Eckert Seamans promotes 11 lawyers to partnership
April 1, 2016
The members (partners) of the national law firm of Eckert Seamans announced the election of 11 attorneys to the firm’s membership (partnership), effective April 1. The firm’s new members represent a diverse range of experience and have been promoted from within the ranks of the firm’s Boston; Harrisburg; Pittsburgh; Princeton; Washington, D.C.; and White Plains offices. The newly elected members are: Elizabeth W. Brunins, Michael R. Butler, Jennifer M. Caron, Elizabeth Martin Colombo, Gabriella Cellarosi Daniel, Michael A. Graziano, Nicholas T. Moraites, Alan Muraidekh, Jessica Sharrow Thompson, Christian B.W. Stephens, and Matthew Whipple.
“These outstanding lawyers have demonstrated their ability to serve our clients at the highest levels, and have made tremendous contributions to the success of our clients, our firm, and our communities,” says CEO Timothy P. Ryan. “We applaud their dedication and look forward to their continued success in the years to come. On behalf of the firm, I wish to congratulate them all on achieving this significant milestone in their careers.”
Elizabeth W. Brunins (Pittsburgh) counsels corporate clients, negotiating hotel management agreements, lender subordination agreements, purchase and sale agreements, and franchise agreements for several large third-party hotel management companies in the U.S. For hotel operators, she reviews leases, licenses, and service and vendor agreements integral to the day-to-day management of business. In addition, Brunins serves as outside counsel to help several national consumer brand companies develop and launch marketing promotions.
Michael R. Butler (Princeton) assists clients with buying, selling, and developing real estate property in New Jersey. He has obtained and defended land use approvals and franchise agreements for clients throughout the state. Butler is an instructor for the New Jersey Planning Officials, an association of planning and zoning boards of adjustment, for which he teaches teaching seminars focused on New Jersey’s Municipal Land Use Law. He is also counsel to a homeowner’s association and assists clients collect complex debt obligations through the foreclosure process.
Jennifer M. Caron (Harrisburg) concentrates her practice in the area of public and municipal finance. She serves as bond counsel in transactions involving the issuance of municipal securities by or on behalf of Pennsylvania counties, cities, townships, boroughs, school districts, and municipal authorities, and represents municipal securities underwriting firms and banking institutions. Previously, Caron served as a prosecuting attorney for the Pennsylvania Office of General Counsel.
Elizabeth Martin Colombo (Pittsburgh) focuses her practice on corporate transactional work in the hospitality industry. She represents domestic and international hotel management companies, owners, developers, and asset managers in corporate acquisitions and dispositions. Colombo also handles agreements related to hotel, spa, restaurant and asset management; purchase and sale of hotels and spas; franchising; financing arrangements; and property-level work, including location agreements, leasing arrangements, service agreements, and group sales contracts.
Gabriella Cellarosi Daniel (Washington, D.C.) litigates matters in state and federal courts with a focus on equine and gaming matters; products liability; complex civil litigation, including business torts and contract disputes; and hospitality. She is also experienced in aviation and construction litigation and insurance coverage matters. Cellarosi Daniel has successfully litigated cases in state and federal court, involving complex commercial claims, including breach of contract, products liability, insurance coverage, labor and employment, asbestos, and tort.
Michael A. Graziano (Washington, D.C.) focuses his litigation practice on insurance coverage and employment-related matters. He analyzes coverage issues for major insurance carriers and defends them against breach of contract and bad faith claims brought by policyholders. Graziano also defends employers against claims made by former and current employees under various federal and state laws governing employment relationships. His commercial litigation practice includes breach of contract claims, business torts, and partnership disputes.
Nicholas T. Moraites (Washington, D.C.) focuses his practice in the area of litigation with an emphasis on insurance coverage matters and employment disputes. For his insurance clients, he provides comprehensive coverage counseling from the initial claim analysis through trial and appeal. With respect to his corporate and financial institution clients, Moraites provides counseling, and, when necessary, litigates claims concerning various business, operational, and employee matters.
Alan Muraidekh (White Plains) focuses his commercial litigation practice on railroad litigation—handling matters pertaining to the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA), accident and pre-lawsuit investigations, trail work, and appellate matters. He has successfully handled personal injury and property damage litigation arising out of incidents such as train/motor vehicle railroad grade crossing accidents, train-to-train collisions, and toxic exposure. Muraidekh also has experience in product liability litigation of toxic materials such as asbestos.
Jessica Sharrow Thompson (Pittsburgh) has 10 years of experience practicing in the areas of environmental counseling and litigation. She counsels clients on a wide variety environmental compliance and permitting issues and provides advice on potential environmental risks in business transactions. Thompson also defends clients in state and federal enforcement actions and in citizen suit litigation. Additionally, she provides counsel on air, waste, and water issues associated with shale gas development in the Marcellus Shale region.
Christian B.W. Stephens (Boston) focuses his civil and commercial litigation practice on resolving business disputes for clients in the state and federal courts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He has considerable experience both prosecuting and defending through trial complex business cases involving commercial contract disputes, financial services, and banking—as well as product liability, fiduciary duty, unfair and deceptive trade practices, conversion, fraud, and other business torts.
Matthew Whipple (Pittsburgh) is a skilled civil litigator, having spent nearly a decade prosecuting and defending client interests in federal court, state court, and private arbitrations. He frequently litigates construction-related disputes on behalf of companies at all points in the owner-contractor-subcontractor chain. Whipple has particular expertise in federal procurement matters. In addition to his litigation work, he frequently serves in a counseling and advisory role to clients regarding contract evaluation and negotiation, risk management, and internal policy.