Law Firm Overview

As a managing attorney for one of the country’s largest financial institutions, successfully partnered with senior managers to lead clients into new business areas and develop new products. Launched and integrated supermarket and other innovative in-store branches. Established a credit card bank in Delaware, and assisted in its growth to a $10 billion business in 10 years. Negotiated and structured multi-million dollar credit card portfolio purchases, and supervised their integration into the bank’s portfolio as a whole. Negotiated one of the largest original affinity group credit card deals in the U.S. -the AFL-CIO card- on behalf of a new and relatively unknown bank, and negotiated many other prominent affinity card deals - e.g. Toys R Us, Dreyfus. Key member of nine-bank task force which balanced diverse and often divergent business interests to create NYCE, the New York Switch Corporation. Guided the retail banking area of The Bank of New York through two major acquisitions of other banks in different states, as well as many smaller acquisitions and divestitures. Assisted in the establishment of the bank’s website and on-line banking products and developed the bank’s internet and retail privacy policies. Managed satellite legal department with four lawyers, three paralegals and four secretaries. Subsequently established a successful private law practice, developing expertise and network of related professionals to cater to start-up and internet-related companies, established corporations of all types and closely-held/family businesses and financial institutions in the metropolitan area.

Currently in private practice representing a diverse client base, including numerous types of corporations, businesses, financial institutions, and technology and internet companies. Practice is focused on general business and corporate law; contract drafting, review and negotiation; technology-related matters; banking and trusts and estates. Specialty in providing day to day general guidance for corporations, and closely-held and family-owned businesses, including all contract matters, employee handbooks, personnel policies, advertising and regulatory issues, privacy policies, buy-outs, succession and estate planning issues. Experienced in assisting in the growth of established companies, including strategic planning and advice on mergers, acquisitions, outsourcing, partnering, joint ventures and licensing. Also offer a full spectrum of business law related services geared toward helping establish start-up entities, providing general business guidance as well as access and introductions to a network of experienced service providers useful to such organizations (including banking contacts, venture capitalists, accountants, insurance and benefits experts, etc.). Banking law services include daily guidance on branch matters, marketing issues, portfolio purchases, credit card and merchant banking issues, compliance, branch leases, mortgage matters and contract drafting and negotiation.

Martindale-Hubbell AV rated.

Areas of Practice

• Business & Commercial Law
• Business Organizations
• Estate Planning
• Elder Law
• Probate & Estate Administration

Honors and Awards

• Listed, Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers
• Listed, Who's Who in Executives and Professionals
• AV Rated - Highest Rating Offered

Published Works

• New Privacy Requirements for Consumer Information Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act to Financial Institutions and Many Other Businesses, Westchester Bar Journal, Vol. 28, Spring, 2001

Classes and Seminars

• "Assisting Start-Up Companies in Obtaining Venture Capital", Westchester County Bar Association, May 16, 2001
• "The Diversified Expertise of a Business Lawyer", Westchester Business Executives, September 18, 2002
• Internet Research Options for Law Offices, Westchester County Bar Association, May 2, 2002

West Practice Categories

Business & Commercial Law, Business Organizations, Estate Planning, Elder Law, Probate & Estate Administration