Largest Philly-area law firms continued to grow in 2012

Are Philadelphia-area law firms recession proof?

A good lawyer could make that argument. Most of the biggest firms added lawyers in 2012.

The Philadelphia Business Journal reported yesterday that:

At the 18 Delaware Valley-based firms included among the National Law Journal’s annual list of country’s 350 largest law firms, there was a 1.76 percent growth in head count in 2012 from 2011.

In addition, 11 of the 18 firms saw headcount increases and only one firm,
Post & Schell, experienced a significant drop off (-12.5 percent). 
Rawle & Henderson was the only other with more than a 2 percent decline.

                                           Tom Kuzmick, chairman of Rawle & Henderson
But the growth, overall, was moderate. Only four firms had more than a
3 percent increase in headcount.

Dechert, Philadelphia’s second largest firm and its most profitable, experienced the largest growth at 7.5 percent after a few years of declining numbers during the recession due to layoffs as the firm’s high-end corporate and litigation practices slowed down.

You’ll find the full article here and view a photo gallery of the top 18 law firms.

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Flamethrower Josh Fox is back with Gasland II 
NJ energy and environment bills is committee today

Largest Philly-area law firms continued to grow in 2012 Read More »

New Jersey DEP seizes control of foul-smelling landfill

Teams of  engineers and inspectors from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) today seized control of the Fenimore Landfill in Roxbury Township, Morris County, launching "an emergency remediation project" to control odors that have tormented local residents and raised health threats.

The DEP took the action after Governor Chris Christie signed into law S-2861 which gives the DEP the authority to intervene in cases of malfunctioning ‘legacy landfills.’

"The Fenimore Landfill has plagued surrounding neighborhoods with staggering odors caused by repeated and continued elevated levels of hydrogen sulfide gas since November," the DEP said in a news release.

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“Roxbury residents have endured these odors for too long and deserve a resolution to this intolerable situation, which has severely compromised their quality of life and interfered with their normal day-to-day activities,” DEP Commissioner Bob Martin said.

“The DEP has pursued every legal and administrative remedy available to us to eliminate the environmental and odor problems caused by the neglect of the property owner. I have directed our teams to move in immediately to take control of this landfill from the development firm that owns it but has allowed this problem to persist.” Local officials and residents made several trips to Trenton in recent weeks, urging legislators to force the state to step in and force the landfill’s closure. They complained of diminishing property values, limits on outdoor activities and breathing problems. Related environmental news stories
Department of Environmental Protection seizes control of Roxbury Landfill
Fenimore Landfill shut down
Roxbury officials, resident testify on Fenimore Landfill 
Roxbury residents angry over gas from landfill
Toxic Gas At New Jersey Landfill Leaves Residents Fuming  
Assembly follows Senate and passes bill designed to close Fenimore Landfill  
NJ Senate panel urged to move bill closing local landfill 

Flamethrower Josh Fox is back with Gasland II
NJ energy and environment bills is committee today

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Advocate for the Passaic River, Ella Filippone, 78

Ella Filippone

Ella Filippone was fondly remembered Friday as a woman who founded the Passaic River Coalition to fight against a proposed flood tunnel and someone who devoted her life to cleaning up the river and preserving the land around it, The Record reports.

Filippone, 78, a Lyndhurst native who lived in Basking Ridge, died Friday morning at Morristown Medical Center, her family announced in an email.

She has been the executive director of the Passaic Coalition since it was incorporated in 1972 and, with her husband, Joe, formed the organization while sitting around her kitchen in 1969 with others who opposed the flood tunnel.

Her legacy includes parks and open spaces along the banks of the Passaic River on land that once held houses that were prone to flooding. It also includes a successful battle against a proposed $2 billion flood tunnel to be built by the Army Corps of Engineers and the preservation of Sterling Forest along New Jersey’s border with New York State, friends and environmentalists said.

See the full story at: Passaic River activist Ella Filippone dies at 78

Related stories involving Ella Filippone:
Scott Olsen: Remembering Ella Filippone 
Plea made for continued funding of Greenwood Lake weed control
2 water officials, one a Wyckoff resident, accused of hiding contaminant
Appeals filed for DuPont cleanup in Pompton Lakes
Passaic River Coalition taking steps to save historic Willow Hall 

Flamethrower Josh Fox is back with Gasland II

NJ energy and environment bills is committee today

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As summer beckons, NJ lawmakers take up enviro bills

New Jersey Assembly in voting session – FOXNews photo


In two final weeks of heavy voting before adopting a state budget and heading off for 

summer vacation, New Jersey state lawmakers will consider close to three dozen
energy and environmental bills.



Here’s the lineup (at the moment and always subject to change):

SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS
Thursday, June 20, 2013  – 9:30 AM
Committee Room 4, 1st Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ
S-2716  Lesniak, R.J. (D-20)
Extends moratorium on the imposition of Statewide
non-residential development fees until 2018; establishes the “New Jersey
Residential Foreclosure Transformation Act.”
Related Bill: A-4251
    
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ASSEMBLY VOTING SESSION
Thursday, June 20, 2013 – 1 PM
Assembly Chambers
A-928  Riley, C.M. (D-3)
Revises penalty for destruction of, or damage to,
trees, saplings, shrubs or other plants; repeals current law thereon.
   
A-936  Riley, C.M. (D-3); Moriarty, P.D. (D-4)
Requires certain notifications, and provides for
guaranteed NJ Spill Compensation Fund coverage, upon sale of property where
private well is treated by point of entry water treatment system.
Related Bill: S-576
      
A-1312  Greenwald, L.D. (D-6); Lampitt, P.R. (D-6)
Requires report and public hearing prior to DEP
recommendation of site for inclusion on Superfund list.
      
A-1383  Chivukula, U.J. (D-17)
Expands State’s energy efficiency and renewable energy
requirements. 
Related Bill: S-2700
      
A-1851  Diegnan, P.J. (D-18); Bramnick, J.M. (R-21)
Pertains to certain review and approval
responsibilities of land surveyors.
      
A-2753  Benson, D.R. (D-14); DeAngelo, W.P. (D-14);
Jasey, M.M. (D-27)
Requires certain energy tax receipts to be paid
directly to municipalities.
Related Bill: S-1923
     
A-3367  Spencer, L.G. (D-29)
Requires owner or operator of industrial establishment
applying for de minimis exemption from “Industrial Site Recovery Act”
to certify as to no actual knowledge of contamination exceeding remediation
standards.
     
A-3449  Kean, S.T. (R-30); Wisniewski, J.S. (D-19)
Exempts sales of county property from certain
requirements under certain circumstances.
Related Bill: S-2780
     Jun 20, 2013  – Posted: Assembly
A-4113  Andrzejczak, B. (D-1); Singleton, T. (D-7);
Benson, D.R. (D-14) ;
Appropriates $1,393,084 from 2009 Historic Preservation
Fund to provide historic site management grants for certain historic
preservation projects.
Related Bill: S-2788
      
AR-135  Riley, C.M. (D-3)
Urges State and businesses to facilitate and encourage
recycling of plastic products.
      
AR-167  Burzichelli, J.J. (D-3)
Supports development and use of biofuels for greater
national security, a stronger economy, and a better environment.
Related Bill: SR-106

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SENATE VOTING SESSION
Thursday, June 20, 2013 – 12:30 PM
Senate Chambers
A-936  Riley, C.M. (D-3); Moriarty, P.D. (D-4)
Requires certain notifications, and provides for
guaranteed NJ Spill Compensation Fund coverage, upon sale of property where
private well is treated by point of entry water treatment system.
Related Bill: S-576
      
A-3615  Coutinho, A. (D-29); Bucco, A.M. (R-25);
Munoz, N.F. (R-21)
Codifies protections set forth in certain case law and
limits use of eminent domain under the “Local Redevelopment and Housing
Law.”
Related Bill: S-2447
     
S-576  Madden, F.H. (D-4)
Requires certain notifications, and provides for
guaranteed NJ Spill Compensation Fund coverage, upon sale of property where
private well is treated by point of entry water treatment system.
Related Bill: A-936
    
S-2447  Van Drew, J. (D-1); Rice, R.L. (D-28)
Codifies protections set forth in certain case law and
limits use of eminent domain under the “Local Redevelopment and Housing
Law.”
Related Bill: A-3615
   
S-2861  Smith, B. (D-17); Bucco, A.M. (R-25)
Concerns closure of, and other activities at, certain
landfills.
Related Bill: A-4238
     
SCR-138  Smith, B. (D-17); Bateman, C. (R-16); Whelan,
J. (D-2)
Amends Constitution to dedicate, for 30 years, 1/5 of a
cent for each dollar subject to sales tax for preservation of open space,
including flood prone areas and lands that protect water supplies, farmland,
and historic properties.
Related Bill: ACR-179
     
SR-106  Sweeney, S.M. (D-3)
Supports development and use of biofuels for greater
national security, a stronger economy, and a better environment.
Related Bill: AR-167
   

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ASSEMBLY VOTING SESSION
Monday, June 24, 2013 – 1:00 PM
Assembly Chambers
 
A-932  Riley, C.M. (D-3); Chivukula, U.J. (D-17)
Concerns permits, letters of exemption, and enforcement
with regard to agricultural activities under “Freshwater Wetlands
Protection Act”.
Related Bill: S-2837
    
A-2837  McKeon, J.F. (D-27)
Establishes forest stewardship program for State-owned
lands.
Related Bill: S-1085
      
A-3334  Chivukula, U.J. (D-17); Benson, D.R. (D-14);
Wimberly, B.E. (D-35)
Requires BPU to conduct study on how electric chiller
equipment and natural gas cooling 
equipment would increase energy efficiency in
commercial buildings.
      
A-3475  Barnes III, P.J. (D-18); DeAngelo, W.P.
(D-14); Eustace, T.J. (D-38) 
“Disaster Information Access Act”; requires
utility service providers to report severe weather and emergency related
service interruptions; directs utility service providers and State Office of
Emergency Management to present reported information online
      
A-4082  Chivukula, U.J. (D-17); Caride, M. (D-36);
Eustace, T.J. (D-38)
“Government Energy Reliability and Savings
Public-Private Partnership Act.”
     
A-4149  Burzichelli, J.J. (D-3); Dancer, R.S. (R-12);
Amodeo, J.F. (R-2)
Authorizes New Jersey Racing Commission to grant
special permit for horse racing on beach.
    
A-4183  Eustace, T.J. (D-38); Albano, N.T. (D-1);
Singleton, T. (D-7); Diegnan, P.J. (D-18)
Appropriates funds to DEP for environmental
infrastructure projects for FY2014.
Related Bill: S-2817
      
A-4184  Andrzejczak, B. (D-1); Wagner, C. (D-38);
Conaway, H. (D-7); Barnes III, P.J. (D-18)
Authorizes NJ Environmental Infrastructure Trust to
expend certain sums to make loans for environmental infrastructure projects for
FY2014.
Related Bill: S-2816
     
A-4185  Ramos Jr., R.J. (D-33); McKeon, J.F. (D-27);
Burzichelli, J.J. (D-3) 
Makes certain changes to NJ Environmental
Infrastructure Trust Financing Program.
Related Bill: S-2815
      
A-4232  Fuentes, A. (D-5)
Permits county utilities authorities to fund certain
local infrastructure.
Related Bill: S-2844
      
A-4238  Carroll, M.P. (R-25)
Concerns closure of, and other activities at, certain
landfills.
Related Bill: S-2861
      
ACR-195  Spencer, L.G. (D-29); Jasey, M.M. (D-27);
Riley, C.M. (D-3) 
Approves FY 2014 Financial Plan of NJ Environmental
Infrastructure Trust.
Related Bill: SCR-152
     Jun 24, 2013  – Posted: Assembly
 S-1085  Smith, B. (D-17); Norcross, D. (D-5)
Establishes forest harvest program on State-owned land.
Related Bill: A-2837

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Flamethrower Josh Fox is back with Gasland II


According to the Allegheny Front:

In 2010, almost no one in America had heard of the term "fracking".
Then, Josh Fox came along.

For many who saw Fox’s debut film, Gasland, it was the first they’d ever heard of fracking. And it wasn’t a very good impression. The movie charged oil and gas companies with polluting air and water, then avoiding public scrutiny by coopting the political process.

The first Gasland garnered Fox an Oscar nomination, and galvanized the anti-fracking movement. Not bad for a debut film.

Now Fox is back, and he’s looking for more evidence of environmental harm from fracking.

Tom Wilber is a journalist whose written a book about fracking and maintains a blog called the Shale Gas Review. How was the second Gasland?

“It was one-sided, didactic, there were errors of omission, and will be polarizing,” Wilber said.

Polarizing? How so? See the full story at: Gasland II Stokes the Flames of Fracking Debate
Or, click for an audio version of the Allegheny Front story Have you seen either of Josh Fox’s films?  Care to give us your review? Use the comment box below. If one is not visible, activate it by clicking on the tiny ‘comments’ line.  ————————————————————————————————————————————-
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NJ energy and environment bills is committee today

The New Jersey Senate’s Environment and Energy Committee meets at 10 a.m.
today in Trenton to consider six pieces of legislation that:

  • Clarify that certain types of sewage and sewage sludge do not constitute hazardous substances under "Spill Compensation and Control Act."                   (S-2094/Ruiz)
  • Prohibit contribution action against local unit for cleanup and removal costs
    or any other damages associated with discharge of hazardous substance         (S-2322/Scutari)
  • Establish an alternative energy portfolio standard and certificate program and provide financial incentives for certain standby generation (S-2651 Smith)
  • Create the Office of Clean Energy (S-2733 Smith)
  • Set requirements for the closure of legacy landfills (S-2861 Smith)
  • Support the development and use of biofuel for greater national security, a stronger economy, and a better environment (SR-106 Sweeney)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Listen via the Internet to the meeting
live or after its completion 

 
 

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Our most recent posts: 

Can your business equipment rope you into Superfund?
NJ to ante up $30M to rebuild water infrastructure 
NJDEP in $130M partial settlement of Passaic River suit 
War, Defense, LSRPs and Hurricane Sandy 
New Jersey’s #2 largest employer? Can you guess? 

NJ energy and environment bills is committee today Read More »