Eckert Seamans Opens New York City Office with 11-Lawyer Team
May 14, 2025
Additions Expand Mass Tort, Product Liability, and Commercial Litigation Practices, Among Others
National law firm Eckert Seamans has announced its expansion into the New York City market with the addition of an 11-lawyer team from Hawkins Parnell & Young, LLP, led by Member-In-Charge Edward P. Abbot.
“Following a strong 2024 financial performance, our leadership team decided it was the right time to expand our services into the New York City market” said Scott D. Cessar, Eckert Seamans’ Chief Executive Officer. “Ed and his team of talented attorneys and business professionals are a tremendous addition to Eckert Seamans and skillfully complement our nationally recognized Mass Tort practice, as well as several additional practice areas.”
The New York City team will be based in Manhattan and includes seven Members and four Associates. The group also brings with them four paralegals and three business professionals, expanding upon the attorneys and resources previously based in Newark, New Jersey, all of whom will continue their practice in our New York City office or continue their contributions from other offices across the firm platform.
The attorneys in the group will be joining Eckert Seamans’ highly regarded Mass Tort Litigation practice group, which was recognized with a nationwide ranking in the 2025 edition of Best Law Firms® and currently serves a dynamic client base across the New York City market. Additional firm practice areas served and expanded by the additions include Product Liability, Commercial Litigation, Construction, Labor & Employment, Insurance Coverage Litigation, and Professional Liability.
Abbot commented: “Our team is excited to join Eckert Seamans, a firm with dynamic culture, strong full-service offerings, and deep bench strength. I am also proud to lead the firm’s venture into the New York City market and utilize its strong regional footprint to grow our attorney roster and client base as we look forward.”
Eckert Seamans’ New York City office includes the following attorneys:
Members
Edward P. Abbot serves as Member-In-Charge of Eckert Seamans’ New York City office, where he focuses his practice on a wide range of product liability, general commercial, and mass liability toxic tort litigation. He has experience representing corporations involved in asbestos litigation, cosmetic talc and hair relaxer litigation, as well as toxic tort litigation, premises liability, pharmaceutical and medical devices, personal care products, and other complex cases in multiple jurisdictions.
Nicea J. D’Annunzio has extensive experience defending clients in mass tort litigation involving toxic exposures and product liability. She has defended corporations embroiled in intricate, multi-party litigation across fields such as toxic torts, construction, environmental, and product liability.
Mark D. Debrowski has significant experience in the area of class actions and mass tort cases. His practice focuses on civil matters including mass toxic tort litigation, asbestos litigation, and general commercial litigation.
Erich Gleber represents clients in toxic tort litigation and general commercial litigation. He has extensive experience representing clients in a wide range of products liability, toxic tort, environmental, pharmaceutical, and commercial litigation. Erich also has experience in insurance coverage, white collar criminal law, and bankruptcy law.
Michael F. Gorman focuses his practice on defending a diverse portfolio of clients in complex civil litigation matters, including government entities, construction managers, industrial equipment and automobile manufacturers, financial services organizations, and pharmaceutical contract research organizations.
Timothy M. McCann primarily represents corporate defendants in a variety of complex litigation, including asbestos, toxic exposures, environmental and products, premises, and general liability. He also has extensive experience defending healthcare professionals against allegations of medical malpractice.
Alfred J. Sargente focuses his practice primarily on toxic tort and environmental litigation, product liability, commercial litigation, and general liability matters. He also has significant trial experience defending personal injury actions arising out of motor vehicle and transportation accidents, and other premises liability matters.
Associates
Kelbey J. Deck, Taylor Fioravanti, Victoria K. Kreuzer, and Max R. Lewkowski all represent manufacturers, corporations, and distributors in defense of product liability, toxic tort, mass tort litigation, and general liability matters.