L.A. Law Firm Entrusts Intercity High-Speed Link, Business Continuity and Data Storage to Verizon

LOS ANGELES - Given a choice in communication services to connect its downtown L.A. office with its San Francisco office, a leading law firm chose Verizon.

The law firm of Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP (MTO) signed on with Verizon to develop a full-service solution for voice and data transport, disaster recovery and business continuity -- a growing concern among companies to protect case records and other vital information, and maintain communications while continuing to serve clients after a natural disaster or terrorist strike. The firm's solution includes high-speed data connections, data storage, Internet access and local and long-distance voice services to support offices here and in San Francisco, all encompassed in a $1 million agreement with Verizon.

Verizon recently extended optical networking services into downtown Los Angeles to compete directly with SBC. Under Verizon's Enterprise Advance initiative, the company supplies state-of-the-art Internet protocol networking services to enterprise customers for intercity communications nationwide.

Ed McGuinness, senior vice president of marketing for Verizon's Enterprise Solutions Group, said, "The 300 miles of optical network facilities we've built in Los Angeles is just one example of investments Verizon is making to give enterprise customers a new choice and help them keep pace with today's business realities, like disaster recovery and business continuity. Our customers need comprehensive solutions that grow with them, helping them serve clients and maintain business operations through emergencies.

"This solution for Munger, Tolles & Olson, which they chose over one offered by their local carrier, shows that we're flexible and creative in satisfying enterprise customers' specific needs," McGuinness said.

Munger, Tolles & Olson now shares information instantly between Los Angeles and San Francisco at a rate of 45 megabits per second. All of its client information and critical records are replicated and preserved in both cities, enabling either office to continue serving clients in the event of an emergency that forces closure of one of the offices.

MTO Executive Director Tom Edwards said, "Today's business environment requires us to take action on a wide range of risks and plan for business continuity.

"Our work with Verizon not only enabled us to develop a robust and scalable solution, it also helped us design a system that will evolve with the business."

MTO advises a nationwide client base through a litigation and transactional practice that includes securities, commercial, entertainment, environmental and labor litigation, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, bankruptcy and tax. Fast-growing practice areas include intellectual property and white-collar defense.

In fact, Munger Tolles has already tested the ability to "scale up" its Verizon service. While the flow of data traffic between offices was initially set at 4.5 megabits per second, recent growth called for speeds of 45 megabits per second, a ten-fold upgrade that Verizon implemented without interrupting the law firm's business operations. Scalability enables business customers to adjust communication speed for the most cost-efficient level that meets traffic demand, with incremental increases of up to roughly 10 gigabits per second. Verizon provided storage hardware and software from EMC, a leader in information management technology with offerings that are similarly scalable, extending the value of the law firm's IT investment.

MTO Information Technology Director John Stambelos said, "Our Verizon account team took the initiative to understand our specific needs and design an end-to-end solution.

"They've been creative, packaging high-speed and long-distance data services, bringing in EMC for storage and providing an answer that's far more complete than we've seen from other carriers."

In addition to new network facilities in Los Angeles, Verizon has extended optical fiber into the Los Angeles, Dallas and Seattle metro areas, reaching into the territories of other incumbent phone companies so that large business and government customers have the option to choose Verizon even in areas not previously served by the company. In Los Angeles, Verizon now serves customers in health care, education, entertainment, advertising and professional services.

To provide long-distance nationwide, Verizon undertook the Enterprise Advance initiative, which now reaches 56 metropolitan areas across the country with service provided through Verizon Select Services Inc.

Verizon Enterprise Solutions Group manages the design, operation and maintenance of end-to-end integrated network solutions for large business, government and education customers across the United States. With over 7,200 employees in 35 states, Verizon Enterprise Solutions Group offers a complete range of basic and advanced communications products and services to meet the voice, video, data and IP-related needs of its customers. In addition, over 5,200 field operations personnel support enterprise customers nationwide. In the enterprise market, Verizon Select Services Inc. provides Verizon long-distance service. For more information on products and services available through Verizon Enterprise Solutions Group, visit www.verizon.com/enterprisesolutions.

Verizon Communications

A Dow 30 company, Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services, with approximately $68 billion in annual revenues. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world, as measured by directory titles and circulation. Verizon's international presence includes wireline and wireless communications operations and investments, primarily in the Americas and Europe. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

####