Troutman Sanders Partnership Expands by 15
Troutman Sanders LLP is pleased to announce the promotion of 15 attorneys who have been elected partners. The new partners are located in the law firm's offices in Atlanta, New York, Richmond and Virginia Beach.
"These attorneys have worked tirelessly to achieve this milestone in their careers,” said Robert W. Webb Jr., chairman and managing partner of Troutman Sanders. “The firm appreciates their hard work and dedication,
and looks forward to their continued success as partners."
Troutman Sanders’ new partners are:
Matthew J. Aaronson
Consumer Law/Trade Regulation
New York
Daniel N. Anziska
Antitrust Law
New York
Brett R. Baker
Mergers Acquisitions & Bus. Ventures
New York
Stephen Jefferson Greenway
Office and Industrial Properties
Atlanta
Brian C. Harms
Project Development and Finance
Atlanta
William H. Hurd
Complex Litigation
Richmond
Brian J. Iwashyna
Multi-Family Housing
Richmond
Kevin G. Meeks
Governmental Law
Atlanta/Raleigh
John M. Ramirez
Mergers Acquisitions & Bus. Ventures
Virginia Beach
Thomas J. Schramkowski
Mergers Acquisitions & Bus. Ventures
Atlanta
James E. Schutz
Intellectual Property
Atlanta
Wendelin (Wendy) Silliman
Office and Industrial Properties
Atlanta
John W. Stephenson Jr.
Mergers Acquisitions & Bus. Ventures
Atlanta
Joseph A. Tessari
Intellectual Property
Richmond
Rebecca Lyn Williams
Labor and Employment
Atlanta
About the new partners in the Atlanta office:
Stephen Jefferson Greenway is a member of the firm’s Office & Industrial Properties practice group and has been with Troutman Sanders since 2005.
Prior to joining the firm, he was an attorney at Jones Day from 1997 to 2005, a law clerk for the Honorable Dudley H. Bowen Jr., United States District Judge, Southern District of Georgia from 1996 to 1997, and a law clerk for the Honorable W. Leon Barfield, United States Magistrate Judge, Southern District of Georgia from 1994 to 1995.
He counsels clients on transactional commercial real estate matters, including acquisitions, sales and financing, negotiation and drafting of contracts, major commercial and office leases and mortgages.
Greenway is a member of the State Bar of Georgia’s Real Property Law Section and Legislative Subcommittee, a member of the Atlanta History Center’s Snake Nation Social Club and a member of the Shepherd Center’s
Junior Committee. He also serves as pro bono legal counsel for the Boy Scouts of America, Atlanta Area Council, Inc.
Greenway received a B.A., magna cum laude, from Lee College in 1990 and a J.D., cum laude, from the University of Georgia in 1994, where he served on the editorial board (1992-1993) and as managing editor (1993-1994) of the Georgia
Law Review.
Brian C. Harms joined Troutman Sanders in 2000 and is a member of the firm’s Project Development & Finance; Energy; Mergers, Acquisitions & Business Ventures; and Energy Commodities Trading, Hedging
& Marketing practice groups.
Harms counsels clients on a wide variety of issues with respect to the development and financing of major projects, mainly in the energy sector, including the preparation and negotiation of development agreements, co-ownership arrangements,
partnership, operating and engineering services agreements, asset purchase and sale agreements, procurement agreements, interim, ancillary and other general corporate documents, as well as the negotiation of real estate documents,
cost allocation and operating procedures.
He also assists and counsels independent power providers, utilities and other companies for financial derivatives involving interest rate swaps and foreign exchange transactions, physical supply agreements and other structured products
(including long-term power purchase agreements), specializing in the ISDA (including the power annex and gas annex), EEI and GISB/NAESB master agreements for hedging, purchases and sales of commodities, including ancillary documentation
related to credit support, margining and other netting or similar arrangements.
He has served as a member on the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Georgia’s Business Law Committee (2000-2001), the International Committee of the American Bar Association (2000), the Edison Electric Institute (2001),
and the North American Energy and Developing Products Committee of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (2005 - present).
Harms has authored “Redefining ‘Crimes of Moral Turpitude,’ A Proposal to Congress,” which was published in the Georgetown Immigration Law Journal in 2001, as well as “Holding Public Officials Accountable
in the International Realm: A New Multi-Layered Strategy to Combat Corruption,” which was published in the Cornell International Law Journal in 2000.
He received his B.A. in 1997 from Denison University and a J.D., with an International Studies Specialization, in 2000 from Cornell University, where he was the lead articles editor of the Cornell International Law Journal.
Kevin G. Meeks joined Troutman Sanders in 2001 and is a member of the firm’s Governmental Law, and Zoning & Land Use practice groups.
Prior to joining Troutman Sanders, he completed a two-year federal judicial clerkship with the Honorable Thomas W. Thrash Jr., of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
Before law school, he served for three years as political director and special assistant to Georgia Governor Zell Miller, and for a year as a campaign aide to North Carolina Governor Jim Hunt.
Meeks works out of the Atlanta and Raleigh offices of the firm with a public law practice that combines litigation and administrative appeals, government contracting and regulatory affairs, political campaign finance law, and ethics
and government compliance.
He has been an active member of the Bleckley Inn of Court, an Atlanta organization dedicated to the promotion of ethics and professionalism in trial practice, and is on the board of directors for the North Carolina Center for Voter
Education.
He graduated with an A.B. in 1993 from Duke University and a J.D. in 1999 from the University of Georgia, where he was the managing editor of the Georgia Law Review.
Thomas J. Schramkowski joined Troutman Sanders in 1999 and is a member of the firm’s Mergers, Acquisitions & Business Ventures; and Securities & Corporate Governance practice groups.
Schramkowski represents clients in a variety of corporate and securities matters, including mergers and acquisitions involving publicly traded and privately held entities, public debt and equity offerings and private placements of
securities, and investments involving private equity and real estate funds. In addition, he assists companies with the drafting of their shareholder, limited liability company and partnership agreements with a focus on establishing
complex joint ventures in a wide range of industries, including satellite technology, gaming, media and real estate.
He was selected as a Georgia Rising Star in Mergers & Acquisitions by Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine in 2007.
Schramkowski received a B.B.A. in 1991 from the University of Wisconsin and a J.D., cum laude, in 1999 from Georgia State University, where he was the editor-in-chief of the Georgia State University Law Review.
James E. Schutz is a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property practice group and has been with Troutman Sanders since 2000.
Prior to joining the firm, he was an engineer (1997), a graduate research assistant (1996-1997) and a co-op (1991-1996) at the Georgia Tech Research Institute.
Schutz’s practice concentrates on the domestic and international protection of intellectual property, including prosecution, litigation, and licensing related to patents, trademarks and copyrights. He has technical experience
in the design and development of computer hardware/software and specializes in the representation of clients in the computer and telecommunication industries.
Since 2003, he has also been an adjunct instructor of intellectual property law with Georgia Institute of Technology’s School of Public Policy.
Schutz obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering, with high honors, in 1996 and a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1997 from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a J.D., cum laude, in 2000
from the University of Georgia.
Wendelin (Wendy) White Silliman has been with Troutman Sanders since 1994. From 1994 to 2006, she was an associate for the firm, and then made of counsel until being voted into the partnership this year.
She is a member of the firm’s Office & Industrial Properties practice group.
She specializes in cellular site acquisitions and also counsels clients on transactional commercial and industrial real estate matters, including acquisitions, sales and financing, negotiation and drafting of contracts, major commercial
and office leases, mortgages, regulatory matters, bond refunding and procurement issues. These activities have included the acquisition or leasing of ground and/or tower space for cellular communications facilities, and land
revitalization for an award winning mixed income housing development program.
Silliman is very active in the community. She served for three years as Founding Chair of the Governing Committee of THREADS, a mission of All Saints’ Church designed to provide indigent children with free new clothing.
Formerly, she served as Chair of the New Missions Subcommittee and Facility Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, which both set the stage for the new mission. She recently started the Needs Network, an electronic newsletter
that publicizes the immediate needs of area charities and ministries.
In the past, she has also served as general counsel and as a member of the board of directors for Habitat for Humanity in Atlanta, Inc., and as a board member for Art of the Season, benefiting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.
Silliman obtained a B.A. in 1990 and a J.D. in 1993 from the University of Virginia, where she was the managing editor of the Journal of Law and Politics. She was a 1988 Harry S. Truman Scholar.
John W. Stephenson Jr. joined Troutman Sanders in 2000 and is a member of the firm’s Mergers, Acquisitions & Business Ventures; Financial Institutions; and Securities & Corporate Governance practice
groups.
Stephenson’s practice focuses on representing business owners as well as privately held, closely held, and publicly traded companies in a variety of corporate, securities and compliance matters, including mergers and acquisitions,
public offerings and private placements of debt and equity securities, and investments involving real estate development ventures.
In addition, he assists companies with drafting and negotiating stock and asset purchase agreements (for both buyers and sellers), letters of intent, shareholders’ agreements, LLC operating agreements, employment agreements,
confidentiality agreements, intellectual property license arrangements and endorsements. He also handles a variety of banking matters, including the formation and capital raising activities of “de novo” banks,
the implementation of bank holding company structures and bank regulatory compliance matters.
Stephenson was the co-author of the article “Thanks But No Thanks: Creating an Unsolicited Idea Policy” that was published in Technology, Intellectual Property & The Law in 2001, as well as the author of the Business
& The Law 2001 article “New Laws Address the Electronic Transmission of Corporate Communications.”
Active in his community, Stephenson serves on the boards of Outward Bound Atlanta, First Montessori School of Atlanta and the University of Georgia Honors Program, and he instructs a business legal considerations class at the Women’s
Economic Development Agency.
He also serves as counsel for the Chick-fil-A Bowl and serves on the Bowl’s Team Selection and Marketing committee.
He received a B.S., with high honors, in 1997 and a J.D., cum laude, in 2000 from the University of Georgia, where he served on the Georgia Law Review editorial board.
Rebecca Lyn Williams has been with the firm since 2001 and is a member of the firm’s Labor & Employment practice group.
Prior to joining Troutman Sanders, she was an associate at Burr & Forman LLP in Birmingham, Ala.
Her practice focuses on the handling of a wide variety of employment disputes arising under both state and federal law. These disputes include harassment and discrimination claims under Title VII and 42 U.S.C. § 1981,
as well as employment contract disputes (including pay issues, enforcement of non-compete agreements, protection of confidential employer information and trade secrets), wage and hour law issues, and workplace drug and alcohol testing
issues. Additionally, she handles disputes arising under the Family Medical Leave Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act.
Williams also has significant experience defending employers against claims of customer race discrimination. Williams has successfully defended numerous employment discrimination and related lawsuits, both through motion practice
and in jury trials. In addition to her litigation practice, Williams regularly gives day-to-day legal advice to human resources and management personnel and provides anti-discrimination and anti-harassment training for all
levels of employees.
Williams was recognized by Law & Politics and Atlanta Magazine as a Rising Star in the area of employment litigation, first in 2005 and again in 2007.
Within the firm, Williams has been editor of the Labor and Employment group’s newsletter, Employment and the Law (from 2002-2004), and she has written several articles for that publication, including “The Harassment
Made Me Quit My Job” and “I Shall Return: An Employer’s Obligations to Returning Soldiers.” Williams also served on the firm’s Recruiting Committee in 2004.
Williams is committed to providing pro bono legal services to Atlanta’s community. In May 2007, she received Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation’s “5 Year Award” recognizing her years of continuous
service with AVLF’s Saturday Lawyers Program. In October 2007, Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta honored Williams with its Attorney Volunteer of the Year award.
Actively involved in other aspects of community service, Williams is a regular volunteer with Hands on Atlanta, Habitat for Humanity and The Open Door Community. In 2007, she led the firm’s team of thirty volunteers
for Hands on Atlanta’s annual Service Juris day.
Williams received a B.S., cum laude, in 1995 from the University of Georgia and a J.D., with honors, in 1998 from Emory University School of Law.
About the new partners in the New York office:
Matthew J. Aaronson joined Troutman Sanders in 2005 and is a member of the firm’s Consumer Law: Multi-State Trade Regulation Investigations, Litigation & Counseling, and Complex Litigation practice groups.
Prior to joining the firm, he was an associate with Jenkens & Gilchrist Parker Chapin LLP from 2001-2005 and an associate with Parker Chapin LLP from 2000-2001.
Aaronson’s practice focuses on commercial and business litigation with particular emphasis on disputes involving breach of contract, trademark infringement, unfair competition and fraud.
Additionally, he counsels and defends retailers, manufacturers, distributors and service companies in federal, state and local regulatory matters involving unfair and deceptive trade practices, advertising, telemarketing, sweepstakes
and promotions and product recalls.
Aaronson serves as a committee member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, as well as on the Pro Bono committee at Troutman Sanders.
He received a B.A. in 1997 from Tufts University and a J.D. from Yeshiva University in 2000, where he was a supervising editor of the Cardozo Law Review.
Daniel N. Anziska has been with the firm since 2005 and is a member of Troutman Sanders' Antitrust Law and Complex Litigation practice groups.
Prior to joining the firm, he was an associate with Jenkens & Gilchrist Parker Chapin LLP from 2001-2005 and an associate with Parker Chapin LLP from 2000-2001.
Anziska’s practice primarily focuses on commercial and business litigation and counseling clients on antitrust and competition issues. He has represented clients in complex antitrust cases in many industries, including
the construction, healthcare and entertainment fields. In addition, he specializes on expert witness issues that arise in litigation and has defended attorneys in a number of legal malpractice actions.
Anziska is a member of the Antitrust Section of the American Bar Association, and a member of the New York State Bar Association.
He obtained a B.A., magna cum laude, in 1997 from Yeshiva University and a J.D. in 2000 from Fordham University School of Law.
Brett R. Baker joined Troutman Sanders in 2005 and is a member of the firm’s Mergers, Acquisitions & Business Ventures; and Securities & Corporate Governance practice groups.
Prior to Troutman Sanders, Baker was an associate at Jenkens & Gilchrist Parker Chapin LLP from 2001-2005 and an associate at Parker Chapin Flattau & Klimpl LLP from 1998-2001.
Baker counsels companies throughout many significant events in their corporate lives such as asset sales, asset acquisitions, stock sales, stock acquisitions, going private transactions, and restructurings. He also counsels
companies in connection with day-to-day corporate matters and corporate governance issues, and advises companies in connection with the issuance of debt and equity in private placement and exchange offering transactions, and private
equity funds in connection with PIPE transactions.
Additionally, he guides companies through the compliance requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and NYSE, AMEX, and NASDAQ Market compliance rules and has experience drafting registration statements and periodic reports under the
Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934.
He obtained a B.S. in 1994 from
Binghamton University, a J.D. in 1997 from Yeshiva University and an LL.M. in 1998 from Georgetown University.
About the new partners in the Richmond office:
William H. Hurd joined Troutman Sanders in 2004 as of counsel and is a member of the firm’s Complex Litigation practice group.
Immediately prior to joining Troutman Sanders, Hurd served as the Commonwealth of Virginia’s first Solicitor General (1999-2004), where he successfully argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including a landmark decision
upholding a state statute banning cross-burning with intent to intimidate, and where he supervised numerous major appeals on behalf of the Commonwealth. Altogether, he has appeared on brief in more than 100 appellate cases
and has argued more than 30 cases before federal and state appellate courts.
At Troutman Sanders, Hurd’s practice focuses on appellate cases, representing businesses in matters involving state Attorneys General and representing parents of children with disabilities. He also practices in the area
of election law, having served as lead counsel in two statewide election recounts.
Hurd is one of only five lawyers recognized by Virginia Super Lawyers for achievements in appellate practice (2006, 2007 editions). He is also recognized in The Best Lawyers in America in Education Law (2007, 2008 editions)
and is a recipient of the 2004 "Best Brief Award" given by the National Association of Attorneys General for outstanding legal writing before the United States Supreme Court.
Hurd is the author and co-author of articles appearing in the Duke Journal of Gender Law & Policy, Critical Issues in Education Law and Policy, the Equipment Leasing Newsletter and ENGAGE. He was also the editor of Guidelines
Concerning Religious Activity in the Public Schools, a widely-acclaimed document guaranteeing religious liberty and freedom of expression to Virginia public school students, adopted in 1995 by the Virginia State Board of Education.
Outside of his law practice, Hurd is an adjunct law professor at George Mason University’s School of Law, where he teaches advanced constitutional law, focusing on the Religion clauses. He is also a member of the Supreme
Court Historical Society, the Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference, the Virginia Bar Association, the Richmond Bar Association and the Virginia Chapter of the Federalist Society.
He obtained a B.A. in 1973 and a J.D. in 1977 from the University of Virginia.
Brian J. Iwashyna is a member of the firm’s Multi-Family Housing practice group and joined Troutman Sanders in 2000.
His legal practice concentrates on representing multiple lenders and servicers in numerous joint venture, real property, large multi-state and multi property transactions, transmission rights-of-way and the purchase and sale of unimproved
and improved property. Additionally, he has counseled clients with numerous single project loans and assumptions under various Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac programs on behalf of mortgage lending clients.
He received a B.A., magna cum laude, in 1997 from Boston College and a J.D. in 2000 from the College of William and Mary.
Joseph A. Tessari joined Troutman Sanders in 2007 and is a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property, and Technology & Intellectual Property practice groups.
Prior to joining Troutman Sanders, he was the Director of Intellectual Property at Tredegar Corporation, Intellectual Property Counsel at Tyco Electronics, Corporate Counsel at E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. and an associate at
Paul & Paul in Philadelphia, Pa.
Tessari's practice focuses primarily on handling patent matters, including strategic review and administration of patent portfolios, analyses concerning infringement, validity, freedom-to-operate, patentability and design around
issues. Additionally, he works with clients on potential IP concerns, including strategic counseling, review or creation of in-house IP policies, processes and procedures; drafts, reviews and negotiates IP related agreements;
and provides due diligence and other assistance in connection with merger and acquisition activities.
He also assists clients with trade secret litigation, business venture and alliance advice as well as counsels clients on sales and marketing, distribution and branding.
Tessari is a member of the Greater Richmond Intellectual Property Law Association as well as the American Intellectual Property Law Association.
He earned a B.S., cum laude, from Philadelphia College of Pharmacy & Science in 1982 and earned a J.D. from Vermont Law School, cum laude, in 1985.
About the new partner in the Virginia Beach office:
John M. Ramirez has been with Troutman Sanders since July of 2005 as of counsel and is a member of the firm’s Mergers, Acquisitions & Business Ventures; Closely Held Business & Entrepreneurial Services;
and Lending and Structured Finance practice groups.
Prior to joining Troutman Sanders, Ramirez was a partner (2005) and associate (1998-2004) at Venable LLP; an associate with Cooper, Spong & Davis, P.C. (1996-1998); and a law clerk for the Chief Staff Attorney’s Office
of the Supreme Court of Virginia (1995-1996).
Ramirez’s practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital transactions, general corporate and limited liability company matters, joint ventures, commercial finance transactions and licensing transactions.
He works with a variety of local and national businesses, serving as their general outside counsel.
In 2005, Ramirez was recognized as one of America’s Leading Lawyers for Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions Law by Chambers USA.
He obtained a B.A., with distinction, in 1992 from the University of Virginia and a J.D. in 1995 from the University of Richmond.
About Troutman Sanders
With a diverse practice mix, workforce and footprint, Troutman Sanders has cultivated its reputation for a higher commitment to client care for over 120 years. Ideally positioned to help clients across sectors realize their business
goals, the firm’s 650 attorneys transact for growth, resolve mission-threatening disputes and navigate complex legal and regulatory challenges. See
troutman.com for more information.