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Insurance Partner Joins Hinshaw

Christopher Burke [Photo Credit: Mark Humphries.]

Hinshaw & Culbertson announced that Christopher 'Kipper' Burke joined the firm as a partner in the global insurance services practice group in the Houston office. Burke expands the firm's insurance capabilities to the Gulf Coast as part of Hinshaw's continued strategic growth in that region. "Kipper Burke has a broad scope of experience representing national clients in coverage and bad faith claims," said Scott Seaman, co-chair of the practice group. "With both in-house and private law practice experience, he is a talented litigator and represents companies on a wide range of challenging litigation matters, as well as appeals. We're excited that he has joined the team and is helping us expand our Gulf Coast capabilities." Burke provides advice and counsel to insurance companies on bad faith claims and complex litigation matters, and appeals in various jurisdictions. Burke has also served as an expert witness in litigation matters and as an insurance consultant, providing advice and counsel regarding regulatory issues, claims, and claims systems. Prior to joining Hinshaw, Burke was principal owner of The Burke Law Firm. Before that he was vice president and in-house counsel for a Fortune 500 insurance company. Burke received his J.D. from St. Mary's University and his B.S. in electrical and electronics engineering from Rice University.

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Armstrong Returns to K&L Gates

K&L Gates LLP added Sheila Armstrong as a partner in the government contracts and procurement policy practice. She returns to K&L Gates' Dallas office from Morgan, Lewis & Bockius. Michael Scanlon, co-leader of K&L Gates' global policy and regulatory practice area, said: "Shelia brings extensive legal and practical experience to help navigate the complex regulatory and commercial issues faced by clients engaged in government sales." Armstrong was a K&L Gates lawyer from 2003 to 2015, first as an associate and then as a partner. She is an active member of the American Bar Association's Public Contracts Law Section, having served in leadership roles as co-chair of the Procurement Division and vice chair of the Commercial Products and Services Committee. Michael Cuda, managing partner of K&L Gates' Dallas office, said Armstrong "has a real gift for counseling clients with unique problems and helping them find optimal solutions in difficult situations." Armstrong handles Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)-based contracts, grants and other financial assistance agreements, and Other Transaction Agreements (OTAs). Armstrong's experience includes proposal preparation, contract negotiation, subcontracting, teaming arrangements, intellectual property rights in government contracts, contract compliance, audits, investigations, mandatory disclosures, and procurement fraud. She also routinely provides support to clients on novation and due diligence issues, and advises clients with respect to General Services Administration (GSA) and Veterans Affairs (VA) Federal Supply Schedule contracts. Armstrong has significant experience in developing and maintaining corporate compliance programs. In this area, she conducts compliance reviews, training, and internal investigations, and advises clients on required disclosures under FAR and 2 CFR Part 200. Armstrong has represented clients before defense and civilian agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice, the General Accountability Office, the U.S. Department of Defense, the VA, the GSA, and various suspension and debarment officials. She also handles foreign sourcing issues and regularly advises on compliance with the Buy American Act, Trade Agreements Act, and other foreign sourcing restrictions applicable to federal contracts.