Handy Andys

Tuesday was a good day -- a very good day -- for Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw's appellate practice. The Supreme Court handed victories to two of its partners, both of whom happen to be named Andy. Andrew Frey, longtime strategist in the legal battle against high punitive damages, was the winner in the big tobacco case Philip Morris v. Williams. And Andrew Pincus hauled in a win for Weyerhaeuser in a key antitrust case, Weyerhaeuser Co. v, Ross-Simmons Hardwood Lumber Co. Mayer Brown, one of the first firms to specialize in Supreme Court litigation, is arguing five cases this term. Was there a big celebration at the firm's K Street offices Tuesday night? Not really, said Pincus. "Everybody was glad, but everyone's got work to do." Both he and Frey were alumni of the solicitor general's office where, Pincus said, "the ethos is, you do your best and keep on going."