Press Release
Wilson Elser Grows National Medical Malpractice Group with Six New Laterals
Three in New York City office; Two in Chicago; and One in Louisville
NEW YORK (June 8, 2011) – National law firm Wilson Elser has beefed up its Medical Malpractice and Health Care Practice Group, having recently hired six new laterals – three in New York City, two in Chicago and one in Louisville, Kentucky.
Robin N. Gregory, partner, heads up the recently hired team in New York that includes Vanessa M. Morales, partner, and Patrick Murphy, of counsel. Michael E. Zidek and Scott D. Hammer, both of counsel, joined Wilson Elser’s Chicago office, and Marcia L. Pearson, of counsel, is working in Louisville.
Ms. Gregory returned to Wilson Elser after a 14-year stretch with the firm from 1994 to 2008. She is a senior litigator and trial attorney who has managed and handled multimillion-dollar medical malpractice cases on behalf of doctors from nationally recognized New York medical institutions. In addition to medical malpractice, her practice has focused on defense litigation involving assisted living and nursing home care, attorney liability, product liability and organ transplantation. She has taken 45 civil defense verdicts.
She has been appointed to the American Board of Trial Advocates and the New York Supreme Court Tort Advisory Committee. She also has been selected for inclusion in the New York Super Lawyers, 2007 to present.
Ms. Gregory earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University and her Juris Doctor degree from Villanova University Law School.
Ms. Morales is also a returning Wilson Elser attorney, having been a senior medical malpractice associate with Ms. Gregory between 2006 and 2008. Her practice focuses on the defense of a major New York City hospital system and its affiliated physicians, nurses and other medical professionals. In addition, she represents lawyers and dentists in professional liability litigation.
Ms. Morales earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton University, where she authored a psychology thesis about the health care industry, and her Juris Doctor degree from St. John’s University School of Law, where she was a member of New York International Law Review.
Mr. Murphy has focused his practice on medical malpractice cases and has represented physicians from a range of specialties, including maternal fetal medicine, neurosurgery, neonatology, neurology, psychiatry, sonography, colorectal surgery and oral surgery. He graduated cum laude from the State University of New York at Albany with a Bachelor of Science degree, and he earned his Juris Doctor degree from Albany Law School of Union University.
Mr. Zidek’s practice focuses on medical malpractice, as well as legal malpractice, professional liability defense and general liability work.
Prior to joining Wilson Elser, Mr. Zidek was a partner at a Chicago-based national law firm where, for 20 years, he represented defendants in his core practice areas. Earlier in his career, he worked for two insurance defense firms in Chicago. Mr. Zidek is AV® Preeminent™ rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from John Carroll University and received his Juris Doctor degree from Creighton University School of Law in Omaha, Nebraska.
Mr. Hammer’s primary area of practice encompasses representing mental health professionals in commercial contracts and malpractice, licensing and disciplinary matters. He is currently chair of the Chicago Bar Association’s Mental Health and Disability Law Committee, and he frequently lectures on risk management for mental health professionals at DePaul University, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, The Chicago School and Argosy University.
He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University and earned his Juris Doctor degree from John Marshall Law School.
Ms. Pearson’s practice focuses on representing owners and operators of long-term care facilities, assisted living facilities and hospitals located throughout Kentucky in lawsuits that involve allegations of medical negligence, corporate negligence, administrative negligence, inadequate staffing, wrongful death and statutory violations of residents’ rights. She also routinely assists her health care clients with internal investigations, regulatory compliance and pre-suit production of medical records. Her practice also encompasses employment-related matters.
Ms. Pearson earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Franklin College of Indiana and her Juris Doctor degree from UNC School of Law.
She is a former board member of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kentuckiana and remains involved with the organization as its personnel adviser and Big Sister.