David Neff Joins Perkins Coie From DLA Piper

CHICAGO (January 24, 2008) – Perkins Coie announced today that David Neff has joined the firm as a partner in its Bankruptcy & Workouts practice. He will practice in Perkins Coie's Chicago office.

Neff joins the firm from DLA Piper, where he represented debtors, lenders, individual creditors and creditors' committees in all types of bankruptcies throughout the country. He is a past president of the Chicago Bar Association Bankruptcies and Reorganization Committee and has spoken often at the Norton Bankruptcy Litigation Institute and for the American Bankruptcy Institute. Neff has particular experience in bankruptcies in real estate. He has represented major parties in more than 30 hotel bankruptcy cases throughout the country and many out-of-court restructurings, and he often represents landlords in major retail bankruptcies. He also counsels professional partnerships on dissolutions and bankruptcies and has represented five law firms in such matters. Neff has authored law review articles on hotel bankruptcies, professional partnership bankruptcy and dissolution matters, and landlord-tenant bankruptcy issues.

"As we continue to expand our legal services in the Chicago area, we are delighted to welcome high-caliber lawyers such as David to the firm," said Christopher B. Wilson, Chicago managing partner. "His knowledge and experience are a great addition to our strong national Bankruptcy & Workouts practice."

In addition to his bankruptcy practice, Neff is one of the leading lawyers in the country in the hotel industry. He represents some of the largest hotel owners, management companies and franchisees in all types of matters, including litigation, strategic planning, acquisitions, and contract negotiations and drafting. He has authored numerous articles for hotel industry publications and has spoken frequently at hotel industry conferences. Neff is a former chairman of the International Society of Hospitality Consultants and a member of the Hotel Development Council of the Urban Land Institute.

Neff has been designated an Illinois Super Lawyer in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 as the result of research projects conducted jointly by Law & Politics and Chicago magazines. In 2007, the respected English publisher Chambers and Partners listed him in Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business as one of the leading hotel lawyers in the country, noting that he possesses "a knowledge of all of the nuances of the industry, not just of the law." Chambers also listed him as one of the leading bankruptcy lawyers in Chicago.

Neff joins a team of lawyers experienced in representing debtors, creditors and third parties purchasing assets from bankruptcy estates concerning a wide range of bankruptcy issues, including restructurings and workouts, as well as related matters, such as labor and tax issues, that can accompany business bankruptcies.