Overview

Terry joined Dilworth after spending more than three decades at Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis LLP, most recently as the managing partner and a member of the Schnader’s Executive Committee.

Terry has more than 30 years of experience in handling large and complex litigations, including merger and acquisition litigation; financial services litigation; securities litigation, including the defense of multidistrict cases; antitrust litigation, including prosecution of Robinson-Patman and Sherman Act claims, and First Amendment cases.  Terry’s practice focuses on the strategic development and handling of large complex cases.

Representative Experience

  • Counsel for insurer in multiple Covid-19 related business interruption actions filed in Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania, and Luzerne and Philadelphia counties Court of Common Pleas.
  • Counsel for private mortgage insurer in a number of putative class actions filed across the country against mortgage lenders and private mortgage insurers alleging that private mortgage insurers entered into “captive” reinsurance agreements with mortgage lenders that violated RESPA.
  • Counsel for broker employee in Harmelin v. Man Financial Inc. et al., a case filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania alleging financial fraud in connection with a hedge fund.
  • Pennsylvania Counsel to Toby Rice and the Rice Team in connection with the successful proxy contest and related litigation against EQT Corporation.
  • Counsel to IBM and its subsidiary Jasmine Acquisition Corp. in Trading Strategies Fund v. Karsan, et al, No. 2012-11460 (Chester C.C.P, Pa.), a putative class action seeking to enjoin a $1.3 billion merger between IBM and Kenexa Corporation (“Kenexa”) and demanding monetary damages from Kenexa, its board of directors and IBM claiming that the purchase price of $46 per share in cash, a 42% premium over the pre-announcement trading price of Kenexa’s shares, as well as the process leading up to the merger agreement, were inadequate.
  • Pennsylvania counsel for acquired company Jones Group in New York state court derivative litigation.
  • Representation of several of the nation’s largest chain drug stores in multiple suits alleging antitrust claims under the Robinson-Patman and Sherman Acts.
  • On behalf of a high school student subjected to school discipline for off-campus speech in violation of her First Amendment rights, obtained a favorable decision enjoining the disciplinary action in both the District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. On further appeal, served as co-counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and Seth F. Kreimer, as the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the Third Circuit decision in one of the most significant student free speech cases in 50 years. Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L.
  • Counsel in Northeastern Pennsylvania Freethought Society v. County of Lackawanna Transit System representing the Freethought Society in the federal district court of the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the appeal to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals asserting the Transit System’s refusal to allow Freethought Society’s advertising on Transit System’s buses violated the First Amendment.
  • Amici brief on behalf of the ACLU in Robbins v. Lower Merion School District, filed in federal court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, in suit against school official for allegedly using school-issued laptops with webcams to record students without their knowledge.

Professional Recognition

  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America for Litigation – Mergers and Acquisitions, 2019-2021; and Commercial Litigation, 2021-2023
  • Recipient of “Women of Distinction Award” from the Philadelphia Business Journal, 2018
  • Recipient, Pennsylvania Diversity Council’s 2015 Most Powerful and Influential Woman Award
  • Recognized as a “Future Star” for Pennsylvania in Benchmark Litigation, 2013-2023
  • Rated AV® Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell®
  • Named among “Pennsylvania Super Lawyers” for business litigation, 2005-2007, 2009-2010, 2018¬2023
  • Finalist, SmartCEO Center of Influence Award, 2016
  • Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2024

Professional & Community Activities

  • The Forum Foundation, Chairman (2018-2020); Board of Directors (2016-2023)
  • The Forum of Executive Women, Board of Directors (2014-2018; 2020-2022); Chair of Membership Committee (2014-2016); Chair of Sponsorship Committee (2016-2018); Chair of Program Committee (2020-2022)
  • Philadelphia VIP, Board of Directors (2014-2016)
  • 1812 Productions, Philadelphia’s All Comedy Theatre Company, Board of Directors (2015-present)
  • Walnut Street Theatre, Trustee (1998-2013), Executive Committee (1999-2013), Chair of Annual Holiday Auction (2001, 2002); Alumni Trustee (since 2013)
  • Domestic Abuse Project of Media, Volunteer (2006-2010)
  • American Heart Association Go Red for Women Executive Leadership Team (2016-2019)

Speeches & Presentations

  • Endorsements and NIL: Challenges Now Facing Universities, Athletes and Businesses February 24, 2022
  • Mahanoy Area School District v. B.I.: Student Speech Beyond the Schoolhouse, September 20, 2021

Representative Experience

  • Counsel for insurer in multiple Covid-19 related business interruption actions filed in Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania, and Luzerne and Philadelphia counties Court of Common Pleas.
  • Counsel for private mortgage insurer in a number of putative class actions filed across the country against mortgage lenders and private mortgage insurers alleging that private mortgage insurers entered into “captive” reinsurance agreements with mortgage lenders that violated RESPA.
  • Counsel for broker employee in Harmelin v. Man Financial Inc. et al., a case filed in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania alleging financial fraud in connection with a hedge fund.
  • Pennsylvania Counsel to Toby Rice and the Rice Team in connection with the successful proxy contest and related litigation against EQT Corporation.
  • Counsel to IBM and its subsidiary Jasmine Acquisition Corp. in Trading Strategies Fund v. Karsan, et al, No. 2012-11460 (Chester C.C.P, Pa.), a putative class action seeking to enjoin a $1.3 billion merger between IBM and Kenexa Corporation (“Kenexa”) and demanding monetary damages from Kenexa, its board of directors and IBM claiming that the purchase price of $46 per share in cash, a 42% premium over the pre-announcement trading price of Kenexa’s shares, as well as the process leading up to the merger agreement, were inadequate.
  • Pennsylvania counsel for acquired company Jones Group in New York state court derivative litigation.
  • Representation of several of the nation’s largest chain drug stores in multiple suits alleging antitrust claims under the Robinson-Patman and Sherman Acts.
  • On behalf of a high school student subjected to school discipline for off-campus speech in violation of her First Amendment rights, obtained a favorable decision enjoining the disciplinary action in both the District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. On further appeal, served as co-counsel with the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and Seth F. Kreimer, as the U.S. Supreme Court affirmed the Third Circuit decision in one of the most significant student free speech cases in 50 years. Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L.
  • Counsel in Northeastern Pennsylvania Freethought Society v. County of Lackawanna Transit System representing the Freethought Society in the federal district court of the Middle District of Pennsylvania and the appeal to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals asserting the Transit System’s refusal to allow Freethought Society’s advertising on Transit System’s buses violated the First Amendment.
  • Amici brief on behalf of the ACLU in Robbins v. Lower Merion School District, filed in federal court in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, in suit against school official for allegedly using school-issued laptops with webcams to record students without their knowledge.

Insights