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HEMENWAY & BARNES

HONIGMAN

emenway & Barnes is a proud steward

of a tradition with roots in Boston where
trustees were charged with handling the wealth
of ship captains. Today, Hemenway works with
captains of industry, entrepreneurs, families and
nonprofits. The firms new wealth management
thought leadership center targets the next
generation of family members among the firms
existing and prospective clients. The goal is to
share lessons learned at key moments in life
with the next generation. The firms advisors
contributed a series of practical how-to articles
on subjects like creating your first estate plan,
early financial planning and buying a home. The
articles are drawn from years of experience and
are packaged in a responsive microsite format
that they hope 20 and 30 somethings find
informative, personal and relatable.

onigman is certainly one of the

leading firms in Michigan. The firm
combined with Schopf & Weiss in Chicago
to deliver a new office in an important
Midwest city, as well as greater depth in
litigation. Getting the word out to clients,
prospects and potential laterals in all
markets required that we explain the
benefits of the combination. We launched
a microsite, driving traffic there and then
on to the sites of both firms.

MICHIGAN LEGAL MUSCLE

NOW STRONGER IN CHICAGO,
AND BEYOND

is for...

Hemenway is ahead of a
trend we see developing
among professional
service and B2B firms
generating more and
more content and content
marketing programs. Smart
firms are building and
designing sharp content or
resource center microsites for
industries, business issues or
other specific audiences. And
we are right in the mix.

Photographer: Greenfield/Belser

Okay, we admit it. We couldnt

help ourselves. This holiday
card for Hemenway was just
too sweet to leave out of
this years book. One of our
designers constructed this H
from different-colored paper,
each piece beautifully cut to
create this illuminated Letter.
Computers have not robbed us
of the desire to engage with our
hands and do something other
than keying in commands.

The Chicago-based litigators of Schopf &

Weiss are joining with Michigan law rm
leader, Honigman. Together, we help clients
gain greater ground in achieving the critical
business goals that drive them.

GAIN
GROUND

300+ PROFESSIONALS SERVING FORTUNE 100 AND DYNAMIC MIDDLE MARKET CLIENTS
Honigman is ranked number one
in Michigan for Corporate/M&A,
Litigation and Real Estate.
Schopf & Weiss has built a
terric, respected litigation
boutique.
Chambers USA

Images on this page were supplied by Getty Images unless otherwise indicated.
More at honigman/gainground.com

Schopf & Weiss joins

MICHIGAN AD
Images on this page were supplied by Getty Images.

4 2015 ANNUAL REVIEW

Source: Greenfield Belser

Hemenway & Barnes LLP / Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP 5

PEPPER HAMILTON

epper Hamiltons old website and

offline marketing tools were, well,
old. Not only was the technology outdated
and hard to use, but the look, feel and
effectiveness of the communications
were considered dark, bland, word-based
and unreflective of the quality of the
expanding national firm. The new site was
developed by Nylon Technology in a great
partnership between Pepper Hamilton
marketers, Nylon and the strategy/design
team at Greenfield/Belser.

To learn about Pepper

Hamiltons 125th
anniversary, site visitors
can scroll through a novel
and modern timeline
of the firms milestone
achievements. New short
videos of Pepper Hamilton
professionals are also
sprinkled throughout
the timeline on topics
such as diversity, shared
values, firm expansion and
more. Many of the videos
double as content for new
practice pages on the
main website.

The power of Pepper Hamilton is the

central theme of the communications,
and delivers many key messages.
New elements include a homepage
featuring strategic focus areas mixed
with attributes of the firms service style
and culture. A new insight center has an
editorial approach to content and looks
and feels like a contemporary business
news page. Biography pages introduce
all new photography and designs that
make the bios similar to microsites.
The Greenfield/Belser team shot and
produced the 600+ bio photos, along
with 15 videos of Pepper Hamilton people
speaking on a variety of topics.

Images on this spread were supplied by Getty Images unless otherwise indicated.

Online, Pepper Hamilton now delivers substantive information graphically with

visual communications designed for scanning readers. Offline, there is more of the
same: sharp new sponsorship ads, email templates and a lateral recruiting pitch
booksampled belowcomplete the brand refresh.

Photographer: Greenfield/Belser

Photographer: Greenfield/Belser

16 2015 ANNUAL REVIEW

Source: Greenfield Belser

Pepper Hamilton LLP 17

Source: Greenfield Belser

Source: Greenfield Belser

Were there...
to bring real estate
ventures home.

The law firm of choice for a wide variety of real

estate transactions, Sirote counsels clients in the
planning, financing and development of both
complex and routine ventures. From negotiating
transactional documentation and financing, to
representing clients in eminent domain, zoning,
environmental and other land-use matters, we
are proud to represent our clients in this pillar

to go to bat
for family-owned
businesses.

Our lawyers are known for their sophisticated

yet sensitive approach to counseling familyowned businesses. Recognizing that one size
does not fit all, we work closely with our clients
to craft strategies that meet their unique needs,
handling matters from stock ownership, to
succession planning, to trusts and estates.

industry of our economy.

From franchisee to owner

A home run for downtown baseball

An A+ in litigation

Southeastern Family Restaurant Chain

Regions Field

Foster Hall

When a group of local business leaders and

When Talladega College needed help, Sirote was

developers came together to bring minor league

baseball back to downtown Birmingham, Sirote
stepped up to the plate. We helped the group form a
public-private partnership, acquire the land through
more than a dozen deals including a complex land

there. Alabamas oldest private, historically black

liberal arts college had secured federal grants to
renovate landmark dorm Foster Hallbut when the
funding dried up, the general contractor claimed
payment for unearned overhead and profits. Sirote

swap, obtain necessary permits and contract with

vendors resulting in a state of the art ballpark built in
14 months that has helped revitalize downtown and

litigators convinced an arbitrator that the contractor

had acted in bad faith and was entitled to no
further paymentsaving the college from potentially

drawn cheers from fans nationwide.

catastrophic expenses.

Sirote clients have an appetite for successand

the legal services that go with it. When a local
businessman asked us to help secure his first
restaurant franchise in the late 1960s, no one knew
how far the business would go. Over the next four
decades, we worked with the owner to form a
holding company, acquire additional locations
and eventually take over all rights to the name and
franchise system. The business grew into a major

regional chain, with more than 130 locations and

4,500 employees. Along the way, weve worked
closely with our client to implement his business
goals, drafting creative agreements to incentivize
employees and establishing nearly 30 family trusts
to consolidate ownership. We are proud of this
long relationship, and of Sirotes ability to provide a
comprehensive menu of legal services for clients at
every stage of growth.

We are proud members of the Law Firm Alliance,

an international association of more than 50 law firms that
gives our clients access to top-flight legal services worldwide.

10

TOP

LITIGATION FIRM
IN BIRMINGHAM
-Birmingham Business Journal

Focused on
your industry
Sirote provides a broad array of legal services to a diverse
clientele, from startups and closely held businesses to major
national and international corporations. From a strong
southeast footprint, we serve clients throughout the United

Your vision.
Our commitment.

States and the world.

Industries
Consumer and Retail
Financial Institutions
Health Care
Individuals, Families, Estates and Trusts
Industrials and Natural Resources

Its a simple promise, but a powerful way to

practice law. It means learning your business
and committing 100% to your vision. Pushing
ourselves to deliver innovative, top-notch legal
services. Treating clients like people instead of
assets. Going the extra mile to earn your trust.
And never giving up until your goals are fully
realized. When we put clients first, everything
else follows.

Since 1946, Sirote has been a regional leader in

providing legal services to companies and individuals
in the Southeast. From six offices in Alabama and
Florida, we represent a diverse array of businesses
in strategic transactions, high-stakes litigation and
regulatory compliance.

Always
forward-looking.

We have innovative, best in

class technology platforms,
ensuring the most effective
and efficient legal services to
our clients.

Municipal Finance and Public Sector

Nonprofit and Education
Real Estate
Technology, Media and Telecommunications

Practice Areas
Alternative Dispute Resolution
Banking and Finance
Bankruptcy and Creditors Rights
Corporate and Securities
Estates, Wills and Trusts

88

Lawyers
Honored

The Best Lawyers in America,

Chambers USA, Super Lawyers

26 LLMs
Taxation and
International Law

Health Care

Licensed in
US States
and the District
of Columbia

Labor & Employment

Litigation
Mortgage Banking
Real Estate
Tax

Home

Attorney Detail
Inspiration

SCOTT A. ABNEY
SHAREHOLDER | Birmingham

Phone: 205.254.1087
sabney@maynardcooper.com
Fax: 205.714.6387

Profile
Scott's practice focuses on all aspects of the representation of lenders and borrowers in
secured and unsecured transactions, structured nancing transactions and multi-state
nancing transactions. His real estate practice includes the representation of clients in the
acquisition, development, nancing and leasing of commercial real estate. Scott has over
twenty years of experience representing lenders making loans pursuant to the programs of
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Experience
Representative Transactions
Commercial Lending

Practices
Affordable Housing
Commercial Lending
Economic Development and
Incentives
Health Care
Real Estate
Senior Living and Long-Term Care

Bar Admissions
State Bar: Alabama

Represented mortgage banking client in origination and sale of loans totaling

$215,000,000 on portfolio of twenty-one assisted living facilities.
Represented mortgage banking client in origination of $92,000,000.00 multistate credit
facility secured by multifamily properties.
Represents national agency lenders in loan transactions for apartments, seniors housing
facilities and manufactured homecommunities
Real Estate
Represented national retailer in connection with site selection, acquisition, nancing and
economic development incentives for development of 150,000 square foot store.
Represented hospital system in sale of two hospitals and related free standing clinics.

Education
University of Alabama School of
Law (1989, J.D., Alabama Law
Review; Bench and Bar Legal
Honor Society; Student Honor
Court Justice)
University of Alabama (1986, B.S.,
Commerce and Business
Administration)

Represented hospital system in sale of ve medical ofce buildings, including

condominium units and long-term ground lease.
Represented international oil company with site selection and development for
$20,000,000 lubricant processing plant.
Represented State of Alabama in acquisition and development of land for automotive
manufacturing plant.
Represented client in acquisition and/or development of sites in four states as restaurants.

Awards
The Best Lawyers in America - 2008-2016, Real Estate Law
Alabama Super Lawyers, 2008-2015 - Real Estate
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating

Affiliations & Civic Involvement

Professional Afliations

American College of Mortgage Attorneys, Board of Regents (2006-2012)

American Bar Association, Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section; Affordable
Housing Forum

Attorney Detail