Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani welcomes 19 attorneys who will join the firm in its New York, New Jersey and Westchester offices. The group, led by partners John J. Hopwood and Melissa J. Brown includes eight partners, nine associates, and two of counsel.
The team handles a wide range of litigation including professional liability, healthcare, labor and employment, cyber and data security, commercial litigation, construction, municipal and public entity liability, premises liability, casualty, and all other aspects of general liability.
Hopwood was with his previous firm for nearly 20 years where he was a senior partner and served as the managing partner of the firm’s New York offices. Brown was with the same firm for more than 15 years where she was a senior partner and headed up the New Jersey office’s Professional Liability team. They are joined by their team of more than 10 paralegals and professional staff across offices and expect to add to their team in the coming days.
“These outstanding lawyers are the perfect complement to Gordon & Rees' national capabilities in these areas," said Ron Giller, managing partner of the firm’s New Jersey office. "The group also bolsters our east coast presence and accelerates what looks to be a very strong year for us.”
Partner John Hopwood is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey. Hopwood has represented clients in numerous fields of litigation, ranging from construction, commercial, malpractice, products and all areas of general liability. His practice focuses on all aspects of construction litigation, including the defense of design/defect claims and defense of allegations brought under New York Labor Law. Hopwood has represented international corporations, domestic companies, developers, general contractors, mechanical contractors, construction managers, design professionals, doctors, attorneys and other businesses in all aspects of defense litigation. He has represented corporations and individuals in contract disputes and numerous transactional matters. His experience includes litigation, trials, alternative dispute resolution and appellate. His practice focuses primarily in the five boroughs of New York City and its surrounding counties. He has successfully tried cases to verdict in those jurisdictions, as well as throughout New York State, and he has argued appeals in the First and Second Department Appellate divisions.
Partner Melissa Brown is admitted in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. Brown has experience defending corporations and individuals in cyber litigation and data security breaches. She defends professional malpractice claims against professionals in the legal, medical, financial, insurance, and real estate industries. She represents employers in labor and employment disputes arising from wrongful termination, discrimination and executive malfeasance. She defends medical professionals in complaints before the New Jersey medical boards. She handles negligence claims arising from hiring, training and security resulting in sexual misconduct. She has significant class action litigation experience ranging from national medical billing to prisoner strip searches to COVID educational reimbursement litigation. She also has extensive practice in dram shop liability and casualty. Brown has represented clients before the Third Circuit and the New Jersey Supreme and Appellate courts resulting in several published cases.
“Gordon & Rees provides our team with a national platform across all 50 states which enables our team to provide our clients with the highest level of legal services throughout multiple practice areas. The internal support and leadership at Gordon & Rees is unmatched and we are excited to be part of the team,” said John Hopwood.
"For nearly two decades, our attorneys have provided an aggressive and strategic defense while prioritizing the individual needs of our clients. You can expect that same diligent approach on a national scale under the leadership of Gordon & Rees and their 50 state platform. We are excited to join this exceptional team, and we look forward to continuing to serve our clients’ needs," said Melissa Brown.
Joining New York City office:
Partners: John Hopwood, Marci Mitkoff, Sydney Fetten, Bonnie Goldman
Of Counsel: Robert Fein
Associate: Amanda Chiarello
Joining Westchester, New York office:
Of Counsel: Lynn Liebman
Associates: Joseph Samuels and Gabriella Manganiello
Joining Florham Park, New Jersey office:
Partners: Melissa Brown, Amanda King, Nicole Mulhern, Michael Slivjak
Associates: Kevin Buttery, Madelynn Correnti, Deanne Lowden, Brittney Nochimson, Kathryn Siegeltuch, and Jonathan Stuckel
Partner Sydney Fetten represents clients in general litigation, premises liability and professional liability. Fetten is admitted to practice in New Jersey, as well as the Southern, Eastern and Western districts of New York.
Partner Bonnie Goldman represents clients in personal injury, assault and battery cases, construction law, dram shop, and toxic tort actions. Goldman is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey.
Partner Amanda King represents clients in employment litigation, professional liability, construction litigation, medical malpractice, general liability, premises liability, and transportation matters. King is admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York.
Partner Marci Mitkoff focuses her practice on the defense of medical professionals, nursing homes, contractors and aestheticians. She has handled claims regarding premises liability, products liability and toxic tort. Mitkoff has extensive trial experience, having taken numerous favorable verdicts throughout New York City, Nassau County and New Jersey. Mitkoff is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey.
Partner Nicole Mulhern focuses her practice in general liability, professional liability and construction defect matters. Mulhern is admitted to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Partner Michael Slivjak focuses his practice in construction litigation, casualty, premises liability, subrogation, and environmental contamination. He also represents insurance carriers in matters of coverage and in defense of bad faith claims. Slivjak is admitted to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Of Counsel Robert Fein focuses his practice primarily in medical malpractice, chiropractic malpractice, and long-term care litigation. He is admitted to practice in New York and joins the firm's Professional Liability practice group in the firm's New York office.
Of Counsel Lynn Liebman focuses her practice in labor law, general liability, and nursing malpractice matters. She joins the firm's Westchester office and is admitted to practice in New York.
Associate Kevin Buttery is a member of the Professional Liability practice group in the New Jersey office of Gordon & Rees. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Associate Amanda Chiarello is a member of the Professional Liability, Insurance and Construction practice groups in the New York office. She is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey.
Associate Madelynn Correnti is a member of the Construction and Transportation/Trucking practice group in the New Jersey office. They are admitted to practice in New Jersey.
Associate Deanne Lowden is a member of the firm's Employment Law and Professional Liability practice groups in the New Jersey office. She is admitted to practice in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
Associate Gabriella Manganiello is a member of the firm's Construction and Professional Liability practice groups in the Westchester office. She is admitted to practice in New York.
Associate Brittney Nochimson is a member of the Employment Law, Health Care, and Professional Liability practice groups in the New Jersey office. She is admitted to practice in New Jersey.
Associate Joseph Samuels is a member of the Construction practice group in the Westchester office. He is admitted to practice in New York and Maryland.
Associate Kathryn Siegeltuch is a member of the Employment Law, Health Care, and Professional Liability practice groups in the New Jersey office. She is admitted to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Associate Jonathan Stuckel is a member of the Professional Liability practice group in the New Jersey office. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.