Dennis A. First

Robin Bartlett Phelan is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants and Professional Malpractice Law - Defendants. Robin Bartlett, who practices law in Albany, New York, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Robin Bartlett is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jeffrey M. Pohl is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Municipal Law and Public Finance Law. Jeffrey M., who practices law in Albany, New York, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jeffrey M. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Bottar brings more than 20 years of experience to the pursuit of medical malpractice, wrongful death, and complex personal injury actions throughout New York and the northeastern United States, with a focus on claims for birth injuries, neonatal/pediatric negligence, heart attack, stroke, brain damage, nerve injuries, cancer misdiagnosis, and liability under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Mr. Bottar is a graduate of Colgate University and is a summa cum laude (top 2%) graduate of Syracuse U...

Bob provides comprehensive legal services focusing on various aspects of state and local economic development incentives, tax issues, and corporate law. Located in Albany, New York, and part of the Harris Beach Murtha team, Bob assists clients with a broad range of needs, including quasi-governmental entities like industrial development agencies, local development corporations, and public authorities. In his role, Bob serves as general counsel to several public authorities and not-for-profit ...

Elliot Hallak brings extensive experience in handling a diverse array of legal matters, with a focus on commercial and insurance litigation. Based in Albany, New York, Elliot is part of the Harris Beach Murtha team, where he works on significant cases that cover areas such as banking disputes, life insurance issues, interpleader actions, and class-action lawsuits. His practice also involves resolving complex business conflicts, shareholder oppression cases, and property valuation disputes. In...

Thomas Higgs is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice and Commercial Litigation. Thomas, who practices law in Troy, New York, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Thomas is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Joshua L. Oppenheimer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Gaming Law. Joshua L., who practices law in Albany, New York, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Joshua L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Benjamin Friedman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Nonprofit / Charities Law. Benjamin, who practices law in Albany, New York, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Benjamin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mike is the President at O’Connell and Aronowitz. He handles plaintiff’s personal injury cases and criminal defense at our firm with a special emphasis in representing children who have suffered brain injuries as a result of lead paint poisoning. He has handled or supervised over three dozen homicide prosecutions, trying many of those cases to verdict, and he is a court-appointed special prosecutor in homicide cases in Albany and Rensselaer counties. While in law school, Mike was ...

Michael J. Hutter is a Professor of Law at Albany Law School of Union University, where he has been a member of the faculty since 1976. He is also Special Counsel to the Albany law firm of Powers & Santola, LLP. Professor Hutter is an honors graduate of Brown University and Boston College Law School. In law school, he was the Editor-In-Chief of Boston College’s law review and was elected to the Order of the Coif. After graduation, Professor Hutter served as law clerk to Judge Matthe...