Los Angeles, February 25, 2025 — Super Lawyers has named Los Angeles attorneys Susan A. Grueneberg and Marion T. Hack and Santa Monica attorneys Thomas W. Casparian and Paul S. Rutter to its 2025 Southern California Super Lawyers list. Joseph McCormack, counsel in the Los Angeles office was named a 2025 Rising Star. This is Casparian’s 10th year appearing on the list.
Selection to Super Lawyers is based on peer nominations and evaluations, combined with independent research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only 5 percent of attorneys are named Super Lawyers. To be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, candidates must be either 40 years old or younger or have been in practice for ten years or less. Each candidate is then evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. While up to 5% of lawyers in a state are named to Super Lawyers, no more than 2.5% are named to Rising Stars.
Thomas W. Casparian (Appellate) is a trial lawyer and certified appellate law specialist by the California State Bar. His trial and appellate practice focuses on commercial, real estate, environmental, and employment litigation. Thomas represents clients in land use and real estate development, providing counsel on entitlement strategies and protecting projects from litigation challenges. He has extensive experience litigating land use entitlement issues and disputes with municipalities and other governmental agencies at the trial and appellate court levels. He handles state and local administrative and regulatory matters and related government agency proceedings on behalf of businesses, developers, and large property owners.
Susan A. Grueneberg (Franchise/Dealership) advises clients on franchise and distribution law issues, including compliance with federal and state franchise and business opportunity laws. Clients are primarily franchisors with some large area developers, sub-franchisors, and multi-unit franchisees. Her clients range from startup franchisors to Fortune 500 companies. Susan is certified as a Franchise & Distribution Law Specialist by the California Board of Legal Specialization.
With two decades of experience, Marion Hack (Construction) is a highly regarded, first-chair trial attorney representing general contractors, owners, and engineers in complex, high-profile, multimillion dollar construction disputes at both the state and federal level. Her achievements include obtaining multimillion dollar judgments, securing complete defense verdicts, and successfully resolving disputes through arbitration and jury trials. Hack’s practice includes a wide array of construction industry matters such as bidding disputes, contract negotiations and drafting, scheduling and delay issues, mechanics lien, and claims resolution. Her broad range of legal experience includes public and private works projects including, roads, bridges, vertical construction, power facilities, environmental remediation, airports, school facilities, professional sports stadiums, concert halls, mass transit, and other heavy construction projects.
Joseph McCormack (Commercial Litigation) concentrates his practice on high-stakes civil litigation, including products liability, catastrophic injury, and other complex commercial disputes. He also represents corporate clients in the automotive, consumer goods, retail, hospitality, and entertainment sectors. McCormack has extensive experience handing cases from inception through trial, including appearing at mediations, depositions, and court hearings, drafting motions, and preparing opening/closing presentations.
Paul S. Rutter (Real Estate) combines his legal and business experience to provide clients with a unique perspective on the real estate industry and the practical and legal aspects of deals. Paul represents clients in both real estate and general business transactions, including development, financing, leasing, acquisition, and disposition of office, hotel, retail, mixed-use, and industrial properties as well as business formation, private equity investments, and general business transactions.
About Cozen O’Connor
Established in 1970 and ranked among the top 100 law firms in America, Cozen O’Connor has more than 925 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor services its clients’ needs through 33 offices across two continents.