Vault Names Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors to “Top 150 Under 150 List”
July 13, 2023 – Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors has been named to Vault's 2024 "Top 150 Under 150" list. The list recognizes leading small and midsize law firms with 150 or fewer attorneys.
According to Vault, its editors "assessed each firm for prestige, quality of life, and professional growth opportunities and then narrowed down the results to come up with a list of 150 law firms known for providing top-notch service and delivering big results."
Of the Brewer firm, Vault writes, "The firm’s legal team is not afraid to take on complex commercial litigation battles, and its no-holds-barred approach to litigation has earned grudging admiration from its competitors."
Above the Law reported on the national award, and reported that Brewer was among the most recognizable firms on the list.
The firm was also named to Vault's 2019 "Top 150 Under 150" list and to its 2017 "Best Law Firms in Texas" list.
Read more here.
News 12 The Bronx Reports on Brewer Storefront Fraud Lawsuit Against Consignment Business
July 6, 2023 – News 12 The Bronx reported on a lawsuit brought on behalf of Brewer Storefront client Kimberly Taylor against the owners of a New York consignment business for fraud concerning more than $650,000 in antiques she consigned. The investigative report chronicled many legal actions against the business.
Taylor sued the owners, Vahid Peter Khorshad and Sayeh Sassouni Khorshad, alleging fraud in connection with the antique vases, figurines, decorative art and jewelry she consigned at their Upper East Side Estate Sale store in 2021, which later closed and reopened as Sara’s Antiques. Filed on December 14, 2022, in New York Supreme Court in Manhattan, the lawsuit against the stores and their owners, alleges that Taylor consigned valuable items to Estate Sale, but was denied the return of her items and received no records or commissions of any sales.
“Unfortunately, our client is well into this nightmare a year and a half now,” William A. Brewer III, counsel to Taylor and founder of Brewer Storefront told News 12 Investigates. “Hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of valuables have not been returned and are unaccounted for.”
The report highlighted numerous other former customers who also said the Khorshads never gave them any commissions on sales nor did they recover their items.
The Brewer Storefront is the community-service legal affiliate of the national litigation firm of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors, with offices in New York and Dallas.
FOX News Reports on NRA Lawsuit Against ATF, DOJ
July 3, 2023 – Fox News reported today on a lawsuit filed by the National Rifle Association of America against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ("ATF") and others over a rule regulating stabilizing braces for pistols.
As reported, Brewer client the NRA is challenging the controversial “pistol brace rule” that impacts millions of America’s gun owners - subjecting them to fines and penalties.
As the report states, "NRA argues in its complaint that the rule is unconstitutional, as the ATF reverses its long-standing position that pistol braces do not transform pistols into rifles subject to onerous registration and taxation requirements under the National Firearms Act."
"The NRA is pursuing every possible avenue in defense of its law-abiding members and their constitutional freedoms," William A. Brewer III, counsel to the NRA, told Fox News. "Our members should be free of the threat of enforcement of this presumptively unlawful rule. We are confident that we will prevail in obtaining the same relief for them that has already been granted to members of other gun rights groups."
Read more here.
NBC5 Reports on Brewer Foundation Future Leaders Program (FLP)
June 26, 2023 - NBC5 in Dallas highlighted the Brewer Foundation Future Leaders Program (FLP) in its “Carter in the Classroom” feature, which recognizes unique things school districts and teachers are doing to help children succeed.
Founded in 2001 by the Brewer Foundation, the FLP is an academic and leadership development program that benefits more than 150 students, ages 12-18, from urban communities within the Dallas Independent School District (DISD). Through year-round academic courses, leadership training, and exposure to a wide array of cultural programs, the FLP helps prepare its “future leaders” for success in college and beyond.
The video news report showcased a summer FLP class on financial literacy. The course covered topics such as filing taxes, learning about paychecks and deductions, budgeting, investing, savings, and more. The report noted that the FLP included the class in its summer programming at the request of its students.
"Budgeting, finances, taxes, things we don't learn in school, they teach us here," Anaya Martinez, a student at Dallas ISD's Judge Barefoot Sanders Law Magnet, told NBC.
Watch the report here.
Law 360 Interviews Will Brewer on Impacts of ABA Opinion
June 20, 2023 -- Law360 quoted Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors Senior Associate Will Brewer in an article about recent American Bar Association guidance that outlines the role of non-attorneys in client intake.
The ethics opinion states that in regards to client intake, paralegals can collect basic information, handle conflict checks, identify if the matter is in an attorney’s specialty area, answer questions about fees and representation, and collect a client’s signature. Brewer said that he hopes the opinion encourages firms to keep lawyers involved in the client onboarding process.
"Our philosophy has always been to have our lawyers in the pivot — directing retention efforts, client activities and the pursuit of every positive outcome," Brewer said.
Brewer also commented, “Everything is custom-designed, depending on the needs of the client.” He added, "at our firm, attorneys are ultimately responsible. They provide oversight and direction — managing the process from the beginning. We view that commitment as an investment in our professionalism and client service.”
Dallas Morning News Publishes Brewer Letter on Voting Rights Act
June 15, 2023 —The Dallas Morning News published a letter to the editor from partner William Brewer praising the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision upholding Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act.
The letter text follows:
The U.S. Supreme Court decision to uphold Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act is a major civil rights victory that should be of interest to everyone in North Texas. In a 5-4 vote, the court found in favor of Black voters in an Alabama congressional redistricting case. The decision underscores the role the act plays in ensuring fair representation to voters of color.
Many successful Section 2 Voting Rights Act lawsuits in North Texas have resulted in more equitable voting systems and the election of minority school board trustees and City Council members. There seems to be a misinformed movement that argues racial discrimination no longer plagues our electoral processes. But voting in many communities continues to be racially polarized, as white voters typically support white candidates — to the exclusion of minority candidates.
As Texas communities become more diverse, the need for more representative local governments and school boards becomes more acute. There is an urgent need to replace antiquated and discriminatory at-large electoral systems. We should remember the words of Congressman John Lewis, who called voting the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democracy.
Taking Notice: Bloomberg, Law 360, and ATL Report on Brewer
June 15, 2023 – Major legal media outlets are taking notice of Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors announcing that starting salaries for new lawyers are being increased to $250,000. Bloomberg Law, Law360 and Above the Law all reported on the big salary news.
Bloomberg observed that the starting salary for associates now exceeds the $215,000 salary level set under the “Cravath scale” that many major law firms use.
“When you start out in a higher place, you are able to contribute more significantly to the firm, your clients and in community impact cases,” partner William Brewer told Bloomberg. “A rising tide lifts all boats, so when we increase pay at the base level, everyone benefits.”
Law360 reported that Brewer said the firm is launching “the most ambitious hiring initiative in the history of our firm.” He added that “Like all self-perceived change agents, we view ourselves differently than the BigLaw crowd.” Brewer stated, “We believe our firm occupies a unique space in the market, hiring top talent and giving them unprecedented opportunity from day one.”
Law360 also reported that as part of the hiring push, the firm hired Matthew Davis as a Dallas partner. Davis stated that he was attracted to the bet-the-business cases and advocacy that have defined the Brewer firm.
Above the Law highlighted that the Brewer firm’s news offered a bright spot as other law firms struggle with layoffs. The article described the firm’s “generous compensation scheme.”
Texas Lawyer Report: Brewer Firm Ups Associate Salary to $250,000, Aims for Growth
June 13, 2023 –Texas Lawyer reports that, effective immediately, the Brewer firm has increased first-year associate salaries to $250,000. The firm recently announced the hiring of a new Dallas partner, Matthew H. Davis, and is in the midst of expanding its national platform – adding professionals across various sectors.
Founded in 1984, the Brewer firm has a unique staffing model in commercial litigation. The firm is comprised of several professional groups – financial and management consultants, researchers and private investigators, and public affairs strategists – who work with the firm’s lawyers to develop insights that shape case strategy. All the groups are poised for expansion in the firm’s Dallas and New York offices.
The firm continues to promote one of the most aggressive partnership tracks in the nation. Associates who join Brewer are eligible to be promoted to partner after five years.
Brewer told Texas Lawyer, “We are looking for people who want to get out, have a great career, get involved in exciting things…down at the courthouse.”
Speaking of the firm’s hiring initiative, Davis said, “The idea is to expand the Dallas office and really push to grow the association head count. Our intent is to train them and have them stay at the firm through partnership. We plan to be very aggressive in recruiting.”