Rising Star Trial Attorney Given Top Job at Detroit Law Firm; Tom Branigan Named Managing Partner of Bowman and Brooke

DETROIT--Aug. 4, 2003--This morning, Thomas P. Branigan was named Managing Partner of the Detroit office of the national law firm Bowman and Brooke LLP. At age 39, he is one of the youngest of the firm's trial lawyers to join the national management team of this rapidly expanding and prominent product liability/commercial litigation firm.

A nationally recognized first-chair trial attorney and Detroit native, Branigan has been trying cases for Bowman and Brooke clients since he joined the Detroit office in 1991.

"We have become well known in Detroit as GM's law firm, and we're proud of that," says Branigan. "That reputation and our success have opened doors throughout the automotive industry. We have a talented legal team ready to meet these growing client needs. We expect that our Detroit office will double its size in the next year."

Ford Motor Company also, has increasingly turned to Branigan and team in Detroit to defend its high exposure cases, not only in Michigan, but throughout the country. Firm-wide, with cases currently pending in almost all of the 50 states, Bowman and Brooke attorneys regularly defend the toughest product liability cases. The firm also represents several other automakers on a national basis including Toyota, Honda and Nissan.

"From the day Tom joined our firm he has been an outstanding leader and a fine stand up trial lawyer," says Richard Bowman, the firm's founding partner. "He lives for our clients' success and for the health of our firm. The leadership and the mentoring skills of Tom and his team are exactly what we need to take our Motor City office to the next level."

In 2002, Branigan was the only Michigan attorney named to the prestigious National Law Journal "40 under 40," recognizing him as one of the most successful young trial lawyers in America. He is a graduate of Wayne State University and Michigan State's Detroit College of Law and has taken 26 tough cases to verdict.

The Detroit office of Bowman and Brooke LLP focuses primarily on defending automobile manufacturers, dealers and suppliers. In addition, the firm handles complex commercial and class action litigation, as well as intellectual property and employment litigation. Note: A photo is available at URL: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/photo.cgi?pw.080403/bb1