Canastota Lawyers

I am a Central New York Native, and in addition to my law practice experience, I have over 30 years of experience as an educator at the grade school and college levels. I am also the step-parent of a special needs child, and this has been instrumental in my development of skills as an advocate for special needs students.

I have also had extensive experience as a Managing Partner for two law firms in Central New York. I know have the opportunity to assist with the growth of an outstanding Central New York Law Firm.

Dennis Nave has been passionate about defending individuals facing DWI, traffic, and criminal charges for most of his legal career.

Dennis approaches each of his client’s cases as unique and each person as his equal, always going the extra mile to ensure his clients are fully educated on their case and knowing they are receiving the best quality representation and best defense of their rights and interests.

Dennis is the founding and managing partner for Nave Law Firm located in Syracuse, New York where he was born and raised. Dennis is devoted to staying in and serving his local community.

Call him...

Derek Andrews, an attorney with Nave Law Firm, has a demonstrated track record of litigating cases in the courtroom. He prides himself on being an intelligent and aggressive attorney who is motivated to actively advocate for each of his clients. He approaches each of his client’s cases as unique and treats each person as his equal. Derek found that his experiences growing up in a military family and moving from state to state on a regular basis molded him into a flexible and approachable attorney whom anyone can trust.

Whether it be pursuing a quick resolution through negotiation or litigating a...

Since his time at Syracuse University College of Law, David has had a passion for Criminal Defense and made his career about representing clients in need.

David prides himself on client-centered representation. He believes in the diligent and aggressive defense of the client’s rights and a maintains a strong commitment to the field of Criminal Defense.

Early in his career, David learned that often with criminal matters, clients also need assistance with Family Law matters.

As a result, David turned his focus not only on Criminal Matters but also on being able to provide premium Family Law services.

Mike Bersani is an experienced and highly respected New York State trial lawyer concentrating his practice almost entirely on personal injury claims. He is a widely published author on personal injury law. He has published numerous articles on the subject, and wrote and published the book "Understanding Your New York Personal Injury Claim", which can be ordered on his website.

Mike Bersani graduated Magna Cum Laude (top 5% of his class) from Syracuse University College of Law in 1993. He went on to a two-year clerkship with an appellate court in Rochester, NY. Since then he has devoted...

I am a native of the Rocky Mountains, having grown up in Evergreen, Colorado. Since settling in New York, I have developed a broad and sophisticated client base. I concentrate my practice in the areas of estate planning, trust and estate administration, and estate and gift taxation. It is important to me to consider each of my client’s values and background as I help them decide which type of estate plan will best fit their needs. I use a practical approach to my practice. Offering the assurance of complete confidentiality and responsive service, I try...

Our law office is a preeminent Personal Injury and Immigration law firm helping individuals for over 28 years with personalized attention and concrete, concise advice to achieve their Personal Injury and Immigration goals. With a dedicated practice concentration in car accidents, we limit our case intake to ensure each client we choose to represent will receive the qualities this law office was founded upon 28 years ago-Integrity. Attention to Detail. Making a Difference. Feel free to call for a free consultation.

Mr. DeFrancisco has achieved some of the top verdicts in Upstate New York with 2 verdicts approximately $10,000,000 each. Mr. DeFrancisco has extensive experience handling large injury cases which you can see on his website. Described by his clients as an attorney of the “highest quality” who goes “above and beyond” for those he represents, Jeff DeFrancisco, Esq. has made a career out of providing the very best service for his clients throughout Upstate New York.

Mr. DeFrancisco has extensive experience in handling all different types of personal injury matters including medical malpractice, construction accidents, motor vehicle...

Anthony Bottar is an experienced and accomplished Trial Attorney in Upstate New York. For more than 40 years, he has represented clients with legal needs including Medical Malpractice, Personal Injury and Products Liability. Mr. Bottar has a a track record of extraordinary recoveries for his clients, he is dedicated to the best possible outcomes.

Mr. Botar's honors include being listed in The Best Lawyers In America since 2001 and Upstate New York Super Lawyers since 2007. He has been named Best Lawyers's Syracuse Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year for multiple years. In 2018 and 2019, Mr. Bottar was listed in...

Led by Judge John Cherundolo, former Acting New York Supreme Court Justice and Super Lawyer, The Cherundolo Law Firm represents people who have suffered serious/catastrophic injuries. We have helped hundreds of clients win $1,000,000 and multi-$1,000,000 dollar verdicts and settlements. Our practice is limited to only the most catastrophic of cases and we do what it takes to WIN! We WIN BIG CASES for our seriously and catastrophically injured clients!!!

Here is an example of just a few of our Previous Cases:
$17,000,000 - for a client injured in a pedestrian bridge collapse
$7,100,000 - for the family of an...

Tom Anelli is the Senior Partner at Tom Anelli & Associates, a practice focused solely on defending DWI charges. For almost 20 years, Tom has invested all his time learning and practicing the best methods to defend those charged with DWI. Tom’s accolades include, but are not limited to, selection to Super Lawyers, Nation’s Top One Percent, and Nation’s Top 100 Trial Lawyers.

Tom has been factory trained by National Patent Analytical Systems, the company that manufactures the breath-testing device used most by local police agencies. Tom is a NHTSA certified Instructor of Standardized Field Sobriety Testing. ...

Thank you for considering my firm for your divorce or family law matter. I know the system and how to save you both time and money on your divorce.

Please contact me by phone or by email to schedule a free consultation.

I enjoy helping people transition in a difficult part of their lives. On average, I help about 100 people (per year) get divorced.

The fastest divorce I have done was about 30 days but (on average), a divorce takes between 60-90 days.

I have a proven track record of success, sound judgment and discretion.

As for our firm, we are conveniently...

Peter Catalano Injury Lawyers knows how to help injured clients while maintaining the highest ethical standards.

Our track record of success inside and outside the courtroom has helped thousands of clients to recover physically and financially. The moments following any accident are critical. Receiving the medical care you need is priority one. The next day and the days after that can also make a crucial difference. We’ll walk you through what steps to take to ensure your recovery and make sure you’re feeling comfortable and supported.

Peter Catalano Injury Lawyers will do everything necessary to make sure you receive full...

Born and raised in Utica, NY, Attorney Nicholas A Passalacqua knows his clients. But more importantly he knows the law. Through his training and experience Mr. Passalacqua is ready to handle any of your even most complex legal matters.

Mr. Passalacqua’s education and training in trial law began back at T.R. Proctor High School as a member of the Mock Trial team. He then went on to Sacred Heart University, where he founded and led SHU’s first collegiate Mock Trial Team to two regional championship tournaments. Finally, at Michigan State University College of Law he was a member of the Moot...

Ms. Riggi's practice focuses on cases sounding in medical malpractice, workplace accident, motor vehicle, product liability, wrongful death and severe personal injury matters.

Ms. Riggi sits on the Board of Directors of the Central New York Women's Bar Association (CNYWBA), and is a CNYWBA delegate to the New York State Women's Bar Association. She also authors the 1st Department Update for the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, and has been selected for inclusion on The National Trial Lawyers "Top 40 Under 40" list for New York.

Ms. Riggi is a graduate of Siena College, magna cum laude,...

Mr. Leone is Senior Counsel at Bottar Law. He has over 30 years of experience advocating for clients with Personal Injury disputes. His practice areas include Automobile Accidents, Premises Liability and Medical Malpractice. Mr. Leone is committed to civil justice. He is dedicated to fighting for your rights and interests, focused on the best possible results.

Mr. Leone received his B.A. from the State University of New York at Cortland. In 1982, he graduated from Ohio Northern University, Pettit College of Law with a J.D. His jurisdictions include the State of New York and the United States District Court, Northern District...

Mr. Ryder brings more than 15 years of experience to the pursuit of complex personal injury matters, including claims arising out of medical malpractice, misdiagnosis, product liability, wrongful death, motor vehicle accidents, and construction and/or workplace accidents.

Mr. Ryder is a graduate of the State of University of New York at Potsdam and Albany Law School of Union University, where he was inducted into the Order of the Barristers. He is listed in Upstate New York Super Lawyers®, a publication with membership limited to the top 5% of lawyers in each state, and is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar...

Mr. Lyons' practice is limited to the pursuit of motor vehicle accident, premises liability, wrongful death, medical malpractice, product liability and other catastrophic personal injury matters.

With nearly a decade of civil litigation experience, Mr. Lyons manages virtually all aspects of pre-trial litigation, including pleadings, depositions, discovery, motion practice, creation of exhibits, and trial preparation.

Mr. Lyons is a graduate of The College of The Holy Cross, and Syracuse University College of Law. While in law school, he was a member and managing editor of the Syracuse Science and Technology Reporter.

For his work in the field of plaintiff's personal injury...

A lifelong resident of the Syracuse area, Charles L. Falgiatano, graduated from Nazareth College of Rochester with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and a concentration in pre-law in 1994. Mr. Falgiatano was on the Nazareth College Men's Basketball team and a member of the Pi Gamma Mu Honor Society. Following his undergraduate work, Mr. Falgiatano worked as a legislative aid to State Senator John A. DeFrancisco concentrating on state budget matters, economic development projects and constituent service. Mr. Falgiatano received his Juris Doctor degree from Syracuse University in 2001 and was a member of the Syracuse Law...

JIM BARNA BRINGS A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE TO EMPLOYMENT LAW REPRESENTATION. Throughout his career, Jim Barna has focused his practice on employment law. Jim did his undergraduate studies at Syracuse University and Stony Brook University. Jim attended law school at Washington University in St. Louis, a Top Twenty law school with an extensive employment law curriculum. While in law school, he had the opportunity to work for a national leader in employment law and womens rights litigation, Mary Anne Sedey. “From Mary Anne Sedey, I saw that big cases can bring big changes, and that a life devoted...

For more than 15 years, Michael Bottar has dedicated his practice to the pursuit of justice in Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, Construction Accidents, and Wrongful Death matters. Mr. Bottar brings a depth of knowledge and experience to every case. He is committed to providing exceptional legal representation.

Mr. Bottar is an accomplished attorney and has received numerous honors and awards. He has been recognized by The Best Lawyers In America and named Syracuse's 2019 Lawyer of the Year for Medical Malpractice and Product Liability. The National Trial Lawyers have named him as one of the Top 100 in New York State....

Jeff has over 25 years of experience as an attorney and is the principal at Radley and Rheinhardt. He is a Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA)* through the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF) and is an active member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA). Jeff also serves as a delegate to the Elder Law Section of the New York State Bar Association. He is a member of the Herkimer County Bar Association and a frequent seminar presenter and contributor to local publications on issues affecting seniors and the disabled. *Certified Elder Law Attorney by National Elder...

Janet has proven herself to be a trusted advisor to her clients, helping businesses, families and students navigate the immigration system. Janet can help your family come together through the green card or visa process, including fiancé visas, immigrant visas, adjustment, and citizenship processes. She helps international students transition from studying to working in the US. She also helps businesses build new locations in the US and retain talented people from around the world. Janet has experience preparing clients for interviews and hearings, handling denials, notices of intent to deny, requests for evidence and other problems that can arise...

For over 30 years, George Hildebrandt has represented clients in federal and state courts in drug conspiracy and smuggling, murder, white collar, firearm and other serious cases, achieving many acquittals, dismissals and reductions to lesser charges. George has built his reputation on his hard work, preparation, substantial trial experience and knowledge of the law.

New York attorney Lisa DiPoala Haber is smart, tough, experienced and committed to the success of your case. Her practice areas include divorce, child custody and support, civil litigation, and appeals. She has handled both contested and uncontested divorces and cases involving alimony (also called “spousal support” or “maintenance”) and equitable distribution, as well as child custody and child support petitions. Attorney Lisa DiPoala Haber also handles related issues, such as enforcement and modification of post-divorce judgments, including enforcement and modification of custody, visitation and child support, and enforcement of spousal maintenance awards. In civil litigation, Lisa...

Karen Menter Lowe is a dedicated Attorney at The Law Offices of Steven R. Dolson, PLLC. Her practice includes Social Security Disability and Bankruptcy matters, concentrating on Social Security Supplemental Income, Chapter 7, and Chapter 13 Bankruptcy. Karen is committed to providing comprehensive and diligent legal advocacy for your Social Security and Bankruptcy Law needs.

Karen received her B.A. from Ithaca College. In 2008, she earned her J.D. from the University of Buffalo Law School. Karen is admitted to practice in the State of New York. She is member of the Central New York Bankruptcy Bar Association.

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....

“Rare indeed is the impressive dedication shown by an individual for the benefit of others that John K. Powers has displayed throughout his life”. Resolution of the New York State Legislature recognizing John’s lifetime of professional and community service, which includes: • Tirelessly representing and advocating for catastrophically injured individuals and their families for nearly 50 years; • Selection by his peers for 30+ years as one of "The Best Lawyers in America" in three separate areas of practice: “medical malpractice law”; “product liability litigation”; and “personal injury litigation”; • Being named “Lawyer of the Year” in the field of medical malpractice...

David is life-long resident of upstate NY. David graduated Magna Cum Laude from Syracuse University School of Management and then earned his law degree from the Syracuse Law.

Prior to joining Michaels & Smolak, David was a partner in prominent Syracuse insurance defense firm. It was there that David learned the "how to's ” of insurance companies andthe manner that insurance defense firms evaluate and defend cases. David has been successful using this knowledge to “turn the tables” on the insurance companies to obtain large settlements and verdicts for his injured clients.

Dave has consistently been rated and selected as...

My practice primarily focuses on DWI/DUI, criminal defense and traffic matters. These cases range from minor first time offenses to the most serious arrests including DWI, violent felony offenses, economic (white collar) crimes, and narcotics possession and distribution. As an attorney, I have handled hundreds of misdemeanor and felony cases.

I started my career working as an Assistant District Attorney where I started out in the Law and Appeals Bureau. In the Law and Appeals Bureau I prepared several legal briefs and had the unique opportunity to argue cases in both the Appellate Division of...