PHILADELPHIA, FEBRUARY 2, 2010—David T. Sykes, a renowned bankruptcy attorney who spent his entire career with Duane Morris LLP, died Monday after a long illness. He was 72. Sykes was managing partner of Duane Morris from 1994 to 1997 and served as its vice chairman from 1998 to 2004.

Described as one of the "deans of the Pennsylvania bar" by Chambers USA, Sykes was a leader recognized by many prestigious national and local bar and bankruptcy law associations. He also lectured and wrote extensively on legal topics. Sykes was a widely known civic figure, serving as chairman of the Philadelphia Committee of Seventy, a nonpartisan political watchdog group dedicated to advancing good government in the region.

"I am profoundly saddened by Dave Sykes' death," said John J. Soroko, Chairman of Duane Morris. "He was a brilliant lawyer, a role model for many of the current generation of leaders in bankruptcy and in the law generally, both inside and outside of Duane Morris, and a great friend to all who had the privilege to know and work with him. He led Duane Morris to national prominence in the area of bankruptcy law and contributed to the firm in countless ways over the years. In my mind, he was the consummate partner."

The Hon. Marjorie O. Rendell, who is a former Duane Morris partner, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and First Lady of Pennsylvania, said, "They don't come any better than Dave Sykes—in terms of human being, lawyer, leader, teacher, mentor, friend, motivator, visionary. Dave was all these things. He was the first big-firm lawyer in Philadelphia to introduce bankruptcy law as a highly respected practice area. Then he developed the practice for Duane Morris, growing the Business Reorganization and Financial Services practice group from two lawyers to the firm's national practice today. He was a passionate, tireless advocate for his clients, and his work ethic was second to none. Dave shied away from praise for himself, and always gave credit to others. He cared, really cared, about his people—lawyers and clients alike. And, of course, he loved his family and was so very proud of his two sons, David and Matt. I was lucky enough to start working with Dave in 1975, and he mentored me for 20 years. I can truly say that I would not be where I am today were it not for Dave Sykes' belief in me, and his invaluable tutelage and advice over the years."

The Hon. James M. Peck of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York and another former firm lawyer, said, "David T. Sykes was the quintessential Philadelphia lawyer and my mentor. He was a man of compassion, integrity and good humor who inspired all who knew him, especially younger lawyers at Duane Morris. I was one of those younger lawyers in the late 1970s whose career was forever changed by my exposure to Dave. He taught me by his example that professional excellence is earned the old-fashioned way through hard work. By any measure, he was a superb role model for how to practice law and how to live a life. He will be remembered for his unselfish commitment to the profession that he loved, but most of all for his humanity and his devotion to others."

And David G. Heiman, chairman of the American College of Bankruptcy and a partner at Jones Day, said that "David, far beyond obvious talent, skill, intelligence and judgment, was a beacon for what all lawyers should strive to be. His career of service and dedication to the American College of Bankruptcy was crowned by a fun-loving spirit, which I will truly miss."

Rudolph J. "Skip" Di Massa, Jr., current head of the bankruptcy practice group at Duane Morris, called Sykes his mentor, his teacher and, most importantly, his friend. "So many benefited from Dave's wisdom, his patience, his loyalty, his selflessness and his kindness," said Di Massa. "One of the most remarkable things about Dave was that he truly did not realize how he positively impacted the professional and personal lives of so many people: partners, associates, staff, co-counsel and adversaries alike. He avoided the limelight, and he was always content to let others get the credit for so many of the great results that he was instrumental in achieving."

Sykes was listed in The Best Lawyers in America for 20 years, and was ranked as one of the top 100 lawyers in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania in a poll of Pennsylvania lawyers, conducted by Law & Politics Media and Philadelphia magazine. In Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, Duane Morris—with Sykes as its bankruptcy leader for many years—was listed as having one of the top-three insolvency practices in Pennsylvania. A charter Fellow and past president of the American College of Bankruptcy, he received the College's Distinguished Service Award in March 2008. He was also a Fellow of the American College of Investment Counsel and the American Bar Foundation. Sykes was a past chair of the American Bar Association Business Bankruptcy Committee's Secured Creditors Subcommittee and served as chair of the Business Law Section and the Committee on Banking and Financial Institutions of the Philadelphia Bar Association. He was a member of the American Bar Association's Center for Professional Responsibility, the International Insolvency Institute and the Philadelphia Bar Association's Professional Guidance Committee. Sykes was the co-founder of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference, of which he was a past chair, and was the first president and a co-founder of the Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project.

Sykes played an important role professionally in many bankruptcy cases and other matters. In the bankruptcy case of Braniff International Airways, Inc., he represented a group of 14 insurance company lenders in the early 1980s—this is the case in which he established a national reputation. Sykes represented the banks in Sudbury Inc.'s bankruptcy filing. In the bankruptcy of accounting giant Laventhol & Horwath, he represented Fidelity Insurance Co., Ltd., the principal creditor. In addition, he represented Meridian Bank, N.A., and many other banks and financial institutions in many matters. Sykes represented a secured creditor in the bankruptcy of Allegheny International, Inc., the parent company of Sunbeam Products, Inc. He also represented the debtor in the bankruptcy of running-shoe company Brooks Shoes Manufacturing Company, Inc. and represented individuals referred to him by the Consumer Bankruptcy Assistance Project.

Sykes was born in Philadelphia on October 24, 1937. He was a graduate of Temple University School of Law and Hamilton College and was very active in the alumni affairs of both institutions over the years. He served as a shipboard officer aboard the U.S.S. Springfield, and was honorably discharged as a lieutenant (senior grade).

Sykes enjoyed playing golf at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, Stonewall and Sunnybrook Golf Clubs, where he had many friends and competitors. He was also an avid skier who loved taking ski trips with family and friends.

Sykes is survived by his devoted wife of 13 years, Elaine Ward Sykes, of Gladwyne, Pa.; two sons, David G. Sykes and Matthew C. Sykes; and their wives, Elizabeth and Sara. David and Matthew are also the sons of Marzy Sykes of the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia, Pa. Sykes is also survived by five beautiful grandchildren: Isabelle, Thomas, Susanna, Kendall and Juliet.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 1, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia, Pa.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to either Fox Chase Cancer Center, 333 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111; or the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, 1111 Stewart Avenue, Bethpage, NY 11714.