News
Kravit, Hovel & Krawczyk Selected by Benchmark as Leading Wisconsin Litigation Firm; Kravit Selected as Local Litigation Star
The debut edition of "Benchmark: Litigation, the definitive guide to America's leading litigation firms and attorneys" (2008 edition) selected Kravit, Hovel & Krawczyk as one of only nine law firms in Wisconsin to be designated a Leading Litigation Firm. Steve Kravit was selected as one of just 17 Wisconsin "Local Litigation Stars" in the same edition.
The Benchmark report states:
"Litigation attorneys throughout the state enthusiastically recommended Kravit, Hovel & Krawczyk as "the top boutique in the state." The firm recently reached a favorable settlement for Red Granite Advisors and its principals in a suit brought by Baird. Other firm clients include AIG Technical Services Group, BP America, Kia Motors, Aurora Healthcare, The Marcus Corporation and Hunter Engineering Company.
Peers said Stephen Kravit is a "tough litigator with a good reputation." He deals in general commercial disputes, securities matters and white-collar criminal litigation."
The Benchmark report was compiled and prepared to identify and pinpoint "the best all-around 'bet-the-company' trial attorneys" in the U.S. Recommendations for inclusion were based on "extensive face-to-face and telephone interviews with the nation's leading private practice lawyers and in-house counsel between October, 2006 and May, 2007."
The report states that "[f]irms cannot pay to be recommended." In addition to publishing in hard copy, Benchmark: Litigation is available free of charge on the internet at www.benchmarklitigation.com and at www.legalmediagroup.com, which has 60,000 registered users.
Successful Settlement for KH&K
Steve Kravit and C.J. Krawczyk of the firm successfully settled a very contentious case in which the firm clients, Red Granite Advisors LLC and its principals, Joel Vrabel, David Bowman and Robinson Bosworth III left employment with Robert W. Baird & Co., a large regional broker dealer and investment advisor, to start their own competing financial advisory firm. Baird sued them in May, 2006. Injunctions were denied to Baird twice. The settlement, the terms of which are confidential, came several days before the court was to make a key decision on advancement of fees and expenses by Baird to the former officers they sued. A defamation complaint by the firm clients was pending in a separate action in federal court against Paul Purcell, Baird President, for allegedly defamatory comments he made to a financial services magazine.
The articles from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel describe the public details of the case. After nine months of intensive litigation activity, Red Granite Advisors is free from litigation for the first time in its existence. Red Granite general counsel Matt MacLean, a Vanderbilt Law graduate and former litigator himself, praised the firm's work and has offered to be a reference for anyone thinking about engaging us. He can be reached at mmaclean@redgraniteadvisors.com.
Further questions should be directed to Steve Kravit (kravit@kravitlaw.com), or C.J. Krawczyk (cjk@kravitlaw.com).
Stephen E. Kravit Profiled in Milwaukee Magazine
Stephen E. Kravit was profiled in the September, 2003 issue of Milwaukee Magazine as one of Milwaukee's top 75 lawyers. The Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin area has more than 6,500 lawyers. Milwaukee Magazine based its rankings on a survey of Milwaukee lawyers and judges, who were asked to rate their peers. Kravit was named one of the four best attorneys in the "Business Litigation and Corporate Counseling" category. The article states: "[A] Harvard [University Law School] grad, litigator Stephen Kravit (Kravit, Hovel, Krawczyk & Leverson) receives plaudits . . .. He does some white collar criminal defense work but mostly civil litigation. The 53 year old barrister is 'very bright, very sharp,' 'aggressive, a tough litigator'. . .." Kravit was also named one of Milwaukee's best attorneys in the two prior surveys done by Milwaukee Magazine over the past 10 years.
