Lawrence H. Schaefer

Karen Martino Valle is Of Counsel to our firm and focuses her practice on the organization and operation of business and not-for-profit corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies, as well as estate planning and administration, contested estate and trust matters and business succession planning. She advises clients on a wide range of business matters, including transactional matters, mergers and acquisitions, tax planning and commercial leasing and financing, with a specific fo...

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...

Florence Richardson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Florence, who practices law in Latham, New York, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Florence 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...

Meghan K. McNamara is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Administrative / Regulatory Law, Government Relations Practice and Health Care Law. Meghan K., 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 Meghan K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John F. Queenan is a Partner in the Firm’s Commercial Litigation; Compliance, Investigations & White Collar; Directors & Officers Liability; and Health Services Practice Groups. He regularly appears before state and federal trial courts, appellate courts and administrative agencies (disciplinary, licensing and audit matters). John also counsels and represents clients in internal inquiries and actions relating to internal peer review processes, including evaluating, modifying, li...

Chris Stevens handles employment litigation and provides employment-related advice and counsel across a wide variety of industries. My focus I represent employers confronted with people, payroll, and other problems that arise in the context of the employment relationship. My practice focuses on litigation, though I also provide employment-related advice and counsel to clients across a wide spectrum of industries. Employment Litigation I represent employers in all phases of litigation. I regul...

Whitney Phelps represents healthcare clients in corporate, transactional, and regulatory matters. She has extensive experience in health care benefits, managed care and value-based contracting. Prior to joining Nixon Peabody, Whitney also served as Director of Managed Care and Associate Counsel at the Healthcare Association of New York State. My focus I am a healthcare strategist. I provide practical and solution-oriented options for healthcare stakeholders of all kinds on a broad range of co...

John Powers has represented the interests of catastrophically injured individuals for over 50 years. For more than 35 consecutive years, he has been selected by a nationwide vote as one of "The Best Lawyers in America" for his representation of plaintiffs in three separate areas of practice: “medical malpractice law”; “product liability litigation”; and “personal injury litigation.” In 2013, John was named “Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in...

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 ...