Metropolitan Corporate Counsel reported on Joseph T. Boccassini, being named Firmwide Managing Partner. Boccassini began his legal career as a summer associate at McCarter & English in 1991 and worked his way up to become a partner and later a prominent member of the firm’s management, has become managing partner, effective October 1, following a unanimous vote by the Executive Committee.
Boccassini replaced Stephen M. Vajtay, Jr., who is stepping down after six years as managing partner.
Vajtay returned to the full-time practice of tax law following a several-month period during which he and Boccassini collaborated to ensure a smooth transition.
Boccassini, who became a partner 16 years ago – eight years after starting as a full-time associate in 1992 – joined the firm’s Compensation Committee in 2008 and later became a member of the Executive Committee. He represents commercial clients in a variety of complex civil litigation matters, including securities litigation, shareholder derivative claims, professional negligence actions and claims of breach of fiduciary duty, all in the federal and state courts in New York and New Jersey.
“I am eager to work with my longtime friends and colleagues from all nine McCarter offices to advance the firm’s interests and those of our clients,” said Boccassini, who is resident in the firm’s oldest and largest office, in Newark. “I have big shoes to fill, but also the benefit of Steve’s extraordinary example of leadership over the last six years, as well as his guidance and wisdom throughout this transition period and beyond.