Michael Dino and Matt Knoedler, senior public policy advisor and public policy adviser, respectively, in the firm’s Denver office, appeared on ColoradoBiz TV on August 26, 2010, discussing Colorado’s post-primary politics.

David Tafuri, a partner in the firm's Washington office, wrote an opinion piece published by The Wall Street Journal on August 25, 2010, that addresses a recent trip he made to Gaza and the West Bank with Google executives.

The op-ed examined how this region, because of its restrictions, views the Internet as the most promising sector for job creation.  Many West Bank companies have already generated revenue from Internet-focused businesses and are drawing in foreign investment, but the impact goes beyond economics. 

"Perhaps most significant, however, is that Palestinians' isolation—and inability to travel and import or export goods—means that the Web is their main way to connect with the outside world," Mr. Tafuri wrote.

Nicholas Allard, a partner in the firm’s Washington office, appeared on a Voice of America (VOA) three-part lobbying series from August 23 – 25, 2010 discussing the issues surrounding the practice of lobbying including its role in U.S. government policymaking, ethics and rules regulating the practice and international interest and involvement.

George Schutzer and Paul Rubin, partners in the firm’s Washington office, were featured in The Gray Sheet on August 16, 2010 discussing the medical device excise tax that will be implemented in 2013.

The provision, stemming from the health care reform legislation, will institute a 2.3 percent tax on most medical device sales in the U.S. Many medical industry professionals would like to repeal or revise the measure, while some attorneys advise those in the industry to seek answers from the government on how implementation will happen. Some concerns surrounding the provision focus on questions regarding the types of devices that will be exempt from the tax, according to the article.

“Before Treasury actually begins to do anything, it is a lot easier to have informal conversations,” Mr. Schutzer said. “This is really a good time to go in and broadly discuss the nature of the problems and ... the procedures that might be used by Treasury.”

Medical devices considered by the Treasury as “generally purchased by the general public at retail for individual use,” such as hearing aids and eyeglasses are exempt from the tax. Determining which devices will be exempt is a cause for concern to some in the industry and attorneys.

“There are many classes of products that are only medical devices if you make certain claims for them,” Mr. Rubin said. “These types of ‘dual use’ products - capable of regulation by the Consumer Product Safety Commission as consumer products, or FDA as medical devices, depending upon claims - are potentially subject to the excise tax.”

Jay Darden, a partner in the firm’s Washington office, was featured in The New York Times on August 13, 2010, about a broad federal investigation into whether major drug and device makers have made illegal payments to health professionals and doctors in foreign countries to encourage them to order or prescribe their medications.

Manyforeign countries, forbid doctors from marketing drugs and medical devicesas they can in the United States. If payments to doctors by drug and device makers are not disclosed to the governments, there may be a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Drug companies need to be remindful to their foreign subsidiaries not to make bribes to local officials and doctors, according to the article.  

“They should set a tone at the top that makes it clear to a company’s international sales force that these types of payments are unacceptable,” Mr. Darden said.

Greg Johnson, a partner in the firm’s Denver office, was featured in an article in Planet-Profit Report on August 3, 2010, about NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, offering primer on financing cleantech projects.

The association recently held a form titled “Financing Renewable Energy & Clean Technology Facilities,” in Denver that focused on complexities of alternative energy taxation and financing. Mr. Johnson explained how federal tax credits can be used as leverage to finance a large renewable energy production project, according to the article.

“[I]t seeks to monetize credits, meaning they want to create a structure whereby they use other people’s money -- people who do want credits -- and the structure monetizing those credits brings cash to the table to allow the sponsor of the renewable energy project to use that as equity as part of their overall capital program,” Mr. Johnson said.

Vinoda Basnayake, an associate in the firm’s Washington office, was featured in The Hill’s 50 Most Beautiful People article on July 28, 2010.

Mr. Basnayake focuses his practice on legislative and policy matters for international and domestic clients. He finds time to promote nightclubs and musicians through The Nightlife Agency, an entertainment business he launched with friends. Mr. Basnayake is also devoted to the P90X workout regime. He says he has come a long way from his childhood to be named among the 50 most beautiful people by The Hill.

“Two things South Asian parents do is overfeed their kids and insist on dressing you,” Mr. Basnayake said. “So up until about the fifth grade, I was fat and dressed by my mother. Now I like to work hard on my personal style.”