Philadelphia, March 25, 2021 — Cozen O'Connor promoted 15 attorneys to member: Donnie Apodaca, Brian Burack, Jason Cabrera, Kristina Cherevas, Jonathan Gale, Matthew Glavin, Yehudah Gordon, Max Kaplan, Jason Kreps, Anna Will Kentz, Daniel Levine, Peter Lim, Matthew Policastro, Laura Reinhart, and Danielle Sapega.
“It is really exciting for Cozen O'Connor to see so many talented attorneys continue to rise through the ranks of the firm,” said Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael J. Heller. “This is a group of terrific lawyers and people and they will do a wonderful job representing Cozen O’Connor.”
Donnie Apodaca focuses his practice on insurance coverage and complex litigation. He has substantial experience in multi-party litigation in state and federal courts. He has handled actions involving claims for breach of contract and warranty, indemnity, violations of consumer protection statutes, fraud, bad faith, and business torts. Donnie regularly defends insurance carriers and adjusters in first-party insurance disputes and bad faith litigation. He also advises clients on insurance policy interpretation and appraisal process.
Brian Burack focuses his practice on complex litigation arising out of the sale of stranger-originated life insurance (STOLI) policies on the secondary market, as well as software licensing disputes. Prior to joining the firm, Burack was an assistant district attorney in the Chester County District Attorney’s Office. As a prosecutor, he handled complex criminal cases and gained significant jury trial experience.
Jason Cabrera focuses his practice on handling all aspects of labor and employment law for the firm’s public and private-sector clients. He has handled and assisted with the resolution of numerous single-plaintiff discrimination claims, both in litigation and at the administrative level. Cabrera has represented clients in connection with collective bargaining negotiations. He has also handled whistleblower claims and workplace safety issues before OSHA.
Kristina Cherevas serves as vice chair, office managing partner in the San Diego office. As an attorney in the firm’s Subrogation & Recovery Department, Cherevas represents our insurance company clients in the pursuit of large loss real property subrogation claims, including actions for negligence, product liability, government claims, breach of contract, etc.
Jonathan Gale focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation including restrictive covenants and related employment law. Gale also handles trademark prosecution and commercial litigation. Gale works with a variety of clients including technology, telecommunication, and e-cigarette companies. Prior to joining the firm, Gale worked as an assistant state attorney for the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office in the 11th Judicial Circuit. While at the State Attorney’s Office, Gale was a courtroom training adviser.
Matthew Glavin helps clients navigate the complex legislative and regulatory landscape in Illinois. His background in politics, government, and managing in-house government affairs operations for large corporations, allows him to bring unique value to his clients. Before joining Cozen O'Connor, Glavin served as the national director of government affairs for American Water, overseeing legislative and regulatory policy in 47 states for the largest privately owned water utility in the country.
Yehudah Gordon focuses his practice on white collar criminal matters, corporate investigations, and complex civil litigation. He has experience with matters involving the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), and cases involving False Claims Act and fraud allegations. Gordon has participated in internal investigations and represents clients facing federal and state investigations and prosecutions. He also has experience defending clients in complex product liability actions pending in both state and federal courts.
Max Kaplan focuses on complex commercial cases that require more than a cookie-cutter approach to litigation. Kaplan partners with clients to understand the client’s business and strategic goals so that success in litigation takes into account both the client’s bottom line and future growth. Experienced in all stages of litigation, including both individual and class actions, Kaplan is well equipped to guide clients from pre-litigation strategy through post-trial and appellate practice, always working to place the client in the best possible position.
Jason Kreps focuses his practice on corporate, venture capital, and private equity transactions. He regularly represents companies, sponsors, and investors in transactional and general corporate matters, particularly with respect to mergers and acquisitions, buyout and growth equity investments, early-stage capital generation, joint ventures, and corporate governance. He also represents clients on a range of federal securities law compliance matters.
Anna Will Kentz defends and advises employers in a variety of employment and labor related matters. Kentz investigates and responds to internal and external complaints, including those filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board, and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Daniel Levine counsels high net worth clients and business owners. He tailors wealth transfer plans to each client’s objectives, always mindful that clients’ non-tax goals for their families, businesses, and philanthropic interests are the driving force behind any plan. Levine has implemented sophisticated lifetime and testamentary wealth transfer techniques and advised fiduciaries and beneficiaries in the administration of trusts and estates.
Peter Lim has served as both a sexual assault and child abuse prosecutor at the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and a deputy sexual violence investigative officer at the University of Pennsylvania. He has substantial experience investigating allegations of sexual assault, harassment, stalking, relationship violence, and other forms of prohibited conduct and has a comprehensive understanding of Title IX, the Clery Act, and other laws that apply in the higher education context
Matthew Policastro is an experienced litigator who concentrates his practice on large property loss subrogation involving fires and explosions, water damage claims, construction defects and structural failures, and financial fraud and employee theft claims across the United States. Policastro has successfully tried cases to verdict in multiple jurisdictions and has significant experience in all phases of litigation and alternative dispute resolution.
Laura Reinhart litigates cases in multiple state and federal courts across the country, including trying matters in notoriously difficult jurisdictions for corporate defendants. She has more than 20 years of experience in complex litigation, focused in the heavily regulated rail industry. She was a member of several trial teams obtaining defense verdicts in FELA litigation.
Danielle Sapega focuses her practice on health law, specifically, transactional matters, and regulatory compliance. Prior to joining Cozen O’Connor, Sapega gained significant experience in regulatory affairs at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania – Penn Medicine, where she assisted with Department of Health and Joint Commission survey preparation, policy review, clinical staff education, and legal compliance work.