Barnes & Thornburg LLP Increases Renewable . . .

Date:  2/5/2010

Website:  http://atlanta.citybizlist.com/yourcitybiznews/detail.aspx?id=67001

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Barnes & Thornburg LLP Increases Renewable Energy Law Capacity with Atlanta Attorney Additions

Aggressive Growth Pattern Continues with Energy, Employment Counsel Recruitment

ATLANTA -- Barnes & Thornburg LLP announced today that five attorneys have joined the Atlanta office, led by experienced energy transaction attorneys William P. Ewing and Michael A. Lueder, as the firm continues to aggressively build its presence through lateral attorney recruitment.

Lueder and Ewing will join as partners in the firm's Business Department. Lueder was formerly a partner at Troutman Sanders LLP, and Ewing was a partner at Kilpatrick Stockton LLP. Most recently, they were both partners at Marshall & Lueder LLC, where Lueder was also a founding name partner.

Their arrival significantly increases the firm's capacity to deliver services for a growing and diversified renewable energy client base. Ewing, a tax lawyer, will serve as co-chair of the firm's Renewable Energy Practice Group, which offers a wide range of capabilities to the energy industry. The firm's clients include renewable energy suppliers (including solar, wind, and biomass), project developers, investors, lenders, utility purchasers of power, land owners, equipment manufacturers, governmental entities, independent generators, and distribution companies.

Andrew C. Durden, another former Marshall & Lueder attorney with a renewable energy background, will help bolster the energy group and corporate finance area of the firm's Atlanta office.

Employment lawyer Steven Whitehead will join the firm's Labor and Employment Law Department as of counsel. He was also previously a partner at Troutman Sanders; vice president, secretary, and general counsel of Ranstad USA; and most recently a partner at Marshall & Lueder LLC.

Miguel Chavez will join the firm as an associate in the Business Department.

"The additions of these high-caliber attorneys reflect the firm's commitment to attracting top legal talent to the Atlanta office and deepening our resources in all practice areas as we continue with our plan to build a full-service office," said Barnes & Thornburg Managing Partner Alan A. Levin. "Helping fuel this growth, our value-focused business model also continues to be an attractive destination for both attorneys and clients."

"Mike, Bill and Steve are all well-recognized and accomplished attorneys in Atlanta who further expand our platform as we continue to pursue additional growth opportunities," said business attorney Stuart C. Johnson, Managing Partner of the firm's Atlanta office. "Drew and Miguel provide additional bench strength on the ground in Atlanta for our various renewable energy and corporate finance activities here."

With these additions, the Atlanta office has added 13 attorneys since its opening last April. The firm continues to aggressively recruit lateral attorneys in all practice areas with the intention of building a full-service office, similar to the firm's approach in Chicago where they now have more than 85 attorneys.