Lake Highlands Advocate Reports on Positive Impact of Brewer Storefront Voting Rights Case
On February, 19, 2020, the Lake Highlands Advocate reported on increased diversity among Richardson ISD (RISD) school board members following a Brewer Storefront voting rights lawsuit brought on behalf of plaintiff and former RISD board member David Tyson. A settlement reached with RISD established a new election system including five single member districts, of which two districts are minority “opportunity” districts. The Storefront is the Brewer firm’s community service legal affiliate.
The article reported that Regina Harris, who is African American, was elected to the District 4 opportunity district, which includes the historic Hamilton Park neighborhood in November 2019. Debbie Renteria, who is Hispanic, filed for the District 3 opportunity district seat and will be taking that seat in May 2020.
Tyson reflected on the additions of Harris and Renteria to the board: “My part is finished. We’ve achieved what we sought.’ What we wanted was opportunity for people of color to feel comfortable running. Winning is equally important, but they first have to feel comfortable enough to run. I have always said we needed to have black and brown representation on the board. I’ve put my reputation on the line and my business on the line. My job now is finished.”
Tyson also reflected on the lawsuit: ““I expected to win…because attorneys at Brewer Storefront had a track record in Grand Prairie, Irving and Carrollton-Farmers Branch, and they wouldn’t have taken the case if they didn’t think they had a reasonable chance of winning.”
National Review Publishes Editorial in Support of NRA’s Legal Advocacy
On January 8, 2020, the National Review published an editorial by legal writer Walter Olson that supports the legal advocacy of the firm and its client, the National Rifle Association.
In the editorial, “Progressive Governments’ Economic War on the NRA Fails in Court,” Olson addresses efforts by government officials in San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York to "take down the hated National Rifle Association by targeting its pocketbook."
Olson observes that San Francisco, Los Angeles and New York are "facing a legal reckoning in court, based not on the Second Amendment but on the First. Without needing to even consider the issue of gun rights, federal courts are recognizing that boycotts enforced by government power can menace free speech and free association."
Olson places particular emphasis on the NRA’s advocacy against Governor Cuomo and New York State regulators. He observes, “While Cuomo was of course free to express his own views, the Constitution would have something to say about it if he or his appointees had made veiled threats against banks and insurers to encourage them to disassociate from the NRA.”
Canadian Students Compete in Brewer Foundation/NYU Debate Contest
The Lake Cowichan Gazette reported on two teams of students from Brentwood College School in Canada advancing to the Top 64 round of the Brewer Foundation/NYU International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) debate competition.
The article on January 7, 2020, reported on the teams from the school in Mills Bay, British Columbia, Canada. “If we can make it to the top eight, we’ll get to go to New York for the final competition,” said Brentwood College student debater Mahar Arora, 17. ““It’s pretty exciting because no other team from Brentwood College ever made it this far in this competition.”
The IPPF is the first and only international debate competition that gives high school students the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy.
“The IPPF presents an exciting opportunity for high school students to engage in issue-oriented advocacy, competing against some of the best debate teams in the world,” said William A. Brewer, founder of the Brewer Foundation and chairman of the IPPF advisory board.
New York Law Journal Reports on New Documents Obtained in Case Against State of New York
On December 23, 2019, the New York Law Journal published the report, “NRA Secures New Documents in Bid to Revive Selective Enforcement Claims Against NY Officials.” The report states that the NRA "says it’s obtained new information that proves state officials in New York acted deliberately, and unlawfully, to strangle the gun lobby group of its financial resources because of its positions on gun control measures."
“The NRA has troubling new information that underscores the true motives of the State’s actions,” said William A. Brewer III, partner at Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors and lead counsel for the NRA. “Our client is determined to bring this evidence to light – to expose the backroom meetings and communications that were essential to Defendant’s scheme to silence and harm the NRA by any means necessary.”
According to a December 20 legal filing, documents obtained by the NRA show the state singled out its insurance products for sanctions while ignoring other policies with similar violations.
The Journal reports that evidence from those documents was included in a new version of the NRA’s lawsuit against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, the state Department of Financial Services, and Maria Vullo, the former superintendent of that agency.
New York Times Magazine Profiles NRA, Firm Advocacy
A New York Times Magazine profile story from December 22, 2019, “Inside Wayne LaPierre’s Battle for the NRA,” reports about various lawsuits and investigations being successfully managed by the firm’s client, the National Rifle Association.
Since March 2018, the firm has represented the NRA on a broad range of legal and regulatory issues, including a well-publicized First Amendment case against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Department of Financial Services. The article provides an in-depth look into a myriad of important matters, and features interviews with NRA CEO Wayne LaPierre and firm Managing Partner William Brewer.
Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors Recognized by Best Lawyers
Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors received recognition from U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers in the 2020 “Best Law Firms” rankings.
The list recognizes firms for professional excellence that have received impressive ratings from clients and peers. The firm’s Dallas and New York offices were recognized in the area of Commercial Litigation.
In addition, partner William A. Brewer III was recognized in Best Lawyers in the area of Commercial Litigation in both Dallas and New York.
The Best Lawyers in America recognizes the top 5% of practicing lawyers in the United States.
The 2020 rankings are based on law firm assessments completed by almost 16,000 lawyers and evaluations from more than 12,000 legal clients.
Brewer Foundation/NYU IPPF Debate Contest Making Headlines
The Brewer Foundation and New York University recently announced the high school debate teams advancing to the “Top 64” round of the 19th annual International Public Policy Forum (IPPF) debate competition. By advancing, the students remain eligible to win a $10,000 grand prize and an all-expenses-paid trip to the IPPF Finals in New York City.
The IPPF is the first and only international debate competition that gives high school students the opportunity to engage in written and oral debates on issues of public policy.
This year, the IPPF received qualifying round essays from more than 150 teams, representing schools in 28 U.S. states and 19 countries. Each essay affirmed or negated the IPPF topic, "Resolved: When in conflict, a nation's self-interest should outweigh its international commitments to migrants."
Media outlets including Patch.com reported on the advancing teams.
Brewer Storefront Hosts RISD Candidates Forum
Brewer Storefront, the firm’s community service legal affiliate, and the North Dallas Suburban Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority hosted a Candidates Forum on October 14, 2019, at Hamilton Park United Methodist Church in Dallas for the upcoming Richardson ISD Board of Trustees Election.
The Storefront represented former RISD trustee David Tyson in a voting rights case that resulted in an agreement to establish a new election system with five single member districts and two at large districts on the board. Candidates for District 4 (Regina Harris, Patricia Price Hicks, Taler Jefferson and Sakennia Reed) and District 2 (Vanessa Pacheco) participated in the forum.
Community Impact reported about the debate in an Oct. 15 article titled "Richardson ISD board candidates discuss priorities ahead of first single-member district election on Nov. 5."
"This is really a historical time for Richardson Independent School District under this new five-two model," said Lacy Durham, a North Dallas suburban alumnae and moderator at the forum. "It's an opportunity for us to be more reflective of our diverse community."
On Nov. 5, voters elected Regina Harris to the new District 4 seat. The Dallas Morning News Editorial Board endorsed Harris, and reported that she is a webinar services manager who has also served in various RISD PTA leadership roles, and on the district's diversity committee. Harris is the first African American woman elected to the board.