Marc Tepper, Head of Philadelphia Office, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC

In an interview with Invest:, Marc Tepper, head of the Philadelphia office at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, discussed the law firm’s strategic growth, leadership in AI innovation, and civic engagement. “We’re nimble and forward-thinking — always helping clients anticipate what’s coming.”

What changes or shifts over the past year have most impacted Buchanan, and in what ways?
We continue to be in growth mode, and we continue to support that growth through our exceptional firm culture and through firm resources, including professional development and technology. Over the past year, we’ve added to several practice areas, including litigation, healthcare, international trade, labor and employment, real estate, and government relations. We also expanded our intellectual property group through a merger with RatnerPrestia, based in King of Prussia. Now that we’re a year out from that merger, it has proven to be an exceptional success. Earlier in 2025, we opened a new office in Chicago. The integration has been excellent, and it’s been a strong addition to our national platform.

In 2024, we were named a top workplace in Philadelphia by the Philadelphia Inquirer. We’re continuing to cement our reputation as one of the top law firms in the region and are currently the fifth-largest law firm in Pennsylvania, according to The Legal Intelligencer. Within Buchanan, our Philadelphia office is Buchanan’s second largest. 

A trend we’re seeing is the rapid adoption of AI and advanced technologies across industries. At Buchanan, we’ve positioned ourselves at the forefront of the AI and the automation movement. We’ve combined legal knowledge with technology expertise to develop digital tools that deliver innovative solutions and enhance value for our clients.

Which sectors have seen the most legal activity recently, and what’s driving that momentum?
Energy, life sciences, healthcare, and finance, continue to be the cornerstones of our work. Over the past year and into 2025, life sciences and healthcare have led the way in terms of legal activity and exciting new work.

Our healthcare section has the transactional experience that makes the difference. The group has led 40-plus major healthcare transactions valued at more than $20 billion dollars in the past few years. What sets us apart is our integrated approach: our government relations team works closely with our attorneys to represent clients across the healthcare landscape, from health systems and psychiatric facilities to physician groups and insurers.

In life sciences, our FDA practice is one of the top regulatory teams in the country. The team’s work spans FDA regulatory matters, IP, litigation, and government relations — all coordinated to provide comprehensive support for our clients in life sciences and healthcare.

How has your proactive approach helped clients navigate recent regulatory changes in the sectors you serve?
Our culture is highly collaborative. We organize our teams into industry groups, which all prioritize deep sector knowledge alongside proven legal expertise. That structure allows us to understand our clients’ businesses at a granular level and offer proactive advice that identifies opportunities and reduces risk.

We’re nimble and forward-thinking — always helping clients anticipate what’s coming, whether it’s new legislation or shifting industry trends. This approach not only benefits our clients but also helps us attract and retain top legal talent by ensuring we’re consistently engaged in complex, meaningful work.

How is AI influencing your legal practice?
We’ve been out in front of the AI trend for several years. In September 2023, we launched our proprietary AI platform, BuchananArtifex. It helps our lawyers and government relations professionals better analyze legal and legislative issues impacting our clients and their industries.

We also have BuchananInnovate, our digital solutions center. The team develops solution-focused projects that drive client value, directly improving our revenue and profitability. These platforms enhance efficiency, from summarizing documents to completing forms, while still requiring attorney oversight to ensure accuracy. The result is faster, more cost-effective service without compromising quality.

How are you helping clients with mergers, acquisitions, and restructuring amid industry consolidation?

We leverage our market position to attract top legal talent, which in turn enables us to serve major national clients across complex transactions. Our size allows us to provide both depth and flexibility, opening the door to leadership opportunities and positioning us as a long-term partner for clients navigating industry shifts. We are large enough to handle even the most sophisticated corporate transactions, while at the same time providing partner-level attention to every matter. We offer a comprehensive range of services and become immersed in our client’s business and their objectives, which allows them to view us as long-term partners. That’s been one of our firm’s consistent strengths, and it remains a key part of our strategy.

How do your board roles inform your work and firm leadership?
Serving on local boards is a meaningful way to stay connected to the fabric of Philadelphia. With the Chamber of Commerce, there’s constant exposure to local economic development in real time. For example, Philadelphia has been approved as a Michelin city for our great restaurants.  This is a major milestone for our nationally celebrated restaurant scene that has been years in the making. This designation will help attract international visitors, especially as we approach a pivotal celebration year like 2026. It’s not just about giving back to the community. It’s also about making sure people visit Philadelphia, enjoy their time here, and want to return. The ability to serve on boards keeps me current on the issues shaping our city and allows me to stay connected and rise up for those who need our support the most.

What does community impact look like in a legal context, and how do you define the firm’s civic role?

Our Philadelphia office is very active in the legal community. We participate in events held by the Philadelphia Bar Association and the many not-for-profit agencies supported by the Philadelphia Bar Association. Our younger attorneys are especially engaged and often seek out board opportunities to contribute. By serving on boards or on committees, they each find their own voice away from the office and are able to grow their personal network.

As head of the Buchanan Philadelphia Office, I never say no to a young lawyer who wants to get involved. We always support those efforts, wherever they think they make a difference by doing important charitable work or pro bono work for the Philadelphia community.

How have infrastructure and economic developments in Philadelphia influenced your firm’s strategic focus or client base?
It all begins with leadership. We’re fortunate to have strong leaders like Gov. Josh Shapiro and Mayor Cherelle Parker. Their leadership has had a tangible impact on both Pennsylvania and the city of Philadelphia.

Since Mayor Parker took office, the city has become cleaner, greener, and safer, all of which were campaign promises she’s delivering on. Gov. Shapiro has also been a visible and proactive advocate for Philadelphia. He has shown up as a vocal leader when needed and has worked hard to highlight Pennsylvania’s strengths to a broader audience, supporting responsible economic growth throughout the state.

What is your outlook for the Philadelphia legal market over the next three to five years, and what are your top organizational priorities?
The key for the Philadelphia legal community is to retain our young associates and recent law school graduates. While many of our recent law school graduates have opportunities to move to cities like New York, Boston, or Washington, D.C., we’re increasingly seeing our home-grown law school graduates choose to stay in Philadelphia. That’s due in large part to the city’s livability, affordability, safety, and leadership. Our neighborhoods are vibrant, safe, and clean and people genuinely enjoy living here. That quality of life plays a big role in their decisions. We are a walkable and historic city of neighborhoods, each with its own story. There is no better place to call home in the country. 

At Buchanan, we’re committed to giving our young attorneys the training and tools they need to succeed. We focus heavily on creating a supportive culture and providing excellent professional development. Those two pillars, culture and training, are intentional reasons why our firm continues to grow, and why we expect more attorneys to choose to build their emerging careers right here in Philadelphia.