30 Years at a Glance
On August 31, 2018, Cohen Seglias celebrated a milestone, our 30th anniversary. I think back to 1988 when John Greenhall and I, fresh from a triumphant jury verdict in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, moved into our first office, a 5000 square foot layout across from City Hall in Philadelphia. As I sat on the floor outside the phone closet (yes, there were phone closets in those days) talking to clients on our only working phone, I would not have guessed that three decades later the firm would have nine offices, close to 70 lawyers, and a global clientele with a myriad of legal needs.
As you may know, every five years I write a letter about the growth of Cohen Seglias and our horizons ahead. I enjoy reflecting on the firm as I write these letters, and I detailed the history of Cohen Seglias in my previous note, 25 Years at a Glance, available on our website. As I write this year’s letter, I am again amazed by the increased sophistication of the firm, the complexity of the matters we handle, and the impressive team of legal talent we have put together. I give credit to our managing partner, George Pallas, and our COO, Kathleen Garrity, for their leadership and astute ability to raise the Cohen Seglias brand and its values, across our nine offices and throughout the country and the world.
Cohen Seglias is no longer a local Philadelphia firm or even a regional firm serving Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware. In the past five years, we have seen the most growth in New York, Washington, DC, the Midwest, and the South. Under the management of Carol Sigmond, George Pallas, Shawn Farrell, Mike McKenna, and Jason Copley, our New York office has seen meteoric growth in terms of market share. Paul Thaler and Ed Seglias have created a vibrant seven-person team in Washington, DC. John Greenhall, Lane Kelman, Tony Byler, Lori Azzara, Lisa Wampler, and I have greatly expanded our presence in Kentucky, West Virginia, Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois. But we are not limited to even these locations, as we regularly leverage the meeting capabilities of technology, and no longer require a physical office in every outpost in which we work.
In 1998, when Ed Seglias and George Pallas became partners, we streamlined our practices to better support the construction industry. We have since continued our strategic growth of the firm, and have seen our attorneys work on some of the highest profile cases in the country. From cutting-edge disputes involving robots created for manufacturing plants around the country to high-stakes transactions and litigation regarding contracting, regulatory affairs, construction and much more, we have been engaged in legal work including:
With many highly recognized construction trial lawyers throughout the country, Cohen Seglias is undoubtedly known for its skill and success in this area of law. Yet, the firm is far more than just a construction firm. Our Government Contracting Group, led by Michael Payne, has now grown to eight lawyers and regularly tries cases not only throughout the country, but also in the Middle East. Moreover, our Business Transactions Group, led by Marian Kornilowicz, is involved in mergers and acquisitions, business succession planning, and real estate development all over the country. The firm’s Labor & Employment Group, headed by Marc Furman and Jon Landesman, continues to grow and is a resource for all of our clients who face employee and organized labor issues. We have also moved into the areas of Internal Investigations, Scientific Misconduct, and Title IX under the leadership of Paul Thaler and Chris Carusone. In addition, we provide counsel in more practice areas including commercial, energy, financial services, government law, green building, and insurance. All this from a three-person firm formed 30 years ago!
We know, and always have known, that our very best asset is our staff, which has enabled us to grow. With much gratitude, I recognize that our staff is far more than a group of talented individuals; we know that our strength is greater than the sum of our parts, and we appreciate the importance of keeping a solid team together. In fact, the firm’s senior leadership has remained intact for more than 20 years. With an eye to the future, I commend our associates and junior partners, who provide the same degree of excellence the firm has been known for these past 30 years.
In addition to our staff’s legal work, I am proud that as a group we value the importance of supporting the communities in which we live and work, and the trade associations that support our industry. In commemoration of our 30th anniversary, we have continued our support for Habitat for Humanity, the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, and many local charities, and we have forged new relationships with organizations including the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Philabundance, and the Salvation Army Harrisburg Capital City Region.
The thread running through all of these accolades, and of which I feel most proud, is our culture, as we have created a family feeling that runs through the core of the firm. Four years ago in September, we lost our beloved administrative assistant of more than 20 years, Madeline (Maddie) Hayes, to cancer. Our firm continues to honor Maddie’s memory in many ways, including fundraising events for the American Cancer Society. On a happier note, we are pleased to see our family grow, with sons and daughters of various partners joining the firm. Olivia Paris-Kornilowicz, Marian’s daughter, works in our Marketing Department, and Max Copley, Jason’s son, worked at the firm over the summer. The infusion of the second generation of Cohen Seglias only underscores the strength of the organization and highlights the bright future ahead.
It’s been an incredible 30 years. Thank you for being a part of Cohen Seglias and our history. We have exciting times ahead, and I will check back with you in five years.
