Frank J. Ciano

Frank J. Ciano

Partner

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Frank Ciano is a partner in the firm's White Plains office. His educational background, professional experience, skills and experience in international litigation combine to give Frank a distinct perspective that enhances his service to clients.

Clients with operations around the world benefit from Frank's ability to leverage his technical knowledge and international law experience in pursuit of the most favorable results. He concentrates his practice on the representation of international corporations and insurance carriers in products liability, commercial, corporate, regulatory and intellectual property litigation. He is also a registered patent attorney.

Due to the risks and expenses presented to a company as a result of a lawsuit, Frank’s practice is now focused on assisting his clients in avoiding the risk of litigation and, in particular, minimizing their exposure to products liability claims and commercial litigation. Less litigation translates directly into tremendous cost savings to a company.

In this endeavor, Frank assists his clients in preparing owners manuals, warnings, instructions, websites and warranties so they can more effectively convey safety information to their customers. In addition, he assists clients in the preparation of commercial agreements and contracts and in planning all other aspects of their businesses to minimize their exposure to a commercial dispute. 

Frank also assists international corporations to comply with the various requirements of the European Union Product Liability and Safety Directives, China's Product Quarterly Law and Compulsory Certification Mark. In order to better serve his clients, Frank works with a network of product liability attorneys in Europe, Asia and South America. Fluent in Italian, Frank has presented to numerous corporate organizations throughout Europe and Asia, including conferences in cities such as Milan and Torino, Italy; Barcelona, Spain; and Beijing and Shanghai, China.

In each step of his education and career, Frank has shaped a way of thinking that emphasizes the importance of detail, precision and steadfast preparation. He received a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, cum laude, with a minor in computer science, from Manhattan College in 1986. Upon graduation, he worked as an aerospace engineer, designing wing and fuselage structures for air and spacecraft. He then attended Hofstra University School of Law, where he earned his juris doctorate, with distinction, in 1990. 

Honors
  • Selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition
  • Selected for inclusion in New York Super Lawyers, as published in the New York Times
Professional Affiliations
  • Product Liability Advisory Council (PLAC)
  • Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel: Vice Chair, Products Liability Committee; International Committee Member; Corporate Counsel Initiatives Committee Member
  • Defense Research Institute: Commercial Litigation; Drug and Medical Device; International Law (Committee Vice Chair); Product Liability (International Legal Issues Marketing Liaison) 
  • International Bar Association
  • ASTM Standards Subcommittee F08.10 for Bicycles: Former Membership Secretary; Former Subcommittee Chair, Warnings and Instructions 
  • Columbian Lawyers Association of Westchester County
  • American Bar Association
Admitted to Practice
  • New York 
  • Connecticut, 1990 
  • Pennsylvania
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Languages
  • Italian
Education
  • Hofstra University School of Law, Hempstead, New York, J.D., with distinction, 1990
  • Manhattan College, Riverdale, New York, Bachelor of Engineering Degree, cum laude, May 1986 (Major: Mechanical Engineering, Minor: Computer Science)
Publications
Presentations
  • Moderator, “Best Practices for In-House Counsel Who Manage Corporate Risk and Litigation – Smart Writing”, Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, 2010 Corporate Counsel Symposium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, September 2010
  • Presenter, “Post-Sale Duty to Warn,” Door & Access Systems Manufacturers Association International, Chicago, Illinois, June 2010
  • Presenter, “Product Liability Litigation in the United States and Recalls,” presented to Tenneco-Marzocchi, March 2010
  • Contributing Author, “Strumenti Giuridici per un Mercato Globale”, Overview of Potential Liability under the theories of products liability, warranty, deceptive and unfair trade practices and contract law in Italy, The United Arab Emirates, China, England and The United States and including review of The recoverable damages affecting the yachting industry , November, 2009
  • Presenter, “Saving Money Through Products Liability,” Interbike International Trade Expo, Las Vegas, Nevada, September, 2009
  • Presenter, “Product Liability Litigation in the United States; Recalls”, Tenneco, Inc., March, 2009
  • Moderator, "Unfamiliar Territory: Foreign Liability Standards and How They May Impact Your Company," Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, 5th Annual Corporate Counsel Symposium, "Circling the Wagons, Protecting the Company from Outside Attacks," September 2008
  • Presenter, "Product Liability, Risk Avoidance and CPSC Compliance", presented to China Pacific Property Insurance Co., Ltd., ING/Pacific-Antai Life Insurance Co., Ltd., Federal Insurance Company Shanghai Branch, Houlder China Insurance Brokers Ltd., Crawford Tino Insurance Surveyors & Adjusters Co., Ltd., AIG General Insurance Company China Limited and Generali China Insurance Co., Ltd. Beijing and Shanghai, China, February 2008
  • Program Moderator, "Expectations for Depositions in Foreign Jurisdictions," DRI International Law Committee Webinar, September 2008  
  • Speaker, "Taming The Litigation Beast," and "Examination of Foreign Product Liability Directives and Their Effect on US Corporations," Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, 4th Annual Corporate Counsel Symposium, September 2007
  • Presenter, "Product Liability Law and Litigation, Accident Investigation and Strategies to Minimize Product Liability Cost," presented to Associazione Piccole, July 2007, Rovigo, Italy
  • Presenter, "Developing Liability Issues in Europe and China," presented at the Manufacturers Alliance / MAPI Annual Product Liability Conference, Dallas, Texas, May 2007
  • Presenter, “Challenges for Lawyers in Dealing with International Product Liability Cases,” Defense Research Institute’s International Specialized Litigation Group, February 2007, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Presenter, “Product and Machinery Safety in Europe,” presented to the Weatherford International Ltd. Group, February 2007, Houston, Texas
  • Presenter, “Product Liability Law and Litigation in the United States and Product Recalls – Fundamentals and Coverage Issues,” presented to Zurich Corporate Global France, January 2007, Paris, France and Societa Reale Mutua di Assicurazioni, January 2007, Torino, Italy
  • Program Moderator, "Meeting Today's Discovery Challenges; Controlling Discovery and Preventing Abuse, New Discovery Challenges and Developments," Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel's Corporate Counsel Symposium, September 2006
  • Presenter, "Do Not Abuse Potential Clients, Existing Clients, or the Jury," Defense Research Institute's Specialized Litigation Group - Discovery Abuse, Products Liability Mega Conference, February 2006
  • Presenter, "U.S.A. - Europe Product Recalls; Two Different Worlds," Zurich International Italia S.p.A., Milan, Italy, February 2006
  • Presenter, "Effective Use of In-House Engineering Experts," Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Trial Tactics/Products Liability Section, Winter Meeting, March 2006
  • Program Moderator, "Pre-Trial Strategies - Reduce the Risks Before the Jury is Seated," Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel's Symposium, Best Practices for Litigation Management, Controlling the Risks, the Exposure and the Costs, September 2005
  • Presenter, "United States Product Liability in Court - A Workshop Obtained from Reality," Presentation to Zurich S.p.A., Milan, Italy, April 2005
  • Author, "Accident and Event Data Recording: An International Review of Legal and Political Implications," FDCC Quarterly, Vol. 55, No. 3, Spring 2005
  • Program Moderator, "Important Aspects of Discovery to Consider When Evaluating Your Case for Mediation," Discovery Abuse Specialized Litigation Group Program Moderator, Defense Research Institute Products Liability Conference, February 2005
  • Presenter, "European Directives - The Protector of the Consumer," Association of Equipment Manufacturers Conference, January 2005
  • Directive 2001/95/CE of the European Parliament: The New "Umbrella" Directive Concerning Consumer Protection. Preparation of presentation to the Joint International FDCC/DRI Conference, May 2004, Barcelona, Spain
  • Directive 2001/95/CE of the European Parliament: The New "Umbrella" Directive Concerning Consumer Protection. Preparation of presentation to the Joint International FDCC/DRI Conference, May 2004, Barcelona, Spain
  • Program Moderator, "Discovery Abuse Specialized Litigation Group," Defense Research Institute Products Liability Conference, Discovery Issues and Abuses - The International Perspective, February 2004
  • Presenter, "Insurance Coverage and Products Liability Issues in the United States," Presentation to Zurich S.p.A., Milan, Italy, February 2004
  • Presenter, "Products Liability Law and Litigation in the United States, and the Development of a Products Liability Prevention Program," presentation to ACIMALL (European Trade Group for Manufacturers of Woodworking Machines), February 2004, Milan, Italy
  • Co-Author, "Expert Discovery, Depositions and Motions to Exclude Experts," Chapter 6, Preparing for and Trying the Civil Lawsuit, second edition, New York State Bar Association, 2004
  • Presenter, TREAD Act, "Transportation Recall Enhancement Accountability and Documentation Act: Its Obligations and Strategies to Fully Comply," presented to ANCMA Association Nazionale Ciclo Motociclo Accessori, May 2003
  • Program Moderator, "Discovery Abuse Specialized Litigation Group," Defense Research Institute Products Liability Conference, February 2003
  • Presenter, "Complexity of Compliance with European Liability and Product Safety Directives," presented to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers Conference, January 2003
  • Presenter, "Product Liability," Agricultural Equipment Technology Conference, February 2002
  • Program Moderator, "Document Retention - I Know They Want to Hang Me, But Do I Have To Bring the Rope," Defense Research Institute, February 2002
  • Presenter, "How Product Safety Stands Up to the Litigation Process in North America and Europe," Equipment Manufacturers Institute, October 2001
  • Presenter, "The Accident Investigation, Success Without the Discovery Nightmare," Defense Research Institute, February 2001
  • Presenter, "Product Performance Evaluation and Investigation System," Equipment Manufacturers Institute, October 2000
  • Presenter, "Into the New Millennium: Satellite Claims," Excess Surplus Lines Claims Association, October 1999
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