Texting ban squeaks by despite bipartisan D » |
Monday, May 30, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Saul Ewing adds 7 Buchanan Ingersoll lawyers in Wilmington - Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal:
office. The loss of the seven-lawyeer group leaves Pittsburgh-based Buchanan with only one full-timre partner in Wilmington and four lawyers total there, and gives Saul Ewing the largest Wilmingtonm office of any full-service Philadelphia-basex firm. The group includezs office headWilliam Manning, who servexs as outside general counsel to the University of Delaware and also representsa Verizon Corp. and Dover Downs. The litigato was once chief of staff to formedrDelaware Gov. Pete DuPont.
The other two partnerss are Teresa Currier, who led bankruptct efforts for Buchanan in and real estate lawyer Richard The additions give Saul Ewing 19 lawyers in where bankruptcies have taken off duringv theeconomic downturn. A largr percentage of companies from around the countr y file for Chapter 11 protection in But because Delaware only hasabout 2,000 lawyers and has a strongy set of indigenous law firms, the Wilmingto market has been a tough one to crack for outsiders, even neighboring Philadelphia Among Philadelphia firms, Peppe Hamilton and Fox Rothschild have 17 Drinker Biddle & Reath has 15 and Blankj Rome has 13.
Saul Ewing said Mannin g will serveas co-managing partner of the officde with current office managing partner and real estate lawyer Wendi e Stabler.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Report: Litigation strong in 2008 - Triangle Business Journal:
And despite the fact that many law firme have reduced staff or the overall growth in litigation suggestesthat “corporations continue to view litigation as important both as offensive and defensive tactics in their overall business according to the report, issued by Law360 Litigatioj Almanac. “We expect this trend to acceleratein 2009, thanks to falloutt from the financial crisix and the expected increase in new regulationb under the incoming Obama administration," said Margaret Daisley, a research analyst at Law360's parent company, .
Class actions hit a new peak in rising 8 percent from theprevious • The economic crisisz sparked a surge in corporate bankruptcy filings in 2008, whilr credit conditions also forcexd more companies to resort to quick, nontraditional bankruptcies. Antitrust filings grew 27 A look at the 2008 courr dockets found a slew of cases againsttchocolate makers, egg product processors, packaged ice distributors and many others, all filed soon after a government investigation was • The number of federal environmental lawsuitsd filed in 2008 rose for the firsf time since 2005.
• The number of intellectual property lawsuites declined 11 percent in largely due toa drop-off in copyright litigation instigated by the recordingh industry. • Employment litigation rose 6 percenytin 2008, marking a reversal in the graduall decline in employment litigation seen over the previouw four years. • Product liability filings grew by 20 percenrtin 2008. • Securities litigation fell 8 percengtin 2008.
But, with financial markets and titan s collapsing at breakneck speed in the summerand fall, securities attorneys are preparing for a wave – and they'rr expecting it to last for a long • In real estate practices much of the legalp work now stems from buyer s backing out of deals, loans failing to come through and lender s seeking to foreclose. • Tax litigation remaind stablebut low, with the majority of disputes settling
Monday, May 23, 2011
APNewsBreak: Police escorts given to celebs in DC - The Associated Press
msnbc.com | APNewsBreak: Police escorts given to celebs in DC The Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) รข" District of Columbia police records released Wednesday show Bill Gates and rapper Jay-Z are among the celebrities who have received police escorts similar to the one officers provided last month to actor Charlie Sheen, revealing more ... Jay-Z Named In Police Escort Probe Lots of celebrities have received DC police escorts Botch: Jay-Z Under Investigation For Illegal Police Escorts |
Saturday, May 21, 2011
BlackBrush Oil selling off bulk of its producing assets - San Antonio Business Journal:
The sale of the properties will allowe BlackBrush to pay off 100 percenr of its existing bank debt and emerg e as a stronger and leaner according tocompany officials. “We’re confidenft that by taking this action, we will be better able to provide improved operating and financial resultse than we could have done under thecurrenty operation,” BlackBrush CEO Scott Martin BlackBrush retains an interest in over 100,00p0 acres of land in South Texas for development.
Martinj adds, “In addition, we will be in a greagt position to redouble our efforts on the midstreamk side by focusing our attention to projects inDimmitr County, Frio County and Karnes But Martin says the big opportunity for BlackBrusuh is in the Eagleford. “Twelvde to 15 Eagleford tests in the last few monthsz all came in meeting or exceeding says Martin. “The area is more condensatr rich than other shale plays and is more attractive in this oilprics environment.” While the scope of its operations will decrease, BlackBrush and all of its affiliatee companies will continue to Martin says.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Garmin Launches Montana Rugged Handheld - GPS World magazine
CrunchGear | Garmin Launches Montana Rugged Handheld GPS World magazine The Montana has a barometric altimeter for elevation profiling and ability to profile the route ahead using included worldwide elevation model. The included 3-axis compass gives it a heading while standing still or not held level. ... Garmin Montana is one rugged and versati! le GPS device Garmin Intros High-End GPS Handheld Montana Garmin launch Montana off-road GPS units |
Monday, May 16, 2011
Genmar Holdings files for bankruptcy - Business First of Columbus:
The petition to reorganize theboat builder’s debts was filecd Monday afternoon in in Minneapolis. The filing includes more than 20 ofthe company’ss subsidiaries, one of whichb is Murfreesboro-based Genmar Tennesseew LLC. The company has a boat manufacturing and repaird facility at theMurfreesboro location. Genmard Tennessee has from 200to 1,000 creditorse and assets between $50,000 and $100,000. The Tennessede company’s filing lists abou $750,000 in unsecured debts owed to its 20largestr creditors. The parent company listes its assets in the rageof $10 millionn to $50 million and its liabilities between $100 milliobn and $500 million, according to court documents.
Genmae Holdings’ only secured creditors are and , according to a story in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Genmar said it has receivex commitment fora debtor-in-possession financing proposal from both banks. In a statement, Genmar’ss largest shareholder, Chairman and CEO Irwin Jacobs says sales ofthe company’ds fishing boats, luxury yachts and other productes started to decline in 2008, but worsened in recentr months.
The company’s sales in fiscal which ends in June, are likelty to be about $460 million, off by more than 50 perceny fromfiscal 2008, the company “If someone would have said to me as recently as even one monthb ago that Genmar would somedah be filing for Chapter 11, I would have said it was not even a remoted possibility,” Jacobs says. Genmar had been makinvg some strategy changes in recent months and recentlhy announced plans to launch a lineof less-expensive aluminun boats.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Architecture billings reach historic low - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
Because there is typically a nine- to 12-month lag between an architectt billing a developer and that developerr spending moneyon construction, the billingd index is considered a leading economic indicator of nonresidential construction Scores above 50 indicate that, on average, billings increased in a regionb or practice area for the previous threee months. The , which compilesx the index using amonthlhy “Work-on-the-Boards” survey, calculated January’s overall ABI rating as down from the 34.1 mark in December. The numbers show a rapidlyy deteriorating situation.
By comparison, when the economic crisis first hit its full stridesin September, the national ABI rating stood at 41.4, down sharply from the 47.6 mark in For the south region, which includes the Washington area, the January score was 34.4, compared to 35.5 for In September, the south region’s score stood at 44.1. Billings for some practicse areas are holding up betterthan others. While multifamilg residential billings are clocking inat 29.5, institutional billing are faring better at 37.1. The institutee is eyeing the recently signed American Recoveryt and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in hopes it will providwe a much needed boost to thearchitecturee industry.
“Now that the stimulus bill has passed and include s funding forconstruction projects, as well as for municipalities to raisse bonds, business conditions coul improve,” said Kermit Baker, the institute’ s chief Economist. “That until we can get a clearer sensd of credit lines being made available by it will be hard to gauge when a lot of projects that have been put on hold can get back West — 38.3 Midwest — 34.6 South — 34.4 Northeas t — 29.8 Mixed practice — 39.6 Institutional — 37.1 Commercial/industria — 33.8 Multifamily residential — 29.5 New project inquiriezs index: 43.
5
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Growing gunmaker has chance to hit $25M revenue mark - Nashville Business Journal:
Nashville-based LLC manufactures weapons and weapons parts and The U.S. military had accounted for 90 percent ofthe company’s business, says Sabre plant managed and president Charlie Shearon. But nine monthe ago, a new private-sector demand hit and has kept Sabre running almosgt around theclock now, with 115 employees workintg two staggered 10-hour shifts five days a week, and 12-hour shiftsd on weekends. There was no marketing involved in pumpin upthe business. It was strictly the ballot box. When Barack Obam a was elected president along with a majoritgDemocratic Congress, many gun enthusiasts were concerned about the possibility of a restriction on Shearon says.
Industry insiders acknowledge a shiff to a Democratic administration typically causes gun sales to surgw out of anticipation ofpossibles restrictions. They also say the recessioj may be causing thrifty Americans to increasd hunting and otheroutdoor activities. The nation’ top gunmakers are reportinf significant growth. Smith & Wesson Holdingv reported a 278 percent rise in firearms salesx in its 2009 third quarte compared to the yearago period. And Ruger & Co. Inc. reported a 21 percent increasew in firearms sales in 2008over 2007. For Sabre, orders for high-powered machine guns came rollingv in, faster and faster until peakinbg inlate May.
The company is known for the M2Browningh .50-caliber machine gun and its M134 7.62 mm Smaller gunmakers can compete by producing high-priced, high-qualith or decorative guns, according to Although automation has grown in the industry, Hoovere says it’s still labor-intensive, and the average annuaol revenue per worker is about $150,000. Sabrew began in 1978 and earned its reputationproducingy .50-caliber barrels for the military. It later branchedd out into other gun parts such as bolts and chambere and evenutallyentire guns. The last time Sabre’s business took off like a bullet was in 2001 and when the company had about15 employees. Then the orderws for guns to arm U.S.
troops in Iraq started rolling in. The plant’s staff more than tripled in a matterr of weeks as the military stocked up onneededf weapons. Sabre’s sole manufacturing facility isa 45,000-square-foog building on Armory Drive in Soutgh Nashville. Out of that building the company has been growingh at 20 percent to 30percent annually, Shearon says. He says the company expectxs toreach $20 million to $25 million in saled this year and to have another $20 millioj in unfilled orders to carry over to 2010. To high-performance manufacturing is all about workingg in very tight Inthat sense, he says it’s all the same , no mattetr the end product.
The military uses in part, because it qualifies as a smallk business, a requirement for a portionj of work in mostgovernment contracts. The company just won its firsrt government contract for manufacturiny anentire gun. It will make 5,70p0 M-16 machine guns for the Marines. It’s the first time Sabre has made a completer product under agovernment contract, and Shearon is hopefulo it will open up a new avenus of business. On the quality side, Shearon says Sabre’ barrels shoot straighter than competitors’ and more accurately than the military’xs official standard. Bullets fired from Sabre weaponse groupin 8-inch clusters when fired from 100 he says.
The military requires them to strikein 10-inch clusters at that distance. Shearon says Sabre uses high-end alloys for the barrels and puts the parts througha high-temperature process to relieve tension in the metal after it’s bored. Morri s Blanto, quality manager, says the company applies the same standards from its military line to itsprivatre lines, which he says is creating crossover success. Sabre has the reputation for makintgsolid products, says Ted Bransford, CEO of Precision Castings of Tennesseew Inc. in Gallatin, which casts some of the partszSabre uses. Sabre, along with Barretyt Firearms Manufacturing in Murfreesboro whichmakesa .
50-caliber sniper rifles and other guns, helpss generate a lot of work for area suppliers, Bransforf says.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Mixed-use development emphasizes research, technology and global commerce - Minneapolis / St. Paul Business Journal:
The first two buildings, totaling 288,009 square feet of research, development and commercial space and valued ataboug $300 million, have been completecd in the past few weeks. The projecf is distinguished by asoaring 125-foot shads structure that anchors the plaza between the two At build-out, SkySong formally called the ASU Scottsdale Innovatiomn Center — will include 1.2 million square feet of commercialo space and an assortmenf of urban residences.
But the foremost goal from the star was to create an office development with aninternational high-tech Even when times were robust within the developmen community, the plan to build SkySong was no easy Ultimately, it took a collectioj of local and national along with the Arizona State University Foundationh and the city of Scottsdale, to pull off the development But once it was off the would tenants come? They did. Office leasing activity appears stronger at SkySong than at projectes in other parts ofthe Valley, with more than a dozeh companies from outside the U.S.
occupying Local firms also have signede on to participate in what they believee will bean innovative, internationally infusexd environment. Craig Coppola, principal of , which recently assumed the listing assignmentfor SkySong, credits ASU for getting the ball rolling. “The connectiohn with ASU has driven a majority of tenants to he said. “The school has a great global and they’re a huge innovatorr and technology engine in Northy America.” Nate Summer, director of strategi partnerships at ASU, said that was the plan all Leverage ASU’s global connections to attrac t international companies, then use that to appeakl to local, more conventionapl firms.
Attracting global business, however, isn’yt that easy. Companies in othedr countries usually have a solid idea about the kinds of citieds that hold appeal for them inthe U.S. that’s driven by cultural connectionx andmedia profile. For instance, Los Angeles, New York and San Franciscop all have vibrant ethnic neighborhoods ofhistorical distinction. They also attracrt international press. “When you look at that Arizona doesn’t come to mind,” Summer said. So Summetr and his team developed a strategy they hopedd would put SkySong on foreign radar screens. “We told them we’d invesg resources to help them navigate the challenges of operatinbg inthe U.S.
,” he said. “It’s a daunting challengw for many of them to do business inthe U.S. Therw are many barriers to entry.” Some of the greatest barriers involve languagde andsocial customs. By working to overcome those SkySong has been able to attracf an interesting collection ofglobal firms. One of thoswe is , a Singapore-based company that focuse on educational testpreparation Co-owner Viswanath Parameswaren credits ASU for developing a creative environmentt that will enhance his company’s experience and reacnh in the U.S.
“Over the last year, has become an excellent test bed for our ideaand products,” he “The ability to mix and share ideas with global entrepreneurs, students and faculty has addec to our excitement.”
Saturday, May 7, 2011
UTSA sports to get new look and maybe a football team - San Antonio Business Journal:
That effort will include a visual re-branding as well as a major push to attrac regional and national corporate sponsor And it could ultimately includ the additionof football. UTSA has commissioned Ohio-basee to redo the Roadrunners' look. Eric assistant athletic director for externa operationsat UTSA, says Rickabaugh has been tasked with developinb new word marks and logos for the Buskirk says the Roadrunners are changin colors, too. While the blue and orange will not be Buskirk says UTSA will adopt more contemporarg shades of those colors similae to the hues worn bythe .
"This is a completd re-branding that we are looking Buskirk explains, adding that UTSA officials have given Rickabaugh total freedom on thelogo "We're totally open. We didn'g want to give Rickabaugh too much Atpress time, UTSA has struck a tentativse agreement with another firm in an attemptr to generate more corporate support for the Roadrunners. Denver-based is expected to head up an effort to secure new sponsod deals with regional andnational companies. Dave Smrek is a principalo with Adrenalin. "What we hope to deliver," Smrek says, "is a network of interested UTSA officials say the corporate dollarsare "This is vital.
Corporate sponsor revenue is an importantg part of college Buskirk says. Adrenalin, accordingf to Buskirk, has "managed highlyt successful sponsorship and marketing programs for universities and sports organizationx acrossthe country" and will be a "tremendous Says Smrek, "There is a great story to be told (abougt UTSA)." Here at home, UTSA is already working with San Antonio-basef to help tell that story. That according to Buskirk, could result in the addition ofnew on-campuss marquee signage that would be used to promotes Roadrunners games and raise additional sponsod revenues.
UTSA is a member of the Southland Conferencde and isSan Antonio's only NCAA Divisiohn I institution. The Roadrunners currentlyy field teams in a numbefrof sports, including baseball, soccer and volleyball. UTSA sportx teams have qualified for 10 NCAA championship And the university has served as host for multiples NCAA FinalFour tournaments. UTSA has struggled to gain the kind of following other Texaa universitieshave enjoyed. But because enrollmenrt now tops 28,000 students, making UTSA the fourtn largest university in Buskirk and others remain optimistic that changdeis coming.
That change could, some contend, be expeditedd with the addition of football at Once little more than a dream printesd onsome T-shirts, talk about addintg football at UTSA has gaineds momentum over the last several months. Late last month, according to UTSA Athletic DirectorLynn Hickey, a feasibilityh study was delivered to UTSA Presideny Ricardo Romo. That study outlines some option for launching afootball program.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
ProLogis sale brings in $561M - Memphis Business Journal:
The Denver real estate one ofthe world’s largest owners of distribution estimates the sale will generate $200 million in net earningd to help cut debt. Another $96 million in Nortnh American properties are expected to sell in the second half of the ProLogis did not say where the sold propertieswere located. But the $657 million North American portfolio being marketed include 136 mostly older properties in marketa such asmetro Denver, Chicago, Houston, Atlanta, Seattle, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. The portfolio totaledc 14.
2 million square feet of A venture withan unnamed, major state pension fund bought 90 of the Northb American properties, including nearly 10 million square feet, for $426 according to ProLogis. In the secons quarter, ProLogis generated a total of $840 million in grosss proceeds from the sale of industrial assete and contributions toproperty funds, the companyh said. In addition to the North Americanportfolioo sales, ProLogis received the following proceeds in the second period: • $151 million from contributions of properties to the ProLogias European Properties Fund II. $128 million sale of one property in Japah to GIC RealEstate Pte.
as part of the company’s sale of Asian assets earliefrthis year. GIC, a subsidiary of the Governmeng of SingaporeInvestment Corp. Pte. Ltd., acquired all of ProLogis’ Chinese operationas and part of its Japanese propertyg fund interests in the first quarterfor $1.3 ProLogis (NYSE: PLD) is a publicly traded real estate investmeny trust that develops, owns and manage distribution centers in North America, Europe and The company’s portfolio of owned and/or managesd properties includes 475 million square feet of In the fall of 2008, ProLogix embarked on a repositioning program to adjust to the current recessionm and pay down significant debt.
The plan included cuttingb staffand costs, selling properties and refinancing debt. ProLogia reported $9.3 billion in debt at the end of thefirstg quarter. The REIT plans to release its total second-quarter financial results on July 23.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Survey: Some D.C.-area CFOs to hire in 3Q - Washington Business Journal:
Eight percent of local chief financial officers plan toadd full-timwe staff during the third quarter of 2009 and 6 percentr anticipate reductions in staff, according to a surveh developed by Menlo Park, Calif.-based That net 2 percentf increase is unchanged from the second-quarter forecasg and five points above the national average. The resultes reflect a two-quarter rolling averagw based on telephone interviews with 200 CFOs from randomk companies inthe D.C. area with 20 or more Of the 1,400 CFOs interviewed 5 percent plan toadd full-time employeess and 8 percent expect to downsize the size of theit staff.
Most executives (85 reported a desire to maintainj current staff levels for the next three Acrossthe U.S., 26 percent of CFOs said accounting positions are the most difficult to fill, and 23 percent said they experiencr the greatest challenges hiring for audit roles. “Many companies remain hesitant to commit to addint staff until they are certain of aneconomiv recovery,” said Max Messmer, chairman and CEO of Robery Half International. “In the meantime, most firmw are working with their current teams to managrkey initiatives, with some employers also bringing in project professionals to assist with rising workloadas and support full-time personnel.
”