C. Lawrence Holmes
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PRACTICE FOCUS
Since entering private practice in 1993, C. Lawrence Holmes has established a track record of landmark legal successes and longstanding client partnerships. Larry concentrates on representing finance lease companies, and other institutional clients. A passionate advocate for his clients, Larry is skilled at humanizing large institutions and effectively communicating with juries and judges.
Larry’s work includes pivotal cases that have impacted Pennsylvania law.
Larry secured a milestone victory for a finance lease company, when a federal judge denied a motion to certify a class action against it as part of a claim exceeding $37 million. In addition to defending the motion for class certification, he obtained summary judgment against the lessees on all claims and counterclaims and obtained an order that the lessees were liable, jointly and severally, for all of the leasing company’s legal fees. The decision serves as a powerful tool for financial institutions in cases and class actions arising out of program failures. He also successfully argued before both the Superior and Supreme Courts of Pennsylvania and helped establish new insurance law in Pennsylvania.
With a growing reputation as an engaging legal thought leader, Larry has spoken numerous times at the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association’s (ELFA) annual Legal Forum, most recently presenting on ethics at the 2022 Forum. Larry was appointed to the ELFA Legal Committee for a three year term in 2015, and for a number of years he has presented Pennsylvania Bar Institute CLE programs on insurer bad faith, and other insurance topics. Upon graduating from law school, Larry served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Chief Justice Robert N. C. Nix, Jr. of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court—writing opinions, providing counsel, and learning the skills of passionate persuasion and respectful dissent that would inform his career.
As an elected Township Commissioner, Larry exemplifies Offit Kurman’s ’s commitment to public and community service. He is serving his fifth term as a Commissioner of Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, where he has resided with his family for over two decades.
"My approach to representing our clients in litigation, actual or threatened, is that of a Harbor Pilot; my principal function is to get our client from point A to point B, through the dangerous and congested waters of litigation. If we keep our clients focused on point B, while knowing what unseen hazards lurk just underneath and on both sides, it’s much more likely we can spare our clients the inevitable but not inexpensive distractions that can obscure or block the path to a successful resolution."
— Larry Holmes
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
- In a landmark case, successfully represented a leasing company in opposition to class certification in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania—obtaining summary judgment against lessees on all claims and counterclaims, which held the lessees responsible, jointly and severally, for all legal fees.
- Obtained a jury verdict for the defense for a finance leasing company in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland after a two-week trial for fraud.
- For a decade, practiced in the area of tax-exempt bond transactions, representing numerous private and public entities as bond counsel for industrial development and general obligation tax-exempt bonds.
PROFESSIONAL & COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
- General Counsel and Board of Directors, Urban League of Philadelphia, 2017 - present
- Member, Legal Committee, Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, 2015 – 2017
- Elected and twice re-elected as 6th Ward Commissioner of Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania
- Law Clerk to the Honorable Chief Justice Robert N. C. Nix, Jr., Pennsylvania Supreme Court, 1991 – 1993
SPEECHES & PRESENTATIONS
- "Legal Update 2018: News from the legal front- guaranteed not to be fake," Equipment Leasing and Financing Association Annual Legal Forum, Washington, DC, May 2018.
- "Legal Update 2017: Avoiding the Gators, Sinkholes and Hurricanes of the Law," Equipment Leasing and Financing Association Annual Legal Forum, St. Peter's Beach, FL, May 2017.
- "Legal Update 2016: A Cable Car Ride Through the Highs and Lows of the Year," Equipment Leasing and Financing Association Annual Legal Forum, San Francisco, CA, May 2016.
- "Legal Developments and Current Trends in the Law 2015: How to Avoid the Ring of Fire," Equipment Leasing and Financing Association Annual Legal Forum, Nashville, TN, May 2015.
- “Friendly Fire and Family Feuds: Internecine Conflicts between and among Leasing Companies, Vendors and/or Manufacturers,” Equipment Leasing and Financing Association Annual Legal Forum, Nashville, TN, May 2015.
- “An Insurer’s Counsel’s Perspective on Discovery Strategies,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, December 9, 2014.
- “Legal Developments and Current Trends 2014: Circle the Wagons Around the Latest in the Law!” Keynote speaker presentation at the Equipment Leasing and Financing Association Annual Legal Forum, Fort Worth, TX, May 2014.
- “Welcome to Your New Job: Ethical Issues in Employment Exits,” co-presented with Eric B. Meyer, Insurance Society of Philadelphia, May 2014.
- “Offense for Defense: Addressing Programmatic Failures,” co-presented with Patrick M. Northen, Equipment Leasing and Financing Association Annual Legal Forum, Charleston, SC, May 2013.
- “Bad Faith Claims Litigation: The Impact of Claims Handler v. Attorney Determination on the Applicability of Attorney Client and Work Product Privilege,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute CLE Presentation, Philadelphia, PA, December 2012.
- “Bad Faith Claims Litigation: Discovery Issues, Post-Litigation Conduct and Abuse of Process,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute CLE Presentation, Philadelphia, PA, May 2011.
- “Millions in Defense, Not One Penny in Tribute – Defending a Commercial Fraud Case,” co-presented with Patrick M. Northen, Equipment Leasing and Financing Association Annual Legal Forum, Scottsdale, AZ, May 2011.
- “Defending Commercial Fraud,” co-presented with Patrick M. Northen, Legal Intelligencer CLE presentation, November 2010.