As the Senate Judiciary Committee holds a major hearing today on criminal justice reform, the Law Enforcement Leaders To Reduce Crime & Incarceration delivered a letter to the leaders of Congress supporting the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 (S.2123).
The letter, signed by over 70 prominent police chiefs and federal prosecutors, urges Congress to act on the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015, which would reduce prison populations by reforming federal mandatory minimum sentences. 26 NAFUSA members Zachary Carter, Tristram Coffin, Paul Coggins, Richard Deane, Donald DeGabrielle, Edward Dowd, Robert Fiske, Hal Hardin, Walter Holton, Brendan Johnson, Todd Jones, Douglas Jones, Ronald Machen, Salvatore Maxrtoche, Matthew Orwig, Brad Pigott, Richard Pocker, Timothy Pardon, Richard Rossman, Donald Stern, Richard Thornburgh, Brett Tolman, Gregory Vega, Edward Warin, Donald Washington and William Wilmoth were among the signers.
Dechert LLP announced that Vincent H. Cohen, Jr. has joined the firm in its Washington office as a partner in the litigation group. Cohen most recently served as the acting United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, and is NAFUSA’s newest member.
“We are delighted that Vince has joined the firm,” said Andrew J. Levander, chairman of the firm’s policy committee. “Not only does Vince possess substantial in court trial skills as a result of having tried dozens of cases to verdict throughout his career, his deep experience in private practice and at the highest levels of government provides him with a sophisticated and unique background that will allow him to handle our clients’ most challenging legal problems.”
December 5, 2015 was the last day in office for William C. Killian, the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Tennessee. On December 7, 2015, he joined Polsinelli as a shareholder in its Chattanooga office. Killian is also NAFUSA’s newest member.
“Polsinelli is a great fit for me, with a reputation in litigation and serving the evolving health care industry,” Killian said. “Joining the firm allows me to have a platform to focus on critical health care and fraud issues, and I look forward to working with Polsinelli’s highly recognized team of attorneys.”
Hon. Charles R. Breyer, United States District Judge for the Northern District of California, issued an order today of notice of intent to appoint NAFUSA member Robert S. Mueller as settlement master in the Volkswagen “Clean Diesel” Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation. Continue reading →
The Chicago Tribune reported today that NAFUSA member Dan Webb has been retained by the Chicago Law Department to examine how the department handles police shootings and defends the city against claims of excessive force.
Webb’s agreement with the city allows him to not only make suggestions for improving policies and procedures but also to refer cases of possible misconduct to the city inspector. Webb told the Tribune: “I can go in and they have to provide me with any and all information…to kind of tear apart their practices and procedures.” Continue reading →
NAFUSA Sponsor Guidepost Solutions LLC announced on December 1, 2015 that NAFUSA member Donna A. Bucella, a former U.S. Attorney who served in several top government posts, has joined Guidepost Solutions as president of its compliance business in the company’s Washington, D.C. office.
“Bringing Donna on our team reflects our strong commitment to help companies strengthen and streamline their processes for addressing compliance, ethics and risk management,” stated Chief Executive Officer of Guidepost Solutions, Julie Myers Wood. “Her strong history of leadership and experience from the business and public sectors will greatly benefit our clients and complement our very talented team of compliance and investigative professionals.” Wood, who served as head of ICE in the Bush administration, was a participant on the panel on immigration at NAFUSA’s Atlanta conference in 2012. Wood is married to NAFUSA member John Frederick Wood (ED Missouri, 2007-2009).
In 2013, Bucella joined Education Management Corporation as senior vice president, risk and compliance, and chief compliance officer to create an independent compliance department; develop employee ethics and compliance training; and improve and expand its corporate compliance and internal investigations program. She practiced law with Foley & Lardner LLP and Steel, Hector and Davis LLP in the areas of complex business litigation, white collar defense, internal corporate investigations, and compliance. Her private sector experience also includes serving as senior vice president at Perot Systems Government Services, and as senior vice president at Bank of America.
Previously, Bucella was the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida. She also served as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Director of the Office of Legal Education for the U.S. Department of Justice, and Director of the Executive Office for the United States Attorneys. Bucella’s additional government experience includes serving as Assistant Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Intelligence and Investigative Liaison; being selected by the President of the United States and Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to become the first Director of the Terrorist Screening Center which she created from inception and led it to full operational capacity as it exists today; and joining the U.S. Transportation Security Administration, after 9/11, as the first Southeast Area Director responsible for the operations of 80 federalized airports. She retired at the rank of Colonel from the U.S. Army Reserves.
She currently serves as senior advisor for the Risk Assistance Network +Exchange (RANE) and is a member of various organizations including the Overseas Security Advisory Council (OSAC), Bureau of Diplomatic Security for the U.S. Department of State; Infragard; Stetson University College of Law Advisory Board for National Clearinghouse for Science, Technology and the Law; and the American Bar Association. For several of these organizations she has served in an advisory capacity or as a member of its Board of Directors.
Throughout her career, Bucella has been the recipient of numerous awards, decorations, and military medals including the Legion of Merit and the United States Attorney General’s Exceptional Service Award, the highest award given by the Attorney General. She is a frequent speaker and instructor on topics related to investigations, compliance, intelligence and terrorism. Bucella received a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law.
Guidepost Solutions (www.guidepostsolutions.com) is a global leader in investigations; due diligence; cyber and technology security consulting; immigration and cross-border consulting; and monitoring and compliance solutions. Its professional team includes former federal and state prosecutors and law enforcement officials and leaders in the security, investigations, intelligence, and public safety communities. Guidepost Solutions is headquartered in New York and maintains offices and facilities across the globe including Chicago; Dallas; Honolulu; London; Los Angeles; Oakland; Palm Beach; Sacramento; San Francisco; Seattle; Singapore and Washington, D.C.
Faegre Baker Daniels announced on November 18, 2015, that former United States Attorney Nicholas Klinefeldt has joined the firm as a partner in its Des Moines office. He is also the newest member of NAFUSA.
As a member of FaegreBD’s White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice, Klinefeldt will focus on representing businesses and individuals in government investigations, conducting internal investigations and counseling clients on compliance and regulatory issues.
From 2009 through November 2015, Klinefeldt served as the presidentially appointed U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa. He also co-chaired the Attorney General Advisory Subcommittee on Criminal Practice and served as a member of the Attorney General Advisory Subcommittee on White Collar Crime.
“Nick’s sophisticated investigatory and trial experience significantly enhances our ability to effectively serve and represent clients in complex, high-stakes legal matters around the country and throughout the world,” said J.P. Hanlon, co-chair of FaegreBD’s White Collar Defense and Investigations Practice. “His experience as an appointed U.S. Attorney and member of the Attorney General Advisory Committee will bring an incredibly deep and truly unique perspective to sensitive investigations and compliance matters. We are thrilled to have Nick join us and know he will be quickly become a critically important part of our national white collar defense and investigations practice.”
Before his service as the U.S. Attorney, Klinefeldt was in private practice with firms in Boston and Des Moines where he represented clients in federal criminal investigations and complex civil litigation. Klinefeldt began his career as a law clerk for the Hon. Robert W. Pratt, U.S. District Judge for the Southern District of Iowa, and the Hon. Christopher J. Armstrong, Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Court of Appeals. Klinefeldt received his law degree, with distinction, from the University of Iowa and his undergraduate degree, with honors, from the University of Iowa.
General Motors Co. announced on October 20, 2015, that NAFUSA member and former member of NAFUSA’s board Jeffrey A. Taylor is joining the company effective November 1 as Deputy General Counsel for Federal Oversight. He will report to Craig Gladden, executive vice president and general counsel.
Taylor, 50, has most recently served as vice president and general counsel of Tewksbury, Mass.-based Raytheon Integrated Defense Systems. Before that, he led a team of more than 300 professionals as chief executive of Ernst & Young’s Fraud Investigation and Dispute Services practice in the Americas.
He served in the United States Department of Justice for 15 years as an assistant U.S. attorney, senior advisor to Attorneys General John D. Ashcroft and Alberto R. Gonzales, and as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia from 2006 to 2009.
Among Taylor’s duties, he will work with the federal monitor who will be appointed as part of the Deferred Prosecution Agreement GM has entered into with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. The monitor will review and assess the company’s policies and procedures in certain discrete areas relating to safety issues and recalls.
“Jeff is a highly accomplished attorney who has managed extremely complex legal issues and his appointment demonstrates how seriously we take our commitment to the federal government and our customers to build the best safety organization in the industry,” Glidden said.
Taylor earned his juris doctor degree from Harvard Law School. He earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Stanford University.
General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world’s largest and fastest-growing automotive markets. GM, its subsidiaries and joint venture entities sell vehicles under the Chevrolet, Cadillac, Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling brands. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.
Butler Snow announced on November 23, 2015, that NAFUSA member Jim Letten – a former U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana (2001-2012) currently serving as an assistant dean of experiential learning at the Tulane University Law School – has joined the firm as of counsel in the New Orleans office. He will bolster the firm’s team of other former federal prosecutors, and expand its office in the Crescent City.
Letten was appointed U.S. Attorney by President George W. Bush and asked to retain the position by President Barack Obama. Prior to stepping down in 2012, he had been the longest-serving U.S. Attorney in the nation and one of only three U.S. Attorneys in the country appointed to the position by successive presidents from different parties. Letten will work with the firm’s investigations and white collar crimes Group, and consult on a variety of defenses including criminal and regulatory investigations, government audits and civil fraud cases. He will also work on international trade and regulatory issues. Letten will continue in his role as Assistant Dean at Tulane Law School.
“Jim is a respected prosecutor, and had a very successful track record as U.S. Attorney,” said Donald Clark, Jr., chairman of Butler Snow. “He is well known across Louisiana, the Southeast and throughout the nation. His leadership in investigations and white collar crime, depth in complex business law matters and prosecution on the state and federal level will add significant value to the firm as we grow in New Orleans and nationwide.”
Butler Snow is a full-service law firm with more than 300 attorneys representing local, regional, national and international clients from 17 U.S. offices and an office in London. For more information, visit www.butlersnow.com.
erving as an assistant dean of experiential learning at the Tulane University Law School – has joined the firm as of counsel in the New Orleans office. He will bolster the firm’s team of other former federal prosecutors, and expand its office in the Crescent City.
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