Law Firm News

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Law Firm News

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Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC

First Wine Bottle Glass Plant in 30 Years to be Built in the Port of Kalama, Washington
Cameron Family Glass Packaging announced today the completion of a $109 million financing deal that will allow the company to move forward with the creation of the first new glass plant built in the United States in 30 years that will manufacture glass exclusively for the wine industry. The facility is expected to create at least 90 jobs when it is completed in the latter part of 2008.

Representing the company in the $109 million financing was the law firm of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC. The firm and the Camerons have worked together for more than 20 years, led by shareholder Francis A. Muracca, II. The project finance team that worked on this deal included Buchanan attorneys Timothy M. Hazel, Deborah B. Walrath, Thomas G. Buchanan, James W. Forsyth, James D. Newell and Paula A. Zawadzki.

The project is led by the Donald R. Cameron and Richard R. Cameron families. Donald R. Cameron serves as Chairman of the Board and James W. Cameron is the company's President and CEO. William Spear — formerly a Vice President of Coca-Cola USA who has background in finance and marketing — is assisting the Cameron family in managing the development of the project.

The 175,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility will be built by contractor J.H. Kelly LLC. Located in the Port of Kalama, Washington, it will be the largest eco-friendly wine bottle manufacturing facility in the world. Its hydro-powered electric furnace will be the largest anywhere for wine bottle production, and will operate by utilizing the Northwest waterways of the Columbia River.

According to Donald R. Cameron, the company spent the last three years researching the wine industry and recognized a significant need in the marketplace.

"We discovered two major issues that proved to us there was room in this industry for a new player: a lack of capacity and quality issues," he said. "We also felt that we could build a furnace that would set a new standard for eco-friendly glass wine bottle production."

The mission of the company is to provide the highest quality wine bottle, along with unmatched customer service, using an environmentally friendly process.

"Our family was in the Coca-Cola business for more than 100 years, and what has always differentiated us is the quality of our product and our customer service," Cameron said.

A Strong Commitment to the Environment

Donald Cameron said producing the glass bottles in an environmentally friendly way was an objective of the company from the very beginning.

"Our furnace, which is the largest electric glass furnace in the world, allows us to minimize the impact on the environment because there are no harmful emissions. By comparison, similar facilities operate furnaces that are powered by fossil fuel, which produce harmful greenhouse emissions and are subject to the ever-rising prices of natural gas."

The company will also make recycling a top priority for the facility. The wine bottles will be made at least in part from recycled glass from Washington and Oregon. They will launch recycling programs in surrounding communities where glass is currently being dumped into landfills, and the company will even recycle all water used during the glass making process.

"Being environmentally conscious is an absolute priority for us," remarked Cameron. "We're on the cutting edge of what America is trying to do now in being environmentally friendly."

The Location: Kalama, Washington

According to Robin Pollard, Executive Director of the Washington Wine Commission, the state is home to more than 500 wineries, which comprise a $3 billion industry that is second only to California in the United States.

"Any time you bring the product closer to the customer, it's going to add a significant benefit, because it will reduce cost and increase availability and accessibility. That's good news for wineries in Washington, Oregon and California," Pollard said.

Corey Balkan, vice president of the Cowlitz Economic Development Council (CEDC), said that the PortKalama in Cowlitz County offered the business "low energy costs, an extensive transportation network and a skilled workforce."

The CEDC, in conjunction with several key economic development partners, assisted the company in securing a number of economic development programs, including:

* Cowlitz PUD Economic Development Policy
* $200,000 from the State's Strategic Reserve Account, allocated by Governor Christine Gregoire
* Cowlitz Workforce Development Team, which will help secure new employees through the WorkSource system
* Job Skills Program, in conjunction with the Lower Columbia College, to design and deliver training.
* Community Economic Revitalization Board allocation of $1 million to support electrical infrastructure needs of Cameron Family Glass Packaging.

Leading the Business

Though the family will hire a staff to run that plant, the company will continue to be led by two generations of Camerons. Management positions are held by Donald R. Cameron, Chairman of the Board, and James W. Cameron, President & CEO.

Family members who play significant roles in the business are: The Richard and Edwina CameronJames and Nancy Cameron and Steven and Diane Cameron. Members of the Donald and SallyCameron family are Scott and Maggie Cameron and Chris and Beth Cameron Scott. family, including

About The Camerons

Cameron Bottling Co. was formed in Washington, Pennsylvania, in 1889, and has been run by four generations of family members ever since. In 1998, the company was ranked the ninth largest U.S. bottler. After more than 100 years of operation, Cameron Coca-Cola sold the operation to Coca-Cola Enterprise in 1999.

05-30-2007

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Baker & McKenzie, L.L.P.

Texas Governor Appoints Baker & McKenzie Partner to Finance Commission
Baker & McKenzie LLP is pleased to announce that Jonathan B. Newton has been appointed by Governor Rick Perry to the Finance Commission of Texas. Newton’s appointment has been confirmed by the Texas Senate.

The Finance Commission is responsible for overseeing and coordinating the Texas Department of Banking, the Department of Savings and Mortgage Lending, and the Office of the Consumer Credit Commissioner. It serves as the primary point of accountability for ensuring that banks, savings institutions, consumer credit grantors and other regulated entities chartered or licensed under state law operate as sound and responsible institutions that enhance the financial well-being of the citizens of Texas.

Newton is a Partner in the Firm’s Houston office. His practice focuses on public and private securities offerings and merger and acquisition transactions. He serves as head of the office’s Corporate & Securities Practice Group and as hiring partner. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas, Houston Bar Association, R Club and the Federalist Society. Newton received his law degree from the University of Texas School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Cornell University. Newton is a native Texan born in San Antonio. He and his wife Shelly, have four children – Reagan (7), Tyler (5), Houston (2), and Ryan (8 months).

“We congratulate Jonathan on this prestigious appointment,” said Susan Stone, Managing Partner of the Houston office. “It is a testament to both his talents and commitment to serve Texas on important matters involving the state’s financial services industry.”

While serving on the commission, Newton will continue full time his law practice with the Firm.

05-30-2007

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Baker & McKenzie, L.L.P.

Baker & McKenzie LLP Advised J-POWER in Joint Venture with John Hancock
Baker & McKenzie LLP represented J-POWER USA Development Co., Ltd (“J-POWER”) on the formation of a joint venture with John Hancock Life Insurance Company (“John Hancock”), to be called J-POWER USA Generation.

J-POWER USA Generation will initially have 1,200 megawatts of net generation ownership in the U.S. made up entirely of long-term contracted assets. The venture will include acquiring additional existing, largely contracted, non-regulated assets in the U.S. market with an overall goal of 2,000 to 4,000 megawatts of net ownership by 2010. J-POWER will act as the manager for J-POWER U.S.A. Generation and will be responsible for sourcing new projects for investment, developing and operating the assets.

Baker & McKenzie’s team included lead project finance Partner James P. O’Brien, with assistance from corporate Partner Roxane Busey, associates Nathan Walker, Amy Gulinson and Saren Sudel in Chicago, and Jeffrey Burk in Houston.

“We are pleased to assist with the successful formation of this joint venture. The joint venture enhances J-POWER’s capabilities as a leading global power company,” said James P. O’Brien. “Baker & McKenzie’s role in working on such a transaction attests to our high-degree of expertise in advising on matters related to the power and project finance business.

05-30-2007

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Baker & McKenzie, L.L.P.

Baker & McKenzie LLP Appoints New Chief Financial Officer
Baker & McKenzie LLP has announced that Arthur Ferry will be joining the Firm's London Office as Chief Financial Officer.

Arthur will report directly to Baker & McKenzie's London Managing Partner, Gary Senior and will join the Firm's London Management Committee.

Arthur is currently Finance Director at CMS Cameron McKenna LLP, where he joined in 2004 to modernise their approach to planning, reporting and financial management.

Arthur has over 35 years of business experience in senior finance roles within companies that operate across Asia, Europe, the United States, South America and South Africa. His experience ranges across a number of sectors, namely professional services, oil marketing, mining, metals processing and the utility sector. This includes 14 years service with BP plc, five and half years with United Utilities International and over four and a half years with Eco-Bat Technologies plc.

Arthur is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

05-30-2007

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Baker & Hostetler, L.L.P.

Baker Hostetler Named a “Go-To Law Firm" for Financial Services Companies
The national law firm of Baker & Hostetler LLP has been named a “Go-To Law Firm®” for financial services companies by American Lawyer Media's (ALM) Corporate Counsel® magazine.

ALM's Corporate Counsel® magazine, the nation's leading magazine for general counsel and in-house attorneys at corporations across the country, will publish a new reference guide to in-house law departments at the
nation's leading financial services companies. The guide will include detailed profiles and contact information for general counsel at these corporations, as well as listings of their current outside “Go-To Law Firms®” in various practice areas, including litigation, securities, transactions, compliance and intellectual property.

“Go-To Law Firms®” were identified through research conducted by ALM. Researchers asked general counsel at the leading financial services companies which outside law firms they turn to for assistance. ALM's research department also investigated and gathered data on financial services company's “Go-To Law Firms®” from various public records resources including court dockets and securities filings, as well as legal and business publications, including The American Lawyer.®

Particularly, Baker Hostetler was chosen for the work done on behalf of firm clients in the following areas:

* General Electric Company: Labor & Employment
* New York Life Insurance Co.: Labor & Employment; Litigation
* Northern Trust Corp.: Labor & Employment
* Progressive Corporation: Corporate Transactions/Mergers & Acquisitions; Intellectual Property; Labor & Employment; Litigation; Securities.

05-30-2007

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Shearman & Sterling LLP

Shearman & Sterling Advises RBS on Proposed Offer for ABN AMRO
Shearman & Sterling is acting as U.S. counsel to The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc in its proposed consortium offer for ABN AMRO Holding N.V., the Netherlands based banking group.

On May 29, 2007 Royal Bank of Scotland, together with Spain's Banco Santander Central Hispano S.A. and Belgian/Dutch bank Fortis S.A./N.V. and Fortis N.V. announced a proposed offer for ABN AMRO of €38.40 per ABN AMRO ordinary share, comprising €30.40 in cash and 0.844 RBS ordinary shares for each ABN AMRO ordinary share. This includes €1.00 in cash to be retained by the consortium pending resolution of the situation relating to ABN AMRO's agreement to sell its U.S. banking subsidiary, LaSalle Bank, to Bank of America.

The consortium's proposed offer values ABN AMRO at approximately €71.1 billion ($95.5 billion), making the transaction the largest ever M&A deal in the financial services sector.

The Shearman & Sterling London-based M&A team advising RBS includes partners George Karafotias and Bonnie Greaves and associates Babett Carrier, Sean Skiffington, Denise Ho Taylor and David Plattner. London-based partners Richard Price and Jim Bartos and Frankfurt-based associate Marc Plepelits are providing US capital markets advice.

The Shearman & Sterling New York-based M&A team advising RBS includes partners Creighton Condon and Scott Petepiece and associates Andrew Noreuil, Tony Feuerstein, Scott Tinkham, Henry Robbins and Gabrielle Larocque. Partner Alan Goudiss of the New York office advised on Litigation matters and partner Brad Sabel of the New York office is leading the U.S. bank regulatory team advising RBS.

05-30-2007

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

WilmerHale Lawyers Receive BBA President’s Award for Their Work in Guantanamo
WilmerHale lawyers Stephen Oleskey, Rob Kirsch, Mark Fleming, Lynne Soutter, Jeff Gleason, Lauren Brunswick, Pratik Shah, Joe Mueller, Jenna Goldenberg, Dan Esrick, Miranda Hooker and Chris Morgan were honored for their representation of men imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay at the Boston Bar Association Law Day Dinner held on May 3. The WilmerHale team represents six men who were seized in Bosnia in January, 2002—these pro bono clients were among the first to arrive Guantanamo Bay and have been imprisoned there without criminal charges for over five years.

WilmerHale’s Lynne Soutter made remarks on behalf of the 40+ lawyers honored by Bar President Jack Cinquegrana, to the 1700 people assembled for the BBA's Law Day Dinner earlier this month. In her remarks, she recalled an early visit with client, Mustapha Ait Idir, in Guantanamo:

“. . . Mustapha went over to a corner of his cell and picked up his blanket—a blanket is a privilege in Guantanamo, one which can be taken away. He told us that when a man imprisoned in a nearby cell was cold, at times, the men have managed to pass blankets through these wire walls. He showed us how they would feed the fabric through the small openings, little by little to their neighbors.

Like our clients, by necessity, the hundreds of habeas lawyers have been creative and cooperative in this litigation. And that has been one of the best parts of working on these cases. As a young lawyer, it has broadened my exposure to the law and given me a chance to get to know practitioners in many areas. . . I take comfort in knowing that there are many, many thoughtful and committed Americans, Bostonians, and lawyers working hard to combat these injustices. ”

05-30-2007

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