Press Release - Sedgwick Elects New Chairman

October 2007

The partners of Sedgwick, Detert, Moran & Arnold LLP have elected New Jersey Partner Michael A. Tanenbaum to serve as the new firm chairman. Tanenbaum's three-year term will begin at the conclusion of the 2007 partner retreat in November, and follows Kevin Dunne's six-years as Chairman. Tanenbaum, who currently serves as the managing partner for the New Jersey office, will be the first chairman not based in the San Francisco headquarters, reflecting the firm's growing diversification, global footprint and expansion into new domestic and international markets. 

"It is an incredible honor to be elected to succeed Kevin Dunne, who has been an exemplary leader for Sedgwick," said Tanenbaum.  "With Kevin's guidance Sedgwick has expanded its presence nationally and internationally by attracting exceptionally talented attorneys who represent a number of the world's largest companies.  As Chairman, Kevin brought a clear vision for the growth and evolution of Sedgwick.  Over the six years that he led the Firm, his vision has become reality.  I look forward to the opportunity to build upon the successes he has achieved."

"As my colleagues, friends and family know, I have great admiration for the leaders throughout history who've demonstrated keen intelligence and courage," said Dunne. "These qualities are essential to successfully lead our more than 350 attorneys forward, and I can think of no one better suited for the job than Mike." 

Under Dunne's leadership the firm grew from 275 to more than 350 attorneys, added offices in Austin, Bermuda* and Houston, launched multiple new practice areas, and created the Sedgwick Trial Academy, an immersion program designed to assure that Sedgwick's young trial lawyers are trained by a number of the best trial lawyers in the country.

Tanenbaum practices in the areas of products liability, pharmaceutical and medical device liability, and environmental and toxic tort.  He serves as national products liability counsel for major pharmaceutical, medical device and energy companies.  He has also counseled corporations concerning risk management, compliance and the assessment and management of litigation risk arising from corporate acquisitions.  Tanenbaum has presented at the IADC Annual Meeting on the economics of case management, served as a faculty member at the Georgetown Mass Tort Institute, and serves on the board of trustees of Atlantic Health System and as chair of the Overlook Hospital Advisory Board.  He earned his J.D., cum laude, from Boston University School of Law, and his A.B., magna cum laude , from Princeton University.