Park Service Searches for Missing Hiker, a Polsinelli Lawyer
Updated: Authorities are searching for a lawyer with Polsinelli Shughart in Los Angeles who didn’t return as expected on Monday from a hike in California’s Kings Canyon National Park and the adjacent Inyo National Forest.
The missing hiker is 53-year-old Lawrence “Larry” Conn, who is of counsel at Polsinelli and a member of the firm’s health care practice group. Conn was a lateral hire who joined the firm this year, according to a Polsinelli press release. He previously worked at Foley & Lardner for 24 years, according to a LinkedIn profile.
Conn is an experienced backpacker who is familiar with the area, according to the Examiner and a flyer (PDF) released by the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. He began his hike on Friday.
Twenty people from the park and the Inyo County Sheriff’s Department are participating in the operation, which includes three helicopters, according to the NPS Digest. Snow and high winds have hampered the search.
Polsinelli’s Los Angeles managing partner, Lisa Quateman, issued this statement to the ABA Journal: “Our hearts and thoughts are with Larry’s family during this difficult time. Larry is an outstanding health care attorney who has passion for his work, hiking and the outdoors. We know that he is a very experienced backpacker and his colleagues throughout the firm are optimistic that there will be a positive outcome to this situation soon.”
Updated at 12:20 p.m. to include Quateman’s statement.
