Andrew A. Chirls

Biography

Andrew A. Chirls is a highly accomplished commercial and torts trial lawyer with over three decades of exceptional experience. Serving as Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association in 2005, he has held numerous leadership roles within both the bar and the broader legal community. Andrew has acted as class counsel in securities litigation and played a leading role in personal injury class actions. He has tried a diverse range of commercial cases, including those involving land acquisition for major public projects, employment disputes, and conflicts over religious property. Throughout his illustrious career, Andrew has distinguished himself as a prominent figure in class actions, multi-district litigation, contract disputes arising from mergers and acquisitions, as well as property rights and condemnation law.

Class Actions and Multi-District Litigation

Andrew's expertise extends to class actions and multi-district litigation, where he has served as both an advocate and a neutral party. His comprehensive knowledge and unparalleled advocacy skills have made him a sought-after attorney in complex, high-stakes litigation. Clients trust Andrew's ability to navigate the intricacies of class action and mass tort lawsuits, ensuring their interests are protected and advanced.  Courts have appointed him as Master to oversee discovery and to administer multi-billion dollar settlements and funds.

Contract Disputes in Mergers, Acquisitions, and Dissolutions

With a keen understanding of the legal intricacies surrounding mergers, acquisitions, partitions, and dissolutions, Andrew has successfully litigated numerous contract disputes in these and other areas. His meticulous approach and strategic thinking have consistently yielded favorable outcomes for his clients in matters related to many kinds of business transactions.

Property Rights and Condemnation Law 

Andrew has become a recognized authority in this field, advocating for the constitutional rights of property owners when government entities and utility companies seek to acquire property for public projects. He has also represented private and public condemnors. Andrew's dedication to protecting property owners' rights has resulted in groundbreaking rulings and substantial levels of just compensation for his clients.

25+ Years of Litigation Experience at a Former Am Law 200 Firm

Andrew's career includes over 25 years of dedicated service at a former Am Law 200 firm, where he honed his skills and built a reputation for delivering exceptional legal counsel. His tenure at the firm further solidified his standing as a top-tier litigator, known for his unwavering commitment to achieving justice for his clients.

Representative Matters

• Appointed by the United States District Court in Philadelphia to oversee and resolve discovery disputes in the Zoloft birth defects national multi-district litigation. 
• Serve by appointment of the Court as a Common Benefit Fund Administrator in the Avandia multi-district litigation.
• Class counsel in a number of securities cases.
• Represented the AHP Settlement Trust, which administered a $4.3 billion class settlement from the marketing of the weight loss drug Fen-Phen.
• Lead defense counsel in a class action involving exposure to toxic metals at a dialysis clinic.
• Appointed by the Court to manage a $140 million common benefit fund in a nationwide, multi-district product liability lawsuit stemming from Avandia ingestion. This responsibility followed my prior role as an assistant special discovery master in the case.
• Negotiation of termination payout for 38 physician limited partners in a medical equipment investment, at seven times the termination payout originally proffered by the management of the partnership.
• Establishment of ownership and sales rights for a vintage 20th-century photography work prints gifted by an internationally renowned artist, despite the artist estate's challenge of wrongful possession and gift validity.
• Represented parties involved in litigation related to business acquisitions and sales, including publicly traded and privately owned enterprises.
• Resolution of disputes arising from the dissolution of a law firm partnership, specifically involving rights to fees and cost reimbursements in contingency cases managed by the firm.
• Managed an eminent domain dispute concerning property valuation and the authority to acquire real estate for public infrastructure projects and energy initiatives, including a natural gas facility in Northeast Pennsylvania, encompassing highways and bridges.
• Purchase negotiation of a multi-unit apartment building.
• Negotiated severance agreements, including ameliorating restrictive covenants and maintaining bonus rights, upon severance of employment.
• Arguments in 15 cases in the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, twice in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and additional arguments in intermediate Pennsylvania appellate courts.
• Representation of an expert witness in a sanctions case.
• Reports and testimony as an expert witness on the conduct of business litigation.
• Representation of clergy and religious organizations in disputes over ownership of religious property and the right to use religious names and designations.  
• Successfully tried, for the plaintiff, the first case presented to a Pennsylvania jury for discrimination based on AIDS/HIV status.