Barg Coffin Strengthens Internal Investigations and Criminal Defense Group With Addition From District Attorney's Office

SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwire - Oct 19, 2011) - Barg Coffin Lewis & Trapp, LLP is pleased to announce that criminal and civil trial lawyer Marc D. Katz has joined the firm as a partner.

Katz comes to Barg Coffin from the San Francisco District Attorney's Office, where he investigated and prosecuted white collar crime for the past seven years. Prior to that, Katz litigated a wide range of complex civil cases as a member of the San Francisco City Attorney's Trial Team.

"Marc's addition brings even greater depth to our already strong group of trial lawyers. He has a great breadth of litigation experience, his expertise in internal investigations and white collar crime increases our depth in those areas, and he has an insider's understanding of several key governmental agencies. He's a natural fit," said R. Morgan Gilhuly, managing partner of Barg Coffin.

Katz will litigate civil environmental and commercial cases, and he is a member of the firm's Internal Investigations and Criminal Defense practice group, joining Davina Pujari. Pujari is a former assistant U.S. attorney for the Northern District of California and former assistant district attorney in the San Francisco District Attorney's Office. In 2004, then-District Attorney (and current California Attorney General) Kamala Harris hired Katz and Pujari to form the San Francisco DA's Public Integrity Unit. They worked together on cases involving bribery, public corruption, and environmental crime.

Barg Coffin's Internal Investigations and Criminal Defense group works hand-in-hand with companies to conduct internal investigations of matters involving alleged environmental and regulatory violations, fraud, and workplace violence. The attorneys also defend companies and individuals charged with criminal violations of environmental, securities, and other laws.

"White collar criminal defense and the ability to conduct thorough, expert and credible investigations regarding highly sensitive issues are of critical importance today, especially in light of increased regulatory scrutiny both on the local and federal levels," said Gilhuly. "This practice, and our commitment to it, is driven by our goal of being a key strategic partner for our clients in all matters involving environmental law and litigation."

Katz earned his J.D. from Yale Law School (1995) and his B.A., with honors and distinction, from Stanford University (1990).

About Barg Coffin Lewis & Trapp, LLP

Barg Coffin Lewis & Trapp, LLP is a San Francisco-based law firm providing nationally recognized expertise in environmental law and litigation. The firm is based on a simple but sound concept: a small and efficient law firm can provide the environmental law and litigation services that clients need at a lower cost than a large, multi-disciplinary law firm. On the web at: http://www.bcltlaw.com.