Whiteford, Taylor & Preston and 14 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 2012/2013 list of America’s leading firms and business lawyers.
In addition, fourteen of the firm’s partners received individual recognition, including Kevin Hroblak, who was rated this year for the first time in the Litigation category. Mr. Hroblak is co-chair of the firm’s Litigation Department and a leading member of the Business Reorganization and Bankruptcy Litigation practice.
The firm was recognized in Maryland in seven separate categories of practices: Corporate/M&A, Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation; Healthcare; Labor & Employment; Litigation; Litigation: Bankruptcy; and Real Estate. As in the pasts, 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
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP – Band Three
THE FIRM: This firm undertakes a varied body of work, including M&A, corporate formation and public and private financing, on behalf of clients from a diverse range of spheres, including energy, food products, chemical production and healthcare. The team is also recommended for its advice on securities, venture capital and succession planning.
Sources say: "They all have a real sense of the business goals when I deal with them."
KEY INDIVIDUALS: Robert Curran is well regarded by market sources and specializes in acting for closely held businesses, advising clients from a wide range of industries on corporate, M&A and general business matters, with an emphasis on tax-related work.
Eva Hill has a fine reputation in the market and is noted for her work in M&A and corporate reorganizations.
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation: Maryland
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP – Band Two
THE FIRM: This streamlined group consists of two experienced partners who handle the full gamut of employee benefits-related matters. Its clients include a diverse range of private sector organizations, nonprofits, and local and state government institutions.
KEY INDIVIDUALS: Paul Madden "is responsive, efficient and a pleasure to work with. His analyses are always complete and understandable, and I'd give him an A all the way," reports one very satisfied client. He recently acted on behalf of a number of governmental employers with regards to their defined benefit plans, as well as advising a number of private sector clients on nonqualified deferred compensation plans.
The highly regarded Mary Claire Chesshire is particularly sought after for her expertise in securing government agency approval of correction plans and maintaining the tax-qualified status of employee benefit programs.
Healthcare: Medical Malpractice: Maryland
Other Notable Practitioners
Rose Matricciani of Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP is "an excellent lawyer" who is commended by market sources for her knowledge of the nuts and bolts of operating in the healthcare sector, especially with regards to care homes and assisted living facilities. Her knowledge of certification issues is particularly valued.
Labor & Employment: Maryland
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP – Band Three
THE FIRM: This regional firm handles the full spectrum of labor and employment matters, and is especially recommended for handling litigation. It is also highly sought after to advise on labor agreements and collective bargaining issues. Additionally, the team attracts praise for its training programs for clients' supervisors and employees.
Sources say: "They are excellent in finding resolutions for any issues. In addition, they have a thorough understanding of our business approach thereby allowing us to spend more time working on resolutions than explaining our business needs."
KEY INDIVIDUALS: Sources say that Peter Guattery "provides a superb service." He provides general employment advice to clients such as DavCo Restaurants and Minibar North America, as well as handling immigration work for the University of Maryland Medical Systems.
Labor and employment group cochair Kevin McCormick advises clients on both labor and employment matters. He recently successfully negotiated a three-year labor agreement for the Town of Elkton with the Fraternal Order of Police.
James Gillece has recently acted on behalf of Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, obtaining a summary judgment in its favor in a Title VII action brought by a former housekeeping employee. In another highlight, he assisted OC Seacrets with successfully resisting a union election campaign.
Litigation: Maryland
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP – Band One for Litigation: Bankruptcy; Band Three for Litigation: General Commercial
THE FIRM: This firm possesses a market-leading bankruptcy practice that acts across the mid-Atlantic region on behalf of lenders, creditors and debtors in debt restructuring, bankruptcy reorganization and complex litigation. On the commercial side, the firm handles trial and appeal work at the state and federal level for the likes of Rothschild Capital Partners and Aramtel. Recent highlights include acting for the trustees of several related corporations pursuing claims of breach of fiduciary duty against those entities' former directors and officers, which resulted in a $6 million-plus recovery.
Sources say: "They are tremendously accomplished." "They are proactive and very good at educating the client."
KEY INDIVIDUALS: Bankruptcy lawyer Kevin Hroblak is co-chair of the firm's litigation services department and focuses on litigation regarding trustees and estate representatives and malpractice claims. "His command of the law in very complex areas is truly impressive and a very rare commodity," remark sources, who also praise his ability to practically apply this legal knowledge to everyday problems.
Paul Nussbaum is a noted bankruptcy lawyer and chairs the firm’s bankruptcy litigation, restructuring and debtor-creditors’ rights practice. He is "creative and has good insight not only into the law, but into the motivations of the other side."
Managing partner Martin Fletcher specializes in a broad range of bankruptcy reorganization and restructuring matters. He is "a top-notch administrator," according to sources, and also elicits praise for his awareness of developments in the financial sector.
Business litigation chair Edward Buxbaum draws particular praise for his creativity and level of insight on matters and has a well-regarded and broad-based commercial disputes practice. He played a leading role in the breach of fiduciary duty matter mentioned above.
Real Estate: Maryland
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP – Band Two
THE FIRM: This well-regarded firm's 12-lawyer real estate team acts on behalf of commercial, residential and industrial clients on development, acquisition, disposition and leasing. The firm advises a diverse range of Maryland clients, and also provides valued zoning and land use advice. Recent highlights have seen it handle the purchase of a number of shopping centers for Kimco Realty and represent Orchard Development in regard to the joint venture and acquisition of a large Howard County apartment complex, which includes the additional construction of approximately 100 new apartment units.
Sources say: "They understand your business and where you want to go strategically. They also have a lot of depth."
KEY INDIVIDUALS: Thomas Barbuti is singled out for his "wealth of knowledge" and also draws praise for his tough but fair negotiating style. He comes particularly recommended for his real estate development work.
Sources regard Joseph Mezzanotte as "very detail-oriented and very precise" and he is also applauded for his business acumen. He has over two decades of experience in acquisitions, development, sales and leasing.
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 attorneys at Whiteford, Taylor & Preston are dedicated to helping our clients achieve their business goals through strategic legal counsel. We serve our clients across the nation and around the globe from our base of eight offices in Maryland, Virginia, Michigan, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.