MILBERG - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Senior Partner / Knoxville, Tennessee
Mr. Adam Edwards is a Partner at Milberg and acts as a group leader for Consumer Products litigation. He also serves as a primary litigator in many of the firm's class action matters involving false advertising and product defects.
Mr. Edwards attended The University of Tennessee as an undergraduate, where he received his degree in political science and served as a field office intern for United States Senator and former Senate Majority Leader, Dr. Bill Frist.
After graduating from UT, Mr. Edwards was accepted into the Juris Doctor program at the Washburn University School of Law. He was awarded an academic merit scholarship after his first year of coursework, selected as the President of the Moot Court Counsel on Oral Advocacy, and chosen as a member of the Order of Barristers. He received his J.D. after graduating with Deans Honors in 2000.
Job Titles:
- Law Clerk ( Pending Admission )
Ms. Mkamanga was born and raised in Sylva, North Carolina. She graduated from Southwestern Community College in 2000 with an Associate degree in Paralegal Technologies. She immediately began working with Legal Aid of North Carolina, assisting attorneys in representing domestic violence victims and related custody issues in the western counties of North Carolina and the Cherokee Indian Reservation. In 2004, Ms. Mkamanga moved to Raleigh and worked with the North Carolina Department of Justice in Chapel Hill on collection efforts on behalf of the State.
In 2006, Ms. Mkamanga began working with legacy attorneys of Milberg. She possesses 22 years of legal experience and a vast knowledge of complex civil litigation cases, mass torts, class actions, and multi-district litigations. Her experience and dedication have assisted Milberg attorneys in securing justice for the clients.
She is married to Godwin Mkamanga and has one son, Temwa. In her time off, she enjoys baking, traveling, and spending time with her family, both in America and in Malawi, Africa.
Job Titles:
- Vice President
- VP of Global Operations
Bio:
Austin Camp serves as the Vice President of Global Operations for Milberg.
He has been operating in the legal industry for the past 15 years, working for a specific cohort of law firms that span the globe. He is responsible for identifying and implementing technology and other solutions to help raise the firm's visibility in the community, increase operational efficiency, and improve the client experience.
During his tenure, Mr. Camp has completely transformed numerous firms' client intake processes by consolidating efforts into unified departments, establishing training protocols, building workflows, and streamlining operations with technology and automation.
In a past project, he led the firm's effort to convert to a paperless office and overhauled the case management system by custom tailoring and implementing a Salesforce solution to manage client relationships from their first exposure to firm advertising, all the way through to case resolution and payout. The system he has implemented is groundbreaking, utilizing automation features that dramatically reduce the staff burden during all stages of the client relationship.
Many of the standard business practices that were previously done by hand, are now automated and more cost-effective, as a result of Mr. Camp's commitment to functional efficiency and vision for leveraging technology to improve operations. He has turned these successes into standardized, easy-to-implement solutions for the growing number of associated firms nationally, and internationally.
He played a lead role in helping open multiple new law firms in the United Kingdom, providing his expertise in technology, marketing, operations, system administration and workflow development to get the firms up and running. These solutions are now deployed in support of a European based justice foundation.
Mr. Camp is also responsible for various marketing functions of the firms, including creative content development, project management and ad placement. He oversees a number of internal and external marketing resources in support of the firm's lead generation and brand reputation needs. His expertise in digital platforms and analytics has helped dramatically improve the firm's advertising ROI.
Mr. Camp credits much of his professional success to his time in the military. Following the events of 9-11, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He served in the infantry as an LAV Crewman with numerous combat deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. He was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for more than 100 combat missions in Al Anbar Province, Iraq. Citing, "his ability to rapidly organize and supervise preparations for combat operations and his skill in maintaining tactical communications were instrumental to company readiness."
Outside of work, Mr. Camp enjoys spending his time at the racetrack with his family. He is the team owner and semi-pro driver for a NASCAR Street Stock racing car, and his daughter is the driver in four different Quarter Midget racing car classes.
His volunteer work includes his sitting role on the board of directors as Past President of Washington Quarter Midget Association, a non-profit car racing club for children.
Job Titles:
- Law Clerk ( Pending Admission )
Job Titles:
- Operations Technician, Attorney
Bio:
Chris Taylor has humbly served as the Human Resources Director for Milberg since September 2021.
Prior to joining MCBPG, Mr. Taylor served as both the Assistant and Human Resources Director for the City of Hendersonville, Tennessee since September 2015. After graduating college from the University of Southern Indiana, he began his professional career in his hometown of Madisonville, Kentucky as the Director of Parks and Recreation for almost seven years before moving to the Nashville, Tennessee area and beginning a new career in human resources.
In August 2017, Mr. Taylor obtained his IPMA-SCP certification (International Personnel Management Association - Senior Certified Professional) which is one of the highest credentials held by senior-level HR professionals. He continues to grow, learn, network, and challenge himself to make sure he is providing the highest level of HR knowledge and experience to our employees.
He considers himself a positive person who is highly motivated and organized. His passion for problem-solving and helping others serves Milberg employees in a perfect professional capacity as Mr. Taylor takes his role and title as a ‘human resource' very literally.
"My role is to support and guide our employees, or their family members in some cases, when they might have questions or items that impact both their professional and personal lives. We are all employees for this firm who are trying to achieve the same common goals through professionalism and good communication. My job is to help make their lives easier." -Mr. Taylor
On a personal level, Mr. Taylor and his wife, Caroline Taylor (who is a Partner with the firm and currently serves as the liaison between the US and European offices), currently live in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Living abroad has been an incredible opportunity and life experience that they are both taking advantage of by traveling, meeting new people, and experiencing new cultures.
Job Titles:
- Certified Public Accountant
- Chief Financial Officer
- BDO Puerto Rico As a Senior Auditor
Bio:
Christina Marcial serves as the Chief Financial Officer for Milberg.
Ms. Marcial graduated from Polytechnic University of Puerto Rico in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a major in Accounting.
In 2007, she joined the Puerto Rico-based Certified Public Accounting Firm, Zayas Morazzani & Company, as an Auditor. Ms. Marcial supervised and performed compliance audits of private entities that received federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. For four years, she performed single audits of entities receiving federal funds, audit engagements of governmental entities, audits of various non-profit institutions, and non-public companies. This job served as a strong foundation for her next position at one of the largest accounting firms in the world, BDO.
In 2011, Ms. Marcial joined BDO Puerto Rico as a Senior Auditor. Her prior work experience allowed her to handle more complex audits of larger entities. Ms. Marcial supervised or performed audits of private and public educational institutions, not-for-profit organizations, large retail and distribution companies, as well as international Puerto Rico real estate entities. BDO recognized Ms. Marcial's superior auditing skills and encouraged her to become a Certified Public Accountant.
In 2013, while working as a Senior Auditor for BDO, Ms. Marcial became a Certified Public Accountant. BDO promoted Ms. Marcial shortly thereafter to the role of Audit Manager. Ms. Marcial continued in that position for one year. While looking to grow beyond auditing, she pursued other opportunities.
In 2014, Ms. Marcial accepted the position as the Controller for the Mech Tech College located in Puerto Rico and Orlando, Florida. Ms. Marcial assumed a role that required her to supervise and run the accounting operations of seven branches. As its Controller, she oversaw an organization that retained over three hundred (300) employees and had gross revenues of over twenty-three million dollars ($23,000,000).
In 2015, Ms. Marcial joined an organization where she could serve as the Chief Financial Officer and engage in audits, management, as well as tax planning management. She joined Sanders Phillips Grossman, LLC. For six years, she managed the firm's international and Puerto Rico accounts while assisting in human resources. She performed audits and served as the primary liaison between the law firm and accounting firms.
Recognized for her strong performance, Ms. Marcial retained her position as the Chief Financial Officer for Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, LLC. Today, she continues to focus on its Puerto Rico office and international accounting for a much larger enterprise, with several hundred employees and offices worldwide. Ms. Marcial facilitates the tax strategy, oversees audits, and ensures that Milberg runs properly in all financial aspects.
Job Titles:
- Law Clerk ( Pending Admission )
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner
- Senior Partner / Raleigh, North Carolina
Dan Bryson is a founding Partner of Milberg and is one of the nation's most respected and experienced attorneys in the area of consumer class actions and mass torts. He also has significant experience working with attorneys, funders and other partners on international litigation projects in the Courts in Amsterdam, the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Spain, and Portugal, among others.
For over 32 years, Mr. Bryson has handled hundreds of insurance related disputes, including first party bad faith insurance cases and business interruption cases. He has written and taught numerous continuing legal education courses on a variety of insurance related topics. Mr. Bryson and members of his firm are well equipped and dedicated to handling these cases on behalf of all entities who have had improperly denied claims.
Mr. Bryson has been named as a member of the Legal Elite and Super Lawyers in North Carolina on numerous occasions. He has been awarded the designation of one of the Top 25 lawyers in Raleigh by Charlotte Magazine for a number of years including 2020.
He is on the Executive Board and is the President of the Public Justice Foundation Board, a nationwide public interest law firm. He is also an adjunct professor at Campbell Law School in Raleigh, North Carolina where he teaches "Introduction to Class Actions and Multi-District Litigation."
Mr. Bryson is also the current Board Chair of Theatre Raleigh and enjoys running, playing the guitar, and golf in his free time. Each year, Mr. Bryson and members of his firm run a marathon. Last year, they ran in the St. George Marathon in St. George, Utah. In 2018, they ran in the New York City Marathon.
Bio:
Daniel Levine serves as the Financial Controller for Milberg.
Mr. Levine handles the financial processing, accounting, and audits for all domestic operations. He also serves as the primary liaison between the domestic and international operations for Milberg's Puerto Rico, United Kingdom, and European branches and affiliates. In his day-to-day responsibilities, he reports directly to the Executive Committee while working hand-in-hand with the Chief Financial Officer to ensure proper financial processing and streamlining of all critical components within the organization. Mr. Levine also maintains an active role in facilitating all funding required to run Milberg's various litigations and operations.
Mr. Levine graduated from Central Washington University in 2006 with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration, with a major in Accounting and a minor in Marketing.
While attending Central Washington University, he worked at Steve Williams Custom Homes as a Staff Accountant. The company built multi-million dollar custom homes in the Seattle area with gross revenues of more than twenty-million dollars ($20,000,000). Mr. Williams recognized a rising star and promoted Mr. Levine to the position of Controller prior to his graduating. For four years, Mr. Levine worked as the company's controller and helped sustain its cashflow and growth rate. His duties consisted of managing the day-to-day accounting functions, cash flow management, and financial statement preparation.
From 2009-2011, Mr. Levine worked for Robert Levine, Certified Public Accountants. Working alongside his father taught Mr. Levine the discipline and perspective that he would eventually bring to Milberg. Mr. Levine learned corporate and individual taxation but yearned to get back to helping a company grow and prosper.
In 2011, Mr. Levine joined Managing Partner's R. Glenn Phillips's Washington based law firm, Phillips Law Firm, PLLC as its Controller. Mr. Levine was responsible for managing the full accounting cycle, while developing and implementing internal controls for all facets of the Washington based practice. He managed the day-to-day accounting practices, financial statements, and tax preparations as well as the federal, state, and local tax filings for the Phillips Law Firm.
In 2013, Mr. Levine joined Phillips Grossman, PLLC as its Controller which later became Sanders Phillips Grossman, PLLC, one of the four firms now part of Milberg. From 2013 to present, Mr. Levine applies his success from his prior endeavors towards Milberg, helping to grow a startup with only a handful of employees into a multinational law firm with offices all over the world. Mr. Levine continues to assist in all facets of operation as Controller and liaison for all offices, financial institutions, and partners that are now a part of Milberg.
Outside of work, Mr. Levine enjoys spending time with his wife and two boys. He volunteers at the YMCA and is the head coach for both of his sons' football and basketball teams. If he's not at practice, coaching his boys, you can find him out on the golf course or working on some sort of project around the house.
David Azar focuses his practice on class actions on behalf of defrauded investors and consumers, as well as disputes regarding contracts, partnerships, closely-held corporations, corporate governance, anti-SLAPP issues, real estate, and other complex commercial matters for businesses and individuals. He also provides corporate counseling as an outside general counsel and in pre-litigation and transactional matters, working with transactional or specialty counsel to provide a litigation perspective. Mr. Azar's significant litigation experience includes first-chair trial and appellate work.
Mr. Azar graduated magna cum laude from Duke University School of Law in 1999, where he was a member of the Order of the Coif (top 10% of the class). While in law school, he served as a senior editor of Law and Contemporary Problems and was a member of the Moot Court Board. After law school, he clerked for Chief Justice Veasey of the Delaware Supreme Court. Before law school, he received his B.S. in Finance from Indiana University School of Business in 1991.
Mr. Azar has extensive knowledge of dispute resolution, having served as a mediator in more than 160 cases, and he has trained and reviewed other mediators. He is the legislative liaison of the Business Litigation Committee law of the California Lawyers Association, of which he is an appointed member. Mr. Azar also served as a volunteer prosecutor through the Los Angeles Bar Association's Trial Advocacy Project, and he was named by Los Angeles Magazine as a Southern California Super Lawyers Rising Star.
He served for five years as the editor of the quarterly publication of the Society of Professionals in Dispute Resolution and was honored with the association's Presidential Recognition Award. He also played the divorce lawyer to Joaquin Phoenix's character in the movie Her.
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner
- Senior Partner / Washington, D.C.
David Lietz is a Senior Partner at Milberg whose practice concentrates on complex civil litigation and consumer class actions, with a particular emphasis on data breach and cybersecurity cases.
Since 2020, Mr. Lietz has filed over 100 data breach class action lawsuits, successfully briefing and arguing dozens of motions to dismiss. He serves as lead counsel on multiple cases that are on the cutting edge of Article III federal court jurisdiction in data breach litigation. He has been named class counsel in dozens of data breach class actions, winning millions of dollars in compensation for the victims of data breaches. He has successfully tried consumer class actions to verdict before a jury, most recently in Baez v. LTD Financial Services in the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida.
Prior to 2016, Mr. Lietz was a critical injury and wrongful death attorney, handling high-profile wrongful death and injury cases. Some of his representative matters include wrongful death cases arising from the 2009 Washington DC Metrorail crash litigation, a 2006 Greyhound bus crash in upstate New York, the 2002 Interstate 40 bridge collapse, and the 1998 coal dust explosion at a power plant near Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Lietz handled numerous critical injury and wrongful death cases arising from commercial trucking-related crashes.
In addition to his class action and litigation experience, Mr. Lietz has substantial appellate experience, successfully briefing and arguing multiple cases before a number of federal appellate courts, including Home Depot v. Jackson at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and served as part of the successful brief-writing and oral advocacy team for Home Depot v. Jackson, 139 S. Ct. 1743, 1744, 204 L. Ed. 2d 34 (2019) at the United States Supreme Court.
Mr. Lietz is passionate about representing real people who have suffered injury through no fault of their own and is equally passionate about making good law, leading as a responsible, ethical attorney who adheres to the highest standards of professional conduct. Mr. Lietz upholds collegiality and respect in litigation, which paves the way to zealously represent clients and disagree on the facts and the law without being disagreeable.
Previously with Whitfield Bryson, Mr. Lietz joined Milberg's team in March of 2022.
For his substantial efforts in advancing the state of the law in data breach and cyber-security litigation, in April of 2022, Mr. Lietz was named to Law360's 2022 Cybersecurity & Privacy Editorial Board. This twelve person editorial board includes some of the most accomplished attorneys in the country in the cybersecurity and data breach legal field.
Outside the office, Mr. Lietz is a wine professional who previously served on the wine advisory board of a private equity wine fund and is also a volunteer with DC Central Kitchen. Mr. Lietz and his wife are a dog-loving family that enjoys international travel.
Job Titles:
- Partner / Carrollton, Georgia
Job Titles:
- Senior Litigation Specialist
Bio:
Diana Gundry is the Human Resources Manager of Milberg.
Mrs. Gundry has vast experience in creating, maintaining, and enhancing Human Resources Departments and preparing employee handbooks in compliance with state and federal laws. She has over twenty years of experience in administering retirement and group health insurance plans, as well as working with payroll platforms.
Over the years, she has maintained a healthy work environment through Milberg and has instilled the values of a positive working culture.
Before working at Milberg, Mrs. Gundry was the Human Resources Manager of BDO Puerto Rico, where she worked for over 13 years. She started with the company as their Office Manager when they only had 16 employees. As the company grew, she was promoted to Human Resources and Collections Manager. During this time, she created a Human Resources department and helped implement their employee retirement plan, workplace wellness program, and continued education program. She also provided the firm's clients with set up orientation, revised their employee handbooks to comply with state and federal laws, and audited their employee files.
During her time at BDO, Mrs. Gundry worked directly with the top executives during a merger process, a task she successfully maneuvered with transparency and reliability. By this point, she was overseeing a company that retained around two hundred and sixty (260) employees as its Human Resources Manager. She was also a member of the company's #BDOCares committee, a team created to provide community service through contributions and activities.
Throughout her career, Mrs. Gundry has worked with a computer technology corporation, a financial and investment firm, and a global professional services firm whose principal lines of business involved risk management and human resources consulting. She also possesses vast experience in the finance arena, including accounts receivable, accounts payable, billing, collections, reconciliations, and the preparation of financial reports.
Mrs. Gundry studied at the University of Puerto Rico, Carolina campus, and has a bachelor's degree in Business Administration.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Senior Partner / San Juan, Puerto Rico
Douglas H. Sanders is a Milberg Partner working out of the Puerto Rico location for the firm. Mr. Sanders handles personal injury, commercial, and complex litigation as well as Workers' Compensation.
Throughout his career, Mr. Sanders has managed teams of attorneys and personnel handling thousands of cases, with a proven record of recovering millions of dollars for his clients.
Mr. Sanders graduated from Duke University with honors cum laude in 1996. He attended George Washington University Law School where he graduated in June of 2000. While in law school, Mr. Sanders interned at the Department of Justice and worked on the Oklahoma Bombing Case. He received distinguished marks for his performance there.
Thereafter, Mr. Sanders joined his family firm, Sanders, Sanders, Block, Woycik, Viener & Grossman, P.C., where he handled a large body of personal injury cases. Additionally, he supervised the pleadings and motions departments and attended court conferences and conducted depositions. In 2001, he joined Sanders & Grossman, P.C. and engaged in the practice of no fault medical billing collections. Mr. Sanders became that firm's operations managing partner in charge of human resources, technology, program development, and legal process. He continued that role in Sanders, Grossman, Fass & Muhlstock, P.C. which later merged with Baker, Barshay, Neuwirth, LLP - now known as Sanders Grossman Aronova, P.L.L.C.
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner / Denver, Colorado
Dr. John M. Restaino, Jr. joins Milberg as a Senior Partner working out of the Denver, Colorado area. A non-practicing podiatric surgeon and an attorney with over 30 years of experience, Dr. Restaino focuses on Mass Tort and Medical Malpractice cases.
Dr. Restaino practiced podiatric surgery from 1980 until 1990 after graduating from California College of Podiatric Medicine and magna cum laude from Farleigh Dickinson University. In 1991, he began the practice of law after receiving his J.D. from Western State College of Law. Relying on his unique experience and perspective, Dr. Restaino enjoys looking "outside the box" in the development of specific aspects of litigation, including the science pertaining to each litigation, the development of expert witnesses, and the cross-examination of defense expert witnesses.
Dr. Restaino received his Master of Public Health degree from the Division of Epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. An Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy, he actively conducts pharmacovigilance and pharmacoepidemiology. He frequently lectures at legal seminars and has been invited to lecture at the University of South Carolina, Johns Hopkins, Northwestern College of Medicine, and Harvard.
Outside the office, Dr. Restaino enjoys martial arts and holds a Black Belt in Kenpo karate and a 2nd degree Black Belt in Okinawan karate. He is a two-time winner in the Kenpo Internationals Black Belt Heavyweight division/senior division. He also enjoys SCUBA diving and holds an "Instructor" rating from the North American Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI). He is both Dive Master and Rescue Diver qualified, having previously taught Dive Medicine at the NAUI College in Laguna Niguel, California.
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner / Chicago, Illinois
Gary Klinger is one of the most well-known and respected data privacy attorneys in the United States, settling more than thirty class actions involving privacy violations as lead or co-lead counsel. In addition, Mr. Klinger is well-versed in both sides of class action litigation. Working with several big firms, serving as defense for Fortune 100 clients, he eventually discovered he wanted to join the plaintiff's side of the practice.
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner / Seattle, Washington
Job Titles:
- Black Woman Lawyers Association, Member
Harper T. Segui is an experienced litigator who focuses her practice on representing plaintiffs in complex class action litigation, including defective products, false advertising and mislabeling, and data breaches.
Ms. Segui has actively led a variety of complex cases across the country, and has been instrumental in procuring millions of dollars in recoveries for class members. In addition to individual class actions, Ms. Segui has enjoyed playing active roles in multi-district litigation and has been appointed several times by courts to serve on Plaintiffs' Steering Committees. She has likewise been appointed as co-class counsel in a variety of cases, both locally and nationally.
Since 2013, Ms. Segui has been regularly selected to Super Lawyers as a Top-Rated Attorney in the areas of "Class Action & Mass Torts." She has co-authored several publications on product liability and other topics, and has been a lecturer on complex legal issues.
This year, she was appointed as Co-Lead Counsel in In Re: Blackbaud, Inc., Customer Data Breach Litigation, 3:20-mn-02972-JMC, MDL No. 2972 (D.S.C.), and In Re: All-Clad Metalcrafters, LLC, Cookware Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation, 2:21-mc-491-NR, MDL No. 2988 (W.D. Pa.).
Practice Areas
Class Action Lawsuits
Job Titles:
- Partner / New York, New York
Bio
Home
Attorneys
J. Hunter Bryson
Mr. Bryson is a Partner with Milberg's Consumer Products Group and focuses on standing up for consumers who have been subject to consumer fraud across the United States. Since joining the firm in 2016, he has been involved in high stakes litigation that has resulted in securing settlements for thousands of individuals. No one case is too big or too small, as consumer fraud happens at varying levels.
To date, at the age of 33, Mr. Bryson has recovered over $168 million for aggrieved individuals as Court Appointed Class Counsel in state and federal court. These results have been secured often after lengthy litigation with defendants that have considerable resources and a "scorched earth" mentality in litigation. Mr. Bryson has argued dispositive motions, preliminary and final settlement approval motions, and engaged in discovery at all levels and sizes.
For his first six years of practice, Mr. Bryson worked exclusively with his father and founding partner of Milberg, Daniel K. Bryson. Under his mentorship, Mr. Bryson gained considerable experience in state court and federal court, specifically in the areas of municipal law, mislabeled food and supplement products, and a variety of other consumer products ranging from automobiles to vitamins.
Mr. Bryson earned his law degree from Campbell University School of Law in 2016. During his time at Campbell, he was an Honor Court Justice, group leader for the peer mentor program for 1L students, and a participant in the Campbell Law Connections program.
When he is not working, Mr. Bryson is an avid marathon runner alongside his brother and father. With his brother and father, he has run two full marathons and over half a dozen half marathons. Mr. Bryson also enjoys golfing, skiing, and traveling with family and friends. He has spent considerable time in South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
Job Titles:
- Partner / Raleigh, North Carolina
James DeMay began his law career in 2007 with Ferguson, Scarbrough & Hayes, PLLC. After years of partnering with Dan Bryson, Scott Harris, and Hunter Bryson, Mr. DeMay made the decision to join the Milberg team in 2021, focusing his practice on municipal law and land-use litigation.
With a specific interest in the area of development impact fees, Mr. DeMay is successful in defending the rights of private landowners against unauthorized or unfair impact fee charges. His experience includes representing both municipalities and private landowners in complex civil matters involving statutory and municipal ordinance violations, as well as other matters.
Mr. DeMay has stepped into numerous leadership roles, having been appointed as class counsel in class action lawsuits involving illegal fees paid by homebuilders and recovering over $30 million for his clients. In collaboration with the North Carolina Home Builders Association, he oversees various land-use legislative matters and has even argued cases before the North Carolina Supreme Court and the North Carolina Court of Appeals.
Outside the office, Mr. DeMay enjoys spending time with his wife, Laura, and running ultra-marathons and trail races. One of his highlight races includes competing in the Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim race across the Grand Canyon. His running goals include successfully completing a 100-mile race in the near future.
Practice Areas
Class Action Lawsuits
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / Knoxville, Tennessee
Jonathan Cohen is a Partner at Milberg whose work primarily focuses on consumer class action litigation. Mr. Cohen has spent his entire legal career prosecuting class action cases, including state and federal consumer class actions against banks, mortgage companies, debt collectors, retailers, and insurance companies alleging violations of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and the forced placement of insurance.
Mr. Cohen was born in Albany, New York and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. He attended Indiana University and graduated in 1996 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism. Following a career in marketing and advertising in Chicago, Jonathan relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida, where he attended Stetson University College of Law and earned his J.D. degree in 2005.
Mr. Cohen has prosecuted class actions involving data breaches, defective products, deceptive products, breaches of contract, employment discrimination, and illegal taxation. He also served as counsel for the court-appointed receiver in the Ponzi scheme-related matter of Wiand v. Wells Fargo Bank, et al., Case No. 8:12-cv-557-T-27EAJ (M.D. Fla.). Prior to joining Milberg, Mr. Cohen was a partner in Morgan & Morgan's Complex Litigation Group in Tampa, Florida. Prior to his tenure at Morgan & Morgan, Mr. Cohen was a partner at James, Hoyer, Newcomer & Smiljanich, P.A., a firm specializing in the prosecution of nationwide consumer class actions and whistleblower (qui tam) actions.
Mr. Cohen is admitted to practice in the state courts of Florida, and in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, U.S. District Court for the District of Colorado, and U.S. Courts of Appeals for the First, Fifth, and Eleventh Circuits.
His practice areas involve class actions, consumer protection, and mass torts.
Practice Areas
Class Action Lawsuits
Job Titles:
- Partner / Raleigh, North Carolina
Judge Martha Geer has a combination of experience that few attorneys possess and clients find invaluable. She has practiced for more than two decades as a respected litigator and appellate advocate and served for more than 13 years as a rarely-reversed appellate judge. As a trial lawyer and board-certified appellate specialist, Judge Geer is known for obtaining cutting-edge and precedent-setting victories in a diverse set of practice areas including consumer protection, ERISA, environmental, securities, labor and employment law, antitrust and trade regulation, contingent commercial litigation, and civil rights litigation.
Judge Geer received her B.A. summa cum laude from Bryn Mawr College and her J.D. with high honors from the University of North Carolina School of Law, where she was a Morehead Fellow (a merit-based full scholarship) and served as Managing Editor of the North Carolina Law Review.
Following law school, Judge Geer joined Paul Weiss, one of the top law firms in the country where she represented corporate clients in class actions, shareholder litigation, and commercial disputes. Subsequently, she was a partner with two leading North Carolina plaintiffs' firms (a founding member of the second firm) and represented plaintiffs in a wide range of complex civil litigation, including both class actions and individual cases.
She was first elected to the North Carolina Court of Appeals in 2002. In 2010, because of her reputation as a fair and impartial judge, she garnered strong bipartisan support that resulted in her winning re-election by a 20-point margin. During her tenure on the Court, Judge Geer heard more than 3,800 appeals, authored more than 1,350 opinions, and had her opinions reversed less than 2% of the time. She left the Court of Appeals to become a partner at Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll LLP, a leading plaintiffs' class action firm, and founded its Raleigh office. In October 2019, she joined Whitfield Bryson LLP, now part of Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman LLP.
Judge Geer is a highly sought-after teacher of continuing education programs for both judges and lawyers. As a trial and appellate lawyer, she has been regularly recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, most recently (2018, 2019, and 2020 eds.) in the areas of appellate practice and mass tort/class actions. Prior to joining the bench, she was selected by Business North Carolina as one of North Carolina's "Legal Elite."
Practice Areas
Defective Products
Education
J.D., University of North Carolina School of Law, high honors
B.A., Bryn Mawr College, summa cum laude
Job Titles:
- Partner / Knoxville, Tennessee
Job Titles:
- Administrator
- Firm Administrator
Bio:
Kay Bakemeier is the Firm Administrator for Milberg.
Although she originally majored in music at Ball State University, Ms. Bakemeier chose a different career path. She obtained her paralegal certificate in 1984 and joined Tipton Cohen & Koch, a law firm specializing in medical malpractice defense, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
In 1989, Ms. Bakemeier moved to Dallas, Texas where she accepted a paralegal position at Passman & Jones. During her 13 years at Passman & Jones, she worked in multiple areas of law including bankruptcy, civil litigation, estate planning, entertainment law, corporate law, and domestic relations. She particularly enjoyed working in family law, as she helped numerous people navigate difficult times in their lives.
In 2000, she visited a friend in Raleigh, North Carolina, and took to the area. A year later, she moved to the state. She interviewed with Dan Bryson and was hired as his paralegal, working with Mr. Bryson on construction defect cases and product liability cases. In 2011, Ms. Bakemeier began transitioning into the administrative side of the law firm's practice, as she managed the Raleigh office of Whitfield Bryson & Mason.
In 2013, the need for human resources, accounting, and general firm administration became apparent. Given her 30 years of experience working in law firms and her deep understanding of firm operations, Ms. Bakemeier was a good fit for the position. She took a certification course for bookkeeping at night school and attended numerous seminars and online classes in human resources and law firm administration. She became a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and the Association of Legal Administrators and joined the Raleigh/Durham Chapter of ALA.
Today, Ms. Bakemeier works closely with Milberg's Management Team to implement procedures and processes so Milberg employees maintain a positive and productive work environment. She enjoys problem-solving and working with employees to ensure they have all of the resources needed to be successful.
Job Titles:
- Law Clerk ( Pending Admission )
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner / San Juan, Puerto Rico
Marc D. Grossman graduated from The University of Michigan in 1989. After completing Brooklyn Law School and Baruch Business School's J.D./M.B.A. program while interning at the Law Department of the United Nations, Mr. Grossman became an Associate and later a Partner in the law firm of Mergel, Tubman & Grossman in New York City. Mr. Grossman is also a Founding Partner of Sanders and Grossman P.C. and Baker, Sanders, Barshay, Grossman, Fass, Muhlstock & Neuwirth, LLC, and a Senior Partner at Sanders, Sanders, Block, Woycik, Viener & Grossman, P.C. and Sanders, Viener, Grossman LLP.
Since beginning his law career in 1993, Mr. Grossman has focused primarily on representing large groups of plaintiffs against common defendants. After six years of practicing plaintiff's personal injury in State and Federal Courts in New York and New Jersey, Mr. Grossman founded the law firm of Sanders and Grossman, P.C. in 1999, specifically to pursue claims for medical providers. This firm and its successors grew dramatically under his leadership, and now represents thousands of medical providers litigating claims against insurance companies and thousands of injury victims, employing over forty attorneys and one hundred and fifty support staff.
Mr. Grossman had a vision of uniting the medical profession by affording them the opportunity to litigate nominal claims that were being written off by medical providers as un-collectible and had not previously been practical for most attorneys to litigate. By coordinating Discovery, utilizing the most up-to-date case management technology, and recruiting top office administrators and trial attorneys, Mr. Grossman's firm was able to greatly improve efficiencies throughout the litigation process and, ultimately, the viability of collecting these claims. By filing over 100,000 individual lawsuits, Mr. Grossman's firms garnered the attention of the insurance industry and the medical profession in New York, eventually leading to a series of mass settlements on behalf of his clients and recoveries in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
In just 2006 and 2007, Mr. Grossman's firm personally litigated, negotiated, and recovered over $100 million for his medical provider clients. The unique experience Mr. Grossman garnered as an innovator and leader in the mass settlement of medical claims and mass torts made him a leader in his field in negotiating and obtaining large recoveries. Most recently, he has represented hundreds of injured clients in lead paint litigations, asbestos litigations, and mold litigations, as well as thousands of victims of defective drugs and products.
Mr. Grossman received recognition litigating Vioxx cases in New Jersey Superior Court where he served as a liaison to the media as a member of the Vioxx PSC's Public Relations Committee and as a liaison for the Committee to many financial institutions and governmental agencies, offering a common voice for the hundreds of attorneys handling such cases and the tens of thousands of victims they represent. These efforts and the hard work of many other relentless attorneys ultimately led Merck to agree to one of the largest Civil Settlements in American History for $4.85 Billion.
In December 2010, Mr. Grossman was nominated and invited to join both The Board of Directors of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and the Executive Committee of ATLA. Mr. Grossman is also a member of the Mass Tort Trial Lawyers Association and the Leaders Forum of the American Association of Justice.
Mr. Grossman has become well known as a speaker and host of approximately twenty educational seminars designed to educate victims, the medical community, and other attorneys.
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner
- Senior Partner / Knoxville, Tennessee
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Mark E. Silvey
Mark E. Silvey is a Senior Partner at Milberg taking the role of lead attorney and primary litigator in many of the firm's complex litigation cases. During his thirty-four years of practice, he served as lead counsel in more than 100 jury trials, 75 bench trials, and numerous appellate cases in virtually all types of civil practice areas in federal and state courts.
A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, Mr. Silvey grew up in the Halls community, with family ties going back several generations. He received a bachelor's degree in History from the University of Tennessee in 1984 with a concentration in Medieval Japan, the Holy Roman Empire, and the 19th and Early 20th Century United States. Mr. Silvey also received his law degree from the University of Tennessee where, as a member of the National Trial Team, he received recognition as an Outstanding Clinic Student.
After graduation, Mr. Silvey worked at Wilson, Worley, Gamble & Ward, PC in Kingsport, Tennessee, representing hospital, railroad, industrial, and medical clients, among many others. Mark founded the Knoxville-based law firm of Bosch, Silvey & Lusk, PC in 1991. He handled all types of litigation for the firm, including domestic relations, personal injury, business, real estate, and federal criminal matters. Mr. Silvey relocated to Atlanta in 1997 to serve as an in-house attorney for State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company and Travelers Indemnity Company. In 2006, he returned to Knoxville to open a new in-house office for Travelers. In 2010, Mark returned to private practice at Greg Coleman Law, handling class action and other complex litigation.
Mr. Silvey's interests include the traditional Japanese martial arts of kendo and aikido, military history and technology, international travel, and photography. A percussionist since age nine with wide-ranging experience, he currently acts as the legal advisor to TheMarchingRoundtable.com and Marching Arts Education.
Practice Areas
Class Action Lawsuits
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner / Raleigh, North Carolina
Matt Lee is a nationally recognized and highly regarded trial lawyer. For over 15 years, Mr. Lee has focused his practice on fighting for people in consumer class actions, employment/civil rights litigation, and other complex plaintiff's litigation. He also serves as Chair of Milberg's Employment & Civil Rights Group.
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner
- Adjunct Professor of Law at Brooklyn Law School
- Senior Partner / New York, New York
Mitchell Breit is a Senior Partner at Milberg in the firm's New York City office. During a legal career spanning more than 40 years, he has been a champion of consumer and environmental protection, litigating class actions and mass torts of national scope that have brought relief to victims of corporate wrongdoing.
Mr. Breit grew up in a family of lawyers. He recalls going to court with his father and having the sanctity of the courtroom impressed upon him at a young age. After starting his career in defense work, Mr. Breit, wanting to make a difference in society and the lives of his clients, switched over to his true calling as a plaintiffs' attorney. He has since notched victories benefiting large groups of people who suffered harm at the hands of some of the world's most powerful companies.
His career highlights include litigating Acetaminophen Mislabeling cases against Rite Aid, Walgreens, and Walmart; the BP Gulf Oil Spill and Toyota Unintended Acceleration cases; the Dollar General Motor Oil Marketing case; the faulty Audi transmission case against Volkswagen; settling a large overdraft fee class action against Bank of America; acting as lead counsel in the settlements of environmental claims involving Honeywell, Inc. and ConocoPhillips, Inc.; and serving on the Plaintiffs' Executive Committee in the ReNu MoistureLoc® litigation. Mr. Breit was also appointed as Liaison Counsel in the New York State consolidated Bextra-Celebrex litigation and was co-counsel in cases that ultimately achieved major public health victories against the tobacco industry.
Mr. Breit has been named to New York Metro Super Lawyers for over a decade. He has been recognized by The Best Lawyers in America for several consecutive years, most recently as the 2024 Long Island Lawyer of the Year for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Action (Plaintiffs).
Mr. Breit has been an Adjunct Professor of Law at Brooklyn Law School, is a Board Member of Public Justice, and is a member of the American Association for Justice. He is a frequent speaker at national litigation conferences involving toxic and mass torts, class actions, and groundwater contamination, including Mealey's, HarrisMartin, Practicing Law Institute, and bar association conferences.
Mr. Breit was educated at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Southwestern University School of Law. He is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey, Virginia, multiple federal courts, and the United States Supreme Court.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Co - Lead Counsel
Mr. Glen Abramson is a Partner at Milberg who has served as co-lead counsel in numerous successful consumer protection, insurance, securities fraud, and product defect class actions.
Prior to joining Milberg, Mr. Abramson practiced at Berger Montague PC and Dechert LLP in Philadelphia, where he handled complex commercial litigation and class actions across a wide range of practice areas including securities, financial services and insurance, product liability, and whistleblower suits.
Mr. Abramson is a graduate of Cornell University (B.A. with distinction, 1993) and Harvard Law School (cum laude, 1996). He is a past member of the Harvard Legal Aid Bureau and is a member of Cornell University's Phi Beta Kappa honors society.
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner
- Member of the Prestigious Multi - Million Dollar Advocates Forum
- Senior Partner / Knoxville, Tennessee
Mr. Greg Coleman is a Senior Partner of Milberg with over 30 years of trial and appellate experience. Mr. Coleman's practice focuses on class actions, products liability, medical malpractice, personal injury, complex multi-district litigation, litigation, toxic torts, premises liability, ERISA, ERISA class actions, drug and medical device litigation, and workers' compensation.
After receiving his B.A. with highest honors and distinction from Jacksonville State University in 1986, he attended the University of Tennessee College of Law, where he graduated in 1989. In addition to distinguishing himself academically, Mr. Coleman was a member of the National Trial Moot Court Team, was the recipient of the American Jurisprudence Award for National Trial Team, and was listed in Who's Who Among Rising Young Americans. In addition, the College of Law bestowed upon him the honor of inclusion into the National Order of Barristers for outstanding oral advocacy and trial skills.
A nationally distinguished attorney, Mr. Coleman has been and is currently involved in complex product liability and drug product liability litigation, having tried more than one hundred (100) jury trials and countless other bench trials during his career. He has tried jury trials in several states and has been admitted pro hac vice in complex matters around the country.
Mr. Coleman has been named by the U.S. News and World Report as one of the best lawyers in the country. He was recently recognized as one of the 2024 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America.
Mr. Coleman is a Mid-South Super Lawyer representing the top five percent of Arkansas, Mississippi, and Tennessee attorneys, having been recognized by Super Lawyers from 2007-2023.
A lifetime member of the prestigious Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Mr. Coleman has been renowned for securing multi-million-dollar verdicts and settlements. He is a Charter member of the Knoxville Chapter of the American Inns of Court and a member of the American Association for Justice and Public Justice. He has been featured in Newsweek Magazine in their Showcase of Nationwide Top Attorneys.
Mr. Coleman has served as a guest lecturer and speaker on Advanced Trial Advocacy and at national seminars, including those sponsored by the Tennessee Bar Association and the National Business Institute. He has lectured extensively for many years on topics such as advanced trial tactics and strategy and complex litigation matters. He has authored published materials regarding advanced trial strategy, ethics seminars, as well as numerous other publications for CLE seminars at which he has lectured.
Job Titles:
- Partner / San Diego, California
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Trenton Kashima
Mr. Trenton Kashima brings over eight years of experience as a complex litigation lawyer to Milberg, representing consumers, employees, and businesses in complex actions. Mr. Kashima offers a specialized focus on consumer protection status and wage/hour matters.
As Partner, Mr. Kashima has recovered over $30 million on behalf of class members, managed practice groups, trained attorneys and law school students. He has developed the practice procedures and curriculum necessary to successfully run a law firm or graduate-level course.
Among his most notable cases, Mr. Kashima secured a RICO Judgment, halting unfair and predatory loans leveraged against veterans and service members (Underwood v. Future Income Payments, LLC, Case No 8:17-cv-01570-DOC-DFM [C.D. Cal. 2017]).
In addition to practicing law, Mr. Kashima teaches at the University of San Diego's School of Law. This profession has allowed him to hone the skills necessary to better educate clients regarding the legal process of their cases.
Prior to earning his law degree from the University of San Diego's School of Law, Mr. Kashima earned his L.L.M. from the University of Maastricht in the Netherlands. "During my time in Europe, I worked with students, scholars, and professionals from diverse backgrounds. This experience helps me appreciate different perspectives when approaching legal issues," Mr. Kashima explains.
When Mr. Kashima isn't working a case or training students, he enjoys cooking, traveling, hiking, and backpacking.
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner / Detroit, Michigan
Nick Suciu III began his legal career as in-house counsel for a company that owned other bodybuilding supplement companies and retail websites. With extensive experience and knowledge regarding the dietary, bodybuilding, and sports supplement industries, Mr. Suciu has represented several such manufacturers and retailers, advising clients in the areas of FDA regulations, advertising, and marketing law.
In 2011, Mr. Suciu joined a firm that allowed him to use his supplement industry knowledge to represent plaintiffs in class action lawsuits. Only three years later, he founded Barbat, Mansour, Suciu & Tomina PLLC, a law firm exclusively focused on class action litigation. He has spent the past six years partnering with Greg Coleman and Dan Bryson of Milberg, working on numerous mislabeling class action cases. This partnership prompted Mr. Suciu to exclusively join Milberg's team.
As a long-time consumer of sports supplements, Mr. Suciu finds his personal experience and professional work necessary in protecting consumers from fraudulent practices of companies in the dietary and supplemental spaces. Some of his most notable case victories include:
Clay et al. v. Cytosport, Inc., Case No. 3:15-cv-00165-L-AGS (S.D.C.A), a $12-million class-wide settlement
Gregorio v. Premier Nutrition Corp., Case No. 17-cv-05987-AT (S.D.N.Y), a $9-million class-wide settlement
Carter, et al. v. General Nutrition Centers, Inc., et al., Case No. 2:16-cv-00633 (W.D.P.A), a $5-million class-wide settlement
Both he and his wife enjoy fitness, allowing Mr. Suciu to stay grounded in the sports supplement world. Their son, Adam, provides a personalized workout for the family, keeping them highly active. Mr. Suciu and his family live in Bloomfield Hills, a suburb of Detroit, Michigan.
Practice Areas
Class Action Lawsuits
Education
J.D., Wayne State Law School, 2008
M.B.A., Wayne State University, 2009
B.B., Wayne State University, 2005
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Senior Partner / Miami, Florida
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Attorneys
Patrick Montoya
Partner Patrick Montoya is a lawyer with experience in complex and high-profile litigation. His career philosophy-his continued ambition- "Be the lawyer you want for yourself."
Mr. Montoya remains committed to ardently defending his clients and protecting their rights while simultaneously prioritizing a one-on-one relationship with each person he represents. With over two decades of experience in practicing law, Mr. Montoya brings his skill and knowledge to Milberg's team. Mr. Montoya's expertise includes class action and commercial litigation, products liability, personal injury litigation, aviation law, construction law, and toxic torts.
In the world of academia, Mr. Montoya has taught at the University of Miami's Paralegal Program, undergraduate business law, and was a legal research and writing instructor at the University of Miami School of Law. He is also a frequent lecturer for CLEs and authored a book on Florida Evidence and Procedure for ALM Publishing. Mr. Montoya also served as Co-Chair of the Davidson College Alumni Chapter representing the South Florida Region.
Mr. Montoya currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Miami-Dade Trial Lawyers. In the pa st, he served on the Board of Governors for the American Association for Justice, a Director of the Dade County Bar Association. He is a former President of the Inns of Courts Chapter, Dade County Chapter and has received multiple honors and awards.
He received the prestigious Honorable Ted Klein award from Miami-Dade's chapter of the Florida Association of Woman Lawyers for his work in promoting and assisting women's advancement in the law. He has been recognized as a "Top Up & Comer in South Florida" by South Florida Legal Guide (2009-2013), a Florida Rising Star by Super Lawyers (2010-2012), a Florida Super Lawyer (2013-2023), and one of the Top 40 Lawyers Under 40 by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (2009).
Outside the courtroom, office, and lecture halls, Mr. Montoya is dedicated to his community. Formerly, he was a member of the Executive Committee for the National Conference of Community and Justice (NCCJ), Greater Miami Region. The Dade Community Foundation granted Mr. Montoya the "Donor Next Door" Award for his volunteer work with the NCCJ. Mr. Montoya was also host of the television program "NCCJ: Your Community and You." In addition, he served on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida's Ad Hoc Committee on Rules and Procedures.
Being a trial lawyer is an extension of Mr. Montoya's two passions: dance and football. Both require relentless practice, hard work, and dedication. Both are highly competitive and mandate excellent collaboration, demanding strong fundamentals. Finally, after all of the hard work and practice, dance and football showcase a polished, professional performance. Trial work is no different: train, work, adopt strong fundamentals, compete, and then, put on a show.
Following his undergraduate degree, Mr. Montoya received the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship and pursued his passion for dancing, spending a year studying and teaching Spanish and martial arts abroad in Brazil and Spain. Mr. Montoya then went on to complete his law degree at the University of Miami School of Law, graduating cum laude. While there, he was a member of the Inter-American Law Review and the University of Miami Moot Court Board.
As a special note, Mr. Montoya is conversant in Spanish and Portuguese, allowing him to communicate with a variety of clients in their native language.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Senior Partner
- Secretary and Trustee of the National Civil Justice Institute
Peggy J. Wedgworth is a Senior Partner at Milberg and Chair of the Antitrust Practice Group. She is also Co-Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee and Chair of the Pro Bono Committee. She has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in New York, New York since 2015.
Ms. Wedgworth started her career as an Assistant District Attorney in Brooklyn, New York. Since leaving the public sector, she has represented victims in antitrust, securities, commodities, and whistleblower matters.
Ms. Wedgworth currently serves as secretary and trustee of the National Civil Justice Institute (NCJI), a think tank dedicated to the preservation of the civil justice system and regularly serves as a moderator in the annual Forum for State Appellate Court Judges.
She is a member of the bars of New York and the U.S. Supreme Court, and regularly speaks on topics relating to antitrust litigation, multi-district litigation, class action and consumer matters. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association's Antitrust Committee, where she has served as both a speaker and panelist. She is a member of the Committee to Support the Antitrust Laws (COSAL) and a member of the American Association of Justice (AAJ).
She has authored articles that can be found in several publications, most recently in the December 2019 issue of Trial magazine entitled, Challenging "Attorneys' Eyes Only" and Improper Categorical Privilege Logs. She regularly serves as a judge in both college and law school mock trial competitions.
Ms. Wedgworth received a B.A. degree in Foreign Language and International Business from Auburn University, and a J.D. degree from the University of Alabama School of Law.
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner
- Senior Partner / Miami, Florida
Rachel Soffin is a Senior Partner at Milberg whose work is focused on consumer class action litigation. Ms. Soffin has spent the majority of her career prosecuting class action cases including state and federal class actions involving defective products, false advertising and mislabeling, deceptive and unfair trade practices, privacy violations, and insurance and banking disputes.
Ms. Soffin has been appointed to leadership roles in numerous large class action cases across the country and has successfully obtained contested class certification, defended dispositive motions, managed cases involving complex discovery, and obtained millions of dollars on behalf of consumers.
Ms. Soffin is admitted to practice in the state courts of Florida and Georgia, the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit.
Ms. Soffin has been designated by Super Lawyers as a Florida Rising Star (2011-2013) and as a Florida Super Lawyer (2014-2018, 2022-2023) in the fields of Class Actions/Mass Torts.
Practice Areas
Class Action Lawsuits
Job Titles:
- Operations Technician, Integration Specialist
Job Titles:
- Partner / Knoxville, Tennessee
Job Titles:
- Partner / Chicago, Illinois
Job Titles:
- Senior Partner / Raleigh, North Carolina
- Senior Partner at Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman LLP
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Attorneys
Scott C. Harris
Scott C. Harris is a Senior Partner at Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman LLP and has been with the firm since its inception.
Mr. Harris's practice focuses on fighting for individuals, homeowners, homeowners associations, and small businesses in complex litigation, including construction defect, mass tort, and product liability. He has played a vital role in securing substantial verdicts and settlements in a variety of cases. For instance, he has received a multi-million dollar verdict in favor of homeowners for a developer's unfair and deceptive advertising and shoddy road construction and over a million dollar verdict in favor of homeowners whose homes were built on improperly compacted soil.
Mr. Harris earned his Bachelor of Arts from Hampden-Sydney College in 2001 and his law degree from Wake Forest University School of Law in 2006. He was admitted to the North Carolina Bar in 2006 and to the Florida Bar in 2013. He is also admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina, the United States Court for the Middle District of Florida, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
Before he attended law school, Mr. Harris taught 9th and 10th grade English at Orangeburg Preparatory School in Orangeburg, South Carolina. After graduating from law school, he joined the law firm of Lewis & Roberts PLLC where he focused his practice on complex civil and business litigation. He remained at Lewis & Roberts, PLLC until he left to help start Whitfield Bryson LLP in 2011.
Mr. Harris's success has been recognized by numerous professional associations. He has been named a North Carolina Super Lawyer for several consecutive years and a Super Lawyer Rising Star for several consecutive years prior. In addition, he has consistently been named a member of the Legal Elite by Business North Carolina. He is an active member of the Board of Governors for North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ) and the Board of Directors for Legal Aid of North Carolina. He is also a member of several other trade organizations including American Association of Justice (AAJ) and Public Justice.
Bio:
Tina Martin is the IT Director for Milberg.
Ms. Martin is an IT leader with over 25 years focused on leading teams with a diverse background in public sector IT operations. She has extensive experience in systems engineering, network design, server operations, and business process management. At Milberg, Ms. Martin sets IT direction and coordinates infrastructure and service delivery across the firm. She is responsible for enterprise data management, availability and disaster recovery, user support, infrastructure, communications, and information security.
Previously, Ms. Martin served as the CIO at the City of Hendersonville, Tennessee, where she had a similar portfolio of responsibility. At the City, she was ultimately responsible for IT infrastructure supporting all departments including Public Safety. She led many innovations to the City's infrastructure and citizen services through the deployment of an ERP system, a redesigned network built for speed and agility, and modernized the mobile platforms for public safety and code enforcement personnel. Always a champion for open and transparent government, she streamlined the City's platform for public records requests.
Prior to the City of Hendersonville, she served as the CIO at Charter Schools Association, a public/private school district comprised of 27 schools geographically scattered across Florida. She is also the former Technology and Information Systems Director for the City of Davie, Florida where she earned her Certified Government CIO designation from Florida State University's Institute of Government. She started her career in Hernando County, Florida as a support technician for the County Commissioners, eventually working her way up to Network Administrator serving the Commissioners, Supervisor of Elections, Property Appraiser, and Clerk of the Courts.
Throughout the same 25 years, Ms. Martin has also been involved in real estate. She is a licensed Broker in both Florida and Tennessee and has been an active member with the National Association of Realtors serving on various boards/committees over the years including Grievance, Ethics, Professional Standards, MLS & Technology, and the local Board of Directors. She is currently serving on the State of Tennessee Professional Standards Committee.
Prior to her work in government IT, Ms. Martin served in the US Air Force as an Intelligence Operations Specialist during Operation Desert Shield in the Gulf War. She continues her support of fellow veterans through a lifetime membership with the VFW and service through VFW leadership positions.
Ms. Martin has always had a passion for law and was enrolled at Saint Leo University with a major in Criminology/Pre-Law before IT became her primary focus. She then transferred to Pass Christian University where she earned her bachelor's in Computer Information Science.
Job Titles:
- Partner / New York, New York
Vince Carnevale is a Partner at Milberg involved with the assessment and implementation of legal technology applications to improve firm operations.
Mr. Carnevale graduated from Robert Morris University in 1995 with a B.S.B.A. degree in Finance/Economics. He attended The University of Pittsburgh School of Law and graduated in 2001. After law school, Mr. Carnevale joined an AMLaw 200 defense firm, working on electronic discovery projects related to multiple global mass tort pharmaceutical litigation matters. He went on to work as an Investigative Analyst/Legal Project Manager for Crivella West Incorporated, an advanced analytics and investigational research company.
With over twenty years of experience managing all aspects of electronic discovery including collection, search, review and production, Mr. Carnevale has drafted various discovery pleadings including Document Preservation Orders, Legal Hold Notices, and Electronically Stored Information (ESI) Document Production Protocols. He has been the lead ESI project manager for some of the largest Mass Tort Class Action Pharmaceutical litigations in the country and has additional experience with Bankruptcy, Antitrust, Securities, Commercial, and Employment Law matters.
Mr. Carnevale has attended numerous Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 26(f) Meet and Confer sessions to assist in the negotiation of ESI protocols and search criteria. He has also drafted declarations and affidavits regarding the quality and sufficiency of document productions and has attended status conferences in State and Federal court to support the related motions.
Mr. Carnevale was selected to become a member of The Sedona Conference WG1 Brainstorming Group on Multidistrict Litigation and also on Possession, Custody, or Control. He is also a member of the EDRM State Rules project team with a mission to organize and publish a cross reference of State eDiscovery Rules with the US Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
Mr. Carnevale attained his Project Management Professional PMP® certification in March 2015. He is admitted to practice law in the State of Pennsylvania as well as the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania and is also a Registered Foreign Lawyer.
Practice Areas
Education
Job Titles:
- Partner / Knoxville, Tennessee