PHILADELPHIA, January 13, 2026—Duane Morris LLP has appointed partners Michael C. Hardy and Darrick M. Mix as co-chairs of the Corporate Practice Group. Hardy and Mix succeed partner Brian P. Kerwin, who has served as chair since 2015 and will continue to serve on the firm’s Partners Board and Executive Committee.
“Our global Corporate Practice Group has become a growth engine for Duane Morris, contributing significantly to our success while delivering efficient and creative solutions to our clients. While our sweet spot remains middle market transactions, mergers and acquisitions, capital markets and private equity work, we have diversified our capabilities and experience, regularly counselling clients on billion-dollar IPOs and complex transactions,” said Duane Morris Chairman and CEO Matthew A. Taylor. “This stability and success make it the ideal time to refresh our leadership toward continuing our strong trajectory and growth outlook. Mike and Darrick possess the vision and industry-specific focus we need to accelerate forward while continuing to deliver positive results and showcasing our capabilities on a global level.”
Taylor continued, “Brian Kerwin, who maintains a thriving commercial lending and finance practice supporting many high-profile banking clients, has been an extraordinary leader, guiding this practice group toward solid, consistent revenue growth while expanding our resources and talent base. Today, we are more than 200 attorneys strong, with phenomenal capabilities in key growth segments of the international transactional world. This remarkable growth has been fueled not only by Brian’s leadership on our most complex and sophisticated matters, but also by his genuine investment in personally mentoring attorneys at every level of our team.”
Partner Adam Berger will serve as vice chair of the group.
Michael C. Hardy is a partner in the firm’s Baltimore and Washington, D.C., offices and a member of the firm's governing Partners Board. He practices in the areas of corporate law and mergers and acquisitions. Hardy represents growth companies, private capital firms, asset managers and banks in transactional matters. He advises clients in connection with M&A, securities offerings, debt financings and other strategic transactions. Hardy has extensive experience advising private equity sponsors, private credit funds and portfolio companies funded by private capital across a broad range of industries. His private capital clients include middle market equity and credit funds, large global asset managers, special situations funds, independent sponsors, SBICs and family offices. Hardy also regularly advises regulated financial institutions and borrowers in connection with lending transactions. In addition to his private capital experience, he has a broad-based multidisciplinary practice providing counsel to large companies and middle market businesses. He advises management teams and boards of directors regarding strategic transactions, corporate governance and securities matters, business and tax strategy and matters relating to company operations and executive employment matters. Hardy's corporate clients include companies in the technology, financial services, consumer products, telecommunications, education, real estate, healthcare and life sciences industries. Within the technology industry, he has experience with artificial intelligence businesses, tech-enabled services, financial technology, cybersecurity, data analytics, healthcare and education technology companies.
Darrick M. Mix is a partner in the firm’s Philadelphia office, head of Duane Morris’ Securities and Capital Markets Division and a member of the firm’s governing Partners Board. He practices corporate law with concentrations in the areas of securities law, mergers and acquisitions and corporate governance. Mix has experience representing public and private companies in connection with their capital-raising activities, including public offerings and private placements of equity and debt securities. He also advises companies with respect to SEC regulations, compliance issues and other corporate and securities law matters, such as public reporting, compliance and communications with analysts and investors. Mix has substantial experience representing public and private companies in selling and acquiring businesses. His clients span a variety of industries, including biotech, industrials, retail, financial services and REITs.
Adam Berger is a partner in the firm’s Philadelphia office, a member of Duane Morris’ governing Partners Board and a member of the Gaming Industry Group. He represents public and private companies involved in all facets of the gaming industry in a broad variety of corporate and regulatory matters. Berger has extensive experience representing casinos, casino holding companies and gaming equipment manufacturers, as well as financial institutions including banks, private equity funds and hedge funds in connection with mergers and acquisitions, debt transactions, licensing, compliance matters and regulatory investigations. Additionally, he has represented clients in competitive licensing contests before various gaming agencies. Berger regularly advises clients on emerging developments and legislation affecting the brick-and-mortar and internet gaming industries. Outside of the traditional casino space, he has advised traditional gaming companies, media companies, professional sports teams and financial institutions on matters related to the rapidly expanding sports wagering industry in the United States. Berger has also represented numerous companies involved in the fantasy sports and skill-based gaming industries.
About Duane Morris
Duane Morris LLP provides innovative solutions to today’s multifaceted legal and business challenges through the collegial and collaborative culture of its more than 900 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally. The firm represents a broad array of clients, spanning all major practices and industries. Duane Morris has been recognized by BTI Consulting as both a client service leader and a highly recommended law firm.
