Michael Whiteman

Mr. Bottar is one of upstate New York's most experienced and accomplished trial lawyers, with a track record of extraordinary recoveries for his clients. As the founder and managing member of Bottar Law, PLLC, he brings more than 40 years of experience to the pursuit of cases involving birth injuries, brain and nerve injuries, amputation, paralysis, and wrongful death due to medical negligence, complex accidents, workplace injuries and defective products. Mr. Bottar has been continuously list...

Eileen Hayes is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Insurance Law. Eileen, 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 Eileen is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Zackary Knaub is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Environmental. Zackary, 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 Zackary is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Greg A. Riolo is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Greg A., who practices law in Albany, New York, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Greg A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Peter is a partner in our Business Law department, concentrating on corporate bankruptcy cases, commercial law and banking law. With over 40 years of experience representing banks and secured lenders, Peter regularly appears in bankruptcy court for the Northern District of New York. In addition to his creditors’ rights practice, he has represented several Chapter 11 debtors and has successfully confirmed a number of Chapter 11 reorganization cases. Peter’s clients include banks, l...

With nearly three decades of experience in life, property, casualty, and workers compensation insurance matters, Michael J. Murphy is a skilled New York insurance legislative and regulatory attorney. Michael has been involved in many noteworthy insurance matters that have come before the New York State Legislature and the New York State Department of Financial Services, including most recently, ride sharing, climate change, and cybersecurity. Michael represents a number of national property c...

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...

William Reynolds is a partner in Nixon Peabody’s Commercial Litigation practice, based in our Albany office. He is an experienced trial attorney who represents clients from a wide array of industries in complex litigation. Bill has also successfully represented major governmental agencies and authorities in litigation both in New York State and Massachusetts, where he served for four years as an assistant attorney general. What do you focus on? I focus my practice on complex civil litig...

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.

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...