Member News

(August 21, 2025) — Harris Beach Murtha is pleased to announce that 145 of its lawyers have been awarded in the 2026 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. Eleven of those attorneys were also recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice and geographic areas.  

Best Lawyers provides trusted, peer-reviewed recognition of top legal professionals, helping clients find credible, experienced counsel. Lawyers recognized by The Best Lawyers in America® are divided by geographic region and practice areas. Best Lawyers lists are published in more than 75 countries.  

Congratulations to the Harris Beach Murtha attorneys recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 editions:  

Lawyers of the Year 

• Audrey Patrone Peartree, Trusts and Estates  

• Christopher A. Andreucci, Public Finance Law  

• Christopher A. DiPasquale, Litigation – Health Care  

• Christopher D. Jagel, Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law 

• Daniel J. Moore, Labor Law – Management 

• Kevin W. Tompsett, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law 

• Melanie C. Marotto, Real Estate Law  

• Michael J. Masino, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants 

• Neal L. Slifkin, Litigation – Patent 

• Stephanie Sprague Sobkowiak, Health Care Law  

• Thomas P. Smith, Litigation - Labor and Employment 

Best Lawyers 

Albany, NY 

• Javid Afzali 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Mathew P. Barry 

• Commercial Finance Law 

• Real Estate Law 

• Jennifer M. Boll 

• Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) 

• Corporate Law 

• Tax Law 

• Trusts and Estates 

• Leonard J. D'Arrigo 

• Immigration Law 

• Myles B. Fischer 

• Trusts and Estates 

• William M. Flynn 

• Energy Law 

• Energy Regulatory Law 

• Elliot A. Hallak 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Litigation - Insurance 

• Gene J. Kelly 

• Environmental Law 

• John T. McManus 

• Energy Law 

• Environmental Law 

• Justin S. Miller 

• Economic Development Law 

• Robert J. Ryan 

• Economic Development Law 

• Public Finance Law 

Bantam, CT 

• Mary M. Ackerly 

• Tax Law 

• Trusts and Estates 

Boston, MA 

• Sara P. Bryant 

• Construction Law 

• Litigation - Construction 

• Daniel C. Cohn 

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law 

• Litigation - Bankruptcy 

• Michael P. Connolly 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Loring A. Cook III 

• Construction Law 

• Litigation - Construction 

• Mark G. DeGiacomo 

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Litigation - Bankruptcy 

• Jonathan M. Horne 

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law 

• Litigation - Bankruptcy 

• Thomas S. Vangel 

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Litigation - Bankruptcy 

• Andrew G. Wailgum 

• Construction Law 

• Litigation - Construction 

Buffalo, NY 

• Judy N. Cuzzacrea Wagner 

• Trusts and Estates
   

• Allison B. Fiut 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Terrance P. Flynn 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Product Liability Litigation - Defendants 

• Melanie C. Marotto 

• Real Estate Law 

• Robert G. Murray 

• Municipal Law 

• Public Finance Law 

• Erin M. Peradotto 

• Appellate Practice 

• Sharon J. Schwartz 

• Real Estate Law 

Hartford, CT 

• Marcel J. Bernier 

• Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) 

• Corporate Law
   

• Suzanne Brown Walsh 

• Trusts and Estates 

• Dana R. Bucin 

• Immigration Law 

• Alfred R. Casella 

• Trusts and Estates 

• Michael J. Donnelly 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Construction Law 

• Litigation - Construction 

• Robert E. Kaelin 

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Daniel J. Krisch 

• Appellate Practice 

• Municipal Law 

• Lorey Rives Leddy 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Richard A. Marone 

• Trusts and Estates 

• Kari L. Olson 

• Land Use and Zoning Law 

• Municipal Law 

• Willard F. Pinney, Jr. 

• Corporate Law 

• Mergers and Acquisitions Law 

• Securities / Capital Markets Law 

• Frank J. Saccomandi III 

• Real Estate Law 

• Edward B. Spinella 

• Nonprofit / Charities Law 

Ithaca, NY 

• Thomas P. Smith 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Education Law 

• Labor Law - Management 

• Litigation - Labor and Employment 

New Haven, CT 

• Heather O. Berchem 

• Health Care Law 

• Andy I. Corea 

• Trademark Law 

• Jodie L. Driscoll 

• Real Estate Law 

• Marilyn B. Fagelson 

• Litigation - Insurance 

• Bruce L. McDermott 

• Energy Law 

• Utilities Law 

• Jennifer L. Morgan 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Product Liability Litigation - Defendants 

• Patricia E. Reilly 

• Employment Law - Management 

• Litigation - Labor and Employment 

• Alfred E. Smith, Jr. 

• Environmental Law 

• Municipal Law 

• Keith S. Varian 

• Land Use and Zoning Law 

• Real Estate Law 

New York, NY 

• Kelly Jones Howell 

• Product Liability Litigation - Defendants 

• David H. Jacobson 

• Immigration Law 

• David H. Kochman 

• Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants 

• Andrew D. Komaromi 

• Public Finance Law 

Pittsford, NY 

• Jordan C. Alaimo 

• Real Estate Law 

• Christopher A. Andreucci 

• Corporate Law 

• Economic Development Law 

• Public Finance Law 

• Eric J. Bach 

• Health Care Law 

• Rachel C. Baranello 

• Economic Development Law 

• Public Finance Law 

• John Buhrman 

• Commercial Transactions / UCC Law 

• Corporate Law 

• H. Todd Bullard 

• Municipal Law 

• David M. Clar 

• Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships) 

• Corporate Law 

• Mergers and Acquisitions Law 

• Emily D. Crowley 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants 

• Christopher A. DiPasquale 

• Litigation - Health Care 

• Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants 

• David J. Edwards 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Construction Law 

• Litigation - Intellectual Property 

• Anthony Fiumara 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants 

• Russell E. Gaenzle 

• Economic Development Law 

• Public Finance Law 

• Roy R. Galewski 

• Employment Law - Management 

• Labor Law - Management 

• Kyle D. Gooch 

• Appellate Practice 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Litigation - Environmental 

• Heidi Schult Gregory 

• Health Care Law 

• Litigation - Health Care 

• Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants 

• Shawn M. Griffin 

• Public Finance Law 

• Christopher D. Jagel 

• Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law 

• Commercial Transactions / UCC Law 

• Corporate Governance Law 

• Corporate Law 

• Mergers and Acquisitions Law 

• Michael J. Masino 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants 

• Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants 

• Product Liability Litigation - Defendants 

• Sean M. McCabe 

• Banking and Finance Law 

• Real Estate Law 

• Daniel J. Moore 

• Employment Law - Management 

• Labor Law - Management 

• Litigation - Labor and Employment 

• James P. Nonkes 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Litigation - Securities 

• Steven P. Nonkes 

• Litigation - Intellectual Property 

• Tyler A. O'Reilly 

• Banking and Finance Law 

• Corporate Law 

• Munesh Patel 

• Public Finance Law 

• Audrey Patrone Peartree 

• Litigation - Trusts and Estates 

• Trusts and Estates 

• Scott D. Piper 

• Employment Law - Management 

• Labor Law - Management 

• Litigation - Labor and Employment 

• Lisa M. Powers 

• Elder Law 

• Trusts and Estates 

• Charles (Chip) W. Russell 

• Banking and Finance Law 

• Land Use and Zoning Law 

• Real Estate Law 

• Neal L. Slifkin 

• Copyright Law 

• Litigation - Intellectual Property 

• Litigation - Patent 

• Patent Law 

• Trademark Law 

• Laura W. Smalley 

• Appellate Practice 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Litigation - Intellectual Property 

• Patent Law 

• Trademark Law 

• Joshua D. Steele 

• Employee Benefits (ERISA) Law 

• Labor Law - Management 

• Ibrahim Tariq 

• Employment Law - Management 

• Labor Law - Management 

• Kevin W. Tompsett 

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law 

• Richard T. Tucker 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Construction Law 

• Dale A. Worrall 

• Commercial Litigation 

Stamford, CT 

• Richard J. Basile 

• Litigation - Intellectual Property 

• David P. Friedman 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Salvatore G. Gangemi 

• Litigation - Labor and Employment 

• Taruna Garg 

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law 

• Paul E. Knag 

• Health Care Law 

• Stephanie Sprague Sobkowiak 

• Health Care Law 

• Nicholas W. Vitti, Jr. 

• Land Use and Zoning Law 

• Real Estate Law 

Syracuse, NY 

• David M. Capriotti 

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Julian B. Modesti 

• Appellate Practice 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Litigation - Trusts and Estates 

• Mediation 

• James R. Muldoon 

• Litigation - Patent 

• Brendan M. Palfreyman 

• Litigation - Intellectual Property 

Uniondale, NY 

• John J. Anzalone 

• Real Estate Law 

• Roy W. Breitenbach 

• Health Care Law 

• Litigation - Health Care 

• Trusts and Estates 

• Peter M. Hoffman 

• Health Care Law 

• Glenn M. Jones 

• Health Care Law 

• Litigation - Health Care 

White Plains, NY 

• Brian D. Ginsberg 

• Commercial Litigation 

• Desmond C.B. Lyons 

• Commercial Litigation 

 

Ones to Watch  

Albany, NY  

• Zana M. Beck, Corporate Law 

• Deana J. DiBenedetto, Commercial Litigation 

• Amanda A. Johnson, Corporate Law 

Boston, MA 

• Joseph T. Galindo 

• Litigation - Trusts and Estates 

• Trusts and Estates  

 

• Zachary J. Gregoricus, Litigation - Bankruptcy 

Buffalo, NY  

• Taville T. Francis, Public Finance Law  

• Andrew E. Pawenski, Real Estate Law 

Hartford, CT  

• Julie A. Lavoie 

• Appellate Practice 

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law 

• Litigation – Bankruptcy 

 

• Joseph D. Szerejko 

• Appellate Practice 

• Commercial Litigation 

 

New York, NY 

• Sean C. Ferrito, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants 

• Alex Guzman, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants 

• Joshua D. Hofstetter, Immigration Law 

• Janae R. Newmark, Commercial Litigation 

• Nicholas J. Pollina, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants 

• Erika T. Suazo, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants 

• Marni Weiner Arlia, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants 

Pittsford, NY  

• Ryan J. Belanger, Trusts and Estates 

• Alexandra C. Douglass, Commercial Litigation 

• Brendan H. Ewing, Trusts and Estates 

• Alexander J. Fantauzzo, Labor and Employment Law - Management 

• Chandler A. Jacobs, Commercial Litigation 

• Megan E. Knepka, Commercial Litigation 

• Stephen J. Maier, Public Finance Law 

• David J. Panzarella, Commercial Litigation 

• Linnea Spagnoletti 

• Banking and Finance Law 

• Real Estate Law 

 

• Tyler W. Stark, Real Estate Law  

Stamford, CT 

• Patrick D. Coughlin, Trusts and Estates 

Syracuse, NY  

• Julia C. Evans, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants 

• Esther S. Gabriel, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law 

• Amelia McLean-Robertson 

• Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law 

• Environmental Law 

• Real Estate Law  

 

• Maria C. Zumpano Withrow 

• Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law 

• Nonprofit / Charities Law 

• Tax Law 

 

Uniondale, NY  

 

• Gabriella S. Amato, Commercial Litigation 

• Paulo M. Coelho 

• Land Use and Zoning Law 

• Real Estate Law 

  

• Chiara A. Haueter, Public Finance Law 

• David W. Pernick, Banking and Finance Law 

• Anthony J. Ruzzi, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants 

• Christine Vasconcellos, Health Care Law 

White Plains, NY  

• Michael W. Giacomo, Commercial Litigation 

• Thomas E. McShane, Commercial Litigation 

 

About Harris Beach Murtha 

Harris Beach Murtha formed in 2025 via the combination of Harris Beach PLLC and Murtha Cullina LLP. A forward-thinking and innovative partnership with the benefit of more than 250 years of combined history, Harris Beach Murtha’s New York roots reach back to 1856 and the firm has had ties to New England since 1936. Harris Beach and Murtha Cullina were separately among the country’s top law firms as ranked by The National Law Journal. 

 

Harris Beach Murtha and its subsidiaries have a strong Northeast presence, but a global reach. Clients include Fortune 100 corporations, privately held companies, emerging businesses, public sector entities, tax-exempt organizations and individuals. The firm’s practice areas and industries served span appellate law, business litigation, cannabis, commercial real estate, construction, corporate, environmental, energy, financial institutions, financial restructuring, government compliance and investigations, health care, immigration, intellectual property, labor and employment, mass torts, medical and life sciences, political law, product liability, public finance, tax, and trusts and estates. 

 

Harris Beach Murtha is the exclusive member firm in Connecticut for Lex Mundi, the world’s leading network of independent firms with in-depth experience in more than 125 countries worldwide. As part of the Lex Mundi global network, Harris Beach Murtha can provide clients with preferred access to more than 22,000 lawyers around the world – all from a single point of contact. Lex Mundi allows Harris Beach Murtha to seamlessly handle clients’ most challenging cross-border transactions and disputes. 

 

The firm’s lawyers and consultants practice from offices throughout Connecticut in Bantam, Hartford, New Haven and Stamford; New York state in Albany, Binghamton, Buffalo, Ithaca, Niagara Falls, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, Long Island and White Plains, as well as in Boston, Massachusetts and Newark, New Jersey. For more information, visit www.harrisbeachmurtha.com.