Farella Braun + Martel Elevates Six to Partnership

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (October 31, 2002): Farella Braun + Martel LLP announced today that six attorneys have been elevated to the partnership, effective January 1, 2003. The new partners are: B. Scott Douglass, Sandra A. Kearney, Thomas B. Mayhew, Stephanie Powers Skaff, Derrick K. Watson and Richard J. Rabbitt.

"As Farella Braun + Martel continues its growth, we are very fortunate to be able to elevate such a talented group of attorneys to the partnership," said William J. Schlinkert, Chairman. The new partners are drawn from across the firm's practice groups and reflect a diversity of skills, talents and experience. We expect them to be an integral part of the firm's future."

The new partners are:
B. Scott Douglass, a member of the Construction Group, specializes in construction and surety-related litigation, representing major private and public owners, contractors, subcontractors and design professionals in a wide range of construction matters frequently involving delay-and-disruption, construction defects, contract administration, and design professional liability. He received his B.S., cum laude, in Civil Engineering from California Polytechnic State University and earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of San Francisco.

Sandra A. Kearney is a member of the Environmental Group. She represents corporate clients in various areas of environmental litigation, including citizen suits, product liability actions, and environmental enforcement actions involving the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, Proposition 65 and related state and local laws. Ms. Kearney also has a broad-based trial practice and has served as an Assistant District Attorney in the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. She received a B.A. from Occidental College and her J.D. from the University of San Francisco.

Thomas B. Mayhew maintains a diverse practice in Complex Litigation, ranging from breach of contract, fraud, and unfair competition to class actions based on false advertising, corporate breach of fiduciary duty and securities law. He received a B.A. from the University of California at Santa Barbara and his J.D. from Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California at Berkeley.

Richard J. Rabbitt is a member of the firm's Real Estate Group. He maintains a practice that focuses on complex commercial real estate transactions. He advises commercial real estate developers and owners on the negotiation and documentation of acquisitions, financing, development, leasing, and dispositions, together with the formation and structuring of ownership entities. Mr. Rabbitt received an A.B., with distinction, from Stanford University and earned his J.D. from Stanford Law School.

Stephanie Powers Skaff maintains a diverse practice in the firm's Intellectual Property Litigation group. She has experience in a wide variety of commercial litigation matters, including the representation of motion picture studios, Internet companies, computer software developers and manufacturers, and other high technology clients involved in patent, trademark, copyright and licensing disputes. She is also a frequent writer and speaker on Internet, computer software and intellectual property issues. Ms. Skaff received a B.S. in Business and a B.A. in English, magna cum laude, from the University of Southern California and earned a J.D. from Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California at Berkeley.

Derrick K. Watson, a member of the firm's Environmental Group, has extensive experience in environmental civil litigation and business counseling in both the corporate and governmental sectors. He has represented corporate clients in environmental enforcement actions, citizens suits, cost recovery litigation, toxic tort cases and product liability actions involving the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, and related state and local laws. He formerly served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of California. Mr. Watson earned his A.B. from Harvard College and his J.D. from Harvard Law School.

Since its founding in 1962, Farella Braun + Martel has achieved a national distinction for its complex commercial litigation practice, the acumen of its business practice, its high profile cases, and its prestigious client base. With over 120 attorneys, Farella Braun + Martel serves a diverse group of clients from multinational corporations to emerging businesses including VISA U.S.A., Verizon Wireless Services, Dolby Laboratories Inc., General Electric Company, Genentech, McDonald's Corporation, The Robert Mondavi Corporation, McKesson Corporation, The University of California, Silicon Valley Bank and Dainippon Screen Manufacturing Company Limited.

Farella Braun + Martel also maintains an office in the Napa Valley, focused on the wine industry and related businesses. In addition to employment and labor law, the firm's practice areas include complex commercial litigation, intellectual property litigation, insurance coverage, construction litigation, environmental counseling and litigation, white collar crime, real estate, land use, corporate and securities, tax, family wealth and business planning and the wine and agribusiness industries.

Contact:
Phyllis Gillis
415.954.4917