HOUSTON – May 13, 2015 – Continuing its strategic growth in Texas, the international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP has recently added a top-tier team of nine attorneys across various practice areas including real estate, labor and employment, intellectual property, litigation, and health care. The attorneys, whose experience further enhances the firm’s highly regarded multi-practice capabilities, include shareholders John J. Tucker and Shira R. Yoshor, along with associates Janis E. Clements, Hampton D. Crow, Jr., Alan W. Hersh, Banee Pachuca, Amy E. Simcox, David A. Walker, and Theresa M. Wanat.
“We are very pleased to welcome new shareholders John Tucker and Shira Yoshor. John is an experienced real estate attorney and will further expand Greenberg Traurig’s already robust real estate capabilities in Texas. Shira is a skilled attorney with extensive experience in a wide range of industries, and will significantly enhance our employment law capabilities in Texas. We also welcome seven associates, and are confident they will add real value to our Texas team of more than 100 lawyers,” said Douglas C. Atnipp, Greenberg Traurig co-regional operating shareholder for Texas. “Our firm is focused on sustained growth in Texas, adding talented attorneys who offer significant experience in high-demand industries and practices. Greenberg Traurig continues to grow strategically in areas that reflect current market needs and economic growth within the region.”
"At Greenberg Traurig, Real Estate is a significant and valued practice area. I am thrilled to join such a premier real estate practice,” said Tucker. “I also relish Greenberg's broad, global platform and resources which will allow me to expand to my practice."
“I am excited to join Greenberg Traurig because I‘m impressed by the firm’s breadth and scope, subject-wise and geographically,” Yoshor explained. “Greenberg’s collaborative culture fosters great professional opportunities in a collegial environment.”
Tucker, a shareholder in Greenberg Traurig’s Dallas office, focuses his practice on a variety of real estate matters, including commercial mortgage loan originations, securitizations, workouts and restructurings, mezzanine, subordinate and pari passu financings, as well as whole loan sales, participations, splits, and syndications. He represents funds, investment banks, commercial banks, and other institutional lenders. Tucker is experienced in dealing with mortgage loan origination, including conduit as well as portfolio loans, involving, among things, credit-tenant leases and leasehold financings (including sublease financings); sale-leasebacks, master leases, multi-borrower, multi-property and multi-state financings; tenants-in-common borrowing structures; mezzanine and subordinate debt, and preferred equity. He handles acquisitions and dispositions of distressed assets, including the representation of buyers and servicers in workouts, foreclosures, discounted payoffs, and REO sales. Tucker received his J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and B.A. from University of Alabama.
Yoshor, a shareholder in Greenberg Traurig’s Houston office, focuses her practice on labor and employment matters and a wide variety of complex commercial litigation. She is experienced in representing management in virtually all aspects of labor and employment law. Yoshor regularly counsels employers on managing workplace issues; drafts employment agreements, handbooks and policies; drafts and litigates non-competition and non-disclosure agreements; and investigates claims and complaints by employees. She has defended individual and multi-party claims before courts and arbitrators around the country. Yoshor also has broad experience in complex commercial cases of various types. Yoshor received her J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School and her B.A. from Yeshiva University.
Clements, an associate in Greenberg Traurig’s Austin office, focuses her practice on commercial litigation, antitrust, complex business litigation, patent litigation, licensing, and energy and natural resources law. She earned her J.D. from St. Mary's University School of Law, her M.A. from The University of Texas at Austin, and her B.S. from Texas Christian University.
Crow, an associate in Greenberg Traurig’s Dallas office, focuses his practice on general real estate matters and represents institutional and commercial lenders in the origination of real estate loans intended for securitization and sale in the secondary market. He earned his J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and B.B.A. from Baylor University.
Hersh, an associate in Greenberg Traurig’s Austin office, focuses on litigation and has handled asset purchase negotiations, lien and land restrictions on client holdings, immigration issues, and criminal appeals. Prior to joining the firm, he was an attorney for the Third District of the Texas Court of Appeals. Hersh received his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law and his B.A. from The University of Texas.
Pachuca, an associate in Greenberg Traurig’s Dallas office, focuses her practice on health care matters and issues related to regulatory compliance laws, including the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act, the Stark Act, the Controlled Substances Act, the Texas Pharmacy Act, and the Federal Anti-Kickback Act. She has a broad range of experience representing health care providers and employers in resolving business disputes over breach of contracts, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliance, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission cases, and Office of Civil Rights investigations. Pachuca advises her clients on planning corporate transactions and ensuring compliance with FDA guidelines and state and federal disclosure laws. Pachuca received her J.D. from Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law and her B.S. from the University of Houston.
Simcox, an associate in the Greenberg Traurig’s Dallas office, focuses her practice on real estate matters, including acquisition, development, leasing, financing, and sale of real estate projects for commercial, industrial, senior-housing, and multifamily housing facilities. She counsels commercial lenders in connection with complex real estate financing involving low income housing tax credit and municipal bond financing. Simcox also advises financial institutions and mortgage lenders with respect to federal and state banking laws and regulations, including analysis of newly enacted or proposed legislation. She is experienced in dealing with multifamily lenders in construction, permanent financing, and refinancing transactions with Federal Housing Administration, Fannie Mae, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Rural Housing Service. Simcox, who recently relocated to Dallas, is admitted in Indiana, but not yet admitted in Texas. Simcox received her J.D. from Indiana University School of Law and her B.S and B.A. from Rice University.
Walker, an associate in the Greenberg Traurig’s Houston office, focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation matters. He is experienced in dealing with international patent applications for energy technologies, including data acquisition, signal processing, and mechanical engineering. Walker represents major oil industry clients in licensing, litigation support, and due diligence reviews for mergers and acquisitions. He is also experienced in dealing with freedom-to-operate opinions, MSAs, negotiation and client advocacy, litigation for contract and non-disclosure agreement enforcement, immigration, and domestic and international employment matters. Walker received his J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center, his M.S. from the University of Wyoming, and his B.S. from the University of Oklahoma.
Wanat, an associate in the Greenberg Traurig’s Houston office, focuses her practice on litigation matters, including environmental, real estate, and personal injury issues. She is experienced handling business disputes, industrial accidents and fatalities, environmental cost recovery matters, residential and commercial adverse possession disputes, and insurance matters involving property and casualty claims. Wanat received her J.D. from the University of Houston Law Center and her B.A. from the University of Michigan.