Sills Cummis & Gross welcomed eight associates to its Newark office: Erin E. Barrett, Laura E. Bellini, Braden B. Couch, Cisse Diawara, Megan T. Galante, Hana Jeong Pak, Kush H. Parikh and Gisselly R. Perez-Astwood.
These attorneys join the firm across a range of practices, including corporate, creditors’ rights/bankruptcy reorganization, employment and labor, litigation and real estate.
Corporate Department
Kush H. Parikh
Parikh’s practice encompasses mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing transactions, capital markets transactions, corporate governance and general business matters. Education: J.D., St. John’s University School of Law; B.B.A., Hofstra University. Bar Admissions: New Jersey and New York.
Creditors’ Rights/Bankruptcy Reorganization Practice Group
Cisse Diawara
Diawara started her legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Michael B. Kaplan in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey. Education: J.D., Rutgers Law School; M.B.A., Rutgers University; B.A., Temple University. Bar Admission: New Jersey.
Employment and Labor Practice Group
Laura E. Bellini
Bellini represents management-side clients in employment litigation matters, including discrimination, accommodation and retaliation issues. She also has experience handling internal investigations. Education: J.D., Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University; B.A., Hofstra University. Bar Admissions: New Jersey and New York.
Litigation Department
Erin E. Barrett
Barrett’s practice includes complex commercial litigation, including unfair competition, construction litigation and real estate litigation, as well as product liability defense and trust and estate litigation. She returned to Sills Cummis after serving as a law clerk to the Honorable Brian R. Martinotti in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. She started her career as a law clerk to the Honorable Douglas M. Fasciale in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division. Education: J.D., Seton Hall University School of Law; B.B.A., Villanova University. Bar Admissions: New Jersey and New York.
Braden B. Couch
Couch began his career as a law clerk to the Honorable Edward A. Jerejian, presiding judge of the Chancery Division in Bergen County, and the Honorable Francis J. Vernoia in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division. He also served as an assistant prosecutor in the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office, working in the Appellate Unit. Education: J.D., University of North Carolina School of Law; B.A., Northwestern University. Bar Admission: New Jersey.
Hana Jeong Pak
Pak’s practice encompasses complex commercial litigation and appellate matters in both federal and state courts. She started her legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Lisa A. Firko in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division. She is a former investment banker who spent many years at one of the largest financial institutions in Korea. Education: J.D., Seton Hall University School of Law; B.A., University of Colorado Boulder. Bar Admissions: New Jersey and New York.
Real Estate Department
Megan T. Galante
Galante focuses her practice on land use, zoning and redevelopment matters. She previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable Lisa Rose in the Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division. Education: J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif, Rutgers Law School; B.S., University of New Haven. Bar Admission: New Jersey.
Gisselly R. Perez-Astwood
Perez-Astwood’s practice encompasses a wide range of commercial real estate transactions and corporate finance matters, including commercial mortgage loans, preferred equity investments, capital commitment-backed subscription credit facilities and acquisitions. Education: J.D., magna cum laude, Order of the Coif; Rutgers Law School, B.A., New York University. Bar Admissions: New Jersey and New York.
