Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani welcomes a group of 14 attorneys and support staff who join the firm in its Pittsburgh office. The group, led by partners Robert E. Dapper, Jr., Bryson F. Datt, Jr., and Daniel J. Twilla, includes eight partners, one senior counsel, two associates, one law clerk, and two support staff, all previously with Burns White, LLC.
The team handles a wide range of litigation, including insurance, trucking and transportation, commercial litigation, general liability, contract disputes, unfair competition, trade secret and business protection litigation, real estate litigation, energy industry litigation, and tort defense.
Robert E. Dapper, Jr. has over 30 years of experience representing clients in commercial litigation. He concentrates his practice on the defense of transportation, insurance coverage, and extracontractual litigation, including class actions. An active member of the legal community, he is recognized by his peers for inclusion in publications such as Best Lawyers in America® and was selected as a member of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, the American Board of Trial Advocates and the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, and West Virginia.
“We are thrilled that these outstanding lawyers are joining the firm as they add depth and breadth in their practice areas not only in Pittsburgh but nationwide,” said Manoj Jegasothy, Co-Managing Partner of the Pittsburgh office. “This group’s transition is not only a testament to the firm’s national platform given the nature of its clientele but also to the nature of relationships in the legal community being the foundation of positive growth. These lawyers have been known to us personally and by reputation for a long time, which adds to the excitement of this combination.”
Bryson F. Datt, Jr. has a diverse litigation practice that focuses upon defending wrongful death and serious personal injury claims for national and regional transportation clients. He regularly responds to catastrophic losses on behalf of his clients, handling matters from the date an incident occurs through resolution. In addition to his transportation practice, he advises and represents clients on complex commercial litigation matters. His experience includes working to protect and further client interests in business and commercial disputes, insurance coverage issues, contract disputes, unfair competition, trade secrets, business protection, energy, and tort defense. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Daniel J. Twilla focuses his practice on defending extra-contractual claims against insurers, including allegations of insurance bad faith and unfair trade practices. He has litigated matters arising from a wide range of insurance policies, including commercial and personal automobile, homeowners’ and general liability, from the pleadings stage through trial. He also provides regular counsel to his clients regarding trends and developments in insurance law. In addition to defending extra-contractual claims, he also represents insurers in coverage matters. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Partner Brian S. Kane practices in the areas of insurance and commercial litigation, with numerous verdicts in personal injury, property damage, and commercial matters. He served as the co-chair of the Energy, Products Liability, and Retail and Hospitality practice groups at his former firm. Kane is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and West Virginia and is recognized by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America®.
Partner Matthew A. Meyers focuses his practice in the areas of insurance coverage and extracontractual litigation, commercial litigation, and transportation and logistics law. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia.
Partner Claire M. Cookinham focuses her practice on a wide range of commercial litigation, focusing on transportation and logistics litigation, automobile liability, and insurance defense. She is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Partner Kathleen P. Dapper handles insurance coverage and extracontractual matters where she represents insurers in various bad faith and coverage disputes. She is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Partner Susan R. Engle routinely handles motor vehicle and trucking, personal injury, construction, liquor liability, and products liability matters. She has defended various state actors in civil rights matters, and employers in discrimination and harassment matters. She is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Senior Counsel Emily K. Harlovic concentrates her practice in representing regional and national clients in the transportation and logistics industry. In addition to her focus on trucking industry clients she has experience handling commercial litigation, products liability and premises liability matters. She is admitted to practice law in Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Associate Kerven M. Moon provides effective representation to a variety of clients in the areas of trucking litigation, family law, and general civil litigation. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania.
Associate Adam P. Murdock focuses his practice in the areas of commercial litigation matters, insurance coverage, and extracontractual litigation. He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania.
Additionally, Josephine Mlakar joins GRSM as a law clerk, Melody Lane joins as a paralegal, and Jennifer Phillips joins as a legal assistant.