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Leigh M. Skipper to Join Duane Morris as Trial Partner

June 8, 2022

Leigh M. Skipper to Join Duane Morris as Trial Partner

June 8, 2022

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Chief Federal Defender for Eastern District of Pennsylvania Will Be Part of Firm’s White-Collar Division

PHILADELPHIA, June 8, 2022—Leigh M. Skipper, who is currently chief federal defender for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, will join Duane Morris on June 27, 2022, as a partner in the firm’s Trial Practice Group in its Philadelphia office. Skipper was appointed chief federal defender for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in 2009 and will conclude this role on June 17, 2022.

“We are all about attracting marquee talent to Duane Morris, and we are excited that Leigh has chosen our firm for this next phase of his career,” said Duane Morris Chairman and CEO Matthew A. Taylor. “Our firm is well-known for the skill of our trial attorneys and, in particular, our sought-after white-collar team offers a national scope and partners with incredible depth of knowledge and government experience. I’m delighted to welcome Leigh to Duane Morris.”

“With his strong courtroom experience leading high-profile criminal cases, Leigh will be an appreciated, strategic addition to our White-Collar Criminal Defense, Corporate Investigations and Regulatory Compliance Group,” said Sharon Caffrey, partner and co-chair of the firm’s Trial Practice Group. Wayne Mack, partner and co-chair of the Trial Practice Group added, “Leigh’s broad skillset as an attorney and thought leader on federal criminal practice will benefit both our clients and our Duane Morris colleagues.”

During his tenure, Skipper oversaw one of the largest federal defender offices in the country and was responsible for the training, strategy and supervision of more than 65 attorneys as well as investigators, technology and administrative support staff in the trial, appellate and capital habeas units. He successfully defended hundreds of cases involving fraud, tax, corruption, drug and other offenses and tried approximately 35 federal jury trials. Skipper was responsible for the training, management and selection of the attorneys on the Criminal Justice Act Panel and was accountable for all operational matters, including budgetary and personnel decisions. He is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and chair of the Public Defender Committee. Skipper is also an adjunct professor at Drexel University School of Law, teaching classes on sentencing and federal criminal law. He is a past president of the Barrister’s Association of Philadelphia and the National Association of Federal Defenders and has served as a past chairman of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Judicial Selection and Retention Committee.

“Duane Morris provides a national platform for my work, and its white-collar division is both well-known and highly regarded,” noted Skipper. “Lots of firms offer those capabilities, of course, but what drew me to Duane Morris is its collegial, inclusive and collaborative culture, which is deeply ingrained in the firm’s long history. More immediately, though, the firm’s growth trajectory has been accelerated by the clear strategic vision of its leaders to deliver innovative services to clients and career development opportunities for its attorneys.”

Skipper is a graduate of Howard University School of Law (J.D., 1986) and the University of Connecticut (B.S., 1983).

About Duane Morris

Duane Morris LLP provides innovative solutions to today’s multifaceted legal and business challenges through the collegial and collaborative culture of its more than 800 attorneys in offices across the United States and internationally. The firm represents a broad array of clients, spanning all major practices and industries. Duane Morris has been recognized by BTI Consulting as both a client service leader and a highly recommended law firm.