Home - Blank Rome LLP

Register to receive insights and analyses on breaking news and trends across varying industries.
<a class="link-primary mt-4" href="/subscribe">Subscribe</a>

Philadelphia, PA

New York, NY

Wilmington, DE

Cincinnati, OH

Princeton, NJ

Los Angeles, CA

Houston, TX

Tampa, FL

Shanghai

South Florida

Pittsburgh, PA

Washington, D.C.

Chicago, IL

Orange County, CA

Dallas, TX

Boston, MA

Alumni Community

I joined Blank Rome as a summer associate and have been fortunate to build my entire career here. Over that time, one thing has remained constant: the people. The relationships and experiences formed at Blank Rome continue to matter, and they continue to shape who we are as a firm. This newsletter is a reflection of that enduring connection. As Blank Rome celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, we are reminded that our firm’s success has always been driven by the people who have passed through our doors, many of whom remain part of our story long after their time here. You will see opportunities below to stay engaged, reconnect, and continue to be part of the community that we hope played an important role in your professional journey. Whether your time at the firm was brief or spanned many years, you are part of Blank Rome’s legacy. We are grateful for the contributions you have made and for the ways so many of you continue to stay connected. I hope you enjoy this edition and look forward to all that lies ahead for our alumni community.

core/paragraph

medium

thumbnail

core/image

Grant S. Palmer Chair and Managing Partner

core/spacer

core/separator

core/heading

2025 was another successful year for Blank Rome. The 2025 AmLaw rankings published last month, and Blank Rome moved up again, to No. 73 overall, marking five straight years of increasing our ranking. Our revenues will approach one billion dollars in 2026, a milestone made possible by the contributions of our alumni over the years and everyone across the firm today.&nbsp; Additionally, we now have 800 lawyers and nearly 500 business professionals across 16 offices, including our newest location in <a href="/news-and-events/blank-rome-expands-in-south-florida-with-west-palm-beach-office/" id="40669" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">West Palm Beach, Florida</a>, which opened recently. Since the start of the year, we have added 33 lawyers and 36 business professionals. Last year, we were also proud to be recognized by The American Lawyer as the #2 law firm nationally for midlevel associate satisfaction for the second consecutive year.&nbsp; Ultimately, what matters more than revenues, growth, and metrics is how we continue to foster a culture of collaboration and the ways we are building a strong firm of people who support each other, our clients, and our communities.

Welcome to the Family: New Faces at Blank Rome in 2026

In a highly competitive lateral market, exceptional attorneys keep choosing Blank Rome. When we ask them why, the answer is almost always the same: it is our people and our culture. Here are the talented partners and counsel who have joined us so far in 2026:

<a href="/news-and-events/blank-rome-welcomes-mitchell-s-goldberg-immediate-past-chief-judge-us-district-court-eastern/" id="40033" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Judge Mitchell Goldberg</a> (Philadelphia; Business Litigation): A former Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Mitch brings decades of judicial and litigation experience to the firm.

<a href="/news-and-events/blank-rome-welcomes-leading-intellectual-property-technology-partners-south-florida/" id="40011" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark D. Passler and Ryan L. Harding</a> (West Palm Beach; Intellectual Property &amp; Technology): An intellectual property duo with deep experience managing and enforcing patent, trademark, and copyright portfolios for domestic and global clients across technology-driven industries.

<a href="/news-and-events/blank-rome-welcomes-new-business-litigation-counsel-glen-l-abramson-philadelphia/" id="40000" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Glen L. Abramson</a> (Philadelphia; Business Litigation): Glen focuses on cutting-edge issues at the intersection of technology and law, including privacy, artificial intelligence, biometric data, and digital surveillance.

<a href="/news-and-events/blank-rome-adds-private-equity-litigation-leader-will-weltman-partner-chicago/" id="39998" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Will Weltman</a> (Chicago; Business Litigation): Will focuses on complex litigation and strategic counseling, particularly for private equity firms and their portfolio companies.

<a href="/news-and-events/blank-rome-welcomes-leading-finance-and-derivatives-attorney-david-h-kaufman-senior-counsel/" id="40007" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">David Kaufman</a> (New York; Finance, Restructuring, and Bankruptcy): A leading voice in finance and derivatives, David advises clients across energy and financial services on structured commodity and capital markets transactions.

<a href="/news-and-events/market-leading-hospitality-team-joins-blank-rome-california-expanding-coast-coast-capabilities/" id="39986" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jim Butler, David Sudeck, Mark Adams, Jeff Myers, and Joe Mellema</a> (Los Angeles / Orange County; Hospitality, Real Estate, and Business Litigation): A market leading hospitality team already expanding our coast to coast capabilities and global reach.

<a href="https://www.blankrome.com/news-and-events/blank-rome-expands-dallas-litigation-bench-addition-trial-lawyer-mark-l-johansen/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Mark Johansen</a> (Dallas; Business Litigation): Mark represents clients in high stakes disputes involving financial services, energy, healthcare, real estate, private equity, technology, and emerging companies.

<a href="/news-and-events/blank-rome-welcomes-new-trusts-estates-counsel-john-s-kiely-new-york/" id="39977" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">John S. Kiely</a> (New York; Tax, Benefits, and Private Client): John represents clients in the areas of estate planning, estate and trust administration, and estate and trust litigation.

<a href="/news-and-events/blank-rome-welcomes-nicole-islinger-partner-washington-dc-strengthening-corporate-practice-and/" id="39984" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nicole Islinger</a> (Washington, D.C.; Corporate, M&amp;A, and Government Contracts): Nicole advises on mergers and acquisitions, with substantial experience in government contracting, technology, and private equity.

<a href="/news-and-events/blank-rome-expands-pittsburgh-addition-leading-corporate-and-ma-partners-bob-zinn-and-megan/" id="39968" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bob Zinn and Megan Wotherspoon</a> (Pittsburgh; Corporate, M&amp;A): Bob and Megan are broad based corporate strategists with a strong track record in domestic and international mergers and acquisitions.

<a href="/news-and-events/blank-rome-welcomes-three-business-litigation-attorneys-in-dallas-and-orange-county/" id="39958" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Daniel S. Klein</a> (Dallas; Business Litigation): An experienced litigator, Dan represents business and financial services clients in high-stakes commercial disputes on both the plaintiff and defense side.&nbsp;

<a href="/news-and-events/blank-rome-welcomes-new-matrimonial-family-law-counsel-jackielyn-h-abellada-los-angeles/" id="40984" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jackielyn H. Abellada</a> (Los Angeles; Matrimonial &amp; Family Law): Jackielyn’s practice spans the full spectrum of family law, including divorce, custody, support, property characterization and valuation, domestic violence, and parentage matters.

<a href="/news-and-events/blank-rome-welcomes-new-corporate-counsel-rachel-cheasty-sanders-pittsburgh/" id="41725" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rachel Cheasty Sanders</a> (Pittsburgh; Corporate, M&amp;A, and Securities): Rachel advises public and private companies, private equity sponsors, and strategic investors on a wide range of domestic and cross-border transactions and corporate governance.&nbsp;

<a href="/news-and-events/blank-rome-welcomes-leading-corporate-partners-sean-p-coyle-and-vijay-s-choksi-in-west-palm-beach/" id="43895" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sean P. Coyle and Vijay S. Choksi</a> (West Palm Beach; Corporate, M&amp;A, and Securities): Experienced corporate and regulatory advisers, Sean and Vijay focus on complex transactions and compliance matters across highly regulated industries, such as cannabis.

<a href="/news-and-events/blank-rome-strengthens-national-restructuring-capabilities-with-addition-of-partner-buffey-e-klein-in-dallas/" id="44142" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Buffey E. Klein</a> (Dallas; Finance, Restructuring, and Bankruptcy): A highly regarded restructuring lawyer, Buffey advises financial institutions, creditors, and lenders on complex bankruptcies, distressed-asset transactions, and nationwide workouts.

<a href="/news-and-events/blank-rome-expands-construction-infrastructure-and-energy-capabilities-with-partner-justin-n-leonelli-in-pittsburgh/" id="44184" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Justin N. Leonelli</a> (Pittsburgh; Business Litigation): A leading construction, infrastructure, and energy lawyer, Justin advises clients across the full lifecycle of complex projects, from contract negotiation through execution and dispute resolution.

We also celebrated outstanding colleagues who were recently elevated to partner and counsel, and several exciting new leadership appointments. Read more in our firm announcements:

<a href="/news-and-events/blank-rome-announces-2026-elevations-14-partners-5-counsel/" id="40044" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blank Rome Announces 2026 Elevations: 14 Partners, 5 Of Counsel</a>

<a href="/news-and-events/blank-rome-announces-2026-new-leadership-appointments/" id="40008" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Blank Rome Announces 2026 New Leadership Appointments</a>

Our Summer Associate Program kicks off May 18, with 26 summer associates representing 19 law schools. The summer associates will join together for orientation on May 19 in our Washington, D.C., office.&nbsp; This year’s class includes five 1L students, as well as five returning 2Ls after spending their first summer with us, a strong indicator of the program’s success. This year, we are excited to welcome summer associates to our Chicago and Boston offices for the first time. The program runs through July 24. In 2025, the firm was ranked among the top 10 law firms in The American Lawyer’s Summer Associates Satisfaction Survey for the eighth consecutive year in a row. In the survey, Blank Rome earned the sixth spot nationally, with an impressive average satisfaction score of 4.96 out of 5.&nbsp;

vp_page_header

Let’s Stay Connected: Events You Won’t Want to Miss

Here are some firm events on the horizon that we hope you will be a part of:

Webinar Series: Under the Microscope: Legal Issues in Life Sciences &amp; Healthcare

If you work in or around life sciences and healthcare, we hope you will consider joining us for our upcoming webinar examining one of the most pressing issues shaping the industry today. This one-hour session is designed to be practical, timely, and genuinely useful. Thursday, May 21 – Healthcare Market Consolidation &amp; Vertical Integration: Trends, Legislative Responses, and Strategic Implications Hosted by Eric S. Tower and Robert Y. Chow The session will be held at 12:00 p.m. ET / 11:00 a.m. CT / 9:00 a.m. PT. We hope you will consider joining us. Visit our <a href="/news-and-events/under-the-microscope-legal-issues-in-life-sciences-healthcare/" id="39869" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">event page</a> to learn more and <a href="https://communications.blankrome.com/31/3808/landing-pages/rsvp-blank.asp" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">register</a>.

Virtual Training: Putting the Work into Networking

Let’s be honest—networking can feel awkward. But it does not have to. Join us on Wednesday, May 27, for a practical, one-hour virtual session with <a href="https://www.growthplay.com/about-us/tasneem-khokha/">Tasneem Khokha</a> from <a href="https://www.growthplay.com/">GrowthPlay</a>, who will completely reframe the way you think about building professional relationships. You will learn how to prepare strategically for networking opportunities, engage more effectively using simple, practical techniques, and nurture professional relationships over time in ways that genuinely create opportunity.

Wednesday, May 27 | 2:00–3:00 p.m. ET / 1:00–2:00 p.m. CT / 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. PT

core/list-item

core/list

To sign up, please e-mail <a href="mailto:PD@blankrome.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PD@blankrome.com</a> by Friday, May 22, and we will send you a Teams link to join this virtual program.

In-Person Training: Trial Academy XIII—Back in the Courtroom

Here is an invitation you might not expect: come play a role in our 13th Annual Trial Academy!

On Saturday, June 6, 2026, we are heading to the James A. Byrne United States Courthouse in Philadelphia, and we would love for our local alumni to join us. You will step into the role of a witness or expert, get some prep time with assigned counsel (think informed, not memorized), and take the stand in a real courtroom setting. No prior trial experience needed—transactional attorneys and litigators alike are welcome.

This is a genuinely great day. It is a chance to reconnect with colleagues, support the next generation of Blank Rome trial lawyers, and perhaps rediscover something you love about the law. Your perspective and experience make a real impact.

Saturday, June 6 | 8:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. ET

James A. Byrne United States Courthouse, 601 Market Street

Interested? Please e-mail <a href="mailto:PD@blankrome.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PD@blankrome.com</a> by Thursday, May 21, and we will send additional details, including the case file. We hope to see you there!&nbsp;

Service in Action: Our 2025 Pro Bono Highlights

At Blank Rome, pro bono and community service are a core part of who we are. In 2025, attorneys and paralegals across the firm contributed nearly 33,000 hours of pro bono service—that is an average of 48.5 hours per attorney—with a 96 percent firm-wide participation rate. These are not just numbers. They represent people who needed help with immigration applications, wildfire relief, criminal justice reform, voting rights, veteran support, disability advocacy, and much more.&nbsp; On the community service front, Blank Rome colleagues are continuing to give back in their local communities across the country. Most recently, Blank Rome volunteers supported frontline hunger relief organizations, including Miriam’s Kitchen in Washington, D.C.; the Houston Food Bank, City Harvest in New York; The Center in Hollywood; United Way of Greater Cincinnati; St. Francis House in Boston; the Chicago Common Pantry; Philabundance in Philadelphia; and The Greater Pittsburgh Food Bank. These efforts reflect our shared commitment to making a meaningful local impact.&nbsp; In 2025, we also had the joy of celebrating our pro bono award recipients:

<a href="/news-and-events/david-m-perry-presented-with-blank-romes-edwin-p-rome-pro-bono-achievement-award/" id="29399">Edwin P. Rome Award - David Perry</a>

<a href="/news-and-events/matthew-j-treiber-presented-with-blank-romes-pro-bono-rising-star-award/" id="29405">Pro Bono Rising Star Award - Matthew Treiber</a>

<a href="/news-and-events/blank-romes-pro-bono-practice-group-year-award-presented-commercial-litigation/" id="29509">Practice Group of the Year - Financial Institutions Litigation and Regulatory Compliance</a>

<a href="/news-and-events/blank-romes-comisky-cup-presented-to-houston-office/" id="29400">Comisky Cup - Our Houston Office</a>

At our next Town Hall in June, we will be announcing the recipients of the 2026 Pro Bono and Community Service awards. If you or your company would like to partner with us on a pro bono project, we would love to hear from you. Please contact <a href="mailto:kathy.ochroch@blankrome.com?subject=Pro%20Bono%20Opportunities%20-%20Alumni">Kathy Ochroch</a>, Partner and Director of Pro Bono and Community Impact.

large

Blank Rome’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and belonging is rooted in the firm’s history and remains one of our core values. It continues to shape how we develop talent, serve clients, and engage our communities. Our annual Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Awards honor attorneys whose work reflects the values that have defined Blank Rome across generations. Named for individuals who helped shape both our firm and the broader legal profession, these awards connect today’s leaders to the legacy that came before them. For their outstanding contributions to our firm and our communities, our 2025 Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Award recipients included:

<a href="/news-and-events/james-d-kelly-and-ashley-m-silberfeld-receive-blank-romes-2025-distinguished/" id="39824" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nathaniel R. Jones Diversity and Inclusion Award – Jim Kelly</a> <a href="/news-and-events/james-d-kelly-and-ashley-m-silberfeld-receive-blank-romes-2025-distinguished/" id="39824" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Bonnie Glantz Fatell Women’s Advocacy and Leadership Award – Ashley Silberfeld</a> Together, these recipients reflect a firm-wide commitment that is not just preserved but renewed with each generation of Blank Rome attorneys.

We want to end this edition by pausing to honor someone who meant a great deal to so many of us, partner Susan L. Bickley. Susan came to Blank Rome when the Abrams Scott &amp; Bickley team joined the firm in June 2011, and from day one, she brought something special with her: a quiet confidence, an unwavering integrity, and a warmth that made everyone around her feel appreciated and at ease.

She was not just a talented attorney. Susan was a steady, grounding presence during a pivotal chapter in the firm’s story, and her influence never faded. It carried forward, felt in the way our people show up for each other every day. Her passing is a profound loss, and we invite you to take a moment to read more about her remarkable life in our <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/link.oneplacedispatch.com/ls/click?upn=u001.sCgBHsxLot3jpprLClGuxhC79duNgx828WEJe-2Bp1WPlBe55iAYiDsDKkEoTgNLmPPwHiZUXn29qmEmdXvmOdItF5uvH0GA5vhcx2kNYIcM0-3D7tYP_vFetkPr3sm8IJeM8J9-2FykPwO-2BFXopZBbKzYlxpPNIFEy4LqhXHi5MQdrYJlMoFy4SnKQl2gjkBqw9B727Dcfz1VFYjzfUSndaqRd84EGE4D7QTwj15PAfulw9D9YJv21tkAu0uVV8XakuCyUdfLJs5MVPjuyQc2z2z9g95fx3kLNaeRNxtEi-2BO-2FTCPdCnb6Uw5MTFSNiwTxTuELigVE8sTotSVecNHf5c-2Bec7GwQ-2F8behS7oLff5XjX7qHI4UAwmPMnZvYyHyHhZNptiDGLVc2hQQWyx2Hojl6VNfgpNkSkB-2Bhcf3p-2BQRja-2F788SkuOumluRY-2BqjlIjt7Ak8AEBUXw-3D-3D__;!!BzMsqVLNNjU!P2RAhD1OVlS3h96fmeXeEanB9xzQ8zMckABU_hJhzteTHQk3MrOpgMIPF9jd4rLJgpCtMALHUfGW7vuffCe4mZTCM39zg3ncV_7s$" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">In M</a><a href="/news-and-events/in-memoriam-susan-l-bickley/" id="42244" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">e</a><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/link.oneplacedispatch.com/ls/click?upn=u001.sCgBHsxLot3jpprLClGuxhC79duNgx828WEJe-2Bp1WPlBe55iAYiDsDKkEoTgNLmPPwHiZUXn29qmEmdXvmOdItF5uvH0GA5vhcx2kNYIcM0-3D7tYP_vFetkPr3sm8IJeM8J9-2FykPwO-2BFXopZBbKzYlxpPNIFEy4LqhXHi5MQdrYJlMoFy4SnKQl2gjkBqw9B727Dcfz1VFYjzfUSndaqRd84EGE4D7QTwj15PAfulw9D9YJv21tkAu0uVV8XakuCyUdfLJs5MVPjuyQc2z2z9g95fx3kLNaeRNxtEi-2BO-2FTCPdCnb6Uw5MTFSNiwTxTuELigVE8sTotSVecNHf5c-2Bec7GwQ-2F8behS7oLff5XjX7qHI4UAwmPMnZvYyHyHhZNptiDGLVc2hQQWyx2Hojl6VNfgpNkSkB-2Bhcf3p-2BQRja-2F788SkuOumluRY-2BqjlIjt7Ak8AEBUXw-3D-3D__;!!BzMsqVLNNjU!P2RAhD1OVlS3h96fmeXeEanB9xzQ8zMckABU_hJhzteTHQk3MrOpgMIPF9jd4rLJgpCtMALHUfGW7vuffCe4mZTCM39zg3ncV_7s$" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">moriam</a>.

Our Alumni Spotlight series showcases the incredible achievements of our alumni, and this is your chance to shine! Share your current professional endeavors, lessons learned at Blank Rome, and insightful career tips. Interested in being featured? Simply reply to <a href="mailto:alumni@blankrome.com?subject=Alumni%20Spotlight%20Feature" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">alumni@blankrome.com</a>, and we will send you a quick, fun questionnaire to fill out.

Stay in Touch: Update Your Contact Information and Join Us on LinkedIn

Please be sure to keep your contact information up to date so you don’t miss news, events, and other updates from the Blank Rome Alumni Community. You can review and update your information by clicking <a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/link.oneplacedispatch.com/ls/click?upn=u001.sCgBHsxLot3jpprLClGuxlYWecy427MsMmfBTQL59hUvo70KNVk-2Bh4mtjG8wEawIfoItnZvZh1DMS5WjwB-2FvbclEVBoHp63nS-2BIerI0BMJc-3D2cWO_vFetkPr3sm8IJeM8J9-2FykPwO-2BFXopZBbKzYlxpPNIFEy4LqhXHi5MQdrYJlMoFy4SnKQl2gjkBqw9B727Dcfz1VFYjzfUSndaqRd84EGE4D7QTwj15PAfulw9D9YJv21tkAu0uVV8XakuCyUdfLJs5MVPjuyQc2z2z9g95fx3kLNaeRNxtEi-2BO-2FTCPdCnb6UVfibPB1zH3VM6tDnDtADnJYMV3zNG8a1oXcwby3I-2FFTxE4lGZoIUng5WstX9rY-2B-2Fyz4uNqg5xuDqwh6im3J-2FdwuniO4x3-2BKU-2FnAFYtFSBrBxevwM-2FgWEawHKQ0KN2p3Ydj42y4ZRRuwrvPFm-2B-2By2MQ-3D-3D__;!!BzMsqVLNNjU!P2RAhD1OVlS3h96fmeXeEanB9xzQ8zMckABU_hJhzteTHQk3MrOpgMIPF9jd4rLJgpCtMALHUfGW7vuffCe4mZTCM39zgylaVNU2$" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">h</a><a href="https://brcommunications.blankrome.com/alumni-contact-preferences.html" id="https://brcommunications.blankrome.com/alumni-contact-preferences.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">e</a><a href="https://urldefense.com/v3/__https:/link.oneplacedispatch.com/ls/click?upn=u001.sCgBHsxLot3jpprLClGuxlYWecy427MsMmfBTQL59hUvo70KNVk-2Bh4mtjG8wEawIfoItnZvZh1DMS5WjwB-2FvbclEVBoHp63nS-2BIerI0BMJc-3D2cWO_vFetkPr3sm8IJeM8J9-2FykPwO-2BFXopZBbKzYlxpPNIFEy4LqhXHi5MQdrYJlMoFy4SnKQl2gjkBqw9B727Dcfz1VFYjzfUSndaqRd84EGE4D7QTwj15PAfulw9D9YJv21tkAu0uVV8XakuCyUdfLJs5MVPjuyQc2z2z9g95fx3kLNaeRNxtEi-2BO-2FTCPdCnb6UVfibPB1zH3VM6tDnDtADnJYMV3zNG8a1oXcwby3I-2FFTxE4lGZoIUng5WstX9rY-2B-2Fyz4uNqg5xuDqwh6im3J-2FdwuniO4x3-2BKU-2FnAFYtFSBrBxevwM-2FgWEawHKQ0KN2p3Ydj42y4ZRRuwrvPFm-2B-2By2MQ-3D-3D__;!!BzMsqVLNNjU!P2RAhD1OVlS3h96fmeXeEanB9xzQ8zMckABU_hJhzteTHQk3MrOpgMIPF9jd4rLJgpCtMALHUfGW7vuffCe4mZTCM39zgylaVNU2$" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">re</a>. We also invite you to join our LinkedIn Alumni Community page, where you are encouraged to connect, engage, and stay in touch with fellow Blank Rome alumni. Join us <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3401911/" id="https://www.linkedin.com/groups/3401911/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>!

Blank Rome Alumni Community Newsletter

Offices

Stay Connected

Slide Menu

Slide Search

Blank Rome Alumni Community Newsletter

Offices

Stay Connected