Fred W. Alvarez To Head Employment Law Practice At Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati; Addition Substantially Strengthens Firm's Capability

Business Wire, Jan 28, 1997

PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 28, 1997--Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, the nation's leading law firm specializing in the representation of high technology and life sciences emerging growth companies, announced today that Fred W. Alvarez, 47, is joining the firm as Partner in charge of the Employment Law Practice.

Alvarez comes to WSG&R after eight years at Pillsbury Madison & Sutro, where he was Partner and National Group Manager of the Labor and Employment Law Litigation Group and a member of that firm's Executive Committee.

Prior to his current position, Alvarez served from 1987 to l989 as Assistant Secretary in the U.S. Department of Labor with responsibility for managing and directing the Employment Standards Administration, the largest Agency in the Department. From 1984 to l987, he was a Commissioner in the United States Equal Opportunity Commission.

"Addressing our client's legal needs in the area of human resources is critical. By bringing Fred on board, the firm is making a strategic commitment to build a first-class employment law practice with talented, experienced leadership. The employment law practice will now complement our successful Employee Benefits practice chaired by Tim Sparks," said Larry Sonsini, WSG&R Chairman. "In addition to Fred's expertise in all aspects of labor, employment and equal opportunity law, he is a builder who knows how to grow a practice and we're very excited to have him at our firm," Sonsini added.

Alvarez has a national reputation in employment law and has lectured extensively throughout the U.S. on litigation, employment and equal opportunity. He also has authored a number of articles relating to litigation procedures, remedies, sexual harassment, affirmative action and enforcement policy, and has testified before Congress. He has been honored on a number of occasions for his leadership and community service, and he has served with distinction on a variety of civic and employer boards.

After graduating with honors in economics from Stanford University in 1972, Alvarez earned the J.D. degree from Stanford Law School in 1975. Following law school, he clerked for the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Mexico, after which he served for four years as a Trial Attorney for the National Labor Relations Board in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1980, he entered private practice in his native New Mexico representing management in all aspects of labor and employment law.

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, based in Palo Alto, California, specializes in the representation of emerging growth to Fortune 100 companies in the high technology and life sciences industries. The firm's 380 lawyers regularly advise more than 200 public companies, 1,200 emerging-growth companies, and the venture capital funds and investment banks that support them.

CONTACT: Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Larry Sonsini, 415/493-9300