Squire Sanders and Hammonds Combine, Providing Clients With Comprehensive Counsel Worldwide

WASHINGTON and LONDON, November 10, 2010 - Partners with US-based Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. and UK-based
Hammonds LLP have approved a combination agreement that creates a new
top-tier global legal practice to provide clients worldwide with
comprehensive legal counsel. The combination takes effect Jan. 1, 2011.

With approximately 1,275 lawyers in 37 offices and 17 countries, Squire
Sanders will be among the top 25 global legal practices, based on number of
lawyers. Squire Sanders chair James J. Maiwurm will be global chief executive
officer and chair. Hammonds managing partner Peter Crossley will be managing
partner for Europe. The combined firm will be structured as a Swiss Verein
and governed by a 13-person global board elected by the partners.

"The pace of the business world is accelerating. Clients expect their law
firms to embrace change and seize opportunity even in a challenging business
climate," Maiwurm said. "We hear our clients and know they consider
cost-effective global counsel the norm, not the exception. The combination of
our firms is designed for the times and positioned for the future. We will
continue to seek bold solutions for clients wherever their business takes
them, and we will do this in a collaborative fashion that makes us both an
inviting place to work and a great choice for clients."

Crossley added, "Clients currently working with lawyers from both legacy
firms are enthusiastic about the combination's expanded practice expertise,
industry knowledge, regional strength and global reach. We are delighted to
report that clients' reactions reflect what we concluded after we began
discussions with Squire Sanders. Simply put, we are better together."

The combined legal practice will have additional depth in key practices
essential to managing multiple complex matters as well as cross-practice
industry knowledge.

The expanded practice strengths include corporate/corporate finance,
litigation and arbitration, insolvency and restructuring, real estate,
regulatory, labor and employment, environmental, intellectual property,
pensions and tax. Industry expertise will expand in segments such as energy
and utilities, chemicals, media, sports and entertainment, financial services
and banking, maritime and information technology.

As a result of the combination, clients will have additional support in
more markets where they do business. The London office, supported by UK
regional offices, will have added depth in all practices essential to
cross-border transactions and disputes.

There will be more complete service throughout Continental Europe, such
as an expanded Brussels office to provide additional European Union
competition and trade advice, as well as corporate, banking and finance, real
estate and restructuring counsel. The combination will have additional
presence in Germany, Europe's strongest economy, with offices in Berlin and
Frankfurt, as well as a presence in Paris, a key cross-border business
center. There will be full-service counsel throughout Central and Eastern
Europe with offices in Bratislava, Budapest, Kyiv, Prague and Warsaw, as well
as a stronger presence in Moscow.

Clients with business interests that involve Madrid and Latin America
will have access to lawyers in Caracas, Rio de Janeiro, Santo Domingo and Sao
Paulo as well as lawyers in Latin America-based firms affiliated with the
Squire Sanders Legal Counsel Worldwide Network.

The resources of the combined firms will span Asia with capability in
Tokyo and additional strength in China that includes Shanghai and expanded
offices in Beijing and Hong Kong.

In addition, the combination provides coast-to-coast support in the
United States.

For more information, please visit
www.squiresandersandhammonds.com.

About Squire Sanders - Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. was founded in
1890 and has lawyers in 32 offices and 15 countries around the world. With
one of the strongest integrated global platforms and a longstanding "one-firm
firm" philosophy, Squire Sanders provides seamless legal counsel worldwide.

About Hammonds - Hammonds LLP is a leading commercial law firm with
offices throughout the UK as well as elsewhere in Europe and Asia. The firm
employs more than a thousand people, including 170 partners, working out of
10 offices in six countries.

    Contact:

    Drez Jennings                    Nicola Woodmass
    Media Relations Manager          Head of Communications
    Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P. Hammonds LLP
    +1-216-802-7301                  +44-121-222-3690
    djennings@ssd.com                nicola.woodmass@hammonds.com

Drez Jennings, Media Relations Manager, Squire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P., +1-216-802-7301, djennings at ssd.com; Nicola Woodmass, Head of Communications, Hammonds LLP, +44-121-222-3690, nicola.woodmass at hammonds.com