Attorneys
Pooja Patel is Of Cousel in Lydecker’s Miami office and is a labor and employment attorney with extensive experience representing public and private employers in a wide range of workplace matters. Pooja’s practice encompasses employment litigation, administrative proceedings, and day-to-day counseling on complex employment issues. She has defended employers against claims involving discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wage and hour disputes, disability accommodations, and protected leave under federal, state, and local employment laws. Pooja has experience managing matters through all stages of litigation, including pleadings, discovery, depositions, dispositive motions, mediations, hearings, and settlement negotiations.
Pooja also represents employers before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and related state agencies. She has significant experience responding to charges of discrimination, including conducting factual investigations, analyzing relevant employment records and workplace policies, assessing potential exposure, and preparing comprehensive position statements on behalf of employers.
Additionally, Pooja counsels employers on a wide range of day-to-day workplace matters, including employee discipline and terminations, disability accommodations, and leave management. She assists employers with drafting and reviewing employment and severance agreements, employee handbooks, workplace policies, and other compliance-related materials. Pooja takes a practical, business-oriented approach to counseling employers, helping them navigate complex workplace issues, proactively address potential risks, and implement solutions that align with their operational and organizational objectives.
Pooja is also an active writer and speaker on developments affecting employers. She has authored articles for The Checkoff, a publication of The Florida Bar Labor & Employment Law Section, addressing developments in diversity, equity, and inclusion laws affecting public and private employers. She has also presented on FMLA compliance and leave management to human resources professionals at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Broward Legal Conference and the Florida Public Human Resources Association Annual Conference.
Daniel Mirarchi is the Managing Partner of Lydecker’s Doylestown Pennsylvania office. Mr. Mirarchi represents businesses, insurance carriers, and professionals in sophisticated civil litigation, including transportation, premises liability, employment, commercial disputes, and data privacy matters. With more than twenty-five years of experience in handling complex disputes on both sides of the courtroom, he brings a distinct perspective to his defense practice.
Prior to joining Lydecker, Mr. Mirarchi represented companies across industries in putative class actions arising from data privacy and cybersecurity incidents. He worked alongside business partners, incident response counsel, cyber insurance claim professionals, forensic investigators, and law enforcement to address pending litigation and state and federal regulatory inquiries. His defense practice also encompasses transportation and premises liability matters for a Fortune 50 company, employment disputes, and claims involving the misappropriation of trade secrets. Mr. Mirarchi has significant experience in handling vicarious liability claims and contractual and common law indemnity issues in auto and premises cases in Pennsylvania courts.
Earlier in his career, Mr. Mirarchi represented domestic and foreign shareholders in several securities fraud class actions and derivative lawsuits. Among them, he managed opt out claims arising from the Deepwater Horizon explosion on behalf of several institutional investors who purchased BP plc securities on non-U.S. exchanges. Mr. Mirarchi also served as one of the lead counsel in In re Parmalat Securities Litigation (SDNY), often referred to as the “Enron of Europe” due to the scale of the fraud, resulting in a substantial recovery for shareholders. He led a shareholder derivative action alleging the illegal off-label marketing of a blockbuster drug, leading to a settlement with first-of-its-kind corporate governance reforms.
Mr. Mirarchi focuses on identifying issues that drive a case, assessing potential exposure early, developing tailored fact and expert discovery, and pursuing a strategy that meets his client’s needs. He works closely with claim professionals, in-house counsel, risk managers, and business leaders before a case is filed and through every phase of a lawsuit, providing guidance and clear communication so his clients can make informed decisions about litigation strategy, potential resolution, and, when necessary, trial.
Mr. Mirarchi earned his Juris Doctor from the St. John’s University School of law and his undergraduate degree from Temple University. He is admitted to practice in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as well as the United States District Courts for the Eastern District and Middle District of Pennsylvania.
Christy Montoto is Of Counsel in Lydecker’s Miami office. Ms. Montoto concentrates her practice in civil litigation with a primary focus on insurance defense, general liability, premises liability, wrongful death, catastrophic injury, construction litigation, and related liability matters. She represents insurance carriers, corporate clients, businesses, and individuals in state and federal courts throughout Florida.
Ms. Montoto brings nearly 20 years of litigation experience representing clients through all phases of civil litigation, from pre-suit evaluation through trial and appeal. She regularly advises clients on litigation strategy, liability analysis, risk management, and the efficient resolution of disputes. Her practice includes the evaluation of complex medical and liability issues, damages analysis, and the defense of a wide variety of civil litigation matters.
Throughout her career, Ms. Montoto has represented national insurance carriers, corporate clients, businesses, governmental entities, and individuals in matters involving insurance defense, general liability, premises liability, personal injury, wrongful death, and disability claims. She has also worked extensively with medical experts, healthcare providers, engineers, vocational specialists, and other professionals in the evaluation and defense of complex claims.
Ms. Montoto is committed to delivering practical legal solutions, exceptional client service, and effective advocacy tailored to each client’s objectives.
Peter Agola is an Associate in Lydecker’s Miami office. Peter is a 2023 graduate of the University of Miami School of Law, and a member of the Florida Bar. Prior to joining Lydecker, Peter spent time as a law clerk at a boutique complex commercial litigation firm, and an insurance defense firm, both located in Miami.
Oluwatomi Ajimatanrareje is an Associate in Lydecker’s San Francisco office. His practice focuses on civil litigation, construction defect, labor and employment, workers’ compensation, with an emphasis on product liability and mass torts.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with an emphasis in Political Theory, from the University of California, Berkeley, before earning his Juris Doctor at Penn State Law.
While in law school, Mr. Ajimatanrareje completed concentrations in Labor and Employment Law; Arbitration, Mediation, and Negotiation; Advocacy and Litigation; and Corporate Law and Practice. He was also an active member of the Black Law Students Association.
Before joining Lydecker, Mr. Ajimatanrareje began his legal career as a law clerk at a civil litigation firm, bringing valuable experience to serve the needs of the firm’s clients.
Dianna L. Albini, a Partner at Lydecker’s California Offices, has been a trial attorney for more than 34 years. She is recognized by Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers™, and the Martindale-Hubbell® Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers™ Judicial Edition as an AV Rated-Preeminent member.[1]
Ms. Albini primarily handles complex catastrophic injury litigation, as well as mass tort litigation involving environmental, medical device implant, and pharmaceutical matters, and civil litigation. Ms. Albini has been admitted Pro Hac Vice as a trial attorney throughout the United States, including New Jersey, Florida, Montana, Georgia, Minnesota, Puerto Rico, Louisiana, and Illinois.
Ms. Albini founded her boutique law firm in San Francisco, California. As the firm’s trial attorney, she secured multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements, and over the course of her career thus far, her clients have recovered more than $100 million. Ms. Albini also served on the Board of Directors for the San Francisco Trial Lawyers. She is a Lifetime Member of the Million Dollar Trial Lawyers and the Multi-Million Dollar Trial Lawyers Association. Ms. Albini, is a California and San Francisco Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist on numerous occasions.
Ms. Albini is a member of the United States District Court for the Eastern and Northern Districts of California and has appeared in the Court of Appeal of California, First, Second, and Fifth Appellate Districts.
Ms. Albini has served as a Judge Pro Tem for the Counties of Contra Costa, Alameda, and San Francisco, in the State of California. She has also volunteered as an Adjunct Professor at the University of San Francisco, Hastings, and Golden Gate University Law Schools.
Ms. Albini received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sports Management and Administration from the University of San Francisco, where she attended on a full-ride athletic scholarship. Ms. Albini was the third female athlete inducted into the University of San Francisco Athletic Hall of Fame. She received her Juris Doctorate from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, where she made the Dean’s list.
[1] AV-Preeminent ratings are the Highest possible rating, reflecting the confidential opinions of California Bar and Judiciary members who know Ms. Albini’s legal ability and ethical standards.
