Wiggin and Dana Announces Leadership Appointments

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The law firm of Wiggin and Dana is pleased to announce leadership appointments in its Litigation Department.

February 15, 2013 // Franchising.com // James Glasser has been named Chair of the firm's Litigation Department, succeeding Jack Dunham. Jack Dunham will continue to play a critical role in the firm's growth and expansion and will concentrate on practice areas he helped develop at the firm that are now nationally recognized, including the firm's franchise and class action practices.

"As a highly respected litigator and a former federal prosecutor for 19 years, Jim is a natural choice to lead the firm's litigation practice," said Bob Benjamin, Wiggin and Dana's Chair of the Executive Committee. "Jim bridges the gap between the public and private sectors, and he inspires confidence in everyone who works with him, attorneys and clients alike."

Before joining Wiggin and Dana, Mr. Glasser was a federal prosecutor for 19 years with the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut where he held senior positions including Counsel to the United States Attorney, Chief of the Criminal Division, Chief of Appeals and Assistant In Charge of the Bridgeport U.S. Attorney's Office. Mr. Glasser was appointed to serve on the U.S. Attorney General's Criminal Chief's Working Group and was appointed to lead Connecticut's Anti-Terrorism Task Force immediately after the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. Mr. Glasser has received numerous awards and commendations for his service as a prosecutor, including the Justice Department's prestigious Director's Award.

Joseph Martini was named co-chair of the White Collar Defense, Investigations and Corporate Compliance Practice Group, which is an established and integral part of the firm, composed of a group of highly-experienced former prosecutors and seasoned litigators. The group includes co-chair Scott Corrigan, who previously served as counsel in the Enforcement Division of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney's Office; and Richard Levan, who previously served as a senior official in the SEC's Philadelphia office and as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C.

"Joe is an accomplished trial and appellate lawyer with nine years of experience in the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Connecticut before he built a successful private practice," comments Benjamin. "Joe is an ideal pick to co-chair the firm's White Collar Practice."

Mr. Martini has tried numerous jury cases to verdict and has briefed and argued over 20 cases before federal and state appellate courts. On behalf of a diverse group of clients – individuals, government officials and public and privately held companies – he regularly litigates sophisticated criminal and commercial disputes in federal and state courts, and before arbitration panels. He served for nine years as an Assistant United States Attorney, investigating and prosecuting a broad range of federal crimes, including mortgage and financial frauds, RICO, money laundering and violent crimes, environmental crimes and tax offenses. He was awarded the Department of Justice's Director's Award for Superior Performance as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, and was also an instructor at the FBI Sensitive Operations and Undercover School at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Tahlia Townsend has been named co-chair of the firm's OFAC, Defense and Export Compliance Practice Group. One of the fastest growing groups at the firm, Wiggin and Dana's Defense, OFAC and Export Compliance practice represents corporations – including leading defense contractors – and individuals in connection with investigations conducted by the Department of Justice, the State Department, Department of Commerce, Bureau of Industry and Security and the Department of Homeland Security. Tahlia will join Jim Glasser as co-chair of the Practice.

"Tahlia has been a key player in building the firm's export practice from the ground up," comments Benjamin. "She is extremely talented, and clients immediately recognize her abilities. With Tahlia as co-chair of the group, we see limitless potential for additional growth in this unique practice area."

SOURCE Wiggin and Dana

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