Special Honors and Recognitions

Based on its annual poll of judges and lawyers, Los Angeles Magazine named Richard Dongell, John Lawrence, Tal Finney, and Matthew Bures as “Super Lawyers” and named Josh Levine, Michael Gallagher, Paul Rasmussen, Christopher Johnson, and Shirin Kiaei as “California Rising Stars.”  This is the fourth such award for Richard Dongell, the third such award for Tal Finney and Matthew Bures, and second such award for Joshua Levine and Michael Gallagher. 

John Lawrence and Josh Levine were honored to accept awards in December, 2006, when their unanimous $24 million verdict in the Richman v. Rideout case was recognized by California trial lawyers as the Outstanding Verdict of 2006.  The verdict was the 7th largest in California, according to the Daily Journal, and was one of the top 100 verdicts in the entire nation for 2006 (No. 81) as reported by The National Law Journal.

The latest documentary produced and directed by multiple Oscar-winning director/cinematographer Haskell Wexler premiered this January 2006 at the elite Sundance Film Festival. The film, entitled “Who Needs Sleep,” focuses attention on overwork and resulting loss in the film industry, and is drawn in part from litigation over the death of a cameraman who fell asleep after a series of 16 hour workdays which culminated in a 19½ hour day after which the cameraman, Brent Hershman, fell asleep behind the wheel, crashed and died.  Our own name partner John A. Lawrence was privileged to work with Mr. Wexler in the development of this project, and is interviewed by Mr. Wexler in the film.

Speaking Engagements

Tal Finney continues to serve as a formal Advisor to the Executive Committee of the Environmental Section of the California State Bar.  In that capacity, Tal assisted in the organization of and participated in the Environmental Section of the California State Bar’s Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite and Contaminated Sites Environmental Roundtables. 

In connection with our energy practice, Tal participated in the Arctic Energy Summit, a technology conference in Anchorage, Alaska that brought together more than 300 researchers, academics, government leaders, industry representatives and residents from 14 countries for presentations of technical papers on significant Arctic energy research, panel discussions and keynote addresses on major policy areas of concern and interest.

Tal also presented at and moderated a panel on the development of geothermal energy policy at the International Renewable Energy Conference in Washington, D.C.

In September 2007, Tom Vandenburg spoke at the 2007 Annual Conference of the American Public Works Association in San Antonio, Texas.  In January 2008, Tom’s presentation was showcased as part of APWA’s live Webcast Series entitled “The Best from the San Antonio Congress.”

In April 2008, Tom was also an invited speaker at the 23rd International Conference on Solid Waste Management and Technology, sponsored by Widener University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  Tom’s presentation was entitled “Proper Disposal of Pharmaceuticals:  What Every Solid Waste Manager Should Know.

Tom Vandenburg was invited to speak on “Emerged and Emerging Contaminants in Groundwater Systems” at the Mealeys Water Contamination Conference, and on “Trends in Perc-Related Litigation in California” at a meeting of the California Water Environmental Association.

The Monterey Park Environmental Commission, chaired by Tom Vandenburg, hosted an environmental symposium on water and transportation issues.  Hillary Arrow Booth was a featured panelist speaking on the environmental effects associated with the movement of goods in and through Southern California. 

Tom Vandenburg was also a featured speaker on perchlorate litigation at the “Perchlorate: Progress Toward Understanding and Cleanup” Symposium presented by the Groundwater Resources Association of California.  This Symposium is widely viewed as the most important perchlorate conference of the year in California.  In addition to Mr. Vandenburg’s presentation, the Symposium featured presentations by regulators from the California State Water Resources Control Board and the Santa Ana Regional Water Quality Control Board as well as presentations by researchers from UC Berkeley, UC Riverside, Texas Tech University, and the University of Georgia.  As a result of this conference, Tom was invited to address perchlorate litigation before the California-Nevada Section of the American Water Works Association at its conference in Burlingame, California.

Hillary Arrow Booth moderated a panel presentation titled “Regulating Environmental Correctness: Transportation Industry is the Next Target” at the annual Transportation Lawyers’ Conference.  The panel focused on diesel emissions, explaining the relevant current and anticipated federal regulations and potential state regulations along with potential preemption challenges to state regulations.

Hillary also participated on a panel of leading transportation attorneys at the annual Transportation & Logistics Council Conference.  Hillary focused her presentation on the limitation of liability clause often found in transportation contracts and the requirements for enforcement of such clauses.

The Firm continued to play a leading role at the State Bar Environmental Section’s annual Yosemite Conference, considered the preeminent environmental law conference in California.  At the Yosemite Conference, Tom Vandenburg moderated a panel that discussed naturally occurring asbestos and perchlorate, focusing on current regulations and strategies for representing clients faced with regulatory enforcement.  Hillary Booth also participated in a panel that discussed the challenges in regulating diesel emissions in and around the port areas of California.  Hillary focused her presentation on the effects of existing or proposed regulations on the trucking industry. 

John Lawrence and Matthew Bures addressed business and employment litigation issues at a symposium sponsored by Asian American Economic Development Enterprises, Inc. 

Jason Booth spoke at the California Stormwater Quality Association annual conference in September 2006 on the issue of: “Dispelling the Pipe Dream: Why Numeric Limits are Unnecessary, Unwise, and Unenforceable in California.”

Receptions and Political Events

The Firm hosted the Grand Opening of Iceland America Energy’s North American Corporate Headquarters.  The President of Iceland, the Honorable Oliver Ragnar Grimsson, was joined by the Mayor of Los Angeles, the Honorable Antonio Villaraigosa, the California State Controller, the Honorable John Chiang, the President of the Los Angeles City Council, the Honorable Eric Garcetti, the Secretary of the California Resources Agency, Mr. Michael Chrisman, and the Board of Directors of Iceland America Energy in unveiling the new offices through a press conference focused on Iceland’s, California’s, and Los Angeles’ drive to replace fossil fuel electricity generation with clean power.

The Firm also hosted the following important public figures in separate events:  United States Senator Barbara Boxer of California, United States Senator Ken Salazar of Colorado, Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer, California State Senator Alan Lowenthal (California Senate Environmental Quality, Transportation and Housing, and Natural Resources and Water Committees), California Assemblymember Fran Pavley (author of the nation’s first greenhouse gas emissions reduction law), Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti, the new Speaker of the California State Assembly, Karen Bass, and Long Beach Vice Mayor Bonnie Lowenthal, among others.

The Firm separately hosted receptions for California State Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi, Chair of the State Board of Equalization John Chiang, California State Controller Steve Westly, as well as welcoming visits from Wisconsin’s Governor Jim Doyle and the State Comptroller of New York, Alan Hevesi, the sole trustee of the New York State Employees’ Pension Fund. 

The Firm held a special reception for FBI Special Agent Herb Brown to welcome him back and to thank him for his service as Bureau Chief for the FBI’s Field Office in Baghdad, Iraq, as well as a Reception for the California Trucking Association.

The Firm, through Tal Finney and Tom Vandenburg, recently co-sponsored a Brownfields Development Seminar in San Francisco.  Featured Speakers at this event included Oakland Mayor Jerry Brown, the Assistant Secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency, the Director and Chief Counsel for the State of California Department of Toxic Substances Control, and the Policy Director for the State of California’s Housing and Community Development Department.  Tal Finney and Tom Vandenburg gave a presentation addressing “Government and Legal Leverage in Redeveloping Brownfields” at this Seminar.

The Firm also hosted the California Trucking Association Christmas Party.  Members of the Firm and the Association from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties attended and brought toys to donate to Toys for Tots.

Board Appointments

Tal continues to serve as a member of the Board of Directors of the Hollywood Entertainment Museum and the California State Voting Modernization Board. 

Tom serves as an Executive Committee Member of the Environmental Section of the California State Bar, and also continues to serve as a Commissioner on the City of Monterey Park Environmental Commission.

Based upon expertise and service to the industry, Hillary Arrow Booth was also recently re-elected to serve a third term as a member of the Board of Directors for the California Trucking Association, and was elected to the position of Second Vice-President of the Los Angeles/Orange County Unit of the Association.  This association is one of the largest trade associations in the Country.  Hillary has also been elected as the President of the Board of Directors of the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Los Angeles, a charitable organization serving individuals and families effected by epilepsy.

Our Managing Partner John Lawrence was privileged to serve as the Chair of the 2008 Golf Tournament and Spa Day of the Hollywood Entertainment Museum, assisting in raising many thousands of dollars in support of this dedicated non-profit’s mission of educating problem inner-city students and providing them access to jobs in the entertainment industry.

John Lawrence was also honored to accept Haskell Wexler’s invitation to join the Board of Directors of the Institute for Cinema Studies, a non-profit organization founded by Mr. Wexler.