Brewer Firm Announces Lawsuit Against Wafra

April 11, 2019 — Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors announced today that it has filed an unlawful termination and age discrimination lawsuit on behalf of its client, Francis (“Frank”) Lively, against Wafra Investment Advisory Group, Inc. (“Wafra”) and its Chief Executive Officer Fawaz Al-Mubaraki (collectively, “Defendants”). The lawsuit alleges that Lively, a successful 64-year-old real estate executive, was terminated as part of an unlawful discrimination and retaliation campaign directed against elder employees at Wafra. That same day, Bloomberg reported, “Former Wafra Real Estate Head Sues Over Age Discrimination.”

Please find the press release here, summarizing some of the key claims and allegations. The advisory also includes a comment on behalf of plaintiff, Mr. Lively, from William Brewer.

Firm Named to 2019 Vault “Top 150 Under 150” List

January 4, 2019 — Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors was named to the 2019 Vault “Top 150 Under 150” list of leading small and midsized law firms in the U.S. with 150 or fewer attorneys. 

According to Vault, the firms on the list are “known for providing top-notch service and delivering big results.” Vault developed the list of highly sought-after law firms after reviewing Vault survey data, news stories and legal publications. 

The firm is described by Vault as “the type of high-powered, bet-the-bank commercial litigation firm you would see on prime time.” Vault is known for its influential rankings across many industries and professions.

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Partner Sarah Rogers Speaks at Columbia Law School

October 23, 2018 — Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors Partner Sarah Rogers spoke today at Columbia Law School on the topic of political violence and the legal landscape governing threats to speech. Ms. Rogers appeared with Harmeet Dhillon, a prominent California attorney. 

The event was hosted by the Columbia Law School Federalist Society and featured discussion about the proper scope of constitutional and statutory protection of dissident political speech. Ms. Rogers earned her Juris Doctor degree from Columbia Law School.

NYLJ Reports on Firm Representation of NRA at Hearing

September 10, 2018 — The New York Law Journal reports that Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors Partner Sarah Rogers today represented the NRA in arguments in federal court in New York. The coverage appears on the front page of the NYLJ print edition in an article titled “NRA: Discovery Could Show State Coerced Companies Cut Ties.” The NRA alleges that the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) and Governor Andrew Cuomo violated the NRA’s First Amendment rights in connection with regulatory guidance issued to financial institutions urging them not to do business with the NRA. 

The coverage noted that Rogers argued that a press release issued by the DFS included targeted language from DFS Superintendent Maria Vullo. Rogers reportedly argued that “Incurring the favor and disfavor of DFS is going to be very important to any insurer in New York.” Rogers additionally argued that the lawsuit is over state regulation the NRA argues will limit its advocacy efforts. She reportedly added, “The NRA does not sue Governor Cuomo for criticizing it… What he can’t do is issue official regulatory directives.”

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The Wall Street Journal Reports on Firm Matter

August 27, 2018 — Wall Street Journal Assistant Editorial Page Editor James Freeman writes about one of the firm’s current matters – the NRA’s lawsuit against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state Department of Financial Services (DFS). The lawsuit alleges the state violated the NRA’s First Amendment Rights in connection with regulatory guidance issued to financial institutions urging them not to do business with the NRA. Freeman writes that the ACLU sided with the NRA by filing an amicus brief in federal court in New York. 

Freeman writes in part, “New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has earned a new opponent in his assault on liberties enumerated in the Bill of Rights. Better late than never, the American Civil Liberties Union is standing up against Mr. Cuomo’s abuse of the National Rifle Association. The happy result could be not just expanded liberty in New York but safer financial institutions as well.”

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Svetlana Eisenberg to Join Firm as Partner

August 20, 2018 — Svetlana M. Eisenberg is joining Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors as Partner in the New York office. She is an experienced litigator with substantial experience prosecuting investment fraud, defending allegations of securities fraud, and conducting corporate internal investigations. 

Ms. Eisenberg previously worked as law clerk to the Hon. Michael E. Wiles, U.S. bankruptcy judge in the Southern District of New York, and was an Assistant U.S. Attorney, General Crimes Unit, District of New Jersey. Prior to that, she was Associate General Counsel to HSBC Holdings in New York, where she investigated potential violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. She began her legal career as an associate at Debevoise & Plimpton, LLP. 

Fluent in Russian, Ms. Eisenberg earned her bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Bennington College and holds a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. While in law school, she was editor-in-chief of the Georgetown Law Journal Annual Review of Criminal Procedure and was awarded a Medal of Excellence from the American Bankruptcy Institute.

Firm’s Case Chronicled in The New York Times

August 9, 2018 — The New York Times chronicles one of the firm’s current advocacy campaigns in an article, “The NRA Has Declared War on Andrew Cuomo. He Couldn’t Be Happier.” The piece explores the firm’s representation of the National Rifle Association (NRA) and a lawsuit by the organization against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Department of Financial Services. 

Partner William Brewer is quoted extensively in the article, offering insights into the firm’s position that the State of New York has violated the First Amendment rights of the NRA.

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Albany Times Union Columnist Writes About Firm’s Case

August 6, 2018 — Albany Times Union Columnist Chris Churchill has penned a column titled “Cuomo targets the NRA – and free speech” that refers to a lawsuit brought by the firm on behalf of the National Rifle Association (NRA) against New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and the state Department of Financial Services (DFS) and its Superintendent, Maria T. Vullo. The suit alleges that the state violated the NRA’s First Amendment rights in connection with regulatory guidance issued to financial institutions urging them not to do business with the NRA. 

Churchill writes that Cuomo’s attack on the NRA “is more harmful to the First Amendment than the Second” Amendment because Cuomo has “essentially weaponized the state’s regulatory authorities to go after a political organization with which he disagrees.” Churchill also refers to the lawsuit alleging that Cuomo “is using the power of state government to pressure banks and insurance companies to stop doing business with the gun rights group.” Additionally, Churchill quotes directly from the lawsuit’s allegation that Cuomo is running a “blacklisting campaign.” He concludes that, “What Cuomo is doing – using the power of the state to target a political enemy – is tyrannical.”

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