Blank Rome Welcomes New Partner in Los Angeles

Blank Rome LLP is pleased to announce that Frank Kaplan, Partner, and Ken Meyers, Of Counsel, have joined the Firm in the Corporate Litigation group. Mr. Kaplan’s complex litigation experience spans class action, securities, insurance, unfair competition, partnership, and professional liability matters at both the trial and appellate levels. Mr. Meyers practices complex civil litigation and appellate work primarily in the areas of insurance coverage and business litigation. Prior to joining Blank Rome, Mr. Kaplan and Mr. Meyers practiced at Bingham McCutchen LLP. Both are based in the Firm’s Los Angeles office.

“We are happy to welcome Frank and Ken to our Los Angeles office. Litigating before state and federal courts for nearly 40 years, Frank brings notable trial experience to Blank Rome and will enhance the Firm’s trial capabilities across practices,” said Alan J. Hoffman, Chairman and Managing Partner. “We established a California presence in 2009 to better meet the needs of our West Coast and Asian clients. Earlier this year, we significantly expanded our West Coast presence with the addition of 18 attorneys in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Through the addition of Frank and Ken, we are continuing our strategic growth on the West Coast and in key markets.”

Mr. Kaplan has successfully represented various insurers in a multitude of complex coverage disputes, including disputes stemming from claims for directors and officers liability, professional liability, environmental contamination, disparagement of competitor’s products, violation of false claims act statutes, construction defects, trademark, copyright and patent infringement, and violation of constitutional rights. He includes companies such as AIG (American International Group) among his clients, representing the organization in complex insurance litigation arising from financial lines, excess liability, and environmental matters. Mr. Kaplan also counts Tishman Speyer, Loews Corporation, and the California Insurance Commissioner among his clients. 

For the past seven years, Mr. Meyers’ practice has focused on coverage disputes for environmental liabilities involving claims under specialized pollution legal liability, contractors’ pollution liability, and cost-cap policies. He has also counseled clients in all types of insurance coverage matters, including those involving directors and officers, general and professional liability, workers’ compensation, property, and health and disability policies. He also handles litigation involving insurance regulations and insurance business disputes.

“After meeting with partners from the New York, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles offices, I was extremely impressed with the caliber of individuals at the Firm,” said Mr. Kaplan. “In addition, Bill Small is a former colleague of mine and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to work with him again at Blank Rome.”

“Blank Rome is a well-managed and strategic law firm,” added Mr. Meyers. “We were drawn to the Firm’s vibrant securities and insurance litigation practices and the steady and calculated growth of the Los Angeles office.”

In 2003, Mr. Kaplan argued in the U.S. Supreme Court a case he had won in the Ninth Circuit, representing the state of California over legislation requiring insurance companies doing business in the state to disclose information about policies issued during the European Holocaust. During the same time period, Mr. Kaplan was appointed by California Governor Gray Davis to the California Law Revision Commission, serving as chairman in 2003. In 2006, he was reappointed by Gov. Schwarzenegger and served as a commissioner until 2009. The Commission studies what laws may be needed, makes recommendations to the legislature, and is cited in judicial decisions.

In addition, Mr. Kaplan has taught courses on securities fraud at the University of Southern California School of Law. He is also passionately involved in his community, sitting on the boards of Guardians for the Jewish Home for the Aging and Bet Tzedek, a prominent organization nationally and in Los Angeles, which provides legal services for underprivileged people.

Mr. Kaplan earned his JD from the University of Michigan Law School, and his BA from the University of Cincinnati with high honors. Mr. Meyers earned his JD from the University of California Berkeley School of Law, and his BA from Pomona College.

About Blank Rome LLP

With 500 attorneys serving clients around the globe, Blank Rome is an international law firm representing businesses and organizations ranging from Fortune 500 companies to start-up entities. Founded in 1946, Blank Rome advises clients on all aspects of their businesses, including commercial and corporate litigation; consumer finance; corporate, M&A, and securities; environmental, energy, and natural resources; finance, restructuring, and bankruptcy; intellectual property and technology; labor and employment; maritime, international trade and government contracts; matrimonial; products liability, mass torts, and insurance; real estate; tax, benefits, and private client; and white collar defense and investigations. Blank Rome also represents pro bono clients in a wide variety of cases and matters. For additional information, visit www.blankrome.com.