Upper Jay Lawyers

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,...

Miriam C. Hadden, Esq. is an attorney with more than sixteen years of experience serving clients in Essex, Clinton, and Franklin counties. She is a former prosecutor, having worked as an assistant district attorney prosecuting criminal matters, and an assistant county attorney, prosecuting family court proceedings. She is an experienced trial attorney with an excellent track record, known for her passionate and empathic advocacy style.

I am a native of Rutland, Vermont, and attended Duke University and graduated from what is now Castleton University before obtaining my JD degree from Washington & Lee University in 1974. I became admitted in 1974 in Vermont and practiced in Rutland until 1999, although I continue to have an active license in Vermont. I became admitted in 1999 in New York State, and have been practicing in Lake Placid since that time. I am a former member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, the American Bar Association, the Commercial Law League, Vermont Trial Lawyers Association, and...

My main area of practice is civil enforcement of New York State environmental laws and regulations for the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). I also assist DEC staff with the enforcement of laws and regulations that govern State land management. From 2002 -2006, I served as real property counsel for the DEC. My professional experience includes negotiating land conservation deals for the City of New York and the Trust for Public Land. Prior to practicing law, I worked as an environmental consultant in New Hampshire.

I make it easy for injured people to get paid and move on after an accident.

No one wants to find themselves on an injury lawyer’s website.

You never imagined it would be you or someone you love who needs an injury lawyer. But everything changed in that instant and now you’re stressed and confused about what to do next.

• Was the kid behind you texting and driving when she rear-ended your family at a stop light?

• Was an impatient driver passing on a busy stretch of Route 7, when he collided with your car head on?

• Were you...

Andrew Safranko is a founding partner and attorney with LaMarche Safranko Law PLLC focusing on personal injury litigation and criminal defense in both state and federal courts. Andrew has 20 years’ experience of representing thousands of clients on issues ranging from major felonies and complex white-collar crimes to misdemeanors and violations.

Andrew is accomplished in all aspects of criminal litigation and personal injury law, including trying many high-profile criminal cases, arguing appellate matters, and recovering millions of dollars for clients in personal injury matters, in both New York state and federal courts.

George E. LaMarche III is a personal injury and criminal defense attorney and founding member of LaMarche Safranko Law PLLC. He represents individuals who have been seriously injured and families who have suffered the loss of a loved one because of the negligence of others. George helps victims of car crashes, motorcycle accidents, birth injuries and may other personal injury claims. George also represents people who are under investigation or charged with a crime in both state and federal courts. His vast knowledge of the legal system prepares him for the case to go to trial or negotiate...

Mary T. Colwell (nee Pasqualino) graduated from Albany Law School of University in Albany, New York in 2001 with a concentration in Criminal Law. While at Albany Law School, Mary was a member of the Moot Court Board, the Women’s Law Caucus and Vice-President of the Italian-American Law Students Association. Ms. Colwell was admitted to the New Jersey State bar in December of 2001 and the New York State bar in January of 2002. She is also admitted in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and the United States District Court for the Northern District...

You deserve family law representation that is committed to you and which has the skills and experience to deliver the best possible results.

Facing a divorce or other type of family law matter on your own can be stressful and can create serious anxiety. We know what our clients are going through as they work through the family law matters they are confronting. This is why we focus on providing the most effective representation and the highest levels of personal service for our clients.

We know that ultimately people come to us for results. Our decades of combined experience negotiating and trying...

Since 2005, Christina has been providing counsel without judgment to clients when advising them regarding estate planning, estate administration, guardianships and real estate. Christina believes that to be an effective attorney, you must listen to your client with purpose in order to understand their objective and goals. Christina takes a pragmatic approach to problem solving and takes pride in making the legal process as stress-free as possible for our clients.

Kaitlin Foley is the managing attorney at The Colwell Law Group, having joined the firm in August of 2016. Kaitlin graduated cum laude from Albany Law School of Union University, located in Albany, New York, in May 2016. During her time at Albany Law School, Ms. Foley served as the Executive Editor of Research and Writing for Albany Law Review, was the Family Law Associate on the Moot Court Board, and acted as a Teaching Assistant in Criminal Law under the supervision of Professor Vincent Bonventre. Ms. Foley is currently admitted to the New York State Bar and is...

Shalini Natesan focuses her practice in the areas of Business Law, Hospitality Law, Municipal Law, and Real Estate Law. Ms. Natesan is equipped with over 10 years of experience in Corporate Law and has handled business matters, such as change of ownership, buy-sell agreements, drafting the necessary documents for all business and corporate formations and transactions, while also creating subsidiary entities to handle specific areas of businesses throughout New York State and the Northeast. Additionally, Ms. Natesan has worked in navigating very large commercial real estate transactions, including the purchase and sale of real property, rental/lease agreements, and bank representation. Shali has...

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...

Michael J. Catalfimo represents a diverse group of businesses and individuals in complex civil litigation and transactional matters involving Real Property Law, Creditors Rights, Business Law, Family Law, Trusts and Estates Law, and Municipal Law. He is a Partner in the law firm of Rowlands, LeBrou & Griesmer, PLLC. Mr. Catalfimo received his Juris Doctor Degree (Magna Cum Laude) from Boston College Law School in 1985, where he was elected to the Order of the Coif National Legal Honor Society and received the Lewis F. Powell, Jr. Medal For Excellence in Advocacy and Outstanding Trial Advocacy. He earned...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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...

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...

Bonnie Kraham has practiced Elder, Estate Planning, Probate, Estate Administration, and Medicaid Planning Law for over 20 years. A skilled and knowledgeable attorney, Bonnie is dedicated to providing exceptional representation to New York residents.

Bonnie has a personal relationship to her role as an elder law attorney. When her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, Bonnie saw and experienced the many challenges that families face when a loved one is ill. Bonnie brings compassion and understanding in her approach to assisting her clients with their legal needs.

Bonnie earned her B.A., magna cum laude in 1981. After raising her children, she continued...

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...

James T. Towne, Jr. has been representing businesses, municipalities and related entities for many years, addressing and handling matters ranging from general litigation, harassment claims, employment issues, zoning, planning and tax certiorari matters. Moreover, with Mr. Towne’s highly developed understanding of ethics as it impacts business and government, his services to an organization is invaluable. Mr. Towne also provides assistance with ethics issues and technology issues as they relate to the law and other “hot button” topics which may arise.

Attorney Johanna K.P. Dennis, of Dennis Law, PLLC (formerly JD Law Associates, LLC), has a special passion for both law and education; both are fundamental parts of who she is. As a twice-immigrant, Attorney Dennis immigrated as a child with her parents from Jamaica to Canada, and later immigrated to the United States with her family as a college-bound teenager. Growing up in Canada, Attorney Dennis is fluent in French and English. Through her own experiences and in practicing immigration law over two decades, Attorney Dennis personally knows the ins and outs of the U.S. immigration system. She has "been...