November 1, 2003

THE LOS ANGELES DAILY JOURNAL

LOS ANGELES – Four months after the speculation over its future began, the fate of Los Angeles litigation boutique O’Neill & Sun is decided.

Half the prestigious firm’s attorneys, including name partners Brian O’Neill and Brian Sun, joined Jones Day, with the rest breaking off in different directions.

The buzz about what would become of the firm began with the August defection of name partner Bryan Lysaght to Piper Rudnick.

“We think that the two Brians and their group are among the finest trial lawyers in Los Angeles,” Rick McKnight, partner in charge of Jones Day’s Los Angeles office, says. “They’ve got great capacity and strong capability.”

The others joining Jones Day, effective Nov. 1, are partners Frederick Friedman, and Harriet Beegun Leva, of-counsel Jeffrey Rawitz, and associates Lisa Phelan and Mary Fulginiti.

Jones Day also extended an offer to partner Yolanda Orozco. Orozco could not be reached as of press time, and others joining the firm did not know whether she would accept.

“I’m really enthusiastic and excited about doing this,” O’Neill says. “It has to do with new opportunity. I get to meet new people, and that’s a big part of it.”

The three Brians – O’Neill, Sun and Lysaght – formed their own firm, known as O’Neill, Lysaght & Sun, in 1985. The trio built a stellar litigation boutique known mostly for its white-collar expertise, which represents 30 percent of the firm’s practice.

After Lysaght’s departure, offers from interested law firms poured in to the 20-lawyer firm at a higher rate than usual, according to Sun, with some law firms heavily pursuing its attorneys.

“We weren’t looking to move although we were being heavily wooed by a lot of firms,” Sun says. “It wasn’t until Jones Day approached us that we came to seriously consider making a move. We were especially persuaded by the firm’s vision, culture and business philosophy in addition to the practice opportunities.”

Watanabe Nason & Seltzer represented Brian Sun in the deal.

Partner Edward Klein chose not to join Jones Day, instead going to the smaller Liner Yankelevitz Sunshine & Regenstreif last week.

Klein, who brings a seven-figure book of business, will work in Liner Yankelevitz’s entertainment and litigation practice.

“The Liner firm provides an exceptional opportunity for me, particularly the ability to join what I consider to be the pre-eminent entertainment litigation practice in the city,” Klein says.

Meanwhile, O’Neill & Sun partners Paul Murphy and David Rosen have decided to open their own shop, forming a new law firm with Century City criminal defense solo practitioner Phillip Cohen. Of-counsel Jodi Newberry and possibly a few others from O’Neill & Sun will join them, as well, according to Murphy.

“We wanted to fill the void left by [O’Neill & Sun] and get out of the shadow of the three Brians, who are incredible attorneys,” Murphy says. “It’s time to sink or swim on our merits, and that’s what we’re looking forward to doing.”