Crowell & Moring LLP announced it has elected two attorneys to the firm’s partnership effective January 1, 2012. The firm has also promoted 22 associates to the position of counsel. The new partners and counsel have been promoted from within the ranks of the firm’s Washington, D.C., New York, Orange County, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Brussels and London offices.

The newly elected partners are:

Matthew W. Cheney was named a partner in the Financial Services Group and Bankruptcy and Restructuring practice in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. He has broad experience as a business bankruptcy and creditors’ rights lawyer. His practice includes bankruptcy, creditors’ rights litigation (including receiverships and foreclosures), commercial transactions, loan workouts, and other distressed debt situations. Cheney received his B.A. from Michigan State and his law degree from Ohio Northern University College of Law.

Kelly G. Howard was named a partner in the firm’s Corporate Group in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Her practice primarily involves securities transactions, securities reporting and compliance, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, and general corporate counseling. Her clients include public companies, private corporations, investment funds, limited liability companies, joint ventures, venture capital companies and non-profit corporations. She received her B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law.

Firm associates promoted to counsel are: Jeffrey Ahdoot (Washington, D.C.); Scott L. Bittman (New York); Michael T. Carolan (Washington, D.C.); David Chung (Washington, D.C.); Adelicia R. Cliffe (Washington, D.C.); Christian Dekoninck (Brussels); Derek A. Hahn (Orange County); Sean E. Jackson (New York); Michael Kao (Los Angeles); Ann M. Mace (Washington D.C.); Shamiso Maswoswe (New York); Stephen J. McBrady (Washington, D.C.) Queena Mewers (Orange County); Jennifer A. Ray (Washington, D.C.); Karen A. Rosenthal (Washington, D.C.) April Nelson Ross (Washington, D.C.) Joel D. Smith (San Francisco); Chahira Solh (Orange County); Kassi D. Tallent (Washington, D.C.); Suzanne C. Walts (Washington D.C.); David Willbe (London); Joel D. Wood (Washington, D.C.).

“We are extremely proud to recognize this exceptional group of attorneys for their contributions to our clients, our firm, and our communities. They reflect the future of our firm, having distinguished themselves as innovative thinkers with an unflinching focus on client service,” said Kent A. Gardiner, Crowell & Moring chairman. “These promotions also speak to the deep and growing footprint our firm has through the U.S. and Europe as our offices grow and we expand in key practice areas, ranging from antitrust to litigation to corporate.”