Founded over 25 years ago by three prominent litigation attorneys from a major Philadelphia law firm, Conrad O'Brien has established itself as one of the leading litigation practices in Pennsylvania and around the country. Attorneys at Conrad O'Brien understand what it takes to succeed because the entire firm is dedicated to one purpose: providing first-rate litigation services to the country's leading businesses. The firm achieves that mission by drawing on the extraordinary credentials and experience of its lawyers.

Widely recognized for their skills as trial lawyers, one-quarter of the firm's shareholders are Fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers. The firm's roster includes the Chief Judge Emeritus of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; the former U.S. Attorney and First Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers; faculty members of the National Institute for Trial Advocacy; two former presidents of the Philadelphia Association of Defense Lawyers; a former Chief Assistant Solicitor for the City of Philadelphia; four shareholders are selected in The Best Lawyers in America; and numerous lawyers with decades of combined experience in some of the largest law firms in the country.

The firm's clients range from Fortune 500 companies to new entrepreneurial businesses, who value Conrad O'Brien's cost-effective litigation and dedication to client interests.


Recent Honors Include

Chambers USA 2010 Recognizes Conrad O’Brien PC as One of the Top Ranked Litigation Firms in Pennsylvania; Individual Attorneys in Top Ranks

Conrad O’Brien PC is pleased to announce that Chambers and Partners has again selected the firm as among the top ranked general commercial litigation firms in Pennsylvania. Below are excerpts praising both Conrad O’Brien and individual attorneys of Conrad O’Brien that were ranked by Chambers and Partners in their 2010 edition:

Conrad O’Brien continues to be considered one of Pennsylvania’s leading litigation boutiques. Clients describe the firm as being “forward-thinking, adaptive and attuned to the needs of our business.” 

Nancy Gellman is praised for having “a mind like a bear trap”. She serves as vice chair of the firm and handles a range of complex civil litigation. Jim Rohn is “a wonderful litigator who knows when to fold his cards and when to stay in the game.” He is chair of the firm and has experience in both civil and criminal litigation. Jack Guernsey “has good negotiating skills and can balance legal and business factors.” He specializes in complex commercial and tort litigation. Howard Klein has a broad civil litigation practice. He was praised by one source as “responsive, creative and able to keep a client’s objectives in mind.” William O’Brien is “a master at getting his message across to judges and juries.”

Chambers Rankings: For twenty years, Chambers and Partners have published the leading guides to the legal profession. The company has over 100 full-time researchers who interview thousands of lawyers and their clients around the world, identifying the world’s leading lawyers and law firms. Rankings are based on interviews with more than 10,000 lawyers and clients. The qualities on which rankings are assessed include firm-wide strengths, areas of expertise, and reputation in the market.

The Best Lawyers in America 2010

Best Lawyers in America 2010 has named nine attorneys from Conrad O'Brien for inclusion in its 2010 edition. Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. First published in 1983, it has helped lawyers and clients find legal counsel in unfamiliar jurisdictions or unfamiliar specialties. Best Lawyers compiles lists of outstanding attorneys by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. For the new U.S. edition, more than 24,126 leading attorneys cast more than 2.8 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in the same and related specialities. Because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be included, and because of the rigorous and transparent methodology used by Best Lawyers, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers "the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice."

Steven Naifeh, Managing Editor of Best Lawyers, says, "We continue to believe - as we have believed for 26 years - that recognition by one's peers is the most meaningful form of recognition in the legal profession."

Louis C. Bechtle (2009)
Alternative Dispute Resolution

Nicholas M. Centrella (2010)
Legal Malpractice Law

Louis W. Fryman (2010)
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law

Nancy J. Gellman (1999) (10)
Antitrust Law (Defendants)
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
Legal Malpractice Law

John A. Guernsey (2010)
Commercial Litigation

Patricia M. Hamill (2010)
Commercial Litigation

Howard M. Klein (2007)
Commercial Litigation
Mass Tort Litigation
Medical Malpractice Law

William J. O’Brien (1993) (10)
Antitrust Law (Defendants)
Bet-the-Company Litigation
Commercial Litigation
First Amendment Law
Personal Injury Litigation (Defendants)

James J. Rohn (2006)
Commercial Litigation
Criminal Defense: White-Collar

(Year) First year the lawyer was listed.
(10) Lawyers who have been listed in Best Lawyers for at least 10 years.

Guide to the Leading US Litigation Lawyers 2005

Conrad O'Brien PC chairman and founding partner William J. O'Brien, and founding partner Nancy J. Gellman are among 26 lawyers in Pennsylvania, and 592 attorneys nationwide, who were recognized in the inaugural edition of Guide to the Leading U.S. Litigation Lawyers. The publication lists attorneys who were nominated by clients and peers in their respective fields. The nomination process included the distribution of 3,000 questionnaires to senior practitioners, clients, peers and the independent research of the Legal Media Group, which has published international guides to individual lawyers since 1994.