RJ is a member in MGC’s Charlotte office and is the firm’s Chief Development Officer. With over three decades of legal practice, he was a founding partner and, for nearly 20 years, the managing partner of an AmLaw firm. In his prior role, RJ was an instrumental leader in the firm’s geographic expansion, as well as the development and implementation of their strategic direction. In his role as Chief Development Officer, RJ brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to help guide the firm’s strategic initiatives and best practices, focusing on combining the highest possible quality legal work with unparalleled service to the insurance community, as well as to individual and corporate clients, throughout the footprint of the firm.

An AV preeminent-rated litigator with more than 30 years of experience, RJ is admitted to practice in five states, two U.S. Circuit Courts and the United States Supreme Court, as well as a former registered foreign lawyer in England and Wales. RJ is a highly credentialed lawyer, having been named to Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers and Business First’s Legal Elite multiple times. He was also named annually as one of the most influential business leaders in the western New York region (Western New York’s Power 250 Business Leaders), where RJ lived and worked prior to joining MGC. He has held leadership positions in top legal organizations such as Claims Litigation Management (CLM) Alliance as chair of their National Committee and the Defense Research Institute (DRI) as co-chair of their Insurance Company Relations subcommittee. RJ has also been inducted into the American College of Coverage Counsel, and is a Fellow with the American Bar Foundation and a former lecturer and instructor with the CPCU Society.

RJ is a former champion physique competitor. He can also juggle, walk on his hands, make balloon animals, ride a unicycle and draw, which makes him a hit at birthday parties for his nine kids.

Practice Areas

  • Litigation

Education

  • State University of New York at Buffalo Law School (JD, cum laude)
  • State University of New York at Buffalo School of Management (BS, with distinction)

Professional Memberships

  • Claims and Litigation Management Alliance (National Committee, Former Chair)
  • Defense Research Institute (Law Practice Management Committee and Co-Chair of Programming, 2013; Construction Law Committee - Construction Insurance Coverage Specialized Litigation Group Chair, 2008–2010; Insurance Company Relations Subcommittee Vice Chair, 2000–2004; Life, Health and Disability Insurance Committee Membership Chair, 2000–2002; Insurance Law Committee: Professional Liability Insurance Specialized Litigation Group)
  • American College of Coverage and Extracontractual Counsel (Fellow)
  • International Association of Defense Counsel
  • American Bar Foundation (Fellow)
  • Professional Liability Underwriting Society

Bar Admissions

  • 2013 North Carolina
  • 2014 Illinois
  • 2013 Connecticut
  • 1991 New York
  • 1989 Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Courts for the Western, Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Second and Third Circuits
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • Registered Foreign Lawyer in England and Wales

Awards

  • Best Lawyers in America - Insurance Law (2014–2021)
  • Business First‘s Legal Elite of Western New York - Legal Leader (2013–2020)
  • Upstate New York Super Lawyers (2007–2020)
  • Business First‘s Power 250 (2016–2019)
  • Business First‘s C-Level Executive Award (2017)
  • American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell - Top Rated Lawyer in Litigation (2014)
  • American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell - Top Rated Lawyer in Insurance Law (2013)
  • Super Lawyers - Corporate Counsel Edition
  • Business First‘s Legal Elite of Western New York - Insurance
  • Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating: AV Preeminent

Publications