Eckert Seamans Announces Leadership Changes
April 27, 2022
Eckert Seamans today announced changes to its leadership in Philadelphia and Harrisburg, as well as several changes in the firm’s Practice Group Leaders.
Marc Stein will assume leadership of the firm’s Philadelphia office, replacing Al Bixler who served as Member-in-Charge for 22 years. Stein focuses his practice in public finance. He represents varied clients, including state agencies and authorities; borrowers, including corporate and 501(c)(3) entities; investment banks; municipalities and school districts; industrial development authorities; municipal authorities; corporate trustees; commercial lenders; and swap counterparties. Marc will continue in his role as practice group leader for the Public Finance/Government Relations Practice Group at Eckert Seaman.
Bixler will continue his product liability and class action litigation practices, serving as national, regional, and local counsel for pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, representing them in state and federal courts. Al will also continue to serve as a member of the firm’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors, as well as Chair of the firm’s lateral recruiting efforts.
Michael McAuliffe Miller will lead the firm’s Harrisburg office, assuming the position of Member-in-Charge, replacing Mark Fontana, who held the role for 10 years. Miller concentrates his practice exclusively on management-side employment and labor law, including employment and labor-related litigation before a variety of state and federal courts. He has represented the Pennsylvania General Assembly, colleges and universities, statewide agencies, counties, and municipalities at all levels as well as private companies. His practice areas include Municipal Law & Governance, Regulated Substances, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, And Autonomous Transportation Systems and Appellate Litigation. Miller is a member attorney and serves, ex offico, on the firm’s Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
Fontana will continue as a member of the Board of Directors and as a member attorney at the firm, with more than 30 years’ experience exclusively representing management and employers in all types of labor and employment matters and related state and federal litigation. He routinely represents clients in public and private sector collective bargaining negotiations, unfair labor practice proceedings, and interest and grievance arbitrations. Fontana also represents clients in employment discrimination litigation and other employment-related matters, including wrongful discharge; family/medical leave and disability issues; overtime and wage payment issues; and OSHA, FLSA, and ADA compliance. He serves clients across a range of businesses, industries, and educational institutions, including financial services, manufacturing, retail, emerging growth/high technology, warehousing and distribution services, transportation, health care, colleges and universities, and nonprofit institutions.
Eckert Seamans also announced several changes to its practice group management roster. Craig Waksler (Boston) will take on the role of Co-Chair of the firm’s Mass Tort Practice Group. Donald J. Brooks, Jr. (Philadelphia) is the new Chair of the Professional Liability Practice Group, with Timothy J. Burke (Philadelphia) taking on the role of Vice-Chair of that group. Jay T. Blount (Pittsburgh) will move into the role of Chair of the Hospitality Practice Group .