Fresh off the heels of being named the #1 law firm in its class for the second year running, 12 attorneys will be joining Polsinelli Shughart’s Phoenix office, significantly expanding the firm’s Environmental and Natural Resources practice and its Insurance Coverage/Bad Faith Litigation practice. The group of six shareholders, two counsel and four associates are led by Lucas Narducci, Troy Froderman and Brian Moll. The team previously practiced at Bryan Cave in Phoenix. This group brings a wealth of experience and success representing national manufacturing, mining and service companies in the areas of environmental and natural resources, toxic tort, public liability, product liability, corporate law, business litigation, and insurance coverage / bad faith litigation.
“This is a significant development for our clients and our firm,” said Phoenix Managing Partner Marty Harper who has practiced law in Phoenix since 1973. “A little more than a year since our merger, our platform has been attractive to clients and talented lawyers. The addition of 12 attorneys is an indication of the firm’s success and outstanding reputation in the legal community.”
With a national presence headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, attorneys in the firm’s 13 offices provide clients significant experience from a platform that efficiently delivers legal services. The expansion in Phoenix will take the office from 35 to 47 attorneys. Other recent growth includes the addition of several corporate attorneys to the Phoenix office’s long-established litigation practice.
“This well-respected and well-known group is an outstanding addition to our firm,” said Chairman W. Russell Welsh. “We’re committed to expanding the depth and breadth of our services in a way that will benefit our clients most. We’re optimistic about what lies ahead for our clients and our firm in Phoenix, and nationally.”
Shareholder Lucas J. Narducci will lead the firm’s national Environmental and Natural Resources practice. Narducci is recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2007 in Environmental Law, and Chambers USA 2007-2009. His breadth of knowledge and extensive experience is a valuable asset to our firm and clients. In addition to Narducci’s general business and transaction practice, he has specialties in mining, environmental, natural resources, safety and health law, as well as regulatory counseling and permitting, workplace exposure issues, and workplace safety.
He is the former managing partner of Bryan Cave’s Phoenix office, a former member of the firm’s Executive Committee, the leader of the firm’s Environmental Client Service Group and a member of the firm’s Strategic Growth Team. He is a former chair of the Arizona State Bar’s Environmental and Natural Resources Section, a Board member of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, an executive officer and board member of the Arizona Manufacturers Council, and a Board member of the Arizona Foundation for Resource Education.
“Polsinelli Shughart provides our team and clients with cost-effective and high quality legal services in all areas of practice through the firm’s various US geographic regions and the firm’s international affiliations,” said Narducci. “Our long-term client relationships, built and strengthened by our entire team of professionals, will be supported and bolstered by the client/firm approach at Polsinelli Shughart and at this point in the economic recovery, helping our clients in every way we can is of utmost importance to us. We look forward to reaching even higher levels of success for our clients as members of the Polsinelli Shughart firm-wide team.”
Shareholder Troy B. Froderman will lead the firm’s Insurance Coverage/Bad Faith Litigation practice. Business has recognized Froderman as one of the AB Top Lawyers for Environmental Law in 2009. Froderman represents clients in a wide range of property and casualty claims throughout the United States with an emphasis on catastrophic losses. He also has a sophisticated specialty defending infectious disease torts and represents hotels worldwide on disease outbreaks.
“Polsinelli Shughart’s national presence, leadership and reputation for outstanding client service were key reasons for us joining the firm,” said Froderman. “Client demands have changed and Polsinelli Shughart is very well positioned to meet our clients’ current and future needs.”
The addition of Shareholder Brian K. Moll is a significant addition to our Phoenix office and our growing national corporate practice. His experience both in private practice and as general counsel for a semiconductor services company brings significant talent to both public and private clients in the areas of mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, securities, and general corporate and business law.
“I am very excited to be joining the Phoenix office of Polsinelli Shughart,” said Moll. “The firm has exceptional lawyers, a great platform and a strong commitment to the Phoenix market.”
Additional new attorneys include:
Shareholders
Michael C. Ford practices in environmental and occupational safety law.
Mitchell J. Klein advises his clients on a wide variety of environmental and natural resource legal issues. He is a practicing lawyer for more than 25 years and is currently a judge pro tempore for the Maricopa County Superior Court.
Margaret B. Labianca practices in environmental law and advises clients on a broad range of regulatory compliance and strategic considerations concerns.
Counsel
John D. Burnside advises clients in state and federal trial court and appellate-level litigation with an emphasis on complex disputes in environmental and insurance coverage law.
Anthony W. Merrill’s practice focuses on representation in state and federal trial court and appellate-level litigation with an emphasis on a wide range of complex disputes.
Associates
Tiffany J. Andersen focuses her practice on environmental law and insurance coverage/bad faith litigation.
Jonathan G. Brinson represents companies in disputes involving breach of contract, consumer fraud and various other commercial tort matters.
Megan A. Heald practices in environmental law and insurance coverage/bad faith litigation.
Maribeth M. Klein practices in the areas of environmental law and commercial litigation.
Law firm on the move
This fall, Polsinelli Shughart will relocate to a newly constructed office at the CityScape project in downtown Phoenix. The firm will occupy 68,000 square feet in the 27-story office tower. For now, to accommodate the exploding growth of 12 attorneys and staff, the firm will lease 10,000 square feet on the fourth floor of the Security Title Building where it currently leases two floors.
“We’re experiencing growing pains and that’s an enviable position to be in,” said Harper
For more information contact Heather McMichael, Public Relations Manager, 816-395-0618, hmcmichael@polsinelli.com
About Polsinelli Shughart PC
With more than 480 attorneys, Polsinelli Shughart PC (www.polsinelli.com) is a national law firm that is a recognized leader in the areas of business litigation, financial services, real estate, business law, construction, life sciences, health care, and labor and employment. Serving corporate, institutional and individual clients regionally, nationally and worldwide, Polsinelli Shughart is known for successfully applying forward-thinking strategies for both straightforward and complex legal matters. The firm has 13 offices located in Phoenix, Arizona; Denver, Colorado; Wilmington, Delaware; Chicago and Edwardsville, Illinois; Overland Park and Topeka, Kansas; Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, and St. Joseph, Missouri; New York City; and Washington, D.C.