Education

Mark R. Osherow is a Florida Bar Board Certified Specialist in Business Litigation with over 30 years of experience. He has practiced for most of those years in both state and federal courts throughout Florida. With significant trial and alternative dispute resolution experience, Osherow has taken countless depositions and served as first-chair in numerous trials, arbitrations and mediations. He serves as a legal advisor for his clients as they assess their business risks across a large segment of industry and service providers. Lawyer.com Member Questionnaire How did you build a successful practice? Throughout my early career, I was involved in class action litigation, complex litigation for major clients and product liability cases. I was fortunate to be involved in complex cases and, through that experience, to develop expertise in a variety of areas,” he says. Osherow learned early on that success as a litigator requires a very high level of commitment and tenacity. After 2006, my practice focused almost exclusively on business litigation and related areas such as real estate, construction and employment litigation. Osherow believes in leading by example, a philosophy he developed and has carried out through his over 30 years of practice. Osherow says he works to be a good listener. That skill, combined with his experience as a board-certified business litigator, allows him to respond quickly and effectively to client needs in diverse areas of the law. He believes in The Florida Bar board certification process. He says he is proud of his certification as a board-certified business litigation specialist, and frequently encourages his colleagues to apply. “I believe in team effort and in leading in a way that makes other people want to perform for you as a team. My philosophy has come down to this – the way I define a problem is whether somebody is going to remember in a day, a week, a month, six months, a year or five years from now. If they are not going to remember it in the long term, it is really not a problem; it is just a bump in the road. And 99.9 percent of things fall into that category, although at that moment they may seem like major issues. We work in a high pressure, stressful profession and it’s important that people know someone has his or her back,” he says. “I’d say the biggest challenge is getting a case to the point that the client fully realizes how cases are resolved. It is basically strategy. Most cases can ultimately be resolved. Finding those solutions that get the participants to a point where they are ready to resolve the case is for me one of the most interesting aspects of practicing law,” Osherow says. He helps clients to see that sometimes they are motivated more by hostility, anger, frustration or something else that interferes with their ability to focus on the practical business aspects of their situation. One of his primary goals is to motivate those clients to see their situation from a practical perspective rather than an emotional perspective, to see the situation as it really is – a purely business transaction. “Sometimes clients don’t think as rationally as they believe they are and sometimes when they think rationally they don’t necessarily weigh all the different aspects of the case. It is very important to help clients see the various motivations and causes that are influencing them to make a decision. Once we have done that analysis and we have gone through all of the specifics, then they can decide whether or not litigation is called for,” he says. Osherow sometimes faces a client who initially only wants to litigate, someone who doesn’t want or doesn’t realize that one of the key aspects of a case is an attorney’s ability to resolve or at least attempt to resolve the case before the client gets involved in expensive, time-consuming and often emotionally-draining litigation. He says it is crucial for a lawyer to help a client assess his or her willingness to take a case through the litigation process and trial. The client must also feel comfortable that their law firm is providing advice that is in their best interests, whether they go the distance through trial or seek alternative dispute resolution. “I always want our clients to understand the costs and risks of the decisions they’re making. For me, that is critical. I’m always advising clients about the next step, about what they need to know, what we should be doing, and advising them constantly on pre-litigation, litigation, settlement and trial issues,” he says. Osherow says that whether cases are rewarding or difficult, an attorney has to have an even keel as a litigator. He upholds a philosophy of trust when it comes to his clients’ interests. “My father taught me to never give up and my first boss taught me how to think like a lawyer, to be precise, and to be articulate in my writing. From those mentors and others, I have come to believe strongly in creating an environment where people can do their best.” What should clients look for in a lawyer? Do not rely on what is on a lawyer’s website alone. Speak to the lawyer and make sure your questions are fully answered and there is no run around or diversion in providing direct answers. That does not mean that every question is subject to an easy answer however. Make sure the lawyer has the competence to proceed with your case or its defense. Many inexperienced lawyers claim to be experts in matters that are really outside of their experience level or abilities. Many lawyers do not have the extensive training and experience to handle complex litigation but represent to the public that they have this experience. But they can be cost effective by charging lower rates. Sometimes you get what you pay for so be careful in selecting a lawyer who can at a minimum learn the issues and competently address your situation. Look for a lawyer who will represent you or your company vigorously and professionally and will take the time to learn all the critical issues involved in your particular matter. Check for prior cases handled by the lawyer and the actual experience the lawyer has in similar or related types of cases, recognizing that each case may well present distinct issues. Find out when the lawyer was admitted to the Bar and if they are Board Certified as a specialist in their particular area of practice, which can also help select a lawyer with the competency to handle a matter within their specialty. How important is local knowledge to the success of your cases? It is important to know the lawyers on the other side and the court rules and the reputations and differences in the way judges handle cases before them. This helps provide each client with valuable insight on how the case may progress in court. Where a case is in arbitration, where possible, it is critical to know the reputation of the arbitrators who may be chosen to hear the case.

Faith Getz Rousso, Esq. is a Private Adoption Attorney with a practice in Long Island, NY. The Law Office of Faith Getz Rousso, P.C. brings a unique sensitivity to adoption law. Faith Getz Rousso is an adult adoptee and a mother of two boys with many years of family law experience. Ms. Rousso graduated from George Washington University with a degree in sociology, New York Law School, is a certified Parent Coordinator and mediator. She is a member of the following organizations: National Council For Adoption, New York Bar Association (Adoption Law Committee, Family Law Committee and Committee on LGBT People and the Law), the Nassau County Bar Association (Immediate past-chairperson of Adoption Law Committee), Mommy's Angel's Adoption Support Group and Adoptive Parent Committee (APC), and proud to be on the Board of Directors of Nassau County Women's Bar Association. Faith Getz Rousso is also on the foster care panel of Nassau County Family Court. You can hear Faith Getz Rousso speak at Adoptive Parent Committee Conferences, adult education classes, local libraries and any time you call!

Mr. Bottar brings more than 15 years of experience to the pursuit of medical malpractice, wrongful death, construction accident, and other complex personal injury actions throughout New York and the northeastern United States, with a focus on claims for birth injuries, neonatal/pediatric negligence, heart attack, stroke, brain damage, spine/nerve injuries, and liability under the Federal Tort Claims Act. Mr. Bottar is a graduate of Colgate University and is a summa cum laude (top 2%) graduate of Syracuse University College of Law where he is an adjunct professor of law, authors the "Civil Practice" chapter of the Syracuse Law Review’s Survey on New York law, and serves on the law school's Board of Advisors. Mr. Bottar has been selected by his colleagues for inclusion in the oldest peer-reviewed publication in the legal profession, The Best Lawyers In America®. For the areas of plaintiff's medical malpractice, product liability and personal injury, he is the youngest attorney in central New York listed in Best Lawyers®, and is the only attorney in Syracuse listed in all three fields. Mr. Bottar was honored by The Best Lawyers In America® as Syracuse's 2019 Medical Malpractice Lawyer of the Year, its 2019 Product Liability Lawyer of the Year, and its 2017 Product Liability Lawyer of the Year. Mr. Bottar is regional vice president of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers and is a member of its judicial screening committee. He is also one of the region's best known speakers and has, on behalf of various bar associations, provided continuing legal education on nearly 50 occasions to thousands of attorneys in Syracuse, Albany, Rochester, Buffalo, New York City and throughout Long Island. In addition, Mr. Bottar has been invited to speak by the Association of Justices of the Supreme Court of the State of New York, and was selected to serve as a faculty member for the New York State Bar Association Advanced Trial Academy. Every year since 2013, Mr. Bottar has been recognized in Upstate New York Super Lawyers®, a publication with membership limited to the top 5% of lawyers in each state, and was selected for its "Top 50" lawyers list in 2016, 2018 and 2019. He was named a 2016 New York Daily Record Attorney of the Year for his "professional accomplishments, exceptional character, integrity, ethics, and commitment to clients and community." He has achieved an AV® Preeminent™ rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the organization's highest rating for legal ability and ethical standards, and holds the title of fellow in the Litigation Counsel of America, a trial lawyer honorary society with membership limited to less than one-half of one percent of lawyers. Since 2013, Mr. Bottar has been recognized annually by The National Trial Lawyers as one of the "Top 100" trial lawyers in New York State and, having recovered nearly $75,000,000 for his clients, he has earned life membership in the Million Dollar and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forums. Mr. Bottar is a past member and executive editor of the Syracuse Law Review, which published his note titled "Robbing Peter to Pay Paul: Medicaid Liens, Supplemental Needs Trusts and Personal Injury Recoveries on Behalf of Infants In New York State Following the Gold Decision." Mr. Bottar’s article, which addressed the complexities of personal injury settlements, has been cited as an authority by the Practicing Law Institute (twice), American Jurisprudence Proof of Facts, the American Law Institute, and the American Bar Association’s Real Property Trusts and Estates Law Journal. In addition to the Syracuse Law Review, he is a past member of the Syracuse University College of Law Moot Court Honor Society, and was inducted into the Order of the Coif, the Order of Barristers, and the Justinian Honorary Law Society. Mr. Bottar began his legal career as a litigation associate with the New York City office of White & Case, LLP, one of the largest and most prestigious law firms in the world (41 offices in 28 countries), with professional highlights including representing a French bank on trial for fraud, advising Fortune 500 companies on various liability matters, and conducting Foreign Corrupt Practices Act investigations in Buenos Aires, Brussels, Paris, Hong Kong and Shanghai. Immediately prior to joining Bottar Law, PLLC, Mr. Bottar was a litigation associate with Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC, then the largest law firm in Syracuse, New York. Mr. Bottar is also a founding donor in support of Syracuse University's newly-constructed law school, where the Lorraine and Anthony V. Bottar Lecture Hall is named in memory of his grandparents. He was born and raised in Syracuse, New York, and presently resides in Manlius with his wife, Tiffany, a physical therapist, and their children.

Louis I. Newman has been a member of the New York Bar since 1968 and has negotiated and tried hundreds of cases, including matrimonial cases which are cited for various precedents. He has represented professional athletes, celebrities and judges in New York State in their divorces. He has been called upon to testify as an expert witness regarding New York divorce law and participated as a panelist in Continuing Legal Education courses.

Richard S. Gershman, the firm’s founder, has been practicing law for more than five decades. Over the past 50 years, Richard Gershman has won recoveries amounting in the millions of dollars for injured plaintiffs and their families. As most colleagues and clients already know, Richard Gershman is a tireless advocate for those injured through the negligence of others. Richard S. Gershman, born in Far Rockaway, New York 1946, attended Oklahoma City University earning a BS in business, and continued his education at Suffolk University Law School earning a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree. Professionally, Richard S. Gershman specializes in Personal Injury beginning his career with the Law Firm Queller & Fisher. He then went on to form his own firm Bernstein & Gershman which handled real estate transactions along with oil & gas transactions. He now is the sole owner of Richard S. Gershman & Associates PC. Richard S. Gershman has formerly been a board member of Franklin General Hospital. He is the former president of the Woodmere Country Club. He has served as a board member of Fresh Meadow Country Club. He is currently a Board Member of Northwell Health and was named the outstanding Associate Trustee of the hospital in 2019. Over the past 35 years, he has headed up Golf tournaments for numerous charities including Northwell Health for Cohen’s Children’s Hospital, raising in excess of twenty-five million dollars.

Ronald Nir has represented individuals and corporations in Criminal Cases for more than 30 years. He has tried to completion well over 250 felony and misdemeanor trials. He prides himself on his experience and track record. Mr. Nir has donated his time to the New York City Department of Education, various local community groups and organizations such as the Congregation of Racial Equality. RONALD NIR WILL BE THERE FOR YOU. Ronald Nir has been in the news, on behalf of his clients, on many occasions. While he does not seek out the Press, the Press seeks him out. He has also appeared on various television programs as a legal analyst. Ronald Nir has lectured on many different and varied areas in Criminal Law including fingerprint evidence, New York discovery and evidence, DNA evidence, Sex Offender Registration and Management, Speedy Trial and legal ethics. Ronald Nir is well respected amongst his peers as evidenced by his BV rating with Martindale-Hubbell.

Introducing Robert L. Greener: Your Expert Intellectual Property Lawyer in New York In the dynamic world of intellectual property, safeguarding your creations, ideas, and innovations is paramount. Meet Robert L. Greener, a seasoned lawyer based in the bustling city of New York, renowned for his exceptional expertise in handling intellectual property cases. With an unwavering dedication to protecting the rights and interests of his clients, Robert has become a trusted legal advocate in the realm of intellectual property law.

Debra Wabnik is a partner at Stagg Wabnik Law Group. She represents clients in federal and state courts in New York and New Jersey, as well as federal courts in Connecticut. She also represents clients in administrative forums such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New York State Division of Human Rights, and the New York State Education Department. Debra has handled numerous appellate matters before the Appellate Division, First and Second Departments. Her practice areas include general litigation, labor and employment and banking and credit card litigation. She achieved an "AV" Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating, has been named a New York Metro Super Lawyer since 2013, and was voted the 2014 Top Legal Eagle in Employment Law for Nassau and Suffolk Counties. Debra is a graduate of Hofstra University of Law, where she was a member of the Labor Law Journal and Editor of the Entertainment Law Digest. She received her undergraduate degree from the State University of New York at Binghamton, where she graduated with honors.

If you’ve made the difficult decision to divorce, you may be angry or feel betrayed. You may even feel like seeking revenge. As a child of a complicated divorce, I felt my parents’ pain and carried my own heartbreak and confusion. Ever since that experience, I knew that one day I would dedicate my life to helping families who also face this challenging circumstance. I determined that I would assist them in easing the divorce process and beginning a new life. In order to accomplish my goals, I studied Administration of Justice and Psychology in my bachelor’s degree at Rutgers University to better understand the law and people’s behavior. I then received my Juris Doctorate law degree with an Excellence in Torts Award. Galit Moskowitz, Esq. is proud to be certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Matrimonial Law Attorney, an accreditation earned by less than 1% of attorneys in the state of New Jersey. To qualify for matrimonial certification a New Jersey attorney must: be a member in good standing with the New Jersey state bar for five (5) years or more; fulfill ongoing continuing legal education requirements; demonstrate a substantial level of experience in matrimonial law and be favorably evaluated and recommended by other attorneys and Judges who can vouch for their work. The applications are scrutinized and must be approved by the board on attorney certification. Only after all these criteria are met is the attorney eligible to take the written examination in matrimonial law, which they must pass in order to be Certified as a Matrimonial Law Attorney. Supreme Court certification is a rare designation that sets attorneys apart as experts in their field. This shows clients that their attorney has mastered their area of practice, thus providing clients with comfort that they are in good hands by being represented by a certified attorney. Galit has met the rigorous standards for qualification and is honored to be recognized by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Certified Matrimonial Lawyer. Attorney Galit Moskowitz has been practicing exclusively in the area of family law for over 15 years. I handle cases related to divorce, contested divorce, high net worth divorce, uncontested divorce, child custody, child support, spousal support, equitable distribution, dissolution of civil unions and domestic partnerships, palimony, domestic violence, grandparent visitation and international child abduction.

In 1989 Mr. Dervishi obtained his law degree from Tirana University School of Law. Mr. Dervishi worked as a special agent of the General Investigations Office with his office in Tirana. In 1994 he was elected as the Deputy Attorney General by the Albanian Parliament. He served as the Deputy Attorney General of Albania from 1994 to 1998. In 1998 he immigrated to United States. His family arrived in the U.S. within a few months. Upon his arrival in Washington D.C., he met with members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives since his trip was sponsored by the U.S. government. Beginning in 2003, he began to attend Pace University School of Law and graduated with a Master of Law degree in May, 2004. He is now admitted to the New York State Bar and practices law in all courts in our state.