WolfBlock
Encyclopedia
WolfBlock LLP was a large U.S.
law firm
and lobbying
group based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. The National Law Journal ranked WolfBlock the 149th largest firm in the United States, and the 10th largest in Philadelphia, by number of attorneys. The firm was best known for its lobbying and government relations practice, as well as for being one of the oldest law firms in Philadelphia.
and Morris Wolf. Stern would go on to work for the United States Department of War
and would go on to serve as Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. One of the firm's first major clients was the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company, one of the predecessors of SEPTA. The firm gradually expanded, and after World War II
, acquired several smaller firms, becoming a sizable regional firm.
In 2002 the firm established a lobbying subsidiary
, WolfBlock Government Relations L.P.
, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
. The subsidiary was expanded into Washington D.C. the following year.
-based law firm of Akerman Senterfitt
, which would have created a single 800-lawyer firm. But on 7 August 2008, the two firms released a joint statement explaining that the merger had been put on hold due to “a client conflict
that cannot be discussed publicly”.
with Wachovia
. In a press release, the firm announced:
& securities law, health law
, labor & employment
, employee benefits, family law
, real estate
& land use
, environmental law, structured finance
, bankruptcy
and creditors' rights, tax law
, estate planning
, energy law
, intellectual property
, and construction law
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
law firm
Law firm
A law firm is a business entity formed by one or more lawyers to engage in the practice of law. The primary service rendered by a law firm is to advise clients about their legal rights and responsibilities, and to represent clients in civil or criminal cases, business transactions, and other...
and lobbying
Lobbying
Lobbying is the act of attempting to influence decisions made by officials in the government, most often legislators or members of regulatory agencies. Lobbying is done by various people or groups, from private-sector individuals or corporations, fellow legislators or government officials, or...
group based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The National Law Journal ranked WolfBlock the 149th largest firm in the United States, and the 10th largest in Philadelphia, by number of attorneys. The firm was best known for its lobbying and government relations practice, as well as for being one of the oldest law firms in Philadelphia.
History
WolfBlock was founded in 1903 by Horace SternHorace Stern
Horace Stern was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1 November 1952 to 29 December 1956. He was elevated to the Chief Justice position after serving on the Court from 6 January 1936....
and Morris Wolf. Stern would go on to work for the United States Department of War
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
and would go on to serve as Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. One of the firm's first major clients was the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company, one of the predecessors of SEPTA. The firm gradually expanded, and after World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, acquired several smaller firms, becoming a sizable regional firm.
In 2002 the firm established a lobbying subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
, WolfBlock Government Relations L.P.
Limited partnership
A limited partnership is a form of partnership similar to a general partnership, except that in addition to one or more general partners , there are one or more limited partners . It is a partnership in which only one partner is required to be a general partner.The GPs are, in all major respects,...
, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 49,528, making it the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania...
. The subsidiary was expanded into Washington D.C. the following year.
Failed merger attempt
WolfBlock's management had planned a merger with the 500+ lawyer Miami, FloridaMiami, Florida
Miami is a city located on the Atlantic coast in southeastern Florida and the county seat of Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the eighth-most populous county in the United States with a population of 2,500,625...
-based law firm of Akerman Senterfitt
Akerman Senterfitt
Akerman Senterfitt is a large law firm, BigLaw, based in Miami, Florida. It was founded in 1920 and has grown to become one of the largest in the United States. In 2008, the National Law Journal ranked the firm as 92nd largest in the U.S. by number of attorneys, and the second-largest...
, which would have created a single 800-lawyer firm. But on 7 August 2008, the two firms released a joint statement explaining that the merger had been put on hold due to “a client conflict
Conflict of interest
A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or organization is involved in multiple interests, one of which could possibly corrupt the motivation for an act in the other....
that cannot be discussed publicly”.
Dissolution
On March 23, 2009, the firm's partners voted for an orderly unwinding and dissolution of the firm, due in part to difficulties the firm was having in continuing its line of creditLine of credit
A line of credit is any credit source extended to a government, business or individual by a bank or other financial institution. A line of credit may take several forms, such as overdraft protection, demand loan, special purpose, export packing credit, term loan, discounting, purchase of...
with Wachovia
Wachovia
Wachovia was a diversified financial services company based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Before its acquisition by Wells Fargo in 2008, Wachovia was the fourth-largest bank holding company in the United States based on total assets...
. In a press release, the firm announced:
WolfBlock will remain in the practice of law for several months to protect the interests of its clients, employees and creditors. The decision to unwind was reached in view of a confluence of unfavorable factors: the economic recession, especially in the firm's core real estate practice; the constriction of credit occasioned by the ongoing banking crisis; and the intended and anticipated departure of significant partners and practices.
Practice areas
In addition to its lobbying practice, the firm had practice groups in corporateCorporate law
Corporate law is the study of how shareholders, directors, employees, creditors, and other stakeholders such as consumers, the community and the environment interact with one another. Corporate law is a part of a broader companies law...
& securities law, health law
Health law
Health Law is the federal, state, and local law, rules, regulations and other jurisprudence affecting the health care industry and their application to health care patients, providers and payors, and vendors to the health care industry, including without limitation the relationships among...
, labor & employment
United States labor law
United States labor law is a heterogeneous collection of state and federal laws. Federal law not only sets the standards that govern workers' rights to organize in the private sector, but also overrides most state and local laws that attempt to regulate this area. Federal law also provides more...
, employee benefits, family law
Family law
Family law is an area of the law that deals with family-related issues and domestic relations including:*the nature of marriage, civil unions, and domestic partnerships;...
, real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
& land use
Land use
Land use is the human use of land. Land use involves the management and modification of natural environment or wilderness into built environment such as fields, pastures, and settlements. It has also been defined as "the arrangements, activities and inputs people undertake in a certain land cover...
, environmental law, structured finance
Structured finance
Structured finance is a broad term used to describe a sector of finance that was created to help transfer risk and avoid lawsStructured finance is a broad term used to describe a sector of finance that was created to help transfer risk and avoid laws...
, bankruptcy
Bankruptcy in the United States
Bankruptcy in the United States is governed under the United States Constitution which authorizes Congress to enact "uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States." Congress has exercised this authority several times since 1801, most recently by adopting the Bankruptcy...
and creditors' rights, tax law
Tax law
Tax law is the codified system of laws that describes government levies on economic transactions, commonly called taxes.-Major issues:Primary taxation issues facing the governments world over include;* taxes on income and wealth...
, estate planning
Estate planning
Estate planning is the process of anticipating and arranging for the disposal of an estate. Estate planning typically attempts to eliminate uncertainties over the administration of a probate and maximize the value of the estate by reducing taxes and other expenses...
, energy law
Energy law
Energy laws govern the use and taxation of energy, both renewable and non-renewable. These laws are the primary authorities related to energy...
, intellectual property
Intellectual property
Intellectual property is a term referring to a number of distinct types of creations of the mind for which a set of exclusive rights are recognized—and the corresponding fields of law...
, and construction law
Construction law
Construction law is a body of law that deals with matters relating to building construction and related fields. It covers a wide range of legal issues including contract law, bonds and bonding, guarantees and sureties, liens and other security interests, tendering, construction claims, and related...
.
Notable lawyers and alumni
- William J. Green, IIIWilliam J. Green, IIIWilliam Joseph Green, III is a former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania. Green also served as the 94th Mayor of Philadelphia.-Youth:...
, former CongressmanUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and mayor of Philadelphia - Ramon L. PoselRamon L. PoselRamon L. Posel, art-cinema proponent and real estate developer, born August 1928 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; died June 23, 2005, in New York City, from pancreatic cancer.-Background:...
, real estate developer and art filmArt filmAn art film is the result of filmmaking which is typically a serious, independent film aimed at a niche market rather than a mass market audience...
promoter. - Howard GittisHoward GittisHoward Gittis was an American attorney known for being a longtime adviser to Ronald Perelman and an adviser to Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo.- Biography :...
, personal attorney for billionaire Ronald PerelmanRonald PerelmanRonald Owen Perelman is an American business magnate. Through his company MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings Inc., he has invested in various companies in grocery, cigar, licorice, makeup, car, photography, television, camping, security, lottery, jewelry, banks, and comic book industries.-Early... - Michael F. GerberMichael F. GerberMichael F. "Mike" Gerber is Democratic member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, representing the 148th Legislative District since 2005...
, member of the Pennsylvania House of RepresentativesPennsylvania House of RepresentativesThe Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two year terms from single member districts....
for Pennsylvania's 148th Legislative District, was an associate in the firm's Philadelphia office. - Faith Ryan Whittlesey, Ambassador to Switzerland and Assistant to President Ronald ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
for Public Liaison
Offices
- Boston, MA
- Cherry Hill, NJ
- Harrisburg, PA
- New York, NYNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
- Norristown, PA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Roseland, NJ
- Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
Office for lobbying/government relations affiliate - Wilmington, DE
External links
- Homepage
- WolfBlock Government Relations homepage
- LawPeriscope profile
- Vault.com profile
- ChambersUSA profile
- Profile from LexisNexis Martindale-HubbellLexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell-History:The 140-year history of Martindale-Hubbell begins with two separate publications:The Martindale DirectoryThe Martindale Directory was first published in 1868 by James B. Martindale, a lawyer and businessman...