Sonnenschein Partner Gary Hernandez Named a California "Lawyer of the Year"

March 14, 2005

(SAN FRANCISCO, March 14, 2005)—Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal today announced that Gary A. Hernandez, a partner in its San Francisco office, has been selected California’s leading transactional attorney by California Lawyer magazine. Hernandez practices insurance regulatory and administrative law and is a former California deputy insurance commissioner.

The annual California Lawyer “Attorneys of the Year Awards” recognize those attorneys around the state “whose work has had a profound, far-reaching impact in 2004 or whose achievements in 2004 are expected to have such an impact in the coming years.”  The publication identified 30 accomplishments in 15 areas of legal practice this year, which are featured in the March issue. 

Hernandez received the award for his groundbreaking work obtaining regulatory approval for the $21 billion merger of WellPoint Health Networks and Anthem, Inc., which created the nation’s largest health plan with approximately 28 million members.  He was part of a team comprised of attorneys from Sonnenschein’s Insurance Regulation, Public Law & Policy Strategies, and Litigation practice groups.  His successful defense of Centre Insurance Company in an insolvency-related lawsuit brought by the California insurance commissioner also was cited.

Sonnenschein, with more than 700 attorneys and other professionals in nine U.S. cities and a global reach, serves the legal needs of many of the world’s largest and best-known businesses, nonprofits and individuals.  For more information, visit www.sonnenschein.com.