Patrick Dunican Named on New Jersey Law Journal’s 2020 “Trailblazers” List

The firm and/or the attorneys referenced have been selected for the recognitions mentioned herein, which have been conferred by the corresponding publications and/or organizations noted. An overview of the award selection methodologies for these recognitions can be found at https://www.gibbonslaw.com/awards. Links to certain specific methodologies are embedded in individual entries. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.

The New Jersey Law Journal has named Gibbons Chairman and Managing Director Patrick C. Dunican Jr. a legal industry “Trailblazer” for 2020, in its second annual feature highlighting change agents in the profession who have had noteworthy impact through their legal practices, management and policy initiatives, or technological advancements. Mr. Dunican was recognized for his unique foresight regarding comprehensive emergency planning, which has resulted in his leading a particularly well-prepared firm through unprecedented business conditions in this initial phase of the COVID-19 crisis.

Upon becoming the firm’s Chairman and Managing Director in 2004, Mr. Dunican began implementing innovations to advance Gibbons as a model 21st century law firm, supported by state-of-the-art facilities and technology, streamlined expenses, and an outstanding management team to execute, evaluate, and refine these policies and platforms. After a fire damaged Gibbons’ brand-new headquarters in 2007, he invested in additional systems and policies that, 13 years later, enabled the firm’s cohesive move to a COVID-19 mandated all-remote workforce. Mr. Dunican strategized an organization-wide reinforcement of emergency procedures to prepare for future crises. For example, he expanded the purchase, ongoing testing, and updating of laptops and remote access software licenses, ensuring that all personnel responsible for critical operations had access to one or the other. In addition, he has long supported custom flexible schedules and incentivized self-starting, independent work habits, which eased the way to an entirely remote workforce.

Beyond earning one of this year’s “Trailblazer” awards, Mr. Dunican is a nationally and internationally acknowledged legal industry leader. He has been recognized by New Jersey Law Journal as one of the state’s “Distinguished Leaders” in the legal industry and by the Essex County Bar Association and New Jersey Commission on Professionalism in the Law as their selection for the 2017 “Professional Lawyer of the Year Award.” He also received a 2019 Tip O’Neill Award from the Donegal County (Ireland) Council, presented annually to people of Irish background in recognition of achievements in their chosen fields and their interest in and support for Ireland and its diaspora. A litigation attorney, Mr. Dunican is listed in both the New Jersey and New York editions of Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers for business litigation and in Woodward/White Best Lawyers® for commercial litigation. He is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation and was named to “40 Under 40” lists in both NJBIZ and New Jersey Law Journal. In 2020, he was elected Chair of the Board of Trustees of Iona College, his alma mater.

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No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. A description of the selection process methodology for the awards referenced is available at gibbonslaw.com/awards/.