Paduano & Weintraub LLP


	1251 Avenue of the Americas Ninth Floor New York, New York 10020 Telephone: 212-785-9100 Telecopier: 212-785-9099 Our practice is devoted exclusively to litigation. The experience of our partners ranges from simple state court cases to matters before the United States Supreme Court and includes first-chair trial and appellate responsibility in a wide variety of substantive contexts. Our founding partners have had broad training at two of Wall Street's premier litigation firms, Cahill Gordon & Reindel and Sullivan & Cromwell. Although we are a small firm with but one office, our clients have retained us to try matters in federal and state courts and before arbitration panels in 34 states. We fill a distinct need in the professional marketplace. There is no shortage of skilled litigators in New York City. But first-tier representation for relatively small cases -- those that the mega-firms use to train their junior associates -- is difficult to obtain at a justifiable cost. We provide such representation. In establishing our firm in June 1991, we sought to avoid institutionalizing frills that add cost without contributing to productivity. As a result, we are able to charge hourly rates 40% less than those of larger and older firms of comparably high quality. In addition, our cost structure does not require us to treat essential support services, such as clerical help, photocopying and word processing, as independent profit centers. The size of our firm affords us flexibility within the market segment we seek to serve. Although we anticipate that the critical aspects of most matters we accept can be handled effectively by one partner, close internal communication and planning ensures that each of us always has necessary support from our seasoned associates. Prior to joining us, our associates received training at firms such as Cravath, Skadden Arps and Rogers & Wells. As a focused team, our resources are more than sufficient to permit us to staff intensive matters such as preliminary injunction applications and other actions requiring expedition. We cannot and will not overstaff, and our billing approach is geared solely to the ultimate benefit to the client. A summary of the substantive areas on which we focus our practice follows: FINANCIAL SERVICES LITIGATION We have developed particular expertise representing both securities firms and individual financial advisors in individual and institutional customer disputes before the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., NASD Dispute Resolution, Inc. and the American Arbitration Association. We have, throughout the country, represented broker-dealers, financial advisors and other entities in litigations and arbitrations concerning sales practices violations. We routinely appear before state regulatory agencies and the national self-regulatory organizations in compliance and disciplinary matters, on behalf of both individuals and member firms. We have selectively represented institutional and other substantial investors regarding financial product failures. Our practice also includes substantial experience in litigating disputes between and among securities firms and registered representatives regarding employment issues, including so-called "raiding" cases. In the latter context, we constantly represent member firms and registered representatives in injunction hearings in federal and state courts throughout the country. We are recognized as leading experts in this field. EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION For companies of various sizes, we have litigated and arbitrated a variety of legal issues arising from employment relationships, including wrongful termination and discrimination claims and non-competition disputes. We routinely counsel clients on issues of compensation, hiring, termination and protection of intellectual property and trade secrets. SECURITIES LITIGATION We have extensive experience in all aspects of mass-action, class-action and shareholder derivative cases brought under the federal securities laws, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act and the corporate laws of the various states. We have represented issuers, investment banking and accounting firms and individual corporate directors and officers in such cases. INSURANCE LITIGATION We have handled numerous matters in arbitration, and before state and federal courts, on behalf of both insurers and corporate insureds involving scope and denial of coverage, failure to defend and failure to disclose. BUSINESS LITIGATION We have prosecuted and defended a broad variety of cases involving breach of contract, disputes concerning intellectual property (including copyright and trade secrets), professional liability (in particular, defending law firms sued for malpractice), disputes concerning partnerships and close corporations and product liability matters for clients ranging from some of the largest global corporations to sole proprietorships. For example, we have successfully prosecuted multi-million dollar actions to recover sums owed pursuant to notes, guarantees and other debt instruments. We have, in addition, represented manufacturers and distributors in product liability matters involving individual customers and employees. Our cases have taken us before federal and state courts and arbitration panels throughout the United States, and in the United Kingdom and Brazil.