JD Journal » Crowell & Moring

Douglas Arntsen Held without Bail for Stealing Escrow Funds

jim — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:12:33 +0000

The former Crowell & Moring attorney accused of stealing client funds and then fleeing to Hong Kong in an attempt to avoid arrest, Douglas Arntsen, was arraigned Friday on charges of grand larceny and was ordered to be held without bail.

Arntsen fled the United States back in September after he was charged with embezzling $2.5 million in client funds that were deposited into escrow for his client, Regal Real Estate. He was charged with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office. The amount of money Arntsen is accused of stealing has risen to over $7 million but during arraignment, prosecutors said that he is under investigation for stealing another $21 million.

Criminal Judge Abraham Clott was told by Assistant District Attorney Sophi Jacobs that Arntsen is alleged of putting together a scheme that included no fewer than 24 bank accounts and used a decoy so he could leave for Hong Kong. Jacobs used these examples to try to talk the judge into holding Arntsen without bail.

“The investigation into stolen funds is continuing. The victims of this defendant have not been compensated by him,” Jacobs told the judge.

The attorney for Arntsen, Allen Lewis, told the judge that his client had already planned to travel to Hong Kong along with a business companion before he had been accused of any wrongdoings.

“The trip was not made for the purpose of running away from these charges,” Lewis said.

The attorney said he would post the Staten Island home of Arnsten’s parents as bail, which is worth $500,000.

The next court date for Arntsen is set for April 19. Prosecutors began investigating Arntsen when a Regal Real Estate employee informed them that Arntsen could not account for the company’s escrow funds and needed to travel to Hong Kong to retrieve those funds. Authorities attempted to arrest Arntsen on September 14 but said he had already fled to Hong Kong.

Arntsen is a graduate of Seton Hall University School of Law and joined Crowell & Moring as counsel back in 2007. He was one of nine finance and distressed-debt attorneys from Buchanan Ingersoll. One day prior to the Manhattan District Attorney’s office telling his firm he was under investigation, Arntsen resigned from the firm.

Arntsen has been charged with two counts of first-degree grand larceny and scheme to defraud in the first degree. Arntsen could find himself sentenced to 25 years in prison on the top count. There are three civil lawsuits related to the alleged theft of the escrow money facing Arntsen and the firm of Crowell & Moring.

Citing the ongoing investigation, a spokesperson for Crowell & Moring did not comment on the issue at hand. The spokesperson said that the law firm has fully cooperated with the prosecutors on the case and has even hired an outside counsel to conduct an investigation into Arntsen’s activities while working with the firm.

AT&T Will Use Sullivan & Cromwell in $39 Billion Purchase of T-Mobile USA

aostler — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 18:44:28 +0000

AT&T has plans to buy T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom for $39 billion. The lead firms that are going to be representing AT&T and Deutsche Telekom are Sullivan & Cromwell and Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz.

Sullivan and Cromwell is using a team led by New York partner Joseph Frumkin and LA partner Eric Krautheimer, which is giving advice to AT&T on the deal. LA partner Hydee Feldstein is giving advice to the company on financing, while Frankfurt corporate partner Wolfgang Feuring is in charge of any German law matters. Two other partners from New York are also part of the team. These two partners are Andrew Mason, tax partner, and benefits/executive compensation partner, Matthew Friestedt. Regulatory advice is also being given to AT&T by Crowell & Moring and Arnold & Porter.

Wachtell Lipton Rosen & Katz is representing Deutsche Telekom in the deal. The firm is being led by corporate partners Steven Cohen and Adam Emmerich. Two other firms, Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton and Wiley Rein are also giving advice to Deutsche Telekom.

An equity stake in AT&T will be given to Deutsche Telekom as part of the deal, and a representative from Deutsche Telekom will join AT&T’s board of directors.

Although AT&T and T-Mobile have approved the deal in both of their company boards, if this goes through, it will create the biggest cellular carrier in the United States. Combining T-Mobile USA’s 34 million subscribers with AT&T’s 95.5 million will push them above Verizon’s 94.1 million subscribers.

According to the Wall Street Journal, this deal is likely going to be of “particular concern to antitrust enforcers because the industry’s two dominant companies – Verizon Wireless, a joint venture of Vodafone Group PLC and Verizon Communications, and AT&T – are already so far ahead of anyone else, raising the specter of an effective duopoly in mobile telephony.”

According to the companies, this deal will provide both parties with “an optimal combination of network assets to add capacity sooner than any alternative, and it provides an opportunity to improve network quality in the near term for both companies’ customers. In addition, it provides a fast, efficient and certain solution to the impending exhaustion of wireless spectrum in some markets…”

In “approximately 12 months” the deal is expected to close, according to a statement from AT&T. If the deal does not end up going through, AT&T will pay a $3 billion breakup fee.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 01:17:48 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, November 24th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s headlines.

The exchange of artillery fire between North and South Korea set the stage for China to make a distinctive mark on the world stage…

The law firm bonus season began…

Crowell & Moring LLP & the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law established the Took Crowell Institute for At-Risk youth…

Wilmer Hale announced a plan for leadership succession…

Crowell & Moring LLP & University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law Establish Took Crowell Institute for At-Risk Youth

joshua — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 17:36:10 +0000

Crowell & Moring LLP, along with the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) David A. Clarke School of Law have established the Took Crowell Institute for At-Risk Youth.

The institute was made possible through an initial $675,000 grant over six years from Crowell & Moring in memory of Eldon “Took” Crowell, the firm’s first chairman and long-time leader who passed away in May. Mr. Crowell, a devoted humanitarian and champion of pro bono legal services, was named one of the “Greatest Washington Visionaries in the last 30 years” by Legal Times. The institute will provide more than 10,000 hours of direct pro bono representation to youth in the community each year by attorney-supervised law students through three legal clinics, as well as advocate for policy reforms that will contribute to systemic change.

The Took Crowell Institute builds on the long-term work already underway at the law school’s Juvenile and Special Education Law Clinic by providing three innovative legal clinics and law reform advocacy designed to help at-risk youth become educated and productive members of society.

A reception and induction ceremony is planned for Tuesday, November 30, at 5:00 p.m. at the UDC School of Law campus. Featured speakers include Vincent Gray, District of Columbia’s Mayor-elect, among other dignitaries.

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with nearly 500 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 13:16:42 +0000

Good morning everybody! Today is Thursday, November 11th, and it’s Veterans Day. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Austin-based labor and employment shareholder Peyton Smith was named Winstead PC’s new firm-wide lateral hiring shareholder…

McKool Smith ranked high in the “Top 100 Workplaces in Dallas/Fort Worth”…

Crowell & Moring launched the Retail Law Observer, a blog covering legal issues and key trends facing the retail industry…

Ropes & Gray added hedge funds lawyer Sarah Davidoff, formerly the co-chair of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan’s private funds group in New York, to its New York office…

As of yesterday, the leader in the Alaska Senate race was the generic “write in” vote, who many presumed was incumbent Senator Lisa Murkowski…

Almost a year and a half after announcing plans to move away from lockstep compensation and implement a merit-based pay system for its associates, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius decided against it…

Crowell & Moring Blog to Offer Retail Industry Legal Advice

joshua — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 18:46:44 +0000

Crowell & Moring LLP has launched the Retail Law Observer, a blog covering legal issues and key trends facing the retail industry.

According to a firm press release, attorneys from the firm’s cross-disciplinary retail law practice will use the blog to comment on issues of law that impact the bottom line–ranging from price fixing to lease restructuring.

“Retailers are under tremendous economic pressure now, which makes identifying legal risks and opportunities all the more critical to running a successful enterprise,” said San Francisco Crowell & Moring partner Gregory D. Call, who heads the firm’s Retail Law practice. “Our goal for the Retail Law Observer is to highlight those legal issues most pressing to the retail industry,”

The firm listed a number of trends and issues to be covered by The Retail Law Observer, including:

Retail lease provisions and cost-saving opportunities relating to minimum rent, percentage rent, CAM, real estate taxes, marketing fund, utilities, insurance, trash, and co-tenancy
Lease restructuring and right-sizing your space
Comparative risks and rights under traditional retail leases and pop-up store leases
Employee claims, including class action lawsuits challenging employee classifications and meal and rest breaks
Efforts by employees to unionize
Opportunities for retailers to recover antitrust overcharges
Duty savings through global trade negotiations
Bankruptcy disputes that continue to rise out of the struggling economy
How a retailer’s business, risks, and rights are impacted by the sale and financing of malls, shopping centers and mixed use facilities, and the merger and consolidation of center owners
Consumer data collection and new privacy legislation impacting social media
The FTC’s new guidelines on making “green” or environmentally friendly claims, such as recycled content, compostable, and non-toxic
Upcoming changes to the Internet naming system, which will dramatically expand the domain names that can be used by retailers
Changes to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and its impact on reporting requirements

Crowell & Moring has a broad retail law practice representing a wide spectrum of clients in the retail industry, including wholesale and specialty retailers, department stores, and “big-box” retailers across the United States and internationally.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 13:04:22 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Tuesday, November 2nd. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

DLA Piper added three attorneys as partners in the litigation practice of its New Jersey office…

Goodwin Procter elected 12 attorneys to the firm’s partnership…

Crowell & Moring added two attorneys to its environmental practice…

Crowell & Moring Adds Two Attorneys to Environmental Practice

joshua — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 15:49:53 +0000

Senior counsel David E. Menotti and partner Warren U. Lehrenbaum have joined Crowell & Moring LLP’s Environment & Natural Resources Group.

Based in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, the attorneys bring significant experience in representing agribusiness, biotechnology, and manufacturing companies in the wide range of regulatory counseling and litigation needs arising under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS).

In today’s press release at the firm’s site, Crowell & Moring partner Chet M. Thompson, former EPA deputy general counsel and co-chair of the firm’s ENR Group was quoted as saying: “David and Warren have earned a national reputation for handling some of the most complex matters for America’s largest companies. Their move to Crowell & Moring comes at a critical time for our clients, who are navigating significant changes in environmental law and regulation right now.”

Menotti and Lehrenbaum are currently advising clients on a variety of environmental concerns, including a comprehensive review of the Clean Air Act New Source Performance Standards for residential wood heating devices, proposed legislation related to Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and APHIS’s proposed overhaul of the regulations governing the approval of genetically engineered crops. Additionally, they are active in assisting clients navigate what some cite as a “collision course” between the Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultation process and the registration of pesticides under the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA).

The arrival of Menotti and Lehrenbaum builds on the firm’s 2009 addition of five Patton Boggs LLP partners and two senior hires from the EPA and U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI). The group is now ranked among the top environmental practices in Washington, D.C. by Chambers USA.

Menotti’s practice emphasizes the regulation of hazardous substances under FIFRA, TSCA, the Clean Air Act, and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA).

Lehrenbaum’s practice focuses on issues arising under TSCA, FIFRA, FFDCA, the Plant Protection Act (PPA), the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), and related state and federal laws.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 00:20:59 +0000

Good morning everybody! Today is Thursday, October 21st. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

The Children’s Law Center, Washington D.C.’s largest provider of free legal services, launched a new six-week campaign, dubbed the Lawyers for Children Campaign….

Winston & Strawn expanded its transactional capabilities in China with a three-person team from Cadwalader…

BigLaw Lends A Hand in New Children’s Law Center Campaign

joshua — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 23:06:21 +0000

The Children’s Law Center, Washington D.C.’s largest provider of free legal services, has launched a new six-week campaign, dubbed the Lawyers for Children Campaign, that’s designed to expose area lawyers and their colleagues to opportunities to improve the lives of D.C.’s children.

In conjunction with the campaign, an 18-member advisory board was selected that’s made up of attorneys from law firms, law schools and corporations throughout the D.C. area. Among the organizations represented are Arnold & Porter, Blank Rome, Bryan Cave, Clifford Chance, Covington & Burling, Crowell & Moring, Fish & Richardson, Hunton & Williams, Jones Day, Latham & Watkins, McDermott Will & Emery, McKenna Long & Aldridge, Patton Boggs, Sidley Austin, Skadden, Williams & Connolly, American University and the Podesta Group.

Evelyn Becker, pro bono director at Children’s Law Center, said the groups “enthusiasm to launching the campaign and introducing their colleagues to Children’s Law Center has been tremendous.”

The campaign will run from October 18 through Thanksgiving. A Campaign Kickoff Happy Hour will be held Tuesday, Oct. 26 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Children’s Law Center offices.

Carmen McLean, CLC Board Member and Chair of CLC’s Advisory Board, and attorney at Jones Day, commented on the campaign in a press release.

“At Jones Day, we just took on our 20th pro bono case through Children’s Law Center and we know how important this work is,” McLean said. “We are excited to spread the word about CLC’s new Lawyers for Children campaign.”

Morning Roundup

joshua — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 13:47:58 +0000

Good morning everybody! Today is Wednesday, October 20th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

According to the 2010 Law Department Survey from Hildebrandt Baker Robins, law departments reduced their total legal spending for the first time in 10 years in 2009…

Littler Mendelson, the nation’s largest employment and labor law firm representing management, will open an office in Caracas, Venezuela…

Brady Mickelsen, former vice president and general counsel of Oracle Corp., has joined White & Case as a partner…

International firm Baker Botts promoted 13 lawyers to its partnership…

Crowell & Moring announced the launch of its new top-level domain and domain name practice…

Crowell & Moring Announces Launch of New Top-Level Domain and Domain Name Practice

joshua — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 15:39:49 +0000

Today, the international law firm Crowell & Moring LLP announced the launch of its new TLD (Top-Level Domain) and Domain Name practice.

As the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) prepares for the 2011 introduction of what may be the most significant extension of the domain name system since the introduction of .com, the TLD and Domain Name practice will counsel brand owners about strategies for protecting and enhancing their brands and preventing infringement in this new and uncertain online environment, including whether and how to seek registration of new generic top-level domains (gTLDs).

Brussels-based partner Flip Petillion and Washington, DC-based partner John I. Stewart, Jr. will co lead the practice, which is comprised of a comprehensive team of intellectual property, Internet law, and dispute resolution lawyers.

In the press release at the firm’s website, Stewart was quoted as saying: “The introduction of generic top-level domains offers a wealth of opportunities, but it also presents great challenges, as companies and operators around the world seek to use the new regime to their advantage. Our practice leverages the firm’s extensive experience to counsel our clients through all phases of the gTLD process, from initial assessment to application to launch. We are uniquely placed to help clients as they make strategic decisions, structure agreements, and resolve any disputes as they negotiate their way through the process.”

To further bolster the practice, Crowell & Moring has brought on new Brussels-based counsel Bart Lieben, who offers extensive experience in international commercial law, with a particular focus on intellectual property, telecommunications, media, and technology law.

Crowell & Moring’s international team of lawyers are engaged in counseling, transactional, and contracting work on intellectual property, policy, strategy and liability issues as clients develop and evolve their Internet brand presence, and can handle all aspects of litigation related to new gTLD applications.

In addition to Lieben, the Brussels office also gained two new associates, Sarah van den Brande and Christian Dekoninck, who will practice in the Intellectual Property Group and the TLD and Domain Name practice.

The firm invites all brand owners to attend a live webinar, “ICANN’s New gTLD Program: Considerations for Brand Owners,” on October 27, 2010 at 12:00 pm EDT. The webinar will feature Crowell & Moring Intellectual Property and Dispute Resolution lawyers who will highlight the new ICANN process and offer insight on the opportunities and challenges involved in securing a generic top-level domain name.

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with more than 500 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 10:51:37 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Tuesday, July 20th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Prominent litigator Caryn Jacobs joined Winston & Strawn as partner…

Crowell & Moring added a former federal prosecutor as partner…

DLA Piper opened an office in New Jersey and added two partners…

Sidley Austin added three partners to its L.A. office…

Shearman & Sterling’s Project Development & Finance Group ranked in Top 10…

Crowell & Moring Adds Federal Prosecutor As Partner

joshua — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 18:56:47 +0000

Federal prosecutor Kelly T. Currie has joined Crowell & Moring LLP as a partner in the firm’s New York office. Currie, who most recently served as Deputy Chief of the Criminal Division of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York (EDNY), joins Crowell & Moring’s white collar and regulatory enforcement group.

While commenting on the addition of Currie, Janet Levine, chair of Crowell & Moring’s White Collar & Regulatory Enforcement Group., called New York “a critical market for white collar and regulatory enforcement matters

“With his experience as a top-level Assistant United States Attorney, Kelly’s extensive prosecutorial, government, and trial experience on high-profile and high-stakes matters bolsters our New York office.”

Currie served at the Eastern District for more than 11 years. He personally conducted numerous complex, global investigations and prosecutions, including those involving FCPA violations, money laundering, securities fraud, public corruption, wire and mail fraud, tax fraud, export control violations, and financing of terrorist organizations.

Crowell & Moring LLP’s white collar & regulatory enforcement group represents corporate and individual clients in federal and state cases in the United States and globally. Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with more than 500 lawyers.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 10:48:04 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Friday, June 25th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Crowell & Moring received the Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s Thomas L. Sager Award for Commitment to Diversity…

Proskauer Rose general counsel and former New York State Bar president Steven C. Krane died Tuesday in New York City…

U.K.-based attorney Andrew B. Harris left his position as private equity head at DLA Piper to take over as managing partner at the London office of Kaye Scholer…

Thorp Reed & Armstrong “parted ways” with seven of its attorneys and two administrative assistants…

Phillips & Cohen LLP represented whistleblower in Northrop case; company settled for $12.5 Million…

Award Celebrating Diversity Given To Crowell & Moring

eric — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:56:25 +0000

The D.C. office of Crowell & Moring announced that its mid-Atlantic offices have received the Minority Corporate Counsel Association’s (“MCAA”) Thomas L. Sager Award for Commitment to Diversity, says Justmeans.com.

The “Thomas L. Sager Award” was created by MCCA to honor Tom Sager, DuPont senior vice president and general counsel and MCAA board member, as a champion of increasing diversity in the legal profession.

Crowell & Moring has more than 500 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. In addition to its Middle East presence, the firm has offices in Washington D.C., New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, Anchorage, London, and Brussels.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 18 May 2010 13:13:20 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Tuesday, May 18th. Here’s a quick look back at yesterday’s stories.

Fort Lauderdale Firm To Consult On Gulf Oil Spill…

ALM Study Finds Firms Take On Variety Of Measures To Counter Economy…

Boston Firm Noted For Nearly 300 Trademark Applications In 2009…

New Software Released For IP Practices…

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Joins Faculty of “Oil in the Gulf” Legal Conference…

Blog To Discuss Ins and Outs of Government Contracts Launched By Crowell & Moring…

Blog To Discuss Ins and Outs of Government Contracts Launched By Crowell & Moring

eric — Mon, 17 May 2010 14:08:22 +0000

The Washington Post reported this morning that the law firm Crowell & Moring has launched a blog: www.governmentcontractslegalforum.com. The blog, as the URL suggests, will focus on the government contracts industry.

As a taste to readers, in their most recent post, Crowell’s government contracts lawyers discuss the Government Accountability Office and “price realism” analysis. Sounds fun. Keep blogging ladies and gentlemen, the world needs to know what “price realism” is and how it is NOT “synonymous with a ‘price reasonableness’ determination.”

Crowell & Moring has more than 400 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. In addition to its Middle East presence, the firm has offices in Washington D.C., New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, Anchorage, London, and Brussels.

Law Firm Hirings, Firings and Promotions

joshua — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 17:30:34 +0000

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson has added Alasdair Balfour as a partner in its antitrust practice in London. He most recently was a partner at Olswang LLP and prior to that spent 10 years with Freshfields. Balfour’s practice has a particular focus on merger control and cartel work…

Chadbourne & Parke added Lori S. Hoberman as a corporate partner in its newly-formed emerging company/venture capital team. Hoberman previously was with Fish & Richardson. Her practice focuses on venture capital, private equity and general counseling for emerging and later-state publicly-traded companies…

Corporate and civil defense litigation firm Cranfill, Sumner & Hartzog has added two partners to its corporate and civil defense litigation firm. They are Katherine Hilkey-Boyatt and Dawn Lane. Boyatt’s practice focuses on medical malpractice and professional negligence and Lane defends employers and insurance companies for CSH…

Crowell & Moring has added partner Mark A. Egert to its New York office. Egert, who joins the firms’ corporate and financial services group, has spent 15 years as in-house counsel.

Litigator Rudy Perrino has joined Fulbright & Jaworski from Dole Food Company, where he served as director of litigation since 2004. Perrino bring experience in handling “bet-the-company” cases, particularly those involving cross-border and international mass tort claims.

Crowell & Moring Gains Middle East Allies

joshua — Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:11:02 +0000

Coming off a strong 2009 in which its revenue jumped 14.5 percent from the previous year, Crowell & Moring has planted its flag in Cairo, Egypt with an affiliate office under the sponsorship of local firm Hegazy & Associates. Additionally, Crowell has entered into a strategic alliance with Al Henizy & Associates, a Saudi Arabian law firm.

The office in Cairo will operate under the name Hegazy & Associates in association with Crowell & Moring.

The alliances will help Crowell & Moring better serve its clients with business interests in the Middle East and North Africa region. According to a press release, the firms will work in public procurement and government contracting, to mergers & acquisitions, corporate and commercial financings, Islamic finance transactions, and international disputes.

“We’ve been active in the Middle East and North Africa for many years as we’ve advised clients on matters ranging from multi-million dollar arbitrations to government relations and corporate transaction,” said Crowell & Moring chairman Kent A. Gardiner. “We are proud to be able to offer our clients access to some of the most sophisticated and experienced lawyers in the region, and we’re honored that they have trusted us to work with their most important clients.”

Cairo-based Hegazy & Associates advises regional and international clients on domestic and cross-border corporate transactions, conventional and Islamic banking finance, government contracts, and international litigation and arbitration. It is managed by Dr. Walid Hegazy, former head of the Islamic finance practice group at Freshfields.

Al Enizy & Associates is headquartered in Riyadh and has an additional office in Jeddah. It offers clients services in corporate transactions, regulatory and capital markets matters, Islamic banking and finance, insurance, government contracts, litigation, arbitration, and dispute resolution. The firm is led by Dr. Fahd Al-Enizy.

Merchant & Gould Opens New York Office, Adds Partners

joshua — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:23:12 +0000

IP firm Merchant & Gould opened a new office in New York City Tuesday and announced the additions of new partners to its offices in Seattle and Alexandria, Va.

The firm’s new office is located in midtown Manhattan and will be headed by partner Adda Gogoris, a former principal at the recently shuttered Darby & Darby.

“The past two years have not been kind to many IP boutiques,” said Randy King, CEO and managing director of Merchant & Gould. “And we take no pleasure in the setbacks of so many friends and colleagues. But Merchant & Gould has continued to thrive despite this economic climate by staying true to its guiding principles.”

Gogoris will be joined in New York by partner Dianna Goldenson and patent agent Andrew Larsen. The firm’s New York office will offer a full range of IP services, including litigation, patent and trademark prosecution, portfolio management and assessment.

In other news, joining the firm’s Seattle office are Paul H. Beattie and Christopher Frank. Beattie previously worked as an IP litigator at Schwabe, Williamson, & Wyatt’s Seattle office.

Frank joins the office as a technical advisor. He will support patent procurement and client counseling in the fields of biotechnology and chemistry. He was previously a scientific advisor at Darby & Darby.

Joining the firm’s office in Alexandria, Va. are E. Joseph Gess and Melissa M. Hayworth. Both partners were formerly with Crowell & Moring.

Gess’ has a chemical patent practice with a focus on client counseling, including inter-parties proceedings and developing IP strategies.

Hayworth’s practice focuses on organic chemistry, pharmaceutical chemistry, and petroleum chemistry.

Merchant & Gould has more than 100 attorneys with offices in Atlanta, Denver, Knoxville, Madison, Minneapolis, New York, Omaha, Seattle and Washington D.C.

Morning Roundup

sara — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:55:22 +0000

Good morning everyone! Today is Wednesday, February 24, and here’s a look back at yesterday’s stories…

Curtis Mallet reports an increase in profits and revenues in 2009…

Revenue is down and profits are up at Patton Boggs…

Arnold & Porter report that revenue and profits increase…

Honolulu law firms are the target of an email scam…

Revenue and profits fall at Munger, Tolles…

Maryland courtrooms will ban electronic devices….

Christopher J. Austin joins Goodwin Procter’s Boston office…

Jonathan Guest joins McCarter & English’s Boston office…

DLA Piper increases their presence in Turkey…

Massachusetts challenges the Defense of Marriage Act…

The University of Maryland investigates payments to former law school dean Karen Rothenberg…

Sam Buffone leaves Ropes & Gray for BuckleySandler…

Revenue and profits increase at Crowell & Moring…

Alice Thomas earns her law degree at age 79…

Cannabis shops fight legal action in Los Angeles…

Revenue, Profits Get a Boost at Crowell & Moring

joshua — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:34:36 +0000

Crowell & Moring reported 2009 gross revenue of $296 million – a 14.5 percent jump from 2008’s $339 million – and profits per partner rose to $1.01 million last year, a 9.9 percent increase from 2008’s $996,765.

Revenue per lawyer increased by nine percent to $809,231 and net compensation to equity partners rose 17.7 percent to $102.9 million. The firm added six equity partners last year and its attorney roster rose to 418.95 from 399.43.

Crowell & Moring is an international law firm with offices in Washington D.C., New York, Los Angeles, Orange County, Anchorage, London and Brussels.

DC Firms Take a Snow Day

joshua — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 17:38:08 +0000

Growing up in Los Angeles, I was always jealous of kids living on the east coast because in my 12 years of public education I never once got to take a “snow day”.

Reading about the blizzard that’s hitting the Washington DC area today, I am no longer regretting my days filled with sunshine. The Washington Metro Transit Authority says it will close the above ground portions portions of the metro when the snow reaches 8 inches and that closures are likely to remain in effect at least through Sunday. How do people live in places where 8 inches of snow is simply assumed?!

Firms throughout the DC area are closing early today and many attorneys are opting to work from home rather than brave the commute. Thus far, DLA Piper; Howrey; Crowell & Moring; Dickstein Shapiro; Gibson Dunn; Patton Boggs; and Arent Fox have all announced plans to batten down the hatches in the early afternoon.

Snowpocalypse indeed.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:00:01 +0000

Good morning! Today is Tuesday, January 26, and here’s your morning roundup…

A Pepper Hamilton Partner is the lead investor in a deal to purchase the Texas Rangers…

Wilmer Hale’s numbers are out and per partner profits are up seven percent (guess they don’t mind that story leaking to blawgs) …

Wilson Sonsini is thawing salaries and paying bonuses…

And so is Hughes Hubbard…

NBC has triumphed over Conan when it comes to the IP rights of various characters from his show…

Chadbourne & Parke has a new IP partner…

It wouldn’t be a new year without a list of predictions, and seeing as how it’s almost the end of January, we thought we’d better find one…

Crowell & Moring snags one for its international arbitration practice…

Cozen O’Connor adds one in anti trust…

MLA gets a big contract from the government of Bermuda…

Our condolences go out to friends and family of Baker Hostetler partner John Mings…

Westlaw and Lexis/Nexis are redesigning their interfaces in reaction to competition from free search engines like google…

Drinker Biddle picks up one in New York…

A former McGuireWoods partner and former aide to NC Governor Mike Easley is facing corruption charges…

Crowell & Moring Adds Burnett as New York Partner

joshua — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 16:51:18 +0000

Crowell & Moring has added Henry “Harry” Guy Burnett as a New York partner to the firm’s international arbitration and Latin America practices. Burnett was previously a co-head of Fulbright & Jaworski’s International Arbitration Group and Latin America Practice Group. He will help bolster Crowell & Morings New York presence in those areas, according to a press release.

Burnett has more than 20 years experience as an international arbitrator and commercial litigator.

“Crowell & Morning’s International Arbitration Practice has long been engaged in Latin America…Harry is the perfect complement to our New York and Latin American international arbitration disputes team,” said Arif Hyder Ali, chair of Crowell & Moring’s International Arbitration Practice.

Crowell & Moring has more than 500 lawyers with offices in Washington D.C., New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, Anchorage, London and Brussels.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:58:03 +0000

Good morning everyone! Here’s a quick peek at yesterday’s news…

Senator Harry Reid announced the Senate version of the health care reform bill will include a public option…

A Sikh has won his fight with the US Army and will be allowed to serve on active duty while wearing a turban and full beard…

and Crowell & Moring picks up over half of the attorneysat Folger Levin & Kahn’s San Francisco office…

Crowell & Moring Pick up Half of Folger Levin & Kahn in San Francisco

joshua — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 18:58:08 +0000

Last weekwe told you that Crowell & Moring were being hush hush about rumors the firm was prepared to merge with Folger Levin & Kahn. It turns out it wasn’t quite a merger. 29 of the 56 lawyers at Folger’s San Francisco office have signed on with Crowell & Moring, including name partner Michael Kahn, and have expanded the west coast presence for their new firm. The remaining attorneys are forming a new Folger Levin. Most of the firm’s LA lawyers are dispersing to other firms, but four of them are joining Crowell & Moring’s existing LA office.

Crowell & Moring is headquartered in Washington DC, with offices in Irvine, New York City, Los Angeles, London, Brussels, and now San Francisco.

Crowell & Moring – No Comment on Merger Rumors

joshua — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 23:09:14 +0000

Is Crowell & Moring in negotiations to merge with Folger Levin & Kahn? That’s the buzz, but the firm’s response has been noncommittal. Folger, which is based out of San Francisco and has an additional office in Los Angeles, has several overlapping practice groups and is in keeping with Crowell’s strategy for long term growth, which includesseeking opportunities to acquire smaller firms. With 56 attorneys and a client list including Citibank, Johnson & Johnson, and Hilton Hotels, Folger would appear to fit the bill nicely.

Morning Roundup

joshua — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 15:54:41 +0000

Good morning everyone! Here’s a quick recap of yesterday’s news…

Crowell & Moring is asking staff to voluntarily resign…

Kelley Drye picks up two big names from Bryan Cave…

DLA Piper confirms they will pay associate bonuses this year…

The legal sector lost about 2,000 jobs in September…

and the Supreme Court has begun its new term…

Voluntary Staff Layoffs at Crowell & Moring

joshua — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 03:17:45 +0000

Crowell & Moringhas asked staff to voluntarily leave in order to bring them down to a four to one attorney/staff ratio. Anyone that voluntarily leaves by October 23rd will receive 6 month salary as a severance package. If they don’t reach the four to one goal through voluntary resignations, they will reassess their staffing needs to determine if involuntary (ie.. layoffs) cuts are needed.

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with more than 450 lawyers practicing in litigation, antitrust, government contracts, health care, corporate, intellectual property and a variety of other practice areas. Based in Washington, DC, the firm also has offices in New York, London, Brussels, Los Angeles, and Orange County, California.

Crowell & Moring Adds 7 to Environmental Group

Erik Even — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:50:07 +0000

Crowell & Moring has snagged a team of five Patton Boggs partners, and two government lawyers, for its Environment & Natural Resources Group.

Senior Counsel Michael Bogert is the former counselor to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne. He is also the former Regional Administrator of the EPA’s Region 10, which oversees Alaska and other northwest states. Bogert is a former counsel to the office of then Governor-Elect Arnold Schwarzenegger, and was Chief Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary to California governor Pete Wilson.

Partner Amy Chasanov is an environmental litigator with extensive experience with NEPA, the Clean Water Act, and the Oil Pollution Act. She has participated in state and federal rule-making and litigation, and advises a range of oil & gas and other clients on environmental compliance.

Partner John C. Martin is the former co-chair of the Patton Boggs Environment Group. He represents clients in complex litigation involving natural resources and environmental issues. Martin was an attorney at DOI and the Department of Justice, where he litigated environmental and natural resources issues.

Partner Susan M. Mathiascheck is a recent deputy chair of the Patton Boggs Litigation Department. She advises clients in complex judicial challenges to agency actions and provides counseling on issues concerning endangered species, emergency response, property use and development, air and water emissions, and hazardous waste.

Senior Counsel Robert Meyers is the former Acting Assistant Administrator of the EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. Prior to joining the EPA, Meyers served as Deputy Chief Counsel for Energy & Environment and Environmental Counsel for the House Energy & Commerce Committee.

Partner Kyle W. Parker is former Assistant Attorney General in the oil, gas, and mining section of the Alaska Department of Law.

Partner Duane A. Siler has substantial litigation experience under CERCLA, RCRA, the Oil Pollution Act, and other federal and state environmental laws.

Parker will be based in Anchorage, Alaska; the other additions will be based in Washington DC.

Crowell & Moring Hires Group for London

Erik Even — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:51:25 +0000

Crowell & Moring LLP has added three senior lawyers to its London office.

Timothy Leeson, a former Crowell & Moring lawyer, rejoins the firm from London’s Lawrence Graham LLP to become a partner in the corporate practice.

Senior counsel Anne Davies and counsel Fiona Simpson join from the Kent-based law firm Vizards Wyeth, and will join Crowell’s White Collar & Securities Litigation Group.

Crowell & Moring Reducing Salaries for Some Lawyers

Erik Even — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 16:48:09 +0000

Crowell & Moring has told as many as 20 lawyers across the firm that their salaries will be reduced in light of reduced hours. First year associates were not affected.

Crowell requires at least 1,900 billable hours from all of its lawyers. If a lawyer gets as low as 1,600 hours, the firm intervenes to determine the source of the problem and to fix it. The firm says salary cuts are a last resort.

There is no tiered compensation.

Crowell has not yet held any layoffs in the global recession, and would like to avoid doing so.

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with more than 450 lawyers. Based in Washington, DC, the firm also has offices in New York, London, Brussels, Los Angeles, and Orange County, California.

Crowell & Moring Hires Experienced Dispute Resolution Attorneys

Erik Even — Wed, 11 Feb 2009 23:01:45 +0000

Crowell & Moring has added two new hires to its International Dispute Resolution Group.

Pieter Bekker, formerly of McDermott Will & Emery, joins as a partner to head Crowell’s Public International Law practice out of New York. He expands the firm’s multi-lingual, multi-jurisdictional capabilities in advising corporations, investors, and states through international disputes. In addition to his client work, Bekker teaches international investment law and arbitration as a member of Columbia Law School’s adjunct faculty.

He earned his Dutch Civil Law degree and his Ph.D in international law from Leiden University in The Netherlands. His working languages are English, Dutch, German, and French. Bekker also has a basic understanding of Spanish.

Marguerite C. Walter, a former attorney-advisor at the State Department’s Office of the Legal Advisor, joins the Group as an associate in the Washington, DC office. She received her JD cum laude from New York University School of Law.