Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani welcomes a nine-attorney group, strengthening the firm’s national capabilities in financial services and litigation.
Led by partners Jim Branit and Brian Norkett, seven attorneys join the firm’s Chicago office, and two attorneys join the firm in New York. While their primary focus is in banking and finance, the group’s attorneys also have substantive experience across a broad spectrum of litigation matters, including complex commercial litigation, product liability, appellate, employment and labor, professional liability, healthcare, construction, environmental and toxic tort, and automotive litigation.
“Our 50-state platform continues to attract top-tier talent seeking a truly national practice,” said Dion Cominos, Firmwide Managing Partner. “This team’s broad litigation experience enhances our ability to serve clients seamlessly across jurisdictions, further strengthening our Chicago and New York offices and our national reach.”
In May 2025, the American Lawyer recognized GRSM as the fastest-growing top 100 law firm with more than 1,600 attorneys across 83 offices in the United States. As highlighted in a recent Chicago Lawyer article, GRSM’s Chicago office has experienced significant growth over the past year, now boasting a headcount of 133, reflecting a 39% increase in attorneys since the publisher’s 2024 survey. The Chicago office also ranked second for lateral associate hires in the Chicago legal market in 2024.
Ryan Brown, who founded the Chicago office of GRSM 18 years ago this month, confirmed, “From the beginning, we focused on hiring entrepreneurial lawyers with national clients known to be authentic, value-centered, and hard-working individuals. Those lawyers then recruited and attracted like-minded individuals, and that pattern continued, resulting in an office (and a firm) that meaningfully values culture, matches opportunities to strengths, and promotes client service and growth through a coordinated 50 State Partner platform.”
“The addition of these talented attorneys underscores the continued strength and growth of our Chicago office and the firm as a whole,” said Brown. The attorneys joining GRSM in Chicago are Jim Branit, Brian Norkett, Bradley Faber, Scott Sinson, Jennifer Abdo, Kevin Ameriks, Delna Kermani, and Natasha Singh. Brian Gitnik joins the firm in New York.
Partner Jim Branit brings more than 37 years of experience in civil and commercial trial litigation, class actions, and appellate matters. A seasoned trial and appellate attorney, he has prevailed in more than 250 appeals across state and federal courts. He serves as lead defense counsel in hundreds of nationwide class actions involving credit unions and advises clients in complex insurance coverage matters. His practice also spans medical and professional liability, catastrophic injury, intellectual property, toxic torts, and high-exposure commercial disputes.
Partner Brian Norkett focuses his practice on commercial litigation and financial services defense, with deep experience representing lending institutions in consumer class actions and regulatory matters across the country. His background includes FDCPA, FCRA, TILA claims, lender liability defense, and business disputes involving corporate dissolution, non-compete violations, and injunctive relief. Norkett has successfully tried numerous cases and formerly clerked for Chief Justice Thomas Moran of the Illinois Supreme Court.
Partner Bradley Faber concentrates his practice in the areas of civil and commercial litigation. His legal focus includes advising and representing corporations and individuals in labor and employment litigation disputes in both federal and state courts, during administrative proceedings, and before federal and state agencies. Faber has represented clients in cases involving alleged employment discrimination and gender-violence claims, breach of contract, and political retaliation, as well as cases involving personal and catastrophic injury.
Partner Scott Sinson defends clients in product liability, toxic tort, construction liability, and motor vehicle cases. His commercial litigation practice includes representing financial institutions and defending financial service providers against consumer class action claims. Sinson also counsels commercial transport businesses and construction companies in cases involving catastrophic injuries and death. He has tried more than 100 cases to verdict, including more than 30 jury trials.
Partner Brian Gitnik, based in the New York office, is a seasoned trial attorney with 25 years of experience defending clients in executive liability, legal and professional malpractice, contract disputes, insurance coverage, and general liability matters in state and federal courts. His practice also includes labor and employment, defamation, and premises liability claims. Gitnik is actively involved in all phases of litigation, from discovery through trial, and frequently advises clients through ADR and negotiated settlements.
Senior Counsel Jennifer Abdo focuses her practice entirely on financial institution clients, defending credit union clients across the country against breach of contract and Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) class action claims.
Senior Counsel Kevin Ameriks concentrates his practice on defending clients against credit union class action claims nationwide, from trial through appeals.
Senior Counsel Delna Kermani concentrates her practice on litigating general liability, construction liability, New York Labor Law, and premises liability matters.
Senior Counsel Natasha Singh represents banks, credit unions, and financial institutions in complex commercial litigation, class actions and appellate matters.
Two paralegals, Brandy Gonzalez and Amber Werth, will join the team in Chicago.
Learn more about GRSM’s Chicago office and the exciting opportunities available in Illinois and across the country.