Goodwin Procter Los Angeles Expands Its Expertise with the Addition of Rachael Simonoff Wexler and Andrew Kirsh

For Immediate Release: 12.19.2006

Contact:
Melissa Doyle
(617) 570-1026

LOS ANGELES, December 19, 2006 — Goodwin Procter LLP, a national law firm of 700 lawyers with core practice areas in corporate, litigation and real estate, announced today the expansion of its Los Angeles office with the addition of partner, Rachael Simonoff Wexler, and associate, Andrew Kirsh. Simonoff Wexler was formerly a partner in Alschuler Grossman Stein & Kahan’s Transactional Department. Kirsh was an associate with the Los Angeles office of Latham & Watkins.

Simonoff Wexler’s practice focuses on private equity matters in the areas of nanotechnology, life sciences and renewable energy. She has represented public companies in connection with IPOs, public equity and debt offerings, and PIPE transactions, with an emphasis on emerging growth and middle-market issuers. Simonoff Wexler has also counseled public companies and their board of directors regarding the effects of Sarbanes-Oxley on corporate governance. She has covered all phases of corporate activity, including complex public corporate finance transactions, mergers, and acquisitions. Her experience ranges from representing management teams, start-ups, and joint ventures to representing issuers and investment banks. Simonoff Wexler possesses a broad expertise that includes a diverse range of clients in nanotechnology, pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, media and publishing, staffing, software development, consumer and industrial products, and financial services.

Simonoff Wexler has authored several articles including: “Ratzlav v. United States: The Meaning of Willful” and “The Demands of Due Process,” which has been cited in the decision of numerous U.S. Federal District and Circuit Courts, several briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court, as well as internationally. She is also the author of “Industry Trends: Maximizing Wealth in the Face of Consolidation.” She holds a B.A. and an M.A. in the philosophy of science from the University of Chicago. She received her J.D. from Columbia University School of Law in 1995, where she was a Harlan Fiske Scholar.

At Goodwin Procter, Kirsh will continue his work on real estate transactional law. He has extensive experience in representing clients in the commercial, residential development, hospitality, industrial, and sports and entertainment industries. This experience involves representation of public REITs in the negotiation and documentation of acquisitions dispositions of office, residential and industrial properties. It also includes representing private residential developers in forming joint ventures with institutional financial investors for the purposes of constructing multi-family, mixed-use and luxury hotel/time-share developments, professional sports leagues in the potential development of athletic stadiums and hotel-casinos in the acquisition of industry competitors and hotel-casino properties. Kirsh also has experience in litigation, successfully trying multiple bench and jury trials in the areas of entertainment and real estate law. Kirsh received his J.D. and B.A. from Northwestern University graduating cum laude.

“The addition of Rachael Simonoff Wexler and Andrew Kirsh advances Goodwin Procter’s long-term plan for strategic growth with expanded capabilities to serve its clients nationally,” said Lewis G. Feldman, partner and chair of the Los Angeles office of Goodwin Procter. “Ms. Simonoff Wexler provides significant resources for our private equity and biotech capital clients, and will play an important role in building our California corporate practice. Additionally, Mr. Kirsh’s experience as counsel to top real estate players, combined with his excellent interpersonal skills furthers Goodwin Procter’s strategy of teaming with lawyers who are great people possessing unrivaled legal skills.”

About Goodwin Procter LLP
Goodwin Procter LLP is one of the nation’s leading law firms with 700 attorneys. The firm’s core areas of practice are corporate, litigation and real estate, with specialized areas of focus that include financial services, private equity, technology companies, REITs and real estate capital markets, intellectual property and products liability. Goodwin Procter is headquartered in Boston, with offices in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

###