December 8, 1999

David B. Manno Resigns to
Take a Position in New York City

On December 8, 1999, David Manno left the Firm to try practicing at a much larger firm in New York City.  While we were sorry to see David go, we think he was enthusiastic about the new challenges that await him, and we wish him well in his new endeavors.   

October 19-23, 1999

James P. Duffy, III, Speaks at
the NYSBA International Law and Practice
Section Fall Meeting Held in Budapest, Hungary

James P. Duffy, III, chaired a panel on Ethical Dilemmas in Trans-border Transactions at the Fall meeting of the New York State Bar Association International Law and Practice Section that was held in Budapest, Hungary, in conjunction with the Hungarian Bar Association and other professional groups.  The meeting was attended by numerous attorneys from both the United States and many other jurisdictions, including many of the former Soviet Bloc nations.   Persons attending the panel received ethics credits towards their New York State Mandatory Continuing Legal Education requirements.   

October 1, 1999

The Firm Moves to Bigger Quarters
At 585 Stewart Avenue in Garden City

Reflecting the growth of the Firm's New York Office, the Firm relocated its New York Office to the Fifth Floor of 585 Stewart Avenue in Garden City, New York.  The building is a modern, seven story building, adjoining the Roosevelt Field Center and is in the heart of one of Long Island's most important commercial districts.   

July 31, 1999

Erin Sarret Resigns to
Return to her Native California

Erin joined the firm's Monaco office earlier in the year and moved her entire family to the South of France in the process.  Apparently, not all of her family had the same affection for the South of France that Erin had, and, at the end of July she determined it was necessary to go back to California with her daughter.  

May 1, 1999

B&D Joins 
The Appleton Legal Group
Through its Monaco Office

The Firm joined The Appleton Legal Group Legal Network, sometimes called TAGLaw, a worldwide source of reliable legal experts when its Monaco office was invited to participate in this rapidly growing and prestigious group of independent legal experts.  Membership in The Appleton Legal Group Legal Network, or TAGLaw, gives the Firm the ability to collaborate as needed with other independent legal experts around the world to serve better the needs of its growing list of international clients.  

April 26, 1999

James P. Duffy, III, and Dennis C.
Carletta Visit Mexico to Begin the Setting
Up of the Firm's Formal Office in Mexico City

In recognition of the Firm's strong interests in Mexico and Latin America, on Monday, April 26, 1999, Messrs. Duffy and Carletta were in Mexico to begin the process of formally establishing the Firm's permanent presence in Mexico City.  Mr. Duffy noted that, since his activities of Chairing the New York State Bar Association International Practice Section Meeting in Mexico City in the Fall of 1991, the Firm has had a strong interest in strengthening its Latin American practice with a formal presence in the region.  Mr. Duffy also served as one of the US negotiators of the legal services provisions of NAFTA which also brought him into close contact with Mexico.   Mr. Carletta will play a leading role is assuring that the Firm's presence will develop properly. 

April 20, 1999

James P. Duffy, III, Elected to the Board
of Governors of the British American
Benevolent  Association, Monte-Carlo, Monaco

At the Annual Meeting of the British American Benevolent   Association, a philanthropic organization based in Monte-Carlo, Monaco, to aid indigent Americans and British on the Cote d'Azur, James P. Duffy, III, was elected to its Board of Governors.   The Association provides  grants to the various British and American benevolent aid associations on the Cote d'Azur. 

April 9, 1999

Dennis Carletta Goes to Yankees Home Opener!

Dennis has proven once again that he is the greatest sports enthusiast in the Firm.   He is also lucky enough to have the right connections to be able to get tickets to all the best sporting events, including, this year's Yankees' Home Opening Game at Yankee Stadium.  Dennis says it was a great game, and, more important, the Yankees won.   Dennis predicts it is another World Series year for the Yanks. 

March 19, 1999

James P. Duffy, III, Speaks at
ABA NAFTA Conference in San Antonio, Texas

Appearing by video link from the multimedia center at the Gildo Pastor Center, James P. Duffy, III, spoke on Prospects for the Joint-Licensing of Attorneys in North America at the American Bar Association conference entitled "PRACTICING LAW IN THE ERA OF NAFTA: MASTERING THE NEW GLOBAL MARKETPLACE, STRATEGIES FOR PRACTICING LAW IN THE 21ST CENTURY".  Mr. Duffy drew heavily on his experience as one of the primary US negotiators for the Legal Services provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA.  The Conference was simultaneously broadcast to Washington, D.C., and to New York, New York, and was attended by several hundred attorneys specializing in international law.   Continuing Legal Education credit was given to the attendees of the conference. 

March 16, 1999

James P. Duffy, III, Elected President of the
American Benevolent Aid Association, Nice, France

At the Annual Meeting of the American Benevolent Aid Association, a philanthropic organization based in Nice, France, to aid indigent Americans on the Cote d'Azur, James P. Duffy, III, was elected President.   The Association provides support either in form of grants or loans to assist indigent Americans with housing costs, repatriation to the United States, or other emergency needs that can not be met from other sources.   Mr. Duffy formerly served as a Vice President of the Association.    

March 2, 1999

Monaco Office Obtains Favorable Court
Decision for Credit Bancorp, Ltd., Geneva

The Court of First Instance (Tribunal de Premiere Instance or "TPI") rendered a very favorable decision in favor of Monaco Office client, Credit Bancorp, Ltd., of Geneva, Switzerland ("CBL"), in an action involving United European Bank, also of Geneva, Switzerland ("UEB"), and the Monaco offices of Credit Commercial de France ("CCF") and Citibank (which did not participate in the proceedings though named a party).  The decision is ancillary to a main dispute between UEB and CBL, pending in the Geneva courts, over what CBL claims is the gross mishandling of a transaction by Citibank.  UEB had obtained an ex parte seizure order from the TPI that effectively blocked more than US$ 15 million CBL had on deposit at CCF.   The TPI limited the seizure to about US$3 million and to specific property.  CBL had offered this solution to UEB at the outset, but UEB refused CBL's offer. 

March 1, 1999

James P. Duffy, III, Speaks at the Nassau County Bar

James P. Duffy, III, spoke today at the Dean's Hour Presentation of the Nassau County Bar Association Academy of Law in a program on the Euro that was jointly sponsored by the Nassau Bar's International Law Committee of which Mr. Duffy was the founding Chair.  Those attending received one hour of MCLE credit under New York State's new mandatory continuing legal education.   The other panelist with Mr. Duffy was Paul Bodner, another member of the Committee.  Click the following link to see Mr. Duffy's presentation.   The Academy's letter of acknowledgment may be found at the preceding link. 

February 11, 1999

James P. Duffy, III, Participates in NAFTA
Conference at USTR Office in Washington, D.C.

On February 11, 1999, the United States Trade Representative convened a meeting of the principal negotiators of the Tri-Bar Joint Recommendation for the Legal Services provisions of NAFTA and a small number of interested parties.   Mr. Duffy attended as one of the negotiators.  The purpose of the meeting was to explore the next steps in the approval process of the Joint Recommendation that the negotiators concluded at the last negotiation session held in Mexico City this past June.   The Joint Recommendation has proven to be more controversial in the United States than originally anticipated, and the USTR wanted to get more insight into the background of the negotiations and the reasons for the provisions certain interested parties felt were objectionable. 

February 1, 1999

Erin D. Sarret Arrives at the Monaco Office

Erin D. Sarret, a member of the California Bar, arrived at the Monaco office today.  There are still some formalities she needs to complete with the French and Monaco authorities before she can come on board officially, but these matters should be completed shortly.  Erin's personal page is still under construction at this time, but, within a few days, it should be up and running with more details about her.  Erin will be assuming the responsibilities as managing attorney for the Monaco office.   This is a challenging assignment for Erin, and we wish her all the best. 

January 31, 1999

Dennis Carletta Goes to Super Bowl!

Dennis is, without question, the greatest sports enthusiast in the Firm.   He is also lucky enough to have the right connections to be able to get tickets to all the best sporting events, such as, last Fall's World Series (he went to several of the games at Yankee Stadium) and this year's Super Bowl.  We were all strongly rooting for the Jets because the Firm would have gotten its own tickets, but Dennis was able to go to the Super Bowl anyway. 

January 27, 1999

James P. Duffy, III, Re-elected Vice-Chair
of the International Law and Practice Section of
the New York State Bar Association

At the Annual Meeting of the International Law and Practice Section, held   at the Marriott Marquise Hotel in New York, New York, as part of the Annual Meeting of the New York State Bar Association, James P. Duffy, III, was re-elected Vice-Chair, Communications, of the Section.   Mr. Duffy was one of the founding members of the Section and has served in senior leadership positions for many years.  Mr. Duffy was also re-elected a member of the Committee on Legal Education and Admission to the Bar, a committee of the Bar that primarily reviews the standards for admission to practice in New York. 

January 26, 1999

James P. Duffy, III, Re-elected President of
The Riviera Committee of The American Chamber of Commerce in France

At a meeting held at the Unisys Conference Center in St. Paul de Vence, France, conducted by Stephen Pierce, the new Executive Director of The American Chamber of Commerce in France, who came from Paris for the occasion James P. Duffy, III, was re-elected by acclamation as the president of the Riviera Committee of the Chamber.   Both Mr. Duffy and Mr. Pierce expressed the desire to enhance the membership of the Chamber in the region, and Mr. Pierce has committed to periodic visits to the region to assist with recruiting efforts.  Mr. Duffy also reported that, as he had restored the Committee to solid financial health, the Committee would expand its practice of awarding prizes to deserving students at area business schools and international schools. 

January 23, 1999

James P. Duffy, III, Re-elected
President of The American Club of the Riviera

James P. Duffy, III, along with the entire slate of officers and governors proposed by the nominating committee was unanimously re-elected president of The American Club of the Riviera at a luncheon meeting held at the Chateau des Ollieiers in Nice.   Among the members and guests present were former US Consul General of Nice, Peter Murphy and current US Consul of Marseilles, Martha Melzow. 

January 4-8, 1999

James P. Duffy, III, Again Teaches the
Graduate Business Law Seminar Course at the
University of Southern Europe, Monaco Business School

James P. Duffy, III, as he has for many years, again taught the Graduate Seminar in Business Law at the University of Southern Europe, Monaco Business School, in Monaco.  The course consisted of thirty-two hours of seminar and numbered thirty-six students from approximately fifteen countries who are all studying for their Masters in Business Administration.