WEIR GREENBLATT PIERCE - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Chairman
• Partner

Alan L. Yatvin, a partner and chair of the firm's civil rights and special education/children's disability rights practices, is a preeminent police misconduct, civil rights and children's rights litigator. His practice focuses on civil rights litigation, representation of students with special needs, and criminal defense in state, federal and international courts. With a successful career spanning more than 38 years, Mr. Yatvin has tried cases ranging from death penalty homicides to complex municipal liability police misconduct cases. He has also briefed and/or argued appellate matters before the United States Supreme Court, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, the Pennsylvania Superior Court, and the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) in The Hague. Mr. Yatvin has successfully litigated over fifteen police shooting cases, recovering substantial compensation for victims and their families, recovering substantial compensation for victims and their families, including multi-million dollar settlements. On three separate occasions, he has obtained federal jury verdicts against the City of Philadelphia on so-called Monell claims by showing a pattern and practice of law enforcement officer misconduct and the City's failure to properly train or discipline its officers, placing him among the most successful attorneys in Philadelphia on these challenging claims. He has also successfully litigated a class actions on behalf of persons with diabetes in police custody, as well as cases on behalf of victims of large scale corrupt police practices. Mr. Yatvin has successfully litigated landmark cases on behalf of children with disabilities and their families in the federal courts, including in the Pennsylvania District Courts, the United States Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States. In describing Mr. Yatvin in a ruling for his clients in a case under the Individual's with Disabilities in Education Act, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit wrote: "[W]e note that the litigation here was conducted by highly qualified and experienced counsel…" M.R. v. Ridley School District, Footnote 9. In addition to his U.S. clients, Mr. Yatvin practices at the international criminal courts, where he has represented accused persons before the ICTY and the International Criminal Court (ICC), both in The Hague, and the Extraordinary Chambers in the Court of Cambodia (ECCC) in Phnom Penh, also known as the Khmer Rouge Tribunal. He is also admitted to the list of counsel at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and the list of Victims Counsel at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. After graduating from the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City in 1983, Mr. Yatvin served as an Assistant Philadelphia and Federal Defender before entering private practice. He was managing partner of Popper & Yatvin from its founding in 1988 through 2020. A frequent lecturer on police misconduct litigation and trial advocacy skills, he is the recipient of the 2012 Thurgood Marshall Criminal Justice Award from the Philadelphia Bar Association, where he has been a member since 1987. The Court of Common Pleas for the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia) presented Mr. Yatvin with the 2010 Pro Bono Publico Award. He has been selected to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers List every year since the program's inception in 2004. He holds the preeminent AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell, indicative of the highest rating in legal ability and ethical standards Mr. Yatvin was a member of the National Board of Directors of the American Diabetes Association from 2015-2017 and continues to represent persons with diabetes, most recently as co-counsel in a class action against the New York City Department of Education on behalf of students with diabetes. He is a resident of Philadelphia.

Job Titles:

• Attorney
• Partner
• Partner / Philadelphia, PA

Amy R. Brandt is an attorney with twenty-eight years of experience in commercial litigation. Her areas of practice include franchise litigation, business torts, partnership/shareholder disputes, employment litigation, environmental litigation, legal malpractice, class actions, consumer fraud, computer software litigation, and insurance disputes. She has served as lead plaintiffs' and defense counsel in class actions in the fields of consumer fraud, wage payment, and employee benefits. Ms. Brandt is a 1989 graduate of Penn State Smeal College of Business and received her Juris Doctorate from Temple University School of Law in 1992. She graduated with honors and received the George P. Williams Scholarship. While in law school, she was a member of the Temple University Law School's Moot Court Honor Society.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Partner / Philadelphia, PA

Andrew Park is an experienced litigation attorney for commercial lending institutions and businesses both small and large. His practice focuses on high-stakes disputes involving breach of contract, commercial loans, real estate and construction, partnership breakups, civil RICO, restrictive covenants, and other business torts such as fraud, tortious interference, commercial disparagement, and theft of trade secrets. Tirelessly committed to achieving the best results for his clients, Mr. Park prides himself in finding practical, economic solutions to complex challenges. A lifelong resident of the Philadelphia area, Mr. Park earned his law degree from Temple University's Beasley School of Law, where he served as Vice President of the Moot Court Honor Society and received the "Best Brief Award" in the annual Samuel Polsky Moot Court Competition. Mr. Park also interned with the Honorable Kevin J. Carey (Ret.) in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Partner / Philadelphia, PA

Bella Schnall is Partner in the Philadelphia office of Greenblatt, Pierce, Funt and Flores, LLC (WGP). Ms. Schnall is Director of the firm's Family Law Division. She is an attorney with over 30 years' experience in the area of family law/domestic relations. Ms. Schnall handles a wide range of matters including divorce, child support and child custody cases as well as drafting of pre- and post-nuptial agreements. She practices in state court in Philadelphia, Montgomery, and Bucks Counties. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law in 1976, Ms. Schnall began her career as an attorney for Western Massachusetts Legal Services in Springfield, Massachusetts where she was employed for six years in private practice. Thereafter she took the position of Clinical Instructor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Law. In that position she taught students the practical aspects of interviewing actual clients, drafting pleadings, negotiating settlements and supervised their in-court representation of these clients. Many of these clients had domestic relations problems and Ms. Schnall also became familiar with a variety of state court civil litigations matters. Ms. Schnall entered solo private practice in 1986, focusing her skills in the area of family law. Over the past 30 years she has represented many clients in all areas of domestic relations she is committed to obtaining the best possible outcome for her clients whether the case is resolved through negotiation or concludes after a trial. Ms. Schnall is an experienced family law litigator as well as a seasoned negotiator and she will make every effort to resolve domestic relations problems as simply and effectively as possible. Ms. Schnall also assists clients in the preparation of pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements. Domestic relations problems are perhaps the most difficult and emotionally stressful legal problems that anyone can face. Confronted with emotional as well as financial turmoil, people often find they need help in sorting out and unraveling a frightening new life experience. Ms. Schnall brings a wealth of expertise to her work. Ms. Schnall is a trained Collaborative Divorce Attorney and will work with her clients to resolve their cases without resorting to courtroom litigation if both parties agree to proceed collaboratively. Ms. Schnall served a co-President of Collaborative Lawyers of Southeastern Pennsylvania (formally Collaborative Family Law Affiliates) for two years and in that capacity she has participated in creating and expanding the visibility of Collaborative Family Law in the five-county area as well as providing training for attorneys seeking to learn more about this growing area of practice. Ms. Schnall was a staff attorney at the Women's Law Project of Pennsylvania and in that position she worked with young women to increase athletic opportunities for them in Pennsylvania's high schools. She lobbied with state legislators and assisted in drafting what became Pennsylvania's first statute designed to measure and ensure equal athletic opportunities for boys and girls. Ms. Schnall has earned preeminent AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell for both her legal skills and her ethical practice for the past 15 years. She was named as one of Philadelphia's top rated lawyers in the area of family law in 2012 and 2013. Ms. Schnall has been a lecturer for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and the Pennsylvania Institute for Certified Accountants and she has served as a faculty member of the National Institute of Trial Advocacy. In addition, Ms. Schnall served on the Board or Directors of the Philadelphia Bar Association's Volunteers for the Indigent Program VIP from 2011 to 2016. This agency recruits private counsel to provide pro bono legal assistance to clients in civil matters when they cannot afford an attorney and would otherwise be incapable of redressing their legal rights. One major area of service provided through VIP is domestic relations matters and Ms. Schnall has been an active volunteer since the program began. Ms. Schnall was an adjunct professor at Western New England School of law where she created and taught a course on Women and the Law. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and attained a JD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Law.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Member of the Philadelphia Bar Association
• Partner / Philadelphia, PA

Ms. Golub concentrates her practice in the areas of creditors' rights, commercial litigation, foreclosure, and commercial reorganization, with a focus on workout and transactional matters. She regularly represents major financial institutions and private companies in the financial services industry both in State and Federal courts. Ms. Golub has also represented trustees, creditors' committees and debtors in complex Chapter 11 proceedings, and successfully defended preference actions in bankruptcy cases in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Georgia, Florida, Maryland and California. In addition to her advocacy, Ms. Golub further serves as a Court appointed mediator for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and for the Court of Common Pleas Pennsylvania. Ms. Golub is currently a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference. Ms. Golub has lectured on selected topics regarding bankruptcy for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and the Eastern District Bankruptcy Conference, and has co-authored a primer on the Chapter 11 reorganization process. She holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has repeatedly received recognition as a "Pennsylvania Super Lawyer" since 2009. Ms. Golub is currently a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute, and the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Conference. Ms. Golub has lectured on selected topics regarding bankruptcy for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and the Eastern District Bankruptcy Conference, and has co-authored a primer on the Chapter 11 reorganization process. She holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has repeatedly received recognition as a "Pennsylvania Super Lawyerlink opens in a new tab" since 2009.

Job Titles:

• of Counsel
• Member of the Pennsylvania
• President of the Darren Daulton Foundation

Brett A. Datto has over 32 years of experience in complex commercial litigation and has been with the firm since 1999. During this time, he has represented clients in disputes involving multi-million-dollar contract claims, construction, environmental, banking, insurance, real estate and employment issues, as well as business torts and state and federal criminal defense. Mr. Datto also has extensive experience handling professional negligence claims and serves as an expert witness for both plaintiffs and defendants in negligence-related disputes. Mr. Datto is a member of the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, the Justinian Society and is a former barrister in the Temple American Inn of Court, a group designed to improve the skills, professionalism and legal ethics of the bench and bar. Mr. Datto presently serves as a Judge Pro Tempore for both the Major Jury and Commerce Court programs in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. Mr. Datto also serves as President of The Darren Daulton Foundation, an organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to those who suffer from brain tumors and brain cancer. Mr. Datto previously served on the Board of Directors of the Blue White Scholarship Foundation at Villanova University, The Cheltenham Center for the Arts, and on the Board of Directors of Marley's Mission, a charity that was once voted as "Best New Charity in America."

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Associate / Philadelphia, PA

Caroline Bojarski handles a variety of commercial and civil litigation matters including landlord/tenant disputes, banking and finance matters, and unfair trade practices litigation. She also works on criminal defense cases. Ms. Bojarski grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Temple University Beasley School of law in 2021. While in law school, she took as many tax classes as possible and, during her 2L year, was president of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English with a minor in philosophy from Fordham University.

Job Titles:

• Counselor
• Partner

David V. Dzara is an experienced business litigator, counselor, and adviser who has helped numerous clients with complex legal matters that impact their profitability, business operations, civil rights, and personal wealth. He focuses his practice on commercial litigation, employment litigation and counseling, administrative proceedings, and business counseling. Mr. Dzara has successfully handled numerous matters on behalf of businesses and individuals involving breach of contract; breach of fiduciary duty; business torts; defamation; advancement of legal expenses for corporate officers; claims of employment discrimination and retaliation; restrictive covenants in employment agreements; confidentiality agreements; misappropriation of trade secrets; and estate matters, among others. Prior to joining Weir & Partners in 2019, Mr. Dzara practiced for six years at Steve Harvey Law LLC and six years at Pepper Hamilton LLP. At the start of his career, Mr. Dzara clerked for one year for the Honorable Jerome O. Herlihy of the Superior Court of the State of Delaware. Subsequently, he clerked for three years for the Honorable Ronald D. Castille of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, serving as assistant chief staff attorney during the third year of his clerkship. Mr. Dzara maintains an active pro bono practice representing abused and neglected children in dependency court for the nonprofit Support Center for Child Advocates. He has served on the Support Center's Board of Directors since 2016, is active in its fundraising efforts, and currently serves as the chair of the Governance and Leadership Committee. In his community, Mr. Dzara has served on the Board of Directors for the Jordan Estate Homeowners Association since 2012, and currently serves as the association's vice president and treasurer.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Partner / Philadelphia, PA

Harry J. Kane, Jr. is a Partner at WGP. Mr. Kane engages in Personal Injury work in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Mr. Kane has an extraordinary background as an attorney that brings a wealth of diverse civil litigation experience that is rarely seen in a personal injury attorney. He worked in house at a major insurance company and a large public utility, as an insurance defense attorney, and for over a decade as a plaintiff personal injury attorney. Mr. Kane has also has a unique understanding of Worker's Compensation Law and its interaction with Personal Injury Work. This range of experiences has given Mr. Kane a unique ability to look at civil litigation from both sides of the courtroom and work toward the best possible result for our clients. Throughout Mr. Kane's over three decades of experience as an attorney, he has tried dozens of cases to Jury verdict and has conducted hundreds of Arbitrations, inside and outside of the court system. Mr. Kane has been lead counsel, or worked on cases with million dollar recoveries in both personal injury and employment law. Patricia Pierce, WGP's Head of Civil Litigation said of Mr. Kane, "Harry is a true leader in his practice area. His ability to quickly move his cases and achieve great results for his clients is remarkable." Ron Greenblatt, WGP's Managing Partner said of Mr. Kane, "Harry's remarkable in the way he quickly gathers information and works with clients, our staff and opposing counsel to get to the issues in the case quickly. His breadth of experience in knowing how insurance companies and the civil litigation system work is overwhelmingly impressive every day. Mr. Kane's caring and compassion towards his clients is inspirational both to his clients and his co-workers." In addition to his trial work, Mr. Kane serves as an Arbitrator in the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas Compulsory Arbitration Program, a Judge Pro Tem in the Day Forward Program, a solo neutral arbitrator in ADR proceedings and an arbitrator in UM/UIM proceedings. Mr. Kane's current practice involves civil litigation throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey with an emphasis on Personal Injury, Employment Litigation and Workers Compensation. Mr. Kane has successfully represented several members of Local Union 1 of the Independent Dockworkers Union (Gloucester, NJ) in both personal injury and Workers Compensation proceedings. Mr. Kane graduated from Georgetown University in 1985 (B.A., American Government), and received his law degree from Villanova Law School in 1988. When Mr. Kane is not working, he is active in his community as a Board Member and travel soccer coach for the Upper Darby Futbol Club as well as serving as Athletic Director and coaching CYO Basketball for St. Mary Interparochial School in Center City. Additionally, Mr. Kane serves as a volunteer speaker and representative for the Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, helping to raise awareness and funds to combat pediatric cancer. Mr. Kane resides in Drexel Hill with his wife Tina and their children, Morgan and Harry.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Partner / Philadelphia, PA

Mr. Funt was a founding partner at Greenblatt, Pierce, Funt and Flores, LLC. He has twice chaired the Criminal Justice Section (CJS) of the Philadelphia Bar Association and has been on the executive committee for over a decade. He has also served on the Philadelphia Bar Association's Board of Governors and the Commission of Judicial Selection and Retention. He has successfully tried thousands of criminal cases before judges and juries in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey's state and federal courts. He has tried cases ranging from complex homicides to aggravated assaults, simple assaults, sexual assaults, kidnappings, robberies, drug related matters, and white-collar crimes, including sexual cybercrimes. His practice includes the defense of adult and juvenile matters. He often handles high profile matters and understands how to delicately and deftly handle the press in the best interest of his clients. His clientele includes firefighters, police officers, attorneys, doctors, sports figures, as well other professionals. Mr. Funt has also litigated numerous civil rights cases alleging claims of excessive force and wrongful arrest. He has successfully represented clients in first amendment issues and employment discrimination cases such as age, race, gender, whistleblowing, and sexual orientation claims. Additionally, Mr. Funt has represented individuals (either as the plaintiff or the defendant) in protection from abuse (PFA) cases. He understands the intricacies of how abuse orders can impact an individual's employment, their custody rights, their 2 nd amendment rights, as well as the crossover implications when also accused of criminal charges that arise out of the accusations alleged in the protection from abuse order petition. From 2002-the present, Mr. Funt has been involved in some of the area's most highly publicized cases and is keenly aware of the value and hazards of press related cases. He understands that often it is just as important to defend a client's reputation in the court of public opinion, as well as the courtroom, and will use every tool at his disposal to ensure that his clients receive fair treatment throughout their ordeal. As such, he is often sought out by the media to address current events and constitutional matters, such as the recent 50th anniversary of Gideon vs. Wainwright, the verdict in the Travon Martin case, the superior court reversal of the Monsignor Lynn child abuse matter, as well as recent Supreme Court of Pennsylvania rulings and their applicability to citizens in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Job Titles:

• of Counsel
• Member of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association
• of Counsel / Philadelphia, PA

Jeffrey Rudnick is a civil litigation attorney. His practice areas include motor vehicle liability, premises liability, products liability, medical malpractice, insurance coverage and commercial litigation. Over the past forty plus years, he has represented thousands of individuals who have been injured by the negligence of others. Mr. Rudnick also has represented companies in construction litigation and several area banks in cases involving loan enforcement and conversion claims. He is known for his tenacity, which has enabled him to win large settlements in cases against individuals, corporations and municipalities. Mr. Rudnick graduated from Temple University School of Law and was admitted to the Pennsylvania bar in 1976. He is a graduate of the Academy of Trial Advocacy. Mr. Rudnick is a member of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, the Pennsylvania Association for Justice and the Philadelphia Bar Association. He has served as an adjunct professor at the Thomas R. Kline School of Law at Drexel University. Mr. Rudnick mentors associate attorneys in trial advocacy. In the past, he has been asked to speak to high school and college students about the law and has judged moot court competitions.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Partner / Philadelphia, PA

Partner Jeffrey Cianciulli is an accomplished business lawyer representing the interests of financial institutions, corporations, individuals and trustees in a broad array of matters involving litigation, bankruptcy, corporate restructurings and workouts, and commercial loan and real estate transactions. He is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey. Mr. Cianciulli has extensive experience in handling high-stakes business litigation matters and, as lead counsel, has handled numerous trials and evidentiary hearings before judges and juries in both federal and state courts, including Delaware's prestigious Court of Chancery. Mr. Cianciulli practices in all aspects of commercial litigation, particularly in matters involving real estate, business torts, partnership/shareholder disputes, contract disputes, breach of contract claims, and unfair and deceptive business practices. Although the bulk of his practice focuses on business and bankruptcy litigation, Mr. Cianciulli also advises businesses on day-to-day issues and litigation avoidance. Mr. Cianciulli routinely represents commercial borrowers and bankruptcy debtors, secured lenders, unsecured creditors, distressed investors and Chapter 7 trustees in complex bankruptcy cases and adversary proceedings, in bankruptcy courts in Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Jeff's bankruptcy and insolvency practice routinely includes handling adversary proceedings; Section 363 sales; restructurings; asset valuation and plan confirmation; relief from the automatic stay; prosecution and defense of preferential and fraudulent transfer avoidance actions; dischargeability litigation; out-of-court workouts and forbearance arrangements; liquidations and liquidating trusts; and debtor-in-possession (DIP) and exit financings. With his litigation background and an advanced understanding of both the United States Bankruptcy Code and Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code, Mr. Cianciulli is able to achieve favorable results for his clients by developing plans to minimize exposure both before and after the filing of bankruptcy. Mr. Cianciulli's practicality and ability to act as both a negotiator and a litigator allows him to utilize all available avenues to achieve his clients' specific goals. Although Mr. Cianciulli has negotiated numerous favorable settlements for clients, he is set apart from his peers by his readiness and ability to litigate a case through trial.

Job Titles:

• Partner

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Associate / Philadelphia, PA

Joshua M. Baker works primarily on employment law and civil rights matters, helping to secure justice and compensation for people whose rights have been violated in the workplace and elsewhere. Mr. Baker also practices in the areas of commercial litigation and personal injury. Prior to becoming an associate, Mr. Baker worked for four years as a law clerk. During most of his tenure as a law clerk, Mr. Baker was also a full-time law student at Rutgers Law School where he was a Dean's Academic Excellence Scholar. Working at a firm while attending law school allowed Mr. Baker to develop his practical legal skills in the workplace while contemporaneously learning abstract legal theory and doctrine in the classroom. During the fall of 2017, Mr. Baker served as an intern in the chambers of the Honorable Theodore A. McKee of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. As a law student, Mr. Baker excelled in the study of employment law and, in recognition of his achievements in that area, was presented with the American Bar Association and Bureau of National Affairs Labor and Employment Law Award by the Rutgers Law School faculty prior to his graduation in May of 2018. Mr. Baker graduated cum laude from Rutgers University in 2010, earning a B.A. with high honors in sociology. After obtaining his undergraduate degree, Mr. Baker taught English as a foreign language in South Korea from 2011 to 2014 before returning to the U.S. Mr. Baker is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the State of New Jersey, and the United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the District of New Jersey.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Partner / Haddonfield, NJ

Leonard S. Baker is a Partner at Weir Greenblatt Pierce LLP. Mr. Baker is the Director of the firm's New Jersey Office and leads both the legal and administrative functions centered in Haddonfield, New Jersey. Mr. Baker has been admitted to the New Jersey State Bar since 1973 and has continually practiced law in that state up until the present. Mr. Baker's practice, during his over forty (40) years as an attorney, has been primarily devoted to criminal defense. To that end, he has represented clients on matters ranging from Driving While Under the Influence of Alcohol or Drugs (DUI) to Capital Murder. Mr. Baker has litigated matters in Federal, State and Municipal Courts. He has also represented clients before Administrative Courts and Agencies throughout New Jersey. Throughout Mr. Baker's long and distinguished career, he has represented individuals, banks, corporations, political appointees, and police officers from many different agencies. Additionally, Mr. Baker has represented various public agencies, including probation offices, police offices, and Sheriff's Offices, in conducting contract negotiations. As such, Mr. Baker has developed a unique and specialized knowledge in the workings of all of these agencies. Mr. Baker has litigated a vast amount of jury trials during his career; including; three Capital Murder trials, numerous other murder trials and an International Sexual abuse case in Federal Court. Mr. Baker has had jury trials also involving robbery, firearms offenses, drug conspiracy, and many others. In 1988, Mr. Baker became one of a select number of criminal attorneys in New Jersey to attain the distinction of becoming a "Certified Criminal Trial Attorney by the New Jersey Supreme Court." To achieve this prestigious distinction, Mr. Baker had to; pass a comprehensive exam, handle a significant number of criminal matters and be recognized by his peers and judges as an expert in criminal law. This distinction has allowed Mr. Baker to receive numerous referrals from other attorneys who recognize Mr. Baker's expertise and trust their clients to his representation. Additionally, Mr. Baker has maintained this prestigious distinction throughout the years by continuing to improve his legal education and receiving written accolades from fellow attorneys and judges. For over 25 years, Mr. Baker was an Adjunct Professor of Criminal Law at Rutgers School of Law, Camden, until his retirement in June of 2016. He was first retained in August 1989 by Dean Roger Dennis, to teach an advanced course in Criminal Procedure. He instructed students on the law of Search and Seizure and various other important Criminal Law topics. In 1993, the law school tasked Mr. Baker with developing a new course to offer its senior students who had an interest in practicing Criminal law upon graduation. Mr. Baker formulated, from scratch, a new curriculum entitled "Criminal Practice." Through this new and innovative course, students are taught the Criminal Justice System through the eyes of a 40 plus year litigator. Additionally, Mr. Baker brought in guest Prosecutors and Judges to help the students fully understand the system. Also, while having the students do mock litigation, Mr. Baker helped his students sharpen their courtroom skills by teaching them advanced methods of oral argument and direct and cross-examination of various types of witnesses. Mr. Baker is also a guest lecturer at "Boys State of New Jersey." Boys State is a one week session for outstanding high school students in New Jersey who are entering their senior year. Mr. Baker, along with other attorneys, lectures the students about the career path of becoming a lawyer. For the past ten (10) years, Mr. Baker has met with large groups of young men, explaining the legal profession as a career path and answering all of their queries. Because of his years of experience, Mr. Baker is on a state-wide New Jersey list of lawyers qualified to represent law enforcement officers who have either administrative, legal or both matters pending against them. This police Benevolent Association (PBA) list is disseminated throughout the State and Mr. Baker is regularly chosen as counsel for officers who need his help. Because of his vast legal knowledge and the associations Mr. Baker has made over the years, he can offer a truly unique knowledge of all areas in which his help is needed. Additionally, Mr. Baker has successfully litigated numerous Civil matters resulting in substantial awards to his client. In John Doe v. Caesars Casino, et al, Mr. Baker attained a 2.4 million dollar verdict for his client. In an exhaustive four week trial in Atlantic City, Mr. Baker convinced a jury that his client's deceased husband's death was a result of negligence on the part of several defendants and that she should be fairly compensated. Additionally, Mr. Baker, in 2009, settled a case against Valero Oil Corporation for 1.4 million dollars. In 2010, he recovered a half million dollars for an injured bicyclist. In winning these civil cases, Mr. Baker was able to translate his skills in the criminal courts to the civil courts.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association
• Partner / Philadelphia, PA

Marc Zucker's practice is focused in the areas of complex commercial litigation, alternate dispute resolution and appellate advocacy. For more than thirty-seven years he has litigated disputes involving high-level contract, corporate, construction, real estate, banking, insurance, distributorships, bankruptcy, trade secrets, UCC and employment issues, as well as business torts, class actions, derivative litigation and "business divorces," disputes among principals of closely-held entities. In addition to his client advocacy, Mr. Zucker is a distinguished neutral arbitrator and private mediator. He serves as a neutral on the Commercial and Customer Account Panels of the American Arbitration Association, as an arbitrator for the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County, and as an arbitrator and mediator for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He is a longtime member of the volunteer panel of Commerce Program judges pro tempore assisting the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County. In addition, Mr. Zucker has served as a court-appointed receiver in commercial matters. Mr. Zucker is well-known for the personal attention, perseverance and responsiveness he gives each of his clients, and the ability to find thoughtful and creative solutions to his clients' legal challenges. Mr. Zucker's accomplishments have been recognized by his clients and peers. Mr. Zucker holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been named a Pennsylvania SuperLawyer every year since 2006, an honor awarded to only the top five percent of lawyers in the state. Mr. Zucker is the chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association, having previously served as vice chancellor and chancellor-elect, and as chair and vice chair of its Board of Governors, as well as its secretary, treasurer and a member of the Board. He sits on the Philadelphia Commission on Judicial Selection & Retention, after having served for more than two decades on its investigative division. He is past chair of the association's Business Litigation Committee and its Judge Pro Tem Task Force. He is an active member of the association's Federal Courts Committee and Professional Guidance Committee. He is an elected Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and co-chair of the American Bar Association's Commercial & Business Litigation Committee, having previously served as vice-chair of the Committee and editor-in-chief of its nationwide quarterly newsletter, analyzing commercial litigation trends and recent developments in the law. Mr. Zucker also serves as a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association's House of Delegates, having previously served from 2015 to 2019. Mr. Zucker is the author of two chapters in Rantings of a Partner … and Pushback from the Associate, a book published by the American Bar Association in 2012. From 2004 through 2018, Mr. Zucker taught Trial Advocacy as an adjunct professor of law at Villanova University School of Law. He served as president, counselor and program chair of the law school's American Inn of Court and chaired the Program Awards Committee of the American Inns of Court Foundation in Washington, D.C. in 2007 and 2008. Mr. Zucker graduated with honors from Haverford College with a degree in political science and earned his law degree from Villanova University School of Law in 1984. From 2017 through 2022, Mr. Zucker chaired the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Jewish Coalition, a statewide advocacy organization for all Jewish Federations in Pennsylvania. He served as an elected trustee and director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia and is an active member of the board of its Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), which he chaired for over three years. Mr. Zucker regularly represents clients on a pro bono basis through the Philadelphia Bar Association's Volunteers for the Indigent Program and is an ex-officio member of the VIP Board, the Public Interest Law Center, the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, and the Jenkins Law Library.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Partner / Philadelphia, PA

Mike Broadhurst is a highly effective and versatile attorney with a successful track record of resolving an array of business risks. Mike is skilled in identifying practical outcomes while managing the litigation process to efficiently achieve client objectives. Mike has extensive experience in business disputes, real estate related litigation, and professional malpractice claims. Mike prosecutes and defends trade secret, restrictive covenant, employment discrimination, and contract claims in multiple industries.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Partner / Haddonfield, NJ

Michele Morgera, Esquire, is a partner in WGP's office in Haddonfield, New Jersey. As the former chief of the Major Crimes Unit of the Camden County, New Jersey Prosecutor's office, Ms. Morgera brings thirty years of legal experience to the firm. Ms. Morgera concentrates her practice in criminal defense. She joins Leonard Baker, Esquire, who is one of the area's leading criminal attorneys to give WGP one of the strongest, respected and most experienced criminal law defense practices in Southern New Jersey. Ms. Morgera began her legal career as an associate in both a civil practice and criminal defense firm before joining the Camden County Prosecutor's Office in 1987. During Ms. Morgera's career as an assistant prosecutor, she served as chief of the Grand Jury Unit, chief of the Career Criminal Unit, chief of the Fugitive Section, and chief of the Major Crimes Unit. She has personally tried over one hundred jury trials, including some of the most complicated criminal cases in the region. Additionally, she had supervisory authority over thousands of serious cases. Ms. Morgera also served as the Police Legal Advisor. Ms. Morgera was literally on call 24 hours a day to answer all of the complicated legal matters and questions from law enforcement. WGP is thrilled to have Ms. Morgera bring her experience and knowledge of the criminal justice system to the firm. Just as important, her knowledge of best practices in internal investigations from the perspective of a seasoned prosecutor adds additional depth to our Employment Practice. Ms. Morgera graduated from LaSalle University with a Bachelor of Arts in Public Administration. She received her law degree from Rutgers Law School in 1986. In 2001, Ms. Morgera earned a Master's in Public Administration from Rutgers Newark. In 2014, Ms. Morgera began working as a Literacy Volunteer in Camden County as a reading tutor, providing reading instruction to adults at the lowest literacy level.

Member Nicholas Cipriani Inn of Court (Master) 2007-present, including presenter at several meetings on various topics related to family law practice and procedure.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Partner / Philadelphia, PA

Noah S. Cohen practices in the firm's Civil Litigation Unit. Most of his work focuses on Complex Civil Litigation matters, such as Employment and Civil Rights matters. He is passionate about fighting for the rights of those who have been wronged, whether in the workplace, by police, or otherwise. He has won settlements for his clients in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. Born and raised in Gloucester, Massachusetts, Mr. Cohen graduated from Brandeis University and Villanova University School of Law. Before attending law school, he worked with the United States Peace Corps in the Philippines where he served as a small business advisor, managing two successful water filter businesses, initiating a micro-finance expansion for a cooperative bank, and teaching economic development and entrepreneurship classes at Partido State University. Since graduating from Villanova Law School in 2012, Mr. Cohen worked as an associate in WGP's civil division working on complex Employment, Consumer Fraud, and Civil Rights cases for over four years before leaving WGP to work at the Defender Association of Philadelphia for more than three years. While at the Defenders he gained invaluable experience protecting the rights of his clients as a trial attorney, successfully trying hundreds of cases, including jury trials on major felony cases. Mr. Cohen brings his diverse experience in business and litigation to represent our clients in complex civil matters. Mr. Cohen is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the State of New Jersey, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the District of New Jersey.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Partner / Philadelphia, PA

Patricia V. Pierce is a partner in the Philadelphia based law firm of Weir Greenblatt Pierce LLP. Ms. Pierce heads the Employment Law Practice at the firm and serves as a principal in the firm's Corporate Investigations practice. Ms. Pierce has represented individuals and groups of workers who have suffered employment discrimination and workplace harassment litigating individual and class action employment lawsuits, as well as employee benefits cases in state and federal courts in California, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Tennessee, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Her practice includes multi-party wage and hour matters and Consumer Fraud litigation. Ms. Pierce frequently provides advice to executives in negotiating employment contracts and in managing sensitive trade secret and restrictive covenant/non-compete issues. In addition, Ms. Pierce is regularly engaged by individuals, small businesses and nonprofit corporations to provide advice and counsel in litigation avoidance and the defense of all types of employment actions, including the defense of federal and state discrimination claims, whistleblower and wrongful discharge matters, and contract disputes. In her role as counselor, Ms. Pierce advises corporate clients on a host of personnel related matters including workplace policies and procedures, performance management best practices, including discipline and termination policies and decisions, and the conduct and content of supervisory training. In addition to building on-going relationships with individual and corporate clients, Ms. Pierce has been sought out by colleagues to conduct independent in-house investigations of claims of discrimination as well as corporate malfeasance and fraud. Recently, Ms. Pierce has been engaged by insurance companies and law firms to provide expert advice and testimony on claims of attorney malpractice employment/EEO best practices, and has served as a neutral mediator. Throughout her forty year career, Ms. Pierce has tried hundreds of matters to verdict, including jury and bench trials and has been successful in handling every kind of employment litigation matter including age, gender, hostile work environment, race, national origin and religious discrimination matters as well as claims brought by whistleblowers under state and federal laws. Ms. Pierce has been admitted as a Fellow of the prestigious American Bar Association's College of Labor & Employment attorneys. Ms. Pierce was honored by her alma mater, Rutgers School of Law-Camden's Black Law Students Association with the "Champions for Social Justice and Equality Award. Ms. Pierce has been listed each year among the Best Lawyers of America since 1995. In 2013 Best Lawyers named Ms. Pierce its "Attorney of the Year" in the practice area of Employment-Individuals. Ms. Pierce has consistently been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer since 2004 and has repeatedly been named one of Pennsylvania's Top 50 Women Lawyers. She has also earned the preeminent AV rating from Martindale-Hubell for both her legal ability and ethical standards. Ms. Pierce has lectured extensively on issues of attorney ethics and has served as a Senior Disciplinary Committee Member for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Ms. Pierce is a frequent author and lecturer for the ABA-ALI Continuing Legal Education Program; the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and the National Employment Lawyers Association where she served on NELA's 2011-2012 Convention Committees and continues to act as a moderator and presenter. Ms. Pierce was a Visiting Professor of Law at Santa Clara University in the mid-1990s where she founded an Employment Law Clinic and taught Evidence. In Philadelphia, Ms. Pierce has served as an Adjunct Professor at Temple's Beasley School of Law and taught law students in Temple's Introduction to Trial Advocacy and Advanced Trial Advocacy programs as well as practitioners in Temple's prestigious LLM Trial Advocacy program. Ms. Pierce also taught Employment Law Practice and Procedure at Rutgers School of Law, her alma mater and taught trial advocacy for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, which named her as a distinguished faculty member. Ms. Pierce has published a law review article which analyzed the pedagogical experience of an innovative clinical program she spearheaded : The Santa Clara Experiment: A New Fee-Generating Model for Clinical Legal Education, with Ridolfi, 3 CLINICAL LAW REVIEW 439-470 (1997). Ms. Pierce earned her bachelor's degree from Rutgers, with High Honors and Distinction in Political Science and a juris doctor from Rutgers School of Law with High Honors where she was a 1974 Rutgers Community Scholar. WGP partner Pat Pierce successfully defended against class-wide allegations of racial discrimination and two individual discrimination cases, based on race, brought by two managers against the Defender Association of Philadelphia. $1 Million Recovery for Aramark workers forced to work through breaks and wait on line to punch in to work. While still at the Willig, Williams & Davidson Law firm, WGP partner Pat Pierce, together with co-counsel, Michael Josephson of Fibich, Hampton & Leebron, represented a class of stadium workers who were denied straight time and overtime for rest periods and wait to work time.

Job Titles:

• Partner

Job Titles:

• Fellow of the Prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers
• Member of the Pennsylvania
• Special Counsel
• Special Counsel / Philadelphia, PA

Peter F. Vaira, one of our country's preeminent white collar criminal defense lawyers serves as Special Counsel to Weir Greenblatt Pierce LLP. During Mr. Vaira's over 50 years of practice he has handled the most complex criminal and civil matters in state and federal court, having earned him a well-known reputation as one of the most respected attorneys in the region. Mr. Vaira is also a widely sought after arbitrator, mediator, special master, and independent hearing officer with numerous years of experience in the field of alternative dispute resolution. Mr. Vaira directs WGP's alternative dispute resolution practice. Mr. Vaira is a member of the Pennsylvania, Illinois, and District of Columbia Bars and he is a certified national and international arbitrator who serves as a Special Master in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Commerce Court program and who previously acted as the Independent Hearing Officer for the Laborers' International Union of North America. As Special Master, Mr. Vaira has the experience to solve problems in complex civil litigation in state and federal courts. Mr. Vaira assists the court and parties when normal statutory procedures cannot adequately serve the court or the parties in a timely manner. Mr. Vaira, in his role as Special Master, arbitrates and mediates commercial litigation disputes, oversees court authorized settlements, arbitrates litigation discovery disputes, litigation ethical conduct complaints, and labor union trusteeships, mediates ongoing construction disputes, acts as union election officer, acts as receiver pendente lite or receiver in liquidation, and oversees investigations of gas wellsite accidents. Throughout his career Mr. Vaira has also handled every kind of white collar criminal defense matter imaginable as well as antitrust cases, internal and parallel investigations, corporate crisis management matters, and complex civil litigation cases. Mr. Vaira was appointed by former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter to serve as the Executive Director of a Commission formed to investigate the Department of Licenses and Inspections subsequent to a tragic building collapse in Center City Philadelphia. A graduate of Duquesne University and the Duquesne University School of Law, Mr. Vaira served in the United States Navy from 1963 to 1968 in the Judge Advocate General Corps. Mr. Vaira is also a fifteen year veteran of the United States Department of Justice where he served as the Attorney in Charge of the Philadelphia and Chicago Organized Crime Strike Forces. In 1978, the President of the United States appointed Mr. Vaira to serve as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania where he acted as the chief federal law enforcement official for five years. Upon leaving the Justice Department, Mr. Vaira was later appointed as the Executive Director of the President's Commission on Organized Crime. After entering into private practice, Mr. Vaira worked in various prominent law firms in both Chicago and Philadelphia. Mr. Vaira is a Fellow of the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers, the American Law Institute, and the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Mr. Vaira is a frequent lecturer on a variety of legal topics both nationally and internationally, while he also serves on the editorial boards of The Legal Intelligencer. Mr. Vaira is the author of Eastern District of Pennsylvania Federal Practice Rules Annotated from Lexis Publishing and Corporate Responses to Federal Grand Jury Investigations published by Lexis.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Partner / Haddonfield, NJ

Mr. Coe's practice is focused on construction law, commercial litigation, condominium law and general civil litigation. Since 1987, Mr. Coe has represented individuals, corporations, partnerships and community associations in a wide spectrum of legal matters such as construction contracts and disputes, consumer fraud litigation, business formation and dissolution, creditors' rights, lender liability and many more. Mr. Coe's standard of excellence has earned him the "BV Distinguished" Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating, a "Top Rated Lawyer" in Construction Law by Martindale-Hubbell, a "Best Lawyers" award in the fields of construction and real estate law and a "Best Lawyer" distinction by South Jersey Magazine. He also is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America. His professional activities include service as Co-Chair, Damages Sub-Committee of the Construction Litigation Committee of the American Bar Association's Section of Litigation. He co-authored "Expert Use in Claims of Construction Defects and Code Violations," and authored "In Re: Lemon Law" for Delaware Valley Counselor. He has served as a speaker at continuing education courses for the American Bar Association, the New Jersey Bar Association and the New Jersey Institute of Continuing Legal Education. Mr. Coe has devoted over 30 years of continuous service to his community. He served two terms as a Member of Council for Monroe Township, New Jersey, including service as President of Council and Ordinance Committee Chair. He also was the Township's liaison to the Municipal Utilities Authority, Parks and Recreation Commission, Historical Society, Environmental Commission, Planning Board and Municipal Alliance Commission. Mr. Coe has also served as Chair and Vice-Chair of the Great Egg Harbor National Scenic and Recreational River Council, a unit of the National Park Service.

Job Titles:

• Partner

Job Titles:

• of Counsel
• of Counsel / Haddonfield, NJ
• Resident of Voorhees New Jersey

Mr. DePersia is one of the most admired lawyers in the South Jersey legal community. Over the last few decades, he has built a storied career successfully representing men, women and families in personal injury, DWI and municipal court matters. A graduate of Rutgers University School of Law, Mr. DePersia has more than 40 years of experience representing individuals throughout New Jersey. Among his career achievements: he is a former president of the Camden County Bar Association and a former chairman of the New Jersey Supreme Court District IV Ethics Committee which was responsible for handling complaints regarding attorney ethics in Camden and Gloucester Counties. A native of Camden NJ, Mr. DePersia is also a true renaissance man. He was a producer, writer, and the former lead singer and co-leader of Latin Soul recording artist, CINTRON. He has also arranged, produced and promoted hundreds of concerts and dances throughout the Philadelphia/South Jersey area; and, he opened, owned and operated Camden's iconic Nice Little Bar. In addition, he advised and managed numerous professional boxers culminating in 1995 when one of his fighters, Bruce Seldon, became the WBA Heavyweight Champion of the World. He has also provided both soundtrack contribution and a recurring acting role to the current Amazon TV Crime Drama, Chase Street. Mr. DePersia is a resident of Voorhees New Jersey with his wife Lydia, and he is a father of two successful daughters. In addition, to his law degree, he received his undergraduate degree from Rutgers College of Arts and Sciences in 1975. He was the valedictorian of his class at Highland Regional High School in Gloucester Township.

Job Titles:

• Partner
• Partner / Philadelphia, PA

Ronald L. Greenblatt is one of the most respected and sought-after attorneys in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Mr. Greenblatt has successfully litigated over 1,000 criminal trials on charges ranging from homicide, homicide by vehicle, sexual assault, serious drug offenses, fraud and other white-collar crimes, internet crimes, and DUI/DWI, including cases involving the insanity defense. After years of experience, Mr. Greenblatt knows the criminal justice system from the inside out including the judges, prosecutors, members of the police force, and investigators associated with his cases. He regularly lectures to his fellow attorneys and judges on both trial technique and changes in the law. Attorneys throughout the region refer their clients to Mr. Greenblatt with confidence - due to both his outstanding track record and his tireless work ethic. Since the age of 20, Mr. Greenblatt has sought to protect the rights of men and women. In 1981, he became one of the youngest union shop stewards in U.S. history when he was elected shop steward for New Jersey Restaurant Local 54 (now Local 33). In this position, he fought grievances brought against his fellow union members and filed grievances on behalf of union members. Upon his graduation from law school, Mr. Greenblatt joined the Defender Association of Philadelphia. There, he handled the defense and trials of hundreds of accused men and women and was one of only two lawyers appointed to the prestigious Special Defense Unit (SDU). While in this unit, he received specialized training in forensics, including accident reconstruction, DNA, fingerprint, ballistics, and training in the use of forensic psychiatry and psychology in the defense of criminal cases - all of which he relies on today to build his cases. He has also received training in media relations in connection with successfully trying some of the area's highest profile cases. In addition to managing his criminal practice, Mr. Greenblatt co-manages the firm's extensive civil rights practice with Patricia V. Pierce. They have handled claims of police misconduct that have resulted in wrongful arrest, prosecution, and incarceration as well as traumatic injury of their clients. Mr. Greenblatt and Ms. Pierce have successfully represented WGP's clients in state and federal court actions that have resulted in the recovery of millions of dollars. Additionally, Mr. Greenblatt works with Ms. Pierce on her class action and employment discrimination cases. Today, after 30 years of practice, Mr. Greenblatt is one of the leaders of the criminal defense bar in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey and he is highly engaged in service to the profession. He is a past vice president of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL) in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and is the immediate past chairperson of PACDL's Philadelphia Chapter, where he still serves on its executive committee. He is a founding member and master of the Philadelphia Inn of Criminal Court, where he is on the executive committee, planning committee, and serves as secretary. He is also a member of the executive committee of the Defender Association of Philadelphia Alumni Association and an active member of the Philadelphia Bar Association, the Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers of New Jersey, and the Camden County Bar Association. He has been given the prestigious AV rating by the Martindale-Hubbell ratings service. This rating means that he is one of the preeminent lawyers in his field as determined by lawyers and judges in the criminal law field. He has also been named a Super Lawyer in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey; making him one of the few lawyers to be named a Super Lawyer in both states. He also rated as a Best Lawyer. However, probably even more telling about his expertise, Mr. Greenblatt is regularly asked to lecture to judges as well as to other criminal defense lawyers, new prosecutors, and even Rutgers and Temple law students on adult and juvenile criminal law subjects. A graduate of Rutgers University School of Law, Mr. Greenblatt also received his B.A. from Rutgers University where he majored in economics and minored in accounting.

Job Titles:

• Attorney
• of Counsel

Stacy Forchetti is an attorney in the firm's family law practice group, and specializes in divorce, support, custody and Protection from Abuse matters. Ms. Forchetti is known for her attention to clients and tireless advocacy for those in need, and she uses her significant experience as a litigator to inform and enhance her family law practice. Ms. Forchetti joined Weir Greenblatt Pierce as the natural progression in her lifelong passion for pursuing justice and giving voice to the voiceless. During her time as an undergraduate at Pennsylvania State University, she served the State College community as a volunteer through service sorority Gamma Sigma Sigma and worked with others in student government as building president of her dormitory. At Temple University Beasley School of Law, Ms. Forchetti was a member of the Student Public Interest Network, Political and Civil Rights Law Review, and Secretary of the Student Bar Association. Upon graduation, she received the Lena C. Hale award for Outstanding Contribution to Extracurricular Activities.

Job Titles:

• Partner

Job Titles:

• Partner

Job Titles:

• Associate
• Associate / Philadelphia, PA

Ms. Weir represents financial institutions, corporations and individuals and concentrates her practice in the areas of commercial and civil litigation, partnerships disputes, retail banking, white collar crime and real estate transactions. A native of the Philadelphia area, Ms. Weir earned her law degree and certificate in Trial Advocacy from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 2016. A 2012 graduate of the University of Rochester, Ms. Weir earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a double minor in Women and Gender Studies and Legal Studies. During law school, Ms. Weir was a member of the Rubin Public Interest Law Honor Society and in her third year of law school, interned at the City of Philadelphia Law Department, Real Estate and Tax unit.

Job Titles:

• Managing Partner
• Managing Partner / Philadelphia, PA

Walter Weir, Jr., Esquire is the founder and name partner at Weir Greenblatt Pierce LLP (formerly Weir & Partners LLP) and has more than 44 years of experience as a preeminent advocate in business, banking and commercial law. His client list includes most major financial institutions in the Philadelphia region. Mr. Weir has been trial counsel in state and federal courts in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Florida and the District of Columbia. Among his many notable victories is his representation of CoreStates Bank as trial counsel in which a Philadelphia Jury awarded the plaintiff $352.8 million in direct, consequential and punitive damages, which was reversed on appeal by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court with judgment being entered in CoreStates' favor dismissing all of plaintiff's claims. Mr. Weir has successfully argued cases before the Pennsylvania Superior Court, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the Connecticut Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Mr. Weir has nine bar admissions including Pennsylvania, New Jersey and the District of Columbia, four federal district courts, the United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. Mr. Weir is widely recognized by his peers for unparalleled excellence as an advisor and advocate. He is the recipient of the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association Trial Advocacy Award, and named among the top five percent of "Super Lawyers" in Pennsylvania every year since 2004. He holds an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has consistently maintained a listing in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers since 1999. WGP was formed by the merger of Greenblatt, Pierce, Funt & Flores LLC into Weir & Partners LLP effective January 1, 2022. Combining two highly-respected and trusted law firms into one with multiple decades of experience created true synergy and broadened the firm's expertise.