Kadeem O. Wolliaston

Vincent E. Polsinelli is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. Vincent E., who practices law in Albany, New York, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Vincent E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael J. Grygiel focuses his practice on national media law, with an emphasis on defending news and entertainment organizations from news-gathering and publication-related claims, including defamation, copyright infringement and invasion of privacy matters. He also represents media companies and other clients in complex Lanham Act, trade secret and Internet-related litigation and counseling. Michael has served as lead trial counsel to media and other clients in bet-the-company litigation, i...

James E. Hacker is a 1981 graduate of Hamilton College and a 1984 graduate of Albany Law School. Mr. Hacker holds an AV rating from Martindale Hubbell and is recognized as a “Best Lawyer in America” in the fields of commercial litigation and personal injury by “Best Lawyers”. Mr. Hacker is a member of the Board of Trustees at Albany Law School and is a member of the Board of Directors for the Albany County Bar Association. He is a Regional Vice President of the New Yor...

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...

Pam has been a Partner at O’Connell & Aronowitz for 23 years where she practices in our Personal Injury Litigation Department. She was the firm’s managing partner for fifteen years. Her accomplishments tackling the legal issues that arise during litigation have been critical to the firm’s overall success. Pam consistently obtains excellent results representing plaintiffs in all areas of personal injury lawsuits including wrongful death cases, medical malpractice, automob...

Rosemary W. McKenna is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Rosemary W., who practices law in Troy, New York, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Rosemary W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

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.

Steve is the founding partner and chair of the Personal Injury and Criminal Defense practices at O’Connell and Aronowitz. Under his leadership, our firm has become one of the most active personal injury and criminal defense law firms in upstate New York. Few lawyers in the area have excelled in both the personal injury and criminal defense fields. With over thirty five years of experience at the state and federal levels, Steve is considered one of the most successful trial lawyers in th...

Eric A. Tepper is a partner in Gordon, Tepper & DeCoursey, LLP, and was born in Schenectady, New York. Mr. Tepper graduated from Hamilton College with a B.A. degree, magna cum laude, and from George Washington University Law School with a Juris Doctor degree, with honors. He has been selected for inclusion in "The Best Lawyers in America" for the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions. Best Lawyers has s...