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Covington.CovingtonFullname
In an increasingly regulated world, Covington helps clients seize opportunities, navigate complex problems, and resolve difficult disputes.
Described as “well connected with both the regulators and thought-leaders,” by Chambers and Partners, we have more than 120 former regulatory and enforcement officials among our ranks.
With strength in litigation, investigations, and corporate work and deep knowledge of policy and policymakers, we turn regulatory insight into practical advice for doing business anywhere in the world.
We represent numerous consulting firms that are registered under the Act in ongoing compliance with the statute’s disclosure requirements and audits of disclosures by the Department of Justice.
Represented major U.S. and European financial institutions in advisory and enforcement matters before the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on the impact of U.S. asset-blocking measures.
Extensive advice to U.S. and non-U.S. oil and gas companies on the scope and application of sanctions and retaliatory measures targeting Iran, including advice on pending U.S. enforcement matters.
We represented a major pharmaceutical company in a lengthy investigation by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee regarding alleged off-label marketing of pharmaceutical products. The investigation included dozens of requests and resulted in the production of tens of thousands of documents.
Achieved favorable resolution for Patagonia in a putative class action alleging wrongful collection of personal information in connection with credit card transactions.
We represented a world-leading consumer products manufacturer in an investigation by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform regarding high-profile recalls of over-the-counter medicines. The investigation included multiple interviews, tens of thousands of documents produced to Congress, and two major hearings, including one at which the company’s chairman and CEO testified.
We brought bid protests in New York State administrative and judicial forums concerning redevelopment of municipal hospital property. We obtained an opportunity for our client to become the selected awardee after the procuring agency initially selected two other awardees.
Represented a large social-media platform in connection with the development and implementation of new online advertising products.
We helped a major client negotiate contracts with state healthcare exchanges in Maryland and several other states, and navigate the procurement rules and risk areas unique to many state exchanges. We have also advised clients regarding intellectual property and other issues specific to state MMIS procurements.
Represented Qualcomm in the first lawsuit ever brought under Delaware corporate law to attempt to compel disclosure of corporate political expenditures. We negotiated a rapid resolution and the Common Retirement Fund withdrew its lawsuit.
Advising remanufacturers and refurbishers of consumer products as to FTC and state law regulating their ability to describe products as “new.”
Representation of the National Football League in connection with its deal to extend DirecTV's exclusive rights to carry NFL Sunday Ticket in a multi-year agreement.
The SAFETY Act, administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, provides liability protection to the makers and users of anti-terror technology in the event of a terror attack. We have successfully guided clients from virtually every major industry in the United States, including government contractors, airports, port authorities, chemical companies, large sports stadiums, and professional sports leagues, through the SAFETY Act application process and secured SAFETY Act protection for a wide range of technologies.
We successfully protested the award of a multi-year statewide tire contract to our client’s competitor. We convinced the State to take corrective action, which resulted in a contract award to our client.
Drafted privacy-related provisions for use in data processing and outsourcing arrangements and advised on state and tort-based employee privacy laws in connection with a proposed acquisition.
Managing a privacy audit of a U.S.-based multinational in the oil and gas industry in preparation for its BCR approval with the Dutch data protection authority as the lead authority, including reviewing and providing advice on the BCRs and the implementation strategy and assisting this client in the preparation and roll-out of various compliance tools in the framework of the BCRs.
Represented the trustee for the City of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania as part out the workout of its debt crisis to monetize and transfer certain city assets to the private sector to help satisfy the city’s debt obligations.
Prepared extensive privacy training materials and participated in training sessions for employees of European subsidiaries of a U.S.-based company.
Conducted a post-acquisition trade compliance review for a global pharmaceutical company that included a voluntary disclosure to the U.S. Commerce Department. We also provided related Iran sanctions advice.
We advised a potential Presidential candidate on the pros and cons of forming one or more tax-exempt entities to promote public policy objectives in the run-up to the election.
Advised major airline in relation to data ownership, privacy and security provisions in sales and distribution agreements with online travel agencies and global distribution systems.
Represented Rafael Advanced Defense Systems on various matters, including in its acquisition of the remaining membership interests in Cubic Advanced Technical Systems.
Represented Prysmian S.p.A. in its acquisition of Draka Holdings.
Advised a sovereign state and other stakeholders regarding a WTO dispute with respect to China’s restrictions on the export of commodities and “rare earth” minerals.
For pharmaceutical, energy, and defense companies entering into R&D contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements with federal agencies (including DoD, DOE, and HHS), we have successfully developed and implemented strategies for protecting our clients’ intellectual property. We have helped our clients limit or avoid government IP rights through the use of alternative contracting vehicles, specially negotiated contract clauses, properly drafted statements of work, and other means. We have also obtained waivers of patent ownership from federal agencies, as well as waivers of the U.S. manufacturing requirements under the Bayh-Dole Act.
We have helped clients navigate state procurement systems and have handled protests in states across the country, including: California, Texas, New York, Florida, Maryland, the District of Columbia, Oregon, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Georgia, Colorado, Washington, New Jersey, and others.
For pharmaceutical companies entering into R&D contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements with BARDA, NIH, and DTRA, we have successfully developed and implemented strategies for protecting our clients’ intellectual property. We have helped our clients limit or avoid government IP rights through the use of alternative contracting vehicles, specially negotiated contract clauses, properly drafted statements of work, and other means. We have also obtained waivers of U.S. manufacturing requirements under the Bayh-Dole Act.
Provided guidance to a major technology and manufacturing company in connection with the unauthorized posting of employee personal information on a third-party webpage. Our efforts on behalf of the client included working with Internet service providers to remove the posted information and providing notice to potentially affected individuals and applicable state regulators.
We advised the board of trustees of a nationally recognized charitable organization with respect to the possible effects on the organization’s tax-exemption of the perceived candidacy of the organization’s president in a federal election.
Conducted a detailed analysis of pay-to-play issues for a major pharmaceutical company and have obtained favorable advisory opinions from state regulators for a variety of our corporate clients.
We advise several major hedge funds on compliance with federal and state rules governing political contributions by government contractors, as well as lobbying registration laws that apply to hedge funds that seek investments from state and local public pension plans.
Pay-to-play laws do not just apply to investment advisers. Any company with government contracts is potentially subject to these rules. To that end, we regularly help our corporate clients develop and implement pay-to-play compliance policies and procedures.
Advised a major sports league on the procedures for conducting pre-hire background checks under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and state law, and drafted appropriate contract language and consent forms accordingly.
Providing political law and tax advice to a highly publicized bi-partisan advocacy campaign. Covington devised a unique organizational structure to help accommodate the group’s political goals.
Advised a Fortune 50 company with respect to the proper classification of personal care products.
Advised major pharmaceutical, consumer products, and energy companies, as well as universities, concerning IP rights under CRADAs for technology transfers at national laboratories.
One of the leading FARA cases is Attorney General v. Covington & Burling, which established that the attorney-client privilege survives a FARA registration.
Represented Mubadala Development Company and Advanced Technology Investment Company in joint venture with Advanced Micro Devices to form GLOBALFOUNDRIES, and represented GLOBALFOUNDRIES in its acquisition of IBM’s semiconductor manufacturing business.
Represented WWE in the launch of the WWE Network, a direct-to-consumer, subscription-only, online video channel that will air round-the-clock programming, including new programs and matches, an on-demand service, WrestleMania, and a six-decades-deep library for $9.99 a month. This is one of the first sports “over the top” offerings in the United States and the transaction received a great deal of publicity as a result.
Representing the leading carriers of a major container shipping alliance as they expand, deepen and widen their global cooperation.
Achieved dismissal of a putative class action against LinkedIn alleging violations of the Stored Communications Act and state law. The complaint asserted that LinkedIn disclosed LinkedIn user identification numbers and LinkedIn URL addresses to third party advertising companies, which allowed those companies to correlate the identity of a user with his or her previously anonymous Web browsing history.
Represented private equity firm Lindsay Goldberg and PAE as regulatory counsel in six different M&A transactions that have grown PAE to a defense contractor with annual revenue in excess of $2 billion. Our work began in 2011 with Lindsay Goldberg’s acquisition of PAE from Lockheed Martin, and continued through to PAE’s acquisitions of Defense Support Services, CSC’s Applied Technology Division, USIS’s Global Security and Solutions Business, and A-T Solutions and to Lindsay Goldberg’s 2016 sale of PAE to Platinum Equity. Our work in each of these deals has included government contracts, national security, trade controls, and anti-corruption due diligence and advice on transaction structuring, novations, and regulatory approvals.
Managing and acting as the liaison for a group of U.S. based multinationals that have put BCRs in place and exchange their BCR experience.
A voluntary disclosure to USAID by one of its largest not-for-profits led the agency to suspend the entity for potential false claims and lack of internal controls, resulting in the board of directors forcing the resignation of the entity’s leadership team and hiring our lawyers to resolve the matters. When the agency refused to lift the suspension due to the lack of trustworthy internal controls and the entity was on the brink of shuttering its doors, our lawyers successfully negotiated a grand bargain to transfer nearly all of the programs, assets, and employees to another not-for-profit and settle the False Claims Act (FCA) investigation.
Represented NHL in connection with its entry into a joint venture with Silver Chalice Partners, Sports Illustrated and Major League Baseball Advance Media for the creation and launch of 120 Sports, the first multi-sport, league-created digital network in the United States. In addition to MLB and NHL content, the digital network will include content from the NBA, NASCAR and a number of college conferences. The network is expected to offer 24/7 programming on an unauthenticated basis, including live sports highlights and related news programming.
Prepared ruling requests for a major Japanese electronics company and its U.S. subsidiaries with respect to classification, government procurement, and foreign-origin marking issues.
We represented a consulting firm in an internal investigation and retroactive registration for activities undertaken by the firm for a foreign government – the largest public FARA investigation in recent years.
Represented the Microwave Materials Group and Emerson & Cuming Microwave Products in their sale to Laird Holdings.
Achieved dismissal of a putative class action against Microsoft, CBS, Microsoft, McDonald’s, and Mazda alleging violations of the Wiretap Act, Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and state laws. The complaint alleged that an online ad network used Flash cookies and other tracking mechanisms to build user profiles for the purpose of serving targeted advertising.
Representation of Microsoft Corp. in its purchase of substantially all of Nokia’s devices & services business and licensing of Nokia’s patents. Covington advised on IP, commercial and regulatory matters on the transaction.
Advised Microsoft in relation to the data protection aspects of the purchases of Nokia’s device and services business and Skype.
We defended a major supplier to transit authorities funded by the U.S. Federal Transit Administration against allegations that it was subcontracting with ineligible Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), thus enabling our client to continue supplying the transit authorities of several major metropolitan areas.
We helped a client navigate a range of issues unique to RAC contracts with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
When the U.S. government announced changes to its Cuba policy, major global companies in the consumer products, travel, and entertainment sectors turned to us for advice on policy and trade matters. We advised these clients on export controls and sanctions, legislative proposals, Helms-Burton restrictions, expropriations and certified U.S. claims, and market access issues.
We have helped major contractors navigate the specific Organizational Conflicts of Interest (OCI) rules and requirements imposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Defense Health Agency, and other agencies. When CMS rolled out its new approach to OCIs, including its new standard clause and required forms, we helped a major CMS contractor comment on key aspects of the approach.
In the wake of the failed launch of healthcare.gov, we helped a major health IT company navigate compliance and other issues related to its healthcare.gov contract and efforts to remediate the website and related IT systems.
Achieved dismissal of a putative class action against National Public Radio alleging violations of the Wiretap Act, Stored Communications Act, and state laws. The complaint alleged that mobile app developers wrongfully transmitted personal information to third party advertising companies.
Advised multiple sellers of military products to foreign governments through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and Foreign Military Financing (FMF) processes, gaining approval from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency for the sales and for using financing from FMF and commercial banks to enable the transactions.
Organized foreign counsel in 40 foreign countries to determine legal requirements governing U.S. government contractors working in country, to ensure local compliance as to business registrations, visas, employment laws, and taxes. In doing so, developed a template for determining foreign requirements and a network of local counsel to serve as a resource for the contractor.
Represented Steve Ballmer in his $2 billion acquisition of the Los Angeles Clippers from The Sterling Family Trust.
Advising numerous companies on Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs), including Processor Rules. We help develop the BCR corpus and manage the entire approval process before the lead data protection authorities in several EU Member States including Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the UK.
Advise high-net-worth individuals on the vetting of political contributions and tax issues related to their support for tax-exempt groups.
Successfully challenged before the D.C. Circuit the Federal Communication Commission’s rules mandating that telecommunications companies install equipment to monitor private telephone and Internet communications.
We represented the University of California in an intense and wide-ranging investigation by the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations into alleged fraud and mismanagement at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The investigation involved more than two dozen witness interviews and culminated in three days of hearings. At the conclusion of the investigation, the University retained its contract to manage the Laboratory.
Achieved summary judgment for Microsoft in a putative class action alleging unauthorized collection of geolocation information from the plaintiffs’ mobile devices. After a claim under the Wiretap Act was dismissed at the pleadings stage, we successfully obtained summary judgment on a remaining claim under the Stored Communications Act.
Represented the PGA of America, the USTA, the U.S. Olympic Committee, the American Athletic Conference, the A-10 Conference, the Chicago Cubs, and the LA Clippers (among others) in connection with the negotiation of their media rights agreements.
For a U.K.-based company in the aerospace sector, we drafted a Technology Control Plan taking into account the applicable EU, Member State, and U.S. trade controls.
Represented AT&T in antidumping proceedings related to telephone systems for small businesses.
Filed a Supreme Court amicus brief on behalf of a government contractor trade association in support of a U.S. Navy contractor being sued for unwanted text messaging. The proposed class action raised significant questions regarding the application of derivative sovereign immunity to private contractors performing work on behalf of the federal government.
When the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) issued an RFP for cloud services, we filed a protest challenging the terms of the RFP as unduly restrictive of competition. After discussion with the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the agency agreed to amend the RFP to revise the terms at issue in the protest.
Provide ongoing support to a major banking contractor by challenging cost disallowances by the U.S. government that could interfere with the bank’s ability to provide critical banking services to military members stationed around the world.
Represented Temasek Holdings in various matters, including its investment in Merrill Lynch.
For an electronics supplier to a prime contractor for a major U.S. Navy program, we appealed in the prime contractor’s name from a final decision finding defective pricing due to the alleged nondisclosure of certain improvement-curve data that the Navy contended would have led the Navy to conclude that the decline in labor costs would have been steeper than the parties assumed in negotiations. After the close of discovery, we negotiated a favorable settlement.
Represented the largest U.S. sugar importer in an antidumping and countervailing duty investigation.
Conducted a due diligence review of International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Export Administration Regulations (EAR), economic sanctions, and anti-boycott compliance in connection with the acquisition of a U.S. defense subcontractor by a foreign buyer.
Represented a coalition of U.S. and foreign textile and apparel producers in the CITA safeguards petition process related to imports of Chinese textile and apparel products to the United States.
We represented a think tank in an internal review of its foreign government funding in the context of suggestions that its activities may have implications under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.
When USAID issued a $2 billion procurement for consulting services related to economic growth and poverty reduction, we protested the terms of the solicitation. Our protest convinced the agency to abandon its use of the “low cost, technically acceptable” evaluation scheme by arguing that LPTA was inappropriate for the complex, high-stakes services being sought.
One of our clients provides a key component of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. A rival contractor sued the U.S. government in the Court of Federal Claims, alleging that the component infringed its patent. We intervened on behalf of our client and persuaded the court to rule that the patent is invalid.
One of the nation’s largest construction supply companies was investigated for failing to provide the General Services Administration (GSA) with its “best pricing” for materials. Working with the company’s auditors, we were able to resolve the matter for no money based on ambiguities in the Schedule language as applied to the circumstances.
When the U.S. Coast Guard awarded a contract worth more than $1 billion for the construction and delivery of naval vessels, a competitor protested, first at the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and then at the Court of Federal Claims. We defeated both protests and preserved the award.
Our client’s award was challenged by three competitors. We defeated all three protests. We also persuaded the agency to override the automatic stay of contract performance, and then successfully defended the override before the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.
Assisted a coalition of nonprofit organizations in revising internal policies and standard subagreements to account for completely revamped uniform grant requirements that impose significant new burdens on the subaward process.
Successfully represented a major defense IT contractor in an audit of two U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule contracts by the GSA Inspector General (IG), in which the IG initially asserted a claim for the repayment of tens of millions of dollars. The matter was resolved for less than $5,000.
Through a jury trial in the Eastern District of Virginia, successfully represented a Schedule contractor accused of submitting fraudulent commercial pricing data in violation of the False Claims Act (FCA). The Fourth Circuit affirmed the jury verdict in favor of the contractor.
When the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) awarded our client a $150 million contract for IT services, two competitors protested. We successfully defended the protests, getting one dismissed for lack of interested party status and the other denied on the merits.
When the U.S. Army awarded a $200 million contract for IT services, we protested the award, arguing that the awardee had an organizational conflict of interest and gained an unfair competitive advantage by hiring a former government official. The agency took corrective action in response to the protest.
When the federal government awarded a contract worth more than $2 billion for the development and delivery of a medical countermeasure, we protested at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). After many rounds of briefing, and a hearing before GAO, the agency agreed to cancel and re-compete the majority of the contract.
When the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) conducted a competition for an Advanced Development and Manufacturing (ADM) facility for medical countermeasures, we protested DoD’s exclusion of one of the offerors from the competitive range. The protest issues were of extraordinary technical complexity, but after several rounds of briefing, we convinced the agency to reverse course and invite the offeror back into the competition.
We successfully challenged an agency award of a contract to assist the government of Mexico in reforming its justice system, obtaining corrective action that involved new final proposal revisions. When our client won the second round award, we defended a challenge by the prior awardee, and preserved the award to our client.
We obtained a complete jury verdict for our client accused of misappropriating the incumbent’s trade secrets to win a $200 million NASA contract. The alleged trade secrets included the data generated under the incumbent’s existing NASA contract and the incumbent’s proposal data for the new contract.
When the U.S. Missile Defense Agency (MDA) awarded a contract to our client for engineering and support services, a competitor protested. We successfully defeated the protest.
When the U.S. Transportation Command issued a $1.6 billion multiple-award contract for transportation services, we protested the agency’s decision not to include our client among the awardees. After briefing and subsequent negotiations, the agency agreed to award a contract to our client.
We successfully defended a Navy prime contractor accused of misusing its subcontractor’s design data. We convinced the court that the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) data rights clauses allowed the client to use and distribute the data, resulting in a complete summary judgment for our client.
Represented private equity firm Veritas Capital as regulatory counsel during its pending acquisition of Alion Science & Technology Corporation, a leading provider of engineering services to the Department of Defense. We handled government contracts, trade controls, and national industrial security due diligence.
Represented Wanxiang America in separate transactions involving the acquisition of certain assets of A123 Systems, Inc., a lithium ion battery company, and the sale of the Energy Solutions Business of A123 Systems to NEC Corp.
Assisted a life sciences company in connection with a substantial prior disclosure concerning the proper Customs valuation of certain R&D materials imported into the United States.
Represented contractors in negotiating and administering contracts to design, build, finance, own, and operate energy and water and wastewater facilities on U.S. military bases, leaving the military to perform its core functions.
Represented various additional parties before Team Telecom on matters not requiring CFIUS review, including LightSquared, BT, and Iridium Satellite.
Represented Nuclear Safety Associates in its acquisition by WS Atkins.
Successfully represented a client’s intellectual property interests and achieved a successful resolution of a WTO trademark dispute.
Counseled clients on WTO and NAFTA disputes on a wide range of matters, including sanitary and phytosanitary regulations, anti-dumping and countervailing duties, agricultural subsidies, and intellectual property issues, including the FSC and Byrd WTO disputes against the United States. Our lawyers have argued cases before the WTO and have negotiated solutions related to implementation, compliance, and retaliation in trade disputes.
Assisted leading multinational companies and industry associations in developing and implementing strategies to counter foreign regulations restricting intellectual property rights in violation of the WTO TRIPS Agreement and other regional and bilateral trade agreements.
Advised a leading information technology company and represented them before the U.S. and EU governments in the WTO debate on e-commerce.
Prepared for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce a framework for analyzing WTO consistency of China’s approval process for inbound foreign direct investment.
Represented a major U.S. textile manufacturer and its European parent company in connection with a proposed Section 592 penalty in excess of $500,000, arising from various alleged classification and valuation errors.
Removed a construction dispute involving several hundred million dollars from state to federal court, which was a superior forum for asserting various federal defenses on behalf of our government contractor client. We defeated the plaintiff’s efforts to send the case back to state court, successfully arguing that the case properly was removed under the federal officer removal statute because of the significant role played by the federal government in the construction project.
Served as communications regulatory counsel to Tribune Company in its $2.73 billion acquisition of Local TV Holdings, LLC.
Successful representation of CBS Corporation, The Walt Disney Company, Twenty-First Century Fox, Inc., Scripps Networks Interactive Inc., Time Warner Inc., Univision Communications Inc., and Viacom Inc. Borrego Solar Systems, Inc. against the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in connection with the disclosure of programming contracts with pay-TV providers as part of the FCC’s review of pending cable and satellite mergers.
Represented Electricité de France in antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings related to low enriched uranium.
We advised an international energy company on a U.S. Treasury Department investigation of transactions with certain U.S.-sanctioned markets, and assisted the company with interactions with the U.S. State Department on sanctions-related policy matters. The Treasury Department closed its investigation without taking any enforcement action against our client.
Represented a Fortune 100 company in a multi-million dollar dispute with the customs authority in a foreign country with respect to the proper valuation of U.S. goods exported to that country.
Representing Union Pacific Railroad in a wide variety of regulatory, legislative, and antitrust matters, including ongoing rulemakings involving rail rates and access to customer facilities and a multidistrict class action litigation alleging price-fixing of fuel surcharges.
Served as communications regulatory counsel to Univision in filing for an initial public offering of Class A common stock in the United States on July 2, 2015.
Represented Univision Communications in the precedential agreement for carriage of Univision’s broadcast stations and cable networks on DISH’s “over the top” Sling TV service. The UCI media portfolio includes the Univision Network, one of the top five broadcast networks, and the most-watched Spanish language broadcast network in the U.S., reaching approximately 94 percent of U.S. Hispanic television households. The agreement covers the Univision and UniMas broadcast networks, as well as other UCI services, such as Univision Deportes and El Rey Network. Sling TV is a new online offering from one of the largest television distributors in the country, by which subscribers can view major network content via the Internet anywhere in the United States.
Advising a Fortune 50 company during the negotiation of an Other Transactions agreement with an Intelligence Community customer.
We represented both companies in SABIC’s acquisition of the GE Plastics business.
Provided foreign-origin and “Made in USA” marking advice to manufacturers in the life sciences, automotive, machine tooling, and consumer electronic industries.
Representation of Rio Tinto and Intalco Aluminum Corporation in litigation and negotiations concerning Superfund remediation and natural resource damages at various mine sites in the U.S. and Canada, including Holden Mine, Blackbird Mine and Britannia Mine.
Represented Rolls-Royce in the acquisition of R.O.V. Technologies, Inc. by Rolls-Royce’s technical services subsidiary, R. Brooks Associates.
Represented Pioneer Natural Resources in the sale of leasehold interests in Wolfcamp Shale to Sinochem.
Negotiated the sale of satellite sports content to Army Non-appropriated Fund Activity.
Represented ThreatGRID, Inc. in its sale to Cisco Systems, Inc.
Reviewing and amending BCRs for a Swiss-based pharmaceutical company with the French data protection authority acting as the lead authority.
Representing Merck in one of the first “test” cases involving interoperability between BCRs and APEC’s Cross-border Privacy Rules (CBPR). The case will establish a precedent for cross-border transfers of personal data for both the EU and Asia-Pacific Region.
Represent Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts (KKR) on various matters involving potential foreign investor partners.
On behalf of a major pharmaceutical manufacturer, we renegotiated agreements with the National Institutes of Health (NIH) concerning IP rights arising out of the development, manufacture, and use of experimental vaccine supplies for international clinical trials, and negotiated contract terms placing on the government the risk of the client’s use of contested IP developed by another contractor.
Represented a major retailer in a criminal investigation and Section 592 penalty proceeding with respect to the posting of antidumping cash deposits.
Successful resolution of numerous other FTC advertising practices and marketing investigations.
Negotiated a creative settlement of a tort suit filed by a subcontractor arising from his imprisonment in Cuba for carrying out a USAID democracy-building program in that country. We converted that tort settlement into a contract claim by the prime contractor, and successfully negotiated payment to fully compensate the subcontractor while making the prime contractor whole.
Negotiated resolution of concerns that the contractor building the U.S. embassy in Baghdad had thousands of unauthorized deviations from specifications, which prevented the U.S. State Department’s acceptance of the sprawling compound. Demonstrated in senior-level meetings and on-the-ground inspections that the project was materially compliant, leading to acceptance and the resolution of investigations by multiple agencies and Congress.
Represented Singtel in its $810 million acquisition of Trustwave Holdings, Inc.
Defending Sherwin-Williams in a putative class action alleging violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act in connection with a commercial text message program for paint contractors.
Prevailed on the appeal of a $250 million prime-sub dispute centered on a Truth in Negotiations Act issue. This was a huge victory for the client, after having lost at the trial level using different counsel.
Achieved a favorable resolution for Shoe Show in a putative class action alleging violation of the Fair and Accurate Credit Transaction Act for allegedly printing expiration dates on credit card receipts.
Represented Statoil in its acquisition of Brigham Exploration.
Advise state Super PACs in multiple states on campaign finance and tax-exempt organizations law issues.
Represented Procter & Gamble in antidumping investigation related to diffusion-annealed, nickel-plated flat-rolled steel products.
Represented SolarCity Corporation in solar cells and modules antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.
We successfully represented a political candidate in one of the first and highest-profile pay-to-play law investigations in the country.
Our client was a small business defense contractor owned by a Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) that was nearing the end of the control period permitted under Small Business Administration (SBA) regulations. We advised a special committee of the board of directors of the client about the potential effects of various potential sale and transfer scenarios on the client’s continued small-business status, and enabled the committee to decide upon a course of action that would permit the client to continue to perform and compete for small-business set-aside contracts.
We took over a U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) size determination proceeding for our client, an IT services provider, after previous DC government contracts counsel had failed to persuade the SBA that our client was a small business. We submitted thousands of pages of documentation and numerous position papers in what is believed to be the most complex size determination ever performed by SBA, and persuaded the agency that our client is a small business, notwithstanding its affiliation with dozens of other small businesses, thus allowing it to continue to compete for business on small business set-aside contracts.
Assisted financial services client in investigation of potential sanctions compliance issues in UK affiliate; represented client before UK Financial Conduct Authority (the matter was ultimately resolved with the authorities taking no enforcement action).
We are representing a non-U.S. financial institution in connection with an investigation by federal and state civil and criminal enforcement authorities into the bank's processing to or through the United States of U.S. dollar payments involving U.S.-sanctioned parties.
We represented a major biotechnology company in a congressional investigation by the Senate Finance Committee concerning the price of its breakthrough drug.
Recovered disallowed severance costs paid by a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) contractor to its employees when the contractor exited the contract and the employees went to work for a successor contractor. The costs were unallowable under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), but the contract contained an unusual provision, personally approved by President Truman, making virtually all costs allowable. We handled the preparation of the initial claim, the contract appeal to the Court of Federal Claims, and the appeal to the Federal Circuit, at the end of which our client recovered every penny of its severance outlay, plus interest.
Our client, a major large business provider of IT services to the federal government, discovered possible Service Contract Act compliance issues in the operations of a recently acquired subsidiary. We conducted and internal investigation and assisted the client in making a disclosure to the U.S. Department of Labor, which closed the matter without adverse financial or other consequences for our client.
Representing the second largest airline in South Korea in connection with the U.S. government’s yearlong investigation of the 2014 accident at San Francisco International Airport.
We represented a major federal contractor in an oversight hearing conducted by the Senate Armed Services Committee concerning the contractor’s activities supporting overseas military operations.
We advised a large technology reseller in conducting a review and revision of its pricing practices under its Federal Supply Schedule (FSS) contract with the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). In addition to identifying and addressing potential pricing irregularities, we successfully guided the company through an overhaul of its Commercial Sales Practices Format (CSP-1) disclosure and convinced the GSA to permit our client to implement an alternative pricing model that greatly reduced administrative burdens.
Our client sold microchips under a U.S. Air Force Foreign Military Sales (FMS) transaction to a foreign ally’s defense ministry, in a “back-to-back” sale under the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), in which the Air Force purchased the microchips from our client and then sold them in turn to the foreign defense ministry. The foreign defense ministry then sought to present warranty claims directly against our client, claiming to be a third-party beneficiary under our client’s contract with the Air Force. We waged successful litigation in federal trial and appellate courts raising issues of first impression, which established that third-party beneficiary claims are not available, given the public policy and intent of the AECA.
Advised global nonprofit organization on the appropriate classification of proposal costs claimed in connection with extensions of existing contracts and grants, as well as requirements relating to negotiation of profit under sole-source subawards for commercial items.
Assisted numerous clients with matters arising under U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs schedule contracts, blanket purchase agreements, and related national agreements, including matters relating to price reporting, drafting of proposals, interactions with federal employees, small business subcontracting, and compliance with other commercial-contracting requirements.
Represented a major automobile manufacturer and its U.S. subsidiaries in connection with a transfer pricing inquiry by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and an associated audit.
Assisted major suppliers of office and aeronautics equipment to navigate the Buy American and Trade Agreements Acts, ensuring that the clients’ products are domestic end products, qualifying country end products, designated country end products or U.S.-made end products eligible for sale to the U.S. government.
Represented The Special Conflicts Committee of the Board of Directors of Atlas Pipeline Partners, L.P. in its $5.8 billion merger with Targa Resource Partners LP.
Advising on a development and production joint venture formed by two leading suppliers of components for automobiles, trucks, and commercial vehicles, and on a distribution joint venture of leading commercial truck manufacturers.
Representing American Airlines on a series of global ticket inventory distribution arrangements with Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport, and in information technology services agreements with Amadeus, Sabre, HP, and ITA Software (Google).
Providing general privacy advice in connection with AOL’s advertising businesses.
Achieved dismissal of a putative class action against AOL alleging violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The complaint sought to hold AOL liable for misdirected text messages sent by users of AOL’s Instant Messenger system.
We represented a freight railroad company in an antidumping and countervailing duty proceeding at the International Trade Commission covering certain intermodal containers from China. We assisted the company in successfully opposing the imposition of antidumping and countervailing duties on the Chinese containers.
Represented AOL in the sale of its ICQ instant messaging business to Mail.ru Group Limited.
Achieved dismissal of a putative class action against AOL alleging violations of the Wiretap Act, Video Privacy Protection Act, and numerous state laws. The suit alleged unauthorized collection of personal information from the plaintiffs’ computers using “Flash cookies” and unlawful disclosure of video viewing information to third parties.
Represented a U.S. electronics manufacturer in federal trial and appellate courts against contract claims by a foreign sovereign government asserting third-party beneficiary rights under a Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract. The case raised issues of first impression under the Contract Disputes Act and Arms Export Control Act (AECA).
Represented AudioCodes in its acquisitions of Netrake Corp and Nuera Communications.
Achieved dismissals of three putative class actions against Cable One, a cable and Internet service provider, in litigation involving claims under the Wiretap Act, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, and related state laws. The litigation arose out of a third party’s test of a system using “deep packet inspection” for the purpose of serving targeted advertisements.
Life sciences companies are being negatively impacted as a result of patent practices in Canada that are leading to the premature invalidation of pharmaceutical patents. We represent a major life sciences company in a dispute under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) seeking compensation for losses suffered by Canada’s internationally inconsistent patent practices.
Advised operators of child-directed websites and services on strategies for communicating their child-directed nature to third-party advertising partners in connection with the revised COPPA Rule.
Assisted the operator of a child-directed website in responding to an inquiry by the Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) regarding its online behavioral advertising practices.
Represented Check Point Software Technologies in the company’s acquisitions of NFR Security, Inc., the security appliance business of Nokia, Liquid Machines, Inc., and PointSec Mobile Technologies.
Analyzed boycott requests received by U.S. companies and their foreign subsidiaries and reporting boycott requests to the U.S. Commerce and Treasury Departments.
Assisting a multinational manufacturer of machinery in the developing of BCRs.
Assisting a multinational manufacturer of heavy equipment in the adoption of BCRs.
Represented BAE Systems, Inc. in its acquisitions of Armor Holdings, MTC Technologies, Advanced Ceramics Research, Atlantic Marine, OASYS Technology, and Intelligence Service Business of L-1 Identity Solutions (among others).
Assisting a multinational manufacturer of products for the aerospace and building industries in developing BCRs.
Assisting GSK plc in its adoption of Binding Corporate Rules (BCRs) in order to permit the company to transfer personal data globally. We helped develop GSK’s privacy compliance program, obtain the UK data protection authority’s approval and continue assisting GSK during the subsequent implementation.
Assisting a global e-commerce company in preparing and filing BCRs with the Luxembourg data protection authority.
Secured CFIUS approval for Dassault Systèmes in its acquisition of Accelrys, whose customers included the U.S. Department of Defense and the leading U.S. nuclear laboratories, in a transaction valued at approximately $750 million.
Obtained nearly $500 million in judgments and settlements for multiple oil and gas companies in breach of contracts case against the U.S. government involving undeveloped federal oil and gas leases offshore North Carolina, Alaska, and Florida.
Represented Deutsche Börse in its proposed $9.5 billion acquisition of the New York Stock Exchange. The transaction was subsequently terminated on EU antitrust grounds.
Represented Schneider Electric on the CFIUS review and approval of its $5.6 billion acquisition of Invensys plc.
Represented China National Offshore Oil Corporation Ltd. (CNOOC) in separate investments in the Eagle Ford and Niobrara shale properties held by Chesapeake Energy.
We offer a subscription service that provides clients with updates on pay-to-play laws in all 50 states.
Represented Enstrom Helicopter in its acquisition by Chongqing Helicopter Investment Co., Ltd., a company owned by the Municipality of Chongqing, China.
Represented Global Crossing in its acquisition by Singapore Technologies Telemedia and earlier phase involving Hutchison Whampoa.
We represented Abbott Laboratories in connection with its global spin-off of its pharmaceutical research business, and creation of a new global enterprise, AbbVie.
Represented Virgin Galactic in Aabar Investments PJSC’s investment in the company.
Represented both Publicis and Sapient in securing approval from CFIUS for Publicis’ acquisition of Sapient for $3.7 billion.
Represented Nexen in its $15 billion acquisition by China National Offshore Oil Corporation Ltd.
Represented Align Aerospace in its acquisition by a subsidiary of Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC), the Chinese state-owned aerospace and defense company, in a transaction worth $220 million.
Represented Lenovo in various matters, including acquisition of x86 server business from IBM for $2.1 billion.
Obtained what is likely the largest single award in the 150-year history of the Court of Federal Claims: a $1 billion judgment on behalf of 11 plaintiffs in claims against the U.S. government seeking monetary recovery for the government’s breach of contract. The award was affirmed by the Federal Circuit.
Represented IBM in the $1.75 billion sale of its personal computers division to Lenovo.
Advice to numerous clients regarding compliance with the statutory and contractual pricing obligations under the Veteran’s Health Care Act (VHCA), including performing gap analyses, providing policies and training, and assisting with investigations and disclosures.
Advised multiple clients on unique government contracting considerations in the sale or licensure of their life sciences portfolios to companies with a broad range of government contracting experience.
Advised multiple clients concerning the Federal Acquisition Regulation’s anti-human trafficking requirements, which were expanded in early 2015. Our advice has included creating employee policies and trainings to facilitate compliance and developing contractor compliance plans that, among other things, provide tools for monitoring subcontractor adherence to human trafficking prohibitions.
Advised multiple clients on matters arising from their negotiation and performance of manufacturing and research and development contracts relating to various pandemic and Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) threats, including matters relating to government indemnification or liability protection for unusually hazardous risks, compliance with cost standards and principles, and protection of intellectual property.
Covington has advised nominees and potential nominees to a variety of Presidential boards and commissions.
Covington advised major corporations on vetting issues related to cabinet appointments.
Counseled a major defense contractor on how to mitigate potential future tort risk during contract discussions with the U.S. government. The military wanted the contractor to provide support for a significant anti-terrorism initiative, and the contractor needed advice on how best to structure the contract to minimize its risk and maximize its protection in the event of third-party claims arising from its contract performance.
Covington successfully represented an individual who was vetted and confirmed for an appointment as the U.S. Ambassador to a major European country.
Advising a multinational chemicals company on international data transfers.
Search warrants executed simultaneously on both coasts triggered an aggressive investigation of alleged Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) violations. First, we persuaded the U.S. Attorney to terminate its criminal case. Next, we convinced the Department of Justice’s Civil Frauds division that the case had no merit. Finally, we obtained a dismissal on motion of a pending qui tam case. After winning on all fronts, the client was able to submit and recover allowable costs of defense, including legal fees.
Advocating on a variety of legislative and policy issues before Congress on behalf of major corporations and industry associations, including United Airlines, Union Pacific Railroad, Associated of General Contractors, American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, Association of Equipment Manufacturers, and U.S. Custom Harvesters.
We assisted one of the world’s largest manufacturers of agricultural equipment in establishing and strengthening relationships with key constituencies in the United States, Africa, and South America, including with relevant government officials and international NGOs. With our knowledge of global development programs and agricultural initiatives, we helped identify future markets and consumers through relationships with U.S. and non-U.S. government officials as well as international NGOs.
Advising major Internet companies as to the substantiation required to defend advertising claims made about their products and services.
Helping numerous companies self-certify under the Safe Harbor framework.
Advised multiple for-profit clients about domestic sourcing requirements imposed under subgrants and state and local agreements through various Departments of Transportation and Energy appropriations, New Jersey Buy American requirements, and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Advised client on structuring employee secondment agreements so as to permit reimbursement of costs of shared employees and associated indirect costs under a secondment agreement during a contractual novation process in connection with an M&A transaction, enabling the client to orderly transfer employees and facilities to the purchaser and ensure continued reimbursement up to the point of final transfer.
Represented the Carlyle Group and PAI Partners in the acquisition of the Custom Sensors & Technologies business from Schneider Electric.
Represented Northrop in the sale of its Viper Strike business to MBDA.
Represented British Telecommunications plc in its acquisitions of Infonet Services Corp., Comsat International, Counterpane, and Wire One Communications (among others).
Advised a major pharmaceutical client on the collection and use of its employees’ biometric information and social security numbers for internal purposes.
Advising retailers on pricing claims and practices, including the use of the word “free,” “two-for-one” offers, and trial periods with negative cancellation options.
Advised our client regarding the circumstances in which bid and proposal costs may be claimed as reimbursable costs under a USAID contract, despite agency directive purporting to make virtually all such costs unallowable.
Conducted a pan-European and selective U.S. survey of laws and regulations affecting an employer’s right to monitor employee’s Internet use and review electronic communications. We have also advised numerous clients on the law governing call recording and access to (and disclosure of) employee e-mail, including in connection with several personal crises and actions.
Represented Pacific Telecom in the company’s acquisitions of Micronesian Telecommunications Corporation and IT&E Overseas, Inc.
Advised a client in its international efforts to remove discriminatory regulatory barriers threatening to keep its product from the market in South Africa, the EU, India, and elsewhere.
Routinely draft ad-serving agreements, data licenses, and advertising terms and guidelines for website advertising and advertising delivered on mobile and social media platforms.
Advice on European geo-location data issues for major international service provider.
Represented a third-party advertising service in responding to an inquiry by the FTC into the company’s technology for selecting and delivering online advertising.
Represented a third-party advertising service in responding to an inquiry by the FTC into the company’s technology for selecting and delivering online advertising. Mmatter was resolved without any formal enforcement action.
Representing trade associations and individual companies in connection with the FTC’s periodic reviews of advertising practices in the alcoholic beverage industry.
Advising a self-regulatory body on its government affairs activities, including advising on the tax treatment of these activities.
Conducted a detailed review of the human resources operations of a large pharmaceutical company to assess compliance with data protection and privacy laws and regulations in both the U.S. and EU, in anticipation of possible certification under the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor regime. Our extensive written report described potential compliance issues and recommended specific remedial actions.
One of the world’s largest manufacturers of civilian aircraft wanted to promote its foreign direct investment and expand access to government procurements in the United States and Latin America. We supported the company’s increased engagement in Washington, achieving notable recognition by U.S. policymakers at the most senior levels of government. We also advised on U.S. trade policy, export credit programs, and market access issues.
On behalf of one of the world’s leading consumer electronics and technology companies, we completed a comprehensive global privacy audit under the laws of the United States, the European Union, and China, including an assessment of the data collection, use, and sharing practices of numerous business units (including HR data), cross-border data transfers, and adopting a going-forward privacy governance and risk-management approach and corresponding policies and procedures.
Represented companies in obtaining favorable product jurisdiction rulings on aircraft parts, materials, and other items.
Represented FastenTech in its sale to Doncasters Group, a subsidiary of Dubai International Capital.
Assisted global high-technology and financial sector companies with U.S. and other export controls affecting encryption items and high-performance computers.
Developed a comprehensive export controls compliance program to assist a U.S.-based oilfield services company in securing approval under the Commerce Department Special Comprehensive Licensing program.
Advised Facebook, in connection with its acquisitions of Instagram, Oculus, WhatsApp and other entities.
Advised companies on deemed export requirements and the completion of export-related visa certifications for non-U.S. workers.
Represented Hyperdynamics Corporation in an FCPA investigation by the Department of Justice related to its business activities in the Republic of Guinea. The matter was resolved without any charges being brought against the company.
Assisted in the structuring of multi-billion dollar bank facilities to finance the manufacture and delivery of major defense systems to foreign governments under Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contracts.
Advised a publicly-traded investment company on government contracts and national industrial security matters related to a debt financing arrangement involving a contractor with significant classified operations.
Represented Forest City Ratner Companies in a joint venture with Shanghai Greenland Group to develop the Atlantic Yards site in Brooklyn, NY.
Advising distributors of prescription drugs and medical devices concerning compliance with the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, FTC Act, and Lanham Act advertising standards.
Led more than a dozen internal investigations for a military aircraft manufacturer, including drafting voluntary disclosures filed with the Departments of State and Commerce that were successfully resolved. Also developed export compliance plans for several of the company’s high-profile international projects.
Conducted an investigation for a major international financial institution with regard to possible breaches of UK and EU financial sanctions and wire transfer regulations by the client’s UK branch.
We have advised several clients concerning the statutory ban on federal contracting with “inverted domestic corporations.” Our advice has enabled these clients to arrange their business structures and operations so as to maintain contracting opportunities to the maximum extent possible.
Through the United Nations Development Program, the International Senior Lawyers Project, and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Commercial Law Development Program, we provide procurement law expertise and training to senior procurement officials of foreign governments including Liberia, Iraq, and Afghanistan to help those countries build capacity for conducting predictable and transparent procurements. This experience allows us to provide specific, knowledgeable advice to clients wishing to pursue procurements conducted by foreign governments.
For SES Americom, we provided advice and advocacy at the FCC and DOJ concerning the impact of the News Corp. acquisition of Hughes Electronics (and its subsidiary, PanAmSat), on competition in the satellite distribution services industry.
Advise petroleum refiner regarding the scope and applicability of the “small refinery” exemption from the renewable fuel standard.
Representation of Sony BMG Music Entertainment in a class action lawsuit challenging royalties for downloading music and in connection with an insurance coverage dispute arising out of damage allegedly caused by DRM software included on music CDs.
Representation of one of the leading distributors of televisions to the healthcare field, Specialty Equipment Manufacturers, on FCC compliance issues. When its leading manufacturer discovered problems complying with an FCC rule, we sought a waiver of the FCC’s Part 15 requirements for one of the leading TV set manufacturer in this market.
Devised and coordinated anti-piracy strategies throughout Europe (including Russia and markets in Eastern Europe) to enforce the IPRs of leading software providers.
Represented Cook Inlet and others in the spectrum auctions process.
Regulatory and advocacy advice to a biofuels company on legislative developments relating to the EU Renewable Energies Directive in the European Parliament and Council.
Secured district court ruling dismissing a putative ERISA class action on the basis of the statute of limitations. Gelesky v. AK Steel Corp. Pensions Agmt. Plan, 828 F. Supp. 2d 935 (S.D. Ohio 2011).
Representation of the Walt Disney Company in its $7 billion acquisition of Infoseek Corporation.
Representation of the Association of Public Television Stations on whether public television stations may use their surplus digital capacity for commercial purposes, including non-broadcast advertisements.
Represented a client on environmental matters relating to building a biofuels manufacturing plant on contaminated property on a waterway in New Jersey.
Advise advanced biofuels manufacturer regarding approval of new renewable fuels under EPA’s renewable fuel pathways regulations.
Representation of Electronic Arts in an assessment of its freedom to operate for a new product in light of third party patents.
Representation of broadcasters and programming suppliers in negotiations and litigation with satellite carriers EchoStar and DirecTV.
Working for the enactment of meaningful net neutrality legislation on behalf of a coalition of Internet leaders, including eBay, Google, InterActiveCorp, Microsoft and Yahoo!.
Challenging the largest broadcast indecency fine ever proposed by the FCC as lead counsel for a coalition of nearly 100 broadcast television stations.
Representation the broadcast industry and individual broadcasters for nearly two decades on the incredible range of technical, legal and policy issues surrounding the transition to digital television. We helped negotiate the DTV standard, and devised the new frequency table. We worked closely at every step with the FCC’s engineers and with engineers across the television industry. We also worked to develop the new rules and legal requirements to accompany the detailed technical analysis.
Provided strategic advice and advocacy support to the Business Software Alliance on the EU Copyright Directive, proposed Software Patents Directive and IP Enforcement Directive, and more broadly assisted in efforts to promote the protection of IP in the EU and third countries.
Representation of Canadian Satellite Radio Holdings, Inc. in a $100 million bond offering.
Representation of Microsoft before the FCC on various issuing surrounding its Media Center and DRM products. We obtained FCC recognition of Windows Media Digital Rights Management software as a permissible means to handle digital content. We also represent the company in ongoing rulemakings and waiver petitions involving plug-and-play issues, including industry-wide efforts to resolve these issues.
Representation of Microsoft in negotiating licenses for IP related digital output and copy protection technology for the Xbox 360 console.
Representation of a major media company on all telecom matters relevant to its commencement and continuity of operations as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (i.e., a reseller of wireless service) in the U.S. market.
Representation of major publishers in the United States and Europe on cross-border libel matters relating to Internet publication.
Representation of Microsoft in negotiating reseller agreements for interactive voice recognition cloud services between Microsoft subsidiary Tellme and various partners, initially Juma Technology Company and its subsidiary Nectar Services Corp.
Representation of the National Association of Broadcasters before the U.S. Supreme Court in the Schwarzenegger case, which concerns the First Amendment validity of state-imposed limitations on violent video games.
Representation of National Geographic Society in the creation of the National Geographic Channel with News Corp. and NBC.
Protecting the rights of journalists to gather news in the New York and New Jersey transit systems, on behalf of the National Press Photographers Association.
Representation of Mobile Satellite Ventures (MSV), an L-band MSS provider that has an authorization for a next generation service using ancillary terrestrial components (ATC), in corporate and transactional matters, including equity and debt financing.
Representation of clients on various legislative and regulatory policy and litigation issues, including (1) retransmission consent, (2) downconversion of digital signals by cable systems, (3) carriage of digital multicast streams by cable, DBS and other video program distributors, (4) indecency, (5) media ownership and (6) importation of distant signals by DBS operators.
Obtaining rules on commercial fax messages that protect consumers’ rights, but are fair to legitimate businesses, after multi-venue effort in Congress, in court and at the FCC on behalf of the Fax Ban Coalition, a cross-industry group of trade associations and businesses, as well as the U.S. Chambers of Commerce, the National Association of Realtors and a coalition of businesses in the mortgage finance industry.
Representation of a foreign satellite manufacturer on general corporate and securities law issues regarding its activities with a U.S. company developing a new satellite-based communications service.
Representation of one of the world’s largest global software and technology companies in a range of communications regulatory issues affecting its business.
Representation of a group of secured lenders as principal outside regulatory counsel in the restructuring of FairPoint Communications.
Represented investors in the old ITFS and MMDS spectrums have turned to us for advise on new spectrum strategies, regulatory reform, and deal work.
Managing worldwide patent portfolio of Alkermes plc relating to sustained-release pharmaceutical formulations in products such as VIVITROL®, RISPERDAL® CONSTA®, and BYDUREON®. We obtained pivotal patents in Canada, Europe, Japan, and the United States covering the BYDUREON product, a sustained-release formulation indicated for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.
Represented Thomson Reuters in the prosecution of patent applications directed to digital image processing and various financial software technologies.
Managing a large worldwide portfolio of patents and patent applications relating to wood preservation technology, as well as advising on post-grant opposition proceedings in Europe and New Zealand.
Representation of multiple requesters in inter partes reexamination of seven patents in the Helferich Patent Licensing (HPL) portfolio. All challenged claims in all patents stand rejected, with six of the seven patents on appeal to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Given the success of the reexamination and Inter Partes Review proceedings handled by Covington, the last remaining requesters reached favorable settlements with HPL.
Representation of Alkermes, Inc., the top patent owner of Orange Book listed patents in reexamination, in ex parte reexamination proceedings and worldwide opposition proceedings initiated by competitors. Six of the seven patents successfully emerged from reexamination and remain listable for the VIVITROL® and RISPERDAL® CONSTA® products.
Representation of Trend Micro Incorporated as patent owner before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in ex parte reexamination proceedings relating to two patents directed to anti-virus technology. Reexamination Certificates for both patents were issued, and Trend Micro and the third-party requester settled the state court litigation in which the validity of the patents was at issue.
Represented Osmose in several inter partes reexamination proceedings, including the defense of Osmose patents drawn to methods of preserving wood using particulate copper and methods for directly producing copper carbonate.
Representation of Altice N.V. in its $18 billion acquisition of Cablevision Systems Corporation, which will make Altice the 4th largest U.S. cable operator with approximately 4.5 million customers.
Sony BMG Music Entertainment in a class action lawsuit brought by the Allman Brothers Band and Cheap Trick on behalf of all artists whose contracts pre-date the era of digital downloaded music. Sony BMG pays the artists under the applicable royalty rate for album sales at brick-and-mortar record stores, while the artists claim that Sony BMG should be paying a much greater royalty rate for downloaded music.
Represent Portfolio Recovery Associates, a large debt collection firm, in a CFPB investigation and enforcement action that resulted in the negotiation and implementation of a consent order.
Advise numerous financial institutions and non-bank financial services firms on unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices (“UDAAPs”), fair lending, overdraft programs, credit cards, installment loans, and other consumer credit products, payments and payment systems, military lending, and managing vendor and other third-party relationships.
Represent industry trade associations, including the Online Lenders Alliance, Consumer Data Industry Association, and American Bankers Association, in connection with CFPB and FTC regulatory strategy and policy advocacy, preparing comment letters on CFPB rulemakings, and amicus briefs.
Advise numerous financial technology and services companies, including consumer reporting agencies, payment processors, and technology providers, on issues related to consumer credit reporting, financial privacy and data security, payment processing and payment systems, and state licensing requirements.
Helped influence the development of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) to minimize unnecessary and costly burdens on industry, and represent clients with respect to food safety laws, health benefits claims, and compliance matters.
KKR and Texas Pacific Group in securing the necessary FERC and NRC approvals for the successful acquisition of TXU Corp. for $45 billion, the largest leveraged buyout in history. The acquisition of TXU included its large fleet of generation assets in Texas as well as transmission and distribution facilities. We also provided counsel on energy regulatory, climate change, government affairs, and public policy matters. The acquired company is now Energy Future Holdings.
Morgan Stanley as financial advisor to Vivint Solar, Inc. in its $2.2 billion acquisition by SunEdison, Inc.
Borrego Solar Systems Inc. in connection with the sale of its residential solar division to groSolar Inc.
Represent Alps Electric in putative class actions alleging price-fixing in the heater control panel market.
Represent Keihin Corporation in putative class actions alleging price-fixing in the fuel injection systems business.
Assisted a leading life sciences company in the design and implementation of global trade compliance program.
On behalf of a major consumer products company, developed a HIPAA training module for the company’s health plan.
Assisted with employment and variable compensation aspects of the hire of a European CEO for a FTSE-listed company.
Advised major corporations on HIPAA compliance issues relating to their employer health plans.
ICICI Bank Limited, India’s second largest bank, and Standard Chartered Bank, India’s largest international bank, as joint lead arrangers for an aggregate of $925 million in project financings supporting power plant and port expansion projects being undertaken by two affiliates of Reliance Industries.
Represent Samsung in consolidated antitrust price-fixing and deceptive practice class actions involving liquid crystal displays. Won dismissal of claims valued at more than $3.5 billion, brought by Motorola Mobility against Samsung Electronics and several other manufacturers, shortly before trial.
Representing Schering-Plough (now Merck) in multi-district class action litigation challenging so-called reverse payment settlements of pharmaceutical patent litigation. Obtained denial of certification of indirect purchaser class, after which indirect purchasers voluntarily dismissed their case. The team previously defeated the FTC at trial in an action on the same facts, and will now have the opportunity to resolve the direct purchaser portion of the case under a recent Supreme Court decision.
We secured the reversal of a class certification order in a “stock drop” lawsuit claiming breaches of fiduciary duty in the administration of a company retirement savings plan.
Entergy in connection with the license renewal for the Indian Point reactors.
Represent a national association of property owners in the OSHA rulemakings about indoor air quality.
Advising a major multi-sector industrial company in developing an integrated compliance program, including assessment of the company’s corporate risks and current compliance function, and the creation and implementation of training regimes, tailored policies and operational procedures to support those policies, and mechanisms to monitor compliance and address any issues that arise. The enhanced compliance program is designed to support a wide variety of business units, including industrial sites, and sales and procurement functions. The project also entails developing policies to address compliance in the company’s third-party collaborations.
Representing Pixar in multi-defendant federal antitrust class action litigation alleging an unlawful agreement among certain Silicon Valley firms to limit their recruiting of each other’s employees.
A French E&P company in an ICC arbitration with a Swedish independent arising out of the alleged breach of first refusal rights under a JOA.
Representation of First Wind in advising and consulting with federal and state agencies on implementation of a Habitat Conservation Plan for endangered shorebirds on Maui, Hawaii.
Representing S-Y Systems Technologies Europe, GmbH, the only defendant dismissed in its entirety from the wire harness price-fixing litigation, which is the lead case in the sprawling Automotive Parts Antitrust Litigation pending in Detroit. The court granted motion to dismiss, on personal jurisdiction grounds and did not grant the plaintiffs’ request for jurisdictional discovery.
Representing subsidiaries of an international oil company in pending ICSID arbitration proceedings involving expropriation of investments in Venezuela, resulting in a tribunal award of compensation exceeding U.S. $2 billion in value.
A French oil and gas independent in an ICSID arbitration against a Latin American state, in a dispute arising out of alleged breaches of a bilateral investment treaty and several production sharing agreements.
Co-lead counsel to Occidental Petroleum in an ICSID arbitration against the Republic of Ecuador arising out of the wrongful termination of a production-sharing agreement that resulted in the largest ICSID and investment treaty award to date.
Advising Microsoft on a broad range of privacy and data security issues impacting its services in Europe and at a global level.
Advised pharmaceutical companies in the United States and Europe on data privacy issues, including questions relating to genetic testing programs and the development of genomics databases, the sourcing and handling of human tissue and biological samples for research purposes, patient outreach, and marketing activities.
Representation of companies and individuals in negotiation of GMP consent decrees involving drugs, biologics, devices, and blood products, including significant consent decree matters for Schering Plough, Genzyme and one of the largest manufacturers of OTC drugs in the U.S.
Secured summary judgment for George Mason School of Law against sexual harassment and other discrimination claims by law school professor.
Represented American Petroleum Institute in Comer, putative class action alleging industrial activities contributed to global warming, causing a rise in sea levels and adding to the ferocity of Hurricane Katrina, and thereby causing property damage to plaintiffs.
Designed a compact worldwide privacy compliance program for a U.S. multinational company.
A global air cargo company wanted to enhance its political influence as a respected industry voice on public policy issues in order to advance its global business objectives. We helped the company resolve difficult regulatory disputes in several countries, including a fast-moving dispute in China that endangered its business model. We also achieved legislative success for the company in the U.S. Congress on defense policy matters in the authorization bill (NDAA).
Advising a large social network on compliance with U.S., EU and international data privacy laws in relation to its launch of new services and functionality, including geotargeting, facial recognition and targeted advertising.
Representing General Electric and Synchrony Financial (GE Capital’s former North American retail finance business) in connection with Synchrony’s approximately $2.95 billion initial public offering and in connection with GE’s subsequent exchange offer to complete the separation of Synchrony from GE, including the Federal Reserve Board application process and approval required for the Synchrony’s separation from GE.
Represent the former GE Capital Retail Bank (now Synchrony Financial) in a CFPB investigation, enforcement action, and consent order related to allegations of deceptive marketing of credit card add-on products and discrimination against Spanish-speaking customers related to certain offers to settle outstanding credit card balances and a Department of Justice enforcement action and consent order regarding the same allegations of discrimination.
A large gas utility in a controversy with El Paso Natural Gas Company concerning rights of contract termination and Rights of First Refusal.
Lead counsel for Apache Corporation in insurance coverage arbitration and litigation proceedings relating to the explosion of a gas pipeline in Western Australia.
GHL Acquisition Corp., a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by Greenhill & Co., Inc., in its acquisition of Iridium Holdings LLC, the leading mobile satellite services provider.
Serving as global privacy and data security counsel to a global e-commerce business, including advising on financial services privacy and information security-related aspects of certain mobile payments and mobile wallet services and international data transfers
Illumina in a strategic alliance with Genomics England for a four-year project to decode 100,000 human genomes.
Advising numerous clients on the possible implications of the proposed General Data Protection Regulation.
On an ongoing basis, we provide government relations advice to several large and mid-size financial institutions.
HaloIPT, a leading provider of wireless charging technology for electric road vehicles, in the acquisition of all its technology and assets by Qualcomm Incorporated.
Drafted and implemented a global code of conduct and policies for Harley-Davidson addressing privacy, harassment, discrimination, the use of electronic communications and anti-corruption.
Counseled leading health care information, product and disease-oriented websites on advertising and sponsorship arrangements.
Advised governments on the privatization of telecom service providers, crafting regulations for the introductions of regulatory structures to foster competition in the telecommunications industry; drafted regulations governing telecom activities; and established a licensing and regulatory structure for the introduction of next-generation wireless telecommunications service.
Defense of beverage manufacturer in FTC investigation of substantiation for health benefit claims in advertising.
Advocacy before Congress, FDA, and other federal agencies with respect to emerging regulatory policies on health information technology, research use products, and laboratory developed tests.
Successfully defended the substantiation for health benefit claims made by a food manufacturer facing a challenge before the NAD.
AstraZeneca in an FTC investigation and private antitrust class action litigation concerning settlements of Hatch-Waxman patent litigation involving Nexium.
Advise client regarding application of the Hazard Communication Standard to animal vaccines.
We assisted the Government of Puerto Rico during debate on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) in its efforts to secure parity in federal funding of its Medicaid program.
Advise government contractor regarding acquisition of another government contract with significant environmental-related contracts.
On behalf of one of the largest manufacturing companies in the world, conducted a government affairs compliance review and made recommendations concerning political law compliance practice.
We have advised the largest and most sophisticated banks, consumer reporting agencies, and financial services companies on the collection, use and disclosure of nonpublic personal information under GLBA, that California Financial Information Privacy Act, and similar laws, including the development and implementation of privacy notices.
Represented GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) in resolving a complex criminal and civil investigation by the United States Department of Justice. The multi-faceted investigation had a broad focus, including issues relating to GSK’s sales and marketing practices for numerous products, its regulatory submissions relating to Avandia, and the company’s use of the nominal price exception under the Medicaid Rebate Program.
Counseled leading human and animal food and pharmaceutical manufacturers on all facets of food and drug labeling, marketing and advertising requirements.
American Petroleum Institute and American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers as plaintiffs in lawsuits challenging the validity of state laws requiring refiners to sell ethanol-free gasoline to distributors and retailers.
Advising the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation and the John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy and Civic Engagement at the American University in Cairo to undertake a legal environment evaluation project for philanthropy in the Arab World.
Advised companies regarding U.S. and EU sanctions on the Qaddafi regime in Libya and the Assad regime in Syria, including obtaining licenses to permit certain ongoing business activities in Libya.
Libel defense litigation and prepublication review of news and other content for broadcasters in some 35 states, including First Amendment, newsgathering, copyright, defamation and privacy advice, and opposing subpoenas from prosecutors and others.
We represented the Embassy of New Zealand in seeking the passage of legislation that would permit NZ nationals to access trade and investment visas in the United States. Covington assisted the Embassy in devising a legislative strategy, drafting the legislation, and lobbying key members of Congress and the Administration.
We represented a wind energy company on tax and energy legislation.
Labrador Communications, a start-up new media company, in its exclusive content distribution agreement with Cingular Wireless for the distribution of Labrador’s stock-car racing audio programs as a subscription service to Cingular’s mobile telephone customers.
Assisted Kos Pharmaceuticals in obtaining Medicare Part D coverage for its previously excluded product.
FCC handed Covington a decisive victory to the Tennis Channel in its discriminatory carriage lawsuit against Comcast Cable Communications, the largest distributor of video programming content.
Conducted internal investigation relating to customs clearance practices for automotive parts in various Latin American countries.
The U.S. Supreme Court held that a participant stated a colorable ERISA fiduciary breach claim for losses stemming from the alleged failure to implement investment directions for his 401(k) plan account. In a concurring opinion, Chief Justice Roberts cited our amicus brief for The ERISA Industry Committee in stating that such actions might need to be brought as benefits denial claims and subjected to exhaustion of administrative remedies.
LIN TV Corp. in its acquisition of Red McCombs Media, an online advertising company and one of Inc. magazine’s fastest-growing private companies.
Representation of clients on connection with inquiries concerning manufacturers’ suggested retail pricing.
Represented LTV Steel in obtaining more than $40 million in recoveries for environmental liabilities from numerous settlements.
Assisting a major U.S. tech company with an entrance into China, including providing a comprehensive analysis of privacy and data protection issues in connection with that entry.
One of the world’s largest global mass media companies needed support on a range of issues that intersect law and policy. We helped the client:
Represent client in litigation challenging the U.S. Department of the Interior's five year-offshore oil and gas leasing program under the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act.
Represent Los Angeles County Transit System on alternative fuel incentives.
Conducting due diligence investigations and performing risk assessments to evaluate potential product or toxic tort liabilities associated with pharmaceutical and medical device companies bringing products to market.
Led the leading litigations challenging the FCC’s rules on telemarketing and fax advertising.
Conducted an audit of Lobbying Disclosure Act compliance practices for a Wall Street financial institution.
Serve as outside political law compliance counsel to a major trade association, advising on a range of matters, including the Lobbying Disclosure Act and federal election laws.
Advising a multinational heavy equipment manufacturer on a range of federal and state campaign finance, lobbying disclosure, and government ethics matters.
Provided advice to a financial firm on registering under the LDA and assisting the firm with ongoing reporting obligations.
Advised a New York-headquartered investment bank on an international assignment from the UK to China.
Comprehensive review of internet and social media promotion for a leading multinational medical device company.
Advised Internet-site operators on commercial strategies, including with respect to CPM-based revenue sharing arrangements.
Assisted a life sciences company with international assignments, including relevant cross-border corporate and individual tax risks and immigration requirements.
Representation of International Dairy Foods Association against a class action in Virginia state court alleging deceptive marketing of the potential weight-loss benefits of consuming milk.
Negotiated various innovative program agreements for (a) the NFL, including for example, its deals with ESPN and Sprint and one with TiVo to protect its programming against Internet piracy, (b) other program deals involving PBS, Comcast and Children’s Television Workshop and (c) NBC Weather Plus and NBC Broadband -- joint ventures between the network and its affiliates.
Advise Indian Energy Limited relating to a wind energy project in India on its initial public offering on AIM and other capital raises pre- and post-IPO.
Advising ING Insurance International on the sale of its mortgage business in Mexico, ING Hipotecaria, to the Mexican banking subsidiary of Banco Santander, Spain’s largest bank, for approximately $50 million.
Inquam Limited in its acquisition of Telemobil S.A., the Romanian wireless telecommunications operator, and on Telemobil’s subsequent vendor financing facility with Lucent Technologies.
Represented Bank of America in nationwide class actions challenging interchange fees paid on ATM and credit card transactions.
Representation of First Wind Holdings with regard to insurance claims arising out of fires that occurred at its Kahuku Wind farm, Oahu, in 2011 and 2012. Coverage issues include property damage, business interruption, and potential environmental liability issues.
Obtained a complete jury verdict for an aerospace contractor accused of conspiring with the employee of a competitor to misappropriate trade secrets. The plaintiff had sought $30,000,000.
Represented JPMorgan Chase in numerous consumer class actions and attorney general representative actions on various practices relating to credit cards.
Representation of the first joint venture to provide Mobile Digital Television ("Mobile DTV") services in the United States in establishing a nine-company venture, as well as in negotiating a national joint venture with NBC, Fox and Ion Media to deploy this new digital service. This project has involved leading the negotiation of the Pearl Mobile DTV venture, leading the negotiation of certain programming and content agreements, and heading up public policy efforts with Congress, the White House, and the FCC.
Kangaroo Media Inc. in the negotiation of an agreement with Formula One for the rights to provide a handheld TV service to racing fans at F1 events around the world.
In obtaining the dismissal of an antitrust class action alleging that a number of credit-card issuers conspired to adopt arbitration clauses in their credit card agreements. 2006 WL 2685082 (S.D.N.Y. Sept. 20, 2006).
Representation of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) against false advertising claims based on a KFC promotion that were asserted as a class action in the Western District of Virginia.
Advised Keanu Reeves and Stephan Hamel’s production company, Company Films, on China projects.
Have helped companies understand U.S. retaliatory sanctions directed at Iran (through the Iran Sanctions Act as recently amended by the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010, or CISADA) and counterpart EU measures.
Defending a major regional bank in connection with an FEC investigation concerning a loan that the bank made to a Super PAC. We have also advised candidates and financial institutions on campaign loan questions.
Advised actor John Lone (of "M. Butterfly," "Rush Hour 2" and the Academy-award winning "The Last Emperor") in exploring China opportunities.
UBS on FERC issues relating to its gas marketing and trading business.
Represent BP in the Penalty Phase of the Deepwater Horizon litigation, including at trial.
Defense of beverage marketer against allegations of deceptive marketing under the District of Columbia Consumer Protection Procedures Act.
Devised a data privacy compliance program relating to international HR data processed by a US-headquartered multinational.
Drafted new defamation laws for Bosnia.
Represented executives of various airlines in investigations in the air cargo and passenger industries in several jurisdictions.
Defending senior executives in auto parts-related investigations.
Representing Credit Suisse AG in connection with Federal Reserve Board investigation and Federal Reserve Board Consent Order to Cease and Desist and Assessment of Civil Money Penalty with respect to allegations that Credit Suisse assisted U.S. taxpayers with opening of foreign accounts to avoid required U.S. tax reporting and related matters—and in connection with implementation of requirements of the Order.
Advised private equity firm Cyrte Investments on a major investment in a co-production with a Chinese studio.
Defending a large European manufacturer of power cables in a criminal antitrust investigation by the DOJ.
Covington argued in support of creating a place in the regulatory regime for Super PACs, filing comments in support of the prevailing parities in FEC Advisory Opinions 2010-09 and 2010-10.
Represent several Japanese and European manufacturers of automotive parts in investigations of alleged anticompetitive activity.
Represented CSC Sugar LLC in antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.
Advising a major petrochemical company regarding its establishment of an integrated compliance program, with particular focus on the areas of U.S. and European trade controls, anti-corruption, and data privacy. Our representation includes assistance with establishing a corporate compliance office, assessing risks in these areas, drafting the necessary policies and procedures tailored to company risks and operations, and implementing the program through training and assessment.
Structured a senior executive’s cross-border tax and employment arrangements for a U.S./UK clean tech company.
Defended claims threatened against a technology company in the US and the UK, involving alleged SOX whistleblower protections and unlawful detriment claims.
Represented Bertelsmann, Inc. in multi-district antitrust class action litigation alleging price-fixing and other violations of antitrust laws with respect to digital music.
Represented Universal Studios in obtaining the dismissal of a high-profile negligence action brought by a Maury Show guest in New York state court.
Negotiated with U.S. Department of Interior and California Energy Commission relative to environmental documentation, including NEPA, and species mitigation for siting of solar facility.
Developed technical substantiation to support product claims made in labeling, promotions and advertising, and in the defense of substantiation in the litigation context.
Comverge, Inc. a demand response provider and technology company, in FERC matters on regulations pertaining to demand response, including measurement and verification issues, and, in particular, proceedings involving demand response in the PJM Interconnection.
Advising a supplier of tidal energy turbines on a demonstration project in the United States.
Advise client regarding definition of a pesticide and what types of cleaning claims may be made without products being determined to be a pesticide.
All the major domestic oil and gas trade associations in defending multiple ongoing district court and court of appeals lawsuits raising environmental challenges to continued exploration and development in the Gulf of Mexico and elsewhere.
BASF in its negotiation of a Department Energy grant to construct a cathode materials production plant that supplies manufacturers of advanced lithium-ion batteries.
Advised on advertising policies, including with respect to privacy laws, including the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, and developed advertising policies.
Provide advice to a Japan based company on developing electronic waste take-back requirements in Argentina and other South American countries.
We assisted a pharmaceutical company on assessing which NGOs they should consider working with in Kenya to implement a corporate responsibility program aimed at improving public health.
Represent COMPETE Coalition on a wide range of FERC and state regulatory matters involving capacity markets, wholesale and retail market structure and competition issues, electricity rates, RTO markets and transparency issues.
COMPETE, a major coalition of more than 680 electricity market participants including Exelon, PSEG, Wal-Mart, PPL Energy, Calpine, TXU Energy, Safeway, Tendril and Leggett & Platt on a wide range of federal and state electricity competition issues, including the structure of RTO markets and retail competition matters in numerous states including Texas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Illinois, Virginia, Michigan, California, Oregon, Wisconsin, Arizona and Ohio.
Advising a multinational chemical manufacturer regarding updates to its integrated compliance program, developing a three-year plan for a comprehensive update, and helping the company assess risk and update its existing policies and procedures in the areas of anti-corruption, third party due diligence and monitoring, and investigations.
Electric Power Generation Association in presenting testimony regarding the benefits of competitive markets before the Public Utility Commission of Pennsylvania.
A government entity needed to purchase a large number of military vehicles. The procurement required contractors and technology from several jurisdictions and a long-term supply arrangement. From international trade controls and U.S. and EU military sales advice to commercial terms, Covington provided strategic direction as we simultaneously ensured that the documents met local and international requirements.
Led the Coalition of Broadband Users and Innovators, including Microsoft, Yahoo!, Google, eBay, and consumer groups before the FCC and Congress for policies that ensure that as broadband services are deregulated, these Internet content companies have the ability to reach their customers.
Advise pharmaceutical manufacturer regarding listing of multiple generators of waste as “co-generators” for RCRA purposes.
Representing Cole Taylor Bank, now part of MB Financial, in Federal Reserve Board (and Illinois banking department) investigation and consent cease and desist/civil money penalty order alleging violations of consumer protection laws with respect to deposit products provided by the bank through a third party that offered financial aid refund disbursement services to higher education students.
Prepare and submit comments on EPA’s proposed 111(d) rule regulating greenhouse gas emissions from electric generating units for multiple interested parties, including members of the nuclear industry, a coalition of electricity producers, and advanced technology companies.
Drafted and negotiated commercial arrangements for online advertising revenue-sharing arrangements, sponsored-search and graphical advertising involving the leading Internet portals and Internet content providers.
Prepare comment letter on behalf of SIFMA AMG related to a Joint Audit Committee policy on margining of accounts held by the same beneficial owner.
Prepare multiple comment letters on behalf of several trade associations related to the treatment of segregated margin for cleared derivatives under the Basel III leverage ratio.
Advising on copyright matters relating to rights to an extensive photographic archive and on wrongful publication of photographs in Europe.
We have advised leading consumer electronics companies in the in EU in proceedings to consider possible reform of national rules on copyright levies.
Provide general copyright and fair use advice and counseling to publishers such as the National Geographic Society, the Washington Post Company, and Zomba Music Publishing, to various television broadcast stations, and to a number of leading online business and media ventures including The Microsoft Network, USA Interactive, and the National Football League. Covington is also special intellectual property counsel to the Smithsonian Institution.
Serve as coordinating counsel for manufacturing company regarding its asbestos cases.
Provided copyright advice on advertising issues, including with respect to copyright risk-assessment and worked with clients to develop copyright compliance strategies.
We serve as counsel to the political action committees of a major oil and gas company.
Served as counsel to one of the most significant Super PACs in the 2012 presidential election campaign, which succeeded in raising and spending over $75 million.
We provide a broad range of political advice to a major consumer-facing retailer active in federal, state and local elections.
Advising Borrego Solar Systems, Inc. on a variety of corporate, financial and operational matters in a dynamic and rapidly changing solar market. Borrego is one of the oldest and largest solar integrators in California with over 25 years of experience. We counseled Borrego on tax, regulatory and corporate matters related to power purchase agreement, engineering procurement and constructions contracts, operations and maintenance contracts and site access agreements on more than 30 projects.
A highly innovative pharmaceuticals company was concerned about the public debate and policy proposals made to address antimicrobial resistance, as these could seriously curtail its future business. Working together with external partners, we monitor and participate in discussions at the G7, WHO, EU and national levels (in the UK and Germany), with several successes already at proposing alternative solutions more favorable to our client.
We helped a trade association obtain congressional reversal of a crippling federal court decision that would have compelled removal of the USDA seal from approximately 90 percent of organic products and that would have likely resulted in a market loss of nearly $1 billion in the first year after the ruling.
We advised an independent lifestyle programming channel on the effects of a potential Comcast/Time Warner Cable merger and assisted them in communicating their concerns to Congress and relevant federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, and the FCC. Covington’s work led to the channel’s then-CEO testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
SDG&E in connection with a FERC and appellate court proceeding regarding congestion revenue rights in the California ISO.
Assisted pharmaceutical companies in developing global comprehensive privacy policies aligned with federal (HIPAA, Food & Drug Administration, and National Institutes of Health) regulations, state and European law, and best practices.
Successful defense of putative nationwide class action for race discrimination on behalf of financial advisors.
Advised major content providers, including sports leagues and television programmers and operators, on broadcasting, online and digital media advertising trends.
Counseled major consumer products manufacturers and sellers on commercial and regulatory advertising issues.
Representation of a global content provider in its global partnership with an international telecommunications provider to develop and operate a 3G mobile music service.
Covington successfully represented CBS and NBC Television Affiliates in this case involving the FCC’s policy on broadcast of "fleeting expletives." The Supreme Court held that the agency’s policy violated the Due Process Clause, an argument emphasized in Covington’s brief for the television stations.
Representation of a coalition of 600 companies and trade associations advocating the FCC to amend its rules to enable business to use faxes to contact their customers. When Congress adopted a law allowing those faxes, we represented the coalition before Congress on implementing this law.
Represented Raycom Media in obtaining a favorable settlement of a lawsuit brought against the City of Cleveland when the mayor issued a formal edict barring all city officials from speaking with WOIO-TV, a Raycom-owned CBS affiliate, after the station aired a documentary critical of the mayor.
Negotiate favorable settlement with New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation in connection with claimed violation of New York’s e-recycling law.
On behalf of one of the world’s largest banks, obtained a dismissal of an FEC investigation concerning alleged campaign finance violations.
Obtained the dismissal of an FEC complaint against a prominent hedge fund manager.
Representation of industry stakeholders in negotiations and legislative process leading to every major amendment to the FDCA since its enactment in 1938.
Prepared influential comments to FDA on behalf of major food trade association clients regarding front-of-pack (FOP) labeling and potential changes to the Nutrition Facts panel.
Represent ExxonMobil on algal-based biofuels matters, including its Synthetic Genomics collaboration.
Represented Expedia in multiple national antitrust class actions relating to hotel bookings.
Advised a NYSE-listed corporation in relation to a Singaporean/UK expatriate dismissal.
Advised Expedia (and affiliates Hotels.com, Hotwire, and TripAdvisor) on a variety of privacy and data security matters, including e-mail marketing, targeted advertising, fraud prevention, and changes to online privacy policies.
Advising several of the largest bank holding companies in the U.S. on compliance with the FCRA. Advising major consumer reporting agencies and trade associations on the requirement of the FCRA. Successfully representing numerous consumer reporting agencies and financial services providers in CFPB and FTC supervisory and enforcement actions relating to FCRA. Representing numerous firms in connection with the acquisition of FCRA-regulated businesses, including due diligence and preparation of merger and acquisition documents.
Successful defense of Pfizer in both the district court and the court of appeals on a series of claims by a relator concerning Genotropin.
Advise a major national Super PAC, as well as its allied social welfare organization, concerning a wide range of federal and state election law compliance issues.
Representing the former CEO of IndyMac Bancorp in matters arising out of the failure of IndyMac Bank, including knocking out all but one claim in SEC’s once wide-ranging securities enforcement case and settling the last remaining claim, without admitting or denying liability, as a negligence-based claim for $80,000 and a commitment to comply with the securities laws; successfully resolving an FDIC lawsuit; and defending against and/or successfully resolving several securities class action lawsuits, mortgage-backed securities cases, and purported ERISA class action lawsuits.
Representing several foreign banking organizations in the restructuring of their U.S. operations, including in the establishment of intermediate holding companies, mergers and acquisitions and regulatory filings associated with these corporate transactions.
Represented Freddie Mac in the largest-ever FEC enforcement action against a corporation, and negotiated a global FEC settlement on behalf of the corporation and its former officers, which resulted in no penalties for individual Freddie Mac officers and executives.
On behalf of a major food trade association, helped influence the development of the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) to minimize unnecessary and costly burdens on industry.
Microsoft in the FTC’s groundbreaking investigation and agreement related to Microsoft’s Passport Internet authentication service, which was the FTC’s first consent agreement under Section 5 of the FTC Act to impose information security commitments related to the protection of personal information.
Represented Union Pacific Railroad Company in multidistrict litigation alleging price-fixing of freight fuel surcharges.
Representing Freddie Mac in connection with the establishment of the U.S. government conservatorship over the company during the financial crisis in 2008.
Successfully warded off potential California Proposition 65 lawsuits regarding 4-MEI in sodas and lead in juices, and successfully represented companies in litigation regarding lead in chocolate and mercury in tuna.
Advise client as to FIFRA requirements that apply to hospital garments treated with antimicrobial substances.
Advise manufacturer regarding regulation of hand sanitizing wipes that may also be used to clean surfaces under FIFRA and FTC rules, including requirements for consumer preference claims.
Advise client regarding applicability of FIFRA to advanced surfaces with photocatalytic properties.
Represented numerous food and cosmetics companies in responding to demand letters and class actions under the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act and Unfair Competition Law arising out of alleged false and misleading statements on labels and marketing materials.
Southern Montana G&T Cooperative in a successful complaint at FERC involving firm transmission service, and on a range of disputes involving interconnection and transmission issues.
Representation of UBS Financial Services in an employment discrimination class action brought on behalf of minority financial advisers.
Advised a Japanese technology client on the international employment, pensions and incentives aspects arising on the formation of a joint venture with operations in the US, Asia and Europe.
Advised Giorgio Armani S.p.A. on employment and benefits aspects of the acquisition of its retail and wholesale UK business from Club 21.
A Korean infrastructure company has asked us for assistance in recovering a substantial arbitral award in Mexico, which the Mexican government is challenging.
When a major Latin-American government’s procurement financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) appeared to lock out foreign competitors, a private company turned to us for advice and discreet action. With our knowledge of the country, and of IDB and other multilateral procurement regulations, and relationships with key officials, we were able to persuade the IDB to take quick remedial action which ensured the company a new opportunity to compete fairly in a new procurement with no damage to their relationships in Latin America.
Advise start-ups such as producers of original Web content and digital music services.
When the U.N. Special Rapporteur on Human Rights issued a report criticizing the effect of strong copyright protection, we secured a forceful response from the U.S. government and helped ensure that no action was taken on the report by the U.N. Human Rights Council.
Provided international employment law advice to AstraZeneca in relation to its acquisition of Bristol-Myers Squibb’s interests in the companies’ global diabetes alliance across 40 jurisdictions.
Advise client regarding environmental regulations that may apply to an e-recycling facility.
Drayson Racing Technologies, a leading developer of electric racing vehicles, in connection with the formation of Drayson Wireless, a new entity created in collaboration with Imperial Innovations to commercialize wireless energy technology developed at Imperial College, London.
Drafted and advanced legislation that became the Pension Protection Act of 2006. Since passage of the Act, we have been leading discussions with the US Treasury and the US IRS to resolve significant issues affecting hybrid pension plans and sponsors of those plans.
Representing the Economic Cities Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the development of legal and regulatory infrastructure for the Kingdom’s Economic Cities project.
Worked directly with, and appeared before national and regional privacy authorities, such as the European Commission, the EU Article 29 Working Party, and the Council of Europe, both to address emerging policy issues in the data privacy field, such as data retention, radio frequency identification (RFID), Big Data, facial recognition, security breach legislation and biometrics, and to defend individual clients.
Electronic Arts in its acquisition of a 19.9% stake in French game company Ubisoft Entertainment, in a transaction requiring the participation of multiple Covington offices on various corporate, antitrust and international issues.
BrightSource Energy on environmental impact analysis and permitting of its Ivanpah project in the California desert.
Represent an ad hoc consortium of U.S. and European pharmaceutical and medical device companies concerned about data privacy issues in Europe, including the Eastern European Member States such as Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
We have significant experience advising clients on all aspects of their European commercialization networks, including the design and operation of exclusive and selective distribution systems, pricing/rebates, sales and rental channels, supply chain management, customer loyalty programs, dealer financing, central warehousing, consumer warranties, dealer termination, etc.
Co-ordinated U.S., Dutch and German tax, employment, immigration and benefits advice in relation to a U.S. listing of a Dutch company and relocation of senior managers.
We have served as secretariat to several informal coalitions working on telecommunications issues and intellectual property protection.
We have designed and executed campaigns on behalf of U.S. producers seeking to avoid EU trade retaliation measures.
Advise fertilizer manufacture on the scope of various exceptions under RCRA, including for recycling and reuse of material in a closed-loop process.
We have worked with coalitions of consumer product manufacturers on product liability and product safety legislation in the EU, France, Finland, Germany, The Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
Advise U.S. cosmetics manufacturers on EU legislation governing animal testing and other issues.
We represent a major European carrier in the European Commission’s container liner shipping investigation into alleged collusion/abuse of dominance.
Represented Microsoft in connection with Cisco’s appeal against the European Commission’s decision to approve Microsoft’s acquisition of Skype.
Provide regulatory due diligence advice to an investment fund regarding the EU and UK rules on biofuels in connection with a potential acquisition of a biomass manufacturer.
Advice regarding potential EPA regulation of nanotechnology containing antimicrobial pesticides.
Successfully handled important ERISA litigation in the Supreme Court, including Conkright v. Frommert, 130 S. Ct. 1640 (2010) (requiring deference to the plan administrator’s interpretation of a plan, even though the administrator had previously relied on provisions that were not properly added to the plan), and Kennedy v. Plan Adm’r for Dupont Sav. & Invt. Plan, 129 S. Ct. 865 (2009) (applying ERISA’s “plan document” rule to affirm unanimously a plan administrator’s decision to follow a beneficiary designation that gave rights to a participant’s former spouse, even though a divorce decree had stated that the former spouse gave up her rights).
We have assisted on the government affairs aspects of various EU competition law issues, including individual cases, proceedings to adopt Article 82 guidelines and sector and cartel investigations.
Representation of Microsoft, Expedia, and Trip Advisor in the U.S. and Europe in connection with investigations regarding Google’s abusive search-related conduct.
We have represented software companies on EU and national legislation concerning software standards, copyright infringement, electronic commerce, data protection, and other issues.
We assisted an environmental services company seeking to reform various aspects of the EU’s Emissions Trading System.
Provide legal advice to several large electronic manufacturers on the requirements of the EU Directives on waste electrical and electronic equipment, and restrictions on the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic equipment and their national implementation.
A major international energy company in relation to the EU emissions trading system and allocation of emissions allowances.
Conduct real-time reviews of futures and swaps trading activity to verify compliance with internal hedging policies and CFTC regulations; prepare related response to the CFTC’s Division of Market Oversight special call request.
Conducted a pan-European and selective US survey of laws and regulations affecting an employer’s right to monitor employee’s Internet use and review electronic communications. We have also advised numerous clients on the law governing call recording and access to (and disclosure of) employee e-mail, including in connection with several personal crises and actions.
COMPETE in intervening and participating in major proceedings brought by Duke Ohio and AEP before the Public Utility Commission of Ohio regarding retail competition and customer choice.
Reviewed on behalf of U.S. interests defamation and free expression laws proposed for Iraq by a coalition of international experts.
Advise rocket engine manufacturer on the scope of what constitutes “treatment” regulated by EPA under RCRA.
Representation of Chemical Manufacturers Association, now the American Chemistry Council, in connection with EPA revisions to the NPDES and pretreatment regulations under the Clean Water Act. The litigation and negotiations with EPA resulted in substantial changes in these regulations.
Advising numerous companies on data subjects’ right of access and right to be forgotten.
Represented a global electronics manufacturer concerning all aspects of the European investigation into alleged collusion in TFT-LCD (1&2).
Represented a major financial services company in an investigation by the FTC of alleged exclusionary conduct with no action being taken against our client.
Represented a global electronics manufacturer in the European investigation into alleged collusion in DRAM.
Represented a major U.S. transportation company in a DOJ investigation with no action taken against our client.
Represented technology firm in connection with a FTC investigation of a standard setting organization.
We represented a regional bank in responding to a congressional inquiry relating to a data breech.
Provided regulatory and strategic advice to Johnson & Johnson on possible EU REACH restrictions and prior authorization requirements on the use of borates in eye care products.
Represented international video game publisher in copyright infringement claims by major record labels and publishing companies regarding licensing of sound recordings and compositions. Successfully resolved all claims without litigation.
Rooster Teeth Productions, Inc., a company that produces animated shorts, in connection with a license agreement.
SandRidge Energy, Inc., a crude oil and natural gas exploration and production company, in its $1.6 billion acquisition of Arena Resources, Inc.
SandRidge Energy, Inc., an oil and natural gas exploration and production company in its $1.2 billion acquisition of Dynamic Offshore Resources, LLC.
Southern California Edison in connection with issues associated with the steam generators at San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station.
Defending 49ers in class action antitrust challenge to its policies governing the printing of pdf copies of game tickets (Kazemzadeh v. San Francisco 49ers).
SandRidge Energy, Inc. in its initial public offerings of three royalty trusts sponsored by SandRidge, with aggregate proceeds of $1.5 billion.
Assisted a satellite provider in establishing a European services satellite trade association. Subsequent representation of the association enabled us to combine our knowledge of law relating to EU trade associations with our experience in EU legislative advocacy in the telecom industry.
Representation of a satellite provider in seeking broader access to markets in China, Mexico and elsewhere, which allowed us to combine our trade and communications expertise.
SandRidge Energy, Inc., an oil and natural gas exploration and production company, in its $2.6 billion sale of Permian Basin properties in West Texas to Sheridan Production Partners.
SandRidge Energy, Inc., a natural gas and crude oil exploration and production company, in a $1.1 billion secured revolving credit facility.
Represented Samsung in consolidated antitrust price-fixing and deceptive practice class actions involving liquid crystal displays.
Represented Reliance Infocomm Limited in connection with its $750 million financing from the Export-Import Bank of the United States and Export Development Canada. The financing was provided to assist Reliance Infocomm in building a state of the art telecommunications infrastructure for India -- the largest and most complex information and communications technology initiative in the world. The definitive documents for the facility were entered into in December 2004 and the facility was drawn on in March 2005. The facility was the largest telecom installations loan for any company world-wide in 2004.
Provide regulatory and legislative advice regarding biofuel plants to an investment fund in connection with the European Union’s review of its Renewable Energies Directive and the adoption of sustainability criteria for biofuels.
We assisted several pharmaceutical manufacturers in reinstating Medicaid coverage for products dropped from the program by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Represent Deutsche Asset Management on regulatory aspects of a biofuels project in Latin America.
Advise multiple derivatives market participants, including energy company end-users, regarding the regulatory requirements for domestic and international derivatives activities, specifically the analysis of whether financial products are “swaps” under Dodd-Frank, the analysis of whether a market participant satisfies the CFTC’s swap dealer registration requirements and the application of the CFTC’s guidance on the cross-border application of Dodd-Frank on the market participant’s derivatives activities.
Representation of Microsoft in connection with its complaint regarding the anticompetitive patent licensing practices of Motorola Mobility.
Researched and crafted a comprehensive report on the policy options for creation of independent regulatory authorities in the EU.
Guidance in the formation of nanotechnology start-up company regarding regulatory and policy issues for its core technology and downstream applications.
Advise fertilizer manufacturer on the RCRA status of various waste streams and the process for de-listing hazardous waste under RCRA.
We advised chemical producers and downstream users on emerging rules with respect to the registration, testing, and classification of chemicals (REACH).
Won a jury trial for a major credit card firm, defending claims based on race and national origin discrimination; and he obtained an award of $265,000 in attorneys' fees against the law firm of plaintiff's counsel.
A company facing a criminal investigation in Latin America turned to us for legal and policy advice.
Qualcomm in acquisitions and investments including its joint venture with Omnia, a subsidiary of Saudi Oger, to create a UK-based company to deploy CDMA-based technology; its acquisition of UK-based Elata (Holdings) Limited, which provides content delivery and device management software systems; and its acquisition of Trigenix Limited, a European mobile content delivery software producer.
Assistance to companies on nanotechnology regulation under the EU chemicals regime (REACH).
Advise clients and submit comments regarding proposed rule changes regarding the African Elephant Conservation Act, Director’s Order 210, and related questions under the Endangered Species Act relating to regulation of antique ivory.
Representation of a major manufacturer of semiconductor equipment in providing regulatory advice on applicable pan-European WEEE and RoHS requirements.
American Petroleum Institute as an amicus curiae in a U.S. Supreme Court case concerning an antitrust challenge to a refining and marketing joint venture.
Represent Sony Music Entertainment in matter involving contract and intellectual property claims by former music manager regarding 70’s rock act.
Represented company in DOJ investigation of employee recruiting practices.
Several companies and individuals facing complex legal issues in jurisdictions abroad sought our help securing the U.S. government’s involvement in support of our clients’ positions. The bilateral, government-to-government engagement by senior U.S. officials with their counterparts in foreign governments has significantly strengthened our clients’ ability to influence outcomes in the foreign legal processes. Our activities have included efforts to ensure fair and unbiased regulatory decisions and initiatives to address unwarranted judicial or prosecutorial actions.
Defended the 2011 lockout against the antitrust claims in Brady v. NFL; negotiated a comprehensive 10-year CBA providing labor peace.
Advise major state Super PACs in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania on campaign finance and tax-exempt organization law issues.
We assisted the State of Louisiana in securing amendment in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act to modify federal matching funds to reflect impact of Katrina on the State’s per capita income.
Advised a state-owned Chinese media group with respect to an international co-production project to be produced by a leading Hollywood producer.
We provide strategic advice and advocacy support before the Congress to a prime U.S. subsidiary of a non-U.S. defense contractor on matters involving ground combat vehicles.
We advised a non-U.S. defense company on its legislative and executive branch strategy in its bid competition for a major U.S. Air Force weapons acquisition program.
A global U.S. manufacturing company asked us to develop a range of strategies to protect its investment in Venezuela.
Regulatory and strategic advice to a large manufacturer of electronic equipment on EU procedures for adoption of energy efficiency requirements on sound and imaging equipment under the ErP Directive.
We advised and represented an agro-industrial client dealing with possible expropriation in Colombia of significant portions of its land-holdings.
Salix Pharmaceuticals in its licensing agreement with Alfa Wasserman S.p.A., by which Salix has licensed rights in the United States and Canada to an extended intestinal release (EIR) formulation of rifaximin.
Prepare special reports for FIA and FIA Europe related to the European Securities and Markets Authority consultation process for the implementation of Markets in Financial Instruments Directive and Markets in Financial Instruments Regulation.
Sony Network Services in the negotiation of an agreement with Alltel, the U.S. mobile network operator, to provide the "StreamMan" personalized music service to Alltel's cellphone customers.
Advising a multinational pharmaceutical company on state privacy issues relating to a vaccine outreach program.
Regularly advise the NFL on a range of broadband issues, from net neutrality to online privacy to compulsory copyright, and briefed the NBA on how the media landscape is changing, and how broadband is both a compliment and a threat to existing models.
Advise several major hedge funds on campaign finance and lobbying compliance issues, including state lobbying registration laws.
Provide election law and tax-exempt organizations law advice to a Super PAC operating at the state and local level in Illinois.
Advising a large oil and gas company on state campaign finance laws.
Represented the National Football League in a copyright infringement action against a satellite carrier, successfully obtaining statutory damages and a permanent injunction prohibiting satellite retransmission of game telecasts originating in the United States to locations outside the United States.
Assist the National Football League in registering copyright and combatting the unauthorized retransmission and public performance of NFL game telecasts over the internet.
Defending NFL in class action and direct antitrust challenges to its trademark licensing arrangements (American Needle v. NFL and Dang v. NFL).
The National Football League in negotiating its $18 billion eight-year programming agreements with ABC, CBS and Fox Television, its interactive media rights/online cross-promotion and marketing agreement with AOL, CBS and Sportsline.com, and its international content distribution deal with Yahoo!
Defending NFL in multi-district class action antitrust challenges to its broadcast distribution arrangements for out-of-market games (In re Sunday Ticket Antitrust Litigation).
Won dismissal of a class action antitrust complaint alleging conspiracy to restrain market for “likenesses” of former NFL football players (Washington v. National Football League).
Represented the National Football league in a class action challenging the League’s licensing arrangements for the use of team marks and logos on apparel.
Representation of the National Football League in multiple federal court cases to enjoin the unauthorized retransmission and public performance of NFL game telecasts across U.S. borders via satellite and the Internet and within U.S. borders where games are locally blacked-out, or otherwise unauthorized.
Represented the NFL in securing the dismissal of class action claims brought by retired players alleging a conspiracy to restrain a market for the sale of their images and likenesses.
Representation of the National Football League in its $17 billion, 8-year U.S. network television programming agreements and in its agreements with AOL, SportsLine.com and others for the joint production of the official NFL websites.
Assist petroleum refiner with applying for and obtaining a New Source Review permit for a refinery expansion; successfully defend the permit in an administrative appeal.
Assist client in designing, planning, and establishing a significant new animal health business.
Represent American Petroleum Institute relative to first challenge with NEPA and ESA to exploration plan approval under tightened review procedures established after Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Advise client on various categories and types of statutory exemptions from NEPA.
Advised on news gathering issues in relation to an undercover documentary being filmed in Europe and Africa.
Advise on cutting edge trademark strategies, domain name, social media, and keyword advertising issues, manage U.S. and global portfolios, and provided trademark advisory and prosecution services to leading US and global brand owners, including: American Automobile Association (AAA); AOL, Inc.; Astelllas US; Business Software Alliance; Dale & Thomas Popcorn; Expedia, Inc.; FeraDyne Outdoors; German American Chambers of Commerce; Lewis Bakeries, Inc.; Merck & Co. Inc.; Microsoft Corporation; National Basketball Association; National Football League; National Geographic Society; National Hockey League; Public Broadcasting Service; Phi Beta Kappa Society; Promontory Financial Group; and U.S. Soccer Federation.
Conducted an internal investigation for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) concerning a massive embezzlement scheme by its treasurer. We also represented the NRCC successfully in subsequent FEC and DOJ investigations.
Representation of GlaxoSmithKline in global settlement of three investigations relating to off-label promotion, safety reporting and price reporting.
Provide advice to NRG Bluewater Wind concerning permitting process by federal agencies for off-shore wind farm off the coast of Delaware.
Representation of clients in the semiconductor industry in securing U.S. government national security approvals for investments and acquisitions, including e2v Technologies’ acquisition of QP Semiconductor.
Mitsubishi Nuclear Energy Systems in connection with NRC regulatory issues.
We advised a large trade association with respect to the Nigerian position on an IP issue before the World Intellectual Property Organization.
Advised the National Hockey League in negotiating its twelve-year, C$5.2 billion agreement with Rogers Communications for national broadcast and multimedia rights to NHL games, including the Stanley Cup Playoffs and the Stanley Cup Final, in Canada.
Represent an investment bank in a non-public FERC Enforcement investigation of alleged manipulation of electricity markets with respect to the bidding of electric generation into certain RTO markets.
Advise client regarding NPDES permit treatment limits and the process for setting such limits where multiple pollutants and treatment technologies are at issue.
An energy company in obtaining a global nine-figure resolution from its historic CGL insurers for widespread environmental cleanup liabilities at refineries and other operational sites.
Representation of one of the largest providers of telecommunications services in Asia in a DOJ investigation of alleged collusion with respect to termination rates charged to US carriers. The government ultimately closed the investigation and took no action against our client.
Microsoft wanted assistance with legal, public policy, and strategic issues. We support Microsoft on a wide array of policy and legislative issues, including privacy, national security, immigration, tax, and telecommunications, and assist them in gathering political intelligence and advocating before Congress and federal agencies.
Advised Microsoft on Internet Protocol Television issues, including testimony before Congress, appearances at the FCC, and industry negotiations, and advised on industry negotiations to encourage movie studios and the cable industry to use their digital rights management technology for distributing movie and other content over the Internet.
Assisted Microsoft with the integration of approximately 32,000 Nokia employees across 60 countries, following Microsoft’s acquisition of Nokia’s devices and services business.
Advised Microsoft in relation to expatriate issues arising from post-acquisition integration with Nokia’s global mobile phone business.
An oil refinery in a significant business interruption insurance claim that resulted in a multi-hundred million dollar recovery for the insured.
We advised an asset management firm on mitigating the impact of the Ebola crisis on its operations in Liberia.
Representation of numerous clients, including Microsoft, Verizon, New Skies Satellites, LIN Television, American Automobile Association and Ourisman Dodge in UDRP domain name proceedings.
A multinational oil and gas company in advising on the impact of Middle East trade sanctions programs on technology licensing arrangements and the broader operation of affiliates and joint ventures incorporated outside the United States.
We represented an alliance of medical colleges to affirm the validity of the medical student placement program that had been under attack in litigation and, after a successful legislative initiative, won dismissal of the lawsuit.
We assisted a pharmaceutical company in obtaining Medicare Part D coverage for its previously excluded product, using an integrated regulatory and legislative strategy.
We assisted a medical device company in its efforts to secure Medicare pass-through coverage of its innovative diagnostic device.
Assisted several pharmaceutical manufacturers in reinstating Medicaid coverage for products dropped from the program by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Representation of a Mexico-based multi-system cable operator in a joint venture with a Mexico-based local and long-distance telecom company.
Representation of numerous clients, including Merck, Verizon, Spirits International, National Geographic Society, Public Broadcasting Services, M Financial, Promontory Financial Group, U.S. Soccer Federation, Lewis Brothers Bakeries and Rosie O’Donnell in opposition and cancellation proceedings before the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
Representation of National Geographic Society in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts against claims of infringement of an alleged family of ZONE marks asserted by the author of a series of ZONE books on health and nutrition; and in an opposition proceeding before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, claiming that applicant's EXPLORE CHANNEL mark is likely to cause confusion with National Geographic's EXPLORER marks.
A large electrical generation company in an investigation by FERC and state authorities into profiteering in the sale of natural gas in New England during January 2004.
NASCAR in connection with the production and distribution of content related to the Daytona 500 on iTunes.
We advised a young exploration and production company on mitigating above-ground risk, preserving $4 billion in value in a Western African company, and navigating legal and policy issues surrounding hydrocarbon exploration and development in a non-self-governing territory.
Serving as national product liability counsel to Microsoft in preparation for the defense of claims involving virus and worm attacks or potential cyber-terrorism involving our client's array of software products.
Advise two construction companies regarding successful settlement of OSHA citations in employee death cases.
Negotiated a very favorable settlement of alleged eWaste recycling violations for client by raising constitutional defects in statute.
Representation of NBA Properties and the NBA member teams in trademark litigation concerning the DREAM TEAM mark in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri, and also in anti-counterfeiting litigation concerning other NBA marks brought in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia against purveyors of counterfeit NBA merchandise in connection with an NBA All-Star game.
Covington successfully represented Samsung in a massive set of antitrust price-fixing cases. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit held that virtually all of the claimed damages were barred by the Foreign Trade Antitrust Improvements Act.
Represent Mubadala Development Company and its portfolio companies, such as the semiconductor company GLOBALFOUNDRIES, on CFIUS and related advice in connection with potential acquisitions in the United States, including the company’s investment in Advanced Micro Devices.
Won a multi-million dollar trial verdict for a government contractor arising from the en masse departure of 25 employees from the contractor to a competitor. The verdict was affirmed on appeal.
Advising a major multinational aerospace company regarding the application of European export controls to its operations at multiple sites across 10 countries.
We assisted companies seeking support for alternative energy projects in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the Stimulus) and advised on carbon trading provisions in climate change legislation, including preparing amendments to both bills.
Advised on the full-range of political advertising issues, with clients ranging from candidates to political parties, to broadcast stations.
Nuclear Energy Institute in connection with policy-related and security-related issues.
We advised coalition of renewable energy project developers, venture capital firms, and investment banks on low-cost financing of clean energy. Drafted testimony, legislation, white papers and helped build coalition on and off the Hill to advance the issue.
Providing policy advice to the Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi on how the Embassy in Washington D.C. could be most effective in representing the UAE’s interests. In a follow-on project, we advised on factors to consider in establishing a business-oriented consulate on the West Coast of the United States.
Advise manufacturer regarding regulations of polymers under TSCA.
Advising the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association, The Clearing House Association, American Bankers Association, and Global Financial Markets Association with respect to comment letters submitted in response to proposals from the Federal Reserve Board, Financial Stability Board, and other agencies affecting large systemically important financial institutions.
Advised a large pharmaceutical company in connection with litigation involving the alleged infringement of patient privacy by a pharmacy chain that collects personal information about prescription drug users.
Assist the client in preparation of a position paper concerning potential amendments to anti-circumvention provisions of Section 1201 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and in preparation of comments to the Copyright Office on proposed exemptions to Section 1201.
Advise international organization regarding potential tort liability and mitigation options relating to preparation of a manual with information about labeling requirements.
Advising COMPETE, a broad coalition whose members include Exelon, Sempra, TXU, Goldman Sachs, Wal-Mart, and National Grid on energy legislative, policy, and regulatory matters.
Advising global pharmaceutical companies on HIPAA and state privacy issues relating to pharmaceutical marketing programs.
We advise a major pharmaceuticals and health care products company on a wide range of U.S. issues, including Medicare/Medicaid coverage and reimbursement matters related to medical devices, reauthorization of nutrition programs and food labeling policy and tax policy and assist them in advancing their domestic legislative and policy objectives. We also provide global public policy advocacy in countries around the world and in international regulatory bodies.
We represented a pharmaceutical manufacturer during debate on the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) with regard to Medicare payment reform provisions.
Defend petroleum refiner in private tort litigation regarding operation of a crude oil storage and transportation facility.
Advise pharmaceutical companies regarding the regulations of pharmaceuticals as hazardous waste under RCRA.
We assisted a large trade association engage with the South African government on a number of issues, including IP and other issues related to the life sciences sector.
We provided policy advice to the Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi on how the Embassy in Washington D.C. could be most effective in representing the UAE’s interests. In a follow-on project, we advised on factors to consider in establishing a business-oriented consulate on the West Coast of the United States.
Representing Plaza Bank in the U.S. Justice Department’s “Operation Choke Point” initiative that focuses on banks doing business with third-party payment processors and pay-day lenders and alleges violations of FIRREA.
Texican in contesting a settlement involving SCANA’s proposed restructuring of its pipeline system.
Represented Eli Lilly in a consumer fraud class action alleging that the labelling for one of its prescription medicines was inadequate and misleading.
Represent Compañía Cervecera de Puerto Rico, Inc. (CCPR), in a lawsuit alleging that CCPR’s Malta India product contains the chemical 4-MEI in quantities above the safe harbor level, and that CCPR has failed to label Malta India products sold in California with the warning required by California’s Proposition 65.
Assist medical device manufacturer with drafting of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and guidelines for the creation, review, and use of promotional materials.
A major U.S.-based infrastructure company turned to us for help bidding for contracts on major infrastructure projects in Bahrain and Egypt. Through our contacts with high-ranking embassy officials, we ensured our client’s bids received fair and equal treatment and consideration in the tender process, and we helped the client secure the contracts it was pursuing.
On behalf of a major financial institution, conducted a public affairs department compliance review and provided recommendations on structural changes to improve compliance practices, as well as process changes to avoid compliance risks.
Production counsel for “The Karate Kid” (Columbia Pictures, starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan), box office hit “Let the Bullets Fly” (actor-director Jiang Wen), and leading Chinese filmmaker Chen Kaige’s “The Orphan of Zhao.”
Conducted privacy “health checks” for clients to assess their compliance with privacy and data security laws, particularly those in the 28 Member States of the European Community; where appropriate, we have designed remediation programs that include, for example, filing notifications to local privacy regulators, fulfilling obligations to furnish notice, and ensuring compliance with local data security regulations.
Assisted another large pharmaceutical company in dealing with privacy issues resulting from the migration of patient data from a clinical study to a web based platform.
Represented media companies in class actions alleging improper collection and/or disclosure of user information.
An oil and gas company and its executive in connection with congressional hearing to examine absence of “price trigger” conditions on royalty relief for deepwater OCS leases.
Advised numerous clients regarding the privacy implications of conducting an informal internal audit of certain foreign business practices at the request of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Assisted several large pharmaceutical companies with a variety of privacy issues relating to clinical trials, further use of data and pharmacovigilance reporting.
Represented The Procter & Gamble Corporation in California, New York, Florida, and Minnesota class actions challenging the labelling of a wipes product as flushable.
Production counsel for Keanu Reeves’s directorial debut, "Man of Tai Chi," a co-production involving Village Roadshow Entertainment Group Asia and China Film Group, which was picked up for release by Universal.
The FEC found the members of the Board of Directors could contribute to the company’s PAC via deductions from quarterly payments.
Advised on privacy, libel and related liability issues relating to user-generated content.
Representation of private equity firms and other financial investors in connection with their broadcast media interests.
Chief outside counsel to a leading independent producer of Chinese reality television shows, including "Pepsi’s Battle of the Bands" and the "Miss Universe China Reignwood Pageant."
Ovonic Battery Company in intellectual property and litigation matters pertaining to Cobasys, a joint venture with Chevron to develop, license, and manufacture NiMH batteries for transportation and stationary storage applications.
For several large corporations, we developed and conducted federal PAC compliance and training programs, and have provided government ethics training to senior executives and company lobbyists.
We conducted a PAC compliance audit and staff training for a global aerospace and defense company.
Represented Owens Corning in eight Wellington Agreement arbitral or ADR proceedings, two federal court cases, and one state court lawsuit against numerous insurers seeking coverage for asbestos non-products claims.
Representation of Purdue Pharma in class action litigation in multiple states alleging violations of consumer protection laws in the marketing of OxyContin.
OptiSolar Inc. in the sale its project development business to First Solar, Inc. in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $400 million.
Representation of Open Mobile Video Coalition, consisting of some 800 television stations, which seeks to facilitate and promote mobile and portable video opportunities for broadcasters, equipment manufacturers and content suppliers.
Plextronics in patent infringement litigation with Konarka relating to organic photovoltaics.
Advising Lenovo in securing approval from the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States on its U.S. $2.3 billion acquisition of IBM's server business.
Represent Pepco Holdings, Inc. on the negotiation and sale of its 3800 MW Conectiv Energy wholesale power generation business to Calpine Corporation, including securing the necessary FERC approval under the Federal Power Act.
Serve as principal outside counsel to the Personal Care Products Council, attending Council meetings, preparing draft legislation and Congressional testimony, assisting in regulatory litigation, advising on all aspects of FDA regulation, and providing advice on a wide variety of trade association matters.
Pearl Mobile DTV in establishing a nine-company venture to provide Mobile Digital Television services in the United States. Covington attorneys led the negotiations leading to the creation of the Pearl Mobile DTV venture, the negotiation of content license agreements, and public policy efforts before Congress and at the White House and the FCC.
Advise client regarding requirements for and practicalities of submitting a tolerance petition to EPA to allow pesticide residue to remain on food products.
Advise RES-Americas on likelihood of completing the permitting of several projects in light of siting and mitigation requirements for eagles and other potential species of concern.
Advised online retailers regarding compliance with the Payment Card Industry standards for the storage, processing, and transmission of credit cardholder data.
Assist Raízen Energía S/A with various strategic partnerships and licensing relationships connected with the development of technologies and construction of facilities for the production of cellulosic ethanol in Brazil.
Representation of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in proceedings before the FCC, U.S. Copyright Office and other policy settings, including with respect to the role and distribution of educational and other noncommercial media across the broadcast, online, mobile and other IP-based platforms.
Representation of Public Broadcasting Services (PBS) in trademark litigation to recover the PBS.COM domain name in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia; and in an opposition proceeding before the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, claiming that applicant's mark BE MORE RESPONSIBLE is likely to cause confusion with PBS's BE MORE mark.
Advise Public Broadcasting Service in negotiations and administrative proceedings relating to the distribution of statutory copyright royalties by the United States Copyright Office.
Representation of Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) in a trial of false advertising claims brought by PBS challenging a video marketer’s use of the phrase “public television presents” in the Eastern District of Virginia.
We represented two major financial trade associations in drafting and presenting to Congress amendments to proposed legislation to revamp the housing finance system.
Represent the American Athletic Conference in a putative antitrust class action challenging NCAA and Conference rules on financial aid limits for student athletes. This lawsuit challenges the very existence of amateur collegiate athletics.
Working with pet food and animal feed companies on preparing and filing GRAS notifications, food additive petitions and AAFCO feed ingredient definition applications for animal feed and pet food ingredients.
Advising veterinary pharma companies on issues relating to abbreviated paths to drug approval and issues related to the Center for Veterinary Medicine’s new positioning on growth promotion claims for antibiotics used in human medicine.
Represent Amyris, Inc. regarding antitrust and competition law, EU chemicals regulations (including “REACH”) and other European distribution arrangements and other areas where we have specialized expertise.
We worked with a major financial trade association in a successful effort to amend a provision of the Dodd-Frank Act.
Advocacy assistance on issues related to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, and lobbying on behalf of clients with respect to climate change legislation in the United States, in various states of the United States and in the European Union.
Represent a natural gas trading company and six of its executives and employees in a wide-ranging ongoing FERC enforcement investigation, involving extensive data requests and depositions, of alleged manipulation of natural gas trading in early 2012.
Representation of Allergy Therapeutics plc, the AIM-listed specialty pharmaceutical company, in its acquisition of Alerpharma, S.A. a Spanish-based allergy immunotherapy company which previously spun out from Spanish biopharmaceutical company, Zeltia S.A. Covington also advised Allergy Therapeutics on its recent £20.8 million placing of ordinary shares with institutional investors. The proceeds of the placing are being used to progress the clinical development of the company’s lead product, Pollinex Quattro Grass, through to FDA approval and planned launch in the United States in 2019.
Represent Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority in parallel civil and criminal enforcement proceedings for alleged Clean Water Act violations.
We advised a major U.S. defense company in advocacy efforts before Congress in support of a major weapon acquisition system valued at $50 billion.
Assist animal health companies successfully respond to FDA enforcement actions, including Warning Letters and Form 483 observations.
Advise nanotechnology manufacturer regarding potential applicability of environmental laws, including TSCA, to manufacture of clothing treated with nanoscale substances.
Advise nanotechnology manufacturer regarding potential applicability of FIFRA and TSCA to manufacture of clothing treated with nanoscale antimicrobial substances.
Advise nanotechnology manufacturer regarding potential applicability of environmental laws, including FIFRA and TSCA, to manufacture of clothing treated with nanoscale substances.
Assessed proposed communications laws in countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
Advising a global online travel company in relation to the company’s expansion in the Asian markets, including compliance with laws regulating the Internet.
Developed for a major pharmaceutical client proposals for new potential safe harbors under the federal anti-kickback statute for potential submission to the OIG.
Defense of administrative compliance actions and investigations brought by the USDA under the Animal Welfare Act and assistance with conducting internal investigations related to such actions.
Representation of animal food and drug clients in connection with FDA and USDA import detentions, import refusals, re-exportations and destructions of refused imports, and successful petitions for removal from FDA Import Alerts.
Developing anti-money laundering compliance programs for banks, broker-dealers, money transmitters, providers and sellers of prepaid access, and dealers in precious metals.
American Petroleum Institute as an amicus curiae in a U.S. Supreme Court case concerning the alleged “constructive” termination of a franchisor who sued under the PMPA.
Representation of a technology company in antitrust litigation and a related arbitration concerning obligations to license technology.
ExxonMobil Corp. on antitrust aspects of its acquisition of XTO Energy, Inc.
Representation of a semiconductor manufacturer in antitrust licensing disputes.
Represented Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in its acquisition of the remaining membership interests in Cubic Advanced Technical Systems.
Represented GLOBALFOUNDRIES in its acquisition of IBM’s semiconductor manufacturing business. The transaction was significant because IBM’s semiconductor business was the original member—and IBM remains the most significant participant— in the U.S. government’s Trusted Foundry Program.
Advised Wanxiang America’s purchase of substantially all of the non-government business assets of U.S. battery maker A123 Systems, Inc. On Jan. 28, 2013, CFIUS approved that transaction, valued at $256.6 million. Covington represented Wanxiang America in securing CFIUS approval. A123 makes lithium ion batteries for electric cars.
Advise multiple pharmaceutical manufacturers and developers regarding acquisitions and sales of manufacturing facilities.
Advise European telecommunications company regarding acquisition of US telecommunications company.
Led an 80-member media coalition in persuading Congress to introduce legislation to protect journalists’ rights to protect their sources.
Major national retail electricity supplier on the rules regarding 3rd party access to distribution resources and the retail market structure required to facilitate robust electricity supply competition in a dozen states including Texas, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, New York, Massachusetts and Ohio.
Represented Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA) in its acquisitions of a 50 percent interest in a wind farm from EDF and of a tolling arrangement in the electric power industry.
Assisting AbbVie in structuring and negotiating a novel collaboration with the Google-backed life sciences start-up company Calico to form a $1.5 billion to fund a program focused on aging and age-related diseases.
Advising Abbott Laboratories in relation to all privacy aspects of its global de-merger, involving the division of the company into a research-based business, AbbVie.
Successfully represented a coalition of electric utilities in obtaining administrative relief from EPA from millions of dollars of Clean Air Act §185 nonattainment penalties.
Advise a U.S. investment bank with international offices on the regulatory treatment of derivatives, including the CFTC’s guidance on the cross-border application of Dodd-Frank and the related structure of the investment bank’s operations.
Negotiated advertising transitions involving paid-programming (or “infomercials”).
Advise a derivatives trading platform on the application of the CFTC’s core principles for swap execution facilities and designated contract markets.
Advised on the advertising of “functional foods” -- foods and dietary supplements with particular health benefits and organic foods.
Advise U.S. software company, Adobe, on a media-related project in China.
Negotiated advertising-based content licensing arrangements, including in print, broadcast, and online media, and those associated with mobile-telephone content.
We advise various major hedge funds on all of their campaign finance and lobbying compliance issues, including state lobbying registration laws that apply to hedge fund marketing activities.
Representation of a leading online company through advising on instituting global policies and procedures to comply with law enforcement demands for data consistent with best practice privacy principles.
Provide advice to a major custody bank related to the CFTC requirements for customer collateral, including rules related to the interactions with futures commission merchants and clearinghouses.
Advise a coalition of foreign currency intermediaries regarding the CFTC’s external business conduct regulations in the context of foreign currency prime brokerage arrangements, including a successful request for no-action relief to the CFTC.
Represented Johnson & Johnson and McNeil Consumer Healthcare in consumer class actions arising out of recall of children’s medicines.
Represent an oil and gas producer in FERC's enforcement investigation regarding the Cheyenne Plains Open Season and in a resulting settlement.
Counseling leading multinational biopharmaceutical company in doing business in China, including setting and executing on the regulatory and legal strategies for engaging in drug R&D, manufacturing, and sales and marketing.
Obtained dismissal of an FEC complaint against Chevron alleging contributions to a Super PAC were illegal under the federal law banning political contributions by federal government contracts.
Advise large device company on regulatory requirements for clinical trials of medical devices in China.
Advising a leading multinational pharmaceutical company on its agreement with a Nasdaq-listed drug manufacturer to develop and market its linaclotide capsule in China.
Advising a U.S. biotech company on its sino-foreign joint venture with a Chinese life sciences company to focus on RNAi-based drug discovery, and related license agreement.
Represent China Investment Corporation in successfully obtaining orders from FERC and the New York PSC approving its acquisition of a 15% interest in AES Corporation.
China Filmed Entertainment in production, financing, and distribution arrangements for films including The Painted Veil, Forbidden Kingdom, and Crazy Stone; and Season 15 of CBS/Mark Burnett’s Survivor (shot entirely in China).
China Investment Corporation (CIC), a large sovereign wealth fund created by the People's Republic of China, on FERC and state (NY) energy regulatory issues with respect to its purchase of a 15% share in the AES Corporation, a large independent power producer of international scope with significant US electricity generation assets. Covington secured all necessary approvals for this transaction.
International Paper in obtaining certification and rate approval for the two interstate pipelines it owns.
Defend mining company in connection with private tort litigation brought in connection with a cleanup at a CERCLA site.
Advised Celestial Pictures on certain PRC regulatory issues in connection with the formation of Celestial Tiger Entertainment, the joint venture Celestial formed with Lionsgate and the Saban Capital Group in late 2011.
Covington successfully represented the American Petroleum Institute, Independent Petroleum Association of America, U.S. Oil & Gas Association, and International Association of Drilling Contractors in a lawsuit seeking to block a federal program which provides the basis for all oil and gas leasing in offshore federal waters. The D.C. Circuit ruled that the Government had rationally and appropriately balanced the environmental, social, and economic values at stake in proceeding with the leasing program.
Represented Check Point Software Technologies in the company’s acquisitions of NFR Security, Inc., security appliance business of Nokia, Liquid Machines, Inc., and PointSec Mobile Technologies.
Advise ChemGen in its merger agreement with Eli Lilly. The client became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly and an operating unit of Elanco, the animal health division of Eli Lilly.
Advising one of the world’s largest specialty chemicals companies regarding its manufacturing joint venture activities in China.
Advise multiple derivatives market participants on compliance with CFTC regulations, including the development of policies and procedures related to futures and swaps trading to demonstrate compliance with CFTC rules and regulations.
Advice to petroleum refiner on various compliance issues in connection with Clean Air Act rules that apply to refineries and associated facilities, including NSPS, MACT, and other issues.
Represent the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in the clean-up of unexploded ordnance (UXO) at Vieques bombing range.
Advise overseas electricity generator regarding Clean Air Act and renewable energy developments in the United States in connection with potential strategic investments in the US electricity sector.
Representing Citibank, N.A., and Citigroup in connection with negotiation of OCC and Federal Reserve consent and civil money penalty orders related to Citibank, N.A.’s foreign exchange (FX) trading business.
Negotiated on behalf of a major health care network a class action FLSA consent judgment with the U.S. Department of Labor relating to overtime that avoided liquidated damages and civil money penalties while foreclosing any private right of action.
Advise wind power developer on EPA authority to veto Clean Water Act section 404 dredge and fill permits.
Representation of a client in connection with obtaining UK merger clearance for the sale of a UK cable business.
Advocacy assistance on issues related to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol, and lobbying on behalf of clients with respect to climate change legislation in various states of the United States and in the European Union.
Representation of a client opposed to certain aspects of proposed European Digital Video Broadcasting Standards, a matter on which we integrated our expertise in IP law, competition law and substantive and procedural aspects of the EU standardization process.
Representation of a client in the EU opposing the merger of two, U.S.-based global telecom service providers -- a matter that involved complex issues under EU competition law.
Representation of a client in financing a national wireless telecommunications system in India.
Review of device sales and marketing compliance policies in accordance with a Corporate Integrity Agreement.
Providing legal advice to a subsidiary of Legendary Pictures as China production counsel for “Great Wall,” to be directed by Zhang Yimou and possibly the largest budget picture ever to be produced in China.
Conducting due diligence on China device regulatory matters for a large multinational device company’s acquisition of a large Chinese device company.
Advising major Hollywood studios on film projects in China.
Representing a leading U.S. pharmaceutical company to set up a joint venture in China with a Chinese biotech company to research, develop and commercialize a late-stage clinical product for the Asia market.
Advising a leading multinational pharmaceutical company on the acquisition of diabetes drug assets in China and the transfer of related employees from a multinational drug company.
Advise multinational company on regulation of online information on drugs, devices, and food products in China.
Conducting a compliance risk assessment of the China operations of a global auto parts company, including overseeing forensic transaction review, and interviews of more than 60 employees at facilities in mainland China and Taiwan.
Representation of a major pharmaceutical company in its response to a Chinese government commercial bribery investigation in China.
Conducting internal investigation on behalf of a multinational pharmaceutical company into whistleblower allegations of corruption at its Chinese subsidiary.
Belo Corp. in the formation of a joint venture with Right This Minute LLC to produce and distribute alternative news programming to local television stations.
Advise client regarding New York state battery recycling plans.
Barrington Broadcasting in a novel four-station shared services/joint-sales arrangement with Granite Broadcasting for coordinated television station operations in two markets.
Advise fertilizer manufacturer regarding the scope of the Bevill exemption for the processing of natural resources under RCRA.
Representation of coalition of innovative biopharmaceutical manufacturers during the multi-year process that led to enactment of the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act of 2010 (BPCIA). Played a similar role for the pharmaceutical industry prior to enactment of the Hatch-Waxman amendments of 1984. Currently advising members of the pharmaceutical industry on FDA regulatory aspects of 21st Century Cures Act and the Senate’s Innovation for Healthier Americans initiative.
When a newly formed government ministry in the Middle East was charged with developing “best-in-class” regulations, they turned to our policy experts and senior international advisors to design a regulatory system that would not only surpass global benchmarks, but would comport with the local legal system. Combining decades of government experience, key regulatory development, and local insight, our team delivered practical, implementable rules that are still in force today.
Belo Corporation, an owner of television and radio stations and daily newspapers, in an agreement with Weathernews, Inc., an aggregator of digital content. Belo provided news and weather information, including video clips, for distribution by Weathernews to mobile telephones.
An energy company in defending numerous toxic tort claims relating to alleged benzene emissions from an oil refinery in Texas.
Representation of AstraZeneca in its strategic diabetes alliance with Bristol-Myers Squibb, including with respect to collaboration arrangements for the development and commercialization of Amylin Pharmaceuticals’ portfolio of diabetes products following BMS’s acquisition of Amylin in a deal valued at $7 billion (approximately half the cost of which was borne by AstraZeneca).
Representation of AstraZeneca in its $1.26 billion acquisition of Ardea Biosciences. Under the agreement, AstraZeneca will pay $32 per share for all of the outstanding shares of Ardea. AstraZeneca is a global, innovation-driven biopharmaceutical business with a primary focus on the discovery, development and commercialization of prescription medicines for gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, neuroscience, respiratory and inflammation, oncology and infectious disease. Ardea is a biotechnology company based in San Diego, California, focused on the development of small-molecule therapeutics for the treatment of serious diseases.
Representation of the TV industry trade association, the Association for Maximum Service Television, Inc. (MSTV), with respect to legislative and regulatory issues affecting broadcast television service, including the congressionally-mandated transition to an all-digital television service in June 2009 and the FCC's preparation of the National Broadband Plan mandated by Congress in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Represent petroleum refiner in dispute under an asset purchase agreement regarding legacy contamination at a petroleum refinery.
Advising a non-profit organization in its response to a campaign finance complaint filed with a state enforcement agency.
Representation of AT&T in a trial in the District of Maryland concerning claims by a competitor that AT&T’s advertisements for telephone calling cards were misleading.
Representation of Baidu, Inc., China’s leading search engine, with respect to a media venture.
In securing a stay of antitrust and related class-action claims in deference to arbitration clauses in credit-card agreements. 361 F.Supp. 2d 237 (S.D.N.Y. 2005).
Represented automotive parts suppliers in antitrust class actions alleging price-fixing for automotive wire harness systems and other parts.
Lead trial and arbitration counsel for BP in insurance coverage disputes arising from the Deepwater Horizon incident and resulting oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Represent Comverge, Wal-Mart and Leggett & Platt, large commercial and industrial electricity consumers, before FERC in a matter involving the formation of a capacity market in the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO). We intervened in the matter and pressed arguments for the broadening of the MISO capacity market proposal.
Financing transactions associated with the development, expansion and operation of Calpine Corporation's geothermal energy portfolio, which is one of the largest geothermal resources in the world.
Conducted an investigation of past campaign finance activities to identify potential compliance concerns.
Represented the Carlyle Group in various matters, including sale of Landmark and Standard Aero to Dubai Aerospace International, and proposed sale of John Maneely Company to OSJC Novolipetsk Steel.
CBSInteractive in various service agreements for digital media, wireless, and advertising services.
Copyright and IP advice to Celestial Pictures, the owner of the Shaw Brothers library, the largest Chinese-language film collection in the world.
Covington successfully represented CBS against a threat by the FCC to make hundreds of thousands of pages of highly confidential programming contracts and negotiation materials available to hundreds of third parties. The D.C. Circuit ruled in favor of CBS, stating the FCC’s decision was “both substantively and procedurally flawed.”
Calpine and its subsidiaries in a $600 million acquisition of SkyGen Energy, and a $450 million acquisition of Cogeneration Corporation of America, each a developer, owner, and operator of independent power projects.
Representation of broadcasters on a range of legislative issues, including media ownership and the digital television transition. When the FCC proposed to increase the number of stations a network could own, Covington led the effort to urge Congress to adopt a special provision reversing the FCC. On behalf of broadcasters, we have been deeply involved in drafting every provision affecting the digital television transition over the past decade. Our long involvement in these issues before the Commission enable us to contribute effectively and efficiently to the debate before Congress.
Advised local broadcasters, which have unique content in many markets, as they explore deals to move their content to broadband platforms, advised the Washington Post, and worked for many years with the NFL on a range of important communications and media issues, including debates on Sunday Ticket, importation of distant signals, and Internet gambling.
Covington successfully represented the National Football League in a class-action antitrust case in which the NFL Players Association and ten prominent players sought to enjoin the NFL’s lockout of its player-employees. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit ruled for the National Football League, vacating the injunction entered by the District Court on the ground that the injunction violated the Norris-LaGuardia Act, which prohibits judicial interference in labor disputes.
Representation of Business Software Alliance and software publishers in preparation of amicus briefs filed in appellate and Supreme Court cases involving seminal copyright issues, including the Napster, AOL and Grokster cases.
SDG&E in extensive ongoing FERC refund proceedings arising from the California electricity crisis of 2000-2001.
Provide regulatory and strategic advocacy advice to a large fertilizer manufacturer on the EU consideration of restrictions on cadmium in fertilizer.
Advise Business Software Alliance in most of the major domestic and international copyright law reform efforts resulting from the advent of the digital age, including the U.S. Digital Millennium Copyright Act, the WIPO Treaties, the EU Copyright Directive, the EU Software Directive, implementation of the TRIPS Agreement, and amendments to existing copyright laws in over 30 countries worldwide.
Tried and won a class action lawsuit alleging “pattern or practice” discrimination on the basis of age in connection with a corporate reduction in force.
Represented a number of utility companies in obtaining more than $200 million in environmental and toxic tort settlements.
Represented railroad clients in obtaining more than $150 million through scores of settlements for FELA, environmental, and employment practice claims.
Advice regarding sponsorship and financing negotiations for the proposed USA Pavilion at the 2010 Shanghai World Expo.
Advised the United States Tennis Association Incorporated and ESPN, Inc. on an 11-year broadcast deal regarding telecasting the entire US Open exclusively on ESPN networks starting in 2015.
Prepare and submit amicus brief to the Supreme Court on behalf of legislators in Utility Air Regulatory Group v. EPA, 134 S. Ct. 2427 (2014).
Wide ranging advice to Village Roadshow Entertainment Group Asia, which has co-produced leading Chinese box office hits such as Stephen Chow’s “Journey to the West.”
Represented Pearl Mobile DTV in establishing a nine-company venture to provide Mobile Digital Television services in the United States. Covington led the negotiations leading to the creation of the Pearl Mobile DTV venture, the negotiation of content license agreements, and public policy efforts before Congress and at the White House and the FCC.
Represented Verizon Communications with respect to its pension plan’s $7.5 billion annuity purchase (one of the largest pension annuitization transactions in US history), and successfully defending Verizon against an attempt by retirees to block the transaction in court.
Representation of Univision Communications in all communications-related regulatory matters. Univision is the nation’s largest integrated Spanish-language media company and the fifth-largest broadcast network in any language, which owns nearly 150 radio and television stations, three national programming networks, internet portals and a suite of mobile communications products.
Resolved contentious investigations by the US Department of Labor and Internal Revenue Service, in which the government took positions that exposed our clients to many millions, and in some cases over $1 billion, of potential liability. In several of these cases, we replaced counsel that was unable to reach agreement with the government, when litigation appeared to be imminent.
Represented a multinational financial services provider in strategic matters relating to potential Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) litigation pursuant to the EU sanctions against Iran.
We have advised numerous tax-exempt organizations regarding “issue advocacy” campaigns during election years.
Conducted an Iran sanctions investigation for a major pharmaceutical company.
Secured export licenses enabling leading pharmaceutical companies to sell millions of dollars’ worth of medical products to Iran and Sudan, and permitting consumer products companies to export agricultural commodities to those countries.
Retained by a WTO member to assess the consistency of certain Chinese requirements affecting the licensing of intellectual property rights with its obligations under WTO/TRIPS.
Represented Hong Kong Aircraft and Engineering Co. (HAECO) in its acquisition of TIMCO Aviation.
Representing Hapag-Lloyd and United Arab Shipping Company in connection with the Container Shipping investigation in the EU.
On behalf of major fortune 500 clients, we have negotiated increased CPA-Zicklin scores, which improves their corporate governance profile, reducing the risk that those clients would be targets of litigation, shareholder proposals, and other initiatives.
Defending Huawei, a Chinese mobile handset maker, in a putative class action alleging violations of the Wiretap Act, Stored Communications Act, and various state laws. The suit stems from the allegation that third-party mobile analytics software transmitted data about mobile device users’ activities to other parties without authorization.
Achieved dismissal on summary judgment of a putative class action against Hulu alleging violation of the Video Privacy Protection Act. The complaint alleged that Hulu disclosed to third parties the video viewing information of individual Hulu users.
Achieved dismissal of a putative class action against The Huffington Post alleging violations of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act. The suit asserted unlawful transmission of unsolicited text messages.
Assisted a European telecommunications company in protecting its interests with the European Commission in a bilateral EU-U.S. regulatory dispute.
We routinely advise corporations and trade associations in connection with corporate political disclosure policies and practices.
Representing an aerospace technology company in its negotiation of a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory for the testing and validation of privately developed propulsion technology. Addressing key intellectual property protection issues.
Advised Fortune 50 consumer products company about its rights and obligations under a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with a U.S. Department of Energy weapons lab.
In recent years, negotiated consent agreements with FTC on behalf of weight-loss program, genetic testing, and dietary supplement company.
Negotiated a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Department of Defense for evaluation of innovative automotive technologies in connection with the precursor of the LMTV program.
Represented the Carlyle Group in various matters, including the sale of Landmark and Standard Aero to Dubai Aerospace International.
Represented a third party in responding to an inquiry by the Online Interest-Based Advertising Accountability Program regarding compliance with the Digital Advertising Alliance’s Self-Regulatory Principles for Online Behavioral Advertising.
Successfully represented a major defense contractor, through trial and decision, in board of contract appeals litigation involving the allowability of private security costs allegedly incurred in connection with providing logistical support to the U.S. military during the Iraq War. The case raised cutting-edge cost allowability, contractor-on-the-battlefield, and statute of limitations issues.
Represented ExxonMobil in antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings related to crude oil.
Foreign government cyber hacking of a federal agency produced front page news and a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) False Claims Act (FCA) investigation of the service contractor that built and maintained the agency’s cyber security system. We rebutted allegations that critical cyber infrastructure was missing, out of date, and technically deficient. The DOJ dropped its investigation and the company made a small, five figure settlement with the agency.
Represented CVG, Inc. in its sale to Integral Systems, Inc.
Advised several leading U.S. companies in responding to existing and proposed Chinese trade barriers, including in the areas of intellectual property, technology standards, and competition law, and helped our clients succeed in raising the profile of these issues in U.S. bilateral negotiations with China.
Represented operators of online websites and mobile apps in responding to informal FTC inquiry letters involving alleged violations of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act.
Represented China Investment Corporation in its $1.6 billion investment in AES Corp.
Co-lead counsel for POM Wonderful in landmark advertising litigation with FTC concerning health claims for food products.