Chiesa Shahinian Giantomasi names first full-time managing member

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For the first time in its 43-year history, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC will have a full-time managing member handling day-to-day operations and strategic planning, the West Orange-based law firm announced Friday.Daniel A. Schwartz, who has been part of the firm for 33 years, takes on the role effective immediately, the firm said in a news release. Schwartz is a corporate lawyer specializing in banking, securities, mergers and acquisitions, health care and internal investigations. He is now tasked with ensuring the firm’s expansion, culture and counsel remain united in a seamless fashion.

“In light of our significant growth over the past 18 months — we are now nearly 140 attorneys — and the emergence of several new practice areas, firm leadership decided that a full-time managing member — a CEO, if you will — would facilitate a highly integrated and coordinated business-oriented approach,” Schwartz told NJBIZ. “This is a major component of the firm’s long-term strategic plan.”

Schwartz mentioned that, in the past, the firm’s managing member has continued to handle a full legal practice, but this will no longer be the case.

“It is essential that we devote full-time effort to aligning our firm’s capabilities with the evolving needs of our clients,” he said. “One of my first priorities will be working in concert with the firm’s executive and management committees to deploy our unique strengths in the most efficient manner and to help our clients reach their goals in the increasingly complex New Jersey business marketplace.”

Schwartz joined the firm, which changed its name from Wolff & Samson as part of a reorganization in April, in 1983. He became a member of the firm in 1985.

“As an attorney in the firm’s corporate group, and more recently as co-chairman of that group, I understand our clients’ needs and expectations,” he said. “In my new role, I look forward to serving as a bridge to the next generation of firm leaders in aggressively positioning Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi for the evolving legal environment.”