Vaughan Baio & Partners Welcomes Attorneys in Two New Offices

Wednesday, August 18, 2021 | 0

Vaughan Baio & Partners on Tuesday announced the addition of nine new attorneys who will drive the firm’s expansion in New York.

Partners Zachary H. Pratt and Tracey A. McLean lead the group that consists of Bola Awujoola, John W. Becker, Claire T. Brookins, Cory A. DeCresenza, Kelly C. O’Connor and Susan Biggins Owens, who all also join as partners, and Robert S. Smith, who joins as an associate.

The new attorneys will be residents in two new offices in Albany and Syracuse, in addition to New York City.

Awujoola has advised and represented corporate entities and individual clients at various levels of the dispute resolution process. He started as an in-house counsel for a global corporate services firm in Lagos, Nigeria, counseling corporate executives and administrators on numerous legal issues, including tax law, regulatory compliance, contracts and commercial transactions. In recent years he focused on providing counsel and representation to clients at all stages of workers’ compensation litigation from intake to trial and appeal.

Becker focuses his practice on defending clients in workers’ compensation claims, frequently representing them before the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board. Becker handles his cases from inception through completion and has extensive experience in drafting appeals and memoranda, and deposing medical professionals on issues pertaining to workers’ compensation claims.

Brookins brings more than 15 years of experience to the vigorous defense she provides clients in a range of workers' compensation issues. She represents insurance carriers, third-party administrators and employers before the Workers’ Compensation Board.

DeCresenza concentrates his practice on workers’ compensation litigation, drawing from his significant experience in general and appellate litigation. He has experience handling trials at the Workers’ Compensation Board, including lay witness testimony and medical testimony on the issues of accident, notice and causal relationship; period and extent of disability; entitlement to medical benefits under the board’s medical treatment guidelines; and fraud.

McLean brings nearly three decades of experience defending employers, insurance carriers and third-party administrators in workers’ compensation claims across New York. She has represented clients across the entire eastern and middle U.S., handling matters involving virtually every type of injury or occupational disease claim and in various types of work settings.

O’Connor brings experience defending employers, insurance carriers and third-party administrators in workers’ compensation litigation, the firm said. She frequently represents her clients before the Workers’ Compensation Board and has guided them through trials, deposition of medical experts, and appeals.

Owens focuses her practice on defending employers and insurers in workers’ compensation matters. She has more than a decade of experience representing clients in New York and Vermont to deliver insights and procedural knowledge on workers’ compensation and personal injury matters. She handles trials, hearings and proceedings at the Workers’ Compensation Board across New York state.

Pratt has experience representing employers, insurance carriers and third-party administrators before the Workers’ Compensation Board and in traditional federal workers’ compensation litigation. He is involved in every aspect of the workers’ compensation claim process, from intake through resolution.

Smith focuses his practice on counseling and defending insurers, employers and third-party administrators in a wide range of workers’ compensation claims. He has experience negotiating settlements, leading depositions and writing legal memoranda. His background includes handling employment and labor cases, including discrimination claims and matters involving workers’ safety.

Vaughan Baio & Partners represents clients from startups to Fortune 500 companies, across Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania in construction, transportation, general and professional liability, workers’ compensation, commercial litigation and employment practice areas.