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Philadelphia Office
1835 Market Street - Suite 1400
Philadelphia
PA 19103New York Office
5 Penn Plaza - 23rd Floor
New York
NY 10001215.569.3699 phone215.568.6603 faxgpiccirilli@klehr.com

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Gaetano P. Piccirilli

Partner | Litigation | Construction

Biography

Gaetano Piccirilli is a strategic counselor and advisor to a diverse base of clients, on a broad number of issues. Gaetano has a reputation for aggressive advocacy, problem solving, and efficiency. He takes a thoughtful and responsive approach to representing clients in all aspects of business litigation and counseling.

Gaetano’s practice profile is diverse. He represents clients in many industries, including construction, real estate, transportation and infrastructure, banking, finance, fraternal/education and not-for-profit, pharmaceutical, and entertainment. Gaetano is called upon to handle day-to-day legal issues, as well as significant litigation and dispute resolution for clients small to large.

Gaetano’s perspective on the practice of law is unique, and derives from his experience in law, business, and civic affairs. Presently, Gaetano is serving on the Philadelphia Tax Review Board - having been appointed by Mayor James Kenney. From 2008-2013, Gaetano served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission, the regulatory body responsible for the regulation, licensure, and discipline of 50,000 real estate professionals in Pennsylvania. In 2013, Gaetano was elected Chairman of the Commission and devoted substantial attention to decreasing the docket and expediting disciplinary cases before the Commission. At both the Tax Review Board and the State Real Estate Commission, Gaetano sat “on the other side” and in judgment of parties and their evidence.

Gaetano is also the Chairman of the Caring People Alliance, a large social services non-profit operating in and around Philadelphia. Thus, Gaetano has served as “the client” in circumstances and has learned lessons that translate into his law practice as a result.

These experiences have considerably enhanced Gaetano’s ability to counsel clients and to present facts and arguments persuasively. Gaetano’s practice has been recognized over the years.

In 2016, Gaetano was named a “Lawyer on the Fast Track” by The Legal Intelligencer. In 2018, Gaetano was named The Legal Intelligencer’s “Unsung Hero,” which recognizes attorneys who have “gone unnoticed for, or were instrumental behind the scenes of particularly important work.”

Gaetano has been named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyers® Rising Star by the vote of his peers continuously since 2014. He practices in the state and federal courts in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Credentials

Education

Temple University School of Law, J.D. (2004)

Temple University, B.A., summa cum laude (2001)


Admissions

New York (2012)

Pennsylvania (2004)

New Jersey (2004)

District of Columbia (2011)

Eastern District of Pennsylvania

District Court of New Jersey

Southern District of New York

Eastern District of New York

Awards/Honors

Awards and Honors

Named a Pennsylvania Rising Star by Super Lawyers (2014-2019)

Named The Legal Intelligencer's "Unsung Hero" (2018)

Named a "Lawyer on the Fast Track" by The Legal Intelligencer (2016)

Representative Matters:

  • Successfully litigated and tried the largest filing under Pennsylvania's Abandoned and Blighted Property Conservatorship Act (Act 135) in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on behalf of not-for-profit blight conservator. The property was a former steam plant that once fed the Center City Philadelphia steam loop, but had fallen into decay and blight.
  • Defended a construction manager/general contractor in three adversary proceedings in the United States Bankruptcy Court (Eastern District of New York) brought by a debtor-subcontractor. Claims were in excess of $6 million and included claims by a major labor union, as well as claims for wrongful termination and cost impacts by the debtor-subcontractor (delay and inefficiency). Obtained a favorable settlement and injunction related to the relevant projects for client.
  • Represented real estate developer in a “business divorce” with its lender and business partner. The representation involved seven (7) pieces of litigation, claims of bad faith and breach of fiduciary duty, injunctive relief, and workouts. All matters were successfully resolved in a short window, allowing the client to continue with its projects.
  • Represented a general contractor in all claims resulting from the construction of a multi-family building near Temple University, in which the total value of the claims exceed $8 million. The representation included various mediations, trial schedules, etc., and resulted in the resolution of all matters.
  • Defended a national Greek organization in tort litigation involving allegations of hazing, which after successfully removing the matter from Philadelphia County and winning a motion to dismiss most claims, resolved the matter.
  • Successfully defended a public official and “electors” under Pennsylvania’s election code in a Wrongful Use of Civil Proceeding Action brought by a frustrated state senate candidate over a petition to remove the candidate from the ballot. After winning in the trial court, successfully defended the trial court’s decision in the appellate courts.
  • Recovered a warrant for common stock on behalf of a pharmaceutical company after bringing an action for specific performance against a publicly traded company in the federal district court for the Southern District of New York.

"Alert: Pennsylvania Superior Court Clarifies "Legally Occupied" Under the Abandoned and Blighted Property Conservatorship Act," Litigation Alert, Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg LLP, April 19, 2019

"Dismissal of a Complaint Due to an Arbitration Clause Does Not Toll the Statute of Limitations," Litigation Alert, Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg LLP, March 28, 2019

"Superior Court Examines Service Requirements under Pennsylvania's Mechanics' Lien Law," Litigation Alert, Klehr Harrison Harvey Branzburg LLP, March 19, 2019

Gaetano was keynote presenter at Union League Real Estate Club Program on the topic of Opportunities Pennsylvania Act 135, January 2018

Gaetano is quoted in The Centre Daily Times regarding his representation of a Penn State Fraternity,  "KDR National files cross-claim against PSU, IFC in Vivenzio frat case, June 2017

Gaetano was profiled by the National Fraternity of Kappa Delta Rho in their publication the Quill and Scroll Winter 2016 edition.

Gaetano was recently quoted in the following publications:

December 15, 2016 - "These Guys Are Philadelphia's Professional Blight Busters" by Inga Saffron in the Inquirer. Click here for link.

December 9, 2016 - "Judge Tosses Hazing Claims Against Penn State, Fraternity" by Max Mitchell in the Legal Intelligencer. Click here for link.

December 7, 2016 - "A Move to Take Over a Derelict, Dangerous Callowhill Property is Initiated" by Natalie Kostelni from the Philadelphia Business Journal. Click here for link.

As published by The Legal Intelligencer, Gaetano was selected as a 2016 Lawyer on the Fast Track by evaluators from all corners of the legal profession and the state. Click here for link.

Presenter at the 2nd Annual Union League Real Estate Summit, August 2016.

Quoted in Legal Intelligencer, "Is Philadelphia's Team Leader Approach Sowing Confusion," By Max Mitchell, August 19, 2016.

"Understanding Your Client's Organization and Personality" by Lisa K. Howlett and Gaetano P. Piccirilli, The Legal Intelligencer, June 28, 2016.

Quoted in Penn Live, "Penn State hazing case could be heard in Dauphin County under judge's new order," by Megan Trimble, January 28, 2016. Click here for link.

Quoted in Legal Intelligencer, "Judge Transfer Penn State Hazing Practices Case From Philadelphia," written by Max Mitchell, January 28, 2016.

Co-presenter, Construction Accounting and Financial Reporting Seminar, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania (November 2014).

Quoted in Legal Intelligencer,  "Young Lawyers Can Benefit From a Good Mentor Relationship" written by Dena Lefkowitz, December 2, 2015.