News

2Views

Date : 11-02-2006

Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell upgrades IT infrastructure

Tennessee-based Rainey, Kizer, Reviere & Bell has upgraded its internal IT infrastructure; the firm has deployed Packeteer's Microsoft Windows-based iShared branch office IT services appliance. Packeteer, a leader in WAN application optimization, was hired by Rainey Kizer to implement this system within the firm. The initiative will not only centralize data management and improve performance but will also help the firm curtail additional expenses. This IT tool will enable the firm to match critical case files, accelerate file transfers between sites, and preserve critical network bandwidth to support a newly installed voice/data communications network. Additionally, the new system will synchronize document access to improve legal practice productivity. The firm has recently taken steps to expand its operations by opening an office in Memphis. The new IT system will be essential in maintaining communication links between the firm's Memphis and Jackson locations.

Clifford Chance signs on with Integreon to outsource services to India

International law firm Clifford Chance has entered into a strategic agreement with Los Angeles-based technology company Integreon Managed Solutions, Inc., in order to build a center in India to assist with the firm's administrative services, including accounting and technological support. The initiative is the biggest offshore venture ever undertaken by a law firm and will yield more than $18 million in annual operating savings for Clifford Chance, which has 29 offices in 20 countries across the globe. Besides managing Clifford Chance's operations in India, Integreon will extend physical and data security services to the India center. The agreement will enable Clifford Chance to outsource certain labor-intensive functions. Although other law firms, such as Baker & McKenzie, have already outsourced some operations, Clifford Chance's move represents a tipping point for outsourcing in the legal industry. Law firms are increasingly looking at outsourcing as a way to improve efficiency and manage infrastructure costs. About a year ago, White & Case hired a company in India to handle its word-processing activities.

Best, Best & Krieger hires district attorney as special counsel

California-based Best, Best & Krieger, LLP, has appointed Riverside County District Attorney Grover Trask as Special Counsel in the firm's headquarters. Trask will focus on ethics, conflicts of interest, election law, and governmental accountability. He will be heading the newly formed government and policy-working group within the firm's municipal and redevelopment law practice group. The government and policy-working group will assist clients with matters involving California's Political Reform Act, ethics, and California election law. Trask will be actively involved in counseling clients on public integrity issues involving conflicts, fair political practices, and other aspects of political regulations affecting public and corporate entities and individual elected officials. He will retire from his post with the County of Riverside by the end of the year. As District Attorney, he oversees a staff of more than 800 employees, including 256 attorneys.

Bernstein Shur adds seven new attorneys

As part of its regional expansion strategy, New England-based Bernstein Shur hired seven new attorneys at its offices in Portland and Augusta, ME, and Manchester, NH: Brita J. Forssberg, Steven R. Gerlach, Shoshana Cook Mueller, Kevan Lee Rhinehart, Joshua T. Silver, Hawley R. Strait, and Matthew Tarasevich. The newly appointed lawyers will utilize their expertise in practice areas including litigation, tax and estate planning, municipal law, technology and business law, and real estate. With this move, the firm intends to broaden the scope of its practice groups and better service its diverse clients.

Pepper Hamilton appoints partners to co-chair corporate restructuring and bankruptcy practice

Pepper Hamilton has appointed Robert S. Hertzberg and David B. Stratton to co-chair the firm's corporate restructuring and bankruptcy practice group. A partner in the firm's Detroit office, Hertzberg has played a crucial role in the expansion of the practice group, while Stratton, a partner in the firm's Wilmington office, has represented reputable clients in matters related to bankruptcy and secured and commercial lending transactions. Pepper's corporate restructuring and bankruptcy practice group handles a wide range of debtor/creditor matters, regardless of the complexity, location, industry, or market sector involved.

Foley & Lardner appoints associate in Madison office

Foley & Lardner, LLP, has hired Alexa P. Wautier as an associate at the firm's Madison office. Wautier is experienced in dealing with legal cases related to general corporate and commercial transactions, including mergers and acquisitions and financing transactions, as well as general business counseling and contract matters. Formerly, as a member of the corporate restructuring group at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher, and Flom, LLP, in Chicago, Wautier interacted with and represented buyers and sellers in acquisitions and divestitures, lenders and borrowers, and various other corporate clients pursuing contract and corporate governance issues. The firm's Madison office has strong ties to Wisconsin's state government and is heavily involved in local affairs.

Elmore & Wall announces addition of two new shareholders

South Carolina-based Elmore & Wall announced the addition of two new shareholders: J. Mark Langdon and Graham P. Powell. Langdon has joined the firm's Raleigh office and has expertise in construction, surety, products liability, insurance defense, and complex litigation, while Powell has joined the firm's Charleston office and will focus on construction, surety, insurance defense, and civil litigation. Elmore's clients range from small and mid-sized companies to some of the largest domestic and international corporations in the United States. The firm has established offices in Charleston and Greenville, SC, as well as Raleigh, NC.

Klinedinst hires corporate attorney in L.A.

California-based business law firm Klinedinst, PC, has hired corporate attorney Shanel K. Yang at the firm's Los Angeles office. Yang has expertise in handling legal matters pertaining to toxic tort litigation, an area wherein she has assisted leading companies. She has also tackled legal cases related to employment and labor law, sports and recreation law, professional liability, premises liability, and product liability. Klinedinst engages in litigation and transactional law practice and has offices in San Diego, Orange County, Los Angeles, and Sacramento.