Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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Williams, Kastner & Gibbs, P.L.L.C.

WK&G Welcomes Four New Associates in its Seattle and Tacoma Offices
Julio Carranza, Taryn Darling Hill, and Jacob Downs have joined Williams, Kastner & Gibbs PLLC as Associates in the firm's Seattle office. Joseph Sexton has joined the firm's Tacoma office as an Associate.

Julio Carranza's work focuses on employment and commercial litigation, and he also assists tribal clients with various litigation and business-related matters. He received his J.D. from the J. Reuben Clark Law School, Brigham Young University, and his B.A. in Political Science from Idaho State University.

Taryn Darling Hill's work focuses on commercial litigation. She received her J.D., cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law, and her B.A. in Psychology from the University of New Hampshire.

Jacob Downs' practice focuses on business litigation, mass torts, and product liability defense.

11-06-2006

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Varnum LLP

2007 COLA For Employee Benefit Plans
The Internal Revenue Service has announced the “adjusted” numbers that will apply to various limits on contributions to and benefits under retirement and other employee benefit plans. These adjusted figures apply generally to employee benefit plans for “plan years” beginning in 2007. Some of the adjusted amounts, however, apply to calendar year 2007.

The adjusted numbers are as follows:

1. The limit on an employee's contributions made during the 2007 calendar year to a 401(k) or a 403(b) tax-sheltered annuity plan has increased to $15,500. Participants who attain age 50 in the 2007 plan year may make an additional $5,000 “catch-up” contribution.

2. The limit on an employee's contributions made during the 2007 calendar year to a 457 plan sponsored by a governmental unit or a tax-exempt organization has increased to $15,500. Participants who attain age 50 in the 2007 plan year may make an additional $5,000 “catch-up” contribution.

3. The limit on an employee’s compensation that may be considered for retirement plan purposes has increased to $225,000 for plan years beginning in 2007.

4. The limit on annual benefits payable under “defined benefit” plans has increased to $180,000 for plan years beginning in 2007.

5. The limit on allocations to individual accounts in “defined contribution” plans has increased to the smaller of $45,000 or 100% of compensation for plan years beginning in 2007.

6. The taxable wage base for OASDI purposes under the Social Security laws has been increased from $94,200 to $97,500. This figure will affect the “integration level” for plans that are integrated with Social Security.

7. Employees will be “highly compensated employees” for the plan year beginning in 2007 if their compensation in the 2006 plan year exceeded $100,000.

8. Health savings accounts (HSAs) are a means of paying health care expenses under a "high deductible health care plan." To be a high deductible health care plan, the deductible must be at least the minimum deductible amount for the year and out-of pocket expenses cannot exceed the maximum out-of pocket amount for the year. Contributions to an HSA may be made by the employer or the employee, but the total annual contribution amount from both sources cannot exceed the smaller of:

• plan's deductible for the year; or

• the maximum contribution amount for the year.

For 2007, the adjusted amounts for HSAs are:

• Maximum contribution: Family: $5,650 Self: $2,850
• Minimum deductible: Family: $2,200 Self: $1,100
• Maximum out of pocket: Family: $11,000 Self: $5,500

Participants who attain age 55 in the 2007 plan year may make an additional $800 “catch-up” contribution to their HSAs.

9. The maximum amounts that Social Security recipients may earn during 2007 without loss of Social Security benefits are as follows:

• Recipients ages 62 through full retirement age $1,080/mo. ($12,960/yr.)

• Year recipient reaches age full retirement age $2,870/mo. up to the month the
recipient reaches full retirement age.

• There is no limit on earnings beginning with the month the recipient reaches full
retirement age.

11-06-2006

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Saul Ewing, LLP

Uchimoto Comments on SEC Enforcement Actions
William W. Uchimoto, a Partner in the Business Department, Co-Chair of the Securities Litigation Practice Group and former attorney in the Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) Division of Market Regulation, commented on the SEC's plan to fine several options brokerage firms that committed best execution violations.

The SEC has urged options brokers to use price improvement procedures for options orders, such as smart routers, to help improvement opportunities and to obtain the best price.

Mr. Uchimoto warned that just because there is not a set rule does not mean brokers have a defense. "There's been a lot of guidance as to what firms should be doing," he said. "The commission doesn't want to say, 'You're golden if you have a router'; you have to pay attention to evolving standards." Mr Uchimoto added that the best guard against sanctions is keeping track of routing decisions and having good explanations for them.

11-06-2006

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Salans

Salans acts for Paul Gregg as he exits Everton Football Club
Salans acted for Paul Gregg in the recent sale of his shares in Everton Football Club. This transaction has been much publicised in the press.

Jonathan Polin, a partner in our corporate team, acted in relation to the sale of Paul Gregg's investment in the club to BCR Sports, represented by Brook Land of Nabarro Nathanson, and resignation from the board of the club. Lionel Rosenblatt, Salans' head of litigation was also involved on behalf of Mr Gregg on matters connected with the exit deal. Everton were represented by Herbert Smith.

Lionel Rosenblatt, senior partner at SALANS' London office, commented, "We are delighted to have worked with Paul Gregg on this matter and to have assisted him in the disposal of his interests as he exited Everton Football Club.

11-06-2006

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Perkins Coie LLP

Perkins Coie Brown & Bain Helps Resolve 40-Year-Old Hopi-Navajo Land Dispute
Perkins Coie Brown & Bain assisted the Navajo Nation in resolving a 4-decade old land dispute with the Hopi Tribe sites located on more than 7 million acres of the Navajo Reservation. Terry Fenzl, a partner at the firm who represented the Navajo Nation in the dispute for 32 years – since December 1974 when the lawsuit was filed - helped negotiate the historic settlement.

"This was a dispute in which both sides were equally passionate about their issues," said Fenzl. "It is a testament to the leadership of both tribes that they were able to resolve this long-standing dispute in a manner that is beneficial to everyone."

The land was set aside by Congress in 1934 as a reservation "for the benefit of the Navajo and such other Indians as may already be located thereon." The Hopi claimed that their members were located on that land before Congress created the reservation and that the tribe was entitled to a half interest in the land. After two trials and several appeals, the issues had come down to a battle over sacred sites and shrines.

Because of the dispute, in 1966, federal officials imposed a ban on construction and infrastructure development on about 1.5 million acres of the disputed lands, leaving thousands of Navajos living without water, electricity or modern appliances in what became known as the Bennett Freeze Area.

The settlement allows the members of each tribe to practice their traditional religions on the land of the other tribe, establishes an arbitration board comprised of members from both tribes to settle disputes, divides an existing escrow account administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs between the two tribes, and requires an ongoing study of golden eagles in the area, which are significant to the religious traditions of both tribes.

11-06-2006

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McCarter & English, Attorneys At Law

McCarter & English Continues Growth with Thirty – Four New Attorneys
McCarter & English, LLP today announced that 34 new attorneys have joined the firm as Associates. They are in the following locations:

BALTIMORE

Thomas G. Coale,

BOSTON

Daniel DiPietro

Kelly Gabos,
Allan S. Galper,
Christopher A. Hunt,

HARTFORD

Jennifer A. Black,
Cullen W. Guilmartin,
Paul J. Homer,
Kellyanna Johnson,
Thomas J. Ryan,
Elizabeth M. Swift,

NEW YORK

Evan A. Belosa,
Beth M. Farber,
David S. Kim,

NEWARK

Peter Asselin,
Eric Bleich,
Margaret J. Cino,
Sarah A. Dubinsky,
Lori Z. Fuoco,
A. Paul Genato,
Valerie A. Gross,
Daniel J. Goldberg,
Andrew P. Heyman,
Linda Kurth,
Veronica H. Montagna,
Nace Naumoski,
John J. O’Hara,
Michael P. Pasquale,
Kara A. Shamy,

PHILADELPHIA

Frances R. Beckley,
Joshua Roberts,
Olga Yevglevskaya-
WILMINGTON

Martha L. Fox,
Makenzie Windfelde

11-06-2006

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Mason, Hayes & Curran

Mason Hayes+Curran short listed for Golden Spider!
www.mhc.ie has been nominated and subsequently short listed for Best Professional Services website by the prestigious Golden Spider awards. Known locally as the ‘Oscars’ of the Irish internet world, Mason Hayes+Curran is privileged to be the only law firm nominated in this new category for 2006.
Law firms aren’t typically known for their marketing ability, never mind website developments. Mason Hayes+Curran attempted to change this, however, following the firm’s rebranding in 2005. www.mhc.ieThis new approach to branding for Mason Hayes+Curran incorporated an entirely new website that was designed with new content and a new method of navigation for browsers with differing levels of legal knowledge.

“Too many law firm websites focus on presenting themselves to the market based on how they organise themselves internally” said John Hogg, Director of Marketing & Business Development at Mason Hayes+Curran, “Whilst this may be OK for some clients and other lawyers viewing the site, there are many business people who come to legal websites and go away unfulfilled.”

Following a thorough period of research, looking at best in class websites from within and outside of the legal world and also utilising discussions with clients, Mason Hayes+Curran decided that whilst it was important to have well balanced and well structured content, it was equally important to present this information in a manner that allows browsers with differing legal knowledge, to access relevant information as quickly and painlessly as possible.

The site was therefore designed to present information based on the now traditional list of ‘Practice Areas’ and whilst this may mean something to some browsers, the site also categorises information based on ‘Business Sector’, ‘Business Issues’ and ‘Business Type’. “The site is constantly evolving and these categories are finding new meaning each day.”, said Hogg.

Whilst the site is designed around a bright, user-friendly interface, with randomised images promoting different practice areas appearing each time a browser comes to the site (this mechanism was used to great effect on the firm’s move to South Bank House earlier this year, with a series of different abstract images of the new building greeting the browser on the firm’s home page). This approach creates movement and tries to create interest in what can be viewed as a quite undynamic and uninteresting subject matter for some people.

Another fundamental shift in the thinking of Mason Hayes+Curran when the site was being designed, was that the site needed to become an extension of the existing processes. There was no point developing a website to simply sit static for the next 12 months. The website has therefore become part of the marketing process. Every time an event is hosted, or a press release issued, for example, the processes ensure that the latest information hits the website. The volume of information going onto the site has therefore mushroomed in the last year.

Other features of the website include the profiling of all the firm’s lawyers, a fully up to date publications section, an internal advertising mechanism to draw browsers into different practice areas, a fully stocked archive of legal articles and a purpose-built backend content management system, to allow easy uploading and management of information. The site was also designed so that eNewsletters can be written and despatched from the website's content management system.

Whilst it has been difficult to design a site that holds the browsers attention for an adequate period of time, the time invested in the research and design stages have paid off, with a website that is regularly commented upon by clients. “There is still much work to be done, although being short listed for a Golden Spider award is an honour and is recognition for all the hard work completed to date.” commented Declan Moylan, managing partner of Mason Hayes+Curran.

11-06-2006

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