Attorney Referral List

Press Releases

NEWS RELEASE

 

August 20, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Two Former Thelen Partners Return in DC and New York

''

NEW YORK and WASHINGTON DC – Thelen Brown Raysman & SteinerLLP has welcomed back two former partners to the firm’s top-ranked Construction and Government Contracts practice: Jeffrey Cruz in New York and Melissa Callahan Lesmes in Washington DC.

Both former partners return after stints as in-house counsel. Mr. Cruz from Bear Sterns/JP Morgan Chase’s New York office and Ms. Lesmes from Dietz Construction Group in Ashburn, Virginia. 

Mr. Cruz, who has been ranked among New York’s top construction attorneys, represents owners, contractors, design professionals, and specialty contractors in contract negotiation and all phases of dispute resolution. Ms. Lesmes has a similar practice, with an emphasis on insurance coverage disputes, construction claims and product liability actions.

Both attorneys said that although their in-house positions were incredibly rewarding, they missed the energy, camaraderie, diversity and pace of being in a law firm like Thelen. “I am very happy to be returning to the best construction law practice on the planet,” Mr. Cruz said.

Just as happy to have them back was John Heisse Jr., chair of Thelen’s Construction and Government Contracts practice. “The timing couldn’t be better,” Mr. Heisse said. “The construction insurance practice is busier than ever and there are a backlog of projects waiting to be handled.”

Thelen was honored this year with the 2008 Chambers Award for Excellence in Construction Law. Chambers described Thelen as having “the pre-eminent practice of its kind in the United States.” 

For more information, contact:

Kevin Livingston
National Manager of Public Relations
Thelen LLP
415.369.7224
klivingston@thelen.com


About Thelen
Thelen is an international Am Law 100 law firm is widely known for its premier practices in the areas of Construction; Corporate/Finance; Energy; and Complex Litigation. Other premier practice areas of the firm include Real Estate, Labor and Employment, Intellectual Property, Bankruptcy, Domestic and International Tax, and Employee Benefits.

''