FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Planned Leadership Transition and New Firm Name Announced For New Jersey's Eighth
Largest Law Firm
West Orange, New Jersey (Tuesday April 7, 2015) - One of New Jersey's leading business
and policy law firms - - the 43-year-old Wolff & Samson of West Orange and New York
City - - announced today a series of planned leadership transitions and the re-naming of
the firm. These actions provide a strong foundation for sustaining the firm-wide growth
experienced over the last two years, in 2015 and beyond.
Specifically, the firm announced:
O Reorganization of the Executive Committee, with eight senior partners, to guide
strategy and continued firm-wide growth. Two co-chairmen of the Executive Committee
were named: Armen Shahinian, a partner in the firm for more than 38 years and one of
the most respected surety, commercial crime
insurance and construction litigation attorneys in the nation, who heads the firm's national
Fidelity and Surety Practice; and Jeff Chiesa, a partner since 2013 and formerly U.S.
Senator and Attorney General for the State of New Jersey.
O Appointment of new firm-wide Co-Managing Directors:Ross Pearlson, a partner since
2011 who co-chairs the firm's Litigation Department and previously served as Assistant
U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York; and Jeff Weinick, a partner since
2009 who co-chairs the firm's Intellectual Property Group and previously was the founder
of IP boutique firm Weinick &Associates.
O Reflecting growth, the firm also said that six new partners have joined in the last two
years as part of a total of 29 new attorney hires (partners, counsel and associates) during
this period. The firm also has entered into a new 10 year lease for itsprimary office in
West Orange, including an additional 11,000 square feet to accommodate anticipated
future growth
Name Partner Retirement
Concurrent with these developments the firm also announced the retirement later in April
2015 of the name founding partner, David Samson, age 75. As part of the leadership
transition, the firm also announced a new name reflecting the new leadership structure.
Firm spokesperson Mark Weiss said:
"After heading the firm and working relentlessly for 43 years, David Samson has been
planning his ultimate retirement and leadership succession for some time. David's
departure is a bittersweet occasion for the firm-wide family. David's colleagues and many
friends will certainly miss him."

David Samson noted : "I've been proud and fortunate to be associated with the firm for
more than 43 years. It has been a personal and professional privilege, and I shall miss the
relationships of my colleagues, friends and extended legal family."
Perspective on Firm Growth 2015 and Beyond
Weiss said that this transition positions the firm strongly to capitalize on and even
accelerate the growth it has been experiencing across all its practices, including the
highly regarded practices in corporate, litigation, government, real estate, intellectual
property, environmental and
renewable energy. Weiss noted that in 2015 the firm anticipates growth in profits and an
increase of attorneys over 2014. "In fact this past March was one of the best business
months in the history of the firm. Jobs are being added in the face of this growth."
New Firm Name
The new name of the firm going forward will be Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi PC. The
name reflects the deep bench of firm experience and its new firm-wide leadership: the
addition in 2013 of former U.S. Senator and N.J. Attorney General, Jeff Chiesa; the 38
year contribution of partner Armen
Shahinian, one of the most respected surety, commercial crime insurance and
construction litigation attorneys in the nation; and former Essex County, NJ counsel,
Frank Giantomasi, who joined in 2014 after 4.5 years as a named partner at Genova
Burns Giantomasi and Webster.
Weiss commented that Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi today is a closely knit, collegial
and highly committed group of 130 attorneys. Other key additions to the firm in the last
two years include John Scally, formerly partner at Drinker Biddle, as a member of the
firm's Public Finance Department; Scott Zuber,
formerly a partner at Wilson Elser, who co-chairs the firm's Bankruptcy Practice; Dr.
Beverly Lubit, formerly a partner at Greenberg Traurig, who joined the firm's Intellectual
Property Group; and Matthew Beck, former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of
New Jersey in the firm's Litigation, White-Collar and Corporate Investigations Practices.
Noting that the vast majority of the firm's revenue is generated by over 25 partners, Weiss
said the firm credits the broad-based revenue contributions of the partners for the
prosperity of the firm. "In sum, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi is in a very strong,
competitively advantaged position, both economically and from a professional resource
point of view. The firm is well positioned to meet the most complex legal, business and
policy challenges facing clients," said Weiss.