In anticipation of the FEC Policies and Procedures hearing slated for January 14, 2009, Charlie Spies from McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP's Political Law practice is offering initial comment and will be available for further comment during and following the hearing.  Mr. Spies offers a unique perspective on election law issues due to his experience working at the Federal Election Commission (as Counsel to Chairman Darryl R. Wold in 1999 and 2000)  as well as serving as Election Law Counsel for the Republican National Committee during the successful Bush-Cheney re-election campaign in 2004 and then General Counsel for the Republican Governors Association working on 38 Governors races in 2005 and 2006.

"Too often with the FEC, the enforcement process has been the punishment, even for Respondents that were ultimately vindicated.  The Commission is to be commended for holding this hearing and taking comment regarding some of the agency's long-standing enforcement procedures," said Charlie Spies.  "The Commission should pay special attention to the comments of practitioners who represent clients participating in campaigns and exercising their constitutionally protected free speech, while at the same time attempting to comply with the cumbersome federal election law statutes and regulations."

Mr. Spies will be attending the hearing at 10:00 AM on Wednesday the 14th and will be available for comment throughout the day at (202) 496-7878.

Cohen and Wolf, P.C., one of Connecticut's leading law firms, continues its growth throughout Connecticut by expanding its office in Danbury. The Danbury expansion follows the opening of new offices in Orange in 2008 and in Westport in 2007. Cohen and Wolf is the largest full-service law firm in Danbury, where it has had an office for more than 30 years.

"The Danbury office renovation reflects our strong commitment to staying in downtown Danbury," said David L. Grogins, principal and co-chair of Cohen and Wolf's Municipal Law Group. "Our ability to sustain and increase our practice here is significant, especially in light of current economic conditions."

Cohen and Wolf offers a broad range of legal services to the Danbury area from house closings to commercial real estate and development, all types of litigation, securities arbitration, family law, trusts and estates and elder law, as well as municipal and corporate matters. Cohen and Wolf serves as Town Counsel for five towns, including Newtown and Ridgefield.

Cohen and Wolf has more than 50 attorneys, seven of whom are resident in the Danbury office (located at 158 Deer Hill Ave.). Danbury natives David L. Grogins and Neil R. Marcus have been with the firm since it first occupied its current building in 1977. Attorneys Robin A. Kahn, Joseph G. Walsh, Monte E. Frank, Jason A. Buchsbaum and Peter A. Arturi are also based in Danbury.

When Neil Marcus first interviewed with the firm's co-founders, Austin K. Wolf and Herbert L. Cohen, 35 years ago, they commented on Mr. Marcus' long ties to the Danbury community where Mr. Marcus' grandfather started farming in 1919. "It didn't take me long to convince them that this area would be a great place to grow the law firm" said Marcus, a co-founder with Mr. Grogins of the Danbury office. "It seems hard to believe that we have been here for more than three decades, but it is reassuring to me that our original vision has been realized and the current project is a further commitment of Cohen and Wolf to Danbury. We look forward to serving our clients in our expanded facilities."

The office will grow in size by twenty-five percent to about 5,000 sq. ft. There will be additional offices and a new conference room, as well as a revamped reception area. The renovation is expected to be completed later this Spring.

Cohen and Wolf is being careful to maintain the building's historic character, which dates back to 1830. Moldings and the architectural integrity of the Greek revival house will be preserved. Philip Clark of Newtown-based Claris Construction has been hired as the contractor. He also did the work on the firm's Westport office when it was built last year.

A Law360 Litigation Almanac ranking of the top 10 busiest ERISA practices in the United States lists Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP in the number two spot. According to Law360, rankings were determined by number of cases for which the firms were retained as counsel over a recent a one-year period, as published in the 2009 Law360 Litigation Almanac.

Hinshaw’s employee benefits attorneys provide comprehensive counsel and advice to corporations, tax-exempt organizations, local governmental entities and individuals in a wide range of complex employee benefits matters. Among many other issues, the firm assists clients with: contested benefit claims; breaches of fiduciary responsibility; insolvent group health plans; service provider errors and omissions; plan termination liability to the U.S. Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation; and Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA) continuation coverage liability.

As described by Law360, the Law360 Litigation Almanac is an authoritative source on litigation trends in the U.S., including market share for more than 360 firms in ten major practice areas. With data culled from over 500,000 federal cases and input from more than 200 participating law firms, the report provides unprecedented breadth and depth in its coverage of the state of the U.S. legal market.
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.

The Shuman Law Firm today announced that it is investigating potential breaches of fiduciary duty in connection with the proposed acquisition of Advanced Medical Optics, Inc. ("Advanced Medical Optics" or the "Company") (NYSE:EYE).

On January 12, 2009, Advanced Medical Optics announced their intent to sell the Company to Abbott Labs, Inc. (NYSE:ABT). Under the terms of the merger agreement, Advanced Medical Optics shareholders would receive $22 per share in cash for a total sale price of approximately $1.4 billion. Advanced Medical Optics is a leader in LASIK vision correction surgery and surgical contact lenses. One analyst noted that the Company was a "depressed, distressed asset, not so much because of the product portfolio, but because of under-management and a cyclical, tough environment for Lasik." Advanced Medical Optics stock had traded at more than $22 per share within the past four months.

If you currently own Advanced Medical Optics common stock and would like a free consultation concerning your rights and interests, please contact Kip Shuman, Esq. or Rusty Glenn, Esq. toll-free at 866-974-8626 or email Mr. Shuman at kip@shumanlawfirm.com or Mr. Glenn at rusty@shumanlawfirm.com.

The Shuman Law Firm represents investors throughout the nation, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation.