PHILADELPHIA, August 20, 2018— Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce the promotion of eight members to shareholders: Marc Auerbach, Jonathan Grossman, Aaron Krauss, Daniel J. Luccaro, Barbara Müller, Joseph F. Rich, Nicole Sprinzen, and Paula Zecchini.
“We are excited to promote this distinguished group of attorneys,” said Michael J. Heller, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cozen O’Connor. “They have demonstrated a commitment to the firm, their clients, and the legal profession. We see this group as an integral part of the firm’s future success.”
Auerbach counsels a wide range of health care organizations, including physician groups, HMOs, hospitals, academic medical centers, diagnostic facilities and medical device manufacturers. His practice encompasses fraud and abuse issues, integrating physician practices, compensation, clinical trials, purchase and sale engagements, and intellectual property licensing. Auerbach also has experience with electronic health matters, and related online health care technology issues. He represents numerous health related not for profits and has handled issues related to such status. His experience also includes alternative practice models such as ACOs, CINs, concierge, and direct payment models. Auerbach has served as counsel to hospital medical staff, with respect to a diverse range of issues, including physician contracting, technology integration, and development of integrated models with the applicable hospital systems. Nightingale’s Healthcare News has recognized Auerbach as one of the top 10 health care information technology lawyers. Chambers USA has also recognized him as a leading health care lawyer in Florida.
Grossman advises clients on antitrust, consumer protection, and other government regulatory matters, including civil and criminal government investigations, mergers and acquisitions, counseling on antitrust, consumer protection and advertising issues, litigation, and legislative issues. He works with clients from a variety of industries, and has extensive experience in the health care, aviation, maritime, energy, high-tech, and financial services sectors. Jonathan represents subjects, complainants, and third-parties in government investigations by, among others, the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Communications Commission, and state attorneys general. He also represents clients in proceedings before the National Advertising Division of the Advertising Self-Regulatory Council.
Krauss concentrates his practice on business litigation, health care litigation, labor and employment litigation, and intellectual property litigation. He tries cases in both state and federal court and before arbitration panels on behalf of companies (or officers, directors or shareholders of companies) who have disputes with other companies or shareholders. These disputes usually arise out of a prior business or employment relationship, or allegations of products liability. Krauss has been named one of "40 Business Leaders Under 40" by the Philadelphia Business Journal and as a "Lawyer on the Fast Track" in Pennsylvania by American Lawyer Media. He has repeatedly been named a "Super Lawyer" in Pennsylvania by Law & Politics.
Luccaro concentrates his practice on representing insurance carriers and other commercial clients for claims involving a wide variety of property damage events including fires, floods, mechanical system failures, sprinkler system failures, building collapses, product failures and defects, roofing failures and deficiencies, and other construction defects. He has litigated claims in a variety of state and federal courts throughout the eastern United States. Luccaro is the firm's co-hiring partner and currently serves on the firm's diversity and hiring committees. He also co-founded and co-chairs the firm's Co-Vet pro bono initiative, which is devoted to providing pro bono legal services to military veterans.
Muller’s practice is focused on mergers and acquisitions, corporate formation, and governance and renewable energies. She holds law degrees in both Germany and in the United States and regularly assists U.S. companies entering the German market and German companies expanding to the U.S. market. She has worked on the acquisitions of companies in Germany for U.S. clients and the related agreements, such as employment and lease agreements. In addition, Muller has successfully facilitated the resolution of a number of diverse U.S.-German issues her clients faced, such as the enforcement of German judgments in the United States, the defense against temporary restraining orders in the United States or Germany, the finalization and taxation of inheritances made by U.S. clients in Germany or to be made by German clients with assets in the United States, the sale of real estate owned by U.S. clients in Germany and family law issues, such as the acknowledgment of a U.S. divorce decree in Germany or the assistance with the divorce of a U.S. citizen in Germany.
Rich concentrates his practice on a wide range of litigation matters including product liability, general and professional negligence, construction defect and breach of warranties. He manages a robust caseload ranging from general civil litigation to subrogation and recovery matters arising from complex property damage loss events, such as fires, product failures and defects, mechanical system failures, plumbing and water system releases, sprinkler system failures, building collapses, roofing failures and deficiencies, and other construction defects. Rich was appointed vice chair, office managing partner of the Miami office in January 2018. He is admitted to practice in Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia, including all federal district courts in Florida, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia, as well as the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania. Rich is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court for Puerto Rico and has experience litigating general litigation and recovery matters for clients in federal court in Puerto Rico.
Sprinzen focuses her practice on representing companies and individuals in criminal matters and parallel civil proceedings, as well as in internal investigations. Her practice includes advising clients in matters arising under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), U.S. anti-money laundering laws, and the securities and commodities laws, as well as in connection with federal procurement, mortgage, and bank fraud allegations. She frequently represents corporate and individual clients in antitrust cartel internal and government investigations. Sprinzen has also represented clients in investigations being conducted by World Bank Group's Integrity Vice Presidency, and served as a monitor for a company participating in the World Bank’s Voluntary Disclosure Program. She has represented clients in investigations by U.S. government authorities under Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs) and, while serving as a federal prosecutor, she coordinated parallel foreign proceedings under MLATs.
Zecchini focuses her multi-state practice on complex commercial and intellectual property litigation, with an emphasis on the Internet, technology, and cross-border disputes. She has over a decade of experience litigating trademark infringement, unfair competition, false advertising, and defamation claims on behalf of Fortune 500 companies, small businesses, and individuals. Paula also provides clients with strategic guidance on a wide range of issues related to advertising and brand protection, including compliance with the Telephone Consumer Protection Act and the enforcement of intellectual property rights. Zecchini has tried numerous cases to verdict as lead counsel. She most recently served as lead counsel for GoDaddy in a $30 million, “bet-the-industry” cybersquatting action filed by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; the defense verdict is widely regarded as one of the top verdicts of 2015. Paula also has broad experience representing clients throughout the appellate process, having briefed and argued appeals before the Second and Ninth Circuits, as well as various state appellate courts, while serving as lead counsel on behalf of clients such as Bank of America, GoDaddy and Sea Shepherd
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has over 825 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 serves its clients’ needs through 32 offices across two continents.
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