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Goodwin Procter hires seven more Heller attorneys

By Jason Siegel

Days after hiring five attorneys from Heller Ehrman, Goodwin Procter has hired seven more from the defunct firm who specialize in real estate investment management and hospitality.

But, as is the case at other firms, the announcement indicates that former associates at Heller Ehrman specializing in areas outside of the more recession-proof intellectual property practice, such as real estate, are having trouble landing at Boston-based Goodwin.

Goodwin's recent hires include partners Brian Smith, former managing partner of Heller Ehrman's London office, and Robert Asher, who was a partner in the firm's real estate and hospitality group. Both are in London.

Smith represents hotel operators and owners in real estate deals and investment funds, as well as private equity firms in various transactions worldwide. Asher, who was a member of Heller's real estate and hospitality practice group, represents developers, hotel management companies, investors and lenders worldwide.

Matthew G. Pohlman and Lindy Muto, former associates at Heller who specialize in real estate transactions, have joined Smith and Asher in London.

In San Francisco, Teresa K. Goebel, who was in Heller's real estate practice group, joins as counsel. Judith Miles, who was co-chairwoman of Heller's real estate practice group and managing director of people, also joins of counsel in San Francisco. A member of the adjunct faculty at Stanford Law School, she specializes in real estate finance and represents hotel operators and owners in deals.

One associate, Valerie Washburn, is joining Goodwin Procter in San Francisco.

Earlier this month, five former Heller lawyers ? four new partners and one of counsel ? joined Goodwin's business law department and technology companies group in New York and Menlo Park, Calif.

-- Amanda Bronstad

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on October 28, 2008 (boomark / email).