Lewis Rice Announces Neal F. Perryman as Chairman of the Litigation Department

Lewis Rice LLC has named Neal F. Perryman Chairman of the Litigation Department. This position was previously held by Richard B. Walsh Jr. who succeeded Thomas C. Erb as Firm Chairman earlier this month.

Perryman is a longtime member of the Management and Recruiting Committees at Lewis Rice, and is a founding member of the Firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee.

“Neal is a natural choice to step into the role as Chair of our Litigation Department,” said Walsh, Firm Chairman. “He is a fierce advocate for our clients and has a long track record of success, both in and out of court. More than that, Neal is a wonderful mentor at Lewis Rice. He will do an excellent job leading our diverse team of litigators.”

Perryman focuses his practice on labor and employment law, but he also regularly practices in the areas of Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) litigation, complex commercial litigation, appellate practice, education law, and municipal law. He defends employers and management in personnel-related disputes before state and federal courts, arbitration panels, and administrative agencies. In addition, Perryman represents clients in other types of complex litigation matters, and he has successfully tried cases for clients in various jurisdictions, including in "bet-the-company"-type matters. Perryman has successfully argued numerous appeals in various state and federal appeals courts.

“Neal is an incredible litigator,” said John J. Riffle, Corporate Department Chairman. “He is also a skilled counselor to his clients. There is no playbook for COVID-19. During this pandemic, he and the labor and employment group have done a masterful job advising employers that need to prioritize employee health and wellness while continuing to meet business and customer needs.”

Perryman is a fellow in the Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, Litigation Counsel of America. In 2016, Perryman received the Lifetime Alumni Achievement Award from his alma mater Westminster College for his "significant accomplishments and contributions to society." He is a member of various boards, serving in a number of leadership positions, including the Board of Trustees of Westminster College, as a board member of the Great Rivers Greenway District, as a member of the St. Louis Metropolitan Zoological Park Advisory Board, as a member of the Board of Visitors for Southern Illinois University School of Law, and as a board member of the St. Louis-Nanjing Sister Cities Committee, Inc.

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