We are happy to announce the promotions of senior counsel Anthony Chwastyk, Ashling Ehrhardt, and Matthew Erlanger and associates Robert O’Brien and Joseph Sine to the firm’s partnership, effective January 1, 2024. Across the firm, a total of nine attorneys were promoted to partner.
Anthony, Ashling and Robbie are all based in the Philadelphia office, while Matt and Joe split their time between the Philadelphia and Harrisburg offices.
“We are tremendously proud of this group of attorneys for being valued members of our Pennsylvania offices. Anthony, Ashling, Matt, Robbie and Joe have all demonstrated leadership and a commitment to the firm’s success and continued growth and we congratulate them on their well-deserved promotions,” said Cohen Seglias managing partner Steven Williams.
Anthony serves as trusted corporate counsel to companies in highly regulated and growing industries, such as healthcare and e-commerce, working to navigate compliance and regulatory challenges so his clients can focus on innovating and expanding their businesses. He regularly reviews, negotiates, and implements high-value software agreements, vendor contracts, real estate transactions, and financing arrangements. Anthony previously served as corporate counsel for a large New Jersey-based nonprofit healthcare system and as general counsel to a mid-sized New Jersey industrial supplier, giving him a unique perspective on how to effectively advise in-house attorneys and operational teams. He earned his J.D. from Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law and received his B.A. from La Salle University. Anthony is a member of the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia and of the Camden County and Philadelphia Bar Associations.
Ashling is chair of Cohen Seglias’ Title IX Group and advises education institutions and key individuals on Title IX policies, procedures, investigations and hearings. An ATIXA-certified Level One Civil Rights Investigator, she regularly conducts investigations into allegations of sexual misconduct, discrimination, harassment, and other acts of misconduct at private and public colleges and universities. Ashling is approved by a leading education-specific insurance company to provide external investigations. She is also a resource for college and university students throughout the process of potential disciplinary proceedings brought by their schools for conduct issues, such as Title IX, alcohol, drug, hazing, as well as academic issues, such as cheating and plagiarism. Ashling earned her J.D. from Rutgers University School of Law – Camden and received her B.A. from Saint Peter’s College. She is a member of the Philadelphia Bar Association and is a contributing author to the education section of The Legal Intelligencer.
Matt is a member of the firm’s Construction Practice Group and serves as a trusted legal advisor to construction owners, contractors, and subcontractors, working with his clients to help them protect their business objectives and minimize risk. He provides strategic counsel on potential disputes involving project delays, performance and payment bond claims, construction defects, and mechanics’ liens. Matt has argued before the Superior and Commonwealth Courts of Pennsylvania and handled appellate work in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. He works with clients to find solutions for wrongful termination, delay in payment, and breach of contract or other contractual claims. Matt earned his J.D. from Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law and his B.M. from Temple University. He is an editor and frequent contributor to the firm’s Construction Law Now blog and is a member of the Keystone Contractors Association and the Pile Driving Contractors Association.
Robbie focuses his practice on construction and business litigation, representing subcontractors, suppliers, manufacturers, general contractors, sureties, and developers across the Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and nationally. He provides guidance to his clients regarding the bid process and contract negotiation, project management and documentation, and handling claims, and he has assisted in trying cases and arbitrations to verdict (and beyond) in numerous states. Robbie has also drafted regulations and legislation at the state and federal levels, and he has been a featured author and speaker on a variety of legal topics, including most recently construction contract provisions, delay and inefficiency claims, and collecting on judgments. Robbie received his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and earned his B.A. from the University of Michigan, Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude. He is an active member of the General Building Contractors Association, the Sheet Metal Contractors Association and the Contractors Association of Eastern Pennsylvania.
Joe concentrates his practice on construction litigation, assisting owners, contractors and subcontractors on private and public projects. He has experience with cases relating to commercial, institutional, and residential construction, including heavy highway, hotel, pharmaceutical, and school construction projects. Joe regularly advocates for and defends public bid protests, pursues mechanics’ lien claims, prompt payment act claims, extra work claims, and delay claims, and defends construction defect cases and OSHA compliance citation actions. He earned his J.D. from Drexel University Thomas R. Kline School of Law and received his B.A. from Drexel University. Joe is a member of the Safety Committee for the Keystone Chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors and is on the Membership Committee of the Central PA Independent Electrical Contractors.