New York, NY – February 21, 2013Pepper Hamilton LLP announced that Larry Byrne and Ruth Harlow have joined the firm’s White Collar Litigation & Investigations Practice Group as partners in the New York office. Byrne and Harlow were formerly with Linklaters.

This is the latest in a series of moves that expands the firm’s already substantial corporate investigations, white collar advocacy and enforcement practice in key markets. In September 2012, Pepper was joined by the attorneys of Freeh Sporkin & Sullivan, LLP, and the firm acquired the international risk management firm Freeh Group International Solutions, LLC, both founded by former FBI Director Louis J. Freeh. In addition to becoming a partner at Pepper, Byrne will also become a managing director at Freeh Group International Solutions.

“I have known Larry for many years and worked closely with him when he served as a federal prosecutor,” said Freeh, who was recently named chair of Pepper’s Executive Committee. “He and Ruth are outstanding additions to Pepper.”

Byrne has extensive experience representing clients involved in all types of government and internal investigations, as well as related trial and appellate matters. He has particular experience in antitrust, securities, class action defense, commercial, bankruptcy and First Amendment and media litigation.

Byrne served as a federal criminal prosecutor from 1988 to 1994. During this time, he served with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York and the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

Prior to joining Pepper, Byrne was a partner in the New York office of Linklaters, where he served as the head of the U.S. litigation practice, co-managing partner of the New York office and co-head of the global U.S. practice.

“Larry is a highly regarded litigator whose reputation and practice are particularly strong in New York and the financial industry, both strategic growth areas for the firm and our white collar practice,” said Scott Green, chief executive officer of Pepper Hamilton. “We are thrilled that he has chosen Pepper as the platform from which to continue and expand his practice.”

Byrne said he was not only pleased to be reunited with Judge Freeh, but also excited to be an integral part of Pepper’s growth strategy. “Pepper Hamilton and Freeh Group International Solutions have outstanding practices in the white collar litigation and investigations area,” said Byrne. “I’m looking forward to working with these highly talented colleagues.”

Harlow has worked with Byrne for nearly 10 years and has a broad practice in regulatory investigations and complex commercial litigation, including federal and state securities law actions, bankruptcy court adversary proceedings, antitrust actions, fraud and breach of fiduciary duty cases, trade secret litigation, and contract matters. She is experienced in class action litigation, and with matters involving sophisticated financial transactions and other complex factual contexts.

Harlow has acted for both plaintiff and defendant financial institutions in many disputes that arose out of the credit crisis. She also has extensive experience in U.S. Supreme Court litigation involving high-impact First Amendment, equal protection and other constitutional cases.

Byrne and Harlow are joined by four additional colleagues from Linklaters, including senior attorneys Martin S. Bloor and Linda Regis-Hallinan who are now of counsel in Pepper’s white collar practice in New York.

Byrne received his B.A. from Hofstra University in 1981 and earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law in 1984.

Harlow received her A.B. from Stanford University in 1983 and earned her J.D. from Yale Law School in 1986.

About Pepper Hamilton

Pepper Hamilton LLP is a multi-practice law firm with more than 500 lawyers nationally. The firm provides corporate, litigation and regulatory legal services to leading businesses, governmental entities, nonprofit organizations and individuals throughout the nation and the world. The firm was founded in 1890.

POSTED BY LAWDRAGON NEWS