Alston & Bird announced it has strengthened its Corporate, Health Care, and Real Estate practices with the addition of 3 new partners. Dave Zampa (focuses on complex M&A transactions, health care, and life sciences) and Erin Felchner (concentrates on real estate finance) will join the firm’s new Chicago office. And Brielle Cuskelly (handles real estate and real estate finance matters) will reside in the firm’s new Century City office.
These new partners join from Sidley Austin, where they started their legal careers. Based at 321 North Clark Street, the new Chicago office will also be where longtime Alston & Bird Litigation partners Tery Gonsalves and Chaka Patterson will be based. The Century City office at 1900 Avenue of the Stars is the firm’s second outpost in Los Angeles.
Dave oversees complex public and private M&A transactions, spinoffs, joint ventures, and other strategic transactions. And his practice encompasses transactions in the health care industry, working with medical device, life sciences, and related technology clients, as well as health care providers and health care real estate companies.
Erin has expertise representing commercial banks, investment banks, and institutional investors in complex financings. And she also works with borrowers, purchasers, and sellers on a range of commercial real estate matters. Plus, her work has included significant and complex transactions in health care, education, utilities, and numerous other industry sectors.
Brielle focuses on real estate and real estate finance transactions, including advising private equity funds, management companies, investment banks, institutional lenders, life insurance companies, and other real estate investors – including many clients in the hospitality industry. And her experience encompasses cross-border and domestic transactions involving various classes of commercial real estate, including office, hospitality, retail, health care, multifamily, industrial, and mixed-use properties.
Based in the intersection of capital markets and real property, Alston & Bird’s Real Estate Group advises leading investors, banks, servicers, advisors, developers, and funds on deals from conception to completion. With attorneys located across the US and in the UK, the interdisciplinary team encompasses a sophisticated equity and development practice integrated with cutting-edge debt, fund formation, and capital markets teams. And these real estate attorneys also coordinate closely with the firm’s structured finance, litigation, and tax attorneys to deliver the resources needed to navigate a broad range of transactions.
Alston & Bird’s Health Care Group features nearly 100 professionals fully focused on health care and life sciences. And the team closely monitors trends, developing rules and regulations, and new technologies that affect clients’ strategies.
KEY QUOTES:
“Our new partners will contribute significantly to dynamic practice areas that have been longtime strengths of our firm while ushering in a new era of growth in two important U.S. markets. Dave will anchor our presence in Chicago with his valuable experience and deep relationships, helping to position our firm for further success in a city where we have served clients for decades.”
– Alston & Bird Chairman and Managing Partner Richard Hays
“We jumped at the chance to establish our official presence in Chicago and Century City with this fantastic team of legacy talent and new colleagues. We look forward to providing excellent service to our clients, who are the most sophisticated players in these markets and well beyond.”
– Sarah Ernst, Alston & Bird partner and co-chair of the firm’s Corporate Area
“We are delighted to join Alston & Bird, a firm that I have long admired for drawing on its vast resources across practices and geographies to deploy teams that meet clients’ needs.”
– Dave Zampa
“Alston & Bird has a strong legacy and an inspiring vision for its future, and we couldn’t be more eager to join forces with our talented new colleagues.”
– Erin Felchner
“With Alston & Bird’s continued momentum across practices and offices, this is an incredible opportunity to contribute to their collaborative culture while achieving synergies that will benefit clients.”
– Brielle Cuskelly
