Chambers USA, one of the leading legal ratings agencies in the United States, has released its 2015 rankings. Husch Blackwell received high honors in eight areas of practice, maintaining its favorable reputation among industry leaders. The firm was recognized in the areas of Corporate/Commercial, Corporate/M&A, Environment, Healthcare, Intellectual Property, Labor & Employment, Litigation: General Commercial and Real Estate.
Regarding Husch Blackwell’s Corporate team, Chambers stated the group has a “strong presence across the Midwest thanks to its expanding network, with significant expertise in advising on corporate governance, M&A, finance and securities.”
Chambers said the firm’s Corporate/M&A team “offers extensive expertise in all areas of corporate law, with particularly well-regarded strength handling high-profile M&A transactions.”
Husch Blackwell’s Environmental team was recognized for advising clients “on a range of issues including water, waste and Superfund matters,” and pointed out that “clients include electricity, energy and manufacturing companies.”
Chambers described Husch Blackwell’s Healthcare practice as being “well known for its handling of major transactions and regulatory issues on both a statewide and nationwide scale.” Chambers also said the group was “particularly highlighted for its deep experience in acting for hospitals, health centers and physician groups, handling matters such as licensing disputes and joint ventures.”
Clients praised Husch Blackwell’s Intellectual Property team, one stating “We think they are exceptional. They have an excellent grasp of our space and the IP implications associated with it." Chambers said the group is known as “a leading firm with ample resources to assist clients with issues concerning their domestic and international IP assets.”
Chambers said Husch Blackwell’s Labor & Employment group “demonstrates significant expertise across the full breadth of contentious and non-contentious work, covering matters such as employment counseling, labor negotiations and nationwide class actions,” and that the team “attracts a diverse roster of public and private clients.”
Husch Blackwell’s Litigation/General Commercial team was said to be a “respected practice with a particularly strong showing on FCA and consumer fraud cases,” noting that the group “handles complex class action mandates on behalf of clients from the pharmaceutical and food production sectors,” and “boasts a strong client list of educational institutions.” The group was also shown to have “noteworthy expertise in general commercial and IP matters, as well as white-collar crime and construction.”
Chambers described the firm’s Real Estate practice as being a “deep bench, advising leading developers and investors on a comprehensive range of high-profile projects,” and that the group is “regularly sought after for its expertise in matters pertaining to tax increment incentives and tax-abated investment projects.” The report also pointed out that the team “advises across a wide range of real estate and construction issues, including work relating to mixed-use communities, railroads, sports facilities and healthcare,” and that it is “praised for the degree and range of its expertise and knowledge.”
In Chambers’ individual recognitions, David W. Hilgers of the firm’s Austin, Texas, office again received the ultimate honor of “Nationwide” acclaim in the area of Healthcare: Regulatory & Litigation. Hilgers and 37 additional attorneys received regional honors as well:
Colorado:
Robert P. Attai - Corporate/M&A
Jeffrey A. Chase - Litigation: General Commercial
Paul A. Jacobs - Real Estate
Kevin H. Kelley - Real Estate
*Mary H. Stuart - Labor & Employment
Missouri:
Samuel Digirolamo - Intellectual Property
Alan S. Nemes - Intellectual Property
Kansas City:
James M. Ash - Corporate/M&A
W.C. Blanton - Environment
David A. Fenley - Real Estate
Gary D. Gilson - Corporate/M&A
Paul F. Pautler Jr. - Labor & Employment
John R. Phillips - Labor & Employment
*Charles G. Renner - Real Estate - Up & Coming
Jason A. Reschly - Corporate/M&A
Mark D. Welker - Labor & Employment
St. Louis:
Craig S. Biesterfeld - Real Estate
Gary H. Feder - Real Estate
Josef S. Glynias – Labor & Employment - Up & Coming
Bradley S. Hiles - Labor & Employment
David A. Linenbroker - Real Estate
Joseph G. Nassif - Environment
Mary Anne O'Connell - Corporate/M&A
Gregory R. Smith - Real Estate
Robert J. Tomaso - Labor & Employment
Amy L. Wachs - Environment
Robert F. Wilkinson – Environment
Nebraska:
Michaelle L. Baumert - Labor & Employment
Michael S. Degan - Litigation: General Commercial
David E. Gardels - Corporate/Commercial
Todd A. Richardson - Corporate/Commercial
Tennessee:
Ronald I. Feldman - Real Estate
Texas:
Diane T. Carter - Healthcare
Joseph V. Geraci – Healthcare
David W. Hilgers – Healthcare
R. Keith Hopson – Environment
Hal Katz – Healthcare
Chris Reeder – Energy: State Regulatory & Litigation (Electricity)
*First year named to Chambers
Chambers and Partners establishes its rankings by utilizing a team of 150 researchers who conduct thousands of in-depth interviews with lawyers and their clients worldwide. The team identifies and ranks the world’s best lawyers and legal departments according to the criteria most valued by clients: legal knowledge and experience, ability, effectiveness and client service.