CHICAGO - Foley & Lardner LLP continues to demonstrate its commitment to diversity in the legal community through this year’s Minority Scholarship Program. The program, now in its eighth year, has awarded nearly $400,000 in scholarships to first-year minority law students in an effort to create a more diverse legal community.

This year, nine ethnically diverse first-year law students received a $5,000 scholarship toward their legal education. Law schools participating in the program include Duke University, the University of Florida, Georgetown University, the University of Michigan, Northwestern University, the University of Wisconsin, UCLA and the University of California, Berkeley.

Recipients for the 2006-2007 academic year include:
• Stephanie Maria Adams, Northwestern University School of Law
• Jessica L. Brown, Boalt Hall, University of California, Berkeley
• Jamie-Clare Flaherty, University of Michigan Law School
• Andrea I. Gonzalez, Duke University School of Law
• KaSandra N. Rogiers, University of Wisconsin Law School
• Keane Shum, Georgetown University Law Center
• Randy Lee Sims, UCLA School of Law
• Lydia Nicole Thompson, University of Wisconsin Law School
• Nickisha Webb, Levin College of Law, University of Florida

“A strong and effective diversity program is one of the highest priorities of our firm, and the Minority Scholarship Program exemplifies our tangible commitment to the advancement of minority law students and to achieving a more diverse legal community,” said Maureen A. McGinnity, the firm’s Chief Diversity Partner.

Each scholarship recipient is selected by Foley's Minority Scholarship Program Committee. The Committee considers significant involvement in community activities; significant involvement in minority student organizations; outstanding work or personal achievements; and academic achievement.

Foley is committed to recruiting a diverse pool of law students for its summer associate program and as new associates, and the Minority Scholarship Program is a valuable tool in this effort. Through this Program, Foley is introduced to exceptionally talented diverse law students who share the firm’s core values and culture. Scholarship applicants are referred to Foley’s Recruiting Committee for consideration, and the firm has been successful in hiring many applicants both as summer associates and as new associates. Additionally, the Program gives Foley the opportunity to acquaint influential diverse law students with the firm and its diversity commitment, expanding the firm’s visibility and good will within important law school constituencies.

Foley & Lardner LLP provides the full range of corporate legal counsel. Our attorneys understand today’s most complex business issues, including corporate governance, securities enforcement, litigation, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property counseling and litigation, outsourcing and information technology, labor and employment, and tax. The firm offers total solutions in the automotive, emerging technologies, energy, entertainment and media, financial services, food, golf and resort services, insurance, health care, life sciences, nanotechnology, and sports industries.

The firm’s Web site can be found at www.foley.com

Texas law firm avoids court action by paying millions to settle potential malpractice claims over Enron advice

The popular online social networking Web site MySpace.com has sued a Colorado man once accused of being one of the world's top three spammers, saying the man gained access to MySpace profiles using stolen passwords and used the information to send spam bulletins.

MySpace, which is owned by News Corp., claims Scott Richter and his various companies, including OptInRealBig.com and Mediabreakway.com, sent millions of spam messages to members using technology that made the messages look like they had come from individual members' accounts.

The lawsuit was filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles and asks for damages, an injunction preventing Richter and his companies from accessing MySpace, and repayment of all profits gained as a result of the activity.

Several calls to Richter were not returned Monday.

Managing its rapid growth has been a challenge for MySpace, which has fallen prey to people who launch spam attacks.

Unlike random unsolicited e-mails, which are readily identified as junk, the spam bulletins on MySpace appear to be sent by trusted friends, giving them an air of legitimacy.

Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.'s exemplary service to the community resulted in the Houston Bar Foundation's awarding its Longevity of Exemplary Service Award today to the international law firm.

The award that typically goes to an individual went this year to Fulbright for the firm's continued commitment to the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program. Fulbright is the first law firm to receive the award. The Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program sets out to help those with low incomes who may not qualify for other legal aid or assistance.

"This marks the sixth year in a row Fulbright has received an award from the Houston Bar Foundation for contributions to the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program," said Tracie Renfroe, chair of the Houston Bar Foundation. "While we typically give this award to an individual, Fulbright has devoted itself to this cause through endless hours of pro bono work and a dedication to doing all it can to help the community."

Fulbright attorneys completed an average of more than 60 hours each of pro bono work in 2005 and 2006. When attorneys at the firm give back to the communities in which they work, Fulbright becomes an even better law firm, said Steven B. Pfeiffer, chair of Fulbright's Executive Committee.

"Since its founding in 1919, Fulbright has been committed to improving the communities in which we practice law, as well as the lives of our fellow citizens who are not as fortunate as we, Pfeiffer said. "We have always been leaders in the area of pro bono work - leaders in the level of contributions we make, and leaders in creating programs to provide legal services for those who cannot afford such representation. Fulbright is committed to continuing this leadership."

Among the notable pro bono cases Fulbright has handled through its relationship with the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program is the recent successful defense of a Nigerian woman's possession of her U.S.-born daughter. The girl's father filed a Hague Convention petition requesting the girl be returned to him in Belgium. Such Hague Convention petitions set out to secure international cooperation when it comes to returning a child wrongfully taken by a parent from one country to another.

The mother, who claimed her ex-husband was abusive, had immigrated legally to the U.S. with her daughter in 2002. With Fulbright's help, the mother successfully fought the claims in the Hague Convention petition. A federal judge cleared the way for the 6-year-old to remain enrolled in school and with her mother in the United States.

"The ability to help clients who may not otherwise be able to afford legal advice that so greatly impacts their lives underscores the importance of our pro bono work," said Stewart Gagnon, who oversees Fulbright's pro bono efforts. "Our attorneys pour themselves into each and every pro bono case our firm handles and we are always touched and come away as better attorneys as a result of those we assist."

In addition to its assistance with individual cases, Fulbright contributes to the community through attorney loan programs the firm has established in a majority of its domestic offices. Through the loan programs, in cities, such as New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Dallas, San Antonio, Minneapolis, Houston and Austin, Fulbright's young lawyers attain courtroom experience prosecuting and defending cases. The cities and other governmental entities involved in the program acquire free assistance as they work to quell their swelling caseloads.

Fulbright also has a pro bono initiative to assist immigrant and refugee children who enter the U.S. alone and then attempt to negotiate the immigration courts without representation. No immigrant or refugee has a right to counsel, not even a child. The firm is making significant in-roads in its endeavor to provide representation and other legal assistance to unaccompanied immigrant and refugee children.

"A commitment to pro bono work is one of our core values, "said Stephen C. Dillard, chair of Fulbright's worldwide litigation department. "Our pro bono commitment reveals a great deal about our firm's culture and our commitment to improving the lives of our fellow citizens in the communities where we practice law."

Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.

Founded in 1919, Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. is a leading full-service international law firm, with more than 1,000 lawyers in 16 locations in Houston, New York, Washington, D.C., Austin, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, San Antonio, St. Louis, Dubai, Beijing, Hong Kong, London, Munich and Riyadh. Fulbright provides a full range of legal services to both domestic and foreign clients worldwide.

The 2007 BTI survey of FORTUNE 1000 general counsel chose Fulbright as "The BTI Client Service 30" A-Team and Corporate Board Member magazine named Fulbright among the top 20 corporate law firms in the U.S. in their survey of board members of public companies.

For more information, please visit: www.fulbright.com.

Los Angeles, January 24, 2007 – Kaye Scholer LLP announced today that highly respected lawyer, Dominique R. Shelton, joins the firm’s Los Angeles Office. Shelton was most recently a partner in the Los Angeles office of Folger, Levin & Kahn LLP.

Shelton focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation with particular experience in the areas of unfair competition, intellectual property, antitrust and general commercial litigation.

"We are delighted to welcome Dominique to Kaye Scholer,"said Los Angeles office managing partner Michael Fernhoff. "She is a top quality litigator and her specific expertise in complex litigation, including antitrust, copyright, trademark, and trade dress is a great addition to the firm's already leading litigation department."

In addition to her various professional affiliations, Shelton is an active member of the community, currently serving as the 2005-2006 President of Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (WLALA), the oldest and one of the largest local women's bar associations in the country. She is a Life Member of both Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles (BWL) and California Women Lawyers Association (CWL), having served as a past-member of both organizations' Board of Directors. In addition, Shelton participated in the National Urban League’s Black Executive Exchange Program "BEEP" wherein she mentored students attending historically black colleges in Mississippi, Atlanta and Los Angeles.

Shelton received her B.A. from Brown University and her J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center where she was notes editor of the Georgetown Journal of Legal Ethics.

About Kaye Scholer

Kaye Scholer refers to Kaye Scholer LLP and its affiliates, with offices in New York, Chicago, Frankfurt, London, Los Angeles, Shanghai, Washington, D.C., and West Palm Beach. Founded in New York City in 1917, Kaye Scholer now includes some 500 attorneys and represents public and private companies, governmental entities, financial institutions, and other organizations in matters around the world. Additional information is available on the firm’s website: www.kayescholer.com.

U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, said Tuesday that President Bush’s State of the Union address was bipartisan in both approach and appeal.

"I think the president understands, for him to get something done in the next two years, he is going to have to be bipartisan," Upton said in a telephone interview following the speech.

The Michigan Republican said the president’s tone was genuine and positive, and drew support from both Democrats and Republicans.

 
"You didn’t have the normal teeter-totter," Upton said of what he called the "one side is up, one side is down" response that often marks State of the Union speeches.

Upton praised the president’s energy-saving proposals, but said he does not support an increase in American troops in Iraq.

"As much as I’d like to think a troop surge would work, I don’t believe that it will," said Upton.

Upton said he supports the bipartisan plan to begin the phase-out of troops at the end of this year.

The lawmaker’s comments were among several issued by members of the area’s congressional delegation.

U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-2nd, said in a statement that, "I couldn’t agree more with the president’s message that, as lawmakers, we are here to work across party lines to provide hope and opportunity for every American."

Donnelly said he is encouraged by the president’s desire to "establish a steady and clean supply of energy that decreases our dependence on foreign oil."

"On the subject of Iraq," Donnelly said, "my greatest concern is that the additional troops that are being sent to Iraq could end up caught in the crossfire of a civil war."

Donnelly called for the establishment of specific benchmarks to achieve progress and monthly reports from U.S. generals "detailing the progress being made."

U.S. Sen. Richard Lugar said Tuesday that he is encouraged by the president’s proposals to reduce gasoline usage by 20 percent over the next 10 years.

The president also called for an increase in the supply of alternative fuels and the modernization of fuel economy standards for cars.

Lugar noted that in last year’s State of the Union address the president had declared that "America is addicted to oil," and said the president’s focus had helped spur "new thinking, new policy suggestions and a new realism."

Sen. Evan Bayh, D-Ind., called the president’s energy plan "a positive step toward achieving energy independence," adding, "but we can do more."

Bayh said he has introduced bipartisan legislation to reduce American dependence on foreign oil and called for the president to embrace what Bayh called "our more aggressive plan."

U.S. Rep. Mark Souder, R-3rd, said he supports the president’s plan to increase the supply of renewable and alternative fuels. "But while I support the president’s efforts to secure our border and provide temporary work permits for immigrants, I oppose his plan to grant citizenship to millions of illegal aliens."

Indiana Republican Party Chairman Murray Clark praised the speech and said the president’s "commitment to alternative fuels is welcome news here in Indiana."

President Bush also called on members of the Senate to give his latest judicial nominees what he labeled a "fair hearing" and a "prompt up-or-down vote," saying that he and lawmakers have a shared obligation to ensure that vacancies in the federal courts are filled.