Marshall Dennehey Announces New Leadership of Professional Liability Department

Marshall Dennehey announced today that shareholders Christopher E. Dougherty and Eric A. Fitzgerald have been named Director and Assistant Director, respectively, of the firm's Professional Liability Department. The official leadership changes come following the retirement of longtime shareholder, Chairman of the Executive Committee and Professional Liability Department founder and Director, Philip B. Toran, who had been on medical leave since the late fall of 2012.

"Phil Toran is today, and will continue to be a treasured friend and colleague who has made invaluable contributions to the growth and prosperity of this firm," said Marshall Dennehey President & CEO, Thomas A. Brophy. "We are deeply saddened that Phil’s health issues compelled him to step down, and we continue to send him our thoughts and prayers for improved health and healing."

Toran was in law school at Temple University when he joined the firm as a law clerk in 1980. Upon earning his J.D. he became an associate of the firm, focusing his practice on the defense of medical and corporate professionals. He eventually grew a book of business and founded the firm's Professional Liability Department, which today is one of Marshall Dennehey's largest departments with more than 150 attorneys in 16 practice groups. His aptitude for managing people and legal practices led to his appointment as Chairman of the firm's Executive Committee, the governing body of the firm.

According to Brophy, who replaced Toran as chair of the firm's executive committee, Chris Dougherty has been acting as director of the Professional Liability Department and as a member of the executive committee since Toran's 2012 departure. Eric Fitzgerald was named assistant director of the department in March.

"Having worked closely with Phil for many years as the assistant director of the department, Chris was already very familiar with our professional liability clients and the department management processes in place," he said. “Both he and Eric are highly experienced and respected attorneys with a deep understanding of the law and our clients' needs. They have been able to step right in, making for a seamless transition of leadership."

Since joining the firm in 1991, Dougherty has developed an extensive civil litigation practice focused on all manner of professional and general liability. A graduate of the United States Naval Academy and Stetson University College of Law, he is a retired Colonel of the United States Marine Corps Reserve and has served as a general courts martial certified Military Judge.

Fitzgerald joined Marshall Dennehey in 2000 and also chairs the firm's Insurance Coverage/Bad Faith Practice Group and its Life, Health and Disability Practice Group. He focuses his practice on a broad spectrum of coverage matters, ranging from employer practices liability and commercial general liability, to construction defect, intellectual property, and civil rights coverage matters. A Chartered Property/Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), he is an active member of numerous legal and insurance industry organizations.