Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, L.L.C.

Bell Boyd Expands Bankruptcy Practice
Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLP has expanded its bankruptcy practice with the addition of eight attorneys who have joined the firm from Freeborn & Peters LLP. Harley J. Goldstein, who has been noted for his skill as counsel in some of the nation's highest profile corporate insolvency proceedings, will chair Bell Boyd's Bankruptcy and Restructuring Group.

Also joining Bell Boyd are James E. Morgan as partner and Sven T. Nylen, Matthew E. McClintock, Joseph B. DiRago, Sarah H. Bryan and Jeffrey M. Heller as associates. Professor Clinton W. Francis also joins the firm as a consultant.

"We are very pleased to welcome this prominent group of bankruptcy practitioners to Bell Boyd," said the firm's chairman, Jack McCarthy. "Their considerable experience and legal skill as advisors in complex insolvency cases combined with the strength of our long established bankruptcy practice, dating back over 15 years, will enhance the services we offer to clients across the country and internationally."

Mr. Goldstein has gained a reputation as an energetic litigator with an impressive roster of successful results in bankruptcy proceedings. Two years ago, at the age of 32, he was named to the Law Bulletin Publishing Company's 40 Illinois Attorneys Under Forty to Watch.

In commenting on the move, Mr. Goldstein said, "Bell Boyd provides the robust and comprehensive platform necessary to help us pursue successfully the interests of our clients who must navigate the current economic waters, including the fallout from the subprime mortgage crisis."

The new lawyers represent secured and unsecured creditors, debtors, committees, trustees, equity security holders and other parties in all transactional and litigation aspects of bankruptcy cases. They have successfully reorganized or liquidated numerous companies both out-of-court and through chapter 11 proceedings. They also represent lenders and borrowers in out-of-court operational and financial restructurings.

09-10-2007

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Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, L.L.C.

FTC to Probe Nascent Carbon Offset Credit Market
Responding to concerns raised recently by U.S. Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass), chair of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has indicated that it will study the emerging market in companies selling voluntary carbon offset credits to individuals and organizations wishing to reduce their respective carbon footprints in an effort to curb "global warming" ( as discussed below). The study process, consisting of workshops and other public outreach activities, will address whether the FTC's Guides for the Use of Evaluating Environmental Marketing Claims found at 16 CFR Part 260 (the "Green Guides") need to be updated.

09-10-2007

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Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, L.L.C.

New Illinois Electricity Legislation: Government-Brokered Rate Relief Encourages Sustainable Energy Development
Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich recently signed into law the Illinois Power Agency Act. The Act, which reflects a compromise between the State of Illinois on one side and various electricity providers such as ComEd, Exelon Generation, and Ameren on the other, is primarily intended to provide near-term rate relief to Illinois consumers who saw their electricity bills increase between 45 and 100% beginning January of this year when a ten-year electricity rate freeze expired. The Act avoids a renewal of this rate freeze – which the utilities argued would eventually drive them into bankruptcy – and abolishes the reverse electricity auction process that was part of Illinois? original electricity deregulation program.

09-10-2007

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Thacher Proffitt & Wood LLP

Condé Nast Portfolio.com: Thacher Proffitt Collaborated with VOICES of September 11th
Thacher Proffitt's press release was summarized in the article, "Remembering That Awful Day," regarding the Firm's technology and intellectual property pro bono work for VOICES of September 11th and collaboration to create the first entry in the "WTC Corporations" section of the 9/11 Living Memorial, a digital web-based archive.

09-10-2007

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Piper Rudnick, L.L.P.

William P. Cook to head DLA Piper’s U.S. Communications Practice
DLA Piper US LLP announced today that William P. Cook has joined the firm as a partner in the Government Affairs practice in the Washington, D.C., office. Cook, who will serve as the U.S. head of the Communications, E-Commerce and Privacy Practice Group, also brings associate Sydney White, associate Adrian Copiz, and staff attorney Robert Allen to the practice.

“Bill is a prominent player in the communications legal arena and we welcome him to our team,” said Washington, D.C. office Managing Partner Ann Ford. “DLA Piper’s global footprint will compliment his international communications practice, and his broad industry knowledge and contacts will add even greater depth to our existing Washington-based government affairs practice.”

Cook assumes leadership of the firm’s Communications, E-Commerce and Privacy practice which has been at the forefront of the major regulatory and policy issues of the day, playing an important role in the development of significant federal statutes regulating liability for conduct on the Internet and establishing precedents in the area of electronic payments issues. Cook and his group will provide the practice with a significantly enhanced regulatory capability in the traditional wireline, wireless, video and broadband areas.

“With more than 25 years of significant telecommunications regulatory, transactional and litigation experience, Bill’s knowledge of both the issues and the players in this dynamic practice area confirms DLA Piper as one of the nation’s premier law firms when it comes to meeting clients’ needs before the FCC, FTC and other regulatory and legislative bodies,” said Governor James Blanchard, chair of the Firm’s Government Affairs practice.

DLA Piper’s Government Affairs practice has been called one of the most high-powered and high-profile in the nation’s capital. Many of the attorneys and other professionals in this group have held senior positions in all branches of federal and state government. This distinguished group includes three former congressional majority leaders: Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell, House Majority Leader Richard K. Armey, and House Majority and Minority Leader Dick Gephardt.

Cook joins DLA Piper from Alston & Bird, where he led the telecommunications practice, focusing on regulatory and pubic policy issues in the telecom sector. Prior to entering private practice, Cook held a variety of government positions, spending nine years in the U.S. Department of Justice, where he served as General Counsel of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service; Senior Counsel in the Office of Legislative Affairs, Staff Attorney in the Office of Intelligence Policy & Review; and as a trial attorney in the Civil and Criminal Divisions. He is a Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves, and a combat veteran of Operation Desert Storm and contingency operations in Lebanon and Grenada.

09-10-2007

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Jenner & Block LLP

Jenner & Block Hosts First Annual Past Presidents Lunch for the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois
Jenner & Block recently hosted the First Annual Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois’ Past Presidents Lunch on August 23rd at the Firm’s Chicago office.

Ruben R. Chapa, the current president of the Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI), welcomed the group’s past presidents in attendance which included Partner Daniel J. Hurtado who served as president of the HLAI from 1999-2000. Mr. Hurtado has also served for a number of years on the HLAI board of directors and as a trustee of the Hispanic Lawyers Scholarship Fund, an affiliated organization that provides scholarships and fellowships to Hispanic law students.

At the lunch, the attorneys discussed current issues within the organization such as working to increase Hispanic representation in Chicago’s courts and increasing the distribution of the HLAI newsletter.

The group also reviewed and discussed a list of this year’s goals for the HLAI, which include increasing membership, recruiting members for leadership positions within the organization, and providing more leadership opportunities in the community for members.

The Hispanic Lawyers Association of Illinois (HLAI) is a not-for-profit corporation that was established in 1995. HLAI was formed through the joining of its predecessor organizations, the Latin American Bar Association and the Mexican American Lawyers Association, which had previously served the Hispanic legal community in Illinois since 1970. HLAI currently represents and serves the interests of approximately 300 attorneys, judges, and law students in the state. According to the HLAI, its members come from diverse cultural and ethnic backgrounds and include Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Cuban American, South and Central American practitioners and students.

09-10-2007

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Jenner & Block LLP

Sears Coder Discusses Legal and Accounting Ethical Rules at PLI Seminar
Partner Sally K. Sears Coder presented current legal and accounting ethical issues at a Practising Law Institute (PLI) Seminar entitled, “Basics of Accounting for Lawyers - What Every Practicing Lawyer Needs To Know,” that was held in Chicago on August 9-10.

Ms. Sears Coder highlighted some of the similarities and differences between ethics in the legal and accounting professions. The main source of ethical rules that govern Illinois attorneys is the Illinois Rules of Professional Conduct found in the Illinois Supreme Court Rules, she said, which capture the “spirit and purpose” of an ethical legal system. Accountants have similar ethics requirements, she said, including the AICPA and Illinois Professional Conduct Rules and the SEC’s rules and regulations.

The concept of “independence” is an ethical rule which applies to both attorneys and accountants, said Ms. Sears Coder, yet the instances when independence is required differ between the two professions. “Attorneys are to zealously represent their clients,” and thus independence is not required for attorneys in the role of advisor, advocate or negotiator, she said. For accountants, independence is required in many circumstances, including attest engagements.

Integrity and objectivity are also key ethical considerations for both attorneys and accountants, stated Ms. Sears Coder, including the avoidance of conflicts of interest. She stated that in Illinois, an attorney may represent a client if a conflict exists if there is a reasonable belief that the representation will not be adversely affected and both clients consent after disclosure. For accountants, she said, conflicts of interest come in many forms. As such, accountants may not have a “direct, material” business relationship with their clients or a financial interest in their clients' businesses.

PLI is a continuing legal education organization that provides the legal community and allied professionals with the most current and relevant industry information and techniques.

Pictured:
Ms. Sears Coder presents at the PLI Seminar.

09-10-2007

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