Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP.

MATTHEW T. VIOLA ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF S.U.C.C.E.S.S. FOR AUTISM
Matthew T. Viola, an associate at Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP, has been elected to serve on the Board of Directors of S.U.C.C.E.S.S. for Autism, an Ohio non-profit corporation. The purpose is to raise awareness of autism and related disorders.

Viola, a resident of Bay Village, is a member of the firm’s Real Property Practice Group in which he handles the acquisition and development of commercial and residential property, financing arrangements and the draft and review of all types of contracts and commercial leases. Viola has a general business practice including the formation and selection of proper entities, dissolutions, negotiations, mergers and acquisitions. He also is a member of the firm’s Family Business Planning and Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Groups.

Viola received his undergraduate degree from Miami University and his law degree from Cleveland Marshall College of Law where he served as managing editor of the Cleveland State University Law Review.

Taft, Stettinius & Hollister LLP has offices in Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton and Northern Kentucky. The firm provides a broad range of legal services to businesses and individuals, including litigation, corporate and business law, securities and municipal financing, tax and estate planning, labor and employment law, real estate and environmental, health care, intellectual property and unfair competition and antitrust law.

03-02-2007

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Shearman & Sterling LLP

Canaport LNG Terminal
We represented BBVA, Bank of Montreal, Banco Santander, La Caixa and The Royal Bank of Scotland, as arrangers, on the US$756 million project financing for the Canaport LNG terminal, a regasification facility sponsored by Repsol and Irving Oil. The terminal, to be completed by the end of 2008, will be located near Saint John in New Brunswick and will deliver one billion Bcf per day of regasified LNG to Eastern Canada and New England.

This is a landmark oil and gas transaction for the North American region, being the first new LNG receiving terminal to be constructed on North America’s East Coast in over 30 years, and was awarded "North American Mid-Stream Oil & Gas Deal of the Year 2006" by ProjectFinance magazine. The firm's team was led by partners Cynthia Urda Kassis and Gregory Tan.

03-02-2007

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Shearman & Sterling LLP

Energy Capital Partners’ Acquisition of Northeast Utilities’ Baseload Merchant Capacity
We represented Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Barclays and WestLB, as arrangers, in connection with the transaction awarded North American Merchant Power Deal of the Year 2006 by ProjectFinance magazine. The transaction involved Energy Capital Partners’ acquisition of Northeast Utilities’ baseload merchant capacity in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Shearman & Sterling represented the arrangers in connection with $855 million of first lien and second lien loans to finance ECP’s acquisition of the generating assets. The official announcement of the award was made in the February 2007 issue of the magazine. Partner Tricia Hammes and associate Hilary Allen led the firm’s representation in this matter.

03-02-2007

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Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Lynn Kappelman and Dan Klein Quoted in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly
The article, "Keeping the faith ... at work: Religion at office tests wall between church and state," in the February 26 issues of the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly notes "religious expression in the workplace is provoking debate among employees and employers and is, in some cases, leading to hard-fought lawsuits and major court decisions. The workplace has long been a hotbed of complaints alleging discrimination based on race, gender or sexual orientation, but only recently have intra-office conflicts — and ensuing complaints — about an individual's spiritual beliefs or observance of religious customs become more frequent.

"Faith-based discrimination claims against employers have increased "precipitously" in recent years, as have refusals by employees "to leave their religious practices in the parking lot" when they arrive at work, says the Massachusetts Bar Association in promotional literature it recently distributed for an educational program on "Religion in the Workplace." Among the faculty at the Jan. 30 standing-room-only event was Boston attorney Lynn A. Kappelman, who represents management in her employment practice. Kappelman attributes the emergence of religious faith as a workplace issue to "the emerging desire" for diversity of all kinds at places of employment. "There's a movement afoot to encourage people to bring their whole selves to the workplace, and that includes their religious practices, garb, music, paraphernalia at their desks."

"I want to emphasize that I'm not making a judgment call that it's a good or bad thing; you just have to recognize that [an employee's religious observance at work] has both financial costs and opportunity costs for the employer and the other employees," she says. As the debate continues, the establishment of "affinity groups" appears to be an option for employers dealing with employee requests for accommodation of their diversity — religious or otherwise. "People want to get together with other folks in the workplace who share their same beliefs and goals," Kappelman says. "Sometimes companies decide they want to encourage that, to make people feel as comfortable in the workplace as possible. What sometimes happens," Kappelman warns, "is you'll get divisiveness ... an evangelicals group, for example, that feels that gays and lesbians are all sinners. So you have to make sure affinity groups are not exclusive groups." Kappelman says "diversity consultants" are another option for employers. The consultants differ from lawyers retained to advise clients on diversity, among other issues, because "their focus is trying to encourage people to celebrate each other's differences," she says and adds, "It would be very hard to find a company these days that isn't encouraging diversity."

Boston management-side attorneys Lynn A. Kappelman and Daniel B. Klein track religion-related cases nationwide and are knowledgeable about the facts of a few of the more interesting legal challenges posed to employers by religiously observant employees in recent years: A "very well-known national company," as Kappelman describes it, was receiving numerous employee complaints about a Muslim religious practice that requires the washing of one's feet twice a day. "The Muslim employees were washing their hands and feet in the common bathrooms, and a lot of employees were offended," Kappelman explains, adding, "It was a bona fide religious practice." The company defused the situation, she says, by building a separate "ablution room" for the cleansing of feet. Klein tells of a court case in the state of Washington where a restaurant waiter who wore tattoos on his wrist was fired by his employer, which had a policy of "no visible tattoos." The waiter claimed that he was a Kemeticist and that his tattoos were in keeping with traditions of his ancient religion. "Ultimately, the court rejected the restaurant's argument that the tattoos were inconsistent with presenting a family-friendly image" for the eatery, Klein says. "The court also noted that not one customer had complained.

03-02-2007

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Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Steve Poor Quoted in Chicago Lawyer
The March 2007 issue of Chicago Lawyer reports on the future of law firms - - in both management and physical appearance. The article, "A new type of law firm: Management; culture and ideals will undergo change," reports that "Consultants, lawyers, and law firm managers look into their metaphorical crystal balls to describe what will need to change before tomorrow's law firm can become successful. They will need to manage their firms more like corporations with non-lawyers running the business side, and lawyers running the practice side. They will need to learn what type of firm they want to be, and will need to work harder to offer their clients' specialized service. "The guiding principle is to try to understand where your clients are, what kind of issues they are going to be confronting, and how to respond to those issues," said Stephen Poor, chairman and managing partner of Seyfarth Shaw. "As clients become larger, they begin to extend their reach. "The services that companies need change and evolve and are really responsive to the marketplace. They are going after certain segments. The trend is for law firms to think in segments of business, the kinds of clients, the kinds of work for clients, rather than being all things to all people."

The article, "Law firms create offices with more bells and whistles," opines "Imagine a cafeteria that looks more like a hip restaurant, or a conference room that changes in size depending on the meeting demands. What would a law firm be like if every office was the same size, or if partners gave up their corner offices? The law firm of the future will not only use different management styles and recruitment techniques, but will also design its building differently. Several of Chicago's large firms have already designed buildings with many of these details, while others are considering creating an office that does a better job of promoting collaboration and technology. According to Gensler's 2006 survey of U.S. offices, 88 percent of those in the surveyed legal community said that the quality of a work environment is very important to their sense of job satisfaction. Many law firms put a great deal of thought into the design and organization of their new buildings, and how both its employees and visitors will react to the look. Seyfarth Shaw, which worked with Gensler, wanted the design to help facilitate communication and collaboration among lawyers, said Stephen Poor, chairman and managing partner. The pressure on rates and the increasing costs of business can dictate a need to study space utilization, Poor said. The firm has less individual ceremonial space, such as individual offices, and more space that draws people together, he said. Couches and private areas encourage one-on-one time that is not behind a desk. The firm's offices are also universally the same size, and people like it, he said. "We are one of the few firms of our size to go with this size," he said. "It helps the culture of the firm. It's a more efficient use of the space.

03-02-2007

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Jenner & Block LLP

Jenner & Block Hosts JUF-TIP Young Entrepreneurs Night
Jenner & Block hosted more than seventy young professionals last week at the “JUF-TIP Young Entrepreneurs Night,” a cross-vocational professional networking opportunity sponsored by the Jewish United Fund’s Trades, Industries & Professionals Division. The program was designed to inspire attorneys and other professionals to explore the issues involved in establishing startup companies, and to create new business opportunities for those in attendance.

Jenner & Block Associate Elizabeth L. Fine, a member of the Firm’s Litigation Department and Co-Chair of the JUF-TIP Young Lawyers’ Group, helped to organize this event.

Following a brief cocktail reception, four entrepreneurs discussed the experiences they had founding start-up companies. The panelists addressed the risks they took in implementing their ideas and the lessons they learned from earlier failures. Among other things, they stressed the importance of having strong mentors and knowing your customer “inside and out.” Due to the inherent risk involved in entrepreneurial ventures, the panelists also advised the attendees to expect, learn from and persevere through failed endeavors when they happen.

Under the guidance of Jenner & Block Partner Debbie L. Berman, Ms. Fine founded the Young Lawyers’ Group in 2005 with Lesley Kagan, a Clinical Assistant Professor of Law at Northwestern University School of Law, to provide young attorneys in Chicago opportunities for professional and social networking, volunteering at local social service agencies, and educational programs.

“Liz and Lesley developed the Young Lawyers’ Group from nothing,” said Ms. Berman, a longtime leader within JUF and current JUF-TIP Chairman. “The overwhelming success of their programs shows that the group fills a desire amongst ambitious, charitable young professionals to meet and develop relationships with other like-minded individuals.”

In light of the rapid growth of the Young Lawyers’ Group, Ms. Fine has been aiding the JUF to establish similar groups for members of other professions. Ms. Fine served as Assistant Director, Government Relations for State Policy, at United Jewish Appeal-Federation of New York prior to attending law school.

“Jenner & Block’s commitment to the community and its support of my work with the JUF has enabled me to continue to give back as an attorney.” said Ms. Fine. “The leadership skills and the network of people I have met through JUF have also helped me to grow as a lawyer.”

Panelists at the “Young Entrepreneurs Night” included Lindsay Avner, a national advocate in involving young people in the fight against breast cancer and the Founder of BeBrightPink.org; Richard Levy, the founding President and Chief Executive Officer of Salad Spinners Restaurants.; Robert M. Okabe, the Co-Founder of RPX Group, a technology commercialization firm and strategic stakeholder in early stage startups; and David Weinstein, President of Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center, a nonprofit that helps Chicago entrepreneurs and high-growth businesses build viable, sustainable, and profitable enterprises.

The event was co-sponsored by the JUF-TIP Young Lawyers Group, Young Real Estate Group, and Wholesalers, Retailers and Manufacturers Division.

03-02-2007

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Holland & Knight, L.L.P.

Karen Walker Named Executive Partner of Holland & Knight's Tallahassee Office
Karen Walker has been appointed to serve as executive partner of Holland & Knight's Tallahassee, Fla., office. Walker, a partner in the firm's Government Section and member of the firm's Directors Committee, will oversee the day-to-day management of the Tallahassee office and focus on the expansion of its core practices, which involve representing clients before the legislative and executive branches of Florida government.

"Karen brings a wealth of experience to her new role within the firm," said Managing Partner Howell Melton. "She is a highly regarded lawyer and effective leader, and I am confident the Tallahassee office will benefit from the skills she has gained through her legal career and leadership responsibilities."

Walker will maintain her public policy and regulation practice, which encompasses all aspects of Florida administrative law. She has established a particular expertise in Florida state and local procurement matters and public utility law. Walker practices before the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings, various state agencies, the Florida Legislature and trial and appellate courts. Her leadership roles also include chair of the American Bar Association Public Contract Law Section''s IT Procurement Committee and immediate past chair of the Board of Directors of the United Way of the Big Bend, Inc.

Walker earned her B.S. magna cum laude from Florida State University in 1990 and her J.D., with high honors, in 1993 from the University of Florida College of Law.

03-02-2007

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