Thorp Reed & Armstrong, LLP (Thorp Reed) is pleased to announce that partner Clifford B. Levine (photo) has been named to Politics Magazine's list of the 100 most politically influential individuals in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Influencers List, consisting of 50 Republicans and 50 Democrats, includes top business, legal, and civic leaders whose opinions are greatly respected by both their peers and the state's public officials.
"I am honored to be included on Politics Magazine's list of politically influential Pennsylvanians," said Mr. Levine. "In my legal practice, I have learned that adopting a solution-driven strategy and developing the trust of the decision-makers are important factors in helping our clients achieve positive outcomes. Whether in court, or elsewhere, analyzing the common interests of the participating parties, and the strengths and weaknesses of their positions, brings a level of credibility necessary to influence effectively those public officials entrusted with making tough decisions."
The list will be published in the January 2010 issue of Politics, of which Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell was a guest editor. Compiled by political journalists Alex Roarty and Sean Coit, the anthology, in their words, consists of "insiders who insiders turn to when in need." Roarty assembled the Republican list and Coit prepared the Democratic list.
Mr. Levine was recognized, in part, due to his integral role in Barack Obama's 2008 Presidential campaign in Pennsylvania, serving as Chair of Mr. Obama's Western Pennsylvania Steering Committee, a delegate for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, a member of Mr. Obama's National Finance Committee, his authorized representative to the State Democratic Committee, and as the Western Pennsylvania Election Counsel for the Obama-Biden Campaign.
In addition to working on Mr. Obama's campaign, Mr. Levine has played important roles in many recent elections, including leading a successful challenge to a third-party candidate in the 2006 U.S. Senate race, helping to elect Senator Bob Casey, Jr. In that same year, his representation of a Chester County candidate in a razor-thin election contest enabled the Democrats to take control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives by a 102-101 margin.
Mr. Levine's extensive work for President Obama and other public offices reflects a diverse legal career that integrates law, government and politics. Mr. Levine has represented Washington and Jefferson College in a landmark tax exemption appeal, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) in litigation addressing complex labor issues impacting Pennsylvania cities, various independent power producers in energy cases, as well as developers and municipalities in land use, energy and environmental matters. He also has been a solicitor to municipal authorities and municipalities, including the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority, and special counsel to various state and local governmental entities. For 12 years, he served as Vice Chair of the Pittsburgh Planning Commission and of its Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Mr. Levine has been a member of Thorp Reed's Executive Committee, and currently leads the firm's Land Use, Environmental, Energy & Public Law Practice Group. His practice areas include complex commercial litigation, construction law, land use litigation and public election law as well as counseling clients in general corporate, administrative, and governmental matters. Mr. Levine has been selected for inclusion in the 2009 and 2010 editions of The Best Lawyers of America. He has been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer annually since 2005, and is an elected fellow to the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County. He received his B.A. in Economics from the State University of New York at Albany and his J.D. from Duke University.
About Thorp Reed & Armstrong
Since 1895, Thorp Reed & Armstrong, LLP, has been a premier Pennsylvania-based law firm, which has grown to include additional offices in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Princeton, New Jersey, and Wheeling, West Virginia in addition to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Earning the respect, trust and appreciation of clients, peers, and those who live in our communities, Thorp Reed & Armstrong attorneys have gained a reputation as lawyers who exemplify the profession's best qualities. The firm supports a wide variety of clients' needs within the practice areas of business law, litigation, labor and commercial and public finance.
For more information on Thorp Reed & Armstrong, call 1-800-221-7029 or visit www.thorpreed.com.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6139686&lang=en
Contacts:
Thorp Reed & Armstrong
Cynthia Tonet-Stewart
Director
of Marketing
412-394-7786
CStewart@thorpreed.com
or
Gregory
FCA
Paul Johnson
Associate Vice President
610-228-2113
Paul@gregoryfca.com
