Paul Hastings Boosts Global Banking and Financial Institutions Practice Group in Washington, D.C.

July 14, 2008

Washington, DC (July 14, 2008) Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, a leading international law firm, announced today that Lawrence D. Kaplan, previously at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, LLP and Kevin L. Petrasic, previously at the United States Department of Treasurys Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS), have joined the firms Global Banking and Financial Institutions Practice Group, resident in the Washington, D.C. office. The attorneys join the firm as of counsel and senior associate respectively.

Mr. Kaplan advises financial services holding companies, institutions, directors and officers on a variety of bank regulatory matters. Mr. Petrasic handles specialized transactional, policy, regulatory, legislative and compliance matters affecting depository institutions, financial services firms and the mortgage industry.

Mr. Kaplans significant transaction and regulatory practice spans more than twenty years. He has advised financial services holding companies, institutions, directors and officers on a variety of bank regulatory and securities matters, including de novo bank formations, acquisitions, mergers, electronic banking and payment systems matters, as well as regulatory compliance matters, including those under the USA PATRIOT Act. Prior to Nelson Mullins, Mr. Kaplan was counsel in the Financial Institutions Regulatory Group at Sidley Austin LLP and an associate at Hogan & Hartson LLP, after serving as a senior attorney at the OTS.

Mr. Petrasic has broad government experience, including serving as Special Counsel and previously as Managing Director of External Affairs at the OTS, as well as Counsel to the former House Banking Committee. Mr. Petrasic has extensive experience working with the House Financial Services and Senate Banking Committees, the federal banking agencies and other financial services regulators. During his 22 year career, he handled a wide array of legal policy, legislative, regulatory and compliance issues related to the financial services industry and mortgage market regulation, mergers and acquisitions and other specialized transactions, privacy and data breach, bank and thrift powers, compliance matters and corporate governance.

The magnitude of regulatory issues confronting financial services companies has centered our attention on enhancing the depth and breadth of our talent in this important market, said John Douglas, chairman of the Global Banking and Financial Institutions Practice Group. Larry and Kevin, along with the recent addition of senior partner V. Gerard Comizio, all in D.C., are in the heart of the regulatory scene, and their practices are ideally suited to serve the needs of financial services companies facing possible increased regulatory scrutiny resulting from the subprime mortgage crisis.

Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP, founded in 1951, is a leading international law firm with over 1,200 attorneys in 18 offices. The firm serves a diverse client base including many of the leading global financial institutions and Fortune 500 companies and offers deep capabilities in capital markets, finance and restructuring, intellectual property, international arbitration and dispute resolution, investment management, labor and employment, mergers and acquisitions, private equity, product liability, project finance, real estate, securities litigation and tax advisory services. For additional information, please visit our website at www.paulhastings.com.