Media Mentions
2008
Stephen M. Ryan was quoted in the August 1 issue of the Washington Business Journal in an article regarding a July 30 federal housing law that makes explicit the government's backing of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and creates the Federal Housing Finance Authority to regulate government-sponsored enterprises, or GSEs. Mr. Ryan noted that while the new law makes important changes, it leaves many questions unanswered. "It's untenable to have an incomplete answer to the question: What is the relationship between the GSEs and the government? I don't think this bill answers that. It was just a Band-Aid over the implicit guarantee," he said. Mr. Ryan also responded to the call by many for Fannie and Freddie to become either fully private or fully public institutions. "They will always be hybrids, just more clearly defined hybrids," he said.
Stephen M. Ryan, Government Strategies
David Ransom was mentioned in the July 29 issue of Politico in an article regarding his move to McDermott. Mr. Ransom noted that the move is "a matter of professional development" and that he looks forward to going from "one client" to many.
David Ransom, Government Strategies
David Ransom was mentioned in the July 22 issue of The Hill and The Blog of the Legal Times in articles regarding his move to McDermott. Prior to joining McDermott, Mr. Ransom worked as senior communications and policy adviser to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.
David Ransom, Government Strategies
Sheila Walcoff was mentioned in The Washington Post and Congressional Quarterly Daily regarding her recent move to McDermott’s Health Law department and life sciences government strategies practice group in Washington, D.C.
Link to: Sheila Walcoff, Health, Life Sciences – Health, Government Strategies
Government Strategies, Health, Life Sciences - Health
Sheila Walcoff was mentioned in the May 29 Legal Times blog regarding her recent move to McDermott’s Health Law department in Washington, D.C.
Stephen M. Ryan was quoted in a February 15 article published by Newsday regarding the potential federal investigation into whether Roger Clemens and Brian McNamee committed perjury, witness tampering and obstruction of justice at a recent congressional hearing. As a partner in McDermott’s Government Strategies Practice Group, Mr. Ryan discussed the likelihood that federal prosecutors would initiate investigations into incidents that allegedly occurred in their jurisdictions. "It was the equivalent of a nuclear explosion going off; [a prosecutor] can't look away," he said. Mr. Ryan noted that while Clemens' decision to testify was a mistake, it may be hard to criticize the baseball player's need to clear his name. "You're not Roger Clemens, and you have not won seven Cy Young Awards," he said.
Stephen M. Ryan, Government Strategies
Gregory K. Lawrence was quoted in the January 28 issue of Energy Law360 in an article regarding the challenges faced by the U.S. wind energy market. As a partner in the Energy and Derivatives Markets Group, Mr. Lawrence discussed the roadblocks faced by the wind energy market including expiration of the federal production tax credit, significant demand for turbines, and competition from other renewable energy markets. "Wind development in the U.S. faces some important challenges that could result in a boom or bust cycle where wind projects may change hands several times, face construction delays and regulatory risk, look for off-takers, and possibly be part of an investment bubble by financial players that may not have fully vetted the technical and regulatory aspects of wind development," he said.
Gregory K. Lawrence, Energy and Derivatives Markets, Government Strategies
Stephen Ryan was quoted in a January 11 article published by PR Newswire regarding Free File Alliance's launch of its 2008 free tax preparation services for Americans. As the Alliance's lawyer, Mr. Ryan commented on the benefits of the Alliance's public-private partnership with the Internal Revenue Service which has allowed the Alliance to provide six years of free tax preparation services for Americans with low and moderate incomes. "This unique partnership between government and private sector companies provides very real and significant benefits to poor and disadvantaged taxpayers. It also keeps government out of tax preparation, protecting taxpayer privacy and promoting private sector innovation and competition," Mr. Ryan said.
Stephen M. Ryan, Government Strategies
David Marx was quoted in the January 7 issue of Modern Healthcare in an article regarding Mercy Medical Center's claim that the Aultman Health Foundation has sought to eliminate competition and to attain monopoly power over hospital care in Stark County, Ohio. Mr. Marx, an antitrust lawyer, commented on vertical integration and its effect on competition in the hospital care market. "Particularly in concentrated markets with relatively few players, it is somewhat of a minefield to compete in all segments of the market, both delivery and insurance," he said. "The critical issue will be whether (Mercy) is being foreclosed from so much of the potential marketplace that it will be (unable to compete). That's a pretty high burden to meet," Mr. Marx added.
David Marx Jr., Government Strategies
Arthur G. Sapper, Robert C. Gombar, and James A. Lastowka were mentioned in the January 2008 issue of Occupational Hazards regarding the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission's re-examination of a 1993 precedent allowing OSHA to issue citations for recordkeeping violations that are more than 6 months old. Volks Constructors, with a friend of the court brief from the National Federation of Independent Business, is challenging the precedent. Mr. Sapper, Mr. Gombar, and Mr. Lastowka are on the brief submitted to the Commission on Volks Constructors' behalf.
Robert C. Gombar PC, James A. Lastowka, Arthur G. Sapper, Government Strategies, OSHA Experience
2007
Stephen M. Ryan was mentioned in a November 1 article published by The New York Times regarding Blackwater Wordwide's hiring of some of the top Washington, D.C. lawyers in order to mount an aggressive legal, political and public relations counterstrike. Mr. Ryan is one of Blackwater's lawyers due to his reputation as being one of the top white collar defense lawyers as well as his experience as a former general counsel of the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee.
Stephen M. Ryan, Government Strategies, Trial, White-Collar Criminal Defense
William Diaz was quoted in an October 31, 2007 article published by Competition Law360 regarding Google Inc.'s $3 billion takeover of DoubleClick Inc., an internet advertising firm. As a partner in McDermott's Antitrust and Competition Practice Group, Mr. Diaz stated that the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's decision to approve the merger would be taken into consideration by the European Union and the United States, but that E.U. and U.S. regulators would likely face opposition to the merger. "It's certainly a positive step, but I would say that it's still too early to tell. At the end of the day, it still depends on what's happening in their own domestic boundaries," he said. "If they have competitors complaining or customers complaining, it will still be an issue and Google will have to start all over again," he added.
William Diaz, Antitrust & Competition, Government Strategies
Paul M. Thompson was quoted in an October 17 article published by Roll Call regarding attorney general nominee Michael Mukasey's confirmation hearings over whether he would enforce contempt of Congress citations that could still be issued in the U.S. attorneys investigation. As a former Republican Judiciary Committee counsel, Mr. Thompson commented on the hearing regarding the extent to which Congress will assert itself over the executive branch. "The question will be for certain members of the Judiciary Committee whether they won their political victory when Attorney General Gonzales resigned and whether they feel pursuing this has some political value to them," Mr. Thompson said.
Paul M. Thompson, Government Strategies, Trial, White-Collar Criminal Defense
Stephen M. Ryan was quoted in a September 26 article published by the Washington Post regarding Rep. Henry A. Waxman's allegation that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is interfering with a House committee investigation into the Iraqi government and the activities of the Blackwater security firm. Mr. Ryan, an attorney for Blackwater, has been working on a separate hearing in which he directed the company "not to disclose any information" regarding its Iraq security contract without prior department authorization in writing. "This contractual direction from the DOS is unambiguous," Mr. Ryan said.
Stephen M. Ryan, Government Contracts and Public Procurement, Government Strategies
Stephen M. Ryan was quoted in a September 26 article published by the Los Angeles Times regarding the State Department's decision to intercede in the Blackwater probe. Mr. Ryan commented on the letter sent to a senior Blackwater executive ordering the company "to make no disclosure of the documents or information" regarding its work in Iraq without permission. "In the fluid setting of a congressional hearing it may become difficult, if not impossible, for Blackwater personnel to meet the terms of the State Department finding," Mr. Ryan said.
Stephen M. Ryan, Government Contracts and Public Procurement, Government Strategies
Holly A. Roth was quoted in a September 3 article published by the Washington Business Journal regarding the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) ordering the Department of Defense to stop paying a $90 million charge for office space leased due to an unauthorized contract. Ms. Roth commented on the involvement of TKC Communications LLC, the firm that was hired by CIFA to lease the building on its behalf and was paid $9 million for finding the space and executing the lease. "It strikes me that TKC is seriously stuck unless they...say the government has pulled out and we don't have any money to pay you," Ms. Roth said.
Holly A. Roth, Government Contracts and Public Procurement, Government Strategies
Marc Sorini was quoted on August 13-15 in various articles and broadcasts such as the Associated Press, The Los Angeles Times, The Miami Herald, and CBS13 etc. covering a California Board of Equalization vote on the taxation of flavored malt beverage products in an attempt to control underage drinking. Mr. Sorini represents malt beverage producers & distributors in these proceedings, where malt beverages are treated as distilled spirits as opposed to beer. "What we're talking about here...are social policy issues, certainly not something one would expect the tax board to be leading policy-making on. This is something frankly the Legislature out to be doing," Mr. Sorini said.
Marc E. Sorini, Alcohol Beverages & Products, Excise Taxation - Alcohol Beverages & Products, Government Strategies, Regulatory Development - Alcohol Beverages & Products
On August 13, Oliver Steffens was quoted hourly on Russia Today TV in a feature regarding unbundling the energy sector in the European Union.
Oliver Steffens, Germany, Government Strategies, Regulation & Government Affairs - Germany
Stephen M. Ryan was quoted in an August 11 article published by The National Journal regarding the current surge of federal investigations into allegations of public corruption by members of Congress and other officials. Stephen commented on the media attention that has helped to build the momentum behind this trend. "I think the current crop of cases is a reflection that you have to follow the evidence when the evidence is on the front pages of the newspapers," Mr. Ryan said.
Stephen M. Ryan, Government Strategies, White-Collar Criminal Defense
Veronica Pinotti was mentioned in the July issue of Il Mondo regarding her arrival to McDermott's Rome office.
Stephen Ryan was quoted on May 21 and May 28 in Information Week regarding the impending Internet address shortage. "Unless action is taken now, a quiet technical crisis will occur, not unlike Y2K in its complications, but without a fixed date or high level public attention."
Stephen M. Ryan, Government Strategies
Stephen Ryan was quoted in the April 30 Federal Times on the Justice Department lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for Eastern Arkansas against Accenture, Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems.
Stephen M. Ryan, Government Strategies
Stephen Bernstein was mentioned in the April 13 edition of Government Health IT on American Health Information Community's apparent considering of applying HIPAA to Regional Health Information Organizations and questioning the appropriateness of such an extension. "It might be difficult to determine which portions of the HIPAA rules apply, given the variations among exchange organizations," Mr. Bernstein said.
Stephen W. Bernstein, Government Strategies, Health, HIPAA
Stephen Ryan appeared on NPR's All Things Considered on March 23 to discuss the relationship between the IRS and commercial tax preparation software providers.
Stephen M. Ryan, Government Strategies
Stephen Ryan was named as one of Government Technology Magazine's "Top 25 Doers, Dreamers and Drivers" in the March 2007 issue.
Stephen M. Ryan, Government Strategies
Stephen Ryan was quoted in the Star Tribune on February 23 regarding the Rochester Coalition and Mayo Clinic's lawsuit requesting copies of the Dakota, Minnesota and Eastern Railroad's financial records from the Department of Transportation's Federal Railroad Administration under the Freedom of Information Act. Mr. Ryan was also quoted on this topic in Kiegers Notebook - Rochester Post Bulletin, Platts and Progressive Railroading.
Stephen M. Ryan, Government Strategies
Stephen Ryan was quoted in the February 12 issue of Roll Call regarding The United Transportation Union's addition to a coalition opposing a proposed expansion project for the Dakota Minnesota & Eastern Railroad. "The organizations opposed now demonstrate an ideological range - from a key AFL-CIO railroad union whose worker's safety is at stake to groups like Citizen's Against Government Waste and the Frontiers of Freedom Foundation," he said. "Stay tuned for a very large uptick in Members from every area of the country who will be joining the coalition."
Stephen M. Ryan, Government Strategies
Stephen Ryan was quoted in the February 7 issue of The Boston Globe regarding the widow of a Navy pilot's suit against Raytheon.
Stephen M. Ryan, Government Strategies
Stephen Ryan was quoted in Government Computer News (GCN) on February 5 regarding the Defense Department receiving its Ipv6 addresses from the American Registry for Internet Numbers (ARIN). "When an existing customer has an IPv4 agreement, all they have to do is request v6 addresses and pay for the service. There is no need for a new agreement." He also notes "When people pay for this, they are paying for a service, DOD or anyone else will not own the numbers, but have the right to use them for as long as the contract remains in force and the department needs them."
Stephen M. Ryan, e-Business, Government Strategies
2005
M. Miller Baker was quoted in the May 2 issue of Roll Call in an article entitled "Full Circuit to Hear CAA Cases Jointly." The article discusses a surprise move that could lay the groundwork for review by the Supreme Court. The federal appeals court, which is now hearing two lawsuits against Members of Congress has decided to hear both cases together in front of the entire circuit, rather than in separate hearings. Mr. Baker said in regard to the Supreme Court hearing the two lawsuits together that "it's highly, highly unusual. Put another way, it's extraordinary." He continued to say that perhaps the last time a full circuit court took a case "as an original matter" was in Bush v. Gore in 2000, when the full 11th Circuit decided to hear the lawsuit directly from the trial court.
M. Miller Baker, Elections & Political Law, Government Strategies, Trial
Bill Boies was mentioned in the February 18 issue of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin in regard to representing the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation in Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation v. Filan, 2004 App. Lexis 26792 (7th Cir., Dec. 22). The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently affirmed a decision that an Illinois statute requiring the foundations to contribute $125 million of its edowment to the state constituted taking a private property for public use without just compensation and was therefore unconstitutional.
Wilber H. Boies PC, Government Strategies, Trial
2004
Bill Boies was mentioned in the December 23 issue of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin in regard to his representation of the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF). The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the state would be violating the U.S. Constitution's prohibition on taking private property for public use without just compensation if it took $125 million from the ICECF, and rejected the notion that the foundation's assets belong to the state. This decision by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals was also reported by the Chicago Tribune on December 23.
Wilber H. Boies PC, Government Strategies, Trial
Joseph Winterscheid was quoted in the November 1 issue of Global Competition Review in regard to the impact the presidential election will have on antitrust regulation. "Election outcomes continue to be relevant, but much less so than in decades past. A change in administration is unlikely to bring about any sea change — any changes will indeed be at the margins. The 'swinging pendulum' analogy was apt 20 years ago, but now it's more akin to changing watch batteries — you may notice some difference in performance of the second-hand, but it won't be profound," commented Mr. Winterscheid.
Joseph F. Winterscheid, Antitrust & Competition, Government Strategies
James Riedy was quoted in the November 2004 issue of Trade & Forfeiting Review in an article regarding the new corporate-tax bill and its containment of significant international tax reform provisions. The bill does away with the tax benefits for exporters, Mr. Riedy explains. "But what Congress has replaced these benefits with is a general tax reduction applicable to all manufacturing activities whether that product is exported or consumed in the United States."
James A. Riedy PC, Government Strategies, Tax
On October 6, 2004, Miller Baker testified before the U.S. House of Representatives' Committee on the Judiciary - Subcommittee on the Constitution at an Oversight Hearing regarding "The Presidential Succession Act of 1947" and the future considerations for changes to presidential succession. Mr. Baker's testimony was quoted in Roll Call on October 7, 2004, which reported his statement that "Suffice it to say here that the 1947 act is almost certainly the most dangerous statute to be found in the United States Code." Roll Call agreed with Mr. Baker's testimony that the current succession law "threatens to deprive the United States of clear executive authority at the precise moment" when the need for it would be most urgent was echoed by the other panelists. To view the entire testimony, visit http://www.house.gov/judiciary/baker100604.pdf.
M. Miller Baker, Elections & Political Law, Government Strategies, Trial
Bill Boies was mentioned in the August issue of Corporate Legal Times in regard to representing the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF). The ICECF was ordered to pay the state of Illinois $125 million after the Illinois legislature amended the state utilities act and directed the private foundations to hand over the money to help close the state's huge budget gap. The foundation immediately sought a declaratory judgment in federal court that the state's action was an unconstitutional taking of property without compensation and a violation of due process. In April 2004, federal district court Judge Amy St. Eve agreed with ICECF and rejected the state's argument that the $ 125 million belonged to the state and that the foundation was a public entity. She agreed with the foundation that the state was attempting to take private property without compensation, in clear violation of Fifth Amendment rights.
Wilber H. Boies PC, Government Strategies, Trial
In an article in the July 2004 issue of Chicago Lawyer, Bill Boies and M. Miller Baker were mentioned in regard to successfully overturning legislation passed in 2003 to force the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation to contribute $125 million to state coffers.
M. Miller Baker, Wilber H. Boies PC, Government Strategies, Trial
2002
McDermott Will & Emery was mentioned in the October 4 issue of El Nuevo Dia, Puerto Rico's most broadly circulated newspaper. The Firm's Legislative Practice Group's success in lobbying Congress on behalf of the Puerto Rico Hospital Association was highlighted.
