Andersen, Banducci form civil-trial firm
Lawyers Steven Andersen and Thomas Banducci have formed a new law firm in Boise that includes Benjamin Schwartzman, Wade Woodard and Amanda Brailsford.
Andersen Banducci PLLC specializes in complex, high-stakes litigation and represents both defendants and plaintiffs. Andersen Banducci trial attorneys were lead counsel for verdicts and settlements in excess of $400 million and have won cases against some of the largest law firms in the nation.
The firm’s five principals have pursued their practices for decades. Andersen has tried more than 100 civil cases to verdict, obtaining 10 judgments in excess of $1 million, including a recent $56 million damages award for a defective agricultural chemical. Banducci has litigated commercial issues in more than 20 states, including one of the largest jury verdicts in Idaho history — a $52 million award in a lawsuit against Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center.
Litigation by Schwartzman, Woodard and Brailsford includes a $3 billion nationwide antitrust damages settlement, an agricultural recovery for Idaho farmers, and a $4 million jury verdict in a Federal Housing Act case.
In addition to the founding partners, the firm includes partners Jennifer Schrack Dempsey and Brent Bastian and associates Dara Labrum Parker and Tim Kurtz.
The practice is in Suite 1600 of the U.S. Bank Plaza at 101 S. Capitol Blvd. in Downtown Boise. Reach the firm at 342-4411.
Burke joins Elam & Burke as shareholder
John J. Burke has joined Elam & Burke, P.A. Robert A. Berry has joined the firm as a senior associate.
Burke is a litigation attorney with a focus on defending cases involving professional and medical malpractice, pharmaceutical and medical devices, and civil rights (Section 1983) claims. He is the Northwest Region Director for the Defense Research Institute, an organization of defense lawyers. He serves as the board liaison to the DRI Medical Liability and Health Care Law Committee, and is the state liaison for the DRI Drug and Device Committee.
Berry received his law degree from the University of Idaho College of Law in 2007.
Best Lawyers honors Meuleman attorneys
Meuleman Mollerup attorneys Wayne Meuleman, Richard W. Mollerup, Kimbal L. Gowland, Geoffrey J. McConnell and Jeff R. Sykes have been recognized by Best Lawyers in the fields of construction, real estate and employment law. McConnell was also honored as Idaho’s 2013 Lawyer of the Year in Litigation and Construction.
Meuleman, founding partner of Meuleman Mollerup LLP, was recognized in construction law. He has 38 years of experience representing clients throughout the western U.S. in public and private projects. Meuleman serves on the board of directors of the Idaho Associated General Contractors and served on its board from 1998 to 2003. He is the executive director of the Idaho State Building Authority, which provides bond financing of state-government facilities. Meuleman also has a Martindale-Hubbell “AV” Pre-eminent peer rating, is a member of Who’s Who in American Lawyers, and has been recognized by Best Lawyers annually since 2005 and by Super Lawyers since 2007.
Mollerup has 19 years of experience as a real estate attorney with emphasis in commercial real estate and title insurance in matters arising out of title, escrow, foreclosures and regulatory issues. He was recognized in real estate litigation. Before practicing law, he worked in the title insurance and real estate lending business for 19 years. Mollerup also has a Martindale-Hubbell “AV” Pre-eminent peer rating. He has also been selected by Super Lawyers since 2008 and is an associate member of the Idaho Land Title Association who served as chairman of its legislative committee for five years.
Gowland has 24 years in real estate and estate planning. From 1984 through 1987, he was a tax consultant at Touche Ross & Co. (now Deloitte), where his duties included research, planning and tax return preparation in individual, corporate, partnership, pension, estate and trust taxation. Best Lawyers called Gowland a conscientious and meticulous attorney. Gowland also has a Martindale-Hubbell “AV” Pre-eminent rating, has been recognized by Best Lawyers annually since 2005, and has also been honored by Chambers and Partners USA America’s Leading Lawyers for Business since 2004. Gowland has served on the Boise Chamber’s Boise Valley Economic Development Committee and is a graduate of the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce “Leadership Boise” program.
McConnell was recognized in construction litigation and government contracts. He has 26 years of experience in trial representation of owners, contractors and design professionals in lawsuits and other disputes on public and private construction projects ranging from $1 million to $220 million. He has assisted in the preparation of claim packages and risk assessments resulting in the settlement of disputes ranging from $100,000 to $14 million. He is licensed to practice in Idaho, Utah and California. McConnell also has a Martindale-Hubbell “AV” Pre-eminent rating and has been recognized by Super Lawyers since 2009. He is a fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and one of the firm’s representatives to the LEGUS International Network of Law Firms.
Sykes represents businesses and individuals on contract, construction, insurance, employment and real property matters. Sykes has 19 years of experience as a litigation attorney. Best Lawyers recognized him in employment law. Sykes serves on the board of directors of the Human Resource Association of Treasure Valley and is a member of the national Society for Human Resource Management. He has served on the board of directors of the YMCA Youth Government Program and as a judge pro tem for the YMCA Youth Court. Sykes is a member of the Order of Barristers, the Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce, Idaho Associated General Contractors and the Idaho Land Title Association. In 2005, he received the Idaho Business Review’s “Forty Accomplished Under 40” award.
Kunkel elected president of CREW
Givens Pursley LLP partner Anne C. Kunkel is president of Commercial Real Estate Women Idaho Inc. for 2013.
Kunkel also serves on the board of directors of CREW Idaho and is a founding member. Founded in 1989, CREW Network is a business networking organization for women in commercial real estate. CREW focuses on business development, leadership development, industry research and career outreach. Last June, CREW Idaho became the 75th regional chapter to join the national network.
Kunkel focuses her practice on real estate, business and asset transactions. As part of her practice, she advises clients in all stages of development, including entity formation and drafting and negotiating formation and organizational documents, tax planning and necessary exit strategies, drafting and negotiating purchase and sale agreements, easements, urban development project documents and bond issuances, hospitality management and franchise agreements, owner participation agreements and condominium regime documents. She also assists clients in obtaining, transferring and maintaining liquor licenses and related use licenses throughout the state.
Kunkel received her bachelor’s degree in political science and history from the University of Kentucky and her law degree from the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College.
Harwood joins Holland & Hart LLP
Bart Harwood joined to the business, corporate and finance practice group.
Harwood advises business owners on a variety of commercial and real estate transactions. He also assists clients with trust administration and estate planning.
He is a member of Business Law, Real Property, and Probate and Trust Law Practice Sections of the American Bar Association, as well as the Idaho Association of Defense Counsel, and the Boise estate planning council. Harwood holds a law degree from the University of Idaho College of Law.
