Two Prominent Law Firms Move to Landmark Downtown L.A. Engine Company No. 28 Building

LOS ANGELES, CA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- March 5, 2007 -- Mark Geragos and Brian Kabateck, two prominent California lawyers, have purchased a 30,000 square foot renovated 1912 fire station in downtown Los Angeles' financial district. Their respective law firms, Kabateck Brown Kellner and Geragos & Geragos, moved into the four-story building, once housing Engine Company No. 28 at 644 South Figueroa Street, on March 5th. The building is also home to the Engine Company No. 28 restaurant, a downtown landmark for nearly 20 years.

"The fire station represents downtown Los Angeles' rich history," says Brian Kabateck. "Firefighters who lived and worked in the building saved lives, homes and businesses for six decades. It's an honor to work where these heroes once lived."

"The purchase of this building, a few blocks from Staples Center and Live L.A., which is currently under construction, demonstrates the increasing commitment of the business and professional community to downtown Los Angeles," says Mark Geragos. "Just a few years ago, downtown was mostly home to large corporate law firms," he says. "Now, criminal defense lawyers and plaintiffs' lawyers are clamoring to move into the heart of Los Angeles. We plan to spend the rest of our careers headquartered in this beautiful building in downtown."

Until 1969, the fire station answered calls from the surrounding community. In 1979, although abandoned and in disrepair, it was designated as a national historic landmark structure. Renovation took five years and was completed in 1989. The original façade of the building, with twin-arched Renaissance Revival-style windows, remains. Original brick floors, green Italian wall tiles and white pressed tin ceilings are in the restaurant. Two fire poles are still visible.

Brian Kabateck is nationally recognized for representing victims of corporate abuse in pharmaceutical cases, mass torts, class actions and natural mass disaster insurance claims. Clients are consumers, entrepreneurs, business owners and celebrities such as Michael Jackson and Ed McMahon. Other firm practice areas are complex business litigation, legal malpractice and partnership disputes. Kabateck Brown Kellner lawyers have recovered over half a billion dollars for their clients.

Mark Geragos is an internationally known lawyer and television commentator who is known both for his high profile clients as well as a frequent television legal commentary. Over the last decade, Mark has represented the most prominent figures in entertainment, politics and pop culture, while his father Paul last month marked his fiftieth year of practice in the City of Los Angeles. Geragos & Geragos boasts 13 lawyers whose practice ranges from red, white and blue collar criminal defense, civil plaintiffs work, business litigation, employment litigation, personal injury and wrongful death cases and tax litigation.

Geragos & Geragos and Kabateck Brown Kellner frequently work together and have been successful in a number of high profile civil cases. Two of their most recent successes were class actions brought against insurance companies New York Life and AXA Konzern AG on behalf of heirs of victims of the Armenian Genocide. The insurance companies settled for $37.5 million. Both Geragos and Kabateck won the prestigious California Lawyer of the Year Award in 2006 for their work on these cases.

The telephone numbers for each firm remain the same: Kabateck Brown Kellner, 213-217-5000 and Geragos & Geragos, 213-625-3900.

Contact Information: CONTACTS: Brian Kabateck Kabateck Brown Kellner LLP 213-217-5000 Email Contact Mark Geragos Geragos & Geragos, P.C. 213-625-3900 Email Contact Diane Rumbaugh Rumbaugh Public Relations 805-493-2877 Email Contact