Howrey loses top lawyers to Sidley Austin

Howrey's litigation practice co-chair Gary Bendinger has defected with two other partners to Sidley Austin.

Sidley Austin announced on Monday that three litigation partners from Howrey's New York office - Gary Bendinger, Gregory Ballard and Kevin Burke - have joined its team of around 80 litigation lawyers in its New York office and a global team of over 600 litigators worldwide.

According to Sidley Austin, the three lawyers have extensive experience representing major accounting firms and have litigated many complex commercial and securities law cases.

Gary, Greg and Kevin are respected and experienced litigators who embrace the highest standards of client service, Charles W. Douglas, chair of Sidley Austin's management committee said in a statement.

“They join our extremely active accountants liability and securities litigation practices and will enable us to significantly expand the scope of these practices in New York and throughout the world,” Douglas said.

Bendinger has more than 30 years of substantial trial experience in antitrust, securities and complex commercial litigation matters in numerous courts.

He has represented accounting firm clients in regulatory matters and investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Department of Justice (DoJ), the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) and various state boards.

Bendinger is a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and he earned his J.D. from the University of San Francisco Law School, where he was Assistant Editor of the Law Review. He also received his B.S., cum laude, from Hastings College.

Ballard, whose practice focuses on securities and complex commercial litigation matters in federal and state courts and before regulatory agencies, has represented issuers, underwriters, auditors, directors and officers in class action securities litigation, as well as corporations and individuals in regulatory investigations and enforcement actions. He has also served on Howrey's management committee with Bendinger.

Ballard has a J.D. from Columbia University Law School, where he was Notes & Comments Editor of the Columbia Law Review. He also has an A.B. from Columbia College. He has also received the Burton Award for Legal Achievement.

Burke, whose experience spans many industries including accounting and finance, telecommunications, airlines, waste management, computer hardware and software, cable television and pharmaceuticals, litigates class actions and other complex disputes in the areas of securities, professional liability, antitrust, trade secret and general commercial law.

He has represented clients in civil, criminal and regulatory matters before the SEC, DoJ, New York Attorney General, PCAOB and the Federal Trade Commission.

He received J.D. from Columbia University School of Law and his A.B., cum laude, from Columbia College.