NEWARK, N.J., Aug. 5, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Executive Committee of McCarter & English, LLP, has elected partner Michael P. Kelly to the position of Chairman of the Executive Committee of the firm, effective immediately. Based in Wilmington, Mr. Kelly will succeed Andrew T. Berry, who suddenly passed away on Friday, July 24, 2009 after 44 years with the firm and 12 years as Chairman.
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"I am honored to take on this leadership position with the firm," said Mr. Kelly. "My long-time friend, Drew, served the firm well over many years. I will miss him dearly and am humbled to follow in his footsteps. Along with my fellow colleagues, I will take great care in pursuing the firm's strategic goals. We will continue our commitment to excellence, not just in our legal services, but in our service to each other and to the community."
A partner at the firm for nearly a decade, Mr. Kelly was the former managing partner of the firm's Wilmington office and serves on the firm's Executive Committee. Mr. Kelly practices in the areas of toxic tort, complex civil litigation, products liability, environmental law, commercial litigation and Intellectual Property/Hatch Waxman litigation. He has tried hundreds of cases in numerous jurisdictions and has testified as an expert witness on Delaware litigation and trial practice. In 2005, in a Lanham Act trial, Mr. Kelly obtained an eight figure recovery for his clients that resulted in a judgment of $12 million in attorney's fees, one of the largest in Delaware history. Mr. Kelly presently serves on the National Senior Management Team of the Seroquel(r) mass tort, pharmaceutical litigation and is co-lead trial counsel in Delaware.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Kelly served as General Counsel to the Resins Group at Hercules Incorporated. He personally handled environmental litigation involving superfunds, RCRA and the Clean Water Act. In 1990, he received the Hercules-Aqualon Triangle Achievement Award. He was also the Chairman of the New Castle County Board of Adjustment.
Mr. Kelly serves on the boards of numerous civic, religious and charitable organizations. He often lectures on issues pertaining to litigation and trial strategy, and has appeared as a legal commentator on national television and radio. Mr. Kelly has offered legal commentary in numerous publications including Newsweek, Barron's and The Wall Street Journal. He frequently contributes articles to legal publications.
Mr. Kelly earned his Juris Doctorate from the Dickinson School of Law, where he was President of the Student Body, and his Bachelor's Degree from Columbia University, where he lettered in football and co-captained the track team.
About McCarter & English
McCarter & English, established more than 160 years ago, represents Fortune 500 and middle-market companies in their national, regional and local litigation and on important transactions. Its 400 attorneys are based in offices in Boston, Hartford, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Stamford and Wilmington. www.mccarter.com
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