Press Release - Sedgwick Kicks Off 2007 With New Office and New Leadership

January 2007

Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold LLP kicks off 2007 with the launch of its Houston office, marking the firm's continued strategic growth both statewide and nationally.  The Houston office, Sedgwick's third office in Texas, is also the third new office Sedgwick has opened in less than 12 months, including the firm's recently opened Austin and affiliated Bermuda office.  Additionally, Sedgwick announces new office managing partners in its Chicago and San Francisco offices.

"These announcements set the stage for what we anticipate to be a very exciting year for Sedgwick," said Kevin Dunne, Sedgwick's firm chairman.  "We experienced significant growth in '06 and look forward to capitalizing on that momentum by solidifying our footprint in Texas and with two strong leaders in our key markets."

Sedgwick Captures Texas Market with the Opening of Houston Office

With offices in the core business centers of Texas, including Dallas and Austin, Sedgwick announces its entry into the Houston market.  Effective January 2, 2007, the firm opened its doors with a group of attorneys from Westmoreland Hall, PC and an associate from Germer Gertz.  They include Partner Julia Adams, Special Counsel Carrie Weitinger and Associates Monika Fendler and Shannon Thorne.  The addition of this office will support Sedgwick's efforts as it continues to gain market share throughout the state.

"The opening of the Houston office reflects our strategic expansion and underscores our goal of capturing the Texas marketplace.  We now have complete  wide bandwidth in Texas to meet the comprehensive business and legal needs of our clients," added Dunne.  "Our Houston team is comprised of a group of outstanding attorneys, who will work hand in hand with our other offices to provide our clients with a broad complete range of legal representation throughout the state and the country."

Adams, a member of the firm's Insurance Practices Group, has practiced in state and federal courts for over twenty years, and specializes in general tort, marine, admiralty, energy, insurance coverage, extra contractual liability and insurance broker liability litigation. Prior to entering private practice, Adams served as a briefing clerk to the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. She is a Proctor in the Maritime Law Association of the United States, a member of the Houston Mariners' Club, serves on the Board of the International Seafarer's Center and is the president of the Houston Propeller Club. Adams received her B.A. from University of Dayton and her J.D., cum laude, from South Texas College of Law.

Joining Adams at the Houston office are Special Counsel Carrie Weitinger and Associates Monika Fendler and Shannon Thorne. Weitinger practices in a wide variety of general litigation matters, including  tort, products, insurance and maritime issues and claims. She received her B.S. from Texas A & M University, and her J.D. from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law. She is a member of the bar in both Texas and California. Fendler has experience in insurance coverage matters, pharmaceutical litigation and products liability litigation. She received her B.A. from University of London, her M.A. from the University of London and her J.D. from the University of Houston.  Fendler is also fluent in Spanish and French. Thorne joins Sedgwick from Germer Gertz and practices in the areas of general civil litigation, including CERCLA & RCRA matters. She is a member of the Houston Bar Association and the American Geophysical Union. She received her J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law, and her M.S. and B.S. in Geology from Southern Methodist University. 

Sedgwick Names New Managing Partners - James Wangelin and Michael Healy

In Chicago, James Wangelin has taken over the leadership, succeeding Richard Geddes who has led the office since 2001. Opened in 1989, Sedgwick's Chicago office currently has 30 attorneys whose expertise complements the firm's national practice in litigation, international arbitration, health care and insurance coverage.  Michael Healy has taken over the leadership of the San Francisco office, succeeding Scott Mroz, who also led the office since 2001. The office, which was the firm's founding office, opened in 1933 with three attorneys. San Francisco is comprised of more than 130 attorneys who represent clients nationally and internationally in all major areas of practice. Both Wangelin and Healy will serve a three year term, and are responsible for the continued growth and development of their offices.

"Jim and Mike will make excellent managing partners for the Chicago and San Francisco offices respectively," said Kevin Dunne.  "Both attorneys are proven leaders in the firm, respected by their peers and indispensable to their clients."

James Wangelin, a veteran partner with more than 30 years of experience, concentrates his practice in insurance and reinsurance coverage litigation, as well as in international arbitration and claims management. His clients include reinsurers and carriers in the U.S., Bermuda and Europe. Wangelin has a long history of leadership at Sedgwick and the community and currently serves as director of the Chicago International Dispute Resolution Association. He previously served as chairman and director of the Lawyer Services Committee Young Lawyers Section. Wangelin earned his J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School and his A.B. from the University of Michigan.

Sedgwick's second new managing partner, Michael Healy, is an experienced and accomplished trial lawyer. He has particular expertise in the defense of pharmaceutical, medical device and biologic manufacturers in complex product liability litigation, and has practiced in the firm's San Francisco office for more than 25 years. His clients include some of the nation's most prominent pharmaceutical and technology corporations. In addition to his trial practice, he also serves as the firm's recruiting partner. He earned his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law and his B.S. from the University of Notre Dame.