Movers & Shakers

Philly e-Commerce Lawyer
Quoted in COPA Article

The Christian Science Monitor recently featured comments by Carl Solano, a partner in the Philadelphia office of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, on the Third Circuit's decision on the Child Online Protection Act ('COPA'). The article, 'Internet Filters Block Porn, But Not Savvy Kids,' quoted Solano, who practices e-commerce law and makes a specialty of First Amendment and appellate matters, as saying: 'Just because you want to protect kids doesn't mean you can ban the information from adults.'

Solano has been counsel for domain-name registrars in litigation over the ownership and control of domain names, and has advised Internet publishers on regulating online content. He has also been an adjunct professor on e-commerce and computer issues the Villanova University School of Law.

Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner partner Lawrence R. Robins was recently elected to the International Technology Law Association ('ITechLaw') board. Robins, of the firm's Cambridge, MA, office, handles intellectual-property issues, with a focus on strategic development of trademark portfolio, according to Finnegan Henderson. He's also active in matters concerning management and protection of the portfolios, trademark litigation, copyright disputes, and computer and technology legal issues. The ITechLaw board is working on educating professionals on established and emerging worldwide technology markets.

Carl Cooper, one of the first chief diversity officers of any large firm when he took the position at K&L Gates in January 2003, has left the firm to start his own consultancy, working with other firms on similar issues.

Cathy Bissoon has left Reed Smith's Pittsburgh office for Cohen & Grigsby. She'd been director of diversity since 2001. Reed Smith said last month that it has appointed Washington, DC-based partner Tyree P. Jones Jr. as its new director of diversity.

Kathleen J. Wu, a partner with Andrews Kurth LLP in Dallas, has been designated a 'Women of Spirit' award recipient by the American Jewish Congress Southwest Region. Women judged to have been diligent and spirited pursuing social justice are eligible for the award.

'I'm humbled to be in such great company, and I deeply appreciate this recognition from the American Jewish Congress,' Wu said in an Andrews Kurth news release posted on the firm's Web site.

Wu writes a column dealing with issues women face in the legal profession for our ALM affiliate newspaper Texas Lawyer. She often speaks about how diversity benefits the workplace.

Steven Kaufmann, a partner in the Denver office of Morrison & Foerster who has been with the firm for more than 20 years, was recently named the new chair of Morrison & Foerster's litigation department. He leads a group of 490 attorneys in 18 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Kaufmann takes over from
San Francisco-based partner Lori Schechter, who had been practice chair since 2003. Schechter continues her own active case work in consumer class actions and antitrust matters.

Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP has been named the 2007 'Global Construction Law Firm of the Year' by Who's Who Legal, the firm reported on its Web site.

The annual Law Firm of the Year awards are determined based on nominations made by clients of the firm and fellow professionals. Only the most exceptional performance receives this distinction in each of 27 practice areas.

'For many years, our firm has been recognized as having the 'preeminent Construction Law Practice in the United States,” Thelen Construction Chair John Heisse said. 'This distinction shows that the industry is aware of our continued growth and now sees us as a global leader.'

Simpson Thacher litigation associate Deborah Stein was recently named one of the Top 75 Women Litigators in California by the Daily Journal, according to a news release on the law firm's Web site. The firm provided the following description. The award honors women who have litigated a major victory in the last year, set records in the legal community, play a prominent role in their practice area, and are generally involved in the legal community. Stein, based in the firm's Los Angeles office, was selected based on her lead role in two significant cases: CalPERS v. Banc of America Securities LLC, et al., a suit brought by the largest pension fund in the United States arising out of the collapse of Enron, and Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania v. Central Garden & Pet Company, et al., a case in which a federal court in California squarely held on cross-motions for summary judgment that the firm's client was entitled to withdraw from the defense of ongoing claims and was also entitled to reimbursement of defense costs.

Philly e-Commerce Lawyer
Quoted in COPA Article

The Christian Science Monitor recently featured comments by Carl Solano, a partner in the Philadelphia office of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, on the Third Circuit's decision on the Child Online Protection Act ('COPA'). The article, 'Internet Filters Block Porn, But Not Savvy Kids,' quoted Solano, who practices e-commerce law and makes a specialty of First Amendment and appellate matters, as saying: 'Just because you want to protect kids doesn't mean you can ban the information from adults.'

Solano has been counsel for domain-name registrars in litigation over the ownership and control of domain names, and has advised Internet publishers on regulating online content. He has also been an adjunct professor on e-commerce and computer issues the Villanova University School of Law.

Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner partner Lawrence R. Robins was recently elected to the International Technology Law Association ('ITechLaw') board. Robins, of the firm's Cambridge, MA, office, handles intellectual-property issues, with a focus on strategic development of trademark portfolio, according to Finnegan Henderson. He's also active in matters concerning management and protection of the portfolios, trademark litigation, copyright disputes, and computer and technology legal issues. The ITechLaw board is working on educating professionals on established and emerging worldwide technology markets.

Carl Cooper, one of the first chief diversity officers of any large firm when he took the position at K&L Gates in January 2003, has left the firm to start his own consultancy, working with other firms on similar issues.

Cathy Bissoon has left Reed Smith's Pittsburgh office for Cohen & Grigsby. She'd been director of diversity since 2001. Reed Smith said last month that it has appointed Washington, DC-based partner Tyree P. Jones Jr. as its new director of diversity.

Kathleen J. Wu, a partner with Andrews Kurth LLP in Dallas, has been designated a 'Women of Spirit' award recipient by the American Jewish Congress Southwest Region. Women judged to have been diligent and spirited pursuing social justice are eligible for the award.

'I'm humbled to be in such great company, and I deeply appreciate this recognition from the American Jewish Congress,' Wu said in an Andrews Kurth news release posted on the firm's Web site.

Wu writes a column dealing with issues women face in the legal profession for our ALM affiliate newspaper Texas Lawyer. She often speaks about how diversity benefits the workplace.

Steven Kaufmann, a partner in the Denver office of Morrison & Foerster who has been with the firm for more than 20 years, was recently named the new chair of Morrison & Foerster's litigation department. He leads a group of 490 attorneys in 18 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. Kaufmann takes over from
San Francisco-based partner Lori Schechter, who had been practice chair since 2003. Schechter continues her own active case work in consumer class actions and antitrust matters.

Thelen Reid Brown Raysman & Steiner LLP has been named the 2007 'Global Construction Law Firm of the Year' by Who's Who Legal, the firm reported on its Web site.

The annual Law Firm of the Year awards are determined based on nominations made by clients of the firm and fellow professionals. Only the most exceptional performance receives this distinction in each of 27 practice areas.

'For many years, our firm has been recognized as having the 'preeminent Construction Law Practice in the United States,” Thelen Construction Chair John Heisse said. 'This distinction shows that the industry is aware of our continued growth and now sees us as a global leader.'

Simpson Thacher litigation associate Deborah Stein was recently named one of the Top 75 Women Litigators in California by the Daily Journal, according to a news release on the law firm's Web site. The firm provided the following description. The award honors women who have litigated a major victory in the last year, set records in the legal community, play a prominent role in their practice area, and are generally involved in the legal community. Stein, based in the firm's Los Angeles office, was selected based on her lead role in two significant cases: CalPERS v. Banc of America Securities LLC, et al., a suit brought by the largest pension fund in the United States arising out of the collapse of Enron, and Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania v. Central Garden & Pet Company, et al., a case in which a federal court in California squarely held on cross-motions for summary judgment that the firm's client was entitled to withdraw from the defense of ongoing claims and was also entitled to reimbursement of defense costs.