Cross & Simon, LLC : Attorneys

Christopher P. Simon’s practice includes civil and commercial litigation, corporate bankruptcy law, work-outs, creditors’ rights in bankruptcy, and commercial transactions. Prior to joining founding partner Richard H. Cross, Jr., Mr. Simon worked at The Bayard Firm in Wilmington, Delaware. He began his career as a trial attorney with the Office of the Public Defender for the State of Delaware.

Mr. Simon graduated from Washington & Lee University in Lexington, Virginia in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts degree and received his Juris Doctor from Widener University School of Law in Wilmington, Delaware. At Widener, he served on the law review for the Delaware Journal of Corporate Law.

Before beginning his legal career, Mr. Simon worked as a journalist. His articles have appeared in The News Journal, The Baltimore Sun and The Wall Street Journal, where he worked as an intern staff reporter. Mr. Simon is a Commissioner for the Wilmington Housing Authority and a volunteer guardian for the Office of the Child Advocate. He is a member of the Delaware State Bar Association, the Delaware Trial Lawyers Association, the American Bankruptcy Institute, and the American Bar Association. He lives in Wilmington with his wife Laura, son Christopher, and daughter Alexandra.

Tara M. DiRocco focuses her practice on commercial litigation and real estate transactions. Tara is experienced in real estate litigation, commercial transactions, and landlord/tenant matters, including lease negotiations, reviews, and evictions.

Tara graduated cum laude from Widener University School of Law and obtained her B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of Delaware. At Widener, Tara was a member of the Moe Levine Trial Advocacy Honor Society and was enrolled in the Delaware Civil Clinic in which she represented indigent clients in connection with family law issues, concentrating on domestic violence matters.

Tara is admitted to practice before the Delaware Supreme Court and the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. She is a member of the Delaware State Bar Association and the American Bar Association. Tara is a volunteer guardian ad litem through the Delaware Office of the Child Advocate.

Richard H. Cross, Jr. is the founder and managing member of the firm. Before establishing Cross & Simon in 2002 he was a commercial and bankruptcy litigator with Young, Conaway, Stargatt & Taylor, a leading general litigation and bankruptcy firm in Wilmington. Prior to that, he was a litigation attorney with Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell. Mr. Cross began his legal career as law clerk for the Honorable Jerome O. Herlihy of the Superior Court of the State of Delaware.

Mr. Cross received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Binghamton University in Binghamton, New York in 1988 and his J.D. from the Law School at the college of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia in 1996. Between college and law school, he served as an officer in the United States Navy where his primary responsibility was as a navigator on the F-14 Tomcat. Among other accomplishments, Mr. Cross earned two strike-flight air medals for his participation in Desert Shield and Desert Storm where he flew more than 40 combat missions over Iraq.

Mr. Cross is a regular lecturer on continuing legal education topics relating to commercial and civil litigation. Most recently, he was a speaker for classes on Delaware Creditor’s Rights and Commercial Landlord/Tenant Law. He lives in Wilmington with his wife, Carey, and his sons, Will, Henry and George.

Amy E. Evans currently focuses her practice on commercial litigation, estate & trust litigation and guardianship matters. Ms. Evans holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Temple University and earned her J.D. degree from Widener University School of Law where she received top honors for course work in International Corporate Finance and Constitutional Law. She is a member of the Delaware Bar, the New York State Bar, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Ms. Evans served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Susan C. Del Pesco of the Superior Court of the State of Delaware. She was also an assistant City Solicitor for the city of Wilmington, where she served as counsel to the Departments of Public Works, Planning, Real Estate and Housing and the Design Review and Preservation Commission.

Ms. Evans is a member of the Board of Directors of Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research, Inc., a non-profit wildlife rehabilitation organization. Ms. Evans also donates time to the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation where she is a volunteer crewmember on the tall ship Kalmar Nyckel.

Ryan M. Ernst joined the firm in 2008 and focuses his practice on commercial and civil litigation. He also has experience in bankruptcy litigation, business planning, products liability, and environmental litigation. Ryan was admitted to practice in Delaware in 2006.

Ryan obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from the University of Delaware, and an M.B.A. and J.D. from Temple University, where he also received the Arthur Burns Memorial Prize in Real Estate Law.

Ryan is admitted to practice in Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He is also a member of the Delaware State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.

Sean T. O'Kelly practices in all areas of litigation, including patent and commercial litigation, as well as personal injury matters. Before joining Cross & Simon, Sean was an attorney with Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell, practicing primarily in the Intellectual Property Litigation Group. Prior to that, Sean was a Lead Structural Engineer at Boeing, working on such programs as the Apache AH-64, 757, 767, and 777 commercial jet aircraft.

Sean received B.S.E. and B.A. degrees from the University of Connecticut, an M.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and a J.D. degree, magna cum laude, from Temple University Beasley School of Law, where he received the Raynes, McCarty Prize for scholarly achievement in the law, and the Kozart Prize for excellence in products liability.

Since joining Cross & Simon, Sean has represented clients in a variety of matters. He practices in all courts in Delaware. Representative cases of Sean’s include:

Ronald A. Katz Technology Licensing, L.P. v. Rite Aid Corp., et al., C.A. No. 06-545 (GMS)
CVS Corp. v. Ronald A. Katz Technology Licensing, L.P., C.A. No. 06-775 (GMS)
Lucent Technologies Inc., et al., v. Microsoft Corp., C.A. No. 06-CV-0684 H (CAB)
Alcatel USA Resources, Inc. v. Microsoft Corp., C.A. No. 6:06-CV-499 (E.D. Texas)
Russell Crane & Jennifer Crane v. The Home Depot, et al., C.A. No. 06C-03-034 (JTV)
Steven Long v. The Home Depot, Inc., C.A. No. 06C-08-018 (JEB)
Donna Taylor, et al. v. The Home Depot, Inc., et al., C.A. No. 05C-06-147 (FSS)
Alliance Contractors, Inc. v. Miles Properties, Inc., C.A. No. 06L-12-082 (JOH)

Michael J. Joyce focuses his practice on civil and commercial litigation, bankruptcy litigation and creditors’ rights in bankruptcy. Michael also has experience in products liability matters and toxic tort/environmental litigation.

Michael received his Bachelor of Arts degree, with honors, from the University of Delaware, where he studied Political Science and History. He received his Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law. At Widener, Michael participated in the Intensive Trial Advocacy Program and in the Delaware Civil Clinic, where he represented indigent clients in connection with family law issues, concentrating on domestic violence matters.

Michael is admitted to practice before the Delaware Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He is a member of the Delaware State Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Michael lives in Newark, Delaware with his wife Jennifer, daughter Kelsey and son Caelan.

Kevin S. Mann joined Cross & Simon, LLC in 2006, practicing primarily in the areas of commercial litigation and bankruptcy, representing debtors, creditors and landlords in all aspects of Chapter 7 and Chapter 11 bankruptcies. Kevin also has experience in business planning, estate planning and estate administration.

Kevin received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Delaware, where he studied English. He received his J.D. degree from Rutgers University School of Law. Before law school, Kevin worked as a computer records specialist for Corporation Service Company and the University of Delaware.

Kevin is admitted to practice before the Delaware Supreme Court, the United States District Court for the District of Delaware, the Supreme Court of New Jersey, and the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. He is a member of the Delaware State Bar Association and a volunteer attorney guardian ad litem for the Office of the Child Advocate. Kevin lives in historic New Castle, Delaware with his wife, Amy, and their miniature dachshund, Penny.

Patrick M. Brannigan joined Cross & Simon, LLC in May of 2009. Prior to joining the firm, Patrick worked as a Deputy Attorney General for the State of Delaware for nearly four years, where he practiced as a trial attorney in the Criminal Division. Patrick has handled hundreds of trials, including misdemeanor and felony trials and is intimately familiar with the workings of the Superior Court for the State of Delaware. He has handled numerous jury trials. At his last post, Patrick worked in the Felony Trial Unit handling a variety of felony cases in the Major Crimes section of the unit.

Patrick was admitted to the Delaware Bar in 2006.

Patrick obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from Saint Joseph’s University, and received his Juris Doctorate, with honors, from Widener University School of Law. At Widener, Patrick participated in the Harrisburg Civil Law Clinic where he represented indigent clients on a variety of matters including bankruptcies, simple divorces and other financial matters.