Drinker Biddle Announces New Practice Group and Office Leadership

Drinker Biddle is pleased to announce new leadership within the firm’s Corporate and Securities, Insurance Litigation and Products Liability practices. The firm has also named new regional partners in charge of its New York City and Albany offices.

The newly appointed leaders are:

• Eileen M. Considine, regional partner in charge of the Albany office
• James M. Fischer, chair of the Corporate and Securities Group
• Marc A. Leaf, regional partner in charge of the New York office
• Stephen A. Serfass, chair of the Insurance Litigation Group
• Daniel B. Carroll and Michael C. Zogby, co-chairs of the Products Liability and Mass Tort Group

Brief biographies of the new leaders follow:

Eileen M. Considine has been named regional partner in charge of the Albany office. Eileen is a member of the Health Care Group. She advises health care clients on strategic planning and managed care contract and rate negotiations. Eileen has significant experience assisting clients with regulatory issues applicable to the managed care industry, including with respect to Medicare Advantage and managed Medicaid plans.

James M. Fischer is the new chair of the Corporate and Securities Group. Jim focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, venture capital/corporate venture capital and emerging companies, corporate restructurings, private securities offerings, divestitures, and general corporate matters across a variety of industries. He is a partner in the Florham Park office.

Marc A. Leaf has been named regional partner in charge of the New York office. Marc is a trusted counselor and adviser to senior government officials, corporate leaders, and independent directors. He helps issuers and investors in technology, media, telecom and other industries achieve their goals in capital-raising transactions, business combinations, and joint ventures. Prior to joining the firm, Marc served on the Executive Staff of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, where he was the senior legal and policy adviser to Commissioner Luis A. Aguilar for rulemaking matters under the Division of Corporation Finance.

Stephen A. Serfass was named the new chair of the Insurance Litigation Group in late 2017. Steve concentrates his practice on financial services issues, principally related to long-term care insurance, life insurance, and environmental insurance. Steve and his team represent the insurance community on a wide range of issues including class action and individual litigation, regulatory compliance, product development and policy drafting, fraud prevention, rate increases, privacy and security, and other matters. Steve is a partner in the Philadelphia office.

Daniel B. Carroll and Michael C. Zogby were named co-chairs of the Products Liability and Mass Tort Group. Dan’s practice focuses on pharmaceutical products liability defense and encompasses mass torts involving latex gloves, cough and cold medications, antibiotics, food flavorings, hypertension medications and anti-coagulants. Mike, who is also co-chair of the firm’s Pharma and Life Sciences Group, has an extensive trial and litigation practice encompassing products liability, medical device, class action, antitrust, commercial, intellectual property, mass tort, and multidistrict proceedings.

In addition, Melissa A. Merk has been named vice-chair of the Products Liability and Mass Tort Group. She represents pharmaceutical and medical device companies in complex civil litigation with an emphasis on products liability defense.