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Cohen & Grigsby Attorneys Selected for Best Lawyers List

September 13, 2005

PITTSBURGH, PA – Twenty-two of Cohen & Grigsby’s attorneys have been included in the 2006 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.  Those selected for the list include Ronald J. Andrykovitch for labor and employment, John S. Brendel for immigration, Charles R. Brodbeck for public finance and real estate, James B. Brown for alternative dispute resolution, James D. Chiafullo for corporate law, Charles C. Cohen for corporate law, Henry C. Cohen for tax law and trusts and estates, V. Susanne Cook for international trade and finance, R. Michael Daniel for trusts and estates, Christopher F. Farrell for tax, David J. Kalson for technology, Thad D. Kirkpatrick for real estate, E. Donald Ladov for labor and employment, Lawrence M. Lebowitz for immigration, John E. Lyncheski for labor and employment, Richard R. Nelson, II for commercial litigation, Hugh W. Nevin, Jr. for tax, C. Eric Pfeil for trusts and estates, Jonathan M. Schmerling for trusts and estates, Michael H. Syme for business, Jeffrey P. Ward for litigation, and Thomas C. Wettach for intellectual property.  The 2006 edition marks the listing of Charles C. Cohen, Henry C. Cohen, R. Michael Daniel, Lawrence M. Lebowitz, John E. Lyncheski, and Hugh W. Nevin, Jr. for 10 or more consecutive years.  The edition also marks the first listing of one attorney – Ronald J. Andrykovitch – joining his colleagues previously elected.

“The listing of so many of our attorneys, 20 percent, in Best Lawyers is a great honor,” said Jack W. Elliott, the firm’s president.  “It is always gratifying to be recognized by one’s peers, and our listing is a reflection of the firm’s commitment to excellence in providing legal services.  Each of these individuals exemplifies our firm’s mission:  understanding the business and goals of each of our clients and providing them with high-quality legal services to assist in meeting those goals.”

Ronald J. Andrykovitch is a director in and Deputy Chair of Cohen & Grigsby’s Labor and Employment Group, where he focuses his practice in representing management in a broad array of employment related disputes.  His representation includes defending employers in unfair labor practice and representation cases; union avoidance campaigns and strategies; labor contract negotiations; grievance processing and arbitrations; reductions in force strategic planning for mergers, acquisitions and closing of unionized operations; counseling related to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Plant Closing Laws and Veterans’ Rights Laws; preparation and review of personnel policies and handbooks; employee leasing arrangements and providing general labor and employment law advice. 

John S. Brendel is a director in the International Business Group and Immigration Group.  With more than 25 years’ experience, Mr. Brendel focuses his practice on business and employment immigration.  John represents corporations, hospitals, U.S. and foreign corporations, professionals, investors, healthcare institutions and universities in employment-related permanent and temporary visa petitions. 

Charles R. Brodbeck is a director in the firm’s Business Group and chair of the Public Finance Group.  He served as President of the Cohen & Grigsby from 1994 – 1999.  Mr. Brodbeck’s practice is devoted primarily to finance and real estate with more than 30 years of experience with an emphasis on higher education, healthcare and other forms of tax-exempt financing; real estate development and commercial leasing; and representation of nonprofit organizations and their boards, particularly on mergers, sales and other significant events. 

James B. Brown chairs Cohen & Grigsby’s Labor and Employment and Employment Litigation Groups and concentrates his practice on representing public and private employers in employment litigation cases.  He has counseled and defended public universities, public authorities and commissions, corporations, financial institutions, health care institutions, the construction industry, hotels and retail and manufacturing establishments in all aspects of employment litigation. 

James D. Chiafullo is a director in the firm’s Business Group and focuses in the areas of corporate, securities, commercial and real estate law.  Prior to joining Cohen & Grigsby, Mr. Chiafullo was a general partner for 10+ years with Thorp Reed & Armstrong in Pittsburgh and in-house counsel with Gulf Oil Corporation in Pittsburgh and Houston, Texas. 

Charles C. Cohen is a founder, chairman and former president of Cohen & Grigsby whose practice involves serving public and private commercial and industrial corporations, venture capitalists and entrepreneurs.  A main focus of his practice is planning, negotiating and documenting public and private capital formation and financing transactions, SEC compliance matters, and mergers and acquisitions. 

Henry C. Cohen is a business and tax attorney who concentrates his practice in the areas of individual and corporate income taxation (including extensive experience in compensation planning and business ownership transfer transactions), mergers, acquisitions and reorganizations and estate planning. 

V. Susanne Cook chairs the firm’s International Business Group and focuses her practice on counseling companies on international and domestic business transactions, joint ventures, customs, export and licensing matters. 

R. Michael Daniel is a director and head of Cohen & Grigsby’s Estates and Trusts Group.  With more than 30 years of legal experience, Mr. Daniel concentrates his practice in the areas of family business planning, income tax planning, estate planning, charitable planning and estate administration, including highly complicated estates. 

Christopher F. Farrell is a director in the Estates & Trusts Group.  With more than 25 years of legal experience, Mr. Farrell concentrates his practice in the area of estate and trust administration, corporate law, personal taxation, and nonprofit corporations. 

David J. Kalson is a director in the Business Group and chair of the Emerging Business Group, where he concentrates his practice on providing general business and tax counsel to life science, information technology and other emerging companies, venture capital funds, and institutions engaged in business and technology spin-offs. 

Thad D. Kirkpatrick is a director in the firm’s Business and Real Estate Groups and practices in Florida in the areas of real estate development law, commercial real estate, and general real estate matters.  Thad is Board Certified by the Florida Bar in Real Estate Law and holds a Florida Real Estate Broker-Salesperson’s license. 

E. Donald Ladov is a labor lawyer exclusively representing management in all areas of labor/employment law both in the private and public sectors.  Mr. Ladov has regularly practiced before the National Labor Relations Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Office of Federal Contract Compliance and many other regulatory agencies. 

Lawrence M. Lebowitz chairs the firm’s Immigration Group and focuses on business immigration, specifically representing both public and private employers in securing temporary and permanent visas for foreign national employees. 

John E. Lyncheski chairs Cohen & Grigsby's Healthcare Practice Group and previously chaired its Labor & Employment Group. One of the founding members of Cohen & Grigsby, Mr. Lyncheski focuses his practice in management labor relations law and counsels private and public sector management on all aspects of labor, employment and human resources law. 

Richard (“Chip”) R. Nelson, II is a founding member of Cohen & Grigsby and a former president of the Firm.  His practice encompasses a broad array of complex commercial litigation.  Among other areas of emphasis, Mr. Nelson has defended accounting firms, brokerage firms, financial institutions and other companies accused of committing securities laws violations. 

Hugh W. Nevin, Jr. is a founder and former president of Cohen & Grigsby and concentrates his practice in international business and tax.  Mr. Nevin, who is fluent in German, focuses a substantial part of his practice in advising foreign enterprises and individuals investing and conducting their businesses in the United States. 

C. Eric Pfeil concentrates his practice in probate law, estate planning, estate, gift and individual taxation, and family business planning. 

Jonathan M. Schmerling focuses his practice on representing individuals and helping them to develop strategies to meet their income, gift, estate, and charitable planning goals. 

Michael H. Syme is a director in the firm’s Business Group and chair of the Affordable Housing Group.  Mr. Syme’s practice covers a wide range of business and commercial real estate transactions, including affordable housing and commercial finance matters.  He represents housing authorities in the financing and renovation of large public housing communities. 

Jeffrey P. Ward is a director in Cohen & Grigsby’s Litigation Group.  As a senior trial attorney, Mr. Ward handles all types of personal injury cases, the defense and prosecution of insurance coverage and bad faith cases and complex commercial litigation. 

Thomas C. Wettach chairs the firm’s Intellectual Property Group and focuses his practice on intellectual property advice and litigation.  He counsels manufacturing and advanced technology companies on technology protection and solutions for related legal issues. 

The current listing is the result of the twelfth survey undertaken by Woodward/White, Inc.  This edition marks the first annual publication of Best Lawyers, which has previously been published biennially.  Lawyers are chosen for inclusion based solely on a vote of their peers.  Listings cannot be bought, and no purchase is required to be included.  Inclusion in the Best Lawyers list is considered to be a singular honor for the profession, and Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”