Noted Trial Lawyer Joins Ballard Spahr

BALTIMORE (September 16, 2013) –  William Alden McDaniel, Jr., an accomplished litigator with more than 30 years of experience trying cases in federal and state courts and handling appeals in jurisdictions throughout the country, has joined Ballard Spahr as a partner in Baltimore, firm Chair Mark Stewart announced today.

Mr. McDaniel has significant experience as lead counsel in major civil and criminal litigation matters. He is particularly well known for his work representing businesses and individuals involved in securities disputes or those accused of fraud. Many of his cases have involved issues of first impression.

“Bill is in that increasingly exclusive club of true trial lawyers enjoying a reputation for handling major matters in a broad range of industries,” Mr. Stewart said. “He has a level of experience that clients look for and value, so his joining our litigation team in the Baltimore-Washington area makes a strong practice even stronger."

Mr. McDaniel has participated in large class actions, corporate investigations, and other complex civil matters, including corporate disputes, derivative actions, product liability issues, professional malpractice, and defamation cases. He also represents clients in complex criminal matters, including targets and witnesses before federal and state grand juries.

Many of Mr. McDaniel’s cases have received national attention. He has represented high-ranking government officials during headline-making investigations, including cases involving the September 11 terror attacks, Whitewater, the Moscow spy scandal, and Iran-Contra. He has counseled a major automobile manufacturer in multidistrict RICO litigation, pharmaceutical companies involved in nationwide class action litigation, and has handled a significant number of bet-the-company cases.

“Bill has built a strong litigation practice that regularly involves both the Maryland and D.C. courts, so he will work actively with our Bethesda and Washington teams to expand the scope of our regional litigation practice,” said Jon M. Laria, Managing Partner of Ballard Spahr’s Baltimore office. “The breadth of his experience also makes him a valuable asset to our national litigation practice. We are thrilled to welcome him.”

Mr. McDaniel’s arrival is the latest development in the continuing expansion of Ballard Spahr’s nationwide litigation capability. In June, the firm added a team of commercial litigators to its Denver office. One month later, it opened a New York office when it joined with Stillman & Friedman, a well-known litigation boutique firm that focuses on white collar, regulatory, and complex civil litigation. Ballard Spahr is now home to more than 200 litigators in 14 offices nationwide.

“Ballard Spahr has the national scope and resources I need to handle larger, more complex matters,” said Mr. McDaniel. “Its established presence in the Baltimore-D.C. market, coupled with its strength in white collar matters, government investigations, and securities issues, gives me the ideal platform to grow my own practice and serve as a resource to the entire litigation team.”

About Ballard Spahr

Ballard Spahr LLP, a national law firm with more than 500 lawyers in 14 offices in the United States, provides a range of services in litigation, business and finance, real estate, intellectual property, and public finance. Our clients include Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, life sciences and technology companies, health systems, investors and developers, government agencies and sponsored enterprises, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations. The firm combines a national scope of practice with strong regional market knowledge. For more information, please visit www.ballardspahr.com.