In The News

Announcements

Andrew Berger was recently named co-chair of the Copyright Subcommittee of the Intellectual Property Litigation Committee of the American Bar Association Section of Litigation.

Tannenbaum Helpern has formed the Hedge Fund Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group to address the needs of clients requiring relevant and integrated services in this area. The Group,  comprised of attorneys from several of our practice areas, including Litigation, Financial Services and Tax, work together sharing and integrating experiences from their fields of practice to deliver advice that is to the point, reflects sound business judgment and is “up the learning curve”  in many cases.  For more information, please see our announcement of the Group's formation or contact  the partner with whom you work at the firm.

Michael G. Tannenbaum has authored an article “Hedge Fund Regulatory Outlook for 2009,” published by The Hedge Fund Journal, February 2009.  The author reviews various regulatory alternatives that might be imposed on investment advisers and on hedge funds and possible implications of such new rules. 

In response to the crisis in the real estate capital markets, Tannenbaum Helpern has formed the Real Estate Restructuring Group. The Restructuring Group is comprised of attorneys from several of our practice areas, including Real Estate, Environmental and Construction Law, Creditors’ Rights and Business Reorganization, Tax, Financial Services, and Litigation, and is chaired by Eric S. Schoenfeld, a partner in the Real Estate, Environmental and Construction Law Department. For more information, please see our announcement of the Restructuring Group's formation.

We are proud to announce that two of our partners were elected in January to leadership positions in major Sections of the New York State Bar Association. Vincent J. Syracuse has been elected Chair of the Association's 2500 lawyer Commercial and Federal Litigation Section for the 2009-2010 year. His term begins on June 1, 2009. He will continue to serve as the Chair-Elect of the Section until then. Andre R. Jaglom was elected First Vice Chair of the Association's 2000 lawyer International Section for the 2009 year. He continues to serve as Co-Chair of the Section's International Distribution, Sales and Marketing Committee.

We are happy to announce that the firm is a primary sponsor of a series of art-related panels being presented during Art Basel Miami Beach, the most important art exhibition in the United States, at the Center for Visual Communication in the Wynwood Arts District of Miami, Florida. Brian A. Haskel and Enrique E. Liberman will chair a panel entitled “Art Investment Vehicles – An Asset Based Investment for the 21st Century,” which will focus on issues, considerations and recent trends in forming and managing an art fund. 

We are also pleased to be the Gold Sponsor of “China Gold, 2008”, a curated Chinese contemporary art exhibition taking place during Art Basel Miami Beach.  The exhibition will be held from December 4th through December 7th at the Murano Portofino in Miami Beach, Florida and is curated by Infinity 8 Art Management and Witan Walczak Advisors.  The exhibit will feature works by prominent Chinese contemporary artists including Cui Xiuwen, Fang Lijun, Hai Bo, Liu Ye, Luo Brothers, Tang Zhigang, Wang Guangyi, Wang Keping, Wang Qingsong, Weng Fen, Yue Minjun, Zeng Fanzhi, Zhang Dali and Zhang Huan.

Ten Tannenbaum Helpern Attorneys Named “New York SuperLawyers”

We are pleased that ten of our lawyers – nearly one-third of our partners – were selected for inclusion in New York Super Lawyers 2008 published by Law & Politics in September 2008, after a multi-step selection process that included a survey of lawyers in practice at least five years and a blue ribbon review panel of leading attorneys. A tenth lawyer selected for inclusion joined our firm after publication. The lawyers who were selected are: Kenneth M. Block, Construction Chair of our Real Estate, Environmental and Construction Law Group; Brian A. Haskel of our Corporate Group; Robert E. Helpern, Real Estate Chair of our Real Estate, Environmental and Construction Law Group; Joel Hirschtritt, our Managing Partner and Chair of our Personal Representation Group; Andre R. Jaglom, Co-Chair of our Franchising, Distribution and E-Commerce Group;  Joel A. Klarreich, Chair of our Corporate, Staffing Industry and Employment Law Groups and Co -Chair of the Franchising, Distribution and E-Commerce Group; Jamie B.W. Stecher of our Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group;  Vincent J. Syracuse, Chair of our Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group; Michael G. Tannenbaum, Chair of our Financial Services, Private Funds and Capital Markets Group; and the newest partner in our Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group, Paul D. Sarkozi.

Andrew Berger was elected by the Cornell University Board of Trustees to a four-year term on the Cornell University Council. The Council facilitates the exchange of information between the University and its members, mobilizes alumni in efforts that benefit the University and provides the University with a source of expertise.

Andre R. Jaglom was recently elected as a member of the national Board of Directors and Secretary of the American Institute of Wine & Food. The AIWF was founded by Julia Child and Robert Mondavi in 1981 to enhance the quality of food and drink in the United States and is one of the leading food and beverage educational organizations in the country.

Hilary Semel was elected Chair of the Board of Directors for Sustainable South Bronx. Sustainable South Bronx (SSB), founded in 2001 by Majora Carter, is a community organization dedicated to the implementation of sustainable development projects for the South Bronx that are informed by the needs of the community and the values of Environmental Justice. SSB was conceived to serve as a dedicated mechanism that could thoroughly address and implement policy and planning issues in such areas as land use, energy, transportation, water, waste, and sustainable development in the South Bronx by working to implement the community's visions for sustainable community development. Its programs are designed to provide tangible projects and/or advocacy for policy decisions that advance the environmental, social and economic rebirth of the South Bronx. In 2005, Ms. Carter won the MacArthur Fellows Award for her efforts in making the South Bronx an environmentally sustainable community.

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

Vincent J. Syracuse is the Program Chair of the Spring Meeting of the New York State Bar Association's Commercial and Litigation Section which will take place at The Otseaga in Cooperstown, N.Y. from May 1-3, 2009. The meeting will feature over 35 speakers in eight Continuing Legal Education programs designed for lawyers at all levels of practice and will cover a range of litigation topics. Jamie B.W. Stecher will chair a segment entitled "Sports Law and Lore." One of the highlights of the weekend will be the presentation of the Section's Robert L. Haig Award for Distinguished Public Service by Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman to former Chief Judge Judith S. Kaye at the Saturday evening Gala. Reservations for the weekend can be made by contacting Lori Nicoll at lnicoll@nysba.org. The links to the program and registration materials are attached.

Andre R. Jaglom will speak on a panel on legal issues raised by beer industry consolidation at the Beer Marketers Insights Consolidation Conference III at the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago, May 3-4, 2009 [Link]

Michael G. Tannenbaum will speak at the 20th Annual Conference on the Globalisation of Investment Funds, His panel, entitled “Weathering the Storm: Current Issues for Hedge Funds” ,will examine issues such as new liquidity terms, transparency, fraud avoidance mechanisms and due diligence issues, among others.  The conference is sponsored by the International Bar Association (IBA) and the National Investment Company Service Association (NICSA) and is scheduled for May 10-13, 2009 in Bermuda. For more information, see www.ibanet.org. [Program]

Roger M. Roisman will speak at City Bar Center for CLE program entitled “Back to Basics: Real Estate Valuation Principles for the Legal Professional on June 1, 2009 at 6 pm at the New York City Bar Association. [Flyer]

If you would like additional information regarding any of the events listed above, please contact us by E-mail or by telephone at (212) 508-6700.

Recent Speaking Engagements

Andrew W. Singer spoke on "The Implications of the 2009 ADA Amendment" at The Annual Carol Giuliani Conference on Disability Awareness in Amityville, New York on May 6, 2009. [Program]

L. Donald Prutzman spoke on “Intellectual Property Protection: The Berne and Madrid Conventions” at the First Annual “Fundamentals of International Practice” program organized by the International Section and the Committee on Continuing Legal Education of the New York State Bar Association on April 30, 2009 at the Yale Club in New York City. [Program].

Kenneth M. Block chaired a conference on “Constructing the Economic Recovery: Business Opportunities for the Real Estate and Construction Industries” and Scott E. Furman spoke on “Renewable Energy for the 21st Century” on April 21, 2009 at the New York Sheraton Hotel. The conference is presented by the Greater New York Construction User Council and the Building Trades Employers’ Association and is co-sponsored by Tannenbaum Helpern. [Program]

Michael G. Tannenbaum spoke at the global GAIMOps conference in Grand Cayman on April 26-29, 2009.  The conference focuses on operational due diligence, risk management and compliance issues facing the private funds industry.   Michael’s panel, “Redefining Third Party Relationships, Effective Use of Prime Brokers, Administrators, Auditors and other Service Providers,” examined the evolving role of such service providers in dealing with issues such as verification of valuations, risk management models and identifying the optimal relationship that a manager should have with its service providers.  For more information, see www.gaimopscayman.com. [Brochure]

Vincent J. Syracuse planned the chair for the New York State Bar Association's highly successful CLE  program which was presented for the 10th time this spring in New York City, Rochester, Albany, Buffalo and Melville. The program this year was entitled "Introductory Lessons on Ethics and Civility: 10th Anniversary Program." Vince also chaired the New York City venue April 17, 2009.

Andre R. Jaglom spoke on a panel on beer industry legal issues at the annual Beer Business Daily Beer Industry Summit at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin Texas, March 1-2, 2009. [Link]

Andre R. Jaglom chaired his annual program on Product Distribution and Marketing, in Charleston, South Carolina March 18-20, 2009. The program covers all aspects of distribution and marketing law, from antitrust and franchise law to intellectual property and international distribution, and addresses practical issues such as drafting distribution contracts and negotiating and litigating distribution disputes. This year's program addressed developments following the Supreme Court's landmark 2007 decision in the Leegin case, which overturned the century-old per se rule against resale price maintenance. In addition to planning and chairing the entire program, Drew spoke on the subjects of e-commerce and Internet distribution, drafting distribution contracts, business franchise laws and legal compliance, and participated on panels addressing acquisitions in the distribution context, distribution disputes, and ethical issues that arise in distribution practice. Last year’s program description is available at http://www.ali-aba.org/cn019.

Michael Tannenbaum moderated a Hedge Fund Roundtable convened by Horizon Cash Management LLC. A report on the discussion appears in the Winter 2008 issue of FOCUS, the Newsletter of Horizon Cash Management LLC.

Brian A. Haskel and Enrique E. Liberman chaired a panel during Art Basel Miami Beach, the most important art exhibition in the United States, at the Center for Visual Communication in the Wynwood Arts District of Miami, Florida on December 5, 2008.  The panel, entitled “Art Investment Vehicles – An Asset Based Investment for the 21st Century,” focused on issues, considerations and recent trends in forming and managing an art fund.  The panel was one of three speaking events sponsored by Tannenbaum Helpern Syracuse & Hirschtritt LLP along with Art & Antiques Magazine during Art Basel Miami Beach.

Vincent J. Syracuse represented the Committee on the Commercial Division of the Commercial and Federal Litigation Section of the New York State Bar Association on a panel program entitled “Conversations on Commercial Litigation with Justices of the New York State Supreme Court Commercial Division, Westchester County on Tuesday, November 25, 2008 in White Plains, New York. [Program]

Andrew Berger and L. Donald Prutzman spoke on “Copyright and Trademark Basics:
What Lawyers Need to Know to Protect Clients In An Internet Age” on Thursday, October 23, 2008 at a CLE Seminar in New York City sponsored by Hudson Valley Bank and CUNY Law School. [Flyer] [Berger Outline] and [Prutzman Outline]

Andre R. Jaglom and Donald Prutzman each chaired a panel at the Fall Meeting of the International Law and Practice Section of the New York State Bar Association at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden, September 17-20, 2008. Donald’s panel covered “Advertising Standards: Global Harmony or Dissonance?” Drew’s panel addressed "International Distribution Arrangements: Different Channels, Different  Countries."

Andre R. Jaglom spoke on “Dealer Termination in International Markets” at the Center for International Legal Studies program on Lawyering in the international Market held in Pilanesberg, South Africa May 14-18, 2008.

Ralph Siciliano gave an audio conference presentation to accounting professionals, sponsored by Professional Business Publications on the topic of "Demystifying Hedge Funds: What To Do When Your Hedge Fund is in Trouble" on May 1, 2008.

Other News

Andre R. Jaglom was quoted as an "industry expert" in a November 25, 2007 Denver Post article on the implications for beer distributors of the proposed Miller Coors joint venture.


Andre R. Jaglom was quoted in the July 1, 2007 issue of Beer Business Daily and the July 3, 2007 issue of INSIGHTS Express (published by Beer Marketers Insights) on the implications for the beer industry of the U.S. Supreme Court's Leegin decision overturning the century-old per se rule against resale price maintenance.

Donald Prutzman was quoted in this June 21, 2007 article in the Atlanta Daily Journal regarding a copyright decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit addressing the rights of freelance photographers in connection with the National Geographic publication of a CD-ROM containing its entire magazine library.

Joel A. Klarreich was quoted in a January 18, 2007 article on smoking and employment in the Long Island Press, regarding the impermissibility of discriminating against those who smoke away from the job site unless the employer can show that smoking adversely affects job performance of the safety of other employees.