Attorneys from business, government, intellectual property, and litigation practices elevated to partner
Washington, DC – January 4, 2016 – Venable LLP announced today that eleven attorneys – Daniel S. Blynn, James Y. Boland, Christopher J. Conoscenti, Jeffrey M. Keehn, Elizabeth R. Glasgow, Susan E. Golden, Michelle C. Jackson, Michael C. Phillipou, Martin L. Saad, Julia Kernochan Tama, and Yosef Ziffer – have been elected to the firm's partnership. The eleven new partners, from Venable's Washington, DC, Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York, and Tysons Corner offices, represent a broad cross section of the firm's practice groups, including Advertising and Marketing, Corporate, Government Contracts, Intellectual Property, Products Liability, Real Estate, Regulatory, and Tax and Wealth Planning.
"These eleven outstanding lawyers – from all four of our Divisions and five of our offices – have distinguished themselves by their talent, creativity, work ethic, business acumen and commitment to the values that make Venable what it is," Venable Vice Chairman Brian L. Schwalb said in an email to the firm. "They are team players and leaders, and have already made meaningful contributions to our clients, our practices, our communities and our firm writ large. Few things speak more concretely about who we are and where we are going as a law firm than the decision of whom we select to be our partners. Dan, James, Chris, Jeff, Elizabeth, Sue, Michelle, Michael, Marty, Julia, and Yossi are obviously an important part of our present – of who we are at the moment – but more critically, an integral part of the future that we continue to build together. We are expecting continued great things from them in the future and are confident they will make all of us and our firm better by being one of its partners."
All eleven attorneys join Venable's partnership effective January 1, 2016. Below is background on Venable's new partners.
Dan Blynn is a member of the firm's national Advertising and Marketing Practice in Washington, DC. He focuses his practice on false advertising litigation and complex consumer class actions in both federal and state courts. He also represents clients in advertising substantiation investigations and inquiries from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and state attorneys general and provides counseling on a variety of advertising and telemarketing-related matters. Mr. Blynn represents a wide range of clients, including trade associations, Fortune 100 companies, a national fast-food chain, numerous dietary supplement companies, energy companies, and a number of other large and small businesses.
James Boland of the Tysons Corner office is a member of the firm's Government Contracts Group. Mr. Boland helps clients navigate the full spectrum of legal issues that arise out of their contractual relationship with the U.S. government. His practice focuses on the avoidance and/or resolution of disputes, conflicts, and other adverse agency actions that may arise throughout the procurement lifecycle, including pre- and post-award bid protests and traditional government contracts disputes (equitable adjustments, terminations for default and convenience, breach of contract claims, and other claims for relief), as well as legal matters pertaining to prime/subcontractor teaming arrangements and disputes; small business size and socioeconomic status; internal and external investigations; mandatory disclosures; suspension and debarment; security clearance determinations; and rights in intellectual property.
Chris Conoscenti is a member of the firm's Products Liability and Mass Tort Group in Baltimore. Mr. Conoscenti focuses his practice on complex pharmaceutical litigation and has served as a member of multiple national trial teams on behalf of an international pharmaceutical company in both federal and state court. He has vast expertise in the field of electronic discovery, advising both clients and internal litigation teams concerning protocols for the capture and processing of electronically stored information and other related issues. Mr. Conoscenti's experience extends to preparing and defending company and expert witnesses in deposition, motions practice, developing the "company case," and engaging in discovery-related negotiations with opposing counsel.
Jeffrey Keehn is a member of Venable's Baltimore-based Corporate Group. His practice focuses on a wide range of corporate law matters, including entity formation, corporate governance, financing transactions, securities law compliance matters, and mergers and acquisitions, with a particular focus on Maryland corporation law as it relates to real estate investment trusts (REITs) and registered investment companies.
Elizabeth Glasgow of the Los Angeles office concentrates her practice on trusts and estate and wealth management, where she provides clients with conventional and advanced strategies for wealth preservation through the mitigation of income, estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes. Her experience includes tailoring wealth preservation techniques for both high-net-worth individuals and closely held business entities. Ms. Glasgow also assists clients in developing charitable gifting strategies through the formation and maintenance of tax-exempt organizations.
Susan Golden is a member of Venable's Real Estate and Nonprofit Practice Groups in New York. Her practice focuses on development and infrastructure projects, including land use and zoning, real estate transactions, design and construction contracting, development rights transfers, government, and charitable funding and donor agreements. Her practice also includes the formation and counseling of small or special-purpose corporations, including tax-exempt, not-for-profit corporations and New York State public authorities.
Michelle Jackson in Washington, DC focuses on regulatory counseling concerning the development, formulation, manufacture, distribution, and promotion of foods, dietary supplements, drugs, medical devices, and cosmetics. She handles matters involving regulation and enforcement by federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), as well as investigations and inquiries from state attorneys general and county district attorneys. She also handles advertising challenges before self-regulatory bodies, and she is regularly involved in litigation and settlement negotiations concerning product labeling and advertising claims.
Michael Phillipou is a member of the firm's New York Real Estate Practice Group, focusing on purchase and sale, construction and development, and commercial leasing transactions, including related zoning, land use, and lending issues. Michael has particular expertise in construction and design agreements; infrastructure projects; public/private partnerships; land swaps; representing not-for-profit, governmental, and health care clients; and condominium and co-op structuring. While Michael represents clients and projects nationwide, his recent New York projects have included Amtrak’s Gateway Tunnel Project, construction and development of the public areas on the new World Trade Center site, and the sale and ground leasing of several unique multi-acre properties/development projects in New York City for various clients.
Martin L. Saad of the firm's Washington, DC office is a member of the intellectual property litigation group. Mr. Saad has experience in all stages of litigation, working primarily on federal cases involving intellectual property, antitrust, advertising, and other commercial matters. He serves clients in many industry sectors, including consumer products, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and energy, and provides guidance on litigation, government, and media strategies.
Julia Kernochan Tama of the Washington, DC office is a member of the Regulatory Affairs Group, focusing on privacy and data security matters, including financial and health privacy, marketing and advertising, and emerging issues related to the Internet and new media. Ms. Tama advises on compliance with existing laws and regulations, represents clients facing government inquiries or enforcement actions by agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission, and advocates on behalf of clients concerned about the impact of proposed legislation or agency regulation. Ms. Tama also counsels companies responding to potential data security breaches. Prior to joining Venable, Ms. Tama served as Judiciary Committee Counsel to U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY).
Yosef Ziffer of the Tax and Wealth Planning Group in Baltimore focuses his practice on the full array of tax, corporate, and strategic needs of tax-exempt organizations, including public charities, private foundations, hospitals, private schools, and trade associations. Additionally, Mr. Ziffer works with individuals and business entities on various tax planning matters, including transfers of business interests, estate planning, and tax audits.
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Venable LLP is an American Lawyer Global 100 law firm headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices in California, Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Virginia. Our lawyers and legislative advisors serve the needs of domestic and international clients in all areas of corporate and business law, complex litigation, intellectual property, regulatory, and government affairs.