Law Firm News

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Kramer, Levin, Naftalis & Frankel, LLP

Kramer Levin Represents Rain Commodities in Acquisition of CII Carbon
The firm represented Rain Calcining Limited, an Indian-based manufacturer of calcined petroleum coke, in its acquisition of U.S.-based CII Carbon, L.L.C. for approximately $595 million in cash, as well as the related financing transactions. The combined entity is the world's largest maker of calcined petroleum coke.

The transaction was completed on July 19, 2007.

The Kramer Levin corporate team included Adam Karasik, Ernie Wechsler, Eric Wise, Abbe Dienstag, John Longobardo, John Bessonette, Abraham Safdie, Carol Archer, Anna Krasnostein and Alyssa Katz. Barry Herzog and Blake Rigel handled tax issues and Jon Ziefert handled real estate issues. Avram Cahn (employee benefits), Keri Folb (environmental) and Kevin Moss and Leslie Nguyen (intellectual property) also assisted on the transaction.

07-19-2007

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Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC

Greenebaum Attorneys Elected to Kentucky Bar Association Taxation Section Leadership Positions
Greenebaum Doll & McDonald PLLC has announced that the following attorneys have been elected to leadership positions within the Kentucky Bar Association Taxation Section:

* Mark A. Loyd, an associate in the firm’s Louisville office, has been elected Chair-Elect.
* Michael A. Grim, an associate in the firm’s Louisville office, has been elected Vice-Chair.
* Ross D. Cohen, an associate in the firm’s Louisville office, has been elected Treasurer.

Loyd is a member of Greenebaum’s Tax and Finance Practice Group. He has over ten years experience handling numerous state and local tax controversies in over thirty different state and local tax jurisdictions, including before the Kentucky Department of Revenue. Loyd received an undergraduate degree in accounting from Bellarmine College, an M.B.A. from the University of Louisville, and a J.D. degree from the University of Louisville, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law.

Grim is a member of Greenebaum’s Tax and Finance Practice Group, and the Aviation Services Team Chair. He focuses his practice on state, local and federal taxation. His practice includes advising on a wide variety of tax matters. He received an undergraduate degree from Indiana University Southeast, an M.B.A. from Indiana University Southeast, and a J.D. degree from the University of Louisville, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law.

Cohen is a member of Greenebaum’s Tax and Finance Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in areas involving federal tax law, including planning and transactional tax issues involving partnerships, limited liability companies, S corporations, and C corporations. His practice also includes the analysis of the federal tax aspects of income deferral and executive compensation. He received an undergraduate degree in Economics from the University of Kentucky, a J.D. degree from the University of Louisville, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law, and an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University.

07-19-2007

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Jenner & Block LLP

Berman Continues Work as a Leader for JUF, Helps Promote Professional Connections with Israel
Jenner & Block Partner Debbie L. Berman continues her leadership efforts within the Jewish United Fund (JUF) leading a recent successful fundraising dinner series and creating a new professional women’s networking group.

As Chair of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago Trades, Industries & Professions (JUF-TIP), Ms. Berman oversaw a series of four dinners for 13 different JUF-TIP divisions which featured speakers such as former Vice President Al Gore, ABC Newsman Bob Woodruff and columnist Charles Krauthammer. The successful dinner series raised more than $2 million for the 2007 JUF Campaign and for the Israel Emergency Campaign.

The JUF-TIP is comprised of 13 divisions that offer professionals the opportunity to connect with colleagues throughout many industries. As Chair, Ms. Berman plans to expand opportunities for cross-divisional programming, create new giving societies, develop young professionals groups within the various divisions and increase opportunities for professional women.

Ms. Berman also recently co-created the JUF Executive and Professional Women’s Network, a networking group designed to bring women together from a variety of diverse fields including lawyers, financial service and real estate professionals, entrepreneurs and corporate executives. The goal of the group is to promote professional achievement and success among its members.

“The network will be an excellent empowerment source for women as well as a great addition to the services the JUF offers its members,” Ms. Berman said.

In addition, Ms. Berman traveled to Israel this year to participate in the first ever “Next Generation Track” of the Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI) Assembly. Recognized as a “future leader,” by the JAFI, Ms. Berman was selected along with 35 other young leaders from North America, Italy and Israel to participate in this leadership program. The program aimed to bring together active young leaders from around the world to heighten their awareness of the current issues and concerns in Israel.

Along with the other members of the Next Generation Group, Ms. Berman networked with top Israeli professionals in Tel Aviv in the areas of business, entertainment, and fashion. The group also met governmental and religious leaders from Israel and around the world including the Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, President-Elect Shimon Peres, Likud Chairman Binyamin Netanyahu, Diaspora Affairs Minister Yitzhak Herzog, Tel Aviv Chief Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau and former Israeli Minister Natan Sharansky.

07-19-2007

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Jenner & Block LLP

Sullivan Discusses Notable Cases of Supreme Court Term at ACS Annual Supreme Court Review
Together with several other Supreme Court practitioners and law professors, Jenner & Block Partner Barry Sullivan, Co-Chair of the Firm’s Appellate and Supreme Court Practice, discussed a collection of cases from the 2006-2007 U.S. Supreme Court Term, as well as their social and practical significance, at the American Constitution Society’s annual Supreme Court Term Review event held on June 26.

The event, currently in its fourth year, was moderated by Steve Sanders, an associate at Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw, and featured a panel of five Supreme Court and constitutional law experts. In addition to Mr. Sullivan, the panel consisted of Professor Susan Bandes of DePaul College of Law, Leah Bartlett of the ACLU, Professor David Franklin, also of DePaul, and Jeffrey W. Sarles of Mayer Brown Rowe & Maw. Mr. Sanders introduced the panelists and gave a brief overview of the term. Each of the panelists then discussed two significant Supreme Court cases from this year’s Term. Thereafter, the panelists engaged in a general discussion of the year's cases and trends and answered questions from the audience.

Mr. Sullivan discussed Bowles v. Russell, a case that considered whether an appeal from the denial of a habeas petition was untimely, and the court of appeals therefore lacked jurisdiction over it, when the petitioner's lawyer had filed within the time limits set down by the district judge, who, unfortunately, had made a mistake and set down a date certain that was beyond the time prescribed by Federal Rule of Appellate Procedure 4(a)(6). By a 5-4 vote, the Court held that compliance with the rule was jurisdictional, and that the court of appeals properly held that it lacked jurisdiction to consider the appeal. Mr. Sullivan also discussed United Haulers Association v. Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Management Authority, which upheld against a dormant Commerce Clause challenge a local ordinance requiring delivery of all solid waste to a publicly owned local facility. Mr. Sullivan discussed the significance of the Court's opting for formalism in the Bowles case and the possible ramifications of United Haulers, where the Court could be seen to have dramatically cut back on its own recent precedent, for future Commerce Clause jurisprudence.

Ms. Bartlett gave an overview of Gonzales v. Carhart, in which the Court, in a 5 to 4 decision, upheld the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act, and for the first time, approved an abortion restriction lacking an exception for woman's health. She then discussed Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation, in which the Court rejected the proposition that taxpayers have standing to bring an Establishment Clause challenge against Executive Branch actions funded by general appropriations rather than by any specific congressional grant.

Mr. Sarles discussed the case of Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., in which the Court ruled that employees are required to file a complaint within 180 days after their pay is set to sue for discrimination. Mr. Sarles also spoke about Bell Atlantic Corporation v. Twombly, a case where consumers brought a class action lawsuit against several telecommunications companies alleging that the companies had conspired to end competition among themselves and to stifle new competition. The Court ruled 7-2 that in order to allege these violations of the Sherman Antitrust Act, the plaintiffs must allege more than parallel conduct and a bare assertion of conspiracy. The Court held that plaintiffs must also allege facts that suggest a conspiratorial agreement.

Professor Bandes discussed the Scott v. Harris case, which involved a high speed chase that ended when the trailing police officer rammed the fleeing suspect's car causing permanent injury to the driver. The court ruled 8 to 1 that a police officer may use potentially deadly force to end a high-speed chase of a suspect whose actions endanger the public. Professor Bandes also spoke about the case Smith v. Texas where, in 2004, the Supreme Court overturned a man’s death sentence and sent the case back to state court because of a judge's improper jury instruction. In 2006, the Court ruled 5-4 that the jury instructions did not give meaningful effect to Smith's mitigating evidence, and that the subsequent corrective instruction was not sufficient to correct the error.

Professor Franklin discussed the Court's denial of certiorari (since reversed) in several lawsuits arising out of the detentions of "enemy combatants" at Guantanamo Bay, as well as developments in the DC Circuit in related cases involving the efforts of detainees to secure review of their detentions in civilian courts. Professor Franklin then discussed the case of Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency, in which the Court ruled 5 to 4 that the EPA acted improperly when it declined to regulate new-vehicle emission standards to control pollutants that scientists say contribute to global warming.

07-19-2007

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Salans

Salans advises GE Real Estate and Crestyl on €100 million acquisition of ICKM Real Estate in the Czech Republic
Global Real Estate Group attorneys based in the Prague office of the international law firm Salans have advised a joint venture of GE Real Estate and Crestyl, in conjunction with Cheyne Capital, on the EUR 100 million acquisition of ICKM Real Estate, a high quality portfolio of residential developments in the Czech Republic.

Through the transaction, GE Real Estate/Crestyl joint venture has acquired three of ICKM Real Estate's existing development projects with approximately 1,000 units currently under construction, and also an additional eight ICKM sites in Prague and Central Bohemia, which are to be developed into 1,500 residential units. The joint venture is targeting a total residential development investment portfolio in excess of EUR 500 million in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Petr Kosar, Investment Manager at GE Real Estate Central & Eastern Europe, commenting on the acquisition said that "the Salans team continually searched for solutions to the complex transaction issues and helped to overcome many hurdles in the path of successfully closing the acquisition."

Omar Koleilat, Managing Director of Crestyl commented, "that while some investors think of lawyers as a cost, Evan Lazar was invaluable to the transaction and he and the rest of the team from Salans helped considerably in structuring and closing this transaction adding real value."

The transaction was successfully led by Evan Z. Lazar, Salans Global Real Estate Group Co-Chairman together with Chris Berlew, Prague partner, and more than 30 other lawyers in various offices.

GE Real Estate, a long-standing client of Salans, is one of the world's most important commercial real estate companies present in 28 countries with US$59 billion in assets and over EUR 1 billion invested in Central and Eastern Europe. It has developed or invested in the retail, office, residential and logistics sectors in the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Turkey.

Crestyl specializes in developing commercial real estate in the Czech Republic, focusing on shopping centers and offices.

07-19-2007

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Porter, Wright, Morris & Arthur, L.L.P.

Jim Curphey Named Board Chair of Community Shelter Board and President of the Federal Bar Association
Jim Curphey, an attorney with Porter Wright Morris & Arthur, was recently elected Board Chair of the Community Shelter Board and installed as President of the Columbus Chapter of the Federal Bar Association.

As Board Chair of the Community Shelter Board, Mr. Curphey works to develop and implement strategies that decrease homelessness and increase the placement of homeless persons in permanent housing in our community. Mr. Curphey began his tenure as President of the Columbus Chapter of the Federal Bar Association in May 2007.

Mr. Curphey serves as Porter Wright's Litigation Department Chair. He has an extensive trial and appellate practice in business matters. He handles cases involving business contracts, intellectual property, technology, antitrust, mergers and acquisitions, unfair competition and restrictive covenant claims. Mr. Curphey regularly represents companies involved in injunctive proceedings regarding intellectual property, trade secrets and covenants not to compete. He is recognized by the publishers of Law & Politics and Cincinnati Magazine as an Ohio Super Lawyer ®.

07-19-2007

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Much, Shelist, Freed, Denenberg, Ament & Rubenstein, P.C.

Scott R. Fradin Joins Much Shelist as Principal, Addition Expands Firm’s Capabilities in Construction Law
Chicago-based law firm Much Shelist announced today the addition of Scott R. Fradin as a Principal and member of the Construction Law practice. Previously a partner with Stein, Ray & Harris LLP in Chicago, Fradin brings to the firm significant knowledge of construction-related matters gained from his experience as an attorney and a licensed architect. Fradin is the second attorney with an architecture background to join Much Shelist in the last year.

In addition to drafting and negotiating complex design and construction agreements on behalf of owners, architects, engineers and contractors, Fradin represents clients involved in a wide range of construction-related matters, including breach of contract, delay and disruption claims, design- and construction-defect claims, and mechanics lien disputes. He has represented owners and contractors in numerous multi-million-dollar delay and disruption disputes across the country. Fradin has also represented architects and engineers in design-defect cases involving public works projects, residential developments consisting of hundreds of units, and other commercial and institutional facilities.

“Scott’s unique understanding of architecture and the law adds considerably to our firm’s capabilities in the complex area of construction law,” said David T. Brown, Chair of the Management Committee at Much Shelist. “His depth of knowledge will further enhance our ability to help property owners and developers navigate legal issues, manage expectations and understand risks throughout the course of a construction project.”

Fradin is a member of the Society of Illinois Construction Attorneys, the American Bar Association Construction Forum, the Chicago Bar Association – where he serves on the Mechanics Lien Subcommittee – and the American Institute of Architects. He is a regular contributor to legal and industry journals and a frequent speaker and guest lecturer in the areas of construction law and litigation. He graduated Order of the Coif from Chicago-Kent College of Law and holds M.S. and B.A. degrees in architecture from the University of Illinois.

07-19-2007

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