BURKE & CASSERLY, P.C. - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Association of Legal Administrators
Alexis joined the Burke & Casserly, P.C. team on March 21, 2016 as the firm's receptionist/administrative assistant. Upon returning from maternity leave in 2018, she moved into a legal assistant position to begin learning the ropes. She is now James R. Barnes personal legal assistant.
Alexis lives in Voorheesville with her husband, Chris, her sweet little girl, Liliana and their newer addition Briella! We can't leave out their furkid, Mia, their black lab. Alexis and Chris were married in October 2018. In the couple's shared time together, they enjoy watching the Mets or going to the lake when the New York weather permits!
Amanda B. Chesterfield, Esq. joined Burke & Casserly, P.C. in 2019 as an Associate Attorney. Her areas of practice include estate planning, elder law, trust and estate administration and guardianship.
Amanda is admitted to practice law in New York State having graduated from Albany Law School of Union University where she earned her Juris Doctorate in 2016. Her undergraduate degree is from The College at Brockport (SUNY) where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting.
Prior to joining Burke & Casserly, P.C., Amanda worked at another firm representing clients in New York City and Long Island in the areas of estate planning, elder law, and estate administration.
By working while attending law school, Amanda gained several years of invaluable practical skills and experience that she has carried into her professional career. She prides herself on helping clients navigate complex legal issues while providing compassionate service and maintaining effective communication. Amanda is prepared to assist clients through the delicate process of the administration of a trust or estate following the death of a loved one, help families understand the options for long term care, or provide customized planning recommendations for each client based on their individual objectives to ensure a client's estate plan is designed to meet their intentions both during lifetime and upon death.
As a resident of the Capital District, Amanda is committed to giving back to the community. While attending Albany Law School, Amanda participated in several events through the School's Pro Bono Society, including presenting for the Elder Law Pro Bono Society where she would speak about various elder law topics for local senior citizens. She also spent a year interning at the Albany Law School Clinic and Justice Center where she represented low-income families throughout the Capital Region in estate planning, child custody and child support matters. Amanda was awarded the Outstanding Clinical Student Award in recognition of her excellence in clinical fieldwork, high quality of representation provided to clients, and outstanding participation in a clinical seminar.
Amanda was named a Super Lawyer Rising Star in 2022. She is a member of the Elder Law and Special Needs Law Section, Trusts, and Estates Law Section, as well as the Young Lawyers Section of the New York State Bar Association. She is also a member of the Albany County Bar Association.
Amanda lives with her husband and daughter in Niskayuna.
Education
JD, Albany Law School of Union University, 2016
Job Titles:
- Administrator
- Albany Elder Law Lawyers Burke & Casserly, P.C
- Firm Administrator
Cheri has had the honor of serving as the Firm Administrator of Burke & Casserly, P.C. since its inception in September, 1988. She is responsible for all aspects of the firm's management including human resources, financial management, client service and satisfaction, technology, employee benefits, facilities management, as well as all other administrative and business operations. She is incredibly grateful to the founding partners, Tim Casserly and Walter Burke, for giving her the opportunity to grow right along with them and their firm!
As a member of the Association of Legal Administrators, Albany Chapter (ALA) since 1995, Cheri has served on the Board of Directors, holding various offices from 1996-2011, including three terms as President. She was again asked for her service in 2018, and rejoined the Board as Treasurer. Cheri has twice chaired the Chapter's Conference on Ethics, Marketing & Law Firm Management. This conference was organized in conjunction with the Albany Law School of Union University, for New York attorneys, and offered continuing education courses related to law firm management. She is also the innovator of the Chapter's currently thriving Business Partner Program and the Chapter's website.
Cheri co-authored an article "The Marketing Cycle in Law Firms", in the ALA's Management Encyclopedia's second release, and in the Encyclopedia's third release, she authored an article entitled "The Administrator's Role in Client Relationship Management." Cheri is also a member of SHRM (Society for Human Resource Management.)
Since she has been so fortunate to work with an amazing group of people over the years at Burke & Casserly, P.C., Cheri believes in the necessity of giving back to the community. She was a former Board member of The Circles of Mercy, a Rensselaer based not-for-profit organization established to assist women go from welfare to work and which provides training in various aspects that impact their lives such as parenting skills, computer training, self-enhancement workshops, and job-seeking skills. She was also involved in North Colonie Pop Warner, serving on the Board of Directors and coaching her daughter's cheerleading squad. Cheri is also a supporter of the Alzheimer's Association along with the rest of the Burke & Casserly team. She has also donated time at the Regional Foodbank, Bowled for Kid's Sake, assisted with disaster relief, donates personally to the Wounded Warrior Fund and provides monthly donations to the ASCPA to name a few.
Cheri lives in Latham with her husband Bruce. She has two beautiful adult daughters, Jamie Huban and Casey Terzian .. whom she, of course, adores! Both are college graduates holding their Bachelors Degrees. Her oldest daughter married her high school sweetheart, Nick Huban in September of 2018. Cheri couldn't be more thrilled with the addition to her family. Finally, a son! Her youngest continues her education for her doctorate in Clinical Neuropsychology and is attending William James College in MA. Cheri is also a bonus mom to two more amazing individuals, Bruce's children, Chad and Brittney Bardin! An avid animal lover (of the four-legged variety), Cheri also shares her home with her big, beautiful and gentle-giant of a dog, Rocky and two contrasting cats - Bootsie (black with a touch of white and an incessant vocalist) and Paris (white with large black patches who is the very definition of a scaredy-cat!)
Job Titles:
- Albany Elder Law Lawyers Burke & Casserly, P.C
- Member of Our Planning Team
- Paralegal
Donna Warner has been a devoted member of our planning team as a paralegal since 1999. Utilizing her experience in estate administration and the Medicaid application process, Donna assists our clients through the difficult task of administering their affairs.
Donna and her husband Warren live in Greenwich, NY. Donna is an avid camper! She loves camping and floating down the Battenkill .. especially with her family. She has four adult children and 2 grandchildren she adores!
Job Titles:
- Director
- Director of First Impressions
While one of our team was on maternity leave in early 2018, Donna filled in on a temp basis. We liked her so much, we asked her to stick around!
Donna is the firm's receptionist and administrative assistant. She'll greet you with a warm, friendly smile and a hot cup of java!
She and her husband and three children live in Greenville.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Shareholder
- Member of the New York State Bar Association
- Shareholder of Burke
James R. Barnes, Esq., is a shareholder of Burke & Casserly, P.C., and joined the firm as an attorney in 2005. He focuses his practice in elder law, trusts and estates, guardianship, special needs planning, business formation and succession planning. James is admitted to practice law in New York State and is also a member of the Bar of the United States Supreme Court.
James is an active member of the New York State Bar Association, where he serves on the Executive Committee of the Elder Law and Special Needs Section. In addition, he is currently the Chair of the Association's Committee on Continuing Legal Education. James is a Past-Chair of the Association's Young Lawyers Section. He has also served on the Association's Executive Committee, House of Delegates, in addition to several special committees and task forces.
James presently serves on the board of directors for The New York Bar Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to aiding charitable and educational projects to meet the law-related needs of the public and legal profession. His other bar association affiliations are as a member of NYSBA's Trusts & Estates Section, as well as a member of the Albany County Bar Association, where he served as a Co-Chair of its Young Lawyers Committee for several years. He is also a member of the Estate Planning Council of Eastern New York. He is also a member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA.)
James' commitment to his practice is reflected in his involvement with many community organizations and events. James currently serves as a Trustee of the Foundation for Ellis Medicine in Schenectady, as well as a member of the board of directors of the Visiting Nurse Service of Northeastern New York. He is a Past-President of the Visiting Nurse Service of Northeastern New York's Foundation Board, which is now a part of the Foundation for Ellis Medicine. He conducts regular speaking engagements in various community and professional forums, lecturing about current topics affecting seniors and their families. James is also a frequent speaker at continuing legal education programs for attorneys and other professionals involved with estate planning and elder law.
James received his Juris Doctorate from Wake Forest University School of Law in 2004, where he studied as an A.J. Fletcher Law Scholar. While at Wake Forest, he became an active member of the Phi Alpha Delta National Law School Fraternity, serving for two years as the chapter's Vice-President. James pursued his undergraduate education at the State University of New York at Binghamton. In 2001, he received his Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, double majoring in Philosophy, Politics and Law, and in Music. At Binghamton, he became a member of the Phi Beta Kappa, Golden Key and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Societies.
James lives with his wife and two children in Latham.
Education
J.D., Wake Forest University School of Law, 2004
B.A., State University of New York at Binghamton, 2001
Jill has been with the B&C team since May of 2014. She began by providing clerical and record management services to the firm. However, she now assists with paralegal services with a particular emphasis in our corporate/business planning area of practice.
Jill lives in Latham and her favorite thing to do in her free time is play with her 3 year old niece, whom she lovingly refers to as her Squishy!
Job Titles:
- Paralegal
- Paralegal and Assistant
- Paralegal and Assistant to Timothy E Casserly
Lisa B. Teal is a paralegal and Tim Casserly's personal legal assistant and joined the Burke & Casserly, P.C. team in 2005 with over 15 years legal experience at that time! In her role as paralegal, she has a particular focus in trusts and estates, corporate law, real estate and litigation.
Lisa and her husband Richard live in Schenectady with Beatrice the cat! They have two adult children and adore their three grandchildren. A couple of years ago, they purchased an old farm in Schoharie County and spend their weekends restoring "the farm" to a livable structure. They intend to retire to the farm when it, and they, are ready!
Job Titles:
- Albany Elder Law Lawyers Burke & Casserly, P.C
- Financial Coordinator
- Financial Coordinator at B & C
Lynne Baldauf has been the financial coordinator at B&C since July, 2000. Lynne is responsible for all a/r, a/p, payroll and other bookkeeping related duties as well as providing the firm administrator and partners with all necessary financial reporting and assisting with the firm's financial analysis.
An avid horse enthusiast and overall animal lover, Lynne and her husband live in East Berne with a barn full of horses and ponies!
Michelle (Shelly) Casserly, Esq. joined Burke & Casserly, P.C. in 2012. Her areas of practice include Estate Planning, Elder Law and Estate Administration. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association. In 2016, Shelly co-authored an article entitled, "Helping Clients Retire Successfully", which was published in the Elder Law and Special Needs Journal published by the Elder Law and Special Needs Section of the New York State Bar Association.
Michelle I. Casserly Esq. | Albany Elder Law Lawyers Burke & Casserly, P.C.
Job Titles:
- Professional & Bar Association Memberships
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder of Burke & Casserly, P.C. They
Job Titles:
- Attorney at Law ( Retired )
Now retired, Walter was a co-founder of Burke & Casserly, P.C. in 1998. His practice focused in the areas of trusts and estates, financial, retirement and tax planning, elder law, and corporate and business succession planning. Walter transferred all of his files and client matters to the remaining shareholders at Burke & Casserly, P.C