Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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Crowell & Moring LLP

Chambers USA Ranks 28 Crowell & Moring Attorneys and 13 Practice Areas
Crowell & Moring LLP is pleased to announce that 28 of its leading U.S.-based attorneys have been named to the 2007 Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business guide. The prestigious rankings are driven by independent interviews of clients and members of the legal community at outside law firms.

Five of Crowell & Moring's practice areas were ranked among the best in the nation and eight were ranked among the best in the District of Columbia. The firm’s Government Contracts and Aviation groups were ranked “one,” the highest ranking a practice group can achieve.

Chambers' staff of full-time researchers conduct in-depth interviews with attorneys and clients and make selections based on satisfaction, professional ability and reputation. The USA Guide was first introduced in 2003. Based in London, Chambers and Partners began as general book publishers in 1969.

06-21-2007

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Bingham McCutchen, LLP

Bingham Expands in Japan with Addition of 22-Lawyer Tokyo Firm
Bingham McCutchen LLP, a 1,000-lawyer U.S. firm with global capabilities, announces that it will combine with New Tokyo International Law Office, a premier insolvency, corporate and litigation firm of approximately 22 lawyers. The combination will increase the number of lawyers in Bingham’s Tokyo office to more than 50 Japanese lawyers and six foreign lawyers.

The combination with New Tokyo, founded by Mitsue Aizawa and Yutaka Kimura, expands Bingham’s on-the-ground capacity in Asia and further bolsters its renowned cross-border restructuring and insolvency practice. The New Tokyo firm is also known for its corporate finance practice, representing major corporations, financial institutions, insurance companies and investment banks. Earlier this year, Bingham combined with another leading restructuring firm, Sakai & Mimura, founded by Hideyuki Sakai, with approximately 20 Japanese lawyers (bengoshi).

“We’re creating a client-driven leading restructuring, financial services and corporate firm with solid resources in Japan, further expanding Bingham’s global reach,” said Bingham Chairman Jay S. Zimmerman, noting that the opening of Japanese financial markets has spurred exceptional activity, fueling corporate deals and intellectual property transactions.

Most recently, Bingham’s Tokyo office represented Calpis in its $900 million acquisition by Ajinomoto, two major players in Japan’s food and beverage industry. “Bingham is positioned to accommodate clients based in Japan and those conducting business there,” said Zimmerman.

Aizawa noted that legacy New Tokyo clients are increasingly thinking of overseas strategies. “We want to be able to provide our clients the global backup they need,” she said. “By joining Bingham, we are increasing our ability to provide one-stop services in the corporate and corporate compliance area. Moreover, our depth of practice in insolvency and the insurance area combined with Bingham’s insolvency proficiency gives us tremendous strength.”

The addition of the New Tokyo firm, with its 22 Japanese lawyers, and the pending arrival of 10 new Japanese lawyers to Bingham’s Tokyo office later this year, will bring Bingham’s number of bengoshi to more than 50, among the highest for foreign law firms in Japan. In addition, Bingham’s Japanese Practice, with its 50 lawyers outside of Japan, focuses on large-scale, cross-border financial restructurings, corporate/M&A and finance matters, and has significant intellectual property, antitrust and litigation strengths.

The combination will take effect on or around October 1, the anticipated completion date of Bingham’s new and expanded Tokyo office space. (Pursuant to Japanese bar rules, lawyers from both firms must occupy the same space in order to combine officially.)

06-21-2007

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Bingham McCutchen, LLP

Bingham Represents Bondholders on €358M Restructuring of Apax LBO, Damovo Group; Debt/Equity Swap Gains Bondholders 100%
Bingham’s London office represented the €358 million bondholders of Damovo Group SA on the restructuring of global IT consultancy, Damovo Group SA, which closed June 8.

Private equity sponsor Apax Partners opened negotiations with bondholders in October 2006 following financial difficulties at Damovo, a 2001 buy-out from Ericsson. Under the consensual restructuring, which was approved by some 95% of bondholders, 100% of the Damovo business outside Italy was transferred to bondholders, leaving Apax Partners with no residual interest.

“This transaction is the next in the recent wave of restructurings of busted LBOs, following TMD Friction” said James Roome, co-head of Bingham’s Financial Restructuring Group. “We are finding that the complex layers of debt typical in LBOs means that debt/equity swaps have to be structured, effectively, as secondary buy-outs. This makes the transactions more time-consuming and risky than traditional restructurings.”

The restructuring was implemented through the appointment of Maggie Mills and Stephen Harris of Ernst & Young as English administrators of the two Luxembourg holding companies, Damovo Group SA and Damovo III SA, by virtue of the EC Regulation on cross-border insolvency proceedings.

Stephen Peppiatt, finance partner at Bingham, added that “we believe this is the first time that European holding companies have been placed in administration in England under the EC Regulation in order to implement a bondholder restructuring through a pre-packaged administration sale. While similar structures have been mooted in the past as contingency plans, this is the first to have been implemented successfully.”

In addition to Roome and Peppiatt, the Bingham team included London-based partner James Terry and London associates Emma Simmonds, Paul Durban and Sophie Jermine.

In the last year, Bingham’s financial restructuring team in London has advised the fulcrum creditors on a series of private equity LBO restructuring deals. The paradigm case was the €800 million restructuring of the German brake parts manufacturer, TMD Friction, a Montagu Private Equity buy-out which proved to be one of the largest deals of the year, on which Bingham represented the mezzanine lenders who converted their debt into equity control of the group. Other LBO restructurings on which the team has advised include LeisureLink Holdings, Focus DIY, Luxfer Holdings and JR Crompton.

06-21-2007

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Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC

Baker Donelson Recognizes Attorneys for Pro Bono Work
Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, PC, has recognized a number of attorneys throughout the Firm for their pro bono work.

David F. Maron was named the firm-wide 2007 Baker Donelson Pro Bono Attorney of the Year. A shareholder in the Jackson, Mississippi office of Baker Donelson, Mr. Maron was recognized for his pro bono service providing legal assistance in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. As the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Mississippi District Representative and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Liaison for Disaster Legal Assistance, Mr. Maron provided more than 120 hours of pro bono service for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Mr. Maron's efforts have been recognized by the American Bar Association Young Lawyers Division with its "Star of the Quarter" award and by the Mississippi Center for Justice with one of only three statewide awards for "Exemplary Pro Bono Service in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina."

Baker Donelson also recognized attorneys in many of its individual offices for their pro bono efforts.

* D. Keith Andress, Birmingham Pro Bono Attorney of the Year. A shareholder in the Birmingham office, Mr. Andress was recognized for his pro bono service on a health care litigation case.
* Thomas A. Caldwell, Chattanooga Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: Mr. Caldwell, a shareholder in the Chattanooga office, was recognized for a range of pro bono work stemming from his service as a board member for more than 53 years of the Orange Grove Center, a local private non-profit organization serving adults and children with developmental disabilities. In the past year, his pro bono work has included preparing conservatorship petitions for approximately twenty local families, preparing self-settled special needs trusts and working on behalf of a client who acts as a conservator for three adults.
* David A. Rueff and J. Scott Newton, Jackson (Mississippi) Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year: Both shareholders in Baker Donelson's Jackson, Mississippi office, Mr. Rueff and Mr. Newton were recognized for their service providing legal assistance to Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour's Commission for Recovery, Rebuilding and Renewal. The two attorneys also worked with the Governor and his staff on drafting legislation to establish the Governor's Office of Recovery and Renewal. The legislation was subsequently passed to fund the office, which now leads the Governor's recovery efforts.
* Kelli L. Thompson, Knoxville Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: Ms. Thompson, managing shareholder of Baker Donelson's Knoxville office, was recognized for providing pro bono legal assistance to an individual diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Her work helped the individual obtain social security disability benefits and health insurance coverage.
* Steven F. Griffith Jr. and Daniel S. Terrell, Louisiana Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year. Mr. Griffith, an associate in the New Orleans office, was recognized for his work on three pro bono cases in the last year for clients who were denied wages from their employers. An associate in the Mandeville office, Mr. Terrell was recognized for his efforts related to various matters for three pro bono clients in the last year. He drafted and negotiated construction contracts for two non-profits and led the representation in immigration court of an unaccompanied child released from detention in the United States.
* Kristine L. Roberts, Memphis Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: Ms. Roberts, an associate in the Memphis office, was recognized for her work as a regular volunteer with the Attorney-of-the-Day Courthouse Advice Clinic at the Shelby County Courthouse. The clinic, which takes place every Thursday afternoon, allows volunteer lawyers to provide free advice to the public regarding such matters as landlord-tenant disputes, consumer credit issues, bankruptcy cases, domestic relations concerns, and a host of other legal questions.
* Matthew Sweeney, Nashville Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: A shareholder in the Nashville office of Baker Donelson, Mr. Sweeney was recognized for his pro bono service on a death penalty case. Mr. Sweeney devoted hundreds of hours of work to investigating and analyzing the case, related cases and surrounding circumstances in support of a petition for post conviction relief.
* David Harvey, Tri-Cities (Tennessee) Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: An associate in the Johnson City office of Baker Donelson, Mr. Harvey was recognized for his pro bono service on a case involving the Termination of Parental Rights in which the state sought to terminate the parental rights of an indigent mother whose two sons had been in custody of the Tennessee Department of Children's Services for three years.

"Our goal in naming Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year was to acknowledge attorneys in our Firm who consistently demonstrate a personal commitment to Baker Donelson's longstanding support of pro bono legal services," said Jonathan Cole, head of the Firm's Pro Bono Committee. "Each of these attorneys has done work that is exemplary of the type of service this award was designed to recognize."

Through its commitment to pro bono representation, Baker Donelson provides legal services to groups and individuals who are likely to be marginalized in the legal system due to economic barriers. Over the years, the Firm's attorneys have provided a variety of counsel to many populations, including immigrants, refugees, the elderly and the impoverished. Baker Donelson has also served as a leader in providing legal service for rural communities via telephone, addressing matters concerning home ownership, landlord/tenant disputes, car payments, credit and student loan payments.

06-21-2007

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Weil, Gotshal & Manges, LLP

Weil Gotshal Partner Konrad L. Cailteux Honored by Austrian Government
Konrad L. Cailteux, a partner at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, has been awarded the Grand Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria for his work in assisting the Austrian government establish restitution and compensation measures for victims of the Nazi regime in Austria. Mr. Cailteux served as lead counsel for the Austria government in its effort to achieve legal closure for all claims against Austria and Austrian companies. Specifically, Mr. Cailteux helped negotiate the agreements establishing the Austrian Fund for Reconciliation, Peace and Cooperation as well as the General Settlement Fund for Victims of National Socialism.

Austrian State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Hans Winkler, presented Mr. Cailteux with the award in a ceremony in Vienna, Austria on June 14, 2007.

06-21-2007

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Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.

Fulbright Named Among Top 20 Corporate Firms Nationwide
For a sixth year in a row, the international law firm of Fulbright & Jaworski has been selected among the Top 20 corporate law firms in the nation, moving up one spot to No. 12, according to Corporate Board Member Magazine’s 2007 rankings based on a survey of more than 800 directors of public companies.

Click here to view publication

“Doing well in our survey has become a singular badge of honor, for the very reason that it doesn’t come from the law firms’ peers,” said William S. Rukeyser, editorial director of Corporate Board Member. “It’s an accolade from their customers – the directors, executives and general counsel who hire them, pay their bills and thrive or suffer from their advice.”

A separate survey went to 235 general counsel of publicly traded companies. Fulbright was one of only 18 firms nationwide to be included among the Top 20 firms in both surveys. Fulbright’s corporate attorneys advise a diverse client base on legal issues ranging from obtaining financing to maintaining operations in today’s highly competitive, high-speed business environment.

“Our clients’ endorsement is the best praise we can receive,” said Paul Jacobs, co-head of Fulbright’s corporate practice. “We are ready to meet our clients needs and to serve them in the areas and global markets where they are doing business based on an understanding of international industries and markets in a thriving global economy.”

In addition to the rankings, the Corporate Board Member surveys asked for directors’ and general counsels’ opinions on the importance of variety of legal issues. More than 90 percent of directors and general counsel expressed that the management and mitigation of risks are a growing concern.

Fulbright helps clients mitigate such legal risks through its corporate governance practice. This fall, Fulbright, along with Rice University, will offer a comprehensive directors’ education program through the newly established Rice University/Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. Corporate Directors’ Institute.

Fulbright Partner Peggy A. Heeg, who is a member of Fulbright’s Executive Committee, says the exclusive program is designed to foster an open, inquisitive and free-flowing environment in which board members can come together this October to discuss the issues that impact them most directly.

“Everyone has a vested interest in making sure corporate leaders have current information to provide effective oversight,” Heeg said. “Our program is uniquely positioned to move beyond theoretical discussions and provide practical tools to enable directors to carry out their fiduciary and strategic oversight responsibilities.”

06-21-2007

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Cozen O' Connor

Cozen O’Connor Attorney Jeffrey L. Nash Receives Children and Family Commitment Award
Cozen O’Connor member Jeffrey L. Nash was recently awarded the Children and Family Commitment Award by the Center for Family Services Youth Empowerment System (YES) Facility. The award was presented to Nash in honor of his commitment to children and families, which led to the creation of the YES facility, a safe haven for troubled children and abused runaways. Nash was the driving force in establishing the YES center and is its former Freeholder Director. The facility, which has served over 2100 children, adolescents and families since 1997, provides shelter for Camden County youth for short-term emergency care and long-term residential treatment, along with therapy, education services, job readiness training, after-care, and substance abuse treatment and prevention education.

Nash practices with the firm’s subrogation and recovery practice group in its Cherry Hill, N.J., office. He is a Camden County freeholder and vice chairman of the Delaware River Port Authority. Nash is the recipient of the 2004 New Jersey Boy Scouts of America Distinguished Citizen Award, 2005 Paul Porado Humanitarian Award from Larc School in Bellmawr, N.J., the 2005 Camden County College Pro-Beneficio-Dato Distinguished Public Service Award, and the 2006 Camden Children’s Garden Champion of Children’s Award and United Way of Camden County Dr. Nathan Asbell Community Service Award.

A resident of Cherry Hill, Nash earned his undergraduate degree (B.A., 1980) at George Washington University and his law degree (J.D., 1983) at Hofstra University School of Law. He is admitted to practice in New York, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

06-21-2007

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