April 25, 2007
Former State Senator Jackie Speier Joins Hanson Bridgett
San Francisco (April 25, 2007) — Hanson Bridgett is pleased to announce that former State Senator Jackie Speier will join the firm as Of Counsel. Speier will begin May 1st and work in the San Francisco office within the firm's Public Agency Section where she will have a crossover role with clients throughout the firm. Speier brings a wealth of political acumen and public service to the firm along with a legacy as a superb policy maker and public servant in California, begun over 25 years ago.
Speier most recently served multiple terms in the California Senate representing the 8th Senate District. In that office, she served as Chair of the Senate Insurance Committee, member of the Appropriations, Energy, Utilities and Communications and Transportation Committees, as well as the Select Committee on Bay Area Transportation and the Joint Legislative Audit Committee. She rose to the position of Assistant Pro Tem of the California Senate.
Over the past 25 years, Speier has set an unprecedented record of over 300 pieces of legislation signed into law by both Democratic and Republican Governors. She has authored groundbreaking legislation in health care, privacy, consumer protection, child welfare, education, and prison reform, much of which has been used as templates for national legislation.
Speier has never been slowed in life by a host of great personal challenges, including being one of few survivors at the Jonestown massacre and loss of her first husband in an automobile accident. In typical spirited resolve, Speier has sought to help others overcome loss by co-authoring the book "This Is Not the Life I Ordered" with friends such anchorwoman Jan Yanehiro and others. This just-released book is a collection of stories and practical advice, from four women who have faced extraordinary life challenges and is now in its fourth printing.
Speier continues a Firm tradition of hiring major political figures, with associated contacts and ability to get things done, to practice at Hanson Bridgett when not serving in an elected office. The list includes former San Francisco Mayor George Moscone, former California Attorney General Tom Lynch, current partner Gary Giacomini who was recently called the 4th most influential person in the history of Marin County, and current State Senator Darrell Steinberg who joined the firm two years ago before returning to public office after his election to the California State Senate last November.
“We are excited about Jackie joining our Firm,” Managing Partner Andrew Giacomini said. “Her role at Hanson Bridgett will be significant to our clients in our Sustainable Business practice, Health Care, Real Estate and Senior Living and our work with Public Agencies and those who have dealings with government. She adds significant credibility to areas where the firm has already done much and she can certainly take us to the next level.”
Joan Cassman, Chair of the Public Agency Section said, "Having worked with this Firm and our clients for 27 years, I recognize the value Jackie will bring to support our vast public sector practice."
Added partner David Miller, "I have known and worked with Jackie for many years. We are honored she has decided to join Hanson Bridgett. Our respective commitments to community and diversity make for an ideal match."
Speier’s experience and accomplishments mirror the goals for Hanson Bridgett; most notably transportation, where Speier was named Metropolitan Transportation Commission legislator of the year in 2004 and has a Caltrain "Baby Bullet" named after her, consumer protection and health, the environment and general work with public agencies such as the California Department of Corrections, where she has devoted many years of public service working with prison officials and will assist in Hanson Bridgett’s continuing effort to help provide a peer review for the doctors serving in the prison healthcare system.
Speier earned a B.A. from the University of California-Davis and a law degree from the University of California, Hastings College of Law.
Hanson Bridgett Public Relations:
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