Press Release

BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—William H. Hines, Managing Partner of the law firm of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Denègre L.L.P., and Vernon L. Wells, II, Managing Partner of the law firm of Walston Wells & Birchall, LLP, have announced plans to combine firms.

The transaction, effective May 1, 2010, brings the total number of attorneys in Jones Walker's Birmingham office to 26 upon the completion of the transaction. Firmwide, Jones Walker will have 300 attorneys in 5 states and the District of Columbia. The combined firm will continue under the name of Jones Walker, led by Mr. Hines as Managing Partner. Jones Walker's current Birmingham office will relocate to the Walston Wells offices at One Federal Place, 1819 5th Avenue North, Suite 1100, Birmingham, AL 35203.

"Walston Wells' attorneys have a long history in the Birmingham community. The firm is well recognized for serving clients in the business,financial services, and public finance sectors with the utmost integrity and legal talent," said Mr. Hines. "This strategic combination in Birmingham continues our expansion in Alabama, expanding the depth of our corporate,finance, and litigation practices. We're pleased to offer our Alabama-based clients an even wider range of services. In addition, many of our clients have expanding business interests in the Birmingham market, and a larger office will allow us to serve those clients more efficiently," he added.

"We are excited to join such a well-respected firm in the Gulf South region," noted Mr. Wells. "As a larger combined firm, our capabilities throughout the southern United States will truly multiply. This transaction allows us to grow in a way that greatly benefits our client base. Jones Walker's practices complement our existing capabilities and add breadth to the legal services we currently offer, and we couldn't be happier to offer our clients an expanded range of legal services in new markets."

This transaction continues Jones Walker's expansion in the Alabama market. In 2008, Miller, Hamilton, Snider & Odom joined with Jones Walker, adding more than 30 attorneys in Mobile, Birmingham, and Montgomery, and follows an addition to Jones Walker's Birmingham office earlier in 2010 when Michael D. Waters and Katharine F. Musso joined Jones Walker from Balch & Bingham LLP to expand the firm's banking and financial services practice. Mr. Waters, who serves as the head of the firm's Birmingham office, added, "We are delighted with this new addition to our firm and especially to the Birmingham office. This transaction provides strength and balance to the services we provide our clients and gives us a sturdy platform for continued growth."

Walston Wells & Birchall, LLP was founded in Birmingham in 1991 by a group of attorneys from one of the oldest law firms in Alabama. The firm offers legal services in areas such as corporate and securities, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, public finance, tax, trusts and estates, litigation, labor and employment, environmental law, and bankruptcy.

Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Denègre L.L.P. provides a comprehensive range of legal services to a national and international corporate client base through offices in Alabama, Arizona, the District of Columbia, Florida, Louisiana, and Texas.

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