Arthur Makadon, chairman of Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, LLP., has announced several key leadership changes in five of the firm's practice areas.
"The needs of our clients are always evolving, and so must our commitment to serving them," Mr. Makadon said. "Ballard is fortunate to have so many talented, well-rounded attorneys. This team brings considerable skills to the table which will help the firm continue its tradition of extraordinary service."
With the exception of changes in Ballard Spahr's Atlanta office, all of the changes take effect this week.
Beginning June 1, 2009, William H. Needle will become chair of the Intellectual Property Department and Sumner C. Rosenberg will serve as its vice chair. Mr. Needle has been focused on patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret law for almost 40 years. He teaches law at two universities and serves as a mediator and expert witness in various intellectual property issues. He is a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology and holds a law degree from Emory University School of Law.
Mr. Rosenberg's practice focuses primarily on computer software and hardware. He holds an undergraduate and master's degree in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a law degree from the University of Michigan Law School.
Starting this week, David L. Pollack assumed leadership of Ballard's growing bankruptcy practice. Mr. Pollack has more than 25 years of experience in bankruptcy, reorganization, and capital recovery. He held the #1 ranking for eight consecutive quarters in The Deal's Bankruptcy League Tables. Mr. Pollack is a graduate of Trinity College and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He is based in the firm's Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, office.
Kenneth M. Jarin was named Co-Head of Ballard's Government Relations & Regulatory Affairs Group, joining Partner John H. Estey. Mr. Jarin will engage the firm in conversation with state governments nationwide, identify opportunities for the firm's expanding Public-Private Partnership (P3) Group, and chart a course of action. Mr. Jarin will continue to oversee Ballard's public sector labor practice.
Mr. Jarin served on the National Council for the Arts, the governing board of the National Endowment of the Arts Clinton Administration. He is also the former National Finance Vice-Chairman for the Democratic National Committee and served as treasurer of the Democratic Governors' Association. Mr. Jarin is also the chairman of the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. He graduated from Duke University and earned his law degree at the Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law.
Brian Walsh and Adrian R. King, Jr., will lead Ballard's Public-Private Partnership (P3) Group. In their new roles, they will identify potential public-private opportunities for the firm and serve as government relations advisers to Ballard's 550 lawyers in 12 offices throughout the country.
Mr. King is a former deputy chief of staff for Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, where he worked on matters of homeland security. He also served as the governor's liaison to the Departments of Banking and State and to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board (PGCB). He graduated from Columbia University and the Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law.
Mr. Walsh has a wide range of experience developing and financing projects domestically and overseas. He has represented investors in the development, funding, or acquisition of power plants, research institutions, transportation systems, and universities. He is a graduate of Harvard University and holds a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center.
Neal Walters will lead the firm's Product Liability & Mass Tort Group. Mr. Walters' growing trial and litigation practice is focused on product liability and commercial disputes, including major class action cases. He earned both his undergraduate and law degrees from Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey School of Law - Newark.