Six Murchison & Cumming Partners Recognized as 2010 Super Lawyers

February 17, 2010

Partner Heather Mills Makes First Appearance on Annual List

LOS ANGELES - February 17, 2010 - Murchison & Cumming, LLP is pleased to announce that six of its attorneys have earned the distinction of having been chosen by their peers as 2010 Southern California "Super Lawyers." The annual listing, based on peer evaluations, was recently released by Law & Politics and published in Los Angeles Magazine and The New York Times.

Marking her first appearance on the annual Southern California Super Lawyer's list, Heather L. Mills joins James P. Collins Jr. who recently joined the firm, and four other firm partners, all veteran Super Lawyers. The Murchison & Cumming Partners selected for the 2010 list are:

• Jean M. Lawler, co-chair of the Insurance Law Practice Group and Managing Partner of the firm. This marks Ms. Lawler's fifth consecutive year on the list. An expert on insurance law, Ms. Lawler is a Past President of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), an international legal organization. She has also served as a Director of DRI, Lawyers for Civil Justice and Association of Southern California Defense Counsel.
• Friedrich W. Seitz, the firm's former Managing Partner and chair of the firm's Product Liability Practice Group. This is his seventh consecutive Super Lawyer mention. A premier trial lawyer and member of the Los Angeles chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, Diplomat rank, Mr. Seitz is also a member of the FDCC and former chair of its Product Liability Substantive Law Section.
• Michael B. Lawler, co-chair of the firm's Health Law and Employment Law Practice Groups. A Past President of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel, this marks the sixth consecutive year that he has been named to the list. Mr. Lawler, a seasoned trial lawyer, has been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America. He has served on the National Board of the American Board of Trial Advocates, is a member of its Los Angeles chapter and is a member of the FDCC.
• Guy R. Gruppie, chair of the firm's Complex Litigation Practice Group and immediate past chair of the firm's General Liability Practice Group. This is Mr. Gruppie's second year as a Southern California Super Lawyer. He is a member of the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the FDCC, having served as co-chair of the FDCC Trial Tactics Substantive Law Section from 2004-2008.
• James P. Collins Jr, respected Orange County trial lawyer. Mr. Collins is a Past President of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel and was a founding partner of the former firm of Cotkin & Collins. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and the FDCC. A five-time Super Lawyer, Mr. Collins joined Murchison & Cumming in 2009.
• Heather L. Mills, member of the firm's Complex Litigation, Product Liability and Professional Liability Practice Groups. Ms. Mills is a versatile trial attorney who enjoys the challenges of defending cases involving complex legal issues and significant damages. She is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the Long Beach Bar Association, the Justice Carlos Moreno Chapter of the American Inns of Court, and the American Bar Association.

About Murchison & Cumming, LLP

With a firm history dating to 1930, Murchison & Cumming, LLP is a premier civil litigation firm with five offices in California and Las Vegas, whose attorneys specialize in the defense of domestic and international businesses, insurers and individuals, at trial and on appeal. The Firm’s attorneys also handle employment matters and business transactions. For additional information, please visit our website at www.murchisonlaw.com.