Firm Watch
Jul. 30, 2002
Public Finance Expert Leaves Orrick for Post at Sidley Austin
Mary Neale bid farewell to San Francisco's Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, where she served as Los Angeles managing partner. On July 8, Neale, a public finance partner, started at Chicago-based Sidley Austin Brown & Wood's Los Angeles office. Two Orrick Herrington associates - Melanie Murakami and Stephan Haytayan - joined Neale in her move.
On July 8, Neale, a public finance partner, started at Chicago-based Sidley Austin Brown & Wood's Los Angeles office. Two Orrick Herrington associates - Melanie Murakami and Stephan Haytayan - joined Neale in her move.
"Mary's specialty is a little out of the ordinary for what Orrick does," says Michael McAndrews, the new managing partner of Orrick Herrington's Los Angeles office. "Frankly, that difference presented her with a lot of conflicts."
Neale represents banks and underwriters in municipal finance transactions, while Orrick Herrington, for the most part, represents municipalities.
Neale, 40, gave similar reasons for her departure.
"My primary concern while at Orrick were the conflicts of interest," Neale said. "Orrick has a terrific public finance practice, and because of the nature of my practice, I was conflicted out of a lot of work."
McAndrews, 55, began his new post at the beginning of July. The real estate attorney's main objective is to expand the Los Angeles office. And, while Neale was liked and respected at Orrick Herrington, McAndrews says he understands why she left.
Neale's clients include underwriter firms Salomon Smith Barney and UBS PaineWebber and banks BNP Paribas, Allied Irish Banks and the Bank of New York.
She will be the second public finance attorney in Sidley Austin's Los Angeles office, joining partner Cecilia Dyba.
"We've been seeking to expand our municipal practice in Los Angeles for many years," says Eric Tashman, the head of Sidley Austin's West Coast public finance office. "And I think we found the perfect candidate to meet our needs."
Tashman is located in the firm's San Francisco office, which has 15 public finance attorneys.
Joining Sidley Austin is a homecoming for Neale, who was a 1986 summer associate for New York's Brown & Wood that merged with Sidley & Austin in 2001.
Sidley Austin has 1,414 attorneys in 13 offices, with 120 attorneys in Los Angeles.
Orrick Herrington has 10 international offices and more than 500 lawyers. It has 70 lawyers and 15 public finance lawyers in its Los Angeles office.
Liz Valsamis
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