Koltun Takes Helm at MoFo as Olson Makes Tokyo Move

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When Gregory Koltun joined Morrison & Foerster LLP as a fourth-year associate in 1991, he had no idea that he’d someday be running the place.


But when A. Max Olson, who served just two years as managing partner, seized the opportunity to move to the firm’s Tokyo office, Koltun was tapped as his replacement.


Olson’s move is all the more noteworthy because the firm known informally as MoFo has been named the official law firm of the 2008 Olympics, which will be taking place in Beijing.


“I started here 15 years ago and a lot of the staff is still here,” Koltun said. “I know a lot of the people really well. It’s different now being involved on the management side of the office, but it’s also exciting because we’re so busy.”


Koltun will oversee the office’s growth and its administration. That will mean some longer hours.


“It’s not going to change my practice at all. I have my cases and my clients, and they’re still going to be there,” he said. “I’m not going to have this job forever, so I’ll continue to dedicate myself to my practice as I always have. It’s going to add some time, but it’s not going to be anywhere near a full-time commitment.”



Turning the Tables


An “American Idol fan” that sued the show for allegedly stealing his idea for an online fantasy game is now facing a countersuit.


Fremantle Media North America and American Idol Productions Inc. have filed suit against Adam Pick, alleging trademark infringement, unfair competition and interference with contract, among other grievances.


The companies claim in excess of $500,000 in damages and are requesting punitive damages as well.


Pick filed a suit against Fremantle, American Idol and Fox Television Stations in May. His allegations included breach of implied contract and fraud.


“I’m shocked,” said Pick, who is recovering from open-heart surgery. “First, American Idol stole my ideas. Now they have sued me.”


Pick created and developed a Web site that featured an interactive fantasy game in which “Idol” fans, acting as judges, could select the next contestant to be eliminated from the show.


He claims that he met with “Idol” producers about his ideas and was rebuffed, so he decided to launch his own site. The network later demanded his site be shut down and created a fantasy game similar to his on its “Idol” site, Pick claims.


American Idol Productions declined to comment, but Pick’s lawyer had plenty to say.


“There are a number of fans operating ‘American Idol’ Web sites who I suspect will be quite surprised and unhappy when they learn what the owners of ‘American Idol’ have done,” Jeff Valle said.


He also called the show’s failure to allege independent creation of the fantasy game “very telling.”



Giving Back


One year after Hurricane Katrina, some local firms are still knee-deep in recovery work.


Latham & Watkins LLP began its efforts shortly after the devastating hurricane by giving $200,000 to the Red Cross and then offering to match any employee donations. To date, they have given an additional $600,000 in employee donations and matching funds.


Amos E. Hartston, pro bono counsel for the firm, visited the region shortly after the hurricane.


“One of the striking things to me, because I was focusing on the delivery of legal services, was that the infrastructure for providing legal services was not developed before the storm,” Hartston said. “So after the storm, delivery of legal services to those most in need was even harder.”


Hartson said he was also struck by just how much good an attorney could do in the region. Latham subsequently funded two attorneys, each for two years. One works with the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights on fair housing and redevelopment matters. The second is an Equal Justice Works fellow working with New Orleans Legal Assistance, focusing on public benefits and healthcare issues for victims.


The firm also sponsored a conference on children’s mental health matters. About 50 professionals who work with children affected by the storm attended the May conference in New Orleans.


Latham professionals additionally partnered with the Advancement Project in a suit against the Federal Emergency Management Agency to ensure that New Orleans tenants that had evacuated would receive proper notice before being evicted or having their possessions removed by a landlord. FEMA originally proposed three days notice, and the parties later settled on 45 days notice.



Bench Jockeying


Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Judith Meyer to the Los Angeles County Superior Court earlier this month.


Meyer, 39, of Long Beach, served as an assistant professor for the Pacific Coast University School of Law for four years and a deputy district attorney for the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for seven years. A Republican, she was a deputy district attorney for the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office from 1994 to 1995.


The appointment allows Meyer to immediately assume the position she would normally begin January 2007. The compensation for this position is $150,696.



Staff reporter Emily Bryson York can be reached at (323) 549-5225, ext. 235, or at

[email protected]

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