Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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Jenner & Block LLP

Jenner & Block Wins Political Asylum for Mauritanian Client
Jenner & Block attorneys recently secured asylum for a Mauritanian woman who had suffered persecution due to her familial affiliation with a well-known human rights activist in Mauritania.

While in the Northern African country as a teenager, the client and her family were harassed repeatedly with unwarranted and often violent home invasions by the Mauritanian police force. The Firm’s client was the target of the officials’ threats, intimidation, physical abuse, and, ultimately, a three-day detention without food or water.

Upon finishing high school, the client escaped to the United States on a student visa, but when her financial sponsor was unable to fund college, she filed a pro se asylum application.

Jenner & Block associates Brian H. Meldrum and Andrew S. Nicoll conducted the client’s hearing before the Chicago Immigration Court, where they highlighted the persecution she might face in Mauritania due to imputed political opinion based on her association with her activist uncle.

In addition, because the client had converted from Islam to Christianity while her case was still pending, Messrs. Meldrum and Nicoll stressed the danger to the client in light of Mauritania’s codification of the death penalty for apostates from Islam.

As a result, the judge determined that the client faced a “strong likelihood” of persecution if she returned to Mauritania and granted her asylum in the United States.

Partner Daniel J. Hurtado served as a supervising attorney on this pro bono matter, and former Jenner & Block attorney Michael C. Rupe also worked on the matter.

01-08-2007

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Howrey, LLP

HOWREY STARTS 2007 WITH SIX NEW LATERALS
Howrey LLP has added six new lateral partners to its US and European offices, bringing the headcount at the litigation powerhouse to more than 620.

Joining its office in New York are Michael F. Armstrong, William O. Purcell and Paul K. Rooney; ; in London, Jeremy Brown; in San Francisco, Leigh A. Kirmssé; and in Munich, Marc F-X Groebl. All appointments are effective immediately.

Howrey Chairman and CEO, Robert F. Ruyak, commented, “The excitement and energy of these announcements has permeated our entire firm. We welcome these fine lawyers, leaders in their fields and legal communities, to Howrey. With them, we will continue to deliver on our strategic business plan, to be the first choice for clients in our three practice areas- Intellectual Property, Antitrust and Global Litigation.”

Messrs. Armstrong, Purcell and Rooney join Howrey’s newly opened New York office. Each brings substantial experience in civil and criminal litigation and each is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. “We have known and worked with these excellent lawyers for years. They are first rate leaders in the New York legal community. Additionally, each of them has been recognized for his work in behalf of the City of New York. With Thomas Engel and James McCarney they will form the nucleus of Howrey’s New York practice. Howrey currently has more than 35 matters pending in New York Courts. Some 65 Howrey lawyers are currently members of the New York Bar.

Jeremy Brown joins Howrey’s London Intellectual property practice. He is one of Europe’s foremost IP lawyers, a specialist in intellectual property and technology related matters with long and distinguished experience in commercial and litigious matters involving intellectual property rights and technology related issues. His main areas of practice include patent, copyright, trade marks and trade secrets litigation; licensing of intellectual property rights and technology transfer generally including EC and UK anti-trust and competition law considerations.

Mr. Brown joins Howrey formidable European IP team headed by Professor Willem Hoyng (Amsterdam) which includes Bart van den Broek in Amsterdam; Marina Cousté in Paris; Carl De Meyer and Benoit Strowel in Brussels; Richard Willoughby and David Stone in London and Dr. Joachim Feldges in Munich.

Leigh Kirmssé joins Howrey’s San Francisco office. Ms. Kirmssé is a highly experienced trial lawyer and represents individuals and companies in connection with securities class actions, internal and government initated investigations, antitrust and trade secret litigation, and other high-stakes, complex commercial matters. . She joins Howrey from Townsend and Townsend and Crew.

Marc F-X Groebl joins Howrey’s Munich office which opened just last week. He is an intellectual property specialist advising German and international clients in all aspects of trademark and unfair trade practices. He holds an LL.M. from Duke University.

“2007 promises to be our best year yet,” said Ruyak. “As we begin our second fifty years, Howrey is positioned to be a world leader in antitrust, global litigation and intellectual property. We look forward to working together toward that goal.”

Howrey recently opened offices in both New York (November 1, 2006) and Munich (January 1, 2007) bringing the total number of Howrey offices to 16.

01-08-2007

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Howrey, LLP

HOWREY ADDS THREE PARTNERS TO NEW YORK OFFICE
Howrey LLP has added three new lateral partners to its New York office, bringing the worldwide headcount at the litigation powerhouse to more than 620.

Joining its office in New York, effective immediately, are Michael F. Armstrong, William O. Purcell and Paul K. Rooney.

Howrey Chairman and CEO, Robert F. Ruyak, commented, “The excitement and energy of these announcements has permeated our entire firm. We welcome these fine lawyers, leaders in their fields and legal communities, to Howrey. With them, we will continue to deliver on our firm wide strategic business plan, to be the first choice for clients in our three practice areas- Intellectual Property, Antitrust and Global Litigation.”

Messrs. Armstrong, Purcell and Rooney join Howrey’s newly opened New York office. Each brings substantial experience in civil and criminal litigation and each is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. “We have known and worked with these excellent lawyers for years. They are first rate leaders in the New York legal community. Additionally, each of them has been recognized for his work in behalf of the City of New York. With Thomas Engel and James McCarney they will form the nucleus of Howrey’s New York practice. Howrey currently has more than 35 matters pending in New York Courts. Some 65 Howrey lawyers are currently members of the New York Bar.

“2007 promises to be our best year yet,” said Ruyak. “As we begin our second fifty years, Howrey is positioned to be a world leader in antitrust, global litigation and intellectual property. We look forward to working together toward that goal.”

Howrey recently opened offices in both New York (November 1, 2006) and Munich (January 1, 2007) bringing the total number of Howrey offices to 16.
The New York office is located at:
The Citigroup Center
153 East 53rd Street, 54th Floor
New York, NY 10022
212 896-6500 (Tel)

Bios Attached
Photos on Request

01-08-2007

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Holland & Knight, L.L.P.

Holland & Knight Expands South Florida Securities and M&A Practice With the Addition of Three New Partners
Holland & Knight LLP announced today that the firm has significantly expanded its Securities and M&A practices in South Florida with the addition of a group of three partners, Kara L. MacCullough, Laurie Green and Esther L. Moreno. All were formerly shareholders at Akerman Senterfitt, where MacCullough chaired that firm's Securities practice group.

"These three new partners, with their established reputations in Florida and their significant experience representing public companies, are important additions to our domestic and international capital markets and mergers and acquisition practices," said Miami-based partner Steven Sonberg, chair of the firm's 380-lawyer Business Law Section. "This group, together with three Miami lateral hires into our South Florida business practice late last year, reflects our emphasis on investing in the Florida markets that we serve through high quality lateral recruiting."

MacCullough and Moreno focus their practice in the areas of securities, mergers and acquisitions and international corporate transactions. During the past three years, they have represented public companies in connection with equity and debt offerings and debt tender offers in excess of $3.5 billion. MacCullough and Moreno also represent public companies in connection with mergers and acquisitions, including recently serving as lead counsel for SBA Communications Corporation's $1.1 billion acquisition of AAT Communications Corp.

Green brings unique experience and perspective having worked in the Division of Corporation Finance at the Securities and Exchange Commission for 11 years prior to entering private practice. She last served the SEC as Special Counsel in the Office of Mergers and Acquisitions. "Laurie will play a prominent role among the firm's securities lawyers," said Bob Grammig, head of the firm's Public Companies and Securities practice group. "At Holland & Knight she will now be able to leverage her reputation and unique experience on a national platform."

These partner additions follow another successful year for Holland & Knight's corporate transactions practice. During 2006, the firm signed or closed more than $12 billion in transactions. MacCullough, Green and Moreno will add to this success as they have served as lead counsel on a number of high profile transactions.

"We are very excited about the opportunity to join Holland & Knight's dynamic public companies practice," said MacCullough. "Their presence in Florida and their national platform offer significant opportunities for us to expand our practices and provide exceptional service to our clients.

01-08-2007

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Dykema Gossett PLLC

Dykema Attorneys Stratton And Goetz Travel To India To Address Textile And Manufacturing Companies
Dykema, a premier Midwest-based law firm, announced today that attorneys Hal Stratton and Richard G. Goetz will travel to India to address product safety compliance and litigation with Indian exporters. Their presentations will also explore the importance of testing to ensure compliance. The trip, sponsored by Intertek Testing Services, is scheduled January 9-17 in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore.

"It is a pleasure to have the opportunity to visit India along with Intertek," said Stratton, member of Dykema’s Government Policy Department in the firm’s Washington, DC office. "The safety of consumer products world wide is a burgeoning issue. The responsibility of complying with the safety laws administered by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) extends not only to the manufacturers of the product, but also to the distributors, importers and retailers. The testing and documenting the safety performance of consumer products is also critical to the protection of consumers as well as to avoid costly litigation."

"It is very important that everyone in the consumer product manufacturing and distribution chain understand U.S. product liability law and be aware of and comply with all U.S. product safety laws and standards," said Goetz, leader of Dykema’s International Practice Area in the firm’s Detroit office. "As our clients outside the U.S. increasingly conduct business in global markets, it is crucial for them to be aware of what is expected in regard to consumer goods imported to the United States."

Stratton and Goetz plan to discuss several issues on their trip including how companies should also comply with voluntary safety standards. "Voluntary" safety standards are a large part of the U.S. standards setting procedure and play a particularly large role in the consumer product safety arena. If a product causes a problem such as an injury to a consumer and the product does not meet a voluntary standard, such evidence can be used against the manufacturer, distributor, importer or retailer of the product in product litigation.

Stratton has been practicing law for more than 30 years and was a partner at Coors, Singer and Broullire, PA in Albuquerque, New Mexico. At age 28, he was elected to the New Mexico House of Representatives, where he served four terms. During his tenure in the House, he founded Stratton & Barnett, PA where he served as senior partner until he was elected Attorney General for the State of New Mexico. As Attorney General from 1987-1990, Stratton prosecuted the then largest consumer action in the history of the office. He has argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and courts in many jurisdictions. In 1991, he founded Stratton & Cavin, PA and directed the firm’s complex, commercial litigation and governmental law, oil gas and natural resources law and governmental and administrative law practice.

President George W. Bush nominated Stratton as Chairman of the CPSC, and he was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in 2002. As head of the federal agency responsible for protecting the public against unreasonable risks of

injuries and deaths associated with consumer products, Stratton worked with foreign governments and industry groups to develop and implement international safety standards and policies.

Goetz is the former Associate General Counsel-International at Ford Motor Company. His career with Ford Motor Company spanned more than three decades. In his most recent role as Associate General Counsel-International, Goetz had primary responsibility for legal matters affecting Ford in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East, Russia, and Canada. He was a key participant in Ford’s entry into China, India, Korea and other Asian countries, as well as into Eastern Europe. He also served as the company’s director of legal affairs in Venezuela for 10 years. During his career with Ford, he represented the company on five continents, on a broad range of international legal matters, including joint ventures, acquisitions, dispositions, public offerings, litigation, corporate governance, distribution, licensing, international trade, government negotiations, regulatory matters and compliance programs as well as providing strategic advice and counsel to senior company.

01-08-2007

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Chadbourne & Parke LLP

Chadbourne & Parke LLP Appoints Three New Counsel in Washington, DC and New York, Partner in London MNP
The international law firm of Chadbourne & Parke LLP announced today that Ellen MacDonald Farrell, James Scarrow and Tat Man So have been appointed counsel in the Firm’s Washington, DC and New York offices, and Rubin Weston has been appointed partner in the London office of Chadbourne & Parke, a multinational partnership, effective January 1, 2007.

"We are pleased to recognize the abilities of these four outstanding lawyers," said Chadbourne’s Managing Partner, Charles K. O’Neill. "They have demonstrated their skills in their practice areas in serving the needs of our clients."

Ellen MacDonald Farrell, age 37, Washington, DC office, insurance and reinsurance practice: Ms. Farrell advises clients on reinsurance matters, including complex reinsurance claims and dispute resolution. She has represented ceding companies and reinsurers in numerous arbitrations and litigations involving reinsurance of both life and health, and property and casualty insurance. Ms. Farrell also handles pro bono family law matters and serves on the Firm’s pro bono committee. She graduated from Yale University with a B.A., magna cum laude, in 1991 and received a J.D., with high honors, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law in 1994.

James Scarrow, age 45, Washington, DC office, project finance practice: Mr. Scarrow counsels clients on project finance issues in domestic and international transactions. He has represented lenders and developers in connection with a wide variety of project and lease financings of ethanol facilities, power plants, water supply and wastewater treatment plants, pipelines, hydroelectric facilities and other infrastructure assets. Mr. Scarrow is also a volunteer attorney with the Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. He received a B.A. from Dartmouth College in 1983, an M.S.C.E.E. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1985 and a J.D. from the University of Virginia in 1990.

Tat Man So, age 40, New York office, project finance practice: Mr. So focuses on project development, acquisition, financing, and restructuring work in the power and energy industry. He has represented developers, financial institutions, private equity funds and other investors in transactions ranging from traditional construction and term loans to leveraged lease financings of infrastructure projects to acquisitions of power plants and plant assets. In recent years, Mr. So has spent a significant amount of his time in the renewable energy space, working on wind and solar-powered energy facilities and ethanol production plants, in addition to his work on more traditional energy projects. Mr. So graduated from New York University with a B.A. in 1988, and he received a J.D. in 1992 from Fordham University School of Law, where he served as the Notes and Articles Editor of the Fordham Law Review.

Rubin Weston, age 36, London office of Chadbourne & Parke, a multinational partnership, project finance practice: Mr. Weston has extensive experience in international and cross-border finance transactions primarily advising multilateral and commercial banks in emerging markets. He has spoken at several conferences on the financing of cross-border pipelines. In addition, Mr. Weston is a regular guest lecturer at the Centre for Commercial Law Studies, Queen Mary College, University of London. He received a B.A. from the University of Oxford, Brasenose College, in 1991 and an L.S.F. from the College of Law, London in 1993.

01-08-2007

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Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.

AKIN GUMP EXPANDS TAX POLICY PRACTICE
Renowned federal tax policy advocate Robert J. Leonard has joined Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP as a partner, the firm announced today.

For more than three decades, Mr. Leonard has been a distinguished practitioner in the small circle of federal tax policy advocates. He served as chief counsel and staff director of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Ways and Means from 1987 to 1993, as chief majority tax counsel of the Committee from 1981 to 1986, and as majority tax counsel from 1974 to 1980. During his 20+-year tenure on Capitol Hill, he was involved in all major tax and trade legislation considered by Congress. Since leaving the government, Mr. Leonard has represented major manufacturers, financial services companies and many other clients on a wide variety of policy matters.

Mr. Leonard received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and his J.D. from Vanderbilt Law School. He received his M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Joining Mr. Leonard as senior policy counsel is Jayne T. Fitzgerald. Ms. Fitzgerald served as tax counsel on the Committee on Ways and Means from 1980 to 1985 and from 1992 to 1995 before moving to the private sector. She has extensive experience representing clients on tax, trade, pension and health matters before Congress and federal agencies. She received her B.A. summa cum laude and her J.D. magna cum laude from Georgetown University, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Joel Jankowsky, chair of Akin Gump’s policy and regulatory practice, commented, “Without a doubt, Rob is one of the best-known and most highly regarded tax policy advocates in Washington. His long-time relationships with the chairmen and members of the House and Senate Committees who craft tax law – relationships that have been built on their recognition of the quality of his work – are of critical competitive importance to our ability to serve our clients.”

Akin Gump’s tax policy practice is anchored by former Commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service Donald C. Alexander, and includes Jeff McMillen, the former staff director of the House Ways and Means Committee's Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, who served under Committee Chairman Bill Thomas (R-CA) and Subcommittee Chairman Jim McCrery (R-LA).

Mr. Leonard stated, “Akin Gump’s policy practice is one of the most prominent and diverse in the world. I have long respected the firm’s progressive approach to policy issues and client service. I am pleased to join a team of friends whom I respect and have worked with for many years.”

Mr. Jankowsky added, “We believe that Rob and Jayne will significantly enhance our bipartisan tax policy capability. We are very pleased to welcome them to Akin Gump.”

Akin Gump’s 50-member policy department – one of the largest and most diverse policy groups of any major law firm in the world – advises major corporations, coalitions of companies and trade associations, as well as nonprofit organizations, municipal governments, Native American tribes and foreign governments.

01-08-2007

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