Several additions have been announced by Barack, Ferrazzano, Kirschbaum & Nagelberg, Chicago, along with the appointment of associate Karyn L. Doerfler as counsel in strategic transactions, mergers, acquisitions and financing.

New partners are John Huff, from Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw, in commercial real estate transactions, dispositions, financing and development, and Douglas Newkirk, from Merge Technologies Inc., in corporate, securities and intellectual property matters.

New associates are Zack Christensen, from Sidley Austin, in mergers, acquisitions and securities regulation, and Matthew Swanson, from Shaw, Gussis, Fishman, Glantz, Wolfson & Towbin, in commercial bankruptcy, corporate restructuring and creditors' rights,

Chicago attorney David I. Fein has been named vice president of government and regulatory affairs for Constellation Energy. He has responsibility for activities in Illinois, Michigan and Ohio, and matters before the Midwest Independent System Operator.

Gregory H. Andrews has joined Dykema's Chicago Employment Department in labor law representation of employers. He teaches human resources for Aurora University and Northern Illinois University.

Michelle A. Gale has joined Dykema in Chicago as an associate in the Environmental Practice Group. She was with Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw.

Three lawyers have joined the St. Louis office of Hepler Broom, Edwardsville, as partners. They are John McCullough, Michael Becker and David Kowert.

Hinshaw & Culbertson has elected three Illinois attorneys to capital partnership, including Penelope M. Lechtenberg of the Rockford office. She represents management in labor and employment matters at all levels.

New capital partners in Hinshaw's Chicago office are Philip Reed Kujawa, in commercial and tort litigation, and Robert T. Shannon, in defense of corporate and governmental entities.

G. A. Finch has joined Hoogendoorn & Talbot, Chicago, as a partner in business law, real estate and construction, and employment contracts. He was a partner in Michael Best & Friedrich.

New partners in the Chicago office of Howrey LLP were honored July 11 at a reception. They are Matthew M. Neumeier, Jonathan E. Retsky and Scott T. Schutte.

Stuart M. Gimbel has become an equity partner in Kamensky, Rubinstein, Hochman & Delott, Lincolnwood. His extensive commercial litigation experience includes restrictive covenant cases.

Elizabeth L. Jensen will join the Peoria firm of Kavanagh, Scully, Sudow, White & Frederick on Aug. 20 as a partner. A member of the ISBA Board of Governors, she is a law clerk to Appellate Justice Daniel L. Schmitt of the Third District.

Jeffrey London has joined the Chicago office of Kaye Scholer as a partner in all aspects of compensation design for public and private companies. Mary Lou Zwick is counsel in traditional employee benefits for privately and publicly held companies.

Chicago trial lawyer Don M. Sowers has joined Motherway & Napleton as an associate in representation of plaintiffs in catastrophic injury and wrongful death cases.

Donald R. Cassling has joined Quarles & Brady, Chicago, as a partner in the Commercial Litigation Group. A partner in Jenner & Block for almost 25 years, he was co-chair of its Commercial Law and Uniform Commercial Code Practice.

Jayne Megan Cadice has joined Sandberg, Phoenix & von Gontard, Belleville and St. Louis, as an associate. She was with Bollinger, Ruberry & Garvey, Chicago.

Elizabeth Maine Ellis and Michael A. Biederstadt have joined Shaw, Jacobs & Associates, St. Charles, as associates in family law.

Patricia Coleman has been elected a partner in the Life Sciences and Legal Search Practices in the Chicago office of Spencer Stuart, an executive search firm.

The Lee County Bar Association held a reception on Aug. 8 for Patrick E. Ward and Nancy Ann Ward, partners in the Dixon law firm of Ward & Ward, who are moving to Florida.