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Insurers Directed to Provide Benefits for Gay Married Couples

Insurers in New York must treat same-sex couples who have been legally married out of state as validly married for insurance purposes, including qualifying for coverage under health policies, Insurance Superintendent Eric Dinallo directed Friday. "We expect insurance companies to provide the same rights and benefits to all legally married couples, regardless of the sex of the spouses," Mr. Dinallo said in a statement. He cited Governor David A. Paterson's May directive to state agencies to afford gay couples married in jurisdictions where same-sex marriages are legal the same rights and obligations as heterosexuals. The Insurance Department on Friday issued its directive, in the form of a Circular Letter to insurers. In it, department General Counsel Robert H. Easton wrote that he had determined that insurers cannot make distinctions in terms of coverage or sales of policies between legally married opposite-sex and same-sex couples. Failure to comply could subject insurers to penalties under state human rights laws and other anti-discrimination statutes, Mr. Easton warned. Mr. Dinallo said the directive applies to virtually all insurance products sold in the state, including life, disability, long-term care and health insurance. The executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, Donna Lieberman, said in a statement Friday that "families across New York will feel safer tonight than they did last night" because of the decision. - Joel Stashenko

Nixon Peabody, Foley & Lardner Add Partners From Thelen

Nixon Peabody has added 11 attorneys from Thelen to its energy and environmental practice across three offices. The group includes four partners who will join Nixon Peabody's New York office - Kathleen Balderston, Ellen Friedman, David Graybeal and William O'Brien - one counsel, Garrett Smith, and one associate. The firm also has added two energy and environmental partners each in the Washington, D.C., and Silicon Valley offices, as well as a counsel in Washington. Earlier this month, Morgan Lewis & Bockius acquired an eight-partner energy practice from Thelen, which voted to dissolve in late October. Nixon Peabody has more than 800 attorneys in 19 cities, with about 275 in New York. Meanwhile, Milwaukee-based Foley & Lardner has added three former Thelen partners in New York, including Barry Felder, co-chair of Thelen's commercial litigation practice and former name partner of Brown Raysman Millstein Felder & Steiner before its 2006 merger with Thelen. Two associates are also making the move to the litigation group. In addition, Foley & Lardner's New York office has added from Thelen two intellectual property partners: Steven J. Rizzi and Catherine McGrath. A third Thelen IP partner has joined Foley's Silicon Valley office. Foley & Lardner has more than 1,000 attorneys in nearly two dozen offices, including 30 in New York.

Mayer Brown Lays Off 33 Attorneys

Mayer Brown laid off 33 lawyers and 55 support staff last week because of the poor economic climate. "This reduction does not include lawyers who were asked to leave this year through our performance review process," the firm said in a statement. "Those affected by this decision are good lawyers who have made valuable contributions to the firm. We intend to give them access to outplacement services and other benefits and a substantial period of time to find another job." A Mayer Brown spokesperson said the firm is not disclosing which offices the layoffs will affect. Before the layoffs, Mayer Brown had about 1,900 attorneys firmwide, with some 200 in New York. Also last week, Boston-based Brown Rudnick Berlack Israels laid off 20 lawyers and some two dozen staff, or just shy of 10 percent of its workers. The firm said the layoffs were in five of its six U.S. offices, including New York, Boston, Hartford, Conn., and Providence, R.I. Layoffs also took place in London. - Brian Katkin, Sheri Qualters

Report: Low Judicial Pay Imperils Decisions

Inflation has ravaged the value of judicial salaries in the 10 years since they were last raised in New York, harming the state's economy and imperiling the quality of decisions in major commercial cases, according to a recent report by the Atlantic Legal Foundation. "The inadequate compensation of New York judges and its unfortunate present and impending impact upon New York's economy is an undisputed fact recognized by an unusually broad array of journalists, legal advocacy groups and civic organizations," the report concluded. The non-profit foundation, whose agenda includes promoting limited, effective government, also called on the business community to mobilize behind a push to increase judicial wages. Judicial salaries were last increased in New York in 1999. Since then, inflation has eroded the value of the salaries paid to the state's 1,200 judges by 30 percent (NYLJ, Nov. 19). Supreme Court justices earn an annual salary of $136,700, 19 percent less than the $169,300 earned by federal District Court judges. The report is available at www.atlanticlegal.org. - Daniel Wise

Personal Notes on Lawyers

• Latham & Watkins has named seven New York attorneys to the partnership: Michelle Kelban, finance; David Kurzweil, corporate; William Lu, tax; Ian Schuman, corporate; Keith Simon, finance; Jane Summers, finance; and David Teh, finance.

• Morrison Cohen has promoted four senior counsels to the partnership, effective Jan. 1: Michael R. Dal Lago, bankruptcy; David S. Goldstein, commercial litigation; Paul L. Porretta, compensation and benefits; and Steven N. Rockoff, corporate. Also, two corporate associates have been promoted to senior counsel: David P. LaGalia and Eitan Tabak.

• Bryan Cave has elected Jay P. Warren, to the partnership, effective Jan. 1. He practices in the commercial litigation, employee benefits & executive compensation and labor & employment groups.

• McDermott Will & Emery has promoted five New York attorneys to the partnership: Jonathan J. Boyles, employee benefits; Meir A. Lewittes, corporate; Kumar Paul, tax; Danielle K. Schonback, energy and derivatives markets; and April Tabor, antitrust and competition.