Weiss, plus two associates for its real estate, land use, natural resources, and environmental practice. In February, San Francisco employment partner Jennifer Redmond and an associate came from Bingham McCutchen LLP. Top firms have been minimizing these practices because clients are less willing to bear ever-rising billing rates, but Sheppard attorneys say keeping up the firm's strength in these areas provides the long-term stability to weather economic downturns and is more important than just chasing the highest-end work.

Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs, LLP announced the appointment of Robert A. Hager, a shareholder resident in the firm's Cleveland office, to chairman of the Real Estate & Construction Practice Group. Hager's practice focuses on commercial litigation and construction law. He has extensive experience representing developers, owners, contractors, and design professionals in all facets of construction law and litigation. Hager has represented school systems and health care facilities on major construction projects and clients engaged in construction contract negotiations, surety bond disputes, mechanics' lien claims and construction claims, and management issues. He represents clients in state and federal court litigation and in arbitration, mediation, and administrative proceedings involving business disputes and construction matters. He is also qualified to testify as an expert witness in various construction and commercial litigation matters.

The law firm of Phillips Lytle LLP, located in New York state, has named Karen A. DiNardo as partner effective immediately. DiNardo focuses in the areas of real estate transactions and financing, including acquisitions; dispositions; development; secured lending; and leasing for commercial, industrial, residential, mobile home, and retail projects.