Rick Friess Joins Litigation Practice Group at Allen Matkins

IRVINE, Calif. - March 22, 2010 - Allen Matkins Leck Gamble Mallory & Natsis LLP, a leading California business and real estate law firm, announces the expansion of its litigation practice group with the addition of K. Erik "Rick" Friess, as partner, in the firm's Orange County office.

Friess represents clients in eminent domain, inverse condemnation, regulatory takings, and other real estate matters. He brings extensive real estate litigation experience representing both private landlords and businesses and public agencies in some of the biggest, multi-million dollar cases in California. His clients include, among others, Anheuser-Busch, in a condemnation action brought by the County of Riverside.

"With the growth of creative financing methods for transportation and other infrastructure, including public-private partnerships and the adoption by counties of self-help sales tax increases, California is poised to start catching up on its construction of infrastructure. My practice is focused on helping business and property owners who find themselves impacted by these infrastructure projects," said Friess. "Allen Matkins' premier name in real estate and its geographic reach throughout California make it a perfect fit for my practice."

"Rick has a comprehensive perspective on eminent domain and inverse condemnation, " said Bob Hamilton, managing partner of Allen Matkins' Orange County office. "He is a welcome addition to our litigation group and will play an integral part in serving the diverse needs of our real estate clients."

Friess is past president of the Orange County Chapter of the International Right-of-Way Association and held other offices including treasurer, membership chair and newsletter co-chair. He is the immediate past-president of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley, continues to serve on the Clubs' board of directors and executive committee, and serves as the Clubs' pro bono general counsel. He is a member of the Orange County and American Bar Associations.

Friess was previously a partner with Nossaman LLP, where he chaired Nossaman's statewide eminent domain and valuation practice group. He began his legal career as a summer clerk there in 1988 and started as a lawyer in 1990.

Friess joins Allen Matkins' litigation practice group of approximately 80 attorneys statewide, whose practice is comprehensive and is recognized nationwide for its expertise in handling all aspects of business and commercial, real estate, construction, bankruptcy, environmental and toxic tort, products liability, and labor and employment litigation. The firm's trial lawyers have successfully tried cases in a broad variety of forums including state and federal courts, arbitrations and judicial referees.

Friess received his J.D. from University of California, Hastings College of the Law. He received his undergraduate degree from Revelle College, University of California, San Diego.

ABOUT ALLEN MATKINS

Allen Matkins, founded in 1977, is a California-based law firm with approximately 220 attorneys in four major metropolitan areas of California: Los Angeles, Orange County, San Francisco and San Diego. The firm's core specialties include real estate, real estate and commercial finance, bankruptcy and creditors' rights, construction, land use, natural resources, environmental, corporate and securities, intellectual property, joint ventures, taxation, employment and labor law, and dispute resolution and litigation in all these matters. For more than 30 years, Allen Matkins has helped clients turn opportunity and challenge into success by providing practical advice, innovative solutions and valuable business opportunities. When clients' challenges require experienced trial counsel, Allen Matkins has a proven track record of successful litigation before juries, judges and arbitrators.

Allen Matkins is located on the web at www.allenmatkins.com.