San Francisco — January 12, 2011 — The California Bar Foundation, the statewide philanthropic organization for California's legal community, today announced the appointment of 19 individuals to its Board of Directors. To more effectively carry out its mission of building a better justice system for all Californians, the Foundation has expanded the size of its Board to provide better representation throughout the state's legal community and to bolster the nonprofit organization's resource development efforts. The Board appointments include representatives from a number of the state's leading law firms, many of whom have been leaders in championing access to justice issues and promoting diversity in the legal profession.

Twelve lawyers began serving their initial terms on the Board on January 1, 2011. They include Frederick Brown, a trial lawyer and partner-in-charge of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP's San Francisco office; Debora Buljat, associate general counsel of General Dynamics/NASSCO; Peter H. Carson, a finance partner at Bingham McCutchen LLP, co-chair of the firm's National Pro Bono Committee, and immediate past co-chair of the California Legal Services Trust Fund Commission; S. Raj Chatterjee, a San Francisco partner with Morrison & Foerster LLP; Nancy L. Fineman, an experienced trial lawyer with Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy; M. Ray Hartman, III, a San Diego partner with DLA Piper specializing in environmental litigation; Robert D. Infelise, a partner with Cox, Castle & Nicholson LLP who teaches environmental law courses at U.C. Berkeley School of Law; Paul Konovalov, a litigator in Latham & Watkins LLP's Orange County office; Dianne Baquet Smith, a partner at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP and president of the Black Women Lawyers of Angeles Foundation; Mary Ann Todd, a corporate partner at Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP in Los Angeles; Karen E. Walter, a Rutan & Tucker LLP partner and co-chair of the firm's Unfair Competition/Class Action Defense Group; and S. Nancy Whang, a partner with Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP and former member of the Los Angeles Central Area Planning Commission.

"We are grateful to the new and returning Board members who are dedicating their time, knowledge, contacts, and financial resources to help the California Bar Foundation fulfill its mission of building a better justice system for all Californians," said Douglas A. Winthrop, incoming Board president. "With their vision, leadership, and commitment, the Foundation will continue its important role as a catalyst for innovative access to justice and legal outreach initiatives and as an important source of scholarship funds for the next generation of California's lawyers. This well-respected and accomplished group of Board members brings a wide range of professional experience, expertise, and networks that will benefit the Foundation and enable us to effectively carry out our work."

Continuing Board members appointed to additional two-year terms include Raul Ayala, a deputy federal public defender in Los Angeles; Ronald L. Blanc, a Los Angeles tax attorney who retired from Arnold & Porter LLP; Neel Chatterjee, an intellectual property litigation partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP; Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Marguerite D. Downing; David C. Grove, an investment banker with Needham & Company; Dean Hansell, a partner at Dewey & LeBoeuf LLP and a former member of the Los Angeles Police Commission; and Joan Kupersmith Larkin, a Seyfarth Shaw LLP partner specializing in intellectual property matters in Century City.

The Foundation also announced its 2011 officers, who were elected by the Board in late 2010. In addition to Winthrop, the new officers include Vice Presidents Holly J. Fujie and Larkin, Bruce G. Iwasaki as secretary, and Grove as treasurer.

Appointments to the Foundation's Board of Directors are made by the State Bar of California's Board of Governors. Information about applying for 2012-2013 terms on the Board of Directors will be posted on the Foundation's website, www.calbarfoundation.org, in May, and the deadline for applications will be August 12, 2011.

About the California Bar Foundation
The California Bar Foundation is committed to building a better justice system for all Californians. We champion full and equal access to the justice system, invest in the next generation of California's lawyers, educate Californians about their rights and responsibilities under the law, and promote philanthropy throughout the legal community. A nonprofit founded in 1990 and affiliated with the State Bar of California, the Foundation annually awards grants to California organizations conducting innovative law-related projects and scholarships to outstanding California law school students. For more information, please visit our website at www.calbarfoundation.org.

Media Contact:
Leslie Hatamiya
Executive Director
(415) 856-0780 ext. 303
lhatamiya@calbarfoundation.org