Breaking: Powerful Law Firm to Close, Delaware Heavy-Hitters Going to…
Philadelphia-based Wolf Block, a very powerful law firm with strong governmental ties, will dissolve, according to this report on Philly.com.
10 attorneys from its Delaware office, including former AG Charles Oberly and his former deputy, Kathleen Jennings, appear likely to move en masse to the firm of Drinker, Biddle & Reith.
This group of attorneys also includes former NCC Director of Planning Bill Rhodunda and fellow NCC expatriate Sean Tucker, and used to include Gov. Jack Markell’s Chief of Staff Thomas McGonigle.
When asked why a group of 10 attorneys with varying practices would look to move together, the source said it shows how cohesive a group it is and said many lateral moves in this tough economy are being done in larger groups (or perhaps they saw the majority opinion writing on the wall…). The economy is also causing some groups to make moves to what they perceive as a better platform, the source said.
The departure comes a few months after Wolf Block lost its former Wilmington office managing partner, Thomas McGonigle, to a high-profile spot in the First State’s governor’s office. Since January, McGonigle has served as chief of staff to Delaware Gov. Jack Markell.
This group of attorneys always warrants a close eye as they have access to many powerful officials across the Delaware governmental spectrum. ‘Bulo will be watching.
THREAD UPDATE: A couple of Required Reading assignments on this topic from the Beast Who Slumbers. And, be warned, ‘bulo does not grade on a curve.
First, click on Blue Hen Whisperer’s name below and read the funniest (and most brutally-accurate) description of Bob Byrd you can find. He also discovers the ‘inner Nancy Cook as well’. Brutally-funny is always at the top of ‘bulo’s reading list.
Then, go to the John Tobin-suggested Public Integrity Commission (there cannot be a greater oxymoron than that!) site, and a great drinking game awaits you there.
Scroll down the list of lobbyists and their clients, and take a swig whenever you recognize the political connection of the lobbyist (former elected official, former appointed official, former/current Party official, and the like). If you are still sober by, say, the L’s, you are a babe in the Wood/Byrds.
Tags: Delaware, Jack Markell
Interesting. I tried to write a post once about who the real power brokers were in Delaware, but it was so laughably uniformed and clueless that I try not to think about it.
and not one of them f;ing picked up the phone to represent me in court
“A good man knows his limitations”
Harry C.
I’ve read that the law profession is really hurting in this recession. Anyone have any more information on this?
Across the Country, large law firms are laying off lawyers and paralegals or dissolving. Blank Rome will be the first large Delaware firm to do so, but probably not the last. It has been happening for a couple of months in Los Angelas and Philadelphia, to name 2 cities.
Clients who used to use private attorney firms are going with the public defenders or representing themselves in criminal cases, and in civil cases many people out at the Justice of the Peace Court were representing themselves on Landlord/Tenant or at the Court of Common Pleas for arraignment day(2 of my stops today on my court circuit). It may hurt pro bono efforts in the state as more lawyers try to get paying clients.
Donviti-you should have emailed me-I always try and help-but unlike Maryland attorneys I can not solicit you with a phone call or letter.
One of my friends got stopped for DUI in Maryland and got 35 letters from lawyers offering representation for fee.
Great stuff, John. Thanks!
And a tip of the Somnambulo Sombrero to ‘Blue Hen Whisperer’ (is that anything like a horse whisperer, except w/hens?) who also suggested this story.
John – I really liked the law show on ‘GMD the other day. I couldn’t call in to address a key question I’ve had for a while, though. Why in the world does Delaware have such a complicated, user-unfriendly court system? I understand the whole Chancery thing, specializing in business and corporate law. But all the divisions between JP, Common Pleas and Superior courts seem intentionally designed to frustrate the hell out of the layperson. I know they’re actually holdovers from the olden days, but still. Is there no support for modernizing?
Mr. Brady,
I still need the assist….wooohooooo!!!!!
I think this might be something I would like to write a little more about at my spot because Wolf Block has dominated the political / government landscape of Delaware.
In the meantime, I highly suggest that all activists take advantage of the lobby vacuum… I mean… it’s not too often where the rich/powerful get too big for their own britches… I’m not sure if that’s the right term, but my great grandmother used to say it and I think it may fit… Whatevs…
Anyways, the special interest peeps are too busy right now trying to figure out how to pay for their cocaine, so the activists should sweep in and “whisper” sweet sweet somethings into the ears of our electeds… before another firm swarms in with flashy NASCAR tix and Angry Irish Drunken Demon Harri$ McDowell poisons Dover with more suckyness (see anything regarding Delmarva).
Peace!
see that is where you are wrong. they will always find money for the coke, it’s the girlfriends on the side that suffer.
get it right….
What might be as interesting to folks who follow the legislature might be where Bob Byrd, former legislator and former DEFAC member, ends up. He has lobbied in Delaware for decades and is now registered with Wolf Block which lists 5 registered lobbyists out of its Wilmington site on the Public Integrity Commission website.
http://www.delawaregov.us/pic/index.cfm?ref=74284
Byrd should be OK. His firm is Wood/Byrd, not Wolf Block. It’s him (D) and Bill Wood (R). ‘Bulo could be wrong, but he doesn’t think that there’s an affiliation there.
Oh El Som, I thought you were more of an insider than that…
I don’t think Wood/Byrd is around anymore. It’s Wolf/Block, baby.
If you want playful humor about it… I spent some time drinking and playing on the internets at my blog…
Former AG Oberle is an elitiat pig.
Wood (formerly Byrd’s lobbying partner)is listed seperately at the link I posted from the Public Integrity website and Wood appears to be currently the only lobbyist registered with Wood Associates.
They could renew the partnership,but not as far as the Public Integrity Commission, knows as of yet.
La Nuit wrote:
“Oh El Som, I thought you were more of an insider than that…
I don’t think Wood/Byrd is around anymore. It’s Wolf/Block, baby.”
Thanks, La Nuit. When it comes to being an insider, ‘bulo is the guy washing the dishes, not eating off them…
Surprised, though, that Byrd wasn’t mentioned in the Law.com article. Guess b/c he’s the lobbyist scooping up the business for the lawyers.
@elsom – good point. I guess we shall see. Those wolf/blockers are gonna miss the expense accounts.
Question for John – I really liked the law show on ‘GMD the other day. I couldn’t call in to address a key question I’ve had for a while, though. Why in the world does Delaware have such a complicated, user-unfriendly court system? I understand the whole Chancery thing, specializing in business and corporate law. But all the divisions between JP, Common Pleas and Superior courts seem intentionally designed to frustrate the hell out of the layperson. I know they’re actually holdovers from the olden days, but still. Is there no support for modernizing?
Here is the best answer I can give. It is a confusing system that has grown out of Delawares needs and the legislative concerns. Each court is very protective of its turf. The Justice of the Peace Courts has been and will still be the place for Landlord Tenant cases and first and second offense DUI because they can be heard relatively quickly and inexpensively.
Superior Court shares Jurisdiction with CCP for misdemeanors and civil cases under $50,000, although CCP is known more for getting a good plea bargain on a traffic offense and Superior Court handles mortgage forclosures and serious criminal trials. Courts 2000 had some ideas for consolidation and modernization but they have not made it into law. I don’t see any changes in the basic structure for many years to come .
Hope this is helpful
Note-If you have a general Law question-post it and I will try and answer it.