LAWFUEL – Law News Network – The National Law Journal (NLJ) has named Vinson & Elkins LLP and four of its lawyers to its “Defense Hot List” for 2006.
Based on independent research and reader nominations, NLJ identified V&E as one of a select group that “managed exemplary, cutting-edge work on the defense side.” The list appeared in the August 21 edition and included a total of 14 firms considered to be the best in defense in 2005 and 2006.
The NLJ highlighted four V&E lawyers who worked on three especially noteworthy cases. In particular, NLJ noted the ruling in the U.S. v. Stein case, observing that it “was the sort of standout defense work we wanted to call attention to when we launched our Defense Hot List last year.”
V&E lawyers on the 2006 “Defense Hot List” included:
Craig D. Margolis, a counsel in V&E’s Washington, D.C., office, who was mentioned for his work in the high-profile case of U.S. v. Stein. The Court ruled that the U.S. Department of Justice violated the Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights of defendants when it pressured accounting firm KPMG not to advance legal fees to employees accused of being part of a tax-shelter scheme.
Patrick W. Mizell and Kathleen A. Gallagher, partners in V&E’s Houston office, were honored for leading a team of lawyers who worked on the Geers v. Wyeth case, the first fen-phen multidistrict litigation remanded case to go to trial in federal court.
Michael Raiff, a partner in V&E’s Dallas office, for his work as lead counsel in the Yeroushalmi v. Blockbuster Inc. case, which involved the application of the new Class Action Fairness Act in a California lawsuit challenging Blockbuster’s “no late fees” program.
Vinson & Elkins was established in 1917 and is one of the world’s largest international law firms. The firm has about 700 lawyers practicing in Austin, Beijing, Dallas, Dubai, Houston, London, Moscow, New York, Tokyo and Washington D.C. Vinson & Elkins offers a wide range of legal services. Clients include public and private companies, financial institutions, municipalities, governments of sovereign nations, entrepreneurs, families and individuals.
