Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Jennings, Strouss & Salmon Expands Washington, D.C. Office

PHOENIX, Ariz. (August 30, 2011) - Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, PLC, a leading Phoenix-based law firm, is pleased to announce that Alan J. Rukin has joined the firm as an associate in the firm's Washington, D.C. office.

"We are excited to have Alan join our energy and corporate practice groups," stated Debra D. Roby, chair of the firm's energy department. "His background and enthusiasm will be a great asset to us as we continue to grow our practice. It is a pleasure to have him on our team."

As a member of the firm's Energy and Corporate, Securities and Finance departments, Rukin will utilize his engineering and legal background to enhance the services offered to clients.

"The Jennings Strouss tradition of excellence led me to join this team, along with the outstanding reputation of the attorneys who are part of the firm's national energy practice. I look forward to working alongside these professionals as we address critical issues in the traditional and alternative energy industries," stated Rukin.

Prior to attending law school, Rukin worked in the engineering operations division of a coal-fired generating station owned and operated by a rural electric cooperative. While earning his law degrees, he worked for a self regulatory organization in the securities industry and several positions within the federal government. Rukin also taught constitutional law and appellate arguments to high school students in the District of Columbia Public School System.

Rukin earned a J.D. from American University Washington College of Law, an LL.M. in Securities and Financial Regulation from Georgetown University Law Center, and a B.S. and M.E. in Civil Engineering from the University of Florida. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Florida, and is a member of the Energy Bar Association and the American Bar Association's Business Law and Environment, Energy and Resources Sections. Rukin currently resides in Arlington, VA.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Jennings Strouss Foundation Receives ICARECORPS Partnership Award

PHOENIX, Ariz. (August 23, 2011) - Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, PLC, a leading Phoenix-based law firm, is pleased to announce that the Jennings Strouss Foundation (JS Foundation) received the ICARECORPS Partnership Award from Gateway School for the 2010-2011 school year. The award was presented at the Creighton District Recognition Awards Celebration at Creighton School in Phoenix on Wednesday, August 17th.

"We are very grateful and appreciative for the support of the Jennings Strouss Foundation. There are so many families who benefit from the generosity of firm and its employees," stated Nancy Uxa, principal of Gateway Elementary School. "Every donation they make goes a long way in helping our students have a brighter future."

Gateway School is a primary school in the Creighton School District, serving over 850 students in grades kindergarten through 8. Gateway has a 98 percent minority enrollment, with 90 percent of the students on the free or reduced fee lunch program.

"On behalf of the JS Foundation and the employees of Jennings Strouss, I am delighted to accept this award. We are pleased to partner with Gateway Elementary School and the Creighton School District on projects that benefit the students of Gateway. Our projects have brought much satisfaction to those in association with Jennings Strouss and we hope that our efforts have aided in the school's educational goals," said Janet B. Hutchison, JS Foundation President and an attorney in the Phoenix office of Jennings, Strouss & Salmon.

The JS Foundation was established to accommodate the desire many Jennings, Strouss & Salmon employees had to give back to the community. While many contribute their own personal resources to worthy causes, they felt that the need to make a more significant impact by as group to address issues in underserved communities. This goal was achieved through the formation of the foundation, which has maximized employees' efforts and allowed the firm to express its commitment to community through social responsibility and philanthropic causes.

The current focus of the JS Foundation is to meet the educational needs of disadvantaged individuals, adults and/or children, in the communities in which the firm operates. This goal is reached through the collective efforts - whether financial, in-kind donation, or volunteer work - of Jennings, Strouss & Salmon employees, families and friends.

The JS Foundation's mission is to not only serve the immediate needs of its beneficiaries, but to also pave the way towards a better future for all.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Salt River Project Icon Richard H. Silverman Joins Jennings, Strouss & Salmon

PHOENIX, Ariz. (August 22, 2011) - Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, PLC, a leading Phoenix-based law firm, is pleased to announce that Richard H. Silverman, former General Manager of Salt River Project (SRP), has joined the firm as Of Counsel.

"Dick's reputation and standing in Arizona and the national electric industry will enhance not only our energy practice, but our tradition of community involvement," said J. Scott Rhodes, Managing Attorney of Jennings, Strouss & Salmon.

Silverman began his career with SRP in 1966 as an attorney and, over the years, held various legal and managerial roles, including Associate General Manager of Law and Administrative Services. In 1994, Silverman was named General Manager of SRP. His many accomplishments include the 2011 President's Award, J.D. Power & Associates; 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award, the Agri-Business Council of Arizona; 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award, Most Admired Executives, Phoenix Business Journal; and the Whitney M. Young, Jr. Individual Award, Greater Phoenix Urban League.

"Having worked in the utility business my entire career, it seemed appropriate to associate with a firm enjoying a strong energy and utility practice, where knowledge and experience would be mutually beneficial," said Silverman, former general manager of Salt River Project. "For nearly seven decades, Jennings Strouss has demonstrated excellence and leadership in the legal field, and I am pleased to begin another career with such a respected firm."

Silverman is a well-recognized and respected professional in the energy industry, in Arizona and on a national level. He is past Chair of the board of directors for the Electric Power Research Institute; past Chair and former steering committee member of the Large Public Power Council; and former executive committee member of the board of directors for the American Public Power Association.

As Of Counsel at Jennings, Strouss & Salmon, Silverman will continue his active involvement with Arizona civic organizations and will also work closely with the firm's Washington, D.C.-based energy practice, which focuses on representing the business and regulatory needs of electric, natural gas, telecommunications and water utilities.

Silverman is active in a number of community organizations, including Greater Phoenix Leadership, the University of Arizona Foundation and the Translational Genomics Research Institute. He serves as Chair of the Governor's Arizona Medical Education Oversight Task Force and is a member of the Governor's Arizona Centennial Commission and Centennial Foundation.

He earned both his J.D. and B.S. in Business from the University of Arizona. Silverman currently resides in Phoenix with his wife Susan.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

National Labor Relations Board Limits Undocumented Workers' Remedies

Legal Watch Series: Topic 9 - Employees' Privacy Rights When Using Company Computers

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

JS Foundation Holds Successful Back-to-School SupplyDrive


Summer 2011

The Jennings Strouss Foundation held a successful back-to-school drive for Gateway Elementary in the Creighton School District. To help alleviate financial burdens due to budget cuts, the JS Foundation committed to supporting the school, which educates a number of children from low-income families, by providing 30 first grade students with the necessary tools to begin the new school year.

Items donated included backpacks, pencils, erasers, pencil sharpeners, crayons, pencil boxes, glue sticks, rulers, scissors and addition/subtraction math facts flash cards. Through the generous assistance of Jennings Strouss personnel, the JS Foundation was able to donate 32 fully stocked backpacks and provide additional supplies to first grade teacher, Teresa Colonna Nelson. In addition, donated supplies, including notebooks and binders, were provided to the school.

The JS Foundation Board Members and volunteer, Mike Hutchison, delivered the supplies to Gateway Elementary on Friday, August 5, 2011, just in time for the first day of school on August 8th. The Gateway Elementary School representatives present to accept the donations included Janet Chapin-Walden (Title I Director), Dr. Nancy Uxa (Principal), and Teresa Colonna Nelson (Teacher).