Law firms in NJ level up associates for 2023 (updated)

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Several New Jersey law firms started off the year with new promotions for their team members.

Cole Schotz

Cole Schotz PC announced the promotion of seven attorneys to member, including two working in its Hackensack office.

Based in New Jersey are: Marissa Mastroianni, a member in the Employment, Litigation, and Cannabis practice groups, and Emily Park, a member in the Litigation practice group.

The remaining elevations were for attorneys practicing in out-of-state offices: Anthony De Leo, Samantha Epstein and Jullee Kim in New York City; Andrew Roth-Moore in Wilmington, Del.; and James Perkins in Dallas.

All promotions were effective Jan. 1.

CSG Law

Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC, based in West Orange, elevated 11 attorneys: six to member and five to counsel.

“The CSG Law team is excited about what the future holds for the firm and buoyed by the contributions of our newly elevated attorneys,” said Managing Member Patricia Costello in a statement. “From the addition of new attorneys to our rosters, to our employees’ return to the office three days a week earlier this year, to our eagerly anticipated move to our new state-of-the-art headquarters in Roseland, none of this could have happened without the extraordinary determination, skill and efforts of the CSG Law team, which, throughout it all, has continued to place our valued clients at the forefront.”

The new members are: Stephen Cordaro – Corporate & Securities group; Michael Cross – Litigation and Real Estate, Development & Land Use groups; Anthony Marchese – Property Taxation Group; Amanda Miceli – Fidelity & Surety Group; Brian O’Neill – a litigator whose practice focuses on complex civil litigation and white-collar criminal defense; and Adelina Sklyar – Real Estate, Development & Land Use Group.

Attorneys elevated to counsel are: Michelle Delaney – Corporate & Securities Group; Danielle Federico – Real Estate, Development & Land Use Group; Chelsea Jasnoff – a litigator who focuses on complex commercial cases; Michael Mouridy – Real Estate, Development & Land Use Group; Daniel Tyrrell – Litigation and White Collar Defense & Investigations groups.

All promotions were effective Jan. 1.

Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP

With offices in Iselin, Roseland, Red Bank and New York, New Jersey law firm Greenbaum, Rowe, Smith & Davis LLP named partner Sean McGowan co-chair for the Real Estate Department, effective Jan. 1.

“I am honored to be the new co-chair of Greenbaum’s esteemed real estate practice and excited to stand alongside my partner Jack Fersko, who does a tremendous job in leading one of the firm’s key departments,” McGowan said in a prepared statement. I look forward to learning from and working with Jack in my new role to ensure that our team continues to meet the needs of our clients and to further Greenbaum’s outstanding legacy of leadership in the real estate sector.”

McGowan’s experience encompasses all aspects of development, redevelopment, land use and zoning, real property transactions, project financing, and the representation of clients in issues related to property management, landlord-tenant matters and day-to-day business counseling. In addition to his work in private practice, McGowan previously served as vice president of development and legal affairs for a leading New Jersey based commercial developer, according to Greenbaum Rowe.

Fersko, partner and Real Estate Department co-chair, described McGowan as a valued member of the firm’s “next generation,” adding that the two will work closely to lead the department and serve clients. “He has a remarkable depth of experience in all facets of sophisticated transactional real estate, demonstrates great judgment, is an excellent mentor for younger associates of the firm, and is truly dedicated to Greenbaum’s continued success and future growth,” Fersko said in a statement.

Jones Jones

New York’s Jones Jones LLC named Christine Diana partner Jan. 1, marking the first person to hold that title from the firm’s New Jersey office.

At the female-led Jersey City outpost, Diana serves alongside Managing Partner Sarah Thomas, Executive Partner Matthew Jones and Associate Kristina Jones. The office was established in 2019 to grow Jones Jones’ – a leading defense law firm representing insurance carriers and self-insured employers – practice across the Hudson River.

Diana joined Jones Jones in September 2019 and has focused her practice on helping clients with complex jurisdictional questions, COVID-19 claims and construction matters.

“Over the past three years Christine has been an invaluable resource to Jones Jones’ New Jersey practice,” said Thomas in a statement. “As an associate she expanded our New Jersey practice with expertise in and managing of complex claims, and she deepened our foothold in the state by strengthening relationships with existing clients and by creating opportunities with new clients. Her rise to partner is a natural progression and we are thrilled to have yet another woman accept the role of partner at our firm.”

Lowenstein Sandler

Eight attorneys were elected to firm partnership, Roseland-based Lowenstein Sandler LLP announced: Sabrina Cua – Private Equity, Transactions & Advisory Group; Craig Dashiell – Business Litigation, Class Action Litigation; Nicole Fulfree – Bankruptcy & Restructuring Department; Brendan Koeth – The Tech Group; Kimberly Lomot – Real Estate; Sophia Mokotoff – Tax; Tracy Snow – Trusts & Estates; and Kristin Taylor – Tax.

“We are delighted to welcome these talented lawyers to our partnership,” Lowenstein Sandler Chair and Managing Partner Gary Wingens said in a statement. “These attorneys have distinguished themselves with their extraordinary commitment to our clients, colleagues and communities in unprecedented times. They have also consistently strengthened our firm through their commitment to our firm’s values.”

Additionally, 14 associates were elevated to counsel: Taryn Cannataro, Deangeor Chin, Laura Cicirelli, Frank Eucalitto, Mark Heinzelmann, Yashas Honasoge, Eric Merenstein, Brianne Polito, Angela Raleigh, Colleen Restel, Jarrett Schindler, Scott Siegel, Lindsay Sklar and Raquel Smith.

All promotions were effective Jan. 1.

Saiber LLC

Nino Coviello and Jennine DiSomma were elected co-managing members of Saiber LLC, effective Jan. 1, 2023. The pair succeeds William Maderer, who held the position since 2004.

DiSomma is the first woman to step into the role in the Florham Park firm’s more than 70-year history.

As co-managing members, Coviello and DiSomma will lead the Executive Committee, overseeing decisions by the firm including operations and personnel, business development and strategic growth, finance and information technology.

“Nino and Jennine have been integral members of Saiber for over 20 years and I am excited to be handing over the reins to two talented and successful individuals,” Maderer, who will continue as a member and focus on his litigation practice, said in a statement.

DiSomma joined Saiber in 1989. She is an active member of the firm’s administrative operations and internal affairs teams, including serving as a member of the Diversity and Inclusion and Recruitment committees. Coviello joined Saiber in 2000, specializing in representing public, private and closely held businesses in corporate transactions, as well as individuals in tax and estate planning matters. He was elected to the executive committee in 2022.

Wilson Elser

National law firm Wilson Elser announced the promotion of 28 attorneys to partner Jan. 1, including five located in Madison: Adam Buchwalter – practicing in the areas of estate and income tax planning, wealth preservation and estate administration for high-net-worth individuals and families; Matthew Major – a federal and state trial and appellate lawyer with a concentration in construction defect, professional liability and insurance coverage litigation; Tammy Meyer – handling wealth preservation, estate planning and administration of estates for U.S.-based and multijurisdictional high-net-worth individuals and families; Joseph Morgese – practicing in the areas of commercial litigation, general liability, professional liability, and defense of sexual abuse claims against institutional and individual clients; and John O’Toole – defending professional liability and general liability lawsuits, with experience in complex commercial litigation, including finance-related matters.

“As part of Wilson Elser’s rich history of fostering talent and supporting career growth, I am honored to welcome 28 new partners who have been elevated as the 2023 Class,” said Wilson Elser Chair Daniel McMahon in a prepared statement. “This elevation is the culmination of years of excellent lawyering and exceptional client service. We wish them well and continue to offer our full support and confidence.”

Editor’s note: This is an ongoing list of new year promotion announcements and as such we will continue to update as applicable. The law firms were reordered to appear alphabetically at 1:06 p.m. EDT on Jan. 12, 2023.