PITTSBURGH, October 1, 2021—Kevin P. Allen, Daniel B. McLane and Michael P. Pest have joined as partners, and Thomas E. Sanchez as special counsel, in Duane Morris LLP’s Pittsburgh office as part of the firm’s Trial Practice Group.
Allen has also been appointed co-managing partner of the firm’s Pittsburgh office. The attorneys join the firm from Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC.
“With a robust market for trial activity, we’re excited to welcome this talented team of litigators to the firm. We are always looking for marquee talent and Kevin, Dan, Mike and Tom certainly represent that strategic goal,” said Matthew A. Taylor, Chairman and CEO of Duane Morris. “Our firm is well-known for the ability to deliver results for our clients, and this group’s contributions to Duane Morris will be a growth accelerator for our Pittsburgh office.”
“Kevin, Dan, Mike and Tom offer us an exciting opportunity to expand our Pittsburgh office and do so with a group of highly skilled lawyers dedicated to serving the firm’s clients” said Sharon L. Caffrey, co-chair of Duane Morris’ Trial Practice Group. “That group will hit the ground running and add value to our Pittsburgh office and the firm as a whole from day one,” added Wayne A. Mack, co-chair of Duane Morris’ Trial Practice Group.
“Our organization will be enhanced by this team of marquee talent; their reputations in the Pittsburgh legal community as top-notch litigators precede them,” said Kenneth M. Argentieri, co-managing partner of Duane Morris’ Pittsburgh office. “I also look forward to working with Kevin to continue to grow and enhance our office.”
“We look forward to joining with our Duane Morris colleagues in Pittsburgh and throughout the firm to serve existing clients, and to demonstrate focus, dedication, and the depth and breadth of Duane Morris’ capabilities to new clients in western Pennsylvania and beyond,” said Allen. “We’re ready to get to work. We want like-minded lawyers in Pittsburgh to join us in the weeks and months to come.”
Kevin P. Allen concentrates his trial practice on commercial litigation with an emphasis on contract disputes, business torts and the defense of class actions and consumer protection actions. A member of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, Allen’s first-chair experience includes state and federal jury and nonjury trials, injunction proceedings and binding arbitrations. Allen also has argued appellate cases before the Third Circuit, the Federal Circuit, and Pennsylvania’s Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth Courts. Allen also serves as counsel for clients from diverse industries when legal questions intersect with clients’ business issues. He is the author of the treatise “The Attorney-Client Privilege and Work-Product Doctrine in Pennsylvania,” now in its sixth edition, and he has served as a court-appointed special discovery master to address privilege and work-product issues.
Allen is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (J.D., 1995) and Yale University (B.A., 1992).
Daniel B. McLane serves as lead trial counsel in commercial litigation in state and federal trial and appellate courts and before the American Arbitration Association. Recently, McLane was lead counsel, teaming with Sanchez, before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in a landmark decision declaring that a “no-hire”/”no-poach” contract provision constituted an unreasonable restraint in Pennsylvania. McLane represents corporations in complex litigation including closely held shareholder disputes and custodian proceedings. He also represents oil and gas exploration companies in litigation throughout Pennsylvania.
McLane is a graduate of Syracuse University College of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1995) and Roanoke College (B.A., 1992).
Michael P. Pest represents clients from diverse industries in complex commercial litigation. Pest’s litigation practice includes matters involving contracts, business torts, trade secrets, real estate transactions and closely held shareholder disputes. He also defends clients in the financial and energy sectors against claims arising under federal and state consumer protection laws. Prior to entering private practice, Pest clerked for the Honorable Dan R. Pellegrini, former president judge of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.
Pest is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (J.D., 2011) and Northwestern University (B.A., 2006).
Thomas E. Sanchez represents corporate clients from various industries in complex commercial litigation. He has experience handling complex single-plaintiff and class actions from inception through trial and appeal, including in cases involving contract disputes, business torts, product liability, patent infringement, unfair competition, business dissolution matters, noncompete and nonsolicitation agreements, and oil and gas energy litigation. In addition to his trial court appearances, Sanchez also has had lead responsibility for appellate briefing before the Third Circuit and Pennsylvania’s Supreme and Superior Courts. Previously, he clerked for the Honorable Yvette Kane of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. While in law school, he worked as an intern for the Honorable Joseph N. Laplante of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire.
Sanchez is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire Franklin Pierce School of Law (J.D., magna cum laude, 2011), where he was chief articles editor of the University of New Hampshire Law Review and a Daniel Webster Scholar Honors Program student. He is also a graduate of Allegheny College (B.A., magna cum laude, 2007).
About Duane Morris
Duane Morris LLP provides innovative solutions to today’s multifaceted legal and business challenges through the collegial and collaborative culture of its more than 800 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally. The firm represents a broad array of clients, spanning all major practices and industries. Duane Morris has been recognized by BTI Consulting as both a client service leader and a highly recommended law firm.
