Peter L. Haviland, an accomplished civil trial lawyer, has joined Ballard Spahr as a litigation partner, firm Chair Mark Stewart announced today.

Mr. Haviland has tried cases in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts throughout the country and has argued a wide range of appeals. His arrival is the latest development in the continuing expansion of Ballard Spahr’s national trial practice and of its Los Angeles office. He joins the firm from Kaye Scholer, where he was Engagement Partner for E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.

“Peter belongs to that top tier of litigators whose wide-ranging trial experience and superb judgment instill absolute confidence in clients,” Mr. Stewart said. “He is in good company at Ballard and will be an outstanding asset to our trial practice firmwide, and a great addition to our California offices.”

Mr. Haviland will focus on high-stakes trials and appeals. His current docket includes product liability and commercial litigation matters for DuPont and mass tort/environmental claims for ExxonMobil Corporation. He has extensive experience in entertainment and media industry litigation, and has served as outside general counsel for several recorded music companies.

“We are fortunate to have a deep bench of litigation talent at the firm and we are focused on growing our team,” said John B. Langel, Chair of Ballard Spahr’s Litigation Department. “We opened our San Diego office in 2010 with a talented group of lawyers led by Thomas W. McNamara who focus primarily on white collar defense, regulatory enforcement, and complex litigation. We bolstered our government enforcement and investigations capability there when we brought on Sanjay Bhandari, a former federal prosecutor. Peter is the latest feather in our cap and we are thrilled he has joined us.”

“My clients who had worked with Mark Stewart and Ballard Spahr spoke highly of the firm and felt I would be a good fit. They were right,” Mr. Haviland said. “The firm shares my values, including a real commitment to diversity and cultural competence in large law firms. I’m very glad to be here.”

Mr. Haviland has served in a number of professional and service organizations, including the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association, the Constitutional Rights Foundation, and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and has prosecuted domestic violence and other criminal matters on a pro bono basis for the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office.

He was named one of “America’s Top Black Lawyers” by Black Enterprise Magazine and is a former clerk for the Honorable Warren Ferguson of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Mr. Haviland speaks Spanish and Portuguese.

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