The Legal Intelligencer Blog

Bruce Castor Joins Rogers and Associates

By Zack Needles
Of the Legal Staff

Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce L. Castor Jr. is leaving Elliott Greenleaf, where he is a director and shareholder, to join Bryn Mawr, Pa.-based Rogers and Associates as a partner.

The move will become effective July 1, according to a press release issued by the Rogers firm.

Castor joined Elliott Greenleaf in 2008, after nearly a decade as Montgomery County District Attorney. Castor focuses his practice on general litigation, personal injury, internal corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense.

“With Commissioner Castor’s experience, especially responding to crisis as they arise and his proven ability to make rapid decisions and provide timely advice, our firm will be tailor-made to his strengths,” Rogers said in the press release. “This is over and above Bruce’s extensive courtroom experience and unparalleled knowledge of trial tactics and strategy.”

Zack Needles can be contacted at 215-557-2493 or zneedles@alm.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZNeedlesTLI. 

Andrew Chirls Joins Fineman Krekstein

By Zack Needles
Of the Legal Staff

Andrew C. Chirls has left Philadelphia-based litigation boutique Haines & Associates to join Philadelphia-based general practice firm Fineman Krekstein & Harris.

Chirls, who focuses his practice on business litigation, was a partner at Wolf Block until its dissolution in 2009, at which point he joined Haines & Associates as the firm’s sixth full-time lawyer and second partner.

Chirls has now joined Fineman Krekstein as of counsel.

"When we found out Andy was available to join us, we jumped at the opportunity. He will be a very active of counsel to our practice," Fineman Krekstein Chairman S. David Fineman said in a press release.

Zack Needles can be contacted at 215-557-2493 or zneedles@alm.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZNeedlesTLI.

State Senator John Rafferty Joins Lamb McErlane

By Zack Needles
Of the Legal Staff

State Senator John C. Rafferty Jr., R-Montgomery, has joined West Chester, Pa.-based Lamb McErlane as of counsel.

Rafferty represents Pennsylvania's 44th Senatorial District, which includes portions of Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties.

Rafferty is also the chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, vice chairman of the Judiciary Committee and a member of the Senate Appropriations, Banking and Insurance, Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure, and Law and Justice committees.

"We are elated to have Senator Rafferty join our firm," Lamb McErlane managing partner Joel L. Frank said in a press release. “His experience and abilities will prove extremely valuable to our firm and our clients.”

Prior to his joining the Senate, Rafferty’s private practice focused on education, real estate, zoning and business and estates law.

Rafferty made a bid for the GOP nomination in the most recent state attorney general election, but ended his campaign in January 2012.

Zack Needles can be contacted at 215-557-2493 or zneedles@alm.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZNeedlesTLI.

Nelson Levine Hires Nationwide Senior Vice President

By Zack Needles
Of the Legal Staff

Blue Bell, Pa.-based insurance law firm Nelson Levine de Luca & Hamilton has added Thomas W. Dietrich, the former senior vice president and deputy general counsel of Nationwide Insurance Companies, to the insurance regulation practice in its Columbus, Ohio, office.

Dietrich joins the firm as of counsel, but will also serve as a member of the executive team.

“Tom knows the insurance industry inside and out," Nelson Levine Chairman Mike Nelson said in a press release. "His insider's perspective – combined with the knowledge and experience of other insurance experts at Nelson Levine – will no doubt provide insurers confronting the evolving regulatory landscape with unmatched insight.”

Dietrich, who worked for Nationwide for 40 years, focuses his practice on advising clients on their business practices as they relate to the rapidly changing regulatory landscape.

Zack Needles can be contacted at 215-557-2493 or zneedles@alm.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZNeedlesTLI.

Schnader Harrison Hires Former UPMC CLO

By Gina Passarella
Of the Legal Staff

Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis has hired Robert J. Cindrich as counsel in its Pittsburgh office. The former U.S. attorney, judge and chief legal officer of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center is joining the firm from a health care consulting company he created in 2010. Along with his role at Schnader Harrison, Cindrich will maintain his duties as president of Cindrich Consulting.

Cindrich will work in Schnader Harrison’s business services and litigation departments, the firm said. “We are honored that Judge Cindrich has joined us. His experience as a litigator, judge and counsel for one of Pittsburgh’s leading health enterprises will be an invaluable addition to Schnader and our clients," Schnader Harrison Chairman David Smith said in a statement.

Cindrich opened his own health care consulting company, Cindrich Consulting, in 2010 after serving as senior adviser to the president, senior vice president and chief legal officer of UPMC, beginning in 2004. In those roles, Cindrich advised UPMC's senior management and board of directors on key corporate governance, strategic business issues and biosecurity initiatives.

Prior to joining UPMC, Cindrich served on the bench of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania beginning in 1994.

“I am thrilled – after a nearly 20-year hiatus – to begin practicing law again with Bob, whose advice, counsel and friendship means so much to me,” said Schnader Harrison’s Paul H. Titus of his former law practice partner.

Prior to being named to the bench, Cindrich served as chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Reapportionment Commission from 1992 to 1993. He was the U.S. attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania from 1978 to 1981 and an assistant district attorney in Allegheny County from 1970 to 1972. While in private practice, he served as defense counsel in business and commercial litigation.

Gina Passarella is the senior reporter for The Legal. She can be contacted by email at gpassarella@alm.com or phone at 215-557-2494. Follow her on Twitter at @GPassarellaTLI.

 

Flaster/Greenberg Hires Pa. Real Estate Head

By Zack Needles
Of the Legal Staff

Cherry Hill, N.J.-based Flaster/Greenberg has hired Robert S. Davis as chair of its Pennsylvania real estate practice.

Davis joins the Philadelphia office of Flaster/Greeneberg as a shareholder from Saul Ewing, where he was a partner. Davis’ practice centers on commercial and residential real estate transactional work, including leasing, acquisitions, sales, development, loan workouts and restructurings, tax-free exchanges and real estate finance.

“Rob’s excellent reputation in the real estate community and extensive experience with handling complex development deals makes him an outstanding addition to the firm,” Flaster/Greenberg Managing Shareholder Peter R. Spirgel said in a press release. “We are always looking for top-notch attorneys like Rob to join our team and are thrilled he decided to grow his practice by joining Flaster/Greenberg.”

Drinker Biddle Draws From SEC to Bolster White-Collar Team

By Gina Passarella
Of the Legal Staff

Drinker Biddle & Reath has continued the expansion of its white-collar defense team with the hire of another former SEC attorney.

Mary P. Hansen, the former assistant director of the Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Enforcement, has joined Drinker Biddle as a partner in the firm’s commercial litigation practice in Philadelphia.

In January, Drinker Biddle hired another former SEC attorney. Hogan Lovells partner Brian Lynch joined the firm’s corporate and securities practice group as a partner in Philadelphia. While at the SEC, Lynch worked within the Division of Corporation Finance, the Office of Chief Counsel and the Office of Rulemaking.

Hansen will focus her practice on representing individuals and corporate clients on regulatory investigations and enforcement actions, internal corporate investigations, white-collar criminal defense and compliance and prevention strategies and programs.

“Mary is a magnificent addition to our white-collar team,” Drinker Biddle Chairman Alfred W. Putnam Jr. said in a statement. “She brings SEC experience and expertise to an already impressive group of high-ranking former government lawyers who’ve joined the firm recently,” he added, referring to former Assistant U.S. Attorney Dan Collins; Bob Stoll, a former U.S. Patent commissioner; Scott Coffina, another former assistant U.S. attorney and assistant counsel to the president; Charlie Rose, former general counsel to the U.S. Department of Education; and Bradford Campbell, former assistant secretary of Labor.

While at the SEC, Hansen was a member of the Market Abuse Unit and the Municipal Securities and Public Pension Unit. She investigated and developed litigation strategies for matters involving potential violations of federal securities law, including broker-dealer and investment adviser fraud, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations, unlawful insider trading by securities industry professionals and corporate executives, as well as municipal offering fraud.

Drinker Biddle recently named partner Ronald Sarachan as co-chairman of the firm’s white-collar criminal defense and corporate investigations team.

Gina Passarella is the senior reporter for The Legal. She can be contacted by email at gpassarella@alm.com or phone at 215-557-2494. Follow her on Twitter at @GPassarellaTLI.

Drinker Biddle & Reath Bulks Up Trusts & Estates Practice

By Gina Passarella
Of the Legal Staff

Drinker Biddle & Reath has hired away a longtime Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads partner to its private client group.

Larissa Whitman joined the firm as a partner in the Philadelphia office, where she will focus her practice on the representation of high-net-worth individuals and families in a range of estate planning, personal legal and tax planning services.

“Larissa is a wonderful addition to our private client group,” Lisa Presser, chair of the group, said in a statement. “She has a high-profile client roster and is well regarded in our practice area. I am confident she will be a strong resource for our clients.”

Prior to several years with Montgomery McCracken, where she was a partner, Whitman worked as an associate at Morgan, Lewis & Bockius and Dechert. Whitman is also a certified public accountant.

With Whitman’s addition, Drinker Biddle now has 17 attorneys in its private client group.

Gina Passarella is the senior reporter for The Legal. She can be contacted by email at gpassarella@alm.com or phone at 215-557-2494. Follow her on Twitter at @GPassarellaTLI.

The Legal’s Top 10 Lateral Hires of 2012

By Ben Seal
Of the Legal Staff

Each year, we at The Legal take a look back at all the lateral moves in Pennsylvania in an effort to determine the 10 most important lateral hires of the previous year. Complete profiles of the top laterals and details about each move will be included in our “Top Lateral Hires of 2012” supplement, scheduled to be published in The Legal on Tuesday, February 19.

To come up with a definitive Top 10 moves, we take into account the effect the departure had on the former firm, the impact the lateral addition represented for the new firm and the buzz around the market when the move took place. This list is compiled with the help and insight of those in the industry and the historical background from our own archives of all members involved.

In the end, all lateral moves from the past year are narrowed down into the 10 lateral moves that made the biggest waves. Following, in alphabetical order, are the names of the 10 Pennsylvania attorneys or groups of attorneys who have been selected to that list:

• Steven P. Berman, Penny S. Indictor, Stuart D. Poppel and group to Berman, Indictor & Poppel
• Carl Buchholz to DLA Piper
• Doreen S. Davis to Jones Day
• David Gitlin to Greenberg Traurig
• James C. Haggerty to Haggerty, Goldberg, Schleifer & Kupersmith
• S. Manoj Jegasothy and group to Gordon & Rees
• Thomas More Marrone to Caroselli Beachler McTiernan & Conboy
• Diane P. Sullivan to Weil, Gotshal & Manges
• Thomas M. Tammany to Stevens & Lee
• Thomas L. VanKirk to Highmark

Following is a list of honorable mentions, in alphabetical order:

• Paul Lancaster Adams to Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart
• Kevin P. Allen to Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott
• Rachel Allen to ALung Technologies
• Scott A. Coffina to Drinker Biddle & Reath
• William A. DeStefano to Stevens & Lee
• Robert T. Horst to Curtin & Heefner
• Stephen J. McConnell to Reed Smith
• Gerald J. Pappert to Cozen O’Connor
• James M. Singer to Fox Rothschild
• Min S. Suh to Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart
• Sean P. Wajert to Shook, Hardy & Bacon

Look for complete information on all the top laterals in the supplement on February 19.

Flaster/Greenberg Acquires Two-Lawyer Insurance Boutique

By Zack Needles
Of the Legal Staff

Cherry Hill, N.J.-based Flaster/Greenberg has brought aboard two-lawyer firm Fried & Epstein, an insurance coverage litigation boutique that represents policyholders.

Attorneys John W. Fried and Lee M. Epstein have joined the firm as shareholders and will be based in Manhattan and Philadelphia, respectively.

“The reason we feel they’re a match is their practice specialty is very compatible with our existing focus,” Peter Spirgel, managing shareholder of Flaster/Greenberg , said, explaining that both his firm and Fried & Epstein are often involved in cases in which they’re adverse to insurance companies.

Spirgel said Fried and Epstein brought with them a lot of new corporate relationships that Flaster/Greenberg hopes to take advantage of.

In return, according to Epstein, Flaster/Greenberg offered the two-lawyer firm more support and more resources, allowing it to better compete with the large firms that typically defend insurers in coverage litigation.

“We have gotten involved in larger litigations all across the country and now we’ll have the resources and backup we weren’t able to have at a two-partner shop,” Epstein said. “Some of our cases where we’re involved in suing multiple insurance companies – five, six, or sometimes 10 – they’re typically all represented by large firms. This gives us a better opportunity to compete on a level playing field.”

The addition of Fried & Epstein also gives Flaster/Greenberg its first physical presence in New York, with locations in Manhattan and Pleasantville, according to Spirgel.

According to Spirgel, his firm already had several clients based in Manhattan, typically requiring at least one lawyer to be in New York City every week.

Spirgel said the firm currently has no plans to further expand in New York, however.

Another new addition the acquisition brings Flaster/Greenberg is a white-collar criminal defense practice.

Spirgel said his firm’s clients thankfully haven’t needed white-collar defense services very often, but in the instances where they have, the firm typically had to refer those matters out.

Having that capability in-house now may change that in some cases, Spirgel said.

Epstein said the opportunity to cross-market his and Fried’s services to the firm’s existing clients is another advantage of the move.

“Basically, [in the past] we would sit there and have to wait for a client who had a problem that turned into an insurance coverage problem to call us,” Epstein said, noting that at Flaster/Greenberg, they now have a “built-in client base.”

Zack Needles can be contacted at 215-557-2493 or zneedles@alm.com. Follow him on Twitter @ZNeedlesTLI.