Profile: Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP - Who's Who Legal '70'

What is the Who's Who Legal '70'?

MANAGEMENT LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Morgan Lewis has a “premier national footprint in the labour and employment law market”, with offices in virtually every ‘money centre’ city in the United States (and some overseas cities) and “top quality, highly professional labour and employment law practitioners”. It can also boast the chapter’s top nominee: Mark Dichter. He chairs the firm’s global labour and employment practice and is “one of the most respected employment lawyers in America”, according to at least one source. His work on class actions was strongly recommended. Three other leading individuals join him from the Philadelphia office: Timothy O’Reilly, Steven Wall and Francis Milone. Barry Hartstein was described as a “truly excellent lawyer” who “works extraordinarily hard for employers”. From his base in Chicago, Hartstein currently serves as the co-chair of the American Bar Association’s equal employment opportunity committee. Charles Cohen’s practice is complemented by two years’ service as a member of the National Labor Relations Board. Harry Rissetto is also recommended at the Washington, DC, office. His clients include companies and associations in the airline, railroad and trucking industries. “Terrific” Russell Hamilton gives the firm a presence in the Florida section. Hamilton represents employers, employer associations, and employee benefit plans and fiduciaries.
The “outstanding” Eleanor Pelta from the DC office distinguished herself in the corporate immigration chapter, receiving a raft of nominations from rivals. She is particularly well known for her work on high-volume employee transfers and assisting employers with the strategic issues of the international movement of staff.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION
London litigator Robert Goldspink represents the firm in the commercial litigation chapter. He is managing partner of the London office and heads up the international litigation and arbitration practice in the City. He is well versed in multi-jurisdictional financial and commercial disputes. In the aviation section, Houston practitioner Winstol Carter’s litigation practice was praised by our sources. Carter acted as lead counsel to a domestic carrier in litigation filed in Houston after the crash of a Boeing 737.

Pennsylvania practitioner Eric Sitarchuk is “one of the best in the state” for business-crime defence. Based in Philadelphia, his practice incorporates defending complex government investigations and litigation relating to theft of trade secrets, money laundering, corruption and pyramid schemes, among other matters. Competition litigation and counselling specialist John Shenefield was very highly nominated in the chapter and concentrates his practice on issues ranging from M&A to government investigations.

CORPORATE STRENGTH
Two practitioners make the cut in the private funds chapter. In New York, Louis Singer “should be on anyone’s list” according to contributors, and his clients include Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan. He represents fund sponsors and large institutional investors in every type of private investment fund. In Florida, Ethan Johnson’s peers recommended him as “great to deal with”.

New York lawyer Richard Toder makes the cut in the insolvency and restructuring chapter where he received a large number of nominations, while insurance and reinsurance practitioner John Shugrue stood out in Chicago for his insurance litigation and dispute resolution expertise acting for Lloyd’s of London, and other insurers in London and Bermuda.

Dino Barajas’s move to Morgan Lewis from Paul Hastings Janofsky & Walker LLP gives the firm a place in the project finance chapter. Splitting his time between the New York and Los Angeles offices, Barajas has a “very good following in Latin America,” and his domestic and international practice is held in high regard by rivals.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
In DC, Paul Kokulis is senior counsel to the firm and considered “absolutely one of the deans of the bar” for patent work. He is particularly well known in the chemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology areas. Jerry Selinger is based at the Dallas office and was praised as a “top-notch litigator” by his competitors. He has experience in the computer science, electrical device, chemical process and mechanical device sectors.

Two highly regarded practitioners feature in the trademarks book. The “excellent” Rochelle Alpert is based in the San Francisco office and her practice encompasses industries such as online and traditional retailing, beverages, semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, both in the US and on a cross-border basis. Michael Clayton in the DC office is considered “a clear leader” and heads up the global trademark and copyright practice. He boasts “an enviable client list” and is renowned for his transactional and litigation representations.

ENVIRONMENT
The firm’s environment practice is particularly strong in DC, where William Lewis is considered a “spectacular lawyer”. The office is well known for its national environmental policy and water supply work.

The group has represented the Western States Water Suppliers Coalition and companies such as BP Exploration. Michael Steinberg joins Lewis at the office. Contributors “think the world of” this “superb litigator”.