Litigation
Hangley Aronchick Adds Two Practice Areas and New Office Location
Philadelphia -- February 21, 2008 -- The law firms of Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin and WolfBlock LLP announced today that Hangley Aronchick is adding two new practice groups -- environmental and domestic relations -- as well as adding to its business litigation practice group. By March 2, Hangley will admit seven new lateral shareholders and add a Montgomery County office to its existing practice centers in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Cherry Hill.
The Hangley firm will, for the first time, have domestic relations and environmental departments. Kenneth J. Warren, the former chair of WolfBlock's environmental and land use practice group, is also a past chair of the ABA Section of Environment, Energy & Resources. He is joined at Hangley Aronchick by Steven T. Miano, who practices extensively in the water quality area and does extensive teaching and writing on the subject. WolfBlock's environmental practice will be led by new Co-Chairs, Philadelphia-based Kermit L. Rader, a former Chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association's Environmental Law Committee, and Boston-based Kenneth A. Reich, former Co-Chair of the Environmental Litigation Committee of the Boston Bar Association. Both Kermit and Ken had extensive experience with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Justice, respectively, in environmental matters. In addition, William J. Friedman of WolfBlock's Roseland, New Jersey office will serve as Vice Chair.
Based in the new Hangley Aronchick office in Montgomery County will be leading matrimonial lawyers Cheryl L. Young and Helen E. Casale. Ms. Young served recently as President of the Montgomery Bar Association. WolfBlock will continue its Norristown office under the leadership of nationally-recognized divorce lawyer Lynne Gold-Bikin and Dan Clifford.
Joining the Hangley business litigation practice group is M. Norman Goldberger, one-time chair of WolfBlock's litigation department and well-known securities and class action trial lawyer. He is joined by business trial lawyers Matthew White and Laura Krabill. Ms. Krabill is also a licensed patent lawyer.
Asked about his motivation in leaving WolfBlock, Norman Goldberger explained his thinking: "WolfBlock is a great firm, but it's a 300-lawyer firm with an eye to becoming even larger through merger or expansion, and I've decided that I prefer to work in a smaller environment. Hangley Aronchick has one of the country's great business litigation departments, but its smaller size (Hangley Aronchick will number fewer than 60 lawyers even after the new shareholders arrive) makes it easier to retain the kind of small working environment that I am looking for."
Mark L. Alderman, Chair of WolfBlock, confirmed that the storied Philadelphia firm has expansion on its screen and acknowledged that the large firm environment might not be attractive to all WolfBlock lawyers, "You're never happy saying goodbye to lawyers and friends, but I understand their goals and WolfBlock's goals may not be exactly the same. We will miss them, and we wish them the best."
William T. Hangley, Chair of Hangley Aronchick, observed, "It has always been our goal to add new lateral lawyers and new practice capabilities gradually, and only when great opportunities present themselves. As trial lawyers, Norman, Matt and Laura will bring securities and class action experience that we can really use, and Laura's patent knowledge will be a boon to our IP litigation practice. And we think that, just as the development of our education law practice over the past couple of years has enhanced our overall ability to serve all our clients, the same will be true with the domestic relations and environmental capabilities that Cheryl, Helen, Ken and Steve are bringing to the firm." He also stressed his affection and respect for WolfBlock and suggested that the two firms will continue to work with each other.
About Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin
Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin, a 45-lawyer firm, has offices in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, PA and Cherry Hill, NJ. The firm’s practice includes litigation, bankruptcy, corporate/business law, real estate, education law and tax and estates. For more information on Hangley Aronchick Segal & Pudlin visit our web site at www.hangley.com.
WolfBlock is a multipractice law firm with offices in Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC. The firm has more than 300 attorneys and government relations professionals who offer the full complement of legal services to corporate, government, nonprofit and individual clients locally, nationally and internationally. For more information on WolfBlock, visit www.wolfblock.com.