Interviews with clients and peers reflected well on Flaster Greenberg PC, in the 2022 Chambers & Partners USA Directory, and earned group rankings for both the Bankruptcy and Intellectual Property Departments in Pennsylvania, the Environmental Department in New Jersey, as well as for seven attorneys located in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Individually, Jordan A. LaVine was recognized in the field of intellectual property; William J. Burnett and Harry J. Giacometti were recognized in the field of bankruptcy and restructuring; Jay M. Levin and Lee M. Epstein were recognized in the field of insurance law; and Marty M. Judge and Mitchell H. Kizner were recognized in the field of environmental law.
Ranked Departments:
In Pennsylvania, Flaster Greenberg’s Intellectual Property team was described as a “highly respected practice with a team of experienced practitioners providing a multidisciplinary approach to IP matters. Known for prosecution and portfolio management work in a number of fields such as media, apparel, chemicals and manufacturing. Well versed in a range of issues pertaining to both patent and trademark law, with notable experience advising on internet-related IP disputes.” One source described the team as “incredibly strong and efficient” and “very knowledgeable and has good litigation experience.”
The firm’s Bankruptcy, Financial Restructuring and Risk Management Department was described as having “lawyers who are responsive and provide a first-rate service.” One source praised the “full-service law firm’s” attorneys as “very skilled and helpful.” Another source noted, “They handle complex legal issues with ease.” The department’s notable work highlights included acting as debtor’s counsel in Advanced Sports Enterprises' Chapter 11 cases.
In New Jersey, Flaster Greenberg’s Environmental Department was particularly noted for its expertise in Superfund, NRD and remediation work. They were described as “advocates before the NJDEP on regulatory and standard issues” and a team “offering experience in Spill Act and ISRA proceedings.”
Ranked Lawyers:
Bankruptcy/Restructuring
William J. Burnett, a shareholder and past Chair of the firm’s Bankruptcy, Financial Restructuring and Risk Management Department, concentrates his practice in bankruptcy, reorganizations and workouts. According to Chambers, he is well regarded for his broad bankruptcy expertise which includes Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 proceedings and acts for a range of clients, including debtors, creditors and trustees. Sources are quoted as saying, “Bill is a solid attorney who services his clients well,” and that "He is a strong lawyer.” In addition, Burnett counsels debtors on the advantages and disadvantages of Chapter 11 and the rights and remedies of creditors and unsecured creditors' committees in the Chapter 11 process. His representations include financially distressed companies, creditors' committees, trustees, plan administrators, secured and unsecured creditors, Chapter 7 trustees, Chapter 11 debtors-in-possession, landlords, equipment lessors, asset purchasers, and preference plaintiffs and defendants. This is the eighth consecutive year Burnett has been recognized by Chambers as a "Leader in the Field" in Pennsylvania for Bankruptcy/Restructuring.
A source praised Harry J. Giacometti, Chair of the firm’s Bankruptcy, Financial Restructuring and Risk Management Department and a member of the firm’s Board of Directors, for being a “well-rounded attorney with a keen business ability” and providing “excellent legal representation”. Giacometti was further commended for being “a terrific practitioner, who is strong at making deals.” His practice is focused primarily on bankruptcy and commercial 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. This is the eighth consecutive year Giacometti has been recognized by Chambers as a "Leader in the Field" in Pennsylvania for Bankruptcy/Restructuring.
Environment
Marty M. Judge, who is shareholder and past Chair of the firm’s combined Environmental Law and Real Estate and Land Use Departments, was honored as one of 16 individual attorneys in Band 1 in New Jersey for Environmental Law for the fifth consecutive year. According to one source, Judge was characterized as an attorney who “is the very best. He provides thoughtful analysis with an emphasis on achieving the strategic goals for his client.” Another source commented, “Marty is thoughtful in his approach to matters but is also very proactive.” Other sources described Judge as someone who has “an extremely in-depth knowledge of environmental law” and “knows more about the specifics of any environmental issue than anyone else in New Jersey; he is clearly one of the most intelligent attorneys in the field.” Judge focuses his practice on all facets of environmental litigation, and regulatory compliance and counseling, handling Superfund and NRD claims and provides companies with compliance advice. He is also engaged to represent clients in various kinds of contentious proceedings involving environmental issues. He deals with matters such as waste management, water and air pollution, water use and allocation, and the development of brownfield sites. Judge is a former Deputy Attorney General for the State of New Jersey where he once represented the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Overall, this is the eleventh year Judge has been recognized as a “Leader in the Field” in New Jersey for Environmental Law.
According to the guide, Mitchell H. Kizner, a shareholder and member of the firm’s Litigation and Environmental Law Departments, is commended for his work as a litigator and trial lawyer, handling Spill Act, cost recovery and toxic tort cases. One source commented that “Mitchell was attentive to our issues, committed to our interests and applied his expertise to secure a positive outcome.” He represents clients in insurance, environmental and other commercial matters as part of his active litigation and commercial law practice. Having represented defendants in personal injury matters for more than 10 years prior to joining Flaster Greenberg, he also represents self-insured corporate defendants in such suits. He is certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Certified Civil Trial Attorney and has also served as General Counsel to the firm since 2006. This is the second year Kizner is being recognized as a “Leader in the Field” in New Jersey for Environmental Law.
Intellectual Property
Jordan A. LaVine, Co-Managing Shareholder at Flaster Greenberg and past Chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Department, focuses his practice in trademarks, copyrights, and unfair competition strategic counseling, litigation, licensing, and prosecution matters, frequently advising media and publishing clients on issues such as strategy, licensing and prosecution. According to the guide, he is recognized for his considerable expertise in trademark and copyright law, and offers wide-ranging experience in both advisory and contentious matters. Sources interviewed by Chambers described LaVine as having “a really deep understanding of our business; he's very responsive and produces a top-quality work product.” He represents public and private companies in such industries as media and publishing, technology and telecommunications, consumer products and services, pharmaceuticals, health care, financial services, automotive, automotive chemicals and accessories, retail and commercial services, apparel, jewelry, software, and food products. For more than a decade, LaVine has been ranked among the top trademark attorneys in the world by World Trademark Review 1000. LaVine has been recognized by Chambers as a “Leader in the Field” in Pennsylvania for the last fourteen consecutive years.
Insurance
Lee M. Epstein, who serves as Chair of the firm’s Insurance Counseling and Recovery Practice Group, was noted for his “broad scope of knowledge and a particularly good understanding of business interruption insurance.” Epstein advises and litigates on behalf of policyholder clients in areas including asbestos and toxic substance injuries, commercial and product liabilities, cyber-attacks and housing and structure claims. He represents corporate and individual policyholders in maximizing insurance recoveries in response to an array of business interruption losses and hazards including, asbestos, cyber, environmental, hearing loss, intellectual property, privacy and product liabilities, and catastrophic property. He advises market leaders in the airline, chemical, construction, financial services, food, HVAC&R, packaging, retail and satellite television industries. This is the first year Epstein has been selected as a “Leader in the Field” by the Chambers guide.
Jay M. Levin, a member of the firm’s Litigation Department and Insurance Counseling and Recovery Practice Group, was honored as one of only four attorneys in Band 1 in Pennsylvania for Insurance Law. According to one source, Levin “is a smart, thoughtful, excellent lawyer” who “absolutely knows his stuff and is very detailed and creative in his approach.” He focuses his practice on representing policyholders in disputes with insurance companies involving all types of insurance coverage. He also has extensive litigation experience in multimillion-dollar property insurance coverage cases, including suits involving policy construction and application, cause and origin, valuation, and business interruption issues. He has assisted clients in successfully resolving Hurricane Katrina and Superstorm Sandy cases in and out of the courtroom. Mr. Levin also represents policyholders in disputes involving directors and officers liability insurance, professional errors and omissions insurance, legal and medical malpractice insurance, general liability insurance. Levin represents financial institutions and other commercial policyholders in claims arising under fidelity and crime policies, including claims arising out of cyber crime, defaulted mortgages and employee embezzlement. This is the eighth consecutive year Levin has been recognized as a “Leader in the Field” in Pennsylvania for Insurance Law.
About Chambers
Chambers & Partners, a legal publisher based in the United Kingdom, produces an array of annual directories in which lawyers, legal practice groups and law firms from around the world are ranked, based on exhaustive peer review and client feedback. Being named by Chambers & Partners is considered one of the most prestigious rankings in the world for lawyers. Since 1990, Chambers has ranked the best lawyers in jurisdictions throughout the United States. In-house counsel around the world consider the Chambers directory a go-to resource when searching for an attorney. To produce its rankings, Chambers employs more than 170 full-time editors and researchers—the largest research team of its kind—who identify, gather information about, and conduct interviews with tens of thousands of attorneys. The result is a comprehensive, objective guide to the most qualified and experienced legal practitioners working today. For a full list of 2022 rankings online, click here.
