Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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Dykema Gossett PLLC

Michigan Supreme Court Appoints Dykema Attorney McAllister To Chair Of Attorney Discipline Board
Dykema, a premier Midwest-based law firm, today announced that Lori McAllister, member of the firm’s Litigation Department, and the firm’s General Counsel has been appointed by Michigan’s Supreme Court as Chair of the Attorney Discipline Board (ADB) for a one year term commencing October 1, 2007.

The ADB is the adjudicative arm of the Michigan Supreme Court that assists in carrying out its exclusive jurisdiction over the licensing and discipline of Michigan attorneys. The Disciplinary Board's goals are to protect the general public, maintain a high standard of integrity in the legal profession and safeguard the reputation of the courts of Michigan.

"I am honored to serve as chairman of this prestigious board," McAllister said. "I’ve been a member of the Attorney Discipline Board for the last 5 years, and I look forward to continuing our work to uphold the integrity of the legal profession."

The ADB appoints three-attorney panels, composed of volunteers, which hear attorney misconduct matters and recommend sanctions against attorneys who violate ethics rules. The ADB hears appeals from the decisions of the hearing panels.

"Lori is an experienced attorney who will be able to bring her expertise and extensive private practice experience to her role as Chair of the Board," said Rex Schlaybaugh, Dykema’s chairman and chief executive officer. "We congratulate her on this prestigious appointment."

McAllister has served as a member of the ADB since October of 2002 when she was appointed to the Board for a three-year term. In September 2005, the Michigan Supreme Court re-appointed her to a second three year term, and in 2006, reappointed her to a second one-year term as Vice Chairperson commencing October 1, 2006.

McAllister focuses her practice in complex commercial litigation and the defense of class-action lawsuits, and appellate litigation. She also represents regulated entities before the Michigan Office of Financial and Insurance Services. She is a member of the American Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, and the Ingham County Bar Association.

McAllister earned a B.A summa cum laude from Central Michigan University and a J.D cum laude from University of Michigan Law School.

09-12-2007

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Debevoise & Plimpton, LLP

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. In Agreement To Sell International Wire & Cable Business For $735 Million
Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is advising Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. (FCX) in its agreement to sell its international wire and cable business, operated in the name of Phelps Dodge International Corporation, to General Cable Corporation for $735 million, including the acquisition of minority interests recently acquired by FCX.

Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. is a leading international mining company with headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona. Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is a leading international law firm with offices in New York, Washington D.C., London, Paris, Frankfurt, Moscow, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

The Debevoise team was led by counsel Marc A. Kushner and includes partners Michael W. Blair, Lawrence K. Cagney, Gary W. Kubek and Hugh Rowland, Jr., counsel Kyra K. Bromley, Judith L. Church and Stuart Hammer and associates Suzie C. Alway, Elizabeth O. Bellis, Peter M. Friedman, Judith Krens, Jennifer F. Whetsell and Harry Zirlin.

09-12-2007

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Chadbourne & Parke LLP

Chadbourne & Parke Files Pro Bono Lawsuit Against New York State to Increase Judicial Salaries
The international law firm of Chadbourne & Parke LLP announced today that it has filed a pro bono lawsuit on behalf of four New York judges against Governor Eliot Spitzer, the New York Senate, the New York Assembly and the State of New York to force the state to raise judicial salaries and to award back pay through 2000.

Chadbourne partners Thomas Bezanson and George Bundy Smith filed the suit in the state’s Supreme Court in New York City on behalf of New York City Family Court Judge Susan Larabee, New York City Criminal Court Judge Patricia Nunez, New York City Civil Court Judge Geoffrey Wright and Cattaraugus County Family Court Judge Michael Nenno. The suit noted that the 2006-2007 state budget allocated $69.5 million for judicial salary increases, retroactive to April 1, 2005, but the funds have yet to be disbursed. The last pay increase for judges occurred in January 1999.

“The state has failed to raise judges’ salaries for eight years even as inflation has raised the cost of living,” said Mr. Bezanson. “That violates Article 6, § 25 of the New York State Constitution, which states that judges’ compensation ‘shall not be diminished during the term of office for which he or she was elected or appointed.’”

Mr. Bezanson also asserted that linking judges’ salaries to legislative salary increases and other unrelated legislative and executive initiatives “violates the separation of powers doctrine. Our constitution requires that the government consist of three co-equal branches. Under the current system, the judiciary is appallingly far from co-equal and has unfortunately become hostage to politics."

George Bundy Smith, who served for 14 years as an Associate Judge on the New York Court of Appeals before retiring in September 2006, said that the failure to provide pay raises was “disgraceful,” and a form of attack on an independent judiciary.

“The concept of judicial independence goes back to the founding of our country,” explained Mr. Smith. “By connecting judicial salaries to legislators' salaries and to political issues of the executive and legislative branches, the state undermines the independence of judges.”

The lawsuit asks for judges’ salaries to be increased in accordance with the money allocated for that purpose in the 2006-2007 state budget, and also for the payment of monetary damages and pre-judgment interest at nine percent per annum.

09-12-2007

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Alston & Bird LLP

Alston & Bird Expands Charlotte Office
The national law firm of Alston & Bird LLP is pleased to announce the strategic acquisition of a structured finance practice with the addition of Brian C. Cox, J. Patrick Hayden, Bradley H. Johnson and William B. Macurda as partners in the firm’s Global Finance and Debt Products Group. Previously they practiced at Kennedy Covington in Charlotte.

Messrs. Hayden, Johnson, Macurda and Cox’s practice enhances Alston & Bird’s existing practice in the securitization and structured finance markets, and allows the firm to strategically expand its finance, real estate, capital markets and structured finance practices nationally. Their practice focuses on representing trustees, custodians, master servicers and other participants in commercial mortgage-backed securities, residential mortgage-backed securities, various asset-backed securities and collateralized debt obligation transactions. In addition to the partners, nine other attorneys who worked with Cox, Hayden, Johnson and Macuda have agreed to join Alston & Bird. With the addition of this group, Alston & Bird’s Debt Finance practice, led by Paul Donohue in Charlotte, Joe Forte in New York, and Richard Grice in Atlanta, will be comprised of attorneys across its offices in Charlotte, New York, Atlanta and Washington, D.C., with approximately 35 debt finance attorneys based in Charlotte.

“The ability of Alston & Bird to attract these talented individuals to its Global Finance and Debt Products Group is a tremendous endorsement of the strength, opportunities and growth of the Charlotte office, which now has 120 attorneys,” said John Baron, Charlotte office partner-in-charge. “Alston & Bird is celebrating its tenth anniversary in the Charlotte market this year, and the addition of this group of attorneys underlines the firm’s commitment to the Carolinas and to Charlotte in particular, as well as the firm’s commitment to ensure that our clients continue to receive the highest caliber legal services.”
Attorney Biographies

Brian Cox focuses his practice on commercial mortgage-backed securities, residential mortgage-backed securities, asset-backed securities and collateralized debt obligation transactions. He is a member of the Commercial Mortgage Securities Association. He received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law and his A.B. from Duke University, where he was a North Carolina Scholar.

Patrick Hayden focuses his practice on collateralized debt obligations and collateralized loan obligations. He is a graduate of Columbia Law School, and he received his B.A. from the University of North Carolina, where he was a Morehead Scholar.

Brad Johnson focuses his practice on collateralized debt obligation transactions and other structured finance transactions. He received his J.D. from the University of South Carolina School of Law, and his B.S. from Clemson University.

Bill Macurda focuses his practice on representing trustees and master servicers in commercial mortgage-backed securities and residential mortgage-backed securities transactions. He regularly counsels clients on Sarbanes-Oxley compliance and other SEC regulatory issues. He is a member of the Commercial Mortgage Securities Association and a member of the executive board of the Boy Scouts of America, Mecklenburg County Council. Macurda received his J.D. from Case Western Reserve School of Law and his B.A. from Wheaton College.

09-12-2007

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Davis Polk & Wardwell

P.T. Davomas Abadi Tbk High-Yield Notes Offering
Davis Polk & Wardwell advised Davomas International Finance Company Pte. Ltd. on its further issuance of US$88 million 11% guaranteed senior secured notes due 2011, guaranteed by its parent company, P.T. Davomas Abadi Tbk. Based in Indonesia, P.T. Davomas Abadi Tbk is one of the top two domestic producers of cocoa butter and cocoa powder.

The Davis Polk corporate team included partner William F. Barron and associates Hyun Kim and Kee Won Shin, all of the Hong Kong office.

09-12-2007

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Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP

Weil Gotshal's Trusts & Estates Department ranked #1 by Chambers USA 2007
Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business 2007 awarded Weil Gotshal's Trust & Estates Department the top ranking for 2006. In addition, Carlyn McCaffrey achieved the "Star Performer" ranking for exceptional recommendations in Wealth Management.

According to Chambers, “the trust and estates team at this ‘successful and strong’ international firm is relatively small but highly regarded by both clients and peers. Located in the New York office, the team assists wealthy individuals in all matters of estate tax and family succession planning, including will drafting, family business management transition and multijurisdictional trusts”

Chambers continues, pointing out that “'the ‘bright and outstanding’ Carlyn McCaffrey is a star in trust and estate planning, according to peers. ‘She is the best and most imaginative estate lawyer there is,’ beams one interviewee. She primarily focuses on estate planning and is an expert in matrimonial law, trust and estate taxes, and foreign trusts. Peers consider her to be ‘a top-tier attorney because she is innovative, intelligent and a clear thinker.’ Interviewees give her glowing praise, saying: ‘We bow down to her because she is the smartest and most capable lawyer in the universe.’”

09-12-2007

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Davis Wright Tremaine LLP

DWT Partner Dennis Diaz Named an "Outstanding Hospital Lawyer"
Dennis S. Diaz, a partner in Davis Wright Tremaine’s Los Angeles office and member of the firm’s national health care practice group, has been recognized by Nightingale’s Healthcare News as an “Outstanding Hospital Lawyer” for 2007. Diaz was one of only 12 attorneys recognized nationwide, and one of only two on the West Coast. He was acknowledged for his achievements as lead counsel defending health care organizations in investigations and prosecutions by health care regulatory and other governmental agencies, as well as for his counsel to healthcare organizations in regulatory and compliance matters.

Diaz represents a wide variety of health care organizations, including hospitals, physician organizations, integrated delivery systems, ambulatory surgery centers, home health agencies, hospices, long-term care facilities, and health plans, with an emphasis in regulatory, compliance and transactional matters.

09-12-2007

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