Herbert Smith LLP announced the recruitment of a team of six leading US commercial litigation partners today.
Five out of the six partners are based in New York and will join Herbert Smith’s New York office, when it opens in September. One partner, also US qualified, is currently based in London and will join Herbert Smith’s dispute resolution practice there. The team, which joins Herbert Smith from Chadbourne & Parke LLP, enjoys a market-leading reputation for product liability and cross-border litigation work.
• Thomas Riley has more than 30 years of experience in complex litigation, ranging from general commercial disputes to regulatory matters, securities, investigations and product liability.
• Gregory Loss has a background in commercial litigation and focuses his practice on product liability, class actions and regulatory counselling work.
• David Wallace is an experienced trial attorney whose practice encompasses product liability cases, development of expert witness programmes and expertise in nanotechnology.
• Allison Alcasabas is an international litigation lawyer with extensive experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in a range of commercial matters.
• Joseph Falcone’s litigation practice concentrates on complex product liability and class action litigation.
• Philip Pfeffer, based in London, focuses on product liability, public international law and other commercial work including shareholder disputes.
Herbert Smith’s New York office will focus solely on disputes work, with particular emphasis on cross-border investigations, international arbitration and cross-border litigation for network clients.
Upon joining Herbert Smith, the team’s primary focus will be on advising international clients with US litigation issues. They will be joined in New York by international arbitration partner Chris Parker, who is relocating there from London to establish arbitration practice on the ground. Together they will provide a foundation upon which the firm will build its disputes capability in New York.
Herbert Smith LLP recently announced its plans to merge with the leading Australian law firm Freehills. The official launch of the new firm – Herbert Smith Freehills – will take place on 1 October 2012, at which point the New York office will become part of the Herbert Smith Freehills’ international network.
Jonathan Scott, Herbert Smith’s senior partner, commented: “We have recruited a very high calibre team whose reputation will allow us to hit the ground running in New York. Their collegial, cohesive approach fits in well with our culture and provides a very strong platform on which to achieve our objective of building a leading cross-border disputes practice in New York.”
Sonya Leydecker, head of the firm’s global dispute resolution practice added: “Opening in New York significantly enhances our global disputes practice. Hiring an excellent team of experienced US litigators with extensive cross-border experience and local knowledge is a great way to establish the new office. I am delighted to welcome the team and we are looking forward to working with them on complex cross-border litigation.”
