At Slowinski Atkins, LLP, we have a talented team of seasoned attorneys with substantial litigation and trial experience. Our attorneys are accomplished practitioners with distinguished academic and legal careers, publications in leading journals, and treaties and extensive experience at both the trial and appellate levels.

The strategic thinking and innovative analysis that our attorneys bring to each case provide unique opportunities for resolving disputes. And when a case must proceed to trial our attorneys have the skill and experience needed to prevail in the courtroom.

But the cost of retaining such counsel at many large firms can be exorbitant due to the traditional firm structure designed to generate revenues through junior level attorneys who also lack the necessary experience to cost-effectively achieve a client’s objective. We reject that approach. At Slowinski Atkins, LLP, an experienced attorney will handle your case on a daily basis but under a model of cost containment and predictability.

Of course, choosing an attorney is an important decision that should never be based solely on cost. For more than 80 years, the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers™ has served as an invaluable resource for identifying the most highly regarded law firms in America. Only those firms that have achieved the prestigious “AV” rating – the top ranking in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory®–qualify for this distinction. This is fewer than 5% of all law firms in the United States and we take pride in our listing in the area of Civil Trial Practice.

In New Jersey, the Supreme Court has directed the Board on Attorney Certification to carry out a certification program in an effort to raise the level of competence of attorneys in the state. As of December 31, 2000, out of 55,687 active lawyers in New Jersey, fewer than 5% held Board Certification as Civil Trial Attorneys. A pamphlet has been written by the Board to assist you in choosing the right attorney to handle your particular legal problem. To review the pamphlet, clickhere. To learn more about a specific attorney at Slowinski Atkins, LLP, continue reading below.


Sally H. Atkins graduated from the College of the Holy Cross and Villanova University School of Law. She served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Joseph T. Ryan, J.S.C. and thereafter joined Wilson, Elser, Moskowitz, Edelman & Dicker in Newark, New Jersey. She then joined one of the largest law firms in New Jersey, Sills, Cummis, Zuckerman, Radin, Tischman, Epstein & Gross, where she handled product liability and toxic tort matters including representation of major pharmaceutical companies. Ms. Atkins has over 15 years experience in litigating matters in the state and federal courts in New Jersey and New York. She has extensive experience in the fields of product liability and toxic torts, insurance defense, appellate practice, automobile litigation, insurance coverage, uninsured and underinsured motorists claims, declaratory judgment actions, and civil litigation in the state and federal courts. She has defended individuals and closely held companies as well as major oil companies, chemical manufacturing companies, pharmaceutical companies, insurance companies, and other corporate clients in toxic tort matters, chemical and workplace exposures, product liability actions, contractual disputes, coverage disputes, bad faith claims, and numerous other occurrences. She has been involved in several high profile cases that have been reported including decisions in the areas of workplace exposure and pharmaceuticals. Ms. Atkins has successfully defended numerous personal injury claims seeking damages for wrongful death, closed head injury, and other serious bodily injuries allegedly caused by automobile collisions, fall downs, workplace injuries, and other general liability accidents. She has successfully defended numerous insurance bad faith claims and coverage actions. She has been involved in all aspects of successfully defending numerous mass tort asbestos claims, toxic tort claims, and product liability actions seeking damages for medical monitoring, cancerphobia, various forms of cancer, immunological disorders, blood disorders, pulmonary disorders, and other illnesses.

Angelo A. Cuonzo obtained a B.A. degree from Columbia College, cum laude, and a J.D. degree from Columbia Law School. Prior to joining the firm, he was a partner in the firm of Mattson, Madden & Polito in Newark, New Jersey. He is admitted to practice before the Bar of the State of New Jersey, the Bar of the State of New York, and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Mr. Cuonzo has substantial experience in state and federal courts in the areas of toxic torts, environmental litigation, commercial litigation, product liability, contract disputes, insurance coverage, underground storage tanks, aboveground storage tanks, soil and ground water contamination, all types of workplace, and chemical and hazardous substance exposures including asbestos, benzene, chlorinated compounds, solvents, and petrochemicals. He has a particular specialization in petroleum marketing matters with over 16 years experience handling underground storage tank litigation, toxic tort litigation, and soil and ground water contamination cases. He has represented major oil companies and other industry defendants in actions arising out of soil and ground water contamination, contractual disputes, waste disposal practices, chemical exposures, workplace exposures, and other occurrences. He has defended personal injury claims seeking damages for medical monitoring, cancerphobia, various forms of cancer, immunological disorders, blood disorders, pulmonary disorders, and other illnesses. Mr. Cuonzo’s substantial experience in handling matters on behalf of petroleum and chemical product manufacturers includes the representation of corporate clients in numerous cleanup and cost recovery actions brought by federal and state governmental authorities, the successful defense of numerous toxic tort exposure cases, successfully defending oil and chemical company defendants in underground storage tank cases, exposure cases and product liability actions, and representing corporate clients in a multitude of other matters involving environmental damages allegedly caused by spills, leaks, and discharges of hazardous substances related to petroleum marketing activities and service station operations including a substantial matter involving litigation of all gasoline service plazas located on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway.


Mark L. Czyz graduated from Rutgers College with Summa Cum Laude honors in 1974 and from Rutgers Law School in 1980. He then clerked for the Honorable Theodore I. Botter in the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey. Prior to joining the firm he was a partner in the firm of Mattson, Madden & Polito in Newark, New Jersey. He is admitted to practice before the New Jersey Bar and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Mr. Czyz has been practicing in the field of environmental and corporate/commercial litigation for more than 20 years and has extensive litigation and trial experience in these areas. He has a particular specialization in petroleum marketing matters including underground storage tank litigation, franchise practices, and toxic tort litigation. His cases have been reported in various journals including Toxics Law Reporter and the New Jersey Journal of Environmental Litigation. He has represented major oil companies and other industry defendants in actions arising out of soil and ground water contamination, contractual disputes, waste disposal practices, chemical exposures, workplace exposures, and other occurrences. He litigated to a successful conclusion in favor of petroleum marketing franchisors several franchise termination cases in federal and state courts involving requests for injunctive relief and money damages, and has represented generator defendants in cleanup and cost recovery actions brought by federal and state governmental authorities through all phases of litigation and ultimate settlement including the equitable allocation process. He has also been involved in numerous toxic tort exposure cases on behalf of chemical and petroleum manufacturers resulting in the favorable reduction and/or elimination of liability and damages for personal injuries allegedly caused by various products and has successfully defended oil company defendants in a multitude of matters involving environmental damages allegedly caused by petroleum marketing activities and service station operations including a substantial matter involving litigation of all gasoline service plazas located on the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway. Mr. Czyz has obtained favorable verdicts after trial in favor of oil company defendants in cases alleging statutory and common law claims for environmental damage including groundwater contamination as a result of leakage from underground storage tank systems, he has resolved multi-site, multi-state environmental insurance coverage actions to recover cleanup costs for environmental damage and to resolve remediation claims as a result of historical petroleum marketing activities and operations. He has also been involved in successful negotiations with state governmental authorities concerning the appropriate remedy and cleanup plan to remediate contamination in the context of settling multi-party environmental litigation and has litigated to a successful resolution numerous commercial breach of contract actions including a multi-million dollar dispute involving a pharmaceutical construction project.


Barry Lee Korsh graduated from Rutgers University in 1984 with honors. He obtained his J.D. degree from Rutgers Law School in 1994 where he served as the research editor for the Rutgers Computer and Technology Law Journal. He was also a finalist in the Nathan Baker Mock Trial Competition and served on the Rutgers Constitutional Law Clinic and the Rutgers Urban Legal Clinic. He was a recipient of a certificate from the Rutgers Pro Bono Service Program for providing legal services to indigent clients. Mr. Korsh’s broad construction and commercial background includes extensive experience in the construction field as a proprietor of a construction company from 1984 to 1991. His extensive trial and litigation experience includes past employment with insurance defense firms prior to joining the firm including Karasik & Einbinder in New York City. Mr. Korsh has handled numerous complex cases including multi-party complex litigation and coverage actions, asbestos and toxic tort claims, soil and groundwater contamination cases, construction claims, product liability actions, subrogation claims, fire loss, claims against public entities, employment discrimination, and general negligence claims. He has defended numerous complex cases including claims seeking personal injuries for wrongful death and other serious bodily injury, claims seeking damages for medical monitoring, cancer, fear of cancer, mesothelioma, and other asbestos related conditions and claims for property damage including substantial claims of diminution in property values.

Kurt E. McCue graduated from Seton Hall University, Summa Cum Laude in 1978. He obtained his J.D. degree, cum laude, from Seton Hall School of Law in 1981. He was a staff member of the Seton Hall Legislative Bureau. Upon graduating from law school, Mr. McCue served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Cuddie E. Davidson, Jr., J.S.C., and the Honorable John P. Walsh, J.S.C. He practiced with the firm of Mattson, Madden & Polito and Clapp & Eisenberg in Newark, New Jersey before joining the firm. Mr. McCue is admitted to the New York State Bar, the New Jersey State Bar, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, the Bar of the District of Columbia, the United States District Courts for the Southern District of New York, the Eastern District of New York, the Western District of New York, and the Northern District of New York, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the United States Tax Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia. He has been a member of various organizations including the American Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association, and the Essex County Bar Association. He holds the AV rating from the peer-reviewed Martindale-Hubbell Rating System indicating that he is considered by his peers to be at the highest levels of professional excellence in terms of both legal ability and ethical standards. Mr. McCue has over 20 years of substantial litigation experience in the area of civil trial practice, automobile litigation, insurance defense, insurance coverage disputes, uninsured and underinsured motorist claims, subrogation, declaratory judgment actions, product liability, toxic torts, and environmental litigation. Mr. McCue’s broad litigation experience includes the handling of numerous complex matters involving death and serious bodily injury including brain and head trauma cases and closed head injury claims as well as the successful handling of numerous complex insurance coverage and bad faith actions. He frequently serves as an arbitrator and mediator for the Superior Court of New Jersey.


Joseph V. Pinto obtained a B.A. degree from New York University in 1980 and a J.D. degree from Seton Hall School of Law in 1987. Thereafter he served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Joseph T. Ryan, J.S.C., Superior Court of New Jersey, Law Division, Hudson County. Mr. Pinto is admitted to practice before the New York State Bar, the New Jersey State Bar, and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. He has substantial experience in the areas of civil trial practice and defense litigation. He has nearly 20 years experience litigating matters in state and federal courts including cases involving automobile litigation, insurance coverage, contract disputes, declaratory judgment actions, uninsured and underinsured motorist claims, no-fault, premises liability, toxic torts, and product liability.

Andrew P. Slowinski graduated from Seton Hall University, Summa Cum Laude, and as Valedictorian from Seton Hall University School of Law, Summa Cum Laude, where he ranked No. 2 in his law school class. Prior to joining the firm, he practiced with Shanley & Fisher in Morristown, New Jersey, now Drinker, Biddle and Reath. He has extensive trial and litigation experience in the areas of civil trial practice, appellate practice, insurance coverage, product liability, toxic torts, personal injury, environmental litigation and automobile litigation. He has represented individuals, business entities, and corporate clients including major oil companies, chemical manufacturers, and insurance companies in actions arising out of soil and ground water contamination, chemical exposures, workplace exposures, waste disposal practices, and other occurrences. His cases have been reported in various journals in the environmental and toxic tort fields. He has extensive experience in handling claims involving personal injuries, medical monitoring, cancerphobia, cancer, immunological disorders, pulmonary disorders, and other illnesses. He also has extensive experience in the handling of employment related matters including claims of discrimination under Title VII and the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination. Mr. Slowinski is admitted to practice before the New Jersey Bar, the New York Bar, and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Gertrude E. Slowinski is a former Deputy Attorney General of the State of New Jersey. She graduated from the College of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, New Jersey, with honors where she obtained a B.A. degree, Summa Cum Laude, and where she was a member of the National Honor Society Kappa Gamma Pi. She was also the Editor of the literary magazine, Sector. After completing her undergraduate studies, she continued with post-graduate courses at Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey, and then attended Rutgers University Law School where she graduated in 1978 and was admitted to the New Jersey Bar. After graduation from law school she served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Marilyn Loftus, J.S.C. at the Essex County Courthouse in Newark, New Jersey. Ms. Slowinski then became associated with the firm of Mulligan & Mulligan. Thereafter she joined the firm of Whiting, Moore and Herman in Newark, New Jersey, before joining the firm as Of Counsel.


Joseph S. Slowinski served as Of Counsel to the firm until 2004. He is presently Law Professor Emeritus at the Seton Hall School of Law in Newark, New Jersey. He has earned degrees from Yale University School of Law, N.Y.U. Law School, Rutgers Law School, and Seton Hall College. Professor Slowinski graduated from Seton Hall College in 1941 with a B.S. degree, and after serving in the military in World War II, he obtained a J.D. degree in 1948 from Rutgers University School of Law where he served as the Associate Editor of the Rutgers Law Review. It was in 1948 when he was first admitted to practice before the New Jersey Bar. Professor Slowinski continued with post-graduate legal education graduating from New York University Law School in 1950 with a Masters of Law (LL.M) degree. He obtained a second Masters of Law (LL.M) degree from Yale Law School in 1971. From 1948 through 1951, he was in private practice. He then served as a trial attorney to Continental Casualty Company where he tried over 20 cases in a 2--year period until appointed as Special Agent to the Office of Price Stabilization in the United States Government where he served in that capacity until 1953. He became an Assistant Law Professor at Seton Hall School of Law in 1953, and an Associate Law Professor in 1958, and in 1966, he became a full tenured Professor of Law. During his tenure Professor Slowinski established and directed the mandatory trial moot court program and instructed trial advocacy skills. He also continued to utilize his broad trial experience, serving as a Staff Attorney to the Newark Legal Services Project in the Summers of 1966-1967 during the Newark riots and again in 1971. He was awarded the Urban Service Award in 1967 by the Office of Economic Opportunity for his efforts in alleviating the problems of the inner city, and in 1970, he was awarded the Ford Foundation Urban Law Scholar Award. During this period Professor Slowinski served on the Board of Trustees of the Essex County Legal Services Corporation and on the Board of Trustees of the Newark Legal Services Project. He continued as a full Professor of Law until 1986, was awarded the Miriam Theresa Rooney Award, and joined the firm of Whiting, Moore & Herman in Newark, New Jersey. He is a faculty member of the American Trial Lawyers Association. His extensive litigation, trial skills and expertise provided invaluable support as Of Counsel with the firm until his retirement.

Matthew S. Slowinski has been handling complex civil cases in state and federal courts for 20 years. He has substantial litigation and trial experience in fields of environmental law, toxic torts, product liability, workplace and chemical exposures, asbestos, petrochemical liability, underground storage tanks, multi-party claims, mass torts, insurance defense, and general civil liability matters. Mr. Slowinski is certified by the New Jersey Supreme Court as a Civil Trial Attorney. He has published articles in leading journals in the area of environmental and toxic tort law and is the author of the New Jersey Practice Series volume on Environmental Controls on Real Estate published by West Group, the nation’s definitive publisher of legal textbooks and treatises. Mr. Slowinski is also a frequent lecturer on topics addressing environmental and toxic tort litigation. In 2005, he was recognized by New Jersey Monthly magazine as one of New Jersey’s foremost attorneys in the field of civil defense and environmental litigation. Mr. Slowinski has represented major oil companies, insurance companies, chemical manufacturing companies, and other corporate clients as well closely held companies and individuals in actions arising out of soil contamination, groundwater contamination, contractual disputes, chemical workplace exposures, waste disposal practices, and other occurrences. He has defended personal injury claims seeking damages for wrongful death and serious bodily injury, medical monitoring, cancerphobia, various forms of cancer, immunological disorders, blood disorders, pulmonary disorders, and other illnesses. His cases have been published and reported in various journals including Toxics Law Reporter, the New Jersey Journal of Environmental Litigation and the New Jersey Law Journal. His substantial experience includes handling all aspects of litigation through trial and verdict of numerous environmental and toxic tort matters including claims by hundreds of consolidated plaintiff actions seeking personal injury from alleged consumption of contaminated groundwater, the successful defense and appeal to the Third Circuit of numerous mass tort claims of exposure to asbestos, the successful defense of numerous claims involving allegations of chemical exposure, the successful defense of insurance bad faith claims, death claims, head and brain injury claims, and other serious bodily injury claims from automobile accidents, workplace injuries, fall downs, and other general liability accidents. Mr. Slowinski graduated from the University of Richmond with honors where he obtained a B.A. degree, Magna Cum Laude, and was awarded Phi Beta Kappa. He graduated from Seton Hall University School of Law with a J.D. degree in 1986. He is admitted to practice before the New Jersey Bar, the District of Columbia Bar, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. He has been a member of numerous legal organizations over the course of his career including the American Bar Association, the New Jersey State Bar Association, the Essex County Bar Association, and the American Trial Lawyers Association. He has also served as a member of various Bar Association Sections in his career in the areas of environmental litigation, insurance practice and toxic torts such as the Natural Resources and Environmental Law Section of the American Bar Association, the Section of Litigation of the American Bar Association, the Environmental Law Section of the New Jersey State Bar Association, and the Tort and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association.