Top best R Lawyers in Albany | 1542 available

Mathew B. Tully is one of Tully Rinckey PLLC’s two founding partners. In 2004, Mat worked with his friend from college, Greg T. Rinckey to establish the foundation of what is today Tully Rinckey PLLC. Mat is one of a small number of lawyers licensed to practice law in three different countries. He is an Attorney and Counselor at Law in New York State and is on the rolls of Solicitors in England and Wales as well as being on the rolls of Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland.. As a practicing Attorney, Mat is one of a small number of Attorneys alive today who has litigated and won before the highest Court in New York State (the New York State Court of Appeals) as well as had a Writ of Certiorari granted and a remand ordered by the Supreme Court of the United States amongst many other appellate victories in various Appellate Courts. While best known as an employment law Attorney, his current focus is helping mid-sized multinational businesses with complex legal issues.. Before launching his legal career in 2003, Mat served for three years in the U.S. Army as a field artillery officer. After suffering from military discrimination at the hands of his civilian employer, Mat went to law school and received his Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School in 2002. While attending law school part time at night he worked in the Legal Department of Morgan Stanley as a paralegal, his office was on the 65th floor of 2 World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. In 2012, Mat received the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained during a suicide bombing while serving in Afghanistan. His service there also afforded him the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Action Badge. His deployment to Afghanistan marked the third time since founding the firm that Mat left his business to selflessly serve the nation.

Maryanne Low-Haviland grew up in Cooperstown, New York. She graduated from Hamilton College in 1988, where she majored in Government and minored in English Literature. She went directly from Hamilton to Albany Law School , graduating in 1991. While Maryanne will always consider Cooperstown in some way to be her “home”, she also found the Capital Region to be a wonderful place to live and, ultimately, decided to remain in the Albany area following law school graduation. Having participated extensively as a successful participant and coach in the Moot Court Program at Albany Law School, Maryanne enjoyed litigation and focused in this area almost immediately upon graduation. She has successfully tried personal injury, discrimination and matrimonial cases over the years on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants.. When Maryanne was offered a position as an attorney in the case management unit at Martin, Harding & Mazzotti, she welcomed the opportunity to combine her litigation and negotiation skills with her desire to have direct client contact and to help clients through difficult periods in their lives. Maryanne is a member of the New York State and Federal Bar Associations.. Maryanne is very involved with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, whose mission is to find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. She lives in Guilderland with her Husband, Charles R. Haviland, Jr., her daughter, Sarah, and her son, Will. Maryanne is an avid equestrian. When she is not in the office, she can often be found at the stable with her daughter, who shares her passion for horses and showing.

Mary T. Colwell (nee Pasqualino) graduated from Albany Law School of University in Albany, New York in 2001 with a concentration in Criminal Law. While at Albany Law School, Mary was a member of the Moot Court Board, the Women's Law Caucus and Vice-President of the Italian-American Law Students Association. Ms. Colwell was admitted to the New Jersey State bar in December of 2001 and the New York State bar in January of 2002. She is also admitted in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York. In May of 2005, Ms. Colwell was selected for admission to the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C.. Ms. Colwell worked for the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office in the Motions and Appeals Bureau, where she acquired prosecutorial experience, upon graduation. She remained in New Jersey for one year, gaining invaluable general practice experience at Hobbie, Corrigan, Bertuccio & Taschy. However, her desire to work in Albany, where she was born and raised, led her the Law Offices of Alice K. Berke, P.C. in 2003, where she concentrated her practice in Matrimonial/Family Law, Real Estate (including real estate closings and landlord-tenant matters), Vehicle and Traffic Law, and Criminal Law.. Ms. Colwell joined her husband, Kevin, at Colwell, Ferrentino & Petroccione, LLP in September of 2008 and is currently a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Capital District Women's Bar Association.  The firm name was subsequently renamed once Ms. Colwell became a partner.. Mary continues to concentrate her practice in Matrimonial/Family Law, Real Estate (including real estate closings and land-lord tenant disputes), Vehicle and Traffic Law, and Criminal Law. However, she is well versed in many general practice areas.

Margie A. Soehl is one of Albany’s few bilingual, English-Spanish speaking attorneys.. A partner with Powers and Santola, Margie focuses her practice on representing seriously and catastrophically injured victims of medical malpractice, construction accidents, motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death, and birth injuries.. Born in Guayaquil, Ecuador, Margie earned her J.D. from Espiritu Santo University of Guayaquil.  While in law school, she interned at Yamaguchi International Law Offices in Osaka, Japan.  After she earned her law degree, she joined the legal advisory team of Ecuadorian President Gustavo Noboa.. In 2003, Margie moved to the United States and currently holds a dual citizenship in Ecuador and the United States.. She received a Masters Degree in Law and Letters from Albany Law School in 2005 and joined Powers and Santola in 2007.  Margie is admitted to practice in the State of New York, Ecuador and the United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern and Western Districts of New York.. Margie is an appointed member of the Committee on Character and Fitness of the Appellate Division, Third Department and serves on the Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commission for the Third Judicial District.  She is a board member on both the Capital District Black and Hispanic Bar Association and the New York Capital Region Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.  She is also active in the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, the New York State Bar Association, the Capital District Women’s Bar Association, the Albany County Bar Association, and Hispanic National Bar Association.. In addition to speaking Spanish and English fluently, she is proficient in Japanese and is learning Italian.

Mackenzie C. Monaco maintains an active litigation practice representing a wide range of clients, from individuals and local businesses to national corporations, in state and federal courts throughout New York. She delivers counseling, risk management, and tort defense services to the hospitality and retail, construction, insurance, and health care industries. She also maintains an active trusts and estates practice.. Mackenzie grew up with a birdseye view of the legal system, watching her father, a part-time town justice, arraign cases from their home. She knew from a young age that she would become an attorney and that she would treat her clients, peers, and the judiciary with the same respect and fairness that she witnessed being delivered in her living room.. When Mackenzie represents you, you will feel the difference. She does so with impeccable skill, intellect, and confidence. She is not simply present but is a presence. Whether it is on a worksite, at the negotiation table, or in the courtroom, Mackenzie is a tough negotiator, relatable communicator, and a staunch client advocate.

Lorraine R. Silverman is a Partner with Copps DiPaola Silverman, PLLC. She practices exclusively in the field of matrimonial and family law and represents individuals in the negotiation and litigation of all family law matters, including, but not limited to divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, domestic violence matters, intimate partner companion animal (“pet”) custody disputes, intimate partner real / personal property disputes, and prenuptial and postnuptial agreements. She has extensive experience representing clients in both Supreme and Family Court. As part of her practice, Ms. Silverman also serves as an Attorney for Children in Albany County. Ms. Silverman was selected as a Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine for 2016 – 2021.. In addition to her private practice, Ms. Silverman serves on a number of Committees, Boards, and participates in other volunteer civic activities throughout the community. For example, Ms. Silverman was to the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Children & the Law where she currently serves as the Committee Chair. In 2021, she was appointed to the New York State Bar Association’s Committee to Review Judicial Nominations. She was also appointed to the Albany County Bar Association’s Board of Directors where she currently serves as the Chair of its Pro Bono Committee. Ms. Silverman serves as a member of the New York State Bar Association’s Family Law Section, a member of the New York State Bar Association’s Family Law Section’s Committee on Domestic Violence, a member of the Cyber & Sexual Assault Task Force, and a member of the Capital District Women’s Bar Association. Finally, Ms. Silverman provides free and reduced fee legal assistance to victims of domestic violence through The Legal Project’s Pro Bono and Reduced Fee Attorney Panel. Copps DiPaola Silverman, PLLC hosts a free legal clinic once per month through The Legal Project on various family law topics, and our Attorneys volunteer multiple times per month at the Albany County Bar Association’s Family Court’s Virtual Help Center to provide free legal advice to litigants in need. In addition, Ms. Silverman served as immediate past-President of the School’s Out, Inc. Board of Directors, which is a before and after school program in the Town of Bethlehem for working parents.. Ms. Silverman has also lectured for Certified Legal Education (CLE) programs sponsored by the Appellate Division Third Judicial Department’s Office of Attorneys for Children, the New York State Bar Association, the Albany County Bar Association, the Empire Justice Center, and The Legal Project. Ms. Silverman has also provided educational trainings for the community on various topics related to matrimonial and family law.. Ms. Silverman also serves her community politically. In 2018, she was elected by the Albany County Democratic Committee to serve on the Executive Board as Treasurer, and she has been a Committee Person for the Bethlehem Democratic Committee since 2017. In 2018, she served as Treasurer for a successful Democratic New York State Supreme Court Judicial Candidate. She served as Chair of the Albany County Democratic Committee’s 2018 Law Committee, and served as the Secretary for the 2018 New York Third Judicial District Convention of the Democratic Party. She currently serves at Co-Chair of the 2021 Albany County Democratic Committee’s Law Committee.. Ms. Silverman graduated cum laude from Ithaca College. She then went on to receive her J.D. degree with a concentration in family and elder law from Albany Law School, where she received the Martin H. Belsky Graduation Prize for Commitment to Public Interest.. Ms. Silverman resides in Altamont, New York with her husband (Adam), and their son and two dogs.

Lois Varughese, Esq. Lois is a graduate of the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University School of Law and graduated from McMaster University, summa cum laude. While at Hofstra, Lois participated in the Criminal Prosecution Practicum Clinic. Here, Lois gained hands-on experience with numerous types of offenses, including misdemeanor violations, and traffic infractions. Lois is particularly focused on assuring all clients receive continuous and comprehensive communication throughout their legal proceedings. She is licensed to practice law in New York. Call Lois now for a free consultation .

Lindsey Cannon Padgett provides experienced representation for Social Security Disability cases, including Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and disability insurance for adults, children, widows and widowers. She works with clients through all stages of the adjudicative process from the administrative to the appellate levels.. Ms. Padgett is a native of Leesburg, Georgia, and received her J.D. from Mercer University’s Walter F. George School of Law in Macon, Georgia. Prior to that, she attended the Georgia Southwestern State University in America, Georgia, earning a BS in psychology.

Linda B. Johnson is a partner at Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP and works out of the Albany office. She is a member of the Litigation, Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation and Construction Law practice groups. Linda initially joined the firm in 2003. She rejoined the firm in 2010 after serving as an appellate court attorney for the New York State Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, Third Judicial Department from 2009-2010. Linda is also the Special Appellate Counsel for Rensselaer County, handling criminal appeals. She has served in this role since September 2016.. Linda focuses her private practice on plaintiff’s personal injury, civil and criminal appeals, construction disputes, Article 81 Guardianship proceedings and general litigation. Linda has extensive in-court trial, motion practice, negotiation and mediation experience, and has written and argued countless appeals.. In October 2015, Linda graduated from the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College in Dubois, Wyoming. She served as a board member to the Trial Lawyers College Alumni Board from October 2015 until November 2018. Linda has lectured on topics such as the use of active listening to improve trial skills for the Academy of Trial Lawyers, Women in the Law for the New York State Bar Association, mechanic’s liens and related considerations for construction industry clients, the litigation of Article 81 Guardianship proceedings, and family business dispute litigation.. Linda has served on the New York State Character & Fitness Committee since April 2011. She is a Past President of the Capital District Women’s Bar Association (CDWBA). She received the Kimberly A. Troisi-Paton Leadership Award from the CDWBA in June 2018 for demonstrating enduring commitment to CDWBA and the community through consistent leadership, perseverance, and selfless dedication to the greater good. Linda has been a delegate to the Women’s Bar Association of the State of New York (WBASNY) for several years, and was a 2018 WBASNY Convention Committee co-chair. Linda serves on the Board of Directors of the Rensselaer County Bar Association and is the alternate delegate to NYSBA. Linda is a member of the Albany County Bar Association and New York State Bar Association.. Linda is a co-founder of the East Greenbush Ski Club, a not-for-profit community organization that brings families together for skiing fun at an affordable cost. She volunteers her time as tennis coach to the local Special Olympics tennis team called the Capital Region Aces, often bringing her two daughters, Haylee (13) and Lindsey (11) with her to help as “kid coaches”. Linda earned her first degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do in June 2018.. Linda maintains a Martindale Hubble rating of AV and an AVVO rating of 5 stars.. Representative reported appellate decisions include People v Greenfield, 167 AD3d 1060 (3d Dept 2018); People v James, 147 AD3d 1211 (3d Dept 2017); People v Lewis, 118 AD3d 1125 (3d Dept 2014); People v Bouton, 107 AD3d 1035 (3d Dept 2013); Satra Realty, LLC v Knovel Corp., 93 AD3d 1128 (3d Dept 2012); People v Leszczynski, 96 AD3d 1162 (3d Dept 2012); Small Bus. Loan Source v 4 Dogs of Syracuse, 81 AD3d 1390 (4th Dept 2011); Brightman v Hackett, 81 AD3d 1200 (3d Dept 2011); Maines Paper & Food Svc. Inc. v Losco Group, Inc., 36 AD3d 1047 (3d Dept 2007); Smith v Genardo, 27 AD3d 821 (3d Dept 2006); LaMonte v County of Broome, 20 AD3d 756 (3d Dept 2005).

Leigh’s practice focuses on commercial litigation and dispute resolution. She also represents national lenders in matters involving complex consumer and commercial bankruptcies.. Leigh has also represented numerous bankruptcy trustees, creditor’s committees, and commercial clients in large liquidation cases dealing with preferences, fraudulent conveyances, and insider transfer recoveries.. Leigh provides counseling on consumer finance regulatory compliance to national lenders. She regularly addresses comprehensive Federal and State regulatory compliance issues related to consumer finance, automotive financing, collections, credit reporting, and governmental investigations and examinations. She assists clients in developing best practices and conducts in-house training.. Leigh works closely with the Legal Aid Society, The Legal Project and is the firm’s coordinator of pro bono services. Leigh was recognized by Upstate New York Super Lawyers® in 2017 and received the Capital District Women’s Bar Association 2009 Pro Bono Award. She also regularly participates in the Credit Abuse Resistance Education (CARE) program, counseling high school and college students about budgeting and the responsible use of credit. Leigh is also an active member of the Capital Region Bankruptcy Bar Association.. Leigh was selected to the Upstate New York Super Lawyers® list issued by Thompson Reuters™.  A description of the selection methodology for Super Lawyers® can be found here.  No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey or any other court.

Lauren has dedicated herself to helping individuals with their family legal matters since 2009.  She has extensive experience representing clients in separation, divorce, child custody, child visitation, paternity, child support, maintenance (alimony), pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, and post-judgment enforcement and modification matters. Lauren is also trained in the practice of Collaborative Divorce - a non-adversarial method to divorce that is focused on achieving a civil, respectful and fair divorce outside of court. Lauren also maintains an active adoption practice as well as an estate planning practice.. Family problems must be resolved quickly, cost-effectively, and in a way that addresses the client's short and long term needs in a practical way. Lauren understands this and works to craft individualized solutions that are practical, realistic, and account for each client's unique facts. Whether the matter is resolved in court or at the negotiation table, Lauren advocates for her clients in a professional and zealous manner while remaining sensitive to the many emotions and concerns that are a natural part of any family issue. She truly enjoys the work she does and the clients she has had the privilege to represent.. Lauren was named to the Super Lawyers list in the area of Family Law in 2014-2019 and has received other awards in recognition of her professionalism and advocacy in the areas of Family and Matrimonial Law.. Lauren's other involvements in the legal and non-legal community include: serving on several committees for the New York State Bar Association, sitting on the Board of the Collaborative Divorce Association of the Capital District and the Board of the Shaker Heritage Society, and volunteering her time as a foster parent for a local dog rescue.. Whenever she has a free moment, Lauren can be found hiking a mountain with her husband, tackling a new home improvement project, or spending time with her beloved rescue dog, Sam.

L.J. D’Arrigo is Partner & Leader of the Immigration Practice at Harris Beach Murtha. With over 250 attorneys in 16 offices across the Northeast, Harris Beach Murtha is a legal powerhouse dating back to 1856 with over 30 major legal practices. L.J. specializes in corporate/professional immigration involving employment-based immigrant/nonimmigrant petitions, as well as family-based immigration. L.J. is an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association where he serves on the national Department of Labor Liaison Committee and is a frequent speaker at the local and national levels on business immigration matters. The AILA DOL Liaison Committee is a highly select group of AILA member attorneys across the country that has a seat at the table with the Department of Labor (DOL) Office of Foreign Labor Certification, DOL Wage and Hour Division (WHD), the Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals (BALCA), and other stakeholder groups to discuss policy issues. L.J. is counsel to the largest system of universities in the U.S., the largest public health care system in the U.S., and the largest commercial landscape company in the U.S. He represents our nation's top employers, including state university & hospital systems, multi-national corporations & seasonal businesses in securing employment-based visas and counseling employers on compliance issues. He maintains expertise in assisting technology companies in developing/managing global mobility programs for 3rd-party placements. He represents companies and research institutions in importing highly-skilled labor to fuel growth. He provides training to employers across the country on I-9 compliance and conducts due diligence reviews for large-scale corporate transactions. L.J. also maintains one of the largest H-2A/H-2B practices in the U.S. He is a nationally recognized leader in the processing of seasonal visas for Ag employers, the landscaping industry, and the thoroughbred racing industry, as well as in providing guidance on compliance issues. L.J. was named one the nation's Top Influencers in Law for 2019 by The Business Journals. He is a 2013 honoree of the Capital Region Business Review's 40 Under Forty award, exemplifying leadership in business and community involvement, and recipient of Super Lawyers'? New York designation (2014-Present). L.J. is past Chair of the Upstate NY Chapter of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the nation's leading Immigration bar association. L.J. also serves on the NYS Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third . was appointed by the Justices of the Appellate Division of the Third Judicial Department of the New York State Supreme Court in 2023 as a member of their Attorney Grievance Committee, which hears complaints of professional misconduct made against attorneys licensed in New York, including those practicing in other states.

Kimberly Sierra maintains a focus on counseling New York-based employers, insurers, and third-party administrators through all stages of the workers’ compensation litigation process; representing them before the New York State Workers’ Compensation Board; and counseling them on risk management, claims-handling, and litigation avoidance. She draws on over a decade of experience handling complex insurance-related litigation in New York and Arizona.. Kim earned her bachelor’s at Arizona State University, graduating cum laude. She went on to earn her law degree at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, and also completed the Hofstra University School of Law Summer School in Nice, France, where she studied Comparative Constitutional Law under U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Kevin F. McCane graduated from Albany Law School in 1988 and was admitted to practice in New York in 1989. He taught Workers' Compensation Law in New York for Cornell University's School of Industrial and Labor Relations' Albany Extension Office from 1992 to 2002. He currently speaks at workers' compensation law seminars for the New York State Correctional Officers and Police Benevolent Association.

Kelly is also active in the East Greenbush School District community, serving as an active member and co-vice president of the Donald P. Sutherland PTO.  She serves on the Board of Directors of the Brain Injury Association of New York State and is a member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, the Capital District Women’s Bar Association, and the Bar Associations of New York State, Albany County and Rensselaer County.

Kelly has been practicing law for 23 years and has brought more than 25 cases to jury verdicts with a greater than 90% success rate. She is passionate about creating equal opportunities in the workplace and is determined to fight for all employees. In addition, Kelly is a Board Advisor for the Albany Therapeutic Riding Center— a nonprofit organization that provides equine programs for people with physical and emotional disabilities. Kelly also volunteers with The Legal Project dedicating her time to the legal needs of the most vulnerable members of the Capital Region.. Over the last decade, Kelly has developed a practice focused on employment law. Her caseload has included representing employees that have experienced discrimination, sexual harassment, USERRA violations, and NYS and federal wage and hour violations. Her cases are filed in both federal and state courts in New York State as well as with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), The New York Division of Human Rights (NYSDHR), the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”). Kelly is proud to have worked with multiple female law enforcement officers fighting to shatter some of the thickest glass ceilings in the public workforce.

Kathleen is an associate with O'Connell & Aronowitz, P.C.'s Health Law department.  She joined the firm as law clerk in 2014.. Before joining O’Connell and Aronowitz, Kathleen was a law clerk in Counsel’s Office at the New York State Office of Medicaid Inspector General, as well as an intern in the Office of Counsel to the New York State Governor.  Prior to law school, Kathleen was a Project Coordinator and Administrator for two health care consulting firms located in Washington, D.C. and Clifton Park, N.Y., as well as a Project Administrator with the New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Early Intervention.. Kathleen is a graduate of Albany Law School and St. John’s University.  While in law school, Kathleen was honored with the Class of 2014 Kate Stoneman Student Award and The Student Service Award. She was also a 2014 finalist in both the Donna Jo Morse Client Counseling and Negotiations Competitions.

Jonathan D. Warner is the co-founder and managing partner at Warner & Warner, PLLC in Albany New York. Jonathan focuses his practice in the areas of Consumer Bankruptcy Law, Foreclosure Defense Law, Consumers’ Rights Law, and Mortgage Modification assistance.. Prior to attending law school, Jonathan graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from SUNY Albany in 2007. Thereafter, Jonathan graduated from the Michigan State University College of Law in 2011.. Additionally, Jonathan had the privilege of serving as a summer judicial intern with the U.S. District Court and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of New York, where he clerked for Hon. Lawrence E. Kahn and thereafter for Hon. Robert E. Littlefield, Jr., respectively.. Jonathan is passionate about providing pro bono services to members of the Capital Region community. In recognition of his pro bono efforts, Jonathan was awarded the 2014 Kurt Clobridge Memorial Award for Pro Bono Service by The Legal Project. Jonathan was also awarded the 2013 and 2014 Top Contributor Award from .. In his spare time, Jonathan enjoys spending time with his wife, Meg, and their two spoiled cats, Master and Margarita. When he isn’t at work, Jonathan enjoys reading, hiking, and riding his motorcycle.

John R. McFadden devotes the majority of his law practice to vigorously defending those charged with criminal offenses. John has representing clients in virtually all levels of charges, including narcotics offenses, violent crimes and white collar crimes.  John practices in both New York State and Federal courts.  John prides himself on providing his clients prompt, personal attention and fighting for their rights.. On a personal level, John is happily married and has a son.  He is a long suffering Jets fan and enjoys golfing in his spare time.

John Powers has represented the interests of catastrophically injured individuals for more than 45 years. For more than 30 consecutive years, he has been selected by a nationwide vote as one of "The Best Lawyers in America" for his representation of plaintiffs in three separate areas of practice: “medical malpractice law”; “product liability litigation”; and “personal injury litigation”.In 2013, John was named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in America" in the field of medical malpractice law - Plaintiffs.In 2012, the New York State Legislature recognized John’s lifetime of professional and community service by a Legislative Resolution which declared: “Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individual for the benefit of others that John K. Powers has displayed throughout his life”.For more than a decade, his firm, Powers & Santola, has repeatedly been selected by US News and World Report as one of the “Best Law Firms in America” for its representation of plaintiffs in medical malpractice, product liability and personal injury cases. He is listed in the “Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers”. For more than a decade: John has been repeatedly selected for inclusion in New York Super Lawyers; named one of the New York Area’s Top Lawyers in New York Magazine; and selected as one of The Top 100 Trial Lawyers in New York State by The National Trial Lawyers Association.A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Albany Law School, John is a nationally recognized authority on the medical and legal aspects of catastrophic injury. He is the Co-Founder and a former President of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers; a former President of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association; a former President of the Capital District Trial Lawyers Association; a former Chair of the Trial Lawyers Section of the New York State Bar Association and has served as a member of the House of Delegates of the NYSBA. John is a Past-President of the prestigious Melvin M. Belli Society. He served as a member of the national Board of Governors of the American Association for Justice [AAJ] (formerly known as the Association of Trial Lawyers of America [ATLA]) for fifteen years and served two terms as a member of the association's Executive Committee. He is one of only 43 lawyers in the nation to be granted the status of "Life Member" in AAJ. John is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Academy of Trial Advocacy, has been awarded the rank of Advocate by the American Board of Trial Advocates and is a Charter Senior Life Fellow of the Foundation of the American Board of Trial Advocates.In addition to his service to the legal profession, John served as First Vice-President and General Counsel of the New York State Brain Injury Association and has been granted Life Membership in both that organization and the National Brain Injury Association. A Co-Founder of the National College of Advocacy and former President of the New York State Trial Lawyers Institute, John is in frequent demand as a speaker, particularly in the area of advocating on behalf of individuals who have suffered catastrophic injuries. In the past, he has served as a chairperson or lecturer at more than 450 programs throughout the United States and Canada. John has published many books, chapters and articles on legal issues, including a chapter in The National Head Injury Foundation Guide to the: Analysis, Understanding and Presentation of Cases Involving Traumatic Brain Injury.

Joel joined Weatherford Thompson in 2002 after working one year with a law firm in Eugene, Oregon. A Washington state native before moving to Oregon in 1998, Joel utilizes his experience to assist individuals, businesses, developers, property owners, employers, and farmers in the Linn and Benton Counties. Joel is active in the Linn County Bar and the state bars, serving as a member of the Oregon House of Delegates. He also volunteers for the Mid-Willamette YMCA, the Corvallis Community Children’s Centers, Peer Court, as well as several other smaller non-profit organizations.. On his off time, Joel can usually be found herding his three small children around, snowboarding, hiking, camping, biking, and fishing. He also enjoys cooking, and most of all, spending time with his wife, Ketty.

Joe graduated from Willlamette University College of Law in 2013. While in law school he served as editor of the Supreme Court Service of Willamette’s online legal journal. Additionally, he worked in Willamette’s legal clinic focusing on political asylum cases and co-authoring a report on Native American sex trafficking in Oregon.. Joe became a lawyer to help people. With a focus on criminal defense and estate planning he is able to do just that. Joe understands that individuals come to see an attorney at difficult times in their lives. He does everything in his power to ensure that their case is resolved as quickly and painlessly as possible. He believes in the legal system and believes that everyone should have an advocate while facing the daunting legal landscape.

Jo Ann E. Coughtry is a seasoned family law attorney with over three decades of experience representing clients exclusively in Matrimonial and Family Law across New York State. Based in Albany, she is known for her adept legal acumen in handling complex divorce cases, child custody disputes, asset division, and support matters. Whether a case is contested or uncontested, Jo Ann provides personalized counsel and strategic advocacy to achieve her clients’ goals while maintaining the privacy and dignity of the family.Jo Ann earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from Russell Sage College (1987) and her Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School (1991). She is a member of the New York State Bar Association and previously served as an Assistant Public Defender for Albany County, where she represented indigent clients in criminal matters.Highly regarded for her knowledge of divorce law, Jo Ann is an experienced litigator and negotiator who has resolved countless family law disputes. She approaches each case with a tailored strategy, recognizing that some matters are best resolved through negotiation while others require courtroom advocacy. Her ultimate goal is to guide clients through difficult transitions with respect, professionalism, and a focus on achieving lasting solutions.

Jennifer A. Cusack is a partner at Hinman, Howard & Kattell LLP and works out of the Albany office. She is a member of the Elder Law & Guardianship and Wills, Trusts, & Estates practice groups. Jen focuses her practice on Medicaid planning and estate planning and administration. She has extensive experience advising clients how to protect their assets in light of long term health care costs. Jennifer has prepared countless Medicaid applications to enable clients to qualify for Medicaid both in the community and in nursing homes. She assists clients with creating and administering Special Needs Trusts in order to enable disabled individuals to preserve government benefits and frequently works with the parents of disabled children on their estate plans. Jen also helps clients to qualify as the guardian of individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities.. A life long resident of the Capital Region, Jennifer is an active member of the scholarship committee of the Holy Cross Club of Northeastern New York and serves as a member of the Board of Directors of The Arc of Rensselaer County.

Jeffrey J. Sherrin, President of Albany, NY-based O'Connell & Aronowitz, is an accomplished litigator for health care, commercial, and employment matters. His national health law practice principally represents providers and their trade associations. His clients include hospitals, clinical laboratories, varied health care providers, nursing homes, home health care agencies and adult care facilities.. Jeff practices in all federal and state courts, and before all federal and state health care regulatory agencies. He has successfully represented health care clients in two appeals before the United States Supreme Court.. He actively represents clients in all types of healthcare litigation, including criminal, civil and administrative fraud and abuse investigations, Medicare, Medicaid and private insurer audits, and commercial litigation. He also represents providers in professional discipline and regulatory enforcement matters.. In the area of Employment Law, Jeff obtained a $15.4 million jury verdict for an individual plaintiff in a sexual harassment trial.  He also recently recovered over $5 million for a group of clinical laboratories from the State of New York, for excessive license fees, and over $5 million for an individual clinical laboratory from a major health insurance company for wrongful denials of claims.  Jeffrey has also successfully represented shareholder interests in major class action litigation.