Choate, Hall & Stewart Receives Top National Rankings from The Legal 500 in Eight Practice Areas

BOSTON, June 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP announced today that eight of its practice areas received top national rankings from The Legal 500, a guide to the preeminent law firms in the United States.  Its Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) practice received a Tier 1 national ranking for Middle-Market M&A (sub-$500m).  Choate also received top national rankings for its Insurance & Reinsurance, Private Equity Buyouts, Venture Capital and Emerging Companies, Corporate Restructuring, Healthcare/Life Sciences, Litigation/Trade Secrets, and Domestic Tax/East Coast practices.

According to The Legal 500, Choate's Tier 1 M&A practice is "capable and determined," while William Asher, co-chair of the Business & Technology and Life Sciences Groups, was one of only 15 attorneys in the country named to the elite "Leading M&A Lawyers" list.  Other recommended Choate lawyers include Frederick Callori; T.J. Murphy; Laurence Naughton, co-chair of the Business & Technology Group; and Gerald Quirk, co-chair of the Life Sciences Group. 

Choate's Insurance & Reinsurance Group was noted for giving "sound legal advice" and being "very capable of trying cases."  David A. Attisani, co-chair of the Insurance & Reinsurance Group, was one of only 12 attorneys in the country named to the elite "Leading Insurance Lawyers" list.  Individual lawyers that were recommended include Mark Cahill, practice co-chair Robert Kole, Peter Moores, firm co-managing partner John Nadas, and Hugh Scott.

The firm's Private Equity Buyouts Group was noted for its "outstanding middle market credentials."  Co-chairs Stephen Cohen and Brian Lenihan were recommended, as well as Christian Atwood and T.J. Murphy. 

Choate's Venture Capital and Emerging Companies practice was recognized for "a fine presence in the growth equity segment for emerging companies that are in the later stage of their development" and "the firm is equally well-known for middle market private equity, but it has a healthy client list of major venture funds."  Choate lawyers Brian Lenihan and Stephen Cohen were called "leading figures."

Choate's Corporate Restructuring practice is known for its "competent and responsive team," with chair Douglas Gooding and Lyman Bullard receiving recommendations.

The firm's Life Sciences practice was noted for "a strong emphasis on start-ups" and "specializing in smaller scale M&A and investments."  The group's three co-chairs William Asher, Brenda Jarrell and Gerald Quirk were recommended, while Eric Marandett "is highly regarded by peers."

Choate's Litigation/Trade Secrets "niche practice focuses on advising clients in the life sciences arena on both company-to-company and employee-mobility trade secret cases."  Practice co-chair Michael Bunis was recommended. 

The Legal 500 noted that the firm's Domestic Tax/East Coast "team has a good standing in the market representing clients in the US and internationally" and that "the firm works across a range of industry sectors with particular strength in the technology arena."  Co-chairs Steven Eichel and Louis Marett were recommended.

The Legal 500 guides review the strengths and strategies of law firms, providing research and law firm rankings to enable clients to identify the best law firm for the job.  Research includes in-depth interviews with law firm clients and lawyers across the country.  Inclusion in The Legal 500 is based solely on merit and the series is widely regarded as offering the definitive judgment of law firm capabilities.

Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP, one of the nation's leading law firms, is consistently recognized for excellence by Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, The Legal 500, World's Leading Lawyers, International Who's Who of Lawyers and PLC Which Lawyer.  With all of its lawyers under one roof, Choate focuses on a core group of areas where it represents clients across the United States and internationally and provides exceptional efficiency, service and value.  Choate's areas of focus include insurance/reinsurance, high-stakes litigation, corporate/M&A, venture capital, private equity, intellectual property, life sciences, finance & restructuring, tax, government enforcement & compliance, and wealth management.

SOURCE Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP