Joseph F. Speelman concentrates his practice in the areas of litigation, corporate security, insurance, and compliance. He has pursued corporate interests through the use of effective plaintiffs' counsel in disputes with national and international opponents.
During the course of his career, Mr. Speelman has been involved in claims involving:
· antitrust,
· complex environmental issues,
· mass tort litigation (including lead paint, asbestos, benzene, and MTBE litigation),
· internal corporate investigations; and
· complex international claims involving entities owned by foreign sovereigns.
Mr. Speelman serves as Co-Chairperson of Blank Rome's Chemical Industry Group and currently manages MTBE litigation and Urethanes anti-trust litigation, both on the behalf of LyondellBasell, working as a partner in Blank Rome. Recently, Mr. Speelman accepted a retention by the Millennium Custodial Trust to represent the Trust in all of the lead litigation that it has responsibility to defend and manage as a result of the emergence by LyondellBasell from Chapter 11 and the creation of the Trust.
Mr. Speelman has been recognized as one of the nation's most successful legal executives. Prior to joining Blank Rome, Mr. Speelman presided over the management of litigation and commercial legal activities for several companies, including Lyondell, Koch Industries, Inc., TransAmerican National Gas Corporation, and KG&E. While at LyondellBasell he won numerous, significant law suits, including Rhode Island vs. Lead Paint Manufacturers; over 200 MTBE mass toxic tort cases and numerous other toxic tort cases involving benzene, butadiene and other chemical and waste products. His litigation management skills resulted in defense verdicts that were recognized by the American Corporate Counsel Association's International Litigation Award's Committee as being "one of the top three 'Best Individual Litigation Results' in both 2007 and 2008."
Mr. Speelman is a frequent speaker on, and has written numerous articles about, a variety of legal topics including litigation management, joint defense organization and functioning, mass tort litigation, defense of environmental criminal investigations, and the reduction of litigation costs while improving results.
Community Service & Affiliations
Mr. Speelman founded and has been president of the Future Fund Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization in support of public school education in The Woodlands, Texas. That foundation has contributed over $200,000 in 6 years to public schools in The Woodlands.
Mr. Speelman is a member of the Kansas Bar Association, the Texas Bar Association, and the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC).
Memberships
Houston Bar Association
International Association of Defense Counsel
Kansas Bar Association
Texas Bar Association
Events
3RD ANNUAL SIGNIFICANT LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING THE CHEMICAL, OIL AND GAS INDUSTRIES
[Event]
Houston, TX and Philadelphia, PA
December 7 and December 13, 2011
Kevin J. Bruno, Francis E. Dehel, Heather L. Demirjian, Jeanne M. Grasso, Margaret Anne Hill, Jay P. Lessler, et al.
7TH ANNUAL EMERGING ISSUES FOR IN-HOUSE COUNSEL
[Event]
Philadelphia, PA and New York, NY
November 4th and November 11th, 2011
Susan L. Bickley, Mark Blondman, Sheila E. Branyan, Edward N. Cahn, Cheryl S. Chang, William R. Cruse, et al.
Publications
ENVIRONMENTAL AND LEGAL ISSUES SURROUNDING DEVELOPMENT OF THE MARCELLUS SHALE
[Article]
Aspatore Special Report: Navigating Legal Issues around the Marcellus Shale (Thomson Reuters/Aspatore)
2011
Raymond G. Mullady, Jr., Joseph F. Speelman and Margaret Anne Hill
MARCELLUS SHALE WASTEWATER: COMMENTS ON THE NEW YORK TIMES' SERIES
[Alert]
Marcellus Shale Alert
March 2011 (No. 3)
James T. Smith, Joseph F. Speelman, Margaret Anne Hill, Raymond G. Mullady, Jr., Mary Ann Mullaney and Heather L. Demirjian
EPA'S "FRACKING" STUDY: POTENTIAL IMPACTS ON MARCELLUS SHALE DEVELOPMENT
[Alert]
Marcellus Shale Alert
February 2011 (No. 2)
Margaret Anne Hill, Mary Ann Mullaney, Joseph F. Speelman and Heather L. Demirjian
PA. PUC ADMINISTRATIVE LAW JUDGE NIXES PUBLIC UTILITY STATUS FOR MIDSTREAM OPERATORS
[Alert]
Marcellus Shale Alert
December 2010 (No. 1)
Kevin J. Bruno, Ernest W. Chung, Nicholas A. Giannasca, Mark S. Greenfield, Margaret Anne Hill, Christopher A. Lewis, et al.
News
JOSEPH F. SPEELMAN TO MODERATE ABA PANEL
[Press Release]
January 18, 2012
Joseph F. Speelman
BLANK ROME HOSTS PROGRAM ON LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING THE CHEMICAL, OIL & GAS INDUSTRIES IN PHILADELPHIA
[Press Release]
December 13, 2011
Kevin J. Bruno, Francis E. Dehel, Heather L. Demirjian, Jeanne M. Grasso, Margaret Anne Hill, Jay P. Lessler, et al.
BLANK ROME HOSTS PROGRAM ON LEGAL DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING THE CHEMICAL, OIL & GAS INDUSTRIES IN HOUSTON
[Press Release]
December 7, 2011
Kevin J. Bruno, Francis E. Dehel, Jeanne M. Grasso, Margaret Anne Hill, Gregory F. Linsin, Mary Ann Mullaney, et al.
JOSEPH F. SPEELMAN APPOINTED VICE CHAIR, SOCIAL MEDIA OF IADC TOXICS & HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES COMMITTEE
[Press Release]
June 30, 2011
Joseph F. Speelman
FORMER LYONDELL ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL JOSEPH F. SPEELMAN JOINS BLANK ROME
[Press Release]
April 12, 2010
Joseph F. Speelman