Courthouse Steps

Real estate attorney Thomas F. Stewart, has become a partner in Sacramento's largest law firm, Downey Brand, bringing nearly 20 years of experience in the region's real estate market to Downey Brand's existing real estate law practice. Stewart was previously a shareholder at Sacramento's Trainor Robertson law firm. He received his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law in 1985, and in 1982 he received an A.B. from the University of California, Berkeley.

Joining Stewart as counsel at Downey Brand is real estate attorney Winnifred C. Ward, also previously with Trainor Robertson. Prior to joining Trainor Robertson, Ward was Of Counsel with the San Francisco law firm of Shartsis, Friese and Ginsburg LLP. Ward received her J.D. from the UC Davis School of Law in 1993 and her A.B. in International Relations from Brown University in 1985.

Downey Brand also announces the addition to three new associates. John H. Rivers, Jr. was most recently with the San Francisco law firm of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. In addition to real estate law, Rivers practices corporate law and represents financial institutions and borrowers in connection with secured and unsecured lending transactions. He received his J.D. in 1999 from the UC Berkeley's Boalt Hall School of Law, and his B.A. from California State University, Chico, in 1996.

Priscilla Hayes Nielson received her A.B. from Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri and her J.D. from the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law. Prior to joining Downey Brand, Priscilla was Assistant Public Defender in Ada County, Idaho. She will be practicing out of the firm's Reno office.

Philip T. Darke received his B.A. in Rhetoric and Communication from UC Davis and his J.D. from Vanderbilt University School of Law in Nashville, Tennessee. Prior to joining Downey Brand, Philip was a Litigation Associate with Rogers & Hardin LLP in Atlanta, Georgia.

September /October 2004