Lewis Brisbois has significantly grown its Philadelphia practice with the addition of five new partners and five new associates. The new partners include: Walter (Pete) H. Swayze, III, Megan E. Grossman, Michael B. Pullano, Gregory Hurchalla, and Richard Goldberg. They will be joined by Associates Asher A. Block, John M. Borelli, Chester F. Darlington, Adrianna M. Yanez, and David A. Yavil. With the exception of Messrs. Hurchalla and Goldberg, the new attorneys all join from the Philadelphia office of Segal McCambridge Singer & Mahoney, Ltd.
In addition to the lateral move, Mr. Swayze has been appointed as the co-chair of Lewis Brisbois’ Life Sciences Practice, alongside Philadelphia Managing Partner John T. Salvucci, and vice-chair of their Products Liability Practice. In addition, Ms. Grossman has been appointed vice-chair of the Life Sciences Practice, joining Partner Pamela M. Ferguson in that role.
Both Mr. Swayze and Ms. Grossman have extensive experience working at the intersection of science and the law, representing medical device and pharmaceutical companies on a range of issues from products liability to mass tort litigation. Mr. Swayze’s practice also involves high exposure catastrophic personal injury and property claims of many different types.
“Pete and Megan are superb lawyers with excellent reputations,” said Mr. Salvucci. “In addition, they are genuinely nice people – a perfect complement to the culture here at Lewis Brisbois. And they have arrived with a phenomenal team.”
“We’re very excited about this expansion and look forward to the further growth of our Philadelphia office,” Mr. Salvucci added.
Mr. Swayze commented: “Joining Lewis Brisbois is a profoundly exciting opportunity and adventure for me and my professional colleagues with whom I have decades of cumulative experience. Megan and I have developed a loyal client base and we will continue to represent those loyal clients. Mike [Pullano]’s experience and presence here deepens our bench even further.”
Mr. Pullano has over two decades of experience in complex catastrophic injury cases, representing manufacturers and suppliers of heavy construction equipment in both state and federal courts across the country.
In addition to boosting their Life Science Practice, the new group brings a wealth of experience to the office’s General Liability Practice. Mr. Hurchalla, a former Deputy District Attorney, Deputy Attorney General, and Assistant U.S. Attorney, was brought on board by Partner Lee J. Janiczek, who knows Mr. Hurchalla from their days working together in the DA’s office.
“Greg is a terrific lawyer with over twenty years of litigation experience,” said Mr. Janiczek. “We’re looking forward to having him as a part of our General Liability team, and hope to draw on his experience in environmental and white-collar litigation as well.”
Mr. Goldberg joins Lewis Brisbois from the Department of Justice where he worked as a cyber attorney. He was brought on board by Sean B. Hoar, a Portland partner and chair of Lewis Brisbois’ Data Privacy & Cybersecurity Practice, who announced the new hire in a press release on Monday, January 7. Mr. Goldberg will split his time between the firm’s Philadelphia and New York offices.
The new joiners bring Lewis Brisbois’ Philadelphia office up to 24 attorneys and represent a significant step forward in the firm’s ability to service clients in the area, especially those facing life science-related claims.
“In an increasingly competitive legal environment, there is no longer any substitute to providing sophisticated clients with the highest level of broad-based representation possible, a reputation which Lewis Brisbois has,” said Mr. Swayze, “and which we will continue to promote to our existing clients and any new opportunities presented.”
Attorney overviews
Walter (Pete) H. Swayze, III
Mr. Swayze focuses his practicing on defending clients facing catastrophic personal injury claims and property damage claims on nationwide basis. He previously served as lead defense counsel in multiple pattern litigation matters and currently serves as Defense Liaison Counsel in pharmaceutical products liability matters involving prescription drugs and medical devices. A graduate of Widener University School of Law, he has prepared complex litigation matters for trial and has significant jury experience in high exposure cases, and has handled numerous appellate matters before the Pennsylvania Superior Court, and the Third and Eighth Circuit Courts of Appeals. Mr. Swayze has been recognized for nine consecutive years as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, and is a member of National Association of Distinguished Counsel and a Fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America.
Megan E. Grossman
Ms. Grossman began her career in the biomedical field, receiving her Bachelors in Molecular Biology from Lehigh University and Masters in Biomedical Engineering from Drexel University, and currently focuses her practice on the representation of medical device and pharmaceutical companies in products liability matters relating to life sciences and biotechnology. A graduate of Villanova University School of Law, Ms. Grossman has previously been recognized as a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer. She has experience with all stages of litigation and has served as defense counsel in numerous mass-tort litigations, both locally and nationwide.
Michael B. Pullano
Mr. Pullano focuses his practice on complex catastrophic injury cases in product liability, and the defense of professional liability matters. His practice is nationally based with experience in state and federal courts. Mr. Pullano represents construction and fuel equipment manufacturers and distributors in a variety of civil litigation matters. He has represented both public and private entities, including Fortune 500 companies and individuals. A graduate of Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago Kent College of Law, he previously worked as an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia for many years.
Gregory Hurchalla
Mr. Hurchalla has spent much of his career in public service, first as an Assistant District Attorney in Delaware County, then as Deputy Attorney General in the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office, before returning to Delaware County as a Deputy District Attorney in charge of Economic Crime, Public Integrity, and Elder Exploitation Units. He then went on to serve as Assistant United State Attorney in Savannah, Georgia, where he worked on a range of white-collar, immigration, and violent crime matters. He received his undergraduate degree in Finance from Boston College, his law degree cum laude from Suffolk University Law School, and his MBA from Villanova University. Following his career in public service, Mr. Hurchalla has spent the last seven years working for a civil litigation defense firm.
Richard Goldberg
Mr. Goldberg is a veteran of the U.S. Department of Justice, where for over 20 years, he served as a cyber attorney in the national Computer Crime & Intellectual Property Section program. He has also served in several leadership positions in the Philadelphia U.S. Attorney’s Office, where he managed the investigation and prosecution of complex white collar and high-tech cases, including national security matters. Read more about Mr. Goldberg’s experience in our press release from January 7, 2019.
Asher A. Block
Mr. Block focuses his practice on the defense of products liability, medical device, asbestos, and pharmaceutical actions. He is also experienced in complex commercial litigation matters, managing all stages of trial litigation. A graduate of the Thomas R. Kline School of Law at Drexel University, Mr. Block is admitted in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
John M. Borelli
Mr. Borrelli’s practice focuses on labor and employment litigation, representing employers in Pennsylvania and New Jersey in state and federal courts, and before governmental agencies. He also represents clients in commercial disputes related to unfair competition and false advertising claims. Mr. Borelli’s graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law cum laude. Prior to law school, he served more than four years as a police officer with the Baltimore PD.
Chester F. Darlington
Mr. Darlington has two decades of experience defending clients in the Philadelphia area in matters of insurance coverage, including litigation regarding CGL, errors and omissions, automobile, professional liability, and toxic tort claims. He is well versed in all stages of litigation and has conducted arbitrations, depositions, and hearings. A graduation of University of Akron School of Law, Mr. also concentrates his practice on bad faith cases involved UM/UIM claims, CGL claims, and property claims.
Adrianna M. Yanez
Ms. Yanez concentrates on products liability, medical malpractice, appellate, and premise liability matters. She has extensive experience resolving cases at the trial level, as well as through arbitration, mediation, and settlement conferences and negotiations. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Ms. Yanez is active in pro bono initiatives in the Philadelphia, taking cases under the Prison Litigation Reform Act.
David A. Yavil
Mr. Yavil has experience working with an array of clients including product manufacturers, licensed professionals, health systems, premises owners, real estate brokers, insurers, and employers in a range of litigation matters such as personal injury, premises liability, asbestos, medical malpractice, and commercial litigation. A graduate of Rutgers University School of Law, Mr. Yavil was recognized by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers as a Rising Star from 2013 to 2015.
Source: lewisbrisbois.com
