CHICAGO – Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP is pleased to announce that Nina B. Matis, national co-chair of the Firm’s Real Estate Practice; and Bruce G. Vanyo, national co-chair of its Securities Litigation Practice, have been named two of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America by The National Law Journal. Katten was one of only a few firms to have more than one attorney named to the list, which was published in the magazine’s June 19 issue.

The National Law Journal’s

list of the 100 Most Influential Lawyers in America was developed based on reader nominations, as well as the publication’s own research. Attorneys selected for the list were those who have had a national impact in their fields of practice over the last five years – "lawyers who have the power to shape public affairs, launch industries, shake things up and get things done."

In publishing its list, The National Law Journal called Ms. Matis "one of the world’s top real estate lawyers" and noted that she "routinely handles transactions valued in excess of $500 million and some worth as much as $1 billion." In selecting Mr. Vanyo, the publication cited his defense of "200 major securities cases in 20 states," as well as his "21 complete victories in court, including seven appellate wins." It also noted that Mr. Vanyo was sought out by Congress to draft safe-harbor provisions for the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

"We are delighted that both Nina and Bruce have been named to such a prestigious list," said Vincent A.F. Sergi, Katten’s national managing partner. "To be recognized among the top 100 in the country for their long-term contributions is a tremendous honor and we are very proud that they were chosen."

Serving as both co-chair of Katten’s Real Estate Practice and General Counsel to iStar Financial, Ms. Matis' practice is heavily concentrated in all areas of commercial real estate development and acquisition (including residential, office, retail, hotel and mixed use developments), financing (including rated and structured financing) and partnership law. She has extensive experience in the organization and investment activities of debt and equity funds comprised of pension funds and of domestic and foreign investors and in investment and organizational matters relating to REITS.

Mr. Vanyo’s practice includes the defense of securities actions and derivative litigation, representation before the Securities and Exchange Commission, representation of board committees in conducting internal investigations, and corporate governance matters. His clients have included: Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Dell Computer Corporation, The Boeing Company, Fluor Corporation, America West Airlines (now US Airways Group), Inc., AMDOCS Ltd., Sun Microsystems, Inc. and Genentech, Inc.

Mr. Vanyo has defended 43 major securities cases since the year 2000. During that time, he has litigated cases across the U.S. in 14 different states and been involved in nearly 40 reported securities decisions on a variety of important legal issues. He has achieved complete victory in 21 cases that reached conclusion, among them, seven appellate victories in five different federal courts of appeals (First, Second, Fourth, Eighth, and Ninth Circuits). All told, the total damage exposure for Mr. Vanyo’s clients in that time period would have been more than $60 billion.

Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP (www.katten.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 advisers 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.