Seyfarth Shaw Welcomes Maura B. O'Connor and James S. Cochran as Partners to Real Estate Group in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (Business Wire EON) December 10, 2007 -- O'Connor's practice is focused on real estate financing, acquisitions, development and leasing. She has designed large scale systematized store site acquisition and leasing programs for retailers, most recently closing more than 150 store site leases in 18 months for a new entrant into California and the US. She has extensive experience in complex financing transactions, infrastructure and industrial projects, purchases of environmentally contaminated properties, and sophisticated real estate workouts and foreclosures. O'Connor has served as lead counsel for numerous senior and mezzanine loans, lease financings, securitized transactions, ground leases and equity investments for a wide variety of investors, banks, insurance companies and others. She has handled the acquisition and entitlements of major industrial, warehouse and distribution facilities.

Cochran's practice focuses on workouts and restructurings involving complex collateral packages and multiple jurisdictions. He represents secured lenders, distressed debt investors, special servicers and other clients in connection with secured loan restructurings (including consolidations), structured asset dispositions, collateral "take backs," note sales and similar matters as well as lien enforcement proceedings. Cochran also advises lenders in mezzanine loan transactions and other sophisticated commercial real estate financings and represents clients in connection with the acquisition, disposition and leasing of retail and commercial properties.

"Maura and Jim's decision to join Seyfarth Shaw highlights the strength and value of our national real estate platform, which we have systematically developed to service the needs of our clients in what can be considered a rough year in the market," stated Mark A. Block, Chair of the Seyfarth Shaw's Real Estate Practice Group. "They have substantial experience understanding the Los Angeles real estate market and are recognized for their ability to address and support the changing needs of clients. We are delighted to welcome them both to the firm."

Seyfarth Shaw's real estate attorneys counsel individuals, corporations and other business entities to maximize the value and return on their real estate investments and assets. The firm's national footprint, extensive business and legal networks, and broad array of legal services, allow the firm to provide comprehensive legal advice and assistance to its clients. Real Estate Practice Group attorneys help clients identify emerging opportunities and challenges, and develop forward-looking strategies to meet their short- and long-term goals.

"We warmly welcome Maura and Jim to the firm's real estate team in Los Angeles," noted Kenwood C. Youmans, Managing Partner of Seyfarth Shaw's Los Angeles office. "Their addition to the practice underscores the firm's commitment to the growth and future of the real estate group."

O'Connor is admitted to practice law in California and before the U. S. Supreme Court. She received her B.A. from Carleton College and earned her J.D. (cum laude) from University of Minnesota Law School. She is a Director, and a member of the Executive Committee, of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) and Chair of the LAEDC's Land Use Strategic Advisory Committee. O'Connor is also a member of the American Bar Association.

Cochran is a member of the bar in the states of California and Texas and is a member of the Executive Committee of the California State Bar's Business Law Section. He is also a member of the American Bar Association's Business Law Section. He received a B.A. (magna cum laude) from Wesleyan University and earned his J.D. (with honors) from the University of Texas School of Law.

"Speaking for Jim and me, we are delighted and thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of a growing practice with a national presence that will allow us to enhance the level of counsel and service we provide our clients," stated O'Connor. "We have been welcomed with open arms, and we are very excited about our future with the firm. We are very pleased to be a part of Seyfarth Shaw."

Seyfarth Shaw has over 725 attorneys located in nine offices throughout the United States including Chicago, New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento as well as Brussels, Belgium. Seyfarth Shaw provides a broad range of legal services in the areas of real estate, corporate and securities transactions, labor and employment, employee benefits, and litigation. The firm's practice reflects virtually every industry and segment of the country's business and social fabric. Clients include over 200 of the Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, newspapers and other media, hotels, health care organizations, airlines and railroads. The firm also represents a number of federal, state, and local governmental and educational entities. For more information, please visit www.seyfarth.com.