SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 13, 2009:  Farella Braun + Martel LLP welcomes Gary M. Kaplan as special counsel in its San Francisco office, where he will concentrate on bankruptcy, creditors' rights and commercial law.  Bringing nearly 20 years of experience in this practice area, Kaplan is a Certified Legal Specialist in Bankruptcy Law by the State Bar of California and is Board Certified in Business Bankruptcy Law by the American Board of Certification. 

"Gary's impressive track record of providing high quality, creative legal services and commitment to public service make him a natural fit with Farella," said Steve Lowenthal, Farella Braun + Martel's managing partner.  "His expertise in bankruptcy, insolvency and commercial reorganization issues adds even greater depth to our Restructuring and Insolvency team."

Representing debtors, secured and unsecured creditors, creditors' committees, and trustees in both out-of-court and Chapter 11 restructurings, Kaplan counsels on pre- and post-bankruptcy strategy, debt collection, judgment enforcement and provisional remedies.  In addition, he has negotiated a wide range of financing transactions, including conventional revolving and term loan credit facilities, debt issuances, leases, guarantees and debtor-in-possession financing. 

Kaplan also has substantial experience handling bankruptcy cases for some of the country's leading corporations.  As co-lead counsel for each of the debtors in the Chapter 11 cases of Pacific Gas and Electric Company and Pacific Lumber Company, among the largest bankruptcy cases ever filed in their respective industries, he was instrumental in securing successful reorganizations for both companies.  His other commercial clients have included Longs Drug Stores, Pepsi-Cola, PMI Mortgage Insurance Company, Toys "R" Us and Visa. 

Kaplan was formerly with Howard Rice Nemerovski Canady Falk & Rabkin, PC.  He serves on the Board of Directors of the Bay Area Bankruptcy Forum and on the Bench-Bar Liaison Committee for the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of California.  He has been recognized in Northern California Super Lawyers four times (including in 2009) and has been one of only a handful of "recommended" attorneys in the San Francisco Bay Area by Restructuring and Insolvency Handbook in each of the last 8 years.  An active volunteer in the Bay Area legal community, Kaplan is a 10-time recipient of the Bar Association of San Francisco's "Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service" award and has been recognized as an "Outstanding Volunteer in Public Service" by the California State Senate for his consumer bankruptcy work.

Kaplan earned his J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law (1991) and his B.S., magna cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School (1986).

Farella Braun + Martel represents clients throughout the United States and abroad in sophisticated business transactions and high-stakes commercial, civil and criminal litigation. Founded in 1962, the firm is headquartered in San Francisco and maintains an office in the Napa Valley focused on the wine industry. Farella Braun + Martel lawyers are known for their imaginative legal solutions, dynamism and intellectual creativity. With an unwavering service ethic and interdisciplinary team approach, the firm is committed to advancing clients' objectives in the most effective, coordinated and efficient manner. Farella Braun + Martel is a green business. www.fbm.com

Melinda Hepp / Traci Stuart
Blattel Communications
415.397.4811
[email protected] / [email protected]

Cheryl Loof
Farella Braun + Martel LLP
415.954.4433
[email protected]