Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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Jenner & Block LLP

HRC Honors Firm for Perfect Equality Index Rating
Jenner & Block was one of 138 companies and law firms honored October 18 during a New York reception for having achieved a perfect rating in the Human Rights Campaign’s (HRC) 2006 “Corporate Equality Index” survey.

It was the second year in a row in which Jenner & Block has been so honored by the HRC, which is a leading advocary group working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. Last year, the Firm became the first Chicago-headquartered law firm and only the fourth nationwide to receive the HRC’s 100% perfect rating.

""It is with great pride and thanks that we honor"" these organizations, Sheila Carson told nearly 200 honored attendees at the reception hosted by Citigroup at its Manhattan Citigroup Center. Ms. Carson is a member of the HRC's NYC Board of Governors.

Daryl Herrschaft, Director of the HRC's Workplace Project noted that the number of companies and firms achieving the 100% rating has more than quadrupled in less than four years.

“At an ever increasing pace, corporate executives understand"" that supporting their gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees is not only the ""right thing to do but it is also good for business,” agreed HRC President Joe Solmonese.

The 2006 equality index ratings were based on seven bellwether questions that assess such things as health insurance offerings to same-sex couples, diversity training that includes sexual orientation and/or gender identity, and marketing and support to the LGBT community. In addition, there were new metrics added for 2006, including the measurement of benefit parity offered to employees, and whether appropriate transgender equality policies were in place.

“This recognition of Jenner & Block’s leadership role on LGBT issues by the leading national LGBT advocacy group is especially meaningful when viewed in the context of the Firm’s pivotal role in gay rights litigation and its long history of defending the civil liberties of all Americans,” said Partner William M. Hohengarten, Chair of the Firm’s LGBT affinity group, upon learning of the Firm's achieving a perfect score from the HRC for the second year in a row.

Pictured top from left: Daryl Herrschaft, Director of the HRC's Workplace Project with Courtney A. Jones, Jenner & Block's Diversity Coordinator; and Darryl Van Duch, Jenner & Block's Public Relations Manager, who accepted the award on behalf of the Firm.

10-27-2006

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Jenner & Block LLP

Lawdragon’s “500 Leading Lawyers in America” Includes Jenner & Block Attorneys
Eight Jenner & Block attorneys are among Lawdragon magazine’s 2006 list of “500 Leading Lawyers in America.” The attorneys honored were selected in their fields by their clients and peers.

* Partner David J. Bradford was recognized for being a litigation specialist, founding counsel of the MacArthur Justice Center and for his work in first amendment litigation.

* Partner Richard J. Gray was praised for his success in antitrust, intellectual property and insurance litigation matters. “You name it, Gray’s won it,” the editors wrote.

* Partner Linda L. Listrom was heralded for her work as General Dynamics’ lead counsel and her representation for CBS, Excello Press and First Pacific Bank of Chicago in litigation matters.

* Partner Ronald L. Marmer was highlighted as a lawyer who directors, officers, attorneys and accountants turn to in judicial and administrative proceedings.

* Partner John H. Mathias, Jr. was also honored as a “veteran trial lawyer,” who concentrates on insurance coverage litigation, reinsurance arbitrations and class actions.

* Partner Jerold S. Solovy was singled out for his role in diffusing class-action fraud claims and his work in securing a $1.6 billion verdict against Morgan Stanley on behalf of Firm client Colman Parent Holdings.

* Partner Barbara S. Steiner was highlighted for being “big companies’ best friend,” in litigation matters as attested by Funai Ltd. and GE Capital.

* Partner Donald B. Verrilli, Jr. was praised for returning billions in spectrum licenses for NextWave and beating reverse discrimination claims for General Dynamics in matters before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Lawdragon’s leading lawyers will appear in the magazine’s Fall 2006 issue.

Lawdragon is an online and print legal-services information company headed by a group of renowned legal journalists and lawyers. In addition to its quarterly magazine, first published in October 2005, the company offers a searchable database of the nation’s lawyers and other interactive online services.

10-27-2006

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Howrey, LLP

Howrey Wins for The Wella Corporation
Howrey LLP prevailed in the Texas Court of Appeals, Third District at Austin, on behalf of its client The Wella Corporation against Parker Barber & Beauty Supply in a case relating primarily to misappropriation of trade secrets. The court affirmed the district court’s take-nothing summary judgment in favor of Wella. Parker was seeking $13.2 million in damages.

After the Wella and Sebastian International companies merged, Wella had two sales forces in central Texas: Parker, and the Sebastian company-owned sales force. On February 1, 2001, Wella addressed the redundancy by notifying Parker that its Distribution Agreement would be terminated in sixty days. Following Parker’s termination, the Sebastian sales team started distributing Wella products in Parker’s former territory.

Parker filed suit against Wella and two of its former employees, Donald German and Stephen Crawford, in January 2002. Parker claimed that Wella knew in 1997 that it would terminate Parker’s distribution rights, yet purposefully obtained as much confidential information as possible from Parker to instantly take over the market. Days before a bench trial was to begin, the 126th Judicial District Court granted summary judgment in favor of Wella, dismissing all eight of Parker’s separate causes of action.

After ruling on several procedural issues, and granting Wella’s motion to strike certain evidence that Parker had not timely put before the district court, the court of appeals affirmed the judgment in its entirety. The court concluded that the “trade secrets” at issue including customer lists “is information generally known or ascertainable through independent investigation,” and thus not entitled to trade secret protection. The court further concluded that there was no evidence that Wella improperly obtained or used any such information or committed any fraud. As for the breach of contract claim, both courts found that Parker waived this claim by failing to address it in any briefs and not providing any evidence about allegedly owed reimbursements.

Mark Riedel, General Counsel for Wella, said “The appeals court ruling is further confirmation that The Wella Corporation acted properly and within the professional framework that has defined the company for over a century. This legal victory ensures that Wella will continue to serve as the premiere one-stop shopping source for the professional salon industry in Texas and in over 150 countries worldwide.”

The Howrey trial and appellate team was led by John Keville and Stephen Lundwall. Local counsel in Austin was Doug Hearne.

The Wella Corporation is a leading manufacturer of professional color, care and styling products.

10-27-2006

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Dykema Gossett PLLC

Kregel Joins Dykema
Dykema announces that William W. Kregel has joined the firm as an Associate in the Corporate Finance practice area. Mr. Kregel specializes in general corporate and securities matters. Prior to joining Dykema, he served a judicial clerkship with the Honorable Robert Holmes Bell, Chief U.S. District Court Judge for the Western District of Michigan.

A resident of Troy, Mr. Kregel received his B.A. from Wheaton College and his J.D., cum laude and Order of the Coif, from Wayne State University.

10-27-2006

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Debevoise & Plimpton, LLP

Providence Equity Partners in Acquisition of Equity Stake in Idea
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is advising Providence Equity Partners in its acquisition of an approximately 15% equity stake in Idea Cellular Limited. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Idea is a leading wireless operator in India with over 10 million subscribers, and operations in eleven of the country’s major markets. The Company is among the top 5 cellular service providers in India by revenue, and among the top 3 within its current markets, providing service to 58% of India’s total telephony market. In addition to its cellular services, Idea provides several innovative value added services.

Providence Equity Partners is a global private investment firm specializing in equity investments in media and entertainment, communications and information companies around the world. The principals of Providence Equity manage funds with over $9 billion in equity commitments and have invested in more than 80 companies operating in over 20 countries since the firm’s inception in 1990. Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a leading international law firm with offices in New York, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Washington, Moscow, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

The Debevoise team is led out of London by partner Geoffrey P. Burgess and includes partner Peter F.G. Schuur, associates Hugo Canwell, Mai Nguyen and Christina Perry, and trainee solicitor Kristina Barker.

10-27-2006

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McGuireWoods LLP

BNA Cites Lou Michels on Religious Accomodation Issues
BNA Employment Discrimination Report cited Lou Michels (Chicago) in an article concerning a 90-minute national teleconference at which he spoke on religious accommodation in the workplace, and managing requests for religious accommodation in employment settings, in its Sept. 27 edition. This national BNA publication represents the latest in a series of presentations by Lou, who has made several other presentations to national audiences on topics such as USERRA, the ADA and Sarbanes-Oxley litigation.

10-27-2006

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McGuireWoods LLP

Brussels Lawyers Publish Monograph on Corporate Social Responsibility
Members of the Brussels office of McGuireWoods LLP published a monograph on the corporate social responsibility (CSR). This book provides a structured overview of the concept, practices and main legal aspects of CSR. It also provides numerous information and sources of information on CSR, in particular on the Internet. The authors are Emmanuel de Cannart d'Hamale and Eva De Walsche, partners, and Pol Cools and Nicolas Hachez, associates.

""A company which does not take into account actively the well-being of its workers and fellow citizens, the quality of its environment, or its corporate governance, is in reality a company that is badly managed"", Emmanuel de Cannart d'Hamale said. ""It is exposed to cost increases related to waste and accidents, dissatisfaction from workers, harassment from the media, loss of clients, etc. If this does not necessarily prevent such a company from making short term profits, it certainly undermines its value, or even its license to operate on the longer term. This is the conviction of those trying today to integrate the so-called ESG elements (Environment, Social, Governance) into the process of valuation of companies. The precise purpose of CSR is to take into account and to manage these ESG elements on the same level as financial performances.""

The book was published by the specialized Belgian law publisher Vanden Broele and is available in French: La responsabilité sociale des entreprises (corporate social responsibility), Concept, pratiques et droit.

10-27-2006

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