Joseph T. Walsh has joined Duane Morris LLP as a partner in the firm’s Trial Practice Group in its Houston and New York offices. Prior to joining Duane Morris, Walsh was assistant general counsel at Exxon Mobil Corporation.
“Joe Walsh is a nationally prominent litigator and environmental attorney and a great example of the type of marquee talent who adds significantly to our platform,” said Duane Morris Chairman and CEO Matthew A. Taylor. “After nearly two decades of leadership at ExxonMobil, we are very pleased that Joe selected our firm to develop the next phase of his dynamic career and secure the best results for our valued clients.”
“With significant and broad experience as a first-chair trial attorney at the state and federal levels and deep knowledge of regulatory and policy issues, we are excited to add Joe’s talents to our practice area,” said Sharon L. Caffrey, co-chair of Duane Morris’ Trial Practice Group. “Joe has worked with many current Duane Morris partners and attorneys in his career, and we look forward to his contributions as a member of our firm,” added Stephen H. Sutro, co-chair of Duane Morris’ Trial Practice Group.
“With strong relationships across Duane Morris and several practice groups already, Joe will be a great addition to our Houston and New York offices. We are thrilled to add Joe to our team in Texas,” said Thomas W. Sankey, managing partner of the firm’s Houston office.
During his career, Walsh has held several positions managing lawyers across ExxonMobil’s core legal areas, including environmental, regulatory, commercial, real estate divestment, operational and manufacturing, emergency response, claims/litigation and global business services for 14,000 employees in eight international locations. In his previous role as the company’s general counsel for downstream companies, he served as the chief legal officer for the world’s largest refining operations and the marketing and sales operations of petroleum products supporting $200 billion-plus in revenues and more than 35,000 employees in 120 countries. Prior to joining ExxonMobil, Walsh was a trial attorney representing Fortune 500 companies in federal and state courts and before regulatory agencies, including toxic tort and class action claims.
“Duane Morris is focused in securing the best results for its clients every time―with top lawyers and staff, terrific work and a large footprint that permits scale and cost-effective representation for its growing client base. Duane Morris offers me an incredible platform and opportunity to reenter private practice after a rewarding career at ExxonMobil. I am thrilled to be joining the firm,” said Walsh.
Walsh is a graduate of Seton Hall University School of Law (J.D., 1989) and Boston College (B.A., 1986).