Isle of Wight hog farmers using disinfectants, extra restrictions to protect herds July 23, 2013|By Allison T. Williams and Michael Welles Shapiro, atwilliams@dailypress.com | 757-247-4535 ISLE OF WIGHT — A virus that has killed thousands of young pigs in 15 states has now leaped from the Midwest to North Carolina. The states affected include eight where a Smithfield Foods hog-raising subsidiary has facilities. The company says none of its 12 sow farms — company-owned facilities where sows give birth to piglets — have been affected. Murphy-Brown, Smithfield's North Carolina-based hog farming unit, owns 460 farms and contracts with 2,100 farmers in 12 states. It has directed its farmers to take steps to protect their herds from the virus. No visitors are allowed and people who work with the animals wear boots and are sprayed with disinfectant whenever they leave a pig enclosure. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus, known as PEDV, causes severe diarrhea and vomiting. Although pigs of all ages can be infected with the virus, older pigs have stronger immune systems and become more resistant to the disease, said Harry Snelson, a veterinarian and communications director for the American Association of Swine Veterinarians. "The highest mortality rate is in infected piglets younger than seven days," Snelson said. Entire herds of young pigs have died from the virus, particularly in the Midwestern states that are among the country's top pork producers. Previously, the virus was only found in Europe and China, where it killed more than a million young pigs last year. Researchers do not know how the virus reached the United States, but it is moving rapidly. It was first confirmed in Arkansas in May. By the end of June, it had spread to more

By Jess Davis Law360, Dallas (July 09, 2013, 8:43 PM ET) -- A pair of former Baker & McKenzie LLP attorneys have opened a trial and appellate boutique in Dallas focused on complex commercial litigation and agricultural business, known as Bailey Brauer PLLC, the firm said Tuesday. Clayton Bailey, the former head of Baker & McKenzie’s Dallas litigation group, and Alex Brauer opened shop in mid-May with just one associate but plan to grow the boutique into a litigation and appeals powerhouse. They said working in a smaller firm allowed them to provide the same quality of legal expertise at a more cost-effective price for clients and gave them more freedom to provide alternative fee arrangements. A smaller firm also helps the attorneys avoid the complicated conflicts that sometimes forced them to turn down business at Baker & McKenzie, which now refers them some cases it cannot take, Brauer said. “The freedom and flexibility to work with clients on payment options or how to handle a case, and to be nimble and quick without a lot of big global politics to go through or conflicts checks before taking a case has made it a lot more fun and enjoyable,” Brauer told Law360. The two worked often together at Baker & McKenzie and racked up a string of wins at trials and in the appellate courts, including more than a dozen published opinions. Their clients include Pilgrim’s Pride Corp., Durez Corp., Harrell Nut Co., Sage Western Investments and Lone Star Investment Advisors, among others. “Together, we proved our mettle at one of the world’s largest law firms,” Bailey said in a statement. “And we will continue to deliver that kind of sophisticated, aggressive and creative work at Bailey Brauer.” The firm is expecting a decision shortly from the Fifth Circuit