SHB Promotes 12 Lawyers to Partnership

Shook, Hardy & Bacon has elected 12 lawyers to join the partnership, effective January 1, 2006.  Seven of SHB’s new partners will be based in the firm’s Kansas City, Mo., headquarters; two in Houston, Texas; one in Orange County, Calif.; one in San Francisco, Calif.; and one in Miami, Fla.

Kansas City

	Diego M. Gandolfo defends companies involved in international products liability litigation in Latin America and the United States.  Gandolfo received his J.D., with distinction, from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law.
	Brian A. Jackson focuses on national products liability defense litigation.  He has appeared and practiced in state and federal courts throughout the United States.  Jackson received his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law.
	Kamran Q. Khanconcentrates his practice on products-related litigation, regulation and issues management.  Khan has been involved in the defense of complex products liability cases in state and federal courts throughout the United States.  He earned his J.D. from the Southern Illinois University School of Law.
	Laurie A. Novion practices in the area of commercial litigation, with a particular focus on complex class action, multidistrict and antitrust litigation.  She has federal court experience in various jurisdictions throughout the United States.  Novion earned her J.D., with honors, from the University of Texas School of Law.
	Douglas W. Robinson is a member of SHB’s Tort Practice and handles all aspects of litigation involving products liability, insurance and premises liability.  Robinson has litigated cases in state and federal courts throughout the country.  He received his J.D. from the George Washington University National Law Center.
	Anthony J. Strait practices in SHB’s Corporate, Finance and Transactional Practice, concentrating on mergers and acquisitions; joint ventures and strategic alliances; distribution and licensing arrangements; securities; and general corporate law.  He earned his J.D., with distinction, from the University of Iowa College of Law.
	Mark C. Tatum is a member of SHB’s National Employment & Litigation Practice, with a focus on discrimination and harassment claims; non-compete agreements; arbitrations; and jury trial practice.  Tatum has appeared in numerous state and federal courts throughout the country and in various arbitration forums.  He earned his J.D. from the Southern Methodist University School of Law.

Houston

	David A. Chaumette is a member of SHB’s Business Litigation Practice.  He has successfully tried cases to a jury verdict and has prosecuted appeals before appellate courts in Texas.  His trials have involved oil and gas matters; securities fraud issues; lender liability cases; and real estate disputes.  Chaumette received his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.
	James Shepherd is a member of SHB’s Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices Practice and has successfully represented a number of clients in pharmaceutical, toxic tort and business litigation cases.  Shepherd received his J.D. from the Tulane University Law School.

Orange County

Paul B. La Scala focuses his practice on defending corporations in products liability actions. He represents companies in the pharmaceutical, dietary supplement and medical device industries in individual lawsuits, coordinated proceedings and class actions.  He earned his J.D. from the Loyola Marymount University School of Law.

San Francisco

Patrick J. Gregory concentrates his practice on complex contractual disputes, business tort claims, environmental litigation, and the defense of personal injury cases at both the trial and appellate levels.  Gregory earned his J.D. from the Creighton University School of Law.

Miami

Stephen J. Darmody focuses his practice on resolving environmental, tort and toxic tort claims.  He brings to this task a wide range of experience as a criminal prosecutor, a judge, an environmental regulator, and the regional counsel for a federal agency charged with enforcing environmental laws.  He received his J.D., with honors, from the George Washington University Law School and a L.L.M., with highest honors, from the same institution.