LeClairRyan Adds Significant Commercial Real Estate Team, Bolsters New York City Presence

RICHMOND, Va., May 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In further support of its client-driven business focus, national law firm LeClairRyan has expanded its corporate, litigation and commercial real estate practices with the addition of eight attorneys and two staff members to its New York City office.

The attorneys joining the firm as shareholders include Barry Cozier, Scott Drago, Cynthia Mitchell and Adrian Zuckerman. Attorneys joining the firm as partners include Linda Bielik, Ralph Berman and Andrea Lawrence. Additionally, Lauren Margiano is joining as an associate. All were previously with Epstein Becker & Green.

Zuckerman, the co-chair of the Corporate Services Practice for Epstein Becker, will serve as a co-leader of LeClairRyan's Real Estate Industry Team.

Cozier was a member of the New York State judiciary for two decades prior to his private practice, most recently serving as an Associate Justice of the Appellate Division of the state's Supreme Court, appointed by former Governor George E. Pataki.

The firm now has 51 employees in Manhattan, which includes 32 lawyers. LeClairRyan's metro New York presence further includes 90 attorneys and staff across the Hudson River in its Newark, N.J., office.

The attorneys joining LeClairRyan in Manhattan bring significant experience in sophisticated financing, commercial real estate transactions and leasing, and major and complex real estate litigation, routinely providing counsel to prominent national and New York-based lenders, real estate owners and funds. While serving a wide variety of clients, they also have particular experience in the healthcare, life sciences and technology industries.

"We are very excited to join a growing, cutting-edge law firm that has offices from New York to California," says Zuckerman. "This move will enable us to provide our clients with a great depth of service and access to a wide array of talent in a variety of areas ranging from corporate services and venture capital to litigation and intellectual property. We look forward to working with our new colleagues in seeking professional growth opportunities for the firm and the advancement of our clients' business objectives."

"Our focus on adding exceptional talent to enhance our firm's growing capabilities is driven by a single goal: to meet the ever-evolving needs of our clients," says LeClairRyan CEO David Freinberg. "With the addition of Adrian and his team of highly experienced attorneys, we are able to provide our clients with relationship access and even more exceptional real estate, healthcare, tax, and litigation capabilities in the New York City marketplace. We are very pleased to have this team join us, ensuring that LeClairRyan continues to provide the type of representation that will enhance our clients' businesses."

About LeClairRyan

Founded in 1988, LeClairRyan provides business counsel and client representation in corporate law and high-stakes litigation.  With offices in California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C., the firm has approximately 350 attorneys representing a wide variety of clients throughout the nation.  For more information about LeClairRyan, visit www.leclairryan.com.

SOURCE LeClairRyan