Wiley Rein Announces New Partners and Of Counsel

November 11, 2015

Wiley Rein LLP is pleased to announce the election of new partners—John E. Howell and Parker J. Lavin—effective January 1, 2016. The firm has also promoted three associates—Joseph S. Kakesh, P. Nicholas Peterson, and Lori Scheetz—along with special counsel Maureen A. O’Brien—to of counsel.

“It is my pleasure to congratulate the recently named partners and of counsel at Wiley Rein on their new roles,” said Managing Partner Peter D. Shields. “These promotions reflect our deep appreciation for the hard work, commitment, and outstanding accomplishments that have made each of these individuals a unique and truly indispensable asset to their clients, colleagues, and the firm.”

The Firm’s Newest Partners

John E. Howell, promoted from associate, is a member of the Insurance Practice. Mr. Howell represents insurers in connection with coverage issues arising under professional liability policies. His practice includes counseling, litigation, and alternative dispute resolution involving directors and officers, financial institutions, lawyers, and other professional liability coverages. He was recognized by Law360 as a “Rising Star” in Insurance Law earlier this year. Mr. Howell earned a J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School and a B.A., summa cum laude, from Tulane University. Before coming to Wiley Rein, he served as a law clerk for the Honorable E. Grady Jolly of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

Parker J. Lavin, promoted from associate, is a member of the Insurance Practice. Mr. Lavin represents insurers in coverage litigation under professional liability and general liability policies before federal and state courts across the country. He provides advice and counsel on a wide range of insurance issues including technology, media and emerging issues, directors and officers liability, lawyers liability, environmental liability, and nuclear liability. Mr. Lavin received the Washington Lawyers’ Committee’s Outstanding Achievement Award for pro bono work on parole cases and, in 2015, was named one of City Year Washington, DC’s Idealists of the Year, an award for outstanding public service. He received his J.D. from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America and his B.A. from the University of Virginia.

The Firm’s Newest Of Counsel

Maureen A. O’Brien, a member of the Franchise Practice, counsels franchisors, licensors, and manufacturers regarding transactional, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance matters. Ms. O’Brien was named by the Franchise Times as a “Legal Eagle” earlier this year. She received her J.D., with high honors, from The George Washington University Law School, Order of the Coif, where she was an associate of The George Washington Law Review. She received her B.A., with distinction, from the University of Virginia.

Joseph S. Kakesh, a member of the Environment & Safety Practice, represents clients—including major domestic and foreign manufacturers and trade associations—in a broad range of regulatory compliance, environmental litigation, legislative, and transactional matters. Mr. Kakesh received his J.D. with high honors from The George Washington University Law School, Order of the Coif, where he served as senior articles editor of The George Washington Law Review. He received his M.A. from Georgetown University and his B.A., summa cum laude, from Louisiana State University, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

P. Nicholas Peterson, a member of the White Collar Defense & Government Investigations Practice, represents clients from many different industries on litigation, transactional, and regulatory matters. Mr. Peterson specializes in counseling individual and corporate clients involved in government investigations and civil enforcement actions and has extensive experience representing franchisors and licensors in connection with the legal issues arising from franchise and distribution networks. He received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he served on the editorial board of the Virginia Environmental Law Journal. He received his B.A., cum laude, from Davidson College.

Lori Scheetz, a member of the International Trade Practice, represents clients on a variety of international trade issues, including export controls and economic sanctions matters, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act compliance, and antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings. Ms. Scheetz received her J.D., summa cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center, Order of the Coif, where she served as an executive editor of the Georgetown International Environmental Law Review. She received her B.A., summa cum laude, from Dickinson College.