RICHMOND, VA – After an eight-year legal battle, the case brought by FBI Special Agent James R. Rudisill against the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA) will finally be heard by the nation’s highest court. On June 26, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to review the lower court ruling and potentially provide millions of veterans with expanded educational benefits. Read more about Troutman Pepper’s ongoing fight for military veterans here.
Rudisill v. McDonough seeks to resolve how many months of educational benefits a veteran is entitled to under two different GI Bills. Rudisill, a decorated U.S. Army veteran, is represented pro bono by Troutman Pepper attorneys Timothy McHugh, Misha Tseytlin, Kevin LeRoy, Abbey Thornhill, and Trey Smith, among others, and David DePippo from Dominion Energy.
“It is a significant sign that the Supreme Court has decided to take this up. The justices likely wouldn’t have taken the case if they agreed with the lower court’s decision,” said McHugh.
In March, the pro bono team filed a petition for a writ of certiorari, asking the Supreme Court to review the December 15, 2022, ruling by an en banc panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The lower court reversed the ruling of a three-judge panel of the same court in July 2021. Prior to that, appeals courts agreed with Rudisill that he separately qualified for benefits under both the Post-9/11 and Montgomery GI Bill programs.
“The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit missed the forest for the trees. They missed the core protections in the GI Bills going back to the original GI Bill, which is that those who served in multiple qualified periods of service get the full benefits from those two periods of service up to 48 months,” said Tseytlin.
Rudisill v. McDonough centers on the VA’s interpretation of certain administrative provisions of the Post-9/11 GI Bill that Congress enacted in 2008 to provide “enhanced educational benefits” far more generous than the then-prevailing peacetime Montgomery GI Bill. Congress passed the bill in recognition of the “especially arduous” wartime service required of veterans since the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The Court is expected to hear the case in the Fall or Winter of the 2023-24 Term. If Troutman Pepper prevails, approximately 1.7 million (and growing) Post-9/11 veterans could be eligible to receive additional education benefits.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
About Dominion Energy
About 7 million customers in 16 states energize their homes and businesses with electricity or natural gas from Dominion Energy (NYSE: D), headquartered in Richmond, Va. The company is committed to safely providing reliable, affordable and sustainable energy and to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. Please visit DominionEnergy.com to learn more.
Washington, D.C. – Troutman Pepper Partners Lori Sommerfield and Chris Willis, along with Associate Sarah Pruett, have updated the Practical Handbook on Fair Lending for Bank Directors and Executive Officers (the Handbook) for the American Association of Bank Directors (AABD). Sommerfield co-authored the original Handbook with AABD’s President, David Baris, in 2016.
Published and available for purchase through Amazon in paperback and e-book formats, the new second edition of AABD’s Handbook addresses the dramatic shift in the regulatory landscape for enforcement of the federal fair lending laws over the past decade, with aggressive enforcement of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act and Fair Housing Act by federal agencies (including the CFPB, U.S. Department of Justice, and federal banking agencies) under various presidential administrations.
The AABD’s Handbook is designed to help individual bank and savings institution directors and executive officers understand and help guide their bank’s fair lending compliance efforts. Specifically, the Handbook is intended to raise awareness and provide education to directors and executive officers about the federal fair lending laws and related laws, as well as offer guidance to directors and executive management on their roles in providing meaningful oversight for fair lending risk management.
The Handbook also describes best practices to enhance banks’ fair lending compliance programs to meet regulatory expectations. For this reason, the Handbook serves as a helpful resource for others, including chief risk officers, chief compliance officers, and fair lending officers.
“We were thrilled to be involved in creating the second edition of the Handbook with David Baris at AABD,” said Sommerfield. “At Troutman Pepper, we are constantly monitoring fair lending legal and regulatory developments to help banks and nonbanks effectively navigate through regulatory compliance, examination, supervision and enforcement issues.”
Troutman Pepper has more than 200 attorneys who regularly advise financial services providers and is nationally recognized for its prowess in the field. A two-time winner of Law360’s Consumer Protection Practice Group of the Year award, Troutman Pepper’s Consumer Financial Services practice is ranked by Chambers USA at the national level for consumer finance compliance and litigation. The team helps clients resolve litigation, provides regulatory guidance, and assists with investigations and enforcement actions initiated by federal and state government agencies. In 2021, Troutman Pepper was named FinTech Law Firm of the Year by The Deal, becoming the first firm to receive the award.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from start-ups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
NEW YORK – Troutman Pepper counseled Deluxe Corporation (NYSE: DLX), a Trusted Payments and Data company, in the sale of its web hosting and logo design businesses to HostPapa, a leading global web hosting and cloud service provider for small and medium businesses. Read a company press release about the transaction.
This transaction represents Deluxe’s exit from the web hosting and logo design market as it continues to focus on its future as a Payments and Data company. The company’s powerful scale supports millions of small businesses, thousands of vital financial institutions, and hundreds of the world’s largest consumer brands, while processing approximately $3 trillion in annual payment volume.
The Troutman Pepper team advising Deluxe Corporation was led by Steven Khadavi and Wallace Bao, and included Brielle Landis, Daniel Anziska, Brandon Woods, and Hazen Dempster.
Consistently recognized as a top-tier national practice, Troutman Pepper’s corporate attorneys regularly handle multimillion- and multibillion-dollar transactions. Core areas of service include capital markets transactions and other significant domestic and cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, securities laws compliance, and corporate finance. The firm has particular expertise in the private equity and private fund services space, advising clients on matters from fund formation to investments and exit transactions.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from start-ups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
NEW YORK – Troutman Pepper client Bestpass, a comprehensive back-office automation software and toll management provider for commercial fleets, has announced the close of a large multimillion minority investment by global software investor Insight Partners. Read a company press release about the investment.
Bestpass is the leading toll management and payment platform for commercial vehicles across the U.S. and Canada. Bestpass covers 100% of major toll roads across the U.S., supports more than 30,000 customers, and processes over $1.5 billion in toll transactions annually.
In 2018, Troutman Pepper advised Susquehanna Growth Equity, an entrepreneur-centric growth equity fund, in its initial investment in Bestpass. With this investment, Insight Partners joins Susquehanna Growth Equity as a major investor in Bestpass. The funding will help Bestpass continue to expand its offerings for commercial fleets and owner operators.
The Troutman Pepper team advising Bestpass in the investment was led by Matt Greenberg and Brandon Raphael and included Michael Byrne, Raffaele Cicala, and Reid Oetting.
Consistently recognized as a top-tier national practice, Troutman Pepper’s corporate attorneys regularly handle multimillion- and multibillion-dollar transactions. Core areas of service include capital markets transactions and other significant domestic and cross-border transactions, mergers and acquisitions, corporate governance, securities laws compliance, and corporate finance. The firm has particular expertise in the private equity and private fund services space, advising clients on matters from fund formation to investments and exit transactions.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
SAN FRANCISCO – Shawn Zovod, an attorney with significant experience advising clients on complex environmental issues and regulations, has joined Troutman Pepper’s Environmental + Natural Resources (ENR) practice as a partner in San Francisco. She joins the firm from Lubin Olson & Niewiadomski LLP.
With more than two decades of experience, Zovod has deep knowledge of California-specific environmental regulations and expertise in the Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, and National Historic Preservation Act. She advises and represents a broad range of clients on these matters, including developers, energy and mining companies, and property owners.
“Shawn’s arrival aligns perfectly with our strategic goals, and we are confident that her expertise and leadership will help drive the firm’s continued growth in California’s increasingly complex and rapidly changing environmental regulatory arena,” said partner Amie Colby, head of the firm’s Regulatory and Finance department. “With Shawn’s support, we will continue to provide the best counsel to our clients and help them navigate emerging regulatory challenges and providing creative and sustainable solutions.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Shawn to Troutman Pepper, further strengthening our exceptional team,” said Andrea Wortzel, Environmental and Natural Resources practice group leader. “This addition reinforces our commitment to expanding the footprint of our environmental work. Her deep understanding of the intricate legal landscape in California and passion for delivering impactful solutions will further enhance our ability to meet client environmental needs, particularly on the West Coast.”
“We look forward to Shawn broadening the breadth and depth of our West Coast ENR practice group,” said Kalama Lui-Kwan, managing partner of the firm’s San Francisco office. “Her robust experience and professional connections complement and strengthen our comprehensive services in the environmental and natural resources sectors.”
Zovod has successfully negotiated with federal and state regulators, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, California Office of Historic Preservation, and Regional Water Quality Control Boards. She has evaluated property suitability for development, secured federal and state resource permits, implemented wetland and species permits and mitigation plans, and resolved violations to ensure compliance.
“Joining Troutman Pepper is an exciting opportunity for me to work with an exceptional team who prioritizes collaboration, creative solutions, and forward-thinking,” said Zovod. “I am eager to leverage the robust resources and multidisciplinary approach to deliver outstanding legal counsel that helps clients navigate the ever-changing environmental landscape.”
Troutman Pepper’s nationally recognized Environmental + Natural Resources Practice Group helps clients navigate critical environmental issues in the context of complex litigation, compliance, enforcement, and transactional matters. The group, which includes 28 attorneys with valuable government, industry, and technical experience, provides a unique perspective to address the rapidly evolving federal, state, and local environmental issues that clients face on a day-to-day basis.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from start-ups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
LOS ANGELES – Troutman Pepper has been awarded the 2023 Katharine Krause Award by Inner City Law Center for the firm’s extensive pro bono efforts to address the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles. Each year, the Katharine Krause Award is presented to an individual, organization, or firm that has made a notable contribution toward improving the lives of the most vulnerable in Los Angeles.
“We are very appreciative of this recognition for our pro bono work,” said Sara Richman, partner and Chair of Pro Bono at Troutman Pepper. “Inner City Law Center provides critical legal services to people experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. We are proud to work with Inner City Law Center to help our clients maintain housing security, and we are very honored to receive the Katharine Krause Award in recognition of our efforts.”
Founded in 1980, Inner City Law Center is a nonprofit, poverty-law firm working to end the homelessness crisis by providing free legal services to the most vulnerable residents of Los Angeles. It is the only legal aid organization with headquarters in Skid Row. Inner City Law Center’s staff of more than 130 (including 65 lawyers), together with hundreds of volunteers, fight for people facing eviction, struggling with landlord harassment, fighting to secure their veteran or disability benefits, or standing up to slum housing conditions.
Last year, Troutman Pepper devoted 630 pro bono hours to helping Inner City Law Center clients fight unlawful evictions, stand up to slumlords, and reclaim public benefits. The Troutman Pepper pro bono team working with Inner City Law Center includes Pamela Palmer, who also serves as vice president of the board, Cindy Lee, who also sits on the organization’s pro bono council, Peter Bloom, Natalia Jacobo, Alexandria Pritchett, Andrick Zeen, Michelle Rosenberg, Rosa Bender, Helen Perez, Luke Eaton, Jeff Goldman, Mary Dickson, Matt Ladner, Tambry Bradford, and Alicia Worthy.
Troutman Pepper and fellow award recipients were recognized at the Inner City Law Center’s 23rdAnnual Luncheon on June 14.
Each year, Troutman Pepper attorneys dedicate thousands of pro bono hours in support of nonprofits, immigrants, military veterans, children, the wrongfully convicted, civil rights and social justice initiatives, and so many more. Learn more at troutman.com/pro-bono.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Richard J. Pratt, leader of Troutman Pepper’s Insurance and Reinsurance Practice Group, has been recognized as a 2023 BTI Client Service All-Star by BTI Consulting Group.
Now in its 22nd year, The BTI Client Service All-Stars is used by corporate counsel and law firms alike to identify the attorneys delivering the absolute best levels of client service. BTI Client Service All-Stars are defined as practical, savvy, in the know, dealing with complexity, available, and nimble. To select the 2023 Client Service All-Stars, BTI conducted more than 350 in-depth interviews with legal decision makers at large organizations with $700 million or more in revenue.
At Troutman Pepper, Pratt represents insurance companies in some of the most high-profile matters in the U.S., often involving a myriad of procedural and substantive issues. Clients call on Pratt to handle significant and often sensitive litigation and mediation in complex cases nationwide. He is particularly skilled in the areas of bad faith, mass tort, and environmental insurance coverage litigation.
Troutman Pepper’s Insurance and Reinsurance Practice Group comprises a talented team of individuals who are widely recognized for representing insurers on some of the toughest matters they face, including complex claims and high-exposure coverage and reinsurance issues. Over the past two decades, the firm has advised clients in sophisticated coverage litigation in all 50 states and in many foreign jurisdictions and has secured landmark rulings in trial and appellate courts across the country that span decades and involve tens of billions of dollars.
For over 30 years, BTI has conducted independent research on how clients acquire, manage, and evaluate their professional services providers. Learn more at bticonsulting.com.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
WASHINGTON – In recognition of outstanding efforts in providing pro bono representation in the immigration field, Troutman Pepper has received the 2023 Michael Maggio Memorial Pro Bono Award from the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). AILA’s annual awards are the highest recognition of achievement and contributions in the national immigration law community.
Troutman Pepper attorneys and fellows of the Pepper Center for Public Service have a long history of representing pro bono clients needing immigration assistance. In 2022, nearly one-fifth of the firm’s total pro bono hours were in assisting refugees and other immigrants in a variety of immigration matters. Some of the highlights included representing Afghan refugees seeking asylum; obtaining a green card for a victim of labor trafficking; obtaining work authorizations that had been wrongful denied; obtaining the release of a person wrongfully detained through a habeas petition; and successfully challenging removal proceedings against a legal permanent resident in a Third Circuit Court of Appeals case that involved important questions regarding application of the categorical approach. This work is done in close collaboration with community partners across the country.
Business Litigation attorneys David Dantzler, Brian Watt and Bianca DiBella devoted their recent pro bono efforts fighting for the return of a client to the United States who had been deported while his immigration proceedings were on appeal. Although asylum was granted in January 2021, it took until October 2022 for him to successfully board a plane in Kenya and return to safety in the U.S.
“We are honored to receive this recognition from the American Immigration Lawyers Association,” said Sara Richman, Chair of Pro Bono at Troutman Pepper. “Bianca, Brian, and David were relentless advocates in this case, refusing to give up until our client was safely home in the U.S. We are thankful for our community partner, the Georgia Asylum and Immigration Network, who referred us this pro bono opportunity and has supported our nomination for this award. We look forward to partnering with GAIN for years to come.”
This year’s award recipients will be recognized at AILA’s Annual Conference on June 22 in Orlando, Florida.
AILA is the national association of immigration lawyers established to promote justice, advocate for fair and reasonable immigration law and policy, advance the quality of immigration and nationality law and practice, and enhance the professional development of its members. Learn more at aila.org.
Each year, Troutman Pepper attorneys dedicate thousands of pro bono hours in support of nonprofits, immigrants, military veterans, children, the wrongfully convicted, civil rights and social justice initiatives, and so many more. Learn more at troutman.com/pro-bono.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
NEW YORK – The Troutman Pepper Financial Services blog launched today with comprehensive analysis and insight into pertinent law, regulation, and business, and brings together thought leadership and news spanning the entirety of the financial services industry. Topics covered span consumer and bank regulatory, compliance and enforcement, litigation, consumer and commercial lending, M&A, capital raising and private equity, payments and fintech, banking as a service, the Bank Secrecy Act and anti-money laundering, bankruptcy, data security and privacy, strategic government relations issues, and more.
“We created this new blog to showcase the comprehensive breadth of our financial services practice, which truly covers all aspects of what our clients need, in every aspect of their business,” said Partner Kris Henman, co-leader of the firm’s Financial Services team.
“We are covering what clients care about and what they don’t know they should care about,” said Partner James Stevens, who co-leads Troutman Pepper’s Financial Services team. “It’s ultimately a hub that financial services companies can turn to for timely insights spanning all areas – transactional, regulatory and compliance, and litigation.”
“We know clients appreciate options when consuming content, so we designed the blog to not only feature written articles of varying lengths, but to incorporate multimedia content like podcasts and video,” said Partner Chris Willis, co-leader of the firm’s Financial Services team.
In addition to hosting original content, the blog will funnel newsletters and other relevant firm content from existing properties including the popular Consumer Financial Services Law Monitor and Regulatory Oversight blogs and The Consumer Finance, The Crypto Exchange, FCRA Focus, and Unauthorized Access podcasts.
The Troutman Pepper Financial Services blog also is available on a new “Troutman Pepper” mobile app. Functionality and features of the new app include:
- A feed of the Financial Services blog, advisories, and articles
- An in-app player for all Financial Services-related podcasts
- Event functionality to see upcoming events and speakers
- A directory listing the members of the firm’s Financial Services team
- A survey function that allows the firm to gather feedback and poll clients on hot topics
The launch of the blog and mobile app come as Troutman Pepper has assembled a team of more than 200 attorneys who regularly advise financial services providers, including banks, neobanks, payment processors, card issuers, consumer reporting agencies, and consumer and commercial lenders. Troutman Pepper handles their full spectrum of legal needs and has been nationally recognized for its work in the financial services industry, including by Chambers and Partners, U.S. News – Best Lawyers®, and Law360, among others.
“Our team is unique in our ability to handle any type of matter a financial services provider might run into at the highest possible level given our depth, breadth, and collaborative approach,” Willis said.
“The launch of our Financial Services blog and the Troutman Pepper app are just two of many new offerings our clients and the industry will see this year as part of our firm’s commitment to delivering even more value,” Stevens said.
To subscribe to the Troutman Pepper Financial Services blog, click here. The Troutman Pepper app is available to anyone to download on Apple and Android devices.
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from start-ups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.
RICHMOND, VA, June 13 – Troutman Pepper today launched “Rocket Docket” Blog, providing readers with comprehensive analysis and insights on the federal court district for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA). The court earned the “Rocket Docket” moniker in the 1950s after Judge Walter E Hoffman began holding court on Saturdays and holidays, fining lawyers for being late, and eliminating the common practice of continuing trial dates. Since that time, the EDVA has consistently been one of the fastest trial dockets of any federal court in the U.S. Today, the EDVA maintains its reputation for speed by utilizing an active and experienced bench, abbreviated discovery schedules, and an unwillingness to extend pretrial and trial dates. This makes the EDVA a very challenging and high-pressure venue, with many tricks and traps for the unwary.
The editors of the new blog, Partners Dabney Carr and Robert Angle, and senior Associate Laura Anne “LA” Kuykendall, all clerked for judges of the EDVA and are very experienced litigating in the EDVA. They are very familiar with the EDVA’s rules and practices, written and unwritten, and will be sharing their insights and analysis on practicing in the EDVA on a regular basis.
“We created this new blog not only to share experiences and lessons learned practicing in the EDVA, but also to discuss significant new decisions that may impact EDVA practitioners,” said Carr. “The EDVA’s short time to trial, abbreviated discovery schedule, and other unique practices creates a very challenging legal arena. We believe our blog will provide practical advice and a valuable resource for lawyers practicing in the EDVA.”
About Troutman Pepper
Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm’s litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients’ most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com.