Perkins Coie Announces Chicago Office Opening

CHICAGO (September 18, 2002) – Perkins Coie, the largest law firm in the Pacific Northwest, announced today the opening of its Chicago office. Perkins Coie has more than 550 lawyers in 12 U.S.-based offices, primarily on the West Coast, as well as international offices in Hong Kong and Beijing.

"A number of clients for whom we work on the West Coast and elsewhere indicated they would welcome the opportunity to work with us in the Midwest," said Robert E. Giles, Perkins Coie's managing partner. "This is an outstanding opportunity to expand our national presence in litigation, technology and intellectual property." The firm is recognized for its representation of emerging and established companies in the biotechnology, communications, Internet, aerospace and software industries.

"The City of Chicago is delighted to welcome Perkins Coie," stated Paul O'Connor, Executive Director of World Business Chicago. "Perkins is one of the fastest growing firms in the country and known for both its litigation and technology practices. Over time, Perkins will prove to be an important asset for the development of Chicago's technology industries."

The new office initially will have 12 partners and of counsel, supported by associates and paralegals. The immediate emphasis will be on complex litigation, including product liability, patent and complex commercial cases.

"We were gratified by the number of talented and impressive lawyers we met as we assembled our Chicago team," noted Giles. "We continue to talk with a number of exceptional individuals and groups and expect the office to grow substantially during the next year."

The firm's reputation as a litigation powerhouse was bolstered with the arrival of Bill Cahill, formerly a name partner with Cahill, Christian & Kunkle. When asked why he made the move to Perkins, Cahill responded, "Major companies are looking for new solutions to litigation problems. Perkins Coie has been on the forefront of developing a lean, integrated, technology-enhanced team approach, with experienced, active trial lawyers. I saw the opportunity to help continue to build one of the great litigation practices in the country, and I was excited to return to a full-service firm where we can address more of our clients' needs."

Dan K. Webb, a partner with Winston & Strawn, acknowledged the contribution Cahill brings to the new office: "Bill Cahill is an outstanding trial attorney with formidable skills and is a truly worthy adversary. I think very highly of him personally and professionally."

The firm expects to add corporate lawyers to the Chicago office as well, growing to 40-50 lawyers by the end of next year. Buddy Arnheim, a well-known corporate finance lawyer in the Silicon Valley and a Perkins partner since 1998, said, "I previously practiced in Chicago and still work with clients in the Chicago area. I think the expertise that our lawyers have developed in representing some of the leading technology and venture capital firms on the West Coast will be very useful as the technology economy in Chicago continues to grow."

In addition to Cahill, attorneys in Perkins Coie's Chicago office include Eric D. Brandfonbrener, John M. Christian, Jan Feldman, Matthew J. Gehringer, Darrell J. Graham, Scott B. Greene, Mary Kathryn Kelly, Suzanne M. Metzel, Roseann Oliver, Donald E. Walther and Christopher B. Wilson.

Information About Perkins Coie Lawyers in Chicago

Eric D. Brandfonbrener (partner), who joined Perkins Coie from Grippo & Elden in Chicago, focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, including employment, securities, trusts and estates, closely held corporations and patents. Brandfonbrener received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School.

William T. Cahill (partner), formerly a name partner with Cahill, Christian & Kunkle in Chicago, emphasizes both commercial and product liability litigation in his practice. Cahill graduated from the University of Illinois College of Law, with honors (Order of the Coif), and was a member of the Law Review. Cahill was elected a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers in 1988.

John M. Christian (partner), also a former name partner in Cahill, Christian & Kunkle, will continue his practice in general commercial litigation including product liability litigation. Christian received his law degree with honors from the University of Michigan Law School.

Jan Feldman (partner) also joins Perkins Coie from Cahill, Christian and Kunkle. Feldman's practice focuses on high technology litigation, including trade secret, patent and other commercial cases. Feldman received an M.A. from the University of Minnesota and his law degree, with honors, from Northwestern University School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review.

Matthew J. Gehringer (partner), formerly with Cahill, Christian and Kunkle, will emphasize commercial litigation and product liability work. Gehringer received his undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Michigan, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif.

Darrell J. Graham (of counsel), formerly with Grippo & Elden, has a complex commercial litigation practice that includes antitrust, insurance coverage, unfair competition, class action, employment, business tort and franchise litigation. Graham is a graduate of the University of Michigan Law School.

Scott B. Greene (partner), formerly with Cahill, Christian & Kunkle, has a complex commercial litigation practice that emphasizes construction law but also includes contract disputes, professional malpractice, shareholder disputes, trade secrets, restrictive covenants and employment law. Greene is a graduate of DePaul University College of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review.

Mary Kathryn Kelly (partner) has a strong trial practice that ranges from product liability, ERISA, medical malpractice and employment matters to personal injury and commercial litigation. Formerly with Cahill, Christian & Kunkle, Kelly graduated with honors from Loyola University Law School, where she received numerous national trial advocacy awards.

Suzanne M. Metzel (of counsel) also joins the firm from Cahill, Christian & Kunkle. Her experience includes commercial and general tort litigation, encompassing contract claims, shareholder disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, trade secrets/restrictive covenants, warranty, product liability, environmental torts and professional malpractice. Metzel is a graduate of the Illinois Institute of Technology Chicago-Kent College of Law in Chicago.

Roseann Oliver (partner) focuses on commercial litigation, including professional malpractice, shareholder and employment disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, covenants not to compete, and corporate and partnership dissolutions, but her background also includes environmental litigation, toxic tort litigation and product liability. Formerly with Cahill, Christian & Kunkle, Oliver received her law degree from Loyola University, where she was articles editor of the Loyola Law Journal.

Donald E. Walther (partner), who comes to Chicago from the Seattle office of Perkins Coie, has a background in general litigation that includes intellectual property enforcement, antitrust, franchise law, estate and fiduciary law, criminal law, and matters relating to the False Claims Act. He received an M.B.A., with honors, from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business and his law degree, with honors, from The Law School at the University of Chicago, where he served as a Comment Editor on the University of Chicago Law Review. Walther was named one of the "Rising Stars of Washington Law" by Washington Law and Politics magazine.

Christopher B. Wilson (partner), formerly with Grippo & Elden, practices complex commercial litigation including product liability, antitrust, securities fraud, employment, licensing and trademark infringement. Wilson received his law degree, cum laude, from Northwestern University School of Law, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif and served as Associate Note & Comment Editor for Northwestern University Law Review.