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Top US Trade Official Joins
Firm News/D.C. |
2009/01/07 19:59
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Global law firm Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. has successfully recruited David Spooner to the firm’s Antitrust, Competition, Trade and Regulatory Practice Group. As assistant secretary of commerce for import administration, Spooner led US trade enforcement efforts from 2005 until this year. He is of counsel at Squire Sanders.
“David brings an unusual combination of hands-on leadership in complex trade matters with an insider’s knowledge of Capitol Hill and the executive branch,” said Barry A. Pupkin, who heads the practice group, adding, “Spooner has been at the forefront of nearly every major trade policy debate over the past eight years. He has extensive experience working with both sides of the aisle, particularly on matters related to China and on matters that impact the apparel and retail trade.
“Given the significant changes anticipated in US trade relationships under the new administration, David’s comprehensive grasp of trade and supply chain issues will be an invaluable resource for clients whose businesses are affected by international trade,” Pupkin said.
In his role as assistant secretary of commerce for import administration, Spooner led US enforcement of the trade remedy laws, particularly the dumping and antisubsidy laws, supervising hundreds of trade remedy proceedings. His achievements include the first-ever application of the antisubsidy law to China.
Prior to his Senate confirmation as assistant secretary, Spooner was the lead textile and apparel negotiator in the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR), where he served as a chief negotiator of free trade agreements with countries in Asia, Central and Latin America, and the Middle East. Spooner also has considerable Capitol Hill experience. He managed the Washington DC office and was legislative director for US Representative Sue Myrick, worked for the House Committee on Rules (which manages House consideration of legislation) and served as communications director for the House Committee on Agriculture.
Spooner will also work with Squire Sanders Public Advocacy, LLC, Squire Sanders’ government relations affiliate. Robert D. Lehman, former chief of staff of the US Office of Management and Budget and the Office of the US Trade Representative, recently was named head of Squire Sanders Public Advocacy, LLC.
“David has been working closely with Congress and senior staffers for two decades, first as a senior aide and then as a top official of USTR and the Commerce Department. His experience further strengthens our growing lobbying practice by bringing another seasoned international trade professional with extensive bipartisan relationships on Capitol Hill and in the business community,” Lehman said.
About Squire Sanders: Founded in 1890, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. has lawyers in 32 offices and 15 countries around the world. With one of the strongest integrated global platforms and a longstanding one-firm philosophy, Squire Sanders provides seamless legal counsel worldwide. Offices in the Americas are located in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Palo Alto, Phoenix, San Francisco, Tallahassee, Tampa, Tysons Corner, Washington DC, West Palm Beach, Caracas, Rio de Janeiro, Santo Domingo and São Paulo. In Europe, offices are in Bratislava, Brussels, Budapest, Frankfurt, Kyiv, London, Moscow, Prague and Warsaw. In Asia, offices are in Beijing, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo. Associated firms are in Bucharest, Buenos Aires, Dublin and Santiago. |
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Frederick J. Ufkes Joins Hinshaw & Culbertson in LA
Firm News/California |
2009/01/07 19:57
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Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP announced today that Frederick J. Ufkes has joined the firm as a partner in its Los Angeles office.
A trial attorney with more than 25 years of experience, Ufkes focuses his practice on complex litigation, environmental, toxic torts, mass torts and products liability defense. He comes to Hinshaw from the Los Angeles office of K&L Gates LLP where he served as a partner since 2001.
“Fred is a savvy trial lawyer with a wealth of experience in environmental, toxic tort and products liability law,” said Donald L. Mrozek, Chairman of Hinshaw. “As lawmakers from California to D.C. continue to heighten the level of urgency and attention to environmental rules, regulations and compliance, and products safety laws, Fred’s addition expands our capability to serve our corporate clients as they navigate these vast and evolving areas. We’re pleased to welcome him to our Los Angeles office and to our robust environmental, toxic torts and products liability practices.”
“Part of my reason for joining Hinshaw was to be reunited with old friends and colleagues from my days at Haight, Dickson, Brown & Bonesteel,” said Ufkes. “John (Sheller), DJ (Hinds) and I have known each other for many years.” Sheller is partner in charge of the Los Angeles office. He and Hinds joined Hinshaw from Haight, Brown & Bonesteel LLP in January 2004.
Ufkes has national and regional counsel experience in both products liability and mass torts, and has defended companies and manufacturers in a broad spectrum of products, including chemicals, pharmaceuticals, electronics, computer software and hardware, heavy machinery, construction equipment and consumer products. In addition, he has handled a substantial number of matters involving compliance and litigation surrounding California’s Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act. He has also litigated matters under the federal CERCLA, RCRA, Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act statutes.
Ufkes has been lead trial counsel for a number of Fortune 500 companies in matters including plaintiffs’ claims for exposure to industrial solvents, degreasers, paints, adhesives and epoxies. He also served as trial counsel in asbestos litigation throughout California.
He is a graduate of the University of California at San Diego (1979) and earned his J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law (1982).
Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP is a national law firm with 475 lawyers in 25 offices. The firm offers a full-service practice, with an emphasis in litigation, corporate and business law, environmental, labor and employment law, professional liability defense, and wealth preservation and taxation matters. The firm provides services to a range of for-profit and not-for-profit clients in industries that include construction, financial services, health care, insurance, legal, manufacturing, real estate, retail and transportation. Firm clients also include government agencies, municipalities and schools. |
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John Q. Kelly on Natalee Holloway Case - Fox News
Headline News |
2009/01/05 22:18
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Natalie Holloway Attorney John Q. Kelly
GRETA VAN SUSTEREN, FOX NEWS HOST: And, finally, the Aruban prosecutor Hans Mos, responds. John Q. Kelly, the Holloway family attorney, has been trying to get Aruban prosecutor Hans Mos on the phone. Mos did leave him a rather nasty voicemail the other day. But now Hans Mos has responded to a letter from Kelly.
So what did Mos say in this response? John Q. Kelly joins us. John, what did he say?
JOHN Q. KELLY, HOLLOWAY FAMILY ATTORNEY: It's basically two-fold. One is that Joran [van der Sloot] has given different versions of the same event, so they can't be bothered with it.
And, two, they have no interest in any evidence or information that might assist him at this point.
VAN SUSTEREN: That is cute. The key is if you want to commit a crime, go to Aruba and tell three stories, because they will not investigate you and they won't look to corroborate. That's lesson number one. That's good advice.
You ask to have him arrested. What happens about that?
KELLY: He said we have no basis for it. This is the first time we have had any information that has been corroborated. He says he father was engaged in a cover-up, and it turns out that the chief of police and Paulus [van der Sloot], it has been confirmed that they hindered the prosecution. We have taped conversations that confirmed the boys talking about hoping that Natalee, or fearing that she may be alive. There are cell phone pings as to locations of Joran down by the fisherman's hut. There are all kinds of things independently that confirm what Joran is saying now, and they just won't listen.
VAN SUSTEREN: I know that he doesn't like us here at "On the Record." And I will make this promise tonight-we will stop being the monkey on his back if he does any investigation at all.
But I can tell you one thing. We have learned new information that a member of the Dutch parliament, Hero Brinkman, he is about to raise holy hell on Hans Mos. He is going down to Aruba in early January.
And if Hans Mos does not like us, wait until he gets a hold of this member of parliament, because he says that Aruba is "corrupt as hell" I think were his words, not mine.
KELLY: Greta, can I take you to the woodshed on one thing? I think people have to understand that even thought it was five months before your aired your interview with Joran that Hans Mos was made aware of it and the substance of it in great detail almost immediately, and he had no interest in following.
Read the entire interview at Fox News - Click Here |
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Courtney A. George Elevated to Shareholder
Firm News/Connecticut |
2009/01/05 21:58
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Cohen and Wolf, P.C. has elected Courtney A. George to the position of shareholder in the firm. She resides in West Hartford, Connecticut. Ms. George is a principal in the law firm's Labor & Employment and Commercial Litigation groups, based in Cohen and Wolf's Bridgeport office. She joined Cohen and Wolf as an associate in 2001 after graduating from Boston College Law School. Ms. George represents private and public employers in employment litigation, contract negotiations and counseling. She has defended employment and workers' compensation discrimination claims in state and federal court and in agency proceedings and has litigated restrictive covenant, breach of contract and business tort claims.
Ms. George has represented clients in employment-related agency investigations and regularly counsels clients on personnel matters, including employee handbooks, pre-employment, disciplinary and termination protocols; employee classification; trade secret and non-competition restrictions; and compliance with employment-related laws, including wage and hour, USERRA, labor laws and anti-discrimination laws. She also has represented employers and employees in severance negotiations. Ms. George lectures on employment law topics and conducts workplace anti-discrimination/anti-harassment training.
Ms. George also practices in the areas of commercial and probate litigation and has represented clients in probate and state courts in will contests and in fiduciary removal proceedings.
She is admitted to practice in Connecticut and the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut. Ms. George is a member of the American Bar Association (Labor & Employment Section), Connecticut Bar Association (Litigation Section, Labor & Employment Section, Common Law & Statutory Claims Subcommittee, Business Torts Committee and Women in the Law Subcommittee) and Greater Bridgeport Bar Association (Co-Chair, Labor & Employment Section).
Ms. George serves on the Board of Directors of Southern Regional Sickle Cell Association, Inc., and on the Board of Playhouse on the Green, where she is also Secretary. She is Co-Chair of the Parent Committee of the Early Childhood Department at the Jewish Community Center of Eastern Fairfield County.
Ms. George received her B.A., with distinction, in 1990, from McGill University and her J.D. from Boston College Law School in 2001. |
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Grocery Wholesaler in Federal Antitrust Action
Top Legal News |
2009/01/05 16:48
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The nation's two largest grocery wholesalers, Supervalu and C&S Wholesale, conspired to allocate territories, restrain competition and inflate prices, according to a federal antitrust class action. Gary's Foods claims the defendants competed until 2003, when Vermont-based C&S decided to go after Supervalu territory in the Midwest.
"Rather than extend their competition to the Midwest or continue to compete in New England, the Defendants conspired to allocate territories: Supervalu agreed to
exit New England in return for C&S's commitment not to enter Wisconsin, Iowa, and other states in the Midwest," the complaint states. "This scheme has caused substantial harm to retailers: prices for wholesale sales and services have been inflated, fewer manufacturer discounts have been passed on to retailers, and the supply of wholesale sales and services has been artificially reduced."
The two defendants have combined annual revenue of $28 billion,according to the complaint. Gary's also claims the defendantsfraudulently concealed their conspiracy. Gary's demands treble damagesand punitive damages for the class. It is represented by Daniel Kotchenwith Kotchen & Low of Washington, D.C. |
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Judge Upholds Detention of Two Gitmo Detainees
Legal Watch |
2009/01/02 17:27
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A federal judge ruled Tuesday that the U.S. government is properly imprisoning two people as enemy combatants in Guantanamo - the first legal victory for the Bush administration in the issue for a long time, and the first of an expected 200 or more similar cases.
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon in Washington, D.C., was the jurist who ruled about a month ago that the Bush administration had illegally imprisoned five Algerians at Guantanamo for nearly 7 years. He ordered the administration to release them.
The recent case involved a Yemeni, Moath Hamza Ahmed al Alwi, and a Tunisian, Hisham Sliti.
Judge Leon found that Sliti was an al Qaeda recruit who attended a military training camp in Afghanistan.
Judge Leon ruled that though there was no proof that al Alwi had made war upon U.S. forces, his ties to the Taliban were sufficient to justify his imprisonment as an enemy combatant. |
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Corruption crisis creates confusion in Illinois
Headline News |
2008/12/29 17:12
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| Embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has made a point of regularly going to work at his office in Chicago. He has signed legislation and issued pardons. He has sent out press releases about predatory lending and fighting poverty. But his arrest on federal corruption charges has clearly complicated his work as the state's chief executive and already cost the state some $20 million. The state is facing a potential $2.5 billion budget deficit and the governor doesn't have the same horsepower — or clout — to address the problem that he had just a month ago. No one in the state capital trusts Blagojevich enough to give him authority to trim the budget on his own, as he requested in November. Any other idea he advances would probably be rejected out of hand. Yet no other official can take the lead. "Everything just comes to a halt. You have complete paralysis," said House Republican Leader Tom Cross of Oswego. Blagojevich, a second-term Democrat, was arrested Dec. 9 on charges accusing him of scheming to swap President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat for profit, shaking down a hospital executive for campaign donations and other wrongdoing. The governor has defiantly insisted he's done nothing wrong and that he will not resign. His aides say he is going about business as usual. |
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