New York (February 17, 2010) – LawFuel.com – American Law Firm News – Four lawyers at Sidley Austin LLP have been named to BTI Consulting Group’s The BTI Client Service All-Star Team for Law Firms 2010. The lawyers are Eric S. Haueter, Christopher Hilbert, Imad Qasim and James S. Whitehead. The annual BTI ranking, based on 240 interviews with corporate counsel at large and Fortune 1000 companies, recognizes 164 lawyers who help drive superior client relationships.
Eric Haueter was named a 4-year MVP by BTI as one of only two lawyers who have been named to The BTI Client Service All-Star Team for four consecutive years. Christopher Hilbert and Imad Qasim were named as 2-year MVPs, celebrating their second consecutive year on the team. Sidley is also one of only three law firms to boast four BTI Client Service All-Stars on the 2010 list.
“Perhaps more than any other recognitions, we take a great deal of pride in receiving the BTI Client Service Awards,” said Charles W. Douglas, chair of the firm’s Management Committee. “Each year we have had BTI-All Stars, but to have four individuals named as BTI Client Service All-Stars in a year that has been challenging for clients and firms is a testament to their devotion to serving clients, and to the firm’s culture of commitment and service to clients. We are gratified that our clients have recognized Eric, Chris, Imad and Jim and on behalf of the firm, I congratulate our colleagues who were recognized for this honor.”
Eric S. Haueter (San Francisco) is a Corporate partner whose principal areas of practice include corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Haueter has represented the underwriters and issuers in a broad range of public and private debt and equity financings, merger and acquisition transactions and other matters.
Christopher Hilbert (New York) is a Corporate partner who has long represented U.S. and non-U.S. corporations both in numerous transactions and in providing on-going business legal advice. He has represented a leading global manufacturer of aerospace and rail transportation in multiple acquisitions around the U.S. and in numerous significant financings and has advised a number of prominent financial services organizations, including private equity investment funds and institutional lenders, in a wide variety of public and private equity investments.
Imad Qasim (Chicago) is a Corporate partner. His practice includes mergers and acquisitions (both public and private), spin-offs, joint ventures, corporate finance and corporate governance, including representing special committees in connection with business consolidations and corporate investigations.
James S. Whitehead (Chicago) is a Senior Counsel in the Employment, Labor and Immigration practice. He has practiced in all areas of employment and labor law for over 35 years. He has extensive experience in the defense of employers, including many of the nation’s largest railroads, in employment litigation in federal and state appellate and trial courts and administrative agencies throughout the nation, including the defense of discrimination, harassment, wage-hour, labor-management relations, and other federal and state statutory and common law employment claims.
Previous Sidley BTI All-Stars include Larry Barden (2009), Scott Bass (2009), Thomas A. Cole (2009), J. Gerard Cummins (2005) Paul V. Gerlach (2006), David F. Graham (2009), Paul E. Kalb, M.D. (2007), Kevin T. Lantry (2005), Kathleen L. Roach (2009) and Irving L. Rotter (2007).
Sidley has been named as one of only two law firms to be ranked in the top 10 for overall client service in The BTI Client Service 30, every year since the inception of those rankings in 2001. Sidley was named the number one law firm for overall client service for three of those years, and was named to The BTI Client Service Hall of Fame in recognition of these achievements. Sidley also received wide recognition across a broad cross-section of industries in the 2008 BTI Industry Power Rankings, including the distinction of the single most recommended law firm among clients in the pharmaceuticals industry.
Boston-based BTI Consulting regularly canvases leading companies on how they acquire and manage professional services, including outside legal services. BTI maintains what may be the largest database on service provider satisfaction and issues findings derived from extensive interviews.
Sidley Austin LLP is one of the world’s largest full-service law firms, with approximately 1700 lawyers practicing in 17 U.S. and international cities, including Beijing, Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo. Every year since 2003, Sidley has been named to Legal Business’ Global Elite, its designation for the 18 firms “that define the pinnacle of the legal profession.”
For purposes of the New York State Bar rules, this press release may be considered Attorney Advertising and the headquarters of the firm are Sidley Austin LLP 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, 212.839.5300 and Sidley Austin LLP One South Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.853.7000. Prior results described herein do not guarantee a similar outcome.
