Littler Mendelson Welcomes Five New Attorneys to its San Francisco Office

Nation’s Largest Employment and Labor Law Firm Bolsters Bay Area Presence with Esteemed Additions

SAN FRANCISCO (Jan. 5, 2009)—Littler Mendelson, P.C. (Littler), the nation’s largest employment and labor law firm representing management, is pleased to announce the arrival of five highly accomplished attorneys to its San Francisco office. Shareholders Maureen McClain and Matthew Vandall; Stacey Pratt, Of Counsel; and Associates Rossana Eltanal and Bethany Vasquez join Littler from the labor and employment law firm, Kauff McClain & McGuire LLP.

“The addition of these well-respected labor and employment law attorneys reinforces Littler’s commitment to the continued strengthening of its presence in the Bay Area by delivering strategic legal solutions and unparalleled client service,” said Littler’s San Francisco office managing shareholder, Jennifer Walt. “The level of experience that each of these individuals carry will add significantly to Littler’s collective knowledge both locally and on a national level.”

McClain commented,” My decision to return to Littler is based on the firm’s exceptional reputation for client service, deep bench strength and ability to provide counsel across a multitude of disciplines around the world. Today, many major corporations are consolidating their employment and labor counsel while at the same time seeking out those law firms such as Littler that have a reputation for innovative and strategic thinking, particularly in this type of economy. I am very happy to be returning to Littler alongside my colleagues who will be joining me at the firm.”

Maureen McClain, who joins Littler as a shareholder, has practiced labor and employment law for 34 years, focusing on the defense and counseling of a wide variety of employment-related lawsuits. She has tried dozens of cases to verdict in state and federal courts. McClain is also a well-experienced mediator, serving as a privately selected mediator, as an appointee in state mediation and settlement programs and as an evaluator in the federal district court’s early neutral evaluation program. In addition, McClain founded the San Francisco office of Kauff McClain & McGuire in 1986. McClain previously worked at Littler from 1974 to 1986. She received her B.A. from Randolph-Macon Women’s College and her J.D. from Stanford Law School.

Matthew Vandall, who joins Littler as a shareholder, concentrates on litigating complex employment matters in California state and federal courts, designing and conducting employee training programs, representing clients before administrative agencies and counseling management on labor and employment law issues. Vandall is licensed to practice before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals and the federal district courts of the Northern, Eastern and Central districts of California. He received his B.A. from Lafayette College in 1993 and his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

Stacey Pratt, who joins Littler as Of Counsel, has broad appellate experience in both state and federal courts, having handled more than 100 civil writs and appeals to completion. She has litigated numerous types of employment-related matters in a variety of forums, including state and federal courts at the trial and appellate levels and before administrative agencies. She received her B.A. from Thiel College, her M.L.S. from the University of Michigan and her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1986.

Rossana Eltanal, who joins Littler as an associate, litigates wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage and hour, retaliation and breach of contract claims on behalf of employers. She counsels and trains employers on a wide range of employment law issues, including termination, corrective action, personnel policies and procedures, leave laws and wage and hour maters. Eltanal is licensed to practice before all state and federal courts in California. She received her B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles and her J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.

Bethany Vasquez, who joins Littler as an associate, represents employers in both federal and state court and in administrative proceedings. She defends employers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour and breach of contract claims. In addition, she advises clients on a wide range of employment issues including the Family and Medical Leave and Family Rights Acts, Americans with Disabilities Act and wage and hour matters. Vasquez is admitted to practice before the California Supreme Court and the U.S. district courts for all districts of California. She received her B.A., summa cum laude, in 1997 from the University of Oregon and her J.D., cum laude, in 2000 from Harvard Law School.

About Littler

With more than 750 attorneys and 46 offices, Littler Mendelson is the largest U.S.-based law firm exclusively devoted to representing management in employment and labor law matters. As the only U.S. member of the Ius Laboris global alliance, Littler has extensive resources to address the global needs of clients, from navigating foreign employment laws and international labor relations issues to applying corporate policies on a global basis. Established in 1942, the firm has litigated, mediated and negotiated some of the most influential employment law cases and labor contracts on record. For more information, visit littler.com.