Rensselaer Lawyers

I am an attorney with an AV Peer Reviewed rating, focusing my entire practice on criminal law throughout New York’s local, state, and federal courts. Throughout my career, I have represented clients facing a variety of criminal charges, including DUI. My legal services are comprehensive, encompassing plea negotiations, advanced motion practice, bail hearings, criminal trials, and appeals. I also manage tasks such as vacating warrants, post-conviction motions like habeas corpus, regulatory criminal investigations, post-conviction professional licensing hearings (Board of Regents/OPD), applications for certificates of relief from civil disabilities and good conduct, and commutation or expungement proceedings. Additionally, I work on...

Michael Ettinger is the Author of "Elder Law Estate Planning" and has been practicing Elder Law Estate Planning since 1991. With twelve attorneys and 25 staff members Ettinger Law Firm is New York's largest Elder Law Estate Planning Firm. We provide free consultations for Revocable and Irrevocable Living Trusts, Medicaid Asset Protection Trusts, Medicaid Applications, Special Needs Trusts, Probate, Estate Administration, Estate Tax Planning and all other areas of Elder Law Estate Planning.
Always friendly and personable, our staff will make you feel at ease with whatever issues you are facing and we are happy to give you...

Former prosecutor, who spent the last 27 years specializing in matrimonial and family law. An experienced mediator, Certified Divorce Specialist and collaborative divorce practitioner as well as a recognized expert in working with victims of domestic violence. I believe that legal battles are more harmful to families than helpful, and am passionate about helping people find ways to make their own decisions for their families, rather than leaving their outcomes in the hands of a stranger in a black robe. When court is unavoidable, I aim to educate and support people to make the legal process less costly, scary, uncertain,...

I am attorney serving clients throughout the Hudson Valley in Kingston, Ulster, Dutchess, Orange, Greene and Columbia counties in family law, divorce and traffic ticket cases. I provide close personal attention and legal insight into the immediate challenges, and long-term consequences of your situation.My unrelenting advocacy on your behalf is intended to build a sound strategy to safeguard your relationship with your children, and advance your personal and financial goals.

Joseph has been practicing law for over twenty years and is currently the managing partner of the firm. He is a lifelong resident of the Hudson Valley and relies on his connections to the community to best serve his clients. Joseph graduated from Brown University in 1993 and played both division one football and golf for the Brown Bears. He graduated from St. John’s University School of Law in 1996. Joseph dedicates a majority of his time to representing seriously and catastrophically injured individuals harmed by construction, motor vehicle, motorcycle, and bicycle accidents, as well as those harmed by defective...

Christopher ("Chris") Luhn practices law primarily in New York's Capital Region, which is to say in the Upstate counties of Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady, Saratoga, and, oftentimes, in Warren and Washinton counties, as well. Chris moved to Saratoga Springs with his wife and two step-children Immediately after completing his law studies at the University of Baltimore School of Law in June 1985. After passing both the Maryland and the New York Bar exams, he began practicing exclusively in the field of personal injury trial law until August 2000 when he joined the New York State Attorney General's Civil Litigation Trial...

A 2007 graduate of Western New England University School of Law, Ms. Gilmartin spent nearly 30 years in Technical and Operational roles for a variety of manufacturers before her career in the law. Her most recent non-legal role was as Vice President of Global Quality and Regulatory Affairs for a mid-sized adhesive film manufacturer based in the UK. Ms. Gilmartin knows firsthand as a business executive what is required of a legal counsel in a business environment and the breadth of experience to understand the subtle ramifications of the decisions concerning the businesses of her clients. As the former North...

Contact Alex if you want a lawyer that really cares. Alex knows what you are going through. He has been a defense lawyer for nearly 15 years. As a Christian lawyer Alex will listen to you and do everything in his power to get you the best outcome possible.

Kimberly B. Allen opened her divorce and family law practice in 1995 in Garden City, Long Island. After ten successful years, she chose to relocate her home and her law office to enjoy the quality of life that the Capital Region offers.

Although she has extensive litigation experience in both Federal Courts and State Courts located on Long Island, the five boroughs of New York City, and Westchester, her practice concentrates in the Capital Region ranging from Colombia, Albany, Rensselaer, Schenectady and Saratpga Counties through Fulton, Essex and Montgomery Counties up through Warren and Washington Counties.

She is recognized...

Scott Peterson is the founding partner at D’Orazio Peterson, a New York law firm dedicated to providing tenacious representation to individuals in serious personal injury, malpractice and employment discrimination cases. Mr. Peterson has represented clients in State and Federal courts throughout New York State, has been published in several publications including the New York Law Journal, and has frequently provided commentary for local and national media outlets. Mr. Peterson writes an "Employment Litigation" column for the Saratoga County Bar Association newsletter. A multi-time recipient of the Super Lawyers award for Plaintiff's Personal Injury Litigation, Scott believes in providing...

I have devoted my legal career to safeguarding families, ensuring that I provide top-tier service by thoughtfully addressing their needs—whether straightforward or intricate—with customized solutions. I started my legal journey representing clients in litigation matters before transitioning my focus to estate planning. This shift allowed me to have a more enduring impact on families. Leveraging my extensive experience, I approach estate planning with both precision and practicality. I earned my J.D. from The Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, where I served as Editor of the Law Review, and I hold a B.A. from Brown University. I am licensed to practice law...

Teresa G. Donnellan is the managing partner of DONNELLAN & KNUSSMAN, PLLC. Attorney Donnellan is a graduate of Albany Law School and has more than 25 years experience in matrimonial and family law, both in litigated court proceedings and collaborative law matters. Teresa has been a member of the Saratoga County and Warren County Attorney for Children panels throughout her career in the Capital District and served as the Saratoga County Attorney for the Child Liaison. Teresa is an active member of multiple area organizations such as: the American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, the Saratoga County Bar...

Heidi A. Gifford is a dynamic and dedicated legal professional with a passion for advocating for her clients. A graduate of the esteemed New England School of Law, Heidi has been practicing law in Fulton County, New York since being admitted to the New York State Bar in 2005. Specializing in divorce, family law, child custody, fathers rights, criminal defense, personal injury, and estate planning, she has established herself as a trusted advocate for individuals facing challenging legal situations. In 2009, Heidi took on the leadership of her practice and has since been committed to delivering exceptional results for her...

I am a graduate of Wesleyan University and the Boston University School of Law. During my career as an attorney, prior to my current solo practive, I have worked as a government regulatory trial attorney for the State Public Service Commission, an in house counsel for a Fortune 100 corporation, and as a partner or counsel for a several Albany and Syracuse based medium sized law firms. I am committed to helping people and small businesses with their legal problems at a reasonable, fixed "no surprises" rate not based on the common "hourly billing" model. I am...

Amy J. Knussman is a partner with DONNELLAN & KNUSSMAN, PLLC. Attorney Knussman is a graduate of Albany Law School and has been admitted to the New York State Bar since 2003. Ms. Knussman’s career began at The Donnellan Law Firm in 2001, while she was still attending Albany Law. After many years of hard work and dedication, Amy became a partner at DONNELLAN & KNUSSMAN, PLLC in January 2008. Amy focuses her practice in the areas of Matrimonial and Family Law and has been a member of the Saratoga County and Warren County Attorney for Children Panels...

Experienced legal representation for divorce, separation, family law, child custody, child support, criminal law, DWIs / DUIs and traffic tickets, civil and commercial litigation, contract negotiations, business contracts, mediation, corporate formation, real estate transactions, wills and probate, throughout Greene, Albany, Columbia, Ulster, and Dutchess Counties.

Giovanna D'Orazio is an attorney located in Saratoga Springs who provides employment law, medical malpractice and hospital negligence law, and personal injuries cases for victims throughout the state of New York.

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,...

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.

Brian Breedlove is a member of the National Association of Drunk Driving Defense and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is on the Warren County Bar Association Criminal Law Committee. He has the highest possible rating (AV) from Martindale-Hubbell, a nationally recognized survey of lawyers and judges. It is the rating given to those lawyers recognized by the legal community as having outstanding legal skills and those that subscribe to the highest level of ethical standards. He has been named a Super Lawyer every year since 2010. In 2006, after securing the highest crash verdict in...

Owner of The Salmon Law Firm, PLLC, Del B. Salmon has had a great impact on his community. Through his work, he connects with clients and sensitively prepares them for the future. He is incredibly philanthropic, receiving numerous awards and honors recognizing his commitment to giving back. He is also on the board of WMHT, a public radio and TV station, showing he is no stranger to leadership.

Leonard A. Bellavia, founding partner of the law firm of Bellavia Blatt Andron & Crossett, PC, is a nationally recognized authority in the field of automotive franchise law and represents thousands of automobile dealerships across the country in all aspects of commercial litigation and buy/sell transactions. He has been instrumental in negotiating the sale of hundreds of dealerships and has achieved national recognition for advocating the mass action litigation model on behalf of franchised automobile dealers. Most notably, Len has successfully implemented the mass litigation model in the following actions: • In a settlement to recover reasonable compensation for warranty parts...

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.

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...

I've been representing clients in the criminal and family courts of New York State since 1999, and I believe that being an attorney isn't a business, it's a craft that requires a sense of personal honor. I've tried cases from open-container violations to murders and, whatever the matter, I'll never leave you in the dark about your case, I'll give your case care and attention, and I'll never sell you out or do anything without your knowledge and consent.

For years, Michael has been relentlessly fighting for the rights of Capital Region spouses, parents and grandparents in virtually every aspect of family and matrimonial law. As a Senior Counsel at Tully Rinckey PLLC, Michael provides representation in matters relating to divorce, parental alienation, separation agreements, annulments, child custody, child support, modifications to child support and child custody, enforcement of divorce decrees, spousal maintenance, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, orders of protection and family offenses.

Michael came to Tully Rinckey PLLC after operating a successful solo law practice in Clifton Park for nearly two decades. There, he primarily practiced family and matrimonial...