Vaughan Baio & Companions Welcomes Attorneys in Two New Workplaces| Staff Compensation Information

Wednesday, August 18, 2021 | 0

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

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

The new attorneys will be based in New York City in two new offices in Albany and Syracuse.

Awujoola has advised and represented companies and individual customers at various levels of the dispute settlement process. He began as in-house counsel for a global corporate services firm in Lagos, Nigeria, advising corporate executives and administrators on a wide range of legal issues including tax law, regulatory compliance, contracts and commercial transactions. In recent years he has focused on advising and representing clients in all phases of industrial accident disputes, from admission to court proceedings and appeals.

Becker’s practice focuses on defending clients in employee compensation claims and frequently represents them before the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board. Becker handles his cases from start to finish and has extensive experience in drafting appeals and memoranda as well as dismissing medical professionals on issues relating to employee compensation claims.

Brookins brings over 15 years of vigorous defense experience to serving clients on a range of employee compensation issues. She represents insurance carriers, third party administrators and employers before the Workers’ Compensation Board.

DeCresenza focuses its practice on employee injury disputes, drawing on its extensive experience in general and appeals proceedings. He has experience handling legal proceedings before the Workers’ Compensation Commission, including lay testimony and medical testimony on the subjects of accident, dismissal and causal link; Duration and extent of disability; Entitlement to medical services according to the treatment guidelines of the board of directors; and fraud.

McLean has nearly three decades of experience defending employers, insurance carriers, and third party administrators on employee compensation claims across New York. She has represented clients throughout the east and central US, dealing with matters relating to virtually any type of injury or occupational disease and in a variety of work environments.

O’Connor brings experience defending employers, insurance carriers and third party administrators in industrial injury disputes, the company said. She has represented her clients extensively before the Workers’ Compensation Board and has assisted them with legal proceedings, dismissal of medical experts, and appeals.

Owens focuses in her practice on defending employers and insurers on employee compensation matters. She has over a decade of experience representing clients in New York and Vermont to provide insight and procedural knowledge on employee compensation and personal injury matters. She oversees litigation, hearings, and proceedings on 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 disputes. He is involved in every aspect of the employee compensation claims process, from inception to resolution.

Smith’s practice is focused on advising and defending insurers, employers and third party administrators on a wide range of employee compensation claims. He has experience negotiating settlements, conducting testimony and drafting legal memoranda. His background includes handling employment and labor law cases, including discrimination claims and occupational safety issues.

Vaughan Baio & Partners serves clients from startups to Fortune 500 companies in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania in the areas of construction, transportation, general and professional liability, compensation, trade disputes and labor law.