William Brewer Writes Commentary on Crisis Management in Texas Lawyer
Partner William A. Brewer III wrote a commentary published in Texas Lawyer titled “Advocacy is Art: Lawyers Must Engage in Issues and Crisis Management” on May 6, 2019. Brewer writes about the need for lawyers to engage in effective advocacy outside of the courtroom in the “court of public opinion.” He writes that “The fusion of legal and communications resources can produce more compelling, effective advocacy—enabling clients to favorably posture themselves, mitigate reputational damage and have a voice in the telling of the stories that define them.”
Brewer writes about how the firm launched an Issues & Crisis Management group in 2001. The group specializes in managing reputational issues for a broad range of clients. Brewer adds that, “Having crisis communications skill sets in-house provides law firms with invaluable expertise, perspective, and insight into the analysis of each client’s circumstances.”
Firm Named to 2019 Vault “Top 150 Under 150” List
Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors was named to the 2019 Vault “Top 150 Under 150” list of leading small and midsized law firms in the U.S. with 150 or fewer attorneys.
According to Vault, the firms on the list are “known for providing top-notch service and delivering big results.” Vault developed the list of highly sought-after law firms after reviewing Vault survey data, news stories and legal publications.
The firm is described by Vault as “the type of high-powered, bet-the-bank commercial litigation firm you would see on prime time.” Vault is known for its influential rankings across many industries and professions.
Law360 Publishes Firm Commentary on Cannabis Industry
Partner William Brewer and Consultant Peter Schwartz wrote an expert analysis opinion piece published in Law360 on Dec. 3, 2018, titled “Jury Saves The Day in Misguided Cannabis Lawsuit,” about a lawsuit challenging the growing legal U.S. cannabis industry. They emphasized the need for attorneys to understand the legal and regulatory landscape of this booming industry.
The article cited a civil lawsuit brought by landowners in Rye, Colorado, against their neighbor, cannabis cultivator Camp Feel Good, claiming in part that their property was devalued by offensive odors. The landowners alleged a violation of the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. Ultimately, a jury ruled in October in favor of the of the cannabis cultivator. However, the article noted that similar lawsuits are being filed.
“These legal issues bring the need for attorneys to be well-versed in the ever-expanding case law facing the cannabis industry,” Brewer and Schwartz wrote. “As barriers — economic, structural and legal — are interposed to thwart commerce, business owners and industry investors will need to unite behind advocates able to break them down.”
Partner Sarah Rogers Speaks at Columbia Law School
Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors Partner Sarah Rogers spoke on Tuesday, Oct. 23, at Columbia Law School on the topic of political violence and the legal landscape governing threats to speech. Ms. Rogers appeared with Harmeet Dhillon, a prominent California attorney.
The event was hosted by the Columbia Law School Federalist Society and featured discussion about the proper scope of constitutional and statutory protection of dissident political speech. Ms. Rogers earned her Juris Doctor degree from Columbia Law School.
Partner William Brewer Recognized by Best Lawyers
Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors Partner William A. Brewer III has been recognized in the 2019 edition of The Best Lawyers in America. The publication lists the top attorneys in key practice areas. Brewer is recognized in the area of Commercial Litigation in New York and Dallas. He has been recognized annually in this category since 2007.
Best Lawyers is known as the oldest and most respected peer review publication in the legal profession. The list of honorees is compiled using the results of peer review surveys that thousands of top lawyers confidentially complete to evaluate their peers. Best Lawyers aims to reflect the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about their peers’ professional abilities. The first edition of Best Lawyers was first published in 1983.
Svetlana Eisenberg to Join Firm as Partner
Svetlana M. Eisenberg is joining Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors as Partner in the New York office. She is an experienced litigator with substantial experience prosecuting investment fraud, defending allegations of securities fraud, and conducting corporate internal investigations.
Ms. Eisenberg previously worked as law clerk to the Hon. Michael E. Wiles, U.S. bankruptcy judge in the Southern District of New York, and was an Assistant U.S. Attorney, General Crimes Unit, District of New Jersey. Prior to that, she was Associate General Counsel to HSBC Holdings in New York, where she investigated potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. She began her legal career as an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton, LLP.
Fluent in Russian, Ms. Eisenberg earned her bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Bennington College and holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. While in law school, she was editor-in-chief of the Georgetown Law Journal Annual Review of Criminal Procedure and was awarded a Medal of Excellence from the American Bankruptcy Institute.
Partner William Brewer Writes on Associate Compensation Practices in Law360
Partner William Brewer recently wrote an op-ed about legal industry compensation practices published by Law360. Titled “BigLaw’s Associate Salary Model is a Relic of a Bygone Era,” the commentary states that the traditional model of increasing associate salaries uniformly fails star associates, the firms they work for and, ultimately, the clients they serve.
“The BigLaw formula is broken – a relic of the out-of-touch apprenticeship model of a bygone era,” writes Brewer. “The reality is there should be a direct correlation between base compensation earned and the value an attorney provides to a firm and its clients.”
The article provides insights into the meritocracy system adopted by Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors – a model that rewards employees based on the value of their contributions. The article also discusses the firm’s multi-disciplinary practice, which employs professionals with backgrounds in business, investigations, computer science, and public relations.
William A. Brewer III to Present at HAMA Spring Conference
Firm Partner William Brewer is scheduled to present at the HAMA (Hospitality Asset Managers Association) Spring 2018 conference, scheduled for April 12-13, 2018, in Leesburg, Virginia. Mr. Brewer will be a featured speaker on the topic of Franchise and Management Agreements – scheduled for 11:15 a.m. on Friday, April 13.
His topic will address the following issues: When the market shifts, there are winners and losers. It’s important to know how to realistically protect your investment. What are today’s issues at the negotiation table and how can owners leverage their negotiating power?
Please visit the conference website to register and learn more: http://www.hamagroup.org/. HAMA is considered the "pre-eminent organization of professionals responsible proactively increasing asset values on behalf of hotel owners worldwide."