October 31, 2024 – Locke Lord has promoted five lawyers representing the Firm’s Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles and New York offices to Partnership level, effective Jan. 1, 2025. The lawyers are members of the Firm’s Labor and Employment, Litigation and White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice Groups.
The new Partners are:
In Chicago:
Heidi L. Brady concentrates her practice on complex litigation, arbitration, and health care regulation and litigation. She represents clients within the insurance, reinsurance and health care industries on matters involving breach of commercial or government contracts, business torts, trade secret and unfair competition claims, insolvency issues, state guaranty funds and insurance fraud.
In Dallas:
Nick Graber focuses his practice on all aspects of litigation, from intake to resolution in state and federal courts and alternative dispute resolution forums across the country. His practice includes business torts, contract disputes, False Claims Act actions and related government investigations, including violations of anti-kickback statutes, and general commercial litigation.
Jennifer McCoy focuses her practice on white collar criminal defense and government and internal investigations, as well as labor and employment matters. Her clients include companies, educational institutions and individuals facing various allegations of fraud; antitrust violations; antikickback violations; False Claims Act violations; securities law violations; and misconduct related to employment, regulatory and compliance matters.
In Los Angeles:
Jonevin Sabado concentrates his practice on defending companies in complex and class action litigation, typically involving labor and employment claims. He defends employers in litigation involving wage and hour claims and advises them on several issues, including hiring and discipline, wage and hour compliance, accommodation, and leave policies and procedures.
In New York:
Andrew Braunstein represents financial institutions and service providers in high-stakes litigations and investigations. He has significant experience representing banks, non-bank lenders, trusts, trustees and loan servicers in consumer class actions and other complex litigations. Braunstein also represents these clients in investigations involving lending and servicing practices, compliance with federal statutes and regulations and other issues.
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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.
Locke Lord and Troutman Pepper have agreed to combine effective January 1, 2025. With a deeper bench of more than 1,600 lawyers across 35 offices in the United States and Europe, the combined firm — Troutman Pepper Locke — will be better positioned to help clients solve complex legal challenges, while also broadening its reach into new industries and geographies at the frontlines of change.
Locke Lord Houston Partner Mia Lorick was named by Texas Lawyer as a 2024 Influential Woman in Law finalist, an award that spotlights women lawyers in Texas, “who have made a remarkable difference in the legal profession.” Lorick was selected as a finalist for her exceptional skill and significant impact to the legal industry as well as her unwavering dedication to advancing equality. Honorees were recognized at the publication’s Texas Legal Awards event on October 15.
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 and numerous intermediate courts of appeals. She is a staunch advocate for a more equitable legal profession, regularly speaking on diversity and inclusion panels. 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.
Read Texas Lawyer’s Q&A with Lorick and read the full list of 2024 Texas Legal Award honorees (subscription may be required).
Locke Lord was recognized as a 2024 Top Performer and honored with the Compass Award by the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD), an organization of more than 400 corporate chief legal officers and managing partners dedicated to creating a truly diverse U.S. legal profession. The Top Performer award recognizes organizations in the top 20 percent for participation in LCLD programs and activities. The Compass Award recognizes engaged participants in its Fellows, Pathfinder and pipeline programs as well as involvement by senior Firm leadership with LCLD’s Annual Membership Meetings.
Locke Lord regularly participates in the LCLD Fellows Program, which identifies, trains and advances the next generation of leaders in the legal profession. Previous LCLD Fellows from the Firm include Chicago Partners Ernesto Palomo, Julie Webb and Bilal Zaheer, Houston Partner Mia Lorick, Los Angeles Partner Amin Al-Sarraf and Providence Partner Krystle Tadesse. In addition, Chicago Partner Wasim Bleibel and Associates Sky Emison and Abigail Van Hook, Atlanta Associate Lou Lou Yan, Boston Associate Natalie Jersak and Los Angeles Associate Jonevin Sabado participated in LCLD’s Pathfinder Program, which targets high-performing associates providing them training in critical career development strategies, including leadership and the building of professional networks. Locke Lord is also an active participant in LCLD’s 1L Scholars pipeline 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.
Jennie Simmons, Co-Chair of Locke Lord’s Corporate Practice Group, has been named a 2024 Women Who Mean Business honoree by the Houston Business Journal as an Outstanding Business Leader in Law, recognizing Houston’s most successful women and business leaders. She was honored at an awards luncheon on Oct. 17 at the Marriott Marquis Houston. Finalists were chosen based on career achievement, contribution to company and city success, community involvement and leadership.
Simmons, a Partner in Locke Lord’s Houston office, focuses her practice on the representation of clients in mergers and acquisitions, private equity transactions, divestitures, corporate restructurings, corporate governance and general corporate matters. Over the course of her career, she’s led and co-led large-scale deals and represented clients in a wide range of transactions valued at up to $5 billion, including, Kinder Morgan’s $1.815 billion acquisition of NextEra Energy Partners’ STX Midstream and WildFire Energy’s acquisition of Chesapeake Energy Corporation’s Brazos Valley region of its Eagle Ford asset for $1.425 billion.
Devoted to the recruiting of women and diverse attorneys and the retention and elevation of women at all levels in the legal profession, Simmons serves on the Firm’s Diversity and Inclusion, Practice Development and Lateral Hiring Committees. She also serves as a leader and mentor to Summer Associates, younger Associates and lateral hires and leads by example on how to help women enter and advance in the legal profession.
A native Houstonian, Simmons is deeply involved in the Houston community, frequently providing pro bono services to those in need and is a large supporter of the Houston Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. She is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a member of the State Bar of Texas, which is granted to only the top one-third of 1 percent of Texas lawyers.
Read Houston Business Journal’s Q&A with Jennie Simmons (subscription may be required).
Los Angeles Partner Amin Al-Sarraf, Head of Locke Lord’s Entertainment Industry Group, was recognized as a Future Litigation Star honoree in the 2025 edition of Benchmark Litigation – United States, a guide that provides analysis of the players shaping the dynamic practice of litigation across the country. Honorees were selected based on a combination of their recent casework, peer review and client feedback.
Al-Sarraf regularly represents large corporations, financial institutions, entertainment studios, talent agencies, investment funds, small businesses, government agencies and individuals in a wide variety of civil disputes and complex litigation, including employment, commercial and entertainment matters.
October 2, 2024 – Locke Lord has achieved 2023-2024 Mansfield Certification from Diversity Lab, recognizing the Firm for striving to ensure all of its talent has a fair and equal opportunity to advance into leadership.
Mansfield Certification measures the steps Locke Lord has taken to enhance inclusivity at the Firm as well as the progress it has made by fostering transparency through written and accessible advancement processes and broadening the slate of talent considered for internal leadership roles.
“Achieving Mansfield Rule Certification yet again comes at an exciting time for Locke Lord as we prepare to combine with Troutman Pepper, a firm that has long championed these same values and also maintained Mansfield Certification for many years,” said Locke Lord Chair David Taylor. “As we unite to become Troutman Pepper Locke in 2025, this milestone underscores our shared dedication to fostering diverse leadership reflective of the communities we serve.”
Locke Lord and Troutman Pepper are currently participating in the Mansfield Rule 8.0 Certification process, aimed to conclude by July 2025.
“The Mansfield Rule is more than just a benchmark — it is a testament to our Firm’s deliberate efforts to prioritize diverse perspectives and inclusion at every level,” Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer Kimberly Hulsey said. “The certification process encourages us to rethink traditional pathways to leadership and to ensure that our actions align with our commitment to creating equitable opportunities for all.”
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.
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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.
Locke Lord and Troutman Pepper have agreed to combine effective January 1, 2025. With a deeper bench of more than 1,600 lawyers across 35 offices in the United States and Europe, the combined firm — Troutman Pepper Locke — will be better positioned to help clients solve complex legal challenges, while also broadening its reach into new industries and geographies at the frontlines of change.
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) September 30, 2024 – Indira K. Sharma has joined Locke Lord’s Washington, D.C., office as a Partner in the Firm’s Litigation Practice Group. Sharma’s vast litigation experience, from complex contract and commercial disputes to matters involving commercial leases and real estate, will further enhance the Firm’s service offerings in the region and across the United States.
Sharma, who joins Locke Lord from Saul Ewing, represents clients in state and federal courts, domestic and international arbitrations, as well as all phases of litigation through trial and appeals in a wide range of complex disputes involving contracts, commercial transactions, real estate, commercial leases and non-competition agreements. Additionally, she advises on managing early-stage conflicts and strategies for preventing litigation. Sharma has vast experience in litigating an array of contract disputes, from commercial leases to merger and acquisition agreements, services contracts, distributorship agreements, loan and security agreements and employment agreements involving restrictive covenants. She also litigates matters involving construction and real estate, particularly cases involving allegations of fraud, professional negligence and tortious interference with contract and business relations.
“We’re excited to welcome an extremely accomplished litigator such as Indira to our team, who exhibits a steadfast commitment to attaining the most efficient and effective results for clients,” said Scott Jones, Co-Chair of Locke Lord’s Litigation Department and Chair of the Firm’s Business Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group. “Indira’s impressive litigation roster of first-chair experience, including complex breach of contract cases and real estate litigations, makes her a strategic addition to our team.”
“Indira’s deep roots in the region and strong ties in the real estate, health care, technology and industrial sectors will strengthen our Northeast presence and enhance our national platform,” added Denise Hanna, Managing Partner of Locke Lord’s Washington, D.C., office.
Beyond her litigation practice, Sharma has a long history of being active in the legal community, serving in roles within the Maryland State Bar Association, including the Leadership Academy Committee. She is also a member of the Judicial Selections Committee with the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Maryland. Additionally, Sharma has been recognized for her work in commercial litigation by The Best Lawyers in America® and is a recipient of The Daily Record’s Leadership in Law Award, among others.
“I was attracted to Locke Lord’s distinguished reputation, preeminent litigation presence and full-service platform in major legal markets throughout the country and internationally, which makes it a perfect destination for my practice,” said Sharma. “With the increased complexity of commercial litigation matters, having an array of resources and a deep bench of experience in key industries at your fingertips is more important than ever.”
Locke Lord’s dispute resolution team has the intellectual depth, creativity and tenacity necessary to prevail in the most complex and contentious disputes. The Firm’s lawyers try cases in federal, state and local courts across the United States and represent clients before state and federal agencies and regulators. Locke Lord’s lawyers defend clients facing criminal challenges and arbitrate disputes administered by leading various domestic and international institutions.
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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.
Locke Lord and Troutman Pepper have agreed to combine effective January 1, 2025. With a deeper bench of more than 1,600 lawyers across 35 offices in the United States and Europe, the combined firm — Troutman Pepper Locke — will be better positioned to help clients solve complex legal challenges, while also broadening its reach into new industries and geographies at the frontlines of change.
With More Than 1,600 Attorneys, the Combined Firm Will Have an Expanded Footprint With Deeper Capabilities in Key Industries
(September 6, 2024) – Locke Lord and Troutman Pepper have agreed to merge effective January 1, 2025. The new law firm, which will be named Troutman Pepper Locke, will have more than 1,600 attorneys in 30+ offices, with a meaningful presence in all 10 of the largest U.S. legal markets. In addition, Troutman Pepper Locke will offer its clients greater resources and bench strength, enhanced industry knowledge, increased investments in innovation, and expanded reach in key geographies. The announcement follows a vote by both firms’ partnerships yesterday.
Tom Cole, chair of Troutman Pepper, will serve as chair of Troutman Pepper Locke. David Taylor, chair of Locke Lord, and Ashley Taylor, vice chair of Troutman Pepper, will serve as vice chairs of the combined firm. Amie Colby, managing partner of Troutman Pepper, will serve as managing partner of Troutman Pepper Locke.
Locke Lord and Troutman Pepper share significant practice strengths in industries that are critical to the economy, including energy, financial services, health care and life sciences, insurance and reinsurance, private equity, and real estate, among others.
“The reasons for this merger go beyond complementary areas of practice. Our firms’ shared dedication to client service and excellence will allow us to offer increased value to our clients,” Cole said. “We are enthusiastic about collaboratively building upon our experience with the clients that we already serve and introducing Troutman Pepper Locke to new clients and markets.”
“The expanded footprint of Troutman Pepper Locke will allow us to offer a far deeper bench of attorneys to advise clients on complex transactional, litigation, and regulatory matters,” David Taylor noted. “In addition, our lawyers are aligned on core values with a commitment to innovation, inclusion, and pro bono service.”
“The high-performance culture of our combined firm sets us apart and will enable us to realize the benefits of this merger immediately. We are incredibly excited about our future together,” Colby added.
Troutman Pepper Locke will have offices in the following 35 cities (in alphabetical order): Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Berwyn, PA; Boston, MA; Charlotte, NC; Chicago, IL; Cincinnati, OH; Dallas, TX; Detroit, MI; Harrisburg, PA; Hartford, CT; Houston, TX; London, UK; Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Orange County, CA; Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland, OR; Princeton, NJ; Providence, RI; Raleigh, NC; Richmond, VA; Rochester, NY; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; Stamford, CT; Virginia Beach, VA; Washington, DC; West Palm Beach, FL; and Wilmington, DE.
Locke Lord received the Community Partner Award from Casa Esperanza, highlighting the Firm’s ongoing commitment to providing essential pro bono legal support and counsel to the community. According to Casa Esperanza, a bilingual and bicultural behavioral health facility dedicated to serving the Latinx community in Massachusetts, the Community Partner Award honors organizations that have demonstrated exceptional support for Casa Esperanza and the community. The award was presented at a special reception on September 13 in Boston.
Locke Lord has a rich and long-standing tradition of giving back to its communities through pro bono projects. The Firm considers it an obligation and responsibility as lawyers and as human beings to provide legal services to people who cannot afford them.
Locke Lord Dallas Associate Hoa Nguyen has been selected as a member of the State Bar of Texas and Texas Young Lawyers Association’s 2024-2025 class of LeadershipSBOT. The program is designed to increase diverse leadership participation through the nomination of lawyers who possess both the desire and the potential to assume leadership roles in their communities and the State Bar of Texas. Nguyen will participate to gain the tools to develop and transition into leadership roles, foster meaningful relationships, interact with current leaders and discover how to best engage in public involvement to be effective in the profession and community.