Ballard Spahr to Open 13th Office with Litigators from Respected San Diego Boutique Firm

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 8, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Ballard Spahr will open its 13th office and significantly expand its white collar and general litigation capability in the West with the addition of a group of attorneys from the San Diego litigation boutique La Bella & McNamara LLP, Ballard Spahr Chair Arthur Makadon announced today. The transition becomes effective November 15.

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Former federal prosecutor and noted Southern California litigator Thomas W. McNamara will serve as Managing Partner of the San Diego office, which will be Ballard Spahr's second office in California and its sixth in the western United States. Mr. McNamara will be joined by four others from La Bella & McNamara, an addition that will increase Ballard Spahr's litigation practice to 200 attorneys across 13 offices.

"We think that Tom McNamara and his team provide a perfect opportunity for the firm to greatly enhance its national litigation practice generally and its white collar practice specifically," Mr. Makadon said. "In Tom, we get a terrific lawyer with a superb reputation, and we would expect the Litigation Department to build the San Diego office with additional high-quality lawyers."

During 11 years with the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of California, Mr. McNamara focused on major economic crimes and public corruption. He now represents clients in white collar criminal and regulatory enforcement matters and complex civil litigation. Mr. McNamara conducts internal corporate investigations on behalf of inside counsel and board committees, and regularly represents clients in business litigation in federal and state courts.

"We are extremely pleased to be joining Ballard Spahr," Mr. McNamara said. "The litigation practice has a strong national profile and an impressive roster of national and international clients in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. I look forward to collaborating with this talented team and building the San Diego practice into a competitive force in litigation."

Mr. McNamara and Charles G. La Bella, both longtime federal prosecutors, formed La Bella & McNamara almost a decade ago. Mr. La Bella is returning to the U.S. Department of Justice to serve as Deputy Chief of the Fraud Section in San Diego.

La Bella & McNamara is noted for its work in business litigation, corporate governance and compliance, regulatory investigations and enforcement proceedings, and white collar criminal defense. The La Bella & McNamara team will strengthen Ballard Spahr's already robust white collar and regulatory capacity at a time of increasing governmental scrutiny.

At Ballard Spahr, they will be part of a deep bench of skilled litigators handling matters ranging from securities class actions and contractual disputes to patent infringement matters and federal and state appeals. The attorneys in Ballard Spahr's Corporate and Government Investigations and White Collar Defense practice conduct internal investigations and represent clients facing government enforcement. They also handle litigation involving the False Claims Act and allegations of other civil fraud, as well as administrative proceedings.

The following attorneys will join Ballard Spahr:

Thomas W. McNamara, partner, represents companies and individuals in various white collar criminal and regulatory enforcement matters and complex civil litigation. He has defended institutions and officers, directors, and executives in investigations by grand juries, the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and other regulatory agencies. Mr. McNamara conducts internal corporate investigations on behalf of inside counsel and board committees.

Daniel M. Benjamin, of counsel, focuses his practice on commercial and complex civil litigation. He has represented numerous corporate, governmental, and individual clients in California and Micronesia. Recently, he represented a large holding company in a civil action against former fiduciaries related to ongoing white collar criminal prosecutions, assisting in gaining final approval of a $90 million settlement, which resolved several competing class actions involving roughly 50,000 separate claims.

Andrew W. Robertson, of counsel, focuses his practice on general business counseling, corporate governance, and civil litigation, with an emphasis on receiverships. He has extensive experience on an international basis as a principal, general counsel, and senior executive of several small firms and start-ups in the public and private arenas.

Logan D. Smith, of counsel, represents clients throughout the United States in securities class action lawsuits and other business litigation, white collar criminal defense, and governmental regulatory investigations and enforcement proceedings. His clients include corporate executives, accountants, corporations, and professional service firms.

Chrysta L. Elliott, associate, graduated in 2007 from the University of San Diego School of Law, where she participated in International and Comparative Law programs in Dublin, Paris, and Florence. Ms. Elliott was a paralegal and law clerk for La Bella & McNamara before becoming an associate with the firm.

About Ballard Spahr

Ballard Spahr LLP, a national firm with more than 475 lawyers in 12 offices in the United States, provides a range of services in litigation, business and finance, real estate, intellectual property, and public finance. Our clients include Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, life sciences and technology companies, health systems, investors and developers, government agencies and sponsored enterprises, educational institutions, and nonprofit organizations. The firm combines a national scope of practice with strong regional market knowledge. For more information, please visit www.ballardspahr.com. Follow us on twitter.

SOURCE Ballard Spahr LLP