News
Large Firms
May 26, 2001
Firm Lures Lawyer Away From AG's Office
The San Diego office of Santa Monica's Haight Brown & Bonesteel has lured a litigator away from the office of the U.S. attorney general. Michael Prez, who served as counsel to former Attorney General Janet Reno and Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, joined the firm as partner May 15.
Michael Pérez, who served as counsel to former Attorney General Janet Reno and Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, joined the firm as partner May 15.
"Michael's skills, diplomacy and breadth of experience in cross-border transactions, litigation and commercial property matters will be an incredible asset to our firm," Bruce Cleeland, managing partner of the firm's Orange County and San Diego offices, said.
While serving in the attorney general's office, Pérez focused on legal matters related to Mexico, Latin America and Native American tribal justice. Pérez said that recently appointed Attorney General John Ashcroft kept him on board because of his unique expertise in these areas.
Pérez helped Ashcroft with administration transition issues while searching for a platform to launch a private practice.
"Haight Brown offered me the opportunity to both try cases and use my expertise in the international arena to work on international business transactions," he said.
Pérez served as a federal prosecutor for the Southern District of California from 1994 to 1997. He then served as general counsel to the U.S. embassy in Mexico from 1997 to 1999 before Reno hired him as her counsel.
Pérez will split his time between a civil litigation practice and an international business law practice. He and partners George Gonzalez and Richard Castillo plan to make the latter a full-service practice with a Latin American focus.
"Michael's familiarity with the Mexican government will help us to expand and enhance what we already offer our clients," Gonzalez said.
Haight Brown has five offices and 114 attorneys throughout California with a focus on litigation.
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John Ryan
Daily Journal Staff Writer
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