Tully Rinckey PLLC

Attorney Mathew B. Tully

Mathew B. Tully is one of Tully Rinckey PLLC’s two founding partners. In 2004, Mat worked with his friend from college, Greg T. Rinckey to establish the foundation of what is today Tully Rinckey PLLC. Mat is one of a small number of lawyers licensed to practice law in three different countries. He is an Attorney and Counselor at Law in New York State and is on the rolls of Solicitors in England and Wales as well as being on the rolls of Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland.

As a practicing Attorney, Mat is one of a small number of Attorneys alive today who has litigated and won before the highest Court in New York State (the New York State Court of Appeals) as well as had a Writ of Certiorari granted and a remand ordered by the Supreme Court of the United States amongst many other appellate victories in various Appellate Courts.  While best known as an employment law Attorney, his current focus is helping mid-sized multinational businesses with complex legal issues.

Before launching his legal career in 2003, Mat served for three years in the U.S. Army as a field artillery officer. After suffering from military discrimination at the hands of his civilian employer, Mat went to law school and received his Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School in 2002. While attending law school part time at night he worked in the Legal Department of Morgan Stanley as a paralegal, his office was on the 65th floor of 2 World Trade Center on September 11, 2001.  In 2012, Mat received the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained during a suicide bombing while serving in Afghanistan. His service there also afforded him the Bronze Star Medal and Combat Action Badge. His deployment to Afghanistan marked the third time since founding the firm that Mat left his business to selflessly serve the nation.

After two decades of military service, Mat retired from the military at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in May 2014.  Mat is also a retired Supervisory Federal Law Enforcement Officer, was the Chief of a County wide Law Enforcement Agency in New York State, is currently certified as a Police General Topics Instructor, Police Aerosol Subject Restraint Instructor, and a Police Firearms Instructor by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and has been a certified/sworn/armed New York State Peace Officer for nearly 30 years.

Attorney Greg T. Rinckey

Greg T. Rinckey is one of Tully Rinckey PLLC’s two founding partners. He worked with Founding Partner and fellow Hofstra University alum Mathew B. Tully in 2004 to build the firm from the ground up into the coast-to-coast, full service powerhouse that it is today. As Founding Partner, Greg collaborates with Mat in all areas of strategic planning and law practice management to develop and deploy innovative business solutions that continue to grow the firm.

As a practicing attorney, Greg focuses on military law; federal employment, EEO and discrimination litigation; and national security clearance representation. His representation in national security and security clearance cases range from high level military officers to covert operation officers of the CIA, NRO, FBI, DIA and various other intelligence agencies. Greg was commissioned as a Military Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Army prior to transferring to the Army Judge Advocate General’s ( JAG) Corps. During his previous tenure as an attorney with the U.S. Army JAG Corps, Greg prosecuted and defended military personnel in over 100 felony cases, with charges ranging from drug possession to murder. He has represented federal and private sector employees in investigations and cases in front of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Office of Special Counsel (OSC).

Greg has become a recognized leader in the military, federal employment law and security clearance representation sectors. Greg is frequently asked by local and national media outlets to offer his legal commentary on military and employment discrimination matters. Additionally, Greg co-authored the book “Strategies for Military Criminal Defense: Leading Lawyers on Understanding the Military Justice System, Constructing Effective Defense Strategies, and Navigating Complex Cases.” He is also author of the chapter Guidelines and Strategies for Obtaining and Protecting your Security Clearance within the book “Protecting the Homeland, Balancing National Security and Individual Privacy Interests,” published in 2016.

Greg is admitted to practice in New York, New Jersey and the District of Columbia. He is also admitted as a Solicitor in England and Wales.

Greg is a member of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Veterans. He also served two five-year terms on the Committee on Character and Fitness for the State of New York Appellate Division’s Third Judicial District. In this capacity, he personally interviewed prospective attorneys before they were allowed admission to the New York State Bar.

In addition to serving as an attorney in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG), Greg was selected to serve as an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. In that capacity, he prosecuted hundreds of felony and misdemeanor cases arising on federal property in the Hampton Roads, Va. area.

Greg’s last military active duty assignment was at the Defense Appellate Division in Washington, D.C., where he wrote criminal appellate briefs and argued appeal cases. Greg was honorably discharged from the Army JAG Corps in April 2004.

In addition to his work in military law, federal employment law and security clearance representation, Greg is an experienced business law attorney. He advises businesses in a wide array of matters including formations, mergers and acquisitions, contract negotiations and human resources best practices. He also litigates commercial disputes and real estate deals, and he represents employers in employment law matters.

Attorney Michael W. Macomber

In addition to being Partner and CEO at Tully Rinckey PLLC, Michael is the Section Chair of the firm’s New York State Employment Group. He focuses his practice on federal and private sector employment law claims, including claims involving the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), New York Labor Law, New York Executive Law and Qui Tam claims.

In his federal employment practice, Michael has represented employees before the following:

•     United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
•     Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB)
•     Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)
•     National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)
•     Office of Special Counsel (OSC)
•     Various Offices of the Inspector General (OIG)

In his New York State employment practice, Michael represents employees and employers in both federal and state court, including claims before the following:

•     New York State Division of Human Rights
•     EEOC
•     Department of Labor (DOL)
•     Unemployment Insurance Board (UIB)
•     Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB)

Michael also handles disciplinary hearings in the union, municipality, school district and civil service areas, as well as contract negotiations, severance negotiations, and advising employees and employers regarding disciplinary investigations.

In addition to his practice in New York State and federal employment, Michael focuses his practice on all aspects of civil litigation. Whether handling contract disputes, business agreements, corporate formation, employment agreements, small claims, collections, landlord tenant disputes or criminal law, Michael is always the strongest advocate for his client’s best interests.

Michael earned his bachelor’s degree from Union College, with a concentration in English literature and a minor in German. He has studied and lived abroad, learning German and architecture in Vienna, Austria and growing up in Switzerland as a child. After receiving his baccalaureate from Union, Michael went on to earn a graduate certificate in Foundations in Business from the University of Massachusetts. Michael earned his juris doctorate from Albany Law School, graduating cum laude.

Michael gets frequent requests from local and regional media outlets to respond to relevant legal issues. He has written on emerging legal issues, including an article on USERRA reported on the Reserve Officers Association’s Web site. Michael was featured in the Times Union “My Other Life” column, focusing on the volunteer work he and his wife, Deanndra, do at a local rescue agency.

Attorney Steven L. Herrick

Steve is the Managing Partner of the San Diego, Calif., office of Tully Rinckey PLLC Partner and the primary Consult Attorney for matters relating to federal sector labor and employment law throughout the country.

With over 35 years of experience in all facets of litigation, Steve provides counsel to clients across a broad spectrum of employment-related matters. Steve practices before federal and state courts, the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), as well as representing clients in arbitration, mediation and agency proceedings. Steve also is available to address private employment law matters in the states of California and New York, as well as the District of Columbia.

Steve’s commitment to representing service members, veterans and the federal workforce came following his son’s deployment to Iraq. Steve joined Tully Rinckey PLLC in March 2006, first managing the firm’s corporate, commercial and municipal litigation practice. He then moved to Washington, D.C. where he opened the firm’s office in 2008 and transitioned into the area of employment law. In 2014, he passed the California Bar, moved to San Diego and opened the firm’s office there. Although Steve continues to handle business litigation for the firm, the majority of his practice is devoted to federal and military employment rights and benefits.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Steve served as a partner with the full-service Long Island law firm of Farrell, Fritz, P.C. As co-head of the firm’s sophisticated commercial litigation department, he represented many high-profile clients in complex matters, conducted numerous trials and frequently argued cases in the appellate courts. Steve formed his own firm in 1991, where he continued his successful litigation practice first on Long Island, and then in the Albany, N.Y. area.

After graduating with honors from Tufts University, Steve earned his law degree from the prestigious University of California, Berkeley (Boalt Hall) School of Law. Following law school, Steve served as confidential secretary to the Justices of the Appellate Division, Second Department, a state appeals court for whom he prepared case memoranda and opinions on both appeals and motions.

Steve is a member of the California, Washington, D.C. and New York State bars and is admitted to practice in Federal trial and appeals courts in all three jurisdictions. He has been admitted pro-hac vice to practice in specific matters in courts from Virginia to Alaska.

Steve was selected as the 2009 legal columnist for the Washington Business Journal. His “Capital Counsel” column provided legal advice to employers and employees attempting to navigate the complex rules and regulations of the workplace. Various media outlets have interviewed Steve regarding employment law matters, including the National Law Journal, Government Executive and Federal Daily.

Steve is a past member of the Judicial Officer Screening Committee for the Tenth Judicial District in New York. He has lectured on New York civil practice at both professional associations and law schools and is a former adjunct professor of New York practice at Touro Law School. For more than a decade, Steve served as a Board Member and Officer of Harbor Child Care, Inc., a nationally accredited not-for-profit provider of child-care services.

Attorney Anthony J. Kuhn

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 the Chair of Tully Rinckey PLLC’s nationwide Military and National Security practice groups, Anthony supervises the training, performance, and daily operations of attorneys in both practice areas across the United States. As a military leader and trainer, having served more than 24 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 in a brigade-level staff sergeant major position as a master sergeant.  Anthony has also served as a first sergeant and acting commander of a combat engineer drill sergeant company, a senior drill sergeant, a combat intelligence advisor to the New Iraqi Army and a battalion-level master combatives instructor. Anthony is currently serving as the Operations Section NCIOC for a Battalion Headquarters. Anthony has spent more than two decades training and supervising thousands of soldiers and officers across two different countries’ armed forces. He has maintained an active security clearance for nearly that entire period.

As an attorney, Anthony focuses much of his time on the representation of military personnel, federal agents and employees, as well as private employers and non-profit corporations. Anthony’s practice areas include corporate, labor and employment, military law, national security representation, and veterans’ benefits. Anthony is the co-founder and co-director of the University at Buffalo School of Law Veterans Law practicum and is the adjunct professor for the law school’s first-of-its-kind asynchronistic nationwide Veterans Law course.

Anthony is currently admitted to practice law in New York State. He is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Federal Claims, the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces, the United States Army Court of Criminal Appeals, the United States Navy-Marine Corps Court of Criminal Appeals and the United States Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals. Anthony is accredited through the Department of Veterans Affairs and is also admitted to practice before the Federal Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in Washington, DC. Anthony is an experienced DOHA litigator, with notable victories published involving alleged violations of the Alcohol Consumption and Criminal Conduct guidelines and foreign preference and foreign influence guidelines.  Anthony has participated in ROTC Disenrollment Boards across the country, stretching from Boston, MA to Flagstaff, AZ and has successfully litigated PEB cases across the country, including the Navy Yard in Washington, DC, Ft. Sam Houston, TX and remotely for cases in Puerto Rico involving members of the USPHS and the Commissioned Corp. He has extensive experience assisting clients in navigating matters involving security clearance suspensions and revocations, appeals to the Discharge Review Boards and Boards for Correction of Military Records, UCMJ violations and non-judicial punishment, appeals for service-connection before the Department of Veterans Affairs, rebuttals to GOMORs and QMP selection notifications and requests for Special Selection Boards. Anthony has also negotiated the surrender of multiple deserters and has assisted with debt remission and waiver requests.

Attorney Dan Meyer

Dan Meyer, Managing Partner of Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Washington, D.C. office, has dedicated more than 25 years of service to the field of Federal Employment and National Security law as both a practicing attorney and federal investigator and senior executive. He is a lead in advocating for service members, Federal civilian employees, and contractors as they fight to retain their credentialing, suitability and security clearances.

Dan’s publicly-available victories include successful security adjudications of tax payment failures, alcohol consumption, prior drug use and criminal conduct. Wins also include initial security reviews on recent university graduates resolving changes in lifestyle as they enter the national security and defense communities. Mr. Meyer also has strong gains for clients employed by, or contracting for, intelligence community agencies still remaining unidentified, as well as those, such as NRO, which openly adjudicate. Before the Merit Systems Protection Board, he has successfully represented special agents and law enforcement personnel.

Throughout three Presidential administrations, Dan promoted the federal whistleblowing mission and its related policies and statutes, including personnel security. His first major case was before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit protecting Rhode Island State employees suspended and terminated in an act of retaliation. Later, as the Intelligence Community’s (IC) foremost whistleblowing subject-matter expert from 2013 to 2017, he served as the Executive Director for Intelligence Community Whistleblowing & Source Protection and was instrumental in establishing the IC’s first program of its kind. He worked with IC employees disclosing allegations ranging from the compromise of intelligence operations, to intelligence analysis failures, to reprisal against Congressional and inspector general witnesses.

In addition to his primary role, Dan served as the Executive Director for the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community External Review Panel established by Presidential Policy Directive 19: Protecting Whistleblowers With Access to Classified Information, and Intelligence Community Directive 120: Intelligence Community Whistleblower Protection. In this capacity, he advised on and oversaw the processing of appeals of local inspectors general findings regarding whistleblower reprisal.

From 2004 to 2013, Dan served the U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General first as Director of Civilian Reprisal Investigations and then as Director of Whistleblowing and Transparency. In these positions, he investigated or provided oversight to numerous high-profile cases, among them disclosures involving the 9/11 attacks, the abuse of polygraph procedures in counterintelligence cases, the use of the security-clearance decision-making process to reprise and discriminate, and the treatment of soldiers and their remains after injury or death.

Prior to 2004, Dan was General Counsel for Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility where he appeared before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit as well as the Merit Systems Protection Board’s regional offices. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1987 to 1991. He is a survivor of the 1989 explosion onboard the battleship IOWA (BB- 61), which took the lives of 47 of his shipmates. Then a Lieutenant, Dan also conned the Flagship of the Middle East Force in 1991 when it repelled pirates off the coast of Iran. He and his IOWA gunners still hold the world’s record for naval offshore gunnery, breaking the previous record in 1989.

Attorney Peter J. Pullano

Peter is the Managing Partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Rochester Office, where he practices criminal defense.

With over 30 years of criminal defense experience, Peter has handled thousands of criminal cases, including violations, misdemeanors, felonies and appeals. He has primarily represented defendants in felony cases in both state and federal courts. Peter is certified as “learned counsel” in federal court capital cases. Prior to New York State’s abolishment of capital punishment, he was likewise certified to handle death penalty cases in state courts.

On multiple occasions, Peter has won acquittals or verdicts to lesser charges for clients charged with murder. Additionally, he has represented criminal defendants at the appellate level, including the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the third and fourth departments of the Supreme Court of New York, Appellate Division. His devotion to criminal defense and helping people in need has been recognized numerous times in the legal community.

Peter was honored with the Criminal Justice Alliance (CJA) Award by the United States District Court, Western District of New York in 2016, and he was recognized as “Lawyer of the Year” by the NY Daily Record in 2015. He has received the Super Lawyer distinction in 2014, 2015 and 2016. Peter has also received the Monroe County Bar Association’s Charles Crime Award and the St. Nicholas Society’s “Man of the Year” Award. Additionally, Peter was the recipient of the Rochester Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” Award.

Peter received his juris doctorate from Albany Law School of Union University and his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York College at Buffalo. Peter served on the Board of Directors of the Foundation of the Monroe County Bar from 2009 to 2017. He has also previously served on the board of directors of AIDS Rochester, Inc., President of the Saint Nicholas Society (Italian-American Welfare Society in East Rochester) and the Saint Mary’s Church Parish Council.

Attorney Allen A. Shoikhetbrod

Allen A. Shoikhetbrod is the Managing Partner of Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Albany office, where he assists in the day-to-day operations of the firm, as well as provides input on the firm’s long-term strategic vision.  Allen is also the Practice Chair of the New York State Labor and Employment Practice, as well as a Team Leader for the Federal Employment Practice.

Allen has extensive experience in federal, state and private employment law matters, including claims of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, qui tam and whistleblower actions, and disciplinary matters. He represents clients before federal and state courts, as well as before administrative tribunals and agencies to include the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), Department of Veterans Affairs Disciplinary Appeals Board (DAB), New York State Department of Human Rights (DHR), New York State Department of Labor (NYSDOL), New York City Commission on Human Rights (NYCCHR), the Foreign Service Grievance Board (FSGB), and matters before the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC). Allen also has comprehensive experience in civil litigation before state and federal courts, including Section 1983 actions consisting of constitutional deprivations, and actions involving landlord-tenant disputes, breach of contract and medical malpractice. He regularly appears before New York State Appellate Courts and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second and Federal Circuits. Allen also has assisted in drafting and filing briefs before the U.S. Supreme Court.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Allen served as a Special Assistant Corporation Counsel for the New York City Law Department’s Appeals Division. There, he handled cases involving discrimination, retaliation, employment termination, personal injury, juvenile delinquency and wrongful death. He submitted briefs and argued several appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Divisions, First and Second Judicial Departments.

While attending CUNY School of Law, Allen served as a legal intern in the New York State Office of the Attorney General’s Litigation Bureau where he focused on professional discipline of medical providers. He also served as a judicial intern in the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, where he drafted a judicial opinion under the supervision of the Court that, on two occasions, received front-page coverage in the New York Law Journal. Allen was recognized as one of Super Lawyers ‘Rising Stars’ from 2016 to 2021.

Attorney Sean C. Timmons

Sean’s years of experience as an active-duty US Army Captain in the selective and prestigious US Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps are a valuable asset to Tully Rinckey PLLC’s military law practice group. Having served his country honorably at the largest military installation in the world in Fort Hood, Texas as a Judge Advocate from 2009 until 2013, Sean is an aggressive and tenacious advocate for all service members facing legal issues. He is able to pull from his significant and diverse experience as an active-duty attorney in the Army JAG Corps, and as a civilian military law attorney, he forcefully and efficiently represents service members in both administrative and criminal proceedings. Sean originally joined Tully Rinckey’s Albany, N.Y., office as a Senior Associate, where he was first promoted to Partner and eventually Managing Partner of the firm’s first footprint in the state of Texas.

As Managing Partner of Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Houston office, Sean oversees all of the office’s operations while concentrating his practice on military law; routinely handling cases involving Article 15s, letters of reprimand, courts-martial and officer/enlisted separation proceedings. Sean also handles federal labor and employment law cases and security clearance representation.

Sean also is a member of the Houston office’s Insurance Law Practice, where he assists clients with bad-faith litigation cases, first- and third-party coverage disputes involving CGL, business auto, commercial and residential property, and ERISA policies.

Sean is an experienced insurance coverage litigator. He has handled numerous lawsuits involving property damage claims under residential and commercial policies. He has appeared in numerous federal and state courts throughout Texas. Mr. Timmons is well-versed in coverage litigation including discovery and its limits, taking and defending depositions, motion practice, evidentiary hearings, alternative dispute resolution, and pre-trial and trial of coverage disputes.

Additionally, Sean is passionate about International Law and frequently travels the globe for the firm on behalf of his clients in each branch of service with the United States Armed Forces.

Attorney Donna Williams Rucker

With more than two decades of experience litigating a vast range of high stakes federal employment law matters, Donna is a vital component of Tully Rinckey PLLC’s nationally recognized federal labor and employment law practice group. Prior to joining the firm, Donna was Principal of her own labor and employment firm in Washington, D.C., and has held top positions at a number of prestigious firms throughout her extensive career. As past President and executive board member of the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association (MWELA), Donna has routinely interfaced with dynamic issues and information pertaining to employment law and enjoys the respect of the top federal labor and employment attorneys in the country.

As a Partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC, Donna represents federal employees who require assistance with discrimination, harassment, disability retirement, retaliation, disciplinary and adverse action matters, among a range of others. She also represents state and private sector employees regarding an array of similar issues. Donna continues to grow Tully Rinckey PLLC’s extensive litigation and trial practice before the federal courts, District of Columbia Court, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and the Office of Human Rights in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. She also has significant appellant court litigation experience.

Donna takes a focused and custom approach to her work with the firm’s employment law clients. She is highly cognizant of the fact that no two employment law cases are the same, and therefore no two client case strategies should be the same. She dedicates the time necessary to develop the legal pathway most likely to lead to a client’s desired outcome given the circumstances at play. She invests personally in each client’s legal matter, is highly passionate about securing legal victory for those discriminated, harassed, or otherwise wronged by their employer, and is a tenacious litigator – she will not yield an inch to opposing counsel. She stands ready to fight for you.

In addition to her passion and commitment to employment discrimination and civil rights litigation, Donna has represented debtors and creditors in Chapters 7, 11 and 13 bankruptcy proceedings, firefighters, police officers in adverse action hearings, and she has served as corporate counsel and successfully litigated personal injury and medical malpractice cases. Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Donna was principal of Rucker & Associates, P.C.; a boutique law firm in the heart of Washington, D.C. Before starting her own firm in 2012, she spent 21 years progressing in senior attorney and partner positions at several employment and multi-practice area law firms in the Maryland region. She also has experience as a magistrate judge for the 17th Judicial Circuit.

Donna received her juris doctor from Georgetown University Law Center. She received her bachelor’s degree from City College of New York (CCNY) where she double-majored in pre-law and public speaking and debate.

In addition to being past President and an executive board member of the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association, Donna is also a member of the National Association of Women’s Judges, the National Employment Lawyers Association, the American Bar Association, the National Bar Association, and she serves on the Board of several non-profit organizations.

Attorney Michael J. Belsky

For years, Michael has been relentlessly fighting for the rights of Capital Region spouses, parents and grandparents in virtually every aspect of family and matrimonial law. As a Partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC, Michael provides representation in matters relating to divorce, parental alienation, separation agreements, annulments, child custody, child support, modifications to child support and child custody, enforcement of divorce decrees, spousal maintenance, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, orders of protection and family offenses.

Michael came to Tully Rinckey PLLC after operating a successful solo law practice in Clifton Park for nearly two decades. There, he primarily practiced family and matrimonial law and criminal defense. He has extensive experience serving as an Attorney for the Child for Saratoga County Family and Supreme courts as well as serving as assigned counsel for the Saratoga County Public Defender’s Office in the same courts. He also has experience practicing criminal law at many different courts.

Along with criminal law, Michael has experience with civil litigation, handling matters relating to contract disputes, education cases, and property damages, among others. Michael has handled both criminal and civil litigation cases at both his private practice and at Tully Rinckey. He has presented and settled a large range of cases in front of Judges for trials at many different courts. While many of his civil litigation cases did not involve an actual crime, his experience in that practice helped, as many times damages were awarded because of a criminal act.

Michael is a Troy native who has spent his entire legal career practicing in the Capital Region. He is a member of the Saratoga County Bar and works monthly at the legal clinic in Ballston Spa, New York.

Attorney Donald O. Chesworth

Donald O. Chesworth, a Partner in the Rochester office of Tully Rinckey PLLC, focuses his practice on governmental compliance, business law, municipal liability, commercial law, employment law and management issues.

Donald was admitted to the bar in Connecticut in 1966 and in New York in 1972. He is no longer active in the Connecticut bar. He is admitted to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Donald graduated from Graceland College, magnum cum laude in 1963 and from Yale Law School with a Juris Doctor’s degree in 1966. He is a member of the Monroe County Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association.

Donald served in the FBI after graduation from law school in 1966 and began his private practice with the law firm of Goldstein, Goldman, Kessler and Underberg, now known as Underberg & Kessler in 1972. In 1976, Donald became the Second Assistant District Attorney of Monroe County. In 1977 he was promoted to First Assistant District Attorney and was appointed District Attorney in 1981 by Governor Hugh Carey. He ran for office as District Attorney in 1981 and was elected to a full term. In 1983 Governor Mario Cuomo appointed Donald Superintendent of the New York State Police.

In January of 1987, Donald returned to private practice and became the Managing Partner of Goldstein, Goldman, Kessler & Underberg. In 1990 Donald joined the law firm of Harris, Evans, Fox & Chesworth. That same year he was appointed Chairman of the Temporary State Commission of Investigation (State Crime Commission) which he chaired until 1996. In 1993 he founded the firm of Harris & Chesworth with Wayne Harris, which was the predecessor firm to Harris, Chesworth, Johnstone & Welch, LLP.

While actively involved in law practice, Donald has been involved in many charitable civic organizations including the local Chambers of Commerce, The Rochester Humane Society, Rochester Area Crime Stoppers, The New York State Troopers Foundation and Lifespan. Donald serves on the Board of Directors of an upstate area National Bank and has done so since 1996. He is also a member of the Monroe County Civil Service Commission where he has served since 2011.

Donald has maintained his relationships with Law Enforcement and is counsel to the Monroe County Chiefs of Police and is the legal advisor to the State & Provincial Division of the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Attorney Jennifer J. Corcoran

As a Partner and Consult Attorney at Tully Rinckey PLLC, Jennifer performs initial consultations for a wide range of legal matters, including those relating to trusts and estates, family and matrimonial law and real estate law.

When performing consultations, Jennifer pulls from over 20 years of legal experience to assess potential and existing clients’ unique situations and provide guidance on how to move forward. At Tully Rinckey PLLC, she has concentrated her practice on family and matrimonial law, elder law, estate planning and real estate law. She has also handled bankruptcy, business law and private sector employment law matters.

Jennifer is the former Deputy Chief Clerk of the Albany County Surrogate’s Court. She is a frequent speaker at various bar association conferences and seminars on topics such as Article 81 guardianships, estate and trust administration, Medicaid planning and advance directives. She has conducted training sessions required by the Office of Court Administration for Guardians, Court Evaluators and Court Appointed Counsel through the Albany County Bar Association. Jennifer is a member of the New York State Bar Association (Elder Law, Family Law and Trusts and Estates Sections), Capital District Women’s Bar Association and Albany County Bar Association.

Jennifer has provided pro bono legal services through the Legal Project and the Pro Se Divorce Clinic in Schenectady. She was recognized as Empire State Counsel by the New York State Bar Association for providing in excess of 50 hours of pro bono legal services in a year.

Jennifer is currently a member of the Board of the local American Heart Association. She was a member of the Board of Trustees of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Northeast New York for 12 years, and served as both a “Wish Granter” and as a member of the Corporate Documents Committee for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America.

Attorney Carol A. Crossett

Carol A. Crossett, Esq. is a Partner in the New York City office of Tully Rinckey PLLC. Carol heads the Commercial Law Group. Carol concentrates her practice on corporate and commercial litigation and transactions. Carol also possesses extensive experience handling business succession planning and trusts and estates matters.

Carol brings to Tully Rinckey, a diverse background forged over many years representing individuals and companies in commercial, corporate and civil litigation matters in both state and federal courts in New York where she is admitted, and also, by pro hac vice admission, in several courts outside New York. Her practice serves clients covering a wide range of industries including:

•     Recreational Marine
•     Domestic and International Retailers
•     Real Estate
•     Franchises
•     Nuclear/Energy
•     Manufacturers
•     Marketing
•     Automotive Dealers

Carol’s marine industry practice includes the representation of manufacturers and retailers, with particular emphasis on dealer/customer disputes, breach of sales and marketing contracts, and warranty disputes. She has represented automobile dealers in the past pertaining to franchise, breach of contract, and employment disputes.

Carol handles corporate transactional matters including those related to succession planning for a wide spectrum of businesses, involving preparation of all types of contractual agreements, independent contractor and employment agreements, as well as shareholder, stock redemption, stock pledge, cross purchase agreements, and all manner of other instruments related to stock and/or asset transfers.

Carol’s practice also includes preparation and filing of documentation related to the formation of various types of business entities, and clients in need of following corporate formalities and requiring assistance and guidance to effectively navigate the immigration and non-immigration Visa process.

As mentioned above, Carol also represents clients involving trusts and estates matters. This area of practice involves estate planning and preparation of wills, trusts, and other ancillary instruments. She also handles contested and uncontested probate and administration, administrative accountings, will construction, turnover proceedings, removal of trustees and executors, and other disputes involving trustees, executors and beneficiaries.

Carol received her Juris Doctorate from Northeastern University School of Law and an LL.M (Master of Law) in corporate taxation from New York University School of Law.
She is admitted to practice in New York, with pro hac vice admissions currently in Connecticut and Florida, and she has also been admitted pro hac vice as counsel in the States of New Hampshire, New Jersey, Illinois and California.

She is also admitted to practice before the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, U.S. Tax Court, and the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Attorney Michael C. Fallings

 As an Partner working in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Austin office, Mike focuses his practice on federal sector labor and employment law. Mike has extensive experience litigating cases on behalf of employees at the U.S. Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and in both state and federal courts. He also has experience negotiating settlement agreements on behalf of federal employees. Throughout his legal career, Mike has defended and taken numerous depositions of both parties and witnesses and prepared successful oppositions to summary judgment motions.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Mike practiced as an associate attorney with a labor and employment law firm in Maryland. In this position, he helped manage over eighty case files and was involved throughout all aspects of litigation. Before that, Mike worked as both a law clerk and as a volunteer attorney for the Labor Division for the City of Chicago. In this role, Mike appeared in arbitrations and administrative hearings and advised Chicago agencies on matters relating to disciplining employees.

Originally from Centerville, Ohio, Mike is a graduate of Miami University, where he obtained his bachelor’s degree in finance. As an undergraduate, Michael was inducted as a member of the Alpha Kappa Psi Business Fraternity. Michael received his juris doctor from American University Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C., where he was a staff member at the Journal of Gender, Social Policy & the Law and the Labor & Employment Law Forum. During law school, Michael worked at the United States Department of Justice and served as a judicial intern for the Maryland Court of Appeals.

Attorney Michael J. Freestone

Michael J. Freestone, a Partner in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Washington, D.C. office, focuses his practice on business immigration law. With more than nine years of experience practicing immigration law, he advises individual and corporate clients on a variety of immigration-related issues. Michael has extensive experience working with employers of all sizes in a variety of industries, including medical research, software development, the steel industry, construction, aerospace, religious organizations, entrepreneurs, and individuals of exceptional ability.

Michael’s work includes all types of non‐immigrant petitions, visa and consular issues, employment- and family-based immigrant petitions, adjustment of status applications, and naturalization. He specializes in strategic immigration planning with a focus on long-term strategies, as well as creating robust immigration law compliance programs. Michael has experience working closely with investors and entrepreneurs to help create a successful immigration solution for their needs. His educational background is in International Law, International Business, International Trade, Finance, and Foreign Direct Investment.

Michael began his legal career as an immigration paralegal in Washington, D.C. He completed internships at Baker & McKenzie and Freshfields Bruckhaus Derringer in London. Prior to joining Palma Yanni, P.C. he worked as an Associate at Dickstein Shapiro, LLP, in Washington D.C. He has also consulted as a writer and researcher for the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

 He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia. He is also a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the American Bar Association. Michael has devoted time to multiple pro‐bono immigration activities, including immigration work for a local theatre company and advice and counseling on nonimmigrant visas for victims of crime including attempted murder, battery, assault and domestic abuse. He also obtained visas for 30 previously displaced Haitian nationals to enter the United States to assist victims of Hurricane Sandy as a gesture of appreciation for U.S. aid following the devastating earthquake of 2010.

Michael has also recently been elected to the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, which is a prestigious group of lawyers, judges, and other members of the legal community licensed to practice in each jurisdiction. Being nominated by his peers for his outstanding dedication when it comes to upholding the highest principles when it comes to practicing law, Michael continues to hold himself to these high standards on a day-to-day basis when he works with his clients.

Michael is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin, (B.A. 2003), where he received a first for his dissertation and a Socrates scholarship to study in Belgium, and obtained his LL.B., specializing in Business Law, from BPP University College London. He completed LL.Ms in International and Comparative Law and U.S. Law at the George Washington University Law School. While obtaining his masters, he served as a case reporter for the Oxford Journal of International Law in Domestic Courts, where he covered International Law issues arising in several Supreme Court terms, the First Circuit and the State of New York.

Attorney Ryan C. Green

Ryan represents employees on a range of employment and labor issues, including discrimination, retaliation, harassment, equal pay and adverse action claims. In addition to representing federal employees before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), Ryan often represents employees before the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia and State administrative bodies. Ryan has developed an appellate practice; often appearing before the EEOC’s Office of Federal Operations and full MSPB Board. He has settled a number of high-profile cases that resulted in favorable awards for his clients.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Ryan represented a federal agency regarding employment disputes before the EEOC and the MSPB. As an agency representative, Ryan litigated matters concerning disparate, discriminatory treatment. He also advised senior agency management on performance and conduct-based actions, retirement benefit coverage and leave issues under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA).

Ryan obtained his juris doctorate at the George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. and is licensed to practice in the Commonwealth of Virginia. While pursuing his law degree, he was offered membership on George Washington’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Board and participated in negotiation, mediation and arbitration competitions. Ryan also served as a judicial intern at the D.C. Superior Court, where he researched and drafted bench memoranda on civil motions related to employment disputes.

As an undergraduate, Ryan earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in political science and economics.

Attorney Derrick Hogan

As a Partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC, Derrick Hogan, Esq. primarily focuses his practice on criminal defense and heads the Firm’s Criminal Practice in its Albany Office.  With more than 10 years of experience in the area of Criminal Defense, Derrick has represented clients facing all types of criminal charges, at both the State and Federal level, ranging from simple traffic infractions to complex murder cases.  Derrick provides a wealth of trial experience, including, but not limited to, cases involving high-level charges such as robbery, burglary and various sex offenses.  Derrick’s practice also extends to defending criminal charges in Federal Court, most notably, a case involving espionage that garnered widespread national media attention and became a hot topic of discussion during the 2016 Presidential Election.

Derrick’s legal knowledge also extends to multiple practice areas throughout Tully Rinckey PLLC, 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.  Derrick assisted these potential new clients with preliminary legal inquiries while providing them with appropriate guidance.

In 2009, Derrick was featured as an “Up and Comer” by the Times Union.  He originally joined the Firm as a law clerk, and prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Derrick served as an intern for the Schenectady County Attorney’s Office, where his work focused on family court cases.  Derrick also was a legal aide in the Litigation Bureau of the New York State Attorney General’s Office, where he dealt with lawsuits filed against the State by prisoners.  He also handled cases concerning retaliation and discrimination in the workplace.

Derrick obtained his law degree from Albany Law School and a bachelor of arts degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

Attorney Patrick J. Kilker

With more than 20 years’ experience practicing law, Patrick J. Kilker, Esq. is a Partner in the Binghamton office of Tully Rinckey PLLC, where he focuses his practice on Criminal Law and Real Estate Law.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Patrick was a solo practitioner with an emphasis on Criminal Law.  More specifically, Pat has extensive criminal defense experience and has handled over a thousand cases from inception through appeal. From traffic tickets to murder, Pat was exclusively responsible for handling difficult cases and succeeding at trial.

Pat began his real property experience while in law school, working for a prestigious real estate firm performing contract review, title searches, conducting closings and more while focusing on his graduate courses on real property and related law.  Pat worked with dozens of banks, attorneys, realtors, clients and clerks further sharpening his skills.  Following law school Pat continued his real estate experience representing lenders, sellers, buyers and investors.  He has reviewed and prepared thousands of necessary documents including purchase and sale agreements, contracts and addendums for hundreds of successful closings.

Pat is a native of Broome County having been raised in Windsor, New York.  After graduating from Western New England College School of Law in Springfield, Massachusetts in July of 1993, he volunteered his assistance helping those less fortunate than himself at the Broome County Legal Aid Society.  Pat handled a multitude of cases in various practice areas such as Family Court, Divorce, Landlord/Tenant Defense, Constitutional violations and other Civil matters. Following his tenure at the Legal Aid Society, in 1996, Pat joined a criminal defense firm in Binghamton focusing on DWI, drug cases, assault and weapons charges, DMV issues and more and was the firm’s leading defense counsel for over ten years before founding his own law practice in Binghamton, New York

Pat obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Binghamton University in 1989 and his Juris Doctorate from Western New England College School of Law in 1993.  He then passed the New York State Bar Exam and was sworn in 1994.

Pat is licensed to practice law in all courts of the State of New York and is admitted in Federal Court in the Sixth Judicial District. Pat has defended those accused of Federal RICO violations as well as Continuing Criminal Enterprise, Drug Trafficking, Embezzlement and other White Collar crimes, Conspiracy (in matters under FBI jurisdiction), Homicide cases and more.

Pat is a member of the Broome County Bar Association, the New York Civil and Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, the New York Criminal Defenders Association.

When he’s not in the office, Pat enjoys working out at the gym, golfing, hiking and fishing,  he is the past President (twice) of the Johnson City Eagles club and also volunteers his time for legal services in Landlord/Tenant Defense cases.

Attorney Barbara J. King

For well over two decades, Barbara has been representing parents, spouses and other parties from Long Island to the Capital Region, as well as clients nationally and internationally, in a wide range of family and matrimonial matters. She is a partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC and heads one of the firm’s largest legal departments in Albany. She is experienced in representing New Yorkers in proceedings relating to divorce, separation, equitable distribution, annulment, child support, child custody, spousal maintenance and adoption.

After graduating Valedictorian of her class at John Jay University, Barbara earned her juris doctorate from the City University of New York at Queens College. She practiced on Long Island for several years before relocating to the Capital Region. Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Barbara held a principal role at a longstanding Capital Region law firm, where she focused her practice on family and matrimonial law.

Barbara has a well-established connection and commitment to the Capital Region through various professional and not-for-profit organizations, as well as volunteer work. She is a member of the Capital District Women’s Bar Association, where she previously held the position of treasurer and was editor of its newsletter. Barbara is involved in various legal organizations, including The Legal Project and the Legal Aid Society for Northeastern New York, where she informs litigants of their rights in family court and offers pro-bono representation.

Barbara also works with domestic violence initiatives, assists Legal Project clinics and offers her services in pro se matrimonial clinics for indigent people all at no charge. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association and a past Board member of the Schenectady County Bar Association, of which she is the current Chair of the Pro Bono Committee. In this capacity, she instituted a Modest Means panel program that offers reduced legal fee services to low-income litigants with divorce and family law cases in Schenectady County. She is a past and current delegate to the New York State Bar Association.

For her commitment to the community, Barbara has received numerous awards, including the Suffolk County Pro Bono Award in 1994, the Capital District Women’s Bar Association Volunteer Attorney Award in 2001, the New York State Bar Association Pro Bono Award in 2004, the American Bar Association Difference Maker Award from the Solo/Small Practice Section in 2009, the Schenectady County Bar Association’s Lawyer of the Year award in 2010, the Schenectady County Human Rights Commission’s Justice Award in 2011 and was honored with the New York Law Journal Lawyers Who Lead by Example award in 2012, the 2014 Kimberly A. Troisi-Paton Leadership Award and, most recently, The Legal Project’s 2015 Stanley A. Rosen Award for Service to Victims of Domestic Violence.

Barbara is a former trustee of Davis College in Johnson City, N.Y.; a former board member of the City Mission of Schenectady; and the Alpha Pregnancy Center in Albany.

Barbara is also a past instructor of Paralegal Studies for both New York Institute of Technology and Bryant & Stratton. She has conducted continuing legal education seminars for Albany Law School, Schenectady County Bar Association, NBI and the Lorman Group. She has presented – and is a continuing presenter – for the New York State Bar Association and Third Department’s Law Guardian training programs.

Attorney Ryan C. Nerney

Ryan C. Nerney, Esq. is a partner in the San Diego office of Tully Rinckey PLLC, where he focuses his practice primarily on national security law, with experience in federal employment and military matters. Ryan represents clients who have security clearance issues against agencies such as CIA, NSA, DIA, DOD, NRO, and DOE. He has represented numerous clients in security clearance revocation proceedings and has a proven record of saving clients’ jobs, as well as anticipating and resolving potential future issues with their security clearances.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Ryan spent more than five years representing clients in security clearance cases and Administrative Law hearings, appearing in more than 300 hearings and appeals with various agencies. Ryan also practiced federal employment law in a range of forums, including MSPB and EEOC. He has traveled all over the country assisting his clients with their security clearance and federal employment issues. He also spent time as a Volunteer Attorney with Legal Aid Society of Orange County, practicing Matrimonial law and Bankruptcy law. Ryan was published in that organization’s weekly newspaper on multiple occasions.

Ryan received his Juris Doctorate from Arizona Summit Law School and his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California at Irvine. While in law school, Ryan served as the Executive Board Secretary for the American Association for Justice.

Attorney Stephanie Rapp-Tully

Dedicated to fighting discrimination in the workplace, Stephanie has spent her entire career helping public and private sector employees overcome unlawful personnel actions based on factors such as their race, sex, national origin, disability, military service, and age. As a Partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC, she concentrates her practice on federal labor and employment law, routinely representing employees before United States District Courts, Appeals Courts, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB). She has extensive experience with cases involving violations of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Rehabilitation Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). Stephanie was recognized by Lawyers of Distinction in 2018 for her excellence in civil litigation.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Stephanie served as an associate for a Silver Springs, Maryland law firm, where she similarly represented Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) complainants alleging discrimination based on disability, failure to accommodate, national origin, religion, and ethnicity. She represented clients before the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. She began her career as a lawyer at another Silver Spring law firm, where she gained valuable experience handling cases involving ADEA, Title VII, USERRA, and state employment discrimination law. She represented clients before the EEOC, MSPB, and Maryland Commission on Civil Rights.

While attending law school at the Touro College Law Center, Stephanie interned with the Legal Aid Society of Nassau County in Hempstead, N.Y., the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York in Central Islip, N.Y., the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps in Vilseck, Germany, and the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C. She also participated on the Moot Court Honors Board. At Touro, where she ranked in the top 16 percent of her class, Stephanie received the Exemplary Contribution to the Quality of Student Life Award and the Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) Award for Best Oral Advocate.

Before pursuing a career in law, Stephanie worked in the entertainment industry, serving as a talent manager’s executive assistant in Beverly Hills and as a producer’s intern for “The West Wing” political drama television series.

Attorney Christian J. Root

Christian J. Root is a Partner in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Binghamton office, where he focuses his practice in Family and atrimonial Law.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, Christian was the longtime First Assistant County Attorney for Tioga County in Owego, N.Y., where he was in charge of the Department of Social Services Division (DSS). In that role, he represented the DSS in all legal proceedings, including the prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases, persons-in-need-of-supervision cases, juvenile delinquency proceedings, adult protective proceedings, child support proceedings and other legal proceedings. Christian also provided counsel and advice to the Commissioner and department heads and served on various committees within the County as directed by the County Attorney, provided legal assistance to other County Departments and represented the County, as necessary, in any legal proceedings.

Previously, Christian was DSS Counsel for the Tompkins County Department of Social Services in Ithaca, N.Y. There, he was responsible for representing the Department in all legal proceedings, including the prosecution of child abuse and neglect cases, child support cases and adult protective cases. He also provided counsel and advice to the Commissioner and unit heads within the Department. Christian was also Senior Staff Attorney for Legal Aid for Broome and Chenango, Inc., where he supervised staff attorneys and paralegals and focused his practice on Family Court, Matrimonial Law, Housing, Small Claims, Bankruptcy, Elder Law, as well as General Litigation. Prior, he worked in private practice in Johnson City, N.Y., focusing his practice on General Litigation, Family Court and Criminal Defense. He began his legal career at Legal Aid for Broome and Chenango, Inc.

Christian obtained his law degree from Vermont Law School, cum laude, and his Bachelor of Science degree from Rochester Institute of Technology, cum laude, in criminal justice. He also earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in criminal justice and forensics from SUNY Broome.

Attorney Leslie A. Silva

Leslie Silva is a Partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Albany office where she practices family and matrimonial law, and education law. Leslie has represented individuals in all areas of family and matrimonial law, with a particular experience in high net worth matrimonial litigation.

She also has experience representing parents and students throughout all aspects of education law including initiating contact with school personnel, offering advice and counsel to parents on strategies for navigating the process of IEP’s, IESP’s, and 504 Plans, and commencing Due Process Complaints.

Ms. Silva practices in New York and Connecticut. She began her career managing a small general practice that focused on family law and criminal defense in both Connecticut and New York.  Since 2016, Ms. Silva has been practicing specifically in the Capital Region in all areas of matrimonial and family law. She represents spouses and parents going through divorce, and matters related to child custody and child support litigation.  Ms. Silva also has Appellate work experience in both New York and Connecticut.

Ms. Silva is a member of the New York State Bar Association, and has provided pro bono legal services through CWEALF to victims of domestic violence.  Ms. Silva earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Sacred Heart University in 2005, and her Juris Doctorate from Western New England University School of Law in 2008.  She is recognized as one of Super Lawyers ‘Rising Stars’ for 2020.

Attorney Darren Swetz

As a partner at Tully Rinckey PLLC, he helps New Yorkers with real estate transactions and the preparation of estate planning documents. He has extensive experience in real estate transactions and works with buyers, lenders and sellers to get the best possible outcome for all.

Well versed in the latest estate planning and wealth transfer strategies, Darren has a long track record of helping New Yorkers realize their goals for modest to large estates. He has a full menu of asset protection and family wealth preservation techniques from which his clients can choose to develop customized estate plans. Darren believes personalization is an integral component of the estate planning process.

Darren has extensive real estate law experience that includes the representation of hundreds of residential clients. He also has extensive lender representation experience and has worked for over 50 banks in numerous real estate mortgage closings and refinances. He can review and prepare purchase and sale agreements, contracts, addendums and documents for closings.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Darren served as managing partner at a mid-sized law firm in Williamsville for more than a dozen years, where he focused his practice on wealth management and asset preservation. Before that, he operated as a solo practitioner based in Depew, similarly practicing real estate law and estate planning.

Darren frequently speaks on wealth management and asset preservation issues. He is a member of the Erie County Bar Association and Lawyers with Purpose.

Attorney Heather Tenney

Heather Tenney, Esq. is a Partner in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s military law practice group, where her experience as a litigation and advocacy attorney with the U.S. Army add to the number of qualified attorneys within the firm’s practice. Heather brought her skills as an advocate and negotiator to Tully Rinckey after honorably serving with the US Army’s JAG Corps, and the results speak for themselves. At the firm, she focuses on military law; federal employment, EEO and discrimination litigation; and national security clearance representation. Heather’s representation in national security and security clearance cases range from high-level military officers to covert operation officers of the CIA, NRO, FBI, DIA and a range of other intelligence agencies.

Heather possesses years of experience representing officers and enlisted service members in complex legal matters, including courts-martial, adverse command actions against troops such as administrative separations, Article 15 matters, and other forms of non-judicial punishments. Additionally, Heather protects service members from employment discrimination by asserting their rights under the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. As a Veteran, Heather is uniquely positioned to advise veterans in achieving optimal outcomes on claims and appeals for benefits that they have earned from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. She assists veterans in upgrading their discharges to honorable and helps ROTC cadets avoid losing their scholarships. Her knowledge of the federal government and the military allows her to also provide skilled representation in security clearance litigation, congressional investigations, whistleblower retaliation and federal employment matters. Heather represents federal and private sector employees in investigations and cases in front of the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the Office of Special Counsel (OSC).

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Heather was an attorney and advisor with the U.S. Army Claims Service. There she supervised, investigated and determined the appropriate course of action for tort claims including medical malpractice, wrongful death, personal injury, and property damage alleged against the U.S. Army under to the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA), the Military Claims Act (MCA) and the Foreign Claims Act (FCA). Heather has insight that few attorneys possess regarding the way the military handles torts claims, which she uses to assist clients with their actions against the U.S. Government for damages. Additionally, a majority of Heather’s experience consists of military justice.

Heather served as both a senior and trial defense counsel with the U.S. Army Trial Defense Service in Korea and at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. While with Trial Defense Service, she provided criminal and administrative legal services to a community of over 50,000 service members. She represented and advised soldiers at all phases of trial and administrative hearings. Heather began her career as a prosecutor and legal aid attorney in the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate in Fort Benning, Georgia.

Heather obtained her juris doctorate from Albany Law School of Union University, where she graduated magna cum laude and was managing editor of the Albany Law Environmental Outlook Journal. She went on to receive her master of laws degree from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law in Trial Advocacy, where she graduated with honors. Heather also attended the University of Virginia, where she earned her bachelor’s degree with distinction.

Attorney Eugene Welch

Eugene Welch is a Partner in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Rochester office, where his practice encompasses federal and state litigation and governmental issues. After being specially invited to do so by all of the Federal Judges in the Western District of New York, Gene is a Certified Federal Court Mediator available to mediate your litigation. Gene’s experience as a Federal Prosecutor, trial instructor for Justice Department attorneys and his experience in the New York State Attorney General’s Office give him unique qualifications to assist clients to make sure they are in compliance with both New York State and Federal laws and regulations. His credentials have resulted in his being called upon to assist many clients respond to governmental subpoenas and investigations.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, Gene was a partner in the law firm of Harris, Chesworth, Johnstone & Welch, LLP, where he practiced in municipal liability defense, personal injury, civil rights litigation, commercial litigation, insurance defense work and government compliance work, assisting clients being audited or investigated by governmental agencies. He represented clients in both New York State Supreme Court and on appeal to the Appellate Division Fourth Department as well as in U.S. District Court in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and Albany as well as on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Manhattan.

Gene was admitted to practice law in New York State in 1971, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York in 1971, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in 1971, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York in 1975, the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania in 2004 and the U.S. Supreme Court in 1993.

Gene is a native Rochesterian and a graduate of McQuaid Jesuit High School. Gene received his Bachelor’s degree in English from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, New York in 1967 and his Juris Doctor Law Degree from the Columbus School of Law at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., in 1970. At the Catholic University Law School, Gene was the lead articles and book review editor of the Catholic University Law Review.

Gene began his legal career as a confidential law clerk to the Honorable Aubrey E. Robinson, Jr., U.S. District Court Judge for the District of Columbia from 1970 to 1971. Thereafter, Gene became an Assistant U.S. Attorney or Federal Prosecutor in the Northern District of New York at Syracuse from 1971-1975. In that capacity, Gene was the attorney in charge of organized crime prosecutions and Economic Stabilization Act matters. For his work in that office Gene received the Special Achievement Award from the U.S. Attorney General Edward H. Levi, in appreciation for and recognition of sustained superior performance of duty. In 1975 Gene moved to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Western District of New York in Rochester New York where he remained until 1979, doing both criminal investigations and prosecutions, trials and appeals and defending civil claims brought against the United States. For his work in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Gene received the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s highest honor, the Award of Honor in November 1977. In recognition of his trial skills, Gene was also designated a trial techniques instructor at the U.S. Attorney General’s Advocacy Institute, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. where he trained new U.S. Attorneys on trial techniques.

In 1979 Gene was appointed Assistant Attorney General in charge of the New York State Attorney General’s Rochester Regional Office where he managed a staff of lawyers, investigators, paralegals, supervising, advising, setting policy of civil and criminal litigation on behalf of the State, its agencies and consumers. Once again, Gene was a Trial Advocacy instructor at the New York State Attorney General’s annual fall training seminars in Albany, New York. Gene remained in the New York State Attorney General’s Office until 1995 when he left to join the law firm of Harris Chesworth O’Brien.

Attorney Kevin H. Yeager

As a Partner in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Binghamton office, Kevin focuses his practice on real estate law and trust and estate law. He represents buyers, sellers and lenders in real estate transactions, and he appears before courts for out-of-area landlords in landlord-tenant disputes. Additionally, he works with clients on matters involving wills and estates.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Kevin operated his own real estate practice in Binghamton for more than 20 years. As part of his practice, Kevin is as an authorized agent for Stewart Title Insurance Company. He previously worked at several Binghamton-area law firms, which gave him experience in mortgage closings, real estate transactions and representing debtors and creditors in bankruptcy proceedings.

Kevin received his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Albany and earned his juris doctorate from the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Law. He is admitted to the New York State Bar and the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York. He is a member of the Broome County Bar Association’s Real Estate Committee, as well as a past president and board member of the Legal Aid for Broome and Chenango, Inc. He has also served on several community service organization boards.

Attorney David Bolgiano

David is committed to making sure your career in the military, law enforcement or the security industry does not become a casualty of an incident in which you had to discharge a firearm or use deadly force. He is a nationally renowned defender of service members, law enforcement officers and private sector security personnel whose use of deadly force “in the line of duty” shootings or military tactical shootings are being scrutinized to determine whether they comply with the rules of engagement and law. He has a long and distinguished career in the military, which includes receipt of the Bronze Star and a role in drafting the rules of engagement for Operation Noble Eagle in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. At Tully Rinckey PLLC, he is Of Counsel.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, David served as the chief counsel and senior partner at a Texas active-shooter prevention consulting firm, and before that he was a faculty member in the Department of National Security and Strategy at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Penn. Along with publishing Combat Self-Defense: Saving America’s Warriors from Risk-Averse Commanders and their Lawyers (Little White Wolf Books, 2012), he has taught threat recognition and response with small arms inventory to thousands of service members in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force.

Following his work on the rules of engagement for Operation Noble Eagle, David served in Afghanistan, Qatar and Iraq as a command judge advocate for Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) during Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. In the Air National Guard, he ascended to the rank of lieutenant colonel, and he most recently served as staff judge advocate at the Maryland Air National Guard’s headquarters. Earlier assignments included deputy staff judge advocate and staff judge advocate for the 175th Wing of the Maryland Air National Guard.

When not serving with the Air National Guard, David also worked in a civilian capacity as a senior attorney for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the deputy general counsel for the Department of Defense’s Joint IED Defeat Organization (JIEDDO). He also served for five years as a sworn law enforcement officer in Baltimore.

Prior to joining the Air National Guard, David served in the Army. He served as a trial counsel with the 82nd airborne Division at Fort Bragg and in Saudi Arabia and Iraq during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He also served as a defense attorney in Nurenberg, Germany, a senior trial counsel and chief of operational law with the 3rd Infantry Division and as an inter-service secretariat at the Center for Law and Military Operations in Charlottesville, Va.

Along with authoring Combat Self-Defense, David co-wrote Fighting Today’s Wars: How America’s Leaders Have Failed Our Warriors (Stackpole Books, 2012). Further, he has been published in many publications, including the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, Infantry Magazine, University of Baltimore Law Review, Military Review, Naval Institute Proceedings, Washington Times and Baltimore Sun.

David’s bar admissions include Maryland and the District of Columbia. He received his juris doctorate from the University of Baltimore School of Law, his masters in space studies from the U.S. Army War College, and his bachelor’s degree from Loyola University.

Attorney Thomas P. Cassidy

Tom Cassidy is an attorney and policy advisor dealing with issues at the intersection of government, finance and business. Tom started his career on Capitol Hill, then went on to a position as a banking regulatory attorney in the area of enforcement. Tom has litigated both criminal and civil trials at several of the nation’s top law firms. More recently Tom has worked with companies on strategic advice doing due diligence on funding partners and government loan guarantee programs. In the past few years Tom has advised on airport privatizations and renewable energy projects.

Tom currently represents companies in many industry sectors including technology, real estate, renewable energy, infrastructure and water/wastewater management. Federal agencies he has worked with on behalf of clients include the EPA (water), Army Corps of Engineers (permits), FAA (drones), the Department of Education (investigation) and the FTC/CFPB (litigation).

In the state and local government space, Tom has significant experience representing financial services companies and insurers before the District of Columbia’s Department of Insurance, Securities and Banking and the Department of Health Care Finance. He has also represented interests before the D.C. City Council and advised local officials on election law and campaign law issues.

Since returning to private practice after serving as in-house counsel at a large international engineering firm Tom has used the skills developed there to manage and drive several infrastructure projects. His extensive experience working with stakeholders across industry sectors allows Tom to conscientiously and creatively resolve his client’s concerns.

Tom graduated from Villanova University with a degree in political science and a minor in African American Studies. While working on Capitol Hill Tom graduated from Howard Law School.

Attorney Robert L. Estes

Judge Estes earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in 1968, and a Juris Doctor law degree from Albany Law School in 1971. He was admitted to practice law in the courts of New York State by the Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department, and in the Northern District of the United States District Court, early in 1972. He was admitted as an attorney and Counselor of the Supreme Court of the United States at Washington, D.C. in 1976. He enjoyed eleven (11) years of private law practice in Walton, N.Y., through 1982. After relocating his family to the County Seat of Delhi, New York, he was elected Judge of the County Court, Surrogate’s Court and Family Court of Delaware County New York in 1982.

Judge Estes continued his legal and judicial education by taking countless training courses in the fields of child abuse and maltreatment, domestic violence, juvenile delinquency, civil and criminal case management, and other vital areas of practical application every year since taking office.

Judge Estes was elected President of the Association of County Judges of the State of New York in 1993, after ten (10) years of service as delegate for the sixth judicial district. On April 30, 1993, a Special Services Award was presented to Judge Estes by the Delaware County Council on Alcoholism and Other Drug Addictions, Inc. “in recognition of (his) dedicated service, outstanding leadership and contributions in the field of Alcoholism and Addictions.”

On September 1, 1988, Judge Estes was appointed to a two-year term as Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Law Guardians for the Third Judicial Department by Hon. A. Franklin Mahoney, Presiding. He was subsequently appointed for two additional terms, serving a total of six years. The Advisory Committee is responsible for overseeing the operation of the Law Guardian Program in 28 counties of the state from the southern tier to the Canadian border. It recommends standards and procedures for improving the quality of representation by Law Guardians, attorneys appointed by the Family Courts to represent children in proceeding including juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect, and custody and visitation.

Judge Estes oversaw more than 30,000 cases, including numerous felony criminal trials, while serving as Judge. He used innovative measures to manage a family court caseload that nearly doubled during his tenure. He pioneered the use of mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution in Family Court, and he laid the groundwork to establish a drug court in the county.

In 2003, the Delaware County Bar Association conferred upon Judge Estes the Liberty Bell Award, in recognition of his years of outstanding service to the people of Delaware County. The Liberty Bell award is awarded only to those individuals who have promoted better understanding of the rule of law; encouraged a greater respect for law and the courts; stimulated a sense of civic responsibility; and contributed to good government in the community.

Attorney Pamela A. Fuller

Pamela A. Fuller is a corporate and international tax attorney, with over two decades of experience.  She advises a wide range of clients–including private and public companies, joint ventures, private equity and hedge funds, C-Suite executives, private U.S and foreign individual clients, and government entities–on transactional, investment, and supply-chain strategies to achieve optimal tax and business results.

Pamela provides sophisticated tax planning services across most industry sectors, including financial services, real estate development, healthcare, pharmaceutical, construction & engineering, infrastructure, oil & energy, retail, and myriad software and emerging digital technologies and services, including those related to crypto currency, tokenization, innovative blockchain applications and solutions, and all aspects of U.S. and foreign tax planning for digitized transactions and assets.

Pamela is also a seasoned taxpayer advocate, with years of experience resolving complex U.S. federal, state, and foreign tax controversies.  She is skilled at defending taxpayers before the U.S. Internal Revenue Service at the exam, audit, and administrative appeals levels.  If going to court is advantageous, Pamela provides effective and skillful tax counsel.

Pamela is Chair of the American Bar Association (ABA) Tax Section’s Tax Policy Committee, and also Co-Chair of the  International Tax Committee of the ABA’s International Law Section, with global membership.  She  frequently speaks at law conferences, and publishes papers on international tax topics in peer-reviewed law journals.  She serves on several steering committees and boards, including Tax Law 360’s International Tax Advisory Board; the New York State Bar’s “Global Law Week”; and the International Fiscal Association’s prospective New York Congress.  Pamela is a founding member of the New York City Bar’s “Taskforce on the Independence of Lawyers and Judges” and a Fellow of both the American Bar Foundation and the American College of Tax Counsel.  In 2019, Pamela was recognized as one of 100 Influential Women in International Tax Law.

Pamela began her legal career at the U.S. Tax Court, serving three consecutive 2-year terms as an Attorney Advisor to the U.S. Tax Court’s Chief Judge, handling large “tax shelter” cases and transfer pricing disputes, amongst other issues.  Pamela holds an LL.M. in Tax Law from New York University School of Law, where she served as Graduate Editor of  NYU’s international law review, and completed post-LL.M. studies in international business and comparative securities law; a J.D. from Seattle University; and a B.A. from the University of Washington.  Pamela is admitted to practice law in several U.S. state jurisdictions and multiple federal courts, including the U.S. Tax Court.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Pamela worked as a business news reporter and anchor for a highly regarded NBC News affiliate in Seattle, covering international and emerging tech businesses, and geo-political developments.  In this capacity, Pamela had the opportunity to conduct in-depth interviews with the founders and executives of some of the world’s most innovative and successful companies.

Attorney Richard R. Jennings

As Senior Counsel at Tully Rinckey, Richard Jennings concentrates his practice in Family Matrimonial Law and Criminal, Vehicle and Traffic law, and Civil Litigation. He represents clients in cases involving divorce, child support, child custody, child visitation, spousal support and paternity. Rick also represents clients facing criminal charges, from misdemeanors and felonies under New York State’s Penal Law and Vehicle and Traffic Law, and Pennsylvania’s Criminal Code, as well as federal criminal charges.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Rick had been a solo practitioner at Jennings Law Office in Sayre, Pennsylvania since 2012. Through the ownership of his own practice, Rick became well-versed in an array of topics relating to family and matrimonial law, criminal defense, and civil litigation.

Jennings is licensed in all New York and Pennsylvania state courts, the United States Western District of New York court, the United States Eastern District of Pennsylvania court, and the United States Middle District of Pennsylvania court. He is also a member of the Broome County Family Court Assigned Counsel Panel List.

Outside of the courtroom, Rick is a member of the Healthcare Facilities Authority of Sayre Board, and serves as counsel for the Sayre Borough and South Waverly Borough Zoning Hearing Boards. He is also a part-time attorney for the Bradford County Public Defender Office and previously served as Criminal Conflict Counsel for Bradford County. He previously served on the Sayre School Board, Sayre Public Library Board, Sayre Historical Society Board and is a graduate of the NY-Penn Leadership Program. Rick is also a veteran, having served for seven years in the U.S. Navy in top secret satellite telecommunications positions.

Rick obtained his Juris Doctorate from the University of North Dakota School of Law, where he was named to the National Dean’s list (22nd Edition). He completed graduate studies with a 4.0 GPA in human resource management at Chapman University, Orange, California, As an undergraduate, Rick attended Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, where he studied journalism and government.

Attorney Jeffrey M. Johnstone

Jeffrey M. Johnstone, Of Counsel in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Rochester office, where his practice is concentrated in estate planning, trusts, estate administration, corporations and business, not-for-profit entities, and federal and New York tax.

He is admitted to practice in New York and Florida, in addition to the U.S. Court for the Western District of New York, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the U.S. Tax Court.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, Jeffrey was an equity Partner with Harris, Chesworth, O’Brien, Johnstone & Welch, LLP.

Upon graduating from law school, Jeffrey became associated with the Rochester, New York, firm of Nixon, Hargrave, Devans & Doyle (now the national law firm of Nixon Peabody LLP), where he received a solid grounding in commercial litigation, real estate, administrative law, labor law and tax law. He founded Jeffrey M. Johnstone, P.C. in 1981, concentrating in business law, tax law and estate planning. He remained in solo and small firm practice until joining Harris, Chesworth & O’Brien, the predecessor of Harris, Chesworth, O’Brien, Johnstone & Welch, LLP, in 1994.

Jeffrey is a member of the Monroe County Bar Association, where he has served as head of the Tax Section, and in which he is a member of the Trusts and Estates, Business Law and Tax Law sections. He also is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Florida Bar Association.

Throughout his career, Jeffrey has been actively involved in community affairs, including the Board of Trustees of the Ontario County Museum and Historical Society, the Finger Lakes Museum, the Planning Board of the Town of Brighton, the Lewis Street Center, the Feadan Or Pipe Band, and The Cupola Restoration Project of Penn Yan, Inc.

Jeffrey has been AV rated, the highest possible peer rating, from Martindale Hubbell, for many years.

Jeffrey graduated from Colgate University, cum laude, with High Honors in his major, in 1967. While at Colgate he was also inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa Society.

While attending graduate school, Jeffrey joined the U.S. Navy and graduated from the U.S. Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. He was commissioned an Ensign and served on active duty with the Naval Security Group as a Russian interpreter, reaching the rank of Lieutenant (O-3). While serving in the Navy, Jeffrey received an M.A. in Russian Studies from Georgetown University. After the Navy, he entered Cornell Law School, where he was an editor of the Cornell Law Review, and from which he graduated in 1974.

Attorney Brigadier General (Ret.) Harris Jay Kline

General (Ret.) Kline served numerous tours throughout the world in support of the Air Force and was the first JAG Reservist to serve as Head of the Legal Office at both our embassy in Canberra, Australia and Payar Lebar AB, Singapore. While on active duty, Gen. Kline helped close Clark AB under pressure from a live volcano and personally practiced before Filipino judges, securing the release of 63 U.S. servicemen on international hold – for which he won the ABA’s Distinguished Service Award. He was also instrumental in planning the first International Latin American Conference in Panama, attended by dignitaries from over 15 nations.

Among his many accomplishments as a Reservist, Gen. Kline created, established and supervised the first program geared to support of families of deployed reservists; which was adopted by the Army and Navy as well. Called overseas to support Operation Joint Endeavor, he saved the U.S. government over $1 million by resolving a contract dispute with German hotels over the bed down of contingency forces and was a key in establishing humanitarian efforts for Bosnian children. Gen. Kline spearheaded the legal effort to repatriate 1,900 evacuees from Lebanon in the wake of hostilities and provided legal support to the massive tsunami relief efforts in Thailand. In Alaska, he flawlessly led the commander thru real world NORAD crisis response to Russian bombers in US airspace. In Turkey, he secured the release of an airman stubbornly held in Turkish prison – earning high praises from the Secretary of Defense. During his last two years in the Air Force, he was selected by the United Nations to lead a team into the Congo to teach the Rule of Law to their national armed forces and did so in their native French.

Gen. Kline also works as a translator for United Airlines and is based out of Newark Airport. He is married to the former Trudy Schonfeld, Head of Finance for a major Wall Street firm.

Attorney Steven J. Kramer

Steven J. Kramer is Of Counsel to Tully Rinckey PLLC.

Steven’s practice encompasses a number of areas of law including business law, general litigation, family and matrimonial law, music law, copyrights and trademarks. Steven is an active member of the legal community with more than 20 years of experience. He is admitted to practice in New York State, as well as the District of Columbia – working in both areas since 1985. In 1989, he was granted the ability to practice in the U.S. District Court of Maryland, and in 1996, he was admitted to practice throughout that state.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Steven formed his own firm, which operates out of Washington, D.C. His firm provides legal services to clients such as AES Tutoring, Blue Gin, the National Puerto Rican Coalition and the World Bank Staff Association.

Steven earned his juris doctorate from the Washington College of Law of American University in 1985. This followed his graduation with high honors from the University at Binghamton in 1978. Steven is multilingual and able to work with clients that speak Spanish, Italian or through Sign Language. He holds a membership in the District of Columbia Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association and Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts.

Attorney Richard M. Liebman

Richard brings many years of experience to Tully Rinckey PLLC, thanks to his comprehensive knowledge of real estate, real estate financing, leasing and brownfield transactions. Richard also brings retail commercial lease negotiating experience, having represented two major retailers and one major mini-storage company through the negotiation of new store and warehouse locations.

Some of Richard’s past casework includes representing a major life insurance company with a $55 million mortgage loan secured by four buildings, the purchase and financing of retail drug stores in 12 different states for $61 million, and representing a seller in connection with the sale of a New York City office building for $80 million together with all development rights.

Richard earned his Juris Doctor from Brooklyn Law School. Prior to law school, Richard received his B.A. with high honors from University of Denver. He also holds a Masters of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing Management from Baruch College-City University of New York.

Richard is an active member of the American Bar Association and New York State Bar Association. He is also the mayor’s appointee as owner’s representative for the New York City Loft Board.

Attorney Karen R. Sanders

Karen R. Sanders, Senior Counsel in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Rochester office, focuses her practice on Civil Litigation (Personal Injury, Civil Rights and Whistleblower Actions) and Employment Law.

Karen was admitted to the bar in New York State in 1994. She also is admitted in the U.S. District Court for the Western and Northern Districts of New York, the Bankruptcy Court in the Western District of New York, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Karen practiced with the firm of Harris, Chesworth, Johnstone & Welch, LLP (2015-Present). She was previously associated with Harris, Chesworth, O’Brien, Johnstone & Welch, LLP (2011-2015); Alexander & Catalano, LLC. (2006-2008); Cegelski Legal Associates, PPLC (1996-2006); Dolin & Associates, P.C. (1995-1996); Marianetti & Kantor (1993-1995); and the Law Office of Emmelyn Logan-Baldwin, Esq., Law Clerk (1991-1993).

Karen graduated from Wellesley College and Buffalo Law School. She is a member of the Monroe County Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association. She is also involved in charitable organizations, including the Special Olympics.

Attorney Richard H. Sargent

Dick is a familiar face in local and state courts throughout the Syracuse area. With more than three decades of experience practicing law in Upstate New York, Dick has a long record of helping Central New Yorkers with a variety of legal issues. Dick is Of Counsel to the firm’s Syracuse office.

Dick joined Tully Rinckey PLLC after operating a successful law practice in Syracuse, where he handled everything from litigation to estate planning. He is also experienced in commercial and residential property transactions; representing litigants in such matters as title disputes, easements, zoning and environmental impact proceedings.

Dick received his bachelor’s degree from Hamilton College and his juris doctorate from Syracuse University College of Law. He is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, having served as both a JAG officer and military judge. He is a member of the Onondaga County Bar Association, New York Bar Association and American Bar Association. For many years, Dick has been a continuing legal education lecturer, covering such topics as real estate transactions, easements and rights of way, adverse possession and road access law.

When not at work, Dick contributes his extra time to the not-for-profit corporation, Literacy CNY, which concentrates on teaching adults to read.

Attorney Raymond Caso

As a Senior Associate in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Real Estate Law practice, Raymond focuses his practice on commercial and residential real estate financing transactions, commercial real estate transactions and development, title review and commitment preparation. He represents developers in subdivision acquisitions, and he represents lenders in commercial and residential mortgage transactions, as well as commercial and residential purchasers and sellers.

Raymond has extensive experience drafting residential and commercial contracts of sale, leases and mortgage documents including, but not limited to: commitment letters, promissory notes, mortgages, security agreements, assignment of rents and leases, environmental compliance and indemnity agreements, unlimited guarantees and UCC-1 filings. He prepares homeowners association and condominium association offering plans with declarations of covenants and restrictions. Raymond also performs title reviews, survey readings and prepares commitments of title, as well as obtaining necessary title curatives.

Beyond his work in the real estate practice, Raymond represents clients in estate planning, estate probate and estate administration proceedings in all New York State Surrogate’s Courts. He assists with matters including wills, guardianships and advance directives such as power of attorney and health care proxy, among others.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Raymond worked for several Buffalo law firms in their real estate practices.

Raymond received his bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and his juris doctorate from the University at Buffalo School of Law. He is a director of ECAL Veterans for Veterans, a not for profit corporation which primarily assists military veterans in need, and he is a youth hockey coach and active in his parish.

Attorney Michael Eaton

Mike Eaton, a Senior Associate in Tully Rickey’s Washington, D.C., office, possesses extensive courtroom experience in all matters of military and criminal law, having served the last 15 years as a United States Army Judge Advocate, Assistant United States Attorney, and Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney.

Mike’s years of experience as an active-duty US Army Captain in the selective and prestigious US Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps are a valuable asset to Tully Rickey PLLC’s military law practice group. Having served his country honorably as a Judge Advocate in Iraq, Afghanistan, Korea, Germany, and around the United States from 2007 until 2014, Mike is a determined advocate for service members facing legal issues. He is able to pull from his extensive knowledge and experience to forcefully and effectively represent service members facing administrative and criminal proceedings.

Mike began his career as an enlisted Soldier, serving as a paratrooper in the 82d Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Upon completion of his enlistment, he earned degrees at Texas A&M University and the Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. Mike began his legal career by returning to the Army as a Judge Advocate, where he served on active duty as a military trial counsel (prosecutor), senior trial counsel, defense counsel, senior defense counsel, and brigade judge advocate. Upon leaving active duty, he continued serving his country and community as an Assistant United States Attorney in Texas and Oklahoma. He has also served as an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney for Fairfax County, Virginia.

As a military defense counsel and senior defense counsel, Mike has represented soldiers at all stages of military justice, from Article 15 review to general court-martial and appeal. He has also represented service members in countless administrative actions and separation boards. As a trial counsel and senior trial counsel, Mike represented the United States, reviewing hundreds of investigations and advising commanders regarding appropriate disposition with administrative action or reprimand or for referral to Article 15 or court-martial. Mike has advised multiple company, battalion, brigade, and division-level commands regarding various aspects of military justice, investigations, ethics, fiscal law, operational law, and contracts.

Attorney Stephen M. Jewell

Stephen, a Senior Associate, practices military law in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Austin office. He zealously represents clients through all stages of courts-martial and administrative separation hearings, as well as advising clients on issues involving pre-trial investigations, Article 15s, and other adverse actions.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, Stephen served honorably as a judge advocate in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps for nearly 10 years, practicing in many areas of military law. In addition to his legal training at the Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School, Stephen also attended and graduated from the U.S. Army Engineer School in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

After graduating from the U.S. Army JAG basic course, Stephen’s judge advocate career began in Heidelberg, Germany where he served in positions such as international and operational law attorney, administrative law attorney, and claims judge advocate for which his office was awarded the Judge Advocate General’s Excellence in Claims Award. He then deployed to Afghanistan as the legal advisor to the commander of Task Force Medical-Afghanistan in charge of all medical assets in country. While deployed, Stephen spearheaded an investigation into allegations of unauthorized live-tissue training on local animals that resulted in a massive overhaul of the U.S. Army’s policy and regulation of such practices in Afghanistan. Upon redeployment, Stephen spent one year at Fort Hood, Texas as a contract law attorney before deploying again in support of the Army’s contracting mission in Afghanistan.

After returning from his second deployment, Stephen became a trial defense attorney for Southwest Region Trial Defense Services in Fort Hood, Texas, the most active court-martial jurisdiction in the Army, where, in only two years, he represented over 50 clients going through the court-martial process and more than 25 clients at administrative separation hearings. He won multiple full acquittals, including in a case where a co-accused had already been convicted and sentenced to five years in military prison, and he successfully negotiated case dismissals and plea deals in more than 30 others. One of Stephen’s more senior clients was a soldier with over 20 years of active duty service facing the potential loss of his retirement pension. Over the prosecution’s objection, Stephen convinced a military judge to allow his client to continue serving on active duty with his retirement intact. Another one of Stephen’s clients was a warrant officer with over 17 years of service facing very serious allegations that could have potentially sent the officer to prison for the rest of his life. The officer vehemently denied the allegations. The prosecution preferred charges and attempted to court-martial the warrant officer, but Stephen got the case dismissed on statutory grounds prior to referral. The prosecution then decided to send the warrant officer to a board of inquiry and argued for separation with an Other Than Honorable discharge. After presenting the warrant officer’s case and arguing before a board of senior commissioned officers, the board found that the warrant officer was innocent of all misconduct, and he was allowed to resume his career. Stephen finished his military career at Fort Eustis, Virginia as a chief of military justice in charge of leading and developing a team of military prosecutors as well as standing up a new general court-martial convening authority.

Stephen earned his law degree from Willamette University College of Law in Salem, Oregon and undergraduate degrees in economics and business administration, cum laude, from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington, where he was a four year participant and graduate of the U.S. Army’s ROTC Program.

Attorney Gregory J. Melus

Gregory J. Melus, a Senior Associate in Tully Rinckey’s Washington, D.C. office, practices business law, where he offers general counsel services, guidance, and support to emerging technology enterprises.

Greg also practices in the areas of insurance defense and federal employment law. He has prior experience handling criminal defense and civil litigation, trademark and copyright matters and has argued in State and Federal courts. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Virginia.

Additionally, Greg has experience with immigration law, specifically in the area of the EB-5 immigration process. He supported efforts to navigate the EB-5 investor program, from the visa application process to obtaining a conditional or permanent residency in the United States.

Greg came to Tully Rinckey after operating a successful solo law practice in Alexandria, Virginia. There, he provided general counsel services and corporate governance to mid-sized software companies, federal contractors, NGOs, insurers, and individuals. He advised in drafting and negotiating contracts, non-disclosure, non-compete and licensing agreements, independent contractor agreements, statement of work agreements, and software reseller agreements.

He has a litigation experience in both federal and state court, representing companies and individuals in contract disputes, personal injury, employment issues, and medical and professional malpractice.

Prior to starting his own law firm, Greg worked as a Legislative Fellow for the U.S. House Judiciary Committee and as a staff member in a Congressional Office. He is also an academic writer and frequent presenter on Intellectual Property law, having written a paper addressing trademark and copyright law on the Internet, which won first place at an academic conference, and was published in the Summer 2015 AIPLA journal.

Attorney Zachary T. Ruetz

As a senior Associate at Tully Rinckey PLLC, Zachary handles both federal labor and employment plaintiff’s cases before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Merit Systems Protection Board – in which he defends the rights of federal employees against a range of abuses, including discrimination and retaliation claims, as well as wrongful personnel actions – as well as defending against criminal charges in all town and county courts surrounding the Rochester Office and federal charges within the United States District Court for the Western District of New York. Zachary has enjoyed great success in aggressively and effectively representing federal employees and criminal defendants in both realms of his practice, and has created favorable outcomes using his outstanding research and writing skills in the large number of cases he has pursued to finality.

Zachary’s experience with all aspects of the criminal justice system – prosecution, defense, and the judiciary – provides him with a unique perspective which places him in a unique position to understand each side’s position in order to broker plea negotiations in traffic, violation, misdemeanor and felony level cases in any jurisdiction in Western New York State. Zachary is also a member of the Assigned Counsel panel with the Monroe County Conflict Defender’s Office, where he represents indigent criminal defendants in local cases and appeals to the Supreme Court. Similarly, Zachary carries many aspects of his criminal defense practice into his federal labor and employment practice, where he often attempts to resolve discrimination and harassment cases on behalf of his clients.  Ultimately, Zachary’s steadfast resolve and exceptional bed-side manner makes working with him a comforting and fulfilling experience.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Zachary immersed himself in the criminal justice system, from assisting in opening cases and drafting extensive legal research with the Monroe County District Attorney, to counseling defendants and composing legal motions as a law clerk for a reputable Rochester-area law firm. Additionally, Zachary worked as a Judicial Law Clerk under the Hon. David A. Wiseman of the Commonwealth Superior Court of the Mariana Islands on the island of Saipan, where he drafted and published numerous judicial decisions and orders in a wide variety of practice areas, including criminal, civil, administrative and probate matters.

Zachary obtained his Juris Doctor from Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego, Calif. During that time, he performed legal research and composed draft orders as a judicial extern for the Hon. Anthony J. Battaglia of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. Zachary also worked extensively with the San Diego Office of the Public Defender, appearing on behalf of felony defendants in any and all matters before the court, as well as drafting and arguing complex legal motions in homicide cases.  Zachary received his Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. While there, he participated in The Washington Center Internship Program in Washington, D.C. in conjunction with the Council of State Governments, Midwestern Governors Association and KBB Federal Relations lobbying firm.

Attorney Thomas P. Setser

Thomas P. Setser, a Senior Associate in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Rochester office, possesses extensive courtroom experience in all matters of litigation, having served the last 19 years as a military defense counsel, civilian counsel and Assistant District Attorney.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, Thomas began his legal career as U. S. Navy Judge Advocate, where he served on active duty as a military defense counsel, legal assistance attorney, discipline officer and brig officer.  Upon leaving active duty, he opened his own legal practice as a solo practitioner and continued his military service as a Navy Reservist.  After a one-year mobilization with the U. S. Navy to the middle East, Thomas served as an Assistant District Attorney for the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Mississippi until he was recalled to active duty where he served as the legal advisor to a two-star command.  Upon completion of his orders, Thomas served as the deputy Staff Judge Advocate and then selected to serve as the Staff Judge Advocate to a Joint Command tasked with managing the process for reviewing the status of the detainees held in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Thomas has served as military defense counsel representing Sailors and Marines at all stages of military justice from Article 15 review to General Courts-Martial representation.  He has represented service members at numerous administrative separation boards and has been appointed as an article 32 hearing officer.  Thomas has reviewed and provided advice on countless investigations for referral to Article 15 (Captain’s Mast or Office Hours), Courts-Martial and/or administrative separation.  He has trained officers to serve as Summary Courts-Martial officers and has represented Commands as the recorder (prosecutor) to administrative separation boards.  Thomas has advised multiple commands on military justice, Command investigations, ethics and contracts.  As a legal assistance attorney, both on active duty and in the reserves, he provided expert legal advice, to include preparing Wills and powers of attorney, to service members, retirees and their dependents on a multitude of civilian legal issues, including immigration.

In addition to his military law expertise, Thomas’ civilian litigation experience is extensive.  As an Assistant District Attorney, he prosecuted several felony cases including armed robbery, aggravated assault and sexual assault of a minor.  He reviewed law enforcement investigations to present to a grand jury, represented the State at civil hearings for property seized during drug arrests, and represented the State against probation violators.  As a solo practitioner, he represented well over 100 criminal clients negotiating favorable guilty pleas, arguing motions affecting evidence at trials and bail or bond, and trying cases to verdict, both misdemeanor and felony cases.  He represented clients in divorce petitions, contempt hearings, in front of state licensing boards and civil actions, both at the State and Federal level.  Thomas successfully settled a Federal civil action for race discrimination and non-accommodation of a disabled person.  Further, he represented minors in juvenile justice hearings as well as acted as guardian ad litem for children in abuse or neglect situations.  Thomas has litigated several contract disputes including a successful appeal to the Mississippi Supreme Court and was appointed to file appellate briefs on behalf of criminal defendants who could not afford an attorney.

Attorney Amanda Smith

Amanda Smith, Esq. is an Associate in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Buffalo office, where she focuses her practice on Federal and State Employment and Labor Law.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, Amanda was a Student Workforce Trainee for the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, in Washington, D.C. She also worked as a Research Assistant at the University at Buffalo Law School, where she provided legal academic research in international environmental principles as applied by the United States domestically and in foreign relations. Amanda also worked as a Student Legal Intern for the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement; was a Student Intern at the Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office in Buffalo; and was a Research and Teaching Assistant in the Niagara University Psychology Department, Niagara University, New York.

Amanda is admitted to practice law in New York State. She obtained her law degree from the University at Buffalo Law School, State University Of New York and her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Political Science, with a minor in International Studies, from Niagara University.

Attorney Allison R. Weber

As a Senior Associate at Tully Rinckey PLLC, Allison focuses her practice on all aspects of military and national security law. She represents clients at all levels of military criminal law from investigations to adverse actions and separation boards all the way to courts-martial and appeals to the service courts and the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces.  She also handles a variety of administrative actions such as discharge upgrades, corrections to military records, line of duty investigations, medical disability processing, ROTC disenrollment actions, obtaining/appealing VA benefits decisions, and contesting debt actions with DFAS.

Allison also provides security clearance representation on matters ranging from assisting clients in proactively disclosing information to avoid issues, completing applications, responding to Statements of Reason, and attending revocation hearings.  She has prevailed in a variety of cases, but she primarily works matters involving alleged violations of the Adjudicative Guidelines concerning personal conduct, drug involvement and substance misuse, handling protected information, and use of information technology.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Weber spent seven years in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps. Most recently, she was a military and civil law attorney-advisor for U.S. Army Europe. Weber advised senior ranking AR15-6 investigating officers, reviewed completed investigations, advised on inspector general investigations and reviewed financial liability for property loss investigations for legality and regulatory compliance. She also managed the Financial Disclosure Management system by advising and assisting personnel with ethical matters and ensuring appropriate disclosures were made in compliance with the program.

Additionally, Weber served as a trial defense counsel for the U.S. Army at Fort Bragg where she defended Service Members in both felony and misdemeanor cases as well as in non-judicial punishment actions and adverse personnel actions. Weber also served as a trial counsel for the Army in the Republic of Korea, where she prosecuted felony and misdemeanor charges and presided over officer and enlisted separation hearings.

Weber received her juris doctorate from Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law. She received a master’s degree in diplomacy from Norwich University.

Attorney Andrew T. Botts

Andrew T. Botts graduated cum laude from Syracuse University College of Law in 2011. While there, he served as the Form and Accuracy Editor with the Journal of International Law and Commerce. In addition to his law degree, Andrew also graduated with a certificate of advanced studies in Counterterrorism and National Security Law from Syracuse University’s Institute for Security Policy and Law.

Following law school, Andrew served as an Assistant District Attorney in St. Lawrence County, where he specialized in the investigation and prosecution of narcotics cases. After a year as a Special Prosecutor for New York State’s Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs, where he specialized in prosecuting cases involving both adult and child victims with special needs, he joined the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office. There, Andrew rose from a narcotics prosecutor to lead homicide prosecutor, where he and his team of detectives and investigators successfully prosecuted several murders.  During his time as a prosecutor, Andrew has led investigations from the first 911 call through trial and verdict involving a variety of offenses, ranging from simple larcenies and DWIs to burglaries, robberies, guns, sex offenses, and homicide.

Andrew also serves as a Judge Advocate with the New York Army National Guard. In December of 2019, he was promoted to Captain, and in 2020, he deployed as the Senior Trial Counsel with the 42nd Infantry Division in support of Operation Spartan Shield. His awards include the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals and the Army Commendation Medal.

Andrew received his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science – Law and Society, with honors, from the University of California, Riverside.

Andrew looks forward to using his extensive experience as a prosecutor and Judge Advocate to serve the interests of his clients in Tully Rinckey’s Albany Criminal Defense and Military Law practice groups.

He currently resides in Rensselaer County, New York, with his girlfriend and their two cats, and enjoys being a father to his daughter, Rylee.

Attorney Faryn S. Christie

Faryn S. Christie, Esq. is an Attorney at Tully Rinckey, focusing on the practice areas of labor/employment and family/matrimonial.

Faryn is an Atlanta, GA Native and graduate of Georgia State University College of law. While in law school, Faryn worked as a Graduate Research Assistant where she assisted her supervising Professor, Tanya Washington, in drafting an Amicus Brief that was filed in support of the Plaintiffs’ position in Obergefell v. Hodges and cited by the United States Supreme Court as a persuasive authority in this landmark Marriage Equality decision.

Before moving to Syracuse, Faryn worked as a Judicial Staff Attorney in Fulton County Juvenile Court, where she drafted court orders for various judges, conducted legal research to assist judges in their decision making on the bench, and supervised law school interns. Faryn also coordinated Court Improvement meetings, which provided monthly court-wide trainings for all stakeholders Additionally, Faryn trained as a general civil mediator and has a knack for diffusing tense situations and leading with empathy.

In her spare time, Faryn enjoys exploring Syracuse with her husband and teacup chihuahua, Booker, going for walks (in the warm months), and cooking new recipes.

Faryn is admitted to practice in Georgia and New York (pending).

NOT ADMITTED TO THE NEW YORK STATE BAR. NEW YORK PRACTICE LIMITED TO PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SOLELY BEFORE A SPECIAL COURT, DEPARTMENT, OR AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES. Admitted to practice in the State of Georgia.

Attorney Eric Duncan

ric Duncan is an Associate in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Buffalo office, where he focuses his practice around military law.

Before becoming an Associate, Eric worked as a law clerk, where he utilized his legal knowledge to assist firm attorneys with conducting legal research and analysis, preparing legal documents, compiling case materials, and writing reports and other memoranda.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, Eric conducted research into veterans groups and resources and facilitated the development of practicum for the Veterans Legal Practicum at the University at Buffalo School of Law. Eric previously served as an Infantry Squad Leader in the U.S. Marine Corps, where he commanded 12 to thirty-six personnel His other experience includes working as a Commercial Account Manager for Continental Transmission, where he oversaw commercial account estimates; advised clients of their options; and negotiated new contracts with current and potential clients. He also worked as a Project Supervisor, where he oversaw the planning and execution of an ongoing expansion of a multi-million dollar business.

Eric obtained his law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, in Buffalo, NY, with a focus on intellectual property, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Legal Studies from the State University of New York at Buffalo.

Attorney Sara Furlow

Sara Furlow is an associate attorney in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Washington D.C. office, where she focuses her practice on federal employment law. She is familiar with all areas of litigation, from lengthy trials to appeals, and has extensive experience with court-ordered mediations. She has submitted appellate briefs to and argued before the Maryland Court of Special Appeals, achieving favorable outcomes on behalf of her clients.

On a daily basis, Sara exhibits professionalism and passion in her provision of services to all her clients. Sara is thorough, resourceful, cool under pressure, creative, and continuously looking for opportunities to learn and improve. She is an excellent advocate, and her work goes far beyond just the courtroom. Through her passion, she has not only garnered the respect of her clients and colleagues but also the bench and opposing counsel as well.

Sara joins the firm after eight years of advocating for children in foster care. She volunteered as a court appointed special advocate, a friend of the court for abused and neglected children, for three years prior to working as a staff attorney with Maryland Legal Aid. During her nearly five years at Legal Aid, Sara managed a heavy caseload while developing trainings for fellow Maryland children’s advocates and partnering with community resource organizations to benefit her young clients.

In her spare time, Sara enjoys volunteering, and can always be found as a volunteer on various in-house committees, task forces, and outreaches, as well as participating with outside bar organizations. Through these programs, Sara exemplifies what it means to be a team player and can always be relied upon whenever she is needed.

Sara earned her bachelor’s degree from the University of North Carolina and her Juris Doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh, and she is currently admitted to practice in Maryland and New York State.

NOT ADMITTED TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA BAR. DC PRACTICE LIMITED TO PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SOLELY BEFORE A SPECIAL COURT, DEPARTMENT, OR AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES. ADMITTED TO PRACTICE IN MARYLAND AND NEW YORK.

Attorney Esther S. Gabriel

Esther Gabriel is an associate attorney in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Syracuse office. Her practice focuses primarily on corporate formations and federal labor and employment law.

In May 2020, Esther received her Juris Doctor from Syracuse University College of Law. While in law school, Esther served as a law clerk for the Honorable Thérèse Wiley Dancks, United States Magistrate Judge. In addition, she also interned with DJ & JA Cirando PLLC, as well as an in-house law clerk with National Fuel Gas Company in her hometown of Buffalo, New York. She is currently admitted to practice in New York State Court and New York Northern District Court.

Attorney Adam Grogan

Adam P. Grogan, Esq. is an attorney in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Albany office, where he focuses his practice in employment law, federal employment law, and civil litigation.

Adam has extensive experience representing clients both state and federal, public and private, in state courts and agencies (Division of Human Rights, Department of Labor, etc.), and federally in courts and agencies, including the EEOC and MSPB, OSC, and others. Specifically, he has experience in cases of proposed removals, severance negotiations, Section 72 and 75 cases, and Article 78 appeals.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, Adam was an associate in the White Plains office of an international law firm, where he practiced civil litigation in the courts of New York City and the surrounding Metro area. He represented doctors, hospitals and nursing homes in complex civil litigation, including taking and defending depositions, motion practice, and court appearances.

While in law school, Adam clerked for the New York State Division of Human Rights, and the National Labor Relations Board.

Attorney Erin Killian

Erin Killian is an Associate in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Buffalo office, where she practices Federal and State Employment and Labor Law. She specializes in employment discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and whistleblowing.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, Erin worked as a Junior Attorney for the Family Violence and Women’s Rights Clinic, where she assisted domestic violence survivors with legal concerns, including family offense petitions, custody matters, and no-fault divorce. She volunteered at the Family Court Help Desk, which provides free legal advice to low-income clients through the Volunteer Lawyers Project.

Erin has a Bachelor of Science in Industrial and Labor Relations with a Business Minor from Cornell University. She spent one semester studying International Industrial Relations at University College Dublin in Ireland. Erin obtained her law degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School. She is admitted to practice law in New York. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association and its Labor and Employment Law Section, the Bar Association of Erie County, and the New York Women’s Bar Association.

Attorney Chad Lennon

Chad Lennon is an attorney in the Military Law section at Tully Rinckey, PLLC. In addition he is a Major in the Marine Corps reserves.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, PLLC, he was the Director of the Veterans and Servicemembers’ Rights’ Clinic at Touro Law Center. There he managed staff attorneys and interns working in a variety of legal topics. Cases included discharge upgrades, veterans law appeals, military law, landlord-tenant, estate planning, and criminal cases.  He was also a Prosecutor in Suffolk County District Court and East End courts. There he was the Prosecutor in Veterans Treatment Court while as working on misdemeanor and felony cases.  He has also worked as a Criminal Defense attorney in Maryland prior to working as a Prosecutor.

As a reservist in the Marine Corps, Chad has held a variety of billets. During his time in active duty he served as a Platoon Commander who was deployed to Afghanistan and led over 50 combat missions. Once he returned from deployment he served as the Battalion Assistant Operations Officer. His other billets include Production Officer, Detachment Commander, Company Executive, International Engagements Officer, Intelligence Officer, and Company Commander. Chad has also participated in a number of multi-national exercises including Bold Alligator and African Lion. He is a recipient of the Purple Heart Medal.

Chad is heavily involved in the community as he serves on the Board of Directors for the Bob Feller Act of Valor Award Foundation and Project 9 Line.  He is also the President of the Long Island Squad for the Semper Fi Fund.  Concurrently he is the Secretary for the New York State Bar Association Committee on Veterans, Co-Chair for the Suffolk County Bar Association Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, and is an Officer for the Suffolk County Bar Association Academy of Law.

Attorney Garrett T. Lyons

Garrett Lyons is an attorney with Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Binghamton office. His focus is on federal employment law.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, Garrett worked as an assistant district attorney in the Broome County District Attorney’s Office for the previous five years and handled a variety of cases that spanned all levels and areas of criminal law, including trial and grand jury experience.

Prior to working for the Broome County District Attorney’s Office, Garrett worked with firms in Kenmore, New York, and Olean, New York, in a variety of general legal practice areas.

Garrett earned his Juris Doctor from the University at Buffalo School of Law where he served on two moot court boards. Garrett earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communications from St. Bonaventure University.

Attorney Kaya Massey

Kaya Massey is an associate attorney in Tully Rinckey’s federal employment practice in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, Kaya worked for a boutique employment firm in D.C. specializing in both public and private sector employment law. Kaya earned her bachelor’s degree from Duke University, her J.D. from Tulane University Law School, and her L.LM from American University Washington College of Law. She is currently admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Virginia. Kaya is a member of the D.C. Bar Communities’ Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative, as well as a member of the Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia.

Attorney Ryan McCall

Ryan J. McCall joined Tully Rinckey PLLC in 2021, and focuses his practice in family law, real estate, business formation, and cryptocurrency matters. During his time in law school, Ryan served as the Treasurer for the Italian American Law Society where he developed a passion for helping clients and had the opportunity to learn from leading attorneys in the Capital Region.

Ryan has a background in family and matrimonial law, where he has first chair experience with a specialty in grandparent’s rights cases and representing victims of domestic violence in matrimonial, custody and family offense cases. He also has experience helping clients with their real estate matters. Ryan specializes in representing landlords in residential and commercial evictions before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and has written extensive articles regarding the ongoing issues landlords continue to face on a daily basis.

In addition to family and real estate matters, Ryan also has experience with both criminal and business law. Ryan has represented many clients for traffic tickets, misdemeanors and felonies as well as assisting clients with corporate and limited liability companies matters in a general counsel capacity including general advisement, formation, dissolution and sales.

He attributes his passion for advocating for clients due to the fundamental values instilled in him during his time at La Salle Institute in Troy and later Siena College. Ryan continues to maintain a strong relationship with the Stack Center for Entrepreneurship at Siena College where he frequently mentors young entrepreneurs on business formation matters.

In his spare time Ryan enjoys playing golf, traveling, playing with his dog Sabin, and watching the Green Bay Packers.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, Ryan worked for Boies Schiller Flexner, LLP and The Colwell Law Group, LLC.

Attorney Mary McGarigal

Mary is an Associate Attorney in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Syracuse, NY, office. Originally from Houston, TX, she focuses her practice primarily on federal employment law.

Mary obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma in English writing. While there, she was a member of the Pride of Oklahoma color guard, a leader in Chi Alpha, and managed to graduate in three years. Afterwards, she decided to pursue a career in law, going to Syracuse University College of Law, during which she worked in the Low-Income Taxpayers Clinic and was a member of the Health Law Society. After graduating law school, Mary passed the bar exam in Texas and accepting a job working in Buffalo, NY, for the Small Business Administration. Working for the SBA, she helped process loans for disaster relief from Hurricanes Harvey, Maria, and Irma.

Prior to joining the firm, Mary worked for Olinsky Law Group, PLLC, handling Social Security Claims at the federal level.

NOT ADMITTED TO THE NEW YORK STATE BAR. NEW YORK PRACTICE LIMITED TO PROVIDING LEGAL SERVICES TO MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC SOLELY BEFORE A SPECIAL COURT, DEPARTMENT, OR AGENCY OF THE UNITED STATES. Admitted to practice in the State of Texas.

Attorney Matthew F. Mihalich

Matthew Mihalich is an Associate in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Washington D.C. office, were he focuses his practice on labor and employment law. He has a considerable amount of experience representing both public and private sector workers in matters before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Merit Systems Protection Board, and in Maryland and District of Columbia courts.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, Matt worked for J. Anukem & Associates, LLC, where he frequently appeared in Maryland courts on issues of employment, business, criminal, and family law. Prior to that, he worked for The Spiggle Law Firm, representing federal and private sector workers in the greater D.C. area and around the country.

Matt also worked as a solo attorney with a practice focused on issues of social and economic justice. As a solo attorney, he primarily represented workers who had been subjected to discrimination or wage theft in the District of Columbia or Maryland, and defended federal employees unfairly targeted for their political expressions. He has argued cases of first impression concerning the employment rights of medical marijuana patients before the D.C. Court of Appeals, and represented workers with claims of sexual harassment and assault against their former managers. His practice included criminal cases protecting the peoples’ right to free expression, such as defending over 20 United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS) protesters arrested during a sit-in protesting unsafe working conditions.

Matt is a member of the Maryland and District of Columbia bars and is admitted to practice in Federal court in the District of Columbia, the Court of Federal Claims as well as the Executive Office for Immigration Review.

Matt has been a member of Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association (MWELA) for eight years, and was a frequent volunteer at the Employment Justice Center’s weekly clinic and the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Worker’s Rights Clinic. He was a member of the Executive Committee of the D.C. Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild for over five years and was Chair of the Chapter for two years.

Attorney Renee Segina Moore

Renee Segina Moore, CPA is an associate in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Rochester office, where she focuses her practice primarily in federal employment law.

Renee is admitted to practice law in New York. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Monroe County Bar Association.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Renee worked as a law clerk in a Rochester law firm, where she participated in the area of real estate law, providing support in commercial and residential real estate transactions, eviction and replevin actions and other real estate litigation matters.

Renee earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration accounting from the State University of New York at Buffalo and her juris doctorate from University at Buffalo School of Law.

During her time in law school, Renee worked at the New York State Office of the Attorney General litigation group assisting in the representation of the State and state employees. There, she focused on defending state employees in civil complaints involving constitutional rights violations. She also prepared legal memorandums, motions for summary judgment, and attended/participated in depositions. Additionally, she worked on Second Amendment cases, along with some eminent domain issues in the Court of Claims.

Renee is also a certified public accountant, having served as an audit manager specializing in health and human service organizations and governments. Her work primarily consisted of doing financial audits, fraud testing and compliance audits for federal and state funding.

Attorney Marc T. Napolitana

Marc T. Napolitana, is an Associate with Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Washington, D.C. office, where he practices in support of clients needing representation in Military Law and National Security Law. Marc brings his extensive legal experience to Tully Rinckey from the United States Marine Corps and two private law firms.

Marc possesses years of experience representing military personnel, federal employees, aspiring military service members (i.e. ROTC students), and security clearance applicants in a variety of legal forums. He has extensive experience representing clients in administrative separation hearings, security clearance appeals, ROTC Disenrollment Boards, and through the respective Boards for Correction of Military records processes. Additionally, he has litigated numerous issues pertaining to federal employees’ security clearance status with multiple federal agencies in the greater Washington D.C. area.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, Marc spent his entire legal career on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Defense Counsel. In 2018, he was named the “Defense Counsel of the Year” for the United States Marine Corps (National Capital Region) and  was assigned as the Training Officer for all attorneys and enlisted staff in the Marine Corps Defense Services Organization (National Capital Region) on topics such as advocacy, litigation, and military justice. He was also selected for the Marine Corps Advance Trial Advocacy Competition at American University in Washington DC.

While on active duty in the Marine Corps, he successfully defended Marines in contested criminal trials who were acquitted of serious charges, including attempted murder, maiming, sexual assault, aggravated assault, wrongful use of a controlled substance, and driving under the influence. Additionally, he served as first chair counsel on more than 80 administrative separation boards and boards of inquiry. He has prepared multiple expert witnesses to testify and has litigated numerous motions before general and special courts-martial. He has also conducted investigations and contested hearings for clients across the United States and in Germany.

Marc obtained his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law, where he was the Chair of the Sports & Entertainment Law Society and named the Distinguished Clinical Student for the Homer A. Jones, Jr. Wills Clinic. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications with a Minor in American studies from Boston College. Prior to that, he graduated Officer Candidates School as Platoon Commander. He continues to serve in the United States Marine Corps Reserve as an attorney working in the Military Personnel Policy Branch (JPL), with a focus on officer misconduct and promotions.

Attorney Sabastian S. Piedmont

Sabastian S. Piedmont is an Associate with Tully Rinckey PLLC who primarily practices in the firm’s municipal, education, and labor and employment practice groups. At his prior firm he practiced in the same areas, specifically handling work related to COVID-19 recovery for businesses and local governments. Also, he has worked extensively with the Onondaga County Deputy Sheriff’s Benevolent Association (DSBA) during Collective Bargaining and Fact Finding between the Union and Onondaga County as well as assisting with defense of DSBA members in disciplinary matters and grievance hearings.

Sabastian has worked closely with many businesses, assisting both public and private clients with:

• Legal analysis and advice on the impacts of recent disaster and pandemic related legislation and executive orders;
• Reopening considerations and interpretation of state issues guidance;
• Drafting reopening plans and forms;
• Labor and employment considerations and advisory opinions on employment law guidance;
• Paycheck Protection Programs applications, interpretations and guidance; and
• Drafting guidance and interpretations of Small Business Administration policies in order to properly apply for PPP loan forgiveness.

He also has a background in education law, having presented seminars to school administrators regarding Federal and State complaints made against school districts, and how to properly enforce required law. As well, he provides counsel for labor disputes between staff and school administration.

In addition to his background in business and education law, Sabastian also has experience with municipal law, having regularly:

• Provided counsel to municipalities across CNY;
• Drafted local laws and regulations;
• Reviewed and engaged in NYS Section 94-c renewable energy siting application processes on behalf of municipalities;
• Worked with Codes, Dogs, and Zoning Officials, to prosecute local and state codes violations, dangerous dogs violations, and for compliance with local Planning and Zoning matters; and
• Drafted NYS Mandatory Emergency Operations Plans.

Attorney Matthew P. Ricci

Matthew P. Ricci joined Tully Rinckey PLLC in 2022 and focuses his practice in federal employment law out of the Albany office. In addition to federal employment law matters, Matthew has experience in litigating personal injury and medical malpractice claims. He has also represented clients for constitutional rights violations in federal court.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Matthew practiced as an associate attorney with a personal injury and medical malpractice firm in Albany, New York. In this position, he helped seriously injured clients receive proper compensation for their injuries in both New York State Supreme and federal courts.

Matthew is currently admitted to practice law in New York State and admitted to the United States District Court Northern District of New York. He earned his bachelor’s degree from SUNY Oswego, with a concentration in political science and minors in criminal justice and communication/social interaction. Matthew received his juris doctor from Albany Law School where he also worked on the Albany Government Law Journal as a sub-editor.

Attorney Daniel Siegel

Daniel Siegel is an attorney in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Albany office, where he focuses his practice in federal and state employment law.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, Daniel worked as an assistant appellate court attorney for the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department, in Brooklyn, NY. As an assistant appellate court attorney, Daniel researched and analyzed legal issues and questions for the court, and he prepared confidential objective reports and memoranda for the bench in advance of appellate arguments.

Daniel graduated summa cum laude from Albany Law School in 2018. While in law school, Daniel was active in the law school community, serving as executive editor for notes & comments for the Albany Law Review and as dual degree senator for the Student Bar Association. Daniel also took part in a dual degree program between Albany Law School and Clarkson University and obtained his Master of Business Administration degree from Clarkson University in 2018. Daniel received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pennsylvania in 2015, with a double major in economics and classical studies.

Attorney Sara B. Sweeney

Sara B. Sweeney is an Associate in Tully Rinckey PLLC’s Albany office, where she focuses her practice primarily in Matrimonial and Family law.

Sara is admitted to practice law in New York and New Jersey. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association and Schenectady County Bar Association. Sara provides representation in virtually every aspect of Family and Matrimonial law including matters relating to child custody, child support, orders of protection and family offenses, parental alienation, separation agreements, divorce, enforcement of divorce decrees, spousal maintenance, pre-and post-nuptial agreements, neglect and abuse, and termination of parental rights.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey PLLC, Sara worked as an Associate in an Albany law firm, where she practiced in the area of real estate law and handled both commercial and residential transactions. Ms. Sweeney earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Philosophy from SUNY College at Buffalo, and her Juris Doctorate from University at Buffalo Law School. During law school, Ms. Sweeney clerked for the Hon. Paula Feroleto, District Administrative Judge for the 8th Judicial District of New York. In addition, she participated in the Pro Se Civil Litigation Support Practicum, where she provided pro se litigants with assistance in navigating legal documents and the court system in Erie County Family Court and U.S. District Court for the Western District of NY.

Attorney Jennifer Wlodarczyk

Jennifer Wlodarczyk is an attorney with the Albany office of Tully Rinckey, PLLC. Jennifer focuses her practice within the federal employment law section.

Prior to joining Tully Rinckey, Jennifer worked as a Plaintiff’s federal civil litigation attorney in New York City. She focused her practice on breach of contract disputes as well as the federal consumer protection statutes of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

While in law school, Jennifer interned with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, under Chief Administrative Law Judge James T. McClymonds. Jennifer is also a Board Member of the Albany based not-for-profit, Project Totem.

Attorney Jennifer Wlodarczyk

A native of Syracuse, Zachariah attended law school in Kansas at Washburn University School of Law graduating in 2017 with Dean’s Honors. Zachariah was also the Vice President of Washburn Law’s Moot Court Council, where he received the Lester M. Goodell Award for best legal brief, recognizing distinction in legal writing and analysis. Zachariah also assisted professors in conducting legal research and in teaching first year law students whilst also working in traffic and misdemeanor court for the city of Topeka’s prosecuting division.

Prior to returning to New York, Zachariah was employed at the Social Security Administration where he worked closely with the Administrative Law Judges in preparing and drafting legally proficient memorandums in support of their decisions. Zachariah worked not only with Administrative Law Judges in Kansas, but also throughout other offices in the country. Again, he received recognition and praise for the quality of his legal analysis from both quality management and other Administrative Law Judges.

While licensed in New York, Zachariah has worked as a criminal defense lawyer focusing mainly on DWI defense from the misdemeanor to the felony level. Additionally, Zachariah has experience with Second Amendment related issues that consist of firearm purchase denials, pistol permit applications and denials, and clearing records to enable a person to be eligible to legally bear and purchase a pistol or firearm.

No matter the task, Zachariah focuses on bringing the highest quality of legal analysis and preparation in his legal work. Particularly, he prides himself on being willing to go the extra mile in order to best represent his client’s interests. In his free time, Zachariah is a serious classical pianist and also hikes and plays in soccer leagues. He is admitted to practice in the states of New York and Kansas.

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