Wiley Rein Announces Five New Partners and Two New Of Counsel

Wiley Rein is pleased to announce the election of five new partners—Jon W. Burd, Robert E. DeFrancesco III, Claire J. Evans, Brian H. Pandya and Christopher B. Weld—effective January 1, 2013.  The Firm has also promoted two associates—Jeremy J. Schofer and Andrew G. Woodson—to of counsel.

“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         

Jon W. Burd, promoted from associate in the Government Contracts Practice, litigates bid protests before the U.S. Government Accountability Office, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims (COFC) and federal agencies.  He also conducts internal investigations involving allegations of contractor fraud or abuse in conjunction with U.S. Department of Justice and Inspector General subpoenas, suspension and debarment proceedings and employee whistleblower claims, and helps clients develop and maintain internal compliance programs.  Mr. Burd previously served as a law clerk for the Honorable Lawrence J. Block of the COFC.  He is a member of the COFC Bar Association’s Board of Governors and co-chairs the American Bar Association’s Section of Public Contract Law, Acquisition Reform & Emerging Issues Committee.  Mr. Burd received his J.D., magna cum laude, from George Mason University School of Law and his B.A. from the Johns Hopkins University.

Robert E. DeFrancesco III, previously of counsel, is a member of the International Trade Practice who 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 U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT) and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.  A former law clerk at the ITC’s Office of General Counsel, Mr. DeFrancesco also serves as an assistant adjunct professor of international trade law and regulation at George Mason University School of Law.  He received his J.D., cum laude, from American University’s Washington College of Law—where he was the associate articles editor of the American University Law Review—and his B.A. from the University of Georgia, where he was a Presidential Scholar.

Claire J. Evans joined the Firm as an associate following her clerkship for the Honorable Clarence Thomas, U.S. Supreme Court.  Ms. Evans, a member of the Communications, Appellate and Intellectual Property Practices, represents clients in connection with complex litigation and regulatory matters.  She specializes in issues surrounding wireless technologies and new media, with an emphasis on copyright, patent, administrative law and constitutional concerns.  Ms. Evans also served as a law clerk for the Honorable David B. Sentelle, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the Honorable Michael Chertoff, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the Honorable Jerome B. Simandle, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.  She received her J.D. with highest honors from Rutgers University School of Law at Camden and her B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Delaware, where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Brian H. Pandya, formerly an associate, is a member of the Intellectual Property and Litigation Practices.  Mr. Pandya represents clients in matters relating to the enforcement and procurement of intellectual property rights, with a particular focus on patent litigation and counseling.  He litigates patent disputes involving technologies such as consumer electronics, software, telecommunications, biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.  Mr. Pandya, a former clerk for the Honorable Leonard Davis, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, received his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Michigan Law School, where he was an articles editor for the Michigan Telecommunications and Technology Law Review.  He earned his B.S. in mechanical engineering, with honors and high distinction, from the Pennsylvania State University.

Christopher B. Weld, previously an associate, is a member of the International Trade Practice.  Mr. Weld represents clients on trade law and policy matters, including antidumping and countervailing duty investigations, global trade policy and trade negotiations, export control regulations, trade sanctions regulations and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.  He litigates trade disputes before the Commerce Department, the ITC, the CIT and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and represents clients before Congress and the Executive branch on potential changes to U.S. trade laws, trade remedies and trade negotiations.  Mr. Weld, a former law clerk for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, received his J.D. from Duke University School of Law and his B.A., cum laude, from Middlebury College.

The Firm’s Newest Of Counsel

Jeremy J. Schofer, previously an associate, is a member of the Communications and Corporate Practices who specializes in communication, government contract and corporate transactions.  He has extensive experience negotiating competitive cable franchise agreements and representing clients publicly before local governments.  Mr. Schofer was named to Legal Bisnow’s list of “30 Under 30” in 2008 for exceptional young talent.  He received his J.D., summa cum laude, from George Mason University School of Law, where he was associate editor of the George Mason Law Review.  Mr. Schofer graduated, cum laude, from Franklin & Marshall College, where he was a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Andrew G. Woodson, promoted from associate in the Election Law & Government Ethics and Litigation Practices, counsels political candidates, federal office holders, corporations, trade associations and other organizations in complying with state and federal campaign finance, ethics and lobbying laws.  He defends and assists clients in U.S. Federal Election Commission enforcement proceedings, U.S. House Ethics Committee inquiries and grand jury investigations.  Mr. Woodson also counsels candidates running for federal office at all stages of the electoral process and litigates in state and federal court to protect clients’ First Amendment rights.  He received his J.D. and his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia.