In The Headlines

Real estate attorney Shannon Sentman, who received a LEED Accredited Professional designation, was recently interviewed about the state of green hotel development for a Q&A feature in Commercial Property News. In the Q&A, Sentman discusses interest from hotel developers and owners to go green and key factors they should know when weighing the decision to go green. He explains that large hotel companies and state legislatures have shown increased interest in going green.

Holland & Knight Maritime Partner Chet Hooper has been quoted in several publications reporting on the Exxon Valdez ruling where the Supreme Court set the 1:1 ratio for punitive damages to compensatory damages. Chet, who with Jovi Tenev, Dennis Bryant, Harmony Loube and Lissa Schaupp, wrote a brief in favor of Exxon for the International Chamber of Shipping, and other clients, was quoted in Energy Law 360 stating, "I think [the decision] will temper the wild awards that we've had in this country in punitive damages. I know our courts are criticized by other nations for cowboy justice in punitive damages and I think the decision will do away with that to a large extent."

Tampa bankruptcy Partner Noel Boeke was quoted extensively in, "Business Chapter 11 filings and reorganizations are booming," in the June 27 edition of the Tampa Bay Business Journal. The piece assesses the trend toward increased bankruptcy filings. Boeke, who is president of the Florida chapter of the Turnaround Management Association, provided insight into the recent increase and how it applies for companies in different industries of varying sizes, and how lenders are affected.

Dan Kurtz, a partner in the firm's Private Wealth Services practice group, was mentioned in an article in the June 23 issue of the New York Times. In the lead story of the Metro section, Kurtz is mentioned as one of the "big guns" the dental society is pulling out to protect its interests.

Maritime lawyer Dennis Bryant is quoted in an article in the June 13 issue of Lloyd's List. The article discusses the Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL)/ Norway case where NCL is facing new restitution demands from the May 2003 incident.

Government Contracts Partner Joe Hornyak was recently quoted in a Government Executive article regarding the federal government's small disadvantaged business program. Hornyak provided commentary on bid protests in addition to his experience with 8(a) and small disadvantaged business (SDB) certification.  

White Collar Defense Partner Dan Small wrote an Op-Ed piece that was published in the Boston Herald regarding the recent mortgage fraud indictment in Boston. He discusses the indictment and shares his thoughts on whether or not it will lead to change. Click here to read the piece.

The pro bono efforts of Holland & Knight and the firm's Community Services Team were featured on the May 18 edition of 60 Minutes, the CBS News magazine. The List: A Mission To Save Iraqi Lives features an interview with Kirk Johnson, founder of The List Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to resettling Iraqis who are in danger due to their working relationship with the United States. Many of these Iraqis helped the U.S. by serving as translators, office workers and civil society experts. Holland & Knight was recognized with Proskauer Rose and Mayer Brown as the only law firms providing pro bono assistance to Iraqi refugees involved with The List Project. Washington, D.C. senior counsel Chris Nugent established the partnership more than a year ago and currently serves as leader of the project.

Holland & Knight has a long standing history of providing pro bono assistance to those in need. For more information on the firm's involvement with The List Project and other pro bono cases, please contact Holland & Knight Community Services Team Administrator Dewanna Planter.

Bankruptcy lawyer Barbra Parlin is interviewed by Charlie Stein, host of Bloomberg Radio's "On the Money" program, about Frontier Airlines declaring bankruptcy.  Parlin also spoke about general bankruptcy trends, which are on the rise.

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW

Posted with permission from Bloomberg Radio, interview with Charlie Stein, host of "On the Money."

John Monaghan, National Practice Group Leader of the firm's Corporate Restructuring, Insolvency and Creditors' Rights Practice Group, is quoted in the Hedge Fund Law Report. Monaghan discusses the turmoil in credit markets as it relates to Chapter 7 of the bankruptcy code.

Alan Baron, a partner in Holland & Knight's White Collar Defense Team, is prominently mentioned in the newly published controversial book, "In Nixon's Web: A Year in the Crosshairs of Watergate." The book is a memoir by L. Patrick Gray, former Acting Director of the FBI as edited and supplemented by his son, Ed Gray. The book contains details and revelations about Watergate that have never been told until now.

Charles D. Tobin was quoted in an American Journalism Review article regarding Senate action on a federal shield law, protecting reporters and journalists from identifying confidential sources in their stories. "Journalists aren't able to look to the courts to help them. It's essential that Congress step in and fill the void." He said in the article. Responding to concerns regarding the bill's language on who would be protected, Tobin added, "People are going to need to make choices. Do we want to forgo protection for the New York Times and Washington Post so that the pajama bloggers can do their thing as well? I think it's a difficult decision because everyone should have the same free speech rights, but as a practical matter we're going to need to do some line drawing to get this legislation passed."

Paul Lannon was quoted in an article in IP Law360 about intellectual property and trade secret litigation increasing as the economy slows. "Although litigation budgets shrink during an economic downturn, which tends to discourage litigation, companies feel more desperate during those periods to protect their important assets, particularly key employees and trade secrets." He said in the article. "When there are layoffs, there's an opportunity for competitors to poach employees," Lannon added.

Dennis Bryant was quoted in Lloyd's List about the United States Coast Guard securing liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities and a proposed clause in the Coast Guard Authorization Act. The proposed law would stop future production of LNG faculties until the Coast Guard has all of the resources necessary to provide maritime security. “The Coast Guard has multiple functions, such as search and rescue, patrolling, port state control, credentialing as well as homeland security, at LNG facilities as well as elsewhere,” Bryant said. “How does one determine whether any sector has ‘all the assets it needs for LNG security’ under these circumstances?”

A Daily Report article featured Robert Highsmith who represented a candidate for the Georgia Supreme Court in a complaint that was filed alleging the candidate illegally coordinated with a coalition of business groups on expenditures for his campaign. Highsmith wrote the ethics commission explaining that communication with the coalition took place prior to the his client's announced candidacy. The State Ethics Commission reviewed the complaint and later dismissed it. "The First Amendment was under attack today, and the commission defended and protected it," Highsmith said.

Stephen Young was quoted in a National Law Journal article about protecting the housing rights of the poor. He has represented several housing authorities in suits against the state of Massachusetts over squalid living conditions and inadequate funding of public housing units. The state has pledged to improve the living conditions and increase funds for public housing facilities.

Holland & Knight partner and former U.S. Prosecutor Alan Baron is featured in an ABC World News story about the destruction of CIA tapes. The webcast focuses on CIA's Jose Rodriguez, the person who authorized the destruction of the tapes, and his threat to invoke his 5th Amendment rights unless he is granted immunity for his testimony before Congress.  

Baron provides comment about Rodriguez and what it means to Congress if he does invoke his 5th Amendment rights, comparing it to "putting on Hamlet without the Prince."

Watch the ABC news clip

Mitchell Herr, a partner in Holland & Knight's Litigation Section, was quoted in a Daily Business Review article about securities fraud cases relating to changes in the stock market and real estate. Herr, a former attorney with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), said the Enron case and other large corporate scandals have improved the agency, which remains focused on protecting the securities industry, as well as institutional investors.

Jeff Levin was quoted in a CQ Politics question and answer piece about the alternative minimum tax (AMT).Originally created in 1969 for high earners who avoided paying income taxes legally, he explains that the AMT is now being applied to people who no longer are considered in the ultra-high income bracket.