What we say about the firm's legal practice in United States
Intellectual property
Within Patent litigation: International Trade Commission, Miller & Chevalier Chartered is a second tier firm,
Miller & Chevalier Chartered mainly acts as co-counsel with other firms on Section 337 investigations. A key presence in patent litigation before the ITC, the 10-lawyer team includes James Altman, David Foster and Barbara Murphy, with Foster and Murphy having handled around 60 and 50 cases respectively. They both advised Tessera on an investigation regarding the design of advanced integrated circuits. David Nickel has also built up extensive trial experience before the ITC. The team successfully represented CompX against Humanscale Corporation, with the ITC ruling that the asserted claims brought by the latter company were invalid and also reversing a previous decision that the respondent infringed a patent for computer keyboard supports. The firm also represented SiRF in litigation against Global Locate involving a complaint filed by the client and a counter-suit by Global Locate in relation to GPS technology.
Litigation
Within International trade, Miller & Chevalier Chartered is a third tier firm,
Miller & Chevalier Chartered’s trade team has considerable expertise in a wide range of areas, including trade remedies, customs, export control, FCPA and global compliance. The firm has been involved in hundreds of antidumping, countervailing duty, safeguard, and other import relief proceedings, both in the United States and abroad. The practice also covers the full spectrum of trade policy, including bilateral, regional, and multilateral negotiations and agreements; investment treaties; development of global market strategies advice and advocacy in connection with US and foreign government legislation and regulation; and bilateral and World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement and accession negotiations. Larry Christensen is recommended for export control work, while Homer Moyer focuses on FCPA matters.
Within White-collar criminal defense , tier 8
Based in Washington DC, Miller & Chevalier Chartered combines the focused experience of a boutique with the strength and experience of a full-service firm and provides an ‘excellent service’ to both corporate and individuals. The firm is particularly strong at handling matters sitting at the intersection of white-collar and the FCPA and over the past 35 years has handled matters involving over 35 different countries across five continents. ‘At the cutting-edge of criminal law enforcement’, the team is currently representing an individual targeted in a DOJ grand jury investigation with regards to alleged FCPA violations in the armaments industry. The matter is particularly noteworthy as it was the first time the DOJ used an undercover operative in an FCPA investigation. The firm also benefits from a number of lawyers who are as ‘good at trying cases as anyone in the market’, including the ‘superb’ Mark Rochon, who to date has been lead counsel in more than 160 jury trials. Barry Pollack is also well regarded for his trial skills and as a former certified public accountant is particularly focused on complex financial litigation often involving accounting fraud.
Tax
Within Employee benefits and executive compensation, Miller & Chevalier Chartered is a third tier firm,
Miller & Chevalier Chartered’s 18-strong, Washington DC-based employee benefits practice has a ‘deep level of knowledge with respect to executive compensation and benefits, in particular qualified retirement plans and nonqualified deferred compensation’. The practice has achieved nationwide penetration, and during the last three years, has represented more than 30% of the Fortune 100 and more than 20% of the Global 100. Christopher Condeluci joined the firm in 2010 after a term as tax and benefits counsel to the Senate Finance Committee. Recommended lawyers include benefits expert Marianna Dyson, Anne Batter for complex executive compensation matters, Frederick Oliphant and Gary Quintiere.
Within Tax controversy, Miller & Chevalier Chartered is a third tier firm,
Miller & Chevalier Chartered represents more than 20% of the Fortune 500, one quarter of the Global 100 and close to 40% of the Fortune 100 in connection with US federal tax matters. A significant proportion of the Washington DC firm’s work is high-level tax controversy, including complex international transfer pricing matters. With nearly 40 lawyers working wholly or substantially in controversy, the practice has the expertise and capacity to respond to the most challenging instructions. Kevin Kenworthy continues to represent a global petro-chemical giant in connection with high-value disputes. Rocco Femia is recommended for multinational transfer pricing disputes. David Blair has, like many of his partners, served in the government and brings tremendous administrative insight to his controversy work. Alan Horowitz has an impressive appellate practice and frequently appears in the US Supreme Court and federal courts of appeals. George Clarke is recommended for criminal tax defense.