Nixon Peabody LLP has announced
that W. Scott O'Connell will lead the firm's Commercial Litigation Practice
which includes more than 100 attorneys firm wide. Attorneys in Nixon
Peabody's Commercial Litigation Practice focus on resolving business disputes
for a wide array of clients in various industries including alternative
investments, antitrust, banking and financial services, beverage alcohol, health
care, international arbitration, real estate and construction, and tax credit
syndication.
Mr. O'Connell most recently served as Deputy Group Leader for Nixon Peabody's
Litigation and Intellectual Property Department which includes more than 300
attorneys as well as leader of the firm's Class Actions and Aggregate Litigation
Practice. He will continue to serve in these roles. Mr. O'Connell focuses
his practice on the defense of class actions, governance disputes and trial
work. He represents integrated financial service companies -- including banks,
securities firms, insurance companies, and regulated subsidiaries of
nonfinancial parents -- in federal and state court litigation and before
regulatory agencies. He has extensive experience defending financial
institutions in class actions concerning lender liability, breach of contract,
breach of fiduciary duty, breach of good faith, unfair and deceptive trade
practices, fraud, misrepresentation, fair debt collection practices, and civil
Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).
"Scott has proven to be a terrific leader in a variety of leadership roles
and I'm confident he will do a great job leading this important practice for our
firm," said Jennifer Kuenster, Chair of Nixon Peabody’s Litigation and
Intellectual Property Department. "Scott excels at leading teams of
attorneys to find the most efficient means possible to reach a positive outcome
for our clients and help them get back to business."
As part of his commitment to give back to the community, Mr. O’Connell
has dedicated substantial time to pro bono matters involving domestic abuse and
child protection. He is a recipient of a Dedicated Pro Bono Service
Award from the New Hampshire Association’s Pro Bono Referral Program for
2011. Mr. O'Connell is a graduate of Cornell Law School where he was
editor of the Cornell Law Review. He received his undergraduate degree,
cum laude, from St. Lawrence University.