Firm Announces Hiring of Attorneys in New York and Dallas Offices
September 13, 2022 – Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors recently announced the hiring of five new attorneys in the New York and Dallas offices.
Elizabeth Del Cid joined the firm as counsel in the New York office. She previously worked as a trial attorney and partner at national law firms in New York and California. She handles complex civil and criminal litigation, taking the lead in numerous high-exposure lawsuits on both the plaintiff’s and defense sides in New York, the Midwest, and California. Her practice focuses on consumer law litigation, civil rights advocacy, and bet-the-business financial disputes in federal and state courts throughout the country. She has represented clients in class actions, coordinated proceedings, business tort, RICO, fraud, bankruptcy, blockchain, financial services, securities and employment matters.
Ms. Del Cid also drafted and enforced public policy and laws in California. Before that, she externed for the Honorable Nany C. Dreher of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Since 2016, Ms. Del Cid has served as an arbitrator for the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). Ms. Del Cid received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Minnesota Law School and her B.A. in history and English from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Connor McKinney joined the firm as an associate in the Dallas office. Prior to joining the Brewer firm, he practiced at the international law firm Thompson Knight, as well as the national litigation boutique Diamond McCarthy in Houston. He has substantial experience litigating disputes involving breach of contract, fraud, securities, energy, bankruptcy, fiduciary breaches, mass torts, joint ventures, and international development projects, among other areas. Mr. McKinney also has considerable experience in internal investigations, regulatory proceedings, and white-collar criminal proceedings. Mr. McKinney received his Juris Doctor degree from Columbia Law School and his bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Trinity University.
Jason Elgersma joined the firm as an associate in the Dallas office. He previously worked as a judicial intern for U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel in the Western District of Texas and as an intern at Locke Lord LLP. Mr. Elgersma received his Juris Doctor degree from The University of Texas School of Law in and a B.A. in Journalism from the University of Arkansas.
David Umansky joined the firm as an associate in the New York office. He previously worked as an intern at The Justice Center at Albany Law School and as a research assistant for Albany Law School of Union University Professor Robert Heverly. Mr. Umansky received his Juris Doctor degree from Albany Law School of Union University and his B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University.
Pamela White joined the firm as an associate in the New York office. She previously worked as a research intern for Professor Courtney Cox at Fordham University School of Law. Ms. White also previously worked as a Communications Director for the National Security Association for Law and Policy Reform. She received her Juris Doctor degree from Fordham University School of Law and B.A. in Peace and Conflict Studies and Latin American studies from Colgate University.
Brewer Partner Cecelia Fanelli Comments on Controversial LA Ordinance
August 11, 2022 – Law360 interviewed Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors Partner Cecelia Fanelli about the implications of a proposed Los Angeles ordinance that would require hotels to house homeless people in vacant rooms. The Los Angeles City Council recently voted to put the proposed ordinance on the ballot, leaving it up to voters to decide whether to approve the measure.
Fanelli said the proposed ordinance raises many concerns, including placing hospitality workers outside of their traditional role, charging them to provide “nightly social services” for homeless people in hotel rooms.
"The ordinance also raises the issue of an overreach into the affairs of private businesses by the government, and it also potentially places into jeopardy the insurance coverage of hotels and motels given the change in their risk profile. Those costs would likely be passed on to consumers," Fanelli said.
"If it begins in Los Angeles, there's nothing to say that similar initiatives wouldn't be instituted in other cities," she added.
To read more, click here.
Bloomberg Law Chronicles Legal Misfortunes of Case Against NRA
August 10, 2022 – Bloomberg Law reported today on the legal misfortunes of a plaintiff’s pursuit of Brewer client the National Rifle Association of America (NRA). The reporting notes the potential demise of a 2019 lawsuit filed by former NRA donor David Dell’Aquila.
According to the article, “The NRA contends the lawsuit is baseless.”
“The majority of Mr. Dell’Aquila’s claims have been rejected by the courts—evidence this is a frivolous pursuit,” NRA lawyer William A. Brewer III said in a statement. “The NRA’s commitment to good governance is clear.”
To read more, click here.
Brewer Firm Earns Industry Recognition, Named to Vault Law 2023 “Top 150 Under 150” List
August 4, 2022 - Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors is recognized on the Vault Law 2023 “Top 150 Under 150” list of leading small and midsize law firms with 150 or fewer lawyers.
Vault created the list to recognize smaller firms that “deliver big results.” The list was created by editorial and research teams after reviewing Vault survey data, news articles, trade journals, and legal publications.
Vault representatives also spoke with lawyers and reviewed other published rankings. Vault evaluated firms based on prestige, quality of life, and professional growth opportunities.
Vault praises the Brewer firm as “not afraid to take on complex commercial litigation battles” and adds that “its no-holds-barred approach to litigation has earned grudging admiration from its competitors.” Vault also recognizes the firm’s unique in-house litigation consultants and investigation group.
Vault is a national legal research website that provides detailed law firm profiles and rankings on top law firms. The Vault editorial team provides insights into legal careers, law firm life, law school, legal diversity and the legal industry.
Brewer Partner Cecelia L. Fanelli Earns 2022 Chambers Recognition
Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors Partner Cecelia L. Fanelli was recently recognized by Chambers and Partners in the 2022 Chambers USA legal directory.
Chambers USA is a leading directory that ranks top lawyers and law firms across the country. A partner in the firm’s New York office, Ms. Fanelli was recognized in the Leisure & Hospitality nationwide category. She has been ranked by Chambers USA in this area since 2011.
Her practice involves a variety of complex commercial litigation matters, with an emphasis on matters relating to the hotel and real estate industries. She focuses her practice on dispute resolution for hotel owners and lenders.
Chambers ranks lawyers based research findings, peer recognition and client interviews. Chambers assesses the information gathered based on factors such as technical legal ability, client service and diligence. Individual lawyers are ranked by practice area based on their legal knowledge and experience, their ability, their effectiveness and their client service.
Ms. Fanelli has decades of experience in litigation and dispute resolution, practicing across the country in federal and state trial and appellate courts. She has been lead counsel in numerous domestic and international arbitrations.
To read Ms. Fanelli’s full bio, click here.
Business Insider: NRA Pushes Back Against NY Attorney General's Demand for Independent Monitor
On June 7, 2022, Business Insider published an article stating that Brewer client the NRA is "fighting back against New York Attorney General (NYAG) Letitia James' demand for an independent monitor who would oversee the gun group's operations, calling the idea 'intrusive, unnecessary and unprecedented.'"
On March 2, 2022, a New York court struck down attempts by NYAG James to dissolve the NRA – delivering a big win for the NRA. Since that loss, the NYAG "has amended her complaint but added no new factual allegations," the NRA states in its new court filing.
"Rather, she asserts a new cause of action which seeks the intrusive, unnecessary and unprecedented appointment of an 'independent' compliance monitor to oversee the administration of the NRA, answerable to the NYAG's own office as well as the Court," the filing says.
"There is no colorable practical need, and no legal basis, for the NYAG to contrive a de facto takeover of the NRA to replace her defunct dissolution claims," according to the filing.
"Rather, the parties should proceed with discovery and trial on the NYAG's previously existing claims, and the new one should be dismissed."
To read more, click here.
CNBC Reports on Potency of NRA, Brewer Statement on Uvalde, Texas and Representation of Association
On May 27, 2022, CNBC published the report, “The National Rifle Association’s Lobbying Machine is Still Potent Despite Financial Woes That Reduced Its Clout.”
The article states that the NRA’s “financial filings and lobbying disclosures show the group still has the means” to advocate for Second Amendment freedom — and is expected to play an active role in the upcoming midterms.
The article notes that the NRA continues to have the “support of a key advisor that helped it weather its recent financial and legal troubles.”
Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors, has represented the NRA since 2018 in connection with several legal and regulatory issues. As an example, in March, the firm and the NRA successfully defeated dissolution claims against the NRA by the New York Attorney General. The NYAG filed a lawsuit in August 2020 seeking to shut down the Association — an action that has drawn the rebuke of many legal experts and constitutional scholars, including the ACLU.
The article reports that the Brewer firm has no plans to stop representing the Association.
The firm said that it will “honor our commitments to the Association, its leadership, and millions of law-abiding members.”
Regarding the recent school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, the firm said in a statement, “This was an incomprehensible tragedy – the act of a deranged person. We extend our prayers and deepest sympathies to the victims, their families and this entire community. We also join others in the call to provide protection in our schools – to make them safe and secure.”
To read more, click here.
Brewer Firm Welcomes Summer Associates
May 16, 2022 – Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors recently welcomed five summer associates to the Dallas and New York offices.
Three summer associates are joining the Dallas office. James Clarke will graduate from Samford University Cumberland School of Law in 2023 and earned his B.A. in Political Science and Media Arts from the University of New Mexico in 2017.
Sydney Kossow will graduate from the SMU Dedman School of Law in 2023 and earned her B.S. in Marketing with a concentration in Entrepreneurship from the University of Kansas in 2020.
Michael Vera will graduate from the UNT Dallas College of Law in 2024 and earned his B.S. in Finance from the University of Texas at Dallas in 2020. He previously was a summer intern at the firm in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Two summer associates are joining the New York office. Stefan Sultan will graduate from NYU School of Law in 2023. He earned his B.A. in International Affairs from The George Washington University in 2019.
Alexander Szarka will graduate from the University of Virginia School of Law in 2024 and earned his B.A. in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley in 2019.