707 Westchester Ave, Suite 213, White Plains, NY 10604
William H. Bave, Jr.- Senior Member
Admitted to Bar: New York, 1974; 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 Member and Trial Attorney with over 45 years of litigation experience and trial experience. 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. He successfully defends clients in both New York State Supreme and Federal Courts in a variety of complex legal matters including medical and legal malpractice, CVA, labor law, pharmaceutical, civil rights claims and 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.
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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 and has achieved an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbel, their highest rank for ethics and ability.
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John C. Couzens, Jr.- Senior Counsel
Admitted to Bar: New York, 1977; United States District Courts, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, 1979.
Education: Georgetown University (B.S.B.A., 1973); Fordham University (J.D., 1976)
As Senior Counsel for the firm, bringing over 45 years of litigation experience to the courthouse, he brings invaluable trial and litigation experience. 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 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.
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Alexandra C. Karamitsos - Partner
Admitted to Bar: New York, 1992; Connecticut, 1993; United States District Court, Southern District, 1994. Education: Fordham University (B.A., Cum Laude, 1989; J.D., 1992). Member: Westchester County Bar Association.
​Ms. Karamitsos expertly manages a diverse of legal cases, including general liability, auto, and special litigation matters, guiding them from intake to trial. She prioritizes maintaining a close connection with her clients, ensuring they feel supported and informed the entire legal process.
Focus: personal injury and litigation resolution.
LANGUAGES: Greek.​
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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.
Mr. Rogers manages a wide variety of high exposure, insurance defense matters. From initial intake to trial, mediation and arbitration, he is dedicated to ensuring that clients achieve best possible outcomes thorough the understanding of complex litigation matters.
Focus: defense of automobile and general liability litigation.
LANGUAGES: Spanish.
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Claudine Weis - Partner
Admitted to Bar: New York, 1998; United States District Courts, Northern (2001) and Southern District of New York (1998). Education: Pace University (B.A., 1993; J.D., 1997). Member: New York State and Dutchess County Bar Associations.
She is an experienced defense litigator with a strong background in managing complex medical malpractice cases across various medical specialties, premises liability and construction site accident matters. Her expertise extends to State, Federal and Appellate practice including all stages of litigation from intake through post trial management including appellate work.
Focus: defense of healthcare professionals, nursing care, medical malpractice and general liability matters.
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Joel Hirshfield - Partner
Admitted to Bar: New York, 1995; United States District Courts, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, 1998. Education: Pace University (B.A., 1989); City University of New York (J.D., 1995). Nationally registered and licensed Paramedic, NY (1980); Commissioner Emergency Services (CT). Member: Association of Trial Lawyers, New York State and Westchester County Bar Associations.
Mr. Hirschfield manages a wide variety of complex insurance defense actions; from initial intake to trial, mediation and
arbitration, in both auto and premise liability matters.
Focus: defense of automobile and general liability litigation.
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Kevin P. Fitzpatrick - Partner
Admitted to Bar: New Jersey, 1992; New York, 1993. Education: College of the Holy Cross (B.A., 1988), St. John's University (J.D., 1992)
Mr. Fitzpatrick is a seasoned litigator, bringing over 30 years of trial and litigation experience. He has tried hundreds of cases to verdict in multiple venues in New York State, Supreme Court, successfully defending his clients in high exposure auto, premise, medical malpractice, and other complex general liability matters. With a proven track record, he is dedicated to achieving the best possible outcomes for his clients.
Focus: automobile, premises, medical malpractice.
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Ralph F. Schoene - Partner
Admitted to Bar: New York, 1979. Education: Manhattan University (B.A., 1975) and New York Law School (J.D., 1978)
Member: New York Bar Association.
Focus: real estate, wills and trusts, and general practice matters.
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Todd F. Manister - Associate
Admitted to Bar: New York, 1984; United States District Courts, Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of New York (1988); United State Supreme Court (1989). Education: Syracuse University (B.A., 1980); American University Washington College of Law (J.D., 1983)
Focus: defense of automobile, negligence claims, first-claim coverage issues, general liability matters and real estate.
Karolina Lukomski - Associate
Admitted to Bar: New York, 2024. Education: Pace University and Elizabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University (B.S. 2020; J.D. 2023). Member: New York Bar Association.
Focus: defense of automobile and premise matters.
LANGUAGES: Polish
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Ryan P. Caron - Associate
Admitted to Bar: New York, 2020. Education: Northeastern State University (B.A., 2016); Univ. of Oklahoma (J.D., 2019). Member: New York Bar Association.
Focus: defense of automobile matters.
Andrew DeRose - Associate
Admitted to Bar: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut (2025); Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Education: St. John's University (J.D., 2024), University of Colorado - Boulder (B.A., 2020)
Member: New York Bar Association.
Focus: defense of automobile matters.
Jyotsna Gorti - Of Counsel
Admitted to Bar: New York (1985). Education: Brooklyn Law School (J.D., 1984); Utica College of Syracuse University (B.A., 1977).
Focus: defense of medical malpractice and automobile matters.