Potter Anderson Chair Kathleen Furey McDonough Re-elected to Lead Firm; Leading Delaware Firm Also Announces New Executive Committee and Practice Leadership

Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP announced the re-election of Kathleen Furey McDonough as Chair. The firm also announced the partners who will serve on the Executive Committee with McDonough through the end of 2023.

The first woman to be elected Chair in Potter Anderson’s 196-year history as well as the first woman to lead a major Delaware law firm, McDonough has chaired the firm since 2018. Her practice focuses on litigation in the federal and state courts in Delaware, with an emphasis on labor and employment, trade secret and commercial litigation. She has been recognized by Chambers USA as a leading Delaware practitioner in labor and employment law each year since 2003.

“I am thrilled to be serving alongside such a talented, hard-working and dedicated team of colleagues,” said McDonough. “The Executive Committee and practice leadership for the new term will build upon our strong track record to help achieve even greater levels of success in the years to come. I welcome their judgment, insight and commitment to striving for what’s best for the firm and for our clients.”

The Executive Committee members through the end of 2023 include Michael A. Pittenger, Practice Group Leader for Transactions and Corporate Counseling; Jeremy W. Ryan, Practice Group Leader for General Litigation; Peter J. Walsh, Jr., Practice Group Leader for Corporate Litigation; and T. Brad Davey, At-Large Member.

• Pittenger advises clients regarding all aspects of the Delaware General Corporation Law and the governance of Delaware corporations. He routinely counsels corporations, directors and board committees regarding transactions such as mergers, recapitalizations, reorganizations, asset sales, dividends, stock repurchases, charter and bylaw amendments, preferred stock designations, and dissolutions.
• Ryan focuses his practice on complex bankruptcy issues, including the sale and acquisition of companies in bankruptcy, financing and litigation as well as general bankruptcy issues. A former chair of the Delaware State Bar Association’s Bankruptcy Law Section, he primarily concentrates his practice in the representation of debtors but also is involved in committee and creditor representations.
• Walsh, recently inducted as a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, has first-chaired many trials in the Delaware courts and has successfully argued numerous appeals before the Supreme Court of Delaware as well as several in the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He regularly handles corporate and commercial matters in the Delaware Court of Chancery, as well as such matters in the Superior Court and United States District Court for the District of Delaware.
• Davey focuses primarily on business, corporate and alternative entities litigation in the Delaware Court of Chancery. He frequently advises directors, acquirers and financial advisors in connection with mergers and acquisition litigation. In addition, he has substantial experience litigating and providing advice regarding various proceedings under the Delaware General Corporation Law, including appraisal, advancement and indemnification, books and records demands, and director election contests.

To provide additional leadership resources for the firm’s practices, Potter Anderson has also appointed Vice Practice Group Leaders. These partners will work closely with the Executive Committee for the full three-year term. The newly appointed Vice Practice Group Leaders are Joy A. Barrist for the Transactions and Corporate Counseling Group, Timothy R. Dudderar for the Corporate Litigation Group and John A. Sensing for the General Litigation Group.

• Barrist offers a full range of commercial real estate law services involving the finance, acquisition, sale, lease and development of complex multimillion-dollar real estate projects throughout Delaware, around the country and internationally. She regularly represents banks and lending institutions, private equity firms, investors, developers, owners, landlords, and tenants. Barrist is co‑chair of the firm’s Women’s Initiative.
• Dudderar’s experience includes representing corporations and boards of directors in stockholder class and derivative litigation, internal corporate investigations, representing limited partnerships and other alternative entities in actions alleging breaches of operating agreements as well as litigating various proceedings under the Delaware General Corporation Law, such as stock appraisal, indemnification and advancement, contested director elections and demands for corporate books and records.
• Sensing’s client engagements include complex commercial litigation, business tort matters and contract disputes as well as the defense of claims asserted under federal antitrust and securities laws. He also represents clients in expedited matters relating to the enforcement of restrictive covenants and contractual non-competition provisions and represents policyholders in complex insurance coverage litigation against their insurers. Sensing is co‑chair of the firm’s Recruiting Committee.

About Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP

Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP is one of the largest and most highly regarded Delaware law firms, providing legal services to regional, national and international clients. With more than 80 attorneys, the firm’s practice is centered on corporate law, corporate litigation, intellectual property, commercial litigation, bankruptcy, labor and employment, and real estate.

About Potter Anderson

Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP is one of the largest and most highly regarded Delaware law firms, providing legal services to regional, national, and international clients. With more than 100 attorneys, the firm’s practice is centered on corporate law, corporate litigation, intellectual property, commercial litigation, bankruptcy, labor and employment, and real estate.