Melanie Franco

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...

Amber Wright is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Amber, who practices law in Albany, New York, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Amber is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...

Daniel R. Santola Albany, New York Partner, since 1987 phone (518) 465-5995 (800) 540-8742 fax (518) 426-4012 email Email Me Daniel R. Santola is a senior partner and co-founder of Powers & Santola, LLP. His practice is limited to the representation of catastrophically injured individuals, the field of law in which he has over 25 years experience. After graduating from Albany Law School, he became an assistant professor at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. In 1987, he and longtime friend ...

Mike is the President at O’Connell and Aronowitz. He handles plaintiff’s personal injury cases and criminal defense at our firm. 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 an Associate Editor of the Albany Law Review. Upon graduation, he entered the Albany County District Attorney’s ...

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.

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.

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

Mark R. Ustin is a regulatory attorney and lobbyist. Mark has extensive experience assisting health and human services providers and related entities navigate the complicated statutory, regulatory, and policy landscape surrounding service delivery and payment. He assists clients with promoting and responding to legislation, regulation, and other government actions impacting their interests. He also steers clients through state processes to secure millions of dollars in government grants and o...

Daniel Hurteau is a litigator who has tried hundreds of cases in administrative proceedings, mediations, arbitrations and state and federal court. He focuses on complex business and tort-related actions for pharmaceutical companies, hospitals and health care providers, long-term care facilities and physicians. Daniel also represents owners and developers in a wide variety of commercial and construction-related matters. What do you focus on? My practice is focused primarily on health care and ...