Patton Boggs LLP has hired a mortgage banking legal teams. The practice group of six lawyers, lured away from Weiner Brodsky Sidman Kider, will operate out of the firm's D.C. and Dallas offices. The team includes three partners: Richard Andreano, John Socknat and Michael Waldron and three associates. Andreano is a frequent speaker on industry matters before the American Bankers Association, the Mortgage Bankers Association, the Real Estate Services Providers Council, October Research Corporation seminars and other organizations. Socknat's practice focuses on state and regulatory compliance matters related to the financial services industry. He represents mortgage companies, consumer finance companies, financial institutions, title companies, real estate brokers and secondary market investors on a variety of issues. Waldron draws upon his experience as in-house counsel at two different national lenders/servicers to provide clients with top-notch legal service. He represents and advises mortgage companies, consumer finance companies, financial institutions and secondary market investors on the complexities of the current marketplace and structuring innovative and compliant lending programs.

Patton Boggs LLP announced that Thomas A. Russo joins the firm as senior counsel in its New York City office where he will blend his vast knowledge of market structures with his strategic litigation experience to help clients address the numerous regulatory changes that are expected from executive branch agencies and Congress. Before joining the firm, Mr. Russo was vice chairman of Lehman Brothers Inc. and chief legal officer of Lehman Brothers Holdings. Mr. Russo also provided counsel at the Commodity Futures Trading Commission where he served as deputy general counsel and then as the first director of the agency's Division of Trading and Markets.

Patton Boggs LLP has hired Michael P. Richman, Mark A. Salzberg and Erika L. Morabito as partners. Mr. Richman will lead the firm's national bankruptcy practice, which includes practitioners in the firm's New York City, Washington, D.C., Dallas and Northern Virginia offices. Mr. Richman will be resident in the firm's New York City office, which has experienced significant growth over the last year. Mr. Salzberg and Ms. Morabito will practice from the firm's Washington office. Mr. Richman, past director, president and board chairman of the American Bankruptcy Institute, will lead the team in their representation of chapter 11 debtors and creditors' committees. The team provides a wealth of experience having represented clients before state and federal courts in over 20 states and territories. Before joining the firm, Mr. Richman was the chairman of the Bankruptcy & Business Reorganization practice at Foley & Lardner LLP. Mr.Salzberg and Ms. Morabito were partners in that practice as well.