Eckert Seamans Appoints Ryan J. Cassidy as Firmwide Litigation Division Chair
June 30, 2026
National law firm Eckert Seamans has appointed Member Ryan J. Cassidy as Chair of the firmwide Litigation Division, succeeding Christopher Opalinski, who has transitioned to Of Counsel with the firm.
The Litigation Division spans more than 25 practices and includes attorneys across all firm offices. Cassidy, who is based in the firm’s Philadelphia office, is being elevated to Litigation Division Chair after serving as Chair of the Labor & Employment practice group for more than ten years. In his expanded role, he will partner closely with CEO Scott Cessar, Business Division Chair Grant Coffield, and Chief Operating & Financial Officer Mark Peterson to assist with the overall management of Eckert Seamans and shape the strategic direction that will further the firm’s ongoing success. Cassidy will also oversee and work in partnership with litigation practice group leaders to enhance and broaden the firm’s robust litigation capabilities and client relationships.
“Ryan is a highly respected colleague, proven firm leader, and accomplished litigator and labor negotiator, and those qualities, along with his collaborative approach, make him impressively well suited to lead our Litigation Division,” said Cessar. “I am confident from Ryan’s performance in other critical leadership roles that he will strengthen our national platform even further and ensure that we continue to deliver outstanding results for our clients. We also extend our sincere gratitude to Chris Opalinski for his dedicated leadership and commitment to the firm over the past four decades. Chris has played a pivotal role in building and shaping our nationally recognized litigation team, and his contributions have left a lasting impact on the firm.”
Cassidy also serves on the firm’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors and has served for the past two years as the Chair of the Compensation Committee. He concentrates his practice on management-side labor and employment law in both the public and private sectors, including representing clients in state and federal employment-related litigation, arbitration proceedings, administrative agency matters, labor injunctions, and collective bargaining.
Cassidy has been regularly recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for Labor & Employment Litigation. In 2025, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania appointed him to a six-year term on the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.