Chicago Partner Julie Webb, Co-Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Antitrust Section’s Civil Practice & Procedure Committee, has received ABA’s 2023 Outstanding Performance Award. This honor is presented to a member of leadership for their outstanding performance in leading the section forward.
Read the full list of the ABA’s Outstanding Performance Award honorees.
Locke Lord’s Health Care Practice Group has again been named to Modern Healthcare’s Largest Health Care Law Firms list, ranking No. 27 in the most recent edition, based on the number of health care lawyers in 2023. The Health Care Practice Group is co-chaired by Washington, D.C., Office Managing Partner Denise Hanna.
Locke Lord’s Health Care Practice Group represents health industry businesses in regulatory matters, transactions and litigation. The Firm has extensive experience in multistate and federal regulatory compliance, deal work, including private equity investment, M&A, joint ventures and other strategic alliances, government relations, enforcement matters and litigation. Locke Lord’s clients range from hospital systems, health plans, health industry intermediaries and health information technology companies to investors and strategic buyers.
15 lawyers from Locke Lord’s Austin, Dallas and Houston offices were named 2023 Texas Rising Stars by Thomson Reuters’ Super Lawyers®. In addition, Houston’s Andrew Reed was named to the Up-and-Coming 100: 2023 Texas Rising Stars list, for lawyers who ranked top of the list in the 2023 Texas Rising Stars nomination, research and blue ribbon review process.
The Texas Rising Stars list recognizes the state’s top attorneys age 40 and younger or who are in the first 10 years of practice. Texas Rising Stars are selected through a process of nomination, independent research and peer evaluation. Only 2.5 percent of eligible Texas lawyers are selected to the list each year.
The Locke Lord lawyers recognized in this year’s list are:
Austin
Nicole Olvera Cook
Daniel Durell
Stephen Humeniuk
Dallas
Henry Benton
Jennifer McCoy
Houston
Lani Blake
Elizabeth Corey Raber
Ryan Cunningham
Mia Lorick
Deanna Markowitz Willson
Sagar Patel
Christian Perez
Andrew Reed
Locke Lord has earned the Minority Corporate Counsel Association Approved Gold Seal for 2023, recognizing the Firm for exemplary development and solutions in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion.
Diversity and inclusion is one of Locke Lord’s five core values and an integral part of the Firm’s strategic plan. Locke Lord understands that fostering an inclusive environment results in better decision-making, better outcomes for clients and a firm where team members can be successful and thrive. To read more about Locke Lord’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, click here.
Locke Lord is proud to be recognized for its role representing Phoenix Tower International (PTI) in a $2 billion cross-border syndicated loan transaction that was recently named Latin America Loan of the Year at the 2022 IFR Awards.
Led by Jason Ulezalka (New York), along with Christine McCay, Brandon Curtin and Mason Marek (all of Boston), the transaction involved PTI subsidiaries in 17 countries across North and South America, allowing PTI to consolidate five separate credit facilities into a multi-tranche senior secured term loan.
According to IFR, the transaction was 2022’s largest syndicated loan deal in Latin America. The International Financing Review (IFR), published by Refinitiv, is a leading source of fixed income, capital markets and investment banking new and analysis. The awards were presented on March 27, 2023 in London.
Gerry Pels, Terry Radney and Bill Swanstrom, Partners in Locke Lord’s Houston office and Energy and Infrastructure Group, have been recognized as outstanding elite advisors in Lawdragon’s inaugural 500 Leading Energy Lawyers list. The list is the product of a long-honed process combining journalistic research, nominations and vetting by peers on leaders across the energy spectrum, according to Lawdragon. Pels was also recently recognized in the Lawdragon Green 500: Leaders in Environmental Law list.
Locke Lord’s Energy and Infrastructure Group represents clients throughout the Americas, and in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Asia across the energy industry, at every link in the value chain. The Firm is deeply involved with exploration and production; natural gas, oil and product gathering, processing, storage and pipeline transmission; refining; oilfield services; conventional and renewable power generation; energy commodity trading and marketing; infrastructure; and all parts in between.
(DALLAS) February 20, 2023 – David Gair has joined Locke Lord as a Partner in the Firm’s Dallas office and will serve as Chair of its Tax Controversy Practice Group. His versatile experience will further enhance Locke Lord’s ability to advise on elaborate tax matters and adds depth to the Firm’s tax controversy team.
Gair, who joins Locke Lord from Gray Reed, where he served as leader of its tax controversy practice group, is Board Certified in Tax Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a Fellow with the American College of Tax Counsel. He focuses his practice on guiding businesses, high-net-worth individuals and tax professionals through all types of complex civil and criminal tax controversies, including audits, litigation, investigations and collection matters. In civil matters, Gair explores options available to prevent unanticipated tax liabilities, either by resolving the controversy during the IRS audit process or in litigation before the U.S. Tax Court, U.S. Court of Federal Claims or federal district and bankruptcy courts. In addition, Gair has experience in resolving administrative controversies before state and local tax authorities, including disputes over income tax, sales and use tax and franchise tax.
“David’s robust background in tax controversy work, particularly his experience at the local, state and federal levels, complements our existing services and benefits the increasing demand of our client base,” said Ed Razim, Chair of Locke Lord’s Tax Department. “We believe David will be an excellent fit for our innovative and collaborative culture and a great addition to our already strong business tax practice.”
“David’s addition reflects our continued focus on strategically growing our Dallas office with talented lawyers across key practice groups, and follows the recent additions of Drew Slone, Steve Bolden, and Jani Lotz,” added Locke Lord Dallas Office Managing Partner Elizabeth Mack. “His impressive tax practice will be a valuable asset to our Dallas office and the entire Firm, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to Locke Lord.”
Gair spends substantial time giving back to the community and teaching the next generation of lawyers. He has served as a Council member of the State Bar Tax Section and on the Board of the Dallas Bar Association Tax Section where he served as Chair. He currently teaches as an Adjunct Professor at Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law where he teaches the intricacies of federal and state tax controversy.
“Locke Lord not only offers the optimal platform for my practice in order to best serve my clients, but it’s also a widely respected firm with deep roots throughout the state of Texas,” said Gair. “I am looking forward to working alongside this first-rate team that shares my vision of stellar client service and spirit of excellence.”
Locke Lord’s tax lawyers lead clients in all types of industries through the ever-changing maze of tax issues to help them efficiently manage their tax responsibilities and handle their global tax liabilities. The Firm’s lawyers offer advice on U.S. federal, international, state and local tax matters, handling tax controversies at all levels and counseling tax-exempt organizations. The team is knowledgeable and skilled on any tax issue clients face, including structuring and negotiating corporate spin-off transactions or other tax-free or taxable reorganizations.
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About Locke Lord LLP
Locke Lord is a full-service law firm with global reach and 20 offices designed to meet clients’ needs in the United States and around the world. The Firm has a history that spans more than 135 years and is a leader in the middle market arena. Locke Lord focuses on providing the highest levels of commitment, quality and service to clients across its five Key Sectors: Energy and Infrastructure; Finance and Financial Services; Insurance and Reinsurance; Pharmaceutical; and Private Equity. In addition, the Firm advises clients across a broad spectrum of other industries, including fund formation, venture capital, health care, public finance, real estate, technology, cybersecurity and white collar, while providing a wealth of experience through its complex litigation, intellectual property, tax, regulatory and transactional teams.
February 9, 2023 – Locke Lord’s Executive Committee has re-elected David Taylor (Houston) as Chair of the Firm and Jennifer Kenedy (Chicago), Bill Swanstrom (Houston) and Thomas Yoxall (Dallas) as Vice Chairs of its Executive Committee. The Executive Committee also has named Rusty Perdew (Chicago) as the new Co-Chair of the Firm’s Board of Directors. Perdew has an active practice litigating consumer class action and commercial cases nationwide, including a focus on representing lenders and loan servicers.
In addition, Locke Lord’s Partners have elected three new members to the Firm’s Executive Committee and six new members to its Board of Directors.
The new members of the Firm’s Executive Committee are Nina Huerta (Los Angeles), Kip Mendrygal (Dallas) and Tai Tran (Austin). Also remaining on Locke Lord’s Executive Committee with Taylor, Kenedy, Swanstrom and Yoxall are David Grant (London); Alan Levin (New York/Hartford); Paul Mahoney (Providence); Richard A. Manley Jr. (Boston); Paul Nason (Dallas); Allison O’Neil (Boston); and Steve Whitmer (Chicago).
Locke Lord’s Board of Directors helps direct the Firm’s vision and strategy and collaborates on other Firm-wide initiatives. The Board reports to Taylor and the Executive Committee. The new members of the Firm’s Board of Directors are John Arnold (Houston); Kyle Davis (Dallas); John Emmanuel (New York); Sean Fifield (Los Angeles); Andrea Kerstein (Chicago); and Jenn Mendonça (Boston). Remaining on the Board of Directors with Perdew are Lauren Fincher (Austin); Bill Foley (New York); Dave Foster (Austin); Doug Gray (Providence); Denise Hanna (Washington, D.C.); Greg Heath (Houston); Ben Henry (London); Andrew Hughes (Providence); Elizabeth Mack (Dallas); Hanna Norvell (Houston); Ben Sykes (Chicago); Adrienne Walker (Boston); and Scott Wofsy (Stamford).
Newly elected members of Locke Lord’s Executive Committee:
- Huerta is Managing Partner of the Firm’s Los Angeles office and a member of the Labor and Employment Practice Group, where she focuses on defending companies in complex and class action litigation, typically involving labor and employment claims. She also assists companies with employment due diligence and proactive risk management in relation to mergers and acquisitions.
- Mendrygal, a member of the Firm’s White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice Group, focuses his practice on white collar investigations and defense involving public companies, private entities, financial institutions, corporate executives and high-profile individuals in connection with a variety of confidential and highly sensitive civil, criminal and regulatory investigations.
- Tran, a member of Locke Lord’s Real Estate and Finance Practice Group, focuses his practice on a broad spectrum of commercial real estate and finance transactions on behalf of owners, developers, investors, real estate funds and financial institutions, including real estate acquisitions and sales, development and leasing, construction and permanent financing as well as loan workouts and foreclosures.
Newly elected members of Locke Lord’s Board of Directors:
- Arnold, a member of the Firm’s Energy and Infrastructure Practice Group, represents energy companies in a broad range of regulatory and commercial matters, including regulatory compliance and disputes as well as energy project development and commercial transactions. Well-versed in midstream and electricity issues, he serves clients in matters before the Railroad Commission of Texas and the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
- Davis, a member of the Firm’s Real Estate and Finance Practice Group, provides counsel in a variety of commercial real estate and finance transactions. She represents clients in acquisitions, development and dispositions of various types of real property assets and institutional borrowers and lenders in commercial construction and term loans secured by industrial parks, multifamily projects, office buildings, retail shopping centers and condominium projects.
- Emmanuel is a member of the Firm’s Insurance Regulatory and Transactional Practice Group and focuses on insurance regulatory and general corporate law. He represents clients from all sectors of the financial services industry and has represented clients with respect to administrative matters before state insurance departments. Emmanuel is also Co-Editor of the Locke Lord Excess and Surplus Lines Law Manual.
- Fifield’s practice focuses on intellectual property matters involving the protection and licensing of copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and related intellectual property rights. He is Co-Chair of the Firm’s Trademark, Copyright and Advertising Practice Group and advises clients on licensing, general business contracts and financing, and merger and acquisition transactions.
- Kerstein, Chair of the Firm’s Health and Managed Care Litigation Practice Group, has significant experience representing insurers and reinsurers in insurance and health care disputes and arbitrations, primarily in the life insurance and health insurance lines. She also has experience representing both local and international plaintiffs and defendants in other complex commercial litigation and arbitration matters.
- Mendonça, a member of the Firm’s Public Finance Practice Group, focuses her practice exclusively on all aspects of taxable and tax-exempt finance for governmental and 501(c)(3) entities, as bond counsel, borrower’s counsel, underwriter’s counsel, lender’s counsel and disclosure counsel. She has experience with virtually every type of public finance transaction and all aspects of financing transactions.
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About Locke Lord LLP
Locke Lord is a full-service law firm with global reach and 20 offices designed to meet clients’ needs in the United States and around the world. The Firm has a history that spans more than 135 years and is a leader in the middle market arena. Locke Lord focuses on providing the highest levels of commitment, quality and service to clients across its five Key Sectors: Energy and Infrastructure; Finance and Financial Services; Insurance and Reinsurance; Pharmaceutical; and Private Equity. In addition, the Firm advises clients across a broad spectrum of other industries, including fund formation, venture capital, health care, public finance, real estate, technology, cybersecurity and white collar, while providing a wealth of experience through its complex litigation, intellectual property, tax, regulatory and transactional teams.
Houston’s Akilah Craig was recognized by the Houston Bar Foundation (HBF), along with her co-authors, Jennifer Davidow and Xperanza Uviedo, as the recipients of the 2023 Outstanding Legal Article Award. The article, “Generational Perspectives on Adapting to the Evolving Legal Landscape,” discusses navigating the new legal landscape in a post-pandemic world, sharing insights from each author’s different generational perspective. The article was originally published in the May-June 2022 issue of The Houston Lawyer Magazine.
Read Craig’s full article here.
(HOUSTON, CHICAGO, and LOS ANGELES) February 21, 2023 – Locke Lord Houston Partner Mia Lorick has been selected as a member of the 2023 Fellows Program for the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), and Chicago’s Sky Emison has been named to LCLD’s Pathfinder Program. Both programs aim to identify, train and advance the next generation of leaders in the legal profession.
According to LCLD, its landmark Fellows Program, established in 2011, is one of its most important initiatives. As a Fellow, Lorick will participate in conferences, in-person training and projects with LCLD’s top leadership that aim to further leadership and relationship skills among lawyers who are committed to creating a more diverse and inclusive legal profession. The Pathfinder Program, now in its eighth year, targets high-performing associates. Pathfinders receive training in critical career development strategies, including leadership and building professional networks.
A member of Locke Lord’s Litigation Practice Group and the Firm’s Lateral Hire Committee, Lorick concentrates her practice on commercial litigation, real estate litigation, energy litigation and civil appeals. She handles jury trials, bench trials and arbitrations as well as appellate briefing and oral argument, and she has argued before the Texas Supreme Court. Lorick is a staunch advocate for a more equitable legal profession, regularly speaking on diversity and inclusion panels, most recently for the American Bar Association. Lorick is also the founder of the Suited for Success Scholarship, which awards law students with the funds needed to buy a business suit for interviewing.
An Associate in Locke Lord’s Health and Managed Care Litigation Practice Group, Emison focuses her practice on complex litigation, arbitration and health care regulatory matters. She has experience representing clients within the insurance, reinsurance and health care industries and counsels clients on all aspects of the litigation process. Emison is a member of the Firm’s Litigation Support and Associates Committees and maintains an active pro bono practice, in which she has represented individuals in a variety of civil proceedings.
Locke Lord has a long history of support and participation in LCLD initiatives. Previous Fellows include Providence Partner Krystle Tadesse, Chicago Partners Ernesto Palomo, Julie Webb and Bilal Zaheer. Chicago Partner Wasim Bleibel, Boston Associate Natalie Jersak and Los Angeles Associate Jonevin Sabado participated in LCLD’s Pathfinder Program.
Diversity and inclusion is one of the Firm’s five core values and an integral part of Locke Lord’s strategic plan. Locke Lord understands that fostering an inclusive environment results in better decision-making, better outcomes for clients and a firm where team members can be successful and thrive. To read more about Locke Lord’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, click here.
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About Locke Lord LLP
Locke Lord is a full-service law firm with global reach and 20 offices designed to meet clients’ needs in the United States and around the world. The Firm has a history that spans more than 135 years and is a leader in the middle market arena. Locke Lord focuses on providing the highest levels of commitment, quality and service to clients across its five Key Sectors: Energy and Infrastructure; Finance and Financial Services; Insurance and Reinsurance; Pharmaceutical; and Private Equity. In addition, the Firm advises clients across a broad spectrum of other industries, including fund formation, venture capital, health care, public finance, real estate, technology, cybersecurity and white collar, while providing a wealth of experience through its complex litigation, intellectual property, tax, regulatory and transactional teams.