Two Crowell & Moring Partners Named ‘Rising Stars’ by Law360

Washington, D.C. – May 16, 2016: Crowell & Moring LLP is pleased to announce that two partners have been selected as “Rising Stars” by Law360: Gerald F. Murphy in the transportation category and Brian Tully McLaughlin in the government contracts category. The highly competitive list recognizes attorneys under 40 who have demonstrated outstanding career accomplishments.

In a profile on Murphy, co-chair of Crowell & Moring’s Aviation Group, Law360 noted Murphy’s broad breadth of aviation regulatory expertise and experience. “A good representation of the breadth of Murphy's expertise is shown in his work for United, a long-standing relationship — both for the firm, and for Murphy himself — that began with predecessor Continental Airlines. For instance, he and his team were recently called upon to help secure first-ever route authority for direct flights from the U.S. into the Chinese cities of Chengdu and Xi’an and to secure expanded flight access into Shanghai, as well as helping the airline to win the right to fly into Haneda Airport in Tokyo.”

According to the publication, “Murphy has also recently helped secure antitrust exemptions from the DOT for the airline and its Star Alliance partners, allowing them to participate in global cooperation deals, and is involved in what he described as the ‘exciting and historic’ work of attempting to win approval for direct flights from the U.S. to Cuba, after a recent loosening of U.S. trade and travel restrictions.” Additionally, Law360 highlighted Murphy’s involvement in helping to resolve regulatory issues around the tie-up of United and Continental, one of the largest-ever mergers in the industry.

In a profile on McLaughlin, Law360 noted he earned a spot on the list of top government contracts attorneys “for helping companies that do business with the government protect themselves from and prosecute claims exceeding $330 million in decade-long fights before administrative boards, trial courts and appellate panels.”

Law360 highlighted McLaughlin’s steady advocacy of MWI Corp. in its total defeat of the government’s $220 million whistleblower suit and Sufi Network Services $113 million win on its claim surrounding phone call costs. “The company accused the U.S. Air Force of helping personnel at bases in Germany avoid charges on long-distances calls that it was supposed to profit from in exchange for operating the networks, and McLaughlin helped the company grow its $7.4 million award from the Armed Services Board of Contract Appeals into a $113 million win that withstood a second challenge before the Federal Circuit in March.”

Law360 is an online newswire that distributes legal news daily on major litigation, lawsuit filings, settlements, verdicts, and court news.

Crowell & Moring LLP is an international law firm with approximately 500 lawyers representing clients in litigation and arbitration, regulatory, and transactional matters. The firm is internationally recognized for its representation of Fortune 500 companies in high-stakes litigation, as well as its ongoing commitment to pro bono service and diversity. The firm has offices in Washington, D.C., New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Orange County, Anchorage, London, and Brussels.