Welsh & Recker Adds Dennis R. Suplee as Of Counsel

Welsh & Recker, a premiere boutique litigation firm, bolsters its deep bench of preeminent courtroom talent with the addition of Dennis R. Suplee, whose vast experience as an esteemed trial attorney, author and legal-industry leader spans more than five decades. Suplee, who joins Welsh & Recker in an Of Counsel role, will maintain an active arbitration, mediation and special master practice, while serving as an invaluable resource for the firm’s clients and attorneys.

Suplee officially joined Wesh & Recker September 1 from Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, where he served as firm chair from 1992 to 1998.

The move marks the latest in a series of strategic acquisitions to expand Welsh & Recker’s services and solidify its standing as the go-to courtroom firm of its size in Philadelphia. Earlier this year, Welsh & Recker added key litigation depth by welcoming Samuel W. Silver and Bruce P. Merenstein as Partners specializing in civil and appellate matters. With the addition of Suplee, Welsh & Recker’s ranks now include four members of both the American College of Trial Lawyers and the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, invitation-only organizations that seek to admit the very best of the trial bar.

“Dennis is one of the most accomplished and revered attorneys in the country,” said Catherine M. Recker, founding partner of Welsh & Recker and a member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Trial Lawyers. “Lawyers of all backgrounds recognize Dennis’s immense contributions to the legal profession, and his wealth of knowledge, expansive courtroom experience and sterling reputation embody all the qualities a law firm needs to succeed. We are thrilled to welcome him to our team.”

Throughout his career, Suplee has handled a wide range of civil matters, including antitrust and RICO cases, countless commercial disputes, trademark and patent cases, insurance coverage litigation and product liability claims. He formerly served as both a Regent of the American College of Trial Lawyers and President of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers, and is the author of The Deposition Handbook, a leading resource for lawyers and the definitive text on taking and defending depositions, which is set to publish its sixth edition later this year. Suplee currently acts as an American Arbitration Association arbitrator and mediator in complex commercial disputes.

“I look forward to growing my practice in a thriving boutique environment that values courtroom success and experience,” Suplee said. “Joining Welsh & Recker allows me the opportunity to closely collaborate with brilliant and accomplished colleagues across a wide range of sophisticated white-collar, civil and appellate matters.”

Among his most notable cases, Suplee secured a $72.5 million award on behalf of his client in an AAA case involving the breach of an agreement to settle patent infringement claims. He also successfully represented UPS in two high-profile cases before the U.S. Department of Transportation, including a dispute over air-operating rights between the U.S. and Japan, then valued at $100 million per year. In 2018, Suplee was tapped by a federal judge in the NFL Concussion Litigation to represent the families of 45 deceased players facing a statute of limitations defense to the recovery of monetary benefits.  Those cases settled for a confidential amount after being fully prepared for disposition.