Much Shelist Litigation & Dispute Resolution Group Welcomes Five Attorneys from Quinlan & Carroll, Attorneys from Litigation Boutique Bring Deep Experience in Complex Litigation and Government Work

CHICAGO—October 6, 2008—Chicago-based law firm Much Shelist announced today the addition of five attorneys from former litigation boutique Quinlan & Carroll. These additions represent significant growth for the firm's Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice, which now totals more than 30 attorneys.

The attorneys joining Much Shelist are known for their ability to handle complex litigation and appeals, as well as for their work for the City of Chicago, Cook County and the State of Illinois, among other governmental entities. William R. Quinlan is former Corporation Counsel for the City of Chicago, former Justice of the Illinois Appellate Court and a former Judge of the Circuit Court of Cook County. Also, he is a member of the Board of Directors of the World Trade Center Chicago. James R. Carroll served as Assistant Attorney General for the State of Illinois for 15 years and First Assistant Attorney General for four years. He continues to serve as Special Counsel to the Illinois Secretary of State. Both Quinlan and Carroll join the firm as Principals. Also joining Much Shelist are attorneys Michael T. Beirne (Principal), Martin J. O'Hara (Principal) and Shawn M. Staples (Associate), as well as two staff members.

"We are excited to have this strong team of well-regarded litigators join Much Shelist, particularly at a time when growth in the legal industry is not the norm," said David T. Brown, Chair of the Much Shelist Management Committee. "These additions are a testament to our strong position in the marketplace. They also reflect our continuing efforts to offer middle-market clients high-quality, business-focused legal counsel and an increasingly appealing alternative to larger firms."

Both Quinlan and Carroll indicated they had considered a number of other options before deciding to bring their practice to Much Shelist. "We talked with larger firms, firms that wanted to establish a Chicago presence, and other firms that wanted to expand," said Quinlan. "In the end, Much Shelist was the best fit for us and our clients due to its service model and internal culture. We also were drawn by the firm's commitment to remain independent."

Carroll added, "Much Shelist's full-service platform will allow us to provide our clients with a broader base of transactional capabilities. At the same time, we bring additional depth in complex litigation, as well as significant experience with city, county and state governments. We were impressed with the caliber of the attorneys and staff at Much Shelist, and we look forward to working with our new colleagues to help clients solve complex business issues."

Carroll and Quinlan also noted that the transition will be seamless for their clients, and that they will now have access to Much Shelist's broad service offerings in the areas of commercial real estate, securities, intellectual property, labor and employment, bankruptcy and reorganization, and estate planning.