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John McIntyre has a diverse national litigation practice. He joined Porter Wright in 2021 after 19 years at Reed Smith LLP, where he was a partner. In March, he and Kristen Del Sole were appointed co-partners of the firm’s downtown office, responsible for managing the office and hiring attorneys to practice in a collaborative environment. McIntyre’s experience involves class action, financial services litigation, breach of contract, patent and license disputes and other complicated cases.
What attracted you to the field of law?
I was always intrigued by the challenge of going into a courtroom and trying cases before judges and juries. Litigation has also provided me with outstanding opportunities to learn more about my clients’ businesses.
What do you see as your biggest accomplishment during your career?
There are two cases that stand out. I represented Bayer in the largest case of its type in U.S. history against the Department of Justice that concerned $175 million in research tax credits. The case involved cutting-edge legal issues, including the use of statistical sampling to resolve claims against the U.S. Government. After more than a decade of litigation, I led the negotiation of what became a very favorable settlement for Bayer. In 2020, I was lead trial counsel in a case against my client Wilmington Trust Co. in federal court in Delaware in which the plaintiffs were seeking more than $19 million. Not only did we win a complete defense verdict at trial, but the plaintiffs’ appeals were rejected by both the Third Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. We are now pursuing a motion to enable Wilmington Trust to recover approximately $3.5 million in fees and costs that it spent in defending the claims over more than six years.
What’s the biggest challenge for the legal profession in the next few years?
I think the shift to remote work in many firms is going to adversely affect the development of newer lawyers. Most of what we learn as lawyers comes from working closely with our colleagues, which is much more challenging over the phone or video.
What has changed for you since becoming co-partner-in-charge in March?
I have been much more involved in recruiting and hiring since then. I am thrilled with the great people we have been able to add and excited about some of the candidates we are still talking with.
What’s the best TV or film about a lawyer?
I am a big fan of the courtroom scenes in both “My Cousin Vinny” and “A Few Good Men.” I would love to see a combined sequel in which Joe Pesci cross-examines Jack Nicholson.