Connell Foley LLP announced the promotion of eight attorneys across its New Jersey offices.
Jae Joo, Thomas Leane, Melissa Lopez, Joseph Megariotis and Robert Verdibello have been named partners. Carly Campoli, Samantha Diorio and Zachary Nastro have been elevated to of counsel.
The firm said the promotions reflect continued growth and recognition of leadership across key practice areas.
Timothy E. Corriston, Managing Partner, said, “These promotions reflect Connell Foley’s strong commitment to advancing our attorneys and investing in their professional development. We look forward to their continued contributions to the firm and our clients.”
Partners
Jae Joo practices in the areas of premises liability, product liability, construction/labor law and general negligence. He has extensive experience, from pre-litigation to trial, handling cases involving transportation and premises liability, New York labor law and construction liability, product liability, employment liability, medical malpractice, equitable relief and professional liability, as well as workers’ compensation claims. Joo received his J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and his B.A. from Rutgers University.
Thomas Leane assists clients with a broad range of real estate, redevelopment, and environmental and litigation issues. Leane has been involved in the development of the Jersey City waterfront and Journal Square, including the tallest building ever approved in the State of New Jersey. As part of his practice, he has also counseled clients on residential and commercial landlord and tenant matters, business formation and organization, condominium forms of ownership and municipal code violations. Leane received his J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and his B.A. from Boston College.
Melissa Lopez focuses primarily on real estate transactions, land use, redevelopment law, condominium and planned real estate development, complex commercial financing, commercial leasing and tax abatements. She also handles environmental aspects associated with real estate and other commercial transactions. Lopez has a niche practice in the area of alcoholic beverage licensing, liquor license transfers and alcohol beverage regulatory control. Lopez received her J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and her B.A. from Georgian Court University.
Joseph Megariotis focuses primarily on complex commercial disputes, including franchise and trademark litigation in the retail and hospitality sectors, as well as the defense of large exposure/catastrophic casualty events throughout the country. He also regularly assists corporate entities seeking to domesticate foreign judgments in the State of New Jersey. A respected business adviser and community advocate, Megariotis acts as outside general counsel for middle market clients and as a pro bono attorney with Kids in Need of Defense (KIND), representing minors in immigration proceedings. Megariotis received his J.D. from Thomas M. Cooley School of Law (now Western Michigan University Cooley Law School) and his B.S. from Seton Hall University.
Robert Verdibello represents owners, developers and contractors in all aspects of residential and commercial real estate transactions. In particular, he has extensive municipal experience and regularly helps clients obtain approvals from municipal land use boards. Verdibello also represents property owners in the construction of new and conversion of existing buildings from a rental scheme to a condominium form of ownership. He counsels clients with respect to residential and commercial landlord and tenant matters, including litigation pertaining to evictions and lease review and negotiation. He also advises on business formation and organization; commercial and residential foreclosures; estate planning, including the drafting of wills and litigation pertaining to will contests; and collection matters. Verdibello received his J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and his B.A. from Rutgers College, Rutgers University.
Of Counsel
Carly Campoli practices in the Insurance Coverage Group. Prior to joining the firm, she served as a law clerk to the Honorable Heidi Willis Currier, J.A.D., in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division. Campoli received her J.D. from Rutgers Law School and her B.A. from Franklin & Marshall College. While at Rutgers Law School, she served as Business Editor of the Rutgers University Law Review and Chairperson of the Honorable James Hunter III Moot Court Competition. She also served as a Certified Legal Intern for the Rutgers Domestic Violence Clinic where she represented victims of domestic violence in the Family Part, Appellate Division, and Supreme Court.
Samantha Diorio focuses her practice in commercial litigation, representing individuals, businesses, shareholders, and other interested parties in complex state and federal court matters. She has experience counseling clients through all phases of the litigation process. Diorio’s work encompasses various disputes including those related to the enforcement of contracts, aviation matters, insurance agreements, consumer fraud claims, product liability actions, workplace discrimination, premises liability, construction accidents involving New York Labor Law claims, and toxic tort matters. Diorio received her J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law and her B.A. from Boston College.
Zachary Nastro practices in the areas of insurance defense, Labor Law and construction litigation, premises liability and general negligence. His experience includes defense of corporations and educational institutions in various civil litigation matters, including product liability, labor law, premises liability, automobile accidents, and contractual disputes. Nastro received his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law and his B.A. from Sacred Heart University.
