Schnader Names Seven New Partners

CONTACT:
Caroline M. Brobeil
Public Relations Manager
Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP
215-751-2061

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 25, 2007 – Philadelphia, PA – Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP is pleased to announce that seven associates have been elected to partnership effective January 1, 2007.  In the Philadelphia office, the Firm’s new partners are Jennifer A. L. Battle, Litigation Services; Kevin S. Blanton, Business Services – Real Estate; Eve DelSoldo, Business Services – Corporate; Jennifer Diamantis, Litigation Services; Jeffrey L. God, Business Services – Corporate; and Stephen J. Shapiro, Litigation Services; and, in the Pittsburgh office, Deborah A. Rouse, Business Services – Real Estate. 

“It is my pleasure to announce the election of these seven outstanding professionals to partner,” said Ralph Wellington, Chairman.  “Each one is already a great asset to the firm, and every member of the group not only possesses exceptional legal skill and sound judgment, but also the dedication to finding genuine, meaningful solutions for our clients.  It is an exciting and proud moment as they each take the next step in their legal career.”

Ms. Battle is a member of the Firm’s Litigation Services department, and focuses her practice in the areas of commercial litigation, mass tort, and products liability defense. She has represented a wide variety of clients in various litigation matters, including construction contract disputes, railroad industry litigation, corporate ownership disputes, intellectual property disputes, breach of warranty cases, and commercial lease disputes.  During the past year, she has expanded her practice to include white collar criminal defense, assisting in advising clients who are targets or subjects of white-collar criminal investigations, and managing cases that are being handled by the United States Attorney.  In 2006, she was recognized as a “Pennsylvania Rising Star” for General Litigation by the publishers of Law & Politics and Super Lawyers.  She received a B.A./M.A. in political science from the University of Pennsylvania in 1996, where she was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and she received a J.D. from New York University School of Law in 1999.

Mr. Blanton is a member of the Firm’s Business Services department, and specializes in real estate matters.  He represents institutional and private interests in complex real estate acquisitions, development, leasing and financing. He also serves as counsel to institutional clients in large financing transactions with an emphasis on multi-lender participations, securitizations and asset-based lending for real estate, security and technology borrowers. In addition, Mr. Blanton has significant experience representing landlords in commercial and retail leasing transactions.  In 2006, he was recognized as a “Pennsylvania Rising Star” for Real Estate law by the publishers of Law & Politics and Super Lawyers.  Mr. Blanton received a B.S. from Sam Houston State University in 1990, and a J.D., cum laude, from Widener University School of Law in 1994. 

Ms. DelSoldo is a member of the Firm’s Business Services department, specializing in corporate matters, particularly those involving complex commercial finance transactions.  She has participated in and managed commercial lending transactions. Shealso handles regulatory, transactional, consumer compliance and licensing issues for financial institutions. In addition, she reviews and analyzes contracts for privately and publicly held corporations. Ms. DelSoldo previously worked for the United States Attorney’s Office of Philadelphia, where she participated in defending the United States in civil cases. Ms. DelSoldo received a B.A., cum laude, from Barnard College in 1996, and received a J.D. from the James E. Beasley School of Law of Temple University in 1999.

Ms. Diamantis is a member of the Firm’s Litigation Services department, and has represented clients in a variety of matters, including product liability actions, personal injury and wrongful death actions, commercial disputes, and intellectual property matters. She has significant experience in all phases of litigation, including appeals. She has also represented clients in arbitrations and mediations. Prior to joining Schnader, she worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Telecommunications and Information Administration. In addition, she assisted with the preparation and instruction of a course on electronic commerce issues offered through the Villanova University School of Law Graduate Tax Program. She received a B.A., with honors, from the University of Florida, where she was also a member of Phi Beta Kappa, and she received a J.D. from University of Michigan Law School.

Mr. God is a member of the Firm’s Business Services department, specializing in complex financial transactions. He has represented national and regional banks in connection with commercial lending, routinely handles regulatory matters, especially with regard to the Small Business Association, and has experience with numerous acquisitions and sales, such as representing a seller in sale of assets of a warehousing company; representing a seller in sales of assets of various television stations and Federal Communications Commission licenses; and assisting in the representation of a purchaser in acquisition of stock of a home health care business. He also assists clients with contracts and agreements including governing documents for business entities, including bylaws, partnership agreements, and limited liability company operating agreements. Additionally, he reviews, drafts and negotiates employment agreements, independent contractor agreements, confidentiality agreements and other contracts. In 2006, he was recognized as a “Pennsylvania Rising Star” for Business/Corporate law by the publishers of Law & Politics and Super Lawyers. Mr. God received a B.A., cum laude, from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in 1996 and a J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 1999. Before joining Schnader, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable William M. Barker of the Supreme Court of Tennessee.

Mr. Shapiro is a member of the Firm’s Litigation Services department, and his practice includes all areas of civil and appellate litigation. Some of his representative cases have included defending a large Philadelphia law firm against multiple suits alleging in excess of $500 million in damages arising out of the bankruptcy of one of the firm’s former clients; on appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, successfully obtaining on behalf of a major motor carrier a ruling invalidating excessive assessments levied by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission; bringing and successfully settling a Lanham Act false advertising claim on behalf of a Norwegian company that manufactured military equipment; and prosecuting on behalf of a county pension fund a civil RICO action against multiple defendants alleged to have engaged in a pay-to-play conspiracy that resulted in the loss of pension fund assets. Before joining the firm, he clerked for the in-house legal department at the Sherwin-Williams Company. Additionally, Mr. Shapiro worked as a news photographer before entering the legal practice and is active in First Amendment and media law. In 2006, he was recognized as a “Pennsylvania Rising Star” for General Litigation by the publishers of Law & Politics and Super Lawyers. Mr. Shapiro graduated with a B.A., cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania in 1995, and received a J.D., magna cum laude, from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 1999, where he was also a member of the Order of the Coif.

Ms. Rouse is a member of the Firm’s Litigation Services department, and she concentrates her practice in real estate development, land use, zoning matters, and construction law. As a registered architect with two decades of experience in building design, urban planning and construction oversight, Ms. Rouse brings an unusually broad set of skills and insider knowledge to the practice of real estate development. Before joining Schnader, she served as deputy director of the City of Pittsburgh’s Department of City Planning, where she worked closely with developers, contractors and design professionals to develop land use, historic preservation and urban design controls and to apply them to major development projects, including PNC Park, Heinz Field and the Pittsburgh Convention Center projects. With Schnader, Ms. Rouse has put her experience and background in planning and construction to good use, and has been involved with a variety of matter including: negotiating and preparing design, development and construction contracts for industrial, institutional, and developer clients; negotiating design-build and construction agreements for new buildings and additions valued at more than $20 million erected by a private New England college; and, representing the Allegheny County Airport Authority in its efforts to revise certain provisions of local zoning ordinances that conflicted with Federal Aviation Administration regulations. In 2005, Ms. Rouse was named to serve as a member of a nationwide team by the National Trust for Historic Preservation to provide historic preservation expertise in New Orleans during rebuilding following Hurricane Katrina. She received a B.S. in Architecture from Drexel University in 1985, and a J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law in 1995.