Proskauer Expands Nationally Recognized Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation & ERISA Litigation Practice with Key Talent

Top-Ranked Team, Led by Paul Hamburger, Joins Proskauer`s Washington D.C. Office
WASHINGTON--(Business Wire)--
A group of prominent employee benefits lawyers led by Paul M. Hamburger have
left McDermott Will & Emery`s Washington, D.C. office to establish the D.C.
employee benefits practice of international law firm Proskauer Rose LLP. The
move marks a significant step for the firm`s newly integrated Employee Benefits,
Executive Compensation & ERISA Litigation Practice Center, which is rapidly
approaching its 70-lawyer mark.

The addition of Mr. Hamburger - along with a trio of his partners, Todd B.
Castleton, Eugene M. Holmes and James R. Napoli - broadens the reach of
Proskauer`s national benefits practice, which is now spread across six of the
firm`s 12 offices. The enhancement of Proskauer`s capabilities in Washington,
D.C., at a time when the legislative and regulatory environment presents
especially complex and growing challenges to both employers and public and
private retirement and health plans, is a critical element of the firm`s
strategic plan.

Described by his clients (in Chambers USA) as a "creative, business-oriented and
brilliant lawyer who educates and enlightens," Mr. Hamburger has been practicing
benefits law exclusively for more than 25 years. One of only two lawyers ranked
by Chambers USA in the top tier of D.C. Employee Benefits Counsel, Mr. Hamburger
has advised scores of Fortune 500 employers on all aspects of their employee
benefit programs, particularly in connection with large M&A and other corporate
transactions. He is also one of the nation`s leading authorities on COBRA and
frequently represents his clients before such important government agencies as
the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, and the Pension
Benefit Guaranty Corporation in connection with complex regulatory matters.

Allen Fagin, Proskauer`s Chairman, pointed to the addition of Mr. Hamburger, and
his entire team, as yet another example of the firm`s ability to attract top
talent in key markets in the United States and abroad.

"We have known of Paul and his colleagues for several years and have long hoped
we could entice them to join our benefits practice," said Mr. Fagin. "We are
delighted to finally welcome them to Proskauer. Our firm is built on
sophisticated legal and business advice, longstanding partnership with our
clients, and exceptional client relationships and service. Nowhere are these
skills and client commitment more evident than within our Employee Benefits
Practice Center. The addition of this group and their roster of new clients are
a key enhancement to our abilities."

"For nearly a quarter-century, Proskauer has been widely recognized, by clients
and practitioners alike, for our prowess in the benefits, executive compensation
and ERISA litigation arena," added Rory Judd Albert, co-chair of the firm`s
Employee Benefits Practice Center. "Our experience, breadth and depth of
practice, level of expertise and client service commitment are among the many
important criteria that encourage Fortune 500 companies, and large public and
private retirement and health plans, to turn to Proskauer for their most
complex, high-stakes matters. These are also the reasons why lawyers such as
Paul and his group are attracted to our firm."

Mr. Albert added that "the addition of this group could not have come at a more
propitious time for the practice, as it coincides with the firm`s full
integration into a national platform of nearly six-dozen lawyers practicing
exclusively in the employee benefits, executive compensation and ERISA
litigation areas. We maintain one of the largest, and most prominent, practices
of its kind in the nation, and Paul, Todd, Eugene and Jim will play critical
roles in continuing to expand our ability to serve clients nationwide in this
ever-changing environment. Our current plans are to expand our platform to what
we expect will soon be 100 employee benefits lawyers nationwide," he said.

"Paul is an ideal fit for the firm," said Trevor Chaplick, head of Proskauer`s
D.C. office. "As legislative and regulatory activity continues to engender
complex and costly employment-related challenges for companies, their benefit
plans, and executives alike, a strong Washington, D.C. presence has become
increasingly important, particularly in the benefits arena. Paul and his team
have built distinguished careers in this niche market. They will now bring that
experience to bear at Proskauer, expanding our local presence and further
enhancing nationally the capabilities of one of the firm`s important and rapidly
growing practice areas."

"It is a great addition to have Paul`s group join our Washington, D.C. office,"
said Howard Shapiro, co-head of Proskauer`s national ERISA Litigation Group and
immediate past-president of the American College of Employee Benefits Counsel.
"I have worked with Paul in the past and know that his hands-on acumen and
ability to analyze complex benefit issues will be an asset to our entire
national litigation practice."

An adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center, Mr. Hamburger is a
prolific author and speaker on employee benefit matters. He graduated from the
University of Michigan (cum laude) and earned a J.D. from the University of
Michigan Law School. He has written numerous articles, and three nationally
circulated publications, on benefits issues, including Mandated Health Benefits
- The COBRA Guide; The Guide to Assigning & Loaning Benefit Plan Money; and The
Pension Plan Fix-It Handbook.

Mr. Castleton`s practice focuses on the compliance and administration of
qualified defined contribution and defined benefit plans, nonqualified deferred
compensation arrangements, and health and welfare plans. His background also
includes significant experience with multiple employer, prototype and volume
submitter plans. A graduate of the University of Utah, he earned a J.D. from
George Mason University School of Law and an LL.M. from Georgetown University
Law Center.

Mr. Holmes counsels clients in plan operation and governmental regulatory
compliance. He also advises on the compensation and benefits plan ramifications
and employer workforce impacts that result from corporate transactions,
including mergers and acquisition and reduction-in-force initiatives. A graduate
of Michigan State University, he earned a J.D. from Boston University School of
Law and an LL.M. from Georgetown University Law Center.

Mr. Napoli has an active ERISA practice and counsels clients on qualified
defined contribution and defined benefit plans, nonqualified deferred
compensation arrangements, health and welfare plans, and has a very active
controversy practice. He also advises clients on ERISA and related litigation,
as well as government compliance. A graduate of Cleveland State University, he
earned a J.D. from the University of Akron School of Law, and is recognized by
U.S. Legal 500 as a "Leading Lawyer".

Proskauer`s nationally recognized Employee Benefits, Executive Compensation &
ERISA Litigation Practice Center, co-chaired by Mr. Albert and Michael Sirkin,
includes nearly 70 lawyers whose range of skills covers the entire spectrum of
employee benefits, executive compensation, ERISA and tax law. The lawyers in the
group formulate innovative, practical and proactive solutions and legal
strategies for the world`s top companies, organizations, public and private
health and benefits funds, and business leaders. The broad scope of the legal
acumen of the lawyers in this group, as well as their highly-sophisticated
approach to the complex laws and business practices affecting benefit plans and
compensation arrangements in any context - whether advisory, transactional,
compliance- or litigation-related, have led to The Practice Center and its
lawyers being consistently ranked among the top-tier firms and practices in the
country.

About Proskauer Rose

Proskauer Rose, founded in 1875, is an international law firm providing a wide
variety of legal services to clients worldwide from offices in Boca Raton,
Boston, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New Orleans, New York, Newark,
Paris, São Paulo and Washington, D.C. The firm, which has wide experience in all
areas of practice important to businesses, not-for-profit institutions and
individuals, can be found online at www.proskauer.com

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