Insights

Washington – December 22, 2020: Crowell & Moring’s Government Contracts Group has been selected as a Law360 2020 Practice Group of the Year. The group was recognized for its “deft navigation this year of politically complex deals,” including efforts to help clients respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, and an Affordable Care Act “risk corridors” victory at the Supreme Court. This is the eleventh consecutive year that the group has earned this honor.

Los Angeles – December 22, 2020: The Los Angeles Business Journal has named partner Nicole Janigian Simonian to its 2020 “Thriving in their 40s” list. The feature honors 95 outstanding professionals from various industries “who serve as terrific examples of trusted advisors whose services the businesses of Los Angeles simply cannot do without.” Simonian is co-chair of Crowell & Moring’s International Trade Group and serves as the firm’s International Employment and Global Mobility lead.

Washington – December 21, 2020: Crowell & Moring advised Olam International Limited (OIL) in its acquisition of the US-based chile pepper business (CPB) of Mizkan America, Inc., a major maker of condiments and sauces, for US$108.5 million. New Mexico-based CPB is one of the world’s leading suppliers of premium green chiles, jalapeños, and enchilada sauces. This acquisition, conducted through OIL’s subsidiary, Olam Americas Inc., is the first major acquisition for Olam Food Ingredients (OFI), the new operating group created after the reorganization within OIL earlier this year. The transaction is subject to US antitrust regulatory approval and customary closing conditions, which are expected to complete in January 2021

Washington – December 21, 2020: Law360 named Crowell & Moring “Transportation Practice Group of the Year.” Law360 recognized the group for “helping airlines, railroads, and shipping giants navigate the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic and for its work advising automotive and other manufacturers that repurposed their factories to produce ventilators and other medical equipment.”

San Francisco – December 21, 2020: In a novel constitutional case, Crowell & Moring secured a decisive victory for the University of California (UC) by defeating a motion for preliminary injunction which sought to halt the implementation of an Executive Order requiring that all UC students, employees, and faculty working, studying, or living on campus to get a flu shot by November 1. UC was one of dozens of U.S. colleges and universities that implemented a flu vaccine requirement this year, due to the confluence of the 2020-21 flu season and the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic.

Washington – December 18, 2020: Global Competition Review ranked Crowell & Moring’s Antitrust & Competition Group in its annual “GCR 100” – the leading ranking of the world’s competition policy law and economics practices. This year marks the 21st edition of the awards and the 14th consecutive year that the Antitrust & Competition Group has been recognized.

Washington – December 11, 2020: The Financial Times has named Crowell & Moring one of its “Top Five Most Innovative Law Firms” in North America. The FT also recognized firm leaders Ellen Moran Dwyer and Jodi G. Daniel, as well as the firm’s Digital Health Practice and Coronavirus Response team in its 2020 North America Innovative Lawyers report.

Washington – December 9, 2020: BTI Consulting Group named Scott Winkelman a 2020 Client Service All-Star. The award recognizes attorneys who “stand above all the others in delivering the absolute best in client service. Amid all the changes and unexpected events — they stand tallest” in the view of corporate counsel who select the all-star list. This marks the eighth consecutive year that the firm has been recognized in this ranking.

Washington – December 9, 2020: Crowell & Moring’s International Trade Group has been selected as a Law360 2020 Practice Group of the Year. The group was recognized for successes in the past year, including efforts to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Washington – December 4, 2020: Crowell & Moring has been shortlisted for four Financial Times Innovative Lawyers North America awards, including “Most Innovative Law Firm in North America.” The firm will also be featured in the law firm leader category in the upcoming 2020 report.

Washington – November 30, 2020: Three members of Crowell & Moring’s International Dispute Resolutions Group will participate in panels in Washington Arbitration Week 2020, a newly launched forum in international arbitration for the Washington, D.C. legal community and the international and foreign community connected to it.  

Washington – November 30, 2020: Crowell & Moring’s Government Contracts, International Trade, and Transportation practices have been selected as Law360 2020 Practice Groups of the Year. The teams received the award for accomplishments in the last year, including work done related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Los Angeles – November 24, 2020: The Los Angeles Business Journal has named Crowell & Moring one of its 2020 Most Admired Law Firms. The list recognizes the top firms to work for in Los Angeles and includes “an assortment of particularly outstanding law firms who are consciously working towards creating diverse, positive, and supportive environments to help drive the success of their attorneys.”

Doha—November 19, 2020: Crowell & Moring and the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Qatar held a webinar today addressing the latest developments and trends in international disputes.

Washington – November 19, 2020: The Washington Business Journal recognized Crowell & Moring as one of Washington's most philanthropic law firms on its 2020 Corporate Philanthropy List for the eighth consecutive year. The list honors the Washington region's most “active and inspirational” companies and nonprofits that have made a difference in their communities through financial and volunteer philanthropic work, charitable giving, volunteer hours, and pro bono work.

Los Angeles – November 11, 2020: The Daily Journal has named partner Jennifer S. Romano to its 2020 list of “Top Women Lawyers.” The series recognizes the successes and victories of women lawyers in the court room and at the negotiating table, as well as their advancements in the legal industry. Romano serves as co-chair of Crowell & Moring’s Litigation Group and is a member of the firm’s Management Board.

Washington – November 10, 2020: The Leadership Council on Legal Diversity, one of the nation’s leading organizations promoting diversity in the legal profession, has recognized Crowell & Moring with two honors: the 2020 Top Performer Award and the 2020 Compass Award.

Los Angeles – November 9, 2020: In April 2020, a federal antitrust suit was filed against the Port of Los Angeles, North America’s largest port. The plaintiff, developer Harbor Performance Enhancement Center LLC (HPEC), alleged it lost the opportunity to “develop one of the most valuable and unique assets in the country.” The suit followed the port’s 2015 selection of HPEC for exclusive negotiation of a project proposal to develop a vacant lot at the port. But after years of negotiations, the port and HPEC could never agree on a final project proposal, and the port eventually ended negotiations in May 2019. HPEC responded with litigation, first in state court and then in federal court, on the grounds that its negotiating contract was unlawfully terminated due to improper pressure from organized labor.

Washington – November 6, 2020: Crowell & Moring’s Digital Transformation Practice and Retail & Consumer Products Law Group will host a virtual event on Nov. 12 featuring Peter A. Feldman, commissioner of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, to discuss the use of digital technology in regulating the distribution of consumer products. The premier event will launch the firm’s upcoming information series, “Creating Tomorrow: Digitization of Retail and Consumer Products,” which will go beyond the pandemic to explore how the digital revolution is impacting the retail and consumer products industries.

Washington – November 6, 2020: The Diversity and Flexibility Alliance has recognized Crowell & Moring for the second consecutive year with the “Tipping the Scale” award for having a diverse partner class consisting of 50 percent or more women. Crowell & Moring is among 46 firms to receive this honor for 2020.