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Carroll, Burdick & McDonough Puts Succession Plan to Work

David Rice to Assume Managing Partner Role as Angela Bradstreet Moves into Public Service

SAN FRANCISCO, June 8, 2007 – Carroll, Burdick & McDonough LLP is reorganizing its firmwide management, a transition in the works for more than three years, with an eye toward the future. The firm has elected David M. Rice as firmwide Managing Partner, effective June 15. After 25 years at the firm, Angela Bradstreet, who served in this role from 1997 – 1999 and again from 2005 – present, will leave the firm to serve as Labor Commissioner for the State of California, a position that is appointed by the Governor and requires Senate confirmation.

In other strategic adjustments to Carroll Burdick’s management structure, Rice will chair the Executive Committee, which includes newly elected members Partner Dr. Matthew J. Kemner, also chair of the Products Liability Practice Group, and Sarah M. Shields, a partner in the Insurance Practice Group, as well as incumbent Partners Rodney L. Eshelman and Vicki L. Freimann, who also serves as Managing Partner in the firm’s Los Angeles office. Making way for the new generation of firm leaders, long-time Executive Committee members Bradstreet, Justs N. Karlsons and Ronald Yank step down. Additionally, Partner Laurie Hepler has been named chair of the Appellate Practice Group, a position previously held by Rice, and there are several other transitions amongst practice group leaders in the works.

"We have been planning for the next generation of leadership for a long time and I am very happy to be able to pursue a dream of public service knowing that Carroll, Burdick & McDonough will continue to prosper and thrive under excellent new leadership," said Bradstreet.

"I look forward to building on the strengths of the practice groups we have in place and the solid business foundation created by my predecessors. Carroll Burdick will continue to grow across all offices with the strategic addition of attorneys who embrace our culture of exceptional client advocacy and value a diversity of individuals and experience," said Rice. "We’ve worked hard to ensure a smooth transition and will hold dear to CB&M’s core values while moving into the future."

With more than 15 years at Carroll Burdick, Rice, who previously headed the firm’s Appellate Practice Group, has nearly 20 years of experience handling civil appeals and writ petitions in California and nationally, including coordination of all appellate litigation for a major foreign motor vehicle manufacturer. He is also regularly involved in trial strategy and major trial court briefings in the products liability and insurance coverage areas, assisting in obtaining advantageous rulings and positioning cases for possible appeal. Rice is an adjunct faculty member at Hastings College of the Law, where he teaches legal writing and research and moot court. He received his J.D. from University of Virginia (1987), his M.A. from Duke University (1984) and his B.A., summa cum laude with honors, from Colby College (1979).

Kemner, who is fluent in German, focuses on international law where he challenges personal jurisdiction of U.S. courts over non-U.S. defendants. He represents German clients in U.S. litigation involving software copyright violations, tortious interference, trademark and related claims. Kemner also represents parties appearing before International Arbitration Panels in large-scale business disputes, including German submarine manufacturers in a dispute with the Government of Iran. He received his Ph.D. ("Doktor der Rechtswissenschaft"), magna cum laude, from Universität Konstanz in Germany (1996), his J.D., with honors, from University of Missouri Law School (1991) and his B.A., with honors, from Southern Methodist University (1988).

Shields’ practice focuses on general insurance coverage advice, litigation and appeals for mass tort and environmental insurance coverage issues. She has assisted in all legal aspects of managing and settling more than 150,000 asbestos bodily injury claims on behalf of an insurer. Shields has represented a carrier in nationwide litigation and appeals regarding insurance assignments in excess of $1 billion and represented insurers in punitive damages litigation in federal court through Ninth Court appeal and Supreme Court proceedings, involving the insured’s claim to coverage for more than $400 million in punitive damages arising out of a class action. She received her J.D. from Stanford University (1984) and her B.A. from Scripps College (1980).

Hepler is certified as an appellate specialist by the State Bar of California. She also has extensive litigation experience in insurance coverage, insurance broker errors and omissions, unfair competition, product liability, contract disputes and wrongful termination. She received her J.D. from University of California, Los Angeles School of Law (1992) and her B.A., magna cum laude, from University of Pennsylvania (1988).

Bradstreet moves into the public sector upon her appointment by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger as Labor Commissioner, a role she’s well suited for given her expertise in wage and hour, discrimination and other employment issues. Bradstreet successfully transitioned her significant client base to her employment partners Mary Wright in San Francisco and Angela Reddock in Los Angeles several months ago.

"Angela has left a great legacy to build upon, and the employment group is going gangbusters," said Wright, head of the group.