Genova Burns Diversifying Management Roles Announces New Leadership Team & Structure
February 2, 2022
Newark-based Genova Burns announced that Co-Founding Partner James M. Burns, Esq. will take on the firm’s managing partner role. Current Chairman & Managing Partner Angelo J. Genova, Esq. will step down as managing partner, but continue as Chairman.
The firm’s new management team and structure not only reflects its commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, but also sets the stage for its transition and succession to its next generation of attorneys in the management and trajectory of the firm.
Jim Burns, who has been integral to the firm’s leadership from its inception, will turn his focus to the day-to-day management of Genova Burns. “I am looking forward to leading our firm into the next chapter of our growth, specifically the prospect of implementing forward-thinking innovations in practice management and related initiatives, with the goal of propelling the firm towards even greater profitability and success of this last year, benefitted of course by the stellar performance and the sound financial footing we have experienced under Angelo’ s leadership,” said Burns. “We are looking forward to ushering in a new era of firm management, while continuing under the steady guide of Angelo ’s strategic leadership and client development initiatives.”
Burns says he hopes to position Genova Burns as a leader in the evolution of law firms. “As client needs evolve and the pandemic introduces remote work as the platform for providing our services, we are rethinking the tradition of organizing around practice groups. We think a structure which ensures that the synergies and collegiality among all practice areas are brought to bear to solve client problems is the future. Centralized practice management will allow us to evaluate in real time the skill sets and practice disciplines required to address a client’s problem and avail our clients of the benefit of all the competencies and resources of our professional team.”
Genova Burns’ commitment to diversity is evident in the firm’s new management structure. Additional leadership changes include the promotions of Partners Rebecca Moll Freed, Esq. and Rajiv D. Parikh, Esq. to leadership roles on the firm’s management committee.
Freed leads the firm’s Corporate Political Activity and Energy Practices. Freed is heavily involved with her community having multiple rolls on Boards and non-profits. Freed has always enjoyed building relationships with clients and colleagues. She has been recognized by many outside groups not only for her achievements, but also for helping create opportunities for other women in the legal professional and beyond. Freed’s fresh approach to management is sure to invigorate the newer generation of attorneys. “I am looking forward to stepping into this role in the Firm that I have called home for almost two decades,” says Freed. “Genova Burns has always helped me cultivate my professional areas of interest and this step continues down the path.”
Partner and litigator Parikh is widely known to many. He assumes this Firm leadership role on the heels of being recognized by the South Asian Bar Association of New Jersey as Lawyer of the Year. Parikh enjoys the reputation of having his finger on the pulse of the State and the inner workings of the legal community, having served as General Counsel to the New Jersey Democratic Party and numerous public officials and political figures for the past decade. He will bring his talent of perfecting organizational intricacies to the structure of the firm. Parikh said: “Having developed my legal career with the firm, I am eager to help grow and lead Genova Burns as we move into the future while continuing our ability to provide our clients with business intelligence and top tier legal services in the region.”
Other Partner elevations to leadership roles include Dina M. Mastellone, Esq. and Jennifer Mazawey, Esq. to the Firm’s Management Committee.
Enhanced executive duties and responsibilities will be vested in current COO/CFO Rosalie Acevedo as the firm makes strategic moves to attract top tier talent without the conventional approach that law firms have often taken to their practice. Commenting on the firm’s future vision, Acevedo said: “We are committed to maintaining and building an infrastructure that is best in class to support the attorneys in our firm, allowing them to maximize their time and energy towards professional services in the interest of our clients. Making sure our professionals have the best in tech, quality support staff, innovative tools to do their jobs, and maximize profitability will remain my mission”, said Acevedo.
Genova Burns is committed to identifying and developing diverse leaders as part of its succession and continuity planning. The firm looks forward to adopting and enacting measures shifting its management to the next generation of leaders in the firm.
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Tags: Genova Burns LLC • Angelo J. Genova • James M. Burns • Rebecca Moll Freed • Dina M. Mastellone • Jennifer Mazawey • Rosalie Acevedo
