Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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Howard Rice Nemerovski Canady Falk & Rabkin, P.C.

Well-Known Executive Compensation And Employee Benefits Attorney Alison Wright Joins Howard Rice
Howard Rice Nemerovski Canady Falk & Rabkin today announced that Alison E. Wright has joined the firm’s Business Department and the Tax Strategies & Planning Practice Group. As special counsel at Howard Rice, Ms. Wright's practice will focus on executive compensation and employee benefits, including non-qualified deferred compensation plans, stock compensation plans, employee stock purchase plans, executive employment and severance agreements and traditional employee benefit issues.

Ms. Wright is a well-known speaker on executive compensation issues. She has recently spoken to professionals at the Certified Equity Professional Institute's 3rd Annual CEP Symposium and the National Association of Stock Plan Professionals National Conference. She recently co-authored Criminal and Civil Charges Brought in Stock Option "Backdating" Schemes, which was published in The Journal of Employee Ownership Law and Finance.

"Alison's unique combination of skills will help the firm enhance our service to our public and private clients by addressing a wide range of issues relating to compensation and benefits. Executive compensation and employee benefits is a multi-disciplinary practice that combines tax, securities, employment and ERISA expertise, and it's very hard to find someone who can cover these areas as well as Alison does. Perhaps more importantly, she does it in a way that is very accessible to clients — clients love Alison, "commented Deborah A. Marshall, a director in the Business Department and member of the firm's Management Committee. She continued, "Alison's substantive experience and the reputation for excellence that she has built among her clients makes her a great fit for Howard Rice."

Ms. Wright received her J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law in 1995. She also holds an LL.M. from New York University School of Law and a B.A. from Colby College, which she received in 1989. Prior to joining Howard Rice, Ms. Wright was an associate with Trucker Huss, a law firm specializing in employee benefits. She also practiced at Cooley Godward LLP, where she advised a broad range of public and private technology companies primarily on executive compensation matters.

11-27-2006

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Holland & Knight, L.L.P.

Holland & Knight Partner Brian D. Starer Selected to Receive the 2007 Chesterfield Smith Partner Award
Holland & Knight is pleased to announce that Brian D. Starer, a partner in the firm's New York office, has been selected to receive the 2007 Chesterfield Smith Partner Award. The award will be presented at the firm's Annual Partner Retreat in March 2007.

The Chesterfield Smith Partner Award is the highest individual honor given to a firm partner. It is given not more than once a year to the Holland & Knight partner who best exemplifies the highest ideals of legal professionalism. The award was established in honor of Chesterfield Smith, the architect of the firm, who dedicated his professional life to creating, promoting and building Holland & Knight into one of the world's great law firms. Chesterfield Smith was the first recipient of the award.

"Brian exemplifies all the qualities for which the Chesterfield Smith Partner Award is given, and he has brought great distinction to the firm," said Holland & Knight Managing Partner Howell W. Melton, Jr. "He is a nationally and internationally recognized leader in maritime law with a successful practice focused on marine casualties including groundings, sinkings, fires, collisions and environmental pollution. Brian has earned widespread trust and respect of clients, colleagues, and other lawyers throughout the world. It is fitting that we honor this extraordinary individual who has given so selflessly to our firm and the communities we serve."

Starer began practicing law in 1972 at Haight Gardner Poor & Havens. During his legal career, he has been involved with more than 100 marine casualties worldwide. He serves as head of Holland & Knight's Rapid Response Team, which responds to maritime and environmental casualties wherever they occur.

According to tradition, the achievements of the Chesterfield Smith Partner Award recipient transcend an individual's legal successes and improve the welfare of all firm lawyers and staff. As vice chair and director of the Holland & Knight Charitable Foundation, Inc., Starer's leadership in establishing the 9-11 Memorial Wall honoring the New York City's firefighters demonstrated his deep and constant commitment to the core values of Holland & Knight.

Starer has also been the driving force behind other Holland & Knight initiatives, including the New York office's Opening Doors for Children program at P.S. 19 and the firm's national Holocaust Remembrance Program. Throughout his career, he has been honored by many organizations for his demonstrated personal commitment and professional excellence in the law and in the community

11-27-2006

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Holland & Knight, L.L.P.

Two Holland & Knight Deals Selected as Finalists in The 5th Annual M&A Advisor Awards
The M&A Advisor Awards recently named two Holland & Knight deals as finalists. The work of the firm's M&A practice group was recognized in both the Business to Business and Media and Telecommunications Deal of the Year categories. Finalists are selected in preparation for the publisher's annual tribute to outstanding achievements in the middle market M&A industry.

Companies and individual professionals that have demonstrated major accomplishments and the most impressive transactions during the past year are recognized once a year by The M&A Advisor. Criteria for selection are that transaction values must be above $10 million and below $1 billion with firms working primarily in the middle market.

In the Business to Business category, the sale of CAS Inc. to EDO Corporation was selected as a finalist. This sale was valued at approximately $180 million. Partners William Mutryn, Samuel Kastner and associate Shannon Knotts led the CAS Inc. legal team. The team included partners Jocelyn Brittin, John Dierking, Jon Epstein, Bonni Kaufman, Ron Oleynik, Paul Pompeo, Kenneth Stuart, Jane Tam and Jonathan Wolcott. Additional support was provided with the help of Senior Counsel Al Geske, associates Maria Lumb, Antonia Tzinova, and Jeffrey Rubinger.

The sale of three AboveNet Inc. data centers to Digital Realty Trust Inc. was named as a finalist in the Media and Telecommunications Deal of the Year category. The unique nature of this transaction valued at over $40 million involved the sale of both physical assets and real property owned by AboveNet Communications. Susan Booth, Samuel Kastner and Vernon Lynch represented Digital Realty Trust Inc. in the transaction.

All finalist entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges from business schools and the financial press. Winners will be announced on Dec. 11, 2006, during the two-day M&A Advisor Conference in New York City.

11-27-2006

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Davies, Ward, Phillips & Vineberg, LLP

Quarterly Executive Survey Reveals Views on Income Trusts
ovember 27, 2006 - Results from the fourth Report on Business C-Suite Survey, sponsored by Davies and KPMG, were announced today. This quarterly survey of CEOs, CFOs and COOs reports on the views of executives from some of Canada's largest companies.
A report on the survey findings appears in today's Report on Business.
Click here to view the Globe & Mail's online coverage of the survey findings.
Jay Swartz, from Davies' Toronto office, will appear on an ROB-TV special presentation at 8.30 p.m. this evening as part of an expert panel to discuss the findings.
The special will be available online tomorrow morning (Tuesday, November 28).
Click here to be directed to the ROB-TV website and view the panel discussion.
Click here for a full report on the survey findings.
This fourth survey, focusing on income trusts, seeks the views of C-Suite executives on issues including:
* support for recently announced tax changes on income trusts
* support for the Federal Government's reasoning behind the Oct. 31 announced changes
* impact of government changes on existing trusts, potential conversions and the Canadian economy
* impact of this and other government decisions on voting intention
This survey also continues to track their views on:
* expectations for the Canadian and U.S. economies in the next 12 months
* impressions and confidence in Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty
* Canadian productivity challenges and concerns
Through our support of this survey series, Davies hopes to provide a better understanding of the views of Canadian business leaders on a range of public policy, management and strategic issues. The surveys are conducted by the Gandalf Group, led by David Herle.
Click here for archived results from the first survey in this series, seeking opinions on federal priorities.
Click here for archived results from the second survey in this series, seeking opinions on the federal budget and productivity.
Click here for archived results from the third survey in this series, seeking opinions on foreign ownership and the Canadian economy.

11-27-2006

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Chadbourne & Parke LLP

Kyunghoon Lee Joins Chadbourne & Parke LLP'S Korea Practice
The international law firm of Chadbourne & Parke LLP announced today that Kyunghoon Lee has joined the Firm as Counsel for Korea, resident in the Firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Prior to joining Chadbourne, he was Vice President and Corporate Counsel for Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. and acting General Counsel for the Samsung Strategic Planning Office in Seoul, Korea.

Mr. Lee, 44, has more than 16 years of experience in the corporate sector. While at Samsung, he was also Vice Chairman of the Korean Corporate Counsel Association. His expertise in Korean law includes M&A, joint ventures, strategic alliances, corporate restructurings and work on the improvement of corporate governance. Mr. Lee is a member of the Korean Securities Law Association, the Corporate Law Institute and the advisory committee to the Korean Listed Companies Association. He is also a member of the New York and Korean bars.

11-27-2006

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Adams & Reese LLP

Isaac Johnson IV Joins Houston Office of Adams and Reese LLP
Adams and Reese is pleased to announce that Isaac Johnson IV has joined the firm’s Houston office as an associate with the Real Estate Practice Team in the Transactions and Corporate Advisory Services Group. He will also work closely with Banking and Finance Practice Team. He has represented numerous financial institutions and business entities. His experience includes handling matters of interim, permanent and construction financing facilities; bond construction loans; negotiating and drafting loan documents; participation agreements; the purchase and sell of loan portfolios; and banking regulatory laws. He also has experience with commercial retail leases and industrial leases; conducting title and survey reviews; purchase and sale of unimproved and improved properties.

Prior to joining Adams and Reese, Mr. Johnson served as First Vice President and National Manager of Loan Administration in the Community Lending and Investment Group of a well-established national bank. He managed and provided counsel to loan closers and relationship managers overseeing commercial multifamily real estate projects including: bond construction loans, permanent loans, rehabilitation project loans, participations, ground leases, bond enhancement letters of credit, and loan purchases. His team closed deals in New York City, Houston, Atlanta, Miami, Chicago, Seattle, and throughout the state of California. He also has experience serving as Vice President and Business Development Officer of a large regional bank and has completed internships with the legal department of JPMorgan Chase Bank and the Mergers and Acquisition Group of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

Mr. Johnson earned his Juris Doctorate cum laude from Thurgood Marshall School of Law of Texas Southern University in 2002, where he served as President of the Student Bar Association. He was also a member of the James Douglas Board of Advocates and Phi Delta Phi International Legal Fraternity. In1998, Mr. Johnson earned his Master of Business Administration degree from Jackson State University, where he received the Presidential Scholar Award, and in 1992, he earned his Bachelor of Business Administration in Banking and Finance from Mississippi State University, where he served as President, Financial Management Association.

Mr. Johnson has twenty years of military service. He is currently a Major in the 336th Finance Command of the United States Army Reserve. In this capacity, he has served as the unit’s Compliance and Finance Policy Officer and managed a $100 million budget for rebuilding efforts while deployed to Afghanistan, where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his accomplishments.

11-27-2006

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Adams & Reese LLP

Adams and Reese Welcomed National Transportation Officials
Adams and Reese LLP and the Memphis Regional Chamber co-hosted a reception for U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Mary Peters, and five other commissioners responsible for reporting on the country’s future surface transportation needs to Congress next year. The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission will conduct hearings and technical tours in Memphis and New York City on November 15 and 16.

Transportation Needs Require Education and Innovation
(Excerpt from Testimony of Chairman Norris before the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission on November 15, 2006)

As Chairman of the Economic Development, Transportation, and Cultural Affairs Committee of the Southern Legislative Conference, part of my job is to foster and encourage innovation and cooperation between the federal government and the Southern States in the development of our nation's long-term transportation policy.

Intergovernmental innovation and cooperation is alive and well in West Tennessee. I represent the "West Coast of Tennessee" in the Tennessee Senate. It is one of the nation's main arteries of transportation and commerce. It includes the I-69 corridor, Mississippi River, and the world's largest cargo airport, not to mention the home of Federal Express. Last month, we broke ground for construction of a new port at Cates Landing in northwest Tennessee. A coalition of Lake, Obion and Dyer Counties worked with state and federal governments to make this a reality. Road improvements funded under the highway reauthorization, dredging funded under the Safe Harbors Act, bonds and other improvements approved by the State of Tennessee, and joint participation agreements made this a model of regional cooperation in economic development.

Similar innovation and cooperation will be essential in coming years as congestion increases and funding decreases. By 2030, the population of the South is projected to increase by 43 percent. With 36 percent of the population 55 and older residing in the South, transportation decisions should be made that reflect and accommodate this growing population.

In addition, the South's impressive inter-modal capacities including the array of aviation, shipping, rail and trucking, and the need to constantly upgrade these capacities, will present special needs. Southern ports play a tremendous role in overall waterborne commerce and international trade. Almost 75 percent of waterborne exports and imports travel through a Southern port. We must have strategies and resources to expand.

These challenges present us with opportunities which may be lost unless we do three things: first, we must raise public awareness and educate the general public about the importance of maintaining and improving transportation; second, work to achieve greater flexibility in federal funding by encouraging regional collaboration, public/private partnerships, and local control; and third, promote alternative energy, both as a source of energy independence from foreign oil and as a means of fostering economic development.

Tennesseans need a better understanding of the interrelationships between roads, public transportation, commerce, the environment and overall quality of life. While all politics may be local, the broader economic implications of regional, national and international economies must be put into proper perspective. All too often, efforts to increase funding for transportation are equated solely with the construction of new roads rather than properly maintaining the roads and public transportation systems we already have. Citizens need to understand the costs and benefits of both.

Performance-based measures are important to maximize funding, align resources with desired results, and encourage devolution of federal authority to the states. These performance-based measures, in turn, should create incentives to depoliticize appropriations and decentralize decision making when it comes determining how best to serve the ultimate consumer, John Q. Public.

Promoting alternative energy also means finding practical alternatives to the gasoline tax and improving mass transit. This will not succeed unless the public is properly educated and can determine, for example, whether the benefits of a toll road outweigh the burdens of a higher gas tax; whether mass transit is efficient and cost-effective enough to encourage metropolitan area residents out of their automobiles.

As a State Senator, I realize that many states will likely have to do more with less in the next decade. But several regions, including the South, will require more if we are to meet the demands of the nation to remain competitive. This can be done provided we have the flexibility to fully leverage our resources, but taxpaying citizens must be properly educated about the challenges we face and the consequences if we fail to meet them.

Mark Norris is Special Counsel to the law firm of Adams and Reese LLP. He is Chairman of the Tennessee Senate Transportation and Safety Committee and Chairman of the Southern Legislative Conference Economic Development, Transportation and Cultural Affairs Committee.

11-27-2006

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