Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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Wolf Block Schorr & Solis

WolfBlock Represents Author of Acclaimed New Book on the Two Iraq Wars
A WolfBlock partner has negotiated the publication agreement for the author of an acclaimed new book that examines the links between the first Gulf War and the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Christian Alfonsi's Circle in the Sand: Why We Went Back to Iraq has garnered praise from such sources as Booklist, Publishers Weekly and Bill Moyers. Representing Alfonsi in his negotiations with the book's publisher, Random House's Doubleday division, was Robert Zielinski, a partner in WolfBlock's Intellectual Property/Information Technology practice group.

In addition to securing publication rights, Zielinski reserved for Alfonsi the work's film rights. The two are seeking filmmakers interested in turning the book into either a documentary or a feature film, according to Zielinski. More information on Circle in the Sand can be found at http://www.backtoiraq.com.

Zielinski's practice covers all phases of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and unfair competition law, including prosecution, licensing and litigation as well as software licensing, emerging new media issues and electronic commerce. He represents a broad base of clients, such as large international and national corporations, small to medium-sized closely held companies, innovative start-ups, software developers, Internet-based companies, medical institutions, universities and individual artists, musicians and inventors. Zielinski is admitted to practice before the United States Patent Office and has successfully prosecuted patent applications for a variety of clients in the chemical and mechanical arts including food processing technologies, industrial packaging and labeling, pharmaceuticals, industrial lubricants, automotive products, medical equipment, toys and environmental monitoring equipment.

10-26-2006

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Willkie, Farr & Gallagher, LLP

Paris Office Advises Sanofi-Aventis in Sale of Rhodia
On October 17, Willkie client Sanofi-Aventis, the world’s largest pharmaceutical company, announced the sale of its entire stake in chemicals company Rhodia to French bank BNP Paribas. The €183 million transaction was structured as a firm purchase by BNP Paribas with a resale to institutional investors in a private placement. Rhodia was a legacy from the 1999 merger between Hoechst and Rhône-Poulenc that created Aventis. In 2004, Willkie advised Total as main shareholder of Sanofi-Synthélabo in connection with its €57.7 billion merger with Aventis. The current deal was handled by partner Laurent Faugérolas; special European counsel Etienne Boursican and Jon Lyman; and associates Karine Lenczner and Oliver Lopez.

10-26-2006

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White & Case, LLP

White & Case Honored for Corporate Volunteerism
Taking its dedication to good deeds one step beyond pro bono work, the White & Case Washington, DC, office has been honored with the “Good Hope Award” for corporate volunteerism by Bread for the City, a local community service organization that provides Washington’s most needy with comprehensive services including food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services.

White & Case was recognized for making the most significant and unique contribution – that of time -- to Bread for the City’s programs. White & Case employees, lawyers and staff alike, donated their time to preparing bags of food for distribution and working at the non-profit's clothing center. The Firm has also provided financial support through its charitable giving program.

“We’re proud of both the efforts of our volunteers and of the recognition from Bread For The City,” said Victor DeSantis, executive partner of the Washington office. “The award recognizes all who have contributed to volunteer work and honor those who delivered particularly impressive results and commitment.”

Following the office’s success in fundraising for the Lee National Denim Day – a day when employees can wear jeans to work if they donate $5 to the fight against breast cancer, Yael Krigman, community service chair who accepted the award, organized a similar “jeans day” for Bread for the City. Employees donated either $5 or five cans of vegetables to the non-profit.

The White & Case Washington office has also been an active participant in the Thomson Elementary School Everybody Wins DC! Power Lunch, which pairs private sector mentors with elementary school children in a reading mentorship program.

10-26-2006

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White & Case, LLP

The Impact of the Equator Principles on Mining & Metal Project Finance in Russia
Glen Ireland (London) spoke about "The Impact of the Equator Principles on Mining & Metal Project Finance in Russia" at the monthly meeting of the Moscow Mining Club, hosted by the Moscow office. Marc Polonsky gave a "Legislative Update" and chaired the session, which included a presentation by Roman Schetinsky (NBLgold) on "Fundraising for Mineral Assets in the FSU -- Troubleshooting in Technical Proposals.

10-26-2006

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Thompson Hine LLP

Firm Expands International Trade & Customs Practice, Ludwikowski Joins Washington D.C. Office
Mark R. Ludwikowski has joined Thompson Hine's Washington office. Mr. Ludwikowski is of counsel in the firm's International Trade & Customs practice group. Prior to joining Thompson Hine, Mr. Ludwikowski was most recently an associate with Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP.

"Thompson Hine's complete commitment to client service, its values and successes across diverse practice areas are what attracted me to this firm," said Mr. Ludwikowski. "I am excited to join this talented group of professionals as part of its vibrant trade group and look forward to building upon my experience to represent the firm's clients in this new venture."

Mr. Ludwikowski advises clients concerning all aspects of trade regulatory requirements, with particular emphasis on trade remedy proceedings. His practice also includes advising and representing clients with respect to trade policies, laws, and regulations affecting international commercial transactions, customs, export controls, and economic sanctions. He has experience representing both domestic and foreign clients before the International Trade Commission, Department of Commerce, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; and in trade litigation before U.S. Federal Courts.

Mr. Ludwikowski has represented U.S. and foreign companies in antidumping and countervailing duty actions across a broad range of industries, including food products, steel, consumer goods, textiles, and electronics. Prior to private practice, he worked for the antidumping enforcement division at the U.S. Department of Commerce. While at the Department of Commerce, he administered antidumping cases covering imports from China, Brazil, Argentina and Turkey. On the export side, Mr. Ludwikowski has assisted companies and individuals with export enforcement and related issues before the Departments of State and Commerce.

Julia M. McCalmon, International Trade & Customs practice group leader, comments, "Mark is a dynamic addition to our trade group and we look forward to integrating him into our team for the benefit of our clients."

Chuck Freed, partner-in-charge of the Washington office, adds, "We are all excited that Mark has joined Thompson Hine. We welcome him to the firm as part of our continued commitment to growth.

10-26-2006

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Pepper Hamilton, L.L.P.

Amanda J. Shelton of Pepper Hamilton Elected to Board of Directors of the Ruth Ellis Center
Amanda J. Shelton, a litigation associate with Pepper Hamilton LLP, has been elected to a three-year term on the board of directors for the Ruth Ellis Center.

Ms. Shelton concentrates her practice in insurance claim defense, health care reimbursement litigation, malpractice defense and general commercial litigation. She is an active member of the Federal Bar Association, Eastern District of Michigan Chapter, the Young Lawyers Division of the Michigan State Bar and President of the Stonewall Bar Association.

The Ruth Ellis Center is one of only four social service agencies in the nation dedicated to helping at-risk lesbian, gay, bi-attractional, transgender and questioning teens and young adults who are experiencing homelessness. The Center offers both short- and long-term residential safe space, as well as two hot meals a day, access to showers and basic clothing, and educational and safety programs in their Drop-In Center located in Highland Park.

10-26-2006

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Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP

Milbank Advises on US$1 Billion Financing for Hynix-ST Semiconductor Plant in China
The international law firm Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP (“Milbank”) advised Hynix-ST Semiconductor Ltd (“Hynix-ST”) on the recently completed US$1 billion bank debt financing for a semiconductor chip manufacturing plant being constructed in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province. The total construction cost will be approximately US$2 billion.

Hynix-ST is a joint venture between two global leaders in the semiconductor industry, Korea’s Hynix Semiconductor, Inc. (“Hynix”) and Geneva-based STMicroelectronics N.V. Milbank represented Hynix-ST and Hynix in the financing, which consisted of a US$750 million senior syndicated term loan facility co-led by Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (“ICBC”), China Development Bank and Agricultural Bank of China, and a US$250 million junior loan from DBS Bank Ltd.

“This transaction was one of the first limited recourse project financings for a wholly foreign-owned semiconductor chip manufacturing plant in China to have been financed predominantly by Chinese banks, with ICBC, the largest commercial bank in China, playing multiple roles of arranger, co-lead, facility release agent and security agent,” said Young Joon (“YJ”) Kim, the lead Milbank partner on the transaction.

Mr. Kim noted that the transaction required complex security arrangements because of the size of the senior syndicate (20 banks comprising both Chinese and foreign banks), and the presence of senior and junior lenders, resulting in a highly negotiated intercreditor agreement, let alone the United Nations-like negotiation sessions conducted primarily in Chinese, Korean and English, involving multiple translators given the multinational parties involved.

“Milbank assisted Hynix and the joint venture project company from the beginning, from negotiating with ICBC on the lead arranger mandate, to negotiation and documentation of the credit and security agreements in English and Chinese, to the completion of closing conditions and drawdown,” he said.

“The Milbank team, composed of attorneys in our China practice and Project Finance groups based in the Hong Kong and Beijing offices, worked intensively with local counsel and multiple governmental authorities to overcome the many regulatory hurdles in registering the senior and junior security interests in cutting-edge high-technology equipment,” said Desiree Woo, Of Counsel and a senior member of Milbank’s China and Project Finance team. “This was further complicated by the additional regulatory layer of the various Export Processing Zone agencies due to the location of the plant in the Wuxi Export Processing Zone. Our China team is delighted to have been able to help our client bring this process to a successful conclusion.

10-26-2006

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