New hires strengthen firm’s Construction and Labor & Employment groups

Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC, a law firm representing corporate clients, midsized privately held businesses and construction related companies, has announced the hires of Michael F. McKenna, Christopher M. Galusha and Anthony J. Tavormina as attorneys in the firm’s Newark office.

McKenna is a Partner and Tavormina is an Associate, both in the firm’s Construction Group. Galusha joins as a Partner in the firm’s Labor & Employment and Internal Investigations Groups.

“We are excited to continue growing our New Jersey footprint with such a talented group of attorneys,” said Cohen Seglias Managing Partner George Pallas. “This is a region where we already have a significant client base, and we are happy to be able to expand the services we provide.”

McKenna said, “It is rewarding to explore new opportunities with one of the largest construction groups on the East Coast. The firm and I have many shared clients and contacts and I am looking forward to developing my practice with the Construction Group.”

Galusha said, “The primary reason I joined Cohen Seglias was the great people that work here along with the firm’s vision for growth and influence. And, I wanted to be part of the firm’s and the Newark office’s continued growth regionally and nationally.”

McKenna has more than 38 years of construction litigation experience. He has been involved in some of the largest construction projects in the United States and has participated in over 200 trials, mediations and arbitrations across the country and internationally. McKenna’s experience spans the construction of tunnels, subways, bridges, highways, airports, sewer, foundations, marine, sub-aqueous and other heavy construction. He serves as General Counsel to the Construction Industry Advancement Program of New Jersey and is a member on the Executive Committee of The Moles, a prestigious national organization devoted to heavy and underground construction.

McKenna recently helped secure an award of more than $8.5 million in damages for a client in the largest ever verdict against the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT). The trial judge’s decision reinforced a contractor’s right to equitable adjustment and to receive pre-judgment interest. The trial judge also found that NJDOT had breached the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and that NJDOT was not allowed to assert a “no damage for delay” provision.

McKenna was a founding Partner of Lewis & McKenna, where he practiced for 38 years. Before earning his law degree, he worked in the construction and engineering design industry for a number of years as a Project Manager and Design Engineer. He also previously owned a private residence construction company. McKenna received his J.D. from Pace University School of Law and his B.S.C.E from Manhattan College.

Galusha focuses his practice on employment law, commercial litigation, municipal law and sports law. He has experience in employment related disputes at the administrative, federal and state court levels. He practices before arbitral forums across the country, including the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the American Arbitration Association and JAMS. Galusha represents companies of various sizes across many industries in wrongful discharge, discrimination, sexual harassment and hostile work environment matters. He has experience drafting employment policies and procedures, negotiating and drafting employment contracts and conducting internal investigations involving employee misconduct.

Galusha previously was a Partner at McElroy Deutsch Mulvaney & Carpenter LLP. He earned his J.D. from Widener University School of Law, his Master of Business Administration from Niagara University and his Bachelor of Science from the University of Buffalo.

Tavormina represents contractors throughout all stages of construction disputes and litigation. He also has experience as an engineer in construction, which includes estimating, field engineering, cost engineering and contract administration. He is a licensed Professional Engineer in New York.

Tavormina previously was a Senior Associate at Lewis & McKenna and worked as a Field Engineer for several major contractors, including Skanska Koch, Inc. and Dragados USA. He received his J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law and his undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from The Cooper Union.

About Cohen Seglias Pallas Greenhall & Furman PC
Founded in 1988, Cohen Seglias is a Mid-Atlantic law firm with over 65 lawyers in offices across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Kentucky, and in Washington, D.C. The firm provides client service on a national basis in areas including construction, federal contracting, labor & employment, commercial litigation, business transactions, real estate, financial services, insurance coverage & risk management, energy & utilities, government law & regulatory affairs, internal investigations and wealth preservation. For more information please visit www.cohenseglias.com.