Marcel S. Pratt is the Managing Partner of the firm's Philadelphia office. Marcel has successfully represented large organizations and individuals through their most complex litigation and legal challenges—whether arguing landmark cases in federal and state appellate courts, litigating nationwide antitrust and product liability class actions, or conducting internal investigations following a public crisis. Marcel previously served as the City Solicitor of Philadelphia—the City’s chief legal officer and head of the 330-person Law Department, which represented the Mayor, City Council, and municipal government in all litigation, transactional, regulatory, real estate, and legislative matters.
Marcel represents clients in high-stakes litigation and sensitive investigations. He has litigated class actions seeking multibillion-dollar damages, including antitrust (monopolization, price-fixing, and unfair competition), product liability (mass and toxic tort; defective products), and consumer protection claims (false advertising and marketing). He has represented clients in numerous complex commercial disputes, including prosecuting and defending high-exposure breach-of-contract claims and obtaining emergency injunctions to prevent the misappropriation of highly valuable trade secrets. He has conducted comprehensive investigations for corporations, academic institutions, and government entities regarding antidiscrimination, civil rights, ethics, and compliance issues. Marcel also leads the firm’s Crisis Management Team and advises clients on public policy.
Services
Experience
Representative Matters
Commercial Disputes
- Representing a lender that issued $7.1 billion in Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans in a nationwide breach-of-contract class-action regarding the disbursement of PPP loans
- Representing a college in a breach-of-contract class-action alleging that it breached an implied contract to provide on-campus instruction by moving to remote instruction at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic
- Brought trade secret and conversion claims against the former employee of a life sciences company for misappropriating trade secrets and confidential information
Professional Highlights
Board Memberships & Community Service
The William Penn Foundation
United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey
Project HOME
The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia
Professional Activities
Philadelphia Bar Association: Past Chair, Business Law Section; Past Co-Chair Business Litigation Committee; Past member, Large Firm Management Committee
National Bar Association, Deputy Regional Director for Region III (PA, NJ, DE) (past)
Barristers Association of Philadelphia, Executive Board (past)
Recognition & Accomplishments
Featured on City & State Pennsylvania's Law Power 100 List (2022, 2023), Black Trailblazers List (2024)
Leaders and Legends, Black History Month Exhibit, Smith Memorial Playground (2022)
The Best Lawyers in America, Government Relations Practice (Philadelphia), 2024
Attorney of the Year Finalist, The Legal Intelligencer Professional Excellence Award (2021)
Barristers Association of Philadelphia, William F. Hall Award (2021)
Speaking Engagements
The Ultimate Job Interview: Pa. Attorney General Candidates (Interviewer), Philadelphia Citizen & 6ABC, March 25, 2024
"Defamation & Slander: Ethical Considerations around Trial Publicity," PBI CLE, March 12, 2024
Recent Issues in Antitrust, Elevating Black Excellence Regional Summit, Black In-House Counsel Network, October 21, 2021
Credentials
Education
Temple University James E. Beasley School of Law, (J.D. 2009)
Member, Temple Law Review
University of Pennsylvania (B.A. Economics, 2006)
Member, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
Admissions
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania