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.

 

 

Ordin Named Monitor for Juvenile Detention Facilities

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NAFUSA member Andrea Sheridan Ordin (CD California, 1977-1981) was selected by U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee, CD California, to examine juvenile detention facilities for minors brought into the country illegally. In an order entered on October 9, 2018, Judge Gee gave Ordin the authority to hire staff, conduct investigations and advise the court on the government’s compliance with the Flores agreement, a 30-year old settlement that set parameters on how minors are going held for immigration law violations are detained. Flores v Sessions, 85-CV4544. 

Ordin is a senior counsel at Strumwasser & Woocher, LLP and is a member of the Los Angeles City Ethics Commission. She will assume her role as monitor effective October 15.

Vaira Column Compares Pennsylvania State and Federal Grand Jury Procedure

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Peter Vaira

NAFUSA member Peter Vaira (ED Pennsylvania, 1978-1983) published a column comparing Pennsylvania state and federal grand jury procedure in The Legal Intelligencer on September 24, 2018. See VAIRA Legal Intelligencer (09.25.18) A Comparison of Pennsylvania State and Federal Grand Jury Procedure   

Vaira is a partner at Greenblatt Pierce Engle Funt Flores in Philadelphia.

Atley Kitchings Dies

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Former United States Attorney Atley Asher Kitchings , Jr. died peacefully surrounded by family and friends on October 4, 2018. He was predeceased by his wife of 71 years, Betty Jane Langley Kitchings. He is survived by his daughter Jane Marlea Kitchings Foster (John) of Birmingham, Alabama, his son, Atley Langley Kitchings (Edie) of Atlanta, Georgia; and four grandchildren.

Atley served as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama (1955-1956). He received a law degree from the University of Virginia. Atley was a World War II veteran, serving in the Navy, and after the war remained in the Naval Reserves for 25 years, retiring with the rank of Captain.  A celebration of the life of Atley Kitchings  took place on October 8, 2018, at Mountain Brook Baptist Church in Birmingham.
As is our custom, NAFUSA will request an American flag be flown over Main Justice and presented to Atley’s family as a token of the esteem with which he was held by his colleagues.

Don Washington Nominated to head U.S. Marshals Service

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On October 2, President Donald Trump announced the nomination of  NAFUSA member Don Washington to be the director of the United States Marshals Service. Washington served as the United States Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana (2001-2010). He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point with a degree in mechanical engineering and served as an Army captain of the Air Defense Artillery and in the Army Reserve from 1983 to 1987. He has a law degree from South Texas College in Houston. He is currently a partner at the Jones Walker law firm.

Washington’s nomination is subject to confirmation by the United States Senate.