| 1/7/2002 | ||
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WASHINGTON, D.C. --Kirkland & Ellis is pleased to announce that George P. Stamas, a highly regarded attorney and investment banker, joins the Firm as a senior partner in the Washington, D.C. office. The Firm is equally pleased to welcome Mark D. Director, an accomplished attorney and business executive, as a partner in the D.C. office.
Stamas, 50, was most recently vice chairman of the Board of Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown, Inc. He will continue his relationship with the company as a member of the Advisory Board of DB Capital Partners, Inc., the private equity arm of Deutsche Bank AG, the banking giant based in Frankfurt, Germany. Prior to his career in investment banking, Stamas was a partner at Wilmer, Cutler & Pickering where he was co-chair of the firm's Corporate Department.
Stamas is a founding director of two leading public companies in the Washington/Baltimore area, Aether Systems, a wireless solutions company, and FTI Consulting, a business services firm.
In addition to his business accomplishments, Stamas has been involved in the local sports scene for many years. He is a director and partner of Lincoln Holdings, which owns the NHL Washington Capitals and an investment in the NBA Washington Wizards. He is also a director of and investor in Major League Baseball's Baltimore Orioles. Stamas is a co-founder and executive committee member of Washington/Baltimore Olympics 2012, a finalist for the right to represent the United States in its bid for the Olympic Games.
"Knowing that George and Mark have been sought after by some of the premier corporate law firms in the country, we are pleased that they have selected Kirkland," said Thomas D. Yannucci, chair of the Firm's planning and strategy efforts. "They will make immediate, substantial contributions not only to our expanding corporate practice in the Washington area, but also to our national and global corporate practices," explains Yannucci.
Stamas said that Kirkland's well-established role as a leading advisor to private equity and public company clients in the U.S. and abroad created a natural attraction for him. "The Firm's premier reputation representing businesses and investors, as well as its diverse, global capabilities, fit perfectly with the kinds of clients and work I have handled throughout my career, as well as with my role as a venture partner of New Enterprise Associates," said Stamas. "I am particularly excited about the opportunity to expand the Firm's role as a leading force in the Washington-Baltimore business community," adds Stamas.
Director, 43, is the former executive vice president, general counsel and secretary of U.S. Office Products Company (USOP), which was one of the Washington area's largest public companies before being sold last year. Prior to joining USOP in 1996, Director spent more than 10 years in private law practice in Washington and also served as general counsel to a start-up mobile communications company in the mid-1990s.
"George and I have long wanted to combine our experiences and skills to serve businesses and investors," said Director. "When the opportunity arose to do this as part of an outstanding firm like Kirkland, where we can also work together with so many other accomplished professionals, it was an obvious and very exciting move," explains Director.
Stamas earned a B.S. in Economics from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1973 and a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1976. Director received a B.A. in English from Harvard College in 1980 and a J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1984.
CONTACTS:
Thomas D. Yannucci (202) 879-5056
George P. Stamas (202) 879-5090
Mark D. Director (202) 879-5151
Joshua M. Peck (212) 446-4777
