[MSN] Fox Rothschild Adds New Faces to Three Groups

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Fox Rothschild Adds New Faces to Three Groups
Gina Passarella
The Legal Intelligencer
May 5, 2006

 
 
Fox Rothschild has been bulking up over the last couple of months, with
additions to its white-collar litigation, bankruptcy and immigration groups.


About a month ago, the Philadelphia-based firm brought on Robert E. Goldman,
former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District. 

Not only will Goldman handle white-collar litigation at the firm but he will
start its art law practice. 

Over the last 15 years, Goldman has helped in the recovery of more than $150
million worth of stolen art and was appointed in 2005 as a special trial
attorney with the FBI's national art crime team. 

He said he would often have the potential for recovery of stolen art but had
restrictions under criminal law. Civil law, he said, will give him the
opportunity to better assist his clients, which include artists, collectors,
museums and various countries. 

As far as plans for Fox Rothschild are concerned, Goldman said he "would
like to have a one-stop shop" for his clients. He said many of them also
need legal services in the areas of intellectual property, estate and tax
issues. 

Goldman said he developed a reputation in the field during his time of
public service and he hopes that carries over into private practice. 

"People are looking for people who, simply stated, get it," he said, adding
that Fox Rothschild understands the need for the practice. 

Goldman said the logical next step would be to add people to the group to
assist him. 

Other than his stolen-art practice, Goldman represents individuals and
companies with investigations, prosecution and compliance programs. 

In addition to Goldman, Fox Rothschild brought on another former Assistant
U.S. Attorney to join its white-collar practice in Wilmington, Del. 

Ferris W. Wharton joined the group during mid-April and will practice in the
litigation department. He previously had been with the Delaware Department
of Justice since 1980 before becoming an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the
District of Delaware in 2003. 

Wharton is a current candidate for Delaware's attorney general, according to
firm managing partner Scott Vernick. 

Wharton was involved in the prosecution of Thomas Capano, who was found
guilty of murdering the secretary of former Delaware Gov. Thomas Carper. 

Fox Rothschild began its white-collar group in January with the addition of
solo practitioner Patrick J. Egan. 

"They've brought in a string of people with a good presence," Sandra Mannix
of Abelson Legal Search said. "Certainly in Philadelphia white collar makes
an awful lot of sense." 

Frank D'Amore of Attorney Career Catalysts said that white collar continues
to be a strong and growing area. 

Adding to another busy practice area, the firm brought in Edward J. DiDonato
to its bankruptcy group. He was most recently at his own firm, DiDonato &
Winterhalter. 

"The firm came to an end because I decided I needed a change," he said. "I
really got tired of sending out other types of work to people." 

DiDonato's practice is debtor oriented. He has represented panel trustees,
Chapter 11 trustees and examiners, and has been appointed as a bonded
Chapter 11 trustee and federal receiver. 

He said it is a good fit because several of the other bankruptcy attorneys
at the firm do similar work, so his work will not be conflicted out. 

DiDonato said it was a good time to move from a small firm -- his had three
lawyers when he left -- to a larger firm. 

He brought to Fox Rothschild all of his existing Chapter 11 work and a
"stable" of bank trustees. 

The firm also added immigration attorney Min S. Suh early last month from
Reed Smith. She is part of the firm's labor and employment group and will
focus on business immigration law. 

Suh has experience managing immigration matters, including training
employers on immigration-related topics such as employment verification
compliance, employment discrimination, hiring practices and employment
policies. She has also developed management strategies and performed due
diligence to assess possible penalties and minimize deficiencies before and
after mergers and acquisitions. 

Mannix said it makes more sense now in Philadelphia than it did five years
ago to have an employment and immigration attorney because technology
companies that want to bring in professionals from other countries will need
the services. 

Vernick said all of the additions are consistent with the firm's efforts to
build the Philadelphia office. 

"I think if you look for the right opportunities, you can still build in
this marketplace," he said. 

Vernick said the firm is very comfortable in the midmarket range right now
because it doesn't face the challenge of being relevant to the client. 

The firm doesn't have to worry about the stress of being a megafirm and
charging high rates or the concerns of being a smaller firm, he said. 

"We feel very well positioned where we are," he said.

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