Flaster Greenberg PC, a midsize commercial law firm, is pleased to announce the 2022 Chairs of its Bankruptcy, Business and Corporate, Intellectual Property, Litigation, Real Estate & Environmental Departments as well as the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. These appointments were made effective January 1, 2022.
Michael F. Piscitelli will serve as chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Department. Piscitelli focuses his practice on world-wide patent procurement, portfolio development, and counseling of clients ranging from start-ups to Fortune 500 corporations within the electrical, computer, video/imagery and electro‐mechanical fields. Piscitelli’s practice covers a wide range of technologies such as wireless communications, power control systems, video compression and delivery protocols, artificial intelligence (machine learning, neural networks, and deep learning), blockchain, lasers, fiber optics, LEDs and other lighting technologies, load control systems, and complex medical devices. In addition to patent procurement, Piscitelli also counsels his clients through IP assertion and defense proceedings, including Federal Court litigation. He provides strategic counseling to clients, bringing a unique and well-rounded perspective of a skilled practitioner with experience both in procurement and in enforcement and defense. His practice also includes transactional support related to IP transfers and licensing, as well as representing clients in patent litigation. Piscitelli will succeed Joseph R. Klinicki, who previously served as chair of the patent practice group.
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 begins her second term 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 has a large focus on mergers and acquisitions, in addition to representing businesses in bank financings, joint ventures, partnership and shareholder transactions, contracting, dispute resolutions, corporate governance and private placements. Steinberg works with business owners and C-level executives in identifying their needs and providing practical advice to guide them through the ever-changing business and legal environments, always with their desired goals in mind. She regularly functions as outside general counsel, providing oversight and counsel with the myriad of issues her clients encounter, including corporate, real estate, tax, employment, intellectual property and litigation. Steinberg also has considerable experience working with business owners in closely held companies to resolve disputes among the owners.
Jeffrey A. Cohen is serving 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.
Michele G. Tarantino will serve her second term 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 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. 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.
Mariel J. Giletto will chair of the firm’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee. In her role, she will work with the DEI committee, which is comprised of shareholders, associates, and members of the firm’s administrative management team, all who represent the diverse nature of the firm, in a continued effort to develop and carry out strategic firm-wide DEI initiatives. Giletto is a shareholder in the Business & Corporate Department. She represents and advises companies through all aspects of the business life cycle, beginning with business formation, growth and investment strategy including financing and real estate transactions, corporate governance and compliance, to the wind-down and dissolution processes. Additionally, Giletto is counsel to a growing number of women-owned businesses, and is increasingly representing female business owners taking control of the family business after a traditional patriarchal ownership transitions to the younger generation.
