PHILADELPHIA – July 26, 2021 — Cozen O’Connor is honored to announce the hire of former Toll Brothers Vice President and Litigation and Risk Management Counsel Wendy F. Klein Keane to the Construction Law Group in Philadelphia. The former vice president and litigation and risk management counsel brings to this nationally recognized construction practice close to two decades of distinguished experience having managed hundreds of litigations and arbitrations through discovery, hearings, appeals, and/or settlement.
Klein Keane began her career at Pepper Hamilton (n/k/a Troutman Pepper) where she was an associate in the Health Effects Litigation practice before ultimately moving to the Construction Practice Group. It was there where she prosecuted more than $30 million of claims and the defenses of a $50 million counterclaim on behalf of a major general contractor regarding a condominium conversion of the historic Palmolive Building in downtown Chicago, and $40 million of claims and defenses of a counterclaim regarding a U.S. government construction project in Taiwan. Both cases resulted in highly favorable arbitration decisions in favor of the clients.
“I have worked closely with Wendy when we were at Pepper Hamilton and followed her career at Toll Brothers. That she is returning to our practice is an unexpected and terrific development. Everyone here who has worked with Wendy is thrilled,” said Bruce W. Ficken, Cozen O’Connor’s chair of the Construction Group. “Wendy has great judgment and strong interpersonal skills. That she has seen so many sides of this business makes her invaluable.”
“It is always wonderful when we can reunite former colleagues who have previously demonstrated such a high level of success. It allows them to become an integral part of the Cozen O’Connor family that much faster and is a tremendous benefit for current Cozen O’Connor clients,” said James H. Heller, co-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Commercial Litigation Department. Wendy is a tenacious litigator and trusted adviser. Her keen insight into the intricacies of construction litigation will be a powerful new tool in the nationally recognized Commercial Litigation Practice that we continue to rapidly expand.”
Klein Keane has served as Toll Brothers’ lead attorney responsible for day-to-day counseling and overseeing the litigation and arbitration for various homebuilding divisions, as well as Toll Architecture and Toll Integrated Systems. She has provided general legal advice on issues including litigations/arbitrations, sales, contract drafting and negotiation, community association transition claims, risk exposure/analysis, internal reserves, internal investigations and OSHA related issues. She was instrumental during the COVID pandemic establishing back to work policies and risk mitigation.
Klein Keane has done extensive pro bono child advocacy work for children in the Philadelphia Family Court through the Support Center for Child Advocates. She received the 2020 Distinguished Advocate Award from the Support Center for Child Advocates for her unflagging support of at-risk youth. She was also a 2012 and 2013 Pennsylvania Rising Star (Construction Litigation).
“Coming to a nationally distinguished construction practice that Cozen O’Connor offers and being able to rejoin former colleagues and mentors is too great an opportunity to pass. I am confident that my wide-ranging background with experience covering litigation and arbitration, construction defect claims including stucco and water intrusion, regulatory issues, corporate governance and investigations, and risk and compliance will be an asset for Cozen O’Connor clients,” Klein Keane said. “I welcome the opportunity to join the industry’s best litigators and advising and protecting Cozen O’Connor clients in an incredibly challenging environment.”
Klein Keane earned her J.D. at the Georgetown University Law Center where she graduated cum laude. She was an Olin Law & Economics Fellow. Klein Keane earned her B.S. in international area studies at Drexel University where she graduated summa cum laude with second honors.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 825 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle-market companies, Cozen O’Connor serves its clients’ needs through 32 offices across two continents.