SAN FRANCISCO, July 23, 2008 - Farella Braun + Martel LLP Partner Kelly A. Woodruff has been appointed to the State Bar of California Committee on Federal Courts.  One of only 20 members, she will serve a three-year term.  Woodruff practices in the firm's Business Litigation, Bankruptcy & Creditors' Rights and Appellate Law groups.  

The Committee on Federal Courts studies, recommends and reports on proposed changes in the rules, procedures and practices of the federal courts in California.  It also works to enhance relations between the State Bar and courts, regularly meeting with judges and representatives of each of the federal district courts in California to understand the issues of importance to the federal judiciary.

Woodruff's practice emphasizes complex commercial disputes stemming from allegations of corporate wrongdoing, such as fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, misappropriation of trade secrets, director and officer liability, professional negligence and breach of contract.  In bankruptcy matters, she routinely represents corporate and individual creditors in Chapter 11 reorganization cases, defendants in voidable transfer actions and parties in complex adversary proceedings.  Woodruff also works with individual officers and directors in litigation involving bankruptcy fraud, breach of fiduciary duty and misrepresentation.  Currently, Woodruff is representing the police and firefighters unions in the City of Vallejo bankruptcy.

Woodruff has successfully handled numerous appeals to the Ninth Circuit and California Court of Appeal, including an insurance coverage case, a bankruptcy adversary proceeding appeal and two death penalty habeas corpus cases.  In addition to her work for the firm, Woodruff handles prisoner civil rights appeals on a pro bono basis and has successfully obtained reversals of summary judgment against her clients in two reported opinions.

Woodruff serves on the Board of Directors for Equal Rights Advocates.  She received her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of California, Hastings College of Law in 1992, where she was the Senior Executive Editor of the Hastings Law Journal, and she earned her B.A. from the University of Colorado, Boulder in 1988. 

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, breadth and depth of experience of its environmental law 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.  http://www.fbm.com

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

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