Seyfarth Shaw Acclaimed as National Leader in 2009 Chambers USA Rankings of Law Firms

Sources Praise Seyfarth Shaw as “ A… strong firm, with notable depth.”

Chicago, IL (June 15, 2009)—Seyfarth Shaw LLP, one of America’s leading full-service law firms, is heralded in the 2009 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business as among the best law firms in multiple practice areas nationally and in regional markets, and 41 of the firm’s attorneys were also individually ranked as leaders in their field.

The firm ranked second in the country in Labor & Employment and Retail, and its ERISA Litigation and Construction Practice Groups each earned third-band rankings in the nation. The retail category recognizes several core strengths of the firm. According to Chambers, to excel in providing legal service to the retail sector, a firm “… must have developed a track record in serving the needs of large, national retailers . Naturally, real estate, planning and land use matters will feature prominently, but the firm must also advise on franchise, IP, trademark and e-commerce matters. Furthermore, it should ideally demonstrate aptitude in employment matters and be able to respond to the majority of tax, advertising and regulatory and consumer protection issues, as well as disputes both nationally and internationally.”

Practice groups in Seyfarth Shaw’s regional offices also earned impressive rankings. The Labor & Employment groups in Chicago and Boston landed in first place in Illinois and Massachusetts, respectively. The Chicago office’s Employee Benefits and Compensation practice ranked second in Illinois, as did the practice group’s Boston team for Massachusetts. Similarly, the Construction Practice Group in Washington, D.C. earned a second-band ranking, as did the Immigration Practice Group in the firm’s California offices. The Labor & Employment practice in California was also ranked Band 2 and Chambers ranked the firm’s Real Estate Practice Group in Illinois in second place. Band 3 honors were earned by the firm’s Environmental attorneys in the Chicago office for Illinois; Atlanta’s Immigration, Labor & Employment, and Real Estate Practice Groups for Georgia; and New York and Washington, D.C.’s Labor & Employment practices.

Forty-one of Seyfarth Shaw’s attorneys throughout the nation were singled out as leaders in their field of law. In California, nine attorneys were recognized (Labor & Employment and Immigration); Georgia had eight (Construction, Immigration, Labor & Employment, Litigation and Real Estate); the firm’s Chicago office saw 14 attorneys make the list (Employee Benefits & Compensation, Environment, Labor & Employment and Real Estate); Chambers ranked five attorneys in the Boston, Massachusetts office (Labor & Employment and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation); one attorney in the New York office was ranked (Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation); and the firm’s Washington, D.C. office is home to four of the firm’s attorneys ranked by Chambers in 2009 (Construction, Labor & Employment and Real Estate).

Practice Group Rankings

 #2 National Ranking in Labor & Employment

According to Chambers, “Labor and employment continues to play an integral role at this firm... [T]he firm has long been considered a towering presence at the Chicago Labor & Employment Bar and is equally well regarded in Massachusetts. It is also a well-established player in California and Washington, DC and has considerably raised its profile in the New York market. Chicago-based Jeremy Sherman is chair of the national practice.”

#2 National Ranking in Retail

Chambers interviewees spoke highly of the firm's “...impressive clientele in the retail sector. The firm has nine offices in the USA that act for major retail companies on the range of work, from wage and hour cases to discrimination class action claims. In addition to labor and employment matters, the firm has an active commercial and retail real estate practice that deals with disposals and the renegotiating of leases.”

#3 National Ranking in Construction

Peers and clients lauded the group noting they are “An exceptionally helpful and polite team that takes the client’s view seriously.” Chambers also noted that “Seyfarth Shaw boasts the depth and resources to take any project from start to finish. The 40-strong construction team is spread across the firm’s coast-to-coast network of offices and comprises numerous lawyers with architectural or engineering backgrounds, providing clients with valuable technical knowledge as well as legal expertise.”

#3 National Ranking in ERISA Litigation

Chambers reported that “Seyfarth Shaw has ramped up its ERISA litigation practice and is now regarded as a player on the national scene…. The group handles a variety of single plaintiff and class action matters, including alleged breaches of fiduciary duty, cash balance plan litigation and stock drop cases.” Chambers interviewees expressed that “The team is able to draw on the firm's employee benefits and labor and employment expertise to provide clients with well-rounded service.”

#1 in Labor & Employment in Illinois

According to the guide, “Sources highlight this impressive bench strength as a real advantage in niche or complex matters. The group is focused on labor relations, discrimination, wage and hour and ERISA litigation, class actions, safety and toxic torts, single plaintiff defense and business immigration.”

#1 in Labor & Employment in Massachusetts

Chambers reported, “With a secure national platform and an enviable client list, this outfit is seen by many to be the firm of choice in Massachusetts. Much of its energies have been devoted to wage and hour class actions on behalf of employers, and peers rate its performance in this area as exceptional.”

#2 in Construction in Washington, D.C.

Chambers interviewees commented that they have “tremendous respect or this long-standing, national practice.” The guide further reported, “The team advises on all phases of the construction process, from contractual work through to mediation, arbitration and litigation, and provides ‘excellent results for reasonable fees.’”

#2 in Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation in Illinois

The guide reported, “The firm's benefits and compensation practice is headed by well-experienced attorney Peter Miller, and advises on retirement plans, investment in pension plans, health and welfare funds and fiduciary responsibility.”

#2 in Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation in Massachusetts

Chambers observed that “This outfit has had an excellent year in employee benefits work and executive compensation. Although the team is small, it capitalizes on its national resources for work on matters like Section 409A compliance, stock option guidance and qualified and nonqualified retirement programs.” Respondents praised the group “for its work on deferred compensation regulations and for the quality and insightfulness of its advice, with its thorough work on reviewing corporate governance practices also attracting acclaim.”

#2 in Immigration in California

Interviewees praised Seyfarth Shaw as “‘A… strong firm, with notable depth,’ this outfit has a high profile for its general business immigration work, in addition to its expertise on the crossover between criminal and immigration matters.”

#2 in Labor & Employment in California

Chambers commended this group for “its commitment to labor and employment nationally and it maintains a distinct standalone practice in this area. Clients enthuse about the ‘large, experienced and high-caliber team,’ whose broad remit includes a substantial number of putative wage and hour class actions. Clients come from the financial services, hospitality and retail sectors.”

#2 in Real Estate in Illinois

Chambers observed that “The Chicago branch of this national group is active in transactional work and has been visible on some particularly outstanding development matters for major commercial clients. The outfit also handles a great deal of lending work, particularly in the construction area, and is active in leasing work.”

 #3 in Environment in Illinois

The guide reported, “Known as the environmental safety and toxic tort department, this group covers compliance, remediation, transactional matters and litigation, which includes an OSHA subgroup.”

#3 in Immigration in Georgia  

Clients, who “come from the financial, chemical and technology sectors,” responded that “Part of the firm's esteemed labor and employment practice, this immigration group is ‘consistently available, answers all our inquiries and has impressively quick turnaround times.’”

#3 in Labor & Employment in Georgia  

Chambers reported that “Sources value the thorough expertise across the department’s ten labor and employment subpractices, and the team wins further praise for its capabilities in related class action and employment discrimination work.”

 #3 in Real Estate in Georgia  

Chambers observed, “This large group has a considerable regional profile, having been at the centre of several statewide leasing, financing and development matters recently. The practice reaches farther, however, recently representing [a property management company] in a complex $275 million acquisition of a portfolio of apartment projects in Texas.”

 #3 in Labor & Employment in New York

According to the guide, “… this firm has made a concerted effort to increase its presence in New York. The team has acquired five lawyers from Greenberg Traurig, boosting its labor and employment showing in New York to 35. Its lawyers cover the waterfront of labor and employment matters, providing advice on labor and employee relations, wage and hour litigation and discrimination. The firm's national footprint enables its lawyers to advise national clients on multistate class and collective action litigation.”

#3 in Labor & Employment in Washington, D. C.  

Chambers reported, “Clients applaud this group's supportive approach and ‘its sensitivity to costs without compromising on quality.’ The 20 attorneys in Washington, DC have long been considered experts in traditional labor law, and there is also a thriving employment practice here. The group represents clients in single and multiplaintiff matters, including wage and hour, discrimination claims and ERISA litigation.”

 Individual Attorney Rankings by State and Practice Group

California

Immigration
Angelo Paparelli (Los Angeles)
Sources lauded Paprelli as “ a smart lawyer and a clear thinker who does not shy away from novel or esoteric issues.”

Susan K. Wehrer (San Francisco)
Clients commended Wehrer for being “ a thorough and proficient immigration attorney.”

Labor & Employment
Brian T. Ashe (San Francisco)
Clients praised Ashe as “a knowledgeable, strategic and efficient attorney who dispenses sound advice.”

Gilmore F. Diekmann, Jr. (San Francisco)
The guide found that Diekmann attracts substantial admiration for his “great trial skills in the employment sector; he is not afraid to try cases and is bright and perceptive.”

Michael L. Gallion (Los Angeles)
Clients reported to Chambers that Gallion is “cost-conscious, proactive in sharing information and always prompt.”

David D. Kadue (Los Angeles)
Chambers researchers learned from sources that Kadue is “a likable, proficient and clever litigator,” and he has also written extensively on various aspects of the sector, including sexual harassment.

Christian J. Rowley (San Francisco)
The guide noted that Rowley “co-chairs the employment practice in the San Francisco office, where he enjoys a rising profile for contentious employment matters and traditional labor work.”

Kenneth D. Sulzer (Los Angeles)
Chambers noted that Sulzer co-heads the national wage and hour class action practice and is described by sources as “a seasoned attorney with sound judgment.”

David T. Van Pelt (Los Angeles)
Interviewees told Chambers researchers that Van Pelt is “Responsive, bright and with a pleasant manner.”

Georgia

Construction
C. Walker Ingraham
Interviewees reported to Chambers that Ingraham impresses with “his easy translation of complex issues into reasonable options” and his negotiating style, “which keeps the process moving toward settlement without unduly alienating the other parties.”

Environment
Craig K. Pendergrast
Chambers noted that Pendergrast “successfully advises clients on concerns such as real estate transactions, enforcement and litigation. Clients applaud ‘his exceptional people skills, which easily bring parties together to resolve complex disputes.’”

Immigration
Nicole A. Kersey
Sources reported to Chambers that Kersey “ has good business sense and always suggests a variety of options to resolve any challenges.”

James W. King
Chambers noted, “Practice head James King ‘excels at explaining legal jargon in layman's terms.’”

Labor & Employment
Stuart Newman
Sources reported to the guide that Newman “ is forceful without being hostile, enabling him to come up with win-win solutions.” The guide further noted that Newman handles traditional labor matters nationwide.

Litigation
John A. Sherrill
Chambers reported that Sherrill “ has many years of experience as a litigator and trial lawyer, which he puts to good use in his burgeoning alternative dispute resolution (ADR) work. He chairs the firm's ADR practice, and sources prize him as ‘a smart lawyer who is refreshingly pleasant to work with.’”

Real Estate
Mark A. Block
Chambers cited Block as a “[r] eal estate finance and development expert” and noted that among his deals, he recently served as lead lender's counsel to [a major bank] on a loan for a $134 million hotel near the Atlanta airport.”

Carl E. Westmoreland, Jr.
The guide referred to Westmoreland as a “star performer” who is “widely renowned for his zoning and land use expertise.” Sources told Chambers that “He sets the gold standard in Georgia for zoning work.”

 

 Illinois

Employee Benefits & Compensation
Peter C. Miller  
Interviewees reported that Miller is a “well-experienced attorney,” who “advises on retirement plans, investment in pension plans, health and welfare funds and fiduciary responsibility.”

Mary K. Samsa  
Respondents reported to Chambers that “key partner Mary Samsa is focused on executive compensation and qualified retirement plans, and has impressed clients with her technical expertise and business partnering skills.”

Environment
Eric E. Boyd  
Chambers respondents highlighted Boyd as “the outfit’s CAA expert. He handles defensive enforcement actions and counseling, and has recently been taking on more hazardous waste work than in previous times.”

Andrew H. Perellis  
The guide noted that “Andrew Perellis has a diverse practice, but is considered strongest in Superfund-related matters and issues related to property. He recently represented a client in connection with a multimillion-dollar remediation of a major former mining operation.”

Jacqueline M. Vidmar  
Chambers described Vidmar as an attorney who specializes in “enforcement defense, remediation and compliance work and is increasingly involved in energy industry matters….”

ERISA Litigation
Mark Casciari
Casciari was applauded for his strategic and tactical approach. Sources told Chambers that “ ‘his obvious passion for the law and his work is infectious—he keeps people engaged in what can be a very difficult area of law.’”

Labor & Employment

Kenneth R. Dolin
Chambers described Dolin as a “labor law expert” who “focuses on labor relations, collective bargaining and arbitration.”

Joel Kaplan  
Kaplan was lauded by the guide as “highly experienced,” among other “extremely talented lawyers,” whose “opponents fear as a ‘lawyer who takes no prisoners.’ He is an expert on representing management in labor relations and discrimination litigation.”

Gerald L. Maatman, Jr.  
Interviewees praised Maatman as a “‘Very tough litigator’” who has “developed a strong practice acting for employers in employment class actions.”

Ellen E. McLaughlin  
Chambers noted that McLauglin “has a broad employment practice that concentrates on employment litigation.”

Thomas Piskorski  
Sources reported to Chambers that they have “very high regard for [Piskorski’s] work on behalf of management in collective bargaining, labor contracts and all forms of employment counseling and litigation.”

Camille A. Olson  
Interviewees lauded Olson as “a respected partner in the employment litigation group, focusing on discrimination and harassment cases.”

Jeffrey K. Ross  
Chambers interviewees praised Ross as “ ‘ … excellent at devising efficient strategies to put the client in an advantageous position for settlement discussions.’ He is considered a leading figure for discrimination, wage and hour and employment contracts issues.” 

Real Estate
Joel D. Rubin  
Chambers reported that “Rubin's practice spans pension funds, real estate and corporate law.” Interviewees noted that he is “‘a brilliant thinker—meticulous and methodical, but able to adapt to any situation.’”

 

Massachusetts

Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Arthur S. Meyers
“Approachable” and “deeply knowledgeable of the regulatory framework,” Chambers interviewees described Meyers as “the lawyer to turn to for regulatory compliance work. He has assisted hi-tech companies, nonprofit entities and insurance firms with executive compensation and employee benefits matters.”  

Labor & Employment
Richard Alfred
Chambers noted that “Alfred is the chair of the labor and employment group and a wage and hour specialist.” Interviewees “unanimously praised” his litigation skills, and “sources rate his regional litigation practice as one of the best.”

Ariel D. Cudkowicz
Chambers described Cudkowicz as leading “the wage and hour practice and has also worked in 'tipping' class actions.” Interviewees said, “He earns high praise for this work along with his management of the firm's single-plaintiffs litigation practice.”

Lisa Damon
Respondents praised Damon as “a top attorney especially when it comes to complex discrimination class actions, where she mainly represents management clients.”

Arthur Telegen
Chambers respondents reported to Chambers that they consider him “one of the deans of labor and employment law” and noted that “Telegen is recognized for his union-related expertise and praised for his depth of knowledge on noncompete matters.”

 

New York

Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Howard Pianko
Clients reported to Chambers that “[Pianko] has been involved in ERISA from the very beginning, so it’s little wonder that the guy knows it all inside-out and back to front.” The guided further noted that he “is a recognized expert in the administration of benefit plans.”

Washington, D.C.

Construction
Bennett D. Greenberg
Chambers noted that Greenberg “ advises on all aspects of construction projects and is renowned for his prowess in complex litigation.” Clients told the guide’s researchers that he is “[a] tenacious advocate with a practical approach to negotiation.”

Richard McKim Preston
The guide reported that Preston “ has established a great reputation for solving complex problems and is recognized as ‘an outstanding strategist.’ His practice is focused on dispute resolution and has a substantial international component.”

Labor & Employment
Peter Chatilovicz
Chambers noted that “ hospitality clients… mark out  Peter Chatilovicz as ‘the unequivocal star of the DC office.’ He is heralded for his union negotiations for hotels.”

Real Estate
Ronald S. Gart
The guide reported that Gart “ is renowned for his expertise in real estate financing matters, and typically advises investors in joint ventures and mezzanine debt providers” and that he “also has extensive knowledge of development and asset management issues.”

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Chambers ’ team of over 50 full-time researchers conducted thousands of interviews with clients and lawyers for the 2009 guide. Law firms and individual attorneys are ranked in the guide on a scale of one to six. According to the guide, “ The qualities on which rankings are assessed include technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial astuteness, diligence, commitment, and other qualities most valued by the client.”

Seyfarth Shaw has over 775 attorneys located in nine offices throughout the United States including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Sacramento, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., as well as Brussels, Belgium. Seyfarth Shaw provides a broad range of legal services in the areas of Labor & Employment, employee benefits, litigation and business services. The firm’s practice reflects virtually every industry and segment of the country’s business and social fabric. Clients include over 300 of the Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, newspapers and other media, hotels, health care organizations, airlines and railroads. The firm also represents a number of federal, state, and local governmental and educational entities. For more information, please visit www.seyfarth.com .