The TCW Group [profile] has a new general counsel.

The firm has hired Meredith Jackson to serve as executive vice president and general counsel, effective today. She succeeds Michael Cahill, who joined the company in 1991 and will reman through mid-2013.

Jackson joins TCW from the law firm Irell & Manella, where she has served as a partner and head of the debt finance practice since she joined the firm in 1999, overseeing the structuring, negotiating and closing of numerous complex financial transactions. At Irell, Jackson has also served as co-chair of the transactional practice group, and as a member of the executive, recruiting and legal opinion committees, among others. Prior to joining Irell, Ms. Jackson was a member and co-chair of the practice committee of Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati.

Jackson has experience working with, and across the table from, TCW. For example, she advised MetWest in negotiations that led to the 2010 acquisition of the firm by TCW. More recently, MJackson worked closely with TCW and Carlyle during TCW�s 2012 acquisition of the Special Situations Funds group from Regiment Capital, and in connection with a potential credit facility.

Here is the press release:

Company Press Release

Veteran Irell & Manella Partner Brings Over Two Decades of Experience Advising On Complex Financial Transactions

LOS ANGELES � January 15, 2013 -- The TCW Group (TCW), an international asset management firm, is pleased to announce the appointment of Meredith S. Jackson as Executive Vice President and General Counsel, effective January 15, 2013. Ms. Jackson joins TCW from Irell & Manella, where she has served as a partner and head of the debt finance practice since she joined the firm in 1999, overseeing the structuring, negotiating and closing of numerous complex financial transactions. At Irell, Ms. Jackson has also served as co-chair of the transactional practice group, and as a member of the executive, recruiting and legal opinion committees, among others. Prior to joining Irell, Ms. Jackson was a member and co-chair of the practice committee of Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati.

�Meredith is a talented lawyer and negotiator with an impressive track record of delivering results for her clients and we are very happy to welcome her to TCW,� said TCW President and CEO David Lippman. �We�ve worked with her on several important initiatives, and Meredith�s understanding of complex financial transactions and financial markets will be an immediate asset to TCW. �

�I�m excited to be joining TCW during a period of sustained growth and positive transformation at the firm,� Ms. Jackson said. �I have tremendous confidence in the leadership and management at TCW, and I�m very happy to join David Lippman and his team.�

Ms. Jackson succeeds Michael Cahill, who joined TCW in 1991 and will remain with the firm through mid-2013. �We appreciate Michael�s more than two decades of service to TCW, and thank him for his dedication to the firm,� Lippman said.

Ms. Jackson advised MetWest in negotiations that led to the 2010 acquisition of the firm by TCW. More recently, Ms. Jackson worked closely with TCW and Carlyle during TCW�s 2012 acquisition of the Special Situations Funds group from Regiment Capital, and in connection with a potential credit facility. During her 24 years of experience in corporate and debt finance, Ms. Jackson has also advised lenders and borrowers, issuers and underwriters on numerous significant debt capital transactions, representing among others Bank of Boston, Citibank, The Bank of New York, Beach Point Capital, Saybrook Capital, Oppenheimer, Covad Communications, Charter Communications, GST Telecommunications, Wynn Resorts, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Pinnacle Entertainment and Fremont Financial. Ms. Jackson has also represented parties to numerous restructuring transactions, and has advised Houlihan Lokey on aspects of cross-border transactions.

Ms. Jackson has been named as one of the Best Lawyers in America, Best Attorneys in Los Angeles, and Preeminent Women Attorneys. She has been recognized by Chambers, has been selected for inclusion in Southern California "Super Lawyers" by Los Angeles Magazine each year since 2004 and has received an AV Preeminent rating from Martindale Hubbard each year since 1998. Ms. Jackson is a fellow of the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers and a member of the Board of Governors of the Financial Lawyers Conference. She has served in numerous leadership roles in the Business Law Sections of both the American

Bar Association and the California Bar Association. Ms Jackson has also been involved in legislative initiatives, has published articles and guest-lectured at law schools including Stanford University and Hastings College of the Law on topics related to debt finance, and has served as chair or panelist on numerous current issues panels.

About TCW

Founded in 1971, The TCW Group, Inc. develops and manages a broad range of innovative, value-added investment products that strive to enhance and protect clients� wealth. The firm has approximately $138 billion in assets under management, including $50 billion in mutual funds under the MetWest and TCW Fund families. TCW clients include many of the largest corporate and public pension plans, financial institutions, endowments and foundations in the U.S., as well as a substantial number of foreign investors and high net worth individuals. For more information, please refer to www.tcw.com.

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