Duane Morris Names New Leaders of Corporate Practice Group and Baltimore Office

PHILADELPHIA, CHICAGO and BALTIMORE, April 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- International law firm Duane Morris LLP has named Brian P. Kerwin Chair of the firm's Corporate Practice Group, and Robert B. Hopkins Managing Partner of the firm's Baltimore office.

Kerwin, who was among the founders of the Duane Morris Chicago office in 1999, will lead the firm's global corporate practice group from that office.

Hopkins, who joined Duane Morris as a partner in 2008, is a member of the firm's Trial Practice Group, focusing on transportation, maritime law, products liability and commercial litigation. The Baltimore office serves clients in the Washington, D.C.–Maryland corridor, as well as nationally and internationally.

BRIAN KERWIN, CORPORATE PRACTICE GROUP CHAIR

"Brian is already a known leader in the firm, having served as vice-chair of our Corporate Practice Group," said John J. Soroko, Chairman and CEO of Duane Morris. "He is viewed by his partners as an extraordinarily gifted lawyer and leader and will utilize his vision, skills, personality and energy to guide our active and broad-based Corporate Practice Group as its chair," Soroko said.

Kerwin has served as a partner in Duane Morris' Corporate and Finance groups, and as a member of the firm's national governing Partners Board and the Management Committee of the Chicago office. He has extensive experience representing business entities, lenders, private equity funds and entrepreneurs in business and financing transactions, including the buying and selling of companies, acquisition financings, capital raises, syndicated secured loan transactions, and private equity transactions. His clients include nationally recognized private equity funds, banks and other institutional lenders.

"I have been excited about practicing law at Duane Morris for 15 years," said Kerwin. "We have a tremendous group of transactional lawyers, and are on a trajectory for continued growth."

Kerwin was selected for inclusion in the Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business directory (Banking & Finance or Corporate/M&A: Private Equity) in 2006 through 2014, and has received many other honors.

Kerwin earned his B.A. from the University of Michigan, magna cum laude, with honors in history, and received his law degree, with honors, from the George Washington University National Law Center, where he was a member of the Law Review. He also received a Master's of Intellectual Property Law from The John Marshall Law School in Chicago.

ROB HOPKINS, BALTIMORE MANAGING PARTNER

"Rob Hopkins is a terrific lawyer who has always demonstrated great legal acumen and leadership skills in his practice," said Soroko. "I'm delighted that he will now be leading our Baltimore office."

Hopkins has represented clients in numerous federal and state courts and in administrative proceedings before such federal agencies as the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), U.S. Coast Guard and National Transportation Safety Board. He has also counseled clients in large-scale product recalls and reporting obligations under the laws enforced by the CPSC.

"It is a privilege to lead our Baltimore office," said Hopkins. "We have a wonderful team in Baltimore, with great lawyers across many critical legal specialties."

Hopkins has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America, Maritime Law Category and received many other honors. He is a lifelong Baltimore resident and graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law and Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.

About Duane Morris
Duane Morris LLP, a law firm with more than 700 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally, is asked by a broad array of clients to provide innovative solutions to today's legal and business challenges.

SOURCE Duane Morris LLP

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