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Five Star Lawyers 2019 Index Benchmark International International Corporate Finance Advisor of the Year – UK Budigan Law Firm Guardianships Law Firm of the Year – USA Colegio Público de Abogados de la Capital Federal Health & Safety Law Firm of the Year – Argentina Deep & Far Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year – Taiwan Desai & Diwanji Infrastructure Finance Law Firm of the Year Donna J. Jackson & Associates Estate Planning Law Firm of the Year – USA Dr. Schmalenbach & Coll. Inheritance Law Lawyer of the Year – Germany InTraCoM GmbH Patent Valuation Service Provider of the Year – Germany Kather Augenstein Rechtsanwälte PartGmbB Trademarks Law Firm of the Year – Germany Law Office of Ramni Taneja Constitutional Law Firm of the Year – India Radostová & Co Criminal Law Firm of the Year – Czech Republic Sadis & Goldberg Law Firm of the Year – Private Funds – North Amercia SMTD Law LLP Construction Litigation Law Firm of the Year – USA Studio Legale De Rosa Tax Law Firm of the Year – Italy Sturgeon Ventures LLP Start Up Compliance Consultancy Firm of the Year – UK Tuli & Co Insurance & Reinsurance Law Firm of the Year - India
Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year – Taiwan Deep & Far attorneys-at-law was founded in 1992 and is dealing with all phases of laws with a focus on the practice in separate or in combination of all aspects of intellectual property rights (IPRs) including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, unfair competition, and/or licensing, counselling, litigation and/or transaction thereof. Yu-Li Tsai: Partner & Patent Attorney Practice area/industry focus: Intellectual Property, Unfair Competition, Litigation Career highlights: Mr Tsai is a patent attorney who holds a degree from the Department of Electrical Engineering and Master’s degree from the Graduate Institute of Communication Engineering, both awarded from the National Taiwan University. His practice covers patents, trademarks, copyright, trade secrets, unfair competition, licensing and litigation. Mr Tsai also studied and gained a Master’s degree from the Law School, University of New Hampshire, also known as Franklin Pierce Centre for Intellectual Property. Upon graduation, he worked for InterDigital, Inc. in Delaware for a short period and later studied and passed the US Patent Registration Examination. The patent attorneys and patent engineers in Deep & Far normally hold outstanding and advanced degrees and are generally graduated from the top five universities in this country. Our prominent staffs are dedicated to provide the best quality service in IPRs in this country. As a proof, about one half of top 100 incorporations in this country have experiences of seeking patented their techniques, but more than one fifth of the top 100 incorporations has ever used services of this firm. Furthermore, Hi-Tech companies in the science-based industrial park located at Hsin Chu had ever played the most important role in booming the economy of this country. About one half of them has experiences in seeking patented their techniques, and out of more than 60% of the patent-experienced companies in that park have ever entrusted their IPR works to this firm. Certainly, we must also represent international giants, e.g. InterDigital, MPS, Schott Glas, Toyo Ink, Motorola, Armani… It is our philosophy to provide competent legal services that other firm cannot comparably provide. The necessitated ensuing problem is how we can so provide? Deep & Far so achieve by selecting, edifying and nurturing peoples who have the following personalities: learned in expertise, morally earnest and sincerely behaved in mind and strictly disciplined between give and take. It is well-believed that such properties are key factors for peoples to properly and competently behave themselves. Deep & Far (D&F) is willing to take challenges to prove that it is the best IP firm, and to verify its supreme competence by e.g.: 1) Sending to D&F a pending or granted patent for its comments about how it can improve the claims; 2) Sending to D&F a pending patent specification without the claims for it to draft the claims for comparison with the original claims; or 3) Sending to D&F and the firm the client is currently using at the same time an initial disclosure so that the client can compare and find out where better claims are. Deep & Far assures the clients that no competitors can escape from the patent rights D&F safeguards for the clients at reasonable service fees. Because the tough economic downturn we are encountering in Taiwan, we are also encountering severe price
competition. This situation also leads to that there are too many poor quality patents being granted because most enterprises do not have proper knowledge of the importance of patents. For example, they might only want to spend lower cost to file a patent application without considering the quality, or could not be alerted timely that narrow claims can protect their products of the current version only although there are reduced fees in responding to office actions. Therefore, the patent agents or firms of the enterprises sometimes cannot help but sacrificing the quality to keep profits under the limited budgets of the clients. Under such social environment, it is very hard to anticipate that the clients have strong patents, or the patent firms or attorneys can nurture the ability of drafting wonderful scope of the claims. Accordingly, it will not be surprised to find that there are some patent firms which cannot provide competent services but offer extreme low price to attract clients only caring about the price of filing a patent. This does also explain that there are poor quality patents being granted We persist in providing quality service rather than participating into the price war because we believe the Client will finally find the quality is the most important thing for intellectual property. If you sacrifice the quality and surrender to the price, you actually get negative return because .a poor quality IP is valueless. We did suffer a little last year in view of the reduced local generated works, but we see the situation began to change this year. This firm is used to focusing on IPR, and takes deliberate steps to practice in all fields of law. In recent year, we make progress in either general civil law, business law or criminal law fields.
Contact Details 13th Fl., 27 Sec. 3, Chung San N. Rd., Taipei 104, Taiwan, R.O.C. ': 886-2-25856688 7: 886-2-25989900/25978989 Email: email@deepnfar.com.tw www.deepnfar.com.tw
Infrastructure Finance Law Firm of the Year – India Founded in 1935, Desai & Diwanji is one of India's leading law firms, helping clients achieve their goals by combining the highest global standards with local expertise. With offices in Mumbai, Gurgaon, and New Delhi, Desai & Diwanji is also among the largest law firms in the country. Vishwang Desai is the managing partner of the firm and heads its corporate commercial practice. He has consistently advised large multinational corporations and Indian business groups, governments, multilateral agencies, lenders, PE funds, as well as financial investors in some of the largest M&A, PE and financing transactions in India / involving Indian companies. He has been named “lawyer of the year” by various global publications and is regularly included in several top business lawyer lists compiled by global publications. Practice Areas: Aviation Banking & Finance Capital Markets Competition Dispute Resolution Infrastructure & Project Finance Mergers & Acquisitions Private Equity Real Estate & Construction Technology, Media & Telecoms Contact Details: Address: LENTIN CHAMBERS, DALAL STREET, FORT, MUMBAI 400 001, INDIA Tel: +91 22 3984 1000 Fax: +91 22 2265 8245 Email: mail@desaidiwanji.com
Estate Planning Law Firm of the Year – USA Donna J. Jackson & Associates, PLLC is a law firm dedicated to providing the best estate planning services including revocable, irrevocable, special needs, (d)(4)(A), veteran asset protection, and Medicaid asset protection trusts that are customized to fit every client’s needs.
Practice Areas: Estate Planning Trusts Power of Attorney Probate Guardianship
Donna J. Jackson is a nationally-recognized attorney, authority, speaker and educator in estate planning. Ms. Jackson is a CPA and holds a Masters Degree (L.L.M.) in Elder Law. With over 28 years of legal experience, she mostly practices in estate planning with an emphasis on Medicaid, VA Benefits, and special needs planning, including revocable, irrevocable and special needs trusts, wills, durable power of attorneys, and living wills. Additionally, Donna’s practice includes taxes, probates, and business organizations. Donna currently serves on the board of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys; she’s on numerous committees of the American Bar Association, Oklahoma Bar Association, Oklahoma Society of CPAs, and many others. She has been a keynote speaker for the Oklahoma Bar Association, Strafford, and the National Business Institute (NBI). She was honored as one of the 2011-2015 Five Star Wealth Managers in Estate Planning in the Oklahoma Magazine. Go Pokes!
Contact Details; 10404 Vineyard Blvd, Ste E, Oklahoma City, OK 73120 (405) 840-1874 donnajacksonlaw@outlook.com
Construction Litigation Law Firm of the Year – USA Ali Salamirad founded the firm ten or so years ago and, then, in 2014, SMTD Law LLP was created. SMTD Law is a boutique law firm concentrating in construction, surety and business litigation. The Firm’s attorneys are highly experienced in handling disputes unique to the construction and surety industries and they understand the rigors and challenges of litigation. Because of the Firm’s experience, our attorneys are well prepared to work with our clients to achieve their goals. We take pride in knowing that our clients trust us to handle all of their legal needs, and, as a result, we do everything in our power to help our clients succeed. The firm’s managing partners are Ali Salimirad and Jonathon Dunn. The firm overall is managed by six partners. The two managing partners, Chris Morrow, one of the founding partners, and the managing partners for Oakland, Michael Timpane, Phoenix, Bob Berens, and Los Angeles, Marilyn Klinger. All of the six partners are construction law experts who do both transactional work and litigation including trials and arbitration. Ms. Klinger serves as the Managing Partner of SMTD Law’s Los Angeles office. She is involved in all aspects of construction law on a state and national level, representing the full spectrum of the construction industry, from owners, contractors, subcontractors and sureties. Ms. Klinger’s practice includes time-related claims and litigation (e.g., delay/impact), legal advice and counsel regarding the contracting process (e.g., bidding and contract disputes/performance bond claims), payment enforcement/defense (e.g. payment bonds/mechanics liens/stop payment notices), administrative and scope claims and litigation (e.g., differing site conditions, change and extra work orders/inadequate plans and specifications and subcontractor substitutions) and counseling and transactional services to the construction industry (e.g., general advice and counsel, including contract preparation, evaluation and negotiation). In addition, she has extensive experience in dispute resolution including litigation, trial, appeals, arbitration and mediation. Ms. Klinger is a hard-working “straight shooter.” Early in her career, she became a pioneer in construction law, being one of the first women attorneys to practice in the primarily male-dominated field. Through her passion and unique intelligence she has established a vital, nationwide practice involved in all aspects of construction law and a career marked by increasingly prominent leadership positions. She is recognized as an innovator in legal problem-solving and as a thought leader who is a frequently published author and soughtafter speaker for professional legal, construction and educational publications and organizations. Marilyn loves humor and thinks everyone is way too serious. Chambers USA 2019 ranked Ms. Klinger one of the top Construction lawyers in California. Recently, she has been selected as Top Attorney of the Year in Construction Law by the International Association of Top Professionals (IAOTP) for her outstanding leadership and commitment to the profession. Contact Details: Marilyn Klinger SMTD Law LLP 355 S. Grand Avenue, Suite 2450 Los Angeles, CA 90071 (213) 943-1425 main (213) 943-1427 direct (213) 268-8105 cell mklinger@smtdlaw.com www.smtdlaw.com
Corporate & Financial Services Law Firm of the Year – Belgium Willkie is an elite international law firm of approximately 650 lawyers located in nine offices in six countries. For more than 125 years, we have represented companies across a wide spectrum of businesses and industries, most notably financial services. The firm is comprised of attorneys who are recognized as some of the world’s foremost practitioners in their respective areas. Xavier Dieux is a partner in the Corporate and Finance Department and in the Litigation Department. His practice areas encompass Public Offerings (including TOB), Capital Market Operations and Regulation, Mergers & Acquisitions, Corporate Governance and Financial Regulation, as well as Litigation in all areas of Financial, Corporate, Commercial and Contract Law. As to his Litigation practice, Xavier is also frequently appointed as arbitrator with respect to international or domestic proceedings. He practices in French and in English. Practice Areas: Corporate & Financial Services Finance Capital Markets Mergers & Acquisitions Private Equity/Venture Capital Structured Finance & Derivatives Business Reorganization & Restructuring Litigation Compliance & Enforcement Insurance & Reinsurance Securities, Litigation & Enforcement Complex Commercial Disputes
] Avenue Louise, 480 / 3B 1050 Bruxelles T +32 2 290 18 20 F +32 2 290 18 21 E: xdieux@willkie.com
Cannons Law Practice Aviation Law Firm of the Year – UK My name is Frank Cannon, a qualified lawyer in Scotland. My principal area of expertise is in dispute resolution and court litigation. I have also a special interest in Aviation Law, having been a qualified pilot most of my adult life. I have been a qualified lawyer as well as a qualified pilot for more than 50 years. At the age of 78 years I still supervise all cases, and the clients still have direct access to me. No answering services, no “leave messages” just individual direct access on mobile phone at all times. Individual lawyers are deployed to their specialisms and strengths. Our firm traces its origins right back to 1969 when I started the firm. The firm has always been a problem solver, particularly in difficult situations. The clients I started with are all the same age as I am and now their children instruct my daughter who runs the firm with me. We have 6 lawyers and cover all areas of general practice. Our main selling point is economy of cost. Our lawyers have no targets for “billable hours” and the only motivational force in our office is to ensure that justice wins at the most economical cost to the client. We act typically for family businesses and individuals. We love helping people who need justice. As we do not have an eye for maximum profit, we are, and were, able to weather economic downturns. A lot of the cases we do in court are taken on a “no-win-no-fee” basis which is a “win-win” for the clients. By being ultra-flexible, we weather all storms, and we avoid high overheads. Otherwise all businesses have to pass their overheads on to their clients. Living now in an over-regulated society, much effort is expended on the regulation itself and the transparency of the regulation. The paper-trail of over-regulation is the monster in the room. This applies, unfortunately, now to all parts of society, and it is probably here to stay. Unfortunately too, parliamentarians think that if they regulate, the problem goes away.
Our long-term mantra is “OUR WORK IS LAW”. We have used this motto for 50 years. This year we also boast “50 YEARS OF LEGAL EXCELLENCE”
Contact Details: CANNONS LAW PRACTICE Aviation Lawyers 11 Somerset Place GLASGOW G3 7JT Tel 0044 141 204 5115 Fax 0044 141 22 62 221 Web www.cannonslaw.com
Intellectual Property Law Firm of the Year – USA Guiding Your Patent Beyond the Horizon https://www.patenthorizon.com/ The Juhasz Law Firm provides intellectual property legal services to leading technology, software and clinical diagnostic companies. Combining deep IP experience, broad IP capabilities across a wide spectrum of industries and technologies, and extensive expertise in IP strategies, The Juhasz Law Firm collaborates with clients to help them see, understand and capitalize on the potential strategic value of their intellectual property.
Aligning IP Strategy to Business Strategy Juhasz Law aligns our lawyering approach to the business strategy of our clients. We take the time to understand each client’s needs and provide unique solutions that match their business and marketing strategy. The Juhasz Law Path to Value ℠ suite of intellectual property legal services encompass a ninestage, multi-disciplinary approach to growing a company’s IP portfolio value. Path to Value integrates patent management with business strategy and technical innovation so organizations can leverage intellectual property assets to drive technology leadership, market position, and competitive advantage resulting in increased economic value.
Patent Law Juhasz Law Firm patent lawyers have an average 15 years IP legal experience with deep technical understanding and a tough, litigation-minded approach to patenting. We bring lessons learned in the courtroom to our patent strategic counseling. Our clients include both industry leaders and new venture start-ups. Every organization deserves IP and Patent Law representation that encompasses counseling, prosecution, licensing and litigation expertise to optimize the strategic value of their intellectual property.
Comprehensive IP Counseling and Services Juhasz Law encompasses the full scope of IP counseling, protection, licensing and litigation for patents, designs, trademarks, and copyrights, including drafting patent applications, patent licensing, patent litigation and more.
Paul R. Juhasz Paul R. Juhasz, J.D. is a leading patent attorney specializing in strategic preparation, prosecution, counseling, monetization, and litigation with degrees in electrical engineering and chemical engineering. He is an adjunct professor at the New Hampshire School of Law, is extensively published, and an expert on 101 Bilski patent eligible subject matter and patent exhaustion. He has submitted amicus briefs to the United States Supreme Court in several patent cases. As Director IP Nokia, he led the protection and enforcement of Nokia IP throughout North and South America. As assistant general counsel and chief IP counsel at Symbol, he chaired a joint defence group of companies in defeating the Lemelson patents.
Contact Details: Houston 10777 Westheimer, Suite 1100 Houston, TX 77042 +1 713 260-9643 Seattle Key Center 601 108th Avenue NE Bellevue, WA 98004 +1 425 943-7619
Law Office of Ramni Taneja Constitutional Law Firm of the Year – India Born on 4th December 1955 in New Delhi, Ramni Taneja is a citizen of India, having been educated in Mumbai, India, and London, England. She enrolled as an Advocate on 17th October 1980, on the Roll of the Bar Council of Maharashtra, [Mumbai], India; subsequently transferred to the Bar Council of Delhi, India, on 20th October 1997. On 3rd March 1997, she was admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, [now known as the Senior Courts of England and Wales]. In 1999, she was appointed as a Notary by the Government of India, New Delhi, India. Since 1997, Ramni Taneja practises in New Delhi, India, as an Advocate in the Supreme Court of India and the High Court of Delhi, apart from various other tribunals and courts in Delhi and in India. From 1980 till 1982 she practised as an Advocate with Little & Co., Advocates and Solicitors, Mumbai, India; she headed the office of Little & Co., Advocates, in New Delhi, India, from 2002 till 2006. From 1983 till 1997, Ramni Taneja was licensed and practised as a Legal Consultant with A.R. Hilal & Associates, Advocates and Legal Consultants, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Her law firm, Law Office of Ramni Taneja, began in New Delhi, India in August 2006. Ramni Taneja completed her school education in the United Kingdom [UK] at Grey Coat Hospital, Westminster, London, England, UK, as a consequence of which she obtained the University of London, General Certificate of Education, Ordinary Levels and Advanced Levels, between 1972-1974. She obtained her BA Honours [First Class Honours] Degree in English Literature [Major] French Literature [Subsidiary] in 1977 from Elphinstone College, University of Bombay, India. She obtained her LLB Degree [First Class] in 1980 from Government Law College, University of Bombay, India. She was awarded the Diplôme Supérieur d’Etudes Françaises Modernes in 1975 by l’Alliance Française, Paris, France, [Mention Tres Honourable: i.e. Distinction] and was ranked first in the examination in 1975 in India and Asia. Ramni Taneja is the author of Foreign Direct Investment and Globalisation, published by Eastern Book Company, 2014. She has written legal articles that have been published in international and Indian legal journals on various legal issues Ramni Taneja’s principal areas of legal practice covering litigation and transactional legal work are: all areas of commercial law, civil law, corporate law, constitutional law and criminal law.
Other areas of legal practice covering litigation and transactional law inter alia are: Arbitration [international and domestic], air law, banking law, consumer protection law, due diligence, direct and indirect taxation and international taxation, extradition law, laws relating to asylum, family law, foreign direct investment, including foreign exchange law, insurance law, initial public offerings, intellectual property law, infrastructure law, employment law, laws governing the media, mergers and acquisitions, immigration and nationality law, maritime law, succession law, private international law, public international law and property law. Contact Details: RAMNI TANEJA, Advocate and Notary LAW OFFICE OF RAMNI TANEJA Address: A 34 DEFENCE COLONY NEW DELHI 110024, INDIA Telephones: +91 11 4155 2051; +91 11 4155 2052 Fax: +91 11 4155 2053 email id: ramni@ramnitaneja.com http://www.ramnitaneja.com/
Max Blitt QC Child Abduction Lawyer of the Year – Canada Max Blitt, Q.C. has personally been involved in assisting clients and legal counsel to recover children that have been abducted by parents and relatives to other Provinces in Canada, the United States, Poland, France, Germany, Mexico, Brazil, Sweden, Italy, South Africa, Lebanon, the United Kingdom, Australia, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Jordan, Bangladesh, China, Japan, Turkey, and Nigeria. Professional Experience: 1974-1975 Wolfman & Company. Articling Position Practiced Criminal Law (Provincial, Supreme Court, and Court of Appeal), Civil Law, Family Law, Wills and Estates. 1975-1985 Karasick, Blitt and Company, Partner Set up firm and expanded to four lawyers. Practiced in above areas of law, with greater emphasis on family law and real estate. 1985-1989 Blitt, Lirenman and Company. Senior Associate. Practiced heavily in family law area and real estate. 1989-Present Spier Harben (formerly Spier Prasow and Blitt merged with Harben Aaron & Rynd). Practiced civil litigation (emphasis on family law, personal injury and general), real estate, wills and estates. 2013 Appointed Queen’s Counsel Contribution to the community: Child Find Canada - Volunteer Director, 1995-1997 Child Find Alberta - President, 1993-1995 Child Find Alberta - Past President, 1995-1997 Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter -Board Member Canadian Cancer Society - Volunteer Calgary Zoo, Trustee, 1999-2008 Calgary Zoo Foundation, Past-Chairman Calgary Legal Guidance - Lawyer Volunteer Contribution to legal profession: Appointed to Legal Aid Appeals Committee 2014; Current Volunteer Calgary Legal Guidance;
Past Volunteer University of Calgary Student Legal Services; Court Appointed Dispute Resolution Officer 2006 to Present; Canadian Centre for Professional Legal Education (Bar Admission Course) 2008-Present Negotiations Assessment and Advocacy Instructor ASSIST Volunteer 2012 to Present February 2016 Volunteer Judge for University of Calgary Law Students Mock Civil Trial at Court of Queen’s Bench, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Contribution to legal scholarship through teaching or research: Speaker, Child Find Alberta 1989 Conference, Legal Aspects of Child Abduction. Panellist, CFCN TV Re: Child Abductions. Canadian Bar Association, Mid-Winter Meeting Organizing Committee - Legal Aspects of Child Abduction. November 12, 2000 Member of Canadian Delegation Second International Forum on Parental Child Abduction (Hague Convention Cases), Washington, D.C. October/November 2003 Article contained in Law Now, University of Alberta, International Child Abductions. December 2003 Speaker, AMECO (Association of Missing and Exploited Children's Organization) Case Manager Training Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada. April 2005 October Speaker Northwest Coalition of Missing Children Investigators and Professionals Symposium, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. May/June 2005 Speaker, Prairie Regional Our Missing Children Conference, Canada Border Services Agency, Calgary, Alberta. 2007 Washington, D.C. attended the 44th Annual Conference of Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (AFCC); "Judicial Officers Forum: International Child Abduction" and "International Child Abduction: risk Factors and Prevention." March 2009 Ottawa - Conference Presenter, Department of Foreign Affairs, Overview of International Children's Issues. 09/10 Tokyo, Japan - Member of Canadian Delegation, Study Session on the 1980 Hague Convention, Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, Hosted by Canadian Embassy. September 2009 Ismaili’s [Muslim] International Mediation Training – Vancouver. November 2009 Mount Royal University - Conference - "Early Adverse Experience and Childhood Brain Development." October 2010 Vancouver, BC - International Bar Association, Presenter Mock Trial of a full Hague Convention International Child Abduction Case. January 2011 Law Now Article "Cross-Cultural Mediation," University of Alberta. February/March 2011 Invited to present to the Alberta and Manitoba Judges Continuing Legal Education Conference [National Judicial Institute] on issues involving internationally and Domestically Abducted Children. March 2011 Invited to Present at the International Family Law Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, on the Canadian Perspective on Hague Convention Applications on International Child Abductions. March 2011 Appointed to the Practice Note "7" Committee Regarding the Use of Independent Parenting Experts, Chaired by Madam Justice Andrea Moen. November 2011 Invited to Present to the International Bar Association in Dubai, on the Canadian Perspective on Sharia Law and Enforcement of Orders from Non-Hague Convention Countries. January 2012 Alberta Law Conference, Calgary, Alberta - Chair Person regarding the law relating to internationally and Domestically Abducted Children September 2012 Published Paper on the Voice of the Child in Hague Convention Child Abduction cases for the International Bar Association Newsletter.
March 2013 6th World Congress on Family Law and Children's Rights, Sydney Australia Presented on the Voice of the Child in the context of the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abductions. August 2013 Canadian Bar Association Annual Meeting, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Presenter on the Hague Convention and the Rights of the Child to Legal Representation. September 2013 Challenges Facing Counsel For Children in the Context of the Hague Convention, International Bar Association, IBA Global Insight. October 2013 Presenter, Alternative Dispute Resolution in Pluralistic Societies: International and Local Experiences, His Highness Prince Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili’s Council for Canada, McDougal Centre, and Calgary. April 2014 Canadian Bar Association Webinar, Hague Convention on International Child Abductions and Child’s Objection to Return. April 2014 IBA Newsletter Article “The Hague Convention and the Rights of Children:” Bala, Blitt, and Blackburn. May 2014 Canadian Bar Association-Comment on R.M. v. J.S.: Alberta Court of Appeal on The Hague Convention and Evidence of Children’s Objections. June 2015 International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, Quebec City, Quebec, Presentation on The Canadian Experience regarding the Hague Convention and Recent Case Trends. Max Blitt Member of the Law Society of Alberta Other Law Society Memberships: Canadian Bar Association Alberta bar Association Association of Family and Conciliation Courts (International) Alberta Civil Trial Lawyers Association Law Society of Alberta 2011 Family Law Advisory Committee 2011 Court of Queen's Bench of Alberta Practice Note "7" Committee 2012 Canadian bar Association National Children's Law Committee International bar Association UK and Wales International Law Society Membership American Bar Association, International Division, International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
Contact Details: Max Blitt QC SPIER HARBEN 1400,707 - 7TH AVENUE S.W. CALGARY, ALBERTA T2P 3H6 Phone: (403)699-1257 Fax: (403) 699-1359 Email: mblitt@spierharben.com Website: www.childabduct.com
Patent Attorney of the Year - Germany PROFILE Legal office DR. WIELAND GROTH is an intellectual property law firm, specialized in providing legal advice in Patent-, Trademark- and Design Law. We advise in all technological intellectual property matters, primarily specialising in mechanical, engineering, optics, physics and electro technical engineering. We combine very cost efficient service with highly qualified technical and legal standards. NOTABLE LEGAL WORK Even though we have large companies in our portfolio, our focus is on medium size enterprises, which are world market leaders in their field, and on advising emerging start-ups. We mainly represent German companies but also foreign firms and universities. Our company has an extensive experience in representing applicants and opponents in opposition and appeal proceedings before the European Patent Office in patent cases and the German Patent Office and Federal Patent Court in patent and trademark cases. We regularly cooperate with international law firms in other countries and represent a large number of German, European, International patent, trademark and design applications. ABOUT DR. WIELAND GROTH Dr. Wieland Groth, LL. M. is admitted as a German and European Patent Attorney. He obtained a Master degree in Mathematics (Dipl.-Math.) and a Master degree in Physics (Dipl.Phys.) from the Technical University of Clausthal and the Imperial College of London. He holds a Ph.D. degree (Dr.rer.nat.) in Mathematical Physics from the Technical University of Clausthal. Wieland also obtained a Master degree of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Hagen. Prior to founding his own private practice, Wieland worked for several years in renowned Northern German Law firms. Wieland Groth is a regular speaker at international conferences. He is, inter alia, a member of GRUR-The German Association for the protection of intellectual property, INTA-The International Trademark Association, AIPPI-Association Internationale pour la Protection de la PropriĂŠtĂŠ Intellectuelle, FICPI-International Federation of Intellectual Property attorneys and DPG- Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. AREAS OF PRACTICE Patents and Utility Models Employee Inventions Trademarks Designs Licences Prior Art Searches FTO searches Monitoring Litigation CONTACT DETAILS Zippelhaus 4 20457 Hamburg Germany Tel.: +49 40 303 757 30 Email: mail@grothpatent.com Website: www.grothpatent.com
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Insurance Litigation Law Firm of the Year – USA McKennon Law Group PC represents a full range of individuals, professionals, and businesses in all types of insurance coverage, including bad faith litigation, disability insurance, life insurance, health insurance, ERISA/employee benefits, long-term care insurance, property & casualty insurance, professional liability insurance, insurance agent & broker liability, unfair competition and business litigation matters. We primarily specialize in disability insurance; life insurance and ERISA litigation matters and we have been doing so for over 30 years. Our law firm is committed to the highest level of client service while maintaining the highest standards of legal excellence and professional ethics. Our litigation practice is thoughtful, experienced, and integrated with each client’s needs, budgets, and goals. We pride ourselves on our impeccable reputation for work product and professional and client relationships along with our intelligent, innovative and practical approach to the practice of law. McKennon Law Group’s attorneys have attended the top law schools in the country and bring a strong sense of pride and quality work ethic to everything they do. McKennon Law Group’s attorneys have big firm experience because they previously practiced at some of California’s finest law firms. Therefore, they combine a rare mix of big firm expertise and legal quality with small firm attention to your case. We are also able to provide our clients with a level of trial experience rarely found in firms of our size. McKennon Law Group PC and its attorneys have also received many prestigious awards and recognitions. Our law firm specializes in arbitrations, trials and appeals on all lines of ERISA/Employee, insurance—life, health, disability, property/casualty, commercial general liability, professional liability, officers and directors liability, employment practices liability, and homeowners and business owners property and liability— successfully resolving both coverage and bad faith claims on behalf of our clients. We represent our clients’ interests in all state and federal courts in California and in federal courts nationwide. We have been involved with recovering multi-million dollar judgments, arbitration awards, and settlements for our clients. Our attorneys have extensive experience representing insurance companies and policyholders in life, health, disability and ERISA litigation, and in general liability, environmental, marine, and property/casualty litigation. We have been involved with recovering several multi-million dollar judgments, arbitration awards, and settlements for our clients. Although we primarily litigate in California, we take cases nationally and we have extensive experience litigating cases in other states, especially in the western United States, including Hawaii, Arizona and Nevada. Most of our consumer litigation cases, and many of our business litigation cases, are taken on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing and we recover nothing unless you win your case by way of settlement or verdict. We welcome referrals from the legal community, and honour referral fee commitments in keeping with the rules of professional conduct. Robert J. McKennon is a founding shareholder of McKennon Law Group PC. He represents individuals and small-to-large corporations in sophisticated litigation matters in state and federal court. He has recovered millions of dollars for our clients from such insurance companies as: Unum, Prudential, Lincoln National, Standard Life, Sun Life, Met Life, Hartford Life, Mass Mutual, Paul Revere, Provident, Trustmark and Aetna for all types of insurance claims, including:
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Disability Insurance
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Life Insurance
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ERISA
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Health Insurance
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Long-Term Care
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Property & Casualty
Mr. McKennon is admitted to all federal and state courts in California, and regularly handles litigation matters in federal courts in the Western United States. He is a nationally recognized expert in insurance litigation matters and has tried, litigated, and resolved hundreds of insurance litigation matters, including ERISA/employee benefit, life, health and long-term disability and short-term disability insurance, insurance coverage, insurance bad faith, unfair trade practices, and insurance agent/broker litigation. Mr. McKennon has also handled numerous business litigation cases in the areas of general business and contract disputes and unfair competition. Mr. McKennon frequently serves as a guest speaker at local and national conferences concerning life, health, long-term disability, short-term disability and ERISA issues, and has chaired numerous national conferences on these topics. Mr. McKennon formerly represented numerous insurance companies in first-party insurance lawsuits involving life, health and short-term and long-term disability insurance disputes, insurance bad faith and punitive damages for over twenty-four years. He now represents insureds, claimants, businesses and other consumers who believe that their insurance companies have improperly denied their claims for insurance benefits. Mr. McKennon was the founder and editor of the Life, Health & Disability Insurance Law Blog at lifehealthdisabilityinsurancelaw.com while he was a partner at Barger & Wolen LLP. He is currently the editor of the California Insurance Litigation Blog at californiainsurancelitigation.com. He is also a regular contributing author of insurance articles in the Los Angeles Daily Journal, the most read and respected legal journal in California. The nationally respected Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory and the nationwide Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers has awarded Mr. McKennon their highest possible rating, “AV.” This assessment is based on confidential recommendations received exclusively from lawyers and judges. The rating highlights an attorney’s competence, ethical conduct, professional ability, diligence and overall performance. Mr. McKennon has been also awarded AVVO’s rating of “Superb,” 10.0 out of a possible 10.0, which also highlights an attorney’s competence, ethical conduct, professional ability, diligence and overall performance. Mr. McKennon has also been recognized as a 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 Southern California “Super Lawyer,” which recognizes him as one of California’s top attorneys in ERISA and insurance coverage matters. Mr. McKennon was recently profiled in Forbes, American Lawyer, Coast magazine, Los Angeles Times, Corporate Counsel, and National Law Journal as a top Southern California insurance and business litigation attorney. Mr. McKennon was named as one of Orange County Register Metro’s Top Southern California Attorneys for 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016. Mr. McKennon was also named as a Corporate Livewire’s Global Awards for several years as Newport Beach, Orange County, California “Insurance & Reinsurance” Lawyer of the Year. The American Society of Legal Advocates has recognized him as one of the top 100 Insurance lawyers in the State of California for several years. Aggressive Advocacy Unlike many firms that are interested in doing as little work as possible because they know they will settle all cases, we aggressively litigate our cases, and we are not afraid to take our cases to trial. Our attorneys have extensive trial experience, and our strong reputation for excellence in trial advocacy will inure to your benefit when settlement discussions occur. This will maximize your settlement potential.
Integrity We place a very high value on integrity and fidelity to our clients’ interests. You will get an honest assessment of your case during all phases of the pre-litigation and litigation process. You can expect a full and honest accounting of expenses relating to your case, including outlays for court costs, preparation of exhibits, hiring expert witnesses, obtaining medical records and depositions.
Excellence Our attorneys are graduates of the top law schools in the country and previously have practiced law at large firms where we honed our litigation skills. We take pride in the quality of law that we practice. We engage in the necessary investigation and preparation of your case to ensure we achieve the best possible results for our clients. This preparation will include thorough investigation of facts and documentation, appropriate legal research, development of appropriate courtroom exhibits, hiring of experts, engaging in necessary discovery and more. Trust We pride ourselves on the relationships we have built with our clients. Our practice has been built on the confidence our clients have placed in us. When we commit ourselves to your case, you can count on the fact that you will receive the best representation available. We maintain regular and appropriate communication with you throughout your case and treat you as a vital and necessary team member as we litigate your case. As a result, we are proud of the referrals we receive from our clients, other attorneys and professionals. Personal Attention Rather than create a high-volume law practice, we limit the cases we accept to provide you with the personal attention you need and deserve. You will not be passed off to case managers or intake personnel, a common practice in many firms. We are committed to the highest level of client service and we are committed to ensuring you are satisfied with our level of service to you and the results we receive on your behalf. As your case progresses, you will be apprised of developments and important events as they occur Experience There are few firms anywhere that have more experience in handling insurance coverage, ERISA and insurance bad faith litigation than our firm, and we bring that experience to bear in every case we litigate. For nearly 30 years, we have successfully arbitrated and litigated insurance, business and employment litigation cases. Mr. McKennon is an accomplished trial attorney and is a nationally recognized expert in disability insurance, life insurance and ERISA/employee benefits litigation. He has chaired, and been a frequent speaker at, numerous local and national conferences on the subjects of disability insurance, insurance coverage, and life insurance and ERISA/employee benefits litigation. He has also authored numerous articles and book chapters on the subjects of disability insurance, insurance coverage, and life insurance and ERISA/employee benefits litigation. Mr. McKennon has received the highest possible rating for legal ethics and legal abilities. He is AVŽ Peer Review Rated and has received the highest AVVO rating of “Superb.� Mr. McKennon was recognized as a 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 Southern California Super Lawyer, a recognition given to fewer than 5% of attorneys in the country. As indicated in his attorney profile section of this website, Mr. McKennon has been recently profiled in several magazines and other articles, and has received several recognitions and awards as a top California insurance coverage, ERISA and business litigation attorney.
Contact Details: Robert J McKennon Address: 20321 SW Birch St., Suite 200, Newport Beach, California 92660 Tel. (949) 387-9595 Fax: (949) 385-5165 Email: rm@mckennonlawgroup.com Web: www.mckennonlawgroup.com Blog: www.californiainsurancelitigation.com
Business Criminal Defence Law Firm of the Year – Canada Fenton, Smith Barristers* is one of Canada’s leading criminal law firms with offices based in downtown Toronto. Our firm provides best-in-class professional legal advice and legal services to individuals, corporations, and governmental clients in a broad range of criminal, quasi-criminal, regulatory and professional disciplinary matters. Our professional services range from private consultative and advisory retainers to attending on all forms of criminal, quasi-criminal, and regulatory trials, tribunal proceedings, reviews and appeals.
Fenton, Smith Barristers* Practice Areas: •Criminal litigation •Competition law •Corruption of foreign public officials •White collar crime •Professional discipline matters •Appeals •Judicial Review •Securities enforcement litigation •Occupational Health & Safety, Environmental Law, and other Regulatory matters Scott Fenton is a senior criminal defence lawyer experienced in criminal, quasi-criminal, constitutional and special prosecution matters. He has appeared as counsel on numerous trials, argued many appeals in the Court of Appeal for Ontario and has had multiple appearances in the Supreme Court of Canada, including R. v. Stillman, R. v. Goldhart, R. v. Silviera, R. v. Farinacci, R. v. Jarvis, R.v. Ling, R. v. Harrison, and R. v. Wallace. Scott Fenton is experienced in all types of criminal cases, including individual representations and corporate/commercial crime, white collar crime, cross-border investigations, foreign corruption, tax evasion, anti-trust/competition, securities, Elections Act, administrative monetary penalties (AMPs), policing (Special Investigations and Police Service Act matters), internet gaming, professional disciplinary matters, proceeds of crime and provincial regulatory prosecutions.
Contact Details: Fenton, Smith Barristers* Registered business name of Scott Fenton Professional Corporation Address: 235 King Street East, 2nd Floor, Toronto, ON, M5A 1J9 Tel: 416-955-1611 | Fax: 416-955-1237
Corporate, Civil & Criminal Litigation Law Firm of the Year – Philippines DivinaLaw is a leading full-service law firm in the Philippines. We take pride in advocating and practicing dynamic lawyering – prompt, proactive and result-oriented. We offer depth and range in experience and resources and a professional, collaborative work ethic – qualities that clients appreciate in an emerging and challenging market like the Philippines. At DivinaLaw, we endeavor to understand our clients’ needs so we can give them the best legal service possible. We aim to exceed their expectations at every turn. Our practice includes the entire spectrum of Philippine law. Our litigation practice covers corporate, criminal and civil litigation, alternative dispute resolution, estates and trusts, immigration, labor and employment, elections, administrative regulation, and maritime law. Our corporate practice includes banking, finance and construction, mergers and acquisition, foreign investments, securities, corporate rehabilitation, insurance, publicprivate partnerships, mining and natural resources, energy, utilities regulation, intellectual property, sports and entertainment, and taxation. Our clients include leading companies in banking and finance, manufacturing, retail, power, oil and gas, education, health care and insurance, realty and property development, and technology. Our lawyers are some of the most qualified and experienced in their respective fields, and we recruit only the top graduates from the leading law schools. DivinaLaw is the sole Philippine member of Lawyers Associated Worldwide, a top-rated international association of over 100 independent law firms from more than 50 countries. We are also the only Philippine member of LEGALINK, also a top-ranked global network of 68 independent law firms from a majority of the world’s commercial centers.
Practice Areas: •
Corporate, criminal, and civil litigation • Alternative dispute resolution • Estates and trusts • Immigration • Labor and employment • Elections • Administrative regulation • Transportation and maritime law • Family law
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Banking, finance, and construction • Mergers and acquisition • Foreign investments • Securities • Corporate rehabilitation • Insurance • Public-private partnerships • Mining and natural resources • Energy • Utilities regulation • Intellectual property • Sports and entertainment • Taxation • Environmental law • Information Technology
Contact Details: Metro Cebu Office: Unit 1504 Ayala Life- FGU Center, Mindanao Avenue corner Biliran Road, Cebu Business Park, Cebu City 6000, Philippines Phone No: (63)(32) 416-8018 nilo.divina@divinalaw.com
International Employment Law Firm of the Year – Global Seyfarth Shaw LLP is an 800+ lawyer firm with global reach and unparalleled capabilities in international employment law. The firm’s team of specialist international employment lawyers is the largest of its type globally, and its practice is acknowledged as one of the world’s leading practices in the area. All the partners in the international practice are internationally-trained, and each has assisted many of the world’s largest companies with numerous complex and highprofile global employment-related strategic, compliance and transactional projects across a wide range of industries. The team has experience across more than 170 countries, often working on projects covering up to 150 countries at one time. The experience and credentials of Seyfarth’s international practice have led to its reputation as a global leader in the practice of international employment law and have positioned the team as ‘go to’ advisors for large multinational companies requiring strategic employment advice covering their global operations. Key areas of experience and expertise include: •
Structuring and implementing employment related strategic initiatives on a multijurisdictional basis
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Workplace policies and handbooks
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Terminations – individual and large scale reductions in force
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Workplace harassment, anti-discrimination and equal opportunity law matters
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Protection of employers' proprietary and confidential information
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Multi-jurisdictional privacy/data protection and employment law compliance issues
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Employment and contingent workforce arrangements and documentation
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Employment and labour issues arising from international mergers and acquisitions
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International outsourcing arrangements
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International workplace investigations
Seyfarth’s international employment team is located in key global locations and provides a true cross-border expertise. Its unique service model has been developed over a number of years and is very well tested by many of the world’s largest companies. The team’s success is the result of a constant, unrelenting focus on the needs of its clients and a commitment to excellence using the strength of an integrated team-based approach to deliver international employment law services in a creative, innovative and commercial way. Contact Details Key Contact: Darren Gardner – Chairman, International Practice Firm: Seyfarth Shaw LLP Email: dgardner@seyfarth.com Tel: +1 (415) 544-1018 Website: www.seyfarth.com
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55 years of Dennemeyer Come get your special birthday offer! Client-oriented Self-funded Owner-managed Global For our 55 th birthday, we want to celebrate with you who have made us what we are today: the world's most comprehensive IP full-service provider! For this we want to thank you. Choose a service you have not experienced yet and we will make you a special offer.
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