Hankins Lawyers

Gregory Messer has been practicing law for over 43 years. He started his career as a Legal Aid attorney in Albany, New York. In 1980, he opened his law practice in Brooklyn, New York, and has specialized in bankruptcy law since that time. Mr. Messer has been a member of the standing panel of Chapter 7 Trustees for the United States Bankruptcy Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York since 1980. He has represented debtors, creditors, trustees, defendants, purchasers of assets, and other parties in bankruptcy cases. He has served as a Chapter 7 Trustee, Chapter...

Karra L. Kingston Esq. has helped people from all walks of life start their lives over by getting out of debt. Karra Kingston is a Staten Island Bankruptcy lawyer and New Jersey bankruptcy lawyer. Ms. Kingston began her career as a bankruptcy attorney. She has appeared in front of many federal court judges and has helped many debtors obtain a fresh start. Ms. Kingston understands the complex federal rules for discharging debt. While working as a bankruptcy attorney, Ms. Kingston’s dedication has resulted in settlements of large debts for clients at 20-30 percent of what they owed. She also...

Matthew Medaglia is an attorney in Staten Island New York. He has received a J.D. as well as a LL.M. in tax law from New York University and a M.B.A. from Baruch University. Before starting his solo law practice, Matthew spent ten years at a fortune 100 company creating risk management solutions. The Law Offices of Matthew F Medaglia were started with the intention of serving clients who are traditionally ignored by the large law firms. Entrepreneurs starting a small family business, working to middle class families approaching retirement, first responders and military personnel who protect us on a daily...

I want to help people, using my training and skills, to protect themselves and their loved ones, legally and to accomplish their financial goals.

I am passionate about business and financial matters (and math!). I find too many people who could have used the assistance of a business attorney and counselor, do not avail themselves of one, and then something unexpected happens, and they find themselves in an avoidable, unwanted situation. I will do my best to help you avoid such circumstances. My practice is limited in scope and much of what I can help you with is located on my...

Albert Cohen is the owner and founder of the Cohen & Cohen Personal Injury Lawyers, P.C. As a highly esteemed advocate, author, and community leader, Albert Cohen’s mission has been to improve the lives of his clients by helping them navigate through complexity of estate planning and elder law. Mr. Cohen has experienced firsthand how emotionally and financially devastating it can be not to have a proper estate plan. Mr. Cohen combines legal skills with compassion and understanding, in developing estate plans personalized to each client’s unique circumstances. He is known for his ability to reduce estate taxes, minimize or...

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...

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”...

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...

My passion is family law. It is what drove me to become a lawyer, motivated me through law school, and gets me excited to start my day. Family law has always been a part of my life, in experience, study, and practice. A childhood spent in and out of domestic court piqued my interest in the different elements of such a complex and human-driven area of the law. My goal is to make every client feel heard in a situation where communication may have broken down. I will vigorously advocate for all of my clients, because I am...

Karin Wolman has over 20 years of experience in employment-based immigration law, serving aliens of extraordinary ability in the arts and design, finance, business and academia, the sciences, healthcare and non-profit organizations. She is a frequent speaker at local & national conferences, on topics ranging from extraordinary ability and artist visas to the immigration impact of mergers & acquisitions, and advanced issues in citizenship and naturalization.

Ted advises small business owners, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and even other corporate attorneys on the intricacies of commercial tax law, from the time of a business’s formation through to investment exit. Ted has significant experience working with clients across a wide range of scales and industries to effectively achieve their tax structuring aims, including structuring tax-free corporate mergers and cross-border transactions. Early in an investment’s lifecycle, Ted can help you choose (and form) the ideal entity for your venture’s long-term success, balancing tax and administrative costs. And when the time comes to bring in new investors, to sell a portion of your...

Christopher McGrath is a partner at Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo P.C. and serves in the Garden City office. He has won many multi-million dollar verdicts for his clients in the area of personal injury. Contact him today to set up a free consultation.

Star Kashman is Founding Partner of Cyber Law Firm, and Technology and Cyber Law Chair of Gotham Government Relations. Star Kashman is an attorney and award winning legal scholar, known for her pioneering contributions to the intersection of technology and law. As an attorney admitted to the bar in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Vermont, and Connecticut, Kashman has gained recognition for her groundbreaking work in Technology Law and on Search Engine Hacking, also known as Google Dorking, marking her as a leading voice in the field of cybersecurity and privacy law. Her expertise and dedication to advancing digital safety have...

David J. Dean is a senior trial attorney at Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo P.C. who is responsible for trying some of the firm's largest and most challenging cases.

30 Years of Experience and Proven Results

Mr. Conroy's area of practice is immigration and nationality law. Most of his work involves litigation. He represents detained and non-detained clients in a wide variety of situations before U.S. Immigration Courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and Federal Appellate and District Courts. With respect to Immigration Courts and the Board of Immigration Appeals, for example, he represents non-citizens seeking asylum, cancellation of removal, waivers, adjustment of status, and (for detained clients) release on bond. In Federal Courts Mr. Conroy represents clients with regard to petitions for review, direct appeals from federal district court decisions, complaints for declaratory judgement and injunctive...

Kaliopi Vasiliou, Esq. Founder & Managing Attorney, Vasiliou Law – Queens, NY Kaliopi Vasiliou is a New York criminal defense, family law, and estate planning attorney with over 20 years of combined experience in the criminal justice system. Known for her compassionate yet strategic approach, she brings a rare background in forensic psychology and courtroom litigation to her clients across Queens and throughout New York State. Ms. Vasiliou earned her B.A. in Forensic Psychology from John Jay College of Criminal Justice, graduating with honors. During her undergraduate years, she completed a clinical externship at Bayview Correctional Facility, where she counseled incarcerated women nearing...

Jim earned his J.D. from Northwestern University School of Law in 2004, where he was a Julius H. Miner Moot Court competitor. In 2000, he received an M.A. in Philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania. He graduated with a B.A. in Philosophy and English from Brooklyn College in 1997, where he was a Ford Foundation Fellow and Merit Scholar in Philosophy.

Brittany A. Stevens has considerable experience representing employees in a wide range of employment discrimination matters. She manages a variety of cases involving sexual harassment, retaliation, and discrimination based on race, national origin, gender, pregnancy, age, disability, religion, caregiver status, and sexual orientation. She has handled numerous cases from inception through settlement.

Ms. Stevens zealously advocates for women's rights and is committed to helping women in the workplace. Ms. Stevens is a passionate litigator who believes strongly in civil rights and fairness throughout the work environment.

Ms. Stevens has obtained significant awards and settlements for her clients. Remarkably, Ms. Stevens received a...

The managing partner at Phillips & Associates, William K. Phillips dedicates his practice to protecting the rights of employees in the workplace. His firm has handled thousands of employment cases, including discrimination and sexual harassment claims. Mr. Phillips has been recognized as one of the “10 Best Labor and Employment Attorneys in New York” by the American Institute of Legal Counsel and among the “Top 100 Labor & Employment Lawyer in New York” by the American Society of Legal Advocates.

Steven Fingerhut is a Partner at Phillips & Associates. He takes an aggressive approach to the representation of his clients and is proud to give a voice to those who may otherwise have none. Mr. Fingerhut has obtained over $10 Million in settlements for his clients in the past five years. Most recently, in January 2024, Steven Fingerhut received a Plaintiff’s verdict and an award of $260,000 for his client after successfully trying hostile work environment, retaliation, and defamation claims, in the Eastern District of New York. Smart v. USA Labor for Hire, Inc., et al., Case No.: 1:20-cv-5594 (TAM). The...

Gregory Calliste, Jr. is a New York employment discrimination attorney at Phillips & Associates. He possesses 13 years of experience handling civil, and criminal law matters, including employment law matters, at the federal, state and administrative levels.

If you are a victim of racial or national origin discrimination at work, you should be aware that there are federal, state, and local laws in place to protect you. Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, for example, prohibited racial discrimination occurs when an employer treats someone unfavorably due to their race or because of personal characteristics associated with race,...

Attorney Emre Polat is an experienced New York City employment attorney. He has substantial litigation experience in all aspects of employment law, including lawsuits arising out of wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage and hour violations, medical leave violations, whistleblower claims, retaliation, non-compete agreements, and severance agreements. Mr. Polat has personally litigated countless matters from inception through trial. He has represented both employees and employers who need a discrimination attorney or assistance in other claims. His advocacy and experience has earned him notable recognition and respect. Mr. Polat has personally litigated countless matters from inception through trial. His advocacy and experience has...

D. Maimon Kirschenbaum represents employees in class action and individual wage/hour cases, individual discrimination cases and other employment matters, such as severance negotiations. Maimon has successfully taken on employers ranging in size from Fortune 500 Companies to "mom and pop" local businesses.

From an early point in his career, Maimon has been recognized in the media as a "wunderkind of the plaintiff's bar" and the "patron saint of stiffed waiters." Now a partner at the law firm of Joseph & Kirschenbaum LLP, he is well known throughout the restaurant and hospitality industry and its lawyers as a dedicated and effective advocate...

One of New York City's preeminent personal injury attorneys, Christopher J. Gorayeb, brings to the firm a wealth of more than 35 years of experience litigating construction accident cases. Christopher has tried hundreds of cases to verdict, obtaining many verdicts in excess of ($10,000,000.00) ten million dollars.

As a founder of Gorayeb & Associates, P.C., Christopher’s primary concern is to help people which is the reason he studied law. According to Christopher, the firm has represented thousands of clients,

"...who have been injured and mistreated in the workplace"
Christopher knows that many people come to the United States in search of a better...

Licenses: New York, New Jersey, United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit  Main Practice Areas: Immigration Law, Family Law, & Litigation Amanda was born and raised in New York and currently resides in the East Village with her dog Bailey.  She joined The Shapiro Law Firm, LLC, as a legal assistant in August 2012, and was promoted to of-counsel in November of 2012, when she was admitted to the New Jersey bar.   Amanda enjoys working at The Shapiro Law Firm, LLC, because she is able to meet and engage with clients and make a real...

Jennifer L. Alexander is a Partner of the firm who concentrates a majority of her practice on matters involving New Jersey Landlord-Tenant Law, Community Association Law, and Collections Law. She also handles Real Estate Transactions, Mediation, Land Use, and Municipal Court matters. She begins most days appearing in Landlord-Tenant Court or appearing on behalf of community associations in litigation matters and ends most of her days representing communities in board meetings. Ms. Alexander oversees the firm’s Landlord-Tenant Department. Under Ms. Alexander’s leadership, the firm represents local and national corporate and individual landlords. Representation includes non-payment cases, "for-cause” cases, lease...

Brandon is the Managing Attorney at the Law Firm of Brandon S. Schwartz, P.C. Prior to founding the firm, Brandon worked in the Corporate practice of the New York office of DLA Piper, a global law firm, through a post-graduate fellowship program provided by the Two-Year JD Honors Program at New York Law School. During this experience, Brandon was involved in a broad range of corporate matters including corporate governance, due diligence, initial public offerings, and M&A transactions. Additionally, Brandon worked as an attorney and consultant for small and mid-size law firms, working on corporate and real estate matters, as...

Erdal Turnacioglu concentrates his practice in the area of employment law. He has substantial experience within the state and federal courts of New York and New Jersey. Over the course of my legal career, Erdal has been driven by a passion for employment law. After law school, he worked in-house for a major New York City insurance company, handling motor vehicle accident defense. While this job introduced him to the practice of law, Erdal never lost sight of his dream of one day assisting individuals and businesses with their employment-related issues. In 2010, Erdal attended a seminar entitled, “How to Handle...

I’m more than a lawyer. I’m a person.

Well, at least colleagues and clients always have told me I talk less like "other" attorneys and more like a "regular" person that they actually can understand. Although that could just be my native Queens accent showing through. But, don’t let that fool you. I have attended some of the best schools in the country and worked for a decade in sophisticated billion dollar public-private institutions.

After tiring of a life in bureaucracy, in 2015, I began my own firm to bring this high level knowledge to the small business and...

Deryck helps startup companies and entrepreneurs from around the globe get established in the US market. As a veteran of corporate boardrooms, he understands the nuances of business and law and enjoys guiding startup companies during their formative years. Some of the major activities of Deryck's law practice include: US business formation, E2 visas for entrepreneurs, business plan creation and contract development. Before he founded Jordan Counsel, Deryck worked with large law firms in New York and Paris, where he supported a variety of business development deals. He also offers 15 years of corporate experience, including leadership roles...

Scott is an experienced New York Tax Law Attorney with an international clientele. His practice encompasses a full range of tax needs including International Individual Income & Estate Tax Planning & Advisory, Individual Tax Advocacy & Related Services, and International Individual Income & Estate Tax Compliance. With over 20 years of experience, Scott provides a powerful combination of legal and tax accounting expertise. He is dedicated to exceptional advocacy for your tax law needs.

Scott received his Bachelor of Laws with Honours, from the University of Warwick, UK in 1988. He obtained his Association of Taxation Technicians Examination, UK in...

International business attorney licensed to practice law in Ukraine, New York & the US Supreme Court, having over 15 years of professional legal experience, including a decade with top multinational law and consulting firms, such as Baker McKenzie, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Schoenherr

Andrew’s first job as a lawyer was with the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office, where he was a Deputy Attorney General for approximately seven years. As a government trial attorney, he learned “his way around a courtroom” as well as how to effectively and persuasively write legal documents. As a Deputy Attorney General, Andrew gained invaluable litigation experience in both State and Federal Courts, arguing motions before judges, negotiating settlements before mediators, taking and defending over 800 depositions, and trying both bench and jury trials.

After working with the New Jersey Attorney General, over the next eight years, Andrew further honed...

Glen A. Kendall has an exceptional track record representing small and medium-sized businesses and individuals in complex, high stakes litigation and arbitration across the New York area.

He regularly serves as lead counsel in business and employment matters involving breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, employment discrimination, restrictive covenants, defamation, trade secret misappropriation, and copyright and trademark infringement. Mr. Kendall also handles trusts and estates matters involving probate, will contests, contested accountings, and fiduciary removal proceedings. Clients entrust Mr. Kendall because of his compassion, zealous advocacy, and creativity in problem-solving.

A significant portion of Mr. Kendall’s practice involves...

Jon Bell began his career at one of the largest litigation law firms in New York. Despite gaining vast experience in multi-million dollar claims, Mr. Bell was dissatisfied with not being able to select his own clients and, therefore sometimes had personal conflicts in handling cases where he believed to be "on the wrong side." Thereafter, he started his own law firm, which allowed him to select his own cases, handling them with passion in realizing he has made a personal commitment to each client. Jon Bell became interested in Federal Employee litigation as he discovered the need for Federal Employees...

Arthur Larkin is a civil rights litigator with nearly thirty years’ experience in the state and federal courts, and over the past twenty years he had handled some of the highest profile wrongful conviction and class action lawsuits in New York City. He has negotiated settlements worth over $75 million in those lawsuits as well as numerous other lawsuits. With fifteen years’ experience defending the City in such matters, Arthur knows how best to present a winning case at trial and/or during settlement discussions.