|
Seamus Duffy is chair of the Communications Litigation Practice Group and a managing partner of the firm, resident in our Philadelphia office. He joined Drinker Biddle in 1988 following a one-year federal district court clerkship in the United States District Court in Philadelphia. Seamus concentrates his practice on class action and other complex business litigation, with a particular emphasis on litigation involving the telecommunications industry. He also has significant experience in securities litigation, including private class action and SEC enforcement proceedings.
Telecommunications. Seamus represents telecommunications carriers in a variety of complex business disputes. He has particular depth of experience in representing wireless telephone and cable television enterprises. Seamus counsels clients on issues such as state regulatory incursions into the federal domain or assertion of federal preemption of state law claims in asserted class actions.
Government Litigation. Seamus assists telecommunications providers in resisting the improper assertion of state authority over federally-regulated aspects of the industry, both by bringing actions for declaratory and injunctive relief and by defending against preempted claims. He has managed industry efforts to overturn preempted state legislation and regulations. He has also defended carriers against claims of failure to comply with preempted state laws brought by public utilities commissions and state attorneys general.
Class Action Litigation. Seamus has defended telecommunications carriers in class action litigation nationwide, on issues ranging from sales practices to quality of service to rate structure. He has extensive experience in disputes involving corporate governance and business issues unique to the telecommunications sector. He has represented carriers in state and federal court cases across the continental United States, in federal multidistrict litigation proceedings, and in proceedings before the FCC.
In General. Seamus regularly lectures on trial advocacy at programs sponsored by the National Institute for Trial Advocacy. He has also lectured at the Pennsylvania Bar Institute on litigation, trial practice and ethical issues arising from the representation of corporate clients. | 