|
|
 |
|
|
| |
|
November 4, 2009 |
|
| |
| |
 |
| |
|
FROM ISRAEL
WITH LOVE
|
|
| Fight Night founder Joe Robert and Park at 14th owner Marc Barnes invite Bisnow readers to their invitation-only “Pre-Fight Night” party tonight, Wednesday, at the Park at 14th; free food and drink between 8 and 9 PM. No charge, but you must register here. |
|
| |
| Shapiro, Lifschitz & Schram’s name partner Judah Lifschitz called us from Israel late last night (his time). He just secured what’s arguably the largest-ever liquidated damages award in the history of the US construction industry; and instead of heading to Disney World, he jets to the Holy Land to attend a wedding. Upon arrival, he made time to check in with Legal Bisnow. How can we encourage more of this exemplary behavior? |
| |
 |
|
He sent us this pic from the Old City of Jerusalem. Judah tells us the whole thing started in 2001, when his client, New Athens Generating Company, commissioned Bechtel to design and build a $533 million power plant in upstate New York. After completing the project eight months late, Bechtel brought a series of claims against New Athens in an attempt to recuse itself of any responsibility and net itself an additional $50 million in damages. Not to be intimidated, New Athens and SLS fought back; and through a series of three arbitration trials, defeated Bechtel’s claims and won $27 million in liquidated damages.
|
|
|
 |
|
Considering he’s a slingshot’s throw from the Elah Valley, never has a David and Goliath analogy felt so right. For lawyers looking to slay their own Goliaths, Judah offers three pointers: don’t be intimidated by your opponent; understand that a breakthrough will only come as the result of intense team work; and make sure, when possible, to select top-notch arbitrators with extensive litigation experience in whatever industry is most relevant to the dispute.
|
|
|
PAUL’S SECRET WEAPON
|
| |
 |
|
Paul Hamburger's recent arrival at Proskauer Rose heralds the creation of a 4-person ERISA and employee benefits presence in DC, and he says the practice could grow nearly five-fold in the coming years. Given the amount of work required by Paul’s Fortune 100 clients, he’s going to need more than the shovel we snapped him holding (a gift from a former associate) to meet growing demand. As for right now, Paul tells us that “a lot of people are asking for help with cash-balance pension plans because of a lack of guidance from the IRS”; and that open enrollment season (when corporate employees have the opportunity to reelect their coverage under their benefits plans) is generating a steady stream of doc review requests.
|
|
|
 |
|
We snapped Paul with pics of his kids; the oldest recently graduated from Michigan, Paul's undergrad and law school alma mater. He says one of the great things about working at Proskauer, renowned for its sports law practice, is the opportunity to have some fun at sporting events with clients, while practicing law. (One of his colleagues recently took a client to Game 1 of the World Series.)
|
|
| DORSEY & WHITNEY’S NEW DIGS |
| |
 |
|
We stopped by Dorsey & Whitney last night to explore the firm’s new 7.5k sq ft office space at 1801 K. Here’s Dorsey’s Beth Forsythe, DC Water and Sewer Authority’s John Bosley, Novariant’s Anne Linton, and DC partner-in-charge Chip Magid, who tells us that Envision Design, RAND Construction, and Jones Lang LaSalle helped create the sleek digs.
|
| |
 |
| Try and follow the synergy in this pic of Dorsey’s Stefan Lopatkiewicz and Marianne Short, W.C. & A.N. Miller Realtor’s Susan Jaquet, and Jones Day’s Del Smith: Stefan and Del practiced satellite/telecom law together for 27 years; and Marianne, the firm’s Minneapolis-based managing partner tells us she and Susan played basketball together in college. We cried collusion when it came time to battle for position in the hors d'oeuvres line. |
| |
| Send story ideas to Patrick Dowd, patrick@bisnow.com |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
This newsletter is a journalistic news source which accepts no payment for featured interviews. It is supported by conventional advertisers clearly identified in the right hand column. You have been selected to receive it either through prior contact or professional association. If you have received it in error, please accept our apologies and unsubscribe below. © 2009, Bisnow on Business, Inc., 1323 Connecticut Ave, NW Washington, DC 20036. All rights reserved.
|
|
|
