NEW YORK (January 5, 2009) LAWFUEL – Legal Newswire – – Incisive Media’s The American Lawyer today named Chicago’s Bartlit Beck Herman Palenchar & Scott as its 2009 “Litigation Boutique of the Year.” Focused on winning cases at trial, the firm was selected for the sheer breadth and magnitude of its success. In the last two years, its attorneys tried more than 15 cases to verdict in at least ten states, prevailing in all but three. Also in this issue, a detailed profile of Davis Polk & Wardwell explores whether what’s been bad for the nation’s economy will prove to be good for that firm. And, the magazine’s popular “Bar Talk” section looks at law firm borrowing, credit lines and leverage in light of the current economic meltdown. For these and other stories, visit www.americanlawyer.com.

Bartlit Beck is nimble, efficient, flexible, and smart. In areas as diverse as mass torts, securities, antitrust, and intellectual property, the firm’s wins have reverberated throughout the industries involved. That has brought a steady stream of institutional clients like Bayer AG, E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, Ernst & Young, and Tyco International Ltd., and kept the firm’s lawyers where they want to be: in court.

The firm’s unique culture is built on disdain for the billable hour, unabashed reliance on technology, inverted leverage, and a commitment to homegrown talent so deep that the firm refuses to hire laterals. Its winning record has allowed Bartlit Beck to be selective: the firm turns down an estimated third of the potential cases that come its way.

The magazine also named three LBOY finalists: Gibbs & Bruns; Robbins, Russell, Englert, Orseck, Untereiner & Sauber; and Zuckerman Spaeder.

In “In the Red Zone,” writer Julie Triedman looks at Davis Polk’s recent impressive track record as a go-to firm for financial institutions in crisis, including Freddie Mac and Citigroup, while examining the bigger question of whether rescue work can replace the M&A deals that brought firm revenues to record levels in 2007. For more than a century, Davis Polk’s fortunes have been tied to its major investment banking clients. Now, some question how the firm’s past will impact its future.

This month’s “Bar Talk” takes a look at law firm finance. As banks tighten credit lines and lending conditions, law firms face an unprecedented level of scrutiny. Although traditionally considered good credit risks, firms have scrambled recently to secure new credit facilities and some have faced problems paying down existing debt. And finally, leverage—the practice of having each equity partner supported by three or more asso­ciates or income partners—was accepted as a basic tenet of law firm profitability. But now, the whole pyramid model is looking fragile and its days may be numbered.

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Incisive Media is a leading global provider of specialized business news and information, in print, in person and online. The company’s principal markets include financial services, legal services, commercial real estate, marketing services and risk management. Incisive Media’s market-leading brands include Accountancy Age, Computing, Investment Week, Legal Week, LegalTech, Post, Real Estate Forum, Risk, Search Engine Strategies and The American Lawyer. For more information, visit
www.incisivemedia.com.

NEW YORK CITY, January 5, 2009 — Winston & Strawn LLP announced today that corporate attorney Jonathan Birenbaum joined the firm’s New York office as a partner. Birenbaum focuses his practice on the acquisition, disposition and financing of energy and infrastructure projects.

“We are extremely pleased to welcome Jonathan to the firm,” said Jon Goldstein, head of the New York office. “His expertise and strong experience in energy industry transactions is of particular value to our clients and a key component in the sustained success of our corporate practice.” Winston & Strawn has developed a focused initiative in its energy-related corporate practice, which is headed by Jerry Bloom in Los Angeles. With practitioners in all of its offices, Birenbaum’s arrival in New York is another step in the implementation of the strategy. In November, Winston & Strawn added Robert Nelson and Dirk Mueller from Thelen, both of whom are corporate attorneys with extensive expertise related to energy projects.

Birenbaum had previously been a partner at Paul Hastings, and concentrates his practice on energy and other infrastructure sector acquisitions and dispositions of projects and portfolios, and project financings, including tax oriented equity investments, senior secured and subordinated loans, and leveraged lease financings. His experience extends to a wide variety of energy projects including gas- and coal-fired generating plants, alternative energy projects (particularly wind, solar and geothermal), nuclear generating plants, oil and gas pipelines and related facilities, and gas storage facilities.

“Jonathan’s experience and knowledge is a key strategic complement to our growing energy practice, and augments the service we can provide our clients. We’re thrilled that he has joined the team,” said Jerry Bloom, chair of Winston & Strawn’s energy practice.

Birenbaum’s recent engagements have included representing Constellation Energy in connection with the $1.6 billion sale of a portfolio of six gas fired power plants and the purchase of the Hillabee Energy Center power plant, and representing Lehman Brothers in connection with the tax equity financing of First Wind projects in New York state.

“I’m very excited to join one of the premier energy practices that includes a number of the leading practitioners in both transactional and regulatory matters,” said Birenbaum of joining Winston & Strawn.

Birenbaum earned his juris doctor, cum laude, from Albany Law School of Union University, where he was articles editor of the Albany Law Review and his bachelor’s degree, with honors, from Colgate University.

Winston & Strawn LLP is an international commercial law firm with more than 1,000 attorneys in 12 offices. More information about the firm is available at www.winston.com.