Sterling Forest Lawyers

Partner

David is a graduate of the State University of New York at Farmingdale and obtained his law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School. He studied immigration in law school and was a two time participant in the immigration clinic. He also worked for a summer at the largest immigration firm in the country. Before joining Gottfried & Gottfried, LLP, David worked for a small personal injury firm on Long Island as a trial attorney. He is admitted to practice in the State of New York.

Presentations / Conferences

David has been...

Ms. Shkolnik is an associate with the firm’s Product Liability, Pharmaceutical Department. Prior to joining the Pharmaceutical Department, she focused on premise liability, products liability, labor law, intentional torts as well as civil suits involving victims of sexual assault and/or battery.

Rachel focuses on premise liability, products liability, labor law, intentional torts as well as civil suits involving victims of sexual assault and/or battery.

Mr. Phemister has been practicing law in New York since 1998. Since then, he has been fortunate enough to have handled several thousand cases and taken well over a hundred verdicts at trial.

Initially, his practice focused on personal injury but over the years, he began working on cases where people were claiming they were assaulted by the police, or wrongfully arrested and held against their will.

As time went on, Craig began seeing more and more of these cases until he had the eye-opening experience of seeing a judge in New York declare that a man who spent nearly 18 years...

Robert Gitelman is a partner in the firm’s Products Liability and Asbestos Department, based in our New York City Office. Mr. Gitelman was an integral part of the Environmental team that helped obtain a $52 million settlement for contamination of municipal water suppliers with MTBE by petroleum refiners and retailers. Mr. Gitelman also worked on the In Re: World Trade Center Disaster Site Litigation, which resulted in more than $850 million dollars in settlements of injuries sustained by rescue and recovery workers at Ground Zero from toxic contaminant exposures.

Prior becoming an attorney, Mr. Gitelman worked in various capacities in the...

Since beginning his career, Joseph has dedicated his practice to the representation of victims of medical malpractice. This includes the representation of children who have suffered birth injuries as well as families who have lost loved ones due to the negligence of physicians and medical facilities.

Since joining our office, Joseph has also applied this experience in our Pharmaceutical litigation department with the representation of clients injured by prescription medications.

As a skilled and dedicated personal injury attorney with experience in medical malpractice litigation, Joseph is one of the top associates on the team currently handling the representation of both families...

Richard G. Kaufman is a founding member of Seiden & Kaufman and has practiced exclusively personal injury law since 1986. He graduated Hofstra University School of Law in 1984 with Moot Court Honors. Upon graduation, Richard G. Kaufman was hired by the Appellate Division, Second Department of New York to represent and protect the rights of patients confined to psychiatric hospitals in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

In 1986, Richard G. Kaufman was hired as an associate in a metropolitan area personal injury law firm. Within weeks of his hiring, he successfully tried his first case for a client, a woman who...

Gregory Hach is a partner at Hach & Rose, LLP. His practice area focus is in representing members of organized labor unions in mass tort actions including prescription drug liability, personal injury actions, and asbestos litigation. Mr. Hach is admitted to practice law in New York, Washington, DC, and the United States District Court for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. He earned his Juris Doctorate from Ohio Northern University, Claude W. Pettit College of Law in 1999. He also earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science in 1996 from the John Jay College of Criminal...

JUSTIN M. SWARTZ, a partner at Outten & Golden LLP in New York and Co-Chair of its Class Action Practice Group, represents employees in class action wage/hour and discrimination cases, as well as individual discrimination cases and other employment matters. He is also Co-Chair of the firm’s Public Interest Committee.

Mr. Swartz is currently litigating cases challenging the practice of classifying workers as independent contractors and failing to pay overtime compensation. He and Outten & Golden LLP's Public Interest Committee have represented hundreds of low-wage workers in minimum wage and unpaid overtime cases, including construction workers, farm workers, and low-wage cleaning...

LAURENCE S. MOY is Deputy Managing Partner, and has been practicing law almost exclusively in the area of representing individuals in employment matters since 1985. Mr. Moy co-chairs the firm’s Financial Services Industry Practice Group. He enjoys representing clients and groups of clients in these highly specialized fields by counseling them, as well as negotiating and litigating on their behalf.

Mr. Moy has extensive experience in arbitration before FINRA (and, previously, the NASD and the NYSE), the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”), and JAMS, as well as trials, appeals, and other litigation experience before federal and state courts concerning employment and...

Speeding ticket today? Call me to see if we can make it go away. 917.548.9907 We've been fighting speeding and other DMV violations for 8 years. Red light ticket? Let's try to lose it. 917.548.9907 We've been fighting red light, red arrow, stop sign, traffic device and other tickets for 8 years.

Martin P. Skolnick is the founder and Managing Attorney of the Skolnick Legal Group. Martin represents general contractors, subcontractors, and owners in construction litigation and arbitration matters. Martin also counsels construction companies and their senior management teams with the numerous legal issues construction companies encounter on a daily basis, including change order disputes, contract disputes, construction lien preparation and filing, permit issues, and employee issues. Martin also has substantial experience handling a wide range of commercial, real estate, and personal injury matters.

Martin has a rare combination of skills, experience and incredible determination that enables him to obtain exceptional results for...

Mr. Robbins is a partner in the New York City law firm of Kaufmann Gildin & Robbins LLP and specializes in commercial arbitration and mediation. He represents investors, brokers and firms in disputes and brokers and firms before regulatory agencies. He is also an expert witness in malpractice cases arising out of securities arbitrations. He and his firm have been responsible for the return of tens of millions of dollars to investors and have represented many brokers accused of wrongdoing in arbitrations and regulatory matters. Mr. Robbins served as Special Deputy Attorney General...

Craig E. Yaris is a Founding Partner at Holon Law Partners, with the experience and drive to handle all your Franchise, General Business, Corporate Formation, and Estate Planning needs. As a former small business owner and Chief Operating Officer of a franchisor himself, Mr. Yaris is passionate about promoting business growth. He has experience handling daily operations, employee disputes, and negotiations of pertinent contracts for a franchise company with 100 locations in five states, where he organized and conducted semi- annual meetings to educate and inform franchisees of best practices for improved growth. In addition, Mr. Yaris was responsible for the...

To Jonathan S. Damashek, the best part of his job is being able to stand up for people who deserve their day in court. “I like fighting for the little guy against the large corporate defendants and insurance carriers to help them recover what they lost in their lives,” he says.

In this regard, Damashek seeks to recover monetary compensation for his clients that covers their past and future pain and suffering, medical expenses, lost earnings and benefits, and loss of their enjoyment of life. After graduating from New York Law School in 1997, Damashek started his career...

Cesar is an International Attorney specialized in business law, litigation, and cross-border investments. He assists start-ups and seasoned investors to structure their business efficiently, reducing risk and setting them up for success. His experience in dispute resolution and litigation allows him to provide comprehensive and top-notch advise zealously protecting the interest of his clients. He holds a J.D. and International Arbitration LL.M. from the University of Miami School of law, an LL.M. for Foreign-Trained Lawyers from Brooklyn Law School, and a Licenciatura en Derecho “Cum Laude” from the Universidad Tecnológica de Honduras. He is admitted to practice law in the states...

Attorney Stuart Meissner was born in 1962 in Brooklyn, New York. He earned his Bachelor’s and Juris Doctorate from Hofstra University. He went on to earn his masters of law degree from New York University Law School. He opened his own practice, Meissner Associates, twenty years ago in 2001 in Manhattan, New York. His practice focuses primarily on SEC whistleblower cases, investment disputes, securities violations, and FINRA arbitration. After 9/11, Attorney Meissner volunteered at Ground Zero on “the pile” on the “bucket brigade” along with fire and police officers, sifting through debris trying to find survivors. He was later subsequently...

Glen A. Kendall has an exceptional track record representing small and medium-sized businesses and individuals in complex, high stakes litigation and arbitration across the New York area.

He regularly serves as lead counsel in business and employment matters involving breach of contract, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, employment discrimination, restrictive covenants, defamation, trade secret misappropriation, and copyright and trademark infringement. Mr. Kendall also handles trusts and estates matters involving probate, will contests, contested accountings, and fiduciary removal proceedings. Clients entrust Mr. Kendall because of his compassion, zealous advocacy, and creativity in problem-solving.

A significant portion of Mr. Kendall’s practice involves...

As the founder of Shaw Law, Cyrus Shaw believes there is only one thing that the firm should be focused on – getting the best possible results for clients. This starts from the initial client interview, where a rapport and trust needs to be established. It is common for new client intake to be limited to one a day, so as much time as needed can be spent with the new client. Each client is a person, not a file. Each client has their own story. A law firm where clients become like family is what he strives for. This...

Marc D. Grossman graduated from The University of Michigan in 1989. After completing Brooklyn Law School and Baruch Business School’s J.D./M.B.A. program while interning at the Law Department of the United Nations, Mr. Grossman became an Associate and later a Partner in the law firm of Mergel, Tubman & Grossman in New York City. Mr. Grossman is also a Founding Partner of Sanders and Grossman P.C., and Baker Sanders Barshay Grossman Fass Muhlstock & Neuwirth, LLC, and a Senior Partner at Sanders, Sanders, Block, Woycik, Viener & Grossman, P.C. and Sanders Viener Grossman LLP.

Since beginning his law career in 1993,...

With 30 years experience in tort litigation, Paul T. Hofmann stands tall as a champion for victims whose lives are forever changed. Named a Super Lawyer in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Hofmann specializes in personal injury matters, with special emphasis on maritime, railroad and construction worker claims.

Hofmann has a B.A. from Rutgers College and J.D. from New York Law School. He is a member of American Association of Justice and the Maritime Law Association. He chaired the ATLA Admiralty Section and writes and lectures extensively.

Hofmann says that our mission is to maximize each clients recovery by thorough research, preparation...

Nikki attended Mississippi University for Women, and obtained her B.A. in Political Science in 2013. She also attended Missouri University of Science & Technology where she obtained her B.A., summa cum laude, in History in 2015.

Nikki received her J.D., magna cum laude, in 2018 from the University of Mississippi School of Law with a concentration in Entertainment & Sports Law. Nikki served as a member of the Mississippi Law Journal, Federal Courts Law Review, and Mississippi Sports Law Review. Nikki was selected as a member of the Phi Delta Phi Honor Society and served as the President of the...

Joel R. Brandes, of the New York Bar, concentrates his practice in New York divorce and family law appeals. He also consults with and advises attorneys on appellate, trial court and international child abduction matters in all of the New York state and federal courts. He has been recognized by the New York Appellate Division as a "noted authority and expert on New York family law and divorce .” He is the author of the treatise Law and the Family New York 2024-2025 Edition (12 Volumes), Law and The Family New York, 2d (9 volumes), Law and the Family...

Senior legal executive with proven success in leading legal and risk management functions for global companies; demonstrated success with creating new risk management and ethics/compliance functions cost-effectively. More than 16 years of legal experience in a broad range of matters that include investigations, ethics and compliance counseling, risk management, product safety/product liability matters, business and human resources counseling, and litigation.

I have practiced business law for two decades, and have significant experience in counseling companies from their start-up phase through a sale. My experience includes negotiating strategic transactions and advising on day to day business issues. I have significant experience in technology transactions, from SaaS to Agile development and traditional software licensing.

My passion is family law. It is what drove me to become a lawyer, motivated me through law school, and gets me excited to start my day. Family law has always been a part of my life, in experience, study, and practice. A childhood spent in and out of domestic court piqued my interest in the different elements of such a complex and human-driven area of the law. My goal is to make every client feel heard in a situation where communication may have broken down. I will vigorously advocate for all of my clients, because I am...

Check out my background at my website, www.siegelandsiegel.com.

MICHAEL GUNZBURG has 30 years of extensive civil litigation experience as a New York City personal injury and medical malpractice attorney. He has also represented a variety of business clients in civil litigation, business transaction and real estate matters. Many business people sometimes find themselves in disputes that require experienced trial counsel to handle and resolve. Michael Gunzburg has extensive experience resolving civil disputes, involving personal injury, medical malpractice and business matters at arbitration, mediation or before a jury at trial.

Michael Gunzburg graduated from Boston University with a B.S.B.A. in 1982 concentrating in business management and accounting, and graduated from...

Arthur Larkin is a civil rights litigator with nearly thirty years’ experience in the state and federal courts, and over the past twenty years he had handled some of the highest profile wrongful conviction and class action lawsuits in New York City. He has negotiated settlements worth over $75 million in those lawsuits as well as numerous other lawsuits. With fifteen years’ experience defending the City in such matters, Arthur knows how best to present a winning case at trial and/or during settlement discussions.

I help you receive compensation for your accident and medical malpractice case. As an experienced attorney and litigator for almost 10 years in New York, I have assisted countless individuals and their families recover millions of dollars for their injuries. I have worked extensively with victims of medical malpractice and serious accidents, including motor vehicle accidents, falls, animal bites, traumatic brain injury cases, construction accidents, and those who have suffered catastrophic injuries. Como abogada con 10 años de experiencia en Nueva York, he ayudado a innumerables personas y sus familias a recuperar millones de dólares por sus daños morales y materiales....

Mariya Ortynska is a trademark and copyright attorney and Managing Attorney at Ortynska Law PLLC. She offers legal guidance on matters involving intellectual property and emerging technologies. Mariya's core services are developing strategies for brand protection and enforcement in the U.S. and internationallym managing trademark and copyright registrations with the USPTO and the USCO, drafting and negotiating IP-related contracts, addressing online enforcement and domain name disputes and advising on legal aspects of emerging technologies, including AI and blockchain. Mariya has substantial experience with Madrid Protocol filings and in safeguarding brand portfolios on a global scale. She has assisted clients in securing trademark...

Mr. Crispi was born and raised in the New York City area. He received an undergraduate degree in Political Science from Rollins College and juris doctor from Fordham University. Mr. Crispi is active in many professional and community organizations including the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, the Association of Trial Lawyers of America; and is a current member of the Judiciary Committee of the Bronx County Bar Association. The father of four daughters, he is also a member of the Board of the local youth basketball program and a youth basketball coach.

Jacqueline Newman joined Berkman Bottger Newman & Rodd, LLP in 1998 and is now the managing partner of the firm. Ms. Newman's practice consists of litigation, collaborative law and mediation. She specializes in complex high net worth matrimonial cases and negotiating prenuptial agreements. Ms. Newman has taught the Collaborative Family Law class for The NY Association of Collaborative Professionals and the Center for Mediation in Law, as well as the Introduction of Matrimonial Law for Collaborative Divorce Professionals for the New York State Unified Court System. At Fordham University School of Law, she taught Family Law Practice with Barry Berkman....

Bill Sipser has been a leading practitioner in the area of Labor Law and Employment Law Discrimination for almost thirty years. His practice is focused on representing clients in age discrimination, race discrimination, disability discrimination, and other matters involving employee rights. Bill has extensive litigation experience in state and federal courts, and before several governmental agencies involving representation of individuals and labor unions. Bill has prosecuted significant cases, including appeals before the Appellate Division of the State of New York as well as the federal Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He argued a critical employment discrimination issue before the...

Mesothelioma lawyer Robert I. Komitor is a partner at Levy Phillips & Konigsberg, LLP, and serves as lead trial lawyer specializing in products liability, negligence, and personal injury cases involving mesothelioma, hazardous wastes, and pollution. Bob was named one of the nation's Best Lawyers, in the area of mass torts, in Gregory W. Smith and Steven W. Naifeh's The Best Lawyers in America 2005-2012 (Woodward/White). Bob has consistently won some of the highest damage awards in the nation. For three consecutive years, he made The National Law Journal's list of lawyers winning the highest verdicts. He was trial lawyer on the "New...

I advocate for clients who want to take charge of their lives and resolve conflict using a common sense approach. During my more than 20 years of practice, I have handled hundreds of matrimonial and family law matters. While I have extensive litigation experience, I now focus my practice on mediation and collaborative law because most of my clients fell strongly that they want to stay out of court. I want to make a positive difference in the lives of clients going through stressful family transitions. I help mothers and fathers in developing parenting plans that are practical and that...

Irene Vaisman graduated from the State University of New York at Buffalo in 2001 with a degree in Political Science. She received her Juris Doctor degree in 2004 from New York Law School. Throughout her education, Irene participated in various internships and legal programs gaining experience in both criminal and civil immigration matters as well as learning how immigration law intersects other practice areas. Her first pro bono cases sought to help undocumented children with various illnesses and those feelings of compassion have guided her throughout her practice. After graduating law school, Irene spent seven years practicing...

Grace Hyun specializes in the areas of civil litigation and has extensive experience in representing individuals and businesses in legal matters involving employment law, personal injury, premises liability, construction, products liability, and complex litigation matters. Ms. Hyun is a zealous advocate for her clients and regularly appears in state and federal courts helping her clients achieve successful results. Ms. Hyun represents employees who have been wrongfully terminated or are experiencing discrimination or sexual harassment at work. In addition, she represents employees and class of employees in matters involving violations of the FLSA and wage laws.

Ms. Hyun practices in New York...