PITTSBURGH, Jan. 27, 2016 — Burns White hired Joseph A. Macerelli and John A. Bass as Members, as well as Ralph M. Monico and Russell D. Giancola as Associates to its Pittsburgh office. Formerly from Grogan Graffam, P.C., all four are experienced trial attorneys with a professional liability focus serving the healthcare and legal industries.
This marks the firm’s second lateral hire in the professional liability area of practice in the past six months. At the end of August 2015, Burns White brought on board legal malpractice defense Members James R. Schadel and Scott R. Eberle. The firm furthered its local bench strength through merging with boutique litigation firm Dapper, Baldasare, Benson, Behling & Kane, PC at the beginning of this year.
“We’re committed to growing and adapting our practice offerings with top-notch talent to meet our clients’ evolving legal and business needs in Pittsburgh and beyond,” said Executive Committee Member David B. White. “We’re very pleased to have Joe and his esteemed team joining the firm—which will greatly complement our expanding professional liability practice.”
“For us, it was just the right time to connect with Burns White,” said Mr. Macerelli, Former Chair of Grogan Graffam’s Professional Liability Group. “From the breadth and scope of practice offerings to the geographic footprint, there’s just amazing growth potential.”
Following are highlights of each attorney’s background:
Mr. Macerelli concentrates his practice in the areas of medical malpractice and other professional liability, personal injury, insurance and products liability defense. A seasoned trial attorney, he has more than 35 years of experience representing medical professionals, hospitals and other healthcare providers in state and federal courts. Mr. Macerelli is Past President of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County and the Pennsylvania Defense Institute. He also held a three-year term as the Pennsylvania State Representative for the Defense Research Institute.
Mr. Bass also focuses in medical malpractice and nursing home defense. An experienced trial attorney, Mr. Bass has successfully defended hospitals, physicians and other healthcare providers in a wide range of matters in both common pleas and appellate courts of Pennsylvania. He is an appointed member of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County, as well as a board member of the Neighborhood Legal Services Association. In addition, Mr. Bass is a former member of the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Civil Division Council.
Mr. Monico is experienced in a wide range of commercial and civil litigation, with a focus in professional liability defense and licensure matters. He has also defended numerous clients in premises liability, automobile insurance law, products liability, construction litigation, excess indemnity liability and other insurance defense and insurance coverage litigation. In addition, Mr. Monico has represented school districts, a borough and several municipal authorities in a variety of contract matters and litigation as a former Township Solicitor.
Mr. Giancola defends hospitals, long-term care facilities, physicians and other healthcare providers in medical malpractice and other professional liability litigation, and general liability litigation. Prior to joining Burns White, he practiced professional liability litigation, products liability, insurance defense and commercial litigation. Mr. Giancola is a Duty Officer of the Professional Ethics Committee of the Allegheny County Bar Association and Co-Chair of the Professional Liability Committee of the Pennsylvania Defense Institute.