Whiteford, Taylor & Preston and 12 Partners Named as Leaders in the Legal Profession by Chambers and Partners
Baltimore -- Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has again ranked the firm highly in its 2014/2015 list of America’s leading firms and business lawyers.
In addition, twelve of the firm’s partners received individual recognition, as seen below.
The firm was recognized in Maryland in six separate categories of practices: Corporate/M&A, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation; Labor & Employment; Litigation: General Commercial; Litigation: Bankruptcy; and Real Estate. As in the past, the firm’s Bankruptcy Litigation practice is the only such practice in Maryland to receive the highest rating, Band One.
The quotes below come from sources interviewed by the Chambers researchers; the rest of the descriptive text comes from Chambers’ editorial commentary.
Corporate/M&A: Maryland
Band 3 | Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP
What the team is known for: Represents midmarket entities in a range of sectors, including healthcare. Offers expertise in, among other matters, mergers and acquisitions and financing.
Work highlights: Advised the Attorney General's office and Frostburg University on the refinancing of Frostburg Student Housing.
Acted for Brooksby Village in relation to the private offering of tax-exempt bonds.
Notable practitioners
Eva Hill represents clients in a variety of sectors, including information technology, publishing and energy. She is adept at handling corporate reorganizations, venture capital financing, mergers and acquisitions, and public offerings.
The "bright and practical" Robert Curran handles M&A, reorganizations and joint ventures, and earns special praise for his expertise in relation to tax.
Significant clients: EPIC Pharmacies, Asbury Communities, Richard Princinsky Associates.
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation: Maryland
Band 2 | Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP
What the team is known for Advises local and state governments as well as private clients on retirement and benefit plans, COBRA and ERISA compliance, and non-qualified deferred compensation programs under the IRC.
Notable practitioners
Paul Madden is highly regarded for his expertise in matters related to the implementation and maintenance of employee benefits plans such as welfare plans, non-qualified deferred compensation plans and qualified pension plans.
Mary Claire Chesshire is noted for her strength in relation to tax-qualified retirement plans, welfare benefit plan design and the drafting of non-qualified deferred compensation plans.
Significant clients: Howard County, Frederick County, Public Employment Retirement System of Idaho, McDaniel College, Harford Mutual Insurance Company.
Healthcare: Maryland
Other Notable Practitioners
Rose Matricciani heads the healthcare group at Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP and regularly represents specialists such as dentists, physicians and nurses before licensure boards. She is also well versed in fraud and abuse matters, Medicare issues and healthcare M&A.
Labor & Employment: Maryland
Band 3 | Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP
What the team is known for: Looks after the needs of clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to government entities and nonprofit organizations. Significant experience and expertise in employment discrimination matters, wage and hour litigation, union avoidance and collective bargaining negotiations.
Work highlights: Acted for Cumberland Concrete on a collective bargaining negotiation, and successfully obtained a $300,000 reduction.
Advised TIC Gums with regard to employment issues such as hiring decisions and employee benefits.
Notable practitioners
Kevin McCormick's expertise in labor and employment law is widely acknowledged by market sources. He is adept at advising clients on compliance matters as well as representing them in litigation.
Peter Guattery is well known for defending employers in discrimination matters before federal, state and local agencies and courts. He is also well regarded for his knowledge of compliance issues.
Significant clients: Mercury Skyline Yachts, State Employees' Credit Union, Baltimore Convention Bureau, Passenger Vessel Association, Petersen Aluminum.
Litigation: General Commercial and Bankruptcy Maryland
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP – Band One, Bankruptcy, and Band Three, General Commercial
What the team is known for: Held in high esteem for its excellence in bankruptcy litigation and in professional, lender and officer liability claims. Significant expertise also in class actions and disputes relating to corporate governance, intellectual property and financial services.
Strengths (Quotes mainly from clients):
- "They bring all the skills that you want. They are great at advocacy and at being persuasive, their legal research and analysis is phenomenal, and they know how to get resolutions."
- "They are definitely one of the best-known debtor practices in Maryland."
Work highlights: Advised Natchez Regional Medical Center on bringing a professional malpractice and breach of contract action against a national hospital management company and two of its workers.
Represented the Chapter 11 trustee of Vijay Taneja, his company Financial Mortgage and its affiliated debtors in litigation arising from a mortgage fraud scheme.
Notable practitioners
Paul Nussbaum is, say sources, "a consummate attorney who blends superior advocacy skills with incisive legal analysis." He possesses deep expertise in bankruptcy matters as well as business and professional liability litigation.
Martin Fletcher is described as "smart, brilliant and an excellent litigator" by clients. He is well known for his expertise in fraud and securities-related issues, professional liability and Chapter 11 bankruptcy work.
Kevin Hroblak is noted for his experience in director and officer liability, fraud claims, professional malpractice and government investigations. He is also well regarded for his knowledge of financial restructurings. "His keen eye for detail never fails to impress," said a client.
Significant clients: CITGO Petroleum Corp, Monarch Alternative Capital, Credit Suisse Securities, New England Motor Freight, Rothschild Capital Partners.
Real Estate: Maryland
Band 2 | Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP
What the team is known for: Excellent reputation in the real estate development arena, advising on purchase and sale agreements, financing and lease transactions for projects such as commercial offices, condominiums and shopping centers. Also operates an experienced zoning and land use practice.
Work highlights: Acted for Universities Space Research Association on a contract relating to the purchase of an office building.
Acted for Jos. A. Bank Clothiers in the arrangement of 15 store leases.
Notable practitioners
Thomas Barbuti is hailed by market observers as "a very accomplished lawyer with good connections in the industry." He focuses on commercial real estate transactions such as purchase and sale agreements and leases.
Joseph Mezzanotte concentrates on transactional real estate matters, including acquisitions, sales, entitlements and leases. He cochairs the firm's development, leasing and land use practice.
Significant clients Kimco Realty Corporation, K. Hovnanian, Edison Properties, Baltimore Gas and Electric Company, Florida Rock Properties.
About Chambers: Chambers and Partners, the publishers of world-famous guides to law firms and lawyers, conducts thousands of in-depth interviews with clients to assess the expertise and reputations of business lawyers in 175 countries across the world for its publications, including Chambers UK, Chambers USA, Chambers Global, and Chambers Student. In an independent survey of 20,000 in-house counsel, Chambers’ guides were by far the most used – 51% compared to 22% for Legal 500 and 14% for Martindale-Hubbell.
About WTP: The 160 attorneys at the 80-year old Whiteford, Taylor & Preston are dedicated to helping our clients protect and grow their businesses through strategic legal counsel. We serve our clients in the region, across the nation and around the globe from our base of eleven offices in Maryland, Delaware, Michigan, Kentucky, Washington, DC, and Virginia.