Legal 500 Recommends Seyfarth Shaw as a Leading U.S. Law Firm

Contacts: 
Brian Kiefer, Director of Public Relations
(312) 460-6401, bkiefer@seyfarth.com

Ivette Delgado, Senior Public Relations Associate
(212) 218-5273, idelgado@seyfarth.com

“Far above the rest in its approach, professionalism, resources and knowledge base. ”

CHICAGO (June 11, 2012)—Seyfarth Shaw LLP announced today its inclusion in the Legal 500 United States 2012, an independent guide to America’s leading law firms.

For the fourth consecutive year, Seyfarth attorneys named as elite “Leading Lawyers” by the guide include David Baffa (Workplace and Employment Counseling), William Perkins (Workplace and Employment Counseling) and Angelo Paparelli (Labor & Employment - Immigration). Partner Bennett Greenberg is also highlighted as a “Leading Lawyer” (Construction) for the second year in a row. Overall, 66 Seyfarth lawyers are recommended in the editorial of the guide.

The firm is also ranked nationally in 10 areas, advancing in two including:

Labor & Employment: Workplace and Employment Counseling (Tier 1)
Noted for continuing “to lead in its delivery of innovative risk avoidance services,” by Legal 500, clients said of Seyfarth, “It is far above the rest in its approach, professionalism, resources and knowledge base,” and the firm “has consistently provided quick turnaround, talented experts who provide appropriate advice at the appropriate level for the audience. It is a trusted and valued advisor.” Another client commented, “Every attorney that I have worked with has been friendly, helpful, collaborative and knowledgeable.”

David Baffa is highlighted as “an ideal client relationship lawyer, along with being an excellent advice and counsel attorney and strategic thinker.” Said of Robert Nobile, his “greatest strength is his common sense…He knows and appreciates the balance between running a business, the law and doing what’s right.” Ellen McLaughlin is “knowledgeable and practical, and ” Pamela Devata “has an amazing depth of knowledge in Fair Credit Reporting Act Compliance.” Also recommended are Condon McGlothlen and William Perkins.
 
Labor & Employment: Litigation (Tier 2)
A “serious hit with clients,” the firm’s Labor & Employment Litigation team is praised for “meeting every expectation and then some.”

Camille Olson’s “great knowledge of the law and ever better client and executive relations,” is noted. Said of Gerald Maatman, his “strength is his strategic advice and judgment.” David Kadue and Lorie Almon are highlighted for having a very good understanding of their clients’ businesses; there is “no one better” than Richard Alfred regarding FLSA class action matters; Andrew Paley is “smart and responsive”; and Ariel Cudkowicz is a “fighter” who “comes across as warm, gentle and compassionate.” Raymond Bladwin is “…practical and tough when necessary,” Jeremy Sherman is “responsive and creative and very smart,” Gilmore Diekman, Linda Schoonmaker, Jeffrey Berman and Brian Ashe are all praised by clients for their intellect, responsiveness and effectiveness.
 
Labor & Employment: Labor-Management Relations (Tier 2)
According to clients, Seyfarth delivers “first class advice and counsel whenever needed,” laying out “virtually every scenario you need to consider and partner with you to implement the solution that best suits your business needs.”

Bradford Livingston’s personality garnered several flattering remarks; Joseph Damato’s “relationship building with the unions,” is highlighted as a major strength; Joel Kaplan is “recommended without reservation, and Arthur Telegen’s knowledge of the law, courts, unions and NLRB attributed to his ability to deliver excellent advice and results.” Kristin Michaels is praised for her “tireless and exhaustive preparation,” and both John Toner and Marshall Babson’s posts at the NLRB are mentioned, and Jeffrey Berman and Peter Chatilovicz are also recommended.

Labor & Employment: Immigration (Tier 2)
In a firm where “all individuals, from the attorneys to the paralegals, are fantastic,” Seyfarth’s Immigration group is widely praised for embracing technology and employing Lean Six Sigma and other business processes as tools to plan, organize and manage resources regarding immigration work, which has a reputation for being complicated, paper intensive and time consuming.

James King is “a pleasure to work with…with extensive experience and extensive judgment.” Russell Swapp finds answers “outside the normal scope of issues,” and Angelo Paparelli is “deeply knowledgeable” and efficiently provides clients with the input they need. In addition to being “extremely knowledgeable about immigration law,” Dyann DelVecchio is noted for being “very personable and warm, and available at all times.”

Litigation: Construction (Tier 2)
Seyfarth’s 50-lawyer, “expert in design-build” construction practice is led by Chip Ingraham, who is very much appreciated by clients for his “very businesslike approach to solving problems” and Bennett Greenberg, who is “extremely knowledgeable about the construction industry, provides valuable business and legal advice.” Richard McKim Preston’s “overall experience and steadiness” allow him to “provide the highest levels of representation.” Partner additions noted in the guide include David Mancini and James Newland in Washington, D.C. Legal 500 also mentions Seyfarth’s standout lawyers Anna Palmer, Bennett Greenberg, David Blake and Steven Kmieciak--all praised for excellent representation, collaboration and negotiation. 

Labor & Employment: ERISA Litigation (Tier 2)
Moving up a tier, Seyfarth’s ERISA Litigation team has “very in-depth expertise, a well integrated team and excellent strategists.” Clients commented, “The team is highly knowledgeable and approaches matters with both a legal and a business and pragmatic sense.” Another said, “This firm has extensive knowledge and expertise in the area of ERISA litigation, and wit would be my go-to firm for complex ERISA litigation matters.”

Co-chairs of the practice Ian Morrison and Mark Casciari are praised and Ronald Kramer is lauded for his “in-depth expertise” and for “managing client expectations very well.” Ward Kallstrom is also highly recommended.

Real Estate and Construction: Real Estate (Tier 3)
Seyfarth Shaw’s recent growth spurt in the practice is “indicative of the weight it attaches to the practice area.” Chaired by Paul Mattingly, the 53-partner department is praised as being “extremely responsive, very reliable and exceedingly knowledgeable.”

Lester Bliwise and Eric Sidman in New York added commercial real estate strength; Joel Rubin has “the highest of ethical standards”; Tom Masenga is “outstanding, thoughtful, thorough and precise”; Alvin Kruse is “very talented and experienced.” Peter Korda is praised as being an “extremely knowledgeable problem solver;” Mark Block, an “excellent communicator,” and Andrew Pearlstein's "experience and negotiation skills," are highlighted. Other positive comments include Sean O’Brien’s “tireless work ethic”; “responsive” with “good business sense,” Adam Walsh; Dean Heller “a real gentleman’; Robert Bodansky, a “rare mix of tough and practical.”

Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation (Tier 3)
With “tremendous breadth of resources for business issues,” the firm’s “professional and responsive” Employee Benefits 50-lawyer practice, led by Peter Miller, “proactively reaches out to clients regarding potential litigation risks and new case law.”

“Excellent” Howard Pianko is an “expert on pensions and ERISA.” Robert Flanagan, Randall Montellaro, Diane Dygert and Fredric Singerman are also recommended.

Trade Secrets (Tier 3)
Moving up a tier and “full of high-level expertise with unmatched quality of attorneys and staff,” Seyfarth’s Trade Secrets group, led by Michael Wexler, has had a series of prominent successes in relation to misappropriations of trade secrets on the departure of key executives. Scott Carlson is mentioned for heading up the firm’s e-discovery group. Michael Wexler and Brian Roche, both “very through, extremely responsive,” are praised, and James Yu as having “great knowledge of his area,” and Robert Niemann is “confident and experienced.”

Healthcare - Service Providers (Tier 4)
A first-time ranking for the firm, Seyfarth is noted as having “extensive knowledge of the healthcare industry,” representing several hospital systems in major class action litigation, and on the corporate side, handling financing for commercial healthcare lenders.

Sheryl Dasco is mentioned as a leading adviser; Joan Casciari “not only possesses a high level of employment law knowledge, but exhibits strict ethical standards”; and Kerry Friedricks is “an expert in wage hour law.”

M&A middle-market sub $500m (Tier 4)
Another first-time ranking, Seyfarth Shaw’s established middle-market M&A practice is praised for "exceptional service." One client said, "The lawyers I use are extremely responsive, smart, focused, and provide practical advice and assistance. The practice stands out in that it is truly a partner with us on our transactional work." The firm's attorneys are known for their "down-to-earth approach," having "the ability to translate difficult legal issues into everyday language...They also offer a caring and compassionate outlook to their clients." A client added, "I never feel like just another number when I seek their counsel."

National chair of the practice, Suzanne Saxman is "very bright and diligent, and does a terrific job representing her client" with "an innate sense of business, and has the ability to put herself in the client’s position and figure out the best solutions, as well as being a very good negotiator." Andrew Lucano is "an excellent attorney, extremely knowledgeable about M&A, and easy to get along with," and Stanley Bloch has "an ability to provide insight to both sides of an issue and a gentle, reassuring way that impresses the seller as well as the buyer." Theodore Cornell III is "great to work with, very bright and has tons of experience that he often draws upon." Clayton Sparrow Jr. is "an outstanding person and attorney. He is very intelligent and perceptive, and customer service seems to be of utmost significance with him and all his associates." Joel Handel in was also noted as a standout attorney. 

For more than 20 years, the Legal 500 series has provided a comprehensive worldwide coverage currently available on legal services providers, in over 100 countries. Used by commercial and private clients, corporate counsel, CEOs, FDs and professional advisers—as well as by other referrers of work both nationally and internationally—the series is widely regarded as offering the definitive judgment of law firm capabilities. A complete list of rankings can be found on the Legal 500 website.

Seyfarth Shaw has over 800 attorneys located in 10 offices throughout the United States, including: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Sacramento, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., as well as internationally in London. Seyfarth Shaw provides a broad range of legal services in the areas of labor and employment, employee benefits, litigation, corporate and real estate. The firm’s clients include over 300 of the Fortune 500 companies, and our practice reflects virtually every industry and segment of the economy. For more information, please visit www.seyfarth.com .