Press Releases

SAN FRANCISCO, CA, March 3, 2003 -- Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP announced today that Peter Krakaur had joined Orrick today as the firm’s first chief knowledge officer. Krakaur will lead Orrick’s Knowledge Management department, spearheading a range of initiatives aimed at transforming Orrick’s formidable sector, practice and individual expertise into a singular information resource enabling the firm to serve clients with increasing efficiency.

“Capitalizing on Orrick’s collective experience is at the heart of our plan to build a world-class knowledge exchange at Orrick,” said Ralph H. Baxter, Jr., Orrick’s chairman and CEO.” The arrival of Peter signals an important step forward in our efforts to capture and use in new and innovative ways the collective experience, wisdom and expertise that characterize Orrick lawyers across the firm and, increasingly, the globe.”

Doug Benson, Orrick’s chief operating officer, commented, “Peter’s real-world experience designing and implementing knowledge management systems for world-class law firms translates into a substantial asset as Orrick advances into this important arena. I’m enthusiastic about our growing momentum as we set out to serve our clients more effectively and efficiently than ever.”

“I am excited to have the opportunity to elevate Orrick’s knowledge management program to new heights,” said Peter Krakaur. “The spirit of cooperation and mutual respect that I’ve found at Orrick is an excellent seed bed in fostering an environment of shared knowledge and experience.”

As the legal industry becomes increasingly interested in knowledge management as an invaluable tool for lawyers, Krakaur has been at the forefront of the movement. Before coming to Orrick, he spearheaded the knowledge management initiative at Heller Ehrman White & McAuliffe, LLP. As Heller’s chief knowledge officer, Krakaur identified a series of knowledge management projects to support the firm’s national practice groups and business development efforts.

Prior to Heller, Krakaur acted as a knowledge manager and of counsel at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison, LLP, where he had been an environmental and litigation associate nine years prior. Krakaur holds a J.D. degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and a B.A. degree from Vassar College.

About Orrick
Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP is a global law firm with more than 1,100 lawyers in North America, Europe and Asia. The firm focuses on litigation, complex and novel finance and innovative corporate transactions. Orrick clients include Fortune 100 companies, major industrial and financial corporations, commercial and investment banks, high-growth companies, governmental entities, start-ups and individuals. The firm's 22 offices are located in Beijing, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, Milan, Moscow, New York, Orange County, Paris, Portland, Rome, Sacramento, San Francisco, Seattle, Shanghai, Silicon Valley, Taipei, Tokyo and Washington, D.C.

Contact
For more information, please contact us by e-mail pr@orrick.com or telephone at
415-773-5972.