David Smith Elected Chairman of Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP

He will succeed Ralph G. Wellington, who has served in the position for the past 12 years.

March 3, 2010 – Philadelphia, PA: Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP is pleased to announce that David Smith has been elected Chairman of the Firm.  Mr. Smith, a partner in the Firm’s Litigation Services Department, has served as Schnader’s Chief Executive Officer since January 2002 and is a member of the Firm’s Executive Committee.  He will succeed Ralph G. Wellington, who has served as the Firm’s Chairman since 1998.

“It is a privilege to be able to serve the Firm in this way, and I would like to thank my colleagues for the opportunity to lead the Firm in continuing the traditions of our founders – efficiently providing the highest quality of legal service to our clients and a dedication to serving the public good –and building upon the success the Firm has enjoyed under Ralph’s leadership,” said Smith.  “The current economy is challenging but also invigorating.  We’re well positioned for the current economic trends and the related developments in the legal industry.  We run lean, we are responsive, our rates are competitive, and our work product is of the highest quality.  And we have had an impressive run of recent laterals –especially in our Philadelphia, New York, and San Francisco offices.”  

“David is a natural choice for this position, and I think that he will bring new energy and vision to the role,” said Wellington.  “A change in leadership is necessary every so often and David has both the entrepreneurial spirit and financial acumen needed to succeed in the current environment.  Not to mention that he is one of the finest litigators in the profession.  As CEO, he has been intimately involved in the operations of the Firm, and that experience, as well as his impressive legal and managerial skills, will serve him well in his new position.”  Wellington, who has maintained his litigation practice during his tenure as Chairman, will return to the full-time practice of law.

In addition to having served as the Firm’s CEO for the past eight years, Smith maintains an active litigation practice and has more than 30 years of experience handling large and complex litigation matters, including representation of plaintiffs and defendants in a broad variety of commercial disputes; class action litigation arising out of financial transactions; litigation over control of corporations and partnerships; patent, trademark, trade secret and other intellectual property litigation; professional liability litigation involving claims of attorney and accountant malpractice; securities and antitrust litigation, including service as lead counsel in the defense of multi district cases; failed financial institution litigation; real estate workouts and litigation; construction litigation; and representation of debtors and creditors in creditors’ rights and bankruptcy litigation.  Active professionally, he is a board member of The Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and has served as the chair of the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia (1999–2001) and as a member of the American Bar Association Standing Committee on Professional Competence (1998–1999).   Also active within the community, Smith is the President of the Auerbach Central Agency for Jewish Education (2008–present), and has served a variety of roles with several community organizations including: the Jewish Publication Society (treasurer, 2000; vice president, 2001-2004; president, 2004-2007); the Community Hebrew Schools of Philadelphia/Jewish Outreach Partnership (president, 1996–2000); the Perelman-Schechter Jewish Day School of Philadelphia (vice president, 1988-2002); and, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, Board of Trustees (1996–2004, 2008–present).  He is routinely listed in The Best Lawyers in America for commercial litigation (2006–2010) and recognized as a “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer” for business litigation (2004– 2009).  He received his B.A. from the University of Miami in 1972, and went on to receive his J.D. from the University of Miami in 1975 as well, graduating summa cum laude.

ABOUT SCHNADER HARRISON SEGAL & LEWIS LLP

Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP is a law firm of 200 attorneys with offices in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, New York, California, Washington, DC, New Jersey and Delaware.  Schnader serves local, national and international clients ranging from large corporations to start-ups and entrepreneurs to individual clients in more than 40 areas of the law. In addition to the firm’s traditional strengths in complex litigation, commercial transactions, wealth management, and family law, the firm has significant experience and depth in intellectual property, international commerce and labor laws, financial services, construction law, real estate development, corporate governance, appellate services, technology-based companies, media and communications, government relations and regulatory affairs, aviation issues, business reorganization, and securities and shareholder litigation.  For more information visit www.Schnader.com or contact Caroline Brobeil Nassan, Public Relations Manager for the firm, at 215-751-2061 or cbrobeil@schnader.com.  

###