Press Release
Duane Morris' Philadelphia Office Adds Partner Alexander Bono
PHILADELPHIA, February 2, 2009 - Duane Morris LLP has added Alexander "Lex" Bono as a partner in its Trial Practice Group in the firm's Philadelphia office. Bono, respected throughout the Philadelphia business and legal community as a leader and skilled banking lawyer, will enhance Duane Morris' existing trial and appellate capabilities in securities and corporate litigation as well as corporate governance issues. Previously, Bono held leadership positions in two large Philadelphia law firms and served as general counsel of Cherry Hill, N.J.-based Commerce Bancorp (since acquired by TD Bank).
With more than three decades of experience, Bono focuses his practice on securities and corporate litigation with an emphasis on corporate governance issues, shareholder derivative claims, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enforcement defense and securities class action defense, as well as general business and consumer disputes. He represents clients in the financial services sector, including commercial banks, investment banks and broker/dealers, in federal and state courts and before the SEC and other federal agencies. He also counsels corporations in internal investigations and SEC matters. Bono has extensive experience defending companies against securities class actions throughout the United States, and has defended corporate leadership against shareholder, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud claims. His general business litigation practice encompasses a broad legal spectrum, including real estate and environmental work, restrictive covenants, trademark and intellectual property, ERISA and RICO class actions and consumer and privacy class actions and regulation. Bono is also experienced in helping clients settle matters using alternative dispute resolution.
Bono has held several leadership positions both in law firms and in an in-house capacity. Most recently, he was chair of the Securities Litigation Practice Group at Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP. As the first general counsel of Commerce Bancorp, from 2004 to 2007, he assembled and managed the bank's legal team, which also oversaw the bank's securities broker/dealer and insurance broker subsidiaries, and handled a wide range of legal matters involving securities, labor and employment, intellectual property, privacy and consumer issues and related litigation and regulation. Prior to that, Bono practiced at Blank Rome LLP for 27 years, where he rose to chair the Corporate Litigation Practice Group and was a member of the firm's management committee.
Bono is also active in the community, serving on the board of directors of Catholic Health Care Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. He formerly served on the board of directors of St. John's Hospice, Don Guanella Village, St. Gabriel's Hall, St. Edmond's Home for Children and Women of Hope. He also formerly served on United Way's Admission/Special Response Committee and Fund Distribution/Central Allocations Committee and acted as chair of its Children's Services Review Committee and the Delaware County Review Committee.
Bono earned his J.D. from Temple University School of Law in 1977, where he served as the research editor of the Temple Law Quarterly, and graduated with a B.A. in Political Science, magna cum laude, from LaSalle University in 1974.
About Duane Morris
Duane Morris LLP, a full-service law firm of more than 650 attorneys, offers innovative solutions across diverse industries in the United States and internationally to address the legal and business challenges of today's evolving global markets.
