Cooperstown Lawyers

April is a Partner at Whiteman Osterman Hanna LLP. With over 20 years of experience, she is a seasoned litigator and trial lawyer. Her practice focuses in the areas of Matrimonial and Family Law, and Personal Injury including divorce, prenuptial and post-nuptial agreements, separation agreements, custody, family offenses and child support. April received her B.A., cum laude, from the State University at Albany in 1998. Her J.D. was earned, cum laude, from Albany Law School in 2001. April is admitted to practice in the United States Supreme Court, United States Court of Appeals For the Second Circuit, United States District...

Michelle practices exclusively in the field of matrimonial and family law, concentrating on matrimonial and family law, custody, domestic violence, and interstate issues. She has extensive experience representing clients in both Supreme and Family Court.

JULIE V. MERSEREAU, ESQ. focuses her practice on Collaborative Family Law and Divorce Mediation. MEDIATION provides assistance to couples as they negotiate towards the resolution of divorce, separation, reconciliation, parenting and other family issues. Mediation is a cooperative settlement process entered into voluntarily. The mediator acts as a neutral professional who helps the participants make practical, informed decisions to resolve their differences. This process encourages the participants to reach a voluntary agreement that is mutually satisfactory. The goal is to accomplish a “win – win” outcome wherein both parties have their needs and goals addressed and are “okay”...

Benjamin Rabin was admitted to practice law in NY in 1994. After a brief stint as a public defender in Syracuse, NY, he worked for a small practice in Syracuse where he helped start the personal injury department. From there, Ben was hired as counsel for Cigna Insurance Company, and he handled cases all across New York, defending Cigna Insureds who were sued.

In 1999, Ben went back to his passion of representing injured people, working for a personal injury firm in Syracuse. He did that exclusively for over a decade, along the way handling major cases, and great numbers of...

Ted is the Chair for the State of New York (Northern and Western Districts) for the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys. I am the Managing Attorney for the Bankruptcy Law Center. We have offices in Syracuse and White Plains, New York. After I graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Economics I went to the State University of New York at Buffalo, where I got not only my law degree by also my Master of Arts Degree in Economics. Rather than jump right into private practice I decided to voluntarily give back to my country by joining the U.S....

Attorney Goldenberg is the founder of the New York law firm, the Law Office of Simon Goldenberg, PLLC. Mr. Goldenberg acknowledges how stressful it is to be in a position of financial difficulty, and he strives to help every client obtain relief from their debts. Whether you are considering filing for bankruptcy or being harassed by debt collectors, you can trust that Attorney Goldenberg will provide you with trusted counsel and an effective solution. To find out more about retaining Mr. Goldenberg’s representation, contact the firm today!

Nick is a lifelong resident of Syracuse, and of the City’s “Northside.” A graduate of Henninger High School, Nick holds a Bachelor of Science Degree (summa cum laude) in Political Science from Brockport State University, in Brockport, New York, and a Juris Doctor Degree from Western New England College, School of Law, in Springfield, Massachusetts. Nick began his legal career in 1986 by serving as a Deputy County Attorney with the Onondaga County Department of Law, where he prosecuted child abuse and neglect cases. He then went on to serve for 16 years as an Assistant District Attorney with the...

Bill Sipser has been a leading practitioner in the area of Labor Law and Employment Law Discrimination for almost thirty years. His practice is focused on representing clients in age discrimination, race discrimination, disability discrimination, and other matters involving employee rights. Bill has extensive litigation experience in state and federal courts, and before several governmental agencies involving representation of individuals and labor unions. Bill has prosecuted significant cases, including appeals before the Appellate Division of the State of New York as well as the federal Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He argued a critical employment discrimination issue before the...

Brent Xavier has been President at Anelli Xavier, since partnering with Tom Anelli in 2006. Over the year, he has helped bring in many former prosecutors and experienced criminal litigators together to form what he believes is the most powerful team of DWI defense lawyers in New York State. His goal is to make sure his team protects clients from the serious consequences of DWI charges. His firm philosophy is that as a whole, individual efforts add up to something bigger collectively for our clients in form of great representation. Brent Xavier received his B.A. degree from Cornell University...

As a Partner in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Binghamton office, Kevin focuses his practice on real estate law and trust and estate law. He represents buyers, sellers and lenders in real estate transactions, and he appears before courts for out-of-area landlords in landlord-tenant disputes. Additionally, he works with clients on matters involving wills and estates.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Kevin operated his own real estate practice in Binghamton for more than 20 years. As part of his practice, Kevin is as an authorized agent for Stewart Title Insurance Company. He previously worked at several Binghamton-area law firms, which gave him...

I was born and raised in Ellenville, New York, and in 2015, I moved to New York City to begin my legal career. After living and working in the city for five years, I decided it was time to return home and establish my roots in a community that is growing and evolving. Ellenville has transformed into a vibrant and diverse village, and I love being part of its dynamic change while providing legal services to the community. My passion lies in helping entrepreneurs set up their new businesses for success. Starting a business for the first time can be intimidating,...

I am a graduate of Wesleyan University and the Boston University School of Law. During my career as an attorney, prior to my current solo practive, I have worked as a government regulatory trial attorney for the State Public Service Commission, an in house counsel for a Fortune 100 corporation, and as a partner or counsel for a several Albany and Syracuse based medium sized law firms. I am committed to helping people and small businesses with their legal problems at a reasonable, fixed "no surprises" rate not based on the common "hourly billing" model. I am...

I began my career in 1994 at the City of Syracuse Office of the Corporation Counsel representing the City in workers' compensation matters. I joined the firm of McDonough, Digby and Leiter in 1997, and ultimately formed Leiter and Brune in 2005. In 2006 I joined the firm of Wolff, Goodrich and Goldman specializing in New York Workers' Compensation matters, and was named a partner in 2008. In 2014 I formed The Brune Law Office and now dedicate the firm to representing injured workers.

Michael O’Leary, Esq. devotes his entire practice to consumer bankruptcy law, handling cases under Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 for individual persons, married couples and small businesses. In addition to having filed several thousand consumer bankruptcy cases for clients and having counseled many thousand more, Michael O’Leary served as a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Trustee in the Poughkeepsie (NY) Bankruptcy Court for seventeen (17) years (i.e. 1994 thru 2011), and administered well over ten thousand (10,000) Chapter 7 cases while serving in said capacity. Mr. O’Leary has established a well-deserved reputation as an attorney who capably and successfully represents his clients...

Most people never imagine that they will be arrested and charged with a crime and assume that anyone who is arrested must be a criminal. The truth is that anyone can be arrested. A mistaken identification, a misunderstanding or dispute with the police or another party, even simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time can lead to being taken into custody by the police and charged with an offense. Being arrested can be one of the scariest moments in anyone's life. Suddenly your liberty is taken away and you may face the prospect...

Jim Hacker is a 1981 graduate of Hamilton College and a 1984 graduate of Albany Law School. He is a member of the Hamilton College Board of Trustees and is The Chair of the Albany Law Board of Trustees.

He is an elected Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in North America. The College is comprised of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada and membership is by invitation only. He is also an elected fellow of the International College of Trial Lawyers whose membership is limited to...

Teresa G. Donnellan is the managing partner of DONNELLAN & KNUSSMAN, PLLC. Attorney Donnellan is a graduate of Albany Law School and has more than 25 years experience in matrimonial and family law, both in litigated court proceedings and collaborative law matters. Teresa has been a member of the Saratoga County and Warren County Attorney for Children panels throughout her career in the Capital District and served as the Saratoga County Attorney for the Child Liaison. Teresa is an active member of multiple area organizations such as: the American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, the Saratoga County Bar...

Sam Breslin represents both individual and corporate clients in a variety of matters, from state and federal criminal defense to personal injury and complex commercial litigation. Criminal: Sam represents clients in all criminal matters including DWI/DUI charges, as well as all other violations, misdemeanors and felonies in federal, state and local courts. Many criminal charges, no matter how minor, carry the risk of long-term consequences. In defending his clients, Sam strives to make them aware of these collateral consequences and craft a defense strategy to minimize them. Personal Injury: Sam aggressively represents clients injured as the...

The quality of an attorney's work should never be based on how much the client pays. I keep my expenses low by not wasting money on such expenses as ridiculous advertising campaigns, and I pass these savings onto my clients in the form of affordable rates. I handle each case personally and devote the time and effort needed to ensure my clients get quality and effective legal representation. I am an aggressive local attorney. I am ready to serve you.

With more than 15 years, in the estate and long-term care planning field, James provides counsel to individuals, families and business to guide them to achieve their planning goals by implementing strategies customized for each client's unique circumstances.

James focuses his practice in elder law, trusts and estates, guardianship, special needs planning, and business formation and succession planning.

Mark Houston focuses his practice in Civil Litigation, Municipal Law, Public Housing, and Personal Injury Law. He frequently represents municipal entities in cases involving premises liability and civil rights issues. In addition to his civil litigation work, Mark’s practice extends to Landlord-Tenant Law, Estates and Probate, Environmental Law, Real Estate Law, and Native American Law. Before pursuing a legal career, Mark worked as a project director at the University at Buffalo Archaeological Survey, providing cultural resource management services to a diverse array of clients. During his tenure, he guided clients through complex regulatory frameworks, including Sections 106 and 110 of the...

Bonnie Kraham has practiced Elder, Estate Planning, Probate, Estate Administration, and Medicaid Planning Law for over 20 years. A skilled and knowledgeable attorney, Bonnie is dedicated to providing exceptional representation to New York residents.

Bonnie has a personal relationship to her role as an elder law attorney. When her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Bonnie saw and experienced the many challenges that families face when a loved one is ill. Bonnie brings compassion and understanding in her approach to assisting her clients with their legal needs.

Bonnie earned her B.A., magna cum laude in 1981. After raising her children, she continued...

Lisa specializes in complex financing and property transactions. She represents borrowers, lenders, developers, builders, investors, and sellers. Lisa has forged a reputation as being thorough, attentive, and detailed. Her trademark fine tooth comb approach has proven to be an invaluable asset to her clients. It has resulted in her closing over 100 million dollars’ worth of loan transactions and being selected to represent some of the area’s leading commercial lenders and developers. She also has experience in tax credit equity financing, entity matters and helping her clients navigate through the economic development process.

I have over 50 years in the legal field, including 20 years as a New York State Trooper, and a term as City Court Judge in the City of Mechanicville. I've been trained in the use of radar, breathalyzer, and am intimately familiar with police arrest and court proceedings.

Douglas Goldman has been practicing immigration law for decades. He handles all types of immigration matters, including representation for employers, individuals, and families.

Amy's practice is concentrated in the areas of elder law, estate planning, and trust and estate administration. A major part of Amy's practice involves assisting clients and their families with legal and tax issues including the preparation of estate planning documents, estate tax planning, administration of trusts and estates, long-term care planning, preservation of assets, eligibility for governmental benefits, disability planning and supplemental needs trusts.

Amy O’Connor is Chair of McNamee Lochner's Trusts, Estates & Elder Law Department. With a concentration in elder law, estate planning, and trust and estate administration, her practice encompasses all aspects of trusts and estates law...

When I was nine my aunt told me I should be a lawyer when I grew up because I argued about everything, really, really well. That's when I learned I could make a living doing what I loved: winning arguments. After graduating from Columbia University, New York City's only Ivy League school I went on to Fordham Law. Fordham was the only law school ranked in the top twenty-five nationwide that offered a night program in New York. Since I was working full time to pay my own way, Fordham's top tier night division was perfect for me. After two...

Scott A. Barbour provides dedicated and skilled representation to corporate and institutional clients with various types of civil and commercial litigation. His practice areas include railroad, products liability and contract litigation. Additionally, Scott is experienced in mediation and arbitration for civil matters.

Scott's trial and appellate experience includes cases in federal and state courts throughout New York. His jurisdictions include the State of New York, the United States District Court for the Northern and Western Districts of New York, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. Scott is a member of...

Joe Callahan began his career as a CPA with Deloitte in Manhattan and left there to work as a tax attorney. He's been with the law firm of Mackay, Caswell & Callahan since 1992 and is admitted to practice law in New York and Connecticut, together with the U.S. District Court and U.S. Tax Court.

Mackay, Caswell & Callahan, P.C handles various IRS and New York State tax controversies including IRS Audit Strategies and Defenses, Enforced Tax Collection (Notices of Levy & Notices of Lien), Offers in Compromise, Innocent & Injured Spouse Relief, Responsible Person Assessment Defense, Tax Court, IRS...

As a tax attorney at Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, my role is to advise clients on how to reduce tax liability and limit exposure to additional taxes and penalties. I advise our business clients in many complex transactions, such as triangular mergers, spin-offs, and stock-for-stock acquisitions. I also assist our business clients in complicated planning issues, such as analyzing new markets tax credits, drafting opinion letters, and selling businesses and assets. I help clients avoid exposure to civil and criminal tax penalties at all stages from audit to trial. I have represented...

After graduating from Manhattan College in 2009, Jacob began his career as a Special Education Advocate & Paralegal. For seven years he worked for a reputable Manhattan-based law firm that concentrates on advocating for students with special needs. As an Advocate, Jacob would often attend Committee on Special Education (“CSE”) meetings alongside parents, providing them with assistance in the development of their children’s Individual Education Programs (“IEP”) and/or 504 Plans. When disputes arose with local school districts, Jacob assisted attorneys in all phases of the administrative due process procedure provided by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ("IDEA"). This often...

I practice in all areas of personal injury at The Dietrich Law Firm, fighting for the rights of those that were wrongly and seriously injured by someone else’s negligence. I welcome the opportunity to advocate for your rights when you’ve been injured in a motor vehicle collision, slip and fall, worksite construction accident, trucking collision or on someone’s property. I strive to maintain personal contact throughout your case from inception to conclusion; listen to your concerns; guide you step-by-step through the legal process; and, aggressively pursue your interests for just compensation. Unfortunately, insurance companies do not have your...

Richard D. Cirincione’s practice is concentrated in the areas of estate planning, estate administration, estate litigation, guardianship law, and related appeals. He provides planning for high net worth individuals including the creation of charitable planning devices. He has experience forming and administering family entities and has prepared sales to defective grantor trusts. Richard handles all phases of the administration of estates and trusts, including the preparation of estate tax returns and fiduciary accountings.

With extensive experience in estate litigation related to Wills and Trusts, Richard has represented clients in Will contests, both in support of a purported Will and...

I spent nearly twenty years in law enforcement before I began practicing criminal defense. I have a unique set of skills and experiences that provide a rare insight into a critical analysis and preparation of a defense against criminal charges. As a police supervisor, I instructed hundreds of new and veteran police officers in procedure, use of force, search and seizure, and several other topics. My knowledge and experience in the criminal justice system, has aided my clients to find justice, and tip the scales in favor of the accused.

Attorney James D. Hartt represents victims of employment discrimination statewide. He has significant experience representing clients in the NYS Division of Human Rights, EEOC and in State and Federal Courts. Call Attorney James D. Hartt today to set up your free initial telephone consultation.
With Offices in Rochester, Buffalo, Syracuse and a Satellite Office in Manhattan, Attorney James D. Hartt is proud to offer his legal expertise to New Yorkers statewide.

James practices in several other areas of law, including but not limited to: criminal defense, professional licensure defense, civil litigation, education law, and others!

PERSONAL INJURY. CRIMINAL DEFENSE. DWI. Over 20 years of HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL TRIAL EXPERIENCE. Former Prosecutor.

Thomas B. Mafrici started the Mafrici Law Office in 1993. At the time he was employed part time as Session Counsel to the NYS Assembly Transportation Committee. Since the beginning the emphasis has been on traffic tickets anywhere in the State of New York. It wasn’t easy to get a volume of tickets before the internet so Mafrici catered to covering appearances for other attorneys in NY and Canada. With the advent of the internet the Mafrici Law Office PC has grown to become one of the leading law firms in New York State focusing solely on traffic ticket representation....

Scott R. Kurkoski is the Assistant Managing Partner in the Binghamton, New York law firm of Levene Gouldin & Thompson, LLP. Mr. Kurkoski concentrates his practice in the areas of business and real estate transactions, wind and solar energy projects and commercial litigation. He is Chair of the firm’s Energy and Cannabis Practice Groups.