Riker Danzig LLP

Co-Chairs: Kelly S Crawford, Brian E O’Donnell

Managing Partner: Michael P. O'Mullan

Number of partners: 46

Number of other attorneys: 85

Firm Overview:  

Riker Danzig LLP is proud to have served the business community for over 140 years. Riker Danzig has earned a national reputation as the firm to go to in New Jersey for practical, innovative and cost-effective legal solutions. The reputation of the firm and its lawyers provides inherent credibility in the capital markets, courts and government hallways.

Main Areas of Practice:

Litigation:  

Riker Danzig’s seasoned trial and appellate attorneys, numbering over 100 strong, have earned the firm a national reputation as zealous courtroom advocates. The group litigates complex civil cases, and is a leader in banking, securities arbitrations, fraud claims and class actions, insurance, reinsurance (national and international), product liability, construction and intellectual property litigation. Its litigators appear regularly in federal and state courts, as well as before federal, state and administrative agencies.

Governmental Affairs: 

Riker Danzig has earned an international reputation for its work in governmental affairs. The Trenton office serves as the center of our New Jersey governmental affairs practice. The firm assists clients in legislative matters, as well as in the complexities of dealing with administrative agencies, and works daily with members of the New Jersey Legislature and the Executive branch. Because of that relationship and the firm’s own extensive first-hand experience in government, it can realistically apprise clients of the prospects of obtaining their objectives, and can offer imaginative and workable solutions to a variety of their problems.

Employment:  

The employment law attorneys at Riker Danzig counsel clients on the full range of issues, including employee relations, wage and hour and contract issues. They also defend management in federal and state courts on all employment-related claims, including discrimination, wrongful termination, whistleblower, restrictive covenants, unfair competition and employee fidelity bonds. In addition, they conduct internal investigations.

Insurance & Reinsurance:  

Riker Danzig’s insurance and reinsurance group has provided unparalleled representation to the insurance industry for over 30 years. The firm represents its clients in a variety of insurance matters, including insurance coverage, reinsurance, bad faith litigation, insurance defense, insolvencies, intermediary and agency disputes and legislative and regulatory matters. The group appears regularly before trial and appellate courts, arbitration panels and governmental and regulatory agencies.

Environmental:  

In a state noted for its strict and pace-setting environmental legislation, Riker Danzig’s environmental group is among the largest and most diverse practices of its kind. The firm’s experienced environmental lawyers have in-depth knowledge of federal, state and local law. The group handles litigation, regulatory, permitting and counseling, and real estate development matters addressing all environmental areas, including hazardous substances, air, water and noise pollution, and solid waste.

Corporate: 

A diverse client base seeks counsel and solutions from Riker Danzig’s corporate attorneys, from start-up entrepreneurial enterprises to Fortune 500 companies. The group counsels clients on the full spectrum of corporate matters, including mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, joint ventures, corporate finance, technology licensing, international transactions, tax and regulatory matters, as well as the issues unique to non-profit and tax-exempt corporations.

Bankruptcy & Corporate Restructuring: 

Riker Danzig is unique among prominent New Jersey law firms for experience and expertise in bankruptcy litigation, corporate reorganization, real estate restructurings, non-bankruptcy insolvency proceedings and also for its practice on a national platform. The firm has earned a nationwide reputation for its representation of debtors, secured creditors, landlords, equipment lessors, indenture trustees, bondholders, private equity groups, creditors’ committees, trustees, as well as third party plan proponents (i.e. takeovers) in all aspects of litigation under the bankruptcy code.

White Collar Criminal Defense & Investigations: 

The firm represent clients in connection with criminal investigations and charges by state and federal law enforcement authorities as well as civil investigations conducted by other agencies such as the US Securities and Exchange Commission, the N.J. Department of Banking and Insurance, and the N.J. Attorney General’s Office, among others. The group also performs internal investigations for clients and provides counsel with respect to compliance issues. Riker attorneys have handled matters in numerous areas including tax, securities, healthcare, environment, arms export, public corruption, and fraud, and have substantial experience dealing with prosecutors and government regulators.

Products Liability, Toxic Tort & Mass Tort: 

Riker Danzig is recognized in New Jersey and around the country for its products liability and mass tort defense group. It serves as New Jersey counsel for many leading drug and medical device manufacturers, defending wrongful death, personal injury, fraud and consumer fraud claims related to a variety of prescription pharmaceutical products in individual and multi-plaintiff actions. Riker Danzig has been involved in some of the most significant pharmaceutical products liability decisions in New Jersey. As a result, it has extensive experience in the defense of class actions, and has successfully argued class certification issues in several state and federal courts.

Real Estate:  

Riker Danzig’s diverse real estate law practice has successfully represented the major parties in several of the most significant real estate projects in New Jersey history, and is an industry leader in land use issues and real estate transactions. Its real estate practice includes all aspects of real estate law, transactions and litigation, including substantial property acquisitions, complex sales and exchanges, sale-leasebacks and build-to-suits, commercial, retail and industrial leasing, joint-venture projects, zoning and planning, mortgage lending and financing, construction contracts, title litigation and real property tax appeals.

Energy:  

Riker Danzig provides effective advice and skillful solutions to the complex needs of clients in both traditional and developing segments of the energy industry, including public utility clients. Its Energy Practice advises clients on a broad spectrum of transactional, regulatory, legislative, project development, and litigation matters.