Public Counsel Names Hernan D. Vera New President and C.E.O.

Nationally Recognized Consumer Rights Attorney Takes The Helm Of Nation's
Largest Pro Bono Public Interest Law Firm

LOS ANGELES, March 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Following a nationwide
search, the Board of Directors of Public Counsel voted to approve the
appointment of Hernan D. Vera to be its new President and Chief Executive
Officer. Vera assumes the position effective immediately.

(Photo: here )

Public Counsel Chairperson Wayne Barsky of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP
observed, "Our Search Committee and Board of Directors were extremely
impressed by Hernan's extraordinary success as Directing Attorney of Public
Counsel's Consumer Law Project, his passion and commitment to our mission, and
his distinctive vision for the growth and expansion of Public Counsel. Hernan
has our complete confidence, and we look forward to his leadership."

Last year, Vera worked with the Los Angeles City Attorney, the ACLU and
private law firms on nationally publicized litigation to end the abusive
practice known as "hospital dumping," which has been covered by world press
and media including 60 Minutes, CNN and NBC Dateline and led to widespread
systemic reform at local, state and national levels. In 2003, working in
coalition with the Asian Pacific American Legal Center, Vera led a successful
lawsuit that led to landmark legislation - the "Wondries Bill" - expanding
consumer protections for limited- English speaking consumers.

Vera joined Public Counsel in May 2002 as Directing Attorney of its Consumer
Law Project. He has risen to become one of the nation's leading consumer
rights' advocates and has supervised hundreds of individual client litigation
matters involving consumer fraud. Currently, he is overseeing dozens of cases
involving alleged fraud by home loan brokers and lenders, which threaten
families and senior citizens with the loss of their homes. "I want to
congratulate Mr. Vera, and I look forward to working with Public Counsel.
It's clear that there's a real need for representation for homeowners who've
been harmed in the subprime mortgage crisis," commented United StatesSenator
Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).

The 37-year-old Vera, who will be Public Counsel's seventh President and
C.E.O. said, "It is an honor to have been selected to lead Public Counsel.
For nearly four decades, Public Counsel has been a beacon of justice, hope and
opportunity - a voice for the voiceless in our society. I look forward to
working closely with our dedicated Board members, generous supporters and
immensely talented staff to uphold and strengthen the fundamental principle
that every man, woman and child is entitled to equal access to justice. It is
the cornerstone of our democracy."

Vera joined Public Counsel in May 2002 as Directing Attorney of its Consumer
Law Project, one of its largest and busiest legal projects. In this role, he
has supervised and managed hundreds of individual client litigation matters
involving consumer fraud. The Consumer Law Project also operates the largest
Debtor Assistance Project in Los Angeles, assisting low-income individuals and
families facing bankruptcy, as well as a variety of consumer education
programs and legislative advocacy initiatives.

Prior to joining Public Counsel, Vera worked for O'Melveny & Myers LLP and the
Mexican American Legal and Educational Defense Fund. After graduating from
the UCLA School of Law, he clerked for the Honorable Consuelo B. Marshall in
the United States District Court for the Central District of California. He
received his B.A. with Distinction from Stanford University in 1991. Vera is
fluent in Spanish and the son of Argentine immigrants.

Hernan D. Vera succeeds Dan Grunfeld, who left Public Counsel last September
after ten years to become Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy for Los Angeles
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Grunfeld said, "Hernan has distinguished himself
as one of the top public interest lawyers in the country. His compassion for
clients, extensive experience dealing with the legal issues they face and his
deep understanding of the systemic issues involved make him the perfect choice
to lead Public Counsel in the years ahead."

About Public Counsel

Founded in 1970, Public Counsel is the largest public interest pro bono law
firm in the world. Over the last 38 years, Public Counsel has recruited and
trained over 35,000 volunteers and delivered over a quarter of a billion
dollars in free assistance to those who need it most. Last year, with the help
of more than 3,400 volunteer lawyers, law students, social workers and others
who donated more than 150,000 hours of time, Public Counsel assisted nearly
27,000 individuals, including hundreds of nonprofit organizations and micro
businesses, ultimately providing almost $70 million in free services.

Nationally, Public Counsel has been a leader in developing model programs and
assisting other pro bono public interest law firms to bring these programs to
their communities. In addition to serving the vast Los Angeles metropolitan
region, Public Counsel is actively helping to strengthen pro bono public
interest law internationally. In 2000, Public Counsel was instrumental in
creating the Instituto Pro bono in Brazil, that country's first public
interest pro bono law firm. Since that time Public Counsel has played a
central role in nurturing other pro bono programs in Brazil, Argentina,
Europe, Africa and Australia.

CONTACT: John N. Heathcliff of Public Counsel, Cell: +1-323-821-8731

SOURCE Public Counsel

John N. Heathcliff of Public Counsel, Cell: +1-323-821-8731