Department profile
Duane Morris LLP

Litigation: General Commercial

USA Guide 2026 : Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds


Duane Morris LLP

Rankings

About

Provided by Duane Morris LLP

Commercial Litigation

Duane Morris boasts several hundred trial lawyers across its entire global footprint. We are highly-sought after for complex, bet-the-company, and large exposure cases requiring deep understanding of a client’s industry and specific business objectives. We work hand in hand with our clients to fully evaluate appropriate strategies and tactics, balanced against each client’s priorities and strategic imperatives.

Securities Litigation

Corporations, board members and management rely on Duane Morris to represent them in high-stakes class, derivative and direct actions in federal and state courts around the country involving claims under federal securities laws as well as under state fiduciary-duty, blue sky and common law.

Appellate

Our appellate lawyers have extensive experience in preserving our clients’ trial court wins and reversing their losses.

Trade Secret and Non-Compete

Our Trade Secrets and Non-Compete Group draws on experience from a range of legal areas—commercial litigation, employment law, intellectual property, cybersecurity and privacy law, and white-collar defense and corporate investigations—to help companies navigate these multifaceted issues across the U.S. and around the world.

Product Liability

Clients ranging from some of the world's largest manufacturers and insurance companies to burgeoning startups turn to Duane Morris for counsel and representation in claims involving products liability and toxic torts.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Litigation: General Commercial - Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds

Band 3

Band 3


What the Team is Known For

Duane Morris's Philadelphia office offers a broad litigation team with extensive experience representing clients in class actions before state and federal courts. The firm is noted for its strengths across IP, product liability and antitrust disputes. It is also adept at advising on franchise litigation. The team is particularly recognized for its representation of clients in the life sciences, technology and financial sectors.

Work Highlights

Provided by Chambers

  • Duane Morris successfully represented Apotheco Pharmacy in a dispute with Express Scripts concerning termination of certain of Apotheco's pharmacies from the ESI network.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The Duane Morris team is extraordinarily thorough and extraordinarily responsive.

    Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
  • Their attorneys are exceptionally bright, well organized and strategic in their thinking. They have great courtroom presence and are aggressive when warranted.

    Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
  • They are able to quickly understand, digest and make cogent and persuasive arguments to the court.

    Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
  • Rather than waiting for us to ask, the team provides timely insights on evolving issues.

    Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
  • Duane Morris emphasizes strategic litigation planning to minimize risk, disruption and costs.

    Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Eminent PractitionersMatthew A Taylor
    Eminent PractitionersMatthew A Taylor

    Matthew A Taylor

    Chair and CEO of the firm Matthew Taylor is a highly skilled litigator and has experience in working on commercial disputes both at the federal and state level.
    • Matthew Taylor provides incredible client service, always delivered with a smile and quick thinking.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • Matthew Taylor is a brilliant litigator. He is an energetic lawyer who is easy to work with.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
  • Band 1Robert L Byer
    Band 1Robert L Byer

    Robert L Byer

    Robert Byer accrues notable market recognition for his active appellate litigation practice.
    • His ability to synthesize complex issues into short, concise arguments, and his natural talents for the back and forth of an appellate proceeding are nothing short of amazing.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • Robert Byer is always willing to discuss matters, and I am always very impressed with his written work.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • Rob is a very responsive and knowledgeable attorney.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
  • Band 1Robert Palumbos
    Band 1Robert Palumbos

    Robert Palumbos

    Robert Palumbos is chair of the appellate division of Duane Morris's trial group. He regularly represents clients in federal and state circuit courts of appeals.

    • Robert Palumbos does a great job of articulating complex things in a simple manner.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • He knows where the weaknesses in arguments are and he prepares his clients for them.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • Robert Palumbos is incredibly bright, responsive and relatable. He's a go-to on most legal issues.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • Rob is a renowned appellate lawyer and a consummate professional.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • Robert Palumbos is in the upper echelon of appellate lawyers. He is very intellectual and he has a complex practice.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
  • Band 2Sharon Caffrey
    Band 2Sharon Caffrey

    Sharon Caffrey

    Sharon Caffrey has a respected practice as a product liability lawyer, often representing automotive and medical device manufacturers, among others.

    • Sharon is an excellent lawyer and all-round professional.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • Sharon stands out for her mastery of the technicalities and for her ability to get things done.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
    • Sharon Caffrey is a litigation powerhouse with immense courtroom experience. She is a lawyer you choose for bet-the-company litigation.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA
  • Band 3Kevin Allen
    Band 3Kevin Allen

    Kevin Allen

    Kevin Allen is managing partner of the firm's Pittsburgh office. He demonstrates impressive expertise in commercial litigation, representing clients across a range of sectors including IP and energy.
  • Band 3Lawrence Pockers
    Band 3Lawrence Pockers

    Lawrence Pockers

    Lawrence Pockers is active in disputes surrounding breach of contract, trade secrets and noncompetes. He is also noted for his experience in unfair competition litigation.
    • Lawrence has a great way with clients from a business perspective. It is very easy to bring him in front of senior stakeholders.

      Litigation: General Commercial respondentUSA

Ranked Individuals at Duane Morris LLP (6)

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania: Philadelphia & Surrounds

Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh & Surrounds

Members

Provided by Duane Morris LLP

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