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MG+M Elevates 13 Attorneys to Partner in 2025

January 7, 2025

MG+M The Law Firm is pleased to announce that we have elevated 13 attorneys to partner, effective January 1, 2025:

“On behalf of the MG+M community, I extend a heartfelt congratulations to our newly elevated partners, whose dedication, hard work and outstanding legal skills shape our firm’s success and demonstrate our commitment to excellent client service,” says MG+M Chairperson and Partner John B. Manning. “Our firm is privileged to work with these talented professionals, who are resident in offices across the nation. Recognizing their exceptional skills and remarkable accomplishments, we proudly welcome this impressive group to our partnership ranks and applaud them for their well-deserved promotions.”

Tiffany Ackley is a trial attorney with MG+M’s environmental, civil and commercial litigation teams. She represents Fortune 500 companies, public entities, small companies and individuals in complex litigation. Tiffany has tried to verdict numerous high-stakes cases with outstanding results for her clients, including as first- and second-chair trial counsel in a number of lawsuits. Tiffany has experience representing clients involving alleged soil, groundwater and air contamination across the state of California, and has successfully represented multiple public entities, including cities and water districts. Tiffany earned her JD from the University of San Diego School of Law. She has an MBA with honors in international economics from Bocconi University and a BA in economics and legal studies from Scripps College.

Gregory Alvarez has found success litigating a variety of complex legal matters on behalf of his clients, including individuals and local business owners, as well as international manufacturers in product liability actions. Gregory’s clients consistently rely on him to accurately gauge and limit any potential exposure and to proactively maximize their potential for success. He has experience with multi-party litigation and has achieved positive results for his clients inside and outside the courtroom through informal negotiations and mediation. He has also obtained favorable rulings on complex and innovative dispositive and discovery motions. He earned his JD from Penn State Dickinson Law and has an MFA from Chapman University and a BA from University of California, Irvine.

Uri Carni defends clients in toxic tort, complex commercial litigation and general liability claims. He has experience representing clients in all stages of litigation, handling appeals, motion practice, depositions and trial. Uri earned a JD from Fordham University School of Law and a BA in philosophy, summa cum laude, from Rutgers University.

Anthony “TJ” Danhelka is an experienced trial lawyer and litigator defending clients in premises liability, product liability, mass-tort and toxic tort matters, including asbestos litigation. He also has experience defending utilities companies, product manufacturers, premises owners, construction companies, and trucking and transportation companies in matters involving catastrophic injuries, wrongful death and property damage. As a former NCAA All-American athlete, Anthony understands that preparation is the key to success and applies that mindset to his defense of clients in trials throughout the nation, including in some of the nation’s most difficult jurisdictions. Anthony earned his JD from DePaul University College of Law and has a BA from Wheaton College.

Amanda Deto-Sloan defends clients in complex civil litigation and focuses her practice on toxic torts, including asbestos and talc litigation. She has successfully represented manufacturers, distributors, suppliers and premise owners involving exposure to various toxins throughout all stages of litigation. Amanda earned her JD, magna cum laude, from New England Law | Boston and has a BA from Florida Gulf Coast University.

Robert Mancher focuses his practice on complex legal matters involving construction and labor law, toxic torts and general liability defense litigation. He is a keen and articulate litigator who ensures that his clients are well served with zealous representation. Robert has extensive litigation experience and has represented both plaintiffs and defendants over his legal career. Robert earned his JD from Hofstra University School of Law and has a BA in politics, philosophy and law from Binghamton University.

Joel Merchant represents clients in general and complex litigation matters involving construction and labor law, products liability and toxic tort. Joel has extensive experience managing cases in all stages of litigation and has substantial courtroom experience. Joel works with clients to provide creative solutions to complex legal issues through diligent case preparation and effective reporting. His clients know that Joel brings a unique perspective and set of skills to find creative ways to resolve cases. Joel earned his JD from Suffolk University Law School and has a BA in philosophy from the University of Central Florida.

Lauren Pagan concentrates her practice on general liability, products liability and complex construction defect litigation. Throughout her practice, Lauren has defended individuals and entities in catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death actions. Her experience includes playing an integral role in securing a defense verdict for a high-profile client in San Francisco Superior Court following a multi-week jury trial on a claim for traumatic brain injury with damages in excess of $13 million. She also worked to secure a defense verdict for an international movie theatre chain in the Placer Superior Court following a two-week jury trial on a claim for significant spinal injuries with damages in excess of $1 million. Lauren earned her JD from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles and has a BA, summa cum laude, in criminal justice from Chico State University.

Jordan Price is an experienced litigator whose practice centers on complex civil matters, including products liability, general liability, construction, professional liability and premises liability matters. She has represented a variety of clients before federal and state courts in Massachusetts and serves on a national counsel defense team overseeing asbestos litigation across the country. Jordan handles all stages of litigation, from fact and expert witness depositions to motion practice, mediation advocacy and trial preparation. She particularly enjoys developing expert witnesses across a range of specialties, including in multidistrict litigation. Through her thoughtful and cost-conscious strategies, Jordan consistently delivers favorable outcomes for her clients. Jordan earned her JD from Boston College Law School and her BA in sociology and criminal justice, magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, from the University of South Carolina.

Carmen Sandgren defends clients in complex civil litigation and focuses her practice on toxic torts. She has successfully represented manufacturers, distributors, contractors, suppliers and premise owners in multi-party litigation involving exposure to various toxins. Carmen earned her JD from University of California College of the Law, San Francisco and a BA from University of California, Davis.

Michael Scanlon practices in the area of complex civil litigation and defends manufacturers and distributors of raw materials and finished products against product liability, general liability and premises liability claims across a range of products from heavy construction equipment, trucks, forklifts and diesel engines to medical devices, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Michael has extensive experience litigating and managing complex, multi-party toxic tort litigation related to claims of exposure to asbestos, talc and silica. He maintains a constant focus on developing and implementing the most cost-effective and strategic litigation defense strategies necessary to achieve the best possible outcomes for his clients. Michael earned his JD from Notre Dame Law School and a BA in government and international relations from the University of Notre Dame.

Ryan Sweeney defends clients in all aspects of products liability, toxic torts and asbestos litigation, including at depositions, at trial as second-chair attorney and on appeal. He has particular experience and skill in motion practice, including motions to dismiss and summary judgment, having briefed and argued numerous motions across New York. Ryan previously briefed a post-trial decision resulting in the trial judge granting a mistrial following a jury verdict. In addition to client and product-specific defenses, Ryan is experienced with defenses involving personal jurisdiction, forum non conveniens, successor liability, corporate dissolution, choice of law, statutes of limitations and repose, as well as motions regarding general and specific causation. Ryan earned his JD, magna cum laude, from Hofstra University School of Law and has a BA in philosophy from Stony Brook University.

Ryan Wallis has a general background in litigation, with a focus on defense in personal injury cases. He started his practice representing clients in Louisiana cases related to toxic tort, environmental, personal injury and maritime litigation while based in a New Orleans–based litigation firm. Ryan lectured to law students at Paul M. Hebert Law Center and was a member of and presenter to the Association of Benefit Planners of New Orleans. In the St. Louis and O’Fallon, Illinois, area, before joining MG+M, Ryan worked for a St. Louis plaintiff’s litigation firm, for the Illinois Attorney General’s office, for a St. Louis defense firm, and in his own practice as a solo trial attorney. He also taught a course on Business Law at Lindenwood University, and has volunteered in municipal government in Belleville, Illinois. Ryan earned his JD, cum laude, from Tulane University School of Law and has a BA from Northwestern State University.

About MG+M The Law Firm

MG+M The Law Firm (MG+M) is a national litigation and trial firm that provides coordinated, coast-to-coast services for corporate clients in high-stakes matters. The firm offers national coverage through offices in 16 cities across the United States and a vast local counsel network that can rapidly respond to litigation demands in all levels of court, anywhere in the country. MG+M’s experienced team of diverse attorneys, collaborative approach and national resources enable the firm to provide superior value and achieve optimal results in addressing our clients’ most complex litigation challenges.