Our Team
Gerald Coviello
Co-Founder & Managing Partner
Gerald Coviello concentrates his practice on corporate transactional matters, including securities transactions, start-up and emerging company representation, mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital transactions, fund formation and counseling, commercial lending transactions, employment-related matters, and pre-litigation counseling, and resolution of shareholder disputes. Scroll down for more information related to Coviello Weber & Dahill's attorneys.
Jeffrey Coviello
Co-Founder & Partner
Jeff Coviello has unique experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in commercial disputes and advising alternative asset managers and others on legally and structurally complex situations and strategies and litigation-driven recoveries. Jeff’s broad experience over nearly two decades includes securities and investment-related disputes (including in the leveraged finance and structured credit contexts), bankruptcy and distressed situations, attorney and auditor/accountant liability, breach of fiduciary duty and corporate governance issues, antitrust, employment disputes, insurance, and reinsurance matters, business torts, and other complex commercial litigation.
William F. Dahill
Co-Founder & Partner
Mr. Dahill has concentrated his practice on complex commercial litigation and employment litigation, and counseling. Areas of focus include securities industry litigation, employment litigation, payment processing disputes, asset purchases disputes, secured lending disputes, partnership disputes, shareholder disputes, and construction litigation. Mr. Dahill counsels and represents business entities at all levels and stages, from start-ups to public companies. He also counsels and represents individuals in claims and defenses in litigation and employment matters.
Paul R. Weber
Co-Founder & Partner
Paul R. Weber is an experienced business lawyer and advisor who concentrates his practice on corporate transactional and securities matters, including mergers and acquisitions (including distressed sales), private equity and venture capital transactions, investment fund formation and counseling, secured lending transactions (for both borrowers and lenders), joint ventures, start-up and mid-cap company counseling, employment-related matters, and pre-litigation counseling and resolution of shareholder disputes.
James M. Lurie
Partner
James M. Lurie has over 30 years’ experience in corporate finance/capital market transactions, U.S. securities law, M&A, corporate governance, executive compensation and general corporate law. Jim has extensive experience advising senior management, Boards of Directors and Board Committees on SEC and SRO disclosure requirements and compliance, corporate governance policies, procedures and “best practices” and strategic initiatives and business strategy. He has advised on numerous corporate finance and M&A transactions, including over 75 IPOs (aggregate value over $10 billion), over 75 high yield and investment grade debt financings (aggregate value over $100 billion), over 150 private placements, and numerous domestic and cross border tender and exchange offers, spin-offs, going private transactions and leveraged buyouts.
KELLY HOFFMAN
COUNSEL
Kelly Hoffman is an accomplished employment attorney with over a decade of experience providing expert legal counsel to a diverse range of clients, including small businesses, start-ups, and multinational corporations. Throughout her career, Kelly has been dedicated to helping companies navigate the complexities of employment law, mitigate risks, and foster healthy workplace cultures.
MARIA T. COVIELLO
Senior Associate
Maria Coviello is a Senior Associate practicing in the firm's Business & Corporate Law and Litigation & Dispute Resolution Departments. Maria has extensive experience in reviewing, drafting and negotiating a wide array of complex commercial contracts on behalf entities and individuals. Prior to joining the firm, Maria was a Senior Associate with Dorf & Nelson LLP where she worked in the firm's Corporate Department.
Prior to entering private practice, Maria worked in-house as an Assistant General Counsel at the Compass Group USA, Inc. where she reviewed, negotiated and drafted a wide range of commercial contracts including restaurant leases, catering agreements, joint venture agreements, purchase and sale agreements, letters of intent, NDAs, indemnification agreements, development contracts, partnership agreements, management agreements and other corporate transactional documents.
Timothy Kahler
COUNSEL
Tim Kahler's legal practice concentrates on corporate and securities law.
He advises established companies, startups, entrepreneurs and investors in a wide variety of matters such as M&A transactions, private placements, entity formations, service-provider agreements, preferred stock financings, shareholders agreements, operating agreements, transaction planning and negotiation including due diligence, term sheets and letters of intent. Tim has advised clients engaged in media, entertainment, fashion, luxury goods, finance, pharmaceuticals, electronics, chemicals, health care, medical devices, manufacturing, and mining. Previously, Tim was a partner at a large national law firm, based in its New York City office.
DEBRA M. BURG
COUNSEL
Debra is an experienced business attorney who concentrates her practice on corporate transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, start-ups, and general corporate counseling, as well as trusts and estates, and residential real estate. Debra is of counsel to the firm and focuses on both corporate and litigation matters. Since 2019, Debra has served as a Legal Analyst for the Center for Career and Professional Development at the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University, where she directs compilation of employment data collected for ABA, NALP and US NEWS, assists with employer outreach and market information for employment opportunities for students and alumni, and leads the CLE program at the law school.
Charles Collier
COUNSEL
Charles represents publicly traded and privately held companies, private equity firms, and funds on a broad range of U.S. federal income tax matters in both domestic and international contexts.
His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, spinoffs and split-offs, restructurings and reorganizations, refinancings, and the formation and operation of private equity funds, hedge funds, and REITs. In addition, he advises clients in the areas of bankruptcy, finance, and securities offerings. Charles works closely with the firm’s corporate teams to deliver integrated, business-focused advice on both the tax and non-tax aspects of complex transactions.
Connor Cauley Sawicki
Director of Legal Support Services
Connor Cauley Sawicki is Director of Legal Support Services. Connor provides each of CWD’s attorneys and practice areas with invaluable administrative and operational support, helping to efficiently deliver exceptional client service. Connor also plays an important role in CWD’s networking, marketing, and business development functions. In addition, Connor continues in her prior role as CWD’s senior paralegal focused on providing litigation case management and docketing support. Connor is a 2019 graduate of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, earning her Bachelor’s degree with a double major in Political Science and English. Connor received a scholarship to study political science and literature abroad at King’s College London in 2018. In 2019, Connor also received a Paralegal Certification following completion of an intensive program at Duke University. Prior to joining CWD, Connor worked as a Litigation Paralegal at a NYC-based firm for three years and also led the social media marketing team for a North Carolina-based non-profit focused on bridging the worlds of international diplomacy and higher education.
