Don DeGabrielle

NAFUSA member Donald J. DeGabrielle, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas (2006-2008), has joined Lewis Brisbois as a partner in its Houston office, where he will chair the firm’s national White Collar Criminal Defense and FCPA Practice. He is admitted to and licensed in Texas and Louisiana with active practices in each state.

“Don DeGabrielle’s depth of experience in federal law enforcement, including his time as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas, will provide us with a skill set that can be marketed nationally. We are extremely excited that he is joining our Houston office,” said Houston Managing Partner David Oubre.

Continue reading →

Earlier this month, Morgan Lewis announced that Zane David Memeger—who recently concluded nearly seven years of service as the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania—is returning to the firm as a litigation partner.

Memeger was a partner at Morgan Lewis from 2006 to 2010, before his confirmation as President Barack Obama’s appointee to the US attorney’s post. He began his legal career as a litigation associate with Morgan Lewis before becoming an assistant US attorney in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, a position he held from 1995 to 2006.

“I am enormously pleased that Zane is rejoining our firm following his distinguished career in public service,” said Firm Chair Jami McKeon. “Zane’s profound commitment to justice and his extraordinary talents as a litigator will serve our firm and our clients well.”

Continue reading →

On January 13, 2017, The Legal Intelligencer in Philadelphia published Peter Vaira’s “A Wish List for Lawyers and Judges” –VAIRA Legal Intelligencer (01.17.17) A 2017 Wish List for Lawyers and Judges.

Vaira’s list includes:

• That the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee or the Department of Justice modify the Jencks Act and will require the disclosure of government witness statements at least 60 days before a trial.
• That Congress reduce the size and budget of the U.S. Sentencing Commission. The Supreme Court has ruled that the Sentencing Commission’s guidelines are only advisory.
• That the defense bar propose to the federal courts, and the federal judges apply, the alternative sentencing guidelines published by the ABA Criminal Justice Section Task Force on Economic Crimes, Nov 10, 2014.

NAFUSA President Bart Daniel announced that B. Todd Jones has resigned from the NAFUSA Board of Directors and that the Board has named Barry Grissom (Kansas, 2010-2016) to fill the vacancy in the class of 2018.

Grissom stepped down in April of 2016 as the U.S. Attorney for the District of Kansas and joined Polsinelli’s national White Collar Defense and Government Investigations and Compliance – Civil and Criminal Practice. Grissom is a shareholder in its Kansas City headquarters office.

Grissom served on the Attorney’s General Advisory Committee (AGAC). As a member of the AGAC, Grissom contributed to efforts to reform the federal criminal justice system through the 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.

Prior to his work as U.S. Attorney, Grissom was in private practice law for 27 years in both state and federal court, with involvement at every level of complex government litigation matters.

Grissom earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Kansas before obtaining his law degree from Oklahoma City University School of Law.

David Hickton

NAFUSA’s newest member, David J. Hickton, former United States Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, has been appointed founding director of the University of Pittsburgh Institute for Cyber Law, Policy and Security.

“With the appointment of David Hickton, the University of Pittsburgh is poised to offer significant contributions to the national discussion on cyber-related issues affecting personal, national, and global security and privacy,” said Pitt Chancellor Patrick Gallagher.

“David Hickton will marshal Pitt’s extensive capabilities and assemble a group of leading thinkers in this emerging field who will enrich Pitt’s learning and research environment,” said Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Patricia E. Beeson. “We have an array of very talented and motivated faculty working in areas of cyber law, policy, security, and technology, and we believe the institute and the record of accomplishment David brings will offer opportunity for a vital synergy.”

Continue reading →