Hill Ward Henderson and its attorneys drew praise for the tenth consecutive year in the 2011 edition of the Chambers USA Guide: America's Leading Business Lawyers, published by Chambers & Partners. Chambers researchers spend a year conducting thousands of in-depth interviews with key in-house counsel, firm clients, and leading private practice attorneys in each U.S. state to obtain a consistent market view of which firms and attorneys are considered leaders in their field.
Hill Ward Henderson’s Commercial Litigation, Corporate, and Real Estate practice groups all received top rankings within the state of Florida in the Chambers USA 2011 Directory.
Published editorials praise the firm's practice areas as follows:
"This Tampa firm is famed for its group of well-respected trial lawyers. The approximately 55-lawyer team handles complex commercial and business tort litigation. The group offers expertise in a wide variety of areas, including mass torts, IP, healthcare, real estate, employment and antitrust litigation. Notable clients include R.J. Reynolds and Chrysler. 'A very deep firm with great litigators.'"
"Clients praise this Tampa firm for its deep bench and strength in working as a team. The group of 15 acts on noteworthy transactions, and has real expertise in venture capital matters. Clients of the firm include Ballast Point Ventures, Lifestyle Family Fitness and Healthcare Information Technology. 'Hill Ward Henderson is large enough to provide a wide array of talent and knowledge, but small enough to understand our business and provide timely service.'"
"This high-quality Tampa-based firm has a broad-based real estate practice. It is successful in acquisitions and development, financing, commercial leasing, zoning, tax structuring and real estate litigation, and the team has an active set of clients in the hotel and entertainment industries. The group has worked increasingly on distressed deals in recent times. 'A great organization. It provides a high level of expertise and is extremely responsive to the needs of the client.'"
Published editorials praise the firm's attorneys as follows...
"Founding partner Benjamin Hill, III is 'simply magnificent,' and enjoys a great reputation for his expertise in complex litigation, including professional liability, product liability and general commercial matters. He represents Raytheon in a class action pending in federal court relating to groundwater contamination emanating from one of its facilities located in Pinellas County, Florida."
"Dennis Waggoner is the practice leader of the litigation group and well regarded for his work on complex litigation matters. He is representing OSI Restaurant Partners in various contract and fraud-related claims."
"'He is a pragmatic adviser and someone I would hire without reservation,' says his clients. David Felman works on securities offerings, venture capital investments and M&A, recently representing Peopleclick in its sale to an affiliate of Bedford Funding, a private equity firm that specializes in investments in the software and IT industry."
"According to clients, Alton Ward of Hill Ward Henderson is 'experienced, smart and detail-oriented.' He focuses on employee benefits, often advising on pensions, profit-sharing plans, ESOPs and voluntary employee beneficiary associations, with particular expertise in tax exempt and healthcare systems."
"Mark Danzi is 'cordial, educated and principled.' He recently represented HealthPlan Holdings in its acquisition of GEMGroup."
"'Phenomenal, loyal, knowledgeable and detail-oriented,' Thomas Henderson is 'creative with solutions to issues.' His diverse practice centers on the acquisition and disposition of commercial real estate. He acts for the School Board of Hillsborough County, recently winning a major victory for it at trial."
"Brian Sparks of Hill Ward Henderson is an established force when it comes to trusts, estates, asset protection and privacy planning matters. Sources say he is 'smart and gracious, and always takes the long-term view.'"