Spring 2009 E-Newsletter

I am very pleased to announce that Higgs Fletcher & Mack is celebrating 70 years of serving San Diego. In this edition you will find a number of interesting items concerning our Firm and particularly our service to the San Diego Community. We are very proud to be able to represent you in your legal needs and we hope to continue in our relationship for many years to come.

Very truly yours,

John L. Morrell,
Chairman of Higgs Fletcher & Mack

Higgs Fletcher & Mack Celebrating 70 Years

Higgs Fletcher & Mack was established in 1939. It remains San Diego's oldest and largest law firm located exclusively in San Diego. The Firm was founded by two of San Diego's most prominent lawyers: DeWitt "Dutch" Higgs (1907-1994) and Ferdinand "Ferd" Fletcher (1911-2005). Dutch Higgs was a revered trial lawyer and the first San Diegan to be president of the California State Bar. He was also a Regent and later chairman of the Regents of the University of California. Ferd Fletcher was a prominent business and corporate lawyer and one of the remaining core members of the pioneering and philanthropic San Diego Fletcher Family. In the 1940's, Henry "Pitts" Mack (1909-1974), a nationally prominent trial attorney, joined the Firm. Pitts' family was known for its influence and developments in the trucking industry. Ultimately, these founders instilled a measurable and lasting professional culture with the Firm. Ethical integrity and professional excellence remain the Firm's cornerstones - evident to its members, its clients and its competition.

In 1941, Cyrus Monroe and Wes McInnis, a boyhood friend of Ferd's, founded the closely related law firm of Monroe & McInnis which became a prominent San Diego litigation firm. Both the Higgs firm and the McInnis firm grew and gained prominence in the community during the ensuing decades, never losing sight of their obligations to serve their community and clients professionally, with integrity and honor.

Monroe & McInnis is the genesis of the Firm later known as McInnis, Fitzgerald, Rees & Sharkey, which merged with Higgs Fletcher & Mack in 1999, substantially strengthening the Firm's litigation presence. Since the merger with the McInnis firm, Higgs Fletcher & Mack has continued to expand its practice areas by absorbing boutique firms and specialists in Securities, Tax, Intellectual Property, and Healthcare.

The Firm's attorneys have a long tradition of community and bar association service. Dutch Higgs started this tradition when he was elected President of the San Diego County Bar Association in 1940 and subsequently with his State Bar chairmanship in 1955. Five other attorneys from the combined firms of Higgs and McInnis subsequently headed the local Bar Association (Ferd Fletcher in 1953, Wes McInnis in 1957, Pitts Mack in 1959, Gary Bailey in 1979, and Craig Higgs, Dutch's son, in 1984). The Firm also has an impressive list of former attorneys who have and are serving as judges in both the San Diego Superior Court and the Court of Appeal.

The founders of Higgs Fletcher & Mack left behind a vibrant, responsible and committed institution, which has continued to grow and prosper. A great deal has happened over the years, but what will never change is the Firm's commitment to its clients, to its colleagues, and to the San Diego community.

IN THE COMMUNITY

Did you know that the attorneys at Higgs Fletcher & Mack are involved in an extensive number of leadership roles in over 80 community organizations such as:

• American Red Cross of San Diego & Imperial Counties
• Boy Scouts of America
• San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Junior League of San Diego
• Old Globe Theatre
• San Diego County Taxpayers Association
• United States Marine Corps Reserve
  
  *Click here for full list

Higgs Fletcher & Mack hosted a holiday reception for clients and their families with the Grinch

To kick-off the celebration of the Firm's 70th anniversary, Higgs Fletcher & Mack hosted a reception for clients and their families prior to the December 16th performance of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” Following the reception, the guests all attended the performance. Over 130 guests attended the event and were treated to an appearance at the reception by the Grinch himself.

Associate Kristopher Young joined the Board of Directors of the Downtown YMCA

Kristopher Young joined the Board of Directors of the Downtown YMCA. Mr. Young is a member of the Downtown YMCA and of the YMCA in Encinitas where he lives. He became involved with the Downtown YMCA at the encouragement of Managing Partner John Morrell who is also a member. According to Kris, “It was the Y's after school program for disadvantaged youth, one of the only such programs in downtown that caught my attention and sparked my commitment to serve on the Board.”

Associate Sam Sherman appointed to Bar Association leadership position

Sam Sherman was appointed as co-chair for the Employment and Labor Law Section of the San Diego County Bar Association for 2009-2011.

IN THE NEWS

Partner Gregory Pollack appointed to judgeship by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

On November 5, 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced the appointment of Higgs Fletcher & Mack partner Gregory Pollack to a judgeship in the San Diego County Superior Court. Mr. Pollack received his oath of office from Presiding Judge Kenneth K. So on November 25, 2008.

Judge Pollack had been a partner with the Firm since 1999 and prior to that was a shareholder with the firm of McInnis, Fitzgerald, Rees & Sharkey. He earned his Juris Doctorate from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Michigan.

NEW PARTNER

Congratulations to new partner Kelly Rae Waggonner

Kelly Rae Waggonner has been named a partner at Higgs Fletcher & Mack. Ms. Waggonner's practice is devoted exclusively to marital dissolutions, prenuptial agreements, child and spousal support modifications, and other family law issues. She also devotes a portion of her practice to serving as a mediator for both parties to a marital dissolution proceeding. Prior to joining Higgs Fletcher & Mack, Ms. Waggonner was in private practice for six years. Before private practice, she spent ten years with the law firm of Seltzer, Caplan, McMahon and Vitek. Ms. Waggonner is a graduate of The George Washington University Law School and of the University of Texas at Austin.

SPECIAL SECTION

70 Years for Higgs Fletcher & Mack – A Look Back at 1939

This issue of the Higgs Newsletter marks the 70th Year for “San Diego's Law Firm.” The World and our law firm have changed in many ways since 1939. Yet, the fundamental commitment of the Firm's founders to service and integrity remains steadfast to this day. To appreciate the long term-adaptability of the Firm, it is remarkable to look back at the year the Firm was founded and what events had the world's attention in 1939.

On the World stage

• Nationalists led by Francisco Franco won the Spanish Civil War
• Nazi Germany invades Poland
• USSR attacks Finland and is expelled from the League of Nations
• Gandhi begins to fast to protest autocratic rule in India

Science and Technology

• DDT discovered as an insecticide
• Germany develops the first jet-powered airplane
• Igor Sikorsky flies the first helicopter
• The first rabbit is born after artificial insemination
• Albert Einstein writes President Franklin D. Roosevelt about developing the atomic bomb using uranium. This leads to the creation of the Manhattan Project

Commerce

• Passenger Service across the Atlantic begins
• La Guardia Airport Opens

Sports

• Texas A&M goes undefeated at 11-0-0
• New York Yankees defeat the Cincinnati Reds 4-0 in the World Series
• Lou Gehrig's consecutive game streak comes to an end
• The first Major League Baseball game is telecast

Entertainment

• Gone with the Wind takes Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress
• The Grapes of Wrath premiers
• Robert Sherwood takes the Pulitzer Prize for Abe Lincoln in Illinois
• Marian Anderson sings at the Lincoln Memorial after having been refused the right to sing at the Daughters of the American Revolution's Constitutional Hall

Health

• Lina Medina becomes the world's youngest confirmed mother at the age of 5

San Diego

• City of San Diego population over 200,000
• DeWitt “Dutch” Higgs and Ferdinand “Ferd” Fletcher found firm

Although much has changed in our World since 1939, much has remained the same when it comes to our Firm's commitment to its clients, and to the community in which we do business.