DALLAS – Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP has been recognized as a “Go-To Law Firm” in the annual listing of In-House Law Departments at the Top 500 Companies.

Selections for the in-house reference guide published by Corporate Counsel magazine are based on surveys of general counsels from the Fortune 500 list of the top companies in the U.S., combined with in-depth research by the publication’s staff.

In the survey, general counsels were asked to name the outside firms they turn to for legal assistance. In-House Law Departments at the Top 500 Companies will be published in January 2009.

Gardere was honored for its labor & employment work with Allied Waste Industries (NYSE: AW) and Pilgrim’s Pride (NYSE:PPC).

The firm earned additional recognition for its intellectual property work with El Paso Corp. (NYSE: EP) and litigation work on behalf of Smith International (NYSE: SII).

“We are very honored by this recognition,” says Gardere Managing Partner Steve Good. “These are four companies we respect tremendously.  It’s an honor to be trusted with their legal representation.  We work hard to help our clients achieve their business needs, and it is gratifying to receive this recognition for those efforts.”

Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, an AmLaw 200 firm, was founded in 1909 and is one of the Southwest’s largest full-service law firms. With offices in Austin, Dallas, Houston and Mexico City, Gardere provides legal services to private and public companies and individuals in areas of energy, litigation, corporate, tax, environmental, labor and employment, intellectual property and financial services.

Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP

214.999.3000 214.999.4667 fax

www.gardere.com

Contact: Lisa Whitley Coleman 214.999.4548 lcoleman@gardere.com