Nossaman Joins Forces with O’Connor & Hannan;

Expands Presence in Washington, DC

Los Angeles, CA (June 30, 2008) – Effective July 1, law firm Nossaman Guthner Knox & Elliott LLP is combining forces with the Washington, DC firm O’Connor & Hannan LLP, a firm of 23 attorneys and lobbyists located at 1666 K Street.  The combined firm, Nossaman LLP, will have over 150 attorneys and lobbyists operating in eight offices nationwide in Arlington, Austin, Los Angeles, Orange County, Sacramento, San Francisco, Seattle and in Washington, DC, where the name Nossaman LLP/O’Connor & Hannan will be used.

 Recently brought together through several joint infrastructure new business proposals, Nossaman and O’Connor & Hannan readily found their practices to be complementary, especially in environmental law, government relations, and infrastructure.

 “As we explored the potential for a merger, we discovered strong relationships and parallel career paths among our respective partners that span many decades,” said Nossaman Managing Partner, Michael Heumann.  “The attorneys joining Nossaman add another dimension to our core practice areas and to the services we can offer our clients at the federal level.  Several highly complementary practices build on one another and will benefit our clients by expanding our expertise and reach.”

 F. Gordon Lee, O’Connor & Hannan Managing Partner shared a similar perspective.  “Merging with Nossaman allows us to better serve our clients’ range of needs, which was our primary measure of evaluating the deal.  However, it also had to make sense at an interpersonal level, and our firms’ cultures are remarkably similar,” he said.  “Our strong alignment in work styles, service to our clients and the intersection of both firms’ expertise positions us very well for the future.”

 Heumann pointed out an additional benefit of the merger saying, “We are further differentiating ourselves from other mid-sized California law firms and offering our clients something new.  For example, our land use and environmental clients will have the opportunity to contribute at the federal level to the formation of the laws that govern their businesses.  It is also a way to focus on and grow practice areas such as infrastructure and government relations that already set us apart.”

 In July, Nossaman’s Washington, DC office will elect members to the firm’s Executive and Compensation Committees.  Timothy W. Jenkins, a legislative advocate with O’Connor & Hannan, will become Chair of Nossaman’s national Government Relations Practice Group.

 About O’Connor & Hannan LLP:

Founded in 1957, O’Connor & Hannan LLP is a Washington, DC law firm specializing in resolving the legal and public policy needs of their clients.  The firm represents corporations, trade associations, non-profit organizations, public bodies and individuals in court, in domestic and foreign negotiations and transactions, and before the U.S. Congress and a broad range of federal departments and agencies.

 About Nossaman Guthner Knox & Elliott LLP:

Nossaman Guthner Knox & Elliott LLP is a California-based national law firm specializing in infrastructure, complex civil litigation, land use, environmental, real property, water, healthcare, corporate transactions and public policy law.  The firm represents public and private sector clients with interests ranging from transportation to real estate development and water.  Founded in 1946, Nossaman has more than 130 attorneys and lobbyists in seven offices across the country.

Contact:  Melita Wenger Jampol, (415) 438-7228, mjampol@nossaman.com