Paul M. FiresPartner, Firm Chair Emeritus & Workers' Compensation Co-Managing Partner AssistantKathy Mullin
215.972.7900 ext. 1599
kmullin@wglaw.com.png) Paul Fires deploys universal best business practices, matching business skills and financial modeling techniques with an ability to innovate in aligning a client’s risk management needs with the strongest business metrics and results.
Paul’s longstanding three-part role as attorney, metrics analyst and businessman has allowed him to satisfy his clients’ exposure reduction goals, fiscal targets, long range plans and performance goals. This results in a broad yet thorough approach to comprehensive claims management success, both pre- and post-litigation, and in positive litigation results for cases requiring that approach.
Uniquely, Paul can evaluate cases from dozens of metrics perspectives. This method brings results that satisfy each client’s individual metrics goals. This data assists his clients with making scores of effective decisions on both micro and macro levels. In recognition of his skills as a litigator, Paul has been named the US News and World Report/Best Lawyers Philadelphia Lawyer of the Year for Workers’ Compensation – Employers, 2022. He also received this honor in 2020 and 2014.
Paul is well recognized in the industry as a leader in the field. He has been listed in Best Lawyers in the area of Workers’ Compensation – Employers every year since 2007. Since 2009, Paul has been recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, an honor given to the top 5% of attorneys in Pennsylvania. Paul is often tapped to provide training for client teams throughout the country.
Paul Fires also serves as an expert consultant and witness in cases involving Errors and Omissions insurance policies. He has analyzed voluminous file materials and prepared comprehensive analysis and reports and has provided expert testimony when needed in support of his clients’ positions.
Paul was named “2019 Best Law Firm Mentor” by The Legal Intelligencer. In his career, Paul has mentored scores of associates and young partners from the Workers' Compensation Group and other practices throughout Weber Gallagher.
Paul is a member of the Penn Medicine Council for Discovery Science. This prestigious board is comprised of University of Pennsylvania scientists and inventors leading the coronavirus response, as well as influential business leaders and financial industry specialists from a cross-section of American life, working together to end the COVID-19 pandemic.
Paul served as Firm Chair from 2008 until 2018 and currently serves as Firm Chair Emeritus.
Paul M. FiresPartner, Firm Chair Emeritus & Workers' Compensation Co-Managing Partner Paul Fires deploys universal best business practices, matching business skills and financial modeling techniques with an ability to innovate in aligning a client’s risk management needs with the strongest business metrics and results.
Paul’s longstanding three-part role as attorney, metrics analyst and businessman has allowed him to satisfy his clients’ exposure reduction goals, fiscal targets, long range plans and performance goals. This results in a broad yet thorough approach to comprehensive claims management success, both pre- and post-litigation, and in positive litigation results for cases requiring that approach.
Uniquely, Paul can evaluate cases from dozens of metrics perspectives. This method brings results that satisfy each client’s individual metrics goals. This data assists his clients with making scores of effective decisions on both micro and macro levels. In recognition of his skills as a litigator, Paul has been named the US News and World Report/Best Lawyers Philadelphia Lawyer of the Year for Workers’ Compensation – Employers, 2022. He also received this honor in 2020 and 2014.
Paul is well recognized in the industry as a leader in the field. He has been listed in Best Lawyers in the area of Workers’ Compensation – Employers every year since 2007. Since 2009, Paul has been recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, an honor given to the top 5% of attorneys in Pennsylvania. Paul is often tapped to provide training for client teams throughout the country.
Paul Fires also serves as an expert consultant and witness in cases involving Errors and Omissions insurance policies. He has analyzed voluminous file materials and prepared comprehensive analysis and reports and has provided expert testimony when needed in support of his clients’ positions.
Paul was named “2019 Best Law Firm Mentor” by The Legal Intelligencer. In his career, Paul has mentored scores of associates and young partners from the Workers' Compensation Group and other practices throughout Weber Gallagher.
Paul is a member of the Penn Medicine Council for Discovery Science. This prestigious board is comprised of University of Pennsylvania scientists and inventors leading the coronavirus response, as well as influential business leaders and financial industry specialists from a cross-section of American life, working together to end the COVID-19 pandemic.
Paul served as Firm Chair from 2008 until 2018 and currently serves as Firm Chair Emeritus.
Representative ExperienceTestimonial from Client:
“Weber Gallagher (Paul Fires) is dedicated to quality claim resolution. They work diligently at fostering relationships and that’s why we have a long-standing litigation client/attorney relationship with them.”
ExperienceSuccessfully defended against an appeal filed by the Claimant. In this matter, the Claimant sustained an injury to her face and eye. WCJ terminated compensation in accordance with an IME of full recovery. In response to Claimant’s appeal, the WCAB reviewed the evidence of record, and concluded that the WCJ did not err, and his decision was supported by his credibility determinations of the witnesses involved. The WCAB also highlighted that the Claimant bore the burden of establishing a causal relation between her work and additional alleged injuries by unequivocal medical evidence, which was unable to be met by virtue of the WCJ’s rejection of her medical experts’ testimony. The WCAB went on to conclude that there was adequate evidence to support the WCJ’s findings, and rejected Claimant’s assertion of error from a substantial evidence perspective. Once the decision is final, the client will be able to pursue a sizable supersedeas reimbursement sum, which is expected to exceed $40,000.
Won a major victory for a client involving a substantial prescription opiate abuse scheme by an injured worker. The woman in question was filling multiple prescriptions simultaneously from different medical providers and using various pharmacies. The belief is that she was not consuming them. The Judge in question eliminated the employer’s responsibility for payment of the drugs, past, present and future, limited substantially the scope of her injuries and ordered a credit for overpayments made to the injured worker. Received a favorable ruling from the Workers' Compensation Appeal Board when it denied the late employee’s appeal seeking imposition of both lifetime and death benefits and substantial medical benefits. The issue was whether the worker developed stage 3B adenocarcinoma as a result of exposure to various substances, all alleged to be highly toxic, and many of which are used in a client's manufacturing process. The underlying ruling was that the worker's adenocarcinoma, which eventually metastasized and caused her death, was due to her years of cigarette smoking and not her years of alleged exposure to multiple other substances in the workplace.
Professional & Community InvolvementAlumni Board of Directors, George Washington University (Active Committee Memberships: Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award; Recent Alumni Achievement Award; Alumni Outstanding Service Award; Jane Lingo Alumni Outstanding Service Award), service concluded in 2018
Board of Trustees, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia (Active Committee Memberships: Co-Chair, Missions Committee; Member, Government Affairs Committee)
Vice Chair, 2015 AJC Philadelphia/Southern New Jersey Judge Learned Hand Award Dinner
American Bar Association
Pennsylvania Bar Association
Philadelphia Bar Association
Council on Litigation Management
International Association of Defense Counsel since 2007
2017 International Association of Defense Counsel/Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel Joint Law Firm Management Conference Co-Chair
Board of Trustees, Kleinlife
Paul has received the following awards:
- Inducted by nomination and peer review to The College of Workers' Compensation Lawyers (Class of 2011).
- Inducted by nomination and peer review to The Best Lawyers in America – Workers’ Compensation, 2007 to present.
- Inducted by nomination and peer review to Life Fellow status to the American Bar Foundation, 2011.
- The Legal Intelligencer’s 2019 Professional Excellence “Best Mentors Award”.
- Best Lawyers Philadelphia Lawyer of the Year for Workers’ Compensation – Employers, 2014 and 2020
AssistantKathy Mullin
215.972.7900 ext. 1599
kmullin@wglaw.com |
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