Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP

Meet the Dealmakers | Jeffrey Hechtman is a partner in Kilpatrick’s Corporate Mergers & Acquisitions (MASC) group. His practice is primarily focused on privately held businesses, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, venture capital, and recapitalization and financing transactions. Jeff represents private equity funds, venture capital firms, finance companies, financial services companies as well as a variety of privately held manufacturers, distributors, service companies, software and technology companies, finance companies and marketing businesses in transactional matters, financings, and corporate matters. Jeff also acts as general counsel to numerous funds (private equity, venture capital, turnaround, mezzanine, and real estate), investor groups, lenders, executives, and family offices. In this role, he manages all aspects of client transactions and legal matters. Get to know Jeff: https://lnkd.in/eJ9vrPje

We are happy to share that Managing IP has named Kilpatrick attorneys Melissa Capotosto, Forrest Flemming, and Joshua Lee as 2024 “Rising Stars.” The distinction recognizes some of the best up-and-coming intellectual property practitioners in private practice who have contributed to the success of their firms and clients. The research covers a variety of IP practice areas and more than 50 jurisdictions. Rankings are based on a weighted review of information submitted by firms, publicly available information, and market feedback. Congratulations! Read the full press release here: https://lnkd.in/ekyuVnYs

"As regulators worldwide continue to scrutinize the impact of AI on industries within their respective purviews, two key global agencies issued guidance in October 2024 that highlighted AI-based cybersecurity risks and best practices. Specifically, the New York State Department of Financial Services (“DFS”) and the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (“CSA”) each released robust guidance documents addressing the cybersecurity challenges posed by artificial intelligence systems." Learn more from Jon Neiditz, Amanda Witt, Gregory P. Silberman, CIPP/US, CISSP, and Anthony Glosson: https://buff.ly/4flDhZi

Earlier this month, we had the pleasure of welcoming our 2024 Class of First Years! Over the course of the month, we’ve been highlighting the 10 offices they’ve joined. This week, we’d like to introduce the new members of our Denver, Chicago, Houston, and New York offices: Nick Bharucha, Jonathan Bronstein, Jesse F., Chris G., and John Gutierrez. They will be joining our Patent Prosecution, Trademark, Copyright & Advertising, State and Local Tax, and Construction & Infrastructure Teams. We’re excited to have this great group join us. Stay tuned for our final spotlight next week.

As Estate Planning Awareness Month comes to an end, the Private Client attorneys at Kilpatrick would like to share some reminders and updates in the world of estate planning. Learn more from Chicago Associate Shannon B. ⬇️

We're proud to share that Atlanta Partner John Jett has been named to the Leadership Georgia Class of 2025! Each year, the organization seeks out emerging leaders and selects sixty-three participants from a pool of several hundred applicants to participate in the yearlong leadership program. The purpose of Leadership Georgia is to prepare strong and effective leaders for the future development of this state. Those who participate are emerging leaders from every nook and cranny of Georgia…the small town, the open country, the big city. Over the course of the program year, the class participants experience five hard-hitting programs that deal with crucial issues facing the towns, cities, suburbs, and rural communities of Georgia. Together, the class participants of Leadership Georgia seek mutual understanding of the challenges of the state and the solutions developed and implemented to drive change and success for all Georgians. Learn more about John and the Class of 2025: https://lnkd.in/e86kFzhW Congratulations, John!

"Use of California’s Auto Renewal Law as a predicate for UCL, FAL or CLRA claims has been a hotbed of consumer class action litigation. Now, the FTC has added a federal arrow to the consumer protection quiver by expanding its Negative Option Rule to reach autorenewal and other similar marketing programs. Among other things, the recently finalized amended FTC Rule requires companies to make their cancellation process as easy as their enrollment process. " Read the Class Action blog from Michele Floyd, Amanda Witt, and Diego Wu Min here: https://lnkd.in/eMWFnbzQ

Long-time Kilpatrick Partners Alicia Grahn Jones and Charles Hooker have been named Co-Team Leaders for the firm’s internationally recognized Trademark, Copyright & Advertising Team. Alicia and Charles will join Co-Team Leaders Anthony Malutta and R. Gwen Peterson who will continue to help lead the 120+-attorney practice. Read more ⬇️

A seismic shift in the world of False Claims Act (“FCA”) might have occurred recently in a Middle District of Florida courtroom. On September 30, 2024, Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle issued her ruling in US ex rel Zafirov v. Florida Med Associates, et al. No. 8:19-CV-01236-KKM-SPF, 2024 WL 4349242 (M.D. Fla. Sept. 30, 2024) that qui tam relators brining suits under the FCA violate the Appointment Clause and the Take Care Clause of the United States Constitution." Read the latest Government Contracting blog from Aditya Shrivastava and Katherine Klein here: https://lnkd.in/ed8ZJ-QR

Last week, Kilpatrick's Joe Snyder presented at the AIPPI World Congress in Hangzhou. Joe was a panelist for the session "Claims: Are they Clear & Sufficient Yet?" Attendees dove into hot topics like IP examination and protection in China, the UPC Pulse: one year in, a Patent Infringement Trial, Pharma Day with discussions on Drug Discovery and AI, Trademark Use in Pharmaceuticals, Patenting Microbiomes, and more. Joe is pictured second from left.