Farella Braun + Martel Recruits Doug Dexter As Partner and Chair of Firm's Employment Practice

Dexter joins firm from O'Melveny & Myers LLP; expands Farella's Employment Practice to include Labor Law

SAN FRANCISCO, CA (October 1, 2002), Farella Braun + Martel LLP announced today that Doug Dexter has joined the firm as a partner and chair of its Employment Practice Group.

Dexter joins the firm from the San Francisco office of O'Melveny & Myers LLP where he focused on labor and employment law. He is expected to expand Farella's employment group to include both labor as well as employment law, providing both counseling and litigation. Dexter comes to the firm with 18 years of experience.

"Farella is actively pursuing seasoned attorneys whose experience fits our clients' needs and whose expertise serves our targeted expansion," said William J. Schlinkert, chair, Farella Braun + Martel. "Doug Dexter is a seasoned litigator and business advisor who will help us to deepen our litigation and counseling resources and broaden our services to clients with labor and employment needs. We are delighted that Doug has agreed to lead our rapidly growing employment and labor law practice."

Dexter has successfully represented clients in a wide array of employment matters including the Americans with Disabilities Act, sexual harassment, discrimination, "whistle blower" claims, intellectual property matters, unfair competition, non-compete/solicitation agreements and wage compliance. He has represented executives in negotiating compensation and severance agreements as well as employers concerning labor unions, including campaigns, bargaining and arbitration.

Dexter's diverse client base is drawn from a variety of industries and encompasses airlines, aerospace manufacturers, professional service firms, Internet, network, software and telecommunications companies. His representations have included United Airlines, Akamai, Arthur Anderson LLP, BAE Systems, Excite@Home, Northwest Airlines, McKinsey & Co., Verizon and Yahoo! Inc.

"Doug's experience complements and enhances the depth of our resources," said Mark D. Petersen, chair of the firm's litigation department. "Doug will play a significant role in the expansion of our employment and labor practice, particularly as the economy continues to offer challenges to employers. Doug's experience will better allow us to resolve a wide variety of complex business issues, including protection of trade secrets, management of terminations, reductions in force and executive severance packages."

Prior to joining Farella, Dexter was a labor and employment partner with O'Melveny & Myer's San Francisco office. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Northern California Human Resources Association and chairs its Legislative Affairs Committee. He has frequently spoken on employment law issues before legal and employer groups including the American Bar Association, American Employment Law Council, Bay Area Compensation Association, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Best Practices Seminar, National Business Institute, Northern California Human Resources Association, Recorder Roundtable, and Rutter Group Employment Litigation Judicial Conference. Dexter is an editor of the Rutter Group Employment Litigation Practice Guide, Ch. 8, Reductions in Force; Employment Discrimination Law, Ch. 23; Employment Agencies (BNA); and American Bar Association Model Jury Instructions for Employment Matters, Ch. 3, Wrongful Discharge. Dexter is also a contributing author to the American Bar Association Employment Litigation Deskbook. He is the founding sponsor of the San Francisco High School Mock Trial Competition.

Dexter received his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of San Diego in 1984, where he was Editor of the San Diego Law Review. He earned his B.A. from San Jose State University in 1981. He is admitted to the State Bar of California.

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