NEWARK, N.J., July 27, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Andrew T. Berry, a resident of Westfield who was the Chairman of McCarter & English, LLP, one of New Jersey's leading law firms, died suddenly at his summer home in Southport, Maine, on Friday, July 24, 2009. As one of the leading lawyers in New Jersey, an internationally-recognized trial attorney and a strong civic leader, Mr. Berry was a pillar in the legal community. He was 69.
Mr. Berry was graduated cum laude from Princeton University in 1962. He earned his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1965. He joined McCarter & English out of law school as an associate and became a partner of the firm in 1972. He was admitted to the bars in New Jersey and New York, as well as the United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, Fifth and Eleventh Circuits. He was also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
Mr. Berry's legal career involved trial and appellate litigation including domestic and international arbitration. He was one of only approximately 75 lawyers in the United States who was a Fellow of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers. He was also a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and a member of the American Law Institute.
Mr. Berry successfully represented Fortune 500 clients in the financial, life sciences, consumer, industrial products and sports industries. Mr. Berry was a frequent speaker on a number of topics including advanced insurance coverage, mass torts litigation, federal civil practice and arbitration. He was recently named one of New Jersey's business leaders by the New Jersey Business News, and is listed in the 3rd edition of Who's Who Legal: The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers. He was Ranked 1 in Chambers USA 2009 for Commercial Litigation and Insurance Litigation, and recognized among Chambers USA "Leaders in their Field" 2006-2009. He also was recognized by New Jersey Super Lawyers for 2005-2009. Mr. Berry also has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for many years and was recognized among the Top 10 lawyers in the state by New Jersey Monthly magazine.
Mr. Berry was elected to the Executive Committee of McCarter & English in 1988 and served as the Chairman of the Executive Committee since 1997. During his tenure as Chairman of the firm, McCarter & English, LLP grew from a 200 lawyer New Jersey based firm to a 400 lawyer firm with offices throughout the northeast including Boston, Hartford, Stamford, New York, Philadelphia and Wilmington, in addition to its Newark office. Also during his tenure as Chairman, McCarter & English materially increased the firm's commitment to pro bono activities, including the representation of returning veterans, death row inmates, dispossessed tenants, and others seeking equal access to justice. In 2008, Mr. Berry was recognized with the Judge Learned Hand Human Relations Award by the New Jersey Chapter of the American Jewish Committee.
Mr. Berry was always active in civic affairs outside of the law as well. He served as a member of the board of trustees of the New Jersey Performing Arts Center and a member of the Newark Alliance. He was formerly a member of the Montclair Board of Education, a member of the board of Mountainside Hospital, and a member of the Board of the Montclair Art Museum.
Mr. Berry was a member of the Essex County Country Club and the Boothbay Country Club in Maine.
He is survived by his wife, McCarter & English partner, Gita Rothschild of Westfield, New Jersey; his children, David Berry of Glen Ridge, New Jersey, Wendy McWeeny of Williamstown, Massachusetts, and Lesley Berry of Ithaca, New York; and his stepchildren, Lara Rothschild of New York City, and Alexander Rothschild of Westfield, New Jersey. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Jane and Nora Berry, Charles, Clara and Lucy McWeeny.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 29, 2009, at the Princeton University Chapel in Princeton, New Jersey. Friends and family are welcome to express condolences on Wednesday, July 29, 2009 and Thursday, July 30, 2009, between 7 and 9 p.m. at Mr. Berry's home.
Donations in Mr. Berry's memory may be made to the "Andrew T. Berry '62 Memorial Scholarship Fund" and mailed to Princeton University, P.O. Box 5357, Princeton, NJ 08543-5357, Attn: Nancy Kalmikoff, Gift Record; or the "Andrew T. Berry Fund" at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, One Center Street, Newark, New Jersey 07102.
About McCarter & English
McCarter & English, LLP is a firm of over 400 lawyers with offices in Philadelphia, Boston, Hartford, Stamford, New York City, Newark and Wilmington. In continuous business for more than 160 years, we are among the oldest and largest law firms in America. www.mccarter.com
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