Clay Appeals & Appellate Lawyers

Since 1984, I have had the honor of representing clients in civil and criminal appeals, and complex litigation. During that time, I have continually been learning from my colleagues, and also contributing to the advancement of the law by lecturing and authoring articles on appellate practice and other legal topics. A commitment to excellence is the driving force behind my approach to each and every case.

Shawn Barnett is a skilled litigator and trial attorney who is dedicated to helping those who have been victimized by law enforcement or correctional officers. He has received multiple million-dollar settlements for his clients and has been recognized as an Illinois Rising Star multiple times. During his time as an attorney, Shawn has represented numerous clients who have been injured by those who have abused their authority. He has vigorously pursued a wide variety of claims on behalf of his clients, including false arrest, malicious prosecution, excessive force, wrongful death, and sexual assault. Shawn has a particular focus on police involved...

Matthew Weinick is a Long Island employment lawyer. Since the beginning of his career, Matt has been fighting for his clients’ workplace rights before Federal and State Court judges and administrative law judges. He has tried employment discrimination and retaliation cases before juries in Federal Court, represents clients at mediation and arbitration, and has argued appeals before the Second Circuit Court of Appeals and the New York Appellate Divisions, First and Second Departments. Matt’s success has been recognized for five consecutive years by Super Lawyers Magazine which listed him as a Rising Star from 2012-2016, a recognition reserved for...

Attorney John L. Calcagni, III from the Law Office of John L. Calcagni, III is a highly skilled, aggressive, and experienced criminal defense trial attorney. He is a former military prosecutor in the U.S. Army JAG Corps where he prosecuted hundreds of complex felony cases in the United States and abroad. Attorney John L. Calcagni, III also served as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney with U.S. Attorney's Office in New York. As a prosecutor, attorney John L. Calcagni, III never lost a single case. He is admitted to practice in state and federal courts in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York,...

Vincent A. Antoniello is a Member with Resnick Law Group, a New Jersey and New York employment law firm. He began practicing law in 2000 and has more than two decades of experience as an employment lawyer. He concentrates in representing employees in all aspects of employment law. Prior to joining Resnick Law Group, Vincent practiced employment law at Lowenstein Sandler PC, representing businesses and management in employment law litigation and counseling matters. Having practiced employment law from the employer-side, Vincent now leverages that invaluable experience to benefit his employee clients. In addition to being a strong advocate for his clients,...

Mr. Sewell has several years of transactional experience as well as significant, state and federal litigation practice. Moreover, he is well-versed in prosecution matters before the United States Patent & Trademark Office and the United States Copyright Office. He has represented the spectrum of patent, trademark, and copyright owners, food and drug companies, business owners, non-institutional clients, and more. While at Kaye Scholer, LLP, Mr. Sewell’s foci were in the areas of litigation and intellectual property. Prior to large firm practice, he honed his skills in Manhattan at the law firm of Ullman, Shapiro, & Ullman, LLP that specialized in...

Andrew Lavoott Bluestone is a Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys and specializes in Legal Malpractice Litigation

Clifford J. Petroske was born and raised on Long Island, the son of public school teachers. He graduated from Half Hollow Hills High School, and earned his undergraduate degree, cum laude, in 1986 from the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Thereafter, Mr. Petroske attended Hofstra University School of Law, where he was editor of the Environmental Law Digest, and earned his law degree in 1989. He was admitted to the New York Bar in 1990. Since handling his own divorce twenty years ago, Mr. Petroske has devoted his practice to matrimonial and family...

I'm a business lawyer in New York City, at Ray Beckerman, P.C., with offices conveniently located in downtown Forest Hills, Queens. We represent small and medium sized businesses, are are well known for commercial litigation and copyright litigation. I'm the author of the copyright law blog, "Recording Industry vs The People", which Justia.com has rated as the #1 most popular all time copyright law blog in the U.S. I'm "NewYorkCountryLawyer" on Slashdot.org, and @RayBeckerman on Twitter.

Annette Gifford has obtained successful outcomes for clients in both state and federal courts, including in connection with reversing or vacating convictions before multiple circuits of the United States Circuit Courts of Appeal. Ms. Gifford’s primary work for Spolin Law clients includes post-trial direct appeals and writs of habeas corpus. She received her B.S. degree from Cornell University and her J.D. from Cornell Law School and is licensed to practice law in California and New York.

A respected and skilled attorney with over 28 years of experience as a litigator representing clients before the Courts in the Bronx, Brooklyn, New York City and Queens. Ms. Shay is also a talented negotiator who understands her clients and works tirelessly to achieve their goals.

Her practice is primarily concentrated on real estate and housing matters, including evictions, nonpayment cases, holdover proceedings, HP cases, ejectments, partition actions, DHCR filings, PARs, commercial litigation, leasing, summary proceedings, property transfers, mortgage transactions, corporate governance, shareholder disputes and appeals.

Christie Tomm Addona is a Partner at Silverberg Zalantis LLC. She has extensive experience working on Litigation and Appeals, Land Use Applications, and Municipal matters. She represents clients on Article 78 Proceedings, defending and challenging administrative decisions. Additionally, Christie also counsels on Employment Law and Commercial Litigation issues.

Christie has prior experience in several Civil Litigation firms. She has worked from the beginning of lawsuits through trials and appeals for Insurance Defense, Tort, Maritime, Contract and Employment Law cases. Christie has represented a vast array of clients including individuals, large corporations, and non-profit corporations.

In 2005, Christie received...

Ryan Blanch is a well-known Reputation Management attorney. With years of experience as a New York criminal defense lawyer, Mr. Blanch has successfully handled a wide variety of crises, including government investigations, complex white-collar crimes, health care fraud, and felonies/misdemeanors. Mr. Blanch has represented numerous individuals, including executives, attorneys, accountants, health care providers, financial industry professionals, as well as various corporations, in high-stake reputational crises. His unparalleled expertise has made him one of the most sought-after attorneys in the field of Reputation Management. With a track record of success, Mr. Blanch has had a number of cases chronicled in various media outlets....

Bernard D’Orazio is a native New Yorker who has lived in New York City for more than 35 years. He served for eight years as an appointed member of Manhattan Community Board No. 1, which participates in City planning processes and other issues facing lower Manhattan. In addition, he was for many years a member of the Board of Managers of his 261-unit condominium building located in the Tribeca neighborhood in Manhattan and also served as its President. Mr. D’Orazio is presently a Public Member of the Business Conduct Committee (formerly known as the Adjudication Committee) of The CME Group,...

Mr. Pace has briefed and argued cases in federal appellate courts around the country and in several state supreme courts. His clients have included sitting U.S. Senators, the Center for Constitutional Rights, the ACLU of NJ, as well as several startups. He has extensive experience litigating a wide array of matters, including: civil rights, First Amendment, consumer rights, FOIL and FOIA, class actions, defamation, arbitration, business disputes, and torts. Prior to founding J. Pace Law, Mr. Pace was senior legal counsel at Reprieve US, where he directed the group's First Amendment and national security litigation. He held the...

Rebecca Kujawa concentrates her practice in Litigation and Appellate Practice. Rebecca has experience in various types of civil litigation in state court as well as with administrative agencies. Rebecca assists in many aspects of the litigation process, including pleadings, discovery and motion practice. Rebecca received her JD from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, where she served as a Publications Editor for the Buffalo Law Review and was awarded the Order of the Coif (highest academic achievement). As a law student, Rebecca also gained extensive insight into civil litigation as a student law clerk to...

The first-generation son of immigrants, Matthew Borowski is a knowledgeable and compassionate lawyer. He has been featured on news media outlets including CNN, NBC, ABC, and The Buffalo News for his asylum and refugee work. Matthew is licensed in both the U.S. (New York) and Canada (Ontario). Borowski Witmer Immigration Lawyers has locations in Buffalo, NY and in Springfield, VA. He is well-versed in immigration matters including deportation defense, family and business immigration including NAFTA/TN visas and rehabilitation/waivers, federal criminal defense, and post-conviction relief. He appears before Immigration Courts, the Board of Immigration Appeals, USCIS, New York state courts and...

Land Use and Zoning, Environmental and Municipal Law Real Estate Litigation Commercial Litigation Civil Rights (Property Rights) Litigation

Peter is a passionate and dedicated advocate. Peter has represented clients in various forums, including the United States District Court for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, as well as in New York State Courts in the region. Throughout his career that has spanned more than a decade, Peter has served as defendants' and Plaintiffs' counsel in single and class action employment related litigation. Most recently, Peter won a jury trial on a First Amendment retaliation case in Federal Court. Additionally, Peter has appeared extensively in cases before arbitration tribunals and administrative agencies, including...

Samantha has established a remarkable reputation for consistently delivering unmatched results with speed. Clients admire her fearlessness in the courtroom and unwavering dedication to their cause. She firmly believes in the lawyer's ability to make a positive impact on the justice system and uphold the constitutional ideals that underpin our society. Central to Samantha's approach is empowering her clients and offering them the necessary support and guidance to navigate the complexities of the criminal justice system. As a fierce advocate for individuals accused of crimes, she recognizes the unique challenges they face and is fully committed to safeguarding their rights and...

The Diederich Law Office focuses on helping victims of illegality and bias in employment and civil rights cases, particularly wrongful termination and job discrimination cases, and negotiating severance packages. Cases include wrongful discrimination based upon age, gender / sex, national origin, race, pregnancy or disability. I also served as a "citizen soldier" (US Army reservist), with tours of duty in the combat zones of Iraq (2004-05) and Afghanistan (2012), as an Army lawyer. I retired in the rank of lieutenant colonel. We handle cases from Long Island, through New York City and into the Hudson...

Matthew Galluzzo is an intelligent and accomplished litigator who cares deeply about his clients. He concentrates his practice primarily in the areas of criminal defense, criminal appeals, and the representation of whistleblowers. He has experience representing high-profile clients in high-stakes matters, and his tenacious and skillful advocacy routinely yields outstanding results for his clients. He has also helped countless professionals, foreign nationals, and promising students navigate the criminal justice system for the first time, and does so with patience, determination, empathy, and skill. As a result, his clients often rave about him and routinely refer their friends and loved ones...

Attorney Andre Sedlak received his Juris Doctor from Pace University School of Law. Before he studied law, he spent 21 years working with the New York State Department of Corrections as a Corrections Officer and Corrections Sergeant. His legal experience includes internships with the Westchester County D.A.’s office and Legal Services of the Hudson Valley, an Associate Attorney with Klein Varble & Associates, P.C., and The Law Office of Andre Sedlak in Poughkeepsie New York.

Karen Charrington is a highly-skilled trial attorney. She is a former prosecutor who was trained in the Bronx County District Attorney’s office, which has one of the highest volumes of cases in New York City.

Ms. Charrington began her career as a Criminal Court Line Assistant and rose to the ranks of a Major Case Assistant handling the most serious criminal cases in the office. As an Assistant District Attorney, she was able to sharpen her skills as a no-nonsense litigator and trial attorney.

Trial attorneys always have a leg up on the competition because they can see a case from 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 ” (See Matter of Brandes, 2015 WL 4664743, 2015 N.Y. Slip Op. 81096(U) (2d Dept.,2015)). He is the author of the treatise Law and the Family New York 2021-2022 Edition...

As Managing Partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC, Anthony relies heavily on his vast leadership experience in overseeing the daily operations of the Buffalo office and its staff. As a military leader, having served over 22 years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve, Anthony brings decades of leadership training and experience to the Buffalo office. Anthony has previously served as a senior drill sergeant, a combat intelligence advisor to the New Iraqi Amy, and a first sergeant and acting commander to a combat engineer drill sergeant company. Anthony is currently serving in a brigade-level staff sergeant major position. Anthony has...

I am a commercial litigator specializing in federal litigation, including trials. I work extensively with online businesses, specifically in connection with the use of intellectual property on the Internet in both litigation and non-litigation roles. My firm is also recognized for its strength in civil rights, employment and free speech law. I am known for my work as the lead attorney for Simon Tam in the U.S. Supreme Court case Matal v. Tam, which held that the disparagement clause of the trademark statute violated the First Amendment's free speech clause. I have successfully represented clients of every size in...

Bukh Law Firm, P.C. is #1 ranked Criminal Defense law firm, as ranked by Avvo, Citysearch and Insiderpages. The attorneys at the Bukh Law Firm, P.C. are committed to providing each and every client with an aggressive and thorough legal defense, regardless of the size and complexity of their case. Our law firmâs founder and managing partner, Arkady Bukh, vigorously pursued and selected attorneys with a developed domain expertise in criminal, family, and civil litigation practice areas. The result of his efforts is a dedicated and energized team of legal experts that can swiftly bring to a favorable closure...

Rachel J. B. Weisman


Rachel Weisman, a strong, cunning, and dedicated divorce lawyer on Long Island, is considered one of the most captivating divorce litigators in the Greater New York City Area. She provides her clients with very specific, personal attention to their divorce and family law cases and gives special care when dealing with domestic violence cases.

If you're looking to get a divorce, or looking for a trusted, unbiased divorce mediator to handle the finalization of your marriage, look no further. Rachel Weisman is a certified divorce mediator and has participated in many previous divorce mediations, several of which actually...

Victor M. Feraru is an attorney whose childhood experiences make him a fierce advocate for others. He understands the importance of advocating for others effectively, with compassion and care. He provides creative and effective legal solutions for his clients as affordably as possible. As a child and young man, Feraru was in over 40 foster and 3 group homes. He was later adopted. His past experiences inspire him to be the kind of advocate who goes the extra mile for his clients. He provides creative legal solutions with compassion and diligence for his clients....

Richard Gertler has been helping individuals and businesses in the Long Island area for over 20 years. He is dedicated and experienced. If you need an attorney to help with your business or bankruptcy matters contact us today. GERTLER LAW GROUP, LLC 90 Merrick Avenue Suite 400 East Meadow, New York 11554 Phone: (516) 228-3553 https://gertlerlawgroup.com/

As one of the nation’s top white collar and criminal defense attorneys, former prosecutor Vinoo Varghese takes on trials and appeals other lawyers won’t—and wins. Yet, he prides himself on the fact that he has repeatedly convinced prosecutors to end cases against his clients without charges or gaining public attention, allowing those he defends to resume their lives. Varghese is a visiting faculty member at Harvard Law School’s Trial Advocacy Workshop. The National Trial Lawyers Top 100 list has included Varghese for nine consecutive years, he is ranked as a New York Metro Super Lawyer for the past eight years and...

Michael, a Capital Region native, has curated his practice to serve the needs of individual and corporate clients alike. As an Associate with Tully Rinckey PLLC, he focuses on litigation and negotiation of a wide array of practice areas including bankruptcy, intellectual property, secured transactions and contracts. Michael strives to achieve fair results for his clients, while zealously advocating on their behalf.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Michael served as an Of Counsel attorney for a Schenectady law firm. In this role, he represented clients in various litigation and transactional matters. He also served as counsel for a Capital Region...

Brad Henry represents entities and individuals in criminal and regulatory litigation and investigations, international arbitrations, and internal investigations. Brad is a board-certified criminal trial specialist and has represented and defended clients in trials and investigations involving U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in over fifteen different districts around the country.

Brad represents clients in investigations and litigation involving the Department of Justice (National Security Division, Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Environment and Natural Resources Division), Securities and Exchange Commission, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Office of Foreign Assets Control, as well as other federal, state and local agencies. He also conducts internal investigations...

Laura K. Gasiorowski, Esq. has been practicing criminal defense law since 1994 and joined Stahl Gasiorowski Criminal Defense Lawyers in 2005. For almost thirty years she has concentrated her career on representation of individuals and corporations in state and federal courts, in a wide variety of criminal matters, from complex white collar cases involving mail and wire fraud, money laundering, computer fraud, structuring, tax evasion and bank fraud to offenses like terrorism, kidnapping, gambling, narcotics violations, murder, VICAR, and RICO. She also represents students in college and university disciplinary hearings.

For over 35 years Ingrid Gherman has dedicated her New York family law practice exclusively to all aspects of matrimonial law, focusing on divorce and child custody. This specialization has enabled her to accumulate extensive knowledge and robust experience in matters including divorce, child custody and visitation, marital agreements, equitable distribution of marital property, child support, spousal support and maintenance (alimony), prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, enforcement and modification proceedings, same sex marriage and divorce, contempt of court proceedings, domestic violence, and interstate and international child abduction.

Her skill as a litigator and appeals attorney is equaled by her ability...

As a Partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC, Derrick primarily focuses his practice on criminal defense. Since joining the firm, Derrick has represented clients facing an array of criminal charges, including all classifications of misdemeanors and felonies under New York State’s Penal Law and Vehicle and Traffic Law, as well as federal criminal charges. Derrick brings a wealth of legal knowledge in multiple practice areas to Tully Rinckey, due in part to his previous role as a Client Relations Attorney. In this position, Derrick oversaw the operations of the firm’s Client Relations Department and provided legal assistance to potential new clients....

Brooke Dana Youngwirth represents both employees and private and public-sector employers before state and federal agencies, including the New York State Division of Human Rights and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Brooke also defends private and public employers against employment harassment and discrimination, labor violations, and various other federal and state claims.

In addition, Brooke frequently provides counsel to individuals, school districts, police departments, and other private employers on a range of topics such as wrongful termination, student disciplinary matters, employment discrimination, and the implementation of employment policies and handbooks. Brooke has held client training sessions and continuing legal education seminars...

Michael Martens is an accomplished attorney with significant litigation experience practicing in the Hudson Valley. After graduating from George Washington University and Brooklyn Law School, he began his legal career in Manhattan and Brooklyn, working for prominent law firms before ultimately settling in New Paltz with his wife and daughter, where he worked for a highly respected Hudson Valley law firm. Throughout his career, Michael has gained a reputation as a highly skilled litigator, representing individuals and businesses alike. He has previously served as appellate counsel and dispositive motion counsel for a prominent Manhattan litigation firm, honing his skills in complex...