Rutan Tucker

The law firm of Rutan & Tucker, one of the county's larger office tenants, has negotiated a new lease at Central Bank Tower in Costa Mesa said by the landlord to be worth about $25 million. The lease is one of the largest in Orange County this year, covering 90,000 square feet over 10 years. Brokers said such a large tenant as Rutan & Tucker probably negotiated a very favorable deal with the landlord, C.J. Segerstrom & Sons.

Rutan & Tucker, a major Orange County law firm that specializes in advice to local governments, said Monday it has lured five local corporate-law experts away from a large regional firm. Partners Gilbert N. Kruger, Gregg Amber and Larry Cerutti and associates Kent M. Clayton and Cristy G. Lomenzo left Snell & Wilmer's Irvine office. They are experienced at representing small high-tech companies, a growing part of Orange County's economy.

No Growth at Big Firms: America's 500 largest law firms experienced almost zero growth from 1991 to 1992, according to Of Counsel 500, a publication that reports on the legal profession's demographics. According to Of Counsel, there were 90,000 lawyers working at the top firms in 1992--only seven more than a year earlier. Two firms based in Orange County made the 500 list: Rutan & Tucker in Costa Mesa and Stradling, Yocca, Carlson & Rauth in Newport Beach.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has abandoned its investigation of Orange County law firm Rutan & Tucker for possible violations of securities laws in several bond deals, a lawyer for the firm said. Instead, the SEC will focus on one lawyer at Rutan, the largest law firm based in Orange County, sources said.

Two years ago the fledgling Orange County Chamber Orchestra realized that to keep operating harmoniously it needed more than violins and cellos. The nonprofit group required legal assistance for a myriad of tasks, from drawing up contracts with visiting artists to negotiating with the musicians union. A call for help was answered by the Costa Mesa law firm of Rutan & Tucker, which donated a lawyer to serve on the orchestra's board of directors.

The 10-month-old Orange County Performing Arts Center on Tuesday sued its architects for more than $250,000 after having to replace light fixtures and parts of the tile floor in the $70.7-million facility. The lawsuit filed in Orange County Superior Court contended that four years ago, Caudill Rowlett Scott Inc. of Irvine--formerly CRS Sirrine Inc.--agreed to prepare blueprints for the posh center located east of South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.

Let's see if I've got this story straight. A man works for many years in his community. He works hard, always trying to do good as he does well. He even marries his childhood sweetheart. One day, a terrible tragedy strikes. Things look bleak. But it is on that day that he learns just how much the community loves him. Earvin Johnson, guess what? You've really had a wonderful life. Magic, you are the richest man in town. MARK KAWAKAMI Los Angeles

Rutan & Tucker, a major Orange County law firm that specializes in advice to local governments, said Monday it has lured five local corporate-law experts away from a large regional firm. Partners Gilbert N. Kruger, Gregg Amber and Larry Cerutti and associates Kent M. Clayton and Cristy G. Lomenzo left Snell & Wilmer's Irvine office. They are experienced at representing small high-tech companies, a growing part of Orange County's economy.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has abandoned its investigation of Orange County law firm Rutan & Tucker for possible violations of securities laws in several bond deals, a lawyer for the firm said. Instead, the SEC will focus on one lawyer at Rutan, the largest law firm based in Orange County, sources said.

No Growth at Big Firms: America's 500 largest law firms experienced almost zero growth from 1991 to 1992, according to Of Counsel 500, a publication that reports on the legal profession's demographics. According to Of Counsel, there were 90,000 lawyers working at the top firms in 1992--only seven more than a year earlier. Two firms based in Orange County made the 500 list: Rutan & Tucker in Costa Mesa and Stradling, Yocca, Carlson & Rauth in Newport Beach.

Let's see if I've got this story straight. A man works for many years in his community. He works hard, always trying to do good as he does well. He even marries his childhood sweetheart. One day, a terrible tragedy strikes. Things look bleak. But it is on that day that he learns just how much the community loves him. Earvin Johnson, guess what? You've really had a wonderful life. Magic, you are the richest man in town. MARK KAWAKAMI Los Angeles

The law firm of Rutan & Tucker, one of the county's larger office tenants, has negotiated a new lease at Central Bank Tower in Costa Mesa said by the landlord to be worth about $25 million. The lease is one of the largest in Orange County this year, covering 90,000 square feet over 10 years. Brokers said such a large tenant as Rutan & Tucker probably negotiated a very favorable deal with the landlord, C.J. Segerstrom & Sons.

The 10-month-old Orange County Performing Arts Center on Tuesday sued its architects for more than $250,000 after having to replace light fixtures and parts of the tile floor in the $70.7-million facility. The lawsuit filed in Orange County Superior Court contended that four years ago, Caudill Rowlett Scott Inc. of Irvine--formerly CRS Sirrine Inc.--agreed to prepare blueprints for the posh center located east of South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa.

Two years ago the fledgling Orange County Chamber Orchestra realized that to keep operating harmoniously it needed more than violins and cellos. The nonprofit group required legal assistance for a myriad of tasks, from drawing up contracts with visiting artists to negotiating with the musicians union. A call for help was answered by the Costa Mesa law firm of Rutan & Tucker, which donated a lawyer to serve on the orchestra's board of directors.

Over objections from Supervisor Don R. Roth, the Board of Supervisors has voted to hire the law firm of Rutan & Tucker even though it is involved in 22 lawsuits against the county. The Costa Mesa firm is to handle a forthcoming bond issue. Roth asked the county counsel whether such an appointment would represent a conflict of interest.