Press Release
Duane Morris Names Baltimore Partner George Nemphos Chair of Firmwide Corporate Practice Group
BALTIMORE, June 1, 2010—International law firm Duane Morris LLP is pleased to announce that Baltimore office managing partner George Nemphos has been named chair of the firm's worldwide Corporate Practice Group. Nemphos succeeds partner John Horstmann as head of the more than 130-lawyer practice. The move demonstrates Duane Morris' commitment to its growing national presence, marking the first time in which leadership of one of the firm's largest practice areas is based outside of Philadelphia.
"During the past five years, John Horstmann has led the corporate group with great skill and vision," said John Soroko, Chairman of Duane Morris. "I know that I speak for the entire firm when I thank John for his service in that role. George has proven himself an accomplished corporate lawyer, an entrepreneurial thinker and a skilled business leader. I'm confident that he will bring great energy, enthusiasm and focus to the group as its new chair."
Nemphos takes the reins of an active and broad-based international corporate practice. During the past several years, Duane Morris corporate lawyers have assisted in many significant and widely known transactions. They include the $655 million acquisition of United Malt Holdings Ltd., the world's fourth-largest manufacturer of malt used in whiskey and beer, by Australia-based client GrainCorp Ltd in October 2009; the multi-hundred million-dollar acquisition of client Protez Pharmaceuticals by Swiss drug maker Novartis Pharmaceuticals in June 2008; the sale by client Sunoco Inc. of its polypropylene subsidiary Sunoco Chemicals, Inc. to Brazil petrochemical giant Braskem SA for $350 million in February 2010; and the $6.2 billion sale of client Inland Retail Real Estate Trust Inc. to Developers Diversified Realty Corp. in October 2006. In May 2009, Dow Jones Private Equity Analyst named the firm among the 50 most active private equity and venture capital practices in the country by number of deals closed in 2008.
"I regard this new role as an amazing opportunity," Nemphos said. "I am completely committed to growing the strengths and resources of this great group and firm. It is a profound honor, and I am grateful to my partners and to Chairman John Soroko for his trust and faith."
A Baltimore native and resident with deep roots in the local entrepreneurial community, Nemphos helped to establish Duane Morris' presence in the city in January 2007, as part of a group of four partners who joined the firm from DLA Piper. As Baltimore managing partner, he has led the office in achieving rapid growth in both lawyer headcount and scope of practice offerings. The Baltimore office consists of 20 lawyers practicing in numerous areas, including corporate, securities, mergers and acquisitions, complex financial transactions, banking, commercial litigation, alternative dispute resolution, maritime law, healthcare, intellectual property and related litigation, gaming and products liability. It also boasts a growing government relations practice through Duane Morris Government Affairs.
Nemphos has extensive experience representing both private and public companies, venture capitalists and angel investors, with particular emphasis on private equity funds and deals. He frequently represents clients in mergers and acquisitions transactions as well as securities law, compliance and general corporate matters. Nemphos' clients have included emerging businesses, high-tech and telecommunications corporations, private equity and venture capital funds, manufacturing companies, and businesses in the capital markets, life sciences and homeland security industries. He is also a member of the firm's national governing Partners Board, and has been instrumental in the corporate group's lateral partner recruiting process. He also served as the group's marketing partner.
In 2001, Nemphos was named one of the "40 Under 40" business leaders in Baltimore by the Baltimore Business Journal. He is a graduate of the 2006 GBC Leadership program, a program that selects Baltimore-area leaders from business, nonprofits and the government to become strategists for the future of the region. In addition, in September 2008, Institutional Investor named Nemphos as one of "10 Rising Stars of Private Equity and M&A Law." He is also listed in the 2009 edition of Maryland Super Lawyers.
Admitted to practice in Maryland, Nemphos is a 1994 magna cum laude graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law, where he was a member of the Heusiler Honor Society and the Tax Moot Court team. He also holds an LL.M. in Taxation from the Georgetown University Law Center and is a graduate of Boston University.
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.
