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.

Matt Towery has returned to the international law firm of McKenna Long & Aldridge LLP (MLA) as a member of the firm’s government affairs practice.  Towery, a former state lawmaker, brings nearly three decades of experience in business, law, and government to the firm and will help identify opportunities to connect business interests with public policy initiatives at the federal, state and local levels.  Towery will continue in his role as CEO of InsiderAdvantage/Poll Position, one of the nation’s leading polling and market research companies

“We are especially pleased to welcome Matt back,” said Eric Tanenblatt, head of MLA’s national government affairs practice. “His broad experience as a state legislator, political strategist, pollster and media analyst combined with his legal training will be a real asset to our clients.  His familiarity with our firm and its client base will enable him to hit the ground running.”

“I’ve been fortunate to have many opportunities to impact policy debates, from both inside and outside political circles,” said Towery.  “MLA has such a strong and well-respected team in government affairs.  Returning gives me a nationwide platform to expand my work by assisting the firm’s clients with public policy issues at the intersection of business and government.”

Towery has built a career in and around government and politics.  He served as a state legislator in Georgia from 1993 to 1997, He has authored two books and currently writes a nationally syndicated column for Creators Syndicate.  Matt has also been a political analyst for WSB-TV in Atlanta, the local ABC affiliate.

Towery joins the national team of MLA’s Government affairs practice which includes a number of widely respected attorneys and professionals including Gordon Giffin, former U.S. Ambassador to Canada; former Congressman Buddy Darden, former U.S. Senator and Governor Zell Miller, former Mayor of Indianapolis Steve Goldsmith, Eric Tanenblatt, former Chief of Staff to Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue and senior advisor to the late U.S. Senator Paul Coverdell; former senior Clinton White House officials Marcia Hale and Keith Mason, Joe Dowley, former chief counsel to the House Ways and Means Committee, Cindy Gillespie,  senior counselor to Governor Mitt Romney; Steve Labovitz, former Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Atlanta and Sharon Gay, former deputy chief of staff and executive counsel to the Mayor of Atlanta.

Global law firm White & Case LLP today announced the election of 21 new partners, effective January 1, 2009.

"Our new partners are leaders who have demonstrated their dedication to our clients and the Firm," said Chairman Hugh Verrier. "They represent the diversity of our global business and give us much confidence for our future."

Consistent with White & Case's recent reorganization, each new partner is joining one of 16 global practices. By pooling its partners and other talent across Global Practices and within Regional Sections, the Firm seeks to reinforce its global footprint and leverage its network to enhance the services and value it provides to its clients worldwide.

Listed by the regions in which they are based, the new partners are:

Americas

   * Hazem Derhalli is based in New York and has been named a partner in our global Energy, Infrastructure Project and Asset Finance practice. He is a New York-qualified asset finance and project finance lawyer who focuses on utility and transportation-related facility and equipment finance, as well as oil and gas-related project finance.
   * Fernando de la Hoz has been named a partner in our Latin America practice. Based in São Paulo following his relocation there from Miami in 2006, he is a Florida-qualified securities and M&A lawyer who works on cross-border transactions with Brazilian corporates and financial institutions.
   * Jeremy Naylor has been named a partner in our global M&A/Corporate practice. Based in New York, Jeremy is a New York-qualified transactional tax lawyer, specializing in investment fund formation and partnerships.
   * Martin Toto is based in New York and has been named a partner in our global Competition practice. Qualified in New York and New Jersey, he is an antitrust lawyer who specializes in criminal investigations and litigation, civil litigation and antitrust aspects of mergers and acquisitions.


Europe, Middle East and Africa

   * Mark Castillo-Bernaus is based in London and has been named a partner in our global Energy, Infrastructure Project and Asset Finance practice. He is an English-qualified project finance lawyer who has a broad range of experience representing lenders and sponsors on large, complex project financings.
   * Franck De Vita has been named a partner in our global M&A/Corporate practice. Based in Paris, he is a French-qualified M&A and securities lawyer who advises private equity funds and companies in both public company and private M&A transactions. He is experienced in leveraged buy-outs, venture capital transactions and restructurings.
   * Detlev Gabel has been named a partner in our Germany practice. A German-qualified corporate lawyer, he is based in Frankfurt and focuses on IT and outsourcing transactions, privacy and data protection.
   * Dennis Heuer has been named a partner in Germany. Based in Frankfurt, he is a German-qualified finance lawyer who specializes in structured finance, securitization and distressed debt, with a focus on asset-backed securitization – specifically, lease receivables, consumer and auto loans and insurance policies.
   * Andrew Macklin is based in London and has been named a partner in our global M&A/Corporate practice. An English-qualified M&A lawyer, his practice focuses on complex cross-border M&A transactions.
   * Maya Melnikas has been named a partner in our Central and Eastern Europe practice. Based in Moscow, she is a California-qualified bank finance and securitization lawyer, who also practices in financial services and real estate M&A.
   * Eric Muller is based in Paris and has been named a partner in our global M&A/Corporate practice. A French-qualified M&A and corporate lawyer, he advises French and global companies in their listed and non-listed acquisitions, joint ventures and reorganizations.
   * Stefan Odeurs has been named a partner in our global M&A/Corporate practice. Based in Brussels, he is a Belgian-qualified M&A and corporate lawyer who represents Belgian and global companies in M&A, private equity and other corporate transactions.
   * Petr Panek is based in Prague and has been named a partner in Central and Eastern Europe. He is a Czech- and New York-qualified lawyer, specializing in M&A, corporate, real estate, reorganizations and fund formation transactions.
   * Tanja Törnkvist has been named a partner in our global Banking and Capital Markets practice. Based in Helsinki, she is a Finnish-qualified corporate and finance lawyer with broad experience supporting Scandinavian clients in financings, capital markets transactions, and mergers and acquisitions.
   * Christophe von Krause is based in Paris and has been named a partner in our global Disputes practice. A French-qualified international arbitration lawyer, he represents clients in International Chamber of Commerce arbitrations, ad hoc tribunals and other arbitral venues, in addition to acting in M&A-related arbitrations, and serves such industries as construction, oil and gas, hotel and leisure.
   * Robert Weber has been named a partner in Germany. Based in Frankfurt, he is a German-qualified corporate lawyer and advises public companies on issues such as tender offers, squeeze-outs, general assemblies and contested resolutions and decisions.
   * Karl-Jörg Xylander is based in Berlin and has been named a partner in Germany. A German-qualified former public prosecutor, he specializes in white collar criminal defense in the areas of tax, banking and finance, compliance, environmental and other matters and advises corporate clients in criminal and administrative proceedings, including counseling them in the run-up to prosecution or civil litigation.


Asia

   * Michael Shikuma has been named a partner in our Asia practice, based in Tokyo. He is a Hawaii-qualified tax lawyer who specializes in the taxation of cross-border transactions and restructurings, as well as international estate planning in the United States, Japan and the Asia-Pacific region.
   * John Shum has been named a partner in Asia. Based in Hong Kong, he is a New York- and English-qualified bank finance lawyer who transferred to Hong Kong from New York in 2008. His practice focuses on assisting financial services clients with leveraged finance transactions.
   * Anna-Marie Slot has been named a partner in Asia. Based in Hong Kong, she is a New York-qualified securities lawyer who relocated to Hong Kong from London in 2008. She represents banks and other companies on a wide range of corporate finance transactions, with an emphasis on high-yield debt offerings.
   * Vivian Tsoi has been named partner in Asia. Based in Beijing, she is a California- and Hawaii-qualified lawyer who transferred to Beijing from Palo Alto, CA, in 2005. A corporate M&A specialist, she leads both China inbound and outbound M&A transactions.


About White & Case
White & Case LLP is a leading global law firm with more than 2,400 lawyers in 34 offices in 23 countries. Among the first US-based law firms to establish a truly global presence, we provide counsel and representation in virtually every area of law that affects cross-border business. Our clients value both the breadth of our global network and depth of our US, English and local law capabilities in each of our regions and rely on us for their complex cross-border transactions, arbitration and litigation provided by our global practices. Whether in established or emerging markets, the hallmark of White & Case is our complete dedication to meeting the business priorities and legal needs of our clients.