Press Releases

WASHINGTON, Feb. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Small Business Administration today published a final rule in The Federal Register that will increase some of the size definitions of small businesses in Professional, Scientific and Technical Services and Other Services sectors.

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The final rule will increase 37 of the revenue-based size standards in 34 industries and three sub-industries in the "Professional, Scientific and Technical Services" sector.  It will also increase one size standard in the "Other Services" sector.

As part of an ongoing review of all size standards, the SBA evaluated all of the revenue-based size standards in these sectors to determine whether to revise the existing size standards.  SBA took into account the structural characteristics within individual industries, including average firm size, the degree of competition, and federal government contracting trends to ensure that size definitions reflect current economic conditions within those industries.  Under provisions in the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, SBA will continue its comprehensive review of all size standards for the next several years. 

After receiving numerous public comments to the proposed rule published in The Federal Register on March 16, 2011, the SBA determined that increasing the size standards in these industries:

• will enable more small businesses to retain their small business status; and
• will give federal agencies a larger selection of small businesses to choose from for small business procurement opportunities. 

SBA estimates as many as 8,350 additional firms will become eligible for SBA programs as a result of these revisions. 

An SBA-issued White Paper entitled, "Size Standards Methodology", which explains how the SBA establishes, reviews and modifies its receipts-based and employee-based small business size standards can be viewed at http://www.sba.gov/size.  For more information about SBA's revisions to its small business size standards, click on "What's New with Size Standards" on SBA's Web site at: http://www.sba.gov/size.   

Contact: Tiffani Clements (202) 401‑0035Internet Address: http://www.sba.gov/newsFollow us on Twitter, Facebook & Blogs

SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration

CLEVELAND, Feb. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Adam L. Garn, an attorney and certified public accountant, has joined McDonald Hopkins LLC as an associate in the Multistate Tax Practice of the business advisory and advocacy law firm.  He is based in the firm's Columbus office.  Most recently, Garn was in the state and local tax practice at Ernst & Young, LLP. He also serves as an adjunct professor at Franklin University.   

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Garn joins a Multistate Tax Practice that is chaired by Ohio's former Tax Commissioner, Thomas M. Zaino. "We are excited to have Adam on our multistate tax team because it is increasingly important for businesses to be vigilant and careful in managing their state and local tax liabilities and exposures," Zaino said. "Adam will help us be even more responsive to the state and local tax needs of our clients in a broad range of industries."

A graduate of Capital University Law School with a J.D., cum laude, Order of the Curia, and a Master of Taxation degree, Garn has a Bachelor of  Science degree from the University of Findlay.  

Adam Garn can be reached at 614.458.0032 or agarn@mcdonaldhopkins.com.

Multistate Tax PracticeThe Multistate Tax Practice at McDonald Hopkins provides a broad range of state and local tax services including tax planning, tax controversy, real estate tax abatement and exemption, and tax policy advocacy. With attorneys who have worked both inside and outside government agencies, the multistate tax team leverages its knowledge and experience for the benefit of clients.

About McDonald HopkinsMcDonald Hopkins is a business advisory and advocacy law firm with an 80-year history. McDonald Hopkins has offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Miami, and West Palm Beach. The president of McDonald Hopkins is Carl J. Grassi. For more information about McDonald Hopkins, visit www.mcdonaldhopkins.com.

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CONTACT: Deborah W. KelmMcDonald Hopkins LLC600 Superior Avenue, East, Suite 2100Cleveland, Ohio 44114Phone: 216.348.5733Email: dkelm@mcdonaldhopkins.com

SOURCE McDonald Hopkins LLC

ST. LOUIS, Feb. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The board of directors of Ameren Corporation (NYSE: AEE) today declared a quarterly dividend on its common stock of 40 cents per share.

The common share dividend is payable March 30, 2012, to shareholders of record on March 14, 2012.

Separately, the board of directors of Union Electric Company (Ameren Missouri) declared regular quarterly dividends on all classes of Union Electric Company's preferred stock. That preferred stock dividend is payable May 15, 2012, to shareholders of record on April 20, 2012.

In addition, the board of directors of Ameren Illinois Company declared regular quarterly dividends on all classes of Ameren Illinois Company's preferred stock. That preferred stock dividend is payable May 1, 2012, to shareholders of record on April 9, 2012.

With assets of approximately $23 billion, Ameren serves 2.4 million electric customers and more than 900,000 natural gas customers in a 64,000-square-mile area of Missouri and Illinois.

SOURCE Ameren Corporation

MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- A unique new legal education program featuring a diverse, high-level faculty will provide practical insights for attorneys litigating claims relating to food, drug and medical device products, according to Tom Hagy, CEO of HB Conferences, the event's producer.  The CLE-accredited program will take place April 23-24, 2012 in Minneapolis and is free to a limited number of in-house counsel.

"Designed to help attendees improve case outcomes, foster earlier resolutions, and limit future exposures, the sessions will be guided by leading litigators, experienced in-house counsel and subject matter experts who have insights relevant to the day-to-day practice of law," Hagy explained.

In addition to the front-line litigators, Hagy said the faculty includes senior in-house counsel from Target; Cook Group Incorporated; Hormel Foods Corp.; Kellogg Company; General Mills, Inc.; Zimmer, Inc.; and Cargill, Inc.  

Additional perspectives will be provided by the Hon. John Tunheim, U.S. District Court Judge, District of Minnesota; Gerald Wilhelm, U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Minnesota; Robert Peck, Center for Constitutional Litigation;  Hon. Janice Symchych, (Retired), JAMS; and Gerald Wilhelm, U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Minnesota.  

Attorneys Sarah Brew with Faegre Baker Daniels; Tara Sutton with Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi; and Stephen Weisbrod with Weisbrod Matteis & Copley are chairing this timely event, coordinated by HB's VP of Development Jaimee Taibi.

Topics include:  Recent regulatory developments; responding to government enforcement actions; resolving claims and mass torts; advertising, labeling and consumer fraud class actions; claims and recalls; recent Supreme Court decisions; crisis management; calculating and presenting damages; judicial insights; and in-house perspectives. 

The program – titled Food, Drug & Medical Device Litigation Forum, will be held April 23-24, 2012, in Minneapolis.   For more information or to register, contact Helen Bokelman at (484) 324-2755 x212 or by email at Info@LitigationConferenes.com.  The latest program details are available at www.LitigationConferences.com.

HB Litigation Conferences is a nationally certified provider of specialized litigation events for tort and insurance practitioners.  Hagy is a former legal journalist and publisher at Mealey Publications Inc. and former VP at LexisNexis, which now publishes the portfolio of Mealey's Litigation Reports.

Contact: Helen BokelmanPhone: (484) 324-2755 x212Email: Info@LitigationConferences.comWebsite: www.LitigationConferences.com

SOURCE HB Litigation Conferences LLC