ADM - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate in the Albertson and Riverhead
Mr. Mantione is admitted to the New York and Massachusetts State Bars, as well as Federal Courts' in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. While attending Hofstra Law School, Mr. Mantione was awarded the Pro Bono Service Award for his work with Hofstra Law School's Law Reform Advocacy Clinic, successfully reaching a number of settlement agreements in various complex ยง 1983 Civil Rights actions.
Mr. Mantione's practice is currently focused on defending premises liability, automobile liability, property damage liability, and construction and Labor Law matters from pre-litigation through ADR and trial phases. To date, he has established a successful practice for the benefit of a wide variety of clients including Fortune 500 businesses, insurance companies, and self-insured religious organizations.
Outside of the firm, Mr. Mantione is a practicing member of the National Lawyers Guild's Mass Defense Committee, and participates as a legal observer providing support for demonstrators and social change movements.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner in the Albertson and Riverhead
Brendan A. Bertoli is a Partner in the Albertson and Riverhead offices. Brendan focuses his practice on defending cases involving automobile liability, construction site accidents, premises liability, property damage, and products liability.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner in the New Jersey
Christopher J. Conover is a Partner in the New Jersey office. He joined ADM in 1996 and has extensive trial experience in both New York and New Jersey.
Mr. Conover' s litigation practice concentrates in the defense of matters involving products liability, premises liability, construction defect, New York Labor Labor and professional malpractice including medical professionals, engineers, attorneys and title companies.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner in the New York City
Ms. McManus currently practices in general liability matters, including the areas of premises liability, construction site litigation, automobile liability, civil rights, toxic torts, and property damage. Prior to joining ADM, Ms. McManus focused her practice in municipal insurance defense.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate in the Albertson
Daniel J. Horowitz is an Associate in the Albertson office. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Horowitz interned for the Rockland County District Attorney's Office and served as a law clerk with in-house counsel for a large insurer where he prepared appellate briefs and assisted trial counsel.
During his tenure at St. John's University Law School, Mr. Horowitz served as a competition director for the Moot Court Honor Society. He competed in several external competitions and won best oral advocate at the 2018 Roy L. Reardon Moot Court Competition and the 2018 NYC Bar Association Regional Finals. He also served as a staff member on the Journal of Civil Rights and Economic Development.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner in the Albertson
David S. Conklin is a Partner in the Albertson office of ADM.
Mr. Conklin concentrates his practice on the defense of professionals and the representation of owners, tenants and contractors in cases involving premises liability, construction site accidents, construction defect claims, property damage and commercial transportation accidents.
Mr. Conklin's professional liability practice focuses upon individuals and firms involved in the construction industry including the defense of architects and engineers, home inspectors, construction testing laboratories, surveyors, construction consultants and others.
Mr. Conklin's extensive experience allows him to handle the most complex and high exposure claims. Mr. Conklin handles all matters from inception through trial and has successfully extracted scores of clients from litigation by means of motion, arbitration, mediation and trial.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner in the New York City
Deborah A. DelSordo is a Partner in the New York City office. Ms. DelSordo joined ADM in 1994. Previously, she was an attorney with a large litigation firm in New York.
She is currently a senior member of the Professional Liability/Malpractice group, the Construction Site Accident and Construction Defect teams. Her concentration in the areas of real estate and construction includes the defense of cooperatives and condominiums in various areas of liability including breach of fiduciary duty, breach of lease, and breach of warranty of habitability. She defends claims of construction defects, breach of contract, New York Labor Law and contractual indemnity.
Her general liability matters involve employment practices, violations of the General Business Law, violations of the Multiple Dwelling Law, the defense of civil sexual abuse claims, security negligence claims, and products liability cases.
Dennis P. Wallace joined ADM as a Partner in the firm's NYC office upon his retirement from AIG. Dennis focuses his efforts on the firm's long-standing commitment to provide superior and cost-effective legal services to its valued clients.
Dennis spent 27 years at AIG, most recently as Senior Managing Director of the Claims Initiative Group. In that role, Dennis worked closely with AIG's Actuarial, Claims and Legal departments to improve case-specific results, enhance reserving practices, and develop broad-reaching claim strategies and programs.
Dennis joined AIG in 1989 and held a series of claims, legal and management positions, including establishment of AIG's Legal Operations Center to oversee enterprise-wide external legal spend; VP - Excess Casualty claims; VP - Primary Casualty and Auto claims; VP - Claims Resources and Solutions, consisting of Issue Management, Claims Technical Training and Claims Service and Marketing; VP - extra-contractual and staff counsel malpractice claims; and Northeast Regional Claims Litigation Manager.
In addition, Dennis has served on various insurance industry-related panels, including U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform's Steering Committee to Curb Global Forum Shopping; U.S. Department of Justice's Civil Justice Statistics Initiative; National Center for State Courts, and RAND Corporation's Institute for Civil Justice (ICJ), where he currently is a member of the Board of Overseers.
Before AIG, Dennis was a litigation defense and coverage attorney at a New York City-based law firm and before that, VP - Claims at Marsh & McLennan. Dennis received his undergraduate degree from St. John's University in Queens, New York, and his law degree from St. John's University School of Law. Dennis has almost 40 years of insurance claims and legal experience and is licensed to practice law in NYS.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner in the Bohemia
Eugene L. Daneri is a Partner in the Bohemia office located in Suffolk County, New York.
Throughout his career, Mr. Daneri has delivered outstanding results on behalf of his clients in a wide range of personal injury litigation venued in Nassau and Suffolk Counties. He is an active member of several of the firms' practice groups, with a concentration of cases involving construction site accidents and premise liability claims.
Mr. Liu joined ADM in 2015 and is a Partner in our New Jersey Office. His practice includes premises liability, automobile liability, property damage claims, as well as investigating pre-suit claims.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Vice - President of the Rockville Centre Little League
Frank A. Cecere works in the Albertson office and has been the Managing Partner of ADM since 2001.
Mr. Cecere has been involved in the New York asbestos litigation for over 20 years through his representation of product manufacturers, premises owners and possessors, supply houses and contractors.
Outside of the firm, Mr. Cecere is the Vice-President of the Rockville Centre Little League, and is active in the community as a coach for various baseball, softball, soccer, basketball and lacrosse youth teams.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Grievance Committee of the Bar Association of Nassau County
- Partner in the Albertson
Mr. Pecorelli is a trial attorney and has over twenty years experience successfully trying cases before the State and Federal Courts of New York. Mr. Pecorelli heads ADM's Nassau County team. He is responsible for handling high exposure defense cases involving product liability claims, automobile accidents, premises liability, claims against municipalities, negligence and breach of contract claims as well as complex cases involving construction site accidents and violations of the New York Labor Law.
Mr. Pecorelli helped develop the Firm's in-house Continuing Legal Education program, which has been approved by the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board. He actively continues in that role. He has served as a lecturer on many topics, including products liability and trial practice.
Outside of ADM, Mr. Pecorelli has served as a member of the Grievance Committee of the Bar Association of Nassau County. He was the recipient Court Officer's Benevolent Association Jurisperitus Award in 2003.
Frederick B. Soller joined ADM in 2009 and is a Partner in the Albertson office.
Mr. Soller is involved in all phases of litigation including discovery, depositions, drafting and arguing substantive motions, mediation, settlement, trial preparation and trials. Mr. Soller regularly defends cases involving New York's Labor Law, negligence, premises liability, maritime law, property damage, products liability, automobile accidents and asbestos exposure.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner in the New York City
George S. Evans is a Partner in the New York City office of ADM.
Mr. Evans joined ADM in 1995 and handles high exposure personal injury and property damage cases. He works closely with partner Robert A. Shaw in the representation of clients across a wide range of complex and catastrophic personal injury cases pending in Bronx County.
Helene Teper is Of Counsel in ADM's New York City office. She came to ADM following a long career as Assistant Managing Attorney for the staff counsel operation of a global insurer. She assists the firm's leadership in compliance, file anaylsis, and workflow management.
James A. Edwards is a Partner and senior trial attorney in the New York City office. He has devoted his career to defending owners, contractors, and manufacturers against high exposure personal injury and property damage lawsuits, including construction accidents, premises liability, asbestos, environmental and lead poisoning, and other catastrophic events.
Mr. Edwards is AV rated Preeminent by Martindale Hubbell for the highest possible peer review ratings of ethical standards and ability and was selected to the 2013-201 7 New York Metro Super Lawyers.
In over 34 years of practice, he has tried cases in the State and Federal Courts of the City of New York and surrounding counties on issues involving the New York Labor Law, Product Liability, Dram Shop, Premises Liability, Asbestos, Lead Paint, Carbon Monoxide and other chemical exposures, as well as Automobile and General Negligence.
Mr. Edwards has lectured on topics ranging from Trial Practice; the New York Labor Law; Insurance and Indemnity; and the Navigation Law. His New York Law Journal articles on General Obligations Law 5 - 322.1 are cited as practice commentaries in McKinney's Consolidated Laws of New York.
He is the President of the New York State Bar Association Torts Insurance and Compensation Law section, the Claims and Litigation Management Alliance, the Defense Association of New York and the Board of Governors of the New York City Trial Lawyers Association.
In 2010, Mr. Edwards was named Defense Attorney of the Year by the Institute for Jewish Humanities.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner in the Albertson
Janice Berkowitz is a partner in the Albertson office. Ms. Berkowitz joined Ahmuty, Demers & McManus in 1988 and subsequently became ADM's first female partner. Ms. Berkowitz is a senior member of the professional liability/municipal liability defense team. Her practice also includes premises liability, product liability, employment litigation, health care matters and civil rights litigation.
In conjunction with her municipal, school district, civil rights practice, Ms. Berkowitz also handles matters relating to employment practices, tenure disputes, terminations, sexual discrimination, age discrimination, racial discrimination and cases alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Ms. Berkowitz also handles cases involving intellectual property as well as general professional liability issues, including legal malpractice and healthcare defense.Ms. Berkowitz has lectured on various school district and discrimination issues.
Mr. Jeffrey Kadish is Of Counsel in ADM's Morristown Office. He focuses his practice on defending cases involving premises liability, products liability, municipal liability, automobile liability, professional liability, and insurance coverage issues.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner in the New York City
Mr. Gillespie handles subrogation claims for all types of losses including damages allegedly arising from fires and improper construction/underpinning and general negligence actions including premises liability claims, motor vehicle accidents, defamation, construction defect and labor law actions. Mr. Gillespie is one of the individuals instrumental in bringing certain questionable claims to a rapid conclusion by questioning the veracity of the claim at the earliest point in time.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner in the New York City
Katie A. Meier is a Partner in the New York City office. Ms. Meier handles a caseload involving complex issues pertaining to various aspects of personal injury and property damage litigation, including premises liability, automobile liability, products liability, and construction site matters arising from alleged violations of the New York State Labor Law.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Lead Counsel
- Partner in ADM 's New
Kevin G. Mescall is a partner in ADM's New York City office. He concentrates his practice on defendaning significant bodily injury and property damage claims arising from construction accidents, premises liability, products liability, professional liability, and insurance coverage matters. He also actively represents domestic insurers and the Lloyd's Market in property and casualty claims. He previously held positions including Senior Trial Attorney with an international law firm, Trial Specialist and Managing Trial Attorney for Continental Insurance Company, New York, Assistant District Attorney for Suffolk County, New York and Secondee at Xchanging Claims Services, London, 2011.
In his practice, Mr. Mescall has served as lead counsel for numerous construction contractors named in over 9,000 lawsuits brought by clean-up workers claiming injuries sustained in the course of their work in the aftermath of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center. He also served as National Coordinating Counsel for an international insurance company in defense of a products liability MDL class action. He has also acted as arbitrator for numerous disputes involving members, brokers and customers of the New York Stock Exchange.
Mr. Mescall is available to act as neutral mediator for all Marine, Non-Marine, PI, Property and Insurance Coverage disputes.
He is interested in continuing to expand litigation, trial and mediation practice with referrals from managing agents, syndicates, companies and brokers in the London Market as well as domestic insurance carriers, third-party administrators and corporate self-insured entities.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate in ADM 's New
Kevin P. Feeley is an Associate in ADM's New York City office. He focuses his practice on defending cases involving premises liability, property damage, construction defects, construction site accidents, automobile liability, products liability, and toxic tort law.
Prior to joining the firm, Kevin proudly served as a New York City Police Officer for 7 years and was responsible for training newly hired officers assigned to his precinct. Kevin has participated in adoption events with the ASPCA and the Animal Care Centers of New York City throughout his career and participates annually in a toy drive to benefit children of the Ronald McDonald House of New York.
Marlene Toquica is Of Counsel in the New York City office. She began her career as a full time law clerk in 1999 while attending Touro Law School as an evening student.
After graduation, Ms. Toquica joined ADM as an associate. Her practice is focused in the areas of construction site accidents, premises liability, automobile liability and property damage.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate in ADM 's Clifton Park
Mr. Cramer is an associate in ADM's Clifton Park, New York office, after joining the firm in June 2016.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner in the Albertson
For nearly 25 years, Ms. Casey has focused her practice on the defense of school districts in a variety of personal injury claims such as playground and sports accidents, assaults, slip & fall, motor vehicle and wrongful death litigation. As an experienced litigator she has taken a multitude of cases to verdict on behalf of school districts in the New York courts.
In conjunction with her personal injury practice, Ms. Casey represents school districts and private clients in defending civil rights claims and various employment matters including discrimination and harassment claims and wrongful terminations.
Ms. Casey's practice is not limited to the representation of school district and municipal clients. She also handles cases involving construction site accidents, premises liability and automobile matters.
She is a long time participant in the Nassau County Bar Association Student Mentoring Project mentoring middle school students at the A. B. G. Schultz Middle School in Hempstead, New York.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner in the New Jersey
He joined ADM in 2007 and works closely with Michael C. Salvo, a partner in the New Jersey office. Prior to joining the Firm, he practiced commercial and real estate litigation.Mr. Caldarella currently handles all aspects of liability defense including construction defect, premises liability and product liability matters.
Mr. Caldarella previously worked as a legal intern at the Office of the District Attorney, Richmond County, Criminal Division.
Mr. Caldarella plays classic guitar and has performed in a band for twenty years.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner in the Albertson
Michele has focused her practice on the defense of school districts. These include claims for personal injuries, physical and sexual assaults, bullying, motor vehicle accidents and wrongful death.
As a member of the Automobile Liability, Construction Site Accidents, Premise Liability, Products Liability, Property Damage and Toxic Tort and Environmental Practice Groups, Ms. Rach has a demonstrated ability to handle a wide range of cases through all phases.
She also works closely with a number of senior trial attorneys within the Firm in high exposure matters.
Ms. Rach is an avid runner and participates in the New York City Marathon.
Philip J. McManus is a founding partner of ADM. ADM as it now exists was formed in 1983 when Philip J. McManus joined William R. Ahmuty, III and Henri A. Demers.
Mr. McManus is responsible for the supervision of the highest exposure and most complex matters handled by the Firm. He is widely recognized as one of the most experienced and skilled litigators in the defense field. Mr. McManus speaks regularly to various groups including the New York State Trial Lawyers, New York County Lawyers and other groups on a wide variety of topics, including New York Labor Law.
Mr. McManus is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Mr. McManus served in U.S. Marine Corps for three years and in Vietnam in 1969.
Job Titles:
- Partner in the White Plains
Prior to joining ADM 2002, Mr. Gilbride was the area Vice President for CIGNA's Litigation Department. In that position Mr. Gilbride had responsibility for 133 staff attorneys and oversaw all outside counsel litigation for CIGNA's Northeast Region. From 1981 to 1989 Mr. Gilbride was the attorney of record for CIGNA's staff counsel office on Long Island.
Mr. Gilbride divides his time between ADM's upstate offices. His practice focuses upon defending school districts, along with premises owners, product liability defendants and property damage cases.
Mr. Gilbride is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell.
Rod A. Gilbride is a Partner in the White Plains and Hopewell Junction offices.
Steven K. Mantione joined ADM after specializing in the prosecution and defense of catastrophic personal injury actions for over thirty (30) years; the last sixteen years in his own private practice. He works in the Albertson office.
Mr. Mantione has established a successful practice in a wide variety of general liability cases including motor vehicle litigation; Labor Law/construction accidents; nursing home litigation; municipality/school district litigation; professional liability litigation; products liability; premises liability; insurance law; ambulance and volunteer fire services; sports related litigation; pastoral and church litigation; defamation; sexual abuse and civil rights litigation.
Mr. Mantione has been involved in the successful defense of many "high-profile" cases; including actions for wrongful death; limb dismemberment; paraplegia and work place assault.
Mr. Mantione is "counsel of choice" for several domestic and international insurance companies; third-party administrators and for various Religious Organizations/Insurance Boards.
Mr. Mantione has received the highest possible rating, in both legal ability and ethical standards, for more than fifteen consecutive years from Martindale-Hubbell ("AV Preeminent"); and has been rated on several occasions as one of Long Island's top lawyers by the Long Island Pulse.