What’s New?

We hope that you are enjoying the summer! In this issue, you will learn practical tips to limit liability under prevailing wage and hour laws. You will also learn about the circumstances in which business owners can be held personally liable when they have a common ownership interest through a corporate entity, such as an LLC or LLP. In addition, this issue contains an analysis of the Department of Labor’s recent opinion letter related to employees’ use of FMLA leave and the ability to reduce work schedule indefinitely. Lastly, check out our Q&A with the firm’s newest partners!

Michael I. Schwartz, Co-Editor-in-Chief
Christopher W. Sexton, Co-Editor-in-Chief

New Faces

Chair of the firm’s new Family Law Group, Carolyn N. Daly is a partner in our Newark, NJ office. She is a New Jersey Supreme Court Certified Matrimonial Law Attorney who prides herself on her pragmatic, no-nonsense approach to resolving family law matters in a manner that best serves her clients and their families. Family court judges regularly appoint Carolyn as a mediator, guardian ad litem, and parent coordinator. She is trained in collaborative divorce, divorce mediation, parent coordination, and arbitration, and has significant experience handling divorce litigation, domestic violence, custody and parenting time, alimony, child support, college contribution, enforcement of settlement agreements, equitable distribution, and division of complex assets such as restricted stock units, stock options, cryptocurrency, deferred compensation, and closely held businesses.

Sean P. Gaynor joined the Newark, NJ office as an associate in the Family Law Group. He devotes his practice to representing family law clients. Sean handles a wide variety of cases dealing with nearly every area of family law, including issues relating to custody and parenting time, alimony, child support, college contribution, removal/relocation, grandparents’ rights, emancipation, life insurance, and division of assets such as a business, real property, stock options, restricted stock units, retirement accounts and cryptocurrency.

Paul V. Lucas, Jr. recently joined the firm’s New York office as a partner in the Construction Group. He focuses his practice on construction litigation and has more than 20 years of experience helping clients navigate complex construction claims from inception to trial. Paul regularly analyzes, prepares and litigates default and termination claims, delay claims, extra work disputes, and mechanic’s lien claims. He works with a variety of clients across the industry including contractors, subcontractors, developers, design professionals and owners handling construction matters and commercial litigation.

Christopher A. Ouellette joined the Philadelphia office as an associate in the Business Transactions Group. He advises businesses and nonprofits on business formation, corporate governance and commercial transactions. Chris drafts and negotiates purchase and sale agreements for assets, stocks and real estate, as well as documents for mergers and acquisitions of all sizes. He also helps financial institutions, including banks and other lenders with all aspects of the commercial lending process.

Cohen Seglias Establishes Family Law Practice with Arrival of Partner Carolyn N. Daly and Associate Sean P. Gaynor

We are pleased to welcome Carolyn Daly as a partner, launching our Family Law Group. Carolyn is joined by associate Sean Gaynor in the firm’s Newark office, both were previously with Daly & Associates.

“We are excited to add a new practice to the services we provide our clients and complement our growing estate planning capabilities. Carolyn, who is highly regarded for her work in New Jersey, helps us achieve our goals of strategic growth,” said Cohen Seglias managing partner Steven Williams. “We welcome Carolyn and Sean and look forward to their contributions to growing our newly established family law practice.”

Six Attorney Promotions; Four New Department Chairs

We are excited to announce the promotions of Anthony Bottenfield, Jennifer Budd and Evan Rassman to the firm’s partnership. Anthony and Jen are located in the firm’s Philadelphia office, and Evan splits his time between the Wilmington and Philadelphia offices. In addition, Ashling Ehrhardt and Matthew Erlanger, both of the Philadelphia office, were promoted to senior counsel.

Lori Azzara was named a shareholder and joined the firm’s board of directors! Lori has made significant contributions to Cohen Seglias’ success and growth over the years.

We have also named four new department chairs, including Roy Cohen for Construction, Ashling Ehrhardt for Title IX, Jonathan Landesman for Labor & Employment, and Whitney O’Reilly for Wealth Preservation.

New Leadership Roles for George E. Pallas, Edward Seglias, Steven M. Williams and Evan A. Blaker

We are pleased to announce new leadership roles at the firm. Steve Williams is our new managing partner, and Evan Blaker is the firm’s new administrative partner; each will serve three-year terms. As managing partner, Steve is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the firm, working to improve operational efficiency and effectiveness. In his new role, Evan partners with Steve to develop and execute firm policies while assisting on issues involving legal operations.

In addition, Ed Seglias and George Pallas have been named co-CEOs of the firm, which went into effect last year. As co-CEOs, George and Ed lead the firm’s strategic direction and explore growth opportunities through bringing on lateral hires, adding practice areas and expanding to new geographic markets.

The National Law Journal Construction Trailblazers 2022: Edward Seglias

Cohen Seglias is pleased to announce that partner Edward Seglias is among The National Law Journal‘s 2022 Construction Trailblazers. The Trailblazers list celebrates lawyers, chosen from hundreds of nominations, who have made significant marks on the practice, policy and technological advancements in their practice areas.

Cohen Seglias Named a Pennsylvania Regional Powerhouse by Law360

Cohen Seglias has been selected as one of Law360’s 2022 Regional Powerhouses for Pennsylvania. Regional powerhouses are lauded for their handling of notable deals and litigation and for making a lasting impact on the law at the state and local levels.

The firm is noted for its strengths in construction and litigation and its growing bench of attorneys in a range of practice areas. Co-CEOs Ed Seglias and George Pallas spoke to the publication about the firm’s founding, growth and notable successes.

Cohen Seglias Recognized by U.S. News – Best Lawyers® on the 2023 “Best Law Firms List”

Our firm has been named to the 2023 U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms” list nationally for construction and regionally in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and New Jersey for various practices. The firm is listed in the following areas:

• Litigation – Construction: National Tier 1, Metropolitan Tier 1 Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, Metropolitan Tier 3 New Jersey
• Construction Law: National Tier 2, Metropolitan Tier 1 Philadelphia
• Commercial Litigation: Metropolitan Tier 1 Harrisburg
• Employment Law – Management: Metropolitan Tier 2 Philadelphia
• Labor Law – Management: Metropolitan Tier 2 Philadelphia
• Litigation – Labor & Employment: Metropolitan Tier 3 Philadelphia (new this year)
• Insurance Law: Metropolitan Tier 3 Philadelphia

Firms included in the 2023 “Best Law Firms” list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of a quality law practice and a breadth of legal acumen.

Attorneys Named to 2023 Best Lawyers® List

Twelve Cohen Seglias attorneys are listed in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Lawyers are selected based on an exhaustive peer-review process. In addition, a number of associates are included in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™, which recognizes extraordinary lawyers who have been in private practice for fewer than 10 years.

Attorneys Recognized as 2023 Best Lawyers

Lori Wisniewski Azzara, Litigation – Construction, Construction Law
Jonathan A. Cass, Insurance Law
Roy S. Cohen, Litigation – Construction
Jason A. Copley, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
Shawn R. Farrell, Litigation – Construction
Marc Furman, Employment Law – Management, Labor Law – Management, Litigation – Labor and Employment
John A. Greenhall, Construction Law
Michael F. McKenna, Litigation – Construction
George E. Pallas, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
Edward Seglias, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction
Lisa M. Wampler, Litigation – Construction
Steven M. Williams, Commercial Litigation

Attorneys Recognized as 2023 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch

Kathleen M. Morley, Litigation – Construction, Construction Law
Jennifer R. Budd, Litigation – Construction, Construction Law
Tiffany R. Marini, Construction Law (new this year)
Gary J. Repke, Construction Law, Litigation – Construction (new this year)
Meghan L. Rice, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (new this year)
Kelsey E. Riehle, Litigation – Construction, Construction Law

George Pallas Named Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” for Construction

Managing partner George Pallas was selected as Best Lawyers® 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation – Construction and Construction Law in Philadelphia. This recognition is awarded to individual attorneys with the highest overall feedback from their peers. Only one lawyer is recognized as such for each specific practice area and geographic region. George was a “Lawyer of the Year” for Litigation – Construction in 2019 as well.