Flaster Greenberg PC, a midsize commercial law firm, is pleased to announce the 2021 Chairs of its Bankruptcy, Corporate, Intellectual Property, Litigation and Real Estate & Environmental Departments. These appointments take effect January 1, 2021.
Harry J. Giacometti will serve another term as chair of the firm’s Bankruptcy, Financial Restructuring and Risk Management Department. His practice is focused on bankruptcy, debtor and creditors’ rights, commercial law and litigation. Through his representation of corporate, individual and institutional clients, Giacometti’s wide range of experience includes: commercial bankruptcy representation of debtors, creditors and trustees in both chapter 11 and 7; commercial litigation in both the state and federal courts of Pennsylvania and New Jersey; and commercial transactions, including formations, liquidations, asset sales and purchase transactions. Giacometti has also been recognized as a "Leader in the Field" in Pennsylvania for Bankruptcy/Restructuring for the last six consecutive years by Chambers & Partners USA.
Tami Bogutz Steinberg will serve as chair of the firm’s Business & Corporate Department. Steinberg represents business owners, entrepreneurs and closely held businesses across a wide range of industries. Known as one of South Jersey and Philadelphia’s leading business and corporate attorneys, she represents businesses in all stages of their business life cycle, from formation through dissolution or sale. Her practice encompasses mergers and acquisitions, financings, joint ventures, partnership and shareholder transactions, contracting, dispute resolutions, corporate governance and private placements. Steinberg also frequently works with business owners and C-level executives in identifying their needs and provides practical advice to guide them through the ever-changing legal system, always with their desired goal in mind. She regularly functions as outside general counsel and provides legal advice, assistance, counsel and oversight regarding matters that include corporate, real estate, tax, labor, intellectual property and litigation. Steinberg replaces Steven S. Poulathas, who is moving into the role of co-managing shareholder.
Joseph R. Klinicki will serve as chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Department. Klinicki helps companies develop and secure their intellectual property rights and has experience counseling clients in every stage of the business cycle. From initial strategic counseling to enforcement and post‐grant proceedings, he recognizes the value of how IP can be used to advance the business goals of his clients. His patent procurement practice includes global portfolio management responsibilities that have garnered him substantial interaction with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and all major foreign patent offices. His practice also includes transactional support related to IP transfers and licensing, as well as representing clients in patent litigation. Klinicki previously served as chair of the patent practice group prior to moving into this new position where he will succeed Jordan A. LaVine, who is moving into the role of co-managing shareholder. As chair of the Intellectual Property Department, Klinicki will now manage both the patent practice group and the firm’s trademark practice group.
Jeffrey A. Cohen will serve another term as chair of the firm’s Litigation Department. Cohen counsels clients in complex litigation disputes and provides guidance to proactively address business formation and transaction issues. Over the course of his legal career, he has helped clients anticipate, address and resolve the day-to-day challenges and pragmatic decisions facing today’s businesses. A trial lawyer by trade, Cohen works with businesses to ensure partnerships are intact as well as to identify potential risks and pitfalls associated with its evolution. He collaborates with a diverse range of clients in matters related to commercial contracts, antitrust, shareholder and partnership agreements, trademarks, copyrights, patents, including Hatch-Waxman, insurance coverage, franchise disputes and commercial construction. Cohen also has extensive experience representing and counseling pharmaceutical, biotechnology and life sciences companies, medical device companies, medical supply companies, and other medical industry clients in litigation-related matters. The following practice groups fall under the Litigation umbrella: Bankruptcy, Labor & Employment, Family Law, Insurance Recovery, and Privacy & Data Security.
Michele G. Tarantino will serve as chair of the firm’s Real Estate & Environmental Department. She concentrates her practice on sophisticated commercial real estate matters and has extensive experience with the purchase, sale, leasing, financing, construction, development and exchanging of commercial real estate throughout New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. As an integral part of her practice, Tarantino also regularly advises business owners in transactions ranging from the sale of small family-owned businesses to the acquisition and financing of a national business franchises. Her clients include property owners, closely held businesses and individual investors, to whom she brings her excellent negotiating, project management skills and vast legal knowledge in the areas of real estate, financing and construction. Tarantino replaces Marty Judge, who has served as chair of the department for six years. The Real Estate and Environmental Department includes attorneys who focus on all areas of real property and environmental law including land use, leasing, purchases and sales, construction financing, environmental litigation and environmental counseling, regulation, permitting and compliance work.
“Harry, Tami, Joe, Jeff and Michele have all played a critical role in the development and success of our firm,” said Alan H. Zuckerman, Managing Shareholder at Flaster Greenberg. “They are all extremely skilled and talented attorneys, and we are confident in their leadership skills and ability to lead their respective departments as we continue to evolve and grow, both regionally and with new practice areas.”
