Healthcare Attorney Melinda J. Dutton Joins Manatt In New York

LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK, May 24, 2004 - Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, is pleased to announce that Melinda J. Dutton, a government and healthcare attorney, joined the firm's New York office as Counsel. Ms. Dutton will lead the firm's healthcare policy team, a group of attorneys and analysts who assist the firm's clients in aligning their organizational priorities with public policy imperatives to accomplish their operational and financial objectives. Ms. Dutton whose expertise focuses on government relations, health policy, community affairs and advocacy, will work on matters pertaining to the healthcare industry for Manatt's clients.

"We are pleased to add Melinda to our dynamic healthcare practice," said Paul H. Irving, Chief Executive and Managing Partner of Manatt. "Her arrival augments our thriving New York office."

Ms. Dutton previously worked as Director of Policy and Research for the New York office of the Children's Defense Fund, one of the nation's foremost children's advocacy organizations.

Ms. Dutton was responsible for marshalling a range of strategies including research and policy analysis, public education, coalition building and legislative and administrative advocacy to bring about policy changes aimed at improving the lives of children.Ms. Dutton led the Children's Defense Fund's successful effort to greatly expand access to comprehensive and affordable health insurance for New York's children and has worked closely with federal, state and local officials to guide implementation of programs affecting low-income families in New York.

"Melinda is extremely well-regarded in the public policy and healthcare communities, and we are pleased to have her become a part of our expanding Government and Policy practice," said William S. Bernstein, Co-Chair of Manatt's Government Advocacy and Policy Division.

Manatt's healthcare policy and strategy group develops and executes comprehensive solutions for clients operating in today's increasingly challenging healthcare environment. Manatt professionals have authored numerous foundation-funded reports on today's critical healthcare issues, including: Spending Our Money Wisely: Improving America's Healthcare System by Investing in Healthcare Information Technology, Rethinking Recertification: Keeping Eligible Individuals Enrolled In New York's Public Health Insurance Programs, and Health Insurance Coverage of New York's Adolescents: Filling In the Gaps . The firm's attorneys bring clients an insider's understanding of the healthcare industry, an expertise in business strategy, policy, politics and law, and powerful research, advocacy and coalition building capabilities.

Prior to working at the Children's Defense Fund, Ms. Dutton served as an attorney at South Brooklyn Legal Services, where she helped create a practice focused on health matters for low-income residents of south and central Brooklyn. She engaged in legislative and administrative advocacy, provided counsel for class action litigation in state and federal court and represented individual clients in court proceedings and administrative hearings.

Ms. Dutton earned a J.D. with honors from Columbia Law School in 1992 and a B.A., cum laude, in Political Science from Kansas State University in 1988.

About Manatt
Currently celebrating its 40 th anniversary, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP provides legal and consulting services to domestic and international clients from offices in Los Angeles, Orange County, Palo Alto and Sacramento, Calif.; New York and Albany, N.Y, and Washington D.C.. Its wholly owned subsidiary, Manatt Jones Global Strategies, LLC, develops and implements strategies to expand clients' businesses and facilitate their effective competition in global markets. For more information, visit www.manatt.com and www.manattjones.com .