New York's top court has upheld Gov. David Paterson's power to appoint a lieutenant governor, reversing a lower court's decision.

The court ruling released Tuesday is a timely victory for Paterson, who is facing calls from national Democratic Party leaders to abandon his bid for governor in 2010.

The ruling makes Richard Ravitch the state's lietenant governor. Paterson appointed him July 8 to help break a monthlong Senate leadership struggle,

Senate Republican leader Dean Skelos then filed a lawsuit challenging Paterson's authority to make the appointment.

The lieutenant governor's post had been empty since Paterson stepped up to replace Eliot Spitzer, who resigned last year amid a prostitution scandal.

J. Thomas Archer, a commercial litigator with more than a decade of national experience representing major hotels, resorts and hospitality industry clients in matters before State and Federal courts and Courts of Appeal, has joined the law firm of Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, L.C. in St. Louis.

As a partner, Mr. Archer is establishing a new Hotels & Hospitality Litigation Practice at the firm based on his expertise in defending claims of fraud, breach of contract, premises liability and many other matters for hospitality industry clients with operations in the U.S. and overseas. The new Hotels & Hospitality Litigation Practice complements the Gaming & Gambling Law Group and other business law practices at Gallop, Johnson & Neuman.

Mr. Archer also focuses his practice in securities litigation, regulatory enforcement proceedings and other complex commercial disputes. He has substantial experience representing clients in defense of financial fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, warranty claims and in defense of Securities & Exchange Commission and Self-Regulatory Organization investigative proceedings. He has tried cases and arbitration proceedings before the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and the American Arbitration Association.

Thomas J. Campbell, managing partner of Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, said, “Tom Archer is very well known as a veteran litigator in the hospitality industry and in securities litigation enforcement proceedings and complex litigation. His expertise, particularly in the defense of system-sensitive litigation, claims and issues involving international hospitality and entertainment industry clients, adds a new dimension to our firm as we serve new clients. The Hotels & Hospitality Litigation Practice will work with the Gaming & Gambling Law Group and other business law practices at Gallop, Johnson & Neuman in select client matters.”

Mr. Archer was most recently a partner in the Litigation Group at the law firm Holland & Knight, L.L.P. in Washington, D.C. where he represented a major international hospitality organization with branded operations and franchises worldwide. Before then he led the Commercial Litigation Practice in the St. Louis office of Bryan Cave, L.L.P., where he began his career in 1981.  

Mr. Archer is admitted to practice in Missouri, Illinois, Maryland and the District of Columbia, and before many U.S. District Courts and Federal and State Courts of Appeal. He earned his J.D. degree from the School of Law at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign after earning an A.B. degree with Highest Distinction, Phi Bata Kappa, at the university. He also teaches annual seminars in securities litigation at the School of Law at Washington University in St. Louis.

Gallop, Johnson & Neuman, L.C., a full service law firm of 80 attorneys, has provided legal services to clients in diverse industries since its founding in 1976 and is one of the largest law firms in St. Louis. The firm serves public corporations; privately-held companies; entrepreneurs and start-up enterprises; individuals and families; trustees and trust beneficiaries; charities; and non-profit entities. The firm is located at 101 South Hanley Road, Suite 1700, in Clayton, Missouri.  

For more information, contact Lois A. LaDriere, Director of Marketing,
at 314.615.6000 or visit www.gjn.com.    

Media contact: Jeff Dunlap at 314.993.6925.    

The Ohio Supreme Court ruled on Monday that the state's plan to allow up to 17,500 video lottery terminals at horse racing tracks is subject to a statewide voter referendum.

The 6-1 ruling by the high court puts a potential dent in Ohio's plan to raise $933 million over two years. The money from the terminals was a key component in addressing a $3.2 billion shortfall in the state's new two-year budget for the fiscal biennium that began July 1 without raising taxes.

"While I am disappointed by this decision, we need to fully review the court's judgment before determining next steps," Ohio Governor Ted Strickland said in a statement.

"The Ohio Lottery Commission has modified its agenda for this afternoon's scheduled meeting, which was to include the video lottery terminal implementation rules, to ensure adequate time to fully review and understand the impact of the court's decision," he added.

The lawsuit was filed by LetOhioVote.org, a ballot issue committee, which argued that the state constitution requires voter approval of the gambling plan.

Two other lawsuits were subsequently filed in the Ohio Supreme Court, challenging actions taken by the governor and legislature earlier this year regarding the video lottery terminals.

In its ruling, the court rejected the state's position that the terminals were essentially part of the appropriation process with their revenue allocated to education and therefore not subject to any referendum. Justices also ordered Ohio's secretary of state to allow the plaintiff to pursue a referendum on the terminals.

Manchester-based law firm HL Interactive has announced Chris McSpirit as its operations and finance director. McSpirit was formerly finance director at insurance litigation specialists Keoghs.

“This is a great time for Chris to join the team”, said CEO Matt Wightman. “His in-depth understanding of our market and successful track record for driving performance is ideally suited to the role”.

McSpirit joins a new executive team that includes former RBS Retail MD Mike Hutchins as chairman, which has been put together following Wightman’s MBO of the firm in May last year.

Law firm Hill Dickinson has launched a new fixed-cost service for SMEs to help them keep employment contracts up-to-date.

The Employment Contracts Diagnostic Toolkit has been created to review companies’ contracts and prepare a clear report, which identifies any areas of legal non-compliance, commercial weaknesses and other legal risks.

“British employment laws are notoriously strict and change on a regular basis,” said Will Clayton, an empployment partner at Hill Dickinson. “As a result, any errors or weaknesses within contracts of employment can not only create misunderstandings and loss of productivity, but can also increase the likelihood of disputes and legal claims.

In recent years, law firms have lost market share advising employers on employment law by a number of firms such as Salford-based Employment Law Advisory Services and Peninsula Business Services – both of which charge companies a subscription fee based on updating firms on employment and health & safety law as well as providing insurance against legal costs if a business does find itself brought before an employment tribunal.

However, Clayton said that it encouraged clients “to do more than merely comply with their minimum legal obligations by using their contracts with employees as a business tool to protect their commercial interests, improve labour relations and encourage employees to perform at their best”.

“We believe this service is unique in its offer and is one of several products that will be developed to support our client base.”

Whiteman Osterman and Hanna LLP, the Capital Region's largest law firm, has announced that John Alsina of Saranac Lake, will be joining the firm.

Alsina's practice will focus on European and Canadian clients with business interests in New York, and on issues involving technology development and application. Mr. Alsina has been Of Counsel to Weissberg, Gaetjens, Zeigenfeuter and Associates, a law firm in Paris, France, where he will continue to act as a consultant on specific matters. Previously, Mr. Alsina held positions at Telecordia and Bellcore, where he was involved with telecommunications technology and software, and at Viacom, where he advised on technology strategies and intellectual property protection.

Alsina graduated with a B.A. degree from Columbia University. He obtained his M.B.A. degree from the University of Chicago and his Juris Doctorate from Cornell University. Mr. Alsina will maintain an office in Whiteman Osterman & Hanna's Albany and Plattsburgh offices.