Practices

Litigation

Hangley Aronchick Segal Pudlin & Schiller has one of the most respected litigation departments in the Mid-Atlantic region. Our litigators are an extraordinarily talented and capable group of attorneys, with a wealth of experience in the local and national arenas and a highly flexible approach to managing litigation. While we are particularly well known for our trial experience, clients across the region and, increasingly, across the country, seek us out to handle all phases of disputes—from preliminary stages, where the goal often is to avoid litigation completely, through discovery, trials, and appeals.  

Talent 

Our litigators come from a variety of backgrounds, but all of them—from our most experienced trial lawyers to our newest associates—have outstanding academic and professional backgrounds. Most of our litigators clerked for federal judges. One clerked for Justice of the United States Supreme Court, two for Justices of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and six for Judges of the United States Courts of Appeals. The litigation group includes fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers, adjunct professors at area law schools, a member of the American Law Institute, and leaders of Inns of Court and the American Bar Association Section of Litigation. Our litigators are regularly recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, and other national legal ranking publications.  

Our fellow attorneys regularly nominate us for honors and awards; even more tellingly, when the law firms that practice with us are themselves involved in litigation, they often choose Hangley Aronchick to represent them. We have represented more than half of the largest law firms in Philadelphia. 

Experience 

Clients and referring counsel seek us out for cases that will actually have to be tried. Unlike many firms of our caliber, we do not limit our trial work to a handful of “star” lawyers; all of our litigators appear in court. Although our trial work sets us apart from other firms, we are equally comfortable advocating and negotiating behind the scenes to obtain a positive resolution before a suit is filed. We do not limit our advocacy to courts: We represent clients in arbitrations, mediations, administrative proceedings, and private or internal investigatory and review proceedings. Many of our cases have been highly publicized, and our litigators are experienced in handling public attention and inquiries.  

Along with strong legal credentials, our litigators have a wealth of practical experience, both in and outside the legal field. Mark Aronchick served as Philadelphia’s City Solicitor and as Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association; Joe Dworetzky also served as City Solicitor, and is a member of Philadelphia’s School Reform Commission. Wendy Beetlestone is a former General Counsel of the School District of Philadelphia, and John Summers is the Eastern Pennsylvania Solicitor to the Pennsylvania Conference of State Judges. Our litigators teach trial and appellate advocacy to practicing attorneys. Many members of the litigation group came to the law from other professions. Our team includes:  

  • Former social workers, paralegals, editors, writers, and teachers;
  • A former legislative aide to a U.S. Senator;
  • Two former small business owners;
  • A former television news reporter; and
  • A former Russian translator.

We believe that these diverse backgrounds help us offer our clients creative and innovative, yet realistic, legal advice.  

Flexibility 

We are neither a plaintiffs’ nor a defendants’ firm. Our litigation clients include individuals, partnerships, governments, privately and publicly owned corporations, and nonprofit organizations. We represent national, regional, and local clients in state and federal courts across the country. We can, and do, handle litigation on any scale; we regularly litigate cases ranging from Philadelphia Municipal Court and state court arbitration matters to large-scale, nationwide cases with millions or billions of dollars at stake. While we find that our clients appreciate our practice of staffing our cases leanly, we can put together as large a team of lawyers, paralegals, and staff as is needed to meet the demands of a particular case. Where necessary, we draw on the skills and knowledge of colleagues in our other practice groups.  

Litigation Attorney Listing