SNR Denton News

LONDON/WASHINGTON, DC, May 17, 2012 - While once a merely technical issue for the back office, privacy and data security problems have become one of the most critical concerns for companies of all stripes. Global laws and regulations are constantly being revised, while data breaches and website attacks are a daily occurrence.
In order to provide a continually updated source for high quality analysis and commentary on the subject, SNR Denton has launched the Privacy and Data Security Blog. The blog will be written by SNR Denton’s global team of top privacy lawyers led by SNR Denton Washington, DC-based partner Todd Daubert, head of the firm’s Communications and Technology practice, and Nick Graham, SNR Denton London-based Privacy partner...

As competitive global legal marketplace spurs law firm innovation, Fernandez fills post to promote global innovation in client services, technology integration and business development.
WASHINGTON, DC, April 10, 2012 - SNR Denton announced today that John R. Fernandez, former head of the United States Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration, has joined the firm to direct innovation initiatives designed to broaden the array of services offered to clients.
"Our clients are responding to the current economy by critically examining how they organize their operations and what they offer to their customers. We want to help them, which requires us to innovate as well," said Elliott Portnoy, chief executive of SNR Denton...

Law firm adds 20 senior professionals in first three months of 2012 including 12 new partners; arrivals extend from New York to Moscow, Dallas and Washington.
April 5, 2012 - Global law firm SNR Denton has expanded its expert ranks with 20 prominent professionals in the first three months of 2012. Twelve partners, seven counsel/senior advisors and one principal have joined several of the firm’s offices including Dallas, Kansas City, London, Moscow, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis and Washington, DC. Earlier this month, the firm announced 20 promotions in the United States including 16 partners, two counsel and two principals—demonstrating that growth is being driven from both within and outside the firm.
"It is a testament to our global platform that such a high level of talent and experience in the legal industry are moving their practices and clients to SNR Denton," said Elliott I...

LONDON, March 20, 2012 - SNR Denton is pleased to announce the appointment of Stuart Cavet as Managing Partner of its Kuwait office. Stuart joined the firm in July 2010 as a partner with over 15 years experience across the Middle East, Asia, Europe, Africa and Latin America in all types of corporate and energy-related work.
Having opened its office in Kuwait City in 2008, SNR Denton operates in association with International Legal Group and has a combined offering of 20 lawyers in the market servicing clients on a range of matters including energy, infrastructure and project finance, corporate and commercial, TMT, tax and litigation. The firm has had a constant presence in the Middle East for more than 40 years and presently has 10 offices in nine jurisdictions, with more than 170 lawyers and legal staff resident in the region...

New Partners, Counsel and Principals Continue Tradition of Excellence
NEW YORK, March 12, 2012 - SNR Denton US LLP announced today the election of 16 new partners and the appointment of two counsel and two principals in its US offices. The promotions are effective January 1, 2012, and include lawyers and professionals resident in nine of the firm's US offices.
Those promoted to partner are: Matthew Adams, Gene R. Besen, Roland S. Chase, Steven M. Geiszler, Qian Huang, Andrea M. Kimball, Sean Leonard, Derek T. Neathery, Jessica M. Norris, Abraham D. Piontnica, Timothy J. Santoli, Jason A. Schumacher, Ryan W. Sears, Peter P. Thieman, Charles Vantine and Anders C. Wick. Todd Anderson and Charles Gelinas have been elevated to counsel...

PHOENIX, March 12, 2012 - SNR Denton announced today that Terry Goddard has joined the firm as a senior counsel in its Public Policy and Regulation practice. Goddard previously served as the Arizona attorney general and will reside in SNR Denton's Phoenix office.
Goddard is the third state attorney general to join SNR Denton within the past year. In June 2011, Bill McCollum (Washington, DC), former attorney general of Florida, and Jeff Modisett (Los Angeles), former attorney general of Indiana, joined to lead the firm's State Attorneys General practice.
"The expansion of our State Attorneys General practice has been a priority for the firm, and Terry's record of accomplishment in Arizona will offer significant added depth," said SNR Denton partner Bill McCollum...

Former Freddie Mac Deputy General Counsel, FDIC and US Treasury Counsel Latest Partner in Growing Practice
WASHINGTON, DC, March 6, 2012 - SNR Denton announced today that Lisa M. Ledbetter has joined the firm as a partner in its Financial Institutions Regulatory practice. Ledbetter joins SNR Denton from Freddie Mac where she was most recently vice president and deputy general counsel. She previously served in several senior positions at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). Ledbetter is resident in the firm's Washington, DC, office.
"Lisa is one of the financial services industry's top bank regulatory and legislative lawyers," said Robert Bostrom, co-head of SNR Denton's global Financial Institutions and Funds sector and former Freddie Mac executive vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary, who himself joined the firm in the past six months...

February 15, 2012 // Franchising.com // WASHINGTON, DC - SNR Denton announced today that Karl V. Hopkins has joined the firm as a partner, Shon C. Ramey has joined as counsel and Sinan Pismisoglu has joined as a Foreign Legal Specialist. The group continues the growth of SNR Denton’s Corporate practice and are members of its award-winning 350-member Energy, Transport and Infrastructure sector team. All three will be resident in SNR Denton’s Washington, DC office. The group joins the firm from Dewey & LeBoeuf in Houston.
"Karl offers a sophisticated global practice at the intersection of energy and global security. His oil and gas and infrastructure project deals practice, together with related international arbitration matters, built on the foundation of his key Middle East relationships, makes him an exceptional strategic fit for SNR Denton," said Joe Andrew, SNR Denton’s Global Chairman...

NEW ORLEANS, February 9, 2012 - SNR Denton announced today it will open on March 1, 2012 in New Orleans, which will join more than 60 locations worldwide. The firm’s space will be located in Poydras Center, 650 Poydras Street, Suite 2850 in the city’s Central Business District. The firm also announced the addition of lawyers in New Orleans who will work in tandem with a team led by Clinton A. Vince, co-head of SNR Denton’s Energy, Transport and Infrastructure team.
"This expansion is reflective of our commitment to the people and the city of New Orleans," said Mike McNamara, SNR Denton’s US Managing Partner. "We are proud of our work for the City Council of New Orleans, and now are exceptionally pleased to have SNR Denton in one of America’s most important cities...

LONDON, November 14, 2011
SNR Denton has successfully helped First Data Corporation, a global leader in electronic commerce and payment processing, obtain approval from European Data Protection regulators for its Binding Corporate Rules for data privacy (BCRs).
Today, the Information Commissioner’s Office granted authorisation of First Data's BCRs, making it the eleventh company to obtain such authorization. First Data is one of only a handful of other companies worldwide who have completed this rigorous process to establish of the highest standards global data privacy practices. Its BCRs have been approved by the data protection authorities in 18 European Union member states.
The authorisation marks the culmination of a four-year project by First Data which was led on First Data's side by John Atkins, First Data’s Chief Privacy Officer, and Tanya Madison Cunningham, Senior Counsel, Technology, Regulatory Compliance and Privacy...

WASHINGTON, DC, October 12, 2011
SNR Denton announced today that Heather Sibbison has joined the firm as a partner, Suzanne (Susi) Schaeffer and George Skibine have joined as counsel and Joshua Clause has joined as an associate, all in both the firm’s Indian Law and Tribal Representation and Public Policy and Regulations practices. They will reside in the firm’s Washington, DC, office.
"These lawyers are some of the most highly regarded professionals working in the tribal area," said Alan R. Fedman, head of SNR Denton’s Indian Law and Tribal Representation practice. "Their arrival underscores SNR Denton’s commitment to building its tribal practice with outstanding lawyers who are recognized advocates for tribal interests...

July 14, 2010 // Franchising.com // (PALO ALTO, Calif.) — Patent litigator Dana Finberg has joined Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP as a partner in its Intellectual Property & Technology practice, the law firm announced today. Finberg, who was previously head of the Intellectual Property Litigation practice at LeClairRyan in San Francisco, will reside in Sonnenschein's Silicon Valley office.

"Dana has built a significant body of trial work in federal courts throughout the country," said James Klenk, chair of Sonnenschein's Intellectual Property & Technology Group. "The breadth of experience he brings in patent, trademark and copyright litigation, especially in the pharmaceutical arena, will be a great asset for our clients...

July 07, 2010 // Franchising.com // (WASHINGTON) — Carter B. Simpson, a long-time senior lawyer for Exxon Mobil Corp., the world's largest publicly-traded international oil and gas company, has joined Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP as counsel, the law firm announced today. Simpson served most recently as ExxonMobil's senior counsel for antitrust and trade regulation, directing global antitrust, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and export control and trade sanctions advice and compliance for its downstream businesses. Simpson will reside in Sonnenschein's Washington, D.C., office as part of its Energy, Antitrust and Competition, and Global Services practices.

"The breadth of our global energy practice, particularly in light of the pending combination to create SNR Denton, continues to demand the type of expertise Carter has mastered in years of service representing the world's largest oil company," said Clinton A...

June 16, 2010 // Franchising.com // (WASHINGTON)-- Communications lawyer Todd D. Daubert has joined Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP as a partner in its Communications, Media & Technology practice the law firm announced today. Daubert will reside in Sonnenschein's Washington, D.C. office as part of its Public Law & Policy Strategies Group.

"Todd's strong technical understanding of the business and engineering aspects of the communications industry is impressive and provides clients comprehensive solutions to complex situations," said Mike McNamara, chair of Sonnenschein's Public Law & Policy Strategies Group. "He is a great addition to our talented Communications, Media and Technology team."

Daubert is a recognized expert on broadband services and is widely known for his work on behalf of competitive wireless and wireline carriers...

US-based Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal and UK-based Denton Wilde Sapte announce plans to create elite client-focused firm with 1,400 lawyers in 18 countries May 27, 2010 // Franchising.com // NEW YORK/LONDON – Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP (SNR) and Denton Wilde Sapte LLP (Denton) announce their management boards have recommended combining to create an integrated global firm. The combination is subject to a partnership vote by each firm on June 9, 2010.

SNR Denton would be a top 25 law firm worldwide by size, with approximately 1,400 lawyers and fee earners on four continents, a presence in 18 countries, and its two largest offices in London and New York. The combined firm will join complementary practices with a disciplined focus on meeting evolving client needs in eight key sectors: Financial Institutions and Funds; Energy, Transport and Infrastructure; Insurance; Real Estate, Retail and Hotels; Technology, Media & Telecommunications; Health and Life Sciences; Manufacturing; and Government...

April 13, 2010 // Franchising.com // (NEW YORK) — Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP announced today that Farrington Yates, a partner in the law firm's Corporate Reorganization & Bankruptcy Group, has been conferred the title of "Fellow" by the International Association of Restructuring, Insolvency & Bankruptcy Professionals (INSOL International), a federation of national associations for accountants and lawyers specializing in turnaround and insolvency. Yates was one of nine individuals, and one of only two from the United States, to receive this distinction.

A Fellow of INSOL International must have successfully completed INSOL's Global Insolvency Practice Course, a LL.M.-level program that teaches insolvency professionals the underlying principles, statutory and regulatory frameworks, and restructuring regimes in various jurisdictions around the globe...

March 17, 2010 // Franchising.com // LOS ANGELES — Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP announced today that Duccio Mortillaro has joined the law firm as counsel in its Public Law & Policy Strategies practice. Mortillaro will reside in Sonnenschein's Los Angeles office.

"Duccio is an outstanding lawyer with an international client base who will have an immediate impact at Sonnenschein," said Darry Sragow, managing partner of the Los Angeles office. "His experience representing overseas investors and foreign multinational companies in the United States is a wonderful fit with our existing capabilities here in Los Angeles and throughout the firm."

Mortillaro's cross-border practice focuses on representing foreign investors, mainly from Italy and other European countries, in the United States and U...

Law firm's significant growth leads to expansion of environmentally-friendly office space (DALLAS) -- The Dallas office of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP has been awarded LEED® certification status established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). This is Sonnenschein's first office to receive such certification, with others expected to follow. LEED is the nation's preeminent program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.

Sonnenschein currently leases 36,000 square feet of office space, designed by interior architecture firm lauckgroup, Inc., on the 19th and 20th floors of the 2000 McKinney office tower in Dallas's Uptown District...