Chambers USA Honors Duane Morris Attorneys
Duane Morris' practice groups received 14 citations for excellence from Chambers USA: 2006. The book also cited 30 individual Duane Morris attorneys. The following excerpts from Chambers can also be found at www.chambersandpartners.com.
Antitrust
Pennsylvania
The Firm The seven-attorney antitrust team at the firm's Philadelphia and Pittsburgh offices has handled a number of antitrust class action cases over the past year. Although the team has an excellent reputation for its healthcare focus, this year it has seen an uptake in the volume of work from manufacturing and dealership sectors.
The Lawyers Healthcare antitrust issues are central to Wayne Mack's practice. He recently received a verdict in favor of a hospital in an antitrust action brought by a cardiothoracic surgeon who alleged a group of hospitals had conspired to restrict his privileges. Mack is also a member of the firm's dealer services group, which represents automobile and truck dealers in a range of matters.
Clients/Work Highlights The firm defended a Japanese manufacturer against price-fixing allegations, and represented plaintiff Diamond International in the Detroit Diesel litigation. Lehigh Valley Hospital and Lancaster General Hospital can also be counted as clients, among others.
Banking & Finance
Illinois
The Firm Small but perfectly formed, the seven-attorney banking and finance team at this reputable Chicago firm features "strong personalities" who are "responsive and get the deal done." Primarily representing lenders on refinancings, secured and unsecured loans and acquisitions, the team is also well regarded for its real estate finance capability.
The Lawyers Possessing "a good bedside manner" and "a flair for complex transactions," Brian Kerwin is a significant factor in the success of the team's carefully targeted midmarket practice. Spending the majority of his time on banking and finance matters (he also mixes in some M&A work), Kerwin represents banks, private equity funds and corporations on a variety of syndicated, mezzanine and acquisition financings. His "energy and tact" appeal to a hugely loyal clientele, and in the past twelve months he has represented long-term clients LaSalle Bank National Association on a complex $225 million refinancing, and Fifth Third Bank on several acquisition financings totaling $30 million. Characterized by "good legal knowledge and the ability to translate that into business matters," Kenneth Latimer is respected among his bank and financial institution clients for being "a hard-working, nuts-and-bolts lawyer." He acts for lenders on asset-based secured loans, unsecured financings and syndicated lending transactions.
Clients/Work Highlights LaSalle Bank National Association; Fifth Third Bank; Northern Trust; AA Capital Partners; Lake Forest Bank & Trust; Wells Fargo Foothill and Alpine Investors.
Pennsylvania
The firm is ranked in the 1st tier.
The Firm Banking and finance is one of the strongest areas for this team, which is part of an interdisciplinary group that offers commercial finance, corporate finance and tax expertise. The team acquits itself with credit in complex and sophisticated transactions such as asset-based transactions, cash flow, syndicated loans, public securities, tax financing and project financing. The team acted recently as Pennsylvania counsel to the group financing the construction of sports arenas for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Philadelphia Phillies. The firm's merger with San Francisco's Hancock Rothert & Bunshoft increases its footprint nationwide. Lawyers draw on expertise from offices across the USA to advise banks, hedge funds and investment groups, mainly lender-side, on a national and international basis. For example, the team acted for a wholesale and retail lender in transactions in the UK. Clients praise the group's "excellent commercial and business instincts" in restructuring and bankruptcy.
The Lawyers John Horstmann heads the corporate group but is equally active on the insolvency and banking and finance sides. Clients appreciate his "outstanding abilities, combining technical and people skills to great effect." He handles lender-side transactions for large insurance companies and banks such as Bank of America, and is praised for his commercial loan documentation and commercial reorganizations. Dianne Meyer's "ability to get right to the heart of the matter" wins her fans. She chairs the commercial finance group and offers a "significant business background" as a certified public accountant. She advises lenders such as Wachovia on large loan transactions and asset-based cash flow matters, and is active in healthcare and bond transactions.
Clients/Work Highlights Clients include ABN AMRO; Fifth Third Bank; LaSalle Bank National Association; Mellon Financial; Northern Trust; Sovereign Bank; Universal American Mortgage; GE Capital and Vauxhall Finance.
Bankruptcy/Restructuring
Massachusetts
The Firm Duane Morris commands a "substantial bankruptcy practice" across the region, combining strength in Boston with a sizable presence in other areas of the country. Sources particularly recommended the group for its expertise in business reorganization and financial restructuring matters. It is justly renowned for its representation of debtors; however the team also acts for a range of other clients, including secured lenders, creditors' committees and trustees.
The Lawyers The "extremely smart" Paul Moore is widely acknowledged as the force behind this firm's success in the bankruptcy arena. Admired for his skill in acting for debtors, his "take no prisoners" style is a hit with clients, especially since it is combined with a deep vein of pragmatism.
Clients/Work Highlights The team is currently acting for United Shoe Machinery in its Chapter 11 proceedings. It recently represented Canusa Corporation of Baltimore in the Chapter 11 of Bay State Paper Company. Other clients include MacLean's Seafood, Foss Manufacturing and Greenleaf IV Inc.
Pennsylvania
The firm is ranked in the 1st tier.
The Firm A substantial team of over 40 attorneys works on a cross-office basis, from 12 bases right across the country. This broad coverage ensures a national profile. In line with the firm's respected profile in the financial institutions field, this team is especially prominent in secured creditor representation, although the client base has broadened to include debtors, creditors' committees and trustees. The group is known for its ability to achieve early resolution of cases, as one client explained: "These lawyers are business people who look for practical solutions. They are not just in the business to litigate." According to clients, the depth of experience of the team's senior figures "instills a comfort and confidence factor." The lack of bureaucracy at this firm is another plus point: "They are always responsive to what I need, and if I need other expertise from within the firm they will call me back in one hour. I like the fact that I don't have to channel everything through one partner."
The Lawyers Widely respected senior statesman David Sykes "displays a quality that is often lacking at the bankruptcy Bar - he is not so busy advocating that he forgets to step back and think what it will take to make the deal work. He has brilliant judgment." Sykes is increasingly called upon to offer expert testimony and frequently represents clients in litigation at trial and appellate level. Head of the firm's corporate practice, "consensus builder" John Horstmann provides the broadest experience and viewpoint, according to clients, who describe him as "a pragmatic lawyer who knows the right people and gets the job done." He typically acts for the large financial and lending institutions on a national and international scale. Recent assignments include representing Société Générale in litigation connected to the Adelphia Chapter 11 proceedings. He currently acts for a European-based international bank in secured loans collection and litigation concerning a luxury resort complex in the US Virgin Islands. National practice head Skip Di Massa is "a superb lawyer with the personality to get the deal done, and a leader who can get a group together to forge an acceptable result." Lawrence Kotler wins special praise from lender clients, who value his responsiveness and ability to understand both the legal and business issues. Margery Reed is especially well known for her representation of secured lenders, whom she advises on bankruptcy and debt restructuring, secured transactions and credit enhancement issues. She is "just a practical and smart bankruptcy lawyer - a go-to person for those tricky issues and very responsive to the differing needs of her clients." Recent assignments on behalf of creditors include Delta Air Lines, Delphi, Allied Holdings and FOAMEX.
Clients/Work Highlights Further highlights include representing GMAC Commercial Mortgage Corporation in the Kmart bankruptcy case and advising Lucent Technologies in the Leap Wireless and Cricket Communications cases.
Corporate/M&A
Pennsylvania
The Firm More than 20 lawyers in Pennsylvania form part of a 100-plus strong team on a national level. Additional lawyers offer specialist expertise in areas such as ERISA, tax, finance, IP, healthcare and bankruptcy - and it is this one-stop shop label that appears most attractive to clients. The team is active across all industry sectors and tends to work with midmarket companies, in addition to some venture and equity funds. The firm's strong insurance focus is an additional drawing card for clients.
The Lawyers Kathleen Shay has developed a respected emerging businesses, life science and securities practice. Recent successes include advising the developer of antibiotics to combat drug-resistant and life-threatening infections in its $15 million Series B Preferred Stock financing. She also represented a Princeton-based cancer research firm, which raised in excess of $40 million in a deal that included a cross-border restructuring.
Clients/Work Highlights Further clients are Sunoco; Psilos Group; Centocor; Targeted Diagnostics & Therapeutics and Fujirebio Diagnostics.
Texas
Clients admired the "good, solid, friendly and efficient" Charles Harrell of Duane Morris LLP for his "knowledge and understanding" of clients' businesses. The former Weil, Gotshal & Manges lawyer carries out a range of debt and equity securities offerings and corporate finance transactions, concentrating in the middle market.
Employment
Pennsylvania
Tom Servodidio chairs the employment and immigration practice groups at Duane Morris LLP. As one client remarked: "I would put him up against any big New York lawyer in a second; he is a practical and robust advocate for his client and hands-down the person I call for guiding me through the minefield of HR issues." He handles a mix of short-term and strategic counseling issues, traditional labor issues and employment litigation, including restrictive covenant, defamation, wrongful discharge and retaliation matters.
Energy & Natural Resources
Georgia
The Firm The Atlanta office of this national outfit is a new addition to the rankings following enthusiastic praise from both clients and peers for its "extremely high-quality service" in handling energy regulatory and projects matters. One satisfied customer claimed: "The lawyers do a fantastic job of relationship building; they always make me feel like I am their most important client." Recent highlights include creating and representing a joint venture involving a greenfield gas-fired power generation project in Michigan and acting for the contractor on a power plant environmental upgrade project in Georgia.
The Lawyers Charles Whitney commands "the utmost respect" from interviewees and was declared the bedrock of the firm's Atlanta energy practice. Clients spoke of his "immense breadth of knowledge - not only is he a fantastic lawyer, but he has worked in the industry, understands the power business and how it feels to be a client." His recent work includes representing Mirant, PEPCO and Reliant Energy in a variety of fuel procurement matters.
Clients/Work Highlights Mirant; PEPCO; Reliant Energy and Orion Power.
Healthcare
Florida
The Firm This firm has a "huge national presence in terms of healthcare" and is growing in stature in the Florida market. Clients appreciate the international reach of its 18 offices and, in terms of healthcare, the sector coverage of the overall healthcare group is a big selling feature. Advice on healthcare fraud and abuse, regulatory and operational issues are key features of the practice, although the negotiation of Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement issues is considered the true forte of the group.
The Lawyers Clients agree that Joanne Erde is "clear-cut, responsive and not one to beat around the bush." A leader in the specialty area of healthcare reimbursement, clients find it "unusual to find an attorney like her who understands the accounting issues as well as the jurisdictional and legal." Nanette O'Donnell mainly focuses on fraud and abuse, compliance and operational matters and is described as "one for us all to watch out for." Clients describe John Schwartz as "a low-key character and a supreme technician." He focuses on the corporate elements to transactional healthcare and is often found representing institutional providers in the M&A and joint ventures of healthcare institutions.
Clients/Work Highlights Hospitals; nonprofit organizations; diagnostic imaging centers and other healthcare providers are the generic staple clients of this group.
Immigration
District of Columbia
The firm is ranked in the 1st tier.
The Firm This full-service firm has developed a specialist group that advises on complex corporate immigration issues and litigation. Its attorneys are well versed in obtaining both immigrant and nonimmigrant visas, and have established a number of training and compliance programs for corporate clients. The group has also introduced a specialist management database program to ensure clients can be kept up to date on relevant issues. While the bulk of the practice is focused on business clients, the team does handle family-based immigration and litigation matters. The group interacts regularly with the Departments of State, Labor and Homeland Security on legislative issues and government affairs.
The Lawyers Head of the immigration practice group, Denyse Sabagh is a "good fighter who always has the best interests of her clients at heart." Sources also described her as "proactive and well connected." Sabagh enjoys a particularly strong reputation in litigation and has a niche focus on Arab-American issues. Another respected partner is Roberta Freedman. "She really knows what she's talking about and does a great job," enthused clients.
Clients/Work Highlights The firm's clientele includes companies from the manufacturing, technology, health care and pharmaceutical sectors.
Insurance
California
The firm is ranked in the 1st tier.
The Firm California insurance giant Hancock Rothert & Bunshoft announced its merger with full-service, national firm Duane Morris as of January 2006. The combined firm provides Hancock with deeper bench strength and an enhanced national reach. The group will have more than 100 lawyers involved in insurance coverage work across the USA. During research, commentators consistently praised the "terrific" group of Hancock lawyers for remaining a "significant force in London market coverage." Hancock attorneys have long represented Lloyd's entities as well as other European, US and Bermudian insurance and reinsurance companies, some of which are existing Duane Morris clients. The group's prominence in litigation in this market is also well documented: it continues to impress following its involvement in the long-running Kaiser Aluminum dispute, numbering landmark coverage cases among its defense verdicts. Outside the remit of London market insurers, the team maintains a distinguished cadre of top-drawer clients. Yahoo! has retained the group in significant coverage matters regarding commercial disputes and data security. Clients highlighted the team's "detail-oriented" stance and "impressive turnaround times" with many appreciating its ultimate commitment in "going all out to defend with professionalism and integrity."
The Lawyers The inimitable Philip Matthews "gets right to the heart of coverage issues" and has been involved in some of the most significant insurance trials and appeals in California, notably the Kaiser Aluminum asbestos litigation. Peers describe him as "an honorable opponent" with expert facilitation and management skills who is "quite remarkable in his ability to settle seemingly intractable cases." According to commentators, the "calm, thoughtful" Richard Seabolt "always thinks three or four chess moves ahead to maximize clients' options." He is lauded for his work on major matters concerning environmental pollution, toxic tort and asbestos litigation. His "first-rate courtroom presence" and wealth of professional connections contribute to the high regard in which peers and clients alike hold him. He has cemented his reputation with his appointment as chair of the executive committee of the litigation section of the State Bar of California. "Heavyweight litigator" Andrew Gordon scales the rankings through garnering "great respect for his adversarial skills." He is prominent in complex multiparty insurance litigation and environmental coverage. Deborah Pitts draws praise from commentators as a "smart, hard-driving lawyer." She is recognized as a formidable opponent in insurance coverage and technology matters and is said to be "terrific on her feet at trial." "Respected and intelligent," Ray Wong features strongly in this strong and cohesive team, impressing through his settlement expertise and results-driven practice.
Clients/Work Highlights Equitas; Lloyd's; Yahoo!; Liberty Mutual and Kraft.
Insurance: Dispute Resolution
New York
The Firm Duane Morris is emerging as a leading contender for high-level insurance disputes work as its lawyers are regularly involved in leading national and international liability claims. The group is also distinguished for its insurance and reinsurance arbitrations work thanks to the outstanding reputation of Tom Newman in this field.
The Lawyers Tom Newman is rated as "top of the heap" when it comes to his performance on reinsurance arbitrations. He is frequently called upon as an expert witness in insurance cases in the USA and the UK.
Intellectual Property
Pennsylvania
The Firm Working as part of a large integrated national practice, this group handles work for clients across the USA. The Philadelphia partners recently successfully represented Internet service providers EarthLink in a Texas-based case, and also handled an injunction proceeding for a New York-based bowling facility that pursued enforcement actions of violations of their mark in the eastern district court of Pennsylvania.
The Lawyers Litigator Scott Kramer represents Tiffany & Co in copyright and trademark matters in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. He also undertakes enforcement proceedings on his clients' behalf. Peter Cronk enters the tables having picked up plaudits for his "top-notch prosecution and counseling skills." He assists clients with procuring and litigating patents and is currently representing a client accused of patent infringement for plastic well pipes. He recently represented the manufacturer of styrofoam cups in a case alleging that a lid design infringed a patent.
Clients/Work Highlights The firm acts for clients across a wide range of industries including bioscience; manufacturing; electronics and telecom.
Litigation: General Commercial and Securities
Pennsylvania
The Firm This national player has a strong presence in Pennsylvania, with around 40 trial lawyers based in Philadelphia. One of the primary focus areas for the team is products liability, where it recently defended the manufacturers of an herbal diet supplement against allegations that the drug had caused health problems in users. Other areas of work include antitrust, insurance coverage, securities and IP disputes. The team is particularly well renowned for its backbone of "excellent senior lawyers."
The Lawyers John Soroko is chair of the firm's trial practice group and is particularly well regarded as a securities litigator, although he also covers corporate and products liability disputes.
Clients/Work Highlights Wachovia; Delaware Valley Financial Group; Chester County Hospital and Bayer MaterialScience.
New Jersey
The Firm The Newark office of this national firm is making steady progress in New Jersey. It is very popular with lenders and insurers, and it has taken on prominent cases in class action defense and fraud. Clients are often national in their scope, and several overseas entities are also using the firm. Market feedback supports the group's rising profile, with its core assets being the "extremely intelligent" lawyers and the firm's comprehensive geographic footprint.
The Lawyers The "professional and timely" Gregory Haworth is respected for banking and insurance cases, including class actions. Clients say he is "excellent with adversaries - polite, calm and persuasive instead of obnoxious."
Clients/Work Highlights The team represented Wachovia on a class action concerning consumer loans. It also helped Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company settle a dispute over IP licensing. Other clients include Valley National Bank and CitiCapital.
