PHILADELPHIA, February 10, 2026 — Cozen O’Connor announced several new leadership roles, including new practice and office leaders.
Elliott R. Feldman was appointed vice chair of the firm. He will work directly with the CEO team on special projects and initiatives, and remains a member of the Management Committee and the board of directors. Ira C. Gubernick was appointed the Finance Partner for the firm. He was also added to the firm’s Management Committee. Finally, at the firm-wide level, Michael C. Schmidt was appointed chair of the office managing partners (OMP).
The firm also announced a slate of new OMPs and vice OMPs. In the firm’s newest office in Fort Lauderdale, opened at the beginning of this year, Erica Rutner was named OMP. For the Boca Raton and West Palm Beach offices, John David (J.D.) Dickenson and Ellen S. Morris were appointed co-OMPs. In Miami, Scott Bettridge was appointed vice OMP.
In Los Angeles, Julie Van Wert was appointed OMP, and the Santa Monica office will now be led by Frank Gooch III, who was appointed OMP.
In Minneapolis, following the recent merger with Moss & Barnett, Steven H. Silton and Jana Aune Deach were appointed co-OMPs, and Heather L. Marx and Kelly Engebretson were appointed co-vice OMPs. Christopher J. Bellini, who previously served as a co-vice OMP, was appointed chair of the Minneapolis Facilities Search Committee. Thomas G. Wallrich and Brian T. Grogan were each named emeritus OMPs.
Other new OMPs include Laura L. Reinhart in the firm’s Pittsburgh office and Stephanie Chesney, who was appointed vice OMP of the Boston office.
Cozen O’Connor also announced a number of changes in department leadership. Howard D. Maycon was named co-chair of the Subrogation & Recovery Department with Kevin J. Hughes. Maycon will also become a member of the Management Committee and the board of directors. David S. Huard was appointed Subrogation chair for the Canadian Region.
Paul K. Leary and Eugene C. Giotto were appointed as co-vice chairs of the Commercial Litigation Department. Giotto and Michael B. de Leeuw were appointed co-chairs of the Business Litigation Practice Group, and Laura L. Reinhart was appointed vice chair of the group.
Nicole H. Sprinzen and Stephen A. Miller were appointed co-chairs of the White Collar Defense & Investigations Practice Group.
Jeremiah C. Garvey was appointed co-chair of the Corporate Practice Group with Larry Laubach.
W. Blake Coblentz was appointed co-chair of the Intellectual Property Department with Camille M. Miller. Coblentz was also appointed a member of the Management Committee and board of directors.
Rafael Rivera, Jr., was appointed co-chair of the Professional Liability Insurance Practice Group with Gary L. Gassman.
Neil Quartaro was appointed chair of the Japan Practice.
Additionally, Nicole M. Gill and Virginia Markovich were appointed co-vice chairs of the firm’s Women’s Initiative.
About Cozen O'Connor
Established in 1970, Cozen O'Connor has more than 1,000 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O'Connor services its clients' needs through 35 offices across two continents.