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Date : 09-26-2006

Law firm helps NFIB create the wage hour handbook

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) announced that its legal arm, NFIB Legal Foundation, tied-up with law firm Arent Fox, LLP, to prepare the Wage and Hour Handbook for Small Business. The guide will provide information on the federal wage and hour law, distinguished as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The FLSA prescribes law for minimum wage, record-keeping, overtime salary, and child labor requirements for employees. The handbook will help employers understand the nuances of the law and thus comply with FLSA in a more effective manner. A tax-exempt, public-interest law firm, NFIB Legal Foundation is part of NFIB, a small-business advocacy organization. Arent Fox is a premier law firm advising clients in areas including tax, real estate, and communications.

Former U.S. ambassador joins McCarter & English

McCarter & English hired former U.S. Ambassador Paul Cellucci as special counsel for the firm's Boston office. Cellucci will offer counseling in the public strategy group, exploring cross border opportunities in the areas of life sciences, energy, and technology. As the firm's special counsel, Cellucci will utilize his business and public service experience and work closely with private and public sector clients. He will identify legal and legislative issues affecting their businesses and provide regulatory and strategic counseling to help them achieve their objectives. The public strategy group of McCarter & English works in close association with the process of government and maintains relationships with key individuals at the federal, state, and local levels.

Litigation expert elected chairman for Winston & Strawn

Winston & Strawn nominated litigation expert Dan Webb as the firm's chairman. He takes over from Governor James R. Thompson, who will continue to serve the firm as senior chairman. The decision to elect Webb as chairman was made unanimously by the firm's executive committee. Webb served as the U.S. district attorney for the northern district of Illinois. Noted lawyer Thomas Fitzgerald has taken over managing partner responsibilities from Jim Neis. Fitzgerald will now be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the firm and will consult with Neis on the transition of responsibilities. Fitzgerald's practice focuses on tax issues related to acquisitions, divestitures, mergers, and reorganizations, as well as tax controversy matters.

Wyrick Robbins announces addition of five new associates

North Carolina-based Wyrick, Robbins, Yates & Ponton hired five associates at its Raleigh office. Adrienne E. Allison, David A. Burns, Robert C. Lawson, Kevin J. Stanfield, and David I. Yoon will join the firm and focus on different practice groups. Allison will concentrate on appellate advocacy; Burns will look after estate planning and administration; Lawson will handle commercial real estate transactions and land development, as well as representing landlords and tenants; Stanfield will focus on civil and commercial litigation; and Yoon will concentrate on corporate law. Lawyers at Wyrick, Robbins, Yates & Ponton work in several areas of litigation, including business and labor law, antitrust, and family law disputes.

Former State Department official joins King & Spalding

King & Spalding hired former senior U.S. diplomat Terry Snell as senior international government relations advisor at the firm's Washington, D.C., office. Snell is backed by 30 years of experience in foreign affairs policy, intelligence, security and counter-terrorism issues, U.S. defense policy, and military operations. He will be responsible for advising clients and the firm's attorneys on business and political conditions outside the U.S., especially in Europe, Africa, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. Snell will also interact and share knowledge with the attorneys in the firm's public policy and government advocacy practice group. Previously, Snell was political advisor to United States European Command (EUCOM), advising its commander and deputy commander on the political dimensions of EUCOM's strategies and initiatives in the 91 countries where it operates.

Winstead adds 12 new associates

Winstead, Sechrest & Minick added 12 new associate attorneys from various law schools to the firm's offices in Austin, Dallas, and Houston. With new recruits coming from strong academic backgrounds, the firm intends to add depth to its existing practice groups, which include bankruptcy, corporate/securities, labor and employment, litigation/dispute resolution, real estate finance and zoning, and land use. The new associate attorneys will be required to undergo professional development programs and interactive sessions with the firm's senior attorneys, which will allow them to familiarize themselves with the firm's practices. Offering services in 30 practice areas, Texas-based Winstead Sechrest has an attorney strength of more than 300 across the U.S.