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Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP Named a 2022 Best Law Firm
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers in America© have named Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP as a Metropolitan Tier 1 Best Law Firm for the Binghamton, New York region in the areas of Banking and Finance Law, Litigation-Labor & Employment, Litigation-Trust & Estates, Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants, Real Estate Law, and Trusts & Estates Law. The Firm has also received the Best Law Firms distinction as a Metropolitan Tier 2 Best Law Firm in the areas of Arbitration, Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), and Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs.
Firms included in the 2022 "Best Law Firms" list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise. To be eligible for a ranking in a particular practice area, a law firm must have at least one lawyer who is included in The Best Lawyers in America©, which recognizes the top 4 percent of practicing attorneys in the United States. Twelve C&G attorneys are included in this list for 2022. Receiving a tier designation reflects the high level of respect a firm has earned among other leading lawyers and clients in the same communities and the same practice areas for its abilities, its professionalism, and its integrity.
"Law firms serve a critical role in American life and ranking them is a key extension of our overall mission to help individuals make important life decisions," says Morgan Felchner, Executive Editor at U.S. News.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890s, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 50 lawyers and a professional support staff. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has convenient branch offices located in downtown Binghamton, Bainbridge, Cortland, Hancock, Ithaca, Owego, and Walton, New York and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
C&G Attorneys Awarded for Community Service & Volunteerism
C&G is honored to announce that C&G attorneys Lori Schapiro and Angelo Catalano recently received awards at the Broome County Bar Association's (BCBA) Annual Law Day Dinner, held on September 23, 2021.
Attorney Lori Schapiro was awarded the COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD. This honor is awarded each year "to a member of the BCBA in recognition of his/her service to our community."
On the same date, Angelo Catalano received the YOUNG LAWYER OF THE YEAR AWARD, which is awarded to an attorney "who has shown an exemplary combination of active service to the BCBA and service/volunteerism within the local community."
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP proudly congratulates Attorneys Schapiro and Catalano for their honors and service to the community and legal profession.
Proud to Sponsor Race for Justice to Benefit Legal Aid Society
The countdown is on for the 2021 Coughlin & Gerhart Race for Justice 5K! For this year's race, runners/walkers have the option to race in person on Sunday, October 31, at 11 a.m. OR you can choose to race VIRTUALLY and submit your time. Proceeds from the race will go to the Legal Aid Society of Mid New York. The Legal Aid Society of Mid New York is a not-for-profit organization that provides legal aid to those less fortunate right here in our community.
Any participants who pre-register will receive a FREE Race T-shirt
Halloween Attire is "Admired but not Required"
Sign-up INDIVIDUALLY or as a TEAM of 4-7.
Justice Cup Awarded to Fastest Team
Awards for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, in Men's and Women's, plus under 18 awards.
Refreshments & Water Stations
Where do you register? Follow the link below:
https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Binghamton/2021CoughlinGerhartRaceforJustice5K?remMeAttempt
Sixteen C&G Attorneys Listed in Upstate New York Super Lawyers
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is proud to announce that Mark S. Gorgos, Paul J. Sweeney, Robert R. Jones, Beth E. Westfall, Jeffrey A. Brown, Rachel A. Abbott, Kurt Schrader, and Joseph J. Steflik, Jr. have been included in the 2021 Upstate Edition of New York Super Lawyers. Only 5% of attorneys practicing in the Upstate New York region meet the criteria to be named to this prestigious list.
Brady L. Begeal, Keith A. Gorgos, Zachary D. Morahan, Angelo D. Catalano, Nicholas S. Cortese, Nathan D. VanWhy, Michael C. Perehinec, Jr., and Shannon E. Kane have also been named as 2021 Upstate New York Rising Stars.
New York Super Lawyers magazine publishes this list annually, and bases its evaluations on information gathered from a variety of sources, including peer recognition and professional achievement.
Mr. Gorgos, whose primary areas of practice include commercial transactions, education & municipal law, credit union law, and creditor rights, has been with Coughlin & Gerhart since 1980 and currently serves as Managing Partner. Mr. Sweeney joined the firm in 1992, following active duty as a Marine Corps judge advocate. He is chair of our firm's Labor & Employment Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in labor & employment law and commercial litigation. Mr. Jones joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 1990 and is a member of the firm's Executive Committee. He limits his law practice to representing people who have been seriously injured in motor vehicle and construction site accidents. Mrs. Westfall joined the firm in 1986 and is former co-chair of the firm's Trusts & Estates Practice Group. She focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning and administration, elder law, municipal law, land use & zoning, and real estate transactions. Mr. Brown joined the firm in 1986 and practices in the areas of workers' compensation law, social security disability and insurance defense. Mr. Steflik joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 1999 and was a former chair of the firm's Labor & Employment Practice Group. He focuses his practice in the areas of labor, employment, and construction law. Ms. Abbott, a partner in the firm and member of the firm's Executive Committee, focuses her practice in the area of plaintiff's litigation. Mr. Schrader joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 2019 and is of counsel with the firm, focusing his practice on family law, criminal law, and general civil litigation.
Mr. Begeal, a partner with the firm and chair of its Business & Banking Practice Group, focuses his practice in the areas of business & banking law and municipal law. Mr. Keith Gorgos, a partner with the firm, focuses his practice in the areas of business law, banking & credit union law, creditor rights, and litigation. Mr. Morahan is a partner with the firm and focuses his practice in the areas of energy & resource law and trusts & estates law. Mr. VanWhy is a partner with the firm and focuses his practice in the areas of business/corporate and municipal law. Mr. Catalano is a partner with the firm and focuses his practice in the areas of labor & employment law, litigation & trial, and public, municipal, & education law. Mr. Cortese is an associate with the firm and focuses his practice in the areas of municipal law, land use & zoning, labor & employment law, and litigation. Mr. Perehinec is a partner with the firm and focuses his practice in the areas of litigation & trial, trusts, estates, & elder law, real estate law, and family law. Ms. Kane is special counsel with the firm and focuses her practice in the areas of labor & employment law, and litigation & trial.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890s, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 50 lawyers and a professional support staff. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has convenient branch offices located in Bainbridge, Cortland, Hancock, Ithaca, Owego, and Walton, New York, and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
Coughlin & Gerhart Attorneys Honored in Best Lawyers® List
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is proud to announce that twelve of its lawyers were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022. The lawyers recognized are Rachel A. Abbott (Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs and "Lawyer of the Year"), Mark S. Gorgos (Educational Law, Commercial Transactions/UCC Law, Municipal Law, Banking & Finance Law, Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency & Reorganization Law, and Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)), Paul J. Sweeney (Labor Law-Management), Robert R. Jones (Litigation – Trusts & Estates), James P. O'Brien (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Product Liability Litigation-Defendants), Robert J. Madigan (Real Estate Law), Beth E. Westfall (Trusts & Estates), Kristen K. Luce (Trusts & Estates), Joseph J. Steflik, Jr. (Labor Law-Management and Employment Law-Management), Richard B. Long (Arbitration and Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants), Mary Lou Conrow (Litigation-Labor & Employment), and Jeffrey A. Brown (Workers' Compensation Law-Claimants).
Since its inception in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which almost 50,000 leading attorneys cast nearly 5 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers "the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice."
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890s, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 50 lawyers and a professional support staff. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has convenient branch offices located in Bainbridge, Cortland, Hancock, Ithaca, Owego, and Walton, New York and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
C&G Attorney Honored by Community Foundation's Door Opener Society
Congratulations to Coughlin & Gerhart's Of Counsel Attorney, Anna Holmberg, who was inducted into the Community Foundation's Door Opener Society, which recognizes professional advisors who have contributed significantly and substantially to philanthropic estate planning. Thank you, Anna, for providing this valuable service to our clients and to the people of Tompkins County.
Mark S. Gorgos, Esq. Honored with the Binghamton Chamber's Civic Leader of the Year Award
On May 13, 2021 the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce held their 57th Annual Dinner and Meeting where they announced the 2021 award recipients. The Chamber named Coughlin & Gerhart attorney Mark S. Gorgos as the 2021 Civic Leader of the Year. The Chamber details that "The Civic Leader of the Year shows evidence of having had a long-term beneficial impact on the community. They demonstrate civic engagement by using a combination of knowledge, skills, values and motivation to make a difference in our communities."
Mark was nominated for the award by Michael Grasso, the Executive Director of the Roberson Museum and Science Center, along with other supporting nominations.
As the nominations and the Chamber conveyed, Mark has been practicing law in our community since 1980. As the Managing Partner of the firm, Mark's responsibilities involve overseeing and coordinating the firm's donations, sponsorships, and public service events in the community. In 2019, Coughlin & Gerhart received the NYS Bar Association President's Pro Bono Award in the mid-size firm category. Arlene Sanders, Director of Pro Bono Programs for the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, said "Under Mark's leadership, Coughlin & Gerhart makes pro bono service a strong priority within the firm." Mark and Coughlin & Gerhart have been supporters of Legal Aid's annual fundraiser, the Race for Justice 5K Run/Walk, which has raised over $50,000 to benefit its programs.
The nominations also detailed that a large part of Mark's time is dedicated to the community. For example, Mark currently volunteers as the Board President for the Roberson Museum and Science Center, a position he has held since 2017. When unusual issues arise, Mark has been there to assist, such as in 2019 when, over a Holiday weekend, a pipe burst! Mark was there to lend a hand with clean up and restoration. Mark's impact and influence spread throughout the community in various positive ways, with the examples Mark sets for Board service being passed on by other Roberson Board trustees as they move on to serve other organizations.
Outside of the office, for more than thirty years, Mark has been a fixture in the area's local youth sports leagues. He has coached soccer, baseball, softball, and basketball. He was even recognized for his accomplishments in youth soccer by being one of four finalists for the National Youth Soccer Coach of the Year.
Elizabeth Woidt, Director of Parks, and Recreation and Youth Services for Broome County pointed to the "Broome Bands Together," free summer concert series presented by Coughlin & Gerhart which takes place at Otsiningo Park. Since 2013, the series have provided a safe, free, and family-friendly event for residents and visitors. She noted that "Mark is an outstanding ambassador for Coughlin & Gerhart as well as Broome County Parks. He has a burning desire to promote the quality of life in Broome County."
In addition, he has been a member of the Community Foundation for South Central New York Board of Directors since 2016. Mark serves as chair of their Planning Committee and is a member of the Personnel Committee. Executive Director Diane Brown jokes that being a member of their Board is a "lifetime commitment." She says Mark is exactly the person she looks to for leadership… "he is knowledgeable, thoughtful and unflappable."
The firm extends a big "Congratulations!" to Mark Gorgos, and a "Thank You" to the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce, and all those individuals listed above who nominated Mark for this award in recognition for his years of service to our communities.
C&G Attorney's Novel Named a Best Book of 2020
Congratulations to Tom Bouman, whose third novel, The Bramble and the Rose, was named to the WALL STREET JOURNAL's list of THE BEST BOOKS OF 2020! This is quite the accomplishment and Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is honored to count Tom as one of our litigation and trust and estates attorneys.
This third installment of his mystery series follows Officer Henry Farrell on another investigation in Wild Thyme, Pennsylvania, a fictional town just south of the Binghamton area. At first it looked like a bear attack–an open-and-shut case. Then Henry discovers that the victim was an out-of-town investigator, and the evidence points in troubling new directions. As the story unfolds, Farrell's past collides with his present as an ex-flame reappears, and his own nephew disappears into the hills.
In 2015, Tom was awarded an Edgar Award for Best First Novel by An American Author and a Los Angeles Times Book Prize in the Mystery/Thriller Category for his first novel, Dry Bones in the Valley.
To see the recent list and learn more about Tom's book, check out the link below:
https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-best-books-of-2020-mysteries-11607642077
Legal Update: New York State Legalizes Adult-Use Cannabis
On March 28, 2021, New York State Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that he had reached a tentative agreement for comprehensive legislation that would, among other things, legalize the recreational use of cannabis products for adults. Three days later, he signed the legislation into law. Although certain cannabis possession and use was decriminalized in 2019, the new law comes after years of failed attempts at legislative legalization. Read more…
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers in America® have named Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP as a Metropolitan Tier 1 Best Law Firm for the Binghamton, New York region in the areas of Banking and Finance Law, Family Law, Litigation-Trust & Estates, Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants, Real Estate Law, and Trusts & Estates Law. The Firm has also received the Best Law Firms distinction as a Metropolitan Tier 2 Best Law Firm in the areas of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Litigation-Labor & Employment, and Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs.
Firms included in the 2021 "Best Law Firms" list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise. To be eligible for a ranking in a particular practice area, a law firm must have at least one lawyer who is included in The Best Lawyers in America®, which recognizes the top 4 percent of practicing attorneys in the United States. Fourteen C&G attorneys are included in this list for 2021. Receiving a tier designation reflects the high level of respect a firm has earned among other leading lawyers and clients in the same communities and the same practice areas for its abilities, its professionalism, and its integrity.
"Law firms perform a vital role in American life, and ranking them is a key extension of our overall mission to help individuals and companies alike make important life decisions," says Tim Smart, Executive Editor of U.S. News.
C&G Partner Paul J. Sweeney Named to Irish Legal 100
(Binghamton, New York) Paul J. Sweeney, Esq., the chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group at Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, was named to the Irish Legal 100, an annual compilation of distinguished American lawyers, legal scholars and jurists of Irish descent. Irish Legal 100 honorees are being recognized in a special edition of New York's Irish Voice newspaper. Past honorees include United States Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Justices Brent Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch, and retired Justice Anthony Kennedy.
Mr. Sweeney, who graduated from Fordham University and Brooklyn Law School, counsels and defends employers across New York against liability, discrimination, disability and wage & hour claims and represents employers in contract negotiations, arbitration, discipline and administrative proceedings before the EEOC, NYSHRD, NLRB, PERB and OSHA. In addition, he also represents clients in complex contract, construction and real estate disputes and serves as a mediator for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York.
Mr. Sweeney retired as a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He is a frequent CLE speaker and edits the New York Employment Law Letter. He received an "AV Preeminent" peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been named for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America and the New York Super Lawyers publications. Mr. Sweeney is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and is a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel and the Employers Counsel Network.
C&G Partner Paul J. Sweeney Named Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America
(October 30, 2020 – Binghamton, New York) Paul J. Sweeney, Esq., the chair of the Labor & Employment Practice Group at Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, was named as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America (LCA), a trial lawyer honorary society comprised of only 3500 attorneys, a number representing less than one-half of one percent of all American lawyers. Fellowship in the LCA is highly selective and by invitation. Fellows are selected based upon excellence and accomplishment in litigation, both at the trial and appellate levels, and superior ethical reputation..
Mr. Sweeney retired as a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. He is a frequent CLE speaker and edits the New York Employment Law Letter. He received an "AV Preeminent" peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell and has been named for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America and New York Super Lawyers publications. He was selected to the Irish Legal 100, an annual compilation of distinguished attorneys, legal scholars and jurists of Irish decent. Mr. Sweeney is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America and is a member of the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel and the Employers Counsel Network.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890s, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 50 lawyers in addition to a professional support staff. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has convenient branch offices located in Bainbridge, Cortland, Hancock, Ithaca, Owego, and Walton, New York and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is proud to announce that fourteen of its lawyers were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© 2021. The lawyers recognized are Mark S. Gorgos (Educational Law, Commercial Transactions/UCC Law, Municipal Law, Banking & Finance Law, Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency & Reorganization Law, and Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)), Paul J. Sweeney (Labor Law-Management and Litigation-Labor & Employment), Robert R. Jones (Litigation – Trusts & Estates), James P. O'Brien (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Product Liability Litigation-Defendants), Robert J. Madigan (Real Estate Law), Rachel A. Abbott (Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs), Beth E. Westfall (Trusts & Estates),Kristen K. Luce (Trusts & Estates), Joseph J. Steflik, Jr. (Labor Law-Management and Employment Law-Management), Gordon E. Thompson (Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law), Bruno Colapietro (Family Law), Richard B. Long (Arbitration and Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants), Mary Lou Conrow (Litigation-Labor and Employment), and Jeffrey A. Brown (Workers' Compensation Law-Claimants).
Coughlin & Gerhart Adds Former New York Supreme Court Justice to Firm
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is proud to announce the addition of former New York State Supreme Court Justice, Ferris D. Lebous to the firm's Litigation Practice Group.
"We are honored and excited to have former New York Supreme Court Justice Ferris D. Lebous become part of the Coughlin & Gerhart team. He will add tremendous experience and expertise as part of our firm's Litigation Practice Group," said Managing Partner, Mark Gorgos.
Lebous was born in Binghamton, NY and served as an Assistant District Attorney and Senior Assistant District Attorney for Broome County between 1980 and 1982. He then entered private practice and was a member of the Binghamton firm of Pearis, Ressiguie, Kline, Barber & Lebous until his appointment to the Court of Claims by Gov. George E. Pataki on May 7, 1998.
He is a member of the New York State Bar Association and a member and past president of the Broome County Bar Association. He was elected to the Supreme Court in 2006.
"After leaving the bench at the end of 2019, I was happily retired after my 21 years of service as a trial judge. But, when I received the call from Coughlin & Gerhart about possibly joining their Litigation Practice Group, I realized it was a unique opportunity to provide counsel to their litigators and younger attorneys. I am proud to be returning to private practice with this highly respected law firm," said Lebous.
Lebous has also served as Village Attorney for the Villages of Whitney Point and Windsor, New York. He was the Town Attorney for the Towns of Sanford and Dickinson, New York, and counsel to the Binghamton/Johnson City Joint Sewage Treatment Board and has acted as special counsel to the City of Binghamton and the County of Broome.
C & G Attorneys Named to Upstate New York Super Lawyers Listing
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is proud to announce that Mark S. Gorgos, Paul J. Sweeney, Robert R. Jones, Beth E. Westfall, Jeffrey A. Brown, Bruno Colapietro, Rachel A. Abbott, and Joseph J. Steflik, Jr. have been included in the 2020 Upstate Edition of New York Super Lawyers. In addition, four partners were also named to the list of Rising Stars. Only 5% of attorneys practicing in the Upstate New York region meet the criteria to be named to this prestigious list.
Brady L. Begeal, Keith A. Gorgos, Zachary D. Morahan, and Nathan D. VanWhy have also been named as 2020 Upstate New York Rising Stars.
Mr. Gorgos, whose primary areas of practice include commercial transactions, education & municipal law, credit union law, and creditor rights, has been with Coughlin & Gerhart since 1980 and currently serves as Managing Partner. Mr. Sweeney joined the firm in 1992, following active duty as a Marine Corps judge advocate. He is chair of our firm's Labor & Employment Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in labor & employment law and commercial litigation. Mr. Jones joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 1990 and is a member of the firm's Executive Committee. He limits his practice to litigation, particularly in the areas of motor vehicle/construction site personal injury, estate litigation, gas & oil litigation, and theft of cable and satellite services. Mrs. Westfall joined the firm in 1986 and is co-chair of the firm's Trusts & Estates Practice Group. She focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning and administration, elder law, municipal law, land use & zoning, and real estate transactions. Mr. Brown joined the firm in 1986 and practices in the areas of workers' compensation law, social security disability and insurance defense. Mr. Colapietro joined the firm in 2016 and limits his practice to family law. Mr. Steflik joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 1999 and was a former chair of the firm's Labor & Employment Practice Group. He focuses his practice in the areas of labor, employment, and construction law. Ms. Abbott, a partner in the firm and member of the firm's Executive Committee, focuses her practice in the area of plaintiff's litigation.
Mr. Begeal, a partner with the firm and chair of its Business & Banking Practice Group, focuses his practice in the areas of business & banking law and municipal law. Mr. Keith Gorgos, a partner with the firm, focuses his practice in the areas of business law, banking & credit union law, creditor rights, and litigation. Mr. Morahan is a partner with the firm and focuses his practice in the areas of energy & resource law and trusts & estates law. Mr. VanWhy is a partner with the firm and focuses his practice in the areas of business/corporate and municipal law.
Coughlin & Gerhart Attorney Releases Third Mystery Novel
We are proud to announce that one of our very own Associates, Tom Bouman, recently released another acclaimed novel, The Bramble and the Rose. This third installment of his mystery series follows Officer Henry Farrell on another investigation in Wild Thyme, Pennsylvania, a fictional town just south of the Binghamton area.
At first it looked like a bear attack–an open-and-shut case. Then Henry discovers that the victim was an out-of-town investigator, and the evidence points in troubling new directions. As the story unfolds, Farrell's past collides with his present as an ex-flame reappears, and his own nephew disappears into the hills.
The Bramble and the Rose has received glowing reviews, including one from The Wall Street Journal: "The Bramble and the Rose has animal-hunting sequences to rival those of William Faulkner and hand-to-hand combat struggles as tense as any depicted by Ron Rash or Daniel Woodrell. Mr. Bouman writes like a poet, whether describing an autumn landscape or a bear autopsy or a man in a midlife crisis. As the tale moves to a close and its storylines converge, Farrell's personal dilemmas resolve in a burst of grace worthy of the mystery of life itself." The Philadelphia Inquirer dubbed him "a master of rural noir," and according to the The Washington Post, "It's as if Henry David Thoreau had lived into the age of pickup trucks, survivalists and fentanyl."
When Tom is not writing novels, you might find him trying a complex jury trial or serving his numerous clients outside the courtroom. His writing skills were instrumental in a recent Appellate Division case and other complex litigation matters. Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is proud to have Tom in our Litigation Practice Group.
We look forward to his future successes in the legal and literary fields!
Update on C&G's COVID-19 Response (As of June 1, 2020)
As of June 1, Coughlin & Gerhart office locations have re-opened to the public to the extent necessary for legal matters. For everyone's safety, C&G has implemented the following prevention measures for our employees and guests:
Everyone to wear face coverings/masks at all times.
Maintain social distancing separation of 6 feet.
Attest to your current condition and well-being upon arrival.
Only have necessary visitors in attendance.
In addition, C&G is taking these additional safety measures:
Continue to work from home and only come into the office when necessary.
Limiting the amount of people in our offices.
Frequent sanitizing of conference areas and high touch points, including door handles, tables, and chairs before and after meetings.
C&G is taking all necessary precautions to provide a safe and healthy environment to everyone we have personal contact with and ask the same of all visitors during this unusual situation. We will continue to remain vigilant in our duty to uphold recommendations through the CDC, OSHA, and the State and will be constantly monitoring the situation to implement any changes to our policies as needed because safety and well-being in our offices and our community is of the utmost importance to our firm.
Update on C&G's COVID-19 Response (March 23, 2020)
Greetings to all of our clients, friends, and professional colleagues:
Below is important information during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
First, Coughlin & Gerhart has NOT shut down. The many attorneys, paralegals, and employees of Coughlin & Gerhart continue to work from home through our computer system, which provides confidential and secure access to our files and other important information. Prior to this outbreak, Coughlin & Gerhart had invested extensively in its IT infrastructure, allowing our attorneys to work securely and confidentially from remote locations, and we have expanded those capabilities to our staff as well.
Client information: Please know that we continue to work on your matter(s). All of our necessary operations are functional, so we are continuing to serve you. You can contact your attorney/paralegal by phone or email.
Closings / Court Proceedings / Will Executions / Meetings: The coronavirus restrictions have made it difficult to get things done for all of us. While business is not "as usual" during this difficult time, Coughlin & Gerhart is developing creative ways to provide advice and assistance, and keep our client's matters on schedule, while at the same time doing our part to help "Stop the Spread." For example, we are now offering virtual real estate closings to many of our clients, and "meeting" with our clients using videoconferencing technology.
So, don't assume that your matter is on hold indefinitely, or that you must wait to seek advice on a particular matter. Contact us today to discuss what we can do for you.
Contact us by telephone: Call the main office at 607-723-9511. When you call any one of our 9 locations, you will reach our voice messaging system. After leaving your voice message, it will be forwarded immediately to the appropriate person by one of Coughlin & Gerhart's receptionists, who are also working from home.
Contact us by email: This is the best way to reach any one of us during this time. Emails are delivered directly to its recipient. If you do not know the email address of the person you wish to reach, you can simply type in the first letter of the first name, followed by the last name, then @cglawoffices.com. For example: Mark Gorgos's email address is: [email protected]. Also, our attorney email addresses are listed on our webpage: /Attorneys/.
New Clients: If you are a new client, we would like to hear from you. We are accepting all types of legal matters at this time. Please call us to discuss your situation.
To our friends or colleagues: If you need a reasonable extension of time due to the coronavirus outbreak, please let us know and we will provide an extension if we are able to do so.
We look forward to the time when the coronavirus passes and we can enjoy the warm weather of spring together. For now, please be safe and look out for your friends and neighbors.
Legal Update: New Law Regarding Hemp Industry
On December 9, 2019, Governor Cuomo signed Senate Bill No. 6184, creating a comprehensive framework for New York's regulation and monitoring of its industrial hemp industry.. Read more…
Coughlin & Gerhart Announces New Partners to Firm
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is pleased to announce that attorneys Zachary D. Morahan and Michael C. Perehinec, Jr. became Partners in the firm, effective January 1, 2020.
A 2013 graduate of The Pennsylvania State University Dickinson School of Law, Mr. Morahan joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 2013 as an Associate. Mr. Morahan is admitted in both Pennsylvania and New York State and his practice is concentrated in the areas of energy law, litigation, and trust & estates. He is the Treasurer of the Susquehanna County Bar Association, a member of the Broome County Bar Association, and is on the Board of Directors of the Keystone College Alumni Association.
A 2011 graduate of the Ohio Northern University, where he received honors as a member of the Jerome Prince Moot Court Evidence Team, Mr. Perehinec joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 2017 as an Associate. His practice is concentrated in the areas of civil litigation and appeals, personal injury, trust & estates, business and commercial law, real estate law, and criminal defense. Mr. Perehinec is currently active in the Tompkins County Special Olympics program and is a board member on two local not-for-profit organizations as well as serving as the Tompkins County High School Mock Trial Coordinator. Mr. Perehinec is also the current President of the Tompkins County Bar Association.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890s, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 55 lawyers and a professional support staff. It has been recognized as a Best Law Firm and 20 of its attorneys have been recognized on either the Upstate New York Super Lawyers list or in The Best Lawyers in America®. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has other branch offices located in Montrose, Pennsylvania, Ithaca, Bainbridge, Cortland, Owego, Hancock, and Walton, New York.
Coughlin & Gerhart Holds Ribbon Cutting to Celebrate Opening of New Ithaca Office
Ithaca, NY – Coughlin & Gerhart is pleased to announce it held a ribbon cutting ceremony on Thursday, September 26 to celebrate the grand opening of its new Ithaca office, located at 798 Cascadilla Street. In attendance were Mayor of Ithaca Svante Myrick, President and CEO of the Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce Jennifer Tavares, Tompkins County Legislature Chair Martha Robertson, Fifth Ward Common Council representative Laura Lewis, members of the Coughlin & Gerhart leadership team, as well as key stakeholders and members of the Tompkins County community.
"We couldn't be more excited to combine three local offices under one roof to create an all-inclusive legal experience for our clients and being part of the West End revitalization presented a great opportunity for us to invest long term in Ithaca," said Mark Gorgos, Esq., Coughlin & Gerhart Managing Partner.
Coughlin & Gerhart's investment marks an exciting and continued expansion of Ithaca's West End area and another strategic move as part of the area's waterfront revitalization project.
Jon Albanese, Esq., Coughlin & Gerhart stated: "It's great having our Ithaca offices together to help us better serve our clients. In our new location, we have ample parking, easy access, and we are adjacent to the Waterfront Trail and the location of the new GreenStar."
To complete this project, Coughlin & Gerhart worked with Organic Elements, LLC, a local real estate development firm on the renovation of the former Palisades Computer building.
Guests were invited to arrive by 11:15AM, with the event scheduled to begin at 11:30AM with brief remarks from Mayor Myrick, Tavares, Robertson, and Lewis, followed by a tour of the new office space with light refreshments from Ithaca Bakery.
For additional information, please call 607-821-2202 or visit online at www.cglawoffices.com.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890s, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 50 lawyers and a professional support staff. It has been recognized as a Best Law Firm and 20 of its attorneys have been recognized on either the Upstate New York Super Lawyers list or in The Best Lawyers in America®. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has other branch offices located in Bainbridge, Cortland, Ithaca, Owego, Hancock, Walton, and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is proud to announce that fourteen of its lawyers were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2020. The lawyers recognized are Mark S. Gorgos (Commercial Transactions/UCC Law, Municipal Law, Education Law, Banking & Finance Law, Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency & Reorganization Law, and Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)), Paul J. Sweeney (Labor Law-Management),Robert R. Jones (Litigation – Trusts & Estates), James P. O'Brien (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Product Liability Litigation-Defendants), Robert J. Madigan (Real Estate Law), Rachel A. Abbott (Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs), Beth E. Westfall (Trusts & Estates), Kristen K. Luce (Trusts & Estates), Joseph J. Steflik, Jr. (Labor Law-Management and Employment Law-Management), Gordon E. Thompson (Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law), Carl A. Kieper (Family Law), Bruno Colapietro (Family Law), Richard B. Long (Arbitration and Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants), and Mary Lou Conrow (Litigation-Labor and Employment).
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890s, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 50 lawyers and a professional support staff. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has convenient branch offices located in Bainbridge, Cortland, Hancock, Ithaca, Owego, Walton, and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
C&G Attorneys Named to Upstate New York Super Lawyers Listing
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is proud to announce that Mark S. Gorgos, Paul J. Sweeney, Robert R. Jones, Beth E. Westfall, Jeffrey A. Brown, Bruno Colapietro, and Joseph J. Steflik have been included in the 2019 Upstate Edition of New York Super Lawyers. Only 5% of attorneys practicing in the Upstate New York region meet the criteria to be named to this prestigious list.
Rachel A. Abbott, Brady L. Begeal, Keith A. Gorgos, Zachary D. Morahan, and Nathan D. VanWhy have also been named as 2019 Upstate New York Rising Stars.
New York Super Lawyers magazine publishes this list annually, and bases its evaluations on information gathered from a variety of sources, including peer recognition and professional achievement.Mr. Gorgos, whose primary areas of practice include commercial transactions, education and municipal law, credit union law, and creditor rights, has been with Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP since 1980 and currently serves as Managing Partner. Mr. Sweeney joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 1992, following active duty as a Marine Corps judge advocate. He is chair of our firm's Labor and Employment Group. He concentrates his practice in labor and employment law and commercial litigation. Mr. Jones joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 1990 and is a member of the firm's Management Committee. He limits his practice to litigation, particularly in the areas of motor vehicle/construction site personal injury, estate litigation, gas & oil litigation, and theft of cable and satellite services. Mrs. Westfall joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 1986 and is co-chair of the firm's Trusts and Estates Practice Group. She focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning and administration, elder law, municipal law, land use and zoning, and real estate transactions. Mr. Brown joined the firm in 1986 and practices in the areas of workers' compensation law, social security disability and insurance defense. Mr. Colapietro joined the firm in 2016 and limits his practice to family law. Mr. Steflik joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 1999 and was a former chair of the firm's Labor & Employment Group. He focuses his practice in the areas of labor, employment, and construction law.
Ms. Abbott, a partner in the firm and member of the firm's Management Committee, focuses her practice in the area of plaintiff's litigation. Mr. Begeal, a partner with the firm and chair of its Business and Banking Practice Group, focuses his practice in the areas of business and banking law and municipal law. Mr. Keith Gorgos, a partner with the firm, focuses his practice in the areas of business law, banking and credit union law, creditor rights, and litigation. Mr. Morahan is an associate with the firm and focuses his practice in the areas of energy and resource law and trusts and estates law. Mr. VanWhy is a partner with the firm and focuses his practice in the areas of business/corporate and municipal law.
C&G Attorneys Honored for Advocacy, Service; Complete Term as BCBA President
C&G is proud to announce that attorney Robert R. Jones was recently awarded the TED SOMMER AWARD for advocacy at the Broome County Bar Association's Annual Law Day Dinner, held on May 16, 2019. This prestigious award is presented annually to an attorney "member of the BCBA who throughout his or her career has consistently exhibited the ability, integrity, and dedicated advocacy on behalf of his or her clients which represent the highest ideals of the legal profession."
On the same date, C&G attorney Mark L. Rappaport was honored for his longstanding service to the legal profession and as a member of the Association for over 50 years. In addition, C&G's own Kurt D. Schrader, who recently joined the firm in January, completed a successful term as President of the BCBA on the same date.
Coughlin & Gerhart is honored to have attorneys Jones, Rappaport, and Schrader, and congratulates them on their honors and service to the legal profession!
Coughlin & Gerhart receives NYSBA Pro-Bono Award
The Law Firm of Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP was recently selected as the recipient of a prestigious Pro Bono Service Award (in the Mid-Size Firm category) by the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA).
The award was presented to Mark Gorgos, Managing Partner of Coughlin & Gerhart on behalf of the entire firm, at a luncheon ceremony in Albany on May 1, 2019.
Each year on Law Day, NYSBA proudly bestows the President's Pro Bono Service Award on individuals and entities who have rendered extraordinary pro bono service. The awards are presented to publicly recognize and thank those who provide pro bono service and also to convey a message to the profession and the public about the importance of pro bono efforts in achieving equal access to justice.
Coughlin & Gerhart (C&G) was nominated by Arlene Sanders of the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York (LASMNY) to receive this award. According to Sanders, "C&G has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to LASMNY and its Private Attorney Involvement Program, making pro bono service a strong priority within the firm."
This included the involvement of C&G and their partners, associates, and staff in many programs such as LASMNY's "Child Support Referral Program," their eviction defense initiatives, the annual "Race for Justice 5K," and other community programs, including the annual "Golf for Scholars" tournament to raise money for local scholarships. Sanders also pointed out that for several years in a row C&G has been named among the U.S. News & World Report's "Best Law Firms."
According to Gorgos, "Justice in America shouldn't just be for those who can afford it. I applaud all of the lawyers and staff at our Firm for their outstanding pro bono work in our community. Many thanks also to Arlene Sanders for her thoughtful nomination of our Firm. Our pro bono work won't end with this award."
C&G Ithaca Offices Move to 798 Cascadilla Street
Coughlin & Gerhart Legal Secretary Receives 2019 Pro Bono Award
Debra Oakes, a Legal Secretary with Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, was recently awarded the 2019 Pennsylvania Bar Association's ("PBA") Pro Bono Partner Award. Frank O'Connor, the PBA Past President & Susquehanna County Wills for Heroes ("WFH") Coordinator, presented Debra with the award at a recent Wills for Heroes event held in Montrose, Pennsylvania.
Debra was honored with the award for being "a driving force for the Susquehanna County Wills for Heroes Program." This event provided free estate planning services to approximately thirty veterans and first responders. Debra devoted many of her nights and weekends to help plan and volunteer at the event. Debra worked closely with the current PBA WFH Coordinator, Gabriele Miller-Wagner, over the last several years to schedule and organize each event from start to finish.
Coughlin & Gerhart is honored to have hard-working and compassionate firm employees like Debra working on behalf of our clients and the communities we serve.
Pope & Schrader join Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP
Mark Gorgos, Managing Partner of Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, has announced that Binghamton attorneys Alan J. Pope and Kurt D. Schrader will be joining Coughlin & Gerhart effective January 1, 2019.
Formerly of the law firm of Pope, Schrader & Pope, LLP, Alan Pope and Kurt Schrader will each become 'Of Counsel' to the Firm.
According to Gorgos, "Pope, Schrader & Pope has a superb reputation both as a firm . . . and as individual lawyers, and we are proud that Alan and Kurt believe C&G is a great fit for them and their clients."
Alan Pope is a litigator, commercial law attorney, and he represents the Towns of Union, Binghamton, and Colesville.
Kurt Schrader, the current Broome County Bar President, has an extensive general law practice, with an emphasis in family and criminal law and general civil litigation.
According to Alan Pope, "We determined that we needed help with our growing client base and that Coughlin & Gerhart was the right firm to support our growth. The practice synergies are great for both of us."
Schrader said, "One of the reasons for our success is that the attorneys and staff are dedicated to maintaining close personal contacts and timely communications with our clients in order to best serve their needs. We firmly believe that Coughlin & Gerhart shares that client-centered approach."
Coughlin & Gerhart will be undergoing construction to expand their offices and parking facilities at their Main Office in Binghamton to accommodate the new attorneys and their clients. Alan Pope and Kurt Schrader will be joining our main office in Binghamton, along with their staff, in late March. Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890s, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 55 lawyers and a professional support staff. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has convenient branch offices located in Bainbridge, Cortland, Ithaca, Owego, Hancock, Walton, and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is pleased to announce that attorneys Keith A. Gorgos and Nathan D. VanWhy became Partners in the firm, effective January 1, 2019.
A 2009 graduate of the University at Buffalo Law School, where he served on the Law Review, Mr. Gorgos joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 2013 as an Associate. His practice is concentrated in the areas of Business & Banking law and Litigation. Mr. Gorgos is a member of the New York State, Broome County, and District of Columbia Bar Associations. In 2013, Mr. Gorgos was named as an Empire State Counsel honoree, and in 2012, was named to the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll. Mr. Gorgos has also been named as a "Rising Star" on the Upstate New York Super Lawyers list since 2015.
A 2010 graduate of Albany Law School, Mr. VanWhy joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 2013 as an Associate. Mr. VanWhy's practice is concentrated in the areas of School & Municipal law and Business & Banking law. He is a member of the Broome County Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association. Mr. VanWhy has been named as a "Rising Star" on the Upstate New York Super Lawyers list since 2017.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is proud to announce that fourteen of its lawyers were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019. The lawyers recognized are Mark S. Gorgos (Commercial Transactions/UCC Law, Municipal Law, Education Law, Banking & Finance Law, Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency & Reorganization Law, and Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)), Paul J. Sweeney (Labor Law-Management), Robert R. Jones (Litigation – Trusts & Estates), James P. O'Brien (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Product Liability Litigation-Defendants), Robert J. Madigan (Real Estate Law), Rachel A. Abbott (Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs), Beth E. Westfall (Trusts & Estates), Kristen K. Luce (Trusts & Estates), Joseph J. Steflik, Jr. (Labor Law-Management and Employment Law-Management), Gordon E. Thompson (Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law), Bruno Colapietro (Family Law), Richard B. Long (Arbitration and Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants).
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is proud to announce that Mark S. Gorgos, Paul J. Sweeney, Robert R. Jones, Beth E. Westfall, Jeffrey A. Brown, Scot G. Miller, Bruno Colapietro, and Joseph J. Steflik have been included in the 2018 Upstate Edition of New York Super Lawyers. Only 5% of attorneys practicing in the Upstate New York region meet the criteria to be named to this prestigious list.
Rachel A. Abbott, Brady L. Begeal, Keith A. Gorgos, Kristen K. Luce, Zachary D. Morahan, and Nathan D. VanWhy have also been named as 2018 Upstate New York Rising Stars.
Mr. Gorgos, whose primary areas of practice include commercial transactions, education and municipal law, credit union law, and creditor rights, has been with Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP since 1980 and currently serves as Managing Partner. Mr. Sweeney joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 1992, following active duty as a Marine Corps judge advocate. He is chair of our firm's Labor and Employment Group. He concentrates his practice in labor and employment law and commercial litigation. Mr. Jones joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 1990 and is a member of the firm's Management Committee. He limits his practice to litigation, particularly in the areas of motor vehicle/construction site personal injury, estate litigation, gas & oil litigation, and theft of cable and satellite services. Mrs. Westfall joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 1986 and is chair of the firm's Trusts and Estates Practice Group. She focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning and administration, elder law, municipal law, land use and zoning, and real estate transactions. Mr. Brown joined the firm in 1986 and practices in the areas of workers' compensation law, social security disability and insurance defense. Mr. Miller joined the firm in 2002 and practices in the areas of workers' compensation, social security law, and long term disability. Mr. Colapietro joined the firm in 2016 and limits his practice to family law. Mr. Steflik joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 1999 and was a former chair of the firm's Labor & Employment Group. He focuses his practice in the areas of labor, employment, and construction law.
Ms. Abbott, a partner in the firm and member of the firm's Management Committee, focuses her practice in the area of plaintiff's litigation. Mr. Begeal, a partner with the firm and chair of its Business and Banking Practice Group, focuses his practice in the areas of business and banking law and municipal law. Mr. Keith Gorgos, an associate with the firm, focuses his practice in the areas of business law, banking and credit union law, creditor rights, and litigation. Ms. Luce, a partner with the firm, practices in the areas of estate planning, trusts and estates administration, real estate transactions, and guardianship law. Mr. Morahan is an associate with the firm and focuses his practice in the areas of energy and resource law and trusts and estates law. Mr. VanWhy is an associate with the firm and focuses his practice in the areas of business/corporate and municipal law.
Blumkin & Finlay, LLP of Ithaca joins Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP
Blumkin & Finlay LLP, a highly respected law firm in Ithaca, will join with Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, effective December 1, 2017. Joy A. Blumkin and Marcie A. Finlay will each be "Of Counsel" to the Firm and will remain in their current offices, which are located in the Gateway Building in Ithaca. This practice will become the third Coughlin & Gerhart office in Ithaca and the second located in the Gateway Building along with the previously merged Albanese Law Offices.
Blumkin & Finlay has been serving the Ithaca area for over 20 years, providing their clients with personalized and professional legal assistance.
The lawyers and staff at Blumkin & Finlay, LLP are dedicated to assisting individuals and families in the areas of Elder Law, Wills, Trusts and Estate Planning, Guardianship, Special Needs Planning, Probate, Estate and Trust Administration and Real Estate.
"We have been looking to strengthen our services to the Ithaca area" according to Mark Gorgos, Managing Partner of Coughlin & Gerhart, "and we believe the Elder Law and Estate experience of Blumkin & Finlay, LLP will enhance and strengthen the mission of both firms to meet our clients' legal needs."
Finlay added, "Through this merger with Coughlin & Gerhart, we will expand our ability to serve new and existing clients more efficiently in a broader range of matters."
Gorgos also indicated that he hopes to bring the three Ithaca office locations, which also includes the former Holmberg Galbraith firm, under one roof in Ithaca within the next eighteen months.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890's, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 50 lawyers and a professional support staff. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has branch offices located in Bainbridge, Cortland, Ithaca, Owego, Hancock, Walton and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP Welcomes New 'Of Counsel' Attorney
(Binghamton, NY) —Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is pleased to welcome Russell E. Ruthig, Esq. as Of Counsel to the firm effective August 1. Mr. Ruthig joins C&G after 40+ years as an attorney, currently practicing in Cortland, NY. He will continue to practice out of his Cortland office.
He will focus primarily in the areas of real estate law, small business law, estate planning, elder law and trust and estate administration.
A graduate of Hobart College and Syracuse University College of Law, Mr. Ruthig was admitted to the Bar in New York in 1974. In addition to his practice of law in the Cortland area, he serves as a Member of the Attorney Grievance Committee for the Third Judicial Department, is a Member of the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Susquehanna Valley Presbytery and is a Court Examiner of Guardianship Accounts for Cortland, Tompkins and Tioga Counties.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is happy to welcome Mr. Ruthig. His professional experience, as well as his involvement in the community and numerous legal associations, will be an asset to the firm and its existing and new clients.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890's, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 40 lawyers and a professional support staff. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has convenient branch offices located in Ithaca, Owego, Bainbridge, Hancock, Walton, Montrose, Pennsylvania and now Cortland, New York.
Coughlin & Gerhart Partner Admitted to the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel
Paul J. Sweeney, Esq., a partner with Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, was admitted to the Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel ("FDCC"), an international defense organization dedicated to the principles of knowledge, justice, and fellowship. Founded in 1936, the FDCC consists of approximately 1400 members located in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Europe, and other areas. Mr. Sweeney, who chairs the firm's Labor & Employment Law Practice Group, represents private and public employers across New York State. He retired as a colonel in the Marine Corps Reserve in 2013.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890's, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 48 lawyers and a professional support staff. It has been recognized as a Best Law Firm and 20 of its attorneys, including Mr. Sweeney, have been listed for recognition in either the New York Upstate Super Lawyers or The Best Lawyers in America® publications. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has other branch offices located in Bainbridge, Ithaca, Owego, Hancock, Walton and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
Coughlin & Gerhart Announces Begeal admitted to Pennsylvania Bar
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is pleased to announce that attorney Brady L. Begeal recently became newly admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar and will be assisting clients at the firm's Montrose office. Begeal had become a Partner in Coughlin & Gerhart on January 1, 2017.
A graduate of Albany Law School, Mr. Begeal joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 2010 and was admitted to the New York Bar in 2012. Mr. Begeal's practice is concentrated in the areas of business and banking law, commercial law, municipal and public sector law and will provide service to the firm's Pennsylvania clients in these practice areas.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890's, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 50 lawyers and a professional support staff. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has branch offices located in Bainbridge, Ithaca, Owego, Hancock, Walton and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
Coughlin & Gerhart Announces New Partner to Firm
Coughlin & Gerhart, L.L.P is pleased to announce that attorney Brady L. Begeal became a Partner in the firm, effective January 1, 2017.
A graduate of Albany Law School, Mr. Begeal joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 2010 as a Summer Associate and in August 2011 as an Associate. Mr. Begeal's practice is concentrated in the areas of business and banking law, commercial law, municipal and public sector law. Mr. Begeal is a member of the Broome County and New York State Bar Associations, is a graduate of the Broome Leadership Institute (BLI) and is the Legal Community Campaign Coordinator for the United Way of Broome County. Mr. Begeal has been named as a Rising Star on the New York Upstate SuperLawyers list since 2014.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890's, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 50 lawyers and a professional support staff. It has been recognized as a Best Law Firm and 20 of its attorneys have been recognized on either the New York Upstate SuperLawyers list or in The Best Lawyers in America®. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has other branch offices located in Bainbridge, Ithaca, Owego, Hancock, Walton and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
Holmberg Galbraith, LLP of Ithaca joins Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP
The law firm of Holmberg Galbraith, LLP of Ithaca has joined Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP effective January 1, 2017. Anna Holmberg and Dirk Galbraith have joined C&G in an "Of Counsel" role and Michael Perehinec, Jr. has joined C&G as a Senior Associate. With Holmberg Galbraith's current location at 118 N. Tioga Street in Ithaca, this practice will become the second Coughlin & Gerhart office in Tompkins County.
Holmberg Galbraith, LLP has a well-earned reputation for providing high quality, personal service to its clients. The origins of the firm date back to 1988. Anna Holmberg and Dirk Galbraith have each been practicing law in the Ithaca area for over 35 years. Holmberg has extensive experience in estate planning, trust and estate administration and real estate law. Over the years, she has served on the boards of a number of local not-for-profit organizations. Galbraith has expertise handling civil litigation, matrimonial and commercial and business law. Galbraith also currently serves as the Chairperson for the Appellate Division's Third Department Attorney Grievance Committee. Perehinec's practice areas include landlord/tenant law, civil litigation, family law, real estate and criminal defense. He is active in the Tompkins County Special Olympics program and is a board member on two local not-for-profit organizations as well as serving as the Tompkins County High School Mock Trial Coordinator.
"We have had great success with our existing office in Ithaca since our affiliation with Jon Albanese in 2009. We believe the addition of Holmberg Galbraith will enhance and strengthen the scope and depth of our practice in Ithaca and the surrounding communities," said Mark S. Gorgos, Managing Partner of Coughlin & Gerhart.
In addition to the existing practice areas of Holmberg Galbraith, Coughlin & Gerhart adds experience in complex litigation, business and banking, workers' compensation and social security disability, municipal and education law and labor and employment law.
Anna Holmberg added, "Through this alliance with Coughlin & Gerhart, we will be able to offer a greater variety of legal services to a broad range of clients, while keeping our core practice in place."
Coughlin & Gerhart Attorney Presents at NYCOM Legislative Meeting
Paul J. Sweeney, Esq., a partner with Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, presented at the 2017 Winter Legislative Meeting of the New York State Conference of Mayors. Mr. Sweeney, who chairs the firm's Labor & Employment Law Practice Group, spoke on effective employee discipline practices to representatives of cities and villages from across New York State.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP represents public and private sector employers throughout New York State. Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890's, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 48 lawyers and a professional support staff. It has been recognized as a Best Law Firm and 20 of its attorneys, including Mr. Sweeney, have been recognized on either the New York Upstate SuperLawyers list or in The Best Lawyers in America®. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has other branch offices located in Bainbridge, Ithaca, Owego, Hancock, Walton and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
C & G Attorney Speaks at The Landlords Association of Tompkins County
Michael C. Perehinec, Jr., Esq., an Associate with Coughlin & Gerhart's Tioga Place, Ithaca office was a featured legal speaker at The Landlords Association of Tompkins County on Monday, January 23, 2017.
The question and answer format meeting focused on landlord/tenant law and related tenant disputes. Mr. Perehinec also discussed objectionable tenancies and the steps to evict an objectionable tenant.
Mr. Perehinec's practice includes civil litigation and appeals, personal injury, trusts and estates, business and commercial law, real estate law and criminal defense.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP represents public and private sector employers throughout New York State. The firm, which was founded in the 1890's, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 45 lawyers and a professional support staff. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has branch offices located in Bainbridge, Ithaca, Owego, Hancock, Walton and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
Paul F. Eaton Jr., Esq. and Carl A. Griffith, Esq. of Sidney join Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP
Mark Gorgos, Managing Partner of Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, has announced that Paul F. Eaton Jr. and Carl A. Griffith of Sidney will be joining Coughlin & Gerhart effective January 1, 2017.
Eaton and Griffith will join Coughlin & Gerhart in an "Of Counsel" role and will be located at the firm's branch office at 29 N. Main Street in Bainbridge, along with partners Beth Westfall and Meiying Austin, currently the primary attorneys at the Bainbridge branch.
The law firm of Eaton & Griffith has been providing legal services to Sidney area residents and businesses since 1973. According to Eaton, "For over 43 years, we have had the privilege and good fortune to practice law in the Tri-Town area. We are confident that our new affiliation will achieve our goals of securing continuity and consistency in providing quality legal services to our clients." Griffith added "We are both looking forward to our new association with Coughlin & Gerhart and anticipate a smooth transition as we go forward."
The alliance between Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP and the Eaton & Griffith firm means additional experience in real estate, estate planning, elder law, trust and estate administration and municipal law. Clients in the Tri-Town area will also benefit from the support of the entire firm and its full range of legal experience.
"We are honored that such fine lawyers as Paul Eaton and Carl Griffith would look to us for this new affiliation" said Mark Gorgos, the firm's Managing Partner. "They will certainly strengthen and enhance our long-term presence in the Tri-Town area."
C & G Attorney Speaks at Physician Seminar in New York City
Paul J. Sweeney, Esq., a partner with Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP was the featured legal speaker at a seminar hosted by the New York Occupational and Environmental Medical Association at Lenox Hill Hospital on October 30, 2016.
Mr. Sweeney, who chairs the firm's Labor & Employment Law Practice Group, was asked to speak on medical leave and disability issues to occupational health and environmental medicine physicians from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP represents public and private sector employers throughout New York State. The firm, which was founded in the 1890's, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 45 lawyers and a professional support staff. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has other branch offices located in Bainbridge, Ithaca, Owego, Hancock, Walton and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
C&G Recognized as a Gold Fit-Friendly Worksite by the American Heart Association
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is recognized among an elite group of organizations as a 2015 Gold Fit-Friendly Worksite by the American Heart Association. This award comes as a result of the Firm's efforts to maintain a health conscious work environment and culture of wellness. Coughlin & Gerhart, in conjunction with the American Heart Association, promotes workplace wellness and understands its role in improving the wellbeing of their employees and the legal services that they provide.
Coughlin and Gerhart, LLP Named 2017 Best Law Firm
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers in America® has named Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP as a Metropolitan Tier 1 Best Law Firm for the Binghamton, New York region in the areas of Personal Injury Litigation as well as Banking and Finance Law. The Firm has also received the Best Law Firm distinction as a Metropolitan Tier 2 Best Law Firm for the Binghamton, New York region in the area of Real Estate Law and as a Metropolitan Tier 3 Best Law Firm for the Binghamton, New York in the area of Family Law.
Firms included in the 2017 "Best Law Firms" list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise. To be eligible for a ranking in a particular practice area, a law firm must have at least one lawyer who is included in The Best Lawyers in America ®, in that particular practice area. Seven C&G attorneys are included in this list for 2017. Receiving a tier designation reflects the high level of respect a firm has earned among other leading lawyers and clients in the same communities and the same practice areas for its abilities, its professionalism and its integrity.
" U.S. News is the global authority in rankings," says Tim Smart, Executive Editor of U.S. News & World Report. "Evaluating law firms is a natural extension of what we do best."
C & G Attorneys: Awarded for Trial Advocacy & Community Service; Named BCBA President
C&G Attorneys Peter H. Bouman and Mark S. Gorgos recently received awards for Trial Advocacy & Community Service.
Mr. Bouman received the TED SOMMER AWARD, which is awarded to an attorney "who throughout his or her career has consistently exhibited the ability, integrity and dedicated advocacy on behalf of his or her clients which represent the highest ideals of the legal profession." On the same date, Mr. Gorgos was awarded the COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD, which is awarded each year "to a member of the BCBA in recognition of his/her service to our community." This community service award follows the firm's recent receipt of the Greater Binghamton Chamber's CORPORATE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR.
Coughlin & Gerhart proudly congratulates Attorneys Bouman and Gorgos for their honors and service to the community and legal profession.
C & G Attorney Presents at Regional PERMA Seminars
Paul J. Sweeney, Esq., a partner with Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP was the featured speaker at series of regional seminars hosted by the Public Employment Risk Management Association ("PERMA") on November 12, 2015 in Rockland County; on March 10, 2016 in Genesee County; and on March 26, 2016 in Nassau County.
Mr. Sweeney, who chairs the firm's Labor & Employment Law Practice Group, spoke on labor issues of interest to public sector employers, including fire and police disability, Civil Service Law, and collective bargaining issues. Over 100 representatives from local government attended these regional PERMA seminars.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP represents public and private sector employers throughout New York State. The firm, which was founded in the 1890's, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 40 lawyers and a professional support staff. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has convenient branch offices located in Bainbridge, Hancock, Ithaca, Owego, Walton and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
Colapietro to Become Of Counsel with Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is pleased to announce that attorney Bruno Colapietro will become Of Counsel with the firm effective March 1, 2016.
A graduate of Hamilton College, he received his Law Degree from Cornell Law School in 1960. Colapietro began practicing as an Attorney with the Department of Justice Criminal Division in Washington, DC and then became a Partner at Chernin & Gold. He most recently served as Of Counsel with Levene Gouldin & Thompson.
Mr. Colapietro was also a former Instructor at Hinman College, now Binghamton University, Adjunct Professor of Law at Cornell Law School for thirty years, President of the Broome County Bar Association, a frequent lecturer at local and State Bar Association Meetings, author of numerous articles on Family Law matters; Author of "Law and the Family" manual (1989), and currently a Chairman of the Broome County Legal Aid Child Support Matters, among many other professional and community-based involvements. He has been a member of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers since 1975.
He has been repeatedly recognized as a New York Super Lawyer and The Best Lawyers in America in the area of Family Law. He received the distinction of Broome County Law Guardian of the Year in 2006, and Best Lawyer in Family Law in Broome County in 2012.
The firm is very excited to have one of the most prestigious matrimonial attorneys in the area join its Family Law team. He practices in Broome, Tioga, Tompkins, Chemung, Cortland and Otsego Counties.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890s, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 40 lawyers and a professional support staff. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has convenient branch offices located in Ithaca, Owego, Bainbridge, Hancock, Walton and Montrose, Pennsylvania. Mr. Colapietro will continue to be located at 71 State Street, Binghamton, NY. His direct dial telephone number is (607) 296-3944.
James P. O'Brien Recognized For Client Satisfaction
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is proud to announce that James P. O'Brien has been nominated and accepted as a 2015 AIOPIA 10 Best Personal Injury Attorneys in New York for Client Satisfaction.
The American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys has recognized the exceptional performance of New York's Personal Injury Attorney, James P. O'Brien, Esq. as 2015 AIOPIA 10 Best Personal Injury Attorneys for Client Satisfaction.
The American Institute of Personal Injury Attorneys is a third-party attorney rating organization that publishes an annual list of the Top 10 Personal Injury attorneys in each state. Attorneys who are selected to the "10 Best" list must pass AIOPIA's rigorous selection process, which is based on client and/or peer nominations, thorough research, and AIOPIA's independent evaluation.
Mr. O'Brien graduated from Syracuse University College of Law and is a Partner with the firm. His civil litigation experience includes intellectual property litigation, patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret matters. His experience also includes commercial litigation and representations of plaintiffs in personal injury cases, defense work for insurance carriers and individuals and corporations.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890s, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 40 lawyers and a professional support staff. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has convenient branch offices located in Ithaca, Owego, Bainbridge, Hancock, Walton, New York and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP Named Greater Binghamton Chamber's Corporate Citizen of the Year
Coughlin & Gerhart was recently honored with the CORPORATE CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD by the Broome County Chamber of Commerce at the annual Community Thanksgiving Luncheon on November 17. The award is "awarded to a company that has made not only a financial commitment to the Greater Binghamton area, but a commitment to providing leadership and hands-on employee participation."
Managing Partner Mark Gorgos credited Coughlin & Gerhart's staff, associates and partners for pointing out what's needed and facilitating volunteerism.
"Really, community service is not just the right thing to do," he said. "It's really the fabric of our law firm and I'm really proud of my partners for sharing those visions and initiative with us."
We at C&G thank the Chamber for this award, and thank all of our employees and other individuals and businesses in the community whose efforts and contributions enable us at C&G to give back to the community.
In presenting the award, the Chamber discussed some of C&G's charitable fundraising and efforts through the year and stated:
"The attorneys and staff at Coughlin & Gerhart have a strong belief that their community efforts and contributions made to those in need enhance the quality of life for everyone. This attitude definitely comes from the strong examples set by the leadership of the firm. This past July marked the 15th annual "Golf for Scholars" tournament that the firm organized and runs. To date, over $180,000 has been raised to benefit local school districts' scholarship programs. For the second year, Coughlin & Gerhart was the lead sponsor of the Race for Justice 5K to benefit the Legal Aid Society. The firm also paid the registration fee for any employee and their family member(s) who wanted to walk or run the race.
Coughlin & Gerhart contributes to a host of other organizations. They are a major contributor to the United Way, with a different Staff person running the campaign each year. This year, a basket raffle competition between practice groups will be held to help raise money for the campaign. Coughlin & Gerhart is a Lead Sponsor for the Annual Sertoma Club Antique Show; and a consistent sponsor of the Helping Celebrate Abilities (HCA) Tasteful Day fundraiser.
The Firm holds 'Jeans Day' every Friday; donations are collected from partners, associates and staff for the 'privilege' of wearing jeans to work. All donations are then given to a local charity, suggested by the employees.
They actively support many of the area's charity golf and basketball tournaments. They also sponsor ACHIEVE'S 'Growing Spaces, Improving Lives' building rehabilitation project. Not only are monetary donations made to local organizations, but attorneys and staff are encouraged to give of their time and talents to these organizations. Attorneys are encouraged to become active Board members and to take leadership roles -their involvement includes: Broome County Arts Council, American Civic Association, Binghamton Boys & Girls Club, Roberson Museum and many others.
For several years now, one of the Coughlin & Gerhart staff coordinates the creating and decorating of fleece blankets and stockings, with the help of co-workers and attorneys. These blankets and stockings are then donated to the Children's Home during the Holiday Season. This one activity alone encompasses the entire year!
Arlene Sanders, of the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York says: 'Coughlin & Gerhart demonstrates exceptional leadership and community service and they set an example for all to aspire to."
Coughlin & Gerhart Attorneys Named to SUPER LAWYERS and RISING STARS Lists
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is proud to announce that Mark S. Gorgos, Paul J. Sweeney, Robert R. Jones, Joseph J. Steflik, and Beth E. Westfall , have been included in the 2015 Upstate Edition of New York SUPER LAWYERS . Only 5% of attorneys practicing in the state meet the criteria to be named to this prestigious list.
In addition, attorneys Rachel A. Abbott, Brady L. Begeal, Keith A. Gorgos, Kristen K. Luce, and Ryan L. McCarthy and have also been named to the list of 2015 Upstate New York RISING STARS , which is limited to no more than 2.5% of the attorneys within the state. New York Super Lawyers magazine publishes these lists annually, and bases its evaluations on information gathered from a variety of sources, including peer recognition and professional achievement.
Mark Gorgos, whose primary areas of practice include commercial transactions, education and municipal law, credit union law and creditor rights, has been with Coughlin & Gerhart since 1980 and currently serves as Managing Partner. Mr. Sweeney joined the firm in 1992, following active duty as a Marine Corps judge advocate. He is a member of the firm's Management Committee and is co-chair of its Labor and Employment Group. He concentrates his practice in labor and employment law and commercial litigation. Mr. Jones joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 1990 and is a member of the firm's Management Committee. He focuses his practice on litigation, particularly in the areas of motor vehicle/construction site personal injury, estate litigation, gas & oil litigation, and theft of cable and satellite services. Mr. Steflik joined the firm, LLP in 1999 and is co-chair of the firm's Labor & Employment Group. He focuses his practice in the areas of labor, employment and construction law. Mrs. Westfall joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 1986 and is chair of the firm's Trusts and Estates Practice Group. She focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning and administration, elder law, municipal law, land use and zoning, and real estate transactions.
Ms. Abbott, a partner in the firm, focuses her practice in the area of plaintiff's litigation. Mr. Begeal, an associate with the firm, focuses his practice in the area of business and banking law and municipal law. Mr. Keith Gorgos, an associate with the firm, focuses his practice in the areas of litigation and business and banking law. Ms. Luce, a partner with the firm, practices in the areas of estate planning, trusts and estates administration, real estate transactions, and oil and gas law. Mr. McCarthy, an associate with the firm, focuses his practice in the areas of estate planning, trusts and estates administration, and real estate transactions.
C & G Administrator Named ALA Regional Representative
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is proud to announce Brenda A. Syle, CLM, MPA, has been elected a 2016-17 Regional Representative by the Association of Legal Administrators (ALA).
ALA Regional Representatives are elected to oversee Association initiatives, activities and finances in six geographically defined areas.
Brenda has been an employee of Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP for 25 years and is the firm's Administrator of Finance & Operations. Brenda is the current Chair of the Capacity Building Committee for United Way of Broome County, and also serves as Vice President of Membership for the River City Toastmasters in Binghamton, NY and as Area 43 Director for District 65 Toastmasters (central and western New York State).
The Association of Legal Administrators (ALA) was founded in 1971 to provide support to professionals involved in the management of law firms, corporate legal departments and government legal agencies.
Brenda has been a member of ALA for more than 15 years. She is currently a member of the Rochester, NY Chapter of ALA. She has held two previous positions with the national organization: as a member of the Operations Management Team to develop content for an ALA online course in 2015, and as a member of the 2015 Business of Law Conference Committee.
The newly ratified members of the 2016-17 Board of Directors and Regional Representatives will begin their responsibilities in May at the close of the Annual Conference & Expo in Los Angeles, California.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890s, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 40 lawyers and a professional support staff. The firm's main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has convenient branch offices located in Ithaca, Owego, Bainbridge, Hancock, Walton and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
C&G Attorneys Present 34th Annual Labor Law Update
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP presented its 34th Annual Labor Law Update on October 6, 2015 at the Doubletree by Hilton in Binghamton, NY. Over 160 attendees were advised of recent decisions, regulations and other developments in Labor Law, involving the National Labor Relations Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Workers' Compensation, OSHA, "Ban the Box", wage and hour laws, medical marijuana and health care reform.
Presenters from the firm's Labor and Employment Law Group included partners, Joseph J. Steflik, Jr. (Co-Chair), Paul J. Sweeney (Co-Chair), and Lars Mead, as well as associate Angelo Catalano.
C&G Attorneys Honored in Best Lawyers in America® 2016 Listing
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is proud to announce that eleven of its lawyers were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2016. The lawyers recognized are Mark S. Gorgos (Commercial Transactions/UCC Law, Municipal Law, Education Law, Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency & Reorganization Law, and Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Joseph J. Steflik, Jr. (Labor Law-Management, Employment Law-Management), Paul J. Sweeney (Labor Law-Management), Robert J. Madigan (Real Estate Law), Gordon E. Thompson (Banking and Finance Law, Real Estate Law), James P. O'Brien (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants, Product Liability Litigation-Defendants), Richard B. Long (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Arbitration), and Rachel A. Abbott (Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs).
The firm is also proud to announce that Rachel A. Abbott has received the special distinction of the Best Lawyers®' 2016 Binghamton "Lawyer of the Year" for her respective specialties of Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs for Ms. Abbott.
Coughlin & Gerhart Race for Justice 5k Run/Walk to Benefit the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is proud to once again sponsor the upcoming Coughlin & Gerhart Race for Justice 5k Run/Walk to Benefit the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, to be held on Sunday September 27th, 2015 at 12 noon in Binghamton, NY.
The race begins and ends at the Court St. Bridge/Peacemaker Stage. Register by Friday September 18th to be guaranteed a T-shirt! See the additional details below, with registration available at: http://raceforjustice5k.org/. Join us to help support a great cause!
"In New York State, the vast majority of low-income people do not receive representation for their civil legal problems. Your participation brings us one step closer to bridging the justice gap."
The race will kick off from the Court St. Bridge/Peacemaker Stage in Downtown Binghamton. Teams compete for the Highly Coveted Justice Cup. First, Second, and Third place awards will be awarded to the Men's and Women's Winners of the 5K Run and First in ten-year age groups. The Justice Cup will be awarded to the fastest averaged team.
Live Radio Broadcast with Dana Potter and Magic 101.7
Great tunes by Russ The BIG Guy
Rockin' After Party at Water Street Brewing Co.
Post-Race Refreshments
Chip Timing by Triple Cities Runners Club
Water Station at Rec Park
USA Track & Field Certified Race Course
hello KG
$25 Per Individual Registration
$20 per person for Teams of 4 or more
Sponsorship Available at the $150, $300 & $500 Levels
Register at:
http://raceforjustice5k.org/Packet Pickup:
Saturday September 26th at Water Street Brewing Co.
1-4 p.m. or
Sunday September 27th at Peacemaker Stage
11-11:45 a.m.
Coughlin & Gerhart Proud to Sponsor FREE Summer
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is proud to once again sponsor the third annual BROOME BANDS TOGETHER summer concert series, scheduled for Tuesday nights at 6:30 p.m., June 16 to July 21 at Otsiningo Park. Coughlin & Gerhart's sponsorship donation will keep the concerts FREE to the public.
The scheduled lineup is: *June 16: Shambles; *June 23: Boondock Rebels; *June 30: Ryan Wilson; *July 7: Outer Reef; *July 14: Los Vega; *July 21: Katie Scott with Persuasion.
"I certainly encourage everyone to come out on those warm, summer evenings," Mark Gorgos, Coughlin & Gerhart managing partner, said. "It's just a great event and I've been amazed at how attendance has increased from the first year."
C&G Attorneys Present at Special NLRB Update
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP presented at a special National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB") Update on March 26, 2015 at the Doubletree by Hilton in Binghamton, NY. Over 60 attendees from local businesses were advised of important changes being
implemented by the NLRB. The co-chairs of the firm's Labor and Employment Law Group, Joseph J. Steflik, Jr. and Paul J. Sweeney, spoke on topics including the NLRB's so-called "Quickie Election" rules, the formation of "micro" bargaining units and the enforcement of social media policies.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP represents public and private sector employers throughout New York State.
NYS Court of Appeals Issues Favorable Decision for Coughlin & Gerhart Clients on Critical Oil & Gas Lease Interpretations
The New York State Court of Appeals issued a landmark decision in a Force Majeure case being handled by the attorneys at Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, finding that the Force Majeure clause did not extend the leases and that the leases expired by their terms. The case came before the New York State Court of Appeals when the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit certified two questions. This important decision remains very meaningful to landowners for future gas development.
In this lawsuit, Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP represented landowners against three energy companies on the issue of whether the term of expired oil & gas leases can be extended by Force Majeure due to the moratorium on high-volume hydrofracking in New York. The New York State Court of Appeals held that the Force Majeure clause did not modify the habendum clause (term clause) and, therefore, the leases terminated at the conclusion of their primary term. This is a significant victory for landowners and their property rights. The Plaintiffs in this case will now have the opportunity to renegotiate their oil and gas leases when gas development begins in New York and are no longer burdened by the very poor terms of the previous leases. Additionally, landowners who were not a part of this case will benefit from this precedent-setting decision which highlights the importance of having a skilled and experienced oil and gas attorney review an oil and gas lease before signing.
A copy of the New York State Court of Appeals' decision in the case, Beardslee v. Inflection Energy, LLC, is available here for review.
Coughlin & Gerhart's team of litigation and oil & gas attorneys were being led in this precedent-setting case by Robert R. Jones and Kristen K. Luce, and Zachary D. Morahan, who are based out of our law firm's Binghamton, New York office. Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP has numerous attorneys who are experienced in oil and gas law and welcome the opportunity to assist clients in this always developing area of law.
Coughlin & Gerhart Announces New Special Counsel
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is pleased to announce that Lori Grumet Schapiro has joined the firm as Special Counsel.
A cum laude graduate of Albany Law School of Union University, Ms. Schapiro has been practicing law for over 25 years. Her primary areas of practice include Commercial & Residential Real Estate, Financing and Banking. "We are very pleased to have an attorney with Lori's expertise and experience join our busy practice," said Coughlin & Gerhart's Managing Partner, Mark Gorgos. "She is highly regarded in our legal community and very much respected for her charitable and community work."
Ms. Schapiro is a member of the New York State Bar Association and The Justinian Law Society and is an officer of the Broome County Bar Association. She is very active in the local community and currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees of Hillel Academy of Broome County. She has also served as a board member with the Jewish Community Center, the United Way of Broome County, and as a fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Binghamton University Foundation.
Coughlin & Gerhart Announces New Of Counsel Attorney
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is pleased to announce that Irene Graven has become of counsel with the firm effective January 1, 2015.
Ms. Graven began her practice of law as a partner at the Law Office of Bartow and Murphy, concentrating in trusts and estates and real property law. She has served as Assistant County Attorney, Assistant District Attorney and Acting DistrictAttorney for Tioga County. She served as the Village of Owego Attorney and is currently the Town of Owego Attorney.
She is a member of the Tioga, Broome and New York State Bar Associations. She serves as Vice Chairman of the Mildred Faulkner Truman Foundation's Advisory Committee and is a member of the Board of Directors of the Broome Community College Foundation. Ms. Graven will continue her work in the municipal law area as well as returning to her general practice of law, including trusts and estates and real property law.
Coughlin & Gerhart Partner Selected As Editor
Paul J. Sweeney, Esq., a partner in the Binghamton law firm of Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, was recently selected by Business & Legal Resources to edit its New York Employment Law Letter , a monthly publication that helps employers understand new laws, regulations and court cases.
Mr. Sweeney is the co-leader of Coughlin & Gerhart's Labor & Employment Law Practice Group, which represents public and private sector employers throughout New York State. He serves on the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association's Labor and Employment Law Section and is the Treasurer of the Northern District of New York – Federal Court Bar Association. He is listed in the Best Lawyers in America and the Upstate Edition of New York Super Lawyers.
Coughlin and Gerhart Named As A 2015 Best Law Firm
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers in America® has named Coughlin & Gerhart as a Metropolitan Tier 1 Best Law Firm for the Binghamton, New York region in the areas of Business and Finance Law as well as Personal Injury Litigation.
Firms included in the 2015 "Best Law Firms" list are recognized for professional excellence with persistently impressive ratings from clients and peers. Achieving a tiered ranking signals a unique combination of quality law practice and breadth of legal expertise.
"For thirty years, U.S. News has provided consumers with accurate, in-depth information and rankings of a wide range of institutions," says Tim Smart, Executive Editor of U.S. News & World Report. "Law firms are an integral part of our rankings and a natural accompaniment to the law school rankings."
"For five years, we have combined massive amounts of hard data with peer reviews and client assessments to develop our law firm rankings," says Steven Naifeh, CEO and Co-Founder of Best Lawyers. "Increasingly, clients tell us that ours are the most thorough, accurate, and helpful rankings of law firms available anywhere."
C & G Attorneys Present 33 rd Annual Labor Law Update
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP presented its 33 rd Annual Labor Law Update on October 14, 2014 at the Doubletree by Hilton in Binghamton, NY. Over 180 attendees were advised of recent decisions, regulations and other developments in Labor Law, including Family and Medical Leave Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, Workers' Compensation, OSHA, "Ban the Box", wage and hour laws, social media and health care reform.
Presenters from the firm's Labor and Employment Law Group included partners Joseph J. Steflik, Jr. (Co-Chair), Paul J. Sweeney (Co-Chair), Mary Lou Conrow and Lars Mead. Steven Wladis of The Wladis Companies, Inc. presented on the topic of "Increasing Health Care Costs and Your Employee Health Plan".
C & G Attorneys Included in Super Lawyer Listing
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is proud to announce that Mark S. Gorgos, Paul J. Sweeney, Robert R. Jones, Joseph J. Steflik and Beth E. Westfall, have been included in the 2014 Upstate Edition of New York Super Lawyers. Only 5% of attorneys practicing in the Upstate New York region meet the criteria to be named to this prestigious list. Rachel A. Abbott, Kristen K. Luce and Brady L. Begeal have also been named as 2014 Upstate New York Rising Stars.
Mr. Gorgos, whose primary areas of practice include commercial transactions, education and municipal law, credit union law and creditor rights, has been with Coughlin & Gerhart since 1980 and currently serves as Managing Partner. Mr. Sweeney joined Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP in 1992, following active duty as a Marine Corps judge advocate. He is a member of the firm's Management Committee and is co-chair of its Labor and Employment Group. He concentrates his practice in labor and employment law and commercial litigation. Mr. Jones joined Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP in 1990 and is a member of the firm's Management Committee. He limits his practice to litigation, particularly in the areas of gas & oil litigation, estate litigation, motor vehicle/construction site personal injury, and theft of cable and satellite services. Mr. Steflik joined Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP in 1999 and is co-chair of the firm's Labor & Employment Group. He focuses his practice in the areas of labor, employment and construction law. Mrs. Westfall joined Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP in 1986 and is chair of the firm's Trusts and Estates Practice Group. She focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning and administration, elder law, municipal law, land use and zoning, and real estate transactions.
Ms. Abbott, a partner in the firm, focuses her practice in the area of plaintiff's litigation. Ms. Luce, a partner with the firm, practices in the areas of estate planning, trusts and estates administration, real estate transactions and oil and gas law and Mr. Begeal, an associate with the firm, focuses his practice in the area of business and banking law and municipal law.
Second Circuit Issues Recent Decision on Force Majeure Asserted by Energy Companies in Oil & Gas Leases
The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit has certified two questions for the New York State Court of Appeals in a Force Majeure case being handled by the attorneys at Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, finding that the case raises significant and novel questions of New York oil & gas law.
In this lawsuit, the lawyers of Coughlin & Gerhart represent landowners against three energy companies on the issue of whether the term of expired oil & gas leases can be extended by Force Majeure due to the moratorium on high-volume hydrofracking in New York. The trial court, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York, had previously ruled in favor of our landowner clients
, concluding that the leases cannot be extended; the energy companies appealed. This Second Circuit decision was rendered in connection with that appeal. Coughlin & Gerhart and its landowner clients are now waiting for the NYS Court of Appeals to determine whether they will accept the offer to decide the certified questions. A copy of the Second Circuit's July 31, 2014 decision in the case, Beardslee v. Inflection Energy, LLC, is available here.
Coughlin & Gerhart's team of litigation and oil & gas attorneys are being led in this precedent-setting case by Robert R. Jones and Peter H. Bouman, who are based out of our law firm's Binghamton, New York office.
Coughlin & Gerhart Partner Presents at Southern Tier Nursery & Landscape Association Seminar
On Wednesday, March 5, Coughlin & Gerhart Partner Joseph J. Steflik, Esq. presented at the Southern Tier Nursery & Landscape Association Education Day & Trade Show. The seminar, which served to educate horticulture professionals, took place at the Treadway Inn & Conference Center in Owego, NY. Mr. Steflik, who concentrates his law practice in the areas of labor, employment, and construction law, presented information on the topic of home improvement contracts. Such issues covered by Mr. Steflik included home improvement contract provisions, fraud, and violations/penalties, together with developments in federal and state safety and wage regulations.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, has a main office at 99 Corporate Drive in Binghamton and has been serving the Southern Tier since the 1890s. Today, they are a multi-service law firm consisting of more than 40 lawyers and a large professional support staff. In addition to their main office, Coughlin & Gerhart has branch offices in Ithaca, Owego, Bainbridge, Hancock, Montrose, and Walton.
Coughlin & Gerhart Announces Two New Partners
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, is pleased to announce that Kristen K. Luce and Robert H. McKertich became partners in the firm effective January 1, 2014.
Ms. Luce joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 2007, and concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning, trust and estate administration, guardianships, adoptions, litigated estate matters, real estate and oil and gas law. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Broome County Bar Association. She is on the Board of Directors for the Mothers and Babies Perinatal Network and is a member of the Owego Rotary. She has been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers–Rising Stars Edition 2013 among New York lawyers for estate planning in the Super Lawyers magazine.
Mr. McKertich joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 2009. His practice is concentrated in land use and zoning law, environmental law, oil and gas law, municipal law, and education law. Mr. McKertich has a background in courtroom litigation and is experienced in practicing before federal, state and local administrative agencies. He was selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers–Rising Stars Edition 2013 among New York lawyers for municipal law in Super Lawyers magazine.
Coughlin & Gerhart has a main office at 99 Corporate Drive in Binghamton and has been serving the Southern Tier since the 1890s. Today, they are a multi-service law firm consisting of more than 40 lawyers and a professional support staff. In addition to their main office, Coughlin & Gerhart has branch offices in Ithaca, Owego, Bainbridge, Hancock, Walton and Montrose.