Foley & Mansfield Expands New York Defense Capabilities

The national defense firm of Foley & Mansfield today announced that Stephen Novakidis has joined its national asbestos defense team.  Novakidis will assume the role of a lead toxic tort and asbestos trial attorney in NYCAL and other venues requiring his trial prowess. 

Novakidis has extensive experience in federal and New York state courts defending exposure claims for numerous companies, including Fortune 100 entities.  In 2016, Novakidis tried a case on behalf of a boiler manufacturer in a New York City asbestos matter, receiving an incredibly rare defense verdict, and the only such result for a boiler manufacturer in at least a decade.  He has also served as liaison counsel in NYCAL and other complex, multi-defendant litigation.  His  clients include numerous Fortune 100 companies, including manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and contractors in the power, oil, military defense, chemical and railroad industries.  He is recognized as a Premier 100 Mass Tort Trial Attorney by the National Academy of Jurisprudence.

“Steve has vast knowledge and experience in the NYCAL arena,” says James Lotz, Managing Partner of Foley & Mansfield’s New York City office. “We are excited to have him on board to further strengthen our team and serve our clients,” he added.  The firm plans to move its Madison avenue office to new space in lower Manhattan by the end of this year to accommodate growth and be closer to the courts.

Foley & Mansfield is a national defense firm with offices in 13 U.S. cities.  Firm attorneys have successfully defended thousands of asbestos cases nationwide and have tried numerous multiparty asbestos cases to defense verdicts.