Burns White announced the addition of experienced trial attorneys Ruth R. Wessel  as a Member and Kirsten B. Hare as an Associate to its Philadelphia office. Both attorneys formerly practiced at Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel LLP, defending hospitals, physicians and nurses in medical malpractice litigation.

Ms. Wessel co-chaired Obermayer’s Medical Malpractice Group. She has more than 30 years of experience defending hospitals, physicians and other hospital staff in complex malpractice claims.

Ms. Hare brings more than 25 years of experience in medical malpractice defense to the Health Care and Long-Term Care Group. Aside from medical malpractice litigation, her practice involves independent arbitrations through the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Compulsory Arbitration Program.

“We are excited to have Ruth and Kirsten join our team,” said Managing Member of Burns White’s Philadelphia office Jeffrey S. Adler. “They are a natural fit with our growing health care practice and the continued expansion of this office.”

“For us, Burns White just seemed like a logical progression for my practice,” said Ms. Wessel. “The firm’s distinguished representation in the health care field, its ability to support my clients with its large roster of attorney talent of varying experience levels and its collegial company culture are just some of the things that led me to make this move.”

The addition of Ms. Wessel and Ms. Hare mark the firm’s first Philadelphia lateral hire in 2016, but is its third lateral hire overall in the professional liability area of practice in the past year. Burns White brought on board legal malpractice defense Members James R. Schadel and Scott R. Eberle in August 2015, followed by medical malpractice defense Members Joseph A. Macerelli and John A. Bass as well as Associates Ralph M. Monico and Russell D. Giancola to its Pittsburgh office in January 2016. The firm furthered its Pittsburgh bench strength through merging with 11-attorney boutique litigation firm Dapper, Baldasare, Benson, Behling & Kane, PC at the beginning of this year.  

Burns White LLC is a full-service law firm that provides corporate and litigation counsel to clients operating across a broad spectrum of industries nationwide. Harnessing the collective skill of more than 130 attorneys, the law firm operates offices in Delaware, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.