Washington, D.C. July 14, 2005 – LAWFUEL – The Law News Network – The international law firm Holland & Knight LLP has announced that members of the firm’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) and Federal Practice teams, Peter Murphy, Steven Gordon and Michael Galano are serving as counsel to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in the fight to keep Willowgrove Airforce Base open.
Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell, along with Senators Arlen Specter and Rick Santorum, have commenced legal action to prevent the Department of Defense (DoD) from deactivating the 111th Fighter Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard, stationed at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania.
Governor Rendell and both Pennsylvania Senators filed suit, Rendell v. Rumsfeld, in federal court July 11 alleging that the Department of Defense’s recommendation to deactivate the 111th Fighter Wing of the Pennsylvania National Guard violates federal law because any change to a state’s national guard requires the Governor’s consent. The action arises under the “militia clause” of the United States Constitution and is intended to supplement the state’s arguments before the BRAC Commission.
Peter M. Murphy who is leading the Holland & Knight legal team for the Commonwealth, was the General Counsel of the United States Marine Corps for twenty years before joining the law firm in 2004. Prior to entering private practice, Mr. Murphy dealt closely with high level government officials, including the Secretary of the Navy and senior members of the Office of the Secretary of Defense. Mr. Murphy has served as a front line advocate for the Marine Corps with the Congress, dealing with Members, drafting and shepherding critical legislation. As the general counsel for a $19 billion enterprise, Mr. Murphy’s advice has encompassed a myriad of issues; from sensitive personnel issues to complex weapons systems development and acquisition, to environmental concerns associated with worldwide military operations and homeland security.
About Holland & Knight LLP: Holland & Knight is a commercial law firm with more than 1,250 lawyers in 26 offices in the United States. Internationally, offices are located in Mexico City, Tokyo and Beijing, with representative offices in Helsinki, Caracas and Tel Aviv. Holland & Knight is among the 15 largest firms worldwide, providing representation in all major areas of law. www.hklaw.com
