Seyfarth Shaw Earns Leading Rankings in the 2011 Chambers USA Guide

Contacts:
Kevin Livingston, National Director of Public Relations
(312) 460-6681 / (212) 218-5272, klivingston@seyfarth.com

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

 “A group of fine lawyers providing outstanding strategic advice to an excellent client list.”

CHICAGO (June 15, 2011)—Leading law firm Seyfarth Shaw LLP announced today it received top rankings among the leading full-service law firms in the 2011 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. Additionally, 45 of the firm’s attorneys—up from 41 lawyers in the 2010 edition—were individually ranked as leaders in their fields in 46 practice areas.

Nationally, the firm ranked second in the categories of Labor & Employment, Retail and ERISA Litigation. The Construction practice group also earned a national ranking and for the first time the Leisure & Hospitality group made its debut on the national stage. Practice groups in Seyfarth Shaw’s regional offices also had impressive results with two practices ranking higher this year and the Atlanta office’s Construction group making a first-time appearance in Georgia.

In California, eight attorneys were recognized (Labor & Employment, Immigration, Construction and Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation); Georgia had seven (Construction, Immigration, Labor & Employment, Litigation and Real Estate); the firm’s Chicago office saw 12 attorneys make the list (Employee Benefits & Compensation, Environment, Labor & Employment and Real Estate), five attorneys in the Boston office (Labor & Employment), five attorneys in the New York office (Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation, Labor & Employment and Real Estate); and the firm’s Washington, D.C. office is home to six of the firm’s attorneys ranked by Chambers (Construction, Labor & Employment and Real Estate).

Practice Group Rankings

#2 National Ranking in Labor & Employment
According to Chambers, the firm’s Labor and Employment group “continues to maintain its well-deserved position of prominence.” Clients said: “This group has all of the resources of a big firm, with none of the pretentiousness; its lawyers are extremely approachable.” 
 
#2 National Ranking in Retail
Chambers observed of the firm: “A standout when it comes to labor and employment matters, this group marries that expertise with its equally strong real estate practice to create a comprehensive retail offering.” In terms of client service, it was said, “…It’s a real partnership. They’re always willing to step up and be responsive, and they offer these things for us that we don’t have to twist their arm for. It’s that stepping up and ‘how can we help’ attitude that make them so valuable.”

#2 National Ranking in ERISA Litigation
Moving up a band, Seyfarth’s growing ERISA practice was said to have “a truly national reach.” According to clients, “The attorneys here are able to analyze complex issues, before making tough strategy decisions and providing intelligent tactical advice. We’ve never been disappointed.”

#3 National Ranking in Construction
Recommended for client service and commercial awareness nationwide, Seyfarth’s construction practice was noted by clients for being “very attentive” and “business-oriented.” The lawyers in the group were praised for being “equally experienced in handling disputes and transactional work pertaining to a wide range of projects in the hospitality, utilities and education sectors.”

#4 National Ranking in Leisure & Hospitality
Clients praised the lawyers for never failing “to impress with their wide range of knowledge and professionalism,” and Seyfarth’s first appearance in this category was noted as a testament to its “dedicated labor and employment and employee benefits practice,” making it well equipped to handle issues arriving in this area.

#1 in Labor & Employment in Illinois
According to Chambers, “the group has the capacity and range to provide full-service labor and employment coverage to major clients, with lawyers specializing in areas such as wage and hour disputes, discrimination cases and ERISA litigation.” Lawyers in both the Labor and Employment and Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation sectors were lauded for contributing to the firm’s strong reputation and nationwide practice. 

#1 in Labor & Employment in Massachusetts
Offering industry-specific counsel in “practically all areas of labor and employment law,” sources said of the lawyers in Seyfarth Shaw’s Labor & Employment practice, “They dominate the Boston market in this area.”

#1 in Construction in Washington, D.C.
Moving up to a first tier ranking this year, Seyfarth was noted by Chambers as being “regularly instructed in high-profile matters relating to infrastructure projects, procurement, regulations and litigation.” Clients said of its Construction practice: “It is an excellent team that provides good service at a good value.”

#2 in Immigration in California
Chambers observed, the firm’s California offices in Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco are “well equipped to handle strategic planning, issues arising from M&A, compliance audits and internal investigations.”
 
#2 in Labor & Employment in California
Sources said of the firm, “A competent, responsive firm, which excels at maintaining strong client relationships and has deep domain knowledge.” The guide elaborated that “this comprehensive group…has also developed a dedicated California workplace solutions group to help clients respond to the challenges of employing workers in the state.”
 
#2 in Labor & Employment in New York
Jumping up a spot due to extensive experience in the field, the New York group of attorneys at the firm handles “high-profile matters on behalf of clients within the financial services, accounting and retail sectors,” while maintaining its traditional labor practice and providing advice on everyday workplace solutions for employers.

#2 in Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation in Illinois
Advising on executive compensation, benefit plans, fiduciary duties and retirement and welfare companies, Seyfarth Shaw Employee Benefits attorneys are a diverse group with experience that allows the firm to resolve a limitless variety of client needs. 

#3 in Construction in Georgia
Chambers reported, “Seyfarth Shaw is particularly renowned for its representation of contractors in disputes.” According to clients, “The quality of the team’s work and the outcomes it produces are consistently excellent.”

#3 in Environment in Illinois
A key offering of the firm, clients comprise large multinational corporations.

#3 in Real Estate in Illinois
The “local powerhouse,” Seyfarth Shaw, was noted by Chambers for having “a wide breadth of expertise with leasing, sales, construction, tax controversies and workouts.” Clients described the firm as being, “A powerful firm with high-quality attorneys, the group has several large clients, gets on valuable transactions and has a number of national deals under its belt.”   

#3 in Immigration in Georgia
“Particularly praised for its dedicated I-9 programs,” according to Chambers, the Immigration practice “provides clients with a comprehensive service.” One source said, “I’m very happy with every aspect of the service we receive and the relationships we have.”

#3 in Labor & Employment in Georgia
With a client roster that includes Nike, Motorola and Wal-Mart, the team of Labor & Employment lawyers in Georgia was given “high marks” by clients for “commercial awareness, client service and value for money. The team always answers our questions quickly.”

#3 in Real Estate in Georgia
A practice that services local, statewide and national clients, it was said of Seyfarth lawyers, “They are available at short notice when quick decisions are needed. They act more as business partners than arms-length attorneys.”

#3 in Labor & Employment in Washington, D. C.
Clients reported, Seyfarth is “An efficient and competent group that commands a great deal of respect.”

Individual Rankings

Nationwide

Mark Casciari, ERISA Litigation, Band 3
Scott A. Carlson, Litigation: E-Discovery, Band 3
D. Ward Kallstrom, ERISA Litigation, Band 3

California

Construction
Michael McKeeman (San Francisco), Construction, Band 4

Immigration
Angelo Paparelli (Los Angeles), Star Individual

Labor & Employment
Brian T. Ashe (San Francisco), Band 4
Jeffrey Berman (Los Angeles), Band 3
Gilmore F. Diekmann, Jr. (San Francisco), Band 2
David D. Kadue (Los Angeles), Band 2
Kenneth D. Sulzer (Los Angeles), Band 4

Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
D. Ward Kallstrom (San Francisco), Band 2

Georgia

Construction
C. Walker Ingraham, Band 2

Immigration
Nicole A. Kersey, Band W (Associate to watch)
James W. King, Band 2

Labor & Employment
Stuart Newman, Band 3

Litigation/General Commercial
John A. Sherrill, Band 3

Real Estate
Mark A. Block, Band 3
Carl E. Westmoreland, Jr., Band 2

Illinois

Employee Benefits & Compensation
Peter C. Miller, Band 3

Environment
Eric E. Boyd, Band 2
Andrew H. Perellis, Band 2

Labor & Employment
Kenneth R. Dolin, Band 3
Joel Kaplan, Band 1
Gerald L. Maatman, Jr., Band 2
Ellen E. McLaughlin, Band 3
Camille A. Olson, Band 1
Thomas Piskorski, Band 1
Jeffrey K. Ross, Band 4

Real Estate
Alvin Kruse, Band 4
Joel D. Rubin, Band 1

Massachusetts

Labor & Employment
Richard Alfred, Band 1
Ariel D. Cudkowicz, Band 3
Lisa Damon, Band 1
Barry Miller, Band W (Associate to watch)
Arthur Telegen, Band 1

New York

Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation
Howard Pianko, Band 2

Labor & Employment
Marshall B. Babson, Band 3
Edward Cerasia II, Band 2
Christie Del Rey-Cone, Band W (Associate to watch)

Real Estate
Peter J. Korda, Band 4

Washington, D.C.

Construction
Bennett D. Greenberg, Band 2
David Mancini, Band 4
Richard McKim Preston, Band 1

Labor & Employment
Peter Chatilovicz, Band 2

Real Estate
Robert L. Bodansky, Band 4
Ronald S. Gart, Band 3

Chambers USA ranks the leading firms and lawyers in an extensive range of practice areas throughout the U.S. using in-depth and client-focused research. The guide is read by industry-leading companies and organizations throughout the U.S. and worldwide. For a complete listing, visit www.chambersandpartners.com.

Seyfarth Shaw has over 750 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 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.

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