Vanarthos elected to replace Sorrentino as chair of Norris McLaughlin

John N. Vanarthos, who is from the firm’s Bridgewater, N.J., office, will be taking over as chairman from Matthew R. Sorrentino, who left the law firm to serve as chief legal officer of Lehigh Valley Health Network of Allentown. The health network is one of the firm’s largest and oldest clients.

Sorrentino had been with the firm since Tallman Hudders and Sorrentino of South Whitehall Township merged with Norris McLaughlin in 2009. The office later relocated to Allentown.

Sorrentino was appointed chief legal officer at LVHN in April.

Vanarthos joined the firm in 1988 as a young associate, earning membership in 1996. He has served many roles in the firm, including as chair of the firm’s business law practice group for 10 years, and leads the firm’s recruitment committee.

“It is my goal to preserve the special culture we created at Norris McLaughlin over the last 65 years, while continuing to implement our strategic and growth plans for the future,” Vanarthos said in a statement.

A member of the Allentown office, Graham Simmons, was named along with David Blatteis to join Dolores Laputka, also of the Allentown office, as co-chairs of the business law group.

Also taking leadership positions are Daniel Guadalupe and David Roberts, who have joined Steven Hoffman as co-chairs of the litigation practice group.

Norris McLaughlin also has an office in New York.