Paul Hastings' Nancy Abell and Donna Melby Named Top Women Litigators by the Daily Journal

June 02, 2006

Paul Hastings' Nancy Abell and Donna Melby Named Top Women Litigators by the Daily Journal

Los Angeles, CA (June 2, 2006) - Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP (Paul Hastings), a leading international law firm, is pleased to announce that Nancy Abell and Donna Melby, partners in the firm's Los Angeles Office, have been named for the fifth consecutive year to the Daily Journal's Top Women Litigators List.

The 2006 list identifies women attorneys in California who have achieved important wins in litigating significant cases and who have established themselves as leaders in their areas of practice and in the profession at large. According to the Daily Journal, the 2006 list was the most competitive to date.

Last month, Donna and Nancy, along with employment law partner Paul Grossman, were named by Lawdragon.com as three of America's Top 500 Litigators. They also were listed among the Top 100 most influential lawyers in California by the Daily Journal in September 2005, along with litigation partner William Sullivan.

"Donna and Nancy are on America's short list as lead counsel when the stakes are high in class actions and other cases headed for trial. Their tireless commitment to their clients has established them among the very best in their field," said Seth Zachary, Chairman of Paul Hastings. "Their practice excellence and exemplary leadership will be a driving force in the continued expansion of our global litigation practice."

Abell, the chair of the firm's 185-lawyer Employment Law Department, has consistently been recognized among the best in her field of practice. In 2006, she was named one of the top 14 employment lawyers in the world by The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers. Abell is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. Her practice focuses on litigation of complex employment class actions and individual cases, appeals, proceedings before government agencies, labor negotiations and arbitrations, and employment advice to many of America's leading businesses and law firms.

Among the most respected business trial lawyers in America for both class actions and individual cases, Melby is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Society of Barristers. She served as the 2005 National President of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Melby has tried dozens of civil jury trials to successful conclusion, including claims of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, disclosure of trade secrets, unfair business practices, insurance bad faith, products liability, mass torts, anti-trust and contract violations, serious personal injury, and professional negligence.

Paul Hastings Employment Department. Paul Hastings has one of the largest and most accomplished employment practices in the United States and abroad. It was named "Global Labour and Employment Law Firm of the Year" in 2006 by the International Who's Who of Business Lawyers.
Chambers USA annually ranks the practice as first
with no peer: "the gold standard"; "the best of the best" (2006); "the best employment practice in [California] by some margin" (2005); "Phenomenal; the clear leaders in a league of their own" (2004). In 2006, The American Lawyer recognized that "no firm has scored as many class action wins as Paul, Hastings." Through its employment law attorneys in key capital markets around the globe, Paul Hastings coordinates global employment and benefits strategies and solutions, as well as inbound and outbound immigration through its globally-acclaimed immigration practice group.
Paul Hastings Litigation Department.The Paul Hastings Litigation Department provides premier litigation services to clients facing complex legal issues in the U.S., Europe, South America, the Middle East and Asia. With more than 225 lawyers in the Litigation Department, in addition to 150 litigators in the Employment Department, Paul Hastings is well positioned to handle all aspects of a client's litigation needs. Our sophisticated litigation practice covers every major practice including securities, intellectual property, class action and employment litigation, international arbitration, and white-collar crime. The Litigation Department has an impressive track record of winning large and difficult cases.

Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker LLP, founded in 1951, is a leading international law firm with over 1,000 attorneys in 17 offices. The firm serves a diverse client base including many of the top financial institutions and Fortune 500 companies, supports clients in all of their legal needs and offers deep capabilities in Banking and Finance, Capital Markets, Corporate/M+A, Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Intellectual Property, Project Finance, Investment Management, Real Estate, Labor and Employment and Tax Advisory Services. For additional information, please visit our website at www.paulhastings.com.