Press Release
Duane Morris Partner Robert Byer Appointed to Serve on Pennsylvania Bar Association's Amicus Curiae Brief Committee
PITTSBURGH AND PHILADELPHIA, May 18, 2011—Duane Morris partner Robert Byer has been appointed by the president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) to serve on its Amicus Curiae Brief Committee. The Amicus Curiae Brief Committee identifies legal issues relevant to the bar that are appropriate subjects for amicus curiae briefs. The committee is responsible for preparing and arguing the positions advanced on behalf of the association in these briefs.
Byer is head of the Appellate division of Duane Morris' Trial Practice Group and practices out of both the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia offices. He focuses his practice in appellate and legal issues litigation, covering a wide range of legal areas. Byer recently led a team of Duane Morris attorneys in representing the Association of Corporate Counsel, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Philadelphia Bar Association in obtaining a Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision in Gillard v. AIG Insurance Co., which overturned a 2008 Pennsylvania Superior Court decision that severely limited the attorney-client privilege.
In addition to his work as an appellate lawyer, Byer has experience in complex civil and intellectual property litigation. He advises major corporations on issues related to commercial contracts, corporate governance, corporate compliance, dispute resolution, ethics and internal investigations. Byer is a Fellow of the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers and a member of the American Law Institute. He is also a former judge of the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court and the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline. Byer received both his J.D. and B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh and also engaged in postgraduate studies at Harris Manchester College, Oxford University.
About the PBA
Established in 1895, PBA aims to advance the science of jurisprudence; to promote the administration of justice; to see that no one, on account of poverty, is denied his or her legal rights; to secure proper legislation; to encourage a thorough legal education; to uphold the honor and dignity of the bar; to cultivate cordial intercourse among the lawyers of Pennsylvania; and to perpetuate the history of the profession and the memory of its members.
About Duane Morris
Duane Morris LLP, a full-service law firm with more than 700 attorneys in 24 offices in the United States and internationally, offers innovative solutions to the legal and business challenges presented by today's evolving global markets.
