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February 23, 2009 |
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Feldesman Tucker;
Foley Lardner;
Lateral Report
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| Bisnow Breakfast & Schmooze: What's ahead for the Washington economy? WilmerHale chief Bill Perlstein, National Association of Broadcasters CEO David Rehr, Inova Health System CEO Knox Singleton, and leading venture capitalist John Backus join top real real estate developers and famed forecaster Knight Kiplinger to let you know what to expect. National Press Club, March 2. Recession busting prices! Sign up here. |
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You'd think the D.C. government would be one employer to support workers doing civic duty on juries, but it's just been found in violation of the Jury Systems Improvements Act for retaliating against Christine Madison, who was fired from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education after a four-month jury stint on a death penalty case in 2007.
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Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell attorneys Grace Culley and Cary Feldman smile at the 22-page bench ruling from late January awarding their client reinstatement of her job along with back wages, retroactive benefits, and attorneys fees. Cary praised the practical approach of U.S. District Court Judge Rosemary Collyer (she also presided over the death penalty case giving rise to the dispute), who noted that it's reasonable for employers to be upset about long jury service—they just can't penalize employees.
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Cary says it's "kind of uncanny" another DC employee from the very same jury—a teacher—was also let go after returning to work. That retaliation case, handled by Sutherland, was tried at the same time as Ms. Madison's (post-trial briefs filed in the fall), but there's no decision yet. The employment case was a departure for Cary, who worked Independent Counsel Office's investigations and spends most of his time on white collar work.
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| USPTO Chief to Foley |
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If the DC Bar has a Doogie Howser, we think it's gotta be Jon Dudas. He became a head of the US Patent & Trademark Office at a mere 35 in 2004 (biggest confirmation hearing worry: explaining his youth). At USPTO, he spearheaded the new "accelerated examination" process in which parties agree to give more and faster information in return for a decision in 12 months.
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The office isn't decorated yet, but we had Jon get the agency flag out for show. While there, he pushed for progress with Japan, Korea, and other nations on "patent worksharing," to make prosecuting patents in more than one country more efficient. He describes the choice of Foley as a no-brainer, considering its global reach, critical mass in IP (240 attorneys), and top-ten rankings in both patents issued (per IP Today) and IP litigation (IP Law & Business).
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| Select Associates in Demand |
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On Friday we hopped over to Rosslyn to see Steve Nelson, legal headhunter with the McCormick Group, to ask if the market for associates is really as miserable as they say. Hiring is definitely down, Steve says, but he notes some bright spots: demand for experienced associates in IP, bankruptcy, government contracts, and FDA work. The last struck a chord, as we've been hearing about many firms building up in food and drug. Why exactly? Steve says that firms with products liability and biotech/pharma practices see big cross-selling opportunities.
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Here with McCormick Group's legal search guru Lyles Carr, Steve says the partner market is "stronger than ever"—in part because we're in the busy lateral season (January to March), but economic worries also have firms eager to land books of business. We often hear laments that profits-per-partner figures have undue influence in lateral searches, and Steve agreed that PPP numbers can be misleading, especially at two-tiered partnerships, where only some have equity. He offered up two other measurables that laterals should pay close attention to: debt load (Achilles heel of Heller Ehrman and Thelen), and compensation per partner.
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| ON THE SCENE! |
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Hard to keep up with our friend DC Councilman Jack Evans, shown here last night at the G’Town Oscar party of private equity player Rick Rickertsen. But you can keep up with it by subscribing to The Scene Bisnow. Check out today’s issue. And, better yet, subscribe!
John Ford is Bisnow's Legal Editor. Story ideas to john@bisnow.com.
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This newsletter is a journalistic news source which accepts no payment for featured interviews. It is supported by conventional advertisers clearly identified in the right hand column. You have been selected to receive it either through prior contact or professional association. If you have received it in error, please accept our apologies and unsubscribe below. © 2009, Bisnow on Business, Inc., 1323 Connecticut Ave, NW Washington, DC 20036. All rights reserved.
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