Rosaria A. Suriano (left) and Keith J. Roberts (right) of Brach Eichler.

Two veteran litigators at Brach Eichler in Roseland have been named co-chairs of the firm's litigation practice, where they will lead nearly three dozen attorneys.

Managing partner John Fanburg announced on Wednesday that partners Keith Roberts and Rosaria Suriano would take on the co-chair roles, taking over a department that was chaired solo by Charles Gormally.

Gormally remains on the executive committee and in the role of general counsel for the firm.

"They have already been here for a number of years," Fanburg said in a phone interview on Wednesday. "All we are doing is part of the normal succession of moving them to co-chair the department after many years of being chaired by Charlie."

Fanburg, who also chairs the firm's health-care law practice and co-chairs the cannabis practice with Gormally, said the move was all about staying competitive, especially with two of the firm's biggest revenue earners. He said the real estate, health-care and litigation practices—though not necessarily in that order—were the top three revenue generators.

"It's evolution, and we continue to have a very strong department that has grown under Charlie's leadership, and it continues to be an increasing source of revenue for us," Fanburg said, noting the firm's $43.1 million in fiscal 2018 revenue and its place at No. 18 in the Law Journal's Top 40. "The litigation team continues to provide support to other departments but is also expanding their own business as a business generator themselves."

In announcing the appointments, Fanburg noted Suriano's and Roberts' reputation among members of the bench and bar, as well as their leadership.

The litigation practice is composed of 31 attorneys, according to Fanburg.

He said Roberts, a certified civil trial attorney, brings an added edge to the health-care practice as an aggressive and skilled advocate, pointing to Roberts' jury trial and administrative hearing experience in complex litigation matters, involving insurance fraud, RICO, False Claims Act, and disciplinary proceedings before state licensing boards. He also advises health-care professionals on regulatory issues, practice structures, insurance audits, and compliance, and has represented hospital systems, surgical centers and medical practices, among others.

Roberts also is known for expertise in no-fault insurance, according to his bio.

Roberts received his law degree from New York Law School.

"Brach Eichler is a special place, where I am privileged to work beside quality professionals," Roberts said. "I look forward to our continued growth as a firm, and working with Rose to expand our litigation practice."

Suriano, described by Fanburg as "one of New Jersey's top business litigators," said she, too, was excited to lead the department's high-caliber cast.

"As co-chair of Brach Eichler's highly respected litigation practice, I feel privileged to be able to lead and grow this tremendous group of skilled and talented lawyers who zealously and tirelessly advocate for our clients." she said.

Suriano has more than 29 years of trial and appellate court experience in state and federal courts, according to the release. She specializes in contract and business matters, including claims between members of limited liability companies, partnership and shareholder disputes, theft, and misappropriation of trade secrets. The Seton Hall University School of Law graduate also handles construction litigation and claims.

"Now more than ever in this very competitive environment, transitioning leadership roles is vital to the firm retaining its well-regarded status," said Gormally, who has mentored Roberts and Suriano.  He said the pair's promotion "will also enable him to focus on the 'bet the company' litigation matters that I find both fulfilling and challenging as well as growing and developing the cannabis practice that we formed a few years ago."

Susan Dromsky-Reed of Brach Eichler/courtesy photo

The announcement follows the firm's appointment earlier this year of Susan Dromsky-Reed to the firm's executive committee, making her the first woman to sit on the five-person committee.

Fanburg said having two co-chairs of the litigation practice, as well as other recent expansion moves, were setting up the firm's third generation of lawyers, now in their 30s, 40s and 50s, to do their best work.

"We are thoroughly committed to their advancement and are very excited for what the future holds," he said.

Brach Eichler now has about 80 attorneys with 74 of them practicing full time. The firm also has nearly 60 support staff. The firm is based in Roseland, with a small office in New York and one in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Fanburg said managing overhead is key for a midsize firm like his.

"One of the things from a business standpoint we continue to monitor is the need to hire for staff or lawyers has to be justified appropriately," Fanburg said. "We add practice areas as far as expansion in response to client needs or anticipated needs."

"We follow the edict, 'Build them and they will come,' meaning existing clients are the bulk of our business, and word-of-mouth referrals," he said. "When hiring lawyers, you want to make sure you have work to fill the plates. Selling time is the business we are in, and we want to make sure our law firm sells enough time to make the economics work."

He said the same goes for administrative staff.

"You have to be justified when adding [staff] that there is a need to assist or help a lawyer to do his or her job," Fanburg said. "That is our asset and culture, and what has led to our financial success."