Nationwide Mesothelioma Law Firm SimmonsCooper LLC Changes Name, Adds Browder Gianaris Angelides & Barnerd to Letterhead

East Alton, IL (PRWeb) July 27, 2009 -- In conjunction with its 10th anniversary on July 20th, SimmonsCooper LLC, a leading national law firm in the fight against mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, changed its name to Simmons Browder Gianaris Angelides & Barnerd LLC. The firm will continue to be commonly known as "the Simmons firm."

The reason behind the firm's new name is a desire to recognize its leadership, founding partner John Simmons said. Five of the fourteen partners at the firm--Perry Browder, Ted Gianaris, Michael Angelides, and John Barnerd--are reflected in the new name. Jeff Cooper, a member of the firm since 2000, will remain Of Counsel.

Simmons said that the 10-year anniversary is an achievement, but there is more work to do. "More than anything, I want to express my gratitude for the trust of thousands of clients and their families across the country," Simmons said. "From the courtroom to the living room to the hospital room, they allowed us into their lives. That is the ultimate compliment. They are, and will always remain, part of our family."

The Simmons firm's relocation of its headquarters from East Alton, Ill., to Alton, Ill., will consolidate its employees into one building at 401 Alton Street, formerly occupied by Smurfit-Stone Container Corp. The Simmons firm's employees currently occupy six buildings in different locations throughout the East Alton area. The Simmons firm purchased the Alton building last week and will rehab the building before employees move into it by the end of 2010.

Mesothelioma (http://www.simmonsfirm.com/practices-mesothelioma-asbestos.html), a rare cancer caused by exposure to asbestos and other asbestos-related diseases, kills approximately 10,000 people each year. Since 1999, the Simmons firm has helped thousands of families from every state in the country, including obtaining a $250 million verdict on behalf of a U.S. steel worker - the single largest asbestos verdict in the United States.

The Simmons firm also is a leading national advocate in raising public awareness and funds for research to find better care, and, ultimately, a cure, for mesothelioma. The firm has pledged more than $20 million to charitable causes, including $15 million to cancer research, $10 million of which helped build the SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute (http://www.siumed.edu/cancer/) at Southern Illinois University in Springfield.

"Our pledge is to provide representation to victims suffering from what were and are preventable, life-ending illnesses," Simmons said. "We will also continue to stand as a leading national advocate in raising public awareness and funds for research to find better care, and, ultimately, a cure, for mesothelioma. Our 10th anniversary is an opportunity to reflect on a remarkable decade, including the incredible contributions of our employees, but much work remains."

About Simmons Browder Gianaris Angelides & Barnerd LLC:

The Simmons firm (http://www.simmonsfirm.com) is a leading national law firm in the fight against mesothelioma. With offices in Illinois and California, the firm has represented thousands of patients and families affected by mesothelioma from all across the country. The mesothelioma lawyers (http://www.simmonsfirm.com/practices-mesothelioma-asbestos.html) at Simmons firm are passionate about improving the lives of victims of mesothelioma and asbestos-related illnesses and have pledged over $15 million to cancer research. The firm also has practice areas in intellectual property, pharmaceutical litigation, and business litigation.

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