SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(MARKET WIRE)--Oct 9, 2008 -- Cooley Godward Kronish announced today a complete victory on behalf of client Kent Roberts, former General Counsel with software company McAfee Inc., in a high-profile stock options backdating case. It is the first acquittal for an executive facing federal criminal charges related to the alleged improper backdating of stock options.

Mr. Roberts was acquitted last Friday of two counts of mail fraud in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California. The jury deadlocked on a third count related to allegedly falsifying records. The U.S. Attorney's Office announced this week that it will drop that charge and has terminated its case against Mr. Roberts.

"Mr. Roberts had long sought his day in court to prove his innocence," said lead trial counsel and Cooley Chairman Stephen C. Neal. "On his behalf, we are very pleased with the jury's decision last Friday and that the remaining charge was dropped this week," Mr. Neal added.

Neal, along with Palo Alto-based litigation partner Neal Stephens, led the Cooley defense team that included Palo Alto-based litigation associates Shannon Eagan, Chris Durbin, Einat Sandman Clarke, Allison Cheung and Meghana RaoRane.

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     Contact:
     Ashley Kanigher
     akanigher@cooley.com
     650-843-5721