PHILADELPHIA, July 6, 2022 — Saxton & Stump is excited to announce Mark E. Cedrone and Aubrey C. Emrich have joined the firm and launched the Investigations and Criminal Defense Group. Mark and Aubrey will collaborate with the new group’s co-chair, Hon. Lawrence Stengel (Ret.), as well as the firm’s team of litigators and defense attorneys. The Investigations and Criminal Defense Group will represent businesses and individuals in all aspects of criminal, quasi-criminal and administrative investigations, including complex tax matters, commercial litigation and regulatory enforcement actions.
“We’ve been working with Mark to spearhead both our Philadelphia office and the new practice group,” Saxton & Stump CEO James W. Saxton said. “It’s an area where we believe we can help many potential clients and both Mark and Aubrey are exceptional attorneys. We’re thrilled to bring their experience to our clients.”
The new group is led by co-chairs, Cedrone and Judge Stengel (Ret.). Judge Stengel has almost 30 years of experience as a federal and county judge, and Cedrone has represented individuals and businesses involved in serious disputes with, or under investigation by, various governmental units and administrative agencies for more than 35 years. The new practice includes former judges and prosecutors as well as high profile litigators such as former Pennsylvania Deputy Attorney General Carson B. Morris, Esq., the Hon. Robert A. Graci (Ret.) and William C. Costopoulos, Esq., one of the top defense attorneys on the East Coast.
Over his 35-year career, Cedrone has dedicated himself to working with individuals and businesses under investigation by various governmental units and administrative agencies, most recently as a partner at Cedrone & Mancano LLC, a litigation boutique that will be dissolved. Cedrone has significant experience representing and counseling numerous individuals and businesses in a wide range of sophisticated criminal and quasi-criminal matters, ranging from complex tax matters to computer crimes and drug and firearm offenses. He has frequently spoken at conferences on white collar defense and tax litigation topics. He has been selected by his peers as one of Pennsylvania’s Super Lawyers for White Collar Criminal Defense and has served as an executive member of the Temple American Inn of Court. In addition, he is a fellow at the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Before joining Saxton & Stump, Judge Stengel served as the chief judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He had been a judge at the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas from 1990 to 2004 before being nominated and confirmed as a judge with U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In 2017, he was named chief judge of the court before retiring in 2018 and joining Saxton & Stump shortly thereafter. He recently worked as a special investigator in the National Football League’s Concussion Settlement Program and chair of the Independent Oversight Committee for the Archdiocese of Philadelphia’s Independent Reconciliation and Reparations Program.
“I am honored to be working with such an industrious and smart group of attorneys we’ve assembled for this group,” Cedrone said. “Businesses and individuals don’t always know where to turn when it comes to a governmental investigation. I believe our team has the experience needed to handle these very sensitive and important matters.”
Emrich has handled federal and state criminal cases involving Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracies, wire and mail fraud, bank fraud, bank robberies and identity theft. She also served at Cedrone & Mancano LLC. She is a graduate of Rutgers University School of Law.
Cedrone and Emrich practice from the former Cedrone & Mancano LLC office at 230 S. Broad St. in Center City Philadelphia, which is now Saxton & Stump’s fifth office location.
Saxton & Stump’s strategic growth outlook
The firm was named the fastest growing law firm in Pennsylvania by The Legal Intelligencer, having added 53 professionals in 2021, including 22 attorneys. Overall, Saxton & Stump has grown to a team of more than 150 professionals, including 80 attorneys. The firm has added new practice groups such as environmental, workplace safety and utilities and franchising, licensing and distribution. In addition to bolstering their services, they have also grown key existing practice areas such as healthcare, senior care, real estate, government affairs and trusts and estates.
The firm continues to grow based on their strategic plan for 2022 and will continue to expand its current team of lawyers and professionals, focusing on bringing additional resources to support client needs.
Saxton & Stump provides solutions for complex legal issues and partners with clients to create a roadmap for their success. The firm is committed to empowering clients by delivering five-star service and results-focused advice.