Ralph G. Wellington

Ralph Wellington, who served as Chairman of the Firm from 1998 to 2010, is a partner in the Litigation Department. His practice has included significant matters throughout the United States in class actions; aviation and railroad law; business and corporate disputes; art law; and trusts and estates. He serves as the co-chair of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Practice Group.

Mr. Wellington’s litigation practice has included representation of chemical and transportation companies in environmental class actions; aviation and railroad companies in commercial and accident cases; financial institutions in commercial and fiduciary disputes; and non-profit foundations in complex matters. He has also argued many appellate matters, including before the United States Supreme Court, several of the U.S. Circuit Courts of Appeals, and numerous state appellate courts. Mr. Wellington has also been retained by corporations to conduct internal investigations in response to alleged inappropriate use of corporate funds. He has served as well as an arbitrator and mediator in numerous matters.

News & Publications

Education

University of Michigan Law School, J.D.
Kalamazoo College, B.A

Bar Admissions

Pennsylvania

Professional Affiliations

Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers since 1999
Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers since 1997
Member, Board of Directors, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, 2012-2018
Member, CPR Panel of Distinguished Neutrals
Member, Arbitration Panel, American Arbitration Association
Board member, Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 2003-2013; vice president, 2008-2013
Board member, Philadelphia Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, 1993-2003; president, 1999-2001
Trustee, Kalamazoo College,1993-2006
American Bar Association; Philadelphia Bar Association (past chair of many committees)
Board member, Lutheran Settlement House, 2009-2016

Other Distinctions

Recipient of Schnader’s Harrison Award for Pro Bono, 2019
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Appellate Practice, “Bet-The-Company” Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Banking and Finance Litigation, and Trusts and Estates Litigation, 2007-2023; and Railroad Law, 2020-2023
Selected by Best Lawyers as 2022 “Lawyer of the Year” in Philadelphia for Litigation – Banking and Finance
Recognized as a “Local Litigation Star” for Pennsylvania in Benchmark Litigation, 2011-2021 and Benchmark Appellate, 2013
Named by SmartCEO for the “Legal Elite Readers Choice” award, 2011
Listed in Who’s Who in American Law
Rated AV® Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell®
Named among “Pennsylvania Super Lawyers” for business litigation, 2004-2022*
One of 78 attorneys selected worldwide for providing superior client service in independent survey of Fortune 1000 companies
One of 10 lawyers and judges asked by the Judiciary Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives to testify on issues leading to class action reform legislation
Honored by the Philadelphia Inquirer as a 2018 Influencer of Law

*No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Further information on methodologies is available via these links.

Representative Matters

Alternative Dispute Resolution Experience

Has served as an arbitrator or mediator in numerous complex disputes, including the following representative matters:

Dispute between a former partner of a prominent law firm and his former firm over substantial fees to be paid from various class action lawsuits.
Dispute among several major insurance companies and a corporate insured arising from decades of liability claims. Issues included stacking, policy interpretation, exhaustion and allocation.
Multi-million dollar software contract dispute among three companies.
Dispute between two law firms over proper allocation of fees from major contingency case.
Claims of sexual discrimination and wrongful termination by a former attorney in a law firm.

Has served as counsel in multiple ADR matters, including:

Dispute among several nationally prominent class action law firms over division of very substantial fees from a major settlement. Ultimately resolved during mediation process.
Arbitration between two companies over liability for environmental contamination. Case required several weeks of evidentiary hearings and argument.
Multiple mediations arising from accidents resulting in deaths and serious injuries.

Litigation Experience

Four decades of experience as a civil trial and appellate lawyer. Areas of trial focus have included significant corporate and business disputes; class actions; securities; trust and estate court matters; aviation and railroad law; professional ethics; product liability; environmental; contract and common law claims.

Representative subject areas include:

Class Actions

Lead counsel for chemical company in defeating medical and property damage class action brought on behalf of all residents of a nearby town.
Lead counsel for railroads in defeating medical and property damage class actions brought on behalf of all persons and businesses residing near a train chemical car derailment.
Lead counsel for construction company in a multi-billion dollar claim alleging fraud in the sale of bonds to fund a nuclear plant project.
Other cases include:
- Antitrust cases involving allegations of price fixing.
- Insurance practices, including voluntary market premiums.
- Disclosure issues under the Federal securities laws.
- Municipal bond defaults.
- Adequacy of notice given to class members.

Appellate Matters

Argument before the U.S. Supreme Court obtaining reversal of two Circuit Courts of Appeals decisions, and clarifying the law of job-related emotional distress claims under the Federal Employers Liability Act.
Argument before the Delaware Supreme Court, obtaining reversal for clients involving a matter of first impression as to whether there was insurance coverage for a settlement under the False Claims Act.
Argument before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, confirming that a tenured professor, dismissed for charges of sexual harassment, had been provided due process by the college.
Argument before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, confirming that qualified judicial immunity or qualified immunity protected Board members from personal suit and liability.
Before multiple state appellate courts as special appellate counsel.

Aviation

Lead trial counsel for the engine manufacturer of the developmental V-22 Osprey aircraft following a crash in the Potomac River, resulting in a defense verdict.
Lead trial counsel for the corporate owner of a helicopter involved in a mid-air collision with a fixed-wing aircraft, resulting in multiple death and injury claims.
Lead trial counsel in numerous cases involving general aviation aircraft and their engine and component part manufacturers.

Internal Investigations

Conducted internal investigation of a Fortune 100 company concerning Board authorized expenditures directed to a public official.
Examined the financial activity of senior executives of an international company amid accusations of inappropriate use of corporate funds.

Other Matters

Lead counsel for the Barnes Foundation in its successful, multi-year effort to amend the original indenture and obtain court permission to create a new art education center in Philadelphia.
Counsel for financial institutions in several matters where fiduciary responsibilities were alleged to have been breached.
Lead counsel for a major railroad in a multi-week arbitration involving a construction overrun and delay claim involving the installation of 2,000 miles of fiber-optic cable.
Has testified as an expert witness on the propriety of legal services rendered by law firms.

Professional Dispute Resolution Training

Has attended numerous training sessions including:

AAA, Effective Advocacy and Management in Arbitration
AAA Enough Already! Striking the Right Balance of Discovery in Arbitration
AAA Arbitration Awards: Safeguarding, Deciding & Writing Awards
AAA Arbitration Fundamentals and Best Practices for New AAA Arbitrators
AAA Arbitration Performance and Demeanor: Meeting Participant Expectations
CPR, Annual Meetings
CPR Spring Meeting

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