NATIONALLY RANKED IN PRODUCTS LIABILITY AND TRANSPORTATION
Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
highly rates eight practices and 29 lawyers
based on client interviews and independent research
Philadelphia, Pa. (LAWFUEL) – June 30, 2008 – Pepper Hamilton LLP’s commercial litigation practice is ranked as one of the two best in Pennsylvania, and the firm’s products liability and transportation practices are ranked nationally, in the 2008 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Five other Pepper Hamilton practice areas were recognized by Chambers, and 29 Pepper lawyers were selected as leaders in their practice areas. The rankings are based on more than 14,000 interviews with lawyers and clients, and other independent research.
Pepper Hamilton is ranked as one of only two firms in “Band 1” (the top tier) of Pennsylvania firms in “general commercial litigation.”
Pepper’s health effects litigation practice and its leader Nina M. Gussack received national rankings and are listed among the top products liability firms and best products liability lawyers in the country.
The firm’s transportation practice also received a national ranking.
Other practice areas in which Chambers ranked Pepper Hamilton include antitrust, corporate/M&A and private equity, intellectual property and labor & employment (all in Pennsylvania), and bankruptcy/restructuring (in Delaware and Pennsylvania). Individual lawyers in those and other practice areas also have been ranked.
The Pepper Hamilton lawyers profiled as leaders in their practice areas in the 2008 Chambers directory are: Barry M. Abelson (corporate/M&A and private equity, Pennsylvania; “star performer”); Mitchell S. Ames (media & entertainment: corporate, New York); Leon R. Barson (bankruptcy/restructuring, Pennsylvania); John W. Carroll (environment, Pennsylvania); Jonathan A. Clark (labor & employment: benefits & compensation, Pennsylvania); Deborah F. Cohen (insurance litigation, Pennsylvania); Joseph C. Crawford (general commercial litigation, Pennsylvania); Mark DeLuca (intellectual property, Pennsylvania); Francis P. Devine, III (general commercial litigation and insurance litigation, Pennsylvania); David M. Fournier (bankruptcy/restructuring, Delaware); Michael H. Friedman (corporate/M&A and private equity, Pennsylvania); Nina M. Gussack (products liability, national; general commercial litigation, Pennsylvania); Robert L. Hickok (general commercial litigation and securities litigation, Pennsylvania); Jonathan Kane (labor and employment, Pennsylvania); Paul J. Kennedy (intellectual property, Pennsylvania); Christopher J. Lamb (real estate, Delaware); Francis J. Lawall (bankruptcy/restructuring, Pennsylvania); Jeffrey P. Libson (corporate/M&A and private equity, Pennsylvania); Marc D. Machlin (transportation, District of Columbia); Barbara W. Mather (antitrust and general commercial litigation, Pennsylvania); J. Gregg Miller (bankruptcy/restructuring, Pennsylvania); Michael H. Reed (bankruptcy/restructuring, Pennsylvania); Barbara Rom (banking & finance: bankruptcy, Michigan); Andrew J. Rudolph (labor & employment: benefits & compensation, Pennsylvania); Laurence Z. Shiekman (antitrust, Pennsylvania); Barbara T. Sicalides (antitrust, Pennsylvania); David B. Stratton (bankruptcy/restructuring, Delaware); M. Kelly Tillery (intellectual property, Pennsylvania); and William J. Walsh (environment, District of Columbia).
Excerpts about Pepper Hamilton from the 2008 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business appear below. Complete information is available on the Chambers Web site at http://www.chambersandpartners.com/usa/rankings36.aspx?fid=3643&aid=179287&solbar=1.
General Commercial Litigation, Pennsylvania: “This ‘fantastic and first-rate’ firm secures a Band 1 position following impressive feedback from clients and peers highlighting the group’s headlining role in several big-ticket cases primarily involving toxic tort issues. The past year has also seen the ‘dynamic and detail-oriented outfit’ swell in its rankings with a number of lateral hires, which have bolstered its media and communication department as well as its insurance litigation practice. Pepper Hamilton continues to be at the forefront of complex commercial litigation with a notable client portfolio focusing on the construction, pharmaceutical and insurance industries. Sources concur that the 100-strong team of litigators ‘has significant breadth and depth to handle any problem, ensuring we are always in good hands.'”
Products Liability, National: “With an ever-increasing involvement in the products sphere, Pepper Hamilton is a slightly different animal from many firms in this area, offering advice on an impressively broad range of pharmaceutical and medical device matters rather than limiting itself to expertise in litigation. Its work begins in the pre-litigation phase, advising clients on how to mitigate risks, adding value at the clinical trial and the marketing stage, rather than only stepping in when the problems begin. Working closely with colleagues in the white-collar practice, the products specialists also offer expertise in compliance matters and government investigations. The firm also excels in more traditional areas: this past year saw it continue its fruitful relationship with Eli Lilly in the litigation involving its leading product, Zyprexa. It is also national coordinating counsel for GlaxoSmithKline in the litigation surrounding its diabetes medicine, Avandia. In the medical device arena, it is national counsel for Medtronic in both the Orthopaedic Bone Screw Litigation and the litigation surrounding allegations that implanted bone allograft has transmitted infectious disease.”
Transportation, National: “The firm has been active this year on work regarding vehicle component parts; in particular, it served as outside counsel to tire and glass manufacturers under the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the maintenance of automotive safety standards. It has also advised rubber manufacturers in regulatory and litigation matters under similar standards. The firm offers a strong presence in areas such as Washington, DC, and is described as ‘a very helpful practice with bright and knowledgeable lawyers.'”
About Chambers
Chambers and Partners (www.chambersandpartners.com) have been publishing their guides to the legal profession since 1990, providing independent rankings and editorial commentary. The guides are designed to reflect market opinion, ranking lawyers, law firms and practice areas in 175 countries based on their reputation among peers and clients. They are not paid listings. Not all practice areas are ranked in all U.S. states.
To compile the 2008 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, researchers conducted more than 14,000 interviews with lawyers and clients throughout the United States over a period of six months. Qualities assessed included technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial awareness/astuteness, diligence, commitment and other qualities valued by clients.
