Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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Day Pitney, LLP

Day Pitney's Summer Associates Give Back to Local Communities
Day Pitney LLP, a leading full-service law firm with offices in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Boston, and Washington, D.C., announced the completion of the firm’s annual initiative where partners and associates work with the firm’s summer associates to support non-profit organizations in three Northeast cities. “We are pleased to have once again supported our communities by involving our summer associates in the firm’s goal to give back locally,” said Hope Cone, co-chair of Day Pitney’s professional recruitment committee. “Meaningful public service needs to be grounded in action. By taking an active part in our communities, we are able to form a stronger bond with our client base and grow as socially responsible attorneys.”

Each year, Day Pitney as a firm donates more than 2,000 hours of community service to local communities through volunteer activities and pro bono work. The summer associates’ participation in service events further strengthens the firm’s desire to advance a wide range of educational, cultural and humanitarian causes. This year, the firm’s recent service activities supported the Greater Boston Food Bank, Hartford’s Foodshare, Inc., and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark.

Greater Boston Food Bank: Boston summer associates inspected, sorted and repacked donated grocery products to be distributed to hunger relief agencies. The Greater Boston Food Bank distributes nearly 26 million pounds of food annually to agencies in a dedicated partnership to feed the region's hungry.

Foodshare, Inc.: At a local 4H Farm, Hartford summer associates aided local farmers in generating fresh produce for Foodshare, an organization that distributes 12 tons of food daily to nearly 400 charitable organizations, including community kitchens, emergency shelters, food pantries, and other anti-hunger programs in the greater Hartford area.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Newark Summer Enrichment Program: New Jersey and New York summer associates assisted in a variety of program areas for the Summer Enrichment Program, a Boys & Girls Club program that aims to empower Newark youths to support their community, maintain healthy, active lifestyles, and develop their creativity and cultural awareness.

“We are proud to develop a program for our summer associates that provides the foundation for a career in law, while also emphasizing the core values our firm represents,” said Dennis LaFiura, co-chair of Day Pitney’s executive committee. “It’s our privilege to serve organizations like the Greater Boston Food Bank, Hartford’s Foodshare, Inc. and the Boy’s & Girls Club of Newark, and we’re delighted to have had a bright and energetic group of summer associates contributing to these efforts.”

08-27-2007

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Kelley, Drye & Warren, LLP

Kelley Drye Welcomes David Laufman, Former Assistant United States Attorney, to the Firm as a Partner
Kelley Drye announced that it has welcomed David H. Laufman, former Assistant United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, to the firm as a Partner. Mr. Laufman is joining the firm’s White Collar Crime/Internal Investigations, Litigation, Campaign Finance and Political Law, and International Trade and Customs Practice Groups.

“The substance and breadth of the experience David gained while prosecuting high-profile cases at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, serving at the highest levels of the Department of Justice, and conducting government ethics investigations strengthens our ability to serve our clients,” said Paul C. Rosenthal, Managing Partner of Kelley Drye’s Washington, DC office. “David began his distinguished career as an Associate with Kelley Drye Collier Shannon twenty years ago, and we are pleased to welcome him back.”

Mr. Laufman brings extensive criminal trial experience to the firm, as well as a deep understanding of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and federal law enforcement agencies. From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Laufman served as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, where he specialized in prosecuting terrorism and other national security cases. In 2005, he served as lead trial counsel in the government’s successful prosecution of Ahmed Omar Abu Ali, an American citizen who was convicted of providing material support and resources to al-Qaeda, conspiring to assassinate the President of the United States, conspiring to hijack and destroy aircraft, and other charges. For his work on the Abu Ali case, Mr. Laufman received the Attorney General’s John Marshall Award for Outstanding Legal Achievement in Litigation, the Department of Justice’s highest award for excellence in litigation. Other notable cases that Mr. Laufman successfully prosecuted include United States v. Chandia, United States v. Khan (the “Virginia Jihad” case), United States v. Keyser, and United States v. Biheiri.

Prior to joining the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Mr. Laufman served as Chief of Staff to Deputy Attorney General Larry Thompson at the Department of Justice, where he assisted in managing the day-to-day operations of DOJ and helped to coordinate the Department’s responses to the September 11th terrorist attacks. He served as Executive Secretary of DOJ’s National Security Coordination Council and as DOJ’s representative to the National Security Council’s Policy Coordinating Committee on Terrorism Finance.

Mr. Laufman also brings extensive experience relating to ethics and public corruption investigations. From 1996 to 2000, he served as Investigative Counsel to the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct (“House Ethics Committee”), where he conducted several ethics investigations. Among the investigations that Mr. Laufman worked on were the cases concerning former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, former Representatives Jay Kim and Earl Hilliard, and Representative Corrine Brown. In 1997, Mr. Laufman played a central role in drafting and negotiating changes to the ethics rules of the House of Representatives in his capacity as Assistant to the Special Counsel to the Ethics Reform Task Force. Previously, he served as Associate Independent Counsel to Joseph E. diGenova in the “Investigation Concerning the Search of William J. Clinton’s Passport Files During the 1992 Presidential Election Campaign.” In 1992-1993, he also served as Senior Associate Minority Counsel to the Task Force to Investigate Certain Allegations Concerning the Holding of American Hostages by Iran in 1980 (the “October Surprise Task Force”), which was a bipartisan panel of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Mr. Laufman also enhances the firm’s International Trade Practice Group. In 2000-2001, he served as Staff Director and Deputy Chief Counsel to the Judicial Review Commission on Foreign Asset Control, a congressionally mandated body that examined U.S. laws governing the imposition of economic sanctions by the Department of the Treasury. Later, as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, he conducted investigations involving violations of export control and economic sanctions laws.

08-27-2007

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Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP

Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP Files Amicus Brief on Behalf of Guantanamo Bay Detainees, Outlines Israel’s Detention Practices
The U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari in Boumediene v. Bush and Al Odah v. United States. These cases address whether the parameters of the Military Commissions Act of 2006, which bars Guantanamo detainees from pursuing habeas corpus petitions, violates the Suspension Clause of the U.S. Constitution, and also whether the detainees are entitled to pursue habeas claims in federal court.

In conjunction with Stephen J. Schulhofer of the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law School, Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP filed an amicus brief on behalf of specialists in Israeli law in support of the petitioners, Boumediene and Al Odah. The brief outlines the practices and laws that Israel uses in its detention practices, which have been examined at length by the Israeli government and court system.

According to the brief, “despite Israel’s unremitting terrorist threat, the country’s courts have discerned no practical obstacle to exercising jurisdiction and guaranteeing the rule of law, regardless of the petitioner’s nationality or location. Israel affords all detainees prompt, independent judicial review of their detention, protected by procedural safeguards and aided by access to counsel.”

The Sutherland brief references Israel’s experience and success with this system in urging the Supreme Court to ensure that all detainees be afforded prompt, independent judicial review. The brief argues that the judgments of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit should be reversed.

Sutherland attorneys involved in the preparation and filing of the brief were Charles T. Lester, Jr., John A. Chandler, Avi Stadler, Drew D. Dropkin, Joshua A. Mayes, Kathleen Hanlon Sinclair and Benjamin C. Morgan. The Supreme Court will hear both cases this fall.

08-27-2007

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Quarles & Brady

Quarles & Brady Named Top Place To Work
Quarles & Brady LLP today announced that it has been named a Top Workplace by The Business Journal of Milwaukee.

“Our people and our culture are what make our organization one of the top places to work,” said Ann Murphy, Managing Partner of the Milwaukee Office of Quarles & Brady LLP, which has 1,089 employees nationwide. “We are pleased to be recognized alongside other successful, employee-friendly area businesses.”

Some of the criteria that have established the Firm as a top employer include: cultivating a culture that promotes diversity; providing professional development opportunities for all employees; supporting and championing employees’ civic and pro bono initiatives; and celebrating the unique talents and skills of its attorneys and staff. Additionally, Quarles & Brady's attention to work/life balance issues, flexible schedules including part-time and reducedhour schedules and job sharing, as well as alternative career paths have helped the Firm become an employer of choice in Southeastern Wisconsin.

Quarles & Brady LLP also offers an extensive ‘total rewards’ program for its employees that includes competitive compensation for all positions, professional development opportunities, generous benefits packages, and performance and recognition tools. Employees enjoy generous insurance packages, and personal and medical leave. Attorneys receive 12 weeks of paid personal medical leave and six weeks of paid parental leave for new fathers (or either parent in the case of adoption). Other benefits include domestic partner benefits, a pre-tax dependent care plan, and time off to care for a seriously ill spouse, child or parent. Perks include on-site financial and investing seminars, health club reimbursement, a subsidized transit program and even chair massages.

08-27-2007

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Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC

Womble Carlyle Welcomes Three Experienced Bankruptcy Attorneys to the Firm
Womble Carlyle Sandridge & Rice, PLLC is pleased to announce that three experienced Wilmington, Delaware bankruptcy attorneys—Steve Kortanek, Kevin Mangan and Frank Monaco—have recently joined us and are leading our new Wilmington, Delaware, bankruptcy practice.

Having a strong bankruptcy team in our Wilmington office is important to us and our clients because the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware is a leading venue for large Chapter 11 cases and related litigation.

"Womble Carlyle provides an excellent opportunity for our clients," Steve Kortanek said. "Womble Carlyle is known internationally for its dedication to client service, and we are honored to join such a distinguished firm."

Frank, Steve and Kevin handle all manner of Chapter 11 matters before the Delaware bankruptcy court and argue bankruptcy appeals to the federal district court in Delaware and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. They are well-known to the Delaware bankruptcy bench and bar, government officials, and business leaders in the state. They provide our clients with a "home court advantage" in any Delaware-based bankruptcy proceeding.

Our new Wilmington bankruptcy lawyers bring a combined 50 years of legal experience to the firm and, added to the bankruptcy attorneys in our other offices, make the firm’s Bankruptcy and Creditors Rights Practice Group a deep and talented group with the resources needed to handle the most complicated and demanding of Chapter 11 matters.

"The firm may be new to Delaware, but Womble Carlyle has been representing the needs of business clients since 1876," Frank Monaco said. "Businesses across the country and the world, including many Fortune 500 companies, trust Womble Carlyle to represent their interests."

"Womble Carlyle brings so many resources to the table. If one of our clients needs help with a merger and acquisition or labor and employment dispute, for example, all it takes is a phone call to one of our colleagues in those fields," said Kevin Mangan.

The Wilmington bankruptcy team handles a wide variety of client needs, whether acting as primary counsel, co-counsel or local counsel. The attorneys on the team represent creditors, creditors committees, secured lenders, administrators of confirmed Chapter 11 plans, and parties to bankruptcy-related litigation, and serve as Chapter 11 trustees.

The team can assist clients in obtaining repayment of debt and recovery of collateral through their knowledge of creditor remedies, debt restructuring techniques, and workout transactions. Frank, Steve and Kevin also have litigated:

* Contested Chapter 11 confirmation proceedings

* Lender liability claims, preferences and fraudulent transfers cases

* Non-dischargeability actions

* Debtor-in-possession financing disputes

* Valuation cases and

* Section 105 injunctions.

Chapter 11 bankruptcy also serves as an excellent vehicle to buy assets at bargain prices and with few legal entanglements. Many of the opportunities to buy bankruptcy assets are found in Delaware because of its heavy volume of Chapter 11 cases. For example, Wilmington team members recently closed a sale of 100 commercial leases bought through a bankruptcy proceeding—a $200 million transaction.

08-27-2007

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Wilmer, Cutler, Pickering, Hale & Dorr, L.L.P.

WilmerHale Victory For Securities Trade Associations Helps Protect Vibrant Secondary Market In Distressed Debt
A team of WilmerHale bankruptcy and appellate lawyers won an important victory for the Loan Syndications and Trading Association (LSTA), the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA) and the International Swaps and Derivatives Association (ISDA), when District Judge Shira A. Scheindlin of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York reversed a bankruptcy court decision that threatened to cause massive disruption in the secondary markets for trading bank debt, bond debt and other claims against a debtor in bankruptcy.

Recognizing that its decision would have “serious ramifications well beyond the parties involved,” the district court held that equitable subordination and disallowance are “personal disabilities” that do not transfer with claims when they are sold to good faith purchasers on the open market. The district court noted that the bankruptcy court’s contrary conclusion “threatened to wreak havoc on the markets for distressed debt. That result has now been avoided.”

The decision was a victory for the trade associations that WilmerHale represented, as amici curiae, in this appeal. In their amici brief, the associations apprised the court of the substantial market disruption caused by the bankruptcy court’s decision.

The WilmerHale team representing the amici curiae trade associations included Seth Waxman, Louis Cohen, Craig Goldblatt (who argued on behalf of the trade associations before the district court), James Millar, and Amy Oberdorfer Nyberg.

To view the International Swaps and Derivatives Association press release, click here.

To view the Loan Syndications and Trading Association press release, click here.

To view the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association press release, click here.

08-27-2007

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Hall & Evans, L.L.C.

Robert M. Ferm Appointed as Vice Chair of the ABA/TIPS Excess Surplus Lines Reinsurance Committee
Robert M. Ferm has been appointed as Vice Chair of the Excess Surplus Lines Reinsurance Committee of the American Bar Association/Tort Trial & Insurance Section for the 2007-2008 fiscal year.

08-27-2007

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