This past week in corporate legal news saw significant developments that may impact the obligations and strategies of general counsels. One of the noteworthy headlines centers around a $59 million malpractice lawsuit filed by a contracting company against the law firm Troutman Pepper. The contracting company alleges that Troutman Pepper and a partner within its…
President Joe Biden’s administration is set to implement measures reinforcing pro-union policies by leveraging federal infrastructure funds. Biden is expected to sign an executive order requiring federal agencies to prioritize companies that engage actively with unions and offer substantial benefits and competitive wages. This directive will apply to allocations from major legislative packages including the…
Holcim, the Swiss construction materials multinational, has announced the promotion of Lukas Studer, its corporate and M&A general counsel, to the role of group general counsel. Studer will succeed Mathias Gaertner, who has accepted a position as group legal chief at ABB. Gaertner, who joined ABB last October, will remain with Holcim until November 1…
Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders is contending with a $59 million malpractice lawsuit filed by former client Judlau Contracting, a New York-based construction firm. The legal action, initiated in the New York State Supreme Court, attributes the alleged malpractice to both the firm and its partner, Frank Cara. Troutman and Cara are accused of “textbook malpractice”…
The Democratic Republic of Congo’s (DRC) interior minister Jacquemain Shabani Lukoo Bihango announced on Tuesday that an attempt to escape from Makala Central Prison resulted in the deaths of 129 individuals. According to the minister, 24 individuals were killed by gunfire after allegedly failing to heed warnings, while the remaining fatalities were caused by jostling…
The Texas Business Court, created to handle complex business litigation in the state, received its first cases on Tuesday. The court aims to streamline the handling of commercial disputes, potentially providing a more specialized venue for business-related legal issues. Early cases involve contentious construction disputes, indicating the types of issues the court will address moving…
Welcome to Bloomberg Law’s Wake Up Call, a daily rundown of the top news for lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel. The Harris-Walz campaign has hired former Sidley Austin associate and Department of Homeland Security official Brenda Abdelall to lead outreach to Arab American voters, who hold sway in key swing states like Michigan. The…
Brendan Bradley has rejoined Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani (GRSM) as a partner in the firm’s construction practice group based in San Francisco, the firm announced Thursday. Bradley’s practice covers a wide array of litigation matters including defective construction, delay, disruption, inefficiency, professional negligence, and other complex issues related to breach of contract and corporate governance….
Russia’s Investigative Committee has initiated a fraud case against former Deputy Defense Minister Pavel Popov. Concurrently, the Garrison Military Court ordered that Popov remain in custody until October 29, following a ruling by Judge Andrey Tolkachevo (link). According to Svetlana Petrenko, a representative of the Investigative Committee, Popov, who oversaw the military-themed Patriot Park from…
A trio of top firms have been enlisted to provide counsel for a major acquisition in Singapore. U.S. private equity firm Warburg Pincus and Australian construction company Lendlease are collaborating to purchase a portfolio of industrial assets valued at $1.2 billion. The legal advisory panel includes Big Four Singapore firm Allen & Gledhill, Latham &…
“`html In a significant development, Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has filed a $140 million lawsuit accusing China Construction Bank Corp. of facilitating a large-scale fraud. According to the lawsuit, the bank and related entities played a crucial role by issuing the “lion’s share” of phony letters of credit that were pivotal in Israeli fintech…
Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan has filed a $140 million lawsuit accusing China Construction Bank Corp., one of China’s largest commercial lenders, of acting as the “lifeline” behind Israeli fintech Vesttoo’s alleged multibillion-dollar fraud. The case, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, alleges that the “lion’s share” of the fraudulent letters of credit came from China…
Kyle Benjamin Douglas Calvert has pleaded guilty to the malicious use of an explosive device after detonating a bomb outside the Alabama Attorney General’s office in February. The U.S. Department of Justice announced the plea agreement on Friday. Calvert assembled the bomb, comprising nails, screws, and firecrackers, and detonated it outside Attorney General Steve Marshall’s…
In a recent development, Varnum LLP has announced the addition of Christopher Mann to its Birmingham, Alabama office as a partner in the firm’s tax and estate planning practice. The firm disclosed that Mann’s corporate practice spans multiple industries, including manufacturing, construction, health care, automotive dealerships, and professional service firms. He provides counsel on various…
Deanna Gilbertson has joined Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani (GRSM) as a product and general liability partner in their San Diego office, as announced by the firm Thursday. In her new role, Gilbertson will be involved in representing clients across various sectors including product liability, premises liability, and major transportation claims. The product and general liability…
In a strategic move to bolster its energy and climate practice, Foley Hoag has welcomed Rebecca Chilton as a new partner, the law firm announced Wednesday. Chilton brings a wealth of experience in the renewable energy sector, where she has advised a diverse array of stakeholders including developers, lenders, contractors, sponsors, financial institutions, equity investors,…
Gould & Ratner LLP has announced the rehiring of Ellen M. Chapelle, who previously served as a partner on the firm’s construction team. In her new tenure, Chapelle returns as a construction partner and assumes a new role as the chair of the insurance counseling and recovery team. More details can be found in the…
Faegre Drinker has bolstered its litigation group with the addition of Ali Olszeski as a partner, the firm announced on Monday. Olszeski brings extensive experience in advising clients across diverse industries including private equity, technology, food and agribusiness, communications, construction, and transportation. Her practice focuses on handling complex commercial cases. Most recently, she has dealt…
In a strategic personnel move, Baker McKenzie has announced the addition of Michelle Porter-Wright and Rebecca Thomson as global disputes partners in its Johannesburg office. The firm detailed the hires in a recent press release. Porter-Wright brings expertise in international arbitration and construction dispute resolution, particularly focusing on intricate, technical disputes. On the other hand,…
Duane Morris LLP has made significant strides to bolster its trial practice group with the addition of Thomas Curran and Doris Short as partners in its New York office, the firm announced Wednesday. Curran’s practice is renowned for specializing in white-collar criminal defense, internal integrity reviews, risk assessment and management, regulatory compliance, and general business…
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is taking significant steps to alleviate overcrowding in its prison systems. On Saturday, the nation’s Justice Minister, Constant Mutamba, announced the release of 527 prisoners from Makala Central Prison. This move is part of a broader initiative by the Congolese government to improve detention conditions and reduce prison overcrowding….
Tim Murphy, former CEO of the Canadian law firm McMillan LLP, has transitioned to a new role at construction giant Aecon Group Inc. He will be serving as executive vice president and chief strategic affairs officer. This move comes after Murphy’s 18-year tenure at McMillan. For more details, the complete article can be accessed here.
This past week in London has seen significant developments in several high-profile legal cases. The China Evergrande Group filed a commercial fraud claim against its founder’s ex-wife, challenging the financial transactions involved in their separation. In another case, Manolete Partners initiated legal proceedings against the directors of an insolvent construction company, seeking to hold them…
Construction and engineering firm Day & Zimmermann NPS Inc. successfully defended against retaliation claims filed by two welders who alleged workplace racial discrimination. In a ruling delivered on Wednesday, Judge Annemarie Carney Axon from the US District Court for the Northern District of Alabama concluded that the plaintiffs, Nolan Jones and Christopher Samuel, failed to…
Welcome to Bloomberg Law’s Wake Up Call, a daily rundown of the top news for lawyers, law firms, and in-house counsel. Peter Rutledge, the dean of the University of Georgia School of Law, will join Morris, Manning & Martin’s litigation practice in Atlanta on a part-time basis as senior counsel before transitioning to a full-time…