BTI Consulting Group Names Eight Sidley Partners to 2009 Client Service All-Star Team

NEW YORK--(Business Wire)--
Eight partners of Sidley Austin LLP have been named to BTI Consulting Group`s
The BTI Client Service All-Star Team for Law Firms 2009. The partners are Larry
A. Barden, Scott Bass, Thomas A. Cole, David F. Graham, Eric S. Haueter,
Christopher Hilbert, Imad Qasim and Kathleen L. Roach. The annual BTI ranking,
based on more than 270 interviews with corporate counsel at large and Fortune
1000 companies, recognizes 176 lawyers who helped drive client satisfaction
among large corporations to its highest point in five years.

In this year`s survey, Eric Haueter was named a 3-year MVP by BTI as one of only
four lawyers who have been named to The BTI Client Service All-Star Team for
three consecutive years. Sidley is also one of only two law firms to boast eight
BTI Client Service All-Stars on the 2009 list.

"During these challenging economic times, it is extremely rewarding to be
recognized by our clients for our firmwide commitment to providing exceptional
client service," said Charles W. Douglas, chair of the firm`s Management
Committee. "I am pleased to congratulate my colleagues who were recognized for
this honor."

Larry A. Barden (Chicago) is a Corporate partner whose principal areas of
practice are mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, strategic
counseling/corporate governance and private equity/venture capital. Mr. Barden
is a member of the firm`s Executive Committee, a global coordinator of the
firm`s Securities practice and a frequent lecturer on securities, corporate
governance and merger and acquisition matters.

Scott Bass (Washington, D.C.) heads the firm`s Global Life Sciences Team,
coordinating pharmaceutical, medical device, food and dietary supplement matters
in the U.S., Europe and Asia. He is ranked internationally among the top
authorities on FDA-related enforcement and regulatory issues, and has led audits
and investigations involving off-label promotion, pharmacovigilance, PDMA, GMP
and fraud and abuse issues, as well as DEA and FTC matters.

Thomas A. Cole (Chicago) has a substantial practice in public company mergers
and acquisitions and corporate governance, and has been involved in dozens of
public company mergers, spin-offs and takeover defenses. Mr. Cole serves as
chair of the firm`s Executive Committee and a member of its Management
Committee. He was designated an M&A "Dealmaker of the Year" for 2007 by The
American Lawyer.

David F. Graham (Chicago) concentrates his practice on complex commercial
litigation, at both the trial and appellate levels, with an emphasis on the
defense of securities fraud, antitrust and consumer class actions. He also
frequently advises boards of directors on fiduciary and other issues, and
represents companies and directors in M&A litigation matters. Mr. Graham is a
member of the firm`s Executive Committee and serves as a global coordinator of
the Securities Litigation practice.

Eric S. Haueter (San Francisco) is a Corporate partner whose principal areas of
practice include corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Haueter has
represented the underwriters and issuers in a broad range of public and private
debt and equity financings, merger and acquisition transactions and other
matters.

Christopher Hilbert (New York) is a Corporate partner who has long represented
U.S. and non-U.S. corporations both in numerous transactions and in providing
on-going business legal advice. He has represented a leading global manufacturer
of aerospace and rail transportation in multiple acquisitions around the U.S.
and in numerous significant financings and has advised a number of prominent
U.S. financial services organizations, including private equity investment funds
and institutional lenders, in a wide variety of public and private equity
investments.

Imad Qasim (Chicago) is a Corporate partner. His practice includes mergers and
acquisitions (both public and private), spin-offs, joint ventures, corporate
finance and corporate governance, including representing special committees in
connection with business consolidations and corporate investigations.

Kathleen L. Roach (Chicago) is a Litigation partner with an active trial and
complex commercial litigation practice, with emphasis on securities fraud,
business torts, trade secret and contract litigation. Ms. Roach chairs the
firm's Committee on Retention and Promotion of Women, and also serves on the
firm's recruiting and pro bono committees.

Previous Sidley BTI All-Stars include David Carpenter (2003), J. Gerard Cummins
(2005) Paul V. Gerlach (2006), Paul E. Kalb, M.D. (2007), Kevin T. Lantry
(2005), Irving L. Rotter (2007), Michele Ilene Ruiz (2001), Thomas F. Ryan
(2003, 2004), J. Andrew Schlickman (2001, 2004) and John Simon (2001).

From 2003-2008, Sidley was named either the number one or the number two U.S.
law firm for overall client service in The Survey of Client Service Performance
for Law Firms: The BTI Client Service A-Team. The firm was named to The BTI
Client Service Hall of Fameas one of only two law firms to rank in the Client
Service Top 10 for seven years in a row. Sidley recently received wide
recognition across a broad cross-section of industries in the 2008 BTI Industry
Power Rankings, including the distinction of the single most recommended law
firm among clients in the pharmaceuticals industry.

Boston-based BTI Consulting regularly canvases leading companies on how they
acquire and manage professional services, including outside legal services. BTI
maintains what may be the largest database on service provider satisfaction and
issues findings derived from extensive interviews.

Sidley Austin LLP is one of the world's largest full-service law firms, with
more than 1800 lawyers practicing in 16 U.S. and international cities, including
Beijing, Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Shanghai, Singapore,
Sydney and Tokyo. Every year since 2003, Sidley has been named to Legal
Business` Global Elite, its designation for the 18 firms "that define the
pinnacle of the legal profession."

For purposes of the New York State Bar rules, this press release may be
considered Attorney Advertising and the headquarters of the firm are Sidley
Austin LLP 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, 212.839.5300 and Sidley
Austin LLP One South Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.853.7000. Prior results
described herein do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Sidley Austin LLP
Janet Zagorin, 212-839-8797
Director of Practice Development
jzagorin@sidley.com
or
Rubenstein Associates
Daria Hall, 212-843-8292
dhall@rubenstein.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009