WASHINGTON – Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP announces the continued growth of its Commercial and Securities Litigation practices with the addition of partners Eric A. Kuwana, Ugo Colella and Catherine Sun Wood to the Firm’s Washington office. Mr. Kuwana will also serve as Deputy Chair of Katten’s National Litigation Department. All three attorneys join Katten from the Washington office of Patton Boggs LLP.

The recent expansion of Katten’s Securities Litigation Practice follows the addition of several other new partners in the past six months. In March, nationally-known litigator Bruce G. Vanyo joined the Firm’s Los Angeles office as practice co-chair. He was joined in June by Anissa D. Seymour, who also serves as a partner in the Los Angeles office. “We are pleased to continue the aggressive, strategic expansion of our Litigation Department with the additions of Eric, Ugo and Catherine,” said David H. Kistenbroker, Chair of the Firm’s National Litigation Department and Co-Chair of Katten’s Securities Litigation Practice. “These three exceptionally talented litigators enable us to continue to service our growing national client base."

Eric A. Kuwana

A former attorney in the Office of Counsel to the President under George H. W. Bush, Mr. Kuwana represents companies and individuals in high-exposure and high-profile disputes in federal and state courts throughout the country. He most recently served as Deputy Chair of Patton Boggs’ Litigation Department, head of the securities litigation practice, and co-head of the transactional risk assessment practice. He represents companies and their officers and directors in complex securities fraud, corporate governance, class actions, derivative actions, SEC enforcement actions, and high-profile “bet-the-company” cases. His success at trial and proficiency in handling complex litigation matters has led to his being named as a national litigation counsel for Great American Insurance Company.

Additionally, Mr. Kuwana has substantial experience representing and advising political entities, including in federal court litigation involving significant constitutional issues. Mr. Kuwana served as the Deputy General Counsel of the Presidential Inaugural Committee for the 2001 Inauguration of President George W. Bush, and worked on the President’s 2005 Inauguration. He also served as counsel to the Platform Committee at the Republican National Conventions in 2000 and 2004 and has represented the Republican National Committee, the National Republican Senatorial Committee, and the National Republican Congressional Committee in various matters. Mr. Kuwana received his B.A., from the University of Chicago and his J.D. from the University of Kansas School of Law.

Ugo Colella

Mr. Colella was a partner at Patton Boggs and concentrates his practice on a wide variety of civil litigation, with an emphasis on business-related disputes. Practicing at the trial and appellate levels, as well as in state and federal courts across the United States, he also advises clients on a wide variety of pre-litigation matters involving contracts and other commercial instruments. Before joining Patton Boggs, Mr. Colella served as a trial attorney for the Civil Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Mr. Colella received his B.A. from Stanford University and his J.D. from the Tulane University Law School, where he served as the editor in chief of the Tulane Law Review.

Catherine Sun Wood

Ms. Wood was a partner at Patton Boggs and focuses her practice on the defense and prosecution of commercial litigation and arbitration for individuals and companies in various industries and economic sectors. She litigates disputes involving securities or common law fraud, as well as those arising from commercial and corporate transactions or employment relationships. Ms. Wood also litigates matters involving trade secrets, fiduciary duty, non-compete agreements, and product liability, and advises clients involved in government investigations and criminal litigation. Ms. Wood received her B.A. from George Mason University and her J.D. from the American University Washington College of Law.

Katten is nationally recognized for its experience and record of success in defending clients in shareholder securities class actions, corporate governance cases, internal investigations, regulatory enforcement proceedings, and Department of Justice prosecutions. Its attorneys have obtained early dismissals of cases around the country and work aggressively to narrow the plaintiff’s allegations, limit costly discovery and tailor the defense to the precise needs of the case and the client. The Firm represents financial institutions, corporations, entrepreneurial enterprises, investment advisory firms, broker-dealers and individual officers and directors in federal, state and administrative forums throughout the country. Among its experienced securities litigators are former Assistant United States Attorneys, former SEC Enforcement Attorneys, and former Department of Justice Associate Attorneys General.

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP (www.kattenlaw.com) is a national, full-service law firm with offices in the nation's largest centers of business, government, finance and technology and an associated entity in London. The Firm’s 600 attorneys in more than 40 practice areas provide timely and cost-effective counsel to clients in numerous industries. They serve as business advisors and advocates for a wide range of public and private companies - from entrepreneurial, emerging-growth, and middle market firms to global Fortune 100 corporations - as well as government entities, non-profits, and charitable and cultural organizations.