COSTA MESA, CA – July 19, 2010 – Baker Hostetler announced today the expansion of its Costa Mesa office with the addition of Alan J. Kessel as Partner and Vikki Vander Woude as Of Counsel. Mr. Kessel and Ms. Vander Woude, who were both most recently with Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, will be members of the firm’s Litigation Group.
Mr. Kessel focuses his practice on complex litigation and trial work for a wide variety of publicly traded and privately held national and regional companies spanning multiple industries, including the representation of financial institutions, commercial and residential real estate developers, technology companies, health care plans, manufacturers and distributors in federal and state courts throughout the country. In addition to his trial practice, Mr. Kessel has successfully argued numerous appeals in federal and state courts, including a landmark, unanimous decision recently published by the California Court of Appeal. Mr. Kessel also regularly provides preventive litigation and risk management services to a broad array of clients.
Ms. Vander Woude is an experienced business litigation and trial attorney. She has worked in private practice at major law firms, and also in-house as Corporate Litigation Counsel, where she has handled a broad range of matters, including those involving commercial contracts, leases and other real estate disputes, employment, unfair competition, trade secrets and complex business and corporate disputes. Ms. Vander Woude also clerked for the Hon. Florence-Marie Cooper and Hon. Judith Chirlin, participated as a volunteer prosecutor for the Orange County District Attorney's office and managed the professional development, training and mentoring of associates for the Southern California offices of a major international law firm.
"We are pleased to welcome Alan and Vikki to Baker Hostetler. Their addition demonstrates the office's commitment to following the firm's strategy of steady, measured growth,” said George Mooradian, Partner-in-Charge of the firm’s Costa Mesa office. "With their extensive litigation experience, Alan and Vikki are an excellent addition to our already strong team of lawyers who handle a wide variety of complex commercial, financial, securities, intellectual property and environmental disputes," said Mooradian.
"Alan and Vikki are impressive lawyers who will add new depth to our litigation capabilities in California," said Ray Whitman, Group Chair of the firm's national Litigation Group. "Both are experienced trial lawyers with expertise consistent with the firm's strengths and a shared commitment to deliver the highest quality of legal services to our clients, in California and across the country," said Whitman.
About Baker Hostetler Founded more than 90 years ago in 1916, Baker Hostetler is among the nation's 100 largest law firms with 650 attorneys coast to coast. The firm has offices in Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Costa Mesa, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando and Washington, D.C. Its five primary practice groups are Business, Employment, Intellectual Property, Litigation and Tax. Contact: Christine L. Gill Communications Manager (216) 861-7852 cgill@bakerlaw.com
Contact: Christine L. Gill Communications Manager (216) 861-7852 cgill@bakerlaw.com