Macaulay & Burtch News

Bills would make emissions tests easier in congested NoVa
1/26/12 - Washington Post

Founding Partner Jack W. Burtch, Jr. Named to 2011 Legal Elite
The law firm of Macaulay & Burtch is proud to announce that  Jack W. Burtch, Jr. (“JB”) was named one of  Virginia’s “2011 Legal Elite” by Virginia Business Magazine in the Labor and Employment category. [Read More]

Alexander Macaulay and JB Burtch recognized in 2012 edition of Best Lawyers in America® Founding partners Alexander M. Macaulay and Jack W. Burtch Jr. (“JB”) have been selected by their peers for inclusion in the 2012 edition of Best Lawyers in America®, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession.  JB Burtch has been honored since 1987, and this is Alexander Macaulay’s second year of recognition.  [Read More]

Alexandria Coal Plant to shut down by 2012 (August 30, 2011)
The City of Alexandria has reached an agreement with GenOn to shut down the Potomac River coal-burning power plant by October 2012. Once considered the largest single source of air pollution in the Washington area, the plant had been the focus of a 12-year battle between the owner, city and local activists. [Read more in the Washington Post]

State Leaders Eye Increase In Remote Emissions Testing (July 7, 2011)
Michele Satterlund, an attorney with Macaulay & Burtch, which lobbies for companies that make remote testing equipment, said drivers waste up to two hours in drive time, waiting time and lost productivity by having to make those biennial trips to the mechanic. That time is worth more than $4 million a year. [Read More]

Douglas Burtch Quoted in National SHRM Article (June 3, 2011)
The Society for Human Resource Management interviewed Douglas for a recent featured article in SHRM Online. “What to Do When Employee Behavior Changes” gives HR professionals important action steps when employees repeatedly have bad days or display strange behavior in the workplace. [Click here for select excerpts from the online article]

Alexandria relies on Macaulay & Burtch lobbyists to stay on top of new environmental regulations (May 25, 2011)
Three years after a $43 million settlement between the City of Alexandria and energy company Mirant, little has been accomplished at the Potomac River Generating Station to improve air quality. Lobbying Richmond is a key strategy in the city’s ongoing effort to crack down on the plant. Macaulay & Burtch has represented the city for years before the state regulatory bodies and the General Assembly and helped secure the settlement. [Read More]

Douglas Burtch Presents Seminar to Virginia CSBs (May 4, 2011)
Douglas Burtch presented “Reducing Your Liability for Employee Electronic Communications” to the Virginia Association of Community Services Boards (CSBs) annual conference. The presentation focused on the extent of an employer’s potential liability from employee use of company-provided electronic devices, computer and network systems – both in and out of the workplace. Burtch discussed employee privacy rights in light of relevant and developing case law and explained what employers should look for, and what actions they should take, to minimize their exposure.

City Council recap: Carytown big boxed? (March 29, 2011)
Hunter Jamerson, an attorney representing Don't Big Box Carytown, said the group could have a legal defense if they chose to pursue the issue. [Read More]

Contenious Carytown retail project a go (March 29, 2011)
Alexander Macaulay, attorney for the opposition, was among the many to speak against the development in the final moments before the vote. [Read More]

JB Burtch Selected for Virginia’s Legal Elite (December 17, 2010)
JB Burtch were selected by his peers as Virginia’s “Legal Elite” in the Labor and Employment category as reported by Virginia Business magazine.
[Read More]

Douglas Burtch Presents Electronic Evidence CLE to Corporate Counsel Association (November 4, 2010)
Douglas Burtch presented “Reducing Your Liability From Employee Electronic Communications” to the Washington Metro Area Corporate Counsel Association on November 4th. The presentation focused on the extent of an employer’s potential liability from employee use of company-provided electronic devices, computer and network systems – both in and out of the workplace. Burtch discussed employee privacy rights in light of relevant and developing case law and explained what employers should look for, and what actions they should take, to minimize their exposure.

Firm Advocacy Pays Off for Shockoe Partnership (September 14, 2010)
As announced in a Richmond Times-Dispatch article, “Fund would help GRTC bus riders,” Richmond City Council voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance aimed at allowing the city to crack down on problem nightclubs. New regulations establish a definition for a public dance hall and requires venues to obtain an annual permit that can be revoked if problems arise. Alexander Macaulay and Michele Satterlund were honored to be a part of the effort on behalf of the Shockoe Partnership.

Best Lawyers in America Honors Alexander Macaulay and JB Burtch (August 3, 2010)
Alexander Macaulay was voted by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers for the first time in the Government Relations Law category. JB Burtch was also recognized in Best Lawyers in the Labor and Employment category, a distinction he has received since 1987.
[Read More (pdf)]

Alexander Macaulay Quoted in Richmond Times Dispatch, “Richmond council to consider nightclub regs'” (July 20, 2010)
In Richmond Times Dispatch’s interview, Macaulay said “We don't want criminals operating dance halls. We think that's common sense.”
[Read More]

US Supreme Court Decides Against Employee Privacy on Employer-Provided Devices (June 24, 2010)
By Douglas Burtch
Douglas Burtch analyzes the recent opinion in City of Ontario v. Quon and provides employer guidelines. Bottom line: for a legitimate, work-related purpose, employers may monitor and log employee communications on company-provided electronic devices. [Read More (pdf)]

Macaulay & Burtch Attorneys Recognized as 2010 Virginia Super Lawyers, Burtch Named to Top 50
JB Burtch was named as one of the Top 50 Virginia Super Lawyers for the second consecutive year. Douglas Burtch and Michele Satterlund were selected as Virginia Super Lawyers Rising Stars.
[Read More (pdf)]

Douglas Burtch Quoted in RichmondBizSense Article about City Employee Suit (May 20, 2010)
RBS interviewed Burtch as an employment law expert about a city employee’s lawsuit against her supervisor for calling her an “idiot” on numerous occasions.  Burtch observed, “Employees will perceive that the boss is yelling or being mean, but there is no statute protecting against meanness. There are statutes protecting against discrimination and common law protection against slander.”
[Read More]

JB Burtch Quoted in NBC12 Story, “City employee suing city, Flynn says he was called 'idiot'” (May 20, 2010)
In NBC12’s interview, Burtch said it will be a hard case to present.  “What constitutes an idiot? Whether that's opinion, whether that's a statement of verifiable fact, and then it's hard to prove damages.”
[Read More]

Virginia Nurses Today Publishes “Health Professionals and the Risks of Social Networking Sites” by Michele Satterlund (May/June/July 2010)
There are practical steps every practitioner can take immediately to minimize the malpractice risks of social networking sites.
[Read More]

Richmond Firm Develops New Model of Firm Administration (April 19, 2004)
Virginia Lawyers Weekly featured the formation of Macaulay & Burtch as a winning new model on how to run a law firm. With the firm's low overhead, sparse support staff, and unique compensation model, the lawyers and lobbyists at Macaulay & Burtch can focus on servicing clients' needs rather than spending time on firm administration or office politics.
[Read More]

Virginia State Bar Magazine Publishes “The Lawyer As Counselor” article by JB Burtch (April 2010)
It is a lawyer’s job to honor all the client’s concerns—legal, economic, social, emotional— in developing a strategy that yields the best solution to the problem under the existing circumstances. 
[Read More (pdf)]

Gerry Milsky Quoted in Insurance & Financial Advisor, “‘Well intentioned’ interstate sales bills fail in Richmond” (April 12, 2010)
Milsky, former Virginia deputy insurance commissioner, explained to IFAwebnews.com that ‘foreign’ insurer permission legislation proposed in the General Assembly had unforeseen consequences on licensed insurers, producers and, most importantly, Virginia consumers. 
[Read More]

Overview of 2010 Insurance Legislation (March 2010)
Gerry Milsky outlined the insurance bills considered and passed in the 2010 General Assembly session for NAIFA-Virginia Commonwealth Connector.
[Read More (pdf)]

Noncompete Agreement Held Unenforceable (March 29, 2010)
On a demurrer motion filed by Douglas Burtch and JB Burtch on behalf of the defendant in Specialty Marketing Inc. v. Lawrence, the Hanover Circuit Court struck down a noncompete agreement as overbroad and unenforceable, saying the language far exceeds whatever limitation would be necessary to protect employer’s business interests.
[Read More (Contract - Noncompete - Stock purchase agreement)]
[Read More (Noncompete was overboard, gets stuck)]

Gerry Milsky Quoted in Insurance & Financial Advisor, “Federal stalemate on health reform moving bills in Va.”  (March 2010)
Milsky, a lobbyist for NAIFA-Virginia, commented on anti-mandate bills and ‘foreign’ insurer permission legislation being considered in the General Assembly. 
[Read More (pdf)]

Macaulay & Burtch Sponsor SHRM Event (February 18, 2010)
JB Burtch and Douglas Burtch represented Macaulay & Burtch at the February program for the Richmond Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management.

Gerry Milsky Writes on Legislative Tracking Process (December 2009)
A MacBur lobbyist explains the legislative tracking process and association representation in the General Assembly for the NAIFA-Virginia Commonwealth Connector.
[Read More]

Macaulay & Burtch Founding Partners Selected for Virginia’s Legal Elite (December 21, 2009)
Alexander Macaulay and JB Burtch were selected by their peers as Virginia’s “Legal Elite” by Virginia Business magazine.  Macaulay was recognized for his work in the Legislative/Regulatory/Administrative practice area, and Burtch in the Labor and Employment category.
[Read More]

JB Burtch Named a Virginia Leader in the Law (October 1, 2009)
Macaulay & Burtch is proud to announce that the firm’s founding partner and attorney Jack W. Burtch has been named to Virginia Lawyers Weekly’s “Leaders in the Law” Class of 2009.  “JB Burtch’s reputation extends beyond his achievements as a legal practitioner,” said partner Alexander M. Macaulay. “His greatest contribution to the legal profession, and to the community at large, is as a mentor and spiritual guide. No one has had more of an impact on the younger generations of lawyers than JB. He models effective, ethical, real-world behavior for other lawyers and expects them to practice law with technical skill, common sense, and a passion for the law and its virtues.” 
[Read More]

Best Lawyers in America Honors JB Burtch (August 9, 2009)
JB Burtch was voted by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America, in the Labor and Employment Law category, a distinction he has received since 1988.
[Read More]

JB Burtch Posts First Essay for Virginia is for Good Lawyers Initiative (July 13, 2009)
JB Burtch was invited to post the first Reflections Essay for the Virginia State Bar’s Virginia is for Good Lawyers program, an initiative to recognize and learn about some of Virginia's finest citizen lawyers. In “Reflections: A Passion for the Process,” Burtch describes how the lawyer’s primary job is to figure out what the real problem really is. 
[Read More]