SAN FRANCISCO, February 16, 2007 - Farella Braun + Martel announces that Partner Mary E. McCutcheon was appointed chair of the firm's new Construction and Insurance Coverage  Department.

"Mary's experience heading up the insurance coverage group paired with her exceptional impact and accomplishments as a lawyer make her a wonderful choice as the new department chair," said Steve Lowenthal, firm chair. 

McCutcheon represents corporations, public entities and individuals in a variety of insurance issues, including securities fraud and insurer rescission actions, intellectual property, civil rights, employment, and aviation matters.  Her skills range from products liability, bad-faith, environmental and construction litigation to resolving liability claims involving coverage disputes through mediation.  Specifically, McCutcheon represents those involved in significant earthquake or fire property and business interruption insurance claims in maximizing the coverage available under their property claims; advises clients on how to transfer risk and handle claims under both traditional and self-insurance programs; and counsels on the issues involving the placement of directors and officers liability insurance.  Her diverse client roster includes local and national companies in the transportation, high tech, pharmaceutical, construction and communications industries, such as Chiron, CNF Transportation Dolby, HPL Technologies, Herbalife International, Levi Strauss & Co., McKesson Corporation and Visa USA.

McCutcheon was named among the top 35 insurance lawyers in California by Chambers USA in 2006.  She is president and on the board of directors for the National Center for Youth Law and a past chair of the Bar Association of San Francisco's Committee on Attorney Fee Disputes.   McCutcheon earned her J.D. from Yale Law School (1981) and an A.B., with distinction, from Stanford University (1977).

Farella Braun + Martel's Construction Counseling & Dispute Resolution Group represents public and private owners, contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and design professionals on all stages of the construction process throughout the United States and overseas on projects ranging from power plants, hospitals, water and waste treatment facilities, dams, airports and jails to university housing, laboratories and classrooms, commercial, mixed-use and multi-family residential developments.

Farella Braun + Martel's Insurance Coverage Group represents policyholders in coverage disputes arising out of a wide variety of exposures, such as construction delay and defects claims, products liability litigation, securities fraud and other corporate directors' and officers' liabilities, errors and omissions claims, intellectual property disputes, employment litigation, environmental liabilities and disasters like earthquakes and fires.  They advises private businesses and public entities regarding risk management programs, including evaluation of current or proposed insurance programs, captive insurance programs, owner-controlled insurance programs, environmental remediation protection and other risk management and risk transfer devices.

Since its founding in 1962, Farella Braun + Martel has achieved a national reputation for the acumen of its business practice, the high profile cases of its complex commercial litigation practice and its prestigious client base. Based in San Francisco, the firm serves a diverse group of clients from multinational corporations to emerging businesses. The firm also has an office in the Napa Valley focused on the wine industry and related businesses. Farella Braun + Martel is a Green Business.  

At Farella Braun + Martel, we are committed to enhancing diversity at our firm and in the legal profession at large.  By building a workforce comprised of varied backgrounds in a workplace that appreciates individual differences, we are able to better serve our clients, our profession, and our community.  We value diversity, both as an ethical ideal and as a business imperative.

Contacts:

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

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