Summer 2002
Hanson Bridgett is pleased to introduce you to its Summer Associate Class of 2002. They are Alexandra V. Percy, Ellen A. Fred, Karin M. Arnold, Reichi Lee and Sameer A. Khedekar. Click on a name to find out why she or he selected Hanson Bridgett as the place to spend their summer in San Francisco. Or just scroll down to see the entire class.
Pictured left to right are: Sheryl Geraldi, Director of Attorney Recruitment, and summer associates Alexandra V. Percy, Reichi Lee, Ellen A. Fred, Karin M. Arnold and Sameer A. Khedekar.
Alexandra V. Percy
University of San Francisco School of Law
Juris Doctor Candidate, May 2003
What appealed to me about Hanson Bridgett was its strong reputation in the legal community and its wide range of practice areas. After interviewing with a diverse group of partners and associates it became clear that Hanson Bridgett not only had challenging and interesting work, but also had interesting, intelligent, and down-to-earth attorneys. The attorneys at Hanson Bridgett are very happy with and enthusiastic about their work and their colleagues. This environment makes Hanson Bridgett a well-rounded and unique firm.
My experience so far this summer has met and exceeded my expectations. I have been given the opportunity to work with a wide range of practice groups and have met very interesting and fun people. Everyone at the firm is extremely friendly and always willing to share their experiences as an attorney or to help with a question I may have. I have also appreciated the opportunities to attend hearings and oral arguments outside the office.
I was born in Michigan and moved to California when I was ten. My family lives in the East Bay, so I try to visit them whenever I get the chance. In my free time, I attempt to write short stories and to do any activity that gets me outside.
Ellen A. Fred
University of California, Hastings College
of the Law
Juris Doctor Candidate, May 2003
As I embarked on the season of On Campus Interviews, I truly believed that I wouldn't find a firm where I would actually want to work. My experiences with Hanson Bridgett changed my mind. I first had contact with the firm at Hastings' "Meet the Employers" reception, where I had the pleasure of walking up to the HB table to a smiling Hussein Saffouri (Hanson Bridgett Litigation Attorney), who is now one of my mentors. After exchanging a few words, I learned that at Hastings, he participated in The Back Forty, a newsletter regarding land conservation law, in which I am now heavily involved myself. I instantly felt a budding kinship with the firm. I then learned that one of Hanson's signature practice areas is the Public Agency Section, which also quickly intrigued me. When I lived and worked in Humboldt County, I had the opportunity to experience county-level government first-hand. At that time, I thought that a county counsel-type job would make for a fascinating career. Hanson's Public Agency Section seemed to offer an even more diverse but similar experience.
Most of all though I was drawn to the people at Hanson Bridgett:
nice, laid-back folks at a firm that had a very strong reputation
among everyone I sought advice from during my deliberations. Although
I spent a long time making my final decision to come to Hanson Bridgett,
I haven't regretted it for a minute.
My career interests have been fluctuating wildly in my two years
at law school. Even now, although I am still drawn to public agency
work and environmental law, I also am very interested in the Estate
Planning Section -- especially the tax-related aspects.
When I'm not working in the city, you'll likely find me playing in our abundant veggie garden. In a few weeks, I'll have more homegrown tomatoes than I'll know what to do with! Oh, and I'm getting married in August!
Karin M. Arnold
Boalt Hall School of Law, University of
California, Berkeley
Juris Doctor Candidate, May 2003
I knew I wanted to interview with Hanson Bridgett when I met associates from the Public Agency section last summer. I liked what I learned about their area of practice and realized it would be a great opportunity to combine my interests in law and public planning. Now that I am here, I have found two things that make Hanson Bridgett stand out as a unique opportunity to practice law. First, there is significant interaction between practice areas giving rise to legal issues that combine the expertise of many while offering a full service approach to client needs. Second, the people here make this a very comfortable working environment. The impression I get from meeting and working with so many interesting people is that they take what they do seriously without compromising their quality of life. This is very important to me.
I like legal issues involving the use and development of land, especially from the public perspective. Accordingly, I am drawn to the Public Agency practice but have also found legal issues in other practice areas, including Senior Housing and Care, Construction and Litigation that are consistent with my interests. The diversity of the people and the depth of the practice make working as a summer associate at Hanson Bridgett an exciting opportunity.
Reichi Lee
University of California, Hastings College
of Law
Juris Doctor Candidate, May 2003
When I first began the on-campus interviewing process, I knew little about the differences between each firm. However, I was certain that I wanted to work in an environment where people are supportive of each other and where I could feel comfortable being myself. I discovered how much I liked Hanson Bridgett during my on-campus interview. My interviewer made me feel completely at ease and took the time to describe to me what she enjoyed most about working at Hanson Bridgett: the people.
After I visited the firm, it became apparent to me that Hanson Bridgett
was what I was looking for. I was drawn to the wide range of practice
areas the firm has to offer and the fact that its summer program
encourages students to explore each section to find what interests
them. But what impressed me the most was that each attorney with
whom I spoke was extraordinarily friendly and down-to-earth.
Everyone at Hanson Bridgett has made a special effort to get to
know the summer associates and make us feel welcomed. I feel fortunate
to have found a firm not only committed to hard work and excellence,
but also has a genuine appreciation for its people.
Sameer A. Khedekar
Santa Clara University School Of Law
Juris Doctor Candidate, May 2003
I chose Hanson Bridgett because of its uniquely collegial atmosphere, its diversity of backgrounds, and its proven commitment to maintaining a varied and interesting array of practices. Hanson Bridgett came recommended to me from a friend who had been a summer associate in previous years. The one thing that I remember him saying is that the firm had the type of people that made working a highly enjoyable and intellectually challenging experience. He was right on both counts.
I was also impressed by Hanson's first rate commitment to diversity in its workforce. It is a joy to walk around the office everyday and witness people of so many different backgrounds working together as one. Finally, what has intrigued me the most is the presence of a variety of practice groups to which a student like myself can be exposed. Already in my first few weeks here at Hanson Bridgett, I have had the chance to work with bright and dynamic attorneys in a number of different interesting practice areas. Such an opportunity will ensure that I make the right decision when I choose which area is right for me.
I am a native of Southern California who thinks he might have fallen in love with San Francisco. In my spare time, I like to watch movies and hack my way through golf courses.
Non-Discrimination Policy: Hanson, Bridgett, Marcus, Vlahos & Rudy, LLP seeks to ensure a positive and diverse work culture where each person may work and develop professionally to the best of his or her ability free of unlawful discrimination or prejudice. To this end, the firm is an equal opportunity employer that prohibits unlawful discrimination or prejudice of any kind based on race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion or creed, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, mental or physical disability, or pregnancy.
