Summer is upon us and we’re back with another edition of the National Law Review’s legal industry news column. This week, we cover the latest law firm hiring, pro bono, and legal award recognition news. Read on for the latest updates:

Law Firm Hires & Moves

The Young Lawyers’ Section (YLS) of the Chicago Bar Association named Clifford Law Offices’ Tracy Brammeier as its next chair as well as an executive council at the YLS Annual Meeting held June 2, 2021.

Ms. Brammeier’s practice focuses on aviation, transportation, premises, and construction liability in addition to other areas of personal injury and wrongful death litigation. She also participated in the YLS Wills for Heroes project.

“For the last year, we have all worked to stay in touch with clients and colleagues, trying to adapt as we lost access to in-person meetings, hearings, and events,” said Ms. Brammeier. “As we figure out our ‘new normal’ in a post-COVID world, the YLS is more essential to its members than ever before by providing a consistent space for legal education and social engagement to sustain the community environment that is so important to our professional success and personal fulfillment.”

Steven M. Regan joined Steptoe & Johnson’s Business Department in its Pittsburgh office. Mr. Regan’s practice focuses on real estate, real estate development, and corporate transactions. Mr. Regan represents real estate investors in structuring real estate investments and executing acquisition and financing of projects in all asset classes.

“I am excited to welcome Steve to Steptoe & Johnson PLLC. He will be an asset to both our real estate and transactional teams,” said firm CEO Christopher L. Slaughter. “Veteran attorneys like Steve who know how to get positive results and build lasting relationships are a crucial part of our long-term effort to expand services to new and existing clients in the Pittsburgh market.”

Norris McLaughlin law firm hired new attorneys to join the Pennsylvania office’s litigation practice, as well as the addition of one summer associate. The new hires include:

• Thomas H. Dinkelacker concentrates on municipal, land use, and real estate law and represents clients before zoning hearing boards, code appeal boards, governing bodies, and various Pennsylvania Courts.

• Rebecca J. Grausam-Charamella focuses on complex litigation matters and represents a multitude of clients at jury trials, hearings, mediations, and arbitrations. She also served as a trial attorney for State Farm Insurance Company for eight years.

• Andrew J. Shaw concentrates his practice on commercial litigation, and has a wide range of experience through all phases of litigation in both state and federal courts.

• William R. Murphy III defends individuals involved in civil litigation for general liability matters. He also represents insurance carriers, and he has experience in insurance fraud and automobile accidents.

• Rocco Beltrami will temporarily join as a summer associate to assist the attorneys while he is in law school at Villanova Charles Widger School of Law.

“We are excited to be growing in a way where we are continuously adding exceptional talent to our roster of great attorneys here at Norris McLaughlin,” said the Honorable Emil Giordano (Ret.), a member of the firm and co-chair of its Litigation Practice Group.

Manatt, Phelps and Phillips, LLP law firm announced the addition of Naeun Rim to their Los Angeles firm as a litigation partner. Ms. Rim represents clients at the intersection of civil litigation and white-collar defense matters across the health care, financial services, entertainment and technology industries.

Ms. Rim is also one of a few Asian American women to serve as trial counsel for a Fortune 150 company in one of California’s biggest environmental trials.

“Naeun will be a strong asset to what our clients view as a well-established litigation powerhouse,” Donna L. Wilson, Manatt’s CEO and managing partner said in the announcement.

Democracy Forward named lawyer Skye Perryman as its new President and Chief Executive Officer.  Ms. Perryman is a founding litigator of the organization. As president and CEO, Ms. Perryman will focus on confronting unlawful threats to democracy and social progress. She succeeds Anne Harkavy, the organization’s founding executive director.

“As we continue to see the basic values of our democracy under attack, Skye Perryman is the right leader at the right time for Democracy Forward,” said Marc Elias, head of the Political Law practice at Perkins Coie and chair of the board of Democracy Forward. “She is a successful litigator, effective strategist, and a coalition builder who is committed to taking on critical fights to advance social progress and democratic values. We are all thrilled to welcome Skye back to Democracy Forward to lead its next phase at a time when the stakes for our nation’s future could not be higher.”

Ms. Perryman most recently served as Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, where she worked to enhance access and equity in women’s health care. 

“We must use all tools at our disposal to fight for the promise of democracy at this crucial moment. It is an honor to be rejoining the team at Democracy Forward as we expand the scope and reach of our work.” said Ms. Perryman.

Law Firm Philanthropy and Pro Bono

Jackson Lewis P.C. partnered with The Association of Corporate Counsel’s Employment and Labor Law Network (ACC) to develop “RACE Talks: Realign Act Change Engage,”  a racial equity program that focuses on individual transformation and change to create a more racially just workplace and society. The RACE Talks program highlighted specific actions to advance social justice in society, and included podcasts, videos and articles.

Jackson Lewis’ Samia M. Kirmani led workplace bias sessions and facilitated live discussions with Michael D. Thomas and Tanya A. Bovée. Weldon H. Latham also added to the discussions.

“We were thrilled that ACC asked Jackson Lewis to create a program designed to advance racial justice,” said Ms. Bovée. “2020 was a racial awakening for many, and this was the perfect opportunity to focus on how individuals can transform and bring about positive change. We created this program with the goal that participants would step outside of their comfort zone, disrupt their own status quo, and think differently about race and the concept of bias.”

North Carolina’s Pro Bono Resource Center inducted four Ward and Smith law firm attorneys into the 2020 North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society. Despite the challenges 2020 brought, Mary Cavanaugh, Chris Edwards, Paul Fanning and Lance Martin participated in a wide range of pro bono activities across the state.

“Many North Carolina attorneys recognized the needs brought about by COVID-19 and provided pro bono legal services to help ensure that ‘justice shall be administered without favor, denial, or delay,’ as is mandated by our state’s Constitution,” said North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Paul Newby in the announcement.

Frost Brown Todd (FBT) is celebrating Juneteenth this year by providing the entirety of the ParentPreneur Foundation’s $10,000 Father’s Day grant awards, where ten dads of color will receive $1,000 a piece for their start-up businesses.

The ParentPreneur Foundation provides opportunities for black entrepreneurs who are in the start-up business to get a leg up and get started and strives to empower these parents to leave a good legacy for their children.

“The world of start-ups is a challenge no matter who you are, but that is especially true of Black entrepreneurs,” said Terrence Reeves, chair of FBT’s Venture Capital industry team. “Funding this grant is another example of how Frost Brown Todd’s venture capital services go beyond just providing legal support. Being part of this project at a time when the U.S. is celebrating Juneteenth makes it all that more special. We look forward to seeing the impact this grant program will make on the lives and livelihoods of the recipients.”

Legal Industry Awards & Recognition

The Globe and Mail named McCarthy Tétrault as a recipient of its first Report on Business Top 25 Best B2B Brands award. McCarthy Tétrault earned the top honor in the legal category out of 11 law firms.

The Best B2B Brands is a new research initiative from the Globe and Mail’s Report on Business Magazine with Ipsos. The list is based on 42 different evaluations related to culture, innovation and other initiatives from 406 Canadian executives who were surveyed in January and February of this year.

“This acknowledgement is a true testament to our firm’s core values of investing in our people, our clients and our communities,” said Dave Leonard, CEO at McCarthy Tétrault. “Our top priority has always been our clients’ sustained success, and we recognize that the best way to achieve this is to support a collaborative, inclusive and innovative culture that evolves with the pace of business.”

For the third year in a row, the Legal 500 United States 2021 ranked MoginRubin in the category of Antitrust and Civil Litigation/Class Actions: Plaintiff. The Legal 500 ranks practice areas nationally instead of by state.

The Legal 500 recognized the following MoginRubin attorneys:

• Daniel Mogin (Managing Partner)

• Jonathan Rubin (Partner)

• Jennifer Oliver (Partner)

• Timothy LaComb (Associate)

• Joy Sidhwa (Senior Counsel).

Greenberg Traurig law firm received the Morgan Stanley Leadership in Excellence in Inclusion and Diversity award.  Bradford D. Kaufman, Greenberg Traurig co-president and the global chairman of Professional Development and Integration, accepted the award on behalf of the firm.

Greenberg Traurig invested $5 million over five years to address systemic racism and launched a Justice Action Initiative to target pro bono work in the areas of economic, social, and racial justice. The firm also joined in creating the Law Firm Anti-Racism Alliance.

“No company operates without the support of clients or customers. Leadership involves service and most professionals feel they have a responsibility to give back. Moving a diversity initiative from paper to impact takes intention,” Mr. Kaufman said. “I have had the privilege to represent Morgan Stanley during the past 35 years and therefore know the depth of its commitment to inclusion and diversity and it is truly inspirational.”

Chambers USA recognized Bracewell law firm in its 2021 rankings, giving the firm a Nationwide Band 1 ranking in Oil & Gas (Regulatory & Litigation) for the seventh consecutive year. Bracewell also ranked as a Band 1 firm in the Texas: Environment category for the fifth consecutive year.

Overall, Bracewell ranked with 89 other firms for excellence in representing clients in the real estate, technology, energy and infrastructure sectors. Additionally, Chambers ranked 50 percent of Bracewell’s partners as leaders in their practice areas.

Rachel Popa also contributed to this article.