Palmina M. Fava ’97 has joined Vinson & Elkins as a partner in their nationally recognized Government Investigations and White Collar Criminal Defense practice. Fava joins V&E from Paul Hastings LLP, where she previously served as co-chair of the firm’s Global Compliance and Disputes Department. Her practice focuses on drafting and implementing compliance programs and defending corporations and individuals in government investigations and litigation, with an emphasis on representing corporate clients in Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) investigations before the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. “Palmina’s experience and reputation as a leading government and internal…
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Professor James Brudney is quoted in Vox for an article that provides answers to frequent questions on what is and is not allowed when it comes to labor strikes. The wave of labor unrest has become a defining feature of the economy since the 2008 Great Recession. In 2018, a record number of employees went on strike: School teachers, hotel workers, health care workers — even Google employees. Most of them were angry about stagnant wages and proposed benefits cuts, but some were just frustrated with company policies. But all the walkouts have raised the question of what, exactly, counts…
In a Bloomberg Law article, Professor Howard Erichson weighed in on a lower court ruling that puts restrictions on the settlement negotiations in a class-action suit against Logitech Inc. The Ninth Circuit expressed concern recently about a lower court judge’s standing rule barring precertification settlement negotiations in class actions. But it decided the concerns didn’t warrant the drastic remedy of mandamus. That means consumers will push ahead with litigation alleging Logitech Inc.’s Z200 computer speaker system is less powerful than advertised. The deadline for their class certification motion is now Sept. 26. But if mandamus wasn’t the proper way for…
Former U.S. Justice Department trial attorney, S. Starling Marshall ’05, has joined Crowell & Moring’s New York office as a partner in the firm’s Tax and Litigation groups. Marshall focuses her practice on litigation, complex IRS audits, and administrative appeals. She also regularly advises clients on privilege and protecting proprietary information in a wide array of contexts. Marshall will help expand the firm’s litigation and tax practices in New York, as well as its West Coast offices in Los Angeles and San Francisco, where she has long-standing client relationships. Marshall was previously at Covington & Burling. Prior to that, she…
Professor Joel Reidenberg is featured in a recent article from the University of Montana’s student-run independent newspaper, the Montana Kaimin. He provides his expert opinion on how student privacy, especially female student privacy, will be affected by a new University policy that requires fraternities to have their guests swipe an electronic tracking card prior to entering any functions where alcohol is present. The majority of students on guest lists are most likely sorority women, Zinke said. When a person swipes a Griz Card at one of the five fraternities, the scanner’s name, University ID number, the date and time of…
In an Associated Press article on the upcoming Purdue Pharma bankruptcy hearing, Professor Richard Squire shares what can be expected at the initial appearance. WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM THIS INITIAL COURT APPEARANCE? These generally focus on housekeeping and ensuring that the company can keep paying the bills as an ongoing operation during its Chapter 11 bankruptcy. According to the court docket, Judge Robert Drain will hear motions on authorizing payments of wages to employees, critical vendors, utilities and other key parties. Fordham Law Professor Richard Squire said Drain will likely hear from lawyers objecting to the filing and describing…
Professor Howard Erichson appeared in a Bloomberg Law article discussing a jurisdictional rule that would limit the ability of workers and consumers to bring class-action lawsuits against national or international corporations. Corporations could only face nationwide or multistate class actions in the state where they’re headquartered or incorporated under the rule the companies want. Those home forums are where federal courts have the authority, known as general jurisdiction, to consider claims against the companies. In cases brought only in those states, establishing a court’s “personal jurisdiction” over the employers with respect to out-of-state plaintiffs’ claims isn’t necessary. Imposing such a…
Professor Howard Erichson provided his expert perspective to Law 360. His comments focus on the efforts by the defendants in a high profile opioid distribution case to disqualify the presiding judge for showing bias toward a settlement outcome. The unexpected broadside Saturday contended that U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster’s longtime fixation on settling the epic MDL and his stated goal of easing the opioid crisis have created the appearance of bias, leaving the judge no choice but to bow out of the litigation. “In cases like these of such national significance … any reasonable question about the court’s impartiality…
Lisa Lim ’90, a partner at Akerman LLP, was interviewed by New York Real Estate Journal about her work in real estate finance and development, economic development, and affordable housing. Who inspired you to join the CRE Industry? I am a native New Yorker. I have been the lead counsel on a number of 80/20 projects that have helped to revitalize and develop rezoned sections of New York City. I have been lead counsel on significant large scale developments and capital projects that have brought economic development and innovation to New York City and New York state. These projects include…
Professor Howard Erichson provided his legal opinion to the New York Times on the motion filed by pharmacy retailers and drug distributors to disqualify the judge presiding over the bellwether Ohio case and nearly 2,300 other opioid-related lawsuits. Legal experts said they were surprised at the timing of the move to disqualify the judge, as well as what they called the extraordinary nature of the request. Although there is precedent for the recusal of federal judges, rarely are such motions granted so late in the process. Howard Erichson, a Fordham law professor who is an expert on complex litigation and…