CHICAGO – The Board of Directors of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP is pleased to announce that it has elected 27 attorneys to partner.
"This is the largest group of new partners we have ever had and it is a group of extremely talented attorneys," said Vincent A. F. Sergi, the Firm’s National Managing Partner. "We are happy to be able to elevate them to the next level and anticipate their continued success."
The Board selected attorneys from eight practices (Litigation, Corporate, Real Estate, Intellectual Property, Financial Services, Commercial Finance, Trusts and Estates, and Environmental) across five Firm offices:
In Chicago:
David P. Cohen, in the Real Estate Practice, concentrates on real estate acquisition, finance and development. He represents buyers and sellers in the acquisition and disposition of vacant land, industrial buildings, and multi-family properties including low-income housing tax credit developments. Mr. Cohen also represents borrowers and lenders in connection with mortgage loans, mezzanine loans, bond financings and credit facilities. He received his B.A., cum laude, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he was Phi Beta Kappa. He received his J.D. and M.A. in Public Policy from the University of California at Berkeley.
Michael J. Diver, in the Corporate Practice, concentrates on corporate and securities transactions and regulatory matters. In addition to counseling clients with respect to securities offerings and compliance matters, Mr. Diver has defended publicly traded companies and their officers and directors in matters before the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice. He has also advised audit committees and boards of directors in connection with corporate governance matters, internal investigations and NYSE and NASDAQ inquiries. Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Diver served as a Branch Chief in the Division of Enforcement of the SEC’s Midwest Regional Office. He received his B.A. from Bucknell University and his J.D. from the Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College, cum laude.
Michael A. Dorfman, in the Intellectual Property Practice, represents high technology businesses in all types of intellectual property-related matters, including patent litigation, licensing, prosecution and opinion work. He provides counseling to businesses and individuals regarding obtaining and utilizing patents and other intellectual property in areas such as electrical and computer-based systems. Mr. Dorfman has also represented small and large corporations in patent, unfair competition and trade secret disputes. He received his B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his J.D. from the DePaul University College of Law.
William J. Dorsey, in the Litigation Practice, concentrates on complex commercial trial practice and litigation, with a substantive concentration in contract disputes, real estate and construction law, unfair competition, and trust and fiduciary relationships. Mr. Dorsey has represented clients in a wide range of matters, including governance and dissolution disputes involving corporations and partnerships, claims for breach of fiduciary duties and violation of federal securities laws, Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement actions, trusts and estates disputes, and construction disputes including claims related to defective work and design; claims for changes, delays and impact damages; claims for mechanic’s liens; and claims involving payment and performance bonds. He received his B.A. from Claremont McKenna College and his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.
Jenny Louise Johnson, in the Litigation Practice, concentrates on white collar criminal defense, criminal tax, internal investigations and counseling clients on issues related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and implementation of effective compliance programs. Ms. Johnson also has experience litigating a wide-range of civil disputes, including cases involving the False Claims Act, ERISA, and RICO. Ms. Johnson's recent experience includes representing a criminal defendant in a lengthy jury trial in federal district court and handling appeals related to criminal tax issues in the Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Ms. Johnson received her B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of the South and her J.D. from Harvard Law School, cum laude.
Scott E. Lyons, in the Commercial Finance Practice, focuses on the representation of senior secured and mezzanine lenders, as well as private equity funds, in connection with leveraged buy-out transactions, cash flow and asset-based transactions, restructurings and private equity investments. Mr. Lyons’ institutional clients include GE Antares Capital Corporation, Merrill Lynch Capital, CapitalSource Finance LLC, Dymas Funding Company, LaSalle Bank National Association, Beecken Petty O'Keefe & Company, Arbor Private Investment Company and Wind Point Partners. Mr. Lyons received his B.S. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his J.D, cum laude, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Bradley S. Rochlen, in the Environmental Law Practice and the Intellectual Property Practice, concentrating on environmental litigation matters including complex, multi-party Superfund cost allocations as well as litigation under the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Clean Air Act. His intellectual property work concentrates on litigation involving trademark and trade dress disputes, copyright claims, unfair competition, false advertising and all forms of e-commerce and online disputes. He also devotes his time to pro bono litigation matters. Mr. Rochlen received his B.A. from the University of Michigan and his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.
Victoria Shusterman, in the Real Estate Practice, concentrates on real estate and real estate finance matters. She received her B.A. from Northwestern University and her J.D. from Washington University.
Kimberly Thompson Smith, in the Corporate Practice, concentrates on the areas of private equity and mergers and acquisitions. She also represents issuers and investors in private offerings of equity and debt securities and provides a wide range of general corporate counseling. Ms. Smith received her B.A., summa cum laude, from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center.
David Jeffrey Stagman, in the Litigation Practice, concentrates on commercial and white collar crime litigation. In addition, he has experience in real estate litigation and immigration matters. Mr. Stagman received his B.A. from Princeton University and his J.D. from the Northwestern University School of Law. He also holds an M.A. in Public Policy from the University of Chicago.
Michael J. Summerhill, in the Litigation Practice, addresses a wide range of product liability, securities and commercial litigation matters with a particular focus on medical device, securities and commercial litigation. His experience includes the representation of corporate defendants in federal and state courts, including multidistrict and class action litigation. Mr. Summerhill provides representation to an international manufacturer of medical devices in defective product and tort based litigation; and had provided representation to an international biotechnology corporation in litigation arising from the growth and distribution of genetically engineered food. He is an active participant in the firm's provision of pro bono legal services; with reported decisions including Durgac v. Gonzalez, 430 F.3d 849 (7th Cir. 2005) and Johnson v. Rivera, 272 F.3d 519 (7th Cir. 2001). Mr. Summerhill received his B.A. from The Ohio State University and his J.D. from the John Marshall Law School.
Michael S. Weisman, in the Litigation Practice, concentrates on securities-related litigation, financial services, white collar civil litigation and regulatory investigations. Mr. Weisman received his B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and his J.D. from the Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Lance A. Zinman, in the Financial Services Practice, has experience within the corporate, financial regulatory, and sports and entertainment fields. He has counseled clients in all sectors of the financial services industry, including domestic and foreign exchanges, brokerage firms, banks, proprietary trading firms, investment advisors, hedge funds, commodity pools and private equity funds. In addition to representing clients in connection with futures, derivatives and securities matters, Mr. Zinman has substantial experience handling complex corporate transactions such as equity and debt financings, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances. Mr. Zinman received his B.A., with high honors, from Michigan State University and his J.D., cum laude, from the Northwestern University School of Law.
In New York City:
Jonathan J. Faust, in the Litigation Practice, is a general commercial litigator actively representing clients in state and federal courts as well as in AAA and JAMS arbitration and mediation. He has served as Senior Counsel to the Claims Resolution Tribunal in Zurich, Switzerland, as General Counsel to Fast Track Nutrition and as a special assistant district attorney in the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. He received his B.A. from the University of Michigan and his J.D. from Columbia Law School, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.
Daniel F. Hunter, in the Financial Services Practice, focuses on structuring, designing and forming hedge funds, as well as advising hedge fund managers both registered and unregistered, in the United States and abroad. After the funds are formed, Mr. Hunter provides ongoing regulatory, operational, mergers and acquisitions, re-structuring, marketing and related advice to the funds and their investment advisers. He also structures and advises private equity funds, PIPE funds, multi-manager platforms, and hybrid alternative investment vehicles. Mr. Hunter received his B.A. from the University of Michigan and his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.
Shelly Meerovitch, in the Trusts and Estates Practice, concentrates on trusts and estates matters representing a wide variety of local, national and international high net worth clients in matters of sophisticated estate and tax planning, pre-immigration tax planning, administration of complex estates and trusts, non-profit and private foundations. Ms. Meerovitch received her B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles and her J.D. from Columbia University School of Law. Ms. Meerovitch is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the U.K.-based Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.
Janet R. Murtha, in the Financial Services Practice, focuses on all types of private investment vehicles and investment managers, as well as derivatives that are linked to the performance of private investment vehicles. Ms. Murtha structures and forms both U.S. and non-U.S. hedge funds, fund-of-funds, hybrid funds, commodity pools and other types of private investment vehicles, as well as the managers of and advisers to these vehicles. She also provides ongoing regulatory, securities, commodities and general corporate advice to private investment vehicles, investment advisers and CPOs and CTAs. In addition, Ms. Murtha structures and documents structured products, such as options, swaps and notes that typically are linked to the performance of either a basket of hedge funds or a hedge fund-of-funds. She has represented both the buyers and sellers of such products, structuring each transaction to fit the particular business needs of the client. She received her B.A. from the University of Michigan and her J.D., cum laude, from the Fordham University School of Law.
Matthew D. Parrott, in the Litigation Practice, is a financial services and business litigator who concentrates on the representation of public companies, financial institutions and individuals. Mr. Parrott represents clients in disputes involving mergers and acquisitions, private placement agreements, capital formation, commercial contract disputes, corporate governance and regulatory investigations initiated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, he regularly handles internal corporate investigations relating to allegations of employee misconduct. Mr. Parrott received his B.A. from Manhattanville College and his J.D. from the Fordham University School of Law.
Michael S. Poster, in the Corporate Practice, concentrates on corporate transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, securitizations, venture capital investments and financing transactions, for a broad range of private and public companies and private equity funds with a focus on clients in the entertainment and media industry. Mr. Poster also represents institutional and individual clients in connection with all aspects of music industry transactions, including reviewing, negotiating and drafting catalog acquisition, music publishing, synchronization, master use, recording and sample clearance agreements. He received his B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he was Phi Beta Kappa, and his J.D. from New York University School of Law.
Kathryn von Matthiessen, in the Trusts and Estates Practice, concentrates on private client matters, including personal and estate planning and the administration of estates and trusts. She handles extensive estate planning for both domestic and international clients. Ms. von Matthiessen received her B.A., magna cum laude, from Carleton College, where she was Phi Beta Kappa, and her J.D. from the Columbia University School of Law. She also holds an LL.M in Taxation from the New York University School of Law.
In Los Angeles:
Samantha Freedman, in the Litigation Practice, concentrates on contract-based, intellectual property, trade secret and other disputes relating to the business and entertainment community. She has represented clients in a wide variety of disputes, including entertainment matters; intellectual property disputes, such as trademark, copyright, trade dress, and state and federal anti-competition and unfair business practice disputes; contract disputes; business torts; consumer protection matters; employment matters and real estate disputes. She was named a 2005 Southern California Rising Star in General Litigation in Los Angeles Magazine and Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine. In addition, she is involved with the Central District Pro Bono Panel, the Multiple Sclerosis Society, and Public Counsel, and received the Firm's Pro Bono Service Award in 2002. Ms. Freedman received her B.A. from the University of California at San Diego and her J.D. from Loyola Law School.
Marlyn M. Gates, in the Litigation Practice, represents clients involved in a wide variety of complex business disputes, including breach of contract, fraud, unfair competition, trademark and copyright violations, trade secrets, securities fraud, and consumer and other class action claims. She has extensive experience in both state and federal courts, as well as in arbitration tribunals. Ms. Gates was the Recipient of the Firm's 2003 Pro Bono Award for establishing a firm-wide adoption program in conjunction with the Public Counsel Law Center. She received both her B.A. and J.D. from Pepperdine University.
In Washington:
Jane M. Cavanaugh, in the Corporate Practice, focuses on financial transactions and aviation law, including the financing, sale, purchase and lease of commercial and private aircraft. She represents airlines, aircraft leasing companies and a large commercial aircraft manufacturer in complex aircraft financing transactions including cross-border sale-leasebacks, leveraged leases, and operating leases, as well as FAA aircraft registration matters and corporate organizational matters. Ms. Cavanaugh also represents individuals and businesses in private and corporate jet transactions. She received her B.A. from McDaniel College (formerly Western Maryland College) and her J.D. from the University of New Mexico School of Law. Ms. Cavanaugh also holds an M.A. of Administrative Science from Johns Hopkins University.
Adam V. Lichtenstein, in the Real Estate Practice, focuses on real estate finance. Mr. Lichtenstein has substantial experience in representing major banks, insurance companies and investment banking firms, in connection with commercial lending, mortgage financing, mezzanine lending, structured financings and other forms of financing. Additionally, he represents such lending institutions in connection with loan servicing and restructurings involving commercial real estate projects nationwide, including office buildings, apartment/condominium projects, shopping centers, hotels and mixed-used developments. He received his B.B.A. from Hofstra University and his J.D. from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School.
Leta Principe, in the Real Estate Practice, has experience in commercial financing transactions, acquisitions, dispositions, and other matters pertaining to real estate ownership. Ms. Principe received her B.A. from Wesleyan University and her J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center.
In Charlotte:
Charles D. Lansden, in the Real Estate Practice, concentrates on commercial real estate finance, with the primary focus on the origination of commercial mortgage loans for real estate capital markets lenders. In addition, he has extensive experience representing commercial mortgage loan servicers with respect to servicing issues and the defeasance of securitized mortgage loans. Mr. Lansden has also represented national retailers on commercial leasing transactions. He received his B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he was Phi Beta Kappa, and his J.D. with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law. Mr. Lansden also holds a Masters of International Business Studies from the University of South Carolina.
