People in the News—April 9, 2019—Shook, Hardy & Bacon
Shook, Hardy & Bacon announced that John Lyons and Erin Leffler became partners with the firm.
April 09, 2019 at 11:00 AM
4 minute read
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Elected and Appointed
Shook, Hardy & Bacon announced that John Lyons and Erin Leffler became partners with the firm.
Lyons defends companies against individual and putative class action products liability claims. He also represents financial institutions in business litigation, including in cases involving the Bank Secrecy Act and other federal banking regulations.
Leffler represents clients in complex commercial litigation, employment law and products liability defense. In addition to individual matters, she handles mass tort and multidistrict litigation. She also serves as a member of the young professional advisory board of Bethesda Project, a Philadelphia nonprofit devoted to caring for the poor and homeless.
*****
Blank Rome announced that Sophia Lee was appointed chief diversity and inclusion officer, joining Christopher A. Lewis, Blank Rome's chief diversity and inclusion officer.
In her new role as chief diversity and inclusion officer, Lee will also serve as co-chair of the firm's diversity and inclusion committee and work closely with the firm's BR Pride, BR United and Women's Forum affinity groups on strategic recruiting and mentoring, client networking events, career development and advancement programs, and ongoing outreach to local and national communities.
Lee is a partner in Blank Rome's energy group, concentrating her litigation practice on environmental, products liability and toxic tort matters in the energy industry. She previously served as chief litigation counsel at Sunoco Inc. and in the litigation department of an Am Law 100 firm.
In addition to her legal practice, Lee is the former diversity chair for the Philadelphia Bar Association, a past co-president of the Philadelphia Diversity Law Group, a past president and current board member of the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania, and a past board member of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association.
Speakers
Meyer, Unkovic & Scott's construction practice group chair James R. Mall is set to be a featured presenter at the Construction Financial Management Association's upcoming Greater Pittsburgh Construction Industry Conference, scheduled for April 25 at the Regional Learning Alliance in Cranberry.
Mall will present on the latest updates in construction law with a focus on recent amendments to the Pennsylvania Contractor and Subcontractor Payment Act, as well as dispute resolution; updates to the Pennsylvania Construction Notices Directory; and medical marijuana use in the construction industry.
Mall concentrates his practice in construction and commercial litigation, land use and zoning. He has experience in prosecuting and defending construction-related disputes before state and federal courts, the Pennsylvania Board of Claims, the Civilian Board of Contract Appeals, arbitration panels and mediators.
He was appointed as an arbitrator by the American Arbitration Association to resolve complex construction and commercial cases and was appointed to mediate commercial disputes by courts and litigants.
Honored
Dennis McAndrews is slated to receive the Award For Excellence of the Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law Alumni Association.
In its announcement of the award, the Villanova Law Alumni Association stated that in the past 50 years since its inception, the award was only given out twice.
It is presented to an alumnus who, through contributions in the legal profession, became prominent in his or her career by demonstrating critical thinking, mutual respect and a responsibility to those in need
The two prior recipients are Judge Marjorie Rendell of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and Martin G. McGuinn, CEO and chairman of Mellon Financial Corp.
The award is scheduled to be presented to McAndrews at this year's annual Alumni Reception and Awards Presentation on Thursday at The Union League of Philadelphia.
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