SmithAmundsen Aggressively Grows Corporate Practice; Adds Eric M. Fogel and J. Victor Peterson

CHICAGO, Feb. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- SmithAmundsen LLC today announced the expansion of its corporate practice with the addition of transactional and securities partners Eric M. Fogel and J. Victor (Vic) Peterson in its Chicago office.  The attorneys join the firm from the Chicago office of Lathrop & Gage LLP.

Mr. Fogel will co-chair the firm's Corporate Practice Group. He has more than 27 years of experience serving as counsel on significant transactions and tender offers, including some of the largest in U.S. history.  He has served as lead counsel on capital transactions involving hundreds of millions of dollars across numerous industries. He handles sophisticated regulatory inquiries and investigations and has significant experience with federal and state securities laws, including tender offers and battles for corporate control. Mr. Fogel frequently serves as a close advisor to CEOs and Board members, both public and private.  His J.D. and MBA are from the University of Michigan; his B.A. is from Pomona College where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Mr. Fogel is ranked by Chambers USA as a "leading lawyer" in Chicago. 

"Eric has one of the best corporate resumes in Chicago," said Glen Amundsen, the firm's CEO. "His depth of experience and business acumen are rare and we are excited to have him join our growing team. The addition of Eric and Vic further advances our strategy of building an elite corporate and transactional practice to serve the needs of our clients across the nation.  We want high-caliber transactional lawyers to know that SmithAmundsen is expanding to serve the needs of our clients."

Mr. Fogel said, "I am very excited to join the SmithAmundsen team, who has a commitment to practice law at the highest levels.  This firm wants to attract the very best talent, and I am gratified to help lead the effort in this expansion."

Mr. Peterson has more than a decade of broad experience in mergers and acquisitions, securities law and general corporate law. He earned his B.A. in philosophy from Colorado College, magna cum laude, and his Ph.D. in philosophy from Northwestern University. He received his J.D. from the University of Chicago Law School.

 "We are pleased to welcome Eric and Vic and their strong corporate experience to our firm. Our goal is to continue to recruit highly sophisticated attorneys to our firm who can provide our clients with excellent client service at attractive rates," stated Larry Schechtman, the firm's managing partner.

Ms. Gina Paskell, Mr. Fogel's long-time assistant, will also be joining the firm.

About SmithAmundsen LLC: SmithAmundsen LLC is a firm of more than 150 attorneys practicing from offices in Chicago, St. Charles, Rockford and Woodstock, IL; Milwaukee, WI; St. Louis, MO; and Indianapolis, IN. The firm represents business entities and individuals engaged in commercial endeavors. Major practice concentrations include commercial litigation, labor and employment, class action, corporate and securities, banking and financial services, intellectual property, construction, insurance services, commercial transportation, real estate, health care and medical devices, governmental entities and products liability/manufacturing. For more information, visit: www.salawus.com; www.twitter.com/smithamundsen; or www.linkedin.com/company/smithamundsen-llc. 

SOURCE SmithAmundsen LLC