Robinson & Cole News

Environmental Partner Elected to Rhode Island Society of Environmental Professionals Board

edaniels@rc.com (Eric Daniels) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Members of the Rhode Island Society of Environmental Professionals (RISEP) have elected environmental partner Richard M. Fil to its board of directors.

RISEP is a nonprofit corporation formed in 1989 to facilitate the development of the environmental services industry in Rhode Island. RISEP�s membership includes engineering and environmental consulting firms, industry/manufacturing, academia, attorneys, government agencies and environmental technology businesses. RISEP provides a collective voice for the environmental community to identify regulatory issues and reforms that are important to industry and commerce.

Alex Baez to Serve on Alumni Committee at Roger Williams University School of Law

edaniels@rc.com (Eric Daniels) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Roger Williams University School of Law has selected construction associate Alex E. Baez to serve on its alumni committee for the school�s Public Interest Law Auction. The annual event helps raise money for the school�s Public Interest Summer Stipend Program, which enables law students to support social justice issues throughout Rhode Island and around the country. This year�s Public Interest Law Action is at the Providence Biltmore Hotel on February 3, 2012.

Environmental Partner Chairs ABA Panel on Environmental Class Actions

edaniels@rc.com (Eric Daniels) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

On January 21, environmental partner Peter R. Knight chaired a panel discussion on scientific issues associated with class certification at the ABA's Environmental, Mass Torts, and Products Liability Litigation Committee's Joint CLE seminar in Hollywood, Florida. The panel focused on the impact of the Supreme Court's recent Dukes v. Walmart decision on certifying environmental class actions.

Bruce Barth Presents Annual Benefits Legislative Update to WEB

edaniels@rc.com (Eric Daniels) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Employee Benefits and Compensation Group Chair Bruce B. Barth presented a legislative and regulatory update to the Worldwide Employee Benefits Network Hartford Chapter on January 19, 2012. Mr. Barth discussed model administrative practices in light of the changes affecting employee benefit plans and described how the new requirements may affect plans in 2012 and beyond. He focused on changes from the passage of health care reform, the issuance of regulations and model notices by the tri-agencies of Treasury, Labor and Health & Human Services, and the retirement plan disclosure rules and proposed definition of fiduciary.

Robinson & Cole to Sponsor Annual WALKS Constitution Essay Contest

edaniels@rc.com (Eric Daniels) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Robinson & Cole LLP is sponsoring the 50th annual WALKS interscholastic Constitution Essay Contest and awards dinner on April 17, 2012, at Avon Old Farms School.

�We are proud to sponsor this academic competition that promotes greater knowledge of our nation�s Constitution,� said Edward J. Samorajczyk, Jr., a partner at Robinson & Cole and an Advisory Board member of WALKS. WALKS (an acronym for Westminster School, Avon Old Farms School, Loomis Chaffee School, Kingswood-Oxford School, and Suffield Academy) provides students with limited financial means from Greater Hartford an opportunity to attend and succeed at each of its member schools.

Environmental Attorney Writes Article on �Tri-State� Water War

edaniels@rc.com (Eric Daniels) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Environmental attorney Megan E. Baroni wrote �Lessons from the �Tri-State� Water War,� published in the winter 2012 edition of State & Local Law News published by the Section of State and Local Government Law of the American Bar Association.

The article discusses how Georgia, Alabama, and Florida are fighting over water in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint River Basin. Ms. Baroni explained the competing interests at the federal, state, and local levels and offered suggestions for local attorneys in dealing with similar power struggles.

Blog Interviews Business Litigation Partner William Kelleher

edaniels@rc.com (Eric Daniels) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

The Financial Fraud Law blog interviewed William J. Kelleher III, a partner in the business litigation and white-collar defense and corporate compliance practice groups concerning the background and status of criminal financial fraud and insider trading cases under investigation and possible charges to be filed in Connecticut in the near future. The blog published the interview January 26, 2012.

The Financial Fraud Law blog is a publication of the Financial Fraud Law Report, which is published 10 times per year by Thompson Media Group LLP. The blog analyzes developments in the law relating to financial fraud, including regulatory, financial and criminal matters for senior executives and in-house counsel at financial services firms, accounting and other professional advisers, in-house corporate counsel and executives at corporations, and investment advisers and managers.

Construction Partner Spoke on Panel for Design-Build Projects in New England

edaniels@rc.com (Eric Daniels) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Construction partner Joseph A. Barra was a panelist for a breakfast presentation entitled �Design-Build Project Delivery: Is It Right For Your Project?� The New England chapters of the Construction Management Association of America and the Design-Build Institute of America sponsored the breakfast at the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston on January 10, 2012. Mr. Barra�s talk focused on joint ventures for design-build projects.

Who Says You Can�t Go Home? Robinson & Cole Welcomes Back Third Attorney

edaniels@rc.com (Eric Daniels) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Alaine C. Doolan returns to Robinson & Cole LLP as a senior associate in the firm�s Business Section, primarily practicing in the areas of intellectual property, technology law, and brand management. Ms. Doolan worked at the firm as a trademark analyst while attending law school and as an associate before venturing out to explore other platforms, including in-house positions where she managed more than 4,000 worldwide trademark portfolios for two large consumer products companies.

Two News Publications Quote Senior Real Estate Associate Christopher Pitt

edaniels@rc.com (Eric Daniels) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 00:00:00 EST

Banker & Tradesman quoted senior real estate associate Christopher S. Pitt in the story �Latest SJC Order In Eaton Case A Potentially Worrisome Sign For Lenders,� published January 12, 2012. The story is about the pending Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court case Eaton vs. Fannie Mae regarding Massachusetts foreclosure practices.

State House News Service quoted Mr. Pitt in the story �Lawmakers Hear Pushback on Foreclosure Protection Bill,� published January 11, 2012. The story covered Mr. Pitt�s comments as president of the Real Estate Bar Association during a hearing before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on the Judiciary. The committee was reviewing foreclosure-related bills, several of which would require a judicial proceeding as a precondition to mortgage foreclosure.