Seyfarth Shaw Lauded as National Leader in 2008 Chambers USA Rankings of Law Firms

Chicago, IL (June 30, 2008)—Seyfarth Shaw LLP, one of America’s leading full-service law firms, is lauded in the 2008 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 26 of the firm’s attorneys were also individually ranked as leaders in their field.

The firm ranked second in the country in Labor and Employment and Retail, and its ERISA Litigation Practice Group earned a third-band ranking 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 be able to cover all the needs of a large, national retailer. Naturally, real estate and land use matters will feature prominently, but the firm must also counsel on franchise, IP, trademark and e-commerce matters. Furthermore, it should ideally demonstrate aptitude in labor and employment matters and be able to respond to the majority of tax, advertising and consumer protection issues, as well as disputes both nationally and internationally.”

Practice groups in Seyfarth Shaw’s regional offices also scored impressively. The Labor and Employment groups in Chicago and Boston landed in first place in Illinois and Massachusetts, and the Chicago office’s Employee Benefits and Compensation practice ranked first in Illinois. The Construction Practice Group in Washington, D.C. earned a second-band ranking. Chambers ranked the firm’s Real Estate and Environment Practice Groups in Illinois in third place, along with the Labor and Employment groups in California, Georgia and Washington, D.C. The Labor and Employment team of attorneys in New York rounds out the firm’s regional honors with a fourth-place ranking in their state.

Twenty-six of Seyfarth Shaw’s attorneys throughout the nation were singled out as leaders in their field of law. In California, two attorneys were recognized (Labor and Employment); Georgia had five (Construction, Immigration, Labor and Employment, Litigation and Real Estate); the firm’s headquarters in Illinois saw 13 attorneys make the list (Employee Benefits, Environment, Labor and Employment and Real Estate); Chambers ranked three attorneys in the Massachusetts office (Labor and Employment); and the firm’s Washington, D.C. office is home to three of the firm’s attorneys ranked by Chambers in 2008 (Construction and Labor and Employment).

Practice Group Rankings

#2 National Ranking in Labor and Employment
“This leading Chicago player is lauded by peers for its successful organic growth across the USA.” Clients told Chambers that they appreciate the “sensible transfer of knowledge between attorneys throughout the firm—they are able to draw on the firm’s resources quickly, effectively and seamlessly.”

#2 National Ranking in Retail
“This large full-service firm brings together all the expertise needed to provide quality advice to retailers…. The group has recently been handling an increased number of wage and hour cases, and is currently engaged in several high-profile class actions for national retailers. M&A work and dispositions are also high on the firm’s agenda. An eclectic mix of companies form the firm’s client list, including big-box retailers, food stores and fashion outlets.”

#3 National Ranking in ERISA Litigation
Peers and clients lauded the firm’s “ability to push the envelope and present an argument in a manner that best supports its clients’ interest,” as “it leaves no stone unturned in pursuing clients’ goals.”

#1 in Employee Benefits and Compensation in Illinois
Chambers interviewees spoke highly of the firm's “outstanding practice” in employee benefits and executive compensation. The “exceptional individuals” working in this area were described as “not only very knowledgeable, but also excel at working to time constraints.”

#1 in Labor and Employment in Illinois
Seyfarth Shaw was heralded as “the biggest name and the biggest presence” in Chicago for Labor and Employment law. One client explained, “The lawyers achieve a deep understanding of all the details of the case, analyze them strategically and are equipped with a meticulous understanding of the law.”

#1 in Labor and Employment in Massachusetts
Clients reported that Seyfarth’s lawyers “can walk into any situation in any location and provide excellent service,” in addition to presenting “cost effective advice.”

#2 in Construction in Washington, D.C.
Chambers noted, “The group is well versed in multimillion-dollar claims concerning design defects and delays, as well as contractual agreements, procurement, risk management and litigation avoidance. Federal government contract-related work is also handled by the construction team, which works closely with government specialists based in the DC office.”

#3 in Labor and Employment in California
Interviewees described Seyfarth Shaw as California’s “go-to firm for specialty employment issues” due to the lawyers’ “practical, straight-talking approach and expertise in trade labor relations matters.” Clients reported that “Seyfarth is very reputable in the field… and delivers great service.”

#3 in Labor & Employment in Georgia
Praised as having a “great national labor and employment practice,” clients highlighted that the lawyers “address issues without fuss and adopt a global perspective to resolve them.” Additionally, the support staff “also impress with their depth of knowledge.”

#3 in Environment in Illinois
The environmental, safety and toxic tort practice group was commended for having a “strong environmental transactions practice.” Chambers further noted that the team has a “highly active toxic tort practice” and also represents clients concerning OSHA matters.

#3 in Real Estate in Illinois
Respondents told Chambers, “The ‘excellent and capable’ 30-lawyer group… has ‘a lot of presence and a great secured lending practice.’”

#3 in Labor and Employment in Washington, D.C.
Interviewees observed, “This outfit caters for a diverse client base and is described as ‘a cut above’ many other firms.”

#4 in Labor & Employment in New York
Chambers observed, “Home to lawyers with strong credentials who provide clients with a ‘valuable perspective on employment law,’ this national player has carved out a reputation for itself in the New York market. The group is praised for its ‘responsiveness and pragmatism’ and ability to save clients’ money. Clients are particularly impressed with the team’s associates and the fact that the firm does ‘not cut corners in terms of administrative staff.’”

Individual Attorney Rankings by State and Practice Group

California
Labor and Employment
Gilmore F. Diekmann, Jr. (San Francisco)
Peers applaud Diekmann as a “knowledgeable and focused individual.” Clients noted, “He is a great lawyer to work with­—he has a tremendous ability in class action suits, and advises on the best course of action rather than just pointing out risks. He really understands the issues.”

David D. Kadue (Los Angeles)
Kadue is described by Chambers interviewees as a “very bright” attorney who is “straightforward and articulate” as he represents management in all areas of employment law, with a particular focus on complex wage and hour and discrimination matters.

Georgia
Construction
C. Walker Ingraham
Interviewees told Chambers that Ingraham “combines the ability to tackle complicated engineering technicalities with a deep understanding of the negotiation process.” Clients reported, “He asks all the right questions when forging a strategy, which can save a lot of time, money and heartache.”

Immigration
James W. King
Described as “responsive and worthy of praise,” Chambers noted that King is co-chair of Seyfarth Shaw’s business immigration practice, and is proficient in French and German. Clients told Chambers that they delight in his “innovative and creative approach” to business immigration matters.

Labor and Employment
Stuart Newman
“Clients point to his ‘strong skills in the traditional labor arena at both national and local levels’ as a reason for engaging him.”

Litigation
John A. Sherrill
Interviewees told Chambers that Sherrill is particularly “very impressive in complex arbitration matters."

Real Estate
Carl E. Westmoreland, Jr.
Interviewees reported that Westmoreland is a “terrific zoning and land use attorney,” and one of Atlanta’s biggest names in the field of real estate law.

Illinois
Employee Benefits & Compensation
Peter C. Miller
Chambers reported that Miller “… is chair of the employee benefits and executive compensation department. He has substantial experience advising public and private companies on the design, implementation and operation of retirement and welfare benefit programs and executive compensation matters.”

Environment
Eric E. Boyd
Interviewees reported that Boyd is a “superb lawyer who is great at all matters,” and especially in defending clients in permit violation, water, air and toxic waste disputes.

Andrew H. Perellis
Chambers noted that Perellis “acts for clients in a multitude of matters, including site contamination, medical monitoring, regulatory and personal injury litigation.”

Jacqueline M. Vidmar
Clients reported that Vidmar is a “bright attorney who thinks outside the box.” Additionally, she is touted as particularly “strong in clean air matters.”

Labor and Employment
Kenneth R. Dolin
Chambers noted that Dolin is “highly experienced in traditional labor relations law and handles significant NLRB cases, collective bargaining, arbitrations and strikes and lockouts.”

Joel Kaplan
Kaplan is described by interviewees as a “brilliant lawyer” who has an outstanding reputation for defense work. Sources observed that “it seems to be win, win, win with Kaplan.”

Gerald L. Maatman, Jr.
Maatman, who focuses on complex employment litigation, is commended as “extremely impressive—he knows how to work with clients and his manner is calm and logical.”

Ellen E. McLaughlin
Interviewees praised McLaughlin for her “very strong trial skills, an abundance of common sense and great strategic abilities.”

Thomas Piskorski
Piskorski is heralded as “a quite exceptional lawyer: he really understands clients and their needs, has tremendous experience and is deeply knowledgeable.” In addition, interviewees commended his ability to “give thorough, informed and practical advice on complex legal problems.”

Camille A. Olson
Olson was described as “just terrific.” Interviewees reported to Chambers that, “Everything you hear about her is excellent and she handles the really cutting-edge stuff.”

Jeffrey K. Ross
Chambers reported that Ross “is an expert in complex employment litigation with a wide ranging practice that covers employment discrimination, wage/hour issues, labor-management relations, executive employment contracts and employee benefits.”

Mary K. Samsa
“Responsive, knowledgeable and helpful,” Samsa focuses on executive compensation. Observers told Chambers that she has “a complete understanding of the issues and the ability to explain complex matters in simple terms.”

Real Estate
Joel D. Rubin
Rubin was praised by interviewees as “a great and distinctive lawyer.”

Massachusetts
Labor and Employment
Richard Alfred
Chambers reported that Alfred is, “An ‘A-list’ attorney… [who] has a reputation for providing clients with ‘a deep understanding of employment law’ and is ‘always thinking of original solutions.’”

Ariel D. Cudkowicz
Chambers reported that Chudkowicz “has a sizable following for his expertise in the specialist area of service charges under state law.”

Lisa Damon
Celebrated for her “wisdom and terrific judgment,” interviewees noted that Damon is “extremely effective at achieving results for her clients.” They further remarked that with her “excellent sense of what works for a business,” Damon remains widely sought after by clients.

Washington, D.C.
Construction
Bennett D. Greenberg
“Bennett Greenberg’s wealth of experience makes him well suited to ‘the biggest cases, technically complex and heavy on negotiations,’” clients told Chambers.

Richard Preston
Interviewees reported that “Richard Preston is a great trial lawyer who ‘doesn’t need to bang the table to make his point,’” and that he “is widely respected for his national and international practice.”

Labor and Employment
Peter Chatilovicz
Chatilovicz was singled out as a strong member of the Washington, D.C. Labor and Employment team that “caters for a diverse client base and is described as ‘a cut above’ many other firms.”

For the 2008 directory, Chambers’ team of over 50 full-time researchers conducted thousands of in-depth interviews with clients and lawyers. Law firms and individual attorneys are ranked in the guide on a scale of one to six. 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.

Seyfarth Shaw has over 750 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. The firm provides a broad range of legal services in the areas of labor and employment, employee benefits, litigation and business services. Seyfarth Shaw’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.