Attorneys

Joel Max Eads, partner

Joel Max Eads Partner Widener University School of Law, cum laude, J.D. 1994; Dickinson College, B.A., cum laude 1990; Georgetown University Institute of Comparative Political and Economics Systems, with honors 1989; Mendelev Institute, Moscow, Russia 1990. Resident Office: Philadelphia Download vCard

While at Widener Law, Mr. Eads was first a member, then an editor, of the Widener Law Review. Upon graduation, Mr. Eads joined a litigation boutique firm in Philadelphia where in his first two years he successfully arbitrated and tried several and varied cases, including matters involving professional malpractice, business torts, commercial disputes and employment cases involving age and gender discrimination. Mr. Eads argued and obtained affirmance of two dispositive motions in the Pennsylvania Superior Court.

In 1997, Mr. Eads joined the predecessor to DLA Piper, Piper & Marbury, where he litigated, arbitrated and tried numerous complex commercial disputes in state and federal courts throughout the country on behalf of clients in the insurance, pharmaceutical, telecommunication, technology, investment banking and auto manufacturing industries. Mr. Eads handled a broad range of high-exposure securities, contract, employment, product liability, commercial tort, class action and insurance coverage and bad faith matters.

Mr. Eads' experience includes

  • Representation of closely-held corporations against claims of majority oppression of minority shareholders;
  • Representation of Fortune 100 communications company in diverse commercial disputes, including contract, claims under the Federal Communications Act and re-seller disputes;
  • Representation of insurers in coverage and bad faith litigation;
  • Representation of employers to enforce non-compete contracts;
  • Representation of employers against age, gender and race discrimination claims;
  • Representation of reinsurers to rescind policies;
  • Representation of telecommunications company against class action trespass claims;
  • Representation of pharmaceutical company in class action medical device litigation;
  • Representation of multiple auto manufacturers against warranty and consumer fraud claims;
  • Representation of private equity partnerships in commercial tort and contract disputes.

In 2002, Mr. Eads litigated a large surety dispute with fraud and bad faith claims against (now partners) William Morison and Marc Derewetzky in Los Angeles Superior Court, which ultimately led in 2005 to Mr. Eads opening Morison Holden Derewetzky & Prough LLP Pennsylvania office.

Mr. Eads is admitted to the bars of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the State of New Jersey, as well as their United States District Courts and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Eads has litigated cases in 12 states and nine federal jurisdictions. Mr. Eads is a member of the board of HelpUsAdopt.com and on the Annual Fund Committee of The Shipley School.