Former Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce Ted Kassinger to Join O'Melveny & Myers' Washington, D.C. Office

20 October 2005

O'Melveny & Myers LLP announced today that
Theodore W. Kassinger, who until recently served as Deputy Secretary of the
Department of Commerce, has joined the firm as a partner in its Adversarial
Department and will reside in the firm's Washington, D.C. office.
Kassinger will co-chair the firm's Global Trade practice and will be a
member of the firm's Strategic Counseling practice.

With the addition of Kassinger, O'Melveny & Myers further solidifies its
prominence as international advocacy and business counsel and strengthens
the firm's ability to advise clients in an increasingly complex global
regulatory environment on a host of critical matters. These would include
international trade and investment regulation, policy advocacy, dispute
resolution, compliance with export control and economic sanctions regimes,
telecommunications, intellectual property, environmental matters, and
global compliance and enforcement in the post-Sarbanes-Oxley environment.

Arthur B. Culvahouse, Jr., Chair of O'Melveny & Myers, said, "Ted
Kassinger's joining O'Melveny & Myers adds to our ranks yet another
internationally recognized practicing lawyer and thought leader. Ted joins
a group of highly regarded O'Melveny partners who bring to bear
extraordinary experience in both the public and private sectors in the
service of our clients."

Culvahouse continued, "Throughout his long and distinguished career, Ted
has provided strategic counseling and expert legal advice at the highest
levels of our profession. We are excited that his extraordinary expertise,
judgment and leadership will be available to our clients and to the firm."

"We are delighted and honored that Ted Kassinger has joined O'Melveny &
Myers," said Grey Bryan, chair of the firm's International practice and
co-chair of the firm's Global Trade practice. Bryan continued, "We expect
that Ted will accelerate even further the substantial growth of our
international trade and regulatory practices in Washington, D.C., Asia and
Europe. Ted brings substantial experience in the areas of trade and
investment regulation, trade remedy litigation, economic policy
formulation, export controls and economic sanctions as well as in advising
clients concerning international disputes before private arbitral bodies
and public institutions such as the WTO and NAFTA."

About his decision to join O'Melveny & Myers, Kassinger said, "O'Melveny &
Myers is a leader in many areas of the law and has a well-developed plan
for growing the practice and serving clients in an increasingly global
market. I am very excited about playing a significant role in building on
O'Melveny's substantial platform in the United States as well as its
rapidly growing European and Asian practices."

About Ted Kassinger

Kassinger served until April 30, 2005, as Deputy Secretary of the U.S.
Department of Commerce. He was nominated to that position by President
George W. Bush in February 2004 and appointed in July 2004. From early
2001 until taking over as Deputy Secretary of Commerce, Kassinger served as
General Counsel of the Department of Commerce. Prior to joining the
Department of Commerce, he was a partner at Vinson & Elkins LLP in
Washington, D.C. Before practicing with Vinson & Elkins, Kassinger served
as International Trade Counsel to the U.S. Senate Finance Committee and was
an attorney with both the U.S. Department of State and the U.S.
International Trade Commission.

He received his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from the University of Georgia
School of Law and his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia,
School of Environmental Design. He is a member of the District of Columbia
and Georgia Bars.

About the Firm

O'Melveny & Myers LLP is a values-driven law firm guided by the principles
of excellence, leadership, and citizenship. With the breadth, depth, and
foresight to serve clients competing in a global economy, our attorneys
devise innovative approaches to resolve problems and achieve business
goals. Established in 1885, the firm maintains 13 offices around the world,
with more than 900 attorneys. O'Melveny & Myers capabilities span virtually
every area of legal practice, including Antitrust/Competition; Appellate;
Aviation; Capital Markets; Class Action Defense; Corporate; Entertainment
and Media; Finance and Restructuring; Global Enforcement and Criminal
Defense; Healthcare; Insurance and Mass Torts; Intellectual Property and
Technology; Labor and Employment; Mergers and Acquisitions; Private Equity;
Project Development and Real Estate; SEC; Securities Litigation; Strategic
Counseling; Tax; and Trial and Litigation.

To learn more about O'Melveny & Myers LLP, please visit: www.omm.com.

Contact:
Peter M. Columbus
O'Melveny & Myers LLP
212.326.2180
Email Contact
SOURCE: O'Melveny & Myers LLP