Mr. Benno is an appellate and constitutional law attorney. He began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney at the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office, where he served in both the trial division and the appeals bureau. Upon leaving government service, Mr. Benno worked at a premier civil litigation law firm where he focused on civil rights matters in both state and federal courts. In 2009, Mr. Benno opened his own law practice. Mr. Benno is admitted to the New York and Connecticut state bars, and is admitted to practice in the federal courts of the Southern, Eastern, Northern, and Western Districts of New York as well as the United States Courts of Appeal for the Second and Third Circuit. He is also admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. From 2006 through 2012, Mr. Benno was an adjunct professor at New York Law School, where he taught Appellate Advocacy and Legal Reasoning and Writing. Mr. Benno regularly lectures for bar associations and continuing legal education providers on topics having to do with constitutional law, appellate advocacy, and trial practice. Mr. Benno has been selected for inclusion in New York Super Lawyers for the last 10 years in the areas of First Amendment and civil rights law. Mr. Benno received his B.A. degree with honors from Johns Hopkins University, and his law degree from Cornell Law School.

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.

Arthur Schwartz is a Principal Attorney at Advocates for Justice Chartered Attorneys. Mr. Schwartz has been representing unions, workers, and Lower Manhattan community residents for over 32 years. He is widely recognized as one of New York City’s top labor and employment lawyers.

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..

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.

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.

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.

A seasoned attorney with a wide range of litigation experience, J.R. Stevenson works closely with his clients to develop the best strategies to address their legal concerns. His areas of expertise include commercial litigation, complex insurance coverage disputes, environmental and toxic tort litigation, property damage and first party damage, general liability insurance coverage, and maritime issues. J.R. has litigated a number of liability declaratory judgment cases through appeal. Before founding the firm in 2012, J.R. worked at leading multinational law firms Thacher Proffitt & Wood LLP and Clyde & Co US LLP. He is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit. J.R. graduated cum laude from St. John’s University School of Law, where he received the CALI Excellence for the Future Award for earning the highest grade in his Evidence and Trust & Estates courses. He received a bachelor’s degree in economics with a concentration on international trade from Binghamton University. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Maritime Law Association of the United States.

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.

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.