Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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Debevoise & Plimpton, LLP

Verizon in Agreement With Fairpoint to Merge Verizon’s Wireline Businesses in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is advising Verizon Communications Inc. in its definitive agreements with FairPoint Communications, Inc. that will result in Verizon establishing a separate entity for its local exchange and related business assets in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont, spinning off that new entity to Verizon’s stockholders, and merging it with and into FairPoint. The total value to be received by Verizon and its stockholders in exchange for these operations will be approximately $2.715 billion.

Verizon Communications Inc. is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. FairPoint is a leading provider of communications services to rural communities across the country. Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a leading international law firm with offices in New York, Washington D.C., London, Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

The Debevoise team is led by partner Kevin M. Schmidt and includes partners Jeffrey J. Rosen, David A. Brittenham, Lawrence K. Cagney, Peter A. Furci, Peter J. Irwin, David H. Schnabel, Steven J. Slutzky and Gregory H. Woods III and associates Adam Anderson, Bindi R. Dharia, Michael A. Diz, Jonathan E. Levitsky, Vadim Mahmoudov, Brooke Monahan McKeever and Gabriela Palmieri.

01-16-2007

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Willkie, Farr & Gallagher, LLP

Firm Advises Marsh on New Innovation in Property Insurance
Willkie client Marsh Inc. announced the creation of MaRI (Marsh Risk Innovations), a first-of-its-kind insurance facility designed to provide additional capacity to the depleted property catastrophe insurance market this year. This new facility provides Marsh clients with additional working-layer capital for their global property catastrophe exposures. The additional capacity will be made available through reinsurance provided by MaRI, Ltd., a newly-formed Bermuda-based reinsurer, to ACE, a leading Bermuda-based insurance company. In creating MaRI, Marsh collaborated with ACE and Morgan Stanley, which served as structuring advisor and placement agent.

This unique new facility offers Marsh’s large corporate clients exclusive access to insurance capacity intended to address current instability and shortfalls in property catastrophe risk coverage. This type of extra risk capital, commonly referred to as a "sidecar," allows reinsurers to offer more capacity to their clients, the retail insurers. The MaRI structure is especially innovative in that it provides Marsh clients with direct access to the capital markets through a highly-rated ACE delivery vehicle. Marsh expects the ACE / MaRI program to deliver $400 million in extra capacity to its clients during the next three months. Depending upon client demand, market conditions, and other factors, Marsh believes this approach could provide more than $1 billion in total extra capacity over the next year.

The Willkie team that advised Marsh on the creation of the MaRI facility includes partners Jeffrey Hochman, Leah Campbell and Henry Cohn and associate Sean Ewen.

01-16-2007

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White & Case, LLP

White & Case Names 37 New Partners
Global law firm White & Case LLP has named 37 new partners effective January 1, 2007.

Managing Partner Duane D. Wall said: "Our new class of partners represents the future of White & Case. They will add strength in a wide range of practices and offices throughout the Firm, and enhance our ability to serve our clients' needs."

The new partners, and their respective offices, are:

* Beijing
Stephen R. Payne advises clients on cross-border financings and investments, focusing on the development, privatization and financing of energy and infrastructure projects in emerging markets through competitive solicitations and negotiated transactions.

* Berlin
Henning Berger focuses on German public business, advising public and private institutions on questions of administrative and constitutional law and insurance, banking, and finance supervision. He also has extensive experience in privatization, planning and environmental law in Europe.

* Frankfurt
Frank-Karl Heuchemer counsels on labor law and M&A, rendering legal advice in all areas of individual and collective labor law and civil law. He is also experienced in restructuring companies and in mass dismissals. He deals with all aspects regarding collective rights, such as redundancy payment systems and co-determination at supervisory boards.

Juergen Klengel concentrates on corporate and individual defense, as well as corporate compliance with regard to business crime. He has substantial legal and practical knowledge about fiscal, environmental law and various aspects of business offenses. He has extensive experience with fraud, international corruption, foreign trade and payments, insolvency, customs, and banking and stock exchange law with respect to criminal offenses, as well as with insider trading and falsifications of balance sheets.

* Johannesburg
Shamilah Grimwood focuses on energy, infrastructure and project finance, privatization and public sector procurement (particularly, public private partnerships in the health, ecotourism, transport and housing sectors), public sector finance, administrative law and regulation, and telecommunications.

* London
Adrian C. Beasley is a banking and asset finance lawyer whose practice focuses on international asset finance and equipment leasing transactions, with a particular emphasis on the aviation industry. His transaction experience includes secured debt financings, tax-based leasing structures, leveraged operating lease financings, export credit financings and securitizations, representing lenders, lessors and operators.

Brian L. Conway has extensive experience in international cross-border bank finance, representing banks, financial institutions and companies in bilateral and syndicated financings, with a particular focus on leveraged finance transactions.

Peter Epp is an English and New York-qualified lawyer with extensive international capital markets experience gained through advising major banking, corporate and international financial institution clients on a broad range of debt, equity and equity-related, structured and regulatory hybrid transactions.

Shawna Miller has almost 15 years of international debt capital markets and structured finance experience with a focus on cash and synthetic CDO transactions and securitizations. She had previously been a partner in a leading Canadian law firm.

Josh R. Parbhu is an English-qualified lawyer who specializes in structured finance and has significant experience in funded CDOs. He has acted on a number of funded CDOs and structured credit programs for leading financial institutions.

Jay Sadanandan has significant experience advising banks, financial institutions and companies on a wide range of banking and finance transactions, including cross-border acquisition finance, structured finance, investment grade finance, trade finance and general banking matters.

Greg Stonefield has experience in UK and international M&A, equity capital markets, dual listed company structures, international reorganizations, joint ventures and private equity transactions.

Robert Wheal has a wide range of experience in international dispute resolution with particular emphasis on banking and finance litigation, oil and gas disputes and major commercial arbitration.

* Los Angeles
Patrick O. Hunnius specializes in complex business litigation, including representing numerous clients in Securities and Exchange Commission investigations, securities class actions, shareholder derivative actions, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act compliance and internal investigations.

Roberto J. Kampfner focuses on bankruptcy and insolvency, and has represented an array of debtors, creditors and other interested parties in bankruptcy proceedings, including those under Chapter 11.

Daniel H. Peters concentrates on domestic and cross-border M&A, joint ventures, strategic alliances, private equity investments, corporate governance matters and other corporate and financial transactions.

* Mexico City
Juan Antonio Martín's focuses his practice on securities offerings, financial transactions and M&A, with an emphasis on banking and securities matters. He has participated as issuer’s counsel in several securities offerings in the Mexican market, as well as in acquisitions of Mexican companies by local and foreign investors.

* Miami
David P. Draigh is a commercial litigator who has represented foreign and domestic corporations and individuals in consumer class actions, internal investigations, contract disputes, and director and officer liability actions in the cable television, financial services, telecommunications, information services and consulting industries.

* New York
Alan W. Avery concentrates on US federal and state regulation of banking organizations. His practice principally involves advising domestic and foreign banking institutions regarding the impact of federal and state banking laws on their worldwide operations.

Colin J. Diamond counsels on securities transactions, representing both issuers and underwriters in connection with a range of debt and equity offerings. He also advises on securities law issues in connection with M&A transactions and restructurings, as well as general corporate matters.

Matthew J. Kautz focuses on representing corporate clients and private equity funds in public and private mergers and acquisitions. His experience includes work with publicly listed companies, "going-private" transactions, private equity investments and equity co-investments.

Someera F. Khokhar concentrates on asset finance with extensive experience in the aviation sector acting for financial institutions and lessors. Her experience includes cross-border leveraged operating leases, finance leases, ECA-supported lease transactions and secured loan transactions. She has advised on restructuring and bankruptcy matters acting for lenders and lessors.

Jack E. Pace III is a litigator who focuses on complex commercial litigation and counseling in the areas of antitrust, trade regulation and bankruptcy. He has extensive experience defending companies in complex, multi-jurisdictional class actions, such as those involving claims under the antitrust laws, consumer protection statutes and Title VII. Jack is also an editor for Antitrust magazine, which is published by the American Bar Association.

Tomer Pinkusiewicz is active in project finance, lending and capital markets transactions, primarily involving Latin American companies. He represents issuers and underwriters in a full range of transactions, including public offerings, Rule 144A and Regulation S offerings and private placements.

Jonathan A. Schechter represents equity investors, investment funds, developers, lenders and owners in a broad range of real estate transactions throughout the United States and abroad. These include joint ventures and capital market transactions, financings and the acquisition, development, and disposition of all types of commercial, mixed-use, industrial and residential properties.

John R. Vetterli represents issuers and underwriters in a full range of equity and debt securities transactions, including global and domestic registered public offerings, Rule 144A and Regulation S offerings and private placements. He has extensive experience in capital markets transactions involving Latin American issuers, as well as in tender offers and liability management transactions.

* Palo Alto
Mark F. Lambert is a litigator focused on intellectual property disputes. His practice includes representations in a variety of industries, including foreign and domestic manufacturers of software and hardware in matters involving trade secret, patent, trademark, and copyright claims, as well as licensing and related commercial disputes.

* Paris
Frédéric Bouvet concentrates on mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and secondary offerings, tender offers and private equity transactions. He represents French and foreign companies in their listed and non-listed acquisition or restructuring operations, joint venture agreements and corporate reorganization.

Victoria Westcott has substantial experience in many areas of finance, including project finance and investment in infrastructure, energy projects, aircraft and shipping finance, capital markets and syndicated loans. Previously the co-head of White & Case’s finance practice in the Firm’s Budapest office, she has in-depth knowledge of the financing markets in London, Paris and the CEE.

* Prague
Kvetoslav Krejcí has extensive experience in banking, capital markets, M&A, foreign investment and general corporate transactions. He is also the head of our operating Japanese desk that provides complex legal and tax services to Japanese investors in their native language and also heads our specialized pharmaceutical practice.

David Plch is the head of the Banking and Financial Services Group of the Prague office. He concentrates on financing, financial restructuring, M&A, and legal services for financial institutions, including private equity funds.

* Shanghai
John C. Leary has worked in White & Case offices in Los Angeles, Bangkok, Hanoi, Prague, Mexico City and Palo Alto. In Shanghai, he specializes in cross-border M&A, private equity investments, joint ventures and venture financings.

* Stockholm
Anna Sundberg focuses on private M&A both within Sweden and on a cross-border basis, corporate restructurings, private equity transactions and all general corporate transactions.

* Tokyo
Gerald M. Fujii focuses on cross-border transactional matters, primarily in the real estate, finance and general corporate areas.

* Washington, DC
Nicole E. Erb is an international commercial litigator with an emphasis on multi-jurisdictional disputes. She represents foreign and sovereign clients in federal and state court litigation at all levels and before US government bodies. She also advises clients worldwide in the pursuit and development of business opportunities in compliance with US sanctions and trade embargoes.

Eric Grannon is a litigator who specializes in antitrust, including regulatory, private, and criminal matters. He returned to White & Case in 2004 after serving as Counsel to the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice.

Jonathan C. Hamilton practices in international dispute resolution through arbitration and litigation. Based in Washington, DC, he also has worked in the New York and Mexico City offices of the Firm.

01-16-2007

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Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP

Ward Appointed to Environmental Advisory Committee
Stradley Ronon attorney Catherine M. Ward was recently appointed to the Moorestown Township Environmental Advisory Committee.

Based in the firm’s Cherry Hill, N.J., office, Ward concentrates her practice in environmental, real estate and land-use matters representing both private companies and public entities. She counsels clients on regulatory and contractual environmental issues including brownfields matters, redevelopment work, remediation issues and contract negotiations in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

01-16-2007

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Rumberger, Kirk & Caldwell Attorneys At Law

Blank Wins Busch Gardens Trial
United States District Court, Middle District of Florida – Rob Blank, managing partner of the Tampa office of Rumberger, Kirk and Caldwell, led an RKC trial team to a victory for Busch Gardens, successfully defending the park against a claim in which a guest alleged she was injured when she fell off a tram in the parking lot.

The plaintiff claimed the tram departed before she was seated. The defense persuaded the jury that the accident was a result of the plaintiff's own negligence. Plaintiff boarded the tram after it was loudly and clearly announced over a PA system that no other guests were allowed to board the tram. Busch Gardens and its employees followed all standard operating procedures before and as the tram left the station.

Plaintiff and her husband asked the jury to award $2,332,706 in damages. The jury agreed with the presentation of Blank and his team and awarded the plaintiff nothing. Following the defense verdict, U.S. District Court Judge Susan Bucklew entered final judgment in favor of Busch Gardens.

01-16-2007

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Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Biotech Issues Remain Front and Center in 2007 Says Noted Pillsbury Lawyer
Increased attention on the federal and state levels about the promise of stem cell research, a closely-watched U.S. Supreme Court decision over a contested biotechnology patent (MedImmune v. Genentech), a new interest in biofuels, and an industry that is forecasted to beat stock exchange averages are just some of the highlights of what has already been a busy year for biotechnology, says a noted biotech lawyer with Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman.

"With more funding and M&A activity across the board the biotech industry is buzzing in the early days of 2007," said John Wetherell, a leading life sciences partner at Pillsbury, who holds a Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology, in addition to his law degree. "We see particular growth in San Diego, where we have our clients are clamoring for new patents, regulatory approvals, licensing and partnering deals, venture capital and public financings, and new mergers and acquisitions."

This month, the new Democratic-controlled Congress is poised to once again push for federal stem cell funding, and many states are following the lead of California, which passed a stem cell initiative that could bring $3 billion to new research. The size and volume of mergers and acquisitions are also expected to increase, after a very busy year in 2006, which saw big pharma companies seeking to replenish product pipelines by acquiring and partnering with biotech startups. Also, many long-sought drugs are now nearing regulatory approval.

The recently decided MedImmune case also illustrates how biotech will be at the heart of increasing disputes and litigation over valuable product patents, some of which will be "bet the company" cases.

Wetherell is based in San Diego, though he works with biotech clients throughout the U.S. and the world. Pillsbury has a 30-year-old footprint in San Diego that dates to the very birth of the industry, including an office in North San Diego to service the city’s technology and biotech community. The firm has approximately 40 attorneys who focus on life sciences, many of whom also have advanced degrees in fields such as cellular biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, and chemistry. Recent highlights include the firm's representation of biotech client MediciNova in the first Japanese IPO by an American company not dual-listed in the U.S., and establishing one of the country's first stem cell practices, an area which is particularly hot now that Congress is taking steps to lift President Bush’s restrictions of embryonic stem cell research.

"This is a tremendous growth area for our firm, with as much as 75 percent of our biotech work now emanating from San Diego," Wetherell said. "We were early leaders in establishing a stem cell practice, and we represent clients across a broad range of life sciences, from big pharma, to medical device companies, biotech and life science start-ups, to research facilities, nonprofits, healthcare providers and universities.

01-16-2007

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Pepper Hamilton, L.L.P.

Kassem L. Lucas Receives 2007 Distinguished Young Lawyer Award from Barristers' Association
Kassem L. Lucas, an associate with Pepper Hamilton LLP, has been awarded the 2007 Distinguished Young Lawyer Award by the Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia. The award was presented during the Association’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Breakfast on January 15, 2007.

The award was presented to Mr. Lucas in recognition of his exemplary service to the community through the practice of law, and to acknowledge his personal accomplishments as an African-American attorney.

Mr. Lucas, who is resident in Pepper’s Philadelphia office, concentrates his practice in complex commercial litigation, reinsurance and insurance insolvency. He has an active pro bono practice in family law, where he has represented clients in child custody and child support matters. He was named the 2006 Craig M. Perry Community Service Award recipient by the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division.

Before joining Pepper, Mr. Lucas worked full time as a teacher, coach, administrator, advisor and dorm resident at a boarding school while attending law school in the evenings. He coaches a mock trial team at Franklin Learning Center, participates in Martin Luther King Day Workshops and serves as a Yale University admissions office representative for Southeastern Pennsylvania. Mr. Lucas is a member of the boards of directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Philadelphia and George School. He has served as a mentor with Philadelphia Futures and has volunteered as a football coach.

Established in 1950, the Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia (www.phillybarristers.org) addresses the professional needs and development of African-American lawyers in Philadelphia and its surrounding counties through programs such as seminars, cultural events and publications. The Association also sponsors or participates in activities that promote youth awareness and career opportunities in the legal profession. It is an affiliate of the National Bar Association.

01-16-2007

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