Wiley Rein Promotes Five to Partner and Of Counsel

December 28, 2011

Wiley Rein is pleased to announce the election of two new partners, Thomas R. McCarthy and Mark B. Sweet, effective January 1, 2012.  The firm has also promoted three associates—Robert E. DeFrancesco, III, Rebecca L. Saitta and Maureen E. Thorson—to of counsel.  In addition, former associate Elbert Lin rejoined the firm as a partner in November, after completing a clerkship with U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.

"These promotions reflect the notable and hard-earned achievements of a group of outstanding lawyers," said Firm Chairman Richard E. Wiley. "We congratulate them for these well-deserved accomplishments and applaud the dedication they have shown to their clients and the Firm."

The Firm's Newest Partners

Elbert Lin is a partner in the Appellate and Telecommunications Practices.  In addition to his clerkship at the U.S. Supreme Court, Mr. Lin served as a law clerk for Judge William Pryor, Jr. on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and law clerk for the Judge Robert E. Keeton, senior judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.  He also was a trial attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice, Civil Division, Federal Programs Branch.  Mr. Lin received his J.D. from Yale Law School, where he was managing editor of the Yale Law Journal, articles and developments editor of the Yale Law and Policy Review and notes editor of the Yale Journal on Regulation.  He received his undergraduate degree from Yale University, magna cum laude.

Thomas R. McCarthy, previously of counsel in the Appellate and Communications Practices, represents clients in litigation before federal and state trial and appellate courts and in proceedings before the Federal Communications Commission and other federal agencies.  After graduating, magna cum laude, from George Mason University School of Law, he served as a law clerk for Judge David B. Sentelle of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and Judge Frank W. Bullock, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina.  Mr. McCarthy serves as co-director of the George Mason University School of Law Supreme Court Clinic, a partnership between George Mason University and Wiley Rein.

Mark B. Sweet, promoted from associate in the White Collar Defense Practice, counsels clients on complex issues for government investigations, whistleblower complaints and mandatory disclosures.  Mr. Sweet conducts internal investigations for corporate clients and negotiates with government agents.  He advises clients on best practices for collection and production of electronically stored information in response to government subpoenas and discovery requests.  His practice spans civil and criminal investigations for government contractors, food and drug companies and communications firms, among others. Mr. Sweet started at Wiley Rein as a summer associate and received his J.D. from Duke University School of Law, where he was a member of the Duke Law and Technology Review.

The Firm's Newest Of Counsel

Robert E. DeFrancesco, III, promoted from associate, is a member of the International Trade Practice and focuses on all aspects of trade remedy proceedings.  He has particular expertise in U.S. antidumping and countervailing duty proceedings and has appeared before the U.S. Commerce Department, the International Trade Commission, the Court of International Trade and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.  A former law clerk at the ITC's Office of the General Counsel, Mr. DeFrancesco received his J.D., cum laude, from Washington College of Law, American University, where he was the associate articles editor of the American University Law Review.

Rebecca L. Saitta, previously an associate in the Bankruptcy & Financial Restructuring Practice, represents debtor and creditor clients on a variety of bankruptcy and insolvency issues in bankruptcy courts across the country.  She also focuses on various aspects of commercial litigation in state and federal courts.  Before joining the firm, Ms. Saitta served as a law clerk for Judge Barry R. Poretz (ret.), U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, and as a law clerk at the U.S. Office of Special Counsel and at America Online, Inc.  Ms. Saitta received her J.D., cum laude, from George Mason University School of Law and her B.A., summa cum laude, from Villanova University.  She was also case comments editor of The Federal Circuit Bar Journal.

Maureen E. Thorson, formerly an associate in the International Trade Practice, represents clients in all areas of customs law, compliance and international trade litigation.  She is a licensed customs broker and has particular expertise in the development of customs compliance programs and obtaining import licenses and permits.  Ms. Thorson previously was a law clerk for Judge Donald C. Pogue, U.S. Court of International Trade and a legal clerk for the U.S. Federal Trade Commission.  She received her J.D., cum laude, from Georgetown University Law Center, where she was a member of the Law and Policy in International Business.