Whiteford, Taylor & Preston and 13 Partners Named as Leaders in the Legal Profession by Chambers and Partners
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston is delighted to announce that Chambers and Partners has highly ranked the firm and 13 of its attorneys in its 2011 list of America's leading firms and business lawyers.
Newly rated this year was Joseph Mezzanotte, co-chair of the firm's Real Estate practice.
As in the past, the firm was recognized in Maryland in six separate categories of practices. As before, the firm's Bankruptcy Litigation practice is the only one in Maryland ranked in Band One, the highest rating.
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 corporate and securities team is praised for the breadth of its offering, which includes corporate formation, M&A, securities, venture capital and succession planning. It is particularly commended for its high level of client service.
Sources say: "A very responsive group."
KEY INDIVIDUALS: Robert Curran is highly experienced in handling M&A, corporate structuring and other business matters. Sources praise his "excellent negotiation skills, particularly in tricky situations." Eva Hill is said to be very accessible and responsive: "I feel I can call her any time." She represents clients from a range of industries including healthcare, IT and professional services.
Employee Benefits & Executive Compensation: Maryland
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP – Band Two
THE FIRM: This compact group advises clients from the private, public and nonprofit sectors on all aspects of employee benefit planning and compliance. It is particularly experienced in advising governmental clients on issues arising under federal and state legislation.
Sources say: "A high-quality firm."
KEY INDIVIDUALS: Sources say Paul Madden is "extremely responsive, accessible and easy to work with." He advises clients from the public and private sectors on the creation and maintenance of all forms of employee benefits plans. Mary Claire Chesshire is best known for her experience in representing government entities in all aspects of employee benefits law. She has been advising clients about changes in the laws governing qualified retirement plans and executive compensation programs.
Healthcare: Medical Malpractice: Maryland
Other Notable Practitioners:
Rose Matricciani of Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP enjoys a solid statewide reputation for her work involving retirement communities and long-term care facilities. Market sources note: "Her transactional practice is superb."
Labor & Employment: Maryland
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP – Band Three
THE FIRM: This group has a strong regional presence and advises clients on the full spectrum of labor and employment matters. Clients particularly commend the training programs provided and attentive client service.
Sources say: "Extremely responsive and acute attorneys."
KEY INDIVIDUALS: Sources say James Gillece is a "fantastic employment litigator." He recently successfully represented SecureNet Payments Systems and its CEO in two actions by former corporate clients. Other clients include St. Joseph Medical Center and Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. Peter Guattery is praised for his practical advice: "He really understands our organization and what we want to achieve so advises accordingly." Clients also commend his clear and thorough explanations. Kevin McCormick advises employers on all aspects of the employment relationship. He was recently involved in the successful negotiations of a three-year labor agreement for Seaboard Asphalt Products with the Steelworkers' Union.
Litigation: Maryland
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP – Band One for Litigation: Bankruptcy; Band Three for Litigation: General Commercial
THE FIRM: This firm is best known for its expertise in bankruptcy-related matters and is a popular choice for complex debt restructuring, bankruptcy reorganization proceedings and litigation. It also handles commercial litigation in areas from product liability to professional malpractice. Recent highlight matters include acting for the trustee of the Saint Vincent's Catholic Medical Centers in officer liability and professional malpractice claims.
Sources say: "A very highly regarded firm that has handled tricky matters for us."
KEY INDIVIDUALS: Sources say Paul Nussbaum is "the go-to bankruptcy expert in Maryland." He represents debtors, trustees and creditors in workouts, refinancings, Chapter 11 reorganizations and other bankruptcy-related matters. Managing partner Martin Fletcher focuses on bankruptcy reorganization, restructuring and debtor and creditor rights. Edward Buxbaum has a broad litigation practice which includes professional malpractice actions, product liability cases and insurance coverage disputes.
Real Estate: Maryland
Whiteford, Taylor & Preston LLP – Band Two
THE FIRM: This 12-strong group has an excellent reputation in the region for the quality of the work it undertakes. It represents a variety of commercial, industrial and residential clients in the acquisition, development, leasing and disposition of real estate. The team is also experienced in land use and zoning matters.
Sources say: "Very highly thought of in the region."
KEY INDIVIDUALS: Thomas Barbuti is praised by sources for "not only being an expert in the law, but also having a fantastic business savvy and understanding." He is experienced in all aspects of complex commercial real estate transactions, and is particularly well respected for work involving retail shopping centers. He recently handled a complex ground lease for Kimco Realty for a new Safeway supermarket and retail shopping center in Towson, Maryland. Sources say Joseph Mezzanotte is "prompt and very detail-oriented, yet never loses sight of the bigger picture in the detail." He is representing Wilmington Trust in the restructuring and workout of multimillion-dollar commercial real estate development loans.
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 six offices in Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, and the District of Columbia.