Author Archives: Lisa

Matt Whitaker Appointed Acting AG

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President Trump today fired Attorney General Jeff Sessions and announced that he had appointed NAFUSA life member Matthew G. Whitaker as the Acting Attorney General. Whitaker has been serving as the chief of staff to Jeff Sessions since October, 2017. Whitaker assumes oversight of the Mueller investigation from DAG Rod Rosenstein. In August 17, 2017, Whitaker wrote an opinion column for CNN where he questioned the scope of the Mueller Russia inquiry. Mueller’s investigation of Trump is going too far (opinion) -CNN

Whitaker served as the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, 2004-2009 during the George W. Bush administration. He played college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, earning Academic All-American honors in 1992. He was the tight end on the 1990 Big Ten Champion football team and played in the 1991 Rose Bowl game. He is a graduate of the University of Iowa College of Law.

Whitaker becomes the fifth former U.S. Attorney in a row to serve as the Attorney General, either as the presidentially-appointed person or in the acting capacity (Eric Holder, Loretta Lynch, Sally Yates, Jeff Sessions, and Matt Whitaker).

Terry Flynn Elected President of NAFUSA

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At the NAFUSA conference last week in Nashville, Terry Flynn was elected president for 2018-2019. Terry is a former presidentially appointed United States Attorney for the Western District of New York (2006-2009). He is currently a partner at Harris Beach PLLC in Buffalo. He represents businesses across industries in both civil and criminal government investigations which include conducting internal corporate probes and independent monitorships. He has advised clients among the Fortune 50 and large privately held companies, including Walmart, Facebook, United Technologies, United/Continental Airlines and the Buffalo Sabres, on such matters as government compliance, commercial litigation, product liability or personal injury litigation. Terry’s representation of United Technologies resulted in Harris Beach being acknowledged among the Go-To Law Firms® for 2014 in Contracts Litigation as published in Corporate Counsel magazine. Additionally, Terry served as the federally appointed Monitor on a multi-year matter brought by the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs over an international company with procurement compliance and regulatory issues.

Terry advises clients in complex legal crises involving criminal, civil, regulatory and related public relation matters. He has been engaged by leading companies in the financial, intellectual property, health care, retail, and energy sectors to conduct sensitive regulatory and criminal investigations on international, national and state levels. His knowledge of and relationship with federal, state and local law enforcement enables him to react quickly in order to respond to various crisis situations.  Terry has been recognized as a Best Lawyer in America since 2018 and ranked by Chambers since 2017.

Prior to joining Harris Beach, Terry served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of New York. In that capacity, he was the chief civil lawyer and criminal prosecutor for the United States and all of its agencies in the 17 county region of the Western District of New York. He oversaw the management of two offices (Buffalo and Rochester) with more than 130 personnel, including 57 attorneys. Specifically, he was responsible for the overall civil affirmative enforcement, civil defense and criminal prosecution of approximately 4,200 cases, encompassing such areas as government compliance/independent monitor, health care fraud, international trade, white collar fraud, and numerous other civil and criminal matters. During his tenure, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of New York recovered on behalf of taxpayers over $124 million through both affirmative civil and criminal enforcement of fraud against the U.S. Government.

Wendy Olson Interviewed by Law360

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NAFUSA member Wendy Olson (District of Idaho, 2010-2017) was interviewed by Law360 on October 29, 2018. She discussed her 20 years at the U.S. Attorney’s Office and cited United States v. Duncan as the most significant case she worked on–Idaho’s only federal capital case. She also discussed participating in consultations with tribal governments in Idaho and called them “some of the most rewarding meetings” she participated in as U.S. Attorney. Earlier in her DOJ career, she was a lawyer in the Civil Rights Division at Main Justice. She investigated and prosecuted hate crimes, police officer misconduct cases and human trafficking cases.

Click here to read the entire interview:

Wendy Olson Talks Twin Falls Tribes Private Practice – Law360

Electrum Partners Hires Former U.S. Attorney Barry Grissom as Senior Vice President

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Electrum Partners, an advisory services firm specializing in medical and recreational cannabis and ancillary businesses, has hired former U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas Barry Grissom as its Senior Vice President of Global Policy and Corporate Counsel.

“I am honored to join such a highly respected and innovative company like Electrum Partners. Electrum has helped the nascent cannabis industry grow into a full fledged market force in a responsible and ethical manner, and I look forward to contributing to the further maturation of legal cannabis market,” said Mr. Grissom.

Mr. Grissom was appointed U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas by President Barack Obama in 2010 and served as such until 2016. As U.S. Attorney, he assessed and resolved a wide array of civil and criminal cases, managed three offices and a large legal workforce of 49 Assistant U.S. Attorneys and 53 support staff, while representing the Department of Justice in diverse communities across his district. Mr. Grissom’s law enforcement priorities included national security, violent crime, drug trafficking, financial fraud and crimes against children.

As U.S. Attorney, Mr. Grissom was selected by Attorney General Eric Holder to serve as one of 15 members on the Attorney’s General Advisory Committee (AGAC), which advises the Attorney General on matters of administration and policy. As a member of the AGAC, Mr. Grissom contributed to efforts to reform the federal criminal justice system through his Smart on Crime initiative. He also served on several sub-committees, including Financial Fraud, Health Care Fraud Prevention & Enforcement Team, Terrorism & National Security (Cyber), Native American Issues and Civil Rights.

After leaving public service, Mr. Grissom joined the Polsinelli law firm as a shareholder where he was part of the firm’s white-collar defense and government investigations and compliance practices.

“We are elated to welcome Mr. Grissom to the Electrum Partners family and anticipate his extraordinary background and experience will help us take our business to the next level,” said Diane Katz, President of Electrum Partners.

Tom Moss Dies

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Thomas Elmer Moss, 80, of Blackfoot, Idaho, former U.S. Attorney for Idaho, former Idaho Congressman, and former Bingham County Idaho Prosecutor, died of thyroid cancer Monday, July 30, 2018. He died in his home surrounded by his family.

Tom attended the University of Idaho earning a Bachelors degree and a Juris Doctorate degree. After law school, Tom began a private practice in Southeastern Idaho. Tom held a general law practice in Blackfoot and was elected as Bingham County’s Prosecuting Attorney. He served as prosecutor for Bingham County for over 30 years.
From 2000 to 2001, Tom served in the Idaho State Legislature. In 2001, President George W. Bush appointed Tom as the United States Attorney for Idaho. While U.S. Attorney, Tom served on the Attorney General’s Advisory Committee (AGAC). Tom was later appointed as Associate Deputy Attorney General for Violent Crime in Washington D.C. until his retirement in 2010.
Tom married Susan Robison Cleverley on November 13, 2010. In 2012. Tom is survived by seven natural children: Shelly (Brian) Harrington of Blackfoot, Idaho, Michael (Andrea) Moss of South Jordan, Utah, Bradley (Candis) Moss of Idaho Falls, Idaho, Douglas (Lisa) Moss of Alpine, Utah, Mathew (Bobbi) Moss of Cody, Wyoming, Christopher Moss of Blackfoot, Idaho, and Rebecca (Tobias) Simmons of Rexburg, Idaho. He has 28 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren, and 2 on the way. As is our custom, NAFUSA will request that an American flag be flown over Main Justice in Tom’s honor and presented to his family as a token of the regard in which he was held by his colleagues.

Nashville Conference Concludes on High Note

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NAFUSA’s 39th annual conference began on Wednesday, October 24, 2018, with a reception at the offices of NAFUSA sponsor Butler Snow. NAFUSA President Hal Hardin introduced Nashville Mayor David Briley who joined Tennessee Deputy Governor Jim Henry in welcoming NAFUSA to Nashville. Mayor Briley then read a proclamation declaring it “NAFUSA Week” in Nashville and announced that the courthouse and the Cumberland River Bridge would be lit up in NAFUSA’s honor in red, white and blue. The colors remained during the three days of the conference.

The Butler Snow reception was enjoyed by over 50% of the active members of NAFUSA in attendance. More than 200 attended the conference, including spouses, speakers, sponsors and guests. This year 32 sponsors were on board, with Nardello & Co providing a lavish breakfast on Thursday morning and EY sponsoring the lunch and tour of The Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson.

The CLE program was outstanding with a panel on international criminal investigations which featured the Honorable Robert Buckland, Solicitor General for England and Wales. Chuck Rosenberg, former head of DEA, led a panel on the opioid epidemic. The Bradford Award was presented to AUSA P.J. Meitl. Chief Judge Waverly Crenshaw, of the MD Tennessee, led a panel on ethics and Marcia Coyle of the National Law Journal moderated a lively panel on the United States Supreme Court.

At the closing banquet on Friday, the election of new officers and directors was held. The results were as follows:

  • President: Terry Flynn
  • President Elect Paul Coggins
  • Vice President Karen Hewitt
  • Secretary Chuck Stevens
  • Treasurer Don Washington
  • Immediate Past President Hal Hardin

The new board members for the class of 2021:

  • Catherine Hanaway
  • Barry Grissom
  • Tim Purdon
  • Stan Twardy
  • Lee Bentley

Finally, “Mr. Nashville” Hal Hardin, who had led one of the finest NAFUSA conferences, passed the gavel to Terry Flynn and introduced the keynote speaker, one of our own, Senator Doug Jones. Doug gave a stirring speech on the need for civility and nonpartisanship in our national dialogue. Doug would have been NAFUSA’s President this year if he hadn’t stepped down to run for Alabama’s Senate seat. Additional photos of the conference will be posted soon.

Ralph J. Marra, Jr. joins Calcagni & Kanefsky

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RALPH J. MARRA, JR. 
SENIOR COUNSEL
Ralph is Senior Counsel with Calcagni & Kanefsky.  A veteran trial lawyer who draws on his extensive government experience as a federal prosecutor and lead counsel for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, Ralph represents entities and individuals in sensitive, high-stakes matters.  He focuses on internal and government investigations, corporate compliance and governance, complex regulatory concerns, crisis management, white collar defense, and arbitration and mediation.
Appointed Acting United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey, Ralph was the state’s chief federal law enforcement officer in 2008 and 2009, directing the work of approximately 140 federal prosecutors and overseeing all criminal and civil matters involving the United States government.  As General Counsel to the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, Ralph advised the Authority’s Commissioners and President on all aspects of the Authority’s business, which included oversight of the state’s two racetracks, implementation of sports betting, complex commercial contracting and litigation, and labor relations.
Through his public service and private practice, Ralph has wide-ranging experience in diverse industries, including healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and life sciences; racing and sports betting; financial services; consumer products; and environmental compliance and land use.

Stern Hired to Lead Review of Boston Seminaries

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NAFUSA Past President Donald K. Stern (Massachusetts 1993-2001) has been hired by Cardinal Sean P. O’Malley to lead an investigation of allegations of sexual misconduct in all three seminaries in the Archdiocese of Boston. O’Malley said the review he ordered in August of allegations of sexual misconduct at Saint John’s Seminary in Brighton would be broadened to include Pope St. John XXIII National Seminary in Weston and Redemptoris Mater Seminary in Brookline.

Stern is with Affiliated Monitors in Boston and is of counsel to Yurko, Salveston & Remz, P.C.