Littler Mendelson, P.C., the nation's largest employment and labor law firm, today announced a merger with Cleveland-based Duvin, Cahn & Hutton, the largest standalone labor and employment focused firm. The firms are joining forces to meet the Ohio business community's significant growth and ensuing legal counsel needs.

Littler Mendelson (Littler) and Duvin, Cahn & Hutton (Duvin) share similar roots, beginning as traditional labor relations firms; the combination of the two labor and employment powerhouses is expected to have a positive impact with the employers they advise across a variety of industries and state borders.

The addition of Duvin's 46 attorneys specializing in a variety of employment law practice areas grows Littler to more than 590 attorneys and 39 offices across the country. This union continues Littler's explosive growth and further solidifies its leadership position as the largest law firm in the United States exclusively devoted to representing management in employment, employee benefits, and labor law matters. While Littler has had a strong Midwest presence - with offices in Chicago, Columbus, Minneapolis and Indianapolis - the addition of operations in Cleveland will enable the firm to better serve existing clients. Likewise, Duvin expects this merger to enhance significantly its ability to deliver exceptional service to all clients.

"We are pleased to welcome Duvin, Cahn & Hutton's deeply experienced and well-respected attorneys as they share our dedication to the exclusive practice of labor and employment law," said Marko Mrkonich, president of Littler Mendelson. "The addition of the Duvin group will augment our expertise and the firm's depth, while providing Duvin's existing clientele of major U.S. corporations and other employers with expanded access to counsel across the nation. In particular, the new group will bring Littler considerable employment litigation experience, as well as attorney proficiency across the entire spectrum of workplace issues."

Robert Duvin, founder of Duvin, Cahn & Hutton, his staff and Littler's attorneys and professionals will reside in Duvin's current Cleveland office.

Duvin added, "The attorneys at Duvin, Cahn & Hutton have long served clients and corporations beyond the Cleveland and Ohio markets. However, the opportunity to join with a national firm of Littler's caliber was very appealing. The union is an ideal move for both parties, and we're excited to begin the New Year together as the national leader in our field."

About Duvin, Cahn & Hutton

Duvin, Cahn & Hutton, a 47 member law firm located in Cleveland, Ohio, is widely recognized as one of the nation's preeminent labor and employment law firms. The Firm represents employers around the country as well as many of Northeast Ohio's public entities in all areas of labor relations and employment law, and in complex litigation.

About Littler Mendelson

With nearly 550 attorneys and 38 offices in major metropolitan areas nationwide, Littler Mendelson is the largest law firm in the United States devoted exclusively to representing management in employment, employee benefits and labor law matters. The firm's client base ranges from Fortune 500 companies to small-business owners. Established in 1942, the firm has litigated, mediated and negotiated some of the most influential cases and labor contracts in the nation's history. For more information, visit www.littler.com.

For more than three decades, Mr. Leonard has been a distinguished practitioner in the small circle of federal tax policy advocates. He served as chief counsel and staff director of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means from 1987 to 1993, as chief majority tax counsel of the Committee from 1981 to 1986, and as majority tax counsel from 1974 to 1980. During his 20+-year tenure on Capitol Hill, he was involved in all major tax and trade legislation considered by Congress. Since leaving the government, Mr. Leonard has represented major manufacturers, financial services companies and many other clients on a wide variety of policy matters.

Mr. Leonard received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and his J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School. He received his M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Joining Mr. Leonard as senior policy counsel is Jayne T. Fitzgerald. Ms. Fitzgerald served as tax counsel on the Committee on Ways and Means from 1980 to 1985 and from 1992 to 1995 before moving to the private sector. She has extensive experience representing clients on tax, trade, pension and health matters before Congress and federal agencies. She received her B.A. summa cum laude and her J.D. magna cum laude from Georgetown University, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Joel Jankowsky, chair of Akin Gump’s policy and regulatory practice, commented, “Without a doubt, Rob is one of the best-known and most highly regarded tax policy advocates in Washington. His long-time relationships with the chairmen and members of the House and Senate Committees who craft tax law – relationships that have been built on their recognition of the quality of his work – are of critical competitive importance to our ability to serve our clients.”

Akin Gump’s tax policy practice is anchored by former Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service Donald C. Alexander, and includes Jeff McMillen, the former staff director of the House Ways and Means Committee's Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, who served under Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) and Subcommittee Chairman Jim McCrery (R-LA).

Mr. Leonard stated, “Akin Gump’s policy practice is one of the most prominent and diverse in the world. I have long respected the firm’s progressive approach to policy issues and client service. I am pleased to join a team of friends whom I respect and have worked with for many years.”

Mr. Jankowsky added, “We believe that Rob and Jayne will significantly enhance our bipartisan tax policy capability. We are very pleased to welcome them to Akin Gump.”

Akin Gump’s 50-member policy department – one of the largest and most diverse policy groups of any major law firm in the world – advises major corporations, coalitions of companies and trade associations, as well as nonprofit organizations, municipal governments, Native American tribes and foreign governments.

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

Smith, Shaw & Maddox, a more than century-old law firm practicing in Rome and Cedartown, announced last week a plan to restructure the company and change its name.

Effective immediately, the firm will practice under the name McRae, Stegall, Peek, Harman, Smith & Manning LLP — named after the current senior partners.

Founded in 1899, the firm had operated for many years under the names of former longtime firm principals Oscar Smith, Charles Shaw and J.D. Maddox.

In addition to the name change, the firm has added two new full-time attorneys and taken on one of its former attorneys as counsel to the firm.

After years of affiliation with Zartic, Jackson Baldwin Harris is back working as counsel with the law firm.

“Jack Harris is a talented attorney who has had a unique career experience for our region,” said Jo H. Stegall III, partner in the firm.

Harris practiced with Smith, Shaw & Maddox for 12 years and held a partnership in it for the last seven, until he resigned in September 1990 to become general counsel at Zartic.

He served the meat processing company for more than 16 years as general counsel, chief operating officer and management counsel. Harris is also owner and CEO of Westward Professional Management LLC, a specialty practice management consulting firm.

Harris is a Rome native and graduate of Darlington School, University of Georgia and the University of Georgia School of Law. He also has a long resume of community service in Rome. He and his wife, Shields, have three grown children and reside in Rome.

The firm also announced the addition of two associate attorneys who are Rome natives and recent law school graduates.

W. Jordan Knight earned his Juris Doctor in May 2006 from the Cumberland School of Law at Samford University. He is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and specializes in real estate, corporate law and civil litigation. He and his wife Ann live in Rome.

Emily Smith earned her Juris Doctor in May 2006 from Regent University in Virginia. She is a member of the State Bar of Georgia and Blackstone Legal Fellow. Her practice areas include civil litigation, constitutional law, municipal and government law, domestic law and employment law.

http://www.smithshaw.com

North Carolina's oldest law firm, Raleigh-based Maupin Taylor, announced Friday that it plans to merge with a Richmond, Va., firm, Williams Mullen.

The combined company would be one of the largest in the Southeast with 300 lawyers, 700 employees and about a dozen offices in North Carolina; Virginia; Washington, D.C.; and London.

The name of the combined firm will be Williams Mullen, although North Carolina offices will operate under the name Williams Mullen Maupin Taylor for a transitional period. The firm's headquarters will be in Richmond.

"This will be good for North Carolina because it adds more depth in service that we can provide here," said Keith Kapp, Maupin Taylor's managing partner.

Although Raleigh will lose the cachet of having the firm's headquarters, Kapp said there will be no layoffs, closed offices or cutbacks as a result of the merger.

Maupin Taylor has about 130 employees and 30 partners, all of whom will become partners in Williams Mullen. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"This is a combination of two firms where nobody is buying or selling anything," Kapp said.

Maupin Taylor will gain Williams Mullen's Washington strategies group, which will be useful for clients with ties to federal government agencies, Kapp said. Williams Mullen gets a significant North Carolina client base.

In environmental law, Williams Mullen complements Maupin Taylor's strength in water quality issues with an expertise in air quality.

Joey Smith, chairman and CEO of Williams Mullen, Virginia's third-largest law firm, will become chairman and CEO of the merged company.

Such unions are common among law, accounting and medical practices, said Bill Wagner, an investment banker in Raleigh who helps execute mergers. "It comes down to being able to provide a fuller range of services as a combined firm rather than have to send business away," Wagner said.

Maupin Taylor has offices in Raleigh, Research Triangle Park and Wilmington. Williams Mullen has offices in Charlottesville, McLean, Newport News, Norfolk, Richmond, Tysons Corner, Virginia Beach and Portsmouth, Va.; Washington, D.C.; and London.

Maupin Taylor's Raleigh office will be the second-largest in the combined firm, with about 100 employees. The merger is expected to close March 1.

Maupin Taylor has had several names since its founding in 1870.

It was known as Maupin Taylor Ellis from the 1960s until 2003. That was when Thomas F. Ellis, a well-known supporter of former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms and the Republican Party, left the firm.

Ellis earned some fame for helping elect various high-level Republicans. He was credited with salvaging Ronald Reagan's political career by helping him win the 1976 presidential primary in North Carolina.

Today, Maupin Taylor concentrates on corporate law, litigation, and employment and labor law.

http://www.maupintaylor.com

DETROIT — The law firm of Miller Canfield has announced that Tim A. Attalla has joined the firm as senior counsel in the Detroit office. He will focus his practice on commercial and international matters.

Prior to joining Miller Canfield, Attalla was in private practice in Dearborn, for 18 years.

Attalla is a member of the State Bar of Michigan. He is active in and sits on the board of numerous organizations. He is a national board member of Seeds of Peace of New York, a member of Wayne County Mental Health Board and a member of Ishmael and Isaac of Chicago. He is a past board member of American Arab & Jewish Friends. He was the first Arab-American to be appointed to the Michigan Civil Rights Commission. He was appointed by Governor John Engler and served two, four-year terms from 1991-1998.

Attalla resides in Northville, Michigan. He received his J.D. from Thomas M. Cooley Law School and his B.A. is from Wayne State University in Political Science. He is fluent in Arabic.

The 350-attorney law firm of Miller, Canfield, Paddock and Stone, P.L.C. was established in Detroit in 1852 and has offices in Ann Arbor, Detroit, Grand Rapids, Howell, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Monroe, Saginaw, and Troy, Michigan. Other offices are located in New York City; Naples; Pensacola, Florida; Windsor, Ontario; and in Gdynia, Warsaw, and Wroclaw, Poland.

http://www.millercanfield.com

Raleigh-based Maupin Taylor P.A., is merging with Virginia-based Williams Mullen in a move that will create a regional law firm with 300 attorneys.

"It's a good thing for us and a good thing for the region," says Keith Kapp, the managing partner at Maupin Taylor, a historic firm that was founded in 1870 and currently has 50 attorneys.
 
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. There will be no layoffs as a result of the combination, which has been in the works for a little less than a year.

Final details of the merger are still being confirmed, but it is scheduled to close March 1.

The merger increases the geographic reach and client base for both firms. Maupin Taylor doesn't have an office outside North Carolina, while Williams Mullen has locations in Virginia, Washington, D.C. and London.

The name of the firm will be Williams Mullen, although North Carolina offices will operate under the name Williams Mullen Maupin Taylor for a transition period. Julious Smith, the chairman and CEO of Williams Mullen, will continue as chairman and CEO of the merged entity.

The firm's attorneys and staff will combine to total nearly 700 employees.

"We're really excited," says Smith. "Coming down there is a great opportunity for us. We had looked at Raleigh for a long time."

Maupin Taylor claims to be the oldest law firm in North Carolina. Williams Mullen is Virginia's third largest law firm.

"Our clients are more and more involved in North Carolina," Smith says. "It helps us to be on the ground there."

Gary Joyner, the managing partner in the Raleigh office of Kilpatrick Stockton, thinks that the area will see similar moves in coming years as Raleigh continues to grow.

A planned law firm merger between San Francisco's Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and Dewey Ballantine LLP has been scrapped.

The aborted deal is a blow to both firms on two fronts. Law firm executives wanted to combine Orrick's bond practice with the merger and acquisition expertise of New York's Dewey to attract more big-dollar case work. A union also would have greatly expanded the Orrick-Dewey presence in the Big Apple, the world's financial capital.

 
Orrick has an office in Menlo Park, San Francisco, and 16 other places in seven countries. Dewey Ballantine has California offices in East Palo Alto and Los Angeles.

Orrick and Dewey "jointly decided" to end merger discussions, according to a statement released Thursday. Both firms saw great potential in a combination, the statement said, but "a combination of this size and scope posed significant challenges."

Sources said those challenges included defections of some big name Dewey lawyers after merger talks between the two firms gained steam. In recent weeks top Dewey M&A attorney Michael Aiello joined Weil Gotshal & Manges. Last month Jack Bodner, another leading M&A counselor, left Dewey for Covington & Burling. At least 10 Dewey partners left the firm since news of the proposed Orrick-Dewey deal spread last September. Whether all those defections are tied to the planned union is not clear. But sources said those attorneys' moves made the merger less appealing to Orrick.

Leaders at Dewey had concerns, too, sources said. Some Dewey partners objected to the potential makeup of the executive committee of the combined firm, which they felt would have weighed too heavily in Orrick's favor.

A merger with Dewey would have been a blockbuster deal for Orrick, which has been on a rapid growth clip under chairman Ralph Baxter Jr. A united Orrick and Dewey would have had an estimated $946 million in annual revenue generated by more than 1,200 attorneys around the globe. That would have made the combined firm the 10th biggest in the United States based on revenue. It also would have resulted in a New York office of nearly 500 lawyers, making it the fifth largest law office in the world's financial capital.