Elise C. Powers

Javid Afzali, based in Albany, New York at Harris Beach Murtha, provides comprehensive legal guidance in Commercial Litigation to both domestic and international businesses. His practice covers a wide range of business, real estate, land use, and environmental matters. Javid collaborates directly with company leaders and in-house counsel to navigate corporate governance, project development, and dispute resolution related to corporate and commercial matters, as well as business separations. E...

Jack Phelan, IV is a partner in the firm and focuses almost entirely on liability defense, including medical malpractice defense, pharmaceutical defense, general liability defense, civil rights litigation, appellate practice, and risk transfer/coverage. Jack is familiar with the intricacies of the day-to-day practices of different courts throughout New York State, having practiced in Upstate New York immediately after law school, before spending five years practicing in New York City. He has ...

Founding Partner, Personal Injury & Criminal Defense Some lawyers make a career. Steve Coffey built a legacy. From the moment he stepped into the Albany County District Attorney’s Office—where he became the youngest Felony Bureau Chief in county history—it was clear that Steve’s path would be anything but ordinary. His commanding presence in the courtroom and instinct for justice quickly set him apart, earning respect from colleagues, judges, and adversaries alike....

Tom is a partner in our Litigation department and practices almost exclusively in the area of Personal Injury Litigation. He represents clients who have sustained serious injuries as a result of accidents, product liability and professional malpractice in both State and Federal Courts. He has secured several multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements throughout New York and neighboring states. He is involved in the representation of clients at examinations before trial, various court proce...

John is the managing partner of the firm’s Capital District Offices in Albany and Saratoga Springs. He advises clients on various legal and regulatory issues. For example, as part of the Energy Team, John successfully represented the owners of nuclear and coal-fired electric generating facilities before the New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) in connection with securing three reliability support services agreements (RSSA) with two upstate utilities. He also represents a natio...

Mathew serves as the managing partner for Harris Beach Murtha's offices located in Albany and Saratoga in New York's Capital Region. As a co-leader of the Financial Institutions Industry Team, Mathew assists clients in navigating complicated matters related to commercial real estate and lending. Collaborating with a diverse range of financial institutions, he contributes valuable insights into commercial lending and related real estate transactions. In addition to advising on transactions rel...

Kurt Bratten is a partner in our Health Law Department. His practice includes a wide range of civil litigation, transactional work, compliance and other advisory services. Kurt’s primary focus is on counseling health care providers regarding various compliance and transactional matters such as state and federal data security and privacy requirements, managed care and other contractual matters, and state and federal regulatory requirements applicable to various provider groups. He freque...

Nicola T. Coleman is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Government Relations Practice. Nicola T., 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 Nicola T. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Myles Fischer, a dedicated member of the Trusts and Estates practice group at Harris Beach Murtha, brings a depth of knowledge in estate planning, administration, and tax matters across New York and Florida. His services include estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax planning, asset protection, vacation home planning, and complex strategies such as grantor-retained interest trusts and split-interest charitable trusts. Myles collaborates with high net-worth families, ensuring effec...

Mandy McFarland is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants. Mandy, who practices law in Albany, New York, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mandy is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.