april 13, 2015

counsel to counsel A special report The National Law Journal this week spotlights lawyers who serve as outside counsel to some of the top in-house legal teams at companies based in the Seattle area. The Seattle Counsel to Counsel is a follow-up to our Seattle Legal Departments of the Year reports, which we published earlier this year and in 2014. Those reports profiled top corporate counsel teams thriving in the Emerald City’s growing sectors, including technology, real estate and ­hospitality. Among the companies highlighted in those reports were Corp., Expedia Inc., Weyerhaeuser Co., T-Mobile US Inc., Guidant Financial Group Inc., F5 Networks Inc. and Recreational Equipment Inc. In this week’s report, which is based on research and reporting by NLJ staff and contributors, we bring you the attorneys at law firms based in Seattle and across the country who have forged strong professional ties with those in-house ­departments to negotiate and close the big deals, handle labor and employment matters, volunteer legal services in the Seattle area to those in need, litigate cases in state and federal courts, protect intellectual property rights, ­provide community services and more. Brian McManus Partner, Latham & Watkins Outside counsel to Guidant Financial Group Inc., Seattle Legal Departments of the Year, 2015. partner has provided his expertise to McManus, who joined Latham’s Bellevue, -based Guidant, Washington, D.C., office in 2012 after seven which is considered the nation’s premier years at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, advises provider of ROBS, or “rollovers as busi- and advocates for multinational and Fortune ness startups,” arrangements. 500 clients in the insurance, technology and Through them, about 9,000 of Guidant’s energy industries, and specializes in disputes small-business entrepreneur and franchisee involving sophisticated corporate transac- clients have tapped the cash in their 401(k)s tions and compliance. for interest-free funding without taking a tax- Guidant stands out, he said, because of able distribution. the trust its management has placed in its Because the Internal Revenue Service legal team and the influence those lawyers hasn’t definitively decided yet what it have on business operations. The compa- thinks about this still evolving method ny also provides “tremendous support to of capitalization, Guidant has engaged their customers” when legal issues arise, McManus to help it navigate the murky ter- McManus said. ritory, and to represent the company and its As an outside counsel, McManus said he diego m. radzinschi m. diego clients before the IRS when issues arise. must not only spot problems and identify Guidant Financial Group Inc. counts on “We trust and respect Brian as an attorney risk, but also find solutions that make good outside tax attorney Brian McManus to steer and continue to rely on him for guidance,” business sense. Success comes from under- the company and its clients away from some Guidant assistant general counsel Anita Lee standing both the business and how deci- of the potential perils of “ROBS,” a financing said, adding that he has played “an inte- sions are made. That way, he said, “I can method that has nothing to do with stickups. gral role by working hand-in-hand with present options and craft my advice in a way Since 2009, the Latham & Watkins Guidant’s internal legal team.” that’s more useful to them.” —Lisa Hoffman

Reprinted with permission from the April 13, 2015 edition of THE NATIONAL LAW JOURNAL © 2015 ALM Media Properties, LLC. All rights reserved. Further duplication without permission is prohibited. For information, contact 877-257-3382, [email protected] or visit www.almreprints.com. #005-04-15-09