Brett L Messinger

Peter F. Vaira serves as Special Counsel to Weir LLP in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Over the course of more than 50 years in practice, Mr. Vaira has represented clients in complex criminal defense , white-collar matters, civil litigation , and alternative dispute resolution proceedings in state and federal courts. His practice includes white-collar criminal defense, internal and parallel investigations, antitrust matters, corporate crisis management, and complex commercial disputes. In additi...

A. Michael Pratt is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. A. Michael, who practices law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which A. Michael is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Christopher McLoon advises clients in structuring business transactions to achieve optimal business and tax results. He strives to clearly and simply communicate solutions to complex issues, sensitive to the fact that few love tax law and policy as much as he does. And he does love tax law and policy. After earning his JD, he earned an LL.M in tax law from New York University School of Law. He also earned awards and assignments from the ABA Tax Section, including a John S. Nolan Fellowship, t...

Gerhard has more than 30 years of courtroom experience. Today, his practice is focused on the defense of product liability and other complex litigation matters, including mass torts and class actions. He represents manufacturers of appliances, HVAC equipment, roofing materials, truck-trailers, tires, and other products. He also has represented corporate clients in business disputes, commercial and employment litigation, CERCLA actions, and insurance coverage cases. He tried his first case to ...

Matthew H. Kamens joined the firm’s Philadelphia office in April 2009 as senior counsel in the Business Law Department. A member of the Private Client Services Group, Matthew concentrates his practice in trusts, estate and business planning matters, as well as complex estate administration. Matthew has significant knowledge of life insurance and its structuring in estate planning contexts and also serves as a trustee of a number of significant trusts holding liquid and nonliquid assets ...

Paul A. Lauricella is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Paul A., who practices law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Paul A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Shelley R. Smith is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Shelley R., who practices law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Shelley R. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Robert L. Pratter is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Robert L., who practices law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robert L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Rick E. Grimaldi is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Rick E., who practices law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Rick E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Shanin Specter has obtained more than 300 jury verdicts or settlements in excess of $1 million and more than 75 case resolutions — of which 17 were verdicts — greater than $10 million. Among his verdicts are $153 million against a major automaker and $109 million against an electric power company. Specter's legal victories have included news-making, industry-changing cases involving medical malpractice, defective products, medical devices, premises liability, motor vehicle acciden...