Lechter & Sasso, P.C., Philadelphia, King of Prussia and Bucks County, PA
Founding Partner
Lechter & Sasso, P.C. is a dynamic, innovative and resourceful Boutique Law Firm, specializing in all areas of domestic and international joint venture transactions, small business counseling, franchises, Federal Litigation, arbitrations and mediation, intellectual property, consumer fraud, and non-profits. The firm was founded by two experienced, dedicated and responsive litigation and business attorneys who are committed to delivering effective, timely representation for all of their clients. Their international expertise includes: selecting and working with foreign counsel, service of process, NAFTA, parallel proceedings, the taking of evidence abroad, Letters Rogatory, The Hague Convention and international arbitration.
Headquartered in Philadelphia on Rittenhouse Square, Lechter & Sasso also has a satellite office in Bridgeport.
LEFA Inc, King of Prussia, PA, High Point, NC and Bogota, Colombia SA
General Counsel & Executive Vice-President, Licensing and Brand Extensions
Manage all legal affairs including complex real estate negotiations with Walgreens, transnational agreements, licensing agreements, tenant issues, employee relations and creation of Employee Handbook, International and Domestic Contracts, Joint ventures, and metrics analysis for potential new business models and products. Interacted with IRS on transfer pricing, FAA on Hazmat transportation, International customs tariffs, works for hire, trademarks, and international business development with the William Morris Agency. Retail clients have included Baker, Bulova, Century Furniture, Drexel, E.J. Victor, Harden, Heckman, Henkel-Harris, Henredon, Hickory Chair, Hickory White, Karges, Sherrill, Thomas & Gray, Thomasville, Vanguard and John Widdicomb. Branded Customers have included Kelly Hoppen, Ralph Lauren, Thomas O’Brian, Oscar de la Renta and Martha Stewart. Hospitality clients have included Four Seasons, Hard Rock Hotels, Intercontinental, Loews, Ritz Carlton, Starwood, Westin and Wyndham. Specialty hotels have included the Plaza in New York, Lowes Vogue in Montreal, the James Royal Palm in Miami, the Atlantis Royal Palm Towers in the Bahamas, and the J.W. Marriot in Costa Rica and Panama.
Oversaw the start-up of the global Martha Stewart Fine Furniture joint venture, which included contract negotiations in New York, High Point, NC and Houston, TX, showroom management, and interaction with SA factory, and product selection and design. The Collection focused on international B2B customers.
Participated in sales training creation of marketing and advertising materials including E-mail blasts, print campaigns, database design, E-commerce and social media.
Negotiated International License, Branding and Manufacturing Agreements with Vanity Fair, Sara Lee and Munisingwear.
Lechter & Lechter, P.C., Norristown, PA
Founder and Managing Partner
Complex corporate, commercial and criminal litigation firm, with some civil cases handled in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office with a focus on complex Motions practice. Gave testimony before televised Pennsylvania State Legislative Hearings in Harrisburg, PA regarding Pennsylvania’s Telemarketing Consumer Fraud Law. Provided data input for the expansion of Pennsylvania’s “Health Club Act” to include guidelines for Karate Schools.
Worked with various Philadelphia-based Consulates to assist their citizens in foreign legal matters. Handled Pennsylvania Corporate transactions, international joint ventures and Licensing Agreements. Lechter & Lechter also dealt with intellectual property, franchises, criminal and juvenile law and international law. Member of and adjudicated cases at the Montgomery Bar’s Arbitration panel. Founder & past Co-President of Montgomery Bar’s International Law Committee, creating multiple continuing legal education (“CLE”) courses for both the Montgomery Bar and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute (“PBI”). Volunteer Judge for Villanova University School of Law Moot Court Competitions.
Villanova University School of Law, Community Legal Services Clinic, Chester and Media, PA
Adjunct Professor
Trained, supervised, managed and graded third-year law students in the area of Domestic Abuse Litigation. Monitored their activities and development through the process of intake interviews, case-development and investigation culminating in court negotiations and prosecution at trial. Created educational and litigation course materials. Responsible for approximately forty cases weekly at the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas with included bench trials and liaison with the Delaware County District Attorney’s office.
August J. Lacko & Associates, Philadelphia
Litigation Associate
Boutique Complex Litigation firm located in the PSFA Building.
Chonsby, Inc. Devon, Pa
President and Co-Founder
Developed new consumer product, Photostickers, from prototype to mass marketing. Negotiated all contracts and handled media coverage. Clients included Johnson & Johnson, Walgreen’s, Sunshine Biscuit Company, Fleer’s, the United States Marines and Placido Domingo.
American Society of Bogota, Bogota Colombia, SA
Founder and Editor-in-Chief
Created monthly news bulletin, Bogota Today. Directed all operations from newsgathering and editing to advertising, production and distribution. Worked with United States Embassy and Military personnel and executives at multinational companies.
Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA and Richmond, VA
Manager, Litigation Support (Uranium Contracts and Rio Algom Multi-District Litigations)
Hired, trained and directed staff of over 300. Coordinated litigation support database activities with corporate management and legal counsel, as well as outside counsel. Managed off-site litigation facility in Richmond, VA.
Implemented Westinghouse-sponsored research project at the University of Pittsburgh. Presented two-day training seminars, covering nuclear reactors, the uranium industry and the indexing and abstracting of documents, to outside counsel in New York and Chicago. Produced computer-generated litigation tools: Deposition Digests; Cross reference List of exhibits; and, Expense reports.