Tucker Ellis LLP announced several leadership appointments to strategically steer the firm forward as it continues to grow. The firm has increased its attorney headcount by 80%, opened two offices, and expanded its scope of services offered since its founding in 2003.

Mollie Benedict is the Chair of the Medical and Pharmaceutical Practice Group, a service area that has experienced explosive growth for the firm, particularly in the latter half of this past decade. Ms. Benedict has extensive experience handling pharmaceutical and medical device matters and coordinating strategy for nationwide litigation.

Jeffrey Healy serves as the new Chair of the Mass Tort & Product Liability Practice Group and will promote the group’s public profile, drawing from his successful core practice in this area of law. In addition, Mr. Healy takes on the newly created role of Partner-in-Charge of Ohio where he will work in tandem with Managing Partner Joe Morford to identify opportunities for firm growth and improvement. Mr. Healy will also be intricately involved with the move and transition of nearly 250 Tucker Ellis employees to the new Flats East office space this summer.

Bart Kessel serves as Partner-in-Charge of California where he will identify opportunities for strategic expansion in the Los Angeles and San Francisco markets. Mr. Kessel is a trial lawyer who has broad experience in all types of business litigation, with extensive experience in representing clients in actions involving patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, and technology.

John Q. Lewis is the new Chair of the Business Litigation Practice Group. In this role, Mr. Lewis will focus on advancing the group’s strong reputation and expanding this practice area nationally into new markets and new service areas. Mr. Lewis will continue his thriving practice of representing companies in high stakes medical device, pharmaceutical, and commercial litigation in state and federal courts across the country.

Rita Maimbourg leads the firm’s Trial Department as its new Chair. Ms. Maimbourg will oversee the firm’s practice groups within the Trial Department as well as act as an ambassador to the firm’s clients to ensure quality and help expand business opportunities. At a time in which women are still very much in the minority in law firm top management positions, Ms. Maimbourg transitions from the role of Medical and Pharmaceutical Practice Group Co-chair to another important leadership role. As a trial lawyer, she devotes the majority of her practice to the defense of drug and device manufacturers and healthcare practitioners.

“Our goal at Tucker Ellis is always to give our clients a different and better experience than they would have with any other law firm,” said Mr. Morford. “As our firm grows, we look to evolve in ways that best meet our current and future needs. These new leadership roles and the energetic, talented, and creative lawyers serving in them will make it possible for us to serve more clients in more types of matters and in more places than ever before. I’m excited to watch our bright future continue to unfold.”