My philosophy on handling criminal appeals:
Communication is essential to any relationship; it is especially important when dealing with a client who is appealing a criminal conviction. Starting with realistic expectations and educating and informing the client about every step of the process is a critical part of the process.
Every new client that comes to my office gets a one-hour lecture on the appeals process. I firmly believe that I am doing my clients (and myself) a great service by educating them and making them understand the process of an appeal. When the client understands the process, then we can speak the same language and communicate more effectively. Appeals can sometimes take a year or more, so it is important that the client knows all the roads and alleys we are about to embark upon.
With that said, I look forward to speaking with you and, if you do me the honor, working for you.
Since I entered law school I have won numerous awards for my research and writing skills. While at school I earned a position as special assistant to three law professors where I contributed to numerous legal articles and treatises. I graduated with honors from St. John’s University with a Juris Doctor in Law and an MBA in management and finance.
While still in school I won a number of awards and competitions for my writing skills such as the NorthEastern Conference Writing Competition, the Dr. DeLuca Award and the University Foundation Award. I was also awarded membership to Beta Gamma Sigma and Omicron Delta Epsilon because of outstanding scholarship. While in law school I worked for a Federal District Court Judge and a New York State Supreme Court Judge gaining valuable experience working on all types of Federal and State cases.
Probably one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life is live in Italy for a few years. I spent two years studying jurisprudence at La Sapienza Universita di Roma: Facolta di Giurisprudenza e Scienze Politiche, in Rome, Italy. I recommend that everyone live in Italy for at least one year of their lives.
My international experience with the Italian and European systems of law have given me greater insight and a broader perspective on the law, I bring this collective knowledge to all my writings and arguments. I fluently speak, read and write Italian.
For five years I worked as a Public Defender and held the position of Felony Bureau Trial Attorney. I have tried every type of case under the New York State Penal Law, sharpening skills at identifying legal issues and arguing cases before both trial courts and appellate courts. I now proudly head the Appellate Practice at my own law firm and I am the official “go to” lawyer for dozens of law firms throughout New York City and the State of New York whenever there is a trial or appellate issue that needs thoughtful consideration and insightful exposition.
I have lectured before numerous legal associations including the Long Island Hispanic Bar Association, the Nassau Women’s Bar Association, the Nassau Criminal Bar Association and at St. John’s University School of Law, St. John’s University Tobin School of Business, the American Bar Association.
Academic and Professional Accomplishments
I established my own Appellate Law Firm after years of extensive work for law firms and the public defenders office in New York City and throughout New York.
I am admitted to the following bars and jurisdictions as I write appeals in New York and in Federal Courts throughout the nation:
- The New York State Bar
- The United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- The United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
- The United States District Court for the Northern District of New York
- The United States District Court for the Western District of New York
- The First Circuit Court of Appeals
- The Second Circuit Court of Appeals
- The Third Circuit Court of Appeals
- The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals
- The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
- The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
- The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
- The United States Supreme Court.