PHILADELPHIA, March 25, 2018 – Cozen O’Connor has elected 19 associates to membership in the firm. The management committee appointed this qualified group of attorneys to membership based on demonstrated professionalism, leadership, dedication, and loyalty to Cozen O’Connor.
“We are excited to honor these 19 associates’ significant contributions to the firm with their election to membership,” said Vincent R. McGuinness, Jr., Cozen O’Connor’s President and Managing Partner. “These new members represent the breadth and depth of the firm’s experience and reach, hailing from 10 different cities and 9 different practice areas. They also demonstrate the firm’s commitment to our people. Many of the new members have been with Cozen O’Connor since they were summer associates, while others recently joined us as lateral associates.”
Patrick McQuillan Aul focuses his practice on first-party and third-party insurance coverage litigation. He has substantial experience litigating issues relating to property and liability policies. He also routinely handles bad faith claims and litigation. He has been involved in multi-million dollar coverage disputes relating to hurricane and wind damage, fire losses, construction defects, toxic mold exposure, and primary and excess policies. Aul holds an AV-Preeminent Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, is an Associate Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, and has been listed in North Carolina's Super Lawyers as a "Rising Star" each year since 2015. He received his J.D. with honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law.
Ashley E. Bauerle joined the firm’s San Diego office in 2012 and is an Associate in the Subrogation & Recovery Department. Upon receiving her bachelor’s degree from Trinity University in 2005, Bauerle earned her J.D. from Tulane University Law School in 2009 where she served as the Senior Managing Editor of the Tulane Maritime Law Journal.
Traci L. Boyle is a litigator in the firm's Subrogation & Recovery Department and has experience in all aspects of trial practice and procedure. She received her B.B.A. from Western Michigan University and attended Baylor University School of Law where she served as an Associate Editor on the Baylor Law Review.
Laura B. Dowgin focuses her practice on litigating and pursuing alternative dispute resolution of insurance coverage and commercial litigation disputes in both state and federal courts. She is an experienced coverage litigation attorney, handling declaratory judgment actions involving interpretation of commercial general liability and errors & omissions policies, as well as bad faith coverage disclaimers and additional insured disputes. In 2016 and 2017, Dowgin was selected to the Super Lawyers New York Metro Rising Stars list. Dowgin earned her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and received her B.A. in history from Colgate University.
Samantha Evans practices in the area of insurance coverage and has handled cases involving disputes under third party liability policies, medical professional liability coverage, and automobile liability policies. Evans also concentrates her practice on the defense of product liability and construction defect matters. She has handled numerous arbitrations and mediations in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Evans earned her undergraduate degree from Kings College-Wilkes-Barre, where she graduated first in her class. She earned her law degree, magna cum laude, from Villanova University School of Law.
Kara L. Kapp regularly handles a variety of civil and criminal matters on behalf of Fortune 500 entities and corporate executives, among others. She has also handled multiple internal investigations for major U.S. manufacturers. Her matters have involved allegations of securities fraud, health care fraud, tax fraud, and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations, among others. Kapp maintains an active pro bono practice and has successfully represented multiple individuals in vindicating claims of wrongful conviction. Kapp earned her undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from Dartmouth College in 2006. She earned her J.D. from Stanford Law School. After law school, she served as a law clerk to then Chief Judge Bruce D. Black of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Mexico and to the Honorable Edward L. Chavez of the New Mexico Supreme Court.
Alexander M. Kargher has successfully litigated high-stakes disputes in a variety of areas including television broadcasting, employer-employee, copyright and trademark, food manufacturing, construction defect, venture capital, and trust and estate. Kargher had been named a California Super Lawyer – Rising Star from 2012-2017. He received his J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles and his B.A. in communications, law, economics and government, cum laude, and B.S. in business administration – finance, cum laude, from American University.
Ashley G. Kessler focuses her practice in the area of intellectual property, including trademark prosecution, licensing and litigation, and internet disputes. She handles matters relating to ICANN proceedings, trademark proceedings within TTAB, copyright and entertainment matters, and patent litigation matters. She regularly counsels clients on all phases of intellectual property licensing and litigation. Kessler earned her undergraduate degree, cum laude, from University of Florida in 2006. She earned her J.D. from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University.
Brian Kint is an experienced litigator who has successfully advocated to have claims against his clients dismissed or favorably resolved before moving to trial. Kint earned his law degree from Harvard Law School. He earned his undergraduate degree, summa cum laude, from Georgia State University. He also clerked for the Honorable Gerald J. Pappert of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, is a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army Reserve, and is the Secretary of the Harvard Law School Alumni Association of Greater Philadelphia.
Keith L. Kleinman practices with the Bankruptcy, Insolvency & Restructuring practice group in Cozen O’Connor’s Wilmington office. Kleinman earned his bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from Temple University, summa cum laude. He graduated with honors from The George Washington University School of Law where he was a Thurgood Marshall Scholar and a member of The George Washington International Law Review and the moot court and mock trial boards.
Alison Lecker’s practice focuses on environmental compliance, transactions, remediation advice, and litigation. She handles a wide range of environmental litigation, including Superfund litigation, governmental enforcement defense litigation, and private cleanup cost recovery litigation. She has experience in environmental regulatory counseling, including permitting and regulatory compliance assistance in areas of hazardous waste, air pollution control, water pollution control, toxic substances control, toxics in packaging, occupational safety, and health. Her practice also includes environmental transactional work, including environmental due diligence and drafting transaction documents. Lecker earned her Bachelor of Arts from Syracuse University in 2004 and her J.D. from Temple University, Beasley School of Law in 2008.
J. Nicole Martin assists accountable care organizations, health care systems, long term care providers (e.g., skilled nursing facilities, continuing care retirement communities), behavioral and mental health providers, medical device manufacturers, physician practices, and pharmacies with their compliance, regulatory, and transactional needs. Martin earned her J.D. from Drexel University School of Law. She earned multiple degrees, including a Master of Public Health, from the University of Pennsylvania. During law school, Martin was a judicial intern for the Honorable Jerome B. Simandle, Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
Calli Jo Padilla concentrates her practice in complex commercial litigation, product liability, casualty defense, construction law litigation, and complex tort matters. She represents individuals and corporations in a wide variety of cases in both state and federal court. Padilla also assists with the firm's internal investigations and criminal defense matters. She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in politics, where she served as the captain of the women’s varsity softball team. Padilla received her law degree, cum laude from the Villanova University School of Law.
Zachary Renegar is a member in Cozen O'Connor's Subrogation & Recovery Department. His practice focuses primarily on property claims involving product liability and construction defect. Prior to joining Cozen O'Connor, Reneger litigated a variety of cases for a regional insurance defense firm for six years. Reneger has tried cases to jury verdict in both state and federal courts in North Carolina. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law.
David M. Stahl focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation. Stahl earned his undergraduate degree from the Harvard University and his law degree from Shepard Broad Law Center, Nova Southeastern University.
David A. Terry is a member in the firm’s Subrogation & Recovery Department, practicing in the Atlanta office. Terry has experience in many areas of litigation, including product liability, personal injury, property damage, and general commercial litigation. He has previously represented clients in a variety of industries, including automotive, tire, industrial equipment manufacturing, insurance, construction, retail, commercial real estate management, technology, banking, and public utilities. He regularly appears in state and federal courts. He conducts all aspects of litigation, from the claims stage to appeals. Terry earned his J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law.
Jonathan Toren practices insurance coverage and bad faith litigation, as well as general commercial litigation. Toren also advises insurers on claims and coverage issues. He has experience with all phases of litigation, from pleadings and dispositive motions, to large-scale discovery, to trial and settlement. Jonathan has represented insurers and other clients in mediations and arbitrations. He earned his J.D. from New York University School of Law, and his bachelor's degree from Columbia University.
Karen D. Williams focuses her practice on a variety of litigation matters, particularly those involving allegations of white-collar crime and fraud. She defends individual and corporate clients in state and federal trial courts and arbitration proceedings across the United States, as well as in connection with internal and government investigations. Williams has experience in various phases of criminal matters – from conducting internal investigations and responding to federal grand jury subpoenas to litigating a case to jury verdict. She has represented clients in a broad range of industries, including government contracting, mortgage services, alcohol distribution, and professional services. Williams received her law degree from American University, Washington College of Law in 2009, where she graduated magna cum laude.
Jeff R. Vogel has more than eight years of experience in administrative, national security, maritime, U.S. cabotage, transportation infrastructure, and trade law. Prior to joining the firm he worked at the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT), Maritime Administration (MARAD) as the acting chief of the Division of Maritime Programs, lead attorney for Maritime Support Programs, and an attorney-adviser. Vogel earned his J.D. from University of Miami School of Law where he was awarded the Dean’s Certificate of Achievement for Law of the Sea.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has more than 925 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor services its clients’ needs through 33 offices across two continents.
# # #