Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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25383 matches |  13385-13391 displayed

1  1911 1912 1913 1914 1915  3627

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Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, L.L.P.

Consortium of Investors in $8.75 Billion Acquisition of Qantas
Cleary Gottlieb is representing a consortium of investors, including funds controlled by long-standing client Texas Pacific Group; Canadian private equity group, Onex Corporation; Australian infrastructure fund, Allco Finance and Macquarie Bank Limited, in their proposed acquisition of Qantas Airways Limited.

The A$11.1 billion ($8.75 billion) acquisition of the Australian flagship carrier, which is one of the world’s most profitable airlines, is by far the largest such transaction in Australian history and one of the largest ever aviation deals globally. Valuing Qantas at A$5.60 per share, the deal represents a premium of 33% over Qantas’ closing share price on November 6, 2006, the day before speculation about the offer began.

The proposed acquisition of the world’s second oldest airline has presented a unique and complex set of structural and regulatory challenges. Ownership of Qantas (which was privatized in 1993) is governed by the Qantas Sale Act, under which foreign ownership is capped at 49.9%, with no single investor permitted to own more than 25%. In addition, under the Foreign Acquisitions and Takeovers Act, any foreign holding in excess of 14.9% or aggregate foreign voting power of 40% or more requires the approval of Australia’s Foreign Investment Review Board, which has the power to block a takeover on national interest grounds. Separately, under the Airports Act, Macquarie’s stake is limited to 15% due to its holding in Sydney Airport.

The deal has been carefully structured to avoid exceeding these thresholds but is nevertheless expected to be scrutinized closely by the Australian government (which is preparing for a general election in 2007).

12-14-2006

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Butzel Long

Kevin DiDio named Regional Vice Chair for Lex Mundi Pro Bono Committee
Butzel Long attorney and shareholder Kevin M. DiDio has been named a regional vice chair for the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Committee. The newly formed Committee will work directly with the Lex Mundi Pro Bono Foundation, a charitable organization affiliated with Lex Mundi, that supports pro bono projects around the world. Butzel Long is the sole Michigan member of Lex Mundi, a global association of 161 independent law firms.

Mr. DiDio will serve as vice chair for three years and participate in the exchange of ideas and best practices with the other 11 regional vice chairs from around the world.

He is based in Butzel Long's Detroit office and is a member of the firm's Transaction, Finance and Taxation Practice Group. His primary areas of practice include: corporations, limited partnerships, and limited liability companies (LLCs); mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, and reorganizational transactions; corporate finance; international licensing and product distribution transactions; and tax and succession planning issues for closely held businesses.

He is a member of the Business Law Sections of the American Bar Association (ABA) and the State Bar of Michigan. Mr. DiDio is a member of the ABA's Committee on Partnerships and Unincorporated Business Organizations, and is the immediate past Chairman of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association's Corporate Counsel Section.

Mr. DiDio's community activities include: current board member, YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit; former board member, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Metropolitan Detroit Chapter; member, French-American Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Chapter; and, former president, Detroit Athletic Club Intermediates. In 2005, Mr. DiDio was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation by the Legal Aid and Defender Association in recognition of his pro bono work in the community. Mr. DiDio is fluent in the French language. He also served four years in the United States Marine Corps.

Mr. DiDio is a graduate of Michigan State University College of Law (J.D., Tax Concentration Program, 1997) and The University of Michigan (B.A., Economics, 1993). While in law school, Mr. DiDio was awarded the Jurisprudence Achievement Award for Business, Securities and Tax Planning and competed at the 1997 Mugel National Tax Moot Court Competition. Mr. DiDio is a resident of Grosse Pointe Park.

12-14-2006

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Brown & Brown

Brown Rudnick Assists EBRD and EIB to Launch First Carbon Credit Fund Dedicated to Eastern Europe
Brown Rudnick, a premier international law firm, congratulates its client, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), and the European Investment Bank (EIB), on the successful launch of their Multilateral Carbon Credit Fund (MCCF). The firm is proud to have assisted EBRD and EIB in the creation of the MCCF, the only carbon fund dedicated to countries across Central Europe and Central Asia. Fund participants include six countries – Belgium (on behalf of Flanders), Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Spain, and Sweden – and six private companies in the region.

In June 2006, Brown Rudnick was selected as counsel to the EBRD to assist it in the formation of the MCCF, to aggregate carbon credits from emission reduction projects financed by both EBRD and EIB. The firm’s Climate & Energy Group served as special counsel to the EBRD, assisting in various phases of the project, including the formation of the fund.

Under the MCCF, projects will span industrial energy efficiency, power plant and district heating renovation, renewable energy (such as bio-mass, wind and mini-hydro), and landfill gas extraction and utilization projects across all 29 EBRD countries of operation, and where the EIB also works extensively.

About EBRD and EIB
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), owned by 61 countries and two intergovernmental institutions, aims to foster the transition from centrally planned to market economies in countries from central Europe to Central Asia.

12-14-2006

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Jenner & Block LLP

Firm Obtains Asylum for Togolese Client
Jenner & Block Associate Shahid U. Haque recently obtained asylum in the United States for a pro bono client who had been persecuted for his political beliefs in Togo.

The Firm’s client had worked at a voting precinct during a Togolese presidential election as a representative of a political party opposed to Togo’s current regime. During the election, a militia group attacked the voting precinct, threatened the Firm’s client and stole all of the precinct’s voting ballots.

After the election, in which the ruling party was reelected, the client protested the results. When his actions came to the attention of the regime, a warrant was issued for his arrest. Soon after, he was detained and interrogated by the government militia and was told by an official that he would not be released unharmed if he was to be arrested again under similar circumstances. Believing he was in danger, the client then fled to the United States.

Mr. Haque represented the client before the Chicago Immigration Court, which granted asylum after a hearing on December 7.

Partners Charlotte L. Wager and Lawrence S. Schaner served as supervising attorneys in this pro bono matter.

12-14-2006

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Jenner & Block LLP

Grayson and Bisceglia Speak at ISBA Reception
The Illinois State Bar Association’s Standing Committees on Women & the Law and Minority & Women Participation recently held a reception at Jenner & Block to celebrate the contributions of diverse attorneys to the Bar.

Jenner & Block Partner E. Lynn Grayson, secretary of the ISBA Standing Committee of Women & the Law and co-editor of its newsletter, welcomed the attendees and introduced Claire A. Manning, chair, ISBA Standing Committee of Women & the Law and Alice M. Noble-Allgire, chair, ISBA Standing Committee of Minority & Women Participation. Both attorneys spoke on the importance of maintaining diversity in the ISBA and the legal profession.

Jenner & Block Partner Joseph G. Bisceglia, ISBA President-Elect, addressed the audience and discussed his plans to further diversify the ISBA through his appointments to the 2007 councils and committees, among other things.

Cheryl Niro, Executive Director Illinois Supreme Court Commission on Professionalism, also noted the necessity of increasing diversity within the legal profession so that it mirrors the society it serves.

Pictured, top from left: Ms. Grayson, Ms. Manning, Mr. Bisceglia, Ms. Noble-Allgire

12-14-2006

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Jenner & Block LLP

Jenner & Block Receives Public Interest Law Initiative’s 2006 Pro Bono Initiative Award
The Public Interest Law Initiative recently honored Jenner & Block with its 2006 Pro Bono Initiative Award in recognition of the Firm’s longstanding commitment to public service and pro bono advocacy.

In presenting the award to Jenner & Block, the Honorable Marvin E. Aspen of the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, highlighted the Firm’s accomplishments in arguing the landmark U.S. Supreme Court gay rights case Lawrence v. Texas, as well as its significant work in the criminal defense and appeals of indigents. Judge Aspen also noted the Firm’s tradition of handling death penalty cases, environmental matters, and cases involving important civil liberties issues.

Jenner & Block Chairman Jerold S. Solovy and Partner and Pro Bono Committee Co-Chair Barry Levenstam accepted the award on behalf of the Firm.

The Public Interest Law Initiative is an organization that builds professional relationships into working partnerships between educators, law students, law firms, corporations, attorneys, and legal services agencies in an effort to provide legal services to those in need.

Partner Eric. A. Sacks, who also attended the event, currently serves on the Public Interest Law Initiative's Board of Directors.

Pictured, above from left: Mr. Solovy and Mr. Levenstam accepting the 2006 PILI Pro Bono Initiative Award

Pictured, middle from left: Mr. Solovy, PILI Executive Director Susan J. Curry

Pictured, below from left: The Honorable R. Eugene Pincham, Mr. Levenstam, Mr. Sacks

12-14-2006

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Holland & Knight, L.L.P.

Twenty-Seven Holland & Knight Attorneys Recognized as Massachusetts Super Lawyers
Twenty-seven lawyers from Holland & Knight's Boston office have been named Massachusetts Super Lawyers for 2006. The attorneys appeared in the November 2006 issues of Boston magazine and Massachusetts Super Lawyers magazine. Super Lawyers is a comprehensive and diverse guide to outstanding attorneys representing a wide range of practice areas, firm sizes and geographic locations. They represent the top five percent of Massachusetts attorneys as chosen by their peers.

Super Lawyers names top lawyers as chosen by their peers and through the independent research of Law & Politics magazine. Law & Politics performs the polling, research and selection of Super Lawyers in a process designed to identify lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The 2006 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list is based on the survey of approximately 31,000 attorneys in Massachusetts who have been licensed to practice for five years or more.

12-14-2006

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25383 matches |  13385-13391 displayed

1  1911 1912 1913 1914 1915  3627