Charles T. Manatt and Thomas D. Phelps Return to Iowa State University to Endow Chair, Launch Lecture Series.

Business Editors & Legal Writers

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 23, 2002

Charles T. and Kathleen Klinkefus Manatt and Thomas D. and Beth Phelps will officially launch the first annual Phelps-Manatt Lectureship in Political Science October 24 at Iowa State University. The lectureship is associated with the Manatt-Phelps Endowed Chair in International Political Economy, which was established through a deferred gift to the Iowa State University Foundation. Ambassador Manatt will deliver the lecture at 4:00 p.m. in the Benton Auditorium, Scheman Building.

The Phelps-Manatt lectureship, to be held at the beginning of each academic year, will focus on the previous year's significant political developments. The selected lecturer, a respected academic or public figure, will discuss how world politics affect the international economy, presenting both global and state perspectives. The purpose of the annual lecture and named Chair is to position the Iowa State Department of Political Science to provide public policy leadership.

Ambassador and Mrs. Manatt, both originally from Audubon, Iowa, graduated from Iowa State in 1958. Ambassador Manatt earned a J.D. from George Washington University School of Law in 1962. Mr. Phelps, who grew up in Sigourney, Iowa, graduated from Iowa State in 1959 and from George Washington University School of Law in 1963.

In 1965, Ambassador Manatt and Mr. Phelps founded the Los Angeles-based law firm now known as Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. The firm began by providing legal services to the banking community, but has grown to offer international legal and consulting services to the financial, energy, healthcare, entertainment, telecommunications, technology, agriculture, retail and manufacturing industries.

Ambassador Manatt went on to found the First Los Angeles Bank and serve as its Chairman from 1973-89. At the same time, he became involved in state politics, chairing a number of political committees, including the California Democratic Party. He chaired the Democratic National Committee from 1981-85, and co-chaired the 1992 Clinton/Gore presidential campaign. From 1999 through March 2001, Ambassador Manatt was U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic. After his post ended, he returned to the law firm's Washington, D.C. office to found the firm's international consulting subsidiary Manatt Jones Global Strategies.

Mr. Phelps made a name for himself as a banking lawyer and maintains an active involvement in industry groups such as the California Bankers Association. A number of years ago, Mr. Phelps began hosting financial forums to keep the banking industry apprised of the latest legal developments. The forums have grown into an annual legal and policy conference that draws politicians and business leaders from around the state. Mr. Phelps recently opened a satellite office for the law firm in Orange County, a region just south of Los Angeles. He is now working with the firm's Real Estate and Land Use Practice to expand into a full-service land use entitlement consulting firm called Manatt Consulting.

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP provides legal and consulting services to domestic and international clients through its 270 legal professionals from offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto and Sacramento, Calif.; Washington D.C.; and Mexico City and Monterrey, Mexico. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Manatt Jones Global Strategies, LLC, develops and implements strategies to expand clients' businesses and facilitate their effective competition in global markets. For more information, visit www.manatt.com and www.manattjones.com.