Ragosa joins DLA Piper's Corporate Practice as Partner

[Photo Credit: Gittings Photography.]

DLA Piper welcomed Emilio Ragosa to the corporate practice as a partner in the Short Hills office. Ragosa counsels clients on public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and venture capital transactions, with a focus on the life science and technology industries. He has represented public and private companies, as well as venture capital firms and underwriters. He is able to advise clients through the business life cycle, from formation to a sale or IPO. Ragosa joins DLA Piper from Morgan Lewis, where he most recently led the corporate group in the Princeton office.

“Emilio is an experienced, knowledgeable and practical lawyer who will play an important role in our efforts to continue to build the leading corporate group in the region,” said Andrew Gilbert, co-managing partner of the Short Hills office.

Weber Gallagher Welcomes Two Partners

Weber Gallagher welcomed partners Denise Marra DePekary and Joseph Monteleone to the insurance and reinsurance practice group. Both are located in the firm's Bedminster office. DePekary was previously a partner at Kennedys CMK, and Monteleone, a partner at Rivkin Radler.

Denise Marra DePekary

DePekary represents insurance companies on a national level in claims involving commercial general liability, umbrella, commercial auto, first-party, professional liability, errors and omissions, directors and officers, wrap-up, environmental, and other insurance policies. She has handled cases involving construction defect, environmental, toxic tort, products liability, New York Labor Law, and commercial auto coverage. She has also handled insurance defense litigation involving construction, asbestos, toxic tort, automobile, premises liability and civil rights violations.

Monteleone represents insurers in coverage disputes, and provides policy and endorsement drafting and other legal services to insurance underwriters. He serves as coverage and monitoring counsel for errors and omissions, directors and officers, employment practices liability, and other claims-made insurance products. Prior to returning to private practice in 2005, Monteleone served as a claims executive at several insurance carriers.

“Denise and Joe are highly experienced insurance attorneys who have represented some of the largest insurers in the country,” said Andrew Indeck, chair of Weber Gallagher's insurance and reinsurance practice group and managing partner of the Bedminster office. “Their addition strengthens the deep bench of our already strong insurance practice.”

Knapp Joins Perlman Law Firm

Amy L. Knapp joined the Law Offices of Lee M. Perlman as a senior associate in Cherry Hill, serving Chapter 13 and Chapter 7 bankruptcy clients. Knapp has been recognized by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of New Jersey for her service and volunteerism efforts with the Rutgers University Bankruptcy Pro Bono Project. Knapp has also received accolades from the Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders for extending legal services to and conducting seminars for seniors. Knapp is admitted in New Jersey and the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. She focuses on bankruptcy and consumer law. Before obtaining her law degree from Widener University in 2000, Knapp earned her bachelor's degree in political science and public administration from Rowan College. She attended law school after her work in social services with the Pemberton Township Department of Public Assistance and other local nonprofit organizations, where she assisted homeless individuals and families in transition.

Associate Lym Joins Pashman Stein Walder Hayden's Litigation Group

Pashman Stein Walder Hayden welcomed Robyn K. Lym as a litigation associate in the Hackensack office. Lym practiced at Baker and McKenzie previously.

Lym said the firm “provides the perfect platform for me to continue developing my practice and offers top-notch services.”

Lym received her law degree New York University School of Law, and earned a bachelor of arts in political science and economics from Columbia University. While in law school, she served as the articles editor and staff editor for the Journal of Legislation and Public Policy.