Brobeck Selected by Fortune Magazine as One of Nation's `100 Best'; Law Firm Tapped For America's `100 Best Companies to Work For'.

Business Editors

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 18, 2000

The legal profession has long suffered from an often-deserved reputation for "old-school" style management. Stories abound of despotic partners mistreating younger attorneys and staff with impunity. Indeed, too many corporate law firms have their own stories of Balkanized infighting, tyrannical leadership and battered troops.

As a result, the profession has often had the highest attrition rate of any. Perhaps signaling a sea change, Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP, was among four law firms selected today by Fortune magazine as one of America's "100 Best Companies to Work For." Besides Brobeck, Fenwick & West of Palo Alto, Alston & Bird of Atlanta, and McCutchen Doyle of San Francisco made this year's list.

"The legal profession is undergoing rapid change," said Tower C. Snow, Jr., Brobeck's chairman. "It has come in the form of increased competition for market share, consolidation, as well as the adoption by some firms of more enlightened management practices. The smart firms are realizing that their success depends upon the support and buy-in of every individual. Brobeck is dedicated to providing a non-hierarchical work environment, a collegial atmosphere and an array of perks and benefits that bring out the best in people, both personally and professionally. We have long felt that Brobeck is a very special place to work, and it is deeply gratifying to be recognized as such."

The employee-driven survey was commissioned by the Great Places to Work Institute in San Francisco. Earlier this year, Brobeck was invited to participate in this survey, in which two-thirds of the scoring consists of the responses from anonymous questionnaires that were distributed to attorneys and staff in a random selection process.

"When it comes to retaining the talent they attract, the mantra repeated by the 100 Best Companies is one word: culture," stated Fortune in a press release.

Among the perks and benefits that Brobeck staff and attorneys receive are the following:

-- Valentine's Day Bonus - For the past two years, all Brobeck non-attorneys
have received a $1,000 bonus on Valentine's Day. The firm pays all the
withholding taxes that would normally be deducted, meaning that the check every
individual receives totals exactly $1,000.

-- Matching Funds for Charitable Contributions - To encourage "giving back" to
the communities in which the firm serves, the Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP
Charitable Foundation provides 50% matching funds to the individual charitable
donations of all individuals within the firm. For group fundraising events, the
Foundation provides additional grants of up to $10,000. In addition, the
Foundation responds financially to national and international disasters.

-- Stock Investment Funds for Every Individual in the Firm - The firm was the
first law firm in the country to have a stock investment fund for its
non-attorneys - not just its associates and partners. It is vital to the
effective operation of the firm that all individuals within Brobeck, from the
most senior partner to the most junior staff member, reap the rewards of the
firm's financial success.

-- Home-Loan Assistance Program - Because the firm appreciates the high cost of
housing in the communities in which Brobeck has an office, the firm provides a
guaranty on a portion of a first mortgage on all associates' primary
residences, when the loan amount is between 80-95% of the value of the home.

-- Commitment to Pro Bono Legal Services - Last year, Brobeck contributed more
than 14,000 hours to pro bono matters, the billable value of which exceeded
$3.25 million. Under the firm's pro bono program, in which all lawyers,
secretaries and paralegals are strongly encouraged to participate, Brobeck
provides free legal services to indigent individuals and charitable
organizations, covering a broad spectrum of issues, including domestic
violence, immigration and political asylum; low-cost housing and the homeless;
children's rights; AIDS; and prisoners' rights.

-- Commitment to the Community - Last year, Brobeck contributed more than
$600,000 to educational institutions, legal services associations, community
groups, health and medical research, community youth programs, cultural arts
associations, environmental and animal protection agencies, and other
charitable nonprofit organizations. Of that amount, $175,000 was generated
through the programs of the Brobeck Charitable Foundation. Brobeck strongly
encourages its employees to not only donate money to charity (and thereby
receive matching funds from the Brobeck Charitable Foundation), but also to
spend time reaching out to the communities we serve.

-- Suggestion Box - All staff and non-partner attorneys are encouraged to make
suggestions on enhancing our work environment, increasing productivity, or any
other ideas to improve the firm. The best ideas receive a $1,000 award.

-- Brobeck STAR Award - The purpose of the Brobeck STAR program is to visibly
express the firm's appreciation to members of the administrative staff who,
through their dedication and resourcefulness, make especially meaningful
contributions to the improved operation of the firm. Each month, one winner is
announced at the Staff Brown Bag Lunch and is presented with a $150 gift
certificate for dinner as well as a crystal star from Tiffany & Co. At the end
of the year, the 12 winners are entered into a drawing for a $1,000 "Weekend on
the Firm."

-- Upward Review - All partners and supervising attorneys are subject to a
thorough review by associates once a year. Feedback regarding associate
relations, associate development and leadership are assessed, and individual
reports are provided to each partner and supervising attorney. Lower-scoring
partners are given executive coaches for their personal development and to help
them improve in the areas identified in the survey.

-- Business Casual Dress - Dress is business casual every day of the year in
every office.

-- Laptop computers - All attorneys, as well as all staff with managerial
responsibilities, are given Toshiba Portege laptop computers to enable them to
telecommute and achieve a balance between their personal and professional
lives.

-- Brown Bag Lunches - Once a month, all staff members are invited to a brown
bag lunch, hosted by our chairman, firmwide managing partner and executive
director. The lunch is intended to encourage a free exchange of ideas between
staff and upper management and is video-conferenced to all of the firm's
offices. Even though the firm is a private company, there are no "secrets" at
Brobeck. During these meetings, the firm's management updates staff members on
the strategic direction of the firm and other important issues, including
sensitive financial information. Staff members are encouraged to talk openly
about any concern. Similar brown bag lunches are also held every month for
associates and for partners.

-- Financial assistance to individuals in need - In circumstances of
exceptional personal crisis, the Brobeck Charitable Foundation has provided
financial assistance to individuals in need. Past examples include:

-- paying the funeral expenses for employees' family members who have died
unexpectedly;

-- providing extra compensation and health insurance for a new employee
stricken with cancer who normally wouldn't qualify for these benefits;

-- paying rent and other expenses for an employee whose rental unit burned
down;

-- and, providing supplemental income to an employee who took extra time off
from work after her child fell victim to a drive-by shooting.

-- Employee Referral Program - Brobeck finds its best candidates through the
Employee Referral Program. Therefore, as an incentive and a "thank you" for
referring quality candidates who are hired as regular, full-time employees, the
firm pays substantial referral fees to individuals at Brobeck: Last year alone,
the firm paid more than $400,000 in referral fees, which are broken down as
follows, based on the position that is filled:

-- $5,000-15,000 for attorneys;

-- $5,000 for exempt positions, paralegals and legal secretaries;

-- $2,500 for all other positions.

-- Compensation - All individuals within the firm are compensated at the top of
the market. A prime example is the associate salary increase earlier this year,
where all associates in the firm were given substantial raises. For instance,
first-year associates are now paid a base salary of $125,000 per year, with an
additional bonus potential of $30,000.

Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison LLP is a national leader in the representation of technology and New Economy companies, with 950 attorneys in 13 offices, including Austin, Dallas, Denver, Irvine, Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, San Diego, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., as well as joint venture Brobeck Hale and Dorr offices in London, Munich, and Oxford, England. The firm's principal service areas -- Business & Technology; Securities Litigation; Intellectual Property Litigation; Labor & Employment; Complex Business Litigation; Commerce & Finance; Real Estate; Insurance Coverage; International, Federal & State Tax; Executive Compensation and Employee Benefits -- provide clients with a full range of legal services.