Cozen O’Connor Opens Minneapolis Office

PHILADELPHIA – June 4, 2013 – Cozen O’Connor announced today that it is opening a Minneapolis office with eight transactional and commercial litigation attorneys from Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP. Thomas Wallrich, Steven Silton, Thomas Kane, Peter Crema, Nadia Hasan, Heather Marx, Joel Nesset and Kristi Zentner are all joining the firm as partners.

The new Cozen O’Connor attorneys will work from the firm’s newly opened Minneapolis office at 33 South 6th Street, a 52-story office building located in the heart of the city’s 64-square block skyway system.

“We are thrilled to welcome Tom Wallrich, Steve Stilton, Tom Kane, and their group to our new Minneapolis office,” said Cozen O’Connor Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Heller. “Cozen O’Connor has a history of growing opportunistically, adding to our strengths when we spot a great opportunity, and the addition of this group is consistent with this approach,” Mr. Heller said. “This group will help to quickly establish Cozen O’Connor as a presence in the Minneapolis area. Minneapolis is a primary business center between Chicago and Seattle, and is a major U.S. economic hub. The Minneapolis – St. Paul region serves as the headquarters for numerous Fortune 1000 corporations and some of the country’s largest private companies.”

“Our group is extremely excited to be joining Cozen O’Connor,” said Thomas G. Wallrich, who will serve as the office managing partner for Cozen O’Connor’s Minneapolis office. “With a national footprint, and sophisticated capabilities in nearly every area of business law, the firm represents a great platform for us to grow our practices,” he said. “In addition, Cozen O’Connor’s strong firm culture, which includes real opportunities for leadership and solid succession planning, means it is also a great place to advance our careers.”

Mr. Wallrich concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial transactions, banking, bankruptcy, real estate finance and development and commercial litigation. In the past

20 years, he also has developed a substantial practice in international trade in the regions of China, Mexico, and Canada. Mr. Wallrich further concentrates his trade practice in the area of U.S. Customs and Border Protection compliance, audit, and enforcement. He also represents clients before the International Trade Commission and the U.S. Trade Representative.

Mr. Wallrich has been named a SuperLawyer by Thompson Reuters for fifteen consecutive years. He has also been named one of the Top 25 SuperLawyers for business restructuring and workouts. Mr. Wallrich is active in the Twins Cities community. He is a clinical instructor at the University of St. Thomas Law School. He serves his alma mater on the University of Minnesota, College of Liberal Arts Internship Board. He is also active in fundraising at Benilde / St. Margaret's Academy.

Steve Silton, who will serve on Cozen O’Connor’s Board of Directors, focuses his practice on sales and purchases of businesses, financing, securities placements and related work for mid-sized corporations, banks, credit unions, financial groups and professional athletes and sports franchises. He also works with distressed businesses in their reorganization efforts. Mr Silton has been named one of Minnesota’s Top 100 SuperLawyers by Thomson Reuters. 

He is active in the community serving on the Board of Bolder Options, the Sanneh Foundation and the Jack Brewer Foundation, in addition to a committee at the University of Minnesota.

Tom Kane is a commercial trial lawyer with a focus on the representation of employers, the defense of large employment class actions and major commercial litigation. He also has represented a number of real estate lenders and developers in their litigation. He is well known across the state of Minnesota as a trial lawyer handling the prosecution and defense of all types of business disputes for corporations, insurance companies as well as individuals. He has been a fellow of the American College of trial lawyers for over 20 years.

Peter Crema, Nadia Hasan and Heather Marx have extensive experience representing clients in business litigation, employment and related matters. Joel Nesset focuses on bankruptcy and finance matters, and Kristi Zentner focuses on business transactions.

Messrs. Wallrich, Silton, Nesset and Ms. Hasan direct the Consumer Bankruptcy Clinic and Bankruptcy Litigation Clinic at the University of St. Thomas Law School.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has 575 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 23 offices across two continents.