Around the Firms

e-Mail's Flame Sets Bridge Ablaze

In what appeared to be a farewell e-mail earlier this month, a Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker associate wrote that he hoped the “smoke from any bridges I burn today [may] be seen far and wide.”

At the rate the e-mail is traveling, that won't be a problem.

But now it seems the lawyer may be having regrets.

The message ' apparently sent from the desk of associate Gregory Evans Jr. to the rest of the firm's San Diego office ' had been forwarded to lawyers at scores of other firms and popped up on infirmation.com's “greedy associates” Internet bulletin boards for New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Evans' message said he was moving on to become a “trophy husband,” a decision that was “quite easy” to make and “a step up from my current situation.”

The message offered a nod to Paul, Hastings, and cited “wonderful friendships” made at the firm. But then Evans ' or someone at his desk ' went negative. “I am no longer comfortable working for a group largely populated by gossips, backstabbers and Napoleonic personalities,” the message said.

“In fact, I dare say that I would rather be dressed up like a pinata and beaten than remain with this group any longer.”

John Benassi, a litigation partner in the firm's San Diego office, says he'd seen the e-mail ' as well as a follow-up message saying Evans wanted to retrieve it. “It might have been an accident, because he tried to recover it as soon as he sent it,” explains Benassi, who said he doesn't know Evans.

The partner adds that he was surprised by the e-mail and says the firm's San Diego office is doing well, noting that it opened in September and now has about 60 lawyers.

Paul, Hastings PR manager Eileen King says she can't confirm whether Evans had written and sent the e-mail. “It is our firm's policy that we don't comment on employment matters, including the circumstances under which someone leaves,” she says. “We wish Greg well,” she adds.

The message, for its part, wished the firm “continued success in your goals to turn vibrant, productive, dedicated associates into an aimless, shambling group of dry, lifeless husks.”

- Pam Smith, The Recorder

---

King & Spalding Add Energy Expert

With more than 35 years of legal expertise regarding fossil fuels to his credit, King & Spalding's John P. Cogan Jr. is now at the helm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld's global energy transaction practice. Cogan, an expert in the growing field of liquefied natural gas infrastructure and transportation, is based in London and in Houston.

---

Quinn Emanuel Expands Patent Team

Los Angeles' Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges has expanded its patent litigation team. Three new partners have joined ' two based in New York, and the other in California. The East Coast attorneys are Edward DeFranco and Andrew Berdon. The latter served most recently at Frommer Lawrence & Haug. Silicon Valley's Kevin Johnson joins Quinn Emanuel from Fish & Neave.

---

White Collar Practices Grow

Philadelphia's Cozen O'Connor has acquired a Washington, DC firm, Asbill Moffitt & Boss. Cozen welcomed founder Henry W. Asbill, and new senior members William B. Moffitt and Barry Boss. The firm also gained a new associate, Peter Paris. White-collar and complex criminal defense matters are the areas of concentration for these newcomers.

Foley and Lardner also has a new addition in the white-collar defense work area, with Scott L. Fredericksen now in the fold. Fredericksen, who joined the firm's litigation department as a partner, previously served for 10 years in Washington, DC, as a federal prosecutor. He worked at the Office of Independent Counsel.

---

New Director for Piper's Diversity Group

Theresa Cropper is the new director of diversity at Piper Rudnick. She is based in Chicago. Cropper, who is Northwestern University Law School's former dean of students, has worked for Stevie Wonder and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. She heads up Piper's Diversity Initiative, a program that was started in 2002 (she is its third director) and runs for five years. Presently there are no set goals for Diversity Initiative, but Cropper has said that the program intends to encourage women and minorities.

---

Teri Zucker LFP&BR. [email protected]

e-Mail's Flame Sets Bridge Ablaze

In what appeared to be a farewell e-mail earlier this month, a Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker associate wrote that he hoped the “smoke from any bridges I burn today [may] be seen far and wide.”

At the rate the e-mail is traveling, that won't be a problem.

But now it seems the lawyer may be having regrets.

The message ' apparently sent from the desk of associate Gregory Evans Jr. to the rest of the firm's San Diego office ' had been forwarded to lawyers at scores of other firms and popped up on infirmation.com's “greedy associates” Internet bulletin boards for New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Evans' message said he was moving on to become a “trophy husband,” a decision that was “quite easy” to make and “a step up from my current situation.”

The message offered a nod to Paul, Hastings, and cited “wonderful friendships” made at the firm. But then Evans ' or someone at his desk ' went negative. “I am no longer comfortable working for a group largely populated by gossips, backstabbers and Napoleonic personalities,” the message said.

“In fact, I dare say that I would rather be dressed up like a pinata and beaten than remain with this group any longer.”

John Benassi, a litigation partner in the firm's San Diego office, says he'd seen the e-mail ' as well as a follow-up message saying Evans wanted to retrieve it. “It might have been an accident, because he tried to recover it as soon as he sent it,” explains Benassi, who said he doesn't know Evans.

The partner adds that he was surprised by the e-mail and says the firm's San Diego office is doing well, noting that it opened in September and now has about 60 lawyers.

Paul, Hastings PR manager Eileen King says she can't confirm whether Evans had written and sent the e-mail. “It is our firm's policy that we don't comment on employment matters, including the circumstances under which someone leaves,” she says. “We wish Greg well,” she adds.

The message, for its part, wished the firm “continued success in your goals to turn vibrant, productive, dedicated associates into an aimless, shambling group of dry, lifeless husks.”

- Pam Smith, The Recorder

---

King & Spalding Add Energy Expert

With more than 35 years of legal expertise regarding fossil fuels to his credit, King & Spalding's John P. Cogan Jr. is now at the helm of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld's global energy transaction practice. Cogan, an expert in the growing field of liquefied natural gas infrastructure and transportation, is based in London and in Houston.

---

Quinn Emanuel Expands Patent Team

Los Angeles' Quinn Emanuel Urquhart Oliver & Hedges has expanded its patent litigation team. Three new partners have joined ' two based in New York, and the other in California. The East Coast attorneys are Edward DeFranco and Andrew Berdon. The latter served most recently at Frommer Lawrence & Haug. Silicon Valley's Kevin Johnson joins Quinn Emanuel from Fish & Neave.

---

White Collar Practices Grow

Philadelphia's Cozen O'Connor has acquired a Washington, DC firm, Asbill Moffitt & Boss. Cozen welcomed founder Henry W. Asbill, and new senior members William B. Moffitt and Barry Boss. The firm also gained a new associate, Peter Paris. White-collar and complex criminal defense matters are the areas of concentration for these newcomers.

Foley and Lardner also has a new addition in the white-collar defense work area, with Scott L. Fredericksen now in the fold. Fredericksen, who joined the firm's litigation department as a partner, previously served for 10 years in Washington, DC, as a federal prosecutor. He worked at the Office of Independent Counsel.

---

New Director for Piper's Diversity Group

Theresa Cropper is the new director of diversity at Piper Rudnick. She is based in Chicago. Cropper, who is Northwestern University Law School's former dean of students, has worked for Stevie Wonder and the Rev. Jesse Jackson. She heads up Piper's Diversity Initiative, a program that was started in 2002 (she is its third director) and runs for five years. Presently there are no set goals for Diversity Initiative, but Cropper has said that the program intends to encourage women and minorities.

---

Teri Zucker LFP&BR. [email protected]