BALTIMORE November 13, 2009 Gallagher is pleased to announce that Ward B. Coe III has been named a recipient of the 2009 Leadership in Law Awards.

Selected in recognition of his "outstanding professional accomplishment, community service and mentoring of future professional and community leaders," Mr. Coe joins a distinguished list of prior Leadership in Law awardees.

Known for his record of successfully handling high stakes litigation, class action cases, and corporate investigations, Mr. Coe has established a reputation as one of Maryland's most respected trial lawyers and leaders of the bar.

Mr. Coe is distinguished for his involvement in civic affairs and pro bono efforts. In 1985, he served as part of a special counsel's office headed by Wilbur "Woody" Preston Jr. to investigate Maryland's savings and loan crisis. Following an extensive investigation, he assisted in the compilation of a 457-page report to the Governor and General Assembly, which served as a basis for numerous criminal prosecutions and civil lawsuits that resulted in substantial recoveries for the State. In 2007, Mr. Coe was selected as counsel for a special legislative committee investigating the hiring and firing practices of the administration of Maryland's former governor.

Through Mr. Coe's efforts, Maryland has made systemic changes in the delivery of pro bono legal services. In a transformative case, L.J. v. Massinga, originally filed in 1984, Mr. Coe and a group of lawyers from Whiteford, Taylor & Preston, Legal Aid Bureau, and the Children’s Defense Fund filed a class action lawsuit to rectify injustices in Baltimore City’s foster children program. The case resulted in a preliminary injunction and, eventually, in a consent decree. Mr. Coe was named trustee for the plaintiffs in 1988 and continues today to serve as their pro bono trustee and legal advisor. In 2002 Mr. Coe was honored by the Pro Bono Resource Center of Maryland for his successful multi-year representation of an impoverished mental health patient who had been denied benefits by his disability insurer. In 2006, he was presented with an ABA Pro Bono Award.

"Since joining Gallagher in 2007, Ward has been at the forefront of many of the most significant litigation matters that we have handled for our clients," said Tom Dame, chair of Gallagher's litigation group. "Serving as lead attorney in matters ranging from class action lawsuits to constitutional cases, construction litigation matters, and internal investigations, Ward imparts his considerable knowledge and wisdom while collaborating with the firm's other lawyers. It is rare to find someone with so many of the attributes that make for a great leader. We applaud Ward and all Leadership in Law honorees for their good work."

Mr. Coe is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law and Princeton University. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and of the Maryland Bar Foundation and is a permanent member of the Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference. He resides in Roland Park.

Click here to read "Leadership in Law winners choose Coe".

About Gallagher

Founded in 1961, Gallagher Evelius & Jones is a Baltimore-based law firm focusing on litigation, health care, real estate and business transactions, tax, employment, education, affordable housing, and non-profit matters. The firm has more than 40 attorneys serving institutional, corporate, and tax-exempt organizations throughout Maryland.