White and Williams Announces 2026 Partner and Counsel Promotions

Philadelphia

1.12.26

White and Williams LLP is proud to announce the following promotions to Partner as of January 1, 2026: Morgan S. Birch, Michael L. DeBona, Daniel J. Friedman, Laura E. Hutchinson, Austin D. Moody and Susan J. Zingone. In addition to Partner promotions, the Firm is also excited to announce that David E. Edwards, Daryll Hawthorne-Bernardo and Laura Rossi have been promoted to Counsel.

“2025 was an outstanding year for the Firm and many of our practice areas, and the Firm's Partner and Counsel promotions reflect this success and our strategic growth initiatives. Our newly promoted Partners and Counsel bring exceptional legal skills and an unwavering focus on client service excellence," stated Tim Davis, Managing Partner.  

Partner Promotions

Morgan S. Birch is promoted to Partner and is a member of the Commercial Litigation Practice located in Philadelphia, PA. Morgan is an experienced litigator with a nationwide practice focused on commercial litigation matters and complex business disputes. Morgan has handled client matters in both state and federal courts relating to fraud, partnership and shareholder disputes, intellectual property litigation and medical malpractice defense litigation. Morgan has been named as one of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch^® in America every year since 2022 in the area of Commercial Litigation and has also been recognized as “Best Lawyers in Pennsylvania: Ones to Watch,” by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2023; Top Attorneys Recognized for Excellence in 2023 and Best Lawyers^® “Women in the Law, Ones to Watch” in 2022. She earned her J.D. from Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law.

Michael L. DeBona is promoted to Partner and is a seasoned litigator in the Firm’s Subrogation Department located in Philadelphia, PA. Michael has a nationwide practice representing major property insurers in recovering losses caused by product defects and construction failures. He has litigated and tried cases to jury verdict in jurisdictions across the United States. Michael earned his J.D. from Villanova University School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Rutgers University–New Brunswick, Rutgers College.

Daniel J. Friedman is promoted to Partner and is a member of the Corporate and Securities Practice located in New York, NY. His practice includes the representation of multinational corporations, public companies, privately held businesses, portfolio companies, and business executives in a range of corporate and transactional matters, including financings, investments, private placements, joint ventures, partnerships, mergers and acquisitions, and shareholder buyouts. Daniel was recognized as a New York Super Lawyers "Rising Star" from 2020-2025. He graduated with a J.D. from the New York University School of Law, where he served as an editor of the NYU Law Journal of Law and Business. 

Laura E. Hutchinson is promoted to Partner and is a member of the Healthcare Practice located in Philadelphia, PA. She represents physicians, hospitals, nurses, and other healthcare practitioners against professional liability claims. Her practice also includes products liability, coverage disputes, bad faith matters, and complex commercial litigation. Laura is active on several Firm committees including the Associate Development Committee and the Women’s Initiative Committee and develops education programs focused on legal issues across various practice areas. She is a regular speaker at Continuing Legal Education (CLE) and Continuing Medical Education (CME) sessions discussing litigation and healthcare matters. Laura earned her J.D. from the Temple University Beasley School of Law and currently serves as President of the Temple Law Alumni Association.

Austin D. Moody is promoted to Partner and is a member of the Insurance Coverage and Bad Faith Practice located in Boston, MA. Austin represents insurers in complex insurance coverage and bad faith disputes in both state and federal courts. He also advises clients on matters involving a broad range of policy and coverage issues, including construction defects, environmental pollution, catastrophic injuries, and professional malpractice. He has experience advising clients on both first and third-party claims. Austin was named a Massachusetts "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers, 2023-2025. He is an Officer of the Massachusetts Insurance and Reinsurance Bar Association and serves as a Vice-Chair of the American Bar Association Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section. He earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center.

Susan J. Zingone is promoted to Partner and is a member of the Litigation and Healthcare practices. Susan practices in both the Firm’s Cherry Hill, NJ and Philadelphia, PA offices. She has extensive experience litigating and mediating cases involving catastrophic loss, construction site liability, workplace safety, healthcare, product liability, commercial premises liability, and Uninsured/Underinsured Motorist (UM/UIM) claims across federal and state courts in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Her practice routinely involves the defense of insured and self-insured companies in cases that present significant potential damages for injuries including death and permanent physical injuries. Prior to joining the Firm, Susan was an Assistant District Attorney with the Major Trial Unit of the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, where she honed her trial advocacy skills. Susan is an integral part of several firm committees, including the Associate Development Committee and the Mentoring Program. She earned her J.D. from Rutgers School of Law – Camden. 

Counsel Promotions

David E. Edwards is promoted to Counsel and is located in Philadelphia, PA. His diverse practice encompasses a range of areas such as antitrust, appellate, class actions, commercial litigation, complex insurance coverage litigation and bad faith disputes, employment, healthcare, professional liability and securities law. David regularly advises clients on a wide variety of matters including discrimination claims, employment agreements, contract disputes, complex insurance coverage and more. In addition to his diverse legal experience, David has also taught classes for the American Institute for Paralegal Studies in Civil Procedure and Legal Research and Writing and provided in-house seminars for human resource professionals and other personnel of clients on a variety of employment issues. He has published articles on various employment issues both within the Firm and in external publications. For several years, David served as Associate Dean for Coverage College, the Firm’s annual event, where he presented on a variety of topics impacting the insurance industry. David received his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School, magna cum laude.

Daryll Hawthorne-Bernardo is promoted to Counsel and is located in Wilmington, DE. She focuses her practice on complex civil litigation arising from product liability, professional liability, insurance coverage, personal injury, and employment disputes. Daryll is recognized as one of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch^® in America 2024-2026 for Product Liability Litigation - Defendants and was also named a Delaware "Rising Star" by Super Lawyers from 2020-2026. Daryll is also very active in the industries in which she practices, frequently speaking at both Firm events and conferences hosted by professional associations. She is a member of the Delaware State Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association (Delaware Chapter), and the Firm's Associate Development and Culture and Engagement Committees. Daryll earned her J.D. from Temple University Beasley School of Law.

Laura Rossi is promoted to Counsel and is a member of the Commercial Litigation Practice located in Philadelphia, PA. Laura regularly represents major insurance carriers and corporate clients in complex coverage disputes and commercial litigation matters. She has extensive experience with advising clients on claims coverage issues both in and out of litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Laura served as a law clerk for the Honorable Peter G. Sheridan of the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and the Honorable Thomas W. Sumners in the Appellate Division of the New Jersey Superior Court. Laura received her J.D. from Rutgers School of Law.

White and Williams LLP is pleased to recognize the accomplishments these attorneys have achieved over the course of their legal careers. We offer our sincere congratulations for their recent promotions as we move into the new year.