The first month of 2013 is already over, but before turning the page on January InsideCounsel took a look back at some of the most significant, or simply bizarre, legal stories that topped the news last month. How well do you know your legal news?


1) There was a lot of shuffling in the upper echelons of the government in January. Which of the following high-ranking officials did not step down from his or her position last month?

a. Securities and Exchange Commission general counsel Mark Cahn

b. Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement chief Robert Khuzami

c. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis

Answer:

a. Securities and Exchange Commission general counsel Mark Cahn

Mark Cahn did leave his post as SEC general counsel, but it was at the end of 2012. In early January, the SEC selected Geoffrey Aronow as his replacement. Aronow joined the agency from the Washington D.C. office of Bingham McCutchen, where he had spent the previous four years as a partner.

2) Which of the following companies purchased some of bankrupt Hostess's brands this month?

a. Aunt Millie's Bakeries

b. Pepperidge Farm

c. Flowers Foods

d. Great Harvest Bread Co.

Answer:

c. Flowers Foods

Flowers Foods, which owns Cobblestone Mill, Nature's Own and Tastykake brands, paid $390 million to purchase some of Hostess's brands, including Wonder, Butternut and Home Pride. Flowers will also take over 20 bakeries and 38 depots from Hostess, which went bankrupt in November 2012.