Arent Fox LLP Continues Expansion in New York as Nine New Attorneys Join Firm

NEW YORK, June 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Arent Fox LLP today announced a major expansion of its New York City office as nine attorneys have joined the firm. Elliott M. Kroll, Julius A. Rousseau, III, Ross J. Charap and Paul M. Fakler join Arent Fox as partners. Alan R. Lyons joins as counsel. Rounding out the newly arrived attorneys are associates Eric A. Biderman, James M. Westerlind, Eric Roman and Matthew L. Finkelstein.

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Elliott M. Kroll and Julius A. Rousseau, III, who have been practicing together for more than 18 years, will lead Arent Fox's Insurance and Reinsurance Practice in New York City. Their practice focuses on advising and defending insurance companies, as well as representing parties suing insurance companies. They additionally represent hedge funds and other investors in portfolio acquisitions and insurance-related litigation. Specifically, their practice centers on policy holder claims against insurance companies, reinsurance disputes, disputes between brokers and insurers, regulatory advice, claims defense work, bulk sales of policies, securitization of policies, mergers and acquisitions and other transactional matters.

Joining Mr. Kroll and Mr. Rousseau in Arent Fox's Insurance and Reinsurance Practice Group will be counsel Alan Lyons and associates Eric Biderman and James Westerlind. All five attorneys come to Arent Fox from the law firm Herrick, Feinstein LLP in New York City.

Ross J. Charap and Paul M. Fakler join Arent Fox as partners in the firm's Intellectual Property Practice in New York City. The additions of Mr. Charap and Mr. Fakler bring added significant strength to the firm's intellectual property, entertainment and computer/Internet law capabilities, including extensive experience and focus in litigation, transactions and counseling. Their practice focuses on the growing areas of entertainment and copyright law, with an emphasis on the representation of composers and music publishers, theatrical producers, writers, visual artists, Internet and media companies and software developers in a variety of intellectual property matters.

Associates Matthew L. Finkelstein and Eric Roman join Mr. Charap and Mr. Fakler at Arent Fox.

"We couldn't be more pleased that these two teams of superlative attorneys have joined Arent Fox," said Michael Blass, the Managing Partner of the Firm's New York City office. "In bringing these four partners, counsel and associates to Arent Fox, we have added remarkable talent, depth and experience to two areas of strategic focus for the Firm in the New York market."

"Moreover, by launching an Insurance and Reinsurance Law Practice Group in New York and dramatically increasing our Intellectual Property Practice here, Arent Fox is undertaking a broad-based, comprehensive expansion of the Firm's capabilities in a manner that complements and builds upon our existing talent and resources in our New York, Los Angeles and Washington, DC offices," Mr. Blass said.

The nine new attorneys are the latest developments in the growth of Arent Fox's New York office. Earlier this year, David L. Glass joined the firm. With 30 years of experience in every aspect of banking regulation, Mr. Glass represents domestic banks and bank holding companies as regulatory counsel, and foreign banks in the acquisition of banks and other companies and the establishment and closure of branches, agencies and representative offices. He is a past Chair of the New York State Bar Association's Business Law Section and is editor of Banking Regulation in the United States, has taught Banking Law for 20 years and serves as Associate Director of New York Law School's Center on Financial Services Law.

In February, Arent Fox announced that Andrew D. Kaizer had joined the firm's litigation practice as a partner in its New York City office. Mr. Kaizer's litigation practice focuses on white-collar criminal defense, securities and commodities enforcement, investigations by federal, state, and private-sector regulators and law enforcement officials in the United States and abroad, internal investigations, hedge fund and broker-dealer regulatory compliance, and complex commercial civil litigation, including class action and RICO matters.

ABOUT THE PARTNERS and COUNSEL:

Ross J. Charap, Partner: Mr. Charap focuses his practice on both copyright and entertainment matters. He has helped his clients acquire more than 150 million dollars in music assets, performing due diligence and negotiating and drafting asset and stock purchase agreements. His practice also concentrates on terminations, working with creators and their heirs to recapture copyrighted works. His work is not limited to transactions; he has litigated thousands of copyright infringement suits and represents many high profile clients in various litigation contexts. He received his law degree from Cornell University Law School and his Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University.

Paul M. Fakler, Partner: Mr. Fakler focuses on litigation and counseling, primarily in the fields of copyright, trademark, entertainment and computer/Internet law. He counsels clients with respect to copyright, trademark, right of publicity, entertainment, computer and Internet law issues in diverse industries, including the music, motion picture, publishing, software development and Internet industries. Paul has litigated numerous cutting-edge intellectual property issues in high-profile cases, including cases involving uses of music on the Internet. He also has significant experience in the area of copyright compulsory license rate-setting proceedings, including proceedings before the Copyright Royalty Board and the ASCAP and BMI rate courts. Paul was recently elected Chair of the New York State Bar Association Intellectual Property Law Section. He received his JD from Georgetown University Law Center and his BA from the University of Florida.

Elliott M. Kroll, Partner: Mr. Kroll represents clients nationally and internationally in all major areas of the insurance industry, including life, property and casualty, aviation/space, accident and health. He has extensive experience in financial and structured reinsurance transactions and regulatory representation. He received his law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of Law and his undergraduate degree from Bard College.

Julius A. Rousseau, III, Partner: Mr. Rousseau concentrates his practice on insurance and reinsurance matters including property and casualty, life, accident, and health insurance. He also has an expertise in both the life settlement business and with premium finance structures used in the purchase of life insurance. He received both his law and undergraduate degrees from the University of North Carolina.

Alan R. Lyons, Counsel: Mr. Lyons focuses his practice on insurance and reinsurance matters. He acts as the national coverage counsel for insurers, and has handled coverage litigation in federal and state courts involving Hurricane Katrina and environmental pollution. He also represents reinsurers in reinsurance arbitrations, and advises insurers and reinsurers regarding their policy and treaty provisions. Formerly a solicitor practicing in England, he received his law degree from the University of Northumbria at Newcastle, England, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the College of Law in York, England.

About Arent Fox: Arent Fox LLP (www.arentfox.com), with offices in New York City, Washington, DC, and Los Angeles is a recognized leader in areas including complex litigations, intellectual property, real estate, life sciences and health care. With more than 350 lawyers nationwide - nearly 75 of whom are in the New York office - the firm represents Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, government agencies, nonprofit corporations, trade associations, foreign governments, and other entities.

SOURCE Arent Fox LLP