Somers Lawyers

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...

Ephraim Jacob (‘E.J.”) Fink has been litigating in the Connecticut and New York Courts since 2000. After representing hundreds of carriers and their policy holders as well as corporations, product manufacturers and healthcare facilities from negligence and contract claims, EJ practiced at a boutique in the areas of personal injury, family law/divorce, estate and trust litigation. EJ graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Public Communications with a degree in journalism and thereafter obtained his JD at New England Law-Boston where his dean’s list grade average earned him an associate editor position on the New England Journal on Criminal...

Experienced and dedicated matrimonial Attorney. I will fight aggressively for your family. Call me today! Kim M. Rayner has over 30 years of experience as a matrimonial lawyer. As such, she has extensive litigation skills, developed through trials regarding custody, maintenance, child support, and equitable distribution. Ms. Rayner’s experience is shown through her ability to form a trusting and enduring relationship with her clients. She zealously advocates for her client in and out of the courtroom, and is an effective negotiator. Ms. Rayner always implements the best possible strategy in order to best suit her client’s needs and...

I am a former Assistant District Attorney from the Bronx County District Attorney's Office, who specializes in Criminal Defense and Disciplinary Law. I represent union members and private clientele and practice in NYC, Long Island, Westchester, and Upstate New York.

Consummate legal professional bringing creative solutions to the legal challenges of modern times for clients in the areas of Wills, trusts, estate planning and estate administration; real estate (commercial and residential); land use and economic development; and the needs of business owners including LLC and other new business formations, purchases and sales of businesses, and contract reviews of every type.

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...

Practice Areas: Foreclosure Defense, Loan Modifications and Short Sales, Residential Real Estate Transactions, Surrogate’s Court, Probate, Wills, Commercial Litigation, Corporate and Business Law

Admitted: 1997, New York and U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York

Law School: New York Law School, J.D. ; Member- Law Review;
Recipient of New York Law School Academic Achievement Award and Teaching Fellowship; Top 1% of class of 1996.

Biography: Former senior associate, litigation and corporate departments of a large international law firm with offices in Manhattan, London, Los Angeles, Bucharest, Washington D.C., Baltimore and Connecticut.

Manuel Portela Manuel@portelalaw.com Law School: The Washington College of Law at American University, Degree: JD 1990 Undergraduate School: Fordham University, 1986 Foreign Language: Spanish Manuel Portela Esq. is the founding partner of The Portela Law Firm, P.C. He specializes in Criminal Defense, Immigration, Family Law and Personal Injury. After graduating from Fordham University and American University Washington College of Law, Mr. Portela accepted an appointment as an Assistant District Attorney at the Kings County District Attorney‘s Office in New York. During his tenure as an Assistant District Attorney, he received extensive training and instruction in the Criminal Court...

We look forward to assisting clients in all types of civil and criminal litigation. The office handles all types of accident cases. Mr. Fox is also an experienced criminal defense attorney. Our office also can assist in real estate closings and small business matters.

Mr. Tantone graduated from St. John's University School of Law in 2016 and is admitted to practice law in the state courts of New York and New Jersey, as well as the federal District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, and the District of New Jersey. His practice is currently focused on employment related litigation, with specific expertise in employment discrimination and wage and hour violations. Prior to joining the Bell Law Group in 2021, Mr. Tantone represented employees in discrmination and wage cases in federal and state courts. Prior to that, he represented employers in employment...

Jon Bell began his career at one of the largest litigation law firms in New York. Despite gaining vast experience in multi-million dollar claims, Mr. Bell was dissatisfied with not being able to select his own clients and, therefore sometimes had personal conflicts in handling cases where he believed to be "on the wrong side." Thereafter, he started his own law firm, which allowed him to select his own cases, handling them with passion in realizing he has made a personal commitment to each client. Jon Bell became interested in Federal Employee litigation as he discovered the need for Federal Employees...

John C. Laurence received his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Polytechnic University and his J.D. from New York Law School. He also received his LLM for Intellectual Property and Information Law Technology Law. He is a member of the New York State Bar, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (Patent Bar), and the District Court of the Southern District of New York. John has experience in many facets of intellectual property law, including preparing, prosecuting, and enforcing trademarks, patents, and copyrights. John has helped individuals and businesses identify, develop, and enforce their intellectual property rights. John has drafted and prosecuted patent...

I am a senior associate with the Bell Law Group, PLLC. I graduated cum laude from NYU School of Law in 2013 and am admitted to practice law in New York and California, as well as in the Court of Federal Claims. I represent federal and private sector employees and employers in wage and hour, discrimination, sexual harassment, and other employment disputes. I also counsel employers who want to avoid litigation on compliance with state and federal employment laws.

Prior to joining Bell Law Group in 2019, I completed a fellowship with a large labor union in New York City, clerked...

When I was nine my aunt told me I should be a lawyer when I grew up because I argued about everything, really, really well. That's when I learned I could make a living doing what I loved: winning arguments. After graduating from Columbia University, New York City's only Ivy League school I went on to Fordham Law. Fordham was the only law school ranked in the top twenty-five nationwide that offered a night program in New York. Since I was working full time to pay my own way, Fordham's top tier night division was perfect for me. After two...

Hello! And welcome to my short biography. My legal background is in Business Law, Commercial Litigation, Wills, Trusts & Probate. I handle business formations and contracts. I handle business disputes and real estate disputes including construction issues. I have represented clients in both state and federal court and handled appeals. I have represented clients in arbitrations and mediation. I am a designated arbitrator for FINRA (Financial Industry Regulatory Agency). I worked at the Pentagon for the Department of Army early in my career. I graduated from...

I am a former engineer and programmer turned lawyer helping clients in all aspects of intellectual property, technology & business law. Over the past 13 years I have represented and counseled clients in numerous patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret matters, including litigation, licensing, protecting technologies through patents, trademarks, copyrights and other methods, assessing risks for new product launches, assessing the strengths of IP portfolios, devising licensing strategies, helping with mergers and acquisitions, and many other.

Edgar M. Rivera is an aggressive and zealous advocate for employees who have been subjected to harassment, discrimination, retaliation, and wage-and-hour violations. Edgar has represented hundreds of employees in individual, multi-plaintiff, collective- and class action litigation before state and federal courts in New York, New Jersey and Florida.

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...

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...

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...

Elsa Ayoub, Esq. has extensive experience representing multinational corporations and individuals with respect to the best short and long-term visa strategies for their specific needs in a wide range of industries, including media, financial services, advertising, education, entertainment, banking, consumer products, health care services and health care management services. She represents corporate clients and their foreign national employees in all phases of the immigration process, as well as in the transfer of their foreign national executives, managers, and key employees to the United States. Elsa also counsels individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary ability in their field of endeavor and who...

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...

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.

After graduating from Adelphi College with a major in business administration, Melvyn received his L.L.B from Brooklyn Law School in 1962. He immediately entered private practice in Suffolk County. Melvyn is a member of the Suffolk County Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association and the NYS Trial Lawyers Association.

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...

Steven D. Heller is an experienced US immigration lawyer, specializing in waivers of inadmissibility, consular processing, and Treaty Traders/Investors. He is the Director of Heller Immigration Law, Ltd., a UK-based US immigration law firm established in 2008, and Of Counsel to Chavin Immigration Law Office in London. He currently divides time between the UK and New York.

Attorney Heller has been practicing US immigration law since 1992, having worked in both the public and private sectors, including positions with the US Embassy-London, USCIS Headquarters in Washington, DC, and INS/USCIS offices in New York and Newark. He was also...

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.

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

I am a former prosecutor and have been handling federal and state criminal cases for over 16 years. I have handled a wide variety of criminal defense cases for many satisfied clients. My trial experience is extensive and includes successful verdicts in cases such as murder, assault, robbery, burglary, weapons, bank robbery, drug, obstructing governmental administration, resisting arrest, felony, misdemeanor and vehicular crimes . I have obtained numerous acquittals after jury trials and dismissals without the need for a trial. I have also successfully negotiated thousands of plea bargains to reduced and often non-criminal charges and substance...

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....

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...

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/

Robert M. Silverman is highly regarded throughout the legal community and the automotive industry for his continuing efforts in helping consumers with their Lemon Law and Breach of Warranty claims. Mr. Silverman has been featured in The Philadelphia Inquirer and in other newspaper stories across New Jersey and Pennsylvania as an expert in warranty litigation. Mr. Silverman has worked hard for consumer rights, trying his cases in the Federal and State Courts in which he practices. He has also successfully briefed and argued cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Mr. Silverman earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree...

A former investigative journalist, Mark is a successful anti-fraud attorney with more than twenty years of experience in complex civil litigation. He has represented qui tam whistleblowers under the False Claims Act as well as victims of fraud under the federal securities laws and the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). His efforts have resulted in the recovery of hundreds of millions of dollars for clients.

Prior to founding Mark A. Strauss Law, PLLC, Mark was a partner at Kirby McInerney LLP, a respected plaintiffs’ class action firm that was named one of the “Most Feared Plaintiffs’ Firms” by Law360.com....

Christopher McGrath is a partner at Sullivan Papain Block McGrath & Cannavo P.C. and serves in the Garden City office. He has won many multi-million dollar verdicts for his clients in the area of personal injury. Contact him today to set up a free consultation.

Raised in Brooklyn, New York, Yuriy Moshes remained close to his roots as he received a Bachelors of Science degree from Brooklyn College and a Juris Doctor degree from the Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center.

During his years of practice, Yuriy has concentrated in litigation and real estate transactions as his areas of expertise. Through the years, he has successfully helped hundreds of homeowners in New York and New Jersey remain in their homes or, in the alternative, pursue liquidation options.

Yuriy has also assisted clients with all forms of commercial and residential transactional
work, including the preparation of various types...

For the past 30 years Valerie Wolfman Esq. has concentrated her law practice on Family, Matrimonial and Divorce Law, Child Custody, Divorce and Equitable Distribution (both simple and complex). Many of her cases have International components, including issues such as whether a French or Chilean or Swiss pre-nuptial agreement is valid; whether a divorce should proceed in France, New York or Australia, whether the mother may relocate the residence of the child away from the father. She has also litigated Will contests and has proven heirship with the aid of a genealogist and has been a guardian in guardianship...

Attorney.