Gregory Haworth

Walter Greenhalgh

For the first time since it opened its doors two decades ago, Duane Morris' Newark office has a new leader.

Gregory Haworth, a longtime partner handling litigation and bankruptcy-related matters, has taken over as managing partner of the Philadelphia-based firm's Newark branch.

He replaces Walter Greenhalgh, who had held the role since the office's opening in 1996. Greenhalgh, a bankruptcy lawyer, achieved the firm's retirement age of 66 last January, and is staying on as of counsel.

Haworth's appointment, made by firm chairman John Soroko and the executive committee, was effective Jan. 1, and is for an indefinite term.

"I think the biggest challenge is … it's been a very successful office, and we need to keep that going," Haworth said in an interview. "We have a good base of people. We need to continue that."

Among Haworth's charges will be to seek growth—including through lateral hires, most likely in real estate, corporate or health care practices, he said. There's also the need to "bring in work to keep the existing lawyers going," he said.

Haworth is not without leadership experience: he has for four years been a member of Duane Morris' partners board, and served as a Newark representative of the firm's trial group, assisting with such tasks as associate reviews, he said.

"I definitely will make time to do it," Haworth said of his new managing partner duties, even "if it means delegating some of my other responsibilities."

Greenhalgh is familiar with the learning curve; he called management duties "not exactly something that you love to do all the time, but they're necessary."

"It is a challenge when you first start doing it," Greenhalgh said in an interview. "It just became a matter of getting acquainted with it. … As time went on, and as we grew, the services improved each year."

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Greenhalgh was one of three lawyers tapped by Duane Morris to open the Newark office. He came from Robinson, St. John & Wayne in Newark. The Duane Morris office, presently housed at One Riverfront Plaza, launched in temporary space in One Gateway Center. The office moved to One Riverfront months later, and, when it grew to about a dozen lawyers, moved to larger space at 744 Broad St. The office then returned to One Riverfront, about four years ago.

Haworth joined as an equity partner a few years after the office's opening, in February 1999, departing Cole Schotz in Hackensack. His addition—as well as the hires of two from then-dissolving Roseland firm Hannoch Weissman, including partner Lawrence Diamond—pushed the office's attorney head count to roughly eight at the time. It now stands at 18, according to the firm's website.

"It's been a great run," Greenhalgh said, pointing to the office's head count growth over the years as his proudest achievement as Newark managing partner.

Haworth said the office's location allows for easy travel among Duane Morris' offices in the region, including New York and Boston, as well as the Philadelphia headquarters. The firm has a second office in New Jersey, in Cherry Hill.

"We have had opportunities to go elsewhere and we have dedicated ourselves to staying in Newark," Haworth said. "Bodies have to move around; it's good to be in the urban areas. … We're going to continue to be in Newark."

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