WSJ Reports on Wyly Brothers, Fraud Case
July 30, 2010 – The Wall Street Journal reports today on firm clients and billionaire brothers Sam and Charles Wyly, who allegedly hid trading profits through an “elaborate sham system” of offshore entities.
The Wylys’ lawyer, William A. Brewer III, said the brothers plan a vigorous defense and expect to be vindicated. “After six years of investigations, the SEC has chosen to make claims against the Wyly brothers – claims that, in our view, are without merit. Brewer added that the brothers relied upon the advice of accountants and lawyers, as reported by the WSJ.
Read the full report here.
Bickel & Brewer Foundation Future Leaders Program Showcases Top Leaders
May 13, 2010 — Dallas Weekly reports that nine high school seniors participating in the Bickel & Brewer Foundation Future leaders Program (FLP) have received over $1 million in scholarships and over 25 college acceptance letters. In addition, FLP seniors Semmey Neguse and Efrain Vera received the prestigious Gates Milennium Scholarship.
The FLP's Class of 2010 was honored at a recognition ceremony, held April 29, at The Black Academy of Arts and Letters. Dallas County District Attorney Craig Watkins shared the keynote address — "encouraging the students to work hard to achieve their goals."
The article states that the "ever-growing" FLP provides "premium academic instruction and specialized leadership training for 160 students, fifth through twelfth grade, from Oak Cliff, South Dallas and East Dallas." The program benefits from a collaboration between public and private school teachers.
According to the article, the FLP's graduating class has committed to institutions such as Morehouse College, The University of North Texas, and The University of Houston.
The Palm Beach Post: A Friendly War of Words
April 17, 2010 — The Palm Beach Post reports that two Palm Beach County high school teams have advanced to the oral debate finals of the Bickel & Brewer / New York University International Public Policy Forum (IPPF). The teams have won an all-expenses paid trip to New York City, where the "stakes are high," with teams competing for a $10,000 grand prize.
The publication reports that the IPPF is the first and only debate contest in which high school students participate in written and oral debates on public policy. During the 2009-10 contest, more than 230 teams from around the world submitted qualifying round essays on whether the United Nations should substantially increase humanitarian aid for people in poverty.
"Sometimes you have to go through hundreds of law papers or scholarly documents to find a single concept or quote we need to argue," said Grace Lee, a 16-year-old Atlantic High School junior. "I'm definitely nervous. We have some hard competition."
Scott Epstein, who coaches the Atlantic team, told the publication he's proud of his students.
"Nothing surprises me with this group of kids," he said. "I expect great things from them."
Dallas Morning News: Judge Rejects Rental Ban
March 25, 2010 – The Dallas Morning News reports that U.S. District Judge Jane Boyle of Dallas issued a permanent injunction to stop the City of Farmers Branch from enforcing a city ordinance banning illegal immigrants from renting apartments.
The judge ruled that Ordinance 2952 was an attempt to enforce U.S. immigration laws, something she said only the federal government can do.
William “Bill” Brewer, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, said the firm would continue the fight on behalf of the landlords in the city challenging the ordinance.
The article noted that about one-quarter of Farmers Branch residents were born outside the United States, and about 47 percent of the city’s population was Hispanic.
“We’ve been involved... because of the broader implications of how we are all going to live together,” Brewer said. “I not only owe that to my clients but I owe it to my children.”
Read more here.
Best Lawyers: William Brewer on Cases That Can Make or Break Corporate America
December 9, 2009 — Best Lawyers of America profiles the "New York powerhouse litigation boutique Bickel & Brewer," which has "earned a reputation as the go-to firm in cases where a company simply cannot afford to lose."
“Right now, there’s a seemingly endless supply of businesses facing situations that require legal representation in which, if they don’t get the financial situation worked out or don’t get those supply lines open or don’t get the burden off their back, it will so impact them—that they’ll likely be out of business,” said William A. Brewer III, one of the firm’s founding partners. “We’re built for these kinds of disputes.”
The article, published in a special section of New York Magazine, notes some of the firm's "unusual features," including having an in-house team of former FBI investigators and business specialists, while also focusing on its devotion to public service.
The article states, "Its Future Leaders Program targets talented school kids from economically disadvantaged parts of Dallas, and provides intensive academic and leadership training from fifth grade through high school. The Future Leaders Program grew out of another of initiative, the Bickel & Brewer Storefront, a community law office it established in 1995 in the inner city in Dallas to provide free or sliding scale civil legal services to low-income clients (any fees it receives are funneled back into the Bickel & Brewer Foundation, which funds the firm’s many public service initiatives.)"
“We’ve been blessed,” said Brewer, “and I and my partners feel that whenever we can, we should make ourselves available to help people who need it.”
To read the full article, click here.
Wall Street Journal: Latino Activists Seize on Texas Ruling to Boost Voting Power
July 25, 2009 – The Wall Street Journal reports on Brewer Storefront’s successful Voting Rights Act lawsuit and federal court decision that ordered Irving, Texas, to reorganize its City Council election system to give Hispanics more voting power.
The reporting observed that Latino activists were using the successful case as a “template” nationwide in efforts to force electoral changes in communities.
U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis ruled that the city’s system of electing council members “at large” diluted the influence of Hispanic voters. The new system to remedy the violation was described as likely to be electing council members by district (a transition approved after this article’s publication).
The Journal article noted that following the decision, “With the data in hand, [Latino activists] plan to press politicians to give Latino residents more influence when they redraw congressional and state legislative districts, and to force cities and towns to retool municipal elections -- or face lawsuits like the one in Irving.”
The lawsuit was brought by Manuel Benavidez, a Hispanic resident, and while Latinos made up nearly 42% of the city’s population, only one Latino had won a city council seat in the prior 20 years, and he did not have a Spanish surname nor did he acknowledge any Hispanic heritage until after his election.
Bill Brewer, the attorney who represented Benavidez, said his “phone has been ringing off the hook” since the court ruling from activists in other cities who wanted to bring similar cases.
Read more here.
Kansas City Jury Awards Firm Client $15M
May 26, 2009 — The Kansas City Business Journal reports that a federal jury has awarded firm client Dovetail Builders 2 LLC "nearly $15 million for a breach of contract claim involving a Junction City apartment development."
According to the report, the real estate dispute involved a joint agreement that Dovetail entered into with David Christie of D.J. Christie Inc. and former associate Alexander Glenn. Dovetail's lawsuit claimed that Christie "abandoned the joint venture after the Junction City Commission indicated it would offer incentives for the project. Christie completed the project without Dovetail Builders."
“We applaud the jury’s decision and finding that our clients were unjustly removed from this real estate development deal,” said William Brewer, an attorney with Dallas-based Bickel & Brewer.
To read the full article, click here.
Dallas Morning News: Closing Arguments Heard in Irving Voting Rights Trial
February 21, 2009 – The Dallas Morning News reports that closing arguments were held in a trial over whether the Irving City Council’s at-large voting system suppressed the votes of Hispanics and violated the Voting Rights Act.
U.S. District Judge Jorge Solis said he hoped to decide within a month whether to require the council to create single-member districts.
Brewer Storefront represented plaintiff Manuel Benavidez, who filed the federal lawsuit claiming that the city’s at-large voting system blocked the votes of Hispanics.
David Ely, an expert for Benavidez, testified that he found several possible districts where eligible voters were mainly Hispanic.