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Cohen & Grigsby Attorneys Selected for Best Lawyers List

November 1, 2004

Pittsburgh, PA - Twenty-two of Cohen & Grigsby’s attorneys have been included in the 2005-2006 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.  Those selected for the list include John S. Brendel for immigration, Charles R. Brodbeck for public finance and real estate, James B. Brown for alternative dispute resolution, Christopher B. Carson for business, James D. Chiafullo for corporate mergers and acquisitions and business, Charles C. Cohen for corporate mergers and acquisitions and securities, Henry C. Cohen for tax law, V. Susanne Cook for international trade and finance, R. Michael Daniel for trusts and estates, Christopher F. Farrell for tax, David J. Kalson for business, 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 business litigation, Hugh W. Nevin, Jr. for corporate mergers and acquisitions and business, 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 2005-2006 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 seven attorneys – Charles R. Brodbeck, James B. Brown, James D. Chiafullo, David J. Kalson, Thad D. Kirkpatrick, Michael H. Syme, and Jeffrey P. Ward – joining their colleagues elected before.

“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.”

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.  He lectures frequently at International Bar Association, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Information Technology Association of America (“ITAA”) and American Council on International Personnel conferences.  John earned his B.A. from Cornell University in 1973 and his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1976.  He was a DAAD scholar in International Law in Munich, Germany during 1976-77.  He is a former Adjunct Professor at both the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University Schools of Law.  John served as Vice President and General Counsel with Mastech/iGATE Corporation from 1997-2003 and remained Of Counsel to the firm during that time.  He resides in Franklin Park, Pennsylvania.

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 28 years of experience.  He focuses his practice in finance/banking with an emphasis on healthcare and 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.  Chuck earned his A.B. from Princeton University in 1971 and his J.D. from Northwestern University in 1974.  He serves in various professional and charitable organizations, including the Eye & Ear Foundation, the Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children and as secretary for the Board of Directors for Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens.  Mr. Brodbeck resides in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

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.  Mr. Brown is also a prolific speaker and author and has been quoted in professional journals, newspapers and magazine articles both regionally and nationally.  Jim is listed in Chambers USA’s America’s Leading Business Lawyers for labor and employment law, in and in Philadelphia Magazine’s Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and in Who’s Who in American Law and Who’s Who in America.  He earned his B.A. from the University of Louisville in 1967 and his J.D. from Duquesne University in 1971.  Mr. Brown also serves on the Port of Pittsburgh Commission and is a mediator on the JUSTUS ADR Employment Litigation Mediation Panel.  Jim is a member of the Federal Bar Association, the International Association of Defense Counsel, and the American Bar Association Section of Labor and Employment Law EEO Committee.  He resides in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Christopher B. Carson chairs the firm’s Business Group and focuses in the areas of general corporate and securities law, with particular emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, including auction-based transactions, negotiated acquisitions, takeover counseling, international joint ventures and corporate finance.  Chris is listed in Philadelphia Magazine’s Pennsylvania Super Lawyers.  Mr. Carson earned his B.A. (cum laude, Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Society) from Dickinson College in 1982 and his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1985.  He is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Professionalism Committee and By-Laws Committee and a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association.  Mr. Carson resides in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

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.  His clients include banks, general contractors, developers, physicians, manufacturers, environmental remediation contractors, television stations, geotechnical engineers, franchisors and franchisees.  Mr. Chiafullo is a frequent lecturer and author for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute in the areas of corporate, finance and franchise law.  Jim earned his B.A. in Economics from the University of Pittsburgh in 1980 and his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1983.  He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and Texas, and is a member of the American Bar Association (Antitrust Subcommittee), the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and the Texas Bar Association.  He is appointed to the Hearing Committee serving the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.  Mr. Chiafullo resides in Nevillewood, Pennsylvania.

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.  Mr. Cohen is also a law professor, arbitrator and lecturer and has been quoted in professional journals, newspapers and magazine articles.  Chuck is listed in Philadelphia magazine’s Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and ranks among the “Top 50 in Pittsburgh.”  He is a Board member of several companies and nonprofit organizations.  Mr. Cohen earned his A.B. (with distinction) from Dartmouth College in 1962 and J.D. (with distinction) from the University of Michigan Law School in 1965.  Mr. Cohen resides in the Shadyside area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  

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.  Henry is listed in Philadelphia magazine’s Pennsylvania Super Lawyers.  He serves as the Firm’s Vice President, Florida Practice.  Mr. Cohen is a Certified Public Accountant in Pennsylvania and Ohio (inactive).  He earned a B.S. from Miami University in 1967 and J.D. from Cornell University in 1971.  He is licensed to practice law in Florida and Pennsylvania and, together with Mr. Hugh Nevin, opened the Firm’s office in Naples, Florida where he advises U.S. and foreign businesses and individuals, primarily Germans and Canadians as to U.S. estate, gift and income tax.  Mr. Cohen resides in Bonita Springs, Florida.

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.  Susanne is listed in Philadelphia magazine’s Pennsylvania Super Lawyers.  She earned her B.S. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1977 and her J.D. (Order of the Coif; member, Law Review), from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1988.  Fluent in German, Ms. Cook is an adjunct professor in the University of Pittsburgh’s Translation Department, an adjunct professor in Duquesne University’s MBA Program, a board member of the University of Pittsburgh School of Law Center for International Legal Education, a member of the Advisory Board for the Duquesne Center for European Technical Standards, a technical advisor to the Regional Export Assistance Network of the Southern Alleghenies Planning and Development Commission, and teaches Legal and Tax – Understanding the Basics at the Global Trade Institute of Pennsylvania, of which she is also the founder.  Ms. Cook resides in Edgewood, Pennsylvania.

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.  Mike is listed in Philadelphia magazine’s Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and ranks among the “Top 50 in Pittsburgh.”  He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel.  He lectures extensively and has authored numerous articles on estate planning and estate administration topics.  A retired Colonel in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, he is a past chair of the Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and a past president of the Greater Pittsburgh Council, Boy Scouts of America.  Mike earned an A.B. in 1968 and a J.D. in 1971 from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  He resides in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania.

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 areas of estates and trusts administration, corporate law, personal taxation, and nonprofit corporations.  He lectures extensively and has authored numerous articles on estate planning and estate administration topics.  Chris earned his J.D. (Phi Beta Kappa; Member, University of Pittsburgh Law Review; American Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in Contracts and the Law of Credit) from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1976, his L.L.M. in Taxation from New York University in 1989, and his B.S. (summa cum laude) from Lehigh University in 1970.  He served as a law clerk to the Honorable J. Frank McKenna, Administrative Judge of the Orphans’ Court Division, Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County.  Chris is a fellow with the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a member of the Estate Planning Council of Pittsburgh and the Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and American Bar Associations.  He resides in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania.  

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.  He also has experience in international transactional planning.  David earned his J.D. (Managing Editor, Law Review) from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1984 and his B.A. (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of Pittsburgh in 1979.  He served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law from 1998-2002 teaching Enterprise Organization and Finance and as a faculty member of the Global Trade Institute.  David has also served as president, chair or board member of many charitable organizations.  He resides in the Squirrel Hill area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

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.  He regularly assists real estate developers, builders, commercial real estate holders, individuals and businesses with business and venture formations, contracts, financing, closings, title insurance, construction issues, leasing and a whole range of community development matters.  Mr. Kirkpatrick earned his B.S. (with majors in Finance and Risk Management and Real Estate) from Florida State University in 1980 and his J.D. from Nova University Law School in 1983.  He has served as Senior Counsel to WCI Communities and General Counsel to Coral Ridge Properties, Inc.(Coral Springs, Florida) and counsel for Lone Star Industries, Inc.  Mr. Kirkpatrick is a member of the Florida (Condominium and Planned Unit Development Committee) and Collier County Bar Associations, the Collier County Building Industry Association, the Urban Land Institute, and the Naples and Bonita Springs Chambers of Commerce.  He was a former Director for the Naples Gulfshore Rotary Club, is a past Board Member and officer of his community association and is a former Chairman of the Board of Directors of The Caring Place School (located at the North Naples United Methodist Church).  Mr. Kirkpatrick resides in Naples, Florida.

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.  Mr. Ladov is also a prolific speaker on a wide variety of topics involving human resources and labor and employment law.  He is listed in Philadelphia magazine’s Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and Chambers USA America's Leading Business Lawyers where he is ranked among the most highly rated labor and employment lawyers in Pennsylvania.  He earned his B.A. (Labor Studies) from the Pennsylvania State University in 1970 and his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1973.  Mr. Ladov resides in the Shadyside area of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Lawrence M. Lebowitz chairs the firm’s Immigration Group and focuses on business immigration.  He specifically represents both public and private employers in securing temporary and permanent visas for foreign national employees.  Mr. Lebowitz is also a prolific author and speaker, and has been extensively quoted in professional journals, newspapers and magazine articles both regionally and nationally.  He is listed in Philadelphia magazine’s Pennsylvania Super Lawyers.  Mr. Lebowitz is Cohen & Grigsby’s Vice President of Marketing.  He earned a B.A. (magna cum laude) from the University of Pennsylvania in 1984 and J.D. (cum laude, Order of the Coif) from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1987.  Mr. Lebowitz, who is an adjunct professor (teaching the Immigration Law course) at the University of Pittsburgh Law School, resides in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

John E. Lyncheski chairs Cohen & Grigsby’sHealthcare Practice Group.  With more than 30 years’ experience, Mr. Lyncheski focuses his practice in management labor relations law and has been selected for Philadelphia magazine’s Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, for Chambers U.S.A. America's Leading Business Lawyers and for Who’s Who in American Law.  One of the founding members of Cohen & Grigsby, Mr. Lyncheski counsels and represents private and public sector management on labor board proceedings, negotiations, personnel decisions, mergers, acquisitions, consolidations and divestitures, discrimination claims, employee and union litigation and advises clients in labor disputes and resistance of union organizational efforts.  Besides having a prominent history as a national public speaker, Mr. Lyncheski has authored numerous regional and national articles on labor and employment law topics.  He was recently honored as Educator of the Year by the American College of Health Care Administrators.  He is chair of the American Health Lawyers Association’s Labor and Employment Practice Group and a member of the Board of Directors of the American College of Health Care Administrators and President of its Pennsylvania Chapter.  John is President of the Chartiers Country Club.  He earned his B.A. from Cornell University in 1967 and J.D. (cum laude, Order of the Coif and Law Review) from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1970.  John is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and Florida and resides in Hanover Township, Pennsylvania and Naples, Florida.

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.  One of the class action cases Mr. Nelson tried to a successful defense verdict was recognized by the National Law Journal as one of the biggest wins in a jury trial in the United States in 1996.  Mr. Nelson has more than 25 years’ experience, and he is a member of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County.  Chip is listed in Philadelphia magazine’s Pennsylvania Super Lawyers.  He regularly conducts seminars on matters pertaining to financial statement and accounting litigation.  Mr. Nelson earned a B.A. (Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude) in Political Science from The Pennsylvania State University in 1976, and a J.D. (with honors, Order of the Barristers) from the University of North Carolina in 1979.  He recently concluded his term as the president of the Longue Vue Club, where he served on the Board of Governors for nearly ten years.  Mr. Nelson resides in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.

Hugh W. Nevin, Jr. is a founder and former president of Cohen & Grigsby and concentrates his practice in international business and tax.  He has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America for 10 consecutive years and is listed in Philadelphia magazine’s Pennsylvania Super Lawyers.  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.  In this connection, he provides income and estate tax planning for foreign nationals and secures temporary and permanent visas and labor certifications.  He earned a B.A. (Phi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude) from Harvard College in 1968, a Rotary International Fellowship at the Freie Universität Berlin in 1971, and a J.D. (cum laude) from Harvard Law School in 1974.  Mr. Nevin is licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and Florida and, together with Mr. Henry Cohen, opened the Firm’s office in Naples, Florida where he advises foreign individuals, primarily Europeans and Canadians, as to U.S. estate, gift and income tax.  Mr. Nevin resides in Sewickley, Pennsylvania and Bonita Springs, Florida.

C. Eric Pfeil concentrates his practice in probate law, estate planning, estate, gift and individual taxation, and family business planning.  He earned his B.A. from Washington & Jefferson College (Omicron-Delta Epsilon, Economics Honorary) in 1982 and his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1985.  He resides in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania.
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.  Mr. Schmerling is also a frequent speaker and moderator for estate and tax planning seminars.  He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a member of the Estate Planning Council of Pittsburgh.  He is listed in Philadelphia magazine’s Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and ranks among the “Top 50 in Pittsburgh.”  Jon earned an A.B. from the University if Michigan in 1977 and a J.D. (Staff Member and Student Writing Editor, Vanderbilt Law Review) from the Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1980.  He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New York.  He resides in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania.

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.  Michael earned his J.D. (Paul J. Liacos Scholar) from the Boston University School of Law in 1986 and his B.S. (cum laude, Accounting Honors Program) from Pennsylvania State University in 1983.  He is a member of the Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Bar Associations and a member of the Business, Banking and Corporate Sections of the American Bar Association.  Mr. Syme serves in various capacities, including as co-chair of the American Bar Association’s Pennsylvania Forum on Affordable Housing, board member and past president of Family Services of Western Pennsylvania, board member of the Covenant of the South Hills, and Cohen & Grigsby’s Vice President of Finance and Treasurer.  He resides in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania.

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.  His most significant cases have involved insurance bad faith, electrocution injury, vaccine injury, medical malpractice, tractor-trailer accidents, commercial fraud, software and hardware suitability cases, and shareholders and partnership disputes.  Mr. Ward recently was named as a member of the prestigious Million Dollar Advocates Forum.  Jeff earned his J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1981 and his B.A. from Washington and Jefferson College in 1978.  He resides in Sarver, Pennsylvania.

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.  In addition to his patent, trademark, copyright infringement, unfair competition and trade secret litigation practices, a substantial amount of his work concentrates on licensing all forms of intellectual property, as well as protecting trade secrets and confidential technology.  Mr. Wettach is listed in Chambers USA America’s Leading Business Lawyers for intellectual property and is listed in Philadelphia magazine’s Pennsylvania Super Lawyers, where he ranks among the “Top 50 in Pittsburgh.”  Mr. Wettach earned a B.A. in Physics from Washington & Jefferson College in 1963 and a J.D. (with honors, Order of the Coif and Research Editor, North Carolina Law Review) from the University of North Carolina in 1966.  He resides in Thornburg, Pennsylvania.

The current listing is the result of the eleventh survey undertaken by Woodward/White, Inc.  To compile the current database, lawyers throughout the United States were asked to rate the clinical abilities of other lawyers in other areas of specialization.  Only those attorneys who earned the consensus support of their peers were included, and listings cannot be bought.  Inclusion in the Best Lawyers list is considered to be a singular honor for the profession.  Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”