Jones Lang LaSalle


Gibbons Acquires Hecker Brown Firm,
Expanding Philadelphia Office to 28 Lawyers

Gibbons announces the expansion of its Philadelphia office with the addition of 25 attorneys from Hecker Brown Sherry and Johnson, a prominent Philadelphia civil litigation boutique. This expansion is a key aspect of Gibbons' strategic plan to enhance its ability to serve clients from offices throughout the region.

With the addition of Hecker Brown, Gibbons' presence in Philadelphia will grow to 28 attorneys concentrating in a wide range of practice areas, including products liability, mass torts, commercial litigation, employment law and complex insurance litigation, complementing the firm's existing capabilities in its New Jersey and New York offices. "We are extremely pleased to take this step in the expansion of our Philadelphia operations by joining forces with a firm of the caliber of Hecker Brown and we are confident that this combination will result in dividends for both firms' clients. Hecker Brown's partners, like Gibbons' partners, have extensive experience and national reputations, and the acquisition will be a significant boost to our firm's capabilities, especially in the products liability, employment and insurance litigation areas," said Gibbons Managing Director Patrick C. Dunican, Jr. "The business and cultures of our two organizations are a perfect fit – and will make this combination successful and provide added value to our clients."

Gibbons will add fifteen attorneys to its Products Liability Department, which defends product liability cases in the general products, pharmaceutical, medical device, chemical manufacturing and distribution and laboratory services areas; two attorneys to its Employment Law Department, representing corporations in the areas of employment litigation, counseling and compliance with federal and state regulations and laws; and eight attorneys to its Business & Commercial Litigation Department, where they will focus on insurance litigation and other complex commercial litigation matters.

"Joining Gibbons immediately bolsters our capabilities in what were Hecker Brown's traditional practice areas, such as products liability, employment law and insurance," said Stephen J. Imbriglia, Managing Partner of Hecker Brown, who will now serve as the Administrative Partner-in-Charge of the Gibbons Philadelphia office. "We'll also be able to assist our clients in areas such as intellectual property, real estate, corporate and financial restructuring and creditors' rights. More importantly, we've associated with a firm of excellent lawyers whose high ethical and professional standards mirror our own."

Now with over 200 attorneys in offices in New Jersey, New York and Philadelphia, Gibbons is one of the fastest growing law firms in the region. "This acquisition follows the model of our successful growth and acquisitions in New York," stated Gibbons Chairman David J. Sheehan. "We expect to continue to grow regionally so that our clients will benefit from added capabilities and experience."

David W. Marston, Timothy S. Susanin and Korab Sejdiu, the firm's existing Philadelphia office members, will join the Hecker Brown attorneys in the firm's new office at 1700 Two Logan Square (18th and Arch Streets), Philadelphia, PA 19103-2769; Phone: (215) 665-0400.

Gibbons To See Its Name in Heights
With an eye on expansion, Gibbons, Del Deo, Dolan, Griffinger & Vecchione is leaving its plush offices at Newark's Legal Center for new digs across the street at a building that will bear its name.