Creative Solutions to Immigration Problems A continuing commitment to justice for immigrants Our team of dedicated attorneys at Bretz & Coven, LLP are known throughout New York City for enthusiastically taking on the cases that other lawyers turn down. When we believe an injustice is being done, we are prepared to fight for our clients — in federal court, if necessary. Our firm is AV-Rated® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, and our team includes a former litigator for the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS). Because of our reputation in immigration law, other immigration attorneys often refer difficult cases to us. Dedication to immigration justice in every venue Our work is not limited to the administrative process of immigration. While we eagerly help individuals and families understand the process of obtaining citizenship, New York residency or a green card, we consider complex cases to be the strongpoint of our practice. Our attorneys have argued immigration appeals in federal appellate courts and have had a statute declared unconstitutional. We are dedicated to comprehensive immigration reform and remain invested in the latest immigration legislation and rulemaking, including deferred action. This allows us to advise our clients in New York of the full range

An adoptive parent himself, Gregory Franklin has experienced first-hand the challenges and joys of adopting a child. Adoptions involve a highly emotional area of law in which any legal misstep can cause devastating effects. With more than 20 years of adoption experience, Greg's goal is to develop a legally secure plan that serves the best interests of the child and respects the wishes and interests of both the adoptive parents and the birth parents. Greg works extensively with Gay, Lesbian, Bi-sexual and transgendered clients, and has represented clients in cases which have broken new ground in this area. Greg is passionate about adoptions — he is a frequent lecturer and author on ethics and adoption-related topics and he works tirelessly to achieve a positive result for adoption families. In his representation of birth parents, Greg will assist in locating adoptive parents, negotiating open adoption and post-adoption contact agreements, and coordinating the process with the hospital and the adoptive parents. Greg has considerable experience in the developing area of assisted fertility, including surrogacy and gestational carrier agreements, donor embryos and eggs, and in obtaining parentage and pre-birth orders. Greg also helps to create permanent families through stepparent and co-parent adoptions, grandparent adoptions, extended-family custody agreements, foster care arrangements and international adoptions. He will assist in selecting the right avenue for achieving adoption goals, including the decision about whether to pursue domestic or international adoption, the choice between agency and private adoptions, selecting home study resources, managing subsidy and Adoption Tax Credit issues, and locating post-adoption services. If you or someone you know is interested in adoption or assisted fertility, please contact our firm to schedule a consultation with Greg. To learn more about Greg's adoption practice, please visit his adoption website at www.AdoptionNY.com

Sexual Harassment and Employment Discrimination Attorney in New York, Philadelphia & New Jersey. Derek Smith is proud to have obtained several multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts on behalf of employees like you, who have been discriminated, tormented, and humiliated at work. Attorney Smith and his firm have obtained a $2.5 Million verdict on behalf of a woman sexual harassed by a restaurant owner. He also obtained a $1.6 Million verdict on behalf of a woman who was subject to a hostile work environment while working as a chef. He believes in becoming emotionally invested in every one of his clients, and it shows in his results.

Eugene Litman, Esq. established Litman & Litman, P.C. in 1958. Eugene raised his four sons with aspirations that they would join him in the legal profession. He and his sons often discussed legal cases and argued their potential outcome over the dinner table. Eventually, all four of Eugene’s sons took up the legal profession by becoming lawyers. Two of Eugene’s sons, Jeffrey Litman and Kenneth Litman, joined their father’s firm. Today they have nearly 100 years of combined legal experience in personal injury law. Eugene Litman earned his degree from Brooklyn Law School while both Jeffrey Litman and Kenneth Litman earned their J.D. degrees from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center. Jeffrey received a B.S. in Management from Boston University while Ken earned his B.S. in Management from Arizona State University. The Litman family has brought justice to thousands of clients by securing hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for them. With degrees in both law and business, they are more than qualified to defend your interests. They will accommodate your schedule with visits to your residence, hospital, or nursing home. They treat clients and their client’s circumstances with sensitivity. They understand that clients are potentially dealing with personal tragedies such as personal injury and wrongful death. The Litman team remains competitive and keeps apprised of the latest legal matters by extensive readings, attending conferences, and constant networking. They have met many leaders in American law, including United States Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Antonin Scalia.

Eugene Litman, Esq. established Litman & Litman, P.C. in 1958. Eugene raised his four sons with aspirations that they would join him in the legal profession. He and his sons often discussed legal cases and argued their potential outcome over the dinner table. Eventually, all four of Eugene’s sons took up the legal profession by becoming lawyers. Two of Eugene’s sons, Jeffrey Litman and Kenneth Litman, joined their father’s firm. Today they have nearly 100 years of combined legal experience in personal injury law. Eugene Litman earned his degree from Brooklyn Law School while both Jeffrey Litman and Kenneth Litman earned their J.D. degrees from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center. Jeffrey received a B.S. in Management from Boston University while Ken earned his B.S. in Management from Arizona State University. The Litman family has brought justice to thousands of clients by securing hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for them. With degrees in both law and business, they are more than qualified to defend your interests. They will accommodate your schedule with visits to your residence, hospital, or nursing home. They treat clients and their client’s circumstances with sensitivity. They understand that clients are potentially dealing with personal tragedies such as personal injury and wrongful death. The Litman team remains competitive and keeps apprised of the latest legal matters by extensive readings, attending conferences, and constant networking. They have met many leaders in American law, including United States Supreme Court Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Antonin Scalia.

Mr. Goidel is a partner in the law firm of Goidel & Siegel, LLP, which he and Andrew Siegel co-founded in 1990. Prior to the founding of Goidel & Siegel, Mr. Goidel was associated with several prestigious international law firms. At Goidel & Siegel, he focuses on the prosecution of product liability and personal injury cases. He has tried cases to verdict in nearly every trial court in New York City and has argued appeals in the Appellate Divisions of both the First and Second Judicial Departments. Mr. Goidel graduated from Hamilton College in 1983. In 1986, he graduated from Brooklyn Law School, where he was a member of the Brooklyn Law Review. He has served as a member of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York Committee on Young Lawyers and the Committee on Eastern European Affairs. He has served as an arbitrator for the New York City Civil Court, Small Claims Court. Mr. Goidel is a member of the American Trial Lawyers Association and the New York State Trial Lawyers Association.

Amy Sklar has practiced with several well-respected law firms and independently on Long Island. She has over 30 years of legal experience focusing on Matrimonial and Family Law. She also has provided her clients with her expertise in Real Estate Law, both in connection with a pending divorce matter or otherwise. Ms. Sklar has successfully negotiated pre-nuptial, post-nuptial and separation agreements as well as stipulations of settlement. Her practice includes litigation in the Family Court, Supreme Court and Appellate Courts of New York. She has tried numerous divorce and annulment cases, custody hearings, domestic violence hearings, support hearings, and related issues both pre- and post-judgment. Her practice includes litigation in the Family Court, Supreme Court and Appellate Courts of New York. Ms. Sklar is a member of the New York State Bar Association. Some of her more notable cases have been covered by the New York Law Journal and various other periodicals.

Howard Chetkof is partner at Levin & Chetkof, LLP. He is a seasoned attorney and a highly skilled negotiator concentrating his practice in personal injury. He has represented clients who have sustained all types of serious personal injuries as the result of automobile accidents, motorcycle accidents, trucking accidents, pedestrians struck by motor vehicles, wrongful death, construction site accidents, premises liability, trip/slip and falls, dog bites, assault and battery, nursing home negligence, and certain medical malpractice matters. Mr. Chetkof’s representation of injured individuals has extended to both the state and federal courts. In addition, Mr. Chetkof handles matters involving legal malpractice, no-fault/first-party benefit arbitrations, and real estate. Mr. Chetkof and the firm handle their cases from inception to conclusion, including the claims stage, litigation, trials, and appeals. He has also directly negotiated and handled hundreds of cases at mediations and arbitrations and has recovered millions of dollars for his clients. Not only does he represent his firm's clients, but Mr. Chetkof has also been retained as outside counsel, by other law firms, to represent their clients' interests at mediations, arbitrations, trials, and appeals. Mr. Chetkof believes that every client has the right to talk directly to their attorney, not just the office staff, and has an open-door policy for the firm’s active clients, former clients, and prospective clients.

Personal injury and criminal law is a complex collection of ever-changing legislation and case law. Many of those injured by a third party's negligence and/or facing allegations of criminal offenses may not understand their rights or how their lives will be impacted. Without the help of a knowledgeable lawyer, your rights could be prejudiced. As an attorney with more than 25 years of experience, I understand the critical nature of staying up-to-date with the changes to state and federal law. As your lawyer, I will uncover the details of your case, answer your questions, and help you build a tough strategy to battle the legal challenges you face. I can also help you navigate your way through New York’s complex legal system. Talk to me first before making any decision that could have legal implications.

Leigh is a founding partner of Sutton & Smyth, LLP. Born and raised in New York City, Leigh learned valuable lessons in street smarts, which provided him with a relentless work ethic and a tireless dedication to excel. Combined with his legal education and extensive experience, Leigh is a formidable trial attorney that does not shy away from the courtroom and has recovered millions of dollars for his clients. Leigh has dedicated his practice to zealously representing hard-working New Yorkers injured as a result of someone else’s negligence and representing victims who experienced property damage due to a fire or water loss. He gained invaluable early experience as a Partner of a renowned insurance defense firm, working closely with insurance adjusters and learning the ins and outs of how insurance companies value personal injury and property damage cases. He uses this knowledge, together with excellent negotiating and litigation skills, to maximize his client’s monetary recoveries. Leigh believes that all victims deserve a lawyer that truly cares about them. To that end, he makes himself available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and will continually communicate with clients to provide updates as their case progresses. He provides his cell number so clients can contact him whenever the need arises and is committed to excellence in the representation of his clients to bring them the justice they deserve and the compassion they need. Leigh is a native of Manhattan and is proud to continue to live there with his family. He attended college at Columbia University and Boston University and graduated from New York Law School. He is admitted to practice in all the Courts of New York State, the United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit. If you have been injured in an accident, or have sustained property damage due to the fault of another, Leigh will fight for you.