CHICAGO – November 12, 2009 – Baker Hostetler has announced that it has opened a Chicago office as part of its national growth strategy. “Opening an office in Chicago is another step in Baker Hostetler’s strategy of measured growth,” said national Executive Partner Steven Kestner, citing the Firm’s success in New York where it opened an office in 2001 with three lawyers and now is approaching 100.
Under the leadership of Ron Okada as Partner-in-Charge, two lateral partners and one associate, Baker Hostetler will expand the Firm’s commercial litigation and corporate practice capabilities. With this addition, Baker Hostetler will have offices in the four largest cities by population in the United States: New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston.
“We have been evaluating the possibility of entering the Chicago legal market for several years and found this to be an ideal opportunity to establish a presence with strong lawyers and promising prospects for growth. Our financial stability, lack of debt and rising revenues enable us to continue to expand even during this challenging economic climate,” Kestner said.
The Firm is known for its strength in advising leading mid-market companies, but it also represents multinational corporations, FORTUNE 50 companies and private investors. Current notable engagements include serving as court-appointed Trustee and Counsel in the liquidation and return of assets to victims of Bernard Madoff, the largest securities fraud in history. Baker Hostetler has also been appointed by the Department of Justice to serve as Independent Monitor of Merrill Lynch and Mellon Bank, and Independent Examiner of Bank of New York.
Kestner expressed confidence that Okada, who has 24 years with the Firm and extensive management experience, will be successful in this new endeavor. “The Chicago lawyers who have joined us have exceptional legal skills, understand the market, and fit well with our culture. Under Ron’s leadership, we expect a very positive future for the office,” said Kestner.
Okada, who previously served as the Litigation Practice Group Coordinator for the Firm’s Cleveland office and currently serves as the Firm’s Professional Development Partner, said, “We are excited to be in Chicago, historically a strong market for the kinds of legal services which match up well with our national and local strengths. By opening an office here we are establishing a solid presence with a core team able to serve our clients worldwide, nationwide and in Chicago, including Aon, Boeing, and Unitrin. With the great pool of talented lawyers in this market, I expect our Chicago office to follow the Baker Hostetler strategy of steady, measured growth.”
Joining Baker Hostetler’s new Chicago office are:
Ronald S. Okada, Partner-in-Charge: Ron Okada is the Partner-in-Charge of the Firm’s Chicago office. He serves as the Firm’s Professional Development Partner and has been responsible for directing and coordinating the Firm’s efforts in diversity, recruiting, associate training and retention, admission and integration of lateral partners and pro bono activities. In addition, Mr. Okada is currently the Firmwide Hiring Partner and Chair of the Diversity Committee, and has served as the Coordinator of the Cleveland Office Litigation Practice Group. He also has served on the Firm’s Policy Committee, the governing body of Baker & Hostetler LLP. Mr. Okada practices in the litigation area with an emphasis on complex commercial litigation.
Timothy J. Eloe, Partner: Tim Eloe, formerly a partner with McDermott, Will & Emery, focuses his practice in the areas of buyouts and recapitalizations, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, private equity/emerging companies, distressed buyouts, corporate finance and healthcare royalty investments. Much of his practice has focused on leveraged acquisitions and complex buyout transactions. Mr. Eloe has experience in a wide variety of these transactions ranging in size from several million dollars to $1 billion.
William K. Kane, Partner: Bill Kane, most recently a partner with Lovells, represents clients in complex business disputes involving contracts, business torts, non-competition agreements, trade secrets, the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, unfair competition laws, and antitrust statutes. Drawing upon his service with the Illinois Attorney General’s Office, Mr. Kane also assists corporations with internal fraud investigations and white collar criminal proceedings.
Erin Bolan Hines, Associate: Erin Bolan Hines, most recently a senior associate with Lovells, represents clients in business disputes involving contracts, noncompetition agreements, trade secret theft, business torts, construction and insurance coverage. Ms. Hines has significant experience participating in contested proceedings in state and federal court and in appellate litigation. Prior to entering private practice, Ms. Hines was a law clerk for the Honorable Thomas R Fitzgerald, currently the Chief Justice for the Illinois Supreme Court.
About Baker Hostetler Founded almost 100 years ago in 1916, Baker Hostetler is among the nation’s 100 largest law firms with 600 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: Kevin McCue 216-861-7576