Wilson, Bave, Conboy, Cozza & Couzens, P.C.

William H. Bave, Jr.- Senior Partner

Admitted to Bar: 1974, New York; U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York

Education: Providence College, B.A. (1970); Fordham University School of Law, J.D. (1973)

Mr. Bave is the firm’s Senior Partner and Trial Attorney bringing over 40 years of litigation experience to the courthouse on behalf of his clients. His career began as an Assistant District Attorney with the Westchester County District Attorney’s office from 1973-1978 where he gained invaluable trial and courtroom experience which laid the ground work for his career. During his career he successfully defended his clients in both New York State Supreme Court and Federal Court in a variety of complex legal matters including medical and legal malpractice, labor law, pharmaceutical, civil rights claims as well as general liability matters. In addition to his trial commitments, Mr. Bave is involved in all aspects of litigation and continuously maintains close contact with his clients from intake through trial, during mediation and settlement negotiations and post-trial activities. He has been a frequent lecturer in areas of trial strategy, risk management, evidence and procedure.

Mr. Bave is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the Past Chair, Executive Committee of Trial Lawyers Section for the New York State Bar Association and maintains a longstanding membership with the New York State Bar Association. Ranked with Super Lawyers, 2008-2019 and has achieved an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbel, their highest rank for ethics and ability.

Martindale Hubbel AV Rated

John C. Couzens. Jr.- Senior Partner

Admitted to Bar: 1977, New York; 1979, United States District Courts, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Education: Georgetown University (B.S.B.A., 1973); Fordham University (J.D., 1976)

Mr. Couzens is the firm’s Senior Partner and Trial Attorney bringing over 40 years of litigation experience to the courthouse on behalf of his clients. He began his career in Legal Aide before becoming General Counsel for the Yonkers Board of Education where he gained invaluable trial and litigation experience. During his career he has tried hundreds of cases to verdict in multiple venues in New York State Supreme Court successfully defending his clients in premise, auto, labor law and other complex general liability matters. Mr. Couzens is involved in all aspects of litigation for the firm, from intake through trial and actively engaged in efforts to obtain the best outcome for his clients whether it is through trial, arbitration or through settlement and mediation.

He has been a lecturer for New York State Bar Association Continuing Legal Education programs in areas of personal injury litigation and cross-examination of medical expert witnesses. Mr. Couzens is currently a member of the Westchester County and New York State Bar Associations and has achieved an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbel, their highest rank for ethics and ability.

Martindale Hubbel AV Rated

Alexandra C. Karamitsos - Partner

Admitted to Bar: 1992, Connecticut; 1993, New York; 1994, United States District Court, Southern District of New York. Education: Fordham University (B.A., cum laude, 1989; J.D., 1992). Member: Westchester County Bar Association.

LANGUAGES: Greek. Focus: personal injury and litigation resolution.

James A. Rogers - Partner

Admitted to Bar: 2000, New York; 2000, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Education: Fordham University (B.A., 1993); Quinnipiac College (J.D., 1999); Long Island University (M.B.A., Finance, 2001). Member: Westchester County, New York State and American Bar Associations.

LANGUAGES: Spanish. Focus: defense of automobile and general liability litigation.

Claudine L. Weis - Partner

Admitted to Bar: 1998, New York; United States District Courts, Northern (2001) and Southern (1998), Districts of New York. Education: Pace University (B.A., 1993; J.D., 1997). Member: New York State and Dutchess County Bar Associations. Claudine enjoys presenting at medical institutions on various legal issues, judging moot court competitions and community related activities. Focus: defense of healthcare professionals, nursing care, medical malpractice and general liability matters.

Joel Hirshfield - Partner

Admitted to Bar: 1995, New York; 1995, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; 1998, Supreme Court of the United States of New York. Education: Pace University (B.A., 1989); City University of New York (J.D., 1995). Nationally registered and licensed Paramedic in the State of New York since 1980. Commissioner Emergency Services, Trumbull, CT. Member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, 1997. Member: American, New York State, New York County and Westchester County Bar Associations, 1995. Joel is a frequent lecturer and author on various medicolegal issues. Focus: defense of automobile and general liability litigation.

Ryan P. Caron - Associate

Admitted to Bar: 2020, New York. Education: Northeastern State University (B.A., 2016); Univ. of Oklahoma (J.D., 2019). Member: New York Bar Association.

Louis A. Lopez - Associate

Admitted to Bar: 2023, New York. Education: Lehman College (B.S. 2015); Brooklyn Law School (J.D., 2019),