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.

Attorney Leino has 34 years of legal experience, with 30 years as a sole practitioner. He knows both perspectives of a legal case, having represented plaintiffs (people who sue), as well as defendants (people who are sued) and their insurance companies; familiarity with the judicial perspective, having served numerous times as an arbitrator in state and federal courts for over ten years, deciding civil cases of up to $100,000 in value.

Christopher Anderson is a practicing lawyer in the state of New York handling a variety of legal matters.

Martin Garbus has a diverse practice that consists of individuals and companies involved in politics, media, entertainment, and the arts. His courtroom skills have earned him a distinguished reputation as a trial lawyer. Mr. Garbus is experienced in every aspect of litigation and trial, from jury selection to cross-examination to summation. He has argued cases throughout the country involving constitutional, criminal, copyright, and intellectual property law. He has appeared before the United States Supreme Court, as well as trial and appellate courts throughout the United States. He has argued and written briefs that have been submitted to the United States Supreme Court; a number of which have resulted in changes in the law on a nationwide basis, including one described by Justice William Brennan as "probably the most important due process case in the Twentieth Century." An international observer in foreign elections, he was selected by President Jimmy Carter to observe and report on the elections in Venezuela and Nicaragua. Mr. Garbus also participated in drafting several constitutions and foreign laws, including the Czechoslovak constitution. He also has been involved in prisoner exchange negotiations between governments. He is the author of six books and over 30 articles in The New York Times, The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times. Mr. Garbus is featured in Shouting Fire, an award-winning documentary film about his life and career. He received the Fulbright Award for his work on International Human Rights in 2010. In 2014, University College Dublin's' Literary and Historical Society honored Mr. Garbus with the James Joyce Award for Excellence in Law, which is also the same year Trinity College awarded him for his human rights and free speech work. Mr. Garbus has also taught trial practice at Yale Law School and Constitutional law at Columbia. He has also taught classes in Beijing, China, and Prague, Czech Republic. He has lived and practiced in China and Italy as well as the United States. He authored six books and numerous articles that have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times and numerous legal publications. Mr. Garbus has given hundreds of speeches on various aspects of law before Bar Associations, corporations, law schools, and on CBS, NBC, ABC, CNN, and other television and radio networks. Martin Garbus’ devotion to ethics, justice, free speech, and the law has garnered enormous respect within the legal community, commercial and corporate sectors, and beyond. His numerous honors include designation in Who’s Who in America, a Profile in the New York Times, inclusion in Who’s Who in Best Lawyers in America, awards from his law school and college, and praise from his numerous high-profile clients.

The Law Firm of Camacho & Associates, P.C. is a General Law Practice with over 25 years concentrating on State and Federal Criminal Defense in the trenches of New York City and surrounding counties. Jose Camacho is a practicing lawyer in the state of New York. Attorney Camacho received his J.D. from the Pace University School of Law in 1994.

A lawyer for more than 20 years, Michael H. Joseph can help you with your personal injury, commercial litigation, or criminal defense case. Mr. Joseph's offices in Manhattan and White Plains, NY, offer free consultations so that everyone has access to a lawyer. Michael H. Joseph grew up in Coop City in the Bronx and then moved to Long Island as a teenager. After law school, Mr. Joseph worked for a prominent personal injury firm in Manhattan while living in Kew Gardens, Queens. He eventually started his own legal practice that serves people throughout New York City and Westchester County. Mr. Joseph's sense of social justice is built on his family’s New York roots and his experiences in law school in New Orleans. As the descendent of railway workers who suffered tragic injuries working in the New York railroads, Mr. Joseph knows firsthand the pain and devastation that an injury can cause. While attending Tulane University Law School, Mr. Joseph participated in the criminal clinic to handle felony cases. During this time, he represented clients throughout New Orleans who could not afford legal representation. This experience revealed how poverty leads to systemic injustice for people with low incomes, and the kind of difference a committed attorney can make for people in these underserved communities. Michael H. Joseph is dedicated to helping the little guy. Whether you live in New York City or Westchester County, his law office can give you the legal assistance you need. He is an effective advocate in the courtroom, on appeal, at arbitrations, during mediations, and in administrative hearings. In addition to complimentary consultations, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you don’t pay us a dime unless we reach a favorable settlement or verdict.

Max Leifer has been practicing civil law since 1972 and is licensed to practice law in New York, New Jersey, and Federal Court. He is a 32nd Degree Mason; a member of various religious and civil organizations, and is associated with numerous Bar Associations. He has a successful background in Social Security, Long-Term Disability, Union Benefits, and Personal Injury, both Plaintiff and Defendant. He is associated with other attorneys who specialize in criminal, trademark, malpractice, and commercial/real estate litigation. Due to successful trials, Max is a current member of the Million Dollar Club, which requires recoveries in excess of one million dollars. He has numerous cases reported in Jury Verdicts and has lectured on Social Security Disability and various conferences.

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.

Brianna is an experienced litigator with expertise in high value, complex disputes involving antitrust, fraud, cryptoassets, unfair business practices, trade secrets, commercial contracts, real estate, partnerships, trusts and estates, fiduciary removal suits, and defamation. She has also spent a significant amount of time counseling private clients in more personal matters, including civil harassment restraining orders, tax planning, business formation, and other complex business areas. Brianna puts her years of studying the complexity and interrelationship of legal, social, and ethical issues to use throughout her practice and, therefore, brings a practical but personable approach to business and legal issues.

We are a full-service law firm that specializes in divorce and family law. Our principal attorney is a former prosecutor who regularly handles supreme and family court matters throughout New York City and the surrounding counties. When you become a client, we provide you with the type of personalized and skilled representation you expect and need. We welcome the opportunity to speak with you and discuss how we may be of service.