Four talented attorneys recently joined the Mesothelioma and Asbestos Litigation unit in Weitz & Luxenberg’s growing New Jersey office, bringing decades of litigation and trial experience that complement the firm’s accomplished staff. Weitz & Luxenberg’s New Jersey branch, located in Cherry Hill, serves clients in the greater Philadelphia region, including New Jersey and Delaware, and specializes in asbestos-related litigation.
“I am excited to welcome these skilled and experienced attorneys to Weitz & Luxenberg, and I know they will contribute greatly to our mission of holding powerful entities accountable for harm caused in asbestos and personal injury cases,” said Managing Attorney Jerry Kristal, who leads the New Jersey office. “They are a strong addition to our talented staff and a great asset for clients in the area.”
Joining the firm are:
Michael R. Barry
Michael Barry joins the firm after nearly 19 years with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. During his tenure, he worked on thousands of trial cases, including managing and bringing to conclusion approximately 150 complex matters as a member of the Homicide Unit. As deputy district attorney of the Office’s Pretrial Division, Mr. Barry supervised more than 100 attorneys and staff members in the Charging, Pretrial, and Traffic units of the Pretrial Division as well as the Diversion Courts.
“I’ve always wanted to fight on behalf of people who have been wronged,” said Mr. Barry. “In the case of asbestos and mesothelioma, there is no question some companies victimized the people who worked with and around their asbestos products. My job is to fight for them and do everything I can to help.”
Laura Laszewiski
Laura Laszewiski brings extensive trial experience and strong negotiation skills to Weitz & Luxenberg, developed during her six years as an associate at a law firm in Media, Pennsylvania.
“One of the things that drew me to Weitz & Luxenberg is that everyone here is really client focused,” said Ms. Laszewiski. “The relationships we develop with our clients are the center of what we do. More than anything, we want to help individual people and their families.
Ms. Laszewski has received numerous accolades during her career, including being named a “Top Criminal Law Lawyer” by Main Line Today in 2017. She was also included on the National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys “Top 10 Under 40” list for 2016-2017 and the National Trial Lawyers “Top 40 Under 40 – Criminal Defense Attorneys” list in 2016. She also serves as a legal correspondent to the local NBC affiliate in Philadelphia.
Cody Greenes
Cody Greenes previously worked for 11 years at a Philadelphia law firm, where he represented people in catastrophic personal injury cases. One of his most notable victories was securing a $10 million verdict for a child seriously harmed by defective medication from a pharmaceutical giant. Mr. Greenes also served as a case manager for federal and mass tort product liability litigations in his prior position.
“The opportunity to work for Weitz & Luxenberg is exciting and a huge privilege,” said Mr. Greenes. “We are a national firm that is dedicated to helping thousands of people and have done so over the years. To me, that’s the most rewarding part — being able to have an impact on clients and their families at what is often a painful and overwhelming time.”
James Wenzel
James Wenzel joins the firm from the Westchester County Attorney’s office in White Plains, New York, bringing over 15 years of litigation experience with a strong background in investigative legal research and client and witness preparation.
“I am excited to join such an exceptional team of attorneys and work directly on behalf of clients every day. One-on-one contact with clients is really the foundation for our legal process,” said Mr. Wenzel. “I believe my experience in taking depositions and preparing witnesses will come in handy as I move forward with my asbestos and mesothelioma litigation at Weitz & Luxenberg.”