Sills Cummis Nabs 2 Former Prosecutors

The addition of new Members Patricia Prezioso and Mary Toscano to Sills Cummis & Gross are highlighted in this Law360 article.  While their careers as prosecutors are discussed, the reasons they joined Sills Cummis are highlighted throughout this article.

Patricia Prezioso
“I joined Sills because it is an exceptional firm and my new role offers a tremendous opportunity for growth and impact,” Prezioso said.  Later the article continues, “Prezioso also says Sills Cummis will allow her to expand and develop her practice in labor and employment law. ‘Sills is providing me with an opportunity to work with a fabulous employment team, which offers our clients litigation options and experienced counsel to not only meet their legal needs, but exceed their expectations,’ she said. ‘Business owners and companies of every size have faced huge challenges in the last year due to COVID, and in the last five years due to the evolving legal landscape. In years prior to COVID, we saw a tremendous swath of new laws impacting employers, and it is likely there are still a great many more to come ahead.’ In addition to employment litigation and counseling, the firm offers businesses a wide breadth across practice areas of keen interest to her clients, she said, including cross-border commercial tax counseling and experienced corporate and transactional teams. With a new presidential administration, a changing legal landscape and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Prezioso knows there will be a lot of work ahead of her. ‘Sills is poised and ready to meet the challenges, and I believe that my new role will enable me to contribute to bringing value to employers by minimizing legal stress and business interruption, while facilitating and supporting our clients’ business cultures and goals,’ she said. ‘We want to support our clients so their employees can thrive and their businesses have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential. And I look forward to supporting our employment team as we expand our reach.’”

Mary Toscano
“Toscano, who has experience handling cases involving tax fraud, wire and mail fraud, money laundering and complex RICO matters, said she made the switch to Sills Cummis because of the firm’s reputable litigation group. ‘Serving the people of New Jersey for almost 10 years as an assistant U.S. attorney was an incredible experience, and one that I will always cherish, While not an easy decision, I decided to join the private sector because, having served as the deputy chief of the Criminal Division for three years, I felt that I had given everything I could to the office. It was time for me to utilize my experience and skill set to help others.’” The article later continues, “Toscano believes her experience as a prosecutor, including her role in managing the U.S. attorney’s Violent Crimes Initiative in Newark and Jersey City, will also go a long way. ‘Having been a prosecutor for 13 years, I can quickly identify the likely investigative steps taken by law enforcement as well as the strengths and weaknesses of a particular case,’ Toscano said. ‘I also know when there is more lurking behind the surface. This knowledge and skill set will help me defend clients and obtain the best possible resolution on their behalf.’ Although she is new to private practice, Toscano says she believes there will be no shortage of cases in New Jersey to learn from in commercial litigation, white collar criminal defense and corporate investigations. ‘New Jersey is home to over 11,000 businesses in the financial services industry and over 21,000 health care businesses, with 13 of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies being headquartered in New Jersey,’ she said. ‘The federal district courts here in New Jersey also have become a popular jurisdiction for multi-district litigation and class-action lawsuits. This makes New Jersey one of the best places to practice as a litigator.’”