Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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Wiley, Rein & Fielding, L.L.P.

Wiley Rein’s Telecom and Media Practices and Attorneys Receive Top Ratings in The Legal 500 US
The Legal 500 US, a comprehensive guide to “the best of the best” of the legal profession, has awarded top ratings to Wiley Rein’s Telecom and Media Practices, and has singled out several individual attorneys for additional recognition.

In rating Wiley Rein’s Telecom Practice, The Legal 500 USA notes that the group has “developed ‘an unrivalled reputation before the FCC’.” Firm clients and peers interviewed by the publisher identify the group as being “unique in technical ability” and “incredibly respected in communications,” and praise Managing Partner Richard E. Wiley as being “the first name on everybody's list for FCC work,” and the “top of the pyramid.” Reflecting on the influence in FCC and public policy matters of R. Michael Senkowski, Chair of the Telecom Practice, clients told the directory that, “His savvy, and awareness of legal and political issues, make him a real asset to the practice.” Eric W. DeSilva receives notice as an “up-and-coming talent in the practice,” who one client called “the brightest young lawyer I’ve dealt with.”

Recommending Wiley Rein’s Media Practice, the directory finds that the firm’s broadcast work “is in many ways an extension of regulatory work undertaken on a firm-wide basis” and notes that the Communications team is “one of the country’s largest and most respected.” Richard Wiley and Lawrence W. Secrest III are commended for their “good reputation for acting for broadcasters, cable television and satellite television clients,” and Mark N. Lipp is recognized for his representations of “a number of owners and operators of television and radio stations on FCC matters.

03-26-2007

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Sheehan, Phinney, Bass & Green, P.A.

ATTORNEY MICHAEL HARVELL ADMITTED TO AMERICAN COLLEGE OF TRIAL LAWYERS
Sheehan Phinney Bass + Green Attorney Michael C. Harvell has become a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in America.

The induction ceremony at which Mr. Harvell became a Fellow took place recently before an audience of 810 people during the recent 2007 Spring Meeting of the College in La Quinta, California.

Mr. Harvell has built a substantial business litigation practice since joining Sheehan Phinney in 1975. His work includes extensive trial experience, with

special emphasis on stockholder and partnership disputes and state tax litigation. Mike received his B.A. from Yale University, and his J.D., cum laude, from Boston University. He serves on the Board of Trustees of the Portsmouth Music Hall.

Sheehan, Phinney, Bass + Green Attorney Michael Harvell Founded in 1950, the College is composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada. Fellowship in the college is extended by invitation only and only after careful investigation, to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Lawyers must have a minimum of fifteen years trial experience before they can be considered for Fellowship.

The College strives to improve and elevate the standards of trial practice, the administration of justice and the ethics of the trial profession. Qualified lawyers are called to Fellowship in the College from all branches of trial practice. They are carefully selected from among those who customarily represent plaintiffs in civil cases and those who customarily represent defendants, those who prosecute accused of crime and those who defend them. The College is thus able to speak with a balanced voice on important issues affecting the legal profession and the administrative of justice.

03-26-2007

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Schnader Attorney At Law

Gable Participates in U.N. Meetings
Kelly Gable attended the meetings of the United Nations Legal Subcommittee of the Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), March 26-30, 2007 in Vienna, Austria, as a representative of the International Institute of Space Law (IISL). COPUOS was organized to review the scope of international cooperation in peaceful uses of outer space, encourage continued research and the dissemination of information on outer space matters, and to study legal problems arising from the exploration of outer space. Purposes and objectives of IISL include: the cooperation with appropriate international organizations and national institutions in the field of space law; carrying out tasks for fostering the development of space law and studies of legal and social science aspects of the exploration and use of outer space; and, holding meetings, colloquia and competitions on social science aspects of space activities.

03-26-2007

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Harris Beach LLC

H. Todd Bullard Joins Harris Beach As Equity Member
The law firm of Harris Beach PLLC is pleased to announce that H. Todd Bullard has joined the firm as an equity member effective March 26, 2007. Mr. Bullard began his legal career at Harris Beach in 1987 following graduation from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School. He left in 1991 to start his own firm, The Bullard Law Group, where he focused his law practice on municipal finance, real estate, corporate law, and commercial litigation.

Mr. Bullard will practice in the Harris Beach Public Finance & Economic Development and Business & Commercial Litigation Practice Groups. Carol Elizabeth Owens, an associate at The Bullard Law Group, has also joined Harris Beach as an associate.

Harris Beach Chairman Gunther K. Buerman said: “We had always recognized Todd’s top-notch legal skills when he was with the firm 20 years ago. He built a successful career over the years in his own practice, and it is a pleasure to welcome him back as an equity member.”

Harris Beach CEO James A. Spitz, Jr. said: “Our firm is dedicated to promoting a culture where diversity is respected and welcomed. Todd’s election to membership represents that dedication, and is reflective of our commitment to diversity and to the Rochester community. We are proud to welcome this talented lawyer back.”

Shawn M. Griffin, co-leader of the Harris Beach Public Finance & Economic Development Practice Group noted: “Municipalities, throughout New York state, continually express their commitment to and desire for diversity from their legal providers. Todd is well-known by local and state officials for his many years of public service and he has worked on complex transactions in the City of Buffalo Schools Project. His legal skills will be a significant asset to our municipal and state agency clients.”

Paul J. Yesawich, III, co-leader of the Harris Beach Business & Litigation Practice Group said: “Our clients recognize the value of a diverse workplace both within their own organizations and in the law firms that serve them. Todd possesses high level commercial litigation skills and he is very well-known in the Rochester business and legal community. We are enthusiastic about his decision to join us.”

Mr. Bullard said: "I am honored by the firm's vision and commitment to elect me as an equity member. At the same time, I am humbled by the historical significance and the message this event sends to those young African-American legal professionals who aspire to reach the highest levels at one of the nation’s largest law firms. The message is it can be done with hard-work, dedication and community support."

Throughout the 1990's, Mr. Bullard has served on important committees such as the Urban League of Rochester Board of Directors (1990-1998), Legal Aid Society Board of Directors (1990-1993), Rochester Preservation Board (1990-1992), Boy Scouts of America, Inc. Executive Board (1991-1994), and Center for Dispute Settlement Board of Directors (1988-1991). He is a former Monroe County Legislator (1992- 2005), and served as vice-chair on the Ways and Means Committee. From 1993-1996, Mr. Bullard was Assistant Minority Leader, moving up to Democratic Minority Leader in 2000. Mr. Bullard has served on the Action for a Better Community, Inc. Board since 1994-2004. He serves on the board of Nazareth Schools and as a trustee on the Strong National Museum of Play. He has been a member of the Monroe County Bar Foundation since 1994, as well as the New York State, Rochester Black Bar and National Bar Associations. Mr. Bullard was formerly a member of the Minority Legal Affairs Committee and the Judiciary Committee of the Monroe County Bar Foundation. Currently, Mr. Bullard serves as co-chair of the Rochester Black Bar Association Judicial Review Committee. While at the University of Buffalo, Mr. Bullard participated in the Frederick Douglas Moot Court Competition on the Regional Finalist Team, as well as maintaining a Teacher Assistant's position. He received is JD from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School with a concentration in state and local government law and his BA from Allegheny College.

Ms. Owens received her JD from Albany Law School of Union University and her BBA from Howard University. She is a member of the Monroe County, New York State and National Bar Associations. Ms. Owens serves as an attorney-mentor and advisory board member for the Rochester City Court and the City of Rochester Teen Court Program.

The firm plans to schedule a welcome reception for Mr. Bullard at a place and time to be announced.

03-26-2007

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Alston & Bird LLP

Ed McClellan’s Work with Coalition on Corporate Capital Gains Tax Rate Cut Noted in Congress Daily
In an article titled “New Group Formed To Push Capital Gains Tax Rate Cut,” Congress Daily noted that America Gains, a coalition chaired by James Tisch of Loews Corp., has hired Ed McClellan to work with them to reduce the corporate capital gains tax rate. Ed pointed out that, “The tax is so high it is affecting the decision of corporate managers on whether or not to sell an asset and redeploy the capital to other uses.

03-26-2007

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Venable Baetjer & Howard

Patricia McDermott, Legislation Counsel to U.S. Congress Joint Committee on Taxation, Joins Venable’s Washington Office
Venable LLP announced that Patricia McDermott, a senior tax legislative and policy attorney who has served as legislation counsel to the U.S. Congress’ Joint Committee on Taxation since 2001, is joining the firm as a partner in its Washington office.

Ms. McDermott, 53, will counsel clients on employee benefits matters, including retirement savings and pension plans, executive compensation, and payroll taxes. She will also provide regulatory guidance and representation of clients before the U.S. Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service.

Ms. McDermott is especially familiar with the IRS, having spent 17 years there, rising from a staff attorney in 1984 to become a branch chief, and helping the Service develop positions on a wide range of benefits issues.

As legislation counsel to the Joint Committee on Taxation, Ms. McDermott worked closely with the House Ways and Means and Education and the Workforce Committees and the Senate Finance and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committees, as well as with the Treasury’s Office of Benefits Tax Counsel and virtually every key congressional group involved in federal pension policy. She was instrumental in developing and drafting crucial pension provisions of the bipartisan Pension Protection Act of 2006, widely considered the most sweeping reform of America’s pension laws in more than 30 years.

“I thought about leaving public service a bit earlier,” Ms. McDermott explained, “but the pension protection bill represented the culmination of so many issues that have been important to me since my first day on Capitol Hill—including pension plan funding, cash balance plans, post-Enron reforms, and automatic enrollment. I wanted to stay and see this important piece of legislation through to its conclusion.”

She added: “Much of the bill isn’t effective until next year, so I expect one early focus for me at Venable will be to help the firm’s clients decide what actions are needed, based partly on interpreting and applying related guidance issued by Treasury, IRS, the Department of Labor, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation.”

During her six-year tenure with the Joint Committee on Taxation, Ms. McDermott also helped author key provisions of the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act (2005); the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act (2005); the American Jobs Creation Act (2004); the Pension Funding Equity Act (2004); the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act (2002); the Victims of Terrorism Tax Relief Act (2001); and the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act (2001). Other major projects included preparation of Joint Committee reports on improving tax compliance and reforming tax expenditures, simplifying the tax system, and also the committee’s investigation of Enron for a litany of tax-related problems.

Andrea O’Brien, chair of Venable’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation group, said of Ms. McDermott’s arrival: “Tricia brings an impressive combination of legislative and tax experience—not least her 17 years at the IRS, where she counseled both the Examination and Appeals offices, as well as the Employee Plans Division and District Counsel Offices. Tricia’s knowledge and background will enhance our ability to help clients navigate the increasingly complex landscape affecting employee benefit plans and executive compensation.”

“At the same time, Tricia’s experience on the Hill has put her in front of the most important congressional leaders and committees affecting private sector employers and groups,” Ms. O’Brien added.

Ms. McDermott joins several other Venable partners—Sam Olchyk and E. Ray Beeman—who also served as legislation counsel to the Joint Committee on Taxation.

“Knowing both Sam and Ray, and how well they have thrived at Venable, was a major factor in my decision to join the firm,” Ms. McDermott said. “I was also drawn to the breadth of Venable’s legislative, regulatory and employee benefits practices, in addition to the firm’s growing national reputation.”

Ms. McDermott has been a regular speaker on topics such as recent and pending legislation and administrative guidance, tax-favored retirement plans, employment taxes, employee leasing, executive compensation, and fringe benefits. Since 2001, she has been a member of the Tax Coalition, serving as its public-sector co-chair. In 2004, she became a member of the Federal Bar Association Section of Taxation steering committee in 2005.

She received an LL.M. in taxation, with distinction, from the Georgetown University Law Center (1989), and her J.D., cum laude, from Temple University School of Law (1982). She received her B.A., magna cum laude, from LaSalle College (1975).

03-26-2007

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Thacher Proffitt & Wood LLP

Thacher Proffitt Represented New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares in Planned Acquisition
Richard A. Schaberg, Christian H. Chandler, Matthew Dyckman, Cynthia D. Mann, Katrina G. Wilson

Thacher Proffitt served as special counsel to Newport, NH-based New Hampshire Thrift Bancshares in its planned acquisition of First Brandon Financial Corp. of Brandon, VT, in a cash and stock deal valued at $21.2 million.

03-26-2007

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