Seyfarth Shaw Earns High Marks in 2006 Chambers USA Rankings

Chicago, IL  (August 10, 2006) - - Seyfarth Shaw LLP, one of America’s leading full service law firms, was recognized in the 2006 Chambers USA Guide as among the best law firms in multiple practice areas and offices, and many of its attorneys were also ranked as best in class for their practice area. In particular, the Real Estate, Employee Benefits, Employment, Construction and Environmental practices were singled out for their outstanding capabilities. The highly regarded USA rankings are compiled through extensive research and interviews with attorneys and clients.

“We are very proud of this recognition by Chambers on being excellent lawyers and delivering superior client service,” said J. Stephen Poor, Seyfarth Shaw’s Managing Partner. “The client comments tell the story, and our team has done an extraordinary job.”

- In Illinois, Seyfarth was recognized for the achievements of its Employment, Employee Benefits, Environmental and Real estate practice groups. Seyfarth topped the list of Employment law firms in Illinois. According to Chambers: “’The Big Kahuna’ in the Illinois labor and employment market, Seyfarth Shaw has a breadth and depth of talent that ensures clients have access to experts in all areas of employment and employee benefits advice…One of the first to develop expertise in this area of law, it continues to attract high-profile clients, many of whom require labor negotiation services and representation in litigation as well as counseling.”  Chambers notes that with “the upsurge in class action suits allover the USA, no other firm is better placed to deal with such challenges.”  They acknowledged the talented Employment and Employee Benefits practices, saying “Seyfarth lawyers are in evidence at the forefront of new developments in employment law and active in the area of employee benefits and ERISA, moving clients to praise the way they work in unison with them and give ‘keen insights that help prioritize the issues ahead.’”   The Guide also stated that in Illinois, Seyfarth “houses a good all-purpose Environmental practice with some star performers in its front ranks” and has a “dominant OSHA practice.”  With regard to the Real Estate practice, Chambers noted that the department has “significant critical mass” with over 30 attorneys who “add luster to the firm’s blossoming investment practice.”

- In Massachusetts, the Employment law practice group was one of the top three firms named and praised for its “dedicated and intelligent collection of lawyers…It has secured a loyal following of clients who are confident that ‘the team can handle any problem we bring to the table.’” 

- In Washington D.C., the Employment practice was seen as a “tremendous asset to any organization,” and the Construction group was cited as a “first-rate practice” for its “depth and capability.”

- Clients in California commended that office’s Employment attorneys for “making us feel like their top priority.”

Many individual Seyfarth attorneys were honored for their skills and accomplishments:

California:   Employment Law
David Kadue: A “thoughtful and well-rounded” attorney who commands clients’ respect by virtue of his “scholarly and sharp” advice.

Gilmore Diekmann: A “fine litigator with a style that really works” and respected as one of the most “innovative” thinkers in this area.

Illinois:   Employment Law
Joel Kaplan: “One of the heavyweights” in Illinois, he mixes with ease traditional labor work and employment litigation.

Camille Olson: Clients were particularly impressed with the way she treats them with the utmost respect, taking time to understand their business “intimately.”

Thomas Piskorski: Clients pointed to his being a “consummate professional” when conducting litigation and negotiations with plaintiffs.

Kenneth Dolin: A redoubtable traditional labor lawyer, who is praised for his prompt and attentive service.

Gerald Maatman: He commands respect from commentators for his work in employment litigation and has considerable expertise in class actions and EEOC cases.

Ellen McLaughlin:  Involved in all manner of litigations and tries many cases. Peers noted her value to the team.

John Powers: Noted for his excellent relations with leading figures in management.

Illinois:   Environmental
Andrew Perellis: “First choice in a conflict,” practice that focuses on legacy liabilities, government enforcement and risk allocation.

Eric Boyd: An “exceptionally good lawyer,” who earned particular market renown for his environmental compliance work, whether in the area of counseling, enforcement or regulation development.

Illinois:   Real Estate
Joel Rubin: His practice can best be summed up as you name it, he’s done it. Clients value his commitment to “going every step of the way” with them as they develop their business.

Massachusetts:  Employment Law
Richard Alfred: Prized for his premier labor and employment work. His sophisticated practice involves acting for employers in a range of disputes, and he has recently represented clients before state and federal court in complex, multi-plaintiff wage and hour disputes.

Lisa Damon: Attracted praise from peers and clients alike for her “fantastic judgment.” Sources highlighted her particular emphasis on discrimination litigation, where she is widely regarded as “one of the best in the field.”

Ariel Cudkowicz: Debuts in the rankings this year following staunch support for his employment litigation practice. He has been busy representing clients from the hospitality industry in collective actions, challenging the distribution of tips and service charges under Massachusetts law.

Washington D.C.:  Employment Law 
Peter Chatilovicz: A tough negotiator capable of handling difficult labor situations. “If you call him at one in the morning, Peter will be there for you.”

Washington D.C.: Construction
Richard Preston: Highly regarded in international construction dispute circles. He thrives in the arbitration area, where he wins plaudits for his winning style. “He has finesse and simply exudes credibility.”

Bennett Greenberg: A newcomer whose advocacy skills have also been remarked upon. “He is extremely skilled at weaving through legalities.”

About The 2006 Chambers USA Rankings:
Research into the strengths and reputations of US attorneys is comprised from in-depth interviews with clients and attorneys. For the current US directory, over 10,000 of these interviews were conducted covering the whole of the USA by a team of 40 full-time researchers over a period of 6 months. The qualities on which rankings are assessed include technical legal ability, professional conduct, client service, commercial awareness/astuteness, diligence, commitment, and other qualities most valued by the client.  The rankings and editorial comment about attorneys are independent and objective.  Inclusion in the guide is based solely on the research team's findings.

About the Firm:
Seyfarth Shaw has over 650 attorneys located in nine offices throughout the United States including Chicago, New York, Boston, Washington D.C., Atlanta, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento as well as Brussels, Belgium.  Seyfarth Shaw provides a broad range of legal services in the areas of labor and employment, employee benefits, litigation and business services.  The firm’s practice reflects virtually every industry and segment of the country’s business community. Clients include over 200 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.

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