I have 30+ years of experience as a Workers' Compensation attorney with a concentration in insurance defense and strategies to reduce costs. I have won multiple cases against fraudulent claims. I have successfully litigated claims on all aspects of the Workers' Compensation law in New York. I have advocated for claimants before the NY Workers' Compensation Board and since I have experience on both sides of the table, I understand the dynamics between claimants and the insurance companies. I have negotiated rates and settlements on both sides. I also practice Workers' Compensation insurance defense in New Jersey.

G. Oliver Koppell, a cum laude graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, has a distinguished legacy of service in both the private and public sectors. He brings more than 40 years of legal experience to bear on every case, and has successfully represented clients in many areas of practice. Mr. Koppell is a former New York State Attorney General. In addition, he has served as a member of the New York State Assembly and the New York City Council. Mr. Koppell has vast experience in both trial and appellate courts across New York and beyond. In fact, he has argued before the Supreme Court of the United States. This experience offers meaningful benefits to our clients. Mr. Koppell has been selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers each year from 2013 to 2016.

Nicole Brenecki is a native-born New Yorker who, following an extensive overseas education, returned to practice law in her place of birth. Fluent in English, German, and Polish, Ms. Brenecki’s distinctive global experiences allow her to fully understand and appreciate the unique needs of her clients with the ability to explain the intricacies of New York law in multiple languages. Ms. Brenecki obtained her Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School in 2017. At Brooklyn Law, Ms. Brenecki was awarded the prestigious Brooklyn Law Students for the Public Interest Fellowship and in 2018, she co-founded an organization that was instrumental in the repeal of the New York City Cabaret Law by Mayor Bill DeBlasio. Prior to obtaining her Juris Doctorate, Ms. Brenecki received a Master’s Degree in Law at the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Warsaw and a Diploma in American Law at Center for American Law Studies at the University of Warsaw in 2013. Nicole has extensive experience working for both Plaintiffs and Defendants and specializes in Personal Injury and Labor Law, as well as Employment and Wage Law, in which she heads the firm’s practice. In only her second year of full-time practice, Nicole was named a “Super Lawyer – Rising Star,” a distinction awarded to no more than 2.5% of attorneys in each state for her excellence as a litigator, in 2021. In 2022, she was honored with the “Super Lawyer – Rising Star” award again, followed by the “Top 10 under 40” Award for New York Personal Injury Attorneys, as well as the Lawyers of Distinction Award. Ms. Brenecki is admitted to practice law in the state of New York, as well as before the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.

Arnold H. Pedowitz is a Partner with Pedowitz & Meister LLP in New York where he practices plaintiff-side employment law. Mr. Pedowitz is a member of the American Bar Association and has been chosen as a Super Lawyer in each year since 2006. He earned his J.D. from Boston University School of Law and his LL.M. from New York University School of Law. Mr. Pedowitz served as an Adjunct Professor at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law from 1997 - 2017. He represents Investment Bankers, Senior Executives, Licensed Professionals, Other Working Persons and Progressive Employers in Employment Matters.

Mr. Connor D. Deverell earned his bachelor’s degree in economics with a minor in French from the College of Charleston in 2009. He went on to receive his J.D., cum laude, from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law in 2012. While in law school, he served on the editorial board for the Loyola Law Review, and published the case note, “Defining A Corporation's ‘Principal Place Of Business’: The United States Supreme Court's Decision In Hertz Corp. V. Friend.” Mr. Deverell participated in numerous legal internships and volunteer activities, both in college and in law school. While studying abroad in Australia, he assisted refugees in obtaining residency and work visas as a volunteer for C.A.S.E. Law Firm for Refugees. As a law clerk for a legal services organization, he aided the homeless in securing public assistance. He also interned at a national healthcare law firm and a public defender’s office before becoming a project attorney at an international law firm in Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Deverell was an associate attorney for a disability and personal injury law firm prior to joining Disability Justice. He advocated for clients’ Social Security disability benefits in more than 900 hearings before administrative law judges..

Jonathan Damashek is a personal injury lawyer in New York City. He frequently assists clients injured in construction accidents, car accidents, truck accidents, bicycle accidents, and other personal injury matters.

Deena R. Merlen is a Partner at the firm. She serves clients at both our New York and Stamford offices and heads the Connecticut practice. Her practice areas include intellectual property, employment and labor law, media and entertainment, general business law, commercial transactions and dispute resolution. In her employment practice, Ms. Merlen is a trusted “go to” problem solver and counsel to individuals, established name brand companies and startups alike. She has extensive experience representing clients in matters including general counseling, discrimination actions, mediations and dispute resolution, investigations by federal or state agencies, as well as wage and hour claims and other labor law matters. She also advises on and regularly negotiates employment and separation agreements, independent contractor arrangements and other services-related arrangements. Ms. Merlen also counsels clients on employment and business matters in response to a crisis or other unexpected business impact, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting business closures, including continuity plans, employee furloughs, reductions in force and other critical measures. In her intellectual property practice, Ms. Merlen helps her clients with the development, acquisition and protection of their valuable brands and other vital intellectual property assets. She manages and grows trademark portfolios in the U.S. and internationally; negotiates licensing, assignment, distribution and branding agreements; prosecutes trademark and copyright registrations; enforces intellectual property rights; and provides strategic counsel to safeguard brand platforms and expand the value of her clients’ intellectual property assets. Ms. Merlen’s media practice encompasses the development and protection of creative works in the fields of music, film, television, theatre, publishing, literary arts, performing arts, design and technology. She ran her own business in the entertainment industry for over a decade and brings that business experience and acumen to her legal practice. In addition, Ms. Merlen provides general business counsel and represents clients in company and transactional matters such as partnerships, joint ventures, licensing arrangements, the purchase or sale of businesses, and a wide range of other corporate matters, including company formation, capitalization and governance, compliance and contracts. Representative clients include technology companies, schools and other academic institutions, personal care and beauty companies, fashion and design companies, media, arts and entertainment companies, wholesalers, retailers and more. Prior to her work with RPJ, Ms. Merlen served as Law Clerk to The Honorable Roger J. Miner of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, after which she joined Debevoise & Plimpton, where she practiced for over five years in the areas of corporate law and intellectual property. Ms. Merlen is admitted to practice in Connecticut and New York.

Mr. Bellovin actively practices before federal and state appellate and trial courts, various governmental agencies and departments and arbitration and mediation tribunals. His cases have been reported in federal and state reporters, and have been the subject of newspaper and magazine articles. His practice includes all phases of litigation and trial practice, Alternative Dispute Resolution and negotiation, and covers all aspects of employer-employee relations, including workers compensation defense, FLSA litigation defense, employment discrimination litigation and employee benefits.

Robert Basil is the founding member of The Basil Law Group and has been a licensed attorney since 1988. He has been practicing in New York City since 2003. He is a graduate of Rutgers Law School and holds an LLM in Corporate Law from New York University School of Law, as well as an M.B.A. in Business Management from Fordham Graduate School of Business. Mr. Basil is an accomplished litigator with more than 25 years of litigation experience. He has represented individuals and companies in a variety of cases. His primary practice area encompasses commercial litigation and counseling across a broad spectrum of industries, including banking, manufacturing, personal services, fashion, real estate, and retail. Whether the case is large or small, Mr. Basil is committed to providing the highest quality legal services in a cost-effective manner. Mr. Basil’s practice covers all facets of litigation, including trials and appeals from state and federal courts, and arbitration, in cases involving: RICO Commercial contracts Restrictive covenants The Uniform Fraudulent Transfer Act Fraudulent conveyances Piercing the corporate veil D&O issues Creditors’ rights Bankruptcy Indemnification issues Real estate Intellectual property Government regulations In addition to litigation, a key component of Mr. Basil’s practice is providing general counsel services on a wide range of business issues. He also manages litigation domestically and worldwide. As general counsel, Mr. Basil provides the following services: Conducting investigations when unlawful or unethical conducts has been alleged Drafting corporate documents, including commercial and employment contracts Advising clients on federal, state, and municipal regulations Counseling on labor and employment-related issues including compliance with state and federal employment and wage and hour laws