1/22/2013
Firm Adds Nine Attorneys in Boston, White Plains and Newark
The national law firm of Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC today announced the addition of nine litigators from McGivney & Kluger, P.C. The group will join the firm in the continued expansion of Eckert Seamans' Boston and White Plains offices and create a new Eckert Seamans office in Newark, New Jersey.
The group consists of six Members (partners) and three Associates. Joining Eckert Seamans as Members are David Katzenstein, Kevin E. Young, Craig Waksler, Jennifer Whelan, Nathaniel J. Dudley and Michelle Grady; and as Associates, Stephanie Batchelder, Brad W. Graham and Kerry L. Seagle. Five para-professionals and administrative staff members will also join Eckert Seamans in important litigation support roles.
"The addition of this highly experienced mass tort team deepens our bench of talent in our growing offices in Boston and White Plains, and also brings the addition of a northern New Jersey presence, which fits perfectly into the firm’s ongoing strategy to further expand Eckert Seamans’ reach throughout the Mid-Atlantic corridor," said Timothy P. Ryan, CEO of Eckert Seamans. "Our ability to gain market share is directly tied to the caliber of our professionals, and we continue to strengthen our position and service platform through a steadfast commitment to high-level recruiting."
The group has extensive experience in product liability and complex mass tort matters. Eckert Seamans has seen a steady increase in product liability and mass tort claims over the past several decades, which represent significant exposure for the firm’s industrial and manufacturing clients. In the course of defending thousands of mass tort claims, Eckert Seamans’ lawyers have served as (i) national coordinating counsel for the defense of claims involving pharmaceuticals, chemical products, and asbestos-containing products, (ii) lead trial counsel in single and multiple-plaintiff exposure cases, and (iii) joint defense counsel for multiple defendant matters. The firm's lead counsel experience has encompassed cases tried to verdict and appeals in state and federal courts throughout the United States.
"I saw this as an exciting opportunity to join a growing firm with an existing platform tailor made for my national practice, and I look forward to leveraging my experience to play an integral role in building its New Jersey, New York and national presence," said David Katzenstein, Member-in-Charge of Eckert Seamans’ newly established Newark, New Jersey office. "In particular, I look forward to continuing to work closely with the rest of the team joining in White Plains and Boston, providing the highest levels of service to our clients, as well as tapping into Eckert Seamans’ national platform to provide a comprehensive range of creative solutions for our clients."
Added Kevin E. Young, “The opportunity to build upon the mass tort litigation practice of Eckert Seamans in Boston is particularly compelling, and the experience of our national litigation teams, backed by an extensive pool of resources, is also appealing. I know Craig, Jennifer, Nate and our team of associates share my enthusiasm, and we look forward to growing Eckert Seamans’ litigation group in Boston.”
The addition of the Newark office enables the firm to further expand its client base into northern New Jersey and will afford easier access to its already-existing clients in Newark and the surrounding areas. Eckert Seamans’ Newark, New Jersey office is located at:
One Gateway Center
Suite 2600
Newark, NJ 07102
About the Lawyers
MEMBERS
David Katzenstein (Newark) is a litigator with 30 years of experience in the defense of personal injury claims in the Superior Court of New Jersey, and has tried cases both as local and national counsel in New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Maryland. He has served as national coordinating counsel for several clients and as trial counsel in complex mass tort cases. Katzenstein has substantial trial experience in the "low dose" and epidemiology-based defenses of asbestos cases, having tried more than 15 asbestos cases to verdict in New York and New Jersey. In addition to his mass tort experience, Katzenstein has handled complex federal and state environmental cases in New Jersey and New York courts. He also served as liaison counsel for a group of third-party defendants in a Superfund matter involving more than 200 parties.
Kevin E. Young (Boston) focuses his practice on complex product liability litigation, including the defense of cases involving a variety of toxic materials, industrial machinery, pharmaceuticals and automotive defects. He has extensive first chair trial experience in mass tort cases and has appellate experience before the Massachusetts Court of Appeals and the First Circuit Court of Appeals. Young has extensive knowledge as to the various types of insulation products used, their purposes, their chemical, mineralogical, and physical properties, the manufacturing and application process, alleged medical risks, as well as the various forms of asbestos used in the products (chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite). Additionally, he has substantial experience in pharmaceutical litigation as well as automobile product liability defense.
Craig Waksler (Boston) concentrates his practice primarily on the defense of asbestos, mass tort, environmental, product liability, dram shop, and insurance coverage cases both in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, as well as nationally. Waksler also has experience in asbestos premise liability cases and has assisted clients with their national trial, discovery and settlement strategies. He is an experienced litigator, particularly in the areas of environmental pollution, dram shop, insurance coverage, consumer protection, premises liability, medical malpractice, and civil rights. In addition, Waksler has significant experience in insurance coverage matters and has provided advice to many leading domestic insurance companies. He has lectured extensively on a wide array of asbestos and insurance topics.
Jennifer Whelan (Boston) concentrates her practice primarily on the defense of complex asbestos, mass tort, and product liability cases in Massachusetts and Rhode Island. As national coordinating counsel in asbestos litigation, she works closely with a variety of corporate and expert witnesses to prepare cohesive litigation defense strategies. Whelan has also served as defendants' liaison counsel for asbestos litigation in the State of Rhode Island.
Nathaniel J. Dudley (Boston) focuses his practice on complex product liability litigation, including the defense of cases involving a variety of mass materials, industrial machinery and pharmaceuticals. Dudley possesses substantial knowledge concerning the asbestos-containing products that were marketed and sold throughout the United States. In addition, his litigation practice also focuses on the defense of nursing homes, assisted living facilities and other healthcare professionals and organizations. Dudley also has significant experience in pharmaceutical litigation.
Michelle Grady (White Plains) specializes in complex asbestos and mass tort personal injury matters. She has represented a wide variety of clients and has served as national coordinating counsel for a number of target asbestos defendants. She has worked closely with experts in various disciplines including those in the medical, naval and industrial hygiene fields. She has also served as a mentor to many associates, including training in deposition and trial preparation skills.
ASSOCIATES
Stephanie Batchelder (Boston) practices in the areas of mass torts, product liability and general liability. She has handled general litigation matters and has also interned for a Massachusetts State Representative where she was instrumental in drafting stricter drug trafficking laws, specifically regarding methamphetamines.
Brad W. Graham (Boston) focuses his practice on matters involving mass torts, product liability and asbestos. Graham interned for the Hon. F. Dennis Saylor, United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Entering private practice with a Boston firm, he gained experience in the areas of product and general liability.
Kerry L. Seagle, MPH (Boston) focuses on the defense of complex mass tort and product liability cases providing cost effective and successful solutions for clients in the defense of complex mass tort and product liability suits on a local, regional and national level. She has served as defendants' liaison counsel in the Massachusetts and Rhode Island Asbestos Litigation by resolving discovery disputes between plaintiffs' counsel and co-defense counsel; developing medical defenses for medical defense group members; and acting as a liaison between co-defense counsel and the courts in matters relating to setting of trial dates and resolving discovery disputes. Seagle’s experience also includes representation.
For more information contact:
Kate Cromie
Marketing Manager
kcromie@eckertseamans.com
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