Law Times

PAGE 20 The Inside Story 2 NEW LAWYERS AT FMC IN PARIS Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP has boosted its Paris presence with the addition of partners Arnauld Achard and Lubomir Roglev. Achard is a capital mar- kets lawyer with expertise in debt capital market transac- tions, derivative products, asset management, credit transac- tions, and sovereign debts. He formerly headed up the capital markets practice in Paris for Simmons & Simmons and has advised banks, corporations, and public institutions on structured fi nance, derivatives, and capital markets. Roglev is a corporate lawyer with a practice dedicated to in- frastructure, investment transac- tions, private equity, and energy projects. He's also active in the Eastern European market. "Arnauld and Lubomir are both strong and seasoned law- yers. Th eir business sense, legal knowledge, and books of busi- ness represent a huge asset for our fi rm," said Serge Gravel, the fi rm's managing partner in Paris. IP HEAVYWEIGHT JOINS GOWLINGS Gowling Lafl eur Henderson LLP has recruited intellectual property heavyweight Richard Heath as a senior policy adviser. Based out of the fi rm's offi ce in London, England, Heath will work closely with Gowl- ings' lawyers in Britain, Mos- cow, and across Canada. Heath is a former vice president legal and global anti-counterfeiting counsel at Unilever PLC in Britain and brings with him ex- perience in policy and strategy advice to blue-chip companies and governments with an em- phasis on anti-counterfeiting and brand protection. "It is an honour to have some- one of Richard's calibre join Gowlings," said Scott Jolliff e, chairman and CEO of Gowl- ings. "Richard's experience at the highest level in developing and implementing intellectual property policy and strategy — both locally and globally — will be of immense value to our cli- ents in Europe and around the world. Th is is a further step in developing Gowlings' London offi ce as part of our integrated service in IP strategy and dis- pute resolution." [ Untitled-5 1 BENNETT JONES BOOSTS UAE PRESENCE Bennett Jones LLP has ex- panded its presence in the Unit- ed Arab Emirates by opening a second offi ce in the country. Th e expansion to the capital city of Abu Dhabi follows the fi rm's establishment of a Dubai offi ce. "Our new Abu Dhabi of- fi ce is a demonstration of our commitment to the region," said chairman and CEO Hugh MacKinnon. "Having a pres- ence in the fi nancial and politi- cal hub of the UAE is a great honour for us and will allow us to better serve our clients in the Middle East." Th e new offi ce will advise clients in areas that include corporate law, commercial transactions, infrastructure and project development, foreign investment, and fi nance. "Our network in the UAE benefi ts both our clients in the Gulf and Canada," said Dany Assaf, Bennett Jones' Middle East managing partner. "With Canada becoming a growing destination for Gulf investors, we are strategically positioned to facilitate foreign investment and market opportunities be- tween both regions." TORONTO FIRM CRACKS TOP 100 Gardiner Roberts LLP is a great place to work, according to a new survey. Th e Toronto fi rm made the list of the top 100 best work- places in Canada. It's the third year running that Gardiner Roberts has broken the top 100 on the list compiled by the Great Place to Work In- stitute. Th e institute honoured the fi rm in part for a workplace rec- ognition scheme that includes a Tiff any gift on key anniversary dates, annual company parties, generous professional develop- ment funding, and a relaxed and professional culture. "We want our people to know how much they're appre- ciated and how each of them contributes to the overall well- being of the fi rm," said David Fine, Gardiner Roberts' man- aging partner for operations. "It's an honour to be included on the list." For more Inside Story, please visit www.lawtimesnews.com. "OK, OK! You win! We'll utilize the relevant sections of the Commercial Mediation Act." Commercial and Residential Title Insurance Solutions At Stewart Title, we know it's our relationship with our customers that determines our success. That's why service is the foundation of our business and integrity, the keystone in all our dealings. Keeping real estate transactions where they belong – in your office! Call us today at (888) 667-5151 or visit www.stewart.ca. www.lawtimesnews.com 7/19/10 2:39:54 PM ] COPS PROBE BURGLARY AT POLICE STATION GLASGOW, Scotland — Brit- ish detectives are on the hunt after thieves broke into one of their own police stations and stole their uniforms and radios. Th e crooks burgled the po- lice station in Uddingston, not far from Glasgow, in the early hours when the offi ce was shut. "At no time has the safety of the public or any offi cer been jeopardized as a result of this break-in," said a spokeswoman for Strathclyde police. She declined to say how the audacious criminals got into the building. — Reuters PROSECUTORS GAMBLE ON RESTITUTION Albuquerque, N.M. — Courts sometimes get creative in how they handle cases, but allow- ing a fraudster to repay vic- tims through poker winnings seemed rather questionable. According to Th e Associat- ed Press, Samuel McMaster Jr. of Albuquerque got prosecu- tors to agree to delay sentenc- ing so he could make money to pay back his victims. He tried to do it through gam- bling, said Phyllis H. Bow- man, lead prosecutor with the state securities division. But after striking out at the poker table, the court sentenced McMaster to 12 years in jail following convic- tions on 26 felony charges April 18, 2011 • lAw Times German insurer Allianz Bizarre Briefs By Viola James that included securities fraud. Under McMaster's schemes, he got clients to invest in promissory notes off ering up to 10-per-cent interest. But according to Bowman, they never received anything, not even the return on their orig- inal investments. BLADES LEGALIZED FOR ONE-ARMED PEOPLE AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine lawmakers have approved legalizing switchblades for people with one arm, mov- ing close to becoming the fi rst state to make such an excep- tion to laws that ban use of the spring-action knives. Backers of the measure say legalizing switchblades would eliminate a need for one- armed people to be forced to open folding knives with their teeth in emergencies. Th e bill to allow amputees and other one-armed people to carry the quick-opening knives cleared Maine's Senate after passing the House the day be- fore, Senate offi cials said. Until now, Maine banned the use of switchblades by anyone. — Reuters HEIRESS SUED OVER BORROWED JEWELS NEW YORK, N.Y. — Paris Hilton is holding $60,000 of jewelry that does not belong to her and should give it back, a new lawsuit contends. has sued the celebrity social- ite, saying she has ignored several attempts to recover the borrowed jewels. According to a complaint fi led in a New York state court, Hilton borrowed the jewelry in 2007 from the Manhattan jeweller Dami- ani, promising to store it in a safe or vault when she wasn't using it. But Allianz said the gems sat unguarded on a closet shelf in Hilton's unlocked Los Angeles mansion when they and some $2.7 million worth of other jewelry were stolen in a December 19, 2008, burglary while Hilton attended a Hollywood party. Allianz said Los Angeles police found and returned the jewelry to Hilton after it had already paid Damiani's claim under an insurance policy. It said it began asking Hil- ton and two eponymously named companies she con- trols to return the jewelry but alleges phone calls and e-mail messages have been ignored. Allianz' lawsuit accuses Hilton of negligence and breach of contract. A Hilton spokeswoman said the lawsuit was "not based on fact" and that none of Hil- ton's representatives ever told Allianz that the stolen Dami- ani jewelry had been returned. "Only costume jewelry was recovered," she said. Th e dispute is the latest involving a celebrity and jew- elry. Actress Lindsay Lohan is expected to make a court ap- pearance later this month on a charge that she stole a gold necklace from a Los Angeles store in January. — Reuters

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