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Archer Norris Strengthens California Presence

Adds Former DLA Piper Partner Jeffrey M. Hamerling and Two More Laterals

Walnut Creek, CALIF., November 5, 2009 – Archer Norris announced today that Jeffrey M. Hamerling has joined the firm’s Walnut Creek office as partner in its Environmental, Complex Litigation and Business Practice Groups.

Formerly a partner with DLA Piper, Jeff Hamerling has more than 25 years of experience handling business and litigation involving franchise, marketing and distribution, and environmental issues. He blends his strong expertise in the oil, gas, and chemical industries with the skills of a distinguished group of Archer Norris attorneys practicing in business, land use, and complex litigation. Together, they manage risk and provide cost-effective solutions for our business and environmental clients throughout California.

The firm further strengthens its legal team with the addition of Lisa M. Estabrook and Ioana R. Mondescu. Estabrook joins Archer Norris as Special Counsel in its Sacramento office and Mondescu joins as an Associate in its Walnut Creek office. 

“Expanding our California presence is a strategic key focus for the firm,” said Managing Partner Gene Blackard. “Given the significant rise in the quantity and complexity of business and litigation issues encountered by our corporate clients across a full spectrum of industries, Jeff’s arrival could not have come at a better time. The additional experience of Lisa and Ioana further strengthens our ability to be involved in these areas and better serve our clients.”

Hamerling devotes a significant portion of his practice to petroleum companies, focusing on commercial, franchise, and environmental matters involving refineries and retail and distribution facilities. He has appeared in over 100 matters involving the Petroleum Marketing Practices Act. Several of these cases established major precedents in the petroleum retail industry. Hamerling advises and represents franchisors on commercial, California regulatory and litigation matters. He also counsels a broad range of companies on environmental matters involving federal and state statutes, unfair business practice and antitrust claims, trademark and copyright matters, and general litigation matters. Hamerling received his J.D. from the University of California, Davis School of Law in 1979, Order of the Coif, and his B.A., with honors, from the University of California, Berkeley in 1974. He holds a Martindale-Hubbell™ A-V rating and serves on the Board of Directors of Contra Costa Legal Services.

Estabrook bolsters the firm’s insurance litigation and employment & human resources services practices. She has more than 15 years of experience in civil litigation, with an emphasis on employment law, personal injury defense, construction defect, products liability, and business litigation. She has represented employers in labor and employment matters and has also taken three jury trials to verdict in state and federal court. Estabrook received her J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 1993 and her B.A., cum laude, from the University of California, Santa Barbara, in 1989.

Mondescu handles complex litigation matters with a focus on personal injury, pharmaceutical, medical device, product liability, and toxic torts.  She earned her J.D., cum laude, from the University of San Francisco School of Law in 2000, and she received her B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Nevada in 1997. 

About Archer Norris

Archer Norris, a Professional Law Corporation, is headquartered in Walnut Creek, with more than 90 attorneys and offices in Newport Beach, Los Angeles and Sacramento, California. The firm counsels clients in complex litigation, insurance coverage, bad faith litigation, business, health care, public entity, environmental, and real estate transactions.

For more information about the firm, please contact Jann Dudley at 925.952.5406 or visit the Archer Norris website at www.archernorris.com.