Berne Lawyers

Ryan Forbes is a litigation attorney with a practice focusing on criminal defense, governmental investigations, and civil rights claims. During his career, Ryan has investigated and defended felony matters, represented clients in several trials to verdict, drafted and researched related motions and appeals. Ryan has represented clients under Government investigations by agencies such as the United States Attorney’s Office, State Attorney General’s office, and Homeland Security. He also commits significant time to pro bono matters, including representing non-profit organizations in civil litigation and representing plaintiffs in § 1983 civil rights cases. While in law school, Ryan served as a judicial intern for...

A member of the Commercial Litigation Department, Peter's practice concentrates on bankruptcy and banking and includes the areas of commercial litigation, creditors' rights, and banking law. He represents secured lenders in Chapter 11 bankruptcies, as well as commercial landlords, financing companies, and unsecured creditors' committees. Peter's court admissions include the United States District Courts: Eastern District of New York, 1999; Southern District of New York, 1999; Western District of New York, 1993; Northern District of New York, 1981; United States Second Circuit Court of Appeals, 1986; State of New York, 1981; State of Florida, 1981.

As a graduate of the University at Buffalo and Albany Law School, I began my career as an Assistant District Attorney in upstate New York where I prosecuted thousands of criminal cases. As a prosecutor, I learned the values of fairness and truth. I quickly learned that good people can make mistakes, but that doesn’t make them bad people. The system sometimes forgets that it’s supposed to judge your actions and character, not your address or clothes. I fight for my clients because justice should remain blind. After leaving law enforcement, I joined the New York State Workers’ Compensation...

Kelly M. Curro has been a practicing Attorney for 23 years. She has varied experience in the general practice of law including civil litigation, criminal defense, real estate and business matters. Her active practice in the area of Matrimonial and Family Law benefits from her varied legal background to best serve the diverse needs of her clients. Ms. Curro represents clients in divorce, separation, custody, paternity, child and spousal support, property distribution, pre-nuptial and post-nuptial agreements, and post-divorce issues such as enforcement and modification. Her goal is to assist clients to achieve clear and practical resolutions during...

James E. Tyner is a defense lawyer who provides dedicated representation in all types of criminal defense matters, including homicide cases, DWI cases, white collar criminal cases, domestic violence cases, sex crime cases and immigration-related cases.

For over 15 years, The Law Office of James E. Tyner, PLLC has provided skilled and successful representation for individuals facing state and federal criminal charges, including those related to DWI, white collar and assault crimes. New York criminal defense lawyer James E. Tyner knows that aggressive charges require an aggressive defense. Dedicated and meticulous, Mr. Tyner zealously advocates for his clients, employing a strong...

Max Smelyansky, who grew up in Bethlehem, graduated from Manhattan College earning a Bachelor of Science with a major in economics. He then graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law, in Maryland. After graduating from law school, Max Smelyansky developed his law practice in Albany, specializing in Traffic Defense Law, Personal Injury Law, Landlord / Tenant Law, Family Law and Estate Planning Law.

Originally from Long Island and a resident of the Capital District since 1984, Ronald “Ron” Orlando received his Juris Doctor from St. Johns’ University School of Law in 1982 and his Bachelor of Science degree from New York Institute of Technology, summa cum laude, in 1979. He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1983, to the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York in 1989 and to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in 1992. Ron is a member of the New York Bar Association, New York...

Victor Mazzotti, a founding partner of Martin, Harding and Mazzotti LLP, is in charge of the firm’s Litigation Department. He received his Bachelor of Science in Economics from Siena College in 1979, and Juris Doctor from Pace University School of Law in 1982. Victor is on the Board of Directors of the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York. In addition, he is also a member of the board of the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York Justice for All campaign. He also serves as a Board Member of the Upstate New York Chapter of the Italian American...

Charles “Chas” Farcher is a graduate of the College of Saint Rose, where he was enrolled in an accelerated law program which allowed him to complete his undergraduate degree a year early. He received his Juris Doctor from Albany Law School in 2007, was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2008, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in 2010 and the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York in 2013. Chas began his legal career with the New York State Supreme Court Appellate Division’s Third Department, where he drafted...

Daniel “Dan” Dagostino graduated in 1997 from the State University of New York at Albany with a degree in History. Following graduation he worked at Martin, Harding & Mazzotti, LLP as a legal assistant under the supervision of Paul Harding. According to Dan, his first position with Martin, Harding & Mazzotti, LLP allowed him to obtain firsthand experience as to the emotional, physical and financial hardships injured persons endure as a result of an unexpected incident and the positive impact of Martin, Harding & Mazzotti, LLP during and after the legal matter concluded. After working for approximately one...

Michael is a board certified commercial and consumer bankruptcy specialist (American Bankruptcy Board of Certification). He is admitted to the New York State Bar, as well as the United States District Court for the Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of New York, the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. His concentration of practice is in the representation of debtors and trustees in bankruptcy liquidations and reorganizations. Michael is the recipient of the President's Award for Pro Bono services, New York State Bar Association (1989, 1993 and 2007), and the Distinguished Service Award from the Legal Aid...

With 20 years of experience working at law firms big and small, I bring a wealth of skills and knowledge to the courtroom, negotiating table, or telephone to advocate on your behalf. I specialize in all types of civil litigation, with a focus on bankruptcy and debtor-creditor law.

Expert in Patents and Proprietary Rights Management & Transactions with more than 10 years experience. I love business innovation and helping clients use patents, trade secrets, copyrights, and contracts to strengthen and grow their businesses. I am foremost a business counselor, helping to guide choices, build better business systems, and create intangible assets that support the client's business strategy. My clients appreciate my candor, creative thinking, and business insight, especially when it comes to negotiating licenses and other intellectual property agreements.

I am an Associate in the Trusts & Estates department. Before embarking on my legal career, I worked in banking, where I observed the difficulties families encountered when they lacked crucial legal documents during health crises or emergencies. Now, I am committed to helping our clients through the estate planning process and aiding them in understanding the legal complexities that can arise during challenging times. My work includes creating customized estate plans for clients who want to provide for a loved one with a disability and helping clients who are seeking guardianship. My educational path began at Hudson Valley Community College,...

Located on the Circle in the Village of Chatham, Columbia County, we have practiced law across upstate New York for over forty-five years, with a particular emphasis on matters in Columbia and its surrounding counties. Our firm is focused primarily on helping clients with the following legal matters: -Real Estate Law including Residential, Commercial & Lenders -Estate Planning and Administration -Elder Law and Medicaid Planning -Municipal Law -School Law -Environmental Law -Business Transactions, including Acquisitions -Limited Liability Companies and Corporations As a small law firm we are able to be personally aware of all aspects of a client's file when he or she calls to discuss it. Our...

Said (Sa-eed) Ibrahim is a fierce advocate for his clients, and practices exclusively in the field of matrimonial and family law, concentrating on divorce negotiation and litigation, custody, child support, and adoption issues. Mr. Ibrahim has extensive experience in representing clients in both Supreme and Family Court, as well as negotiations of resolutions of these matters. Mr. Ibrahim is committed to identifying the unique factors that apply to each individual case, and coming up with a legal plan which best serves each client. Whether this means aggressive compromise and settlement pursuit, or creative discovery and trial tactics, clients will always...

I am an Associate at O'Connell and Aronowitz, focusing on health-related business transactions. I joined the firm in May 2022 as a law clerk, where I sharpened my abilities through legal research, motion drafting, conducting client interviews, and preparing for court proceedings. I am a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Albany County Bar Association. I earned my Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, with a concentration in American Studies, from the University of Arizona. During my summer breaks, I gained invaluable experience as an intern at the Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office. I received my J.D....

Steve Coffey is the founding partner and chair of the Personal Injury and Criminal Defense practices at O'Connell and Aronowitz. With over thirty-five years of experience at the state and federal levels, he has established himself as one of upstate New York's most successful trial attorneys in both personal injury and criminal defense. As a former Assistant District Attorney for Albany County and Chief Felony Prosecutor, Steve was the youngest Felony Bureau Chief to serve in Albany County. He also served as Special Prosecutor in Fulton and Albany Counties. This prosecutorial experience provides him unique insight when defending clients in criminal...

Kimberly G. Finnigan is a bilingual attorney who focuses her practice on immigration, employment and labor law, and civil rights litigation. Ms. Finnigan is a graduate of William and Mary Law School, where she was a Jessup International Moot Court Team member, served as President of the International Law Society, and co-founded the LL.M. Student Assistance Program. Ms. Finnigan received honors in Appellate Brief Writing and was acknowledged as a Mary Siegrist Hinz Leadership Fellow and recipient of the Gambrell Professionalism Award. Ms. Finnigan was awarded her Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Education, magna cum laude, from Middlebury College...

Ellen S. Ross was admitted to the practice of law before the courts of the State of New York in January 1983. In 1986 she established her own law office, initially in Schenectady, New York and later in Albany, New York. In 1989 she moved to her current location in Johnstown, New York. Attorney Ross practices primarily in the areas of family and matrimonial law.

For over 20 years Mark earned his living racing at over 50 race tracks, from as far north as Three Rivers, Quebec to as far south as Tampa, Florida. Mark has been a two time track champion at the legendary Lebanon Valley Speedway and was inducted into the Hall of Fame at that facility in 2010. Mark received his Juris doctorate from the University Of Dayton School Of Law in 1996 and was admitted to the bar in New York State in 1997. He has been practicing law ever since.

I had a happy childhood growing up on the north shore of Long Island. My wife and I moved to the capital district in 1986 after I had spent some time post-college in the steamship industry. I graduated Albany Law School in 1992 and have been practicing ever since. My practice includes real estate transactions and litigation; general estate planning, administration and litigation. Our clients have a high degree of satisfaction, as proven by the number of return clients and referrals from them. We are a friendly "family" type practice, and we believe our approach makes people...