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Farella Braun + Martel Recruits David J. Lazerwitz, Environmental Attorney

September 3, 2002 Announcement

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (September 3, 2002): Farella Braun + Martel LLP announced today that David J. Lazerwitz has joined the firm as a senior associate in its Environmental Practice Group.

Lazerwitz joins the firm from the U.S. Department of Justice where he served as an attorney with the Appellate Section, Environment and Natural Resources Division. At the Department of Justice, Lazerwitz represented federal government agencies in the U.S. Courts of Appeals and State Supreme Courts where he served as the primary attorney responsible for legal strategy, briefing and oral argument in cases arising under Federal environmental and natural resources statutes and regulations. His responsibilities also included negotiating settlements on behalf of the federal government and obtaining legal authority to pursue federal appeals from the Solicitor General. In 2001 and 2002, Lazerwitz received Department of Justice Special Commendation Awards for his service on specific litigation matters.

Prior to the Justice Department, Lazerwitz was an environmental litigation associate with Holland & Hart in Denver, Colorado and also served as a law clerk for the Honorable Robert H. Henry, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

"As Farella Braun + Martel continues our targeted expansion, we are seeking attorneys whose experience and expertise address our client's needs," said Mark Petersen, head of the firm's litigation department. "We are particularly delighted that David Lazerwitz has joined Farella as he brings additional depth to our team of environmental attorneys, many of whom also have years of experience with the Justice Department, EPA and U.S. Attorneys Offices. This sophisticated knowledge of agency actions -- combined with an understanding of environmental law and procedure -- makes David an invaluable asset to the firm and our clients."

Earlier in his career Lazerwitz held positions with the National Wildlife Federation; the U.S. Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor; American Water Development, Inc.; and The McNeil/Lehrer NewsHour.

Lazerwitz received his J.D. from Indiana University School of Law, magna cum laude, where he was Order of the Coif, Dean's Honors and Associate Editor of the Indiana Law Journal. He received his M.P.A. in environmental policy and natural resources management from Indiana University and his B.A., cum laude, from Colorado College. Lazerwitz served as a MacArthur Foundation Scholar in 1994-1995 with the Indiana University Center for Global Change and World Peace.

Farella Braun + Martel's Environmental Practice Group is among the largest and most experienced in the country and enjoys a national reputation for specialized expertise in all areas of environmental law and product stewardship, including compliance counseling, regulatory representation and litigation. Its clients include General Electric Company, BHP Billiton, Fleischmann's Yeast, FMC Corporation, Catellus Urban Development Corporation, Levi Strauss & Company, Lucasfilm, Ltd., McDonald's Corporation, Los Alamos National Laboratory and Applied Biosystems.

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

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