Gordon & Rees is pleased to announce the opening of a new office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, making it the firm's seventh office in the eastern United States. The office will be led by the new Pittsburgh Office Managing Partner, commercial litigator Manoj Jegasothy, who was previously with Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney where he served as Co-Chair of the Litigation Group in the Pittsburgh office, and includes partners John Ebken, Marc Thirkell, and Jeffrey Wilson as well as David Morgan, William Blick and Joshua Marks. The seven-attorney team brings to the firm a blend of complex litigation experience in areas such as commercial disputes, health care, employment, insurance, construction, antitrust, and consumer products. The office will open on April 2, 2012.
"We are fortunate to have this strong group of attorneys join Gordon & Rees and enhance the services we provide clients nationally and in the Pittsburgh market," said Dion Cominos, Gordon & Rees's firmwide managing partner. "We have had an opportunity to work with them previously through shared client relationships, and have the utmost respect for their legal skills."
"Speaking on behalf of my colleagues, we are very proud and excited to be a part of Gordon & Rees's expansion of its national footprint," Jegasothy said. "John, Marc, Jeff and I have worked together for many years and we are excited that together we can enable a national, San Francisco-headquartered firm to expand into the Pittsburgh market. We are looking forward to enhancing the firm's excellent foundation and delivering a broader array of services to clients."
Clients and the community alike have expressed enthusiasm regarding the expansion. Robert J. Bosilovic, Esq., General Counsel of 84 Lumber Company, notes "the new Gordon & Rees Pittsburgh office will be very convenient for 84 Lumber. Our headquarters are nearby, which makes it more efficient for us to coordinate our need for legal services throughout the Gordon & Rees offices nationwide that match up nicely with our store locations. I see this as a huge service benefit, and I know the attorneys forming the Pittsburgh office well and can attest to their legal service and abilities."
Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl also expressed his pleasure on the entry of Gordon & Rees into the Pittsburgh legal market. "I am ecstatic to see that this law firm wants to be part of Pittsburgh's Third Renaissance," Ravenstahl said. "The individuals they have chosen to lead this office are exemplary, civic-minded citizens who will do a great job in their future roles."
Pittsburgh is the fourth office Gordon & Rees has opened since the beginning of 2012, joining Carlsbad, California, St. Louis, Missouri, and Washington, D.C.
Manoj Jegasothy has litigated commercial and civil cases in every level of federal and state court in Pennsylvania, as well as several other states. His cases have involved breach of contract claims, creditors' rights for large corporations, misappropriation of trade secrets, antitrust issues, declaratory judgments, defamation, tortious interference, breach of non-compete agreements, tenure issues, and insurance disputes, as well as a myriad of personal injury issues. He is national counsel for a multi-billion dollar company for national oversight and handling of breach of contract and creditors' rights cases, and also serves as outside general counsel to a regional corporation with a national reputation, handling day-to-day legal matters.
John Ebken focuses his practice on commercial and civil litigation, with an emphasis on disputes arising out of business agreements, mass torts, product liability and insurance coverage. He has represented clients in numerous industries including the energy, telecommunications, hospitality, retail and health care industries, and has particular expertise in the steel and related industries. Ebken also has significant experience in disputes arising out of competing property rights, having recently won summary judgment on behalf of a large, Pennsylvania landowner whose Marcellus Shale and other subsurface rights were challenged by the surface owner. He also serves as outside general counsel to a multi-national tableware manufacturer.
Marc Thirkell concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and civil litigation. He has a particular expertise in all facets of long-term care related litigation. He also has litigated cases involving breach of contract claims, creditors' rights, misappropriation of trade secrets, antitrust issues, declaratory judgments, defamation, tortious interference, breach of non-compete agreements, and insurance disputes in every level of federal and state court in Pennsylvania, as well as several other states. He is experienced at both the trial and arbitration level, including AAA arbitration and other forums for alternative dispute resolution. He counsels several for profit and non-profit corporations on a regular basis regarding general legal matters such as policy making, risk-management and lawsuit prevention.
Jeffrey Wilson maintains a diverse practice with experience in the areas of civil litigation, commercial litigation, health care law, employment law, professional liability, general liability, creditors' rights and products liability. He frequently represents long-term care facilities, manufacturers, hospitals, long-term health care providers, transportation and food companies in a broad range of litigation, employment and business matters.
Jegasothy, Ebken and Thirkell each earned their Juris Doctorate from University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Wilson received his J.D. from St. Thomas University School of Law.