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.

Josh is an intellectual property attorney with more than 25 years of experience counseling large corporations, small businesses, start-ups and individuals in the development, protection, enforcement and defense of their patent, trademark, trade dress and copyright assets. Josh prides himself on bringing a practical, business-oriented approach to all types of patent, trademark, trade dress, copyright or unfair competition issues for his clients.

As a Senior Trial Attorney in the King’s County District Attorney’s Office, Mr. Galleshaw prosecuted hundreds of felony and misdemeanor cases in New York Supreme Court, New York City Criminal Court, and New York State Family Court. Upon leaving the District Attorney’s Office, Mr. Galleshaw worked in the litigation department of one of the country’s most respected insurance defense firms, where he handled a wide range of complex litigation matters, including products liability, motor vehicle accidents, construction accidents, lead and asbestos poisoning, and general negligence claims. Mr. Galleshaw’s practice focuses on all types of complex litigation matters, including all state and federal criminal defense matters, complex commercial litigation and high-value construction, and motor vehicle injury claims. He is currently admitted to practice in New York State, New Jersey State, and the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.

Introducing Stuart Birbach: Your Trusted Advocate for Criminal Matters in New York When it comes to navigating the complex and often daunting world of criminal law, one name stands out as a beacon of hope and expertise: Stuart Birbach. With an illustrious career spanning years of dedicated service, Mr. Birbach has established himself as a highly respected and sought-after lawyer in New York. With a deep understanding of the intricacies of criminal matters and an unwavering commitment to justice, he has consistently delivered exceptional results for his clients.

Gerald Karikari is admitted to practice law in the state of New York, as well as in the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Mr. Karikari emigrated from Ghana, West Africa, as a young child. As such, the plight of immigrants is something Mr. Karikari is deeply concerned about. In addition, Mr. Karikari is passionate about community affairs. Mr. Karikari is also a Property Manager and Director of various real estate businesses such as Woods and Ruff Global LLC, outfitting him with an extensive depth of knowledge in all things real estate management. He serves on numerous executive boards such as the Rosedale Jets Football Association, Success Consultancy Group, and Merrick Academy Charter School. Our office staff members speak multiple languages other than English such as Twi, Ga Mandarin, Fuzhou, Spanish, French, Mandingo, Burbur, Malentu, Punjabi, Hindu and Urdu. Many other languages can be accommodated upon request.

Leslie Akst earned her B.A. in Psychology from Wellesley College in 1973. She graduated from Princeton University with an M.A. in Psychology in 1975, and from Fordham Law School with a J.D. in 1978 where she was also a member of the Law Review. As a member of the Fordham Law Review, she published an article on the New York Art Market. Mrs. Akst is admitted to the New York State and Federal Bars. Before joining Akst & Akst, she clerked for the Surrogate of New York County. Upon joining Akst & Akst, she acted as a closing counsel for Chemical Bank’s residential mortgage department for four years where she represented the bank in numerous mortgage closings.

George Akst received his B.A. in Economics from Boston University in 1972. He attended The Hague Academy of International Law in the Netherlands in 1973 and received his J.D. from Fordham Law School in 1976 where he was a member of the Urban Law Journal. He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1977 and is admitted to practice in the New York Federal Courts and US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. He has been a Member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association since 1984 where he has spoken on numerous topics, including visas for artists, athletes, and entertainers. He is a member of the Union Internationale Des Avocats, the Paris based International Bar Association, where he has spoken on such various issues as U.S. visa investment opportunities and human trafficking. Mr. Akst is a former Adjunct Professor of Business and Real Estate Law, at both Long Island University and at the Borough of Manhattan Community College from 1979-1981.

Peter is a registered patent attorney and an associate in the Intellectual Property group with experience in patent, trademark, copyright, trade secrets, and licensing matters. Peter’s practice involves assisting clients in establishing, protecting, maintaining, and enforcing intellectual property rights. His practice covers all phases of intellectual property prosecution, litigation, and counseling, and he has represented clients of all sizes from individuals and start-ups to large corporations. Peter’s experience includes handling and defending against contentious and IP assertion matters, providing invalidity, non-infringement, and clearance opinions, drafting technology licensing and assignment agreements, directing IP e-commerce enforcement, and managing domain name disputes, including UDRP actions. Peter is also a registered patent attorney capable of handling all stages of utility and design patent prosecution before the USPTO. His patent prosecution experience covers a wide range of fields including design, software, robotic and submersible vehicles, printers, and other mechanical devices. His litigation experience includes patent, trademark, and copyright litigation matters in U.S. District Courts on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants, as well as appeal and post-grant proceedings before the USPTO. Before joining ArentFox Schiff, Peter was an associate at a boutique intellectual property firm in the New York area, where he served as the brand enforcement team lead in addition to his normal duties. In this role, he and his team helped to remove counterfeit, knock-off, and infringing products from leading sales platforms and applications. While in law school, Peter served as the President of the Intellectual Property Law Society and as a Notes Editor for the Cardozo Arts & Entertainment Law Journal. He was also a member of the American IP Law Association’s Patent Committee and a summer patent extern at the USPTO.

Leonard C. Spector is a practicing lawyer in the state of New York handling personal injury matters.