Carroll, Burdick & McDonough Adds Chad Stegeman as Partner

SAN FRANCISCO (July 25, 2011) - Carroll, Burdick & McDonough LLP, a preeminent litigation and business law firm practicing nationally and internationally, announces the addition of commercial and consumer class action litigator Chad Stegeman as partner. In addition, Billie Hausburg, who was previously an associate at the firm, returns as of counsel. Misasha Suzuki and Peter Volz also joined as associates. All four attorneys join the San Francisco office.

“Carroll Burdick has enjoyed a very powerful and exciting growth mode in the last two years, including our international expansion and beefing up our California ranks by nine this summer. The challenging economy has encouraged many clients to rediscover the value offered by mid-sized firms, particularly those with well-placed international outposts,” said Vicki Freimann, the firm’s Managing Partner. “It is always great to have attorneys of Chad’s and Billie’s caliber return to the firm, and we are also pleased to welcome Peter and Misasha, who will ensure our clients continue to derive great value from our work.”

With significant experience in commercial and consumer class action litigation, Stegeman represents clients in class action, commercial and product liability matters in state and federal courts throughout the U.S. He has also counseled clients in employment, insurance and intellectual property litigation. He serves on the Board of Directors for Rubicon Programs, Inc., is a panel member for Legal Services for Children and a member of the California First District Appellate Project, Criminal Appeals Panel. Stegeman earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law (2000), where he was a Robert McKay Scholar and editor-in-chief of the Environmental Law Journal. He subsequently clerked for the Honorable Robert Payne, of the District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. Stegeman earned his B.A., magna cum laude, from Macalester College (1995), where he was nominated to Phi Beta Kappa.

Most recently as in-house counsel at Fireman's Fund Insurance Company, Hausburg oversaw a broad range of complex litigation matters involving alleged breach of contract and bad faith, unfair business practices, bankruptcy and employment law. She has significant experience in matters involving consumer protection statutes, alien tort claims, business torts, breach of contract, and intellectual property. Her practice includes civil appeals and the coordination and defense of class actions and complex claims. Hausburg received her J.D., cum laude and Order of the Coif, from Loyola Law School (2004) and her B.A. from California Polytechnic State University (2000).

Suzuki's practice focuses on complex commercial and intellectual property litigation. She represents domestic and international clients in a wide range of industries, including technology and entertainment, through all phases of litigation. She also has extensive experience in a wide range of litigation matters including white collar defense, securities, antitrust and competition law, and the coordination and defense of class action claims. Fluent in Japanese, Suzuki previously served as a management consultant in Tokyo for J.P. Morgan. She earned her J.D. from Columbia University School of Law (2004) and her A.B., magna cum laude, from Harvard University (1999).

Volz is experienced in all aspects of third-party property and casualty coverage litigation with particular emphasis in commercial general liability, construction defect coverage disputes, additional insured and director & officer coverage. Volz received his J.D. from the University of San Francisco School of Law (2010) and his B.A., with honors, from Saint Mary’s College of California (2002). Prior to his legal career, Volz was an accomplished classical ballet dancer, having graduated from Kirov Academy of Ballet and later dancing with the Vienna State Opera.

Founded in 1948, Carroll, Burdick & McDonough has approximately 75 attorneys. The firm represents local, national and international clients in a diverse litigation and business practice. The firm focuses in the areas of appellate litigation; complex insurance matters; products liability litigation; corporate, commercial and real estate transactions; real estate and construction litigation; complex commercial, business and tort litigation; mass tort litigation; labor and employment litigation; and intellectual property licensing and development. The firm has offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Sacramento and international offices in Böblingen and Munich, Germany and Hong Kong. On the net: www.cbmlaw.com.