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Colin E Kaufman

Adam Leitman Bailey, PC

45 years of experience
Business Law, Insurance Defense, Real Estate Law
New York, USDC Eastern District of New York, USDC Southern District of New York

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Biography

Colin E. Kaufman concentrates in trial work and litigation, primarily commercial, tort and real estate-related. Kaufman has been in practice for forty years, all of it in litigation.

Kaufman received his law degree from Fordham University Law School. He has instructed in trial skills and advocacy for the NYS Bar Association, NYS Department of Criminal Justice Services Basic Prosecutors' Course, Bureau of Municipal Police Training School, Westchester County DA's Office,Special Prosecutor's Office and Lorman Educational Services. He has authored or coauthored three manuals for trial lawyers, Trial of a Negligence Case, Taking and Defending Effective Depositions, and Real Evidence for the Trial Practitioner.

After graduating from Trinity College, Kaufman was a military policeman in the U.S. and in Vietnam. His combat decorations during his service with the 4th Infantry Division include two Bronze Stars and two Army Commendation Medals.

After his return from Vietnam, Kaufman was a corruption investigator with the Office of the New York State Special Prosecutor. In addition to investigative work Kaufman ran the Special Prosecutorâs Intelligence Unit until leaving to become a prosecutor with the Westchester District Attorneyâs Office.

Kaufman spent nine years with the Westchester District Attorney, rising to Chief of the General Trial Bureau. During his tenure there, in addition to trials and training of trial lawyers, Kaufman participated in several thousand prosecutions.

Since leaving the District Attorney's Office, Kaufman has been engaged in the private practice of law. His litigation and trial work has covered a substantial breadth, ranging from products liability to mining disasters to international contracts. He was co-lead counsel in the first case tried to verdict in the United States under the United Nations Convention on the International Sale of Goods. He has tried over two hundred cases to verdict in state and federal courts.

Practice Areas

Business Law: Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes

Insurance Defense

Real Estate Law: Commercial Real Estate, Condominiums, Easements, Eminent Domain, Homeowners Association, Land Use & Zoning, Mortgages, Neighbor Disputes, Residential Real Estate, Water Law

Additional Practice Area

General Civil

Fees

Credit Cards Accepted
Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
Fees vary by type,anticipated complexity and anticipated length of litigation and range from $375/hour to $750/hour

Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice

New York
Since 1979

USDC Eastern District of New York
Since 1987

USDC Southern District of New York
Since 1987

2nd Circuit
Since 2004

Languages

French: Written

Professional Experience

Partner, General Counsel: Adam Leitman Bailey, PC; 2019 - Current

Partner, General Counsel: Desiderio, Kaufman & Metz, PC; 2019 - Current

Partner: Adam Leitman Bailey, PC; 2005 - Current

Member, Senior Litigation Attorney: Greenhill Partners, PC; 1997 - 2005; Litigation, focus on negligence defense, commercial, and insurance first-party defense. Trials. Successful participation in litigation of $110,000,000 first-party claim in mine disaster case.

Trial Attorney: Harry I. Katz, PC; 1994 - 1997; Personal injury litigation including negligence, product liability and medical malpractice.

Partner: Quinn & Suhr; 1988 - 1993; Litigation, including commercial, international contract, franchise termination, and intellectual property, products liability defense, negligence defense and foreign national representation. Tried and won the first case taken to verdict under the United Nations Convention on the International Sale of Goods, multi-million dollar recovery for client.

Partner: Katz & Kaufman; 1987 - 1988; Personal injury litigation.

ADA, Bureau Chief, General Trial Bureau: District Attorney of Westchester County; 1978 - 1987; Felony trials, primarily murder; training, evaluation and supervision of trial lawyers; administrative responsibility for General Trial Bureau; personally tried over two dozen homicide cases.

Senior Special Investigator: NYS Special Prosecutor (Corruption); 1972 - 1978; Corruption investigations in the New York City criminal justice system. Ran the Intelligence Unit 1974-1978.