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

With 15 offices around the world, Akin Gump advises international, regional and local clients in more than 50 practice areas. In Mainland China, practices will include business transactions; private equity and funds; environment, natural resources and energy; intellectual property; and international trade. The firm also offers one of the world’s largest and most respected public policy practices helping clients with the resources necessary to overcome regulatory obstacles anywhere in the world.

Commenting on the launch, Eliot Cutler, partner in charge of Akin Gump’s Beijing office, said, “As Chinese companies move increasingly into overseas markets, they will require a broad array of legal, policy and regulatory services. Akin Gump is one of only a few law firms that can provide an entire range of those services in one firm.”

In addition to supporting Chinese outbound investment, Akin Gump will help foreign companies overcome their hurdles in the China market by navigating legal and regulatory landscapes and addressing risks that stand in the way of commercial success.

Akin Gump played an important role in supporting foreign trade and investment in China prior to receiving its license in December 2006. Founder Robert Strauss helped establish formal commercial and diplomatic relations between the United States and the People’s Republic of China. Appointed as special trade representative by President Jimmy Carter, Ambassador Strauss negotiated the first trade agreement between the United States and China.

R. Bruce McLean, Akin Gump's chairman, said, “Establishing a presence on the Chinese Mainland will enable us to further Ambassador Strauss’ vision of strong and robust trade and investment ties between the People’s Republic of China and the United States, and indeed now other major world economies. We are looking forward to proactively working with clients to best address their business and legal needs across a variety of industries, and are excited by the tremendous opportunities here.”

The office opens with a dynamic team of local and foreign qualified lawyers:

Eliot Cutler is partner-in-charge in the Beijing office. Before relocating with the firm to Beijing, Mr. Cutler was based in Washington, D.C., where he helped corporate and government clients grapple with complicated legal and public policy problems. His career spans government service, law and politics.
Ying White joins as senior counsel. A dual-qualified lawyer in the People’s Republic of China and the United States, Ms. Ying was the lead attorney advising the World Bank’s Pension Fund while she was counsel at the Bank.
Zhao Xiaohua (Sarah) is a partner in the firm’s Washington and Beijing offices, where she works on transactional and project finance matters for both Chinese and foreign clients.
Zheng Xilin joins as an associate following two years at the World Bank. Mr. Zheng previously worked in the Law and Treaty Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and assisted in the negotiation of the Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR agreements.
Stephen Kho joins from the Office of the Special Trade Representative of the United States, where he was the top lawyer on China matters and worked extensively on World Trade Organization matters related to China.
In addition to this team of in-house legal professionals, the firm’s public policy and government relations work will be supported by a highly distinguished group of senior advisors with extensive experience in the China market. The initial members of this team of advisors include—

Chen Ying, who joins Akin Gump as a senior advisor. Ms. Chen is deputy director general of China Enterprises Confederation (CEC), the principal industry association of more than 500,000 Chinese employer entities. She has served as an alternate delegate from China to the International Labor Organization in Geneva and has been one of China’s principal spokespersons on CSR matters.
Ma Lianyuan, widely recognized as a leading expert on patent law in China, who joins as a senior advisor. He is the former deputy commissioner of China’s State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) and will serve for the next three years as the elected president of the All China Association of Patent Attorneys.
Akin Gump’s Beijing office will be supported by the firm’s extensive capabilities in offices around the world, including in major political and commercial centers such as New York, Washington, D.C., London, Moscow and Dubai.

The office opening corresponds with Akin Gump’s ongoing sponsorship of the Guggenheim Foundation’s “Art in America: 300 Years of Innovation” exhibition that is currently being held in Beijing at the National Museum of Art and will soon open in Shanghai at the Shanghai Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art.

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.

www.akingump.com