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Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen, LLC

United States 2025
1
National Rankings
6
Metro Rankings
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General Information

1
Practice Areas
7
Individuals recognized in Best Lawyers
42
Client Comments
Year founded: 1994
This is the year the firm (or its earliest predecessor entity) was founded.
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Overview

Content is provided by the firm.

Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen is a national law firm recognized for its representation of over 4,000 hardworking men and women who have been exposed to asbestos and diagnosed with mesothelioma. ELSM devotes nearly 100 percent of our resources to mesothelioma cases and has been doing so for over 40 years.

The attorneys at ELSM have extensive knowledge about the companies that distributed, manufactured, and supplied products containing asbestos and have used this knowledge to obtain settlements and jury verdicts which are among the highest in the country.

ELSM assists clients not only in filing civil lawsuits to recover for their injuries, but also in filing workers compensation and bankruptcy claims where appropriate.

Asbestos & Mesothelioma

Malignant mesothelioma is the most serious of all asbestos related disease. Although uncommon, mesothelioma cancer is no longer considered rare.

Mesothelioma Treatment

Ongoing research and mesothelioma treatments like Alimta® can give mesothelioma patients hope.

Your Legal Rights

Our justice system allows those suffering from mesothelioma to seek compensation from the manufacturers of asbestos and asbestos-containing products.

Why Choose ELSM?


Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen is nationally recognized for our representation of mesothelioma victims, and for our understanding of and compassion for victims and their families. Our experience in these matters spans over three decades.

ELSM is proud to support MARF (Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation) in its work to fund mesothelioma research.

I am very pleased with the law firm Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen and feel that they have always had my best interest at heart. Whenever I have had questions to be answered, I could (and can) count on prompt answers by calling the person with whom I have had the most contact, Jennifer Lucarelli. She has always treated me like a life-long friend.

-Shirley Lamphere

Rankings

Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen, LLC is nationally ranked in 1 practice areas and metro ranked in 4 practice areas. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process.

Read how Best Law Firms ranks firms

National Rankings

Tier 1
Tier 1 for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs

Metro Rankings

New Haven
Tier 1 for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
Tier 1 for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Tier 1 for Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
Tier 2 for Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants
New York City
Tier 1 for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs

Highlighted Client Comments

All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
I have had mutual clients with them for years. They are superior in their knowledge of the law, their case preparation, their negotiating skills and communications with clients.
Carolyn P. Kelly
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen is an excellent firm. They provide top-notch advocacy for clients and are always 100% professional and courteous with opposing counsel. I would not hesitate to refer a family member to Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen.
Bernie Guekguezian – Adler, Cohen, Harvey, Wakeman, Guekguezian, LLP
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
My experiences with Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen on asbestos litigations have been superb in that their client files are always thorough and complete, which helped me immensely in writing my expert report on the severity of client's exposure to asbestos.
Gyan Rajhans – Gyan S. Rajhans & Associates, Inc.
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
I have known Brian Early and Mark Bibro of Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen for many years. Brian and Mark are exceptional lawyers--smart, dedicated, hardworking, and very ethical. I recommend and endorse both of them and their firm without reservation.
Craig Blau – Darger Errante Yavitz & Blau
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen are experts in asbestos litigation. They provide excellent client care. They are highly professional.
Laraine Pacheco – NYC Asbestos Litigation
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen is an excellent firm. They exhibit the highest level of both ethics and competence. They are 100% committed to their clients.
Bernie Guekguezian – Adler, Cohen, Harvey, Wakeman, Guekguezian, LLP
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
I give Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen my highest endorsement.
Lawrence Cetrulo – Cetrulo LLP
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
I have worked with Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen since 1995. This firm has a strong national reputation prosecuting mesothelioma cases. Their staff is compassionate with the victims of this terrible disease and a strong advocate in Court for their clients. They have successfully litigated cases in both Connecticut and New York for over twenty years. They have earned a strong reputation in the legal community. I can say this with confidence as I have worked with them on countless cases during this time period.
John Comerford – Lipsitz & Ponterio, LLC
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
I have had a longstanding relationship with the attorneys at the Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen NYC office as a regular adversary. The attorneys are zealous and informed advocates for their clients. They are respectful both in the way they speak of and refer to their clients and in the way they deal with the "other side." They are effective in presenting their clients' positions in a light most favorable to the client. I have tremendous respect for these attorneys and consider it a privilege to work alongside them in our ongoing litigation.
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
I work in particular with Attorney Meisenkothen with clients we have in common though in different actions. He and his staff are always responsive and prompt in requests for information. The results they achieve are excellent and their clients are extremely satisfied. I often look to him to for his expertise which he graciously shares.
Carolyn P. Kelly
Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
The Early firm brings a superior level of client service and exceptional results. They have a history of accomplishments couple with the ability to adjust to changes in the litigation. When co counseling with them you get a team approach that brings superior results for the clients. An exceptional law firm with superior attorneys, extremely responsive professionals and results driven. With the Early firm you will get the job done. - Perry Browder
Perry Browder

Rankings

National Rankings

Tier 1
Tier 1 for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs

Regional Rankings

New Haven
Tier 1 for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
Tier 1 for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Tier 1 for Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
Tier 2 for Workers' Compensation Law - Claimants
New York City
Tier 1 for Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
Tier 2 for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs

Practice Areas

The below are areas of legal specialty volunteered by the firm and do not designate a specialty in which a Best Law Firms ranking is held.
  • Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs

Individuals Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®

Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen, LLC has 7 lawyers recognized for individual performance in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. By receiving this Best Lawyers recognition from their peers for their professional excellence, these lawyers made Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen, LLC eligible for evaluation for Best Law Firms rankings. For almost two decades, Best Lawyers has awarded these singular accolades, making them the foundation of our Best Law Firms awards. Read more about our Best Lawyers process here.
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Client Comments

All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.
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Main Location

New York, NY
122 East 42nd Street, Suite 4700
New York, NY 10168
United States
212-986-2233 Get Directions

Office Locations

New Haven, CT
One Century Tower, 11th Floor
265 Church Street
New Haven, CT 06510
United States
203-777-7799 Get Directions

Management and Personnel

Partner
Donni Young
Partner
Chris Meisenkothen
Partner
Mark Bibro
Partner
Robert Sweeney
Partner
Ethan Early
Partner
Jennifer Lucarelli
Partner
Brian Early
Partner
James Early
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