What’s New?
In the third and final issue of the strange year that has been 2020, our attorneys remind you about the importance of documenting issues encountered on the job, especially in the context of design-build contracts. You’ll also learn about federal trademark protections from the Chair of our newest practice group focused on Trademark & Copyright Law. Lastly, we are proud to announce an important win for heavy highway electrical contractors in Pennsylvania whose sales and use tax obligations have changed favorably thanks to Kuharchik Construction and our team here at Cohen Seglias.
We wish you the best this holiday season, hope you and your families stay healthy, and look forward to a new year of Construction in Brief in 2021.
Christopher W. Sexton, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Sydney Pierce, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Litigation Attorney Edward D. Altabet Joins Cohen Seglias to Serve as New York Office Managing Partner
We are pleased to announce that Edward Altabet has joined the firm as the New York office managing partner. Ed focuses his practice on commercial litigation and investigations. He previously served as founder and managing member of Altabet Law LLC.
Ed is a member of the firm’s Commercial Litigation, International Investigations, and White Collar Defense & Government Investigations Groups. He litigates matters before state, federal, and appellate courts, focusing his practice on contracts, business torts, lenders’ and creditors’ rights, secured transactions, securities, partnership disputes, and executive employment issues. Ed also represents companies and senior executives, as well as religious and not-for-profit corporations, in connection with internal and regulatory-driven investigations relating to allegations of financial misconduct, undisclosed self-dealing, accounting fraud, improper allocation of restricted funds, and False Claims Act violations.
Announcing Our Trademark & Copyright Law Group
A company’s brand and trademark distinguish it in a crowded marketplace and are among an organization’s most important assets. Protecting trademarks is essential to ensure brand names, marks, domain names, and other brand identifiers maintain their value. Our new Trademark & Copyright Law Group, led by Anthony Chwastyk, helps clients navigate trademark registration, portfolio management, enforcement and licensing, and contract agreements.
Trademark registration affords companies federal protection from theft, infringement, and other misuses of trademarks. We help our clients determine what can and cannot be trademarked and then guide them through applying for and maintaining trademarks. Cohen Seglias attorneys protect clients’ interests from the earliest stages of the process, including advising on initial searches of the Trademark Electronic Search System and vetting third-party vendors for a thorough review of social media, public records, and business directories. Our trademark experience enables us to ask clients the right questions as they proceed through the application process using the Trademark Electronic Application System and position them for approval from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
New Faces
Anthony H. Chwastyk joined our Philadelphia office as senior counsel. As trusted corporate counsel to companies in highly regulated and growing industries such as healthcare and e-commerce, Anthony helps clients navigate compliance and regulatory challenges so they can focus on innovating and expanding their businesses. His experience as corporate counsel to privately held organizations gives him a unique perspective when working with in-house attorneys and operational teams. In addition to his transactional work, Anthony chairs the Trademark & Copyright Law Group.
David C. Petrone joined the Philadelphia office as of counsel in Government Contracting Group. He helps government contractors analyze and mitigate risk throughout the course of a construction project. Dave counsels clients on preventative strategies to reduce the potential for disputes and conflicts, where the client is the ultimate decision maker on managing risks. Utilizing his experience as counsel to the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, he advises on issues including design build, environmental remediation, performance and payment bonds, the Federal Acquisition Regulation, procurement, and ethics.
Alexandra M. Aversa returns to Cohen Seglias as an associate in our Newark, NJ office. Alex supports construction industry clients, assisting owners, contractors, and subcontractors on both private and public projects. She conducts research and prepares pleadings and briefs in construction-related matters. While in law school, Alex was a summer associate in our Philadelphia office.
Mehreen Imtiaz is the newest member of our Washington, DC team. She helps individuals and companies navigate complex investigations and prosecutions for federal and local criminal violations brought by state attorneys general, the U.S. Department of Justice, and other federal and state agencies. Mehreen also conducts internal investigations on behalf of institutions regarding Title IX and research misconduct, and is a member of the firm’s White Collar Defense & Government Investigations, Internal Investigations, and Scientific Misconduct Groups.
Hope E. Kildea joined our Labor & Employment Group as an associate in our Philadelphia office. She represents clients in a broad range of employment litigation matters, including discrimination, wage and hour, harassment, restrictive covenant, and other workplace disputes. Hope also advises clients on business disputes involving breach of contract, tortious interference, commercial collections, and partnerships, among others.
Cohen Seglias Attorneys Named to 2021 Best Lawyers® List
We are proud to announce that twelve Cohen Seglias attorneys are included in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©, almost doubling the number of recognized attorneys from 2020. Lawyers are selected for inclusion based on an exhaustive peer-review process. In addition, a number of associates are included in the inaugural edition of the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, which recognizes extraordinary lawyers who have been in private practice for fewer than 10 years.
Cohen Seglias Recognized by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® on the 2021 “Best Law Firms List”
We are pleased to announce that Cohen Seglias is named in the 2021 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list nationally for two practice areas and regionally in Philadelphia for four practice areas. The firm is listed in the following areas:
- Construction Law, National Tier 2
- Litigation – Construction, National Tier 2
- Construction Law, Philadelphia Tier 1
- Litigation – Construction, Philadelphia Tier 1
- Labor Law – Management, Philadelphia Tier 2
- Employment Law – Management, Philadelphia Tier 2
Brionna L. Denby Listed on Delaware Business Times’ “Under 40” List
We are proud to announce that associate Brionna Denby is among this year’s “DBT40,” the Delaware Business Times’ list of 40 leaders and innovators in Delaware under the age of 40. Honorees were selected based on their professional achievements and contributions to their community.
Brionna is honored for her work as an attorney as she “strives to amplify the voices of people who have long been silenced.” Among the many volunteering efforts the publication highlights are her contributions around the clock helping people navigate difficult situations during the pandemic.
Cohen Seglias Donates PPE to Local Hospitals
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States in March, Cohen Seglias sought a way to support our local communities. Throughout the spring and summer, the firm donated over 1,000 face shields to the hospitals that were hit the hardest during the pandemic in Harrisburg, Newark, NJ, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington, DC, and Wilmington. Each hospital received 200 face shields. These efforts were coordinated by the managing partners of each Cohen Seglias office.
Please consider giving back to hospitals as they continue to fight the pandemic and keep us safe.