Client-Recommended Attorneys, Adjusters and Experts
Client-Recommended Attorneys, Adjusters and Experts



Marshall Dennehey

Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys - General Defense


The Union Trust Building, 501 Grant Street, Suite 700, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219

Established: 1993

Practice Areas

  • Accountants' Professional Liability
  • Affordable Care Act
  • Amusements, Sports and Recreation Liability
  • Appellate Advocacy and Post-Trial Practice
  • Architectural, Engineering and Construction Defect Litigation
  • Asbestos and Mass Tort Litigation
  • Automobile Liability
  • Aviation and Complex Litigation
  • Behavioral Health Risk and Liability
  • Birth and Catastrophic Injury Litigation
  • Catastrophic Claims Litigation
  • Class Action Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Construction Injury Litigation
  • Consumer Financial Services Litigation & Compliance
  • Disciplinary Board Representation
  • Electronic Medical Record and Audit Trail Litigation
  • Emergency Medical Services
  • Employment Law
  • Environmental & Toxic Tort Litigation
  • Fraud/Special Investigation
  • General Liability
  • Health Care Liability
  • Hospitality and Liquor Liability
  • Insurance Agents & Brokers Liability
  • Insurance Services - Coverage and Bad Faith Litigation
  • Intellectual Property, Technology and Media Litigation
  • Lawyers' Professional Liability
  • Long-Term Care Liability
  • Maritime Litigation
  • Medicare Set-Aside
  • Miscellaneous Professional Liability
  • New York Construction and Labor Law
  • Non-Profit D&O
  • Personal Injury Protection (PIP) Litigation
  • Premises and Retail Liability
  • Privacy and Data Security
  • Product Liability
  • Property Litigation
  • Public Entity and Civil Rights Litigation
  • Real Estate Errors & Omission Liability
  • Rideshare Liability
  • School Leaders' Liability
  • Securities and Investments Professional Liability
  • Social Services & Human Services Liability
  • Telehealth and Telemedicine
  • Trucking and Transportation Liability
  • White Collar Crime
  • Workers' Compensation


About Us

In business for more than 60 years, Marshall Dennehey is a leading civil defense litigation law firm that represents, counsels and advises self-insured businesses, insurers and professionals in a wide range of casualty, employment, professional liability, health care and workers’ compensation matters. With nearly 500 attorneys in 19 offices throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Delaware, Ohio, and Florida, we are uniquely positioned to assist clients in both avoiding litigation as well as providing them with a vigorous defense in the event of claims and suits made against them.

There are four major departments within our firm consisting of: Casualty, Workers’ Compensation, Health Care and Professional Liability. Under these four departments are nearly 50 distinct practice groups devoted to virtually every aspect of civil litigation.

The firm is managed by a three-member executive committee consisting of G. Mark Thompson, Esquire, president and CEO; Howard P. Dwoskin, Esquire, Chairman of the Board of Directors; and Craig S. Hudson, Esquire, member of the executive committee. As well, we have an eleven-member board of directors, and each of our offices is staffed by a managing shareholder.

DELIVERY OF SERVICES AND QUALITY CONTROL

Our commitment to client service is evident in the programs we have developed to ensure quality control procedures in the areas of time keeping and measuring productivity.

We strive to remain competitive in the constantly changing market for defense legal services. To that end, we make certain to use associates, paralegals and other legal professionals on appropriate tasks in order to assist our clients in their efforts to contain their litigation expenses. Further, we have been able to create and implement innovative and effective methods of providing cost-effective, quality representation and services for all of our clients.

INTERNAL AUDITING PROGRAM

For more than 30 years, our internal auditing program has distinguished us from other firms. The files of all of our shareholders and associates are periodically audited for quality control purposes, including a review of time keeping and time entry accuracy. These audits also cover administrative and legal functions.

We are fully cognizant that insurers measure the efficiency and quality of work by the length of time that a case is open, so we instruct our attorneys to act in concert with our clients to aggressively handle cases so that they are closed as expeditiously as possible with the best possible result. The frequency of file audits is every seven to nine months.

CASE MANAGEMENT INNOVATIONS

Electronic Diary System - this system ensures that every file entrusted to us receives attention from our attorneys at least every 90 days.

Electronic File Monitoring/Budgets - this program assists lead attorneys in being mindful of litigation expenses incurred when managing their files. For clients that require budgets, a system is in place to notify both the attorney and the claims representative when 75% of the budget has been exhausted. We can, upon client request, make the percentage of the budget threshold lower. This affords the client and the attorney the opportunity to assess the progress of the matter in the context of the budget established.

Roundtable Program - For especially complex and high-exposure cases, we “roundtable” cases, drawing upon the knowledge and wisdom of some of the most highly experienced attorneys within the firm. This process provides our clients with the benefit of multiple viewpoints on the case, often resulting in improved outcomes in line with client objectives. This is a value-added service; while the lead attorney will bill for the roundtable, there is no additional charge from the other participating attorneys.

COMMITMENT TO CYBER SECURITY

Ensuring that the firm’s systems are never compromised is one of our highest priorities. To combat against increasingly complex cybersecurity threats, we perform annual vulnerability security assessments, penetration testing, monthly vulnerability scans, and audit user account access rights regularly. We utilize an activity monitoring software to protect our electronic data, in addition to electronic ethical walls to facilitate appropriate client file access.


Additional Locations

  • New Haven, Connecticut
  • Granite Square, Suite 303
  • 700 State Street
  • New Haven, Connecticut 06511
    • Telephone: 203-714-4560
  • Wilmington, Delaware
  • Nemours Building
  • 1007 North Orange Street, Suite 600
  • P.O. Box 8888 (19801)
  • Wilmington, Delaware 19801
    • Telephone: 302-552-4300
    • Fax: 302-552-4340
  • Fort Lauderdale, Florida
  • 2400 East Commercial Boulevard, Suite 1100
  • Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33308
    • Telephone: 954-847-4920
    • Fax: 954-627-6640
  • Jacksonville, Florida
  • 200 West Forsyth Street, Suite 1400
  • Jacksonville, Florida 32202
    • Telephone: 904-358-4200
    • Fax: 904-355-0019
  • Orlando, Florida
  • Landmark Center One
  • 315 East Robinson Street, Suite 550
  • Orlando, Florida 32801-1948
    • Telephone: 407-420-4380
    • Fax: 407-839-3008
  • Tampa, Florida
  • 201 East Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 1100
  • Tampa, Florida 33602
    • Telephone: 813-898-1800
    • Fax: 813-221-5026
  • Mount Laurel, New Jersey
  • 15000 Midlantic Drive, Suite 200
  • P.O. Box 5429 (08054)
  • Mount Laurel, New Jersey 08054
    • Telephone: 856-414-6000
    • Fax: 856-414-6077
  • Roseland, New Jersey
  • 425 Eagle Rock Avenue, Suite 302
  • Roseland, New Jersey 07068
    • Telephone: 973-618-4100
    • Fax: 973-618-0685
  • Melville, New York
  • 175 Pinelawn Road, Suite 250
  • Melville, New York 11747
    • Telephone: 631-232-6130
    • Fax: 631-232-6184
  • New York, New York
  • Wall Street Plaza
  • 88 Pine Street, 21st Floor
  • New York, New York 10005-1801
    • Telephone: 212-376-6400
    • Fax: 212-376-6490
  • Westchester, New York
  • 287 Bowman Avenue, Suite 404
  • Purchase, New York 10577
    • Telephone: 914-977-7300
    • Fax: 914-977-7301
  • Cincinnati, Ohio
  • 312 Elm Street, Suite 1850
  • Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
    • Telephone: 513-372-6800
    • Fax: 513-372-6801
  • Cleveland, Ohio
  • 127 Public Square, Suite 3510
  • Cleveland, Ohio 44114-1291
    • Telephone: 216-912-3800
    • Fax: 216-344-9006
  • Erie, Pennsylvania
  • 717 State Street, Suite 701
  • Erie, Pennsylvania 16501
    • Telephone: 814-480-7800
    • Fax: 814-455-3603
  • Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
  • 200 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 300
  • Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011
    • Telephone: 717-651-3500
    • Fax: 717-651-9630
  • Scranton, Pennsylvania
  • 50 Glenmaura National Boulevard
  • Moosic, Pennsylvania 18507
    • Telephone: 570-496-4600
    • Fax: 570-496-0567

Personnel Information

Managing Attorney


Scott G. Dunlop

Senior Counsel

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Public Entity and Civil Rights Litigation
  • Miscellaneous Professional Liability
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 1984
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1988
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 1994
Education:
  • West Virginia University, B.A., History (cum laude), 1981
  • West Virginia University, B.S., 1981
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D., 1984

Senior Counsel


Paul D. Krepps

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Public Entity and Civil Rights Litigation
  • Miscellaneous Professional Liability
  • Employment Law
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 1994
  • West Virginia, 1995
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of West Virginia, 1998
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 2016
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of West Virginia, 2017
Education:
  • The Pennsylvania State University, B.S., 1979
  • Duquesne University School of Law, J.D., 1994

Anthony J. Williott

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Health Care Liability
  • Long-Term Care Liability
  • General Liability
  • Product Liability
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 1985
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 1988
Education:
  • The Pennsylvania State University, B.S. Finance, 1978
  • Duquesne University School of Law, J.D., 1985

Of Counsel


Thomas P. Birris

Co-Chair, Hospitality and Liquor Liability Practice Group

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Product Liability
  • General Liability
  • Hospitality and Liquor Liability
  • Construction Injury Litigation
  • Automobile Liability
  • Amusements, Sports and Recreation Liability
  • Public Entity and Civil Rights Litigation
  • Catastrophic Claims Litigation
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 1987
Education:
  • University of Pittsburgh, B.A. (magna cum laude), 1984
  • Duquesne University, J.D., 1987

Resident Shareholders


Melissa Devich Cochran

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Asbestos and Mass Tort Litigation
  • Product Liability
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 2003
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, 2004
Education:
  • Saint Vincent College, B.A., 2000
  • Duquesne University School of Law, J.D., 2003

John F. Deasy

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Amusements, Sports and Recreation Liability
  • General Liability
  • Product Liability
  • Hospitality and Liquor Liability
  • Premises Liability
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 1991
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
Education:
  • University of Pittsburgh, B.A. Political Science, 1987
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D., 1991

Daniel W. Deitrick

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Workers' Compensation
  • Employment Law
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 1993
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
Education:
  • Villanova University, B.A. (cum laude), 1990
  • Duquesne University School of Law, J.D., 1993

Scott R. Eberle

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Lawyers' Professional Liability
  • Miscellaneous Professional Liability
  • Disciplinary Board Representation
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 2002
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Education:
  • DePauw University, B.A., 1999
  • Duquesne University School of Law, J.D., 2002

Gregory P. Graham

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Architectural, Engineering and Construction Defect Litigation
  • Class Action Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Lawyers' Professional Liability
  • Privacy and Data Security
  • Miscellaneous Professional Liability
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 2013
Education:
  • Michigan State University, B.A., 2007
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D., 2013

Brad E. Haas

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Automobile Liability
  • General Liability
  • Property Liability
  • Premises and Retail Liability
  • Insurance Services - Coverage and Bad Faith Litigation
  • Rideshare Liability
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 2013
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
Education:
  • West Virginia University, B.S., 2010
  • Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., 2013

Ryan A. Hauck

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Workers' Compensation
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 2011
Education:
  • Westminster College, B.A., 2007
  • Duquesne University School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 2011

Alyson J. Kirleis

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Health Care Liability
  • Long-Term Care Liability
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 1988
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 1990
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1993
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2023
Education:
  • Lehigh University, B.A., 1985
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D., 1988

Ryan M. Krescanko

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Asbestos and Mass Tort Litigation
  • General Liability
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Workers' Compensation
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 2003
  • West Virginia, 2016
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, 2003
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third and Fourth Circuits, 2010
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of West Virginia, 2016
Education:
  • University of Pittsburgh, B.A., 1999
  • Duquesne University School of Law, J.D., 2002

Douglas C. LaSota

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Construction Injury Litigation
  • Architectural, Engineering and Construction Defect Litigation
  • Environmental & Toxic Tort Litigation
  • Class Action Litigation
  • Real Estate Errors & Omission Liability
  • Commercial Litigation
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 1997
  • West Virginia, 2019
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court, District of Delaware
  • Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Education:
  • West Virginia University, B.S., 1987
  • Duquesne University School of Law, J.D., 1997

Joseph V. Lesinski

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • General Liability
  • Automobile Liability
  • Product Liability
  • Hospitality and Liquor Liability
  • Construction Injury Litigation
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Trucking and Transportation Liability
  • Premises and Retail Liability
  • Catastrophic Claims Litigation
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 2012
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, 2014
Education:
  • University of Dayton, B.A. Political Science, 2003
  • Saint Louis University School of Law, J.D., 2006

Erin N. Margolin

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Asbestos and Mass Tort Litigation
Admitted
  • New York, 2008
  • Pennsylvania, 2016
  • West Virginia, 2021
Education:
  • Lehigh University, B.A. (magna cum laude), 2004
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D., 2007

Christian D. Marquis

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Public Entity and Civil Rights Litigation
  • Miscellaneous Professional Liability
  • Automobile Liability
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 2000
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 2007
Education:
  • Saint Vincent College, B.A., 1995
  • The Pennsylvania State University, B.S., 1996
  • New England School of Law, J.D. (Dean's List), 1999

Estelle K. McGrath

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Miscellaneous Professional Liability
  • Public Entity and Civil Rights Litigation
  • Employment Law
  • Real Estate Errors & Omission Liability
  • Insurance Agents & Brokers Liability
  • Non-Profit D&O
  • Workers' Compensation
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 2001
  • West Virginia, 2011
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of West Virginia
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of West Virginia, 2017
Education:
  • Juniata College, B.A., 1998
  • Widener University, J.D., 2001

Patricia A. Monahan

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Insurance Services - Coverage and Bad Faith Litigation
  • Employment Law
  • Public Entity and Civil Rights Litigation
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 1990
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 1999
Education:
  • University of Florida, B.S. Business Admin. (with honors), 1986
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D., 1990

Darren M. Newberry

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • General Liability
  • Product Liability
  • Hospitality and Liquor Liability
  • Automobile Liability
  • Construction Injury Litigation
  • Architectural, Engineering and Construction Defect Litigation
  • Catastrophic Claims Litigation
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 2009
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, 2012
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 2014
Education:
  • Ithaca College, B.A., 2005
  • Duquesne University School of Law, J.D., 2009

Lauren E. Purcell

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Product Liability
  • Automobile Liability
  • Construction Injury Litigation
  • General Liability
  • Hospitality and Liquor Liability
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 2013
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
Education:
  • University of Pittsburgh, B.S. (cum laude), 2005
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 2013

Patrick T. Reilly

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Product Liability
  • Hospitality and Liquor Liability
  • Automobile Liability
  • Asbestos and Mass Tort Litigation
  • Environmental & Toxic Tort Litigation
  • General Liability
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 2006
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Education:
  • Saint Joseph's University, B.A., History (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa), 2003
  • Duquesne University School of Law, J.D., 2006

Brett C. Shear

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Health Care Liability
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 2003
  • West Virginia, 2010
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania, 2004
  • U.S. District Court, Northern and Southern Districts of West Virginia, 2010
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2012
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 2014
Education:
  • West Virginia University, B.S. (cum laude), 2000
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 2003

Teresa O. Sirianni

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Public Entity and Civil Rights Litigation
  • Employment Law
  • School Leaders' Liability
  • Premises and Retail Liability
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 2003
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
Education:
  • The Pennsylvania State University, B.S., 1995
  • Duquesne University School of Law, J.D., 2002

Stuart H. Sostmann Co-Chair, Construction Injury Practice Group

Assistant Office Managing Attorney

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Construction Injury Litigation
  • Product Liability
  • Property Litigation
  • Automobile Liability
  • Architectural, Engineering and Construction Defect Litigation
  • Hospitality and Liquor Liability
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Premises and Retail Liability
  • Catastrophic Claims Litigation
  • General Liability
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 1999
  • Supreme Court of the United States, 2023
Education:
  • University of Pittsburgh, B.A. Political Science (cum laude), 1996
  • University of Pittsburgh School of Law, J.D., 1999

Danielle M. Vugrinovich

Chair, Consumer Financial Services Litigation & Compliance Group

Pittsburgh, PA

Practice Areas
  • Consumer Financial Services Litigation & Compliance
  • Asbestos and Mass Tort Litigation
  • Premises and Retail Liability
  • Automobile Liability
  • Employment Law
  • Public Entity and Civil Rights Litigation
Admitted
  • Pennsylvania, 2001
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 2017
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania, 2021
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, 2022
Education:
  • Duquesne University, B.A., 1998
  • Duquesne University School of Law, J.D., 2001

Resident Associates


  • Nicholas A. Cerimele
  • James P. Cullen
  • Danielle M. Deklewa
  • Carly P. Edman
  • Carl A. Fejko
  • Taylor E. Kosko
  • Nathan Marinkovich
  • Tiere J. Phillips
  • Renee D. Severino
  • Alana M. Staniszewski
  • Benjamin T. Wilt
  • Michael D. Winsko

(See profile under Philadelphia, PA for additional information)

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