News & Events

David Cross, co-chair of the firm's E-Discovery & Information Management practice, discusses legal e-discovery implications related to the U.S. Department of Justice seizing, without notice, phone records from the Associated Press.

Greg Call, co-chair of Crowell & Moring's Litigation Group and head of the San Francisco office, gives specific advice about the need for attorneys to plan their strategies early when handling cases in California given the state's 75-day notice period for bringing a summary judgment motion. Call's advice is one of the five tips highlighted in this article.

New York-based White Collar & Regulatory Enforcement Group partner, Kelly T. Currie, served as a key source for several media outlets during their coverage of the events related to the accused Boston Marathon bomber, Dzhokhar Tsarneav. Based on his 11 years of experience as an assistant United States attorney in the Eastern District of New York, including serving as deputy chief of the Criminal Division and as chief of the Violent Crimes and Terrorism Section, Currie provided his insights on the criminal investigation, collection of evidence, indictment process, civilian  and military courts, enemy combatants, and other issues related to the legal process that unfolded after Tsarneav was in custody. Currie was interviewed by print and broadcast media including: Associated Press, Bloomberg, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, National Law Journal, and MSNBC, among others.

Ellen M. Dwyer, Crowell & Moring's managing partner, offers her perspective on maternity leave policies in this article which highlights advice given by best-selling author Sheryl Sandberg in her book "Lean In." Dwyer notes, "I believe that when you have policies that make it really clear and transparent ... all of the ways that an employer can accommodate employees who have needs that take them away from the workplace, it's sending a message to your employees that you are committed."

Phil Inglima, partner in the firm's White Collar & Regulatory Enforcement Group and resident of the Washington, D.C. office, tells Law360 why he is concerned about the shrinking pardon power of the president, and about how his mentor helped him become the lawyer he is today in Law360's "Practice Leader Q&A."

San Francisco-based partner, Mark Jansen is featured as a "legal lion" by Law360. The editors noted, "generic drug makers (were) vindicated in a federal circuit court ruling that two claims in Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Inc.'s patent for a contraceptive were obvious and therefore invalid. The court reached back to patent applications filed with Australian and European agencies in the early 1990s, which defendants had argued contained ideas similar to those in a Bayer patent for Yaz. The Intellectual Property Group team representing Watson Pharmaceuticals Inc. in this matter was led by Mr. Jansen and included Washington, D.C.-based attorneys Cedric Tan, partner; Neil M. McCarthy, senior counsel; and Kristin M. Cooklin, counsel.

Washington, D.C.-based partner and chair of the firm's Intellectual Property Group, Mark Supko tells Law360 in their "Practice Leader Q&A" series about areas of the intellectual property industry that he thinks need to be reformed, and about a good life lesson learned when he was just beginning his legal career.

Washington, D.C. based-partner, Kris Meade, answers questions for Employment Law360 in their "Practice Leader Q&A Series." Kris discusses career highlights and lessons learned over the course of his career.

Washington, D.C.-based partner, and head of the firm's Homeland Security practice, David Bodenheimer, is interviewed about how cybersecurity is an area that may not see as many cuts or hiring freezes due to sequestration. He also offers advice to IT departments who may be preparing for the impact of sequestration.

Chair of the firm's White Collar & Regulatory Group and Washington, D.C.-based partner, Tom Hanusik is profiled in Law360's "Practice Leader Q&A" series. In the article, he describes the most challenging case he's worked on and why the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act needs to be better clarified.

Andy Liu, a partner in the White Collar Group and co-chair of the firm's False Claims Act practice, discusses how there is an increase in the number of whistleblowing from competitors filing whistleblower suits with the DOJ, rather than traditional corporate insiders acting as the whistleblowers.

Washington, D.C.-based partner, and co-chair of the firm's False Claims Act practice, Andy Liu discusses how the False Claims Act has caused the number of realtor cases to rise.

Crowell & Moring chairman, and Washington, D.C.-based partner, Kent Gardiner shares this thoughts on third party litigation funding, saying he believes a number of the country's largest companies have "engaged in some kind of funded litigation."

Washington, D.C.-based Insurance/Reinsurance partner, Deirdre Johnson tells Law360 about some of the most important insurance and reinsurance cases and a few of the lessons she's learned throughout her legal career in Law360's "Practice Leader Q&A" series.

Los Angeles-based partner in the firm's Antitrust Group, Jason C. Murray, answers questions for Competition Law360 in their "Practice Leader Q&A Series." Jason describes one of the most challenging cases he's worked on and lessons learned from when he first started practicing law.

Michael J. Songer, partner and co-chair of the firm's Litigation Group, discusses strategies for handling cases in district courts called "rocket docket's," who have gained a reputation for moving cases along quickly to trial.

David Bodenheimer, co-chair of the firm's Privacy & Cybersecurity practice, was quoted in STORES magazine, the official publication of the National Retail Federation (NRF), the world’s largest retail trade association. Bodenheimer was featured in a story about cybersecurity and its implications for the retail industry. The piece addresses President Obama’s focus on cybersecurity in his February 2013 State of the Union address.

Washington, D.C.-based counsel, and member of the firm's Labor & Employment Group, Rebecca Springer comments on the jurisdiction of the Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) after a Washington, D.C. federal court recently ruled that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) can treat certain hospitals as federal subcontractors for the purposes of affirmative action regulations.

Washington, D.C.-based Government Contracts Group partner Peter Eyre was profiled in Government Contracts Law360 as a "Rising Star."

According to the article, "Whether he is counseling corporations specializing in health care, technology or financial services, Crowell & Moring LLP's Peter Eyre is known for his deft and thorough counsel to key government contractors…".

Continuing a discussion with Law360, Washington, D.C.-based partner David Bodenheimer points out hurdles the GSA's FedRAMP process could face while trying to consolidate agencies' servers and moving data storage to a cloud computing platform.

Brussels partners Werner Berg and Sean-Paul Brankin discuss possible outcomes that could be expected if the European Commission makes it possible for more mergers to happen.

Washington, D.C.-based Government Contracts partner, Robert T. Rhoad, discusses implications contractors may face due to a recent Fourth Circuit court ruling on FCA claims.

Crowell & Moring LLP's second annual Advertising & Product Risk Management seminar is featured in Bloomberg BNA Product Safety & Liability Reporter in a piece titled, "Planning, Coordination, Consistency Urged In Talks Geared to Business and Its Counsel." According to the piece, "A holistic approach to risk management, integrating legal and business concerns, works best for companies throughout the life cycle of their products."

Kathleen Taylor Sooy, chair of the firm’s Class Actions practice, was featured in the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform's Legal Newsline in a series on multidistrict litigation.

David Bodenheimer, a Washington-D.C.-based Government Contracts partner who heads the firm's Homeland Security practice, is quoted in this article about the importance of authentication in cybersecurity self-defense.

Washington, D.C. based-partner, David Bodenheimer, answers questions for Government Contracts Law360 in their "Practice Leader Q&A Series." David describes one of the most challenging cases he's been part of, and lessons learned from when he first started practicing law.

Co-chair of Crowell & Moring's Litigation & Trial Group, and head of the firm's San Francisco office, Greg Call discusses how the significant cuts at the California state court level impact attorneys' decisions to take cases to federal courts.

Government Contracts Group partner Peter Eyre tells The National Law Journal that because of the automatic federal spending cuts that took effect under the March 1 sequestration, he’s advising clients to review all contacts carefully, and to discuss issues with agency officials.

Washington, D.C.-based Government Contracts Group partner Amy Laderberg O'Sullivan is featured throughout this article for her insight on how federal agencies are handling contracting corrections. She notes, "Agencies are taking corrective action more quickly and with greater frequency, but with mixed results in terms of speeding up the process or changing the ultimate award decision."

Jonathan Kallmer, Washington, D.C.-based International Trade counsel, offers commentary in this article that explores to Office of the U.S. Trade Representative's tentative plans to create a new set of negotiating teams for upcoming U.S.-European Union trade negotiations that would be structured differently than those engaged in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations. Kallmer notes, "The intense negotiating agenda and the strain it poses on USTR personnel is less pressing than the shortage of financial resources." He adds, "This is an agency that is so nimble that it's always been hard, even before the U.S.-EU initiative, to find the financial resources to get people where they need to be to hold the productive, in-person negotiating sessions and other meetings that they need to be able to have."

In this video segment, Washington, D.C.-based counsel Justin Murphy discusses the challenges associated with the use of social media in government investigations and criminal litigation. Click here to watch the video (subscription required).

Damian D. Capozzola, partner in Crowell & Moring's Los Angeles office, discusses ones option when an insurance company's expert say their care was negligent, but they disagree. In particular, Capozzola recommends that one should seek legal advice and evaluate whether a conflict of interest with the insurer exists. 

Thomas P. Gies, partner in the firm's Labor & Employment Group, discusses sequestration, its impact on government contractors, and whether government contractors need to notify employees of the possibility of layoffs from the sequestration under federal law.

Washington, D.C. based-partner and chair of the firm's Product Liability & Torts Group, Clifford J. Zatz, answers questions for Product Liability Law360 in their "Practice Leader Q&A Series." Cliff describes one of the most challenging cases he's been part of, and lessons learned from when he first started practicing law.

Washington, D.C.-based Litigation Group partner Kathryn D. Kirmayer is mentioned in a Law360 article for her inclusion in the "2013 BTI Client Service All-Stars" report from The BTI Consulting Group Inc. The piece highlights competition lawyers who have garnered in-depth knowledge of their client's businesses and put it to practice.

Washington, D.C.-based co-chair of Crowell & Moring's Health Care Group, Art L. Lerner, comments on the implications of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on FTC v. Phoebe Putney Health System, Inc. (U.S., No. 11-1160,2/19/13). In reference to Lerner’s view of the ruling, the article notes, "The high court went back to the roots of its state action jurisprudence in holding that there must be an affirmative action policy for state action immunity to apply." Mr. Lerner is specifically quoted with the comment, "It seems entirely logical -- afterwards -- that the decision to apply the doctrine narrowly would be unanimous given that this case involves whether antitrust laws apply rather than how they should be applied."

New York-based White Collar & Regulatory Enforcement Group partner, Kelly T. Currie, discusses a report released by Transparency International (TI) that examines global corruption risks in the defense sector. According to Currie, "To reduce corruption risks, a company must engage in the same level of due diligence as it would with the prime contractor…Who are the individuals carrying out the offset contract? Who are the beneficiaries? Where is the money really going?"

Commenting on the appointment of Mary Jo White as the next Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Washington, D.C.-based partner, and member of the White Collar and Regulatory Enforcement Group, Thomas Hanusik highlights White's "'incredible intellect and unparalleled gravitas,'" and agrees that her "'integrity is beyond question.'"

Corporate Group member and Washington, D.C.-based partner, Bryan Brewer, identifies cybersecurity and intelligence as potential hot areas where the government may continue to spend money, even with shrinking federal contracting budgets.

Washington, D.C.-based International Trade counsel Jonathan Kallmer, speaks with Thomson Reuters' WorldTrade Executive about recent negotiations of an International Services Agreement (ISA), that would help eliminate barriers among more than 20 economies including the U.S., EU, and Japan. Kallmer discusses the key issues of this 47-nation pact including a potential timelines, strategies, and the complexity of negotiations.

Washington, D.C.-based Government Contracts Group counsel Peter Eyre speaks to Compliance Week about the National Defense Authorization Act, focusing on the new whistleblower protections. According to Eyre, "Now that internal whistleblowing is covered, federal contractors will also want to improve whistleblower hotlines and other internal reporting mechanisms. Employees should know how to escalate concerns…and advises having a written process in place so that all complaints are handled consistently."

Co-leader of the firm's False Claims Act practice and Washington, D.C.-based partner, Robert T. Rhoad, offers his insight on the Sixth Circuit's recent ruling in USA v. Allison Engine Co. According to the article, the ruling deepens a circuit split over whether 2009 amendments to the False Claims Act that dramatically expanded the range of conduct targeted by the law can apply retroactively. "In response to the Supreme Court's decision, Congress passed FERA (Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act), which effectively overruled the court's holding and did precisely that against which the court cautioned - it transformed the FCA into an 'all-purpose anti-fraud statute," said Rhoad.

Crowell & Moring's Government Contracts Group has been named to Law360's "Practice Groups of the Year," for the third consecutive year. According to the article profiling the firm, "Crowell & Moring LLP's tenacity for its government contracts clients, from fending off more than a dozen challenges to a $220 million military health care award to finally scoring a client $10 billion worldwide criminal justice development contract after three rounds of protests, has earned the firm a spot among Law360's Government Contracts Practice Groups of the Year."

Brussels-based Intellectual Property Group partner, Flip Petillion, comments on Sony Corp.'s U.K. unit being fined by the country's privacy regulator over a 2011 hacker attack that put the personal data of PlayStation users worldwide at risk.

Washington, D.C.-based attorney Shawn Johnson is featured in Global Competition Review as being recently promoted to partner in the firm's Antitrust Group. Johnson shares, "I am very excited and looking forward to continuing to grow our practice. This promotion offers me an opportunity to develop additional clients and provides me a platform for further growth." Co-chair of the Antitrust Group, Wm. Randolph Smith tells the publication that Johnson's "deep industry knowledge and ability to offer practical solutions will continue to add value to our clients."

Government Contracts Group counsel and Washington, D.C.-based attorney, Stephen McBrady, offers his insight on the importance of indemnification, and says that the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) will restore some transparency to the process of indemnification.

Washington, D.C.-based Government Contracts Group partner Peter Eyre and associate Stephan Rice comment on key areas to keep an eye on in 2013 on the government contracts front including sequestration, federal funding levels, and cybersecurity.

New York-based White Collar & Regulatory Enforcement Group partner, Kelly T. Currie, discusses how corruption risks are increasing for companies that do business in places like China, Russia, and Mexico. Currie discusses how these companies will need to align their anti-corruption compliance efforts with the global enforcement environment.

Los Angeles-based partner and chair of the firm’s White Collar & Regulatory Enforcement practice, Janet Levine has been named as a Law360 White Collar MVP for 2012. She is featured for successfully fending off the first Foreign Corrupt Practices Act prosecution of a corporation to go to a jury, and successfully defending a CFO in a corruption case that ended in the conviction of the company and its CEO, among other highlights.

New York-based Antitrust Group counsel, Olivier N. Antoine talks to Competition Law360 about the European Union being more aggressive with big penalties for unintentional merger notification breaches regardless of whether the mergers are anti-competitive.

Cheryl Falvey, former general counsel of the CPSC and partner in Crowell & Moring LLP's Torts and Advertising & Product Risk Management groups, recently conducted a feature Q&A with the editor of Product Safety Letter. The piece addressed testing methods associated with CPSC rules, the passage of CPSIA, and some of the additional challenges facing the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Crowell & Moring LLP is recognized by Financial Times (FT) in the publication's third annual "U.S. Innovative Lawyers" report. The firm ranked 16th out of 25 firms for innovation in the legal sector for its ability to develop smarter initiatives to meet client needs and help them shape their businesses effectively. The firm was also ranked in the report as "highly commended" in the categories of intellectual property, business of law, and litigation. For more information on the report and Crowell & Moring's rankings, please click here.

Washington, D.C.-based Government Contracts associate, Derek Mullins talks to Law360 about overturned U.S. Government Accountability Office decisions on the Department of Veterans Affairs, and possible implications.

Daniel Sasse, Orange County-based antitrust partner, speaks to Law360 about the Federal Trade Commission's choices now that they have a chance to update 20-year-old maligned price discrimination law guidelines. He notes that as long as any revisions are similar to the ones made by federal antitrust agencies to update horizontal merger guidelines in 2010, there should not be many problems for businesses.

Jonathan Kallmer, Washington, D.C.-based counsel in Crowell & Moring's International Trade Group and formerly Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Investment, is quoted in this article which examines the debate about Chinese investment in the U.S. Mr. Kallmer notes that, "in general, Chinese investment contributes to U.S. job creation, exports and economic growth."

Angela Styles, Washington, D.C.-based partner and chair of the firm's Government Contracts Practice, discusses how some government contracts may have been misdirected because of possible lack of enforcement by the Small Business Administration.

Crowell & Moring LLP has been named by Working Mother magazine as one of the 2012 Working Mother & National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) Flex-Time Lawyers LLC "50 Best Law Firms for Women." Firms are recognized for their commitment to the retention and advancement of women in law firms. To view the Crowell & Moring profile and the "50 Best Law Firms for Women" list on the Working Mother website, please click here.

San Francisco-based Litigation Group partner, Gregory D. Call, is cited in Law360 in a piece about the legal implications of California Governor Jerry Brown's tax hike initiative, Proposition 30.

Angela Styles, Washington, D.C.-based partner and chair of Crowell & Moring's Government Contracts Group, comments on changes contractors can expect after the presidential election, no matter who is elected into office.

This article explores antitrust enforcement by the U.S. Department of Justice's Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission during the Obama administration. Olivier N. Antoine, counsel with Crowell & Moring's Antitrust Group in the firm's New York office, contributes to the discussion.

Jonathan Kallmer, Washington, D.C.-based counsel in Crowell & Moring's International Trade Group and formerly Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Investment, discusses the potential benefits for U.S. companies from a U.S.-China bilateral investment treaty (BIT).

The firm's representation of Fiesta Fashion is highlighted in this article about the Second Circuit victory relating to the copyrightability of prom dresses.

Crowell & Moring's Middle East & North Africa (MENA) practice was featured in Law360 as a result of the October 3, 2012 event in the firm's New York office titled, "Doing Business in the Gulf: An Economic and Regulatory Overview." The article focuses on best practices for companies and private investors interested in doing business in Saudi Arabia.

In this feature story, Law360 highlights Ellen M. Dwyer, Crowell & Moring's managing partner, for being named to their list of "America's Most Innovative Managing Partners." Dwyer is honored for her dedication to tackling, and helping improve, female and minority representation in the upper levels and leadership positions at firms.

Thomas A. Hanusik, Washington, D.C.-based partner in Crowell & Moring's White Collar & Regulatory Enforcement Group discusses The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and how it has become an increasing global concern for major corporations.

Jonathan Kallmer, Washington, D.C.-based counsel in Crowell & Moring's International Trade Group and formerly Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Investment, discusses the reduction in funding now facing the USTR and possible implications.

Washington, D.C.-based Government Contracts Group associate, Stephan Rice discusses the potential impact the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) sequestration report may have on contractors, and what contractors can do with the information laid out in the report to gauge the possible risk of budget cuts.

Washington, D.C.-based Government Contracts Group associate, Stephan Rice, comments on the lack of new details offered in the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) sequestration report, and how that may influence content among those in Congress.

Washington, D.C.-based Government Contracts Group partner David Bodenheimer offers insight on how contractors often find experience with the government helpful in the commercial market.

Washington, D.C.-based International Trade Group counsel, Jonathan Kallmer, comments about the how important the ability to export goods in an increasingly service-based world is, and the value of water-based transportation methods when hoping to engage in business globally.

Washington, D.C.-based Government Contracts Group partner Catherine Kunz comments on a final rule recently added to the Federal Acquisition Regulations that requires federal contractors and first-tier sub-contractors to disclose the names and total compensation of their five highest-paid executives.

The testimony on behalf of the American Benefits Council  from Washington, D.C.-based partner Seth T. Perretta, who leads Crowell & Moring's Employee Benefits practice, is cited in Government Executive and Accounting Today regarding the Internal Revenue Service's responsiveness to American Benefits Council members during the health care reform law rule making process.

Washington, D.C.-based partner, R. Timothy McCrum remarks on the federal district court decision in Pennsylvania that the Forest Service lacks regulatory authority to halt new drilling in Allegheny National Forest pending completion of an environmental impact study. Mr. McCrum, a member of the firm's Environment & Natural Resources Group, represented the plaintiff's, Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association (PIOGA), who were granted summary judgment.

Washington, D.C.-based Tax Group partner David Blair shares his thoughts on the impact of the Birkenfeld award and tax reserve reporting in September issues of Tax Notes.

The firm's representation of the Pennsylvania Independent Oil and Gas Association (PIOGA) is highlighted in this article about U.S. District Judge Sean McLaughlin ruling in favor of the Minard Run Oil Co., PIOGA the Allegheny Forest Alliance, and Bradford County when he concluded that a settlement agreement between the Forest Service and a set of environmental groups banning drilling was illegal. The case is Minard Run Oil Co. et al v. U.S. Forest Service et al.

Kathryn D. Kirmayer, partner and head of Crowell & Moring's D.C. Litigation Group, was cited in this article about innovative approaches to using alternative fee arrangements.

Washington, D.C.-based counsel Stephen J. McBrady comments on a few of the hurdles contractors may have to overcome now that the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) has new policies for internal audit reports.

Crowell & Moring’s work in Aetna’s $5.7 billion acquisition of Coventry Healthcare featured.

Morris F. DeFeo, Jr. partner in Crowell & Moring's Corporate Group and the Head of the firm's MENA Practice is interviewed for "Marketplace" regarding the factors taken into consideration by corporations for establishing and maintaining businesses in the Middle East and North Africa, especially during times of unrest.

Robert A. Lipstein, partner and chair of Crowell & Moring’s Finance and Contingent Fee Review Committees, is interviewed by Bloomberg Law about in-house counsels' growing demand for alternative fee arrangements or value-based billing options from their outside law firms.  Mr. Lipstein is also a co-chair of the firm’s Antitrust Group.

Link to video posted here: YouTube post:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLYW8S4ilio

Washington, D.C.-based Government Contracts Group counsel Peter Eyre speaks to Government Contracts Law360 about the new version of the Comprehensive Contingency Contracting Reform Act, which softens the automatic suspension rule into an automatic referral to suspension and debarment officials.

Washington, D.C.-based chair of Crowell & Moring's Government Contracts Group, Angela B. Styles, speaks to Federal News Radio about federal agencies' increased use of suspension and debarment processes to eliminate irresponsible contractors.

According to Styles, "We've had a very significant increase in the number of companies and individuals we've been representing in suspension and debarment matters. We used to have three or four in a year. We probably have 10 or 15 a year now." Styles points out that pressure from Congress to increase the use of suspension and debarment is a factor and notes, "Suspension and debarment officials really do consider now that they have much greater breadth."

Los Angeles-based chair of Crowell & Moring's White Collar & Regulatory Enforcement Group, Janet Levine, is one of only 15 attorneys featured in Law360's "Top Female Trial Attorneys" ranking.

According to the article, "Levine has emerged as an industry powerhouse, conquering what once was much more of a boys' club. She chairs Crowell & Moring's White Collar & Regulatory Enforcement Group, and formerly chaired the American Bar Association's white-collar committee. She now heads up the ABA's entire criminal justice section."

Levine is also a team player as noted by fellow Crowell & Moring white collar partner Jeffrey H. Rutherford who was also quoted in the article, "The long hours spent preparing, the time that she gives to me and other people to brainstorm and think through cases, the strategizing that goes on just among lawyers," said Rutherford, who was recruited to Lightfoot Vandevelde by Levine. "It's the stuff that not a lot of other people get to see, where she really excels."

From tax breaks to online sales tax loopholes, a slew of measures that could influence small business are taking shape in Congress. Crowell & Moring Tax Group partner Howard M. Weinman gives a view from Washington in this feature story for retailers.

Crowell & Moring was featured in a Washington Post article about the nationwide twentieth anniversary of "Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day." The firm has a long tradition of welcoming children to join their parents in the office for this special day. Each year in multiple U.S. offices, a host committee coordinates a robust program of fun and educational activities for this annual event. The highlight for 100 guests in the Washington, D.C. office in 2012 was a mock trial featuring popular characters from fairy tales and movies.

Washington, D.C.-based Government Contracts Group counsel Peter Eyre speaks to BNA's Federal Contracts Report about the significance of The Court of Federal Claims' rejection of the Government Accountability Office's (GAO's) recommendation in Turner Construction Co., Inc. v. United States.

According to Eyre, "The smaller rise in filings in FY 2011 is not due to Turner but shows that filings are stabilizing after several years of strong growth. Turner is not necessarily a signal that agencies should be more critical of or ignore GAO's recommendations. I don't see it as a sea change, but it is a trend we are watching carefully to see if it rears itself in a context outside of OCIs (organizational conflicts of interest)."

Washington, D.C.-based chair of Crowell & Moring's Government Contracts Group, Angela B. Styles, speaks to Government Contracts Law360 about government contractors' caution in disclosing overpayments or potential fraud, as mandated by a 2008 rule.

According to Styles, "Contractors assumed when the rule came out that the government was going to overreact to disclosures, and generally it has not. As a general proposition, the disclosures have been handled very appropriately by the government."

Washington, D.C.-based Government Contracts Group partner Amy Laderberg O'Sullivan was profiled in Government Contracts Law360 as a "Rising Star."

According to the article, "O'Sullivan's energy was on full display in her representation of Education & Training Resources Inc. in a dispute over a small-business contract to run the Labor Department's Turner Job Corps Center in Albany, Ga., that played out in three different forums." Further underscoring her tenacious spirit the article notes, "O'Sullivan fought in federal court and with two agencies to help a small career-training business secure a $40 million contract."

Washington, D.C.-based chair of Crowell & Moring's Government Contracts Group, Angela B. Styles, speaks to Government Contracts Law360 about a contractor group that urged lawmakers to reject a legislative proposal that would grant the U.S. Department of Defense the ability to award no-bid, multiyear contracts to federally funded research and development centers, saying the DOD request would unnecessarily limit competition.

According to the article, Styles said that because of those long-term agreements, government agencies already have incentive to turn to their Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) partners rather than seeking competition from other contractors. She noted, "They already are anti-competitive, so for them to have a different set of rules is bizarre."

Washington, D.C.-based Government Contracts Group counsel Peter Eyre speaks to Government Contracts Law360 about recent decisions by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (U.S. GAO) and U.S. Court of Federal Claims that show they are less willing to automatically ban companies from contract competitions over alleged organizational conflicts of interest (OCIs), paving the way for more thorough, fact-specific rulings.

According to Eyre, "OCIs remain a red hot area for protestors, and they tend to produce some very interesting protests. You tend to see decisions that have to delve into new factual situations…it's quite dynamic in the sense that these doctrines are being applied to new areas."

Brussels-based International Trade Group partner Laurent Ruessmann speaks to Inside US-China Trade about the European Commission's consideration of an anti-subsidy and possibly an antidumping investigation into sales of mobile telecommunications network equipment by China's two largest telecom companies.

According to Ruessmann, there would be concerns on two levels. He notes that one level is the technical aspect, since an ex officio case is not a "short cut on the technical justification for a case: you still need evidence of dumping, subsidies and causation." The other level is political, "because this is something that has not been done before and because you are talking about an extremely sensitive sector."

Orange County-based Antitrust Group partner John S. Gibson was featured in Competition Law360 and Global Competition Review on his arrival to Crowell & Moring. He discusses his experience and the future of antitrust law in the articles.

According the Competition Law360 article, Gibson says, "The new action for antitrust law is going to be at the intersection of intellectual property and antitrust. Crowell & Moring is established on the West Coast and is committed to growing at a time when demand for that practice is skyrocketing."

Gibson told Global Competition Review, "Crowell & Moring has a premier antitrust practice with a deep bench, nationally and internationally, and I am excited about becoming a part of this entrepreneurial team. The firm continues to expand its practice at the intersection of intellectual property and antitrust law, the new frontier for high-technology clients."

Washington, D.C.-based International Trade Group counsel Cari N. Stinebower speaks to MoneyLaundering.com about the guidance expected from the U.S. Treasury Department on how to ease compliance controls on certain low-risk accounts and products. The U.S. Treasury department is expected to take its queue from the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) call for jurisdictions to implement "simplified" customer due diligence procedures, which would allow financial institutions to relax the anti-money laundering controls commensurate with the lower risk of certain accounts and financial products.

According to the article, Stinebower said "The department is unlikely to veer from FATF's guidelines on simplified measures. U.S. officials could say that less due diligence is needed for accounts held for federal agencies, certain closed-loop prepaid products and small businesses that don't rely heavily on cash or have international ties."

Washington, D.C.-based chair of Crowell & Moring’s Government Contracts Group, Angela B. Styles, speaks to Government Contracts Law360 about the need to give the Defense Contract Audit Agency (DCAA) more resources to strengthen auditing of contractors.

According to Styles, "The agency already has subpoena authority over contractor records related to audits, and was shot down in court after an auditor sought to expand that authority to include income tax records and financial statements. The agency also already has its own general counsel, and separating it from the Pentagon is unnecessary." She also added that, "They're trying to make DCAA into something it was never intended to be," Styles said. "I'm not sure why you'd want it to be independent of the DOD."

Washington, D.C.-based Labor & Employment Group counsel Christopher Calsyn speaks to InsideCounsel about the 11th Circuit's ruling that even though employees are not eligible to take an unpaid leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) until they have worked for a company for a full year, their protection against retaliation starts as soon as they inform their employer that they will be taking leave.

According to the article, Calsyn advises in-house counsel to work with human resources and benefits coordinators to make sure they don't reject out-of-hand requests for leave. Calsyn said, "The FMLA is a hyper-technical statute. Even seasoned lawyers don't know every nook and cranny."