Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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Kemp, Klein, Umphrey, Endelman & May, P.C.

Business Lawyer Joins Elite Board
Cynthia L. Umphrey, Esq., of Kemp Klein Law Firm has accepted an invitation to become a member of the Institute of Continuing Legal Education’s (ICLE) Business Law Advisory Board.

The Advisory Board membership consists of experienced practitioners who help the Institute identify the most useful legal education projects and best speakers and authors in the legal field. Their advice is used by ICLE to provide helpful products and ideas to legal practitioners.

09-21-2007

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McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP

McKenna Long & Aldridge Advises BCD Travel B.V. In Connection With $475 Million Syndicated Credit Facility With ING Bank N.V.
McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP announced today that it advised BCD Travel B.V. and certain of its subsidiaries in connection with a $475 million syndicated credit facility with ING Bank N.V., acting as Agent, and ING Bank N.V. and Bank of America, N.A., acting as Issuing Banks. The transaction closed on September 14, 2007. The senior credit facility is secured by assets and property of BCD Travel located in Belgium, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the United States, and will be used to refinance existing debt and for working capital.

The legal advisory team was led by McKenna Long & Aldridge partners Ann-Marie McGaughey, of the Atlanta office, and Patricia J. Rogers, of the Denver office.

BCD Travel B.V., a privately owned Dutch company, is a leading provider of global corporate travel management services with operations in more than 90 countries on 5 continents, with $12 billion in total sales and a combined workforce in excess of 12,000 employees.

09-20-2007

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Luce, Forward, Hamilton & Scripps, LLP

The Daily Journal Honors Luce Forward Partner Peter H. Klee With Top Attorney Designation
Luce Forward partner Peter H. Klee was selected as one of California’s “Top 100 Attorneys” by the Los Angeles Daily Journal. The list, which was published in the September 20, 2007 issue, recognizes 100 attorneys throughout California whose skills and leadership have helped shape the legal landscape and society in general.

Klee, the first Luce Forward attorney to make this prestigious list, has handled the defense of more than 1,500 lawsuits in the past 20 years. He has a 100 percent success rate at trial representing insurance companies in breach of insurance contract, bad faith or other tort actions. In addition to defending more insurance bad faith cases arising out of natural catastrophes than any other attorney in California, He has also obtained defense verdicts on the merits in more than 500 cases, including 50 cases in the past 12 months.

Klee founded Luce Forward’s insurance litigation practice group in 1987 and is the practice group leader. He represents most of the major insurance carriers doing business in California, including State Farm Insurance Company, Travelers Insurance Company and the Automobile Club of Southern California. Klee is also the lead defense counsel in Southern California for the Allstate Group of Insurance Companies.

09-20-2007

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King & Spalding

New Report Gives King & Spalding High Rating On LGBT Policies
King & Spalding, a leading international law firm, earned a rating of 95 percent in the Corporate Equality Index 2008—a report card on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) equality in corporate America. King & Spalding scored a maximum rating in 10 out of 11 categories. This annual survey of the nation’s largest publicly traded businesses, privately owned companies and revenue-grossing law firms has been conducted since 2002 by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

"At our firm, diversity is an integral part of the culture," said Lovita Tandy, partner and chair of the diversity committee of King & Spalding. "We are committed to having the brightest and most diverse lawyers we can find, including members of the LGBT community. We work hard to foster and maintain an environment where our lawyers can provide the highest level of legal service while being true to themselves in the process."

The Corporate Equality Index, which this year rated 519 businesses, measures the extent to which employers protect their LGBT employees. The index rates employers on a scale from 0 to 100 percent. Ratings are based on factors such as non-discrimination policies, diversity training and benefits for domestic partners and transgender employees.

Among the findings of this year’s report:

* Among the 519 employers rated on this year’s survey, the average rating was 81 percent.
* The average rating for Fortune 500 companies was 81 percent.
* The total number of employers rated this year increased 20 percent over the previous survey.
* Ninety-three law firms were listed on this year’s survey.
* The average rating for law firms was 88 percent.

The Human Rights Campaign is America’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against LGBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

09-20-2007

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King & Spalding

King & Spalding Takes Active Role in Private Equity Energy Forum
King & Spalding, a leading international law firm, is taking a leading role in the 2007 Private Equity Energy Forum to be held October 2-3 in New York City. Two of the firm’s lawyers are featured speakers, and King & Spalding is a co-sponsor. The event is being presented by Private Equity International.

Benjamin R. Newland, a corporate partner in the firm’s Dubai office, is moderating a panel on the global investment opportunity in the energy sector. George E. (Ned) Crady, a global transactions partner in the Houston office, is the moderator of a roundtable discussion on investments in the oil and gas sector.

The 2007 Private Equity Energy Forum explores how private equity firms are applying their expertise and strength in sourcing deals, deploying and structuring capital and managing operations of energy projects. Among the topics included in the forum are the following:

* New opportunities in alternative energy
* Transformative investing in power and oil and gas assets
* Sea change in the Middle East for private equity firms
* Anatomies of private equity energy’s most successful investments

Newland’s practice covers a broad range of financial and corporate matters, with particular emphasis on mergers, acquisitions and leveraged buyouts, including Shari’ah compliant buyouts and investments. He also has extensive experience in corporate finance transactions, joint ventures, corporate restructurings, strategic alliances and other business matters.

Crady represents energy and natural resource industry companies, and strategic and financial investors in the energy sector. He has extensive experience in the purchase, sale, development, construction and financing of power generation and distribution assets; natural gas transportation, storage and distribution assets; oil and gas refining facilities; and LNG export and import projects in the Atlantic Basin.

09-20-2007

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Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP

Four Katten Attorneys Named Among Who’s Who 2007 by Crain’s Chicago Business
Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP is pleased to announce that four of its attorneys have been named among Crain’s Chicago Business’ Who’s Who 2007. They are Arthur W. Hahn, chair of the Firm’s National Financial Services Practice; co-Founding Partner Melvin L. Katten; co-Founding Partner Allan B. Muchin; and National Managing Partner Vincent A.F. Sergi. The list is published in Crain’s September 3 issue.

Since 1989, Crain’s Chicago Business has published its list of Who’s Who in Chicago business. This year’s list included 731 of Chicago’s most influential business leaders who “make things happen in Chicago.” Those listed are selected solely by the publication’s staff. All four Katten attorneys on the 2007 list were also named to Crain’s Who’s Who 2006.

Arthur W. Hahn
Mr. Hahn is a member of the Firm's Executive Committee and Chairman of its National Financial Services Practice. He has a multi-disciplined practice, including representing major international banks and brokerage firms; representing international equity and commodity exchanges and clearing houses; and representing technology companies in connection with business strategies, capital formation and mergers and acquisitions. Earlier in his career, Mr. Hahn served on the legislative staff of U.S. Senator Paul H. Douglas and clerked on the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Melvin L. Katten
Mr. Katten is a Founding Partner of the Firm and serves as an ex-officio member of its Board of Directors. His legal practice includes tax and financial structure and counseling, corporate mergers and acquisitions, real estate and business ventures, as well as federal tax and criminal investigations.

Mr. Katten is a member of the National Commission of the Anti-Defamation League and a former chairman of the Chicago Regional Board. He also currently serves as the Sr. Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Roosevelt University, Chairman of the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University, member of the National Board of American Friends of Tel Aviv University; member of the Executive Board of the Better Government Association and previously served as its President.

Allan B. Muchin
Mr. Muchin is a Founding Partner of the Firm and serves as an ex-officio member of its Board of Directors. Having begun his legal career as a trial lawyer for the Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Muchin focuses his practice on corporate and tax matters. Mr. Muchin has served as a director or active advisor to the Board of Directors for numerous private and publicly held corporations including Alberto-Culver Company and Columbia Acorn Investment Trust. As a co-owner and director of the Chicago White Sox and the Chicago Bulls, he also maintains close affiliation with major sports franchises.

Vincent A.F. Sergi
Mr. Sergi serves as Katten’s National Managing Partner and directs the partnership's daily operations. His legal practice focuses on counseling lenders and borrowers in all types of financing transactions with a particular emphasis on lender representation in real estate loans and workouts. Mr. Sergi has had a distinguished career with the Firm. As a member of its first associate class, he joined the Finance and Reorganization Department in 1974. After serving as a Department Head, he was asked to serve as the Firm’s National Managing Partner in 1996. He is a member of the Firm’s Board of Directors, a member of the Executive and Operating Committee, and Chairman of the Firm’s Compensation Committee. He serves on the board of directors of the Goodman Theatre and the Providence-St. Mel School.

09-20-2007

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Hunton & Williams, LLP

Companies Should Begin Planning Now to Comply with DHS Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards
"An estimated 50,000 facilities that store, maintain, or manage chemicals that are considered “chemicals of interest” by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will be required to submit security information to DHS, under new regulations being promulgated by the agency. In addition to chemical facilities, these standards may affect a broad range of companies, including energy companies, pulp and paper mills, steel producers, and other commodity manufacturers. DHS has developed a “Top Screen” survey—part of a new system designed to collect and assess chemical security information, known as the Chemical Security Assessment Tool (CSAT)—that must be completed by all facilities within 60 days of the publication of a final list of chemicals subject to the regulation. Accordingly, companies should act now to identify whether the new regulations may apply to their facilities and, if so, should begin the process of developing registration and compliance plans.

The recently enacted Homeland Security Appropriations Act required DHS to develop and implement regulations to enhance the security of “high-risk” chemical facilities. In response, DHS developed the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS), which will be widely applied when the final list of “chemicals of interest”—known as “Appendix A”—is published sometime in late September.

In the meantime, even before Appendix A is finalized, DHS has used its authority to contact and require a limited number of facilities to complete their Top Screen surveys. Should the final approval of Appendix A face additional delay, DHS may contact additional facilities. Notwithstanding all this activity, DHS is still developing guidance for covered facilities on how best to comply with the CFATS performance standards. The ostensible
goal of the program is to allow facilities to select the most cost-effective combination of measures to achieve an appropriate level of security necessary to satisfy the performance standards.

The CSAT Top Screen application is an online tool designed by DHS to help companies identify whether their facilities are “high-risk chemical acilities.” The first step toward compliance for affected businesses will be to submit the Top Screen questionnaire. This questionnaire requires companies to provide DHS with information on each facility that maintains chemicals in excess of the corresponding screening threshold quantity (STQ). To begin the process, businesses must register with DHS and must designate an individual to “prepare, submit and authorize” the information for DHS. As noted above, the CSAT Top Screen must be completed by all facilities within 60 days of the publication date of Appendix A.

Based on this information, DHS will categorize facilities into one of four risk tiers, and will notify facilities in writing as to their preliminary tier level. Within 90 days, each covered facility will be required to complete a Security Vulnerability Assessment (SVA) describing its security posture and vulnerabilities. Based on the SVA, DHS will reevaluate and may adjust the preliminary tierings. Covered facilities must then prepare and implement a Site Security Plan (SSP), which, in certain circumstances, must be approved by DHS. As part of the SSP approval process, DHS may enter, inspect and audit covered facilities. DHS has developed and trained a core group of “chemical security inspectors,” positioned throughout the country, who will carry out these inspections. DHS may order a facility to cease operations, or assess civil penalties of up to $25,000 per day, per violation, if DHS determines that a facility is in violation of any regulatory requirement."

09-20-2007

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