Ballard Spahr Names New Managing Partners in Five Offices

PHILADELPHIA (June 15, 2015) – Ballard Spahr, a national law firm with more than 500 lawyers across the country, has named new Managing Partners in five of its 14 offices – Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Jersey, and Phoenix, firm Chair Mark Stewart announced today. The transitions are effective July 1.

“I have great professional respect for the partners who are moving into these important leadership positions – and also for those who are stepping aside to focus on their practices full-time,” Mr. Stewart said. “These attorneys represent the very best in the firm and have ensured that Ballard Spahr is synonymous with excellent lawyering and commitment to community. As much as they may have enjoyed and mastered these roles, they are unselfish in their willingness to give other partners the opportunity to serve. That is the mark of a true leader.”

Denver

Steven W. Suflas, a prominent trial attorney and labor relations lawyer who counsels private and public sector employees on workplace issues across the country, will lead an expansion of the Labor and Employment practice in the West and will assume the title of Managing Partner of the Denver office. Mr. Suflas succeeds Roger Thomasch, who served in that position for 27 years and will return full-time to his national trial practice.

Mr. Suflas, who has led the firm’s New Jersey office since 2009, will maintain his active docket of East Coast cases during the expansion. He handles matters involving collective bargaining and traditional labor issues, employment litigation, trials and appeals, ERISA, MEPPA, and wage and hour law. He also advises in the design and implementation of corporate human resources and labor relations strategies, the drafting and enforcement of company policies and non-compete agreements, and employee discipline.

Ballard Spahr’s Denver lawyers represent clients in real estate development and finance, mergers and acquisitions, securities transactions, and bankruptcy. The office's commercial litigation practice is recognized for its handling of high-stakes cases, including breach of fiduciary claims, Internet piracy, white collar defense, and government and corporate investigations.  To read the Denver press release, click here.

Las Vegas

Robert C. Kim, a noted business and finance lawyer who represents clients in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, securities, and gaming matters, will become the Managing Partner of the Las Vegas office. Mr. Kim succeeds Bill Curran, who led the merger of his firm, Curran & Parry, with Ballard Spahr in 2006 and opened Ballard's Las Vegas office as Managing Partner. Mr. Curran will return full-time to his practice – administrative and government law, with an emphasis on real estate development, land use and zoning, and gaming law.

Mr. Kim, who has served as Administrative Partner for the Las Vegas office, advises on a variety of corporate governance matters, mergers and acquisitions, capital formation, SEC reporting, and gaming compliance. He also has served as lead counsel or Nevada counsel in more than $2.5 billion in loan transactions.

Ballard Spahr’s Las Vegas office has more than doubled in size since it opened. It is known for its strength in litigation, real estate, and business and finance. To read the Las Vegas press release, click here.

Los Angeles

Peter L. Haviland, an accomplished civil trial lawyer who has tried cases in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts and arbitral forums throughout the country and has argued a wide range of appeals, will become the new Managing Partner of the Los Angeles office. Mr. Haviland succeeds Naomi Young, a well-known labor and employment litigator who has led the office since 2011 and will return to her practice full-time.

Mr. Haviland was named one of Savoy Magazine’s “Most Influential Black Lawyers for 2015.” His current docket includes matters for E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company and ExxonMobil Corporation and he is known for his work in a number of high-profile cases in the entertainment industry.

Lawyers in Ballard's Los Angeles office represent clients in commercial litigation, intellectual property, consumer financial services, energy, labor and employment, and employee benefits and executive compensation.  To read the Los Angeles press release, click here.

New Jersey

John B. Kearney, a well-known trial lawyer who represents some of the nation’s leading companies in their most significant litigation issues, will become Managing Partner of the New Jersey office. Mr. Kearney succeeds Steven W. Suflas, a noted labor and employment litigator who will spearhead the expansion of the firm’s labor practice in the West and lead our office in Denver.

Mr. Kearney represents clients in matters involving toxic torts, environmental litigation, class actions, product liability, and commercial litigation. He also has extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration. He holds a number of leadership positions in the legal industry, including serving as a trustee of the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey.

Ballard Spahr opened its New Jersey office in 1999. Since then, it has doubled in size and is recognized for the strength of its litigation, real estate, product liability, public finance, and labor and employment practices. To read the New Jersey press release, click here.

Phoenix

John G. Kerkorian, a commercial litigator who represents leading Arizona businesses and national financial institutions and serves on the firm’s Elected Board, will become the Managing Partner of the Phoenix office. Mr. Kerkorian succeeds Stephen M. Savage, a co-founder of the office who has served as its Managing Partner since it opened in 2006. Mr. Savage will continue his practice, which focuses on business planning and corporate, commercial, and real estate transactions.

Mr. Kerkorian represents businesses in complex civil litigation at both the trial and appellate court levels, with an emphasis on corporate business litigation and consumer class action defense. He also handles privacy and data security matters and employment-related disputes involving restrictive covenants, trade secrets, harassment, and discrimination.

Ballard Spahr’s Phoenix office is home to more than 30 attorneys representing all departments of the firm: litigation, real estate, business and finance, public finance, and intellectual property.

In the past year the office expanded with the additions of prominent media law and white collar defense attorneys, and has enhanced its government relations, regulatory affairs and contracting group with prominent former Arizona state government officials. To read the Phoenix press release, click here.

 

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.

 

PHILADELPHIA (June 15, 2015) – Ballard Spahr, a national law firm with more than 500 lawyers across the country, has named new Managing Partners in five of its 14 offices – Denver, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, New Jersey, and Phoenix, firm Chair Mark Stewart announced today. The transitions are effective July 1.

“I have great professional respect for the partners who are moving into these important leadership positions – and also for those who are stepping aside to focus on their practices full-time,” Mr. Stewart said. “These attorneys represent the very best in the firm and have ensured that Ballard Spahr is synonymous with excellent lawyering and commitment to community. As much as they may have enjoyed and mastered these roles, they are unselfish in their willingness to give other partners the opportunity to serve. That is the mark of a true leader.”

Denver

Steven W. Suflas, a prominent trial attorney and labor relations lawyer who counsels private and public sector employees on workplace issues across the country, will lead an expansion of the Labor and Employment practice in the West and will assume the title of Managing Partner of the Denver office. Mr. Suflas succeeds Roger Thomasch, who served in that position for 27 years and will return full-time to his national trial practice.

Mr. Suflas, who has led the firm’s New Jersey office since 2009, will maintain his active docket of East Coast cases during the expansion. He handles matters involving collective bargaining and traditional labor issues, employment litigation, trials and appeals, ERISA, MEPPA, and wage and hour law. He also advises in the design and implementation of corporate human resources and labor relations strategies, the drafting and enforcement of company policies and non-compete agreements, and employee discipline.

Ballard Spahr’s Denver lawyers represent clients in real estate development and finance, mergers and acquisitions, securities transactions, and bankruptcy. The office's commercial litigation practice is recognized for its handling of high-stakes cases, including breach of fiduciary claims, Internet piracy, white collar defense, and government and corporate investigations.  To read the Denver press release, click here.

Las Vegas

Robert C. Kim, a noted business and finance lawyer who represents clients in corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, securities, and gaming matters, will become the Managing Partner of the Las Vegas office. Mr. Kim succeeds Bill Curran, who led the merger of his firm, Curran & Parry, with Ballard Spahr in 2006 and opened Ballard's Las Vegas office as Managing Partner. Mr. Curran will return full-time to his practice – administrative and government law, with an emphasis on real estate development, land use and zoning, and gaming law.

Mr. Kim, who has served as Administrative Partner for the Las Vegas office, advises on a variety of corporate governance matters, mergers and acquisitions, capital formation, SEC reporting, and gaming compliance. He also has served as lead counsel or Nevada counsel in more than $2.5 billion in loan transactions.

Ballard Spahr’s Las Vegas office has more than doubled in size since it opened. It is known for its strength in litigation, real estate, and business and finance. To read the Las Vegas press release, click here.

Los Angeles

Peter L. Haviland, an accomplished civil trial lawyer who has tried cases in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts and arbitral forums throughout the country and has argued a wide range of appeals, will become the new Managing Partner of the Los Angeles office. Mr. Haviland succeeds Naomi Young, a well-known labor and employment litigator who has led the office since 2011 and will return to her practice full-time.

Mr. Haviland was named one of Savoy Magazine’s “Most Influential Black Lawyers for 2015.” His current docket includes matters for E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company and ExxonMobil Corporation and he is known for his work in a number of high-profile cases in the entertainment industry.

Lawyers in Ballard's Los Angeles office represent clients in commercial litigation, intellectual property, consumer financial services, energy, labor and employment, and employee benefits and executive compensation.  To read the Los Angeles press release, click here.

New Jersey

John B. Kearney, a well-known trial lawyer who represents some of the nation’s leading companies in their most significant litigation issues, will become Managing Partner of the New Jersey office. Mr. Kearney succeeds Steven W. Suflas, a noted labor and employment litigator who will spearhead the expansion of the firm’s labor practice in the West and lead our office in Denver.

Mr. Kearney represents clients in matters involving toxic torts, environmental litigation, class actions, product liability, and commercial litigation. He also has extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution, including mediation and arbitration. He holds a number of leadership positions in the legal industry, including serving as a trustee of the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey.

Ballard Spahr opened its New Jersey office in 1999. Since then, it has doubled in size and is recognized for the strength of its litigation, real estate, product liability, public finance, and labor and employment practices. To read the New Jersey press release, click here.

Phoenix

John G. Kerkorian, a commercial litigator who represents leading Arizona businesses and national financial institutions and serves on the firm’s Elected Board, will become the Managing Partner of the Phoenix office. Mr. Kerkorian succeeds Stephen M. Savage, a co-founder of the office who has served as its Managing Partner since it opened in 2006. Mr. Savage will continue his practice, which focuses on business planning and corporate, commercial, and real estate transactions.

Mr. Kerkorian represents businesses in complex civil litigation at both the trial and appellate court levels, with an emphasis on corporate business litigation and consumer class action defense. He also handles privacy and data security matters and employment-related disputes involving restrictive covenants, trade secrets, harassment, and discrimination.

Ballard Spahr’s Phoenix office is home to more than 30 attorneys representing all departments of the firm: litigation, real estate, business and finance, public finance, and intellectual property.

In the past year the office expanded with the additions of prominent media law and white collar defense attorneys, and has enhanced its government relations, regulatory affairs and contracting group with prominent former Arizona state government officials. To read the Phoenix press release, click here.

 

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.