George P. Cornell joined Cornell Grace, P.C. in 2021. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Cornell worked as a litigation associate with firms in New York and New Jersey, where he gained experience in an array of civil litigation areas including general liability, commercial litigation, and products liability defense. After law school, Mr. Cornell served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Stephanie A. Mitterhoff in the Superior Court of New Jersey.
Mr. Cornell now handles all aspects of litigation in the firm’s practice areas, including insurance coverage, construction accident defense, products liability, and premises liability.
Jason Meneses joined Cornell Grace, P.C. in 2021. Mr. Meneses has significant civil litigation experience with a focus on premises liability and New York State Labor Law matters. Prior to joining Cornell Grace, P.C., Mr. Meneses was a staff counsel attorney at a large insurance company where he handled cases involving a wide variety of subject matters including general liability, automobile liability, and construction liability. Additionally, Mr. Meneses has successfully drafted and argued numerous appeals before the Appellate Division, First and Second Judicial Departments.
Janet O’Connor Cornell, a founding member of the firm, is a “AV Preeminent” rated attorney and has more than 25 years’ experience as a litigator in the New York City area. Ms. Cornell is a seasoned trial attorney with experience handling a wide range of complex litigation matters for corporate and individual clients in state and federal courts, as well as in court-sponsored and private arbitrations and mediations. Ms. Cornell regularly represents municipalities, major construction companies, corporations, hotels and educational institutions in a variety of matters, including the defense of construction related litigation, insurance coverage disputes, contract actions, and product liability claims. A number of Ms. Cornell’s cases have resulted in reported decisions which continue to shape New York law.
Keith D. Grace, a founding member of the firm, is a seasoned trial and appellate lawyer with experience practicing in the nation’s three largest and most competitive legal markets. Since his admission to the bar in 1994, Mr. Grace has represented clients ranging from major corporations to individuals in a wide range of complex litigation matters in state and federal courts throughout the United States.
Mr. Grace handles the defense of general liability and insurance coverage matters, primarily on behalf of large construction companies, corporations, hotels, universities, and other educational institutions. Mr. Grace also handles many of the firm’s commercial litigation matters, which include a wide range of complex disputes involving breach of contract, fraud, trade secret, unfair competition, employment and other claims.
Having achieved success in every aspect of litigation, many of Mr. Grace’s victories over the years have come by way of pre-trial dispositive motion. Mr. Grace has obtained numerous pre-trial victories for clients in State and Federal Courts, including summary judgment victories in high-value New York State Labor Law and insurance coverage matters.
Before founding Cornell Grace in 2010, Mr. Grace practiced with large litigation firms in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York focusing in the areas of complex commercial, insurance, securities, construction, products liability and entertainment litigation.
Amy L. Schaefer joined Cornell Grace, P.C. in 2013. Ms. Schaefer’s practice areas include New York Labor Law, construction accident and construction defect litigation, insurance coverage, product liability, governmental liability, and education institution liability. Ms. Schaefer is a litigator with experience in all aspects of litigation, including successfully trying cases to verdict.
