Seth L. Laver

Seth L. Laver, a partner in Goldberg Segalla’s Philadelphia office, focuses largely on matters of professional liability, representing attorneys, accountants, and other professionals, while also defending employers in employment practices liability (EPL) and other types of employment-related litigation. Seth is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, but regularly counsels and represents professionals and employers throughout the United States.

Seth’s focus on professional liability includes counseling all professionals, primarily attorneys and accountants, in how to minimize risk so that they might avoid litigation and rigorously defending them when they can’t. He has successfully represented individuals and large professional firms, leveraging his extensive experience to custom-fit legal strategies to each client’s immediate needs and long-term goals. Seth strives to resolve each matter as quickly and cost-efficiently as possible.

Employers in numerous industries also call on Seth to handle employment litigation, including discrimination, wrongful discharge, defamation, and negligent hiring/failure to supervise. He counsels employers on recognizing and preventing employment discrimination and other employee-related lawsuits, with an emphasis on the early implementation of proper procedures. He drafts and updates employee handbooks and consults employers regarding compliance with company by-laws and human resources protocols. Seth is often engaged to counsel clients regarding enforcement of non-compete agreements, non-solicitation clauses, and other covenants affecting post-employment competition.

An AV-rated attorney, Seth routinely publishes articles and lectures on trends impacting the professional liability and employment landscapes. He is the editor of Professional Liability Matters, Goldberg Segalla’s blog focusing on the professional liability community. In 2017, he was appointed chair of DRI’s Professional Liability Committee.

Experience Highlights

Professional Liability

•Successfully obtained dismissal on behalf of an attorney alleged to have been responsible for his former client’s unfortunate suicide
•Negotiated a nominal settlement of an accounting malpractice claim arising from the alleged failure to detect a multimillion-dollar embezzlement scheme orchestrated by the plaintiff’s bookkeeper
•Obtained dismissal for an independent auditor in a $50 million securities fraud class action lawsuit by way of a 12(b)(6) motion, signaling a decisive win for the malpractice community
•Successfully applied the in pari delicto defense in favor of an auditor to defeat claims brought by the receiver of several insolvent insurance entities

Employment Liability

•Negotiated a nominal settlement of a wrongful termination/retaliation claim on behalf of a town and its mayor
•Routinely evaluates non-compete and non-solicitation agreements and other post-employment covenants on behalf of employers in myriad industries
•Successfully negotiated a resolution of a wrongful termination, retaliation and age discrimination claim asserted against a university

Honors & Awards

AV Preeminent Peer-Review Rating (Martindale-Hubbell)

Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, 2010-18

View peer-review methodologies at martindale.com and superlawyers.com. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

Community Involvement

•Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia (Former Board of Directors)
•Committee for the Jewish Poor, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia (Former Member)
•Louis D. Brandeis Law Society (Former Member)

Publications & Events

Publications

•“Not My Swan Song, ” DRI’s Riding the E&O Line (Newsletter of the Professional Liability Committee), November 19, 2019
•“From the Chair: Appreciating the Wins, ” DRI For the Defense, April 2019
•“Ugh Oh: Doctrine of In Pari Delicto Severely Restricted in Massachusetts” (Co-Author), DRI Riding the E&O Line, December 7, 2018
•“‘Tis the Season ... for Ethical Breaches?” AttPro Ally, Fall 2017
•“Partnership Estoppel: How Resourceful Attorneys Create Unwanted Liability” (Co-Author), DRI Riding the E&O Line, August 8, 2017
•“Attorneys: Be a Watchdog for Your Accountant Clients” (Co-Author), DRI The Voice, March 29, 2017
•“3 Cases That Clarify When to Call Your Malpractice Insurer” (Quoted) Law360, September 28, 2016
•“Risk Management Tips for Attorneys Serving as Local Counsel” (Co-Author), Law360, August 19, 2016
•“Why Big Law May Be In Big Trouble After Data Breaches” (Quoted), Law360, March 31, 2016
•“Ethical Implications of Posting Video Depositions Online” (Co-Author), PLUS Journal, January 2016
•“5 Ways to Avoid the Hidden Ethical Dangers of Client Gifts” (Quoted), Law360, February 23, 2015
•“Foley Atty in High Court Row May Have Broken Ethics Rules” (Quoted), Law360, February 23, 2015
•“The Case of the Missing Insured: A Tricky Variation On the Consent to Settle” (Co-Author), Westlaw Journal Insurance Coverage, January 30, 2014
•“Legal Malpractice Standard: When Former Client Fails to Appeal Unfavorable Judgment in the Underlying Action and Sues the Lawyer Instead” (Co-Author), DRI Riding the E&O Line, December 19, 2014
•“Home Is Where the Office Is: Ethical Implications of the Virtual Office” (Co-Author), ABA Professional Liability Newsletter, Spring 2014
•“When Is It Criminal to Issue a Subpoena? The Intersection of Subpoena Practice and the Unauthorized Practice of Law” (Co-Author), DRI For the Defense, October 2013
•“Leader Spotlight” (Featured) DRI The Voice, August 28, 2013
•“Ohio Weighs In: Texting Prospective Clients,” DRI For the Defense, June 2013
•“Fantasy Sports: A Real Game-Changer for Employers” (Co-Author), Lehigh Valley Business, November 16, 2012
•“Fortifying the Law Firm: Understanding and Protecting Against Cyber Risk,” DRI For the Defense, July 2012
•“Bernie Madoff and Auditor Liability: Emerging Trends and Defenses,” DRI Riding the E&O Line, March 15, 2012
•“Social Media-Related Lawsuits Are Rising; Are You Prepared?” Philadelphia Business Journal, January 13, 2012
•“Sputtering Housing Market Makes Fertile Ground for Real Estate Professional Liability Claims,” DRI Riding the E&O Line, November 22, 2011
•“Effective Client Reporting: A Lawyer’s Best Friend,” The Legal Intelligencer, March 31, 2011
•“Joint Defense Agreements: A Primer,” The Legal Intelligencer, June 2010
•“When Employees Go Bad,” The Legal Intelligencer, October 2009
•“Dropping the Nickel in a Civil Context,” September 2007

Presentations

•“The Buck Stops Here: Liability and Non-Lawyers” (Co-Presenter), Professional Liability Seminar, New York, NY, December 6, 2019
•“Danger Zones: Preventing Legal Malpractice In Everyday Practice,” Attorney Protective, November 20, 2019
•“Risk Management: Help Me, Help You,” PICPA, King of Prussia, PA, November 2, 2017

Webinars

•“Danger Zones: Preventing Legal Malpractice in Everyday Practice,” (Co-Presenter), Attorney Pro, December 12, 2018

Recent Insights

Not My Swan Song, DRI’s Riding the E&O Line

November 21, 2019

Put the Smiley Face Down and Step Away

November 6, 2019

Seth Laver Named Chair of Financial Services Liability Subcommittee for the ABA/TIPS

November 1, 2019

In Ruling Clarifying NJ Legal-Malpractice Law, Judge Dismisses Suit against Divorce Attorney

January 4, 2019

Goldberg Segalla Blogs Take Top Spots in Expert Institute’s Best of 2018

December 27, 2018

Fifteen Goldberg Segalla Attorneys Featured in 2018 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers

May 18, 2018