The Legal 500

Within Asset finance and leasing, Vedder Price is a first tier firm,

Vedder Price’s large and experienced global transportation finance group provides ‘the highest level of service’ and is a ‘professional, courteous and calming presence whenever negotiations or timelines become difficult’. Most of the work has a cross-border element, for which the team utilizes connections with local counsel in 50 countries across six continents. It acts on a wide variety of asset finance and leasing deals, predominantly in the aviation sector – where the team is ‘incredibly responsive, timely and knowledgeable’ – but also in shipping, rail and miscellaneous equipment. The firm regularly acts for banks, venture capital firms, lessors and airlines but as a result of economic conditions a larger percentage of its recent mandates have come from export credit agencies and financiers involved in workouts and restructuring. In 2010, the team advised on more than half of the over $9bn worth of aircraft financed by the US government. Other recent work includes advising Macquarie Bank on its $2bn acquisition of a 53-aircraft lease portfolio from ILFC; and representing Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC as the lead structuring agent for a lender group on a $1.5bn aircraft warehouse facility for Air Lease Corporation. Practice chair Dean Gerber and Jeff Veber are highly praised by clients.

Within Mutual/registered funds, Vedder Price is a third tier firm,

Vedder Price’s Chicago-centered fund formation team comprises ten shareholders, two counsel and eight associates, and is headed by ‘bona fide ’40 Act specialist’ David Sturms. Combined with Cathy O’Kelly’s regulatory expertise, the pair attracts a prominent array of registered funds and institutional advisers: these include Activa mutual funds, Legg Mason funds, Nuveen open and closed-end funds, Oak Associates funds, Utopia funds, INVESCO Institutional, UBS Alternative Product Group and Northern Trust Investments. It also handles broker-dealer representations for Harris Investor Services, Oberweis Securities, Wayne Hummer Investments, and Arbor Research and Trading.

Within Labor and employment litigation, tier 4

Vedder Price’s labor and employment team has continued to grow in its Chicago, New York and Washington DC offices. ‘It is incredibly responsive and represents a very real value in today’s economy. It understands the pressures facing in-house counsel and the need to bring more to the table then just sound legal advice. I can spend twenty minutes and save thousands. It has taken client satisfaction and responsiveness to a new level that I have not experienced with other firms’. ‘Our company performs better as a result of having it as part of our external legal team.’ The firm represented Tracer Research Corporation/Praxair Services in federal court litigation lasting over four years, which involved claims by a former independent contractor of breach of contract and violation of wage payment statute. The firm recently obtained complete defense jury verdict in federal court following a five-day jury trial, and continues to represent this client in post-trial motions. Chair of the labor and employment group Thomas Wilde is recommended. ‘His strengths include extensive knowledge of labor and employment law-related issues, a good understanding of our business and great interpersonal skills’. Amy Bess is also highly regarded.

Within Labor-management relations, Vedder Price is a third tier firm,

Vedder Price is ‘very responsive with a good knowledge of the legal issues surrounding union negotiations’, and compared to most firms, clients attest that it is ‘better and more cost effective’. ‘Response time is exceptional, clarity of response and relevance to question asked is also exceptional. For a larger law firm, the turnaround time and quality/thoroughness of response received without going to multiple attorneys is what sets this firm apart’. The firm has extensive experience in successfully negotiating collective bargaining agreements on behalf of management with representatives of virtually every major union in the country and offers ongoing advice to its clients during union election campaigns. Although the avoidance of needless strikes is a primary goal, the firm can also provide support when strikes do occur. The firm has been successful in obtaining injunctive relief against violent picketing and breach-of-contract strikes and is experienced in supporting pre-strike planning from a legal and practical perspective, including strike preparation manuals and supervisory training. Thomas Wilde chairs the labor and employment group. Specialist labor management relations specialists include Larry Casazza, Kenneth Sparks and Neal Korval. Lyle Zuckerman is praised for his ‘communication and negotiation tactics’. In Chicago Kevin Hennessy is ‘a stellar employee/labor relations attorney. His advice is practical, swift and thorough’. One client says ‘I’ve used other labor attorneys from other major law firms, and he is by far the most clear, direct, and prompt with his advice and guidance’.

Within Workplace and employment counseling, Vedder Price is a third tier firm,

Vedder Price counsels clients, large and small, in a variety of industry sectors – manufacturing, construction, transportation, pharmaceutical, financial services, health care, retail, food, logistics, telecommunications, insurance and publishing, to name a few. The firm is ‘excellent. We are extremely pleased with the level of service, knowledge, appropriateness of advice and value for the money’. The firm has considerable experience counseling on issues such as discrimination law, wage and hour and other federal, state and local employment regulatory matters. Bruce Alper represents a wide range of private-sector employers, including hospitals, financial institutions, manufacturers and universities, where he partners with management, corporate counsel and human resources professionals to develop strategic, cost-effective approaches to employee relations problems and risk management. Alan Koral heads the firm’s labor and employment practice in New York. He represents and counsels domestic and international corporations with respect to litigation matters, administrative hearings and investigations, as well as general employment and labor law. Jonathan Wexler counsels clients concerning labor and employment law matters, including EEO laws, restrictive covenants, trade secrets, wage and hour matters, and employee benefits issues, and has prepared personnel policies, employment agreements, and separation agreements for numerous clients. Laura Sack is ‘very smart and supportive. She understands that it can be hard to do what she advises at times, such as giving an employee a poor evaluation or a warning, and she’s very understanding and encouraging. Although she’s supportive, she’s always balanced in her approach, and doesn’t always take management’s side. She also doesn’t give “canned” advice. She’s very aware and respectful of the culture of our workplace, and tailors her advice to our organization and staff’.

Within M&A: middle-market (sub-$500m), Vedder Price is a third tier firm,

For some clients, Vedder Price’s ‘overall level of service is the best in class. It continually impresses with its ability to assist clients in securing transactions on favorable terms in a practical and efficient manner, but without over-lawyering the process’. Other clients report that the attorneys ‘combine a strong understanding of the market with abundant legal acumen and broad expertise. Whether the issue of the day is negotiating strategy, tax planning, document preparation or any of the other areas of practice needed to close the sale of a business, an experienced and resourceful firm attorney is available and involved. Attorneys are extremely responsive, their counsel is invariably sound, and fees are reasonable’. The practice is known for M&A and private equity transactions for public and private companies, particularly in regulated industries such as financial institutions, health care, construction, gaming, aerospace and investment services. Recent deals have covered both the strategic and distressed side of M&A. Representative work included advising Trausch Industries and The Edgewater Funds in the sale of Trausch Industries to Anthony International, assisting Chicago Growth Partners in the acquisition of Reliance Communications, and acting for Allscripts in various matters relating to the merger with Eclipsys, the buyback of Misys stock and other related corporate matters. In Chicago, chair of the firm’s finance and transactions practice group, Michael Nemeroff is recommended. Also in Chicago, the ‘fast and thorough’ Jack Obiala ‘gives clients a competitive advantage in negotiations’. William Bettman ‘has exceptional skills and is a very good negotiator. He is able to convince opposing counsel to make critical changes to a contract without resorting to confrontational tactics’. Guy Snyder is ‘smart, seasoned and hard working. His levelheaded and professional demeanor contributes a great deal to the tenor and progress of negotiations, his advice both well grounded in the law and creative. Snyder also delegates well, while maintaining a firm grasp on the details of the transaction. His insights and energy are critical to closing a transaction’. Associate David Borkon, now located in the New York office, is strongly commended for ‘his tremendous contribution.’ Chicago-based shareholder Lane Moyer also ‘does an excellent job’.

Within Construction (including construction litigation), tier 4

The ‘highly knowledgeable and efficient representation’ provided by Vedder Price is ‘among the best in central America’. The 19-attorney construction team works very closely with the firm’s labor and employment and real estate groups, handling both litigation and transactions out of Chicago and New York. Recent work includes acting for Scheck Industrial Corporation in the prosecution of a $51m mechanics’ lien foreclosure action and breach of contract claims relating to boiler modification work at the Duck Creek Power Plant owned by Ameren Energy Resources Generating Company in Canton, Illinois. While the firm is known for its focus on construction litigation, the lawyers also draft complex EPC contracts, encourage litigation avoidance and advise clients in the energy and manufacturing industries. Practice chair Karen Layng is a ‘highly competent litigator, ranking among the top attorneys in the construction arena’, and Richard Pearse is also recommended, for his expertise in domestic and international infrastructure development and finance.

Within Land use/zoning , Vedder Price is a second tier firm,

Vedder Price’s core land use team is in its Chicago office, and handles some multi-state mandates. A key client is Walgreens, which has instructed the firm on a number of local zoning approvals, all of which have been granted; the team has worked on 13 stores for the client, in eight different municipalities. Danielle Meltzer Cassel is highly recommended, for ‘her knowledge, competency, tact and finesse of political and governmental situations’.