Lewis Brisbois Boosts Products Liability, Toxic Tort Capabilities in Miami with Addition of Experienced Litigation Team

Miami, Fla. (February 27, 2025) - Lewis Brisbois is pleased to welcome Edward Briscoe, Dino Galardi, and Peter Melaragno to its Miami office as partners in the Products Liability Practice. These attorneys join Lewis Brisbois after years with a prominent Florida firm and have several decades of legal experience among them.

Mr. Briscoe has more than 30 years of experience handling products liability and toxic tort matters, including asbestos and silica defense cases as well as matters involving carbon monoxide, benzene, beryllium, mold, and other alleged toxic exposures. In addition, he regularly represents clients in environmental, land use, and transportation matters. His clients in the transportation sector have included leading manufacturers, distributors, and conveyance companies. Mr. Briscoe earned his law degree from Tulane University Law School, his undergraduate degree, cum laude, from Brigham Young University, and was a Hansard Scholar, Highly Commended, at the University of London. He is admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Florida and Louisiana, as well as before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fifth and Eleventh Circuits.

Mr. Galardi has more than three decades of experience in the areas of products liability, toxic torts, and family law, consistently securing favorable decisions and verdicts in courts throughout Florida, including in the Florida Supreme Court. In addition to the products liability and toxic tort components of his practice, Mr. Galardi regularly handles custody litigation and family law issues on behalf of professional athletes and other high-profile individuals. Mr. Galardi holds a law degree and an undergraduate degree from the University of Miami. He is admitted to practice in federal and state courts in Florida.

Mr. Melaragno has more than 20 years of experience handling toxic tort matters on behalf of manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and insurers, including in high-exposure, wrongful death cases. He has defended clients in asbestos litigation as well as against claims alleging talc, silica, silicone, benzene, formaldehyde, and mold exposure. Mr. Melaragno earned his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Florida’s Levin College of Law and his undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from the University of Florida. He is admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Florida.

In discussing his decision to join Lewis Brisbois, Mr. Briscoe explained, “This move was about expanding our platform and ability to continue to serve our clients. Lewis Brisbois has vast resources and is tremendously respected in the toxic tort community. The firm also is strongly committed to staying relevant, advancing its values, and remaining in the forefront of the legal industry. We are proud and thankful that our clients have followed us over to this innovative and progressive firm as we look forward to continuing to be of service to them on an expanded platform.”

Mr. Galardi agreed, noting, “This is a great opportunity to be associated with top-notch litigators as we continue to serve clients. I’m excited about joining a team of such high-quality individuals at a firm that has a strong national platform. I look forward to growing my practice further here and practicing for many more years. Everyone I have met at Lewis Brisbois is just sterling.”

Mr. Melaragno added, “I am grateful for the warm welcome by everyone thus far at Lewis Brisbois, and I am excited to be a part of their extensive and experienced Asbestos Litigation Practice. I also am impressed with the firm’s commitment to the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion, both in the Miami office and nationally.”

Miami Managing Partner Todd Ehrenreich stated, “We are so happy that Ed, Dino, and Peter have joined us in Miami. Each lawyer has extensive litigation experience and deep knowledge in several areas of law. They will enhance the service that we provide to clients in Miami and beyond. I look forward to their contributions.”