CHICAGO & NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Sidley Austin LLP has added six new members to its Executive Committee, the Committee that exercises general authority over the affairs of the firm, and three new members to its Management Committee, the Committee that governs the firm’s day-to-day activities.

The new appointments for the Executive Committee, which brings the current count to 49 members, are:

Brian J. Fahrney (Chicago) – A partner since 2000, Mr. Fahrney focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance. He has represented both acquirors and sellers in a wide variety of public and private merger and acquisition transactions, including cross-border transactions. He also regularly represents underwriters and issuers in a variety of public and private securities offerings, including initial public offerings. Mr. Fahrney is also a member of the firm’s Accounting and Finance Committee.

Craig A. Griffith (Chicago) – A partner since 1998, Mr. Griffith represents commercial and investment banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions in domestic and international securitization and structured finance transactions. These transactions have included a particular focus on the formation, administration and financing programs involving the use of asset-backed commercial paper and medium-term note conduits in the United States and Europe. Mr. Griffith is also Co-Chair of the firm’s Committee on the Assignment and Compensation of Associates.

Jennifer C. Hagle (Los Angeles) – A partner since 1995, Ms. Hagle is Co-Head of the Los Angeles Corporate Transactions Group. She focuses her practice primarily in the areas of bankruptcy, corporate reorganization and corporate finance where she has represented debtors, creditors (secured and unsecured), creditor and bondholder committees, syndicated bank groups, hedge funds and equity investors with respect to both loan origination and restructurings in bankruptcy and out-of-court. Recently, Ms. Hagle’s practice has focused on representing bank agents, lender syndicates and hedge funds with respect to senior and subordinated secured and unsecured debt involving both public and private companies. Ms. Hagle is a National Co-Chair of the Committee for the Recruiting of Associates and a member of the firmwide Committee on Marketing and Practice Development.

Matthew Sheridan (Singapore and Hong Kong) – Mr. Sheridan, who joined the firm as a partner in 2000, is Co-Head of the firm’s International Corporate Finance practice in Asia and works from both the firm’s Singapore and Hong Kong offices. Mr. Sheridan, who has lived and worked in Asia since 1994, represents underwriters and issuers, including corporate enterprises, financial institutions, governments and governmental entities in connection with corporate financings through global offerings of debt and equity securities, as well as mergers and acquisitions and corporate restructurings. Mr. Sheridan is also China Chair of the Practice Development Committee and a member of the Professional Risk Management Committee.

Susan A. Stone (Chicago and New York) – Ms. Stone is Co-Head of the firm’s Insurance and Financial Services Group, a global coordinator of the Insurance/Reinsurance Disputes practice area team and a partner since 1995. A former federal prosecutor, Ms. Stone has extensive trial experience in federal and state courts. While maintaining a general commercial litigation practice, Ms. Stone focuses her practice on insurance and reinsurance disputes, both in litigation and arbitration. Ms. Stone is Co-Chair of Sidley’s Marketing and Practice Development Committee and a member of the Recruiting of Associates and Professional Risk Management Committees.

Effie Vasilopoulos (Hong Kong) – Ms. Vasilopoulos, who joined the firm as a partner in 2003, is head of the firm’s Investment Funds practice in Asia. She focuses on investment fund transactions, particularly the development of innovative investment fund structures and financial products, including hedge funds, real estate funds, private equity arrangements, exchange traded funds including real estate investment trusts and other publicly offered funds. Ms. Vasilopoulos is Vice Chair of the Legal Opinions and Audit Letters Committee and a member of the Committee on Retention and Promotion of Women, as well as the firmwide Marketing and Practice Development and Professional Responsibility Committees.

The new appointments for the Management Committee, which brings the current count to 11 members, are:

Larry A. Barden (Chicago) – A partner since 1989, a member of the Executive Committee since 1999 and a global coordinator of the firm’s Securities practice, Mr. Barden’s principal areas of practice are mergers and acquisitions, securities/corporate finance, strategic counseling/corporate governance and private equity/venture capital. Mr. Barden is also Co-Chair of the firm’s Accounting and Finance Committee.

Mark D. Hopson (Washington, D.C.) – Mr. Hopson, a partner since 1992 and a member of the Executive Committee since 2005, is the Washington, D.C. Chair and National Co-Chair of the firm’s Government and Internal Investigation practice. His practice has involved a wide range of white collar criminal and complex civil litigation matters, including the defense of clients in jury trials. Mr. Hopson also regularly represents clients in connection with congressional investigations as well as regulatory audits, internal investigations and other enforcement matters.

Larry J. Nyhan (Chicago) – Mr. Nyhan, a partner since 1988 and a member of the Executive Committee since 1999, is Co-Chair of the firm’s Corporate Reorganization and Bankruptcy group. He has extensive experience acting as lead debtor’s counsel or lead counsel to debt syndicates in the restructuring of large and mid-size companies.

“This is an extremely talented group of lawyers who have made major contributions to the growth and success of the firm and will continue to do so in these important governance positions,” said Thomas A. Cole, Chair of the Executive Committee.

Charles W. Douglas, Chair of the Management Committee, said, “All of these partners have strong leadership abilities and will now play enhanced roles in guiding our firm.”

Sidley Austin LLP is one of the world’s premier full-service law firms, with more than 1600 lawyers practicing in 17 U.S. and international cities, including Beijing, Brussels, Frankfurt, Geneva, Hong Kong, London, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo. Sidley is recognized for service and responsiveness. Sidley received the most first-tier national rankings of any U.S. law firm in the inaugural U.S.News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” rankings for 2010. BTI, a Boston-based research and consulting firm, has named Sidley as one of only three firms to have been in the top ten of the BTI Client Service rankings every year since the inception of those rankings in 2001, and as number one in three of those years.

For purposes of the New York State Bar rules, this press release may be considered Attorney Advertising and the headquarters of the firm are Sidley Austin LLP 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, 212.839.5300 and Sidley Austin LLP One South Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.853.7000. Prior results described herein do not guarantee a similar outcome.

CONTACT:

Sidley Austin LLP
Janet Zagorin, 212-839-8797
Director of Practice Development
jzagorin@sidley.com
or
Rubenstein Associates
Peter Pochna, 212-843-8007
ppochna@rubenstein.com

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