Hirschler Fleischer Earns Recognition in Prestigious Chambers Legal Guide

05.31.2016

Hirschler Fleischer is pleased to announce that three of its practice areas and 11 of the firm’s lawyers are ranked among the best in Virginia in the 2016 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. For the 12th consecutive year, Hirschler Fleischer’s Real Estate practice group received a Band 1 ranking, the highest awarded by the legal guide. The firm’s Bankruptcy/Restructuring and Corporate/M&A practice groups were also named among leading practices in the Commonwealth. Chambers USA is a highly regarded legal directory, featuring client-led intelligence on America’s leading lawyers for business.

“Continued distinction in Chambers reflects our commitment to providing excellent client service, and practical and cost-effective legal advice,” said James L. Weinberg, president of Hirschler Fleischer. “Inclusion on this prestigious list is a great honor, and we are grateful to our clients for taking the time to share positive feedback with the Chambers research team. Client satisfaction and support is the most important recognition we can receive.”

Three Hirschler Fleischer attorneys received Chambers USA’s highest ranking in their respective practice areas:

• Stephen E. Leach, Bankruptcy/Restructuring
• Michael H. Terry, Real Estate
• James W. Theobald, Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use

Seven additional attorneys were recognized as leaders in their fields:

• S. Brian Farmer, Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions
• Lawrence A. Katz, Bankruptcy/Restructuring
• Charles H. Rothenberg, Real Estate and Real Estate: Zoning/Land Use
• Wayne G. Travell, Litigation: General Commercial
• Robert S. Westermann, Bankruptcy/Restructuring
• Charles F. Witthoefft, Litigation: General Commercial
• M. Jay Yurow, Real Estate

Additionally, Lisa J. Hedrick was named as an “Up and Coming” lawyer in Corporate/Mergers and Acquisitions.

In Chambers’ editorial comments on the firm, Hirschler Fleischer’s Real Estate practice is noted as a “preeminent real estate outfit offering strength in development, transactional and land use and zoning matters” and is recognized for its high level of activity in “significant developments regionally.” Clients interviewed by Chambers said that the attorneys “produce great results” and have a “deep bench of personnel.”

Individually, Terry is stated as a “fantastic practitioner” and Theobald is considered a “leading attorney in central Virginia for zoning and land use matters.” Rothenberg is noted for “his expertise in regards to the leasing, construction and acquisition of medical offices across the region.” Yurow is stated as “simply outstanding” with “tremendous experience” in commercial real estate transactions.

Hirschler Fleischer’s Bankruptcy/Restructuring practice is known for being a “newly expanded practice that is noted for its creditors’ rights expertise, as well as its representation of debtors.” Clients said the attorneys are “practical” and “don’t try to overcomplicate things.”

Feedback from Westermann’s clients and peers praised him for his experience handling a range of bankruptcy matters, with one client stating “he knows his area of the law very well.” Leach is noted by Chambers as an “experienced practitioner who handles the full spectrum of bankruptcy and creditor’s rights matters.” Katz is recognized by his peers who “praise his negotiation and advocacy skills” saying that he “doesn’t let his emotions get involved in the case and he can stay calm, and come up with a practical solution instead of declaring war.”

Chambers describes the Corporate/M&A practice group as a “broad middle-market focused corporate practice that comes recommended for its M&A and investment management strengths, acting for a range of institutional investors” and praises the group for maintaining a “strong reputation for its work in the energy and infrastructure arena, handling financing, project development and M&A.” Clients told Chambers that the attorneys are “very pragmatic, sensitive to fees and open to creative fee structures, and the quality of their work has been exceptional” and that the “performance was excellent – they staffed the work well, they were responsive and efficient, and when it came to more technical legal questions, their counsel was well researched and sound.”

Individually, Chambers states that Farmer “possesses a strong and highly regarded investment management practice with noted expertise in fund work.” Sources told Chambers that he is a “very pragmatic, business-oriented lawyer” and “displays good judgement, proactively thinks about what we need commercially and really takes ownership in order to do the best job for us.” Hedrick, a new partner, is noted by clients as “responsive and has an uncanny knack to intuit the problems we are facing and the solutions we are looking for” and clients stated “we felt comfortable and confident.”

Firm litigators Wayne Travell and Rick Witthoefft were also named “leaders in the law.” Chambers recognizes Travell as an “experienced trial lawyer who acts on high profile business and commercial litigation” and states that Witthoefft “wins high praise for the breadth of his commercial practice and his extensive experience in litigation, mediation and arbitration.”