Summary: After two founders began arguing over the firm nine months ago, they have finally reached an agreement that will allow the firm to become two new and separate firms.
An ugly case between the founders of the firm Napoli Bern Ripka Shkolnik will end with a split in the firm to two firms, Napoli Shkolnik and BernRipka. The case has been unfolding for nine months in the Manhattan courtroom of Justice Eileen Bransten.
Paul Napoli originally sued Marc Bern for trying to squeeze him out of the firm while Napoli was being treated in the hospital for leukemia. Bern argues that when he took over the day-to-day management for Napoli that he discovered financial and ethical misconduct that Napoli had done.
There have been 816 docket entry filings for the case. The settlement will appoint Mark Zauderer, partner at Flemming Zulack Williamson Zauderer as a referee in the liquidation and split of the firm. Now Bransten has to approve the settlement.
The firm is headquartered in the Empire State building with around 80 lawyers. They worked with clients on cases of mass tort, asbestos, and medical malpractice. They claim to have around 20,000 clients. The two firms will have new locations.
Hunter Shkolnik claims that the majority of the original staff will be hired by their firm whereas Bern’s team claims that “every lawyer he sought from the previous firm, along with many other dedicated professionals” will be joining BernRipka.
Napoli and Bern have been associated since 1997. Napoli will continue to manage the offices in Illinois and Los Angeles and can expand the New York, Delaware, Maryland, and Pennsylvania locations. They will continue to focus their practice in serious injury and business litigation cases.
Source: http://www.newyorklawjournal.com/home/id=1202734843199
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