March 21, 2008

THE DAILY JOURNAL

By Jill Redhage and Jonathan Vanian

SAN FRANCISCO – Thomas M. Donnelly, co-chair of San Francisco-based Heller Ehrman’s environmental and climate change practices, will jump to Jones Day in San Francisco on Monday to found the firm’s environmental and regulatory practice in California.

Donnelly’s departure follows that of partner Colbern C. Stuart, who left the firm’s San Diego office to join Katten Muchin Rosenman’s intellectual property practice group this week. Two other Heller partners, transactional attorneys James Olson and Randall Schai, left for Jones Day in January. Donnelly is at least the 18th Heller partner to leave the firm since the fall.

Donnelly joins Jones Day’s 35 environmental lawyers firmwide but will be the first in its San Francisco office, home to 50 attorneys. He’ll work with Robert Mittelstaedt, parter-in-charge of Jones Day’s San Francisco office, and Kevin Holewinski, Washington, D.C.-based chair of its environmental practice, to plan the growth of the firm’s environmental practice, which will include a climate change practice group. The trio has not discussed the size and scope of that plan.

Donnelly said he’ll also work on insurance matters for policyholders, land use matters, and real estate and general commercial litigation, as he did at Heller. He expects some clients to follow him to Jones Day and others to stay behind with Heller.

His decision to leave Heller wasn’t easy, said Donnelly, whose move was brokered by legal recruitment firm Watanabe Nason Schwartz & Lippman.

“I have nothing but wonderful things to say about Heller Ehrman,” he said.

The Harvard Law School graduate started at Heller on graduation in 1988.

“I’ve never worked anywhere else,” Donnelly said. “I learned how to be a lawyer here. I have wonderful friendships at this firm, and I will miss this firm.”

His contributions to the firm included a trial win for PG&E Corp. in 2006 in an insurance coverage case. Donnelly voiced enthusiasm for the new opportunity.

“Jones Day provides me with an amazing opportunity to grow the environmental and related practices, which include insurance coverage and land use, because of its international platform,” he said.

Michael Thorp of Heller’s Seattle office remains as chair of the firm’s environmental and climate change practices.