Firm's Privacy & Data Security practice joins '08 recognition, as Commercial Litigation, Real Estate, Healthcare, Employee Benefits and Corporate M&A groups all cited among top-tier
WASHINGTON/BALTIMORE (June 16, 2008) - Venable LLP continues to expand its stature in the peer-based Chambers directory: 37 attorneys have been named among the best in a variety of key practice areas in the just-published 2008 edition of the Chambers USA peer/client survey of America's leading attorneys. The Chambers directories are recognized globally for their objective annual rankings of lawyers and practice groups.
Venable received recognition for a number of its national practices. The firm's Privacy & Data Security group, noted for drafting major statutes and regulations in the field - was included this year alongside the firm's Government Contracts, Financial Services Regulation and REIT groups in Chambers' national practice rankings.
In statewide rankings, six of the firm's practices were ranked in the Number One tier for Maryland. The Real Estate, Healthcare, Corporate/M&A, Employee Benefits, and Labor & Employment groups maintained their top positions from last year's standings; while Venable's Commercial Litigation group has been newly named to the 2008 Number One list for Maryland.
In addition, Venable's Northern Virginia Real Estate group, Washington, D.C. Environmental and Real Estate groups, and Northern Virginia Construction, Corporate/M&A, and Labor & Employment groups were recognized as practice-area leaders.
Of the 37 Venable attorneys named by Chambers USA as among the nation's top lawyers, eight were new to the list this year: Henry Brandenstein, Real Estate, Northern Virginia; Erika Byrd, Real Estate, Zoning/Land Use, Northern Virginia; Emilio Cividanes, Privacy & Data Security, National; Douglas Green, Environment, District of Columbia; Stuart Ingis, Privacy & Data Security, National; Paul Kemp, General Commercial Litigation, Maryland; John Milliken, Real Estate Zoning/Land Use, Northern Virginia; and Joseph Schmelter, Corporate/M&A, Northern Virginia. Chambers rankings are compiled from in-depth interviews with a range of law firm attorneys and in-house corporate counsel and other clients, conducted by Chambers' staff researchers.
In individual rankings, 13 Venable attorneys were given Chambers USA's highest numerical grade: Jeffrey Ayres, Labor & Employment, Maryland; Constance Baker, Healthcare, Maryland; Bryson Cook, Corporate/M&A, Maryland; William Dolan, Litigation, White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations, Virginia; James Hanks Corporate/M&A, Maryland, and also in Investment Funds: REITs, National; Todd Horn, Labor & Employment, Maryland; Stuart Ingis; Wayne Lalle, Construction, Virginia; Russell Reno, Real Estate, Maryland; Barbara Schlaff, Employee Benefits, Maryland; Kevin Shepherd, Real Estate, Maryland; Judson Starr, Environment, District of Columbia; and James Wright, Real Estate, Maryland.
Chambers' "Senior Statesman" distinction was given to Venable's Stefan Tucker, in the category of Real Estate, District of Columbia. According to Chambers, the accolade is reserved for the exceptional lawyer who "by virtue of close links with major clients, remains pivotal to the firm's success." Mr. Tucker is widely regarded as one of the country's preeminent tax and wealth management attorneys.
"The U.S. edition of Chambers is increasingly becoming accepted as the standard of peer-selected excellence among law firms across the country - we're very satisfied that a large contingent of our attorneys from multiple offices and disciplines were recognized this year," said Venable Managing Partner Karl Racine.
"The increase in the number of our lawyers recognized by their peers as being the best lawyers in their areas of practice confirms the firm's commitment to providing exceptional service to our clients," Mr. Racine added. Noting the the firm's strong 2007 and continued ascent in the American Lawyer's 2008 rankings of the 100 largest law firms, Racine noted that, "these milestones demonstrate that clients are entrusting the firm to provide counsel on their most important matters."
One of the American Lawyer’s top 100 law firms, Venable LLP has attorneys practicing in all areas of corporate and business law, complex litigation, intellectual property and government affairs. Venable serves corporate, institutional, governmental, nonprofit and individual clients throughout the U.S. and around the world from its headquarters in Washington, D.C. and offices in California, Maryland, New York and Virginia.