Chicago – January 27, 2009 (LAWFUEL) – Baker & McKenzie announced today the election of 16 new Partners in North America, bringing the total number of Partners in the region to 367. The elections were effective as of January 1, 2009.
North American Managing Partner Peter Engstrom commented: “During these challenging economic times, the Firm is proud to renew its commitment to our clients and our people. We are delighted to promote these talented individuals to Partner. This achievement recognizes their ability to consistently deliver value-adding world-class service to clients and reflects the diverse multicultural talent inherent in our Firm’s culture.”
The newly elected Partners are:
Matthew C. Alshouse (Chicago) in a member of the Banking, Finance and Major Projects Practice Group. Mr. Alshouse primarily concentrates his practice on representing developer, fund and lender clients in the real estate and finance industries over a broad range of commercial projects, and has also represented infrastructure and energy clients on project developments. Mr. Alshouse joined the Firm in 2006.
Marcella Ballard (New York) is a member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group. She focuses her practice on intellectual property litigation and counseling including trademark, copyright, false advertising, anti-counterfeiting, licensing and trade secret/restrictive covenants, as well as compliance and white-collar defense, and complex commercial litigation. Ms. Ballard is a former Assistant District Attorney, Bronx County. She joined the Firm in 2007.
James P. Conley (San Diego) is a member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group. He focuses his practice on litigating intellectual property disputes and counseling clients on various patent related matters including prosecution strategies, licensing, interferences, opinions and due diligence relating to mergers, financing and IPOs. Mr. Conley interned for the Honorable Barbara B. Crabb of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin in 2000-2001. He joined the Firm in 2005.
Adam T. Dougherty (Dallas) is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. His practice focuses on all aspects of commercial litigation matters including general commercial litigation and advice; class and collective action defense; employment litigation and advice including the prosecution of temporary restraining orders for breaches of confidentiality, non-solicitation and non-compete agreements; and patent and trademark litigation. He joined the Firm in 2003.
Roxanne Edwards (Dallas) is a member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group. Her practice focuses on the areas of domestic and international trademark protection, prosecution and enforcement and manages the domestic and international trademark portfolios of many major public and privately held corporations. She also has experience in the areas of design patent prosecution and registration, anti-counterfeiting and various intellectual property transactional matters. Ms. Edwards joined the Firm in 2003.
Jennifer L. Field (San Francisco/Palo Alto) is a member of the Labor & Employment Law Practice Group. She has experience representing management in all aspects of employment-related state and federal class-wide and individual litigation, from initial stages of allegations through government and internal investigations, discovery and litigation. She also provides advice and counseling to top management and HR on state and federal employment issues, including employment agreements, compensation, competitive hiring, company policies, contractor issues, reductions in force, and employee disputes. Ms. Field joined the Firm in 2002.
Ute Krudewagen (San Francisco/Palo Alto) is a member of the Labor & Employment Law Practice Group. Her practice focuses on both domestic and cross-border and international employment counseling. She frequently represents multinational companies in the domestic and international employment issues of mergers and acquisitions and other cross-border major projects, such as tax restructurings and outsourcing. She joined the Firm in 2001.
Michael C. McCutcheon (Chicago) is a member of the Litigation Practice Group. He focuses his practice on matters involving complex commercial litigation and arbitration, with emphasis in class actions, mass torts, environmental defense and appellate practice. Mr. McCutcheon joined the Firm in 2001.”
Patricia W. McDonald (Chicago) is a member of the Tax Practice Group. Her practice focuses on structuring and tax planning for corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies and other passthrough entities. She advises clients on tax structuring for real estate transactions, including fund structures and on tax matters relating to domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions. Ms. McDonald has been with the Firm since 2001.
Ivan A. Morales (San Francisco/Palo Alto) is a member of the Tax Practice Group. Mr. Morales practices primarily in the area of international tax, with an emphasis on intercompany transfer pricing issues. He clerked for the Honorable Judges Vasquez and Swift of the United States Tax Court in Washington, D.C. He joined the Firm in 2001 and rejoined in 2006 after working for three years as Tax Counsel for Chevron Corporation.
Suzanne B. Perry (Washington, D.C.) is a member of the Banking, Finance and Major Projects Practice Group. Her practice focuses on international business transactions, with a particular emphasis on the financing of energy and infrastructure projects. She has a broad range of banking, corporate and securities experience and has represented clients on transactions in the United States and throughout the world, particularly in Latin America. Ms. Perry joined the firm in 2006.
Edward Runyan (Chicago) is a member of the Intellectual Property Practice Group. He handles a broad range of matters related to intellectual property law, including patent infringement litigation in U.S. Federal Courts and the ITC, as well as patent prosecution in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He has also advised Fortune 500 companies in the intellectual property aspects of mergers and acquisitions, including intellectual property due diligence and portfolio evaluation. Mr. Runyan joined the Firm in 2006.
David M. Serwer (Chicago) is a member of the Global Migration and Executive Transfers Practice Group. His practice focuses on corporate, employment-based immigration law, which includes nonimmigrant work visa petitions, permanent employment certification applications, and immigrant visa petitions, as well as immigration-related corporate compliance matters. Mr. Serwer joined the Firm in 1996.
Tom A. Thraya (Chicago) is a member of the Corporate & Securities Practice Group.. He advises both private and public clients in the areas of cross-border and domestic mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, international and domestic joint ventures and private equity transactions. Mr. Thraya also has an international geographic focus on the Middle East, with particular emphasis on Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and is co-head of the firm’s North American Middle East Corporate and Commercial Practice Group. Mr. Thraya joined the Firm in 2005.
Olivia Tyrrell (Chicago) is a member of the Corporate & Securities Practice Group. She advises clients in the areas of domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions and joint ventures, global corporate reorganizations and complex commercial arrangements. Ms. Tyrrell joined the Firm’s Sydney office in 2000 and Chicago office in 2002.
Jenny C. Yeh (San Francisco/Palo Alto) is a member of the Corporate & Securities Practice Group. Her practice involves a broad range of general corporate and transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, private and public securities offerings, corporate governance and venture capital financings. Ms. Yeh joined the Firm in 2007.
