McCarter & English, LLP is pleased to announce the elevation of nine attorneys to partner, effective April 1. The newly elevated partners are Jessie Bonaros, Rachel Churchill, Angela Della Rocco, Alexander Hornat, Samuel James, Alexandra Joyce, Nicholas Keller, Joseph Norcia, and Phillip Pavlick. The new partners are resident in five of the firm’s offices and represent six practice groups.
Joseph Lubertazzi, Chair of the firm said, “Our new partners’ talent, commitment, and collaborative spirit exemplify the values that define our firm. I look forward to seeing how their perspectives will continue to enhance the firm and our communities.”
“It is always a great pleasure to welcome our elevated partners, whose journey with the firm has led them to partnership. I know the rest of the firm joins me in eagerly awaiting their contributions to the firm and great work on behalf of our clients, now as partners,” added Joseph Boccassini, the firm’s Managing Partner.
The nine new partners are:
Jessie D. Bonaros, based in the firm’s Stamford and New York offices, is a litigator with extensive experience in commercial and residential foreclosure actions, defending lenders, investors, and loan servicers. While she has a broad range of experience in all phases of litigation, she primarily handles highly contested matters involving novel legal issues and a high risk of loss. She also has assisted in obtaining numerous appellate victories for clients.
Rachel E.D. Churchill, based in Boston, is a closing-oriented attorney focused on real estate and finance transactions. She serves as counsel in all aspects of acquisition, disposition, land use, leasing, project development, title encumbrance, and easement matters. She also serves as commercial real estate and commercial and industrial lending counsel in multiple industries and supports public finance transactions.
Angela J. Della Rocco, based in Indianapolis, is a complex commercial litigator with a focus on product liability matters. She has significant experience defending clients, including manufacturers of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, in state and federal courts in cases ranging from single-plaintiff actions to multidistrict litigations.
Alexander T. Hornat, based in Boston, is an experienced litigator and trial attorney who focuses his practice on intellectual property and business litigation. He litigates in state and federal courts throughout the country, as well as before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Samuel A. James, based in Newark, concentrates his practice in complex commercial litigation, with a focus on product liability, mass tort, and consumer class action defense. His litigation experience includes defending clients in single-plaintiff actions and in multidistrict litigations as well as defending high-value personal injury, premises liability, dram-shop, wrongful death, and construction defect matters. In addition to his litigation practice, Sam regularly counsels medical device and consumer product manufacturers regarding product liability litigation avoidance and general risk mitigation.
Alexandra M. Joyce, based in Wilmington, focuses her practice on intellectual property litigation and other complex commercial disputes in the Delaware federal and state courts. She represents clients in the pharmaceutical, life science, and technology industries, and she has experience prosecuting and defending traditional patent litigation and Hatch-Waxman infringement suits, including in multidistrict litigation. She has also litigated a variety of complex commercial disputes, including claims for trade secret misappropriation, trademark infringement, and breach of contract.
Nicholas W. Keller, based in Newark, is an experienced trusts and estates attorney who advises clients on navigating the complexities of estate and trust matters, such as estate and trust planning; the administration of estates and trusts; court matters involving estates, trusts and fiduciaries; transfers of family business interests; and assisting with life care planning and protective arrangements, including guardianships.
Joseph J. Norcia, based in Newark, is a New Jersey State Certified Tax Assessor whose practice focuses mainly on property value litigation and matters concerning local taxation. He represents property owners with regard to real estate assessment appeals, applications for long- and short-term tax abatements, and initial and further statements claiming local property tax exemption. He also has experience representing commercial owners and tenants in landlord-tenant disputes.
Phillip S. Pavlick, based in Newark, focuses his practice on creditor rights, bankruptcy, and commercial litigation. His bankruptcy work includes representing suppliers, landlords, vendors, banks, and other parties in complex business reorganizations and liquidations. Phil also has significant experience representing clients in commercial litigation in state and federal court. His work touches on all stages of litigation, including motion practice, oral argument, depositions, and trial.