O’Melveny & Myers has created a new practice group focused on advising corporate executives and businesses on legal matters that encompass a range of transactional, regulatory, and policy issues. The practice will be headed by Thomas McCoy and Jonathan Sallet, who joined the firm’s Washington office in September and August, respectively.
O’Melveny has also entered into a strategic alliance with The RiceHadley Group, which is run by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and former National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley.
McCoy, who was previously executive vice president, legal, corporate, and public affairs at Advanced Micro Devices, balked when the practice was described as “crisis management.” But he did acknowledge that crisis management will be a focus of the practice.
“We’re going to be advising clients on legal challenges that are highly significant and sensitive and that take into account a range of concerns,” McCoy said. He added that among those concerns is the reaction of Wall Street and public perception of the cases they handle in a “highly charged atmosphere.”
Sallet, a former partner at the Glover Park Group, said he and McCoy will not be doing any lobbying or public relations work themselves but may bring in lobbyists and PR advisers to team up on some of their legal strategies.
“When clients are involved in the kinds of matters we will be handling, they’re going to be facing pressures from every direction. We want to provide the kind of analysis and legal campaigning to address the biggest concerns facing the company, Sallet said.
Well, hospitals have trauma units, so it makes sense that law firms would have specialty groups to deal with extreme situations.
Posted by: Joseph Marchelewski | September 22, 2010 at 01:51 AM