SAN FRANCISCO, May 20, 2011 - Farella Braun + Martel announces that Partner James A. Bruen was selected to join the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC).  Bruen is a member of the firm's Environmental Law Department and Product Law Practice Group.

Founded in 1920, IADC is a prestigious international organization composed of prominent and leading corporate and insurance attorneys.  Its activities benefit the approximately 2,500 invitation-only, peer-reviewed members and their clients as well as the civil justice system and the legal profession.

For more than 40 years, Bruen has represented domestic and international industry, university and governmental institutions in products liability and environmental counseling and litigation.  He advises on product design, manufacturing, distribution and stewardship issues, as well as on sustainable development issues, such as Environment, Health and Safety Management Systems. Bruen serves as lead trial counsel in litigation regarding mass torts, natural resource damages, environmental enforcements, environmental cost recovery and contributions, and white collar environmental crimes defense.  He is nationally known for his expertise in emergency response and crisis management and is a member of the Association for Conflict Resolution.

Bruen is a Fellow of the American College of Environmental Lawyers, where he serves as the Region 9 Membership Chair.  He is an internationally known author and lecturer in environmental and products liability law and has received numerous recognitions in this discipline.  In 2009, he was designated as one of the nation's 16 "Distinguished Environmental Advocates" by the American Bar Association.  Among other recognitions, he is listed as a top environmental lawyer in California in Chambers USA, the Best Lawyers in America (Environmental Law and Mass Tort Litigation), Expert Guides' The Best of the Best (Environment), Practical Law Company's Which Lawyer? (Environment) and Who's Who Legal Environment.

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

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]