Alumni
A Note from the Firm
Effective January 2018, Firm Vice Chair and Trial Practice Group Chair Matthew Taylor became Duane Morris’ ninth Chairman and CEO since the Firm’s founding in 1904. John Soroko, who has served as Chairman and CEO for the last 10 years, became Chairman Emeritus and returns on a full-time basis to his litigation, appellate and mediation practice. While Chairman and CEO from 2008 to 2017, John oversaw the growth of the Firm in lawyer headcount, new markets, international expansion and financial performance. In addition, Tom Servodidio, Chair of Duane Morris’ Employment, Labor, Benefits and Immigration Practice Group, has assumed the role of Firm Vice Chair.
“I am extremely pleased that Matt Taylor will be taking over the leadership of Duane Morris,” John said. “Having discussed this transition within the Firm over the past year, I know, as do all our partners, that Matt will do an outstanding job leading Duane Morris. After 10 years as Chair, I do see this as a good time for me to return to the full-time practice of law, and I really look forward to doing that,” John said. “With Matt’s background of having served both as our Vice Chair and as the long-time and very effective head of our largest practice group, he has the strong leadership skills, including, most importantly, the ‘people skills’ to keep Duane Morris moving in the right direction. Because Matt has so successfully managed a practice group of 300 trial lawyers, he is particularly well-prepared to lead our Firm. I know that Matt and Tom Servodidio will be a very effective team.”
“It is humbling to be asked to lead such a great Firm that has been so successful for well over 100 years,” Matt said. “It will be my focus to continue the success achieved by Duane Morris during the 20 years since I joined as a senior associate in 1997. We are in a particularly good position to build and strengthen our platform with quality lawyers in many practice areas to better meet our clients’ needs. We plan on taking advantage of those significant assets, and to be smart in how we grow. I see my job as being an advocate for all our current lawyers to expand their practices and also, importantly, to attract new lawyers to further strengthen our Firm.”
Over the past decade, in addition to focusing his growth agenda on sustainability, diversity and international reach, John spurred the Firm’s efforts to enhance relationships with alumni which included establishing an annual alumni CLE event and networking reception, and increasing outreach via communications such as the Alumni Spotlight.
Matt and the Firm plan to build on that foundation and continue the momentum by announcing a new initiative that formally connects our alumni with the Firm’s celebrated Pro Bono Program. Learn more about the Duane Morris Alumni Give Back initiative and how you can get involved.
“Duane Morris’ Alumni Program has been a terrific platform for maintaining and growing relationships with our international network of colleagues and friends.” Matt said. “We look forward to new opportunities to strengthen our connections, share accomplishments and enhance our Alumni Program.”
Matt Taylor can be reached at mataylor@duanemorris.com.
John Soroko can be reached at soroko@duanemorris.com.
Matthew A. Taylor and John J. Soroko