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March 30, 2010 |
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AKIN'S ACQUISITION
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| This Thursday morning: Famed corporate counsel Anastasia Kelly (former GC of MCI, AIG, Fannie Mae, and Sears) joins BET co-founder Sheila Johnson at Bisnow's Where Do Women Stand III. (It's so important we use Roman numerals just like the Super Bowl.) Reagan Building. Great networking. Sign up now! |
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| On Friday, we asked Akin Gump’s senior executive partner and near-legendary (we'll save full-fledged legendary for Bob Strauss) Joel Jankowsky about his firm’s recent acquisition of one of DC’s hottest Democratic lobbying boutiques, Parven Pomper Strategies. |
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Joel, public policy practice co-chair, has TV relics from the ‘80s, but his 50-plus attorney and advisor group—including six from PPS—is focused on the future. "PPS [established in '06] has been very successful because they’re substantive, credible, and have a great reputation." Although the acquisition has tipped the scales "a tad," Joel says his practice will remain bi-partisan and that equilibrium will be restored "when the right Republican talent presents itself."
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Joel, a loyal son of Oklahoma who served as a legislative assistant to Speaker of the House Carl Albert in the early ‘70s, was recently awarded the Bryce Harlow Foundation’s highest honor for his lifelong leadership in business-government relations (hence the commemorative hand painted box). So what does it take to become one of the most respected lobbyists in town? If you guessed powerful connections, a scratch handicap, and a bottomless expense account, you’re not necessarily wrong, but you’re missing the point. “Insight and credibility,” says Joel, “are the key.” Apparently, it also helps to be humble: "I often have to make my case to 25-year-old Hill staffers who think I’m nothing but a fossil."
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NEW REAL ESTATE MAN
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Yesterday, we checked in with John Kelly, recent Bean Kinney addition as Of Counsel. John, who represents lenders and property owners in transactions involving office buildings, shopping centers, and hotels nationwide, tells us that that while he sees no indication of imminent recovery, NoVa is doing better than most areas elsewhere in the country because of its proximity to DC and the feds. Impressed by Bean Kinney’s well-established reputation and for representing local businesses (and banks, in particular), John says he’s now spending most of his time on loan workouts and modifications.
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| John tells us we’re still in a stalemate phase “because many banks are not too interested in their foreclosure options and becoming commercial property owners in this marketplace.” The question, he says, is whether banks will take foreclosed properties back, or modify the loans in hopes that property values will recover: “In many instances, there are opportunities for negotiation.” That doesn’t sound like much fun, but don’t feel bad for John: He says the trip he and his wife just got back from (Costa Rica) reset his stress meter. |
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| SATURDAY NIGHT! |
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One of DC’s top charity events for 23 years has been the Leukemia Ball, so we visited the Washington Convention Center for dining, entertainment by Jackson Browne and John Pinette, and silent auction including a Mercedes-Benz and Grammys tickets. This year’s Ball raised $3 million, and we snapped American Bar Association’s Jamal Aaron Hageb and his wife Selma.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS |
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April 01 - Bisnow - Where Do Women Stand - BET co-founder Sheila Johnson and former AIG counsel Anastasia Kelly. Ronald Reagan Building. Info
April 07 - Cardinal Bank - Fairfax: "Our City's Economic Future—Are we positioned to compete." Features Steve Fuller and John McClain from George Mason University. Old Town Hall. 7pm Info
April 08 - Bisnow summit on Foreign Corrupt Practices Act - Featuring SEC official Cheryl Scarboro and in-house counsel from Lockheed and Cisco, presented by Arent Fox. Info
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Please send story ideas to our Legal Reporter, Patrick Dowd, at patrick@bisnow.com
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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. © 2010, Bisnow on Business, Inc., 1323 Connecticut Ave, NW Washington, DC 20036. All rights reserved.
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