Al Alfano to become new legal council for NASM.

The National Association of Shell Marketers (NASM) announced the retirement of NASM Legal Counsel, William (Bill) Taylor, effective Dec. 31, 2018.

Al Alfano of the law firm Bassman, Mitchell, Alfano, and Leiter of Washington, D.C. has been selected by NASM’s Board of Directors to replace Taylor, effective Jan. 1, 2019.

Jeff Leiter of the firm will also work with NASM directly to execute the duties of the office of legal counsel.

Taylor received his undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University and his law degree from the University of North Carolina School of Law. He began his legal career in Washington, D.C. on the staff of a U.S. Senate Committee and in the Office of General Counsel of the U.S. Government Accountability Office before going into private practice representing petroleum marketers in 1977.

Taylor quickly established himself as one of the leading petroleum marketer attorneys in the country. He built his reputation on helping both wholesalers and retailers navigate a full range of legal issues, including the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act (PMPA), environmental laws and regulations, antitrust and franchise issues, and business transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, and supply contract issues.

He has gone on to receive from his fellow attorneys the highest rating given to lawyers, as reflected in Martindale-Hubbell, the national attorney directory.

Taylor’s long commitment to petroleum marketers has included service as legal counsel to the National Association of Shell Marketers, counsel to the Mid-Atlantic Petroleum Distributors Association, president of the Association of Oil Marketer Attorneys, and vice chairman of the American Bar Association’s Committee on Oil Refining and Marketing. He has also written many articles in trade publications on legal topics affecting the industry and is frequently asked to give his views on industry issues at marketer conferences and conventions.

In a letter to NASM’s petroleum marketer members, Taylor included these remarks, “As inviting as the prospects of the next chapter of my life are, I will take with me the happy memories of my professional and personal association with NASM and its members. Thanks to all of you for this truly rewarding part of my life.”

Regarding Taylor’s retirement, NASM Chair Stacey Fineburg stated, “On behalf of NASM’s board of directors, its Executive Director Matt Sawyers, current and former staff, and the entire NASM community, we wish Bill and his wife Suzanne nothing but the best in retirement. His work with NASM and in this industry has left a tremendous legacy that will continue for years. We are sincerely saddened by his announcement, but know his retirement is well-deserved. He will be missed.”