Law Firm News

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Arent Fox LLP

Northrup Joins Arent Fox’s Government Relations Practice
Arent Fox announced today that Stephen J. Northrup has joined the firm’s Government Relations Group as senior government relations director in the Washington, DC office.

Northrup joins the firm from his recent position as health policy director for the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, chaired by U.S. Senator Michael B. Enzi (R-Wyo.), where he helped Chairman Enzi author 18 new healthcare laws in the Committee’s jurisdiction during the last Congress. Northrup managed the Chairman’s agenda and led staff negotiations on a wide variety of issues, including medical device user fees, post-market surveillance of drugs and dietary supplements, biodefense preparedness, health insurance reform, electronic medical records, patient safety, autism awareness and research, and the reauthorization of critical laws governing HIV/AIDS treatment and the National Institutes of Health. Northrup also served as Senator Enzi’s health policy advisor upon joining his office in January 2003.

Prior to his years on Capitol Hill, Northrup was the Executive Director of the Long Term Care Pharmacy Alliance (LTCPA), where he coordinated and led LTCPA’s federal and state advocacy efforts on Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement for pharmacy services and other government initiatives that affected the profession and business of long-term care pharmacy. Additionally, Northrup has served as the Executive Director of the Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA), the national voice for the entrepreneurial sector of the medical device industry, and the Director of Government and Community Relations for Loyola University Medical Center.

“We are very excited that Steve is joining us at Arent Fox. His extensive experience in health care will greatly enhance our already significant health and food drug practice groups and will be extremely valuable to our life sciences manufacturer clients as well as our health provider and supplier clients,” said Marc Fleischaker, Arent Fox chairman.

Northrup received his master’s of public administration from George Mason University and his bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College.

12-13-2006

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Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.

ATTORNEYS SPARK INTEREST IN LEGAL CAREERS AMONG MINORITY HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS 50 Washington Metro Area Students Attend Street Law Conference
The Allstate/Premier Law Firm Diversity Roundtable hosted a conference today at the law firm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld for more than 50 area high-school students, who learned firsthand about corporate law practice.

The conference is the culmination of a semester-long educational outreach effort during which lawyers from Allstate and two of the company’s Premier Law Firms, Akin Gump and Kirkland & Ellis, visited Thomas A. Edison and T.C. Williams High Schools in Alexandria, Virginia, and instructed students in insurance and employment law. The curriculum used by the lawyers has been modeled after a legal diversity pipeline program developed by Street Law, Inc. and the Association of Corporate Counsel that encourages young people of color to consider law-related careers.

The December 13 Conference included:

* a videotaped message from Allstate corporate spokesperson, Dennis Haysbert
* an insurance litigation session where students demonstrated their knowledge of contracts, torts and insurance law acquired this semester in the classroom
* a mock trial based on a sexual harassment claim drawing from the students’ classroom lessons on the goals of Title VII and the elements of a Title VII sexual harassment claim, and
* a career fair featuring Allstate and PLF lawyers discussing the education and work credentials necessary for their jobs.

Students also had an opportunity to network with other attorneys and staff from Allstate, Akin Gump and Kirkland & Ellis.

The conference was hosted by the Allstate/Premier Law Firm Diversity Roundtable, whose mission is to be recognized as role models for U.S. corporations and law firms in their management of diversity and work/life practices.

Allstate and its Premier Law Firms recognize and embrace the role that large corporations can play in developing future leaders and is committed to encouraging diversity among its ranks. Diversity is especially important in the legal profession, where minorities today are severely under-represented. In Washington, D.C., for example, the 2003 survey by the U.S. Census Bureau reports that minorities account for 72 percent of the city’s population, yet a study by the National Association of Law Firm Placement reports that fewer than 12 percent of D.C.’s 12,006 lawyers (partners and associates) are minorities. Together with the Street Law Corporate Legal Diversity Pipeline Program, Allstate is addressing this issue by partnering with schools with large minority populations through the Street Law program and by educating students of color about legal careers.

“Our goal is to educate students, especially minority students, about the legal profession,” said Michael J. McCabe, vice president and general counsel of The Allstate Corporation and senior vice president and general counsel of Allstate Insurance Company. “We want them to understand that it offers much more than criminal law, which is mostly what they see on television.” McCabe has been personally involved in actively promoting the Street Law program.

Anthony T. Pierce, a partner at Akin Gump, added, “Akin Gump is committed to encouraging diversity in the legal field. In partnering with Allstate and others, we aim to provide a pipeline for the next generation of minority lawyers and other legal professionals.”

The Street Law program offers a proven way for corporations to take a proactive role in reversing the under-representation of minorities in the legal ranks.

“Street Law is pleased to be working with Allstate, its premier law firms and Fairfax and Alexandria City Public Schools to help prepare the next generation of lawyers and other legal professionals and to ensure greater diversity in the legal profession,” remarked Lee Arbetman, director of U.S. Programs at Street Law. “Allstate and its partners have made an impressive commitment to strengthening our community and our democracy.”

This year, Allstate is partnering with high schools in Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Newark, New Jersey. Allstate’s volunteer legal professionals serve as resources, mentors and teachers for the students, providing the extra academic education and support these students need to successfully pursue a legal career. Allstate has plans to roll-out this program in other regions in the future.

12-13-2006

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Robinson & Cole LLP

Robinson & Cole Trial & Appellate Advocacy Attorneys Publish Non-Competition Article in New England In-House
R&C's Trial & Appellate Advocacy attorneys John Bauer and Nancy Cremins recently wrote an article for New England In-House entitled "Enforcing a non-competition agreement through litigation can be risky." The article discusses companies that are considering filing a lawsuit against a former employee for breaching a non-competition agreement. Employers must assess the risks of suing former employees and understand that using a lawsuit to punish legitimate competition can sometimes backfire and expose your company to an increased financial risk.

12-13-2006

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Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP

Paul Hastings Earns Top Marks in Chambers 2007 Global Guide
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP (Paul Hastings), a leading international law firm, is pleased to announce that Chambers Global has named 19 of the firm's practice areas and 18 of its attorneys among the best in the world in its 2007 edition of Chambers Global: A Guide to the World's Leading Lawyers for Business. Upward movement in the rankings is a testament to the firm's global platform and its investment in key practice areas by adding top talent to its offices worldwide.
Paul Hastings practice areas and individual attorneys were ranked in the following categories and locations:

Banking & Finance: Foreign: (China/Hong Kong)

Banking & Finance: Foreign: (Japan)

Capital Markets: Foreign Securitization: (China/Hong Kong)
Attorneys recognized: Neil Campbell (Hong Kong)

Capital Markets: Foreign Securitization: (Japan)

Corporate/M&A: (France)
Attorneys recognized: Dominique Borde (Paris), Luc Saucier (Paris)

Corporate/M&A: (Japan)

Corporate/M&A: Foreign: (China/Hong Kong)
Attorneys recognized: Brett King (Hong Kong), David Livdahl (Beijing),

Corporate/M&A: Foreign: (Japan)

Corporate/M&A: Foreign: (South Korea)
Jong Han Kim (Hong Kong)

Dispute Resolution: (France)
Attorneys recognized: Dominique Borde (Paris)

Dispute Resolution: Foreign: (China/Hong Kong)

Dispute Resolution: Foreign: (Japan)
Attorneys recognized: Haig Oghigian (Tokyo)

Immigration: Business: (USA)
Attorneys recognized: Daryl Buffenstein (Atlanta)

Private Equity: Foreign: (China/Hong Kong)

Projects & Energy: Asia Pacific: (Global)
Attorneys recognized: Alex Regan (Hong Kong), Raj Pande (Tokyo)

Real Estate: Foreign: (China/Hong Kong)
Attorneys recognized: Joel Rothstein (Beijing)

Real Estate: Foreign: (Japan)

Tax: (France)
Attorneys recognized: Allard de Waal (Paris)

WTO/International Trade: USA (Global)

The following attorneys were individually ranked: Behnam Dayanim, WTO/International Trade: USA: Export Controls & Economic Sanctions for his work globally; Scott Hobby, TMT: Outsourcing (USA); Pierre Kirch, Competition/Antitrust (France); Raj Pande, Corporate/M&A: Foreign (India); and Joe Sevack, Capital Markets: Foreign: Debt & Equity (China/Hong Kong).

About Chambers: This is the seventh annual release of Chambers Global: A Guide to the World's Leading Lawyers for Business. For the current Global directory, over 6,500 interviews were conducted covering 170 countries. They were carried out by a team of 30 full-time researchers over a period of 12 months to arrive at the final rankings. Law firms and individual attorneys are ranked on a scale of 1-6 with an additional "U" ranking awarded to those considered Up and Coming. The qualities on which rankings are assessed include technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial awareness/astuteness, diligence, commitment, and other qualities most valued by the client.

12-13-2006

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O'Melveny & Myers, LLP

O'MELVENY & MYERS ANNOUNCES 2007 PARTNER CLASS
O'Melveny & Myers LLP announced today that 18 new partners will be admitted to the Firm effective February 1, 2007. Members of the 2007 partner class (the largest class in the firm's history) include Sharon M. Bunzel (San Francisco), Matthew Erramouspe (Century City), Robert F. Fisher (Los Angeles), Margaret C. Ikeya (Silicon Valley), Amy J. Laurendeau (Newport Beach), Qiang Li (Shanghai), Greta L.H. Lichtenbaum (Washington, D.C.), Paul Loynes (London), John-Paul Motley (Los Angeles), Marvin S. Putnam (Century City), Abby F. Rudzin (New York), Douglas A. Ryder (New York), Matthew MacKinnon Shors (Washington, D.C.), Robert M. Stern (Washington, D.C.), Andrew Varner (Washington, D.C.), Solomon Wifa (London), Ryan Yagura (Los Angeles), and Taurie M. Zeitzer (New York).

"We are extremely proud of our 2007 partner class," said A.B. Culvahouse, Jr., Chair of O'Melveny & Myers LLP. "Not only is it the largest new partner class in our firm's 121-year history, it is also one of the most diverse. This group of new partners is a tangible, visible example of our commitment to diversity in all of its dimensions. Our new partners represent a cross-section of our world-class practice areas, work in offices from Shanghai to London, and bring to our partnership a wealth of unique work and life experience. We believe this new class represents the very best of O'Melveny and embodies our values of excellence, leadership, and citizenship.

12-13-2006

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Foley & Lardner

Foley’s PE Matchmaker and Anne Ross Featured in Wisconsin Law Journal
In an effort to expand networking capabilities for clients, Foley & Lardner, LLP, recently introduced a innovative tool designed to increase peripheral business. Launched in October, the Private Equity Matchmaker (PEM) is expected to help attorneys within the firm refer business opportunities to clients.

The online program is thought to be unique in its technological bridging of business and legal service. "I think virtually all business law firms are involved at some level in helping their clients find financing for the clients' businesses," said attorney Anne E. Ross of Foley & Lardner in Madison.

"Foley's approach with Private Equity Matchmaker is different in that we have developed an in-house, proprietary software tool that continually searches our database, generates potential matches, and automatically generates an e-mail providing the referring attorney with the information needed to make the referral." Ross has worked in business law with Foley & Lardner for 25 years and is a partner in the Private Equity & Venture Capital and Commercial Transactions & Business Counseling Practices.

Making Connections
Foley's PEM tool is designed to aid attorneys in effectively recognizing and passing on prospective deals to private equity fund clients. Much like an online dating program, "seekers" are matched with "sources" based on criteria including transaction size, development stage, location and type of business attorneys are notified via e-mail of a potential client connection.

"As an attorney in Foley's Madison office, by entering a client's information into the 'fund seeker' questionnaire in PEM, I am able to identify potential funding sources throughout the country to whom one of my colleagues can introduce the client," said Ross. "A personal introduction can often make the difference in bringing a funding prospect's business plan to the top of the pile for review and consideration."

Both seekers and sources are also given a productivity rating by PEM. An escalating scale of chili pepper icons is used with five being considered the hottest in terms of activity.

Prosperous Process
Foley estimated that PEM currently has over 150 sources and 50 seekers. Ross stressed the significant benefits for both sides, built on speed and efficiency.

"For companies seeking funding, it can be difficult to identify appropriate funding sources and determine the best approach to be seriously considered for funding," said Ross. "So we can add value on both sides of the table by acting as matchmakers and distinguish ourselves from other law firms if we can do this faster, more often, and with better results for the companies and the funds."

With the significant exchange of information, attention to detail is essential for attorneys who must abide by ethical legal and business guidelines.

"Of course we have to take care not to disclose any confidential information without client consent, and to address potential conflicts of interest in an appropriate manner," said Ross, who added that the referral process requires a time investment that could otherwise be spent on billable work.

12-13-2006

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Fennemore Craig, P.C.

Fennemore Craig Is Proud to be Voted “Best Places to Work in the Valley” by The Phoenix Business Journal and BestCompaniesAZ Fennemore Craig is ighest Ranked Law Firm on List
The Phoenix Business Journal and BestCompaniesAZ (BCAZ), the co-founder of the Best Places to Work list, have announced that Fennemore Craig has been named to the 2006 list in the large-sized category. Fennemore Craig ranked sixth, the highest among all law firms on the list in all categories.

The Best Places to Work list, which was started in 2003, recognizes Valley companies who, through a third party administered employee survey, are ranked as being the best places to work. The areas surveyed are varied parts of employee life, including workplace environment, leadership direction, culture, and management practices.

Fennemore Craig was acknowledged for creating an enjoyable corporate culture and work environment that fosters personal and professional growth for its employees. “We are gratified to be recognized among the Valley’s best places to work. We strive to maintain a work environment that helps employees excel both professionally and personally,” said Tim Berg, Fennemore Craig managing partner.

Winners were announced at the Best Places to Work luncheon, December 7 at the Arizona Biltmore, and will be featured at the Best Workplace Business Forum hosted by BestCompaniesAZ on February 1 in Phoenix.

12-13-2006

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