Joel Jankowsky, chair of Akin Gump’s policy practice, stated, “Few practitioners have the range of experience developing and implementing international trade and economic policy positions at the highest levels of government. Hal, Greg and Steve are three who do know and understand firsthand the major players and dynamic relationships that are critical to clients’ interests in Washington. They will complement our policy group’s strengths in this area, providing our clients with an invaluable resource.”

Val Slater, chair of the firm’s international trade practice, added, "We are very excited to add Hal, Greg and Steve to our international trade policy team. These are three talented individuals who bring a wealth of experience and expertise and who will round out our ability to serve our clients in all aspects of international trade regulatory and policy matters. They are a terrific fit for our firm."

Mr. Shapiro joins the firm as a partner. He advises multinational companies, U.S. trade associations and foreign governments on international trade policy and international trade agreements, litigation of disputes before the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international dispute-resolution bodies, import and export matters, customs matters and federal civil litigation. He previously was a partner at Miller & Chevalier.

In 2000 Mr. Shapiro served as senior advisor for international economic affairs and senior counselor to the director of the National Economic Council at the White House, where he oversaw the development of administration international trade and economic policy positions with respect to international agreements, international trade disputes, pending legislation, executive orders, summit meetings between the president and foreign heads of state, and meetings of international economic bodies. He was the National Economic Council’s representative on the Trade Policy Staff Committee and the Section 301 Committee, the interagency bodies responsible for U.S. trade disputes and trade sanctions. He also specialized in U.S.-EU relations and in trade disputes. From 1996 to 1998 he served as associate general counsel in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, where he represented the United States in WTO dispute settlement proceedings; oversaw U.S. litigation involving the trade representative; and was an advisor to the trade representative, the deputy trade representative and other senior administration officials in the formulation and implementation of U.S. trade policy.

Mr. Shapiro received his B.A. summa cum laude in 1988 from Columbia College and his J.D. in 1991 from Columbia Law School.

Mr. Mastel joins the firm as a senior advisor. His practice focuses on the formulation and implementation of international trade policy by the U.S. Congress and the executive branch. He advises and represents clients regarding trade and tax legislation and related regulatory developments, such as the ongoing World Trade Organization negotiations, free trade agreement negotiations, trade remedies and disputes, and other factors that may affect market access for goods and services in the United States and abroad. He also advises and lobbies for clients on a range of other legislative issues, particularly international taxation issues. He joins Akin Gump from Miller & Chevalier, where he was a principal in the International Department and chair of the Government Affairs Department.

From 2000 to 2003 Mr. Mastel served as the chief economist and chief international trade adviser to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, where he was responsible for developing all major international trade legislation that went before the Committee. Earlier in his career, he spent six years in various positions in the U.S. Senate, including chief of staff to Senator Max Baucus (D-MT), the current chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. During Mr. Mastel’s tenure, he played key roles in numerous matters before the Senate, including passage of the North American Free Trade Agreement, extension of MFN trading status to China, and various tax and agricultural issues.

Mr. Mastel received his M.B.A. from the Edinburgh Business School in 1993 and is completing his D.B.A.

Mr. Kho joins the firm as senior counsel. He previously served for nine years in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, most recently as acting chief counsel on China enforcement. As the principal attorney on all China matters, he was responsible for developing disputes and advocacy positions related to China’s obligations in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Earlier, as associate general counsel, Mr. Kho was the lead USTR attorney on intellectual property and government procurement matters, leading the U.S. delegation in all related WTO and NAFTA dispute resolution proceedings. From 2002 to 2005 he was legal advisor at the U.S. Mission to the WTO in Geneva, Switzerland, where he managed the WTO dispute settlement portfolio for the U.S. government.

Mr. Kho received his B.A. with honors from the University of Virginia in 1991, his J.D. with honors from the University of Maryland in 1995 and his LL.M. with distinction from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1998.

“I see Akin Gump as a rare combination of truly outstanding international trade, tax and government affairs capabilities,” said Mr. Mastel. “The firm provides us with the unique opportunity to improve and expand the services we provide our clients.”

Founded in 1945, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, a leading international law firm, numbers more than 900 lawyers with offices in Austin, Beijing, Dallas, Dubai, Houston, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, New York, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Taipei and Washington. The firm has a diversified practice and represents regional, national and international clients in a wide range of areas, including antitrust; appellate; banking and finance; capital markets; communications and information technology; corporate and securities; corporate governance; employee benefits; energy; entertainment and media; environmental; estate planning, wealth transfer and probate; financial restructuring; global security; government contracts; health; insurance; intellectual property; international trade; investment funds; labor and employment; land use; litigation; mergers and acquisitions; private equity; privatization; project development and finance; public law and policy; real estate development and finance; Russia/CIS; tax; and technology. 

Goodwin Procter LLP, one of the nation's leading law firms with more than 700 attorneys, today announced the addition of new offices in San Diego and downtown Los Angeles, bringing to four its total number of offices in California. This strategic expansion will broaden the reach of the firm's nationally recognized technology and life sciences practice, as well as its real estate and real estate investment management practice.

Joining the firm are Stephen C. Ferruolo and Ryan A. Murr, both former partners at Heller Ehrman LLP. Ferruolo is one of the nation's leading attorneys in the technology and life sciences industry and former co-chair of Heller's Corporate/VLG Group; he will chair Goodwin Procter's new office in San Diego.

In addition, the firm is expanding its Los Angeles presence with the addition of new partners Dean C. Pappas and Dani L. Vogt, both from Mayer, Brown, Rose & Maw LLP and Edward C. Hagerott, Jr., who joins from Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP. All focus on complex real estate transactions; Pappas was previously the chair of Mayer Brown's Real Estate Group in Los Angeles.

"We are extremely pleased to welcome these highly-regarded attorneys to Goodwin Procter as we continue to further our mission of providing 'best in class' legal counsel to our clients," said Regina M. Pisa, chairman and managing partner of Goodwin Procter. "California is a critical component of our long-term strategic plan and we are committed to investing in key practices and markets in the State."

Goodwin Procter's Technology and Life Sciences practice is one of the largest in the United States, with its attorneys representing over 500 public and private companies and entrepreneurs, and over 100 venture capital and private equity firms as well as some of the nation's leading investment banks. The firm recently added an FDA practice based in Washington, D.C. and in 2005 attracted nearly 100 attorneys from Testa Hurwitz, many of whom focused on technology, life sciences and intellectual property.

"Goodwin Procter is also a leader and pioneer in the real estate industry and has been actively involved in real estate for decades - from real estate development to the most sophisticated real estate investment trust (REIT) and merger and acquisition deals," said Pisa. "Serving clients nationally from both the East and West Coasts is a key component of our long-term bicoastal strategy. The addition of these lawyers - who focus on complex and sophisticated transactional work - significantly complements our existing Century City-based real estate practice and our East Coast-based real estate and real estate capital markets practices."

Lewis G. Feldman, chair of Goodwin Procter's Century City office and head of its National Public/Private Development Finance Practice, will assume additional responsibility for chairing the firm's new downtown LA office.

Goodwin Procter first launched offices in California in April 2006, opening in Century City and San Francisco simultaneously.

http://www.goodwinprocter.com

The law firm of Foley & Lardner has signed a 10-year, $18-million lease for nearly 53,000 sf at City National Plaza in an expansion from the law firm's existing offices in Century City, according to Jones Lang LaSalle. Foley & Lardner will occupy space on the 35th and 36th floors of the office tower at 555 S. Flower St.
Jones Lang LaSalle managing directors Lisa St. John and Peter Best, who represented the law firm, note that the addition of the downtown office brings the firm’s worldwide office total to 20 with seven offices in California. Foley has 70 attorneys practicing in Los Angeles, where the firm has had a presence since 1996.

According to Ralf Boer, chairman and CEO of Foley & Lardner, the company sought a downtown location for the expansion of its corporate and litigation practices and felt that the downtown location would serve that purpose well “particularly in light of the area’s tremendous growth and importance as a hub to the business and legal communities.” Boer explains that the firm's Century City office “continues to flourish” and is of strategic importance to the growth of its intellectual property and entertainment industry practices.
 
City National Plaza encompasses an entire city block in the financial district of the Los Angeles Central Business District. Originally completed in 1972 as the world headquarters for Atlantic Richfield and the Southern California Headquarters for Bank of America, City National Plaza consists of two 51-story office towers, one plaza level building and four subterranean levels. The towers are owned by locally based Thomas Properties Group, which was represented in-house by Kent Handleman in the Foley lease.

http://www.foley.com

Hogan & Hartson LLP announced today the addition of Man Chiu Lee to the firm’s corporate and securities practice. He joins as a partner in Hong Kong.

Proficient in Chinese, Man Chiu Lee is an experienced corporate transactions and U.S. securities lawyer. His practice covers a broad range of transactions, including securities offerings, cross-border mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital investments, and general corporate and banking matters in Hong Kong, the United States, and Japan.

“Man Chiu Lee complements our strengths in serving private equity and venture capital clients investing in fast growing and high-tech companies in China, and our ability to assist Chinese issuers accessing the international markets,” said Mao Tong, co-managing partner of the firm's Hong Kong office. “We believe our clients will benefit by having additional lawyers with strong capital markets and M&A skills.”

”We are pleased to have Man Chiu Lee join our China practice, which has grown steadily over the past four years and now includes six resident partners and one counsel in our offices in China,” said Steve Robinson, co-managing partner of each of the firm’s offices in China.

Commenting on his arrival, Man Chiu Lee said, “I look forward to working with my new colleagues to continue to establish Hogan & Hartson as one of the leading corporate and capital market law firms in China.”

Man Chiu Lee earned his law degree from Georgetown University and his bachelor’s degree in economics from Harvard University. He is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey.

About Hogan & Hartson
Hogan & Hartson is an international law firm with more than 1,000 lawyers practicing in offices on four continents. The firm’s broad-based international practice cuts across virtually all legal disciplines and industries.

Through the firm’s exclusive association with Gordon Ng & Co., a Hong Kong law firm, Hogan & Hartson is able to provide clients with a full range of local and international legal advice.

In addition to Hong Kong, Hogan & Hartson has offices in Baltimore, Beijing, Berlin, Boulder, Brussels, Caracas, Colorado Springs, Denver, Geneva, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Moscow, Munich, New York, Northern Virginia, Paris, Shanghai, Tokyo, Warsaw, and Washington, D.C.

For more information about the firm, visit www.hhlaw.com.

Hutchison Law Group PLLC, the leading provider of strategic business and intellectual property counsel to the Southeast’s life science and technology communities, is pleased to announce that Thomas E. Holsten and Caroline Horton Rockafellow have joined the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, and Amalie L. Tuffin has joined the firm’s Corporate and Securities Practice Group.

“We are excited to have these talented, experienced attorneys join our firm,” said Hutchison Law Group Executive Committee Member Bill Wofford. “For many of our clients, the creation and exploitation of intellectual property is essential to their success. Tom will help life science companies build valuable patent portfolios and Caroline will play a key role in licensing and commercializing these patents and other technologies.”

Helga Leftwich, another Member of Hutchison Law Group, added, “We have a highly sophisticated and growing corporate and corporate finance practice, and Amalie’s deep knowledge of tax and equity compensation will help us continue to provide excellent service to clients in these ever-changing areas of the law.”

Thomas E. Holsten focuses on patent law matters for clients in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries, including counseling clients on patent protection strategies, coordinating and conducting due diligence investigations of patent portfolios and preparing and prosecuting patent applications. He has assisted clients with a variety of technologies in areas such as peptide hormonal therapeutics, genomics, bioinformatics, gene expression, small molecule and genetic engineering. Prior to joining Hutchison Law Group, Holsten practiced at the law firm of Arnold & Porter LLP in Washington, DC. Prior to law school, he was a patent agent and research assistant with Monsanto Company, a leading global provider of technology-based solutions and agricultural products. Holsten was also involved in research at the University of California at Davis concerning the cloning and characterization of agriculturally important genes. He received his J.D. from Franklin Pierce Law Center and earned a B.S. in Biology from East Carolina University.

Caroline Horton Rockafellow provides counsel to life science and information technology companies, concentrating her practice on legal issues impacting the use and commercialization of intellectual property. Rockafellow speaks and writes often on intellectual property matters and is a member of numerous organizations and associations. She is the immediate past co-chair of the RTP chapter of the Licensing Executives Society (LES). Rockafellow is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Prior to joining Hutchison Law Group, Rockafellow practiced at the RTP law firm of Daniels Daniels & Verdonik, in addition to serving as in-house counsel at both a biotechnology company and a software development corporation. She received her J.D. and Masters in Intellectual Property from Franklin Pierce Law Center and earned her undergraduate degree in Chemistry from Drury University.

Amalie L. Tuffin focuses her practice on corporate governance and transactions, in addition to domestic taxation for life science and information technology companies. Prior to joining Hutchison Law Group, Tuffin practiced at the RTP law firm of Daniels Daniels & Verdonik. She was previously associated with Peabody & Arnold in Boston. Tuffin is a member of both the Committee on Negotiated Acquisitions and Committee on Venture Capital and Private Equity of the American Bar Association's Business Law Section. She received her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law, where she served as a member of the Hastings International and Comparative Law Review and as an Editor of the Communication/Entertainment Law Journal. In addition, she earned her LL.M. in taxation from Boston University. Tuffin received her A.B. cum laude from Harvard University.

Combined, these attorneys bring over three decades of experience to Hutchison Law Group and its clients.

www.hutchlaw.com

Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston Gates Ellis LLP (K&L Gates) welcomes Nicholas J. Spaeth as partner in the firm’s Washington, DC office. Spaeth comes to K&L Gates from H&R Block, where he served as the company’s senior vice president and general counsel. Spaeth also served eight years as the elected Attorney General of North Dakota, and as law clerk to late Associate Justice Byron R. White of the United States Supreme Court.

At K&L Gates, Spaeth focuses his practice on independent investigations, financial services regulatory issues and enforcement actions. He also counsels clients in connection with state attorney general enforcement activities on behalf of consumers. Spaeth's background—which includes service as general counsel of major corporations subjected to state attorney general activity—and his tenure as a state attorney general give him unique perspective on these issues.

Chuck Miller, Administrative Partner of K&L Gates’ Washington, DC office said: “With Nick’s arrival, we add strength to an area whose importance continues to grow for our firm and for our clients in K&L Gates Washington and around the country.”

K&L Gates Chairman and Global Managing Partner Peter J. Kalis said: “Nick’s background is well-suited for our growing practice in independent investigations and enforcement actions, particularly as state attorney general enforcement activities are on the rise. We are pleased to welcome Nick to K&L Gates.”

K&L Gates comprises approximately 1,400 lawyers in 22 offices located in North America, Europe and Asia, and represents capital markets participants, entrepreneurs, growth and middle market companies, leading FORTUNE 100 and FTSE 100 global corporations and public sector entities.

www.klgates.com.

A leading Canadian law firm based in Toronto yesterday announced a merger that will give it a presence in Ottawa and expertise in broadcast and telecommunications regulations.

Effective April 1, Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP will merge with Johnston & Buchan LLP, a 13-lawyer boutique firm in Ottawa. "Combined with our current practice, we will become one of the dominant players (in communications law)," said David Corbett, managing partner of Fasken.

Fasken recently represented CHUM when Bell Globemedia bought the cable and television broadcaster for $1.7 billion.

Johnston represented cable TV companies, such as Rogers and Shaw Communications, when each wanted to offer telephone services. It also successfully completed the application for Canadian Satellite Radio to broadcast in Canada.

Johnston has been approached with acquisition proposals from other leading Canadian firms over the years, said Laurence Dunbar, Johnston partner and lawyer.

Fasken approached Johnston about a year ago because it wanted to increase its speciality in communications law, Corbett said.

"There are a number of our significant clients whom this (merger) will be useful for," he added.

Johnston accepted the offer from Fasken because Fasken already has a successful communications law practice, Dunbar said. Six of Johnston's 11 partners have been ranked as the top Canadian lawyers in their field of practice.

The firm was founded in 1980.

"This is a boost for Fasken," said Susan Kennedy, managing consultant of ZSA Legal Recruitment, about the merger.

Not only will it give Fasken a presence in Ottawa, but the nation's capital is where the bulk of telecommunication and broadcast communications regulatory work is done.

Fasken's main competition in communications law is McCarthy Tetrault LLP, Corbett said.

Last month, Fasken announced the first Canadian-U.K. law-firm merger when it joined forces with Stringer Saul LLP, a 32-lawyer boutique firm that specializes in the London Stock Exchanges Alternative Investment Market.

Fasken has five offices in Canada and three internationally. After the merger, it will employ about 655 lawyers.

http://www.fasken.com