Four longtime litigators at Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott left the firm on Thursday to start work Friday at the Pittsburgh office of Philadelphia-based Duane Morris.

Kevin Allen, Daniel McLane and Michael Pest came aboard as partners and Thomas E. Sanchez as special counsel as part of the firm's trial practice group. Allen will additionally serve as co-managing partner of Duane Morris’ downtown office, sharing the post with Kenneth Argentieri, who was appointed to the role in 2013.

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With the new additions, Duane Morris now has 10 full-time lawyers in Pittsburgh, plus two based in Philadelphia that spend time in that office. Duane Morris also has more than 800 lawyers and about 1,600 employees in the U.S. and abroad, including 221 lawyers and about 600 employees in its Philadelphia headquarters. Duane Morris’ size, national and international reach and its growth strategy that’s included recent expansion in New York and Texas appealed to Allen, particularly for how he can maximize this to better serve his clients.

“I started at Thorp Reed & Armstrong (now Clark Hill) and was there for 17 years and it was perfect for me at that time in my career,” Allen said. “Nine years or so ago, I decided to make a switch to Eckert, not through dissatisfaction at Thorp Reed, but because of what I observed at Eckert with growth and a larger platform. It was a great place to work. I’m at another stage in my career.”

“I’m very thankful to Duane Morris for providing the opportunity to take on this new leadership role. I’ve known Ken through the years professionally, and I’m excited to work with him."

How internal administrative duties are handled will be determined after Allen’s been on board for awhile, Argentieri said.

“I’m sure we’ll start by executing our strategic growth plan in Pittsburgh to add additional key lawyers at the office,” Argentieri said.“We’re always hopeful and welcoming to litigators and great lawyers, but we would like to add to the headcount with corporate, intellectual property, real estate, employment and labor and anywhere that good talent would be interested in developing their practice and using the platform of Duane Morris to grow their — and the firm’s — practice.”

“I want — and I know Ken wants — the Pittsburgh office to be known for having an extraordinary focus on client service and in order to do that effectively, we need lawyers who feel that same way, who have that urgency and desire to provide that level of service 24/7, 365, to help clients when they need help," Allen said.

Duane Morris is not saying how many lawyers it wants to add here. 

“I want — and I know Ken wants — the Pittsburgh office to be known for having an extraordinary focus on client service and in order to do that effectively, we need lawyers who feel that same way, who have that urgency and desire to provide that level of service 24/7, 365, to help clients when they need help," Allen said.

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