Brainard Lawyers

J. Rochelle Cavanagh joined McNamee Lochner P.C. in 2017, and works in the Family and Matrimonial Law practice group. Rochelle is an experienced civil litigator who has been practicing since 2009. She has focused her practice on matrimonial law, family court matters including custody, support and divorce actions.

New York City 9/11 lawyer Christopher J. Baione has devoted his practice to representing clients before the federal September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. He has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a top rated 9/11 lawyer and by Avvo with a Clients' Choice Award.

Michael is a highly accomplished trial attorney based in Upstate New York. A student leader at Harvard who distinguished himself through Army R.O.T.C., he served on active duty in the U.S. Army JAG Corps after earning his juris doctor degree from Syracuse University College of Law. Devoting his practice to representing injured individuals and families in catastrophic personal injury cases, Mike has secured multiple million-dollar verdicts across consecutive trials, demonstrating his exceptional skills and dedication. An active lecturer and member of various bar associations, Mike currently resides in Fayetteville with his wife and children.

Mrs. Gules-Guctas's primary practice area is immigration law involving employment-based immigrant and nonimmigrant petitions, labor certification, waivers, family-based immigration and asylum. Prior to starting her own practice she was employed as an Associate for the New York City firm of Akin & Smith, LLC and, before that as an Associate Attorney for the Sanli Karabiyik Law Offices. She has received her L.L.B from Istanbul University School of Law in 1999 and her Masters degree in political science from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York in 2005. She received her Master of Laws degree from Benjamin N....

Seasoned intellectual property attorney with 17 years of litigation experience, including 12 years exclusively to intellectual property enforcement and litigation in state and federal courts, including patent, copyright, trademark, unfair competition, and trade secret misappropriation matters.

Dan is an accomplished trial lawyer with over a decade of experience devoted exclusively to litigating medical malpractice actions. He received his J.D. Magna Cum Laude from Syracuse University College of Law in 2010, where he was an Editor of the Law Review, and his B.A Summa Cum Laude in Philosophy from Syracuse University at Utica College in 2006. Dan served in the U.S. Marine Corps, achieving the rank of Sergeant and being decorated for achievement in 55 combat operations during deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. He has been admitted to practice law in New York State and the Northern...

I started my own firm in Ravena, New York[15 miles south of Albany] in April of 2009 after 22 years practicing with numerous partners in firms in Albany. While I specialize in injury litigation and have tried scores of cases to verdict, I now supplement that practice with small town practice services such as wills, traffic tickets, closings and counseling my clients. I really enjoy what I do and would welcome any inquiries to see if your needs can be met.

Allen Lim, Esq. is an attorney in the Litigation and Personal Injury Departments of Horn Wright, LLP. Allen grew up and attended school in Orange County, California. He attained a B.A. in Criminal Justice from California State University, Fullerton, and his J.D. at Western State College of Law. An internship with the Orange County Public Defender started his desire to help those in need, and he carries that same drive to this day. Additionally, he utilizes his prior experience in customer service to ensure that each client is heard and that all of their questions are addressed. Allen is bilingual...

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.

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...

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.

I am a very well-rounded practitioner. I have had extensive experience in the past with litigation and appeals both to the Appellate Division and the NY Court of Appeals. I have recently cut back on litigation and have concentrated my practice in wills, trusts, estates, estate planning, probate and elder law.

I am honest and fair in my charges. I am particular in what matters I take on and will not take on any and every matter that walks in my door. I expect cooperation and a positive attitude from my clients so that I may...

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...

Terry O’Connor is a 1980 graduate of St. Lawrence University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa. In pursuing his B.S. degree, he also attended the University of Copenhagen in Copenhagen, Denmark. Terry received his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1983. Terry is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and was recently recognized by the Best Lawyers in America consumer guide. He has also been recognized as one of the top 50 upstate New York lawyers by Super Lawyers consumer guide. Terry is a trial lawyer who defends physicians, manufacturers and...

Jenna is an Associate working in the Litigation Department of O'Connell & Aronowitz, P.C. During her law school career, Jenna was a Legal Intern with the United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York, as well as a Certified Legal Intern for the Albany County District Attorney's Office where she wrote appeals under supervision on behalf of the People to the Appellate Division, Third Department. Jenna earned her J.D. from Albany Law School with a Certificate in Civil Litigation with Honors. While at Albany Law School, Jenna was the recipient of the President's Scholarship and the...

Practice is concentrated in commercial litigation

Prior to re-opening his office in the town of Coeymans, George served as General Counsel to Carver Companies, a group of closely held corporations and limited liability companies within upstate New York and Charleston, South Carolina.

Immediately before that, he served as a Federal Administrative Law Judge for the Social Security Administration.

He has extensive experience working in policy making positions at every level of government, including the local level, the state level, and the federal level, and served as the liaison between the Department of Defense and the American Bar Association from 2010 through 2011.

Military Experience

As a New York Army...