Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis is pleased to announce that attorneys from boutique complex litigation firm Trujillo Rodriguez & Richards, LLC will be joining the firm’s Philadelphia and Cherry Hill offices.
Partners Ken Trujillo, Lisa J. Rodriguez, Ira Neil Richards, and Pedro A. Ramos, along with associates Nicole Miles Acchione and Gary M. Goldstein, will join Schnader effective July 31, 2013. Among their experience is a formidable background in government, education, nonprofit, commercial, antitrust, securities and international litigation, as well as social sector work.
“This is a stellar group of lawyers. Each is a leader in the profession and in the community,” said Chairman David Smith. “In addition to their premier litigation skills, they bring deep experience in public/private transactions and government relations. We are proud to have them join us.”
“Coming to Schnader is a great alignment for our clients, which include midsized to Fortune 50 companies in need of Schnader’s broad platform and wealth of talent,” said Mr. Trujillo. “We have partnered with Schnader on many projects over the years. We know the firm’s culture is one that will fit well with ours. We look forward to joining Schnader’s commitment to excellence.”
In addition to their client work, many of the attorneys joining Schnader have deep civic and legal roots in the region. Mr. Richards has a national profile in complex litigation matters. Mr. Trujillo and Mr. Ramos both have served as Philadelphia city solicitors. Ms. Rodriguez recently served as president of the Federal Bar Association of New Jersey.
“This addition of top notch, innovative lawyers with deep experience in business and government will deepen an already impressive bench at the Schnader firm,” said David L. Cohen, executive vice president of Comcast Corporation.
“Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with lawyers at Schnader as well as with Pedro, Ken and others at Trujillo Rodriguez & Richards,” said Lon Greenberg, chairman of the board of UGI Corp. “This value added combination brings together skilled lawyers with unique experiences that enable them to navigate complex matters, particularly across the business, government and nonprofit sectors. Clients of both firms will certainly benefit from the enhanced skill set resulting from the combination. I congratulate both firms in making this forward looking move.”
All of the attorneys will be resident in Schnader’s Philadelphia office, except for Ms. Rodriguez and Ms. Acchione, who will be resident in the firm’s Cherry Hill office.
About Ken Trujillo
Mr. Trujillo’s practice primarily is in the areas of complex litigation and government relations with substantial work in antitrust, securities, consumer litigation and white-collar criminal defense, as well as commercial and international litigation. A former assistant U.S. attorney, Mr. Trujillo also has represented numerous public officials and government entities, including city council members, mayors, governors, states, cities and Native American tribes in civil and criminal matters. As a leader in the business community, Mr. Trujillo plays a major role in public and private economic development.
As city solicitor, Mr. Trujillo represented the mayor, city council and all departments, agencies and commissions of the City of Philadelphia. He also sat on the mayor’s cabinet and ran the 155-lawyer Law Department. Mr. Trujillo played a principal role in the planning of the Republican National Convention and represented the City in the development of the Eagles stadium and Phillies ballparks. In the regulatory arena, Mr. Trujillo served on President Barack Obama’s transition team reviewing the Securities and Exchange Commission and as a Commissioner of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. He is an adjunct professor of law at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
About Lisa J. Rodriguez
Ms. Rodriguez has distinguished herself in complex litigation, class actions and securities and corporate governance. She has successfully represented clients in high impact litigation, most recently winning a jury verdict representing airline pilots against a labor union in a duty of fair representation case. She presently is involved in a wide array of cases, including those relating to ERISA, securities, and corporate transaction issues.
Ms. Rodriguez has appeared as a panel speaker for the Practicing Law Institute on securities regulation and as a lecturer for various groups on a variety of legal issues. Additionally, Ms. Rodriguez serves on the New Jersey Supreme Court’s Lawyers’ Fund for Client Protection and the New Jersey Supreme Court Committee on Character, and was a former member of the District IV Ethics Committee. Ms. Rodriguez serves on the Boards of the Camden Center for Law and Social Justice, and New Jersey Legal Services. Ms. Rodriguez also is a past president of the Association of the Federal Bar of New Jersey.
About Ira Neil Richards
Mr. Richards is widely recognized as a premier litigator, successfully representing clients in multidistrict antitrust cases in a variety of industries. He represents institutional and private investors in matters involving corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, and securities sales and valuations. In addition, Mr. Richards has represented a variety of individuals, businesses, and governmental entities in a range of litigation matters involving employment, contract, defamation, and other claims in both state and federal courts.
Mr. Richards has lectured on antitrust, class action, discovery, financial services, and litigation issues. In addition, Mr. Richards serves as treasurer and a member of the Executive Committee of Legacy Youth Tennis and Education. Mr. Richards has served as municipal chair of the Whitemarsh Township Democratic Committee. In 1999, Mr. Richards was named one of the Philadelphia Business Journal’s “40 Under 40.” From 2004 through 2013, Mr. Richards has been named one of Pennsylvania’s “Super Lawyers.”
About Pedro A. Ramos
Mr. Ramos is a highly respected attorney, advisor, and civil servant in the Greater Philadelphia region. He is the chair of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission. Mr. Ramos also is internationally recognized for his leadership and management skills and commitment to civic justice. He represents business, nonprofit and government executives and organizations on a wide-range of municipal law, fiduciary/governance, administrative, and strategic matters. He also applies his technical, legal and management experiences in ERISA, fiduciary matters, and human resources in complex litigation matters. He has been the city solicitor of Philadelphia, the managing director of Philadelphia, the president of the Board of Education of the School District of Philadelphia, and the vice president & chief of staff to the president of the University of Pennsylvania.
About Nicole M. Acchione
Ms. Acchione concentrates her law practice in complex litigation. She serves as a panelist and committee chair for the Supreme Court of New Jersey District IV Fee Arbitration Committee. Ms. Acchione was an assistant prosecutor with the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office, where she was assigned to the Special Litigation Unit. As an assistant prosecutor, Ms. Acchione was a frequent Police Academy lecturer on issues of arrest, search and seizure.
About Gary M. Goldstein
A 1997 magna cum laude graduate of Temple University Law School, Mr. Goldstein has served clients in a range of complex cases. Mr. Goldstein is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and in the Eastern District of Philadelphia.
