Manuel Saldana, a Gordon & Rees partner in the Los Angeles and Orange County offices, and Juan Walker, a Gordon & Rees associate in the San Francisco office, participated on a panel at the 4th Annual University of California Hastings College of the Law, “A Day At Law School Program.” The event introduced Bay Area elementary through high school students of color and their parents to higher education and the study of law in particular. Addressing the parents in attendance, Mr. Saldana and Mr. Walker, along with other panelists, discussed their experiences applying to law school and funding their law school educations. Following a lively question and answer session, the panelists were held over by the many parents who had follow up questions and wanted to personally thank them for their participation. Gordon & Rees was a proud sponsor of the event, which fits well with the Firm’s commitment to increasing the pipeline of diverse applicants to higher education.

Peter Robertson, Chairman of the United Way of the Bay Area Campaign and Vice Chairman of the Board for Chevron Corporation has appointed Gordon & Rees Partner Chuck Custer to the United Way of the Bay Area Campaign Cabinet. The campaign cabinet for 2007/08 will be:

Leonard Almalech
Vice President/General Manager
Enterprise Rent-A-Car

Mark Antonitis
President and General Manager
KRON TV-4

David L. Anderson
Managing Partner
Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

Russell A. Colombo
President and CEO
Bank of Marin

Charles S. Custer
Partner

Gordon & Rees LLP

Michael Dorsey
Managing Director

J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.

Mark Edmunds
Vice Chairman-Regional Managing Partner

Deloitte

John Hammergren
Chairman, President and CEO
McKesson Corporation

Ebbert Jones
Executive Vice President, Western Banking Group
Wachovia Corporation

Donald R. Knauss
Chairman of the Board and CEO
The Clorox Company

Lori Lee
Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer
AT & T West

Terry Schwakopf
Community Volunteer

Steven J. Silvestri
President, Southwest Region
Bank of America

John Stumpf
President and Chief Operating Office
Wells Fargo & Co.

Mr. Custer has been active in United Way of the Bay Area for more than 15 years. He currently sits on the Board of Directors and has been the driving force behind Gordon & Rees' award winning United Way Campaign for over 10 years. Gordon & Rees' continued commitment to the Bay Area community helped the firm win the 2006 KoKo award for highest contribution and participation among Bay Area for law firms. Gordon & Rees has won this prestigious award three of the past five years.

Gordon & Rees was a sponsor at First Graduate's (formerly known as b.a.y.fund) Annual Cap & Gown Gala held at the Old Federal Reserve Building in San Francisco on May 24, 2007. First Graduate makes a 10 year commitment (from 7th grade through 5 years of college) to help underprivileged children be the first in their families to graduate from college.

First Graduate presented its First In Family Award to Alejandro Toledo, the president of Peru from 2001 to 2006. President Toledo recounted how the efforts of two volunteers helped him attend college at the University of San Francisco and then graduate school at Stanford. First Graduate's graduating high school seniors were also honored as they announced where they will be attending college in the fall.

Gordon & Rees' support First Graduate is part of our commitment to increase the pipeline for diversity in the legal profession. San Francisco office Managing Partner, Sara Thorpe is a member of First Graduate's Board of Directors.

Sara Thorpe has been appointed to serve on the Board of Directors for First Graduate (formerly known as b.a.y.fund), a non-profit organization whose mission is to help young people finish high school and become the first in their families to graduate from college. b.a.y.fund believes education is a powerful tool that helps young people overcome adversity, develop character and build community.

Every spring, First Graduate chooses twenty-four 7th grade students from two of San Francisco's lower performing middle schools. First Graduate makes a 10 year commitment to each student from the end of 7th grade through 5 years of college. Through mentoring, tutoring, community service and college counseling, First Graduate students are exposed to experiences and challenges that encourage them to develop the decision-making skills, leadership ability and good judgment necessary to become successful adults. b.a.y.fund achieves its mission by working together with families, schools, volunteers, other youth development agencies, and donors who are committed to the education of San Francisco's young people.

Susan Roe, Gordon & Rees’s Director of Professional Development received the United Way’s Top Banana Award which recognizes the 2005 Top Campaign Coordinator among all the law firms in the San Francisco Bay Area.  Gordon & Rees’s contribution to the campaign made up more than 20% of the entire Bay Area campaign.

Susan is a driving force behind the firm’s United Way campaign and continually strives for fresh ways to encourage contributions for this commendable cause. She remarked that “giving through United Way makes such sense, as our firm generously matches each dollar, thus doubling any contribution. “

For many years Susan has worked closely with the United Way of the Bay Area. She knows firsthand the incredible support this organization provides to families, agencies, and community organizations.

The 2005 United Way campaign presented some unique challenges after G&R personnel responded immediately and generously to the national disasters following hurricanes Katrina and Rita.  However, even after many people gave tremendously to these causes, there was great response and participation to the 2005 KoKo Bay Area campaign.

On June 5, 2005, Gordon & Rees partner Dominic Campodonico joined 1600 other cyclists for the seven-day ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles in AIDS LifeCycle 2005. A veteran of four fundraising bike rides from San Francisco to Los Angeles, this year's ride was no less memorable and rewarding than in past years.

Dominic's participation in AIDS LifeCycle stems from an interest in actively supporting the AIDS Foundation, which provides important services for people living with HIV and AIDS. "I participate in the ride to make a difference in the lives of people with HIV and AIDS," he said.

One of the main goals of the event is fundraising. As in years past, Gordon & Rees was "incredibly supportive. This year, the firm was one of my most significant sponsors. Other sponsors include partners, associates, and support staff," said Dominic. Anyone who would like to contribute may still do so by going to www.aidslifecycle.org/556.

Needless to say, training has been the key to Dominic's success. He spent almost every weekend from January to Memorial Day training for the ride. He usually starts his training rides in San Francisco but quickly crosses the Golden Gate Bridge and heads into parts of Marin County. Although in January his training rides start at 30-40 miles (no small feat for most of us), he steadily increases his weekend mileage: his weekend rides cover 40-50 miles in February, 55-60 miles in March, 70-80 miles in April and then finally 90-100 or more miles per ride in May. In addition to his weekend road training Dominic adds spinning classes to his regimen during the week.

Even with intense training, the 585-mile ride is grueling. The scenery, however, is amazing and inspiring. Inland, the route takes the cyclists through scenic farmland, where the strawberry fields and artichoke fields span the horizon. Along the coast, the steady and rhythmic crashing of the Pacific waves helps keep the cadence and bolster endurance as the riders head south toward Los Angeles. The route covers roughly 80 or more miles each day, depending on the terrain. No small feat for partner with a demanding litigation practice.

Dominic strongly recommends this fundraising event to cyclists of all levels. The event is sponsored by the main beneficiaries, "so there is a strong desire to keep overhead low in order for the majority of the funds raised to go directly to the AIDS services organizations," he said. "Because it's a multi-day ride there are more opportunities to learn of the great services that are funded by the ride. Anyone can get involved - cyclists and non-cyclists alike. There are opportunities for everyone," said Dominic. Whether you're considering riding or volunteering, or if you're just plain interested, you can learn more about the ride - including photos and day by day coverage of the trip - at www.aidslifecycle.org.

Gordon & Rees continues its decade long tradition of participation in the National Constitutional Rights Foundation by sponsoring a San Francisco high school team in the California Mock Trial program. The National Constitutional Rights Foundation seeks to instill in our nation's youth a deeper understanding of citizenship through values expressed in our Constitution and its Bill of Rights and educate young people to become active and responsible participants in our society. The National Constitutional Rights Foundation organizes the Mock Trial program, an academic competition, in which high schools compete at the county, state and national levels.

The trial itself is a simulation of a criminal case, in which students portray each of the principals in the cast of courtroom characters. Student teams study a hypothetical case, conduct legal research, and receive guidance from the volunteer attorney coaches in courtroom procedures and trial preparation. Students acquire a working knowledge of our judicial system which encourages them to develop their analytical abilities and communication skills while gaining increased self-confidence and self esteem. For the 2005 - 2006 year, the Gordon Rees coaches headed by Amy Maclear included colleagues Kevin Collins, Rupa Bhandari, Tom Watson, Katherine Hall and Joy Jaeger. Ms. Maclear said, "It's an extremely rewarding experience to help mold and nurture young adults gain a greater understanding and appreciation for our legal system."

Tireless hours of preparation, coaching, and mentoring went into the new team of 20 students at Lowell High school, a Distinguished School of Excellence in San Francisco. Last year, Lowell High School placed first in the county against 7 other schools and proceeded to the state level competition.

The first week of July 2004, Sara Thorpe, Managing Partner of the San Francisco Office, joined 23 breast cancer survivors and supporters celebrating the Breast Cancer Fund's fifth major mountain climb expedition, 'Climb Against the Odds ~ Mt. Shasta' (CAO) . Sara and half of the team staved off altitude sickness and with crampons and ice axes reached the peak of 14,162 feet shortly after 9:30 am after starting the hike at 1:30 am. Fortunately their descent was much quicker as they were able to glissade down most of the mountain. As a group, the CAO team raised over $350,000 for the Breast Cancer Fund's programs to identify the causes and eliminate the environmental causes of the disease. Sara well exceeded her own personal goal of $8,000 and pledges are still coming in. "Thanks to everyone for their support and encouragement. This was truly the hardest thing I have ever done (besides manage lawyers). The Breast Cancer Fund is a great organization with a worthy mission of preventing a disease that now impacts 1 out of every 7 women (and a smaller percentage of men), and of course their families and friends. I was inspired by the entire experience and the great motivated people I met preparing for and completing this climb."