The Milwaukee-based office of Foley & Lardner LLP says the law firm has received a $208 million contract from the National Institutes of Health.

Foley says the contract calls for it to provide intellectual-property services for up to 10 years.

The law firm says it will begin performing work this month on issues related to biotechnology patents, as well as to patents for mechanical, electrical and software technology.

The firm says lawyers in its Boston, San Diego, Madison and Washington, D.C. offices will work on the contract. Its intellectual-property practice has nearly 240 attorneys.

The NIH is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting medical research.

Littler Mendelson, P.C. (Littler), the nation's largest employment and labor law firm representing management, is pleased to announce the addition of Margaret A. ("Maggie") Clemens, a Rochester-based, nationally recognized ERISA litigator. Ms. Clemens recently joined Littler to open its 49th office in Rochester, New York.

Clemens is a much sought-after trial attorney with significant experience in ERISA and employment litigation - with a specialization in trial and appellate work. She has worked with some of the nation`s largest employers and has counseled clients in a variety of industries, including: manufacturing, communications, health care, higher education, and echnology and defense. Clemens joins Littler from the Rochester office of Nixon Peabody LLP, where she was a partner and the chair of that firm`s ERISA litigation practice group.

"We are thrilled that Maggie has decided to join the Littler team. Her depth of knowledge and experience working with Fortune 100 companies and counseling clients on their complex ERISA and employment litigation needs will strengthen Littler`s presence in the Northeast," said Marko Mrkonich, president and managing director of the Firm.

The Web site, tire-defect-law, includes sections on tire anatomy, tire tread separation, aged tires, valve stem defects, Load Range E tires, tire informational markings and tire recalls. It also includes a list of tire-related cases Greene Broillet & Wheeler either won in court or for which it negotiated settlements.

Greene Broillet & Wheeler claims to have conducted successful product liability litigations against most major tire makers. Christine D. Spagnoli, a partner in the firm, is plaintiffs’ liaison counsel for all product liability suits against Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. in California, according to a press release.

“Unfortunately, tire manufacturers and sellers don’t provide adequate warning or instruction to protect consumers and warn them of tire-related dangers,” Ms. Spagnoli said, explaining why the firm decided to establish a tire defects Web site.

The Milwaukee and Madison law firm of Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek SC said Wednesday that it has hired Paul Eberle to become the chief executive of the firm.

Eberle becomes one of the first nonlawyers to serve as chief executive of a major law firm, Whyte Hirschboeck said.

Eberle will work through the end of October alongside Mark Miller, the firm’s current CEO, who announced his departure earlier this year after eight years of leading Whyte Hirschboeck. Eberle will begin his new position on Nov. 1.

Bruce Arnold, a managing director at Whte Hirschboeck’s Milwaukee office, said the hiring of Eberle will allow attorneys to focus on providing legal services, enabling the firm to better serve clients around the state. The law firm has more than 150 attorneys and paralegals practicing more than 40 areas of law.

Eberle is a founder and past president of hardware, software, services and leasing firm, Capital Data Inc. in Milwaukee and has served as a managing member at Capital Properties of Wisconsin, a private equity firm involved in real estate investment and management. He also is a founding shareholder of Green Bay-based Lasernet Inc., a print, mail and electronic data services company.

Healthcare law firm Davis & Davis PC is changing its name to Davis Fuller Jackson Keene, after promoting three lawyers.

The 50-year-old Austin firm, located on N. Capital of Texas Highway, is making the changes immediately, it said in a press release.

The three new principals, who will be equal owners with firm founder and Senior Managing Shareholder Dean Davis, are Alexis Fuller, Brian Jackson and Mark Keene.

The company has about 17 employees, including eight lawyers.

The plaintiffs’ product liability law firm of Greene Broillet & Wheeler has launched a Web site designed specifically to give consumers an overview of alleged tire defects and tire safety issues.

The Web site, tire-defect-law, includes sections on tire anatomy, tire tread separation, aged tires, valve stem defects, Load Range E tires, tire informational markings and tire recalls. It also includes a list of tire-related cases Greene Broillet & Wheeler either won in court or for which it negotiated settlements.

Greene Broillet & Wheeler claims to have conducted successful product liability litigations against most major tire makers. Christine D. Spagnoli, a partner in the firm, is plaintiffs’ liaison counsel for all product liability suits against Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. in California, according to a press release.

“Unfortunately, tire manufacturers and sellers don’t provide adequate warning or instruction to protect consumers and warn them of tire-related dangers,” Ms. Spagnoli said, explaining why the firm decided to establish a tire defects Web site.

Sandra L. Brown and David E. Benz have joined the Washington office of the law firm Thompson Hine LLP. Brown, a partner in the firm's Transportation practice group, focuses on representing bulk commodity shippers and other entities that use transportation services, such as electric utilities, state and local government entities and ports, as well as coal, aggregates, chemicals and plastics shippers. Her practice covers freight moving domestically and internationally. Benz is an associate who focuses on matters involving freight
railroad regulation, contracting and strategy. Both were formerly with Troutman Sanders LLP.

On joining the firm, Brown says, "I was attracted to Thompson Hine for its commitment to client service and the strength of its national Transportation practice. I look forward to sharing this commitment and strength with clients."

Brown was a member of the Washington staff of Congressman Eric D. Fingerhut (D-Ohio) from 1993 to 1994 and then worked at the Interstate Commerce Commission. Prior to entering private practice, she worked on a special investigations team at the White House Counsel's Office during the Clinton administration.

Karyn Booth, Transportation practice group leader, states, "Sandy's background adds to the depth of our Transportation practice and increases the firm's representation of utility clients and other companies that ship by rail. We're delighted that both Sandy and David are bringing their substantial railroad experience to our multimodal Transportation team."

Brown earned her J.D. from Ohio Northern University and her B.A. from Goshen College. She is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia, Maryland and Ohio. Benz earned his J.D. and B.A. from the University of Virginia. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and the commonwealth of Virginia.

About Thompson Hine LLP: Established in 1911, Thompson Hine is a business law firm dedicated to providing superior client service. The firm has been recognized as one of the Best Corporate Law Firms in America (in an annual survey of corporate directors conducted by Corporate Board Member magazine). With approximately 400 lawyers, Thompson Hine serves premier businesses worldwide. The firm has offices in Atlanta, Brussels, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton, New York and Washington, D.C. For more information, go to www.ThompsonHine.com.

Thompson Hine LLP
Stacy F. Weiner, Business Development Manager, 202-263-4127