Mark J. Kelson Joins Corporate Practice at Greenberg Traurig in Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Corporate, finance and securities attorney Mark J. Kelson has joined the Los Angeles office of the international law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP. He joins as a shareholder in the firm's Corporate & Securities Practice from Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP.

"Mark's experience strengthens our global Corporate Practice and furthers our expansion in California," said Matt Gorson, Greenberg Traurig President.

Kelson was Chair of the Capital Markets Practice Group at Manatt. His experience focuses on acting as lead counsel in public and private securities offerings, mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures and shareholder disputes. He will continue to act as corporate counsel to numerous publicly and privately held businesses.

"Growing our practice in California enhances our capabilities to advise clients worldwide. Our firm is truly a single team, and Mark is a leader in capital markets and mergers and acquisitions," said Thomas S. Loo, co-managing shareholder of the Los Angeles office.

"I look forward to taking advantage of the collaborative Greenberg Traurig platform in markets throughout the U.S., Europe and in Asia," Kelson said. "My clients will welcome the additional services this will offer them."

Kelson's clients include regional and global investment banks, private equity firms, financial institutions, REITs and companies in the healthcare, technology, consumer products, aerospace, manufacturing and hospitality industries. In addition, he acts as an advisor to boards of directors with regards to corporate governance, strategy and executive compensation. He sits on the Advisory Board of the Institute for Corporate Counsel.

Kelson, who received his J.D. from Loyola Law School Los Angeles joins the Greenberg Traurig Corporate & Securities Practice of 350 attorneys. The practice is an integral part of the firm's international team of approximately 1,800 attorneys in 32 locations in the United States, Europe and Asia. The firm has five California offices -- Los Angeles, Orange County, Sacramento, San Francisco and Silicon Valley.

About Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Greenberg Traurig, LLP is an international, full-service law firm with approximately 1800 attorneys serving clients from more than 30 offices in the United States, Europe and Asia. In the U.S., the firm has more offices than any other among the Top 10 on The National Law Journal's 2010 NLJ 250. In the U.K., the firm operates as Greenberg Traurig Maher LLP. Greenberg Traurig has a strategic alliance with the independent law firm, Studio Santa Maria in Milan and Rome. The firm was Chambers and Partners' USA Law Firm of the Year in 2007 and among the Top 3 in the International Law Firm of the Year at the 2009 The Lawyer Awards. For additional information, please visit www.gtlaw.com.

SOURCE Greenberg Traurig