Leading Environmental and Employment Law Attorney Matthew P. Coglianese Joins Rasco Klock Reininger Perez Esquenazi Vigil and Nieto as Partner

CORAL GABLES, Fla., Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ -- Rasco Klock Reininger Perez Esquenazi Vigil and Nieto has acquired one of the most highly-regarded environmental lawyers in Florida, Matthew Coglianese, who joins its boutique litigation practice as a partner.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100823/FL53773 )

(Photo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100823/FL53773 )

"Rasco Klock is a great fit at this stage in my career.  The attorneys at Rasco Klock are skilled and are already handling sophisticated environmental litigation. I believe that my clients will be as comfortable and confident here as they would be in a law firm many times the size," stated Matthew Coglianese. "This firm is involved with the front-line environmental issues of the day, and has the personnel and skills to effectively meet my clients needs and desires. Along with my partners, we plan to continue to have a robust and expanding environmental practice at Rasco Klock."

As part of his environmental law practice, Mr. Coglianese has broad experience with a wide range of federal and state enforcement matters, focusing on CERCLA, RCRA, and air and water quality, as well as state and local environmental matters, including mold and toxic tort litigation.  Mr. Coglianese also brings significant employment law experience focusing on litigating employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful discharge, and other employment-related cases before federal and state courts.

"We could not be happier to have Matt choose us and our firm to further develop his practice and serve his sophisticated stable of clients," stated environmental partner Gabriel Nieto. "When Joe Klock and I joined Ramon Rasco and his partners two years ago, we believed that the combined platform would encourage exactly this type of practice development and talent draw. Matt had a lot of choices; we are honored that he saw the strength of our firm and chose us," continued Nieto.

Ramon Rasco, founding managing partner, praised Coglianese as "one of the best in his field – anywhere in the state or region.  We believe that clients want excellent service without a cast of thousands working their matters. Matt's vote of confidence in who we are and what we do is very gratifying. This further enhancement to our environmental practice uniquely positions us to handle the cutting edge cases of the day. There just is no substitute for experience and quality."

Prior to entering the private practice of law, Mr. Coglianese served as an Assistant Regional Counsel with the United States Environmental Protection Agency in Atlanta, Georgia. As senior attorney with a major Los Angeles-based petroleum company, he was responsible for managing numerous Superfund and state hazardous waste sites throughout the country.

Mr. Coglianese has written extensively on environmental law topics. His work has been published in journals and books and he is currently writing an article on potential natural resource damages related to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Matt also lectures frequently on environmental topics.

Mr. Coglianese accomplishments have been recognized by Chambers USA (2004-present), Best Lawyers in America, 2005-present, and the South Florida Legal Guide Top Lawyers 2006-present (Environmental Litigation). He is the recipient of The Florida Bar President's Pro Bono Service Award for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit (2005) and the John Edward Smith Child Advocacy Award (2005). Mr. Coglianese is AV Peer Review Rated and is a member of the American Bar Association, Dade County Bar Association (Chair, Environmental Law Committee, Dade County Bar, 1995-1996) and Florida Bar (Member, Section on Environmental Law), the Los Angeles County Bar Association.

Mr. Coglianese received his undergraduate degree from the University of Rhode Island his Ph.D. in Biology from Texas A&M University and his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law. He is admitted to practice law in Florida and California.

About The Firm

Founded in 1985, Rasco Klock Reininger Perez Esquenazi Vigil & Nieto has become one of South Florida's premier law firms with 18 attorneys and 30 staff members, servicing the needs of domestic and international clients. The firm is minority owned and operated and has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to community and pro bono service.  The firm represents public and private companies, government entities, and high net-worth individuals in a wide range of practice areas, which include: real estate, international business, litigation, corporate formation and governance, aviation law, financial institutions, trust and estate planning and administration, arts and entertainment, and government/environmental land use practices. For more information on the Firm, call 305-476-7100 or visit www.rascoklock.com

SOURCE Rasco Klock Reininger Perez Esquenazi Vigil and Nieto