WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, a premier national plaintiffs’ firm, and Leopold Law, a leading national and Florida statewide firm based in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., both of whom specialize in complex litigation, today announced a merger.
The merger will further extend Cohen Milstein’s national presence in the legal arena with the addition of robust product liability, managed care abuse, major catastrophic injury, and commercial contingency litigation practices and will position Cohen Milstein as one of the largest, strongest and most diverse plaintiffs’ firms in the nation.
Theodore J. Leopold and Leslie M. Kroeger have been named Cohen Milstein partners. They join the firm along with Florida attorneys Wallace B. McCall, Diana L. Martin and Adam J. Langino.
Cohen Milstein and Leopold Law have a long relationship of litigating complex cases that have a significant impact on the rights of citizens to obtain access to justice. Cases where the two firms have worked together include Love v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., the regional class action gender discrimination complaint lodged against the giant retailer in 2012.
“We are pleased that this outstanding law firm will be joining Cohen Milstein. Both firms share a common commitment to providing assistance to victims of widespread and major fraud and abuse and to curbing the conduct that caused that harm,” said Cohen Milstein Partner Joseph M. Sellers, Chair of the Firm’s Executive Committee.
Leopold said of the merger: “This is a partnership built on a shared vision of fighting injustice for plaintiffs through innovative litigation strategy and effective trial work. There has always been a synergy between Leopold and Cohen Milstein and we look forward to growing opportunities that can further champion the rights of individuals and groups that are challenging harmful corporate practices.”
Benchmark cases successfully litigated by Leopold and his firm include those that led to significant improvements in automotive safety, including safer child seatbelt restraint systems, SUV stability and handling, safer tires, and to significant changes in the managed care industry that resulted in greater access to care and treatment for catastrophically ill children and adults. Recoveries include a $131 million verdict against an automobile company, which was the eighth largest jury award in 2010 and the ninth biggest U.S. verdict against an auto company in U.S. history. Leopold’s work has been featured in the National Law Journal’s Top Cases of the year and he was nominated for “Trial Lawyer of the Year” by the Public Justice Foundation for the ground breaking unveiling of rampant managed care abuse. The firm was recently selected as one of U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms.”
“This merger is an enormous opportunity for Cohen Milstein to expand its practice areas,” said Cohen Milstein Managing Partner Steven J. Toll. “We are thrilled to bring on an attorney of Ted Leopold’s stature, and with the addition of Ted, Leslie Kroeger and their colleagues, we continue to further build upon the services we provide to consumers, investors and others victimized by corporate misconduct.”
Cohen Milstein has been called a “class-action powerhouse” and “the most effective law firm in the U.S. for lawsuits with a strong social and political component” by the national business and legal media. Recent successes include a landmark $1 billion antitrust verdict against Dow Chemical Company over urethane price-fixing, and the largest class action settlement pertaining to the fraudulent sale of mortgage-backed securities – a $500 million recovery for purchasers of Countrywide mortgage-backed securities. Cohen Milstein also orchestrated the historic settlement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) over discrimination in farm loan lending to Native American farmers and ranchers – Keepseagle v. Vilsack – that resulted in $760 million in monetary awards and major reforms in USDA’s Farm Loan Program policies and practices.
With the merger, Cohen Milstein now has 80 attorneys. Practice areas include Antitrust, Civil Rights and Employment, Securities Fraud/Investor Protection, Product Liability, Commercial Litigation, Consumer Protection, Employee Benefits, Ethics and Fiduciary Counseling, Managed Care Abuse, Public Client, Major Catastrophic Injury, Human Rights, and Whistleblower/False Claims Act.
For more information about Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC, visit www.cohenmilstein.com.
Founded in 1969, Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC is a national leader in plaintiff class action lawsuits and litigation. As one of the premier firms in the country handling major complex cases, Cohen Milstein, with 80 attorneys, has offices in Washington, D.C., New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. For more information, visit http://www.cohenmilstein.com or call 202-408-4600.
Editors’ Note: Photos Available
