NICOLETTILAW - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Litigation Partner
Bill V. Kakoullis is litigation partner with over 40 years' experience focusing on the defense of personal injury actions including construction (Labor Law) premises, property damage and general liability accidents. He has handled cases from inception to conclusion including mediation. Mr. Kakoullis approaches his cases aggressively and practically in order to achieve early and cost-effective solutions. He is not afraid to think out of the box in negotiations in order to achieve the most favorable results for his clients.
When not working Bill enjoys spending his time with his family, being outdoors and going to concerts. He is also a member of AHEPA ( American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association) and has been involved in its various fundraising events including the training and purchase of service dogs for Wounded Warriors and the reconstruction of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church which was destroyed on September 11th at Ground Zero.
Education
Vermont Law School, J.D. 1981
Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, B.S. 1977
Cheryl Harris currently focuses on coverage claims in the construction industry. She brings more than two decades of experience working in a broad range of insurance and general litigation matters, including property, insurance coverage, insurance monitoring, corruption, and fraud. She has successfully argued appeals in the New York State Court of Appeals and the Appellate Division, First Department.
Cheryl is also qualified as a solicitor and practiced international commercial litigation in England for several years.
Education
University of Pennsylvania, B.A., 1984
New York University Stern School of Business, M.B.A., 1991
Georgia State University College of Law, J.D., 1995
King's College London, L.L.M., 2004
Claire Rush is a trial attorney who specializes in the defense of high exposure personal injury actions. Ms. Rush has successfully defended public and private entities against bus, truck, auto, railway, New York Labor Law, premises, elevator, escalator, environmental, security and products liability actions for the last 40 years. She has a longstanding interest and expertise in the discovery and prosecution of insurance fraud and was one of the first attorneys in New York State to regularly leverage social media in the defense of personal injury cases. She has tried more than 150 jury cases to verdict in New York State.
Claire has been recognized as being among the top 1% of lawyers in America since 2016. She has received a Preeminent AV rating of 5.0 / 5.0 from Martindale- Hubbell and been identified as one of the top personal injury defense attorneys in the Metro New York area by both Super Lawyer Magazine and American Legal Media. Ms. Rush has been recognized by the Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers, the New York Times and AVENUE Magazine as one of New York City's top women trial lawyers.
Claire regularly lecturers and writes articles about important substantive and procedural issues that impact the defense of personal injury litigation. She is regularly invited by the judiciary to sit as a representative of the defense bar on committees that address trial and discovery issues. News outlets such as the New York Law Journal, New York Times, New York Daily News and Crains New York regularly reach out to her for comment on cases and legislative actions.
Ms. Rush is a Past President and Past Chairman of the Board of the Defense Association of New York (DANY) and is the Vice President of the Brooklyn Women's Bar Foundation. In 2021 she founded the DANY Trial Academy which provides hands on training in trial skills to young lawyers. Ms. Rush was also the catalyst behind DANY's award winning diversity initiative which was geared to equip mid-level diverse and women attorneys with the skills necessary to attain partnership status and build a book of business. Finally, Ms. Rush developed the Brooklyn Pipeline Initiative a program for first generation college students who are interested in attending law school. This program provides participants with direct instruction on how to successfully apply to and finance a law school education. Participants who complete the program are afforded internship positions with judges, public agencies and private firms. The New York State Women Bar Association presented Claire with the 2019 Hanna S. Cohn Award in recognition of her contributions to the profession.
Ms. Rush received her B.A. in Political Science from Trinity College in Hartford, CT in 1980 and her J.D. from New York Law School in 1983. Ms. Rush is admitted to practice law in New York as well as in the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
Education
B.A., Trinity College
J.D., New York Law School
David Jason provides his clients with practical and responsive representation, handling the defense of insureds in a wide array of general liability matters, as well as, handling all aspects of insurance coverage and related litigation.
David takes pride in providing clients with cost-effective strategies that minimize risk while creating beneficial outcomes on the matters he handles.
Prior to joining Nicoletti Spinner Ryan Gulino Pinter, LLP, David was an associate at a mid-sized litigation firm with a national presence, specializing in commercial general liability coverage litigation and the defense of general liability claims. David also has experience in the realm of builder's risk coverage litigation.
David earned his law degree from Brooklyn Law School, where he was a recipient of the 2017 Public Service Pro Bono Award. In addition, he was a member of the Brooklyn Business Law Association and Brooklyn Entertainment & Sports Law Society. When not in the office, David enjoys traveling, skiing, golfing, and playing basketball.
David Tamke is an experienced litigator with a specialty in the defense of insured motorists, property damage claims, and premises liability claims. He is a confident and zealous advocate for his clients having achieved numerous successful results handling cases from inception to trial, including hearings, motions, oral argument, depositions, conferences, and all facets of discovery.
David attended Hofstra University School of Law where he was the Managing Editor of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel Law Journal. While at Catholic University where he graduated magna cum laude, he was a member of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa. He has also been selected to Super Lawyers Rising Stars. In his free time, David enjoys running and exploring all the cultural pursuits that New York City has to offer as well as being an uncle to three amazing nephews.
Edward Benson practices insurance defense, insurance coverage, and construction law. He advises and represents insurance companies and their insureds on an extensive range of claims, including construction accidents, environmental, product liability, brokers E&O, and other emerging coverage claims. He has litigated numerous coverage disputes in declaratory judgment actions in state and federal venues nationwide.
A London native, Mr. Benson is qualified as a solicitor and is a member of the Law Society of England and Wales. He practiced commercial law in England before being admitted to the bar in the U.S.
An engaging speaker, Mr. Benson has made educational presentations to clients on a variety of coverage matters.
Job Titles:
- Founding Partner
- Partner
- Founding and Managing Partner
Frank Nicoletti is the founding and managing partner of NSRGP. Mr. Nicoletti has practiced insurance law for over 45 years and is well known in the insurance community. Mr. Nicoletti is experienced in both direct, excess and reinsurance law. He has also authored many articles, and he has lectured in front of such organizations as the Independent Reinsurance Underwriters Association, Executive Enterprises Seminars, The Excess/Surplus Lines Claims Association, the Defense Research Institute and the International Association of Claim Professionals.
Awards
Founding partner, Frank M. Nicoletti, was the recipient of the 2009 Vince Donohue Award presented by the Excess/Surplus Lines Claims Association, now the International Association of Claim Professionals ("IACP") at the Association's 40th Anniversary Conference held in Bermuda. The award was given in recognition of Mr. Nicoletti's significant contributions to the insurance industry over the years. Mr. Nicoletti has been a member of the IACP for over 25 years and served as the Association's General Counsel from 2006 to 2013.
Joseph Gulino is a senior trial attorney responsible for the trial of significant tort cases, including all facets of personal injury as well as construction accidents, Product Liability, motor vehicle including trucking, malicious prosecution, false arrest and General Liability. Mr. Gulino has tried cases in all the contiguous counties of New York City and its Federal Courts. Oftentimes he is retained by clients to substitute as trial counsel after other firms have handled a matter due to its complexity, but many times because of the reputation of his adversaries.
He is an elected member of ABOTA (American Board of Trial Advocates), a national organization of esteemed trial lawyers. Membership is by invitation only and acceptance is based upon certification of your trial record and ethical standing in the legal community.
Called upon to lecture on trial practice for The New York State Bar Association, Mr. Gulino has also conducted seminars for clients on various aspects of New York Tort Law. He voluntarily counseled through Trial Lawyers Care, families of victims of the September 11th attacks.
Katherine Cutrone was admitted to the New York Bar in 2019, and in 2020 was admitted to the Federal Districts of Southern and Eastern New York. Her primary focus is on insurance defense litigation, including general liability and personal injury. She earned her Bachelor's degree from Binghamton University, graduating with honors in 2008. She started her professional career working as a claims adjuster and claims supervisor for a well-known national insurance company for close to 10 years before transitioning into her legal career. Ms. Cutrone earned her Juris Doctor from Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law School in 2018, graduating magna cum laude. Prior to joining the firm, she worked for a respected plaintiff's personal injury firm, representing injured parties in all boroughs of New York; as well as Long Island and western New York. Her unique perspective and experience working for the other side; as well as her insurance experience, has enhanced her ability to effectively negotiate cases to settlement and defend her clients with confidence. Ms. Cutrone is born and raised in New York with strong ties to the community in which she represents. She is dedicated to her clients' goals, and consistently displays the grit necessary to make her a successful litigator in New York.
Education
J.D., Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law School, 2018
B.A., Binghamton University, 2008
Kevin Ryan's practice areas include defense of negligence, premises and property damage claims. Mr. Ryan specializes in matters arising under the New York State Labor Law and in providing counsel to insurers in coverage related issues and defending insurers in declaratory judgment actions. Mr. Ryan also specializes in appellate work. In addition to the practice of law, he serves as Executive Vice President of the Red Ribbon Foundation, an organization dedicated to prevention, research and HIV/AIDS education in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Kevin Pinter is an experienced trial attorney whose primary areas of practice include personal injury defense, construction, product liability, motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, insurance coverage, contract disputes, property damage, and general commercial litigation. Mr. Pinter has tried in excess of 50 cases through verdict in all five counties within New York City as well as Nassau, Rockland, Dutchess and Westchester Counties in New York State; New Jersey State Superior Court (Middlesex, Passaic and Somerset Counties); New Hampshire State Superior Court (Grafton County); United States District Court (Southern and Eastern Districts of New York); and San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Mr. Pinter has spoken on various litigation topics, both at private client meetings, as well as for professional organizations. In January 2013, Mr. Pinter lectured as part of a panel discussion sponsored by The Defense Association of New York entitled "The Ethical Use of Social Media in Discovery and at Trial." In 2018-2019, Mr. Pinter participated as a panelist in a three-part Trial Skills Seminar entitled "Trial Techniques: Interactive Lessons from the Plaintiff and Defense Perspectives" sponsored jointly by The Defense Association of New York and The New York County Lawyers Association.
Mr. Pinter has recently become an Adjunct Professor at his alma mater, Brooklyn Law School, where he currently teaches Trial Advocacy.
Education
B.S., Binghamton University, 1987
J.D., Brooklyn Law School, 1990
Kevin S. Locke has been a practicing attorney for over 26 years in the State of New York specializing in the areas of construction, general liability, medical malpractice, products liability and motor vehicle accidents, as well as declaratory judgment actions involving various insurance coverage issues. Throughout his tenure as a practicing attorney, he has worked in both private firms and as staff counsel for insurance carriers handling all aspects of litigation, including case investigation, pleadings, discovery, motion practice, mediation, arbitration, trial, and appeal. Mr. Locke's duties also include consulting and preparing substantive reports to clients, claims personnel and third-party administrators regarding legal strategy, budgeting, case valuation, potential risk exposure and proper reserves.
Laura S. Puhala focuses her insurance industry practice on coverage issues, investigations, and the litigation of coverage cases. She takes pride in being detail-oriented and in thoroughly researching and investigating each matter to best serve her clients. Laura's varied experiences provide her with a comprehensive, strategic approach to handling matters.
During her time at the George Washington University School of Law, Laura worked with the Office of the General Counsel for the District of Columbia's Metropolitan Police Department. After graduating, she practiced in New York City in civil litigation and as a court attorney for a judge in the Civil Court of the City of New York. More recently, Laura's practice has involved health care compliance, litigation, and regulation with the New York State Attorney General's Health Care Bureau, and professional liability and insurance coverage with private law firms.
Laura has served on the executive board of the PTSA for the Edgemont School District and on the Town of Greenburgh's Human Rights Commission Advisory Committee.
Education
J.D., George Washington University School of Law
B.A., The Johns Hopkins University
Loretta J. Hottinger has practiced law specializing in litigation of personal injuries and property damage for over 30 years and has tried cases in state and federal courts from Suffolk County to Rockland Counties and appeared in numerous others. Specialties include premises, automobile, products liability and municipal law. Ms. Hottinger has experience in panel counsel and litigation departments of various major insurers and served as City Council member for the City of Mount Vernon, Westchester County, New York as well as its Corporation Counsel.
Education
West Virginia Wesleyan College
Marcus Lee has defended property owners, contractors, construction companies and other business entities for the past four years against various claims for personal injury, property damage, breach of contract and construction defect claims. This practice includes claims arising under New York State Labor Law. Marcus has appeared for oral argument before Justices in all five counties in New York City. Additionally, Mr. Lee has significant trial experience, including trying cases through to jury verdict. Prior to his work as a litigator, Mr. Lee was a judicial extern for a New York State Supreme Court Justice. Mr. Lee is proficient in Portuguese.
Education
DePaul University, B.A.
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, J.D.
Marina Spinner is the head of NSRGP's litigation practice. Ms. Spinner began her legal career handling high-exposure cases involving Product Liability, toxic torts, and New York Labor Law. Currently, she handles many of the firm's complex cases with an emphasis on defending Product Liability and labor law claims, and she supervises and manages the firm's direct litigation and insurance coverage practices.
Ms. Spinner has been involved in various facets of the World Trade Center litigation including representing victims' families and insurance companies and reinsurance companies in subrogation actions brought against aviation defendants and security companies in charge of the flights on which the terrorists boarded and hijacked the planes which were flown into the World Trade Center. She has also served as national coordinating counsel for the world's leading industrial machine tools manufacturer and for an asbestos containing product manufacturer. Ms. Spinner has also served as monitoring counsel of a large hospital insurance program for a major insurer. In this capacity, she oversaw the defense of medical malpractice claims against both hospitals and physicians.
Ms. Spinner has lectured before the New York Insurance Association, The International Association of Claims Professional, and has presented seminars for various insurance companies and claims administrator on a host of topics including New York labor law insurance coverage, and premises and automobile liability.
Education
B.A., Columbia University, 1988
J.D., Pace University School of Law, 1994
Matthew Corcoran joined Nicoletti Spinner Ryan Gulino Pinter in 2017, handling general litigation defense matters, including General Liability and labor law cases. Previously he spent five years working as in-house counsel for insurance companies, where he gained experience in various areas of insurance defense, including automobile, General Liability, construction/labor law, un/underinsured motorist claims, and No-Fault. He later worked for one of New York City's oldest insurance defense firms, focusing his practice on general liability and labor law matters. Prior to working in insurance defense, Mr. Corcoran clerked for the United States Attorney's Office in Lexington, KY, as well as the Commonwealth Attorney's 11th Judicial Circuit in Campbellsville, KY, where he assisted with the prosecution of criminal matters.
Education
Syracuse University, B.A., 2003
University of Kentucky, College of Law, J.D., 2007
Melanie Dwyer is an experienced litigator with over 10 years of experience handling general liability actions including motor vehicle accidents, property damage, subrogation and insurance coverage disputes. She has proven success in all aspects of civil litigation from case inception to final disposition at trial. As a former in-house attorney, she has a strong insurance defense background and has experience working for both public and private clients.
Education
B.A. State University of New York at Albany
J.D. New York Law School
Michael Brown specializes in defending insurance companies and/or their insureds. His practice includes medical malpractice, construction site accidents, General Liability, toxic torts, Product Liability, and coverage.
Mr. Brown previously served as Assistant Corporate Counsel in the General Litigation Division of the New York City Law Department. In this position, he defended the City in a wide range of claims involving federal civil rights, employment discrimination, ยง1983 actions, Title VII and Workers' Compensation.
Mr. Brown gives seminars to clients on topics that focus on construction site accidents, Labor Law violations, contractual indemnification, lead paint and related coverage matters. He has also lectured before the Excess/Surplus Lines Claims Association and The New York Insurance Association.
Outside the firm, Mr. Brown is very involved in the community. He served as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Rye Brook and sat as a member of the Board of Commissioners for the Village of Rye Brook Police Department. He currently coaches soccer, bicycles and plays tennis and hockey.
Education
B.A., Dean's List, University of Maryland, 1990
J.D., New York Law School, 1993
Peter Carlino is a civil litigator who practice currently focuses primarily on the defense of commercial general liability cases including motor-vehicle accident and premises cases. Mr. Carlino obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from College of the Holy Cross. He then earned his Juris Doctor from New York Law School. Peter has been working at NSRGP as a paralegal for the past 5 years where he has gained significant experience in insurance litigation. With his exceptional work ethic, and attention to detail, Mr. Carlino is a valuable member of the NSRGP team.
Education
BA College of the Holy Cross - 2015
J.D. New York Law School - 2023
Renee Himmel is an experienced civil litigator focusing on insurance defense litigation, including automobile and premises liability. She is also experienced in litigating no-fault, labor law and subrogation claims. She has argued before the Appellate Division, Second Department and the New York State Court of Appeals. While in law school, she was awarded the American Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in Evidence I.
Stacy C. Spodick, Esq. is admitted to the New York and California Bars, with a diverse background in contracts, torts, products liability, and professional liability litigation. During her career, she has represented cosmetics companies, amusement park ride manufacturers, construction firms and medical device manufacturers and distributors in products liability actions. Also, representation of homeowners' associations, landlords and property management companies in mass tort litigation, personal injury actions, toxic mold cases and lead paint cases. Ms. Spodick has also represented physicians and hospitals in medical malpractice actions.
Stephanie Tebbett is an experienced litigator with over 15 years of extensive experience defending property owners, construction managers, contractors, and school districts. Her areas of practice focus on general liability, labor law and common law claims in construction-related accidents, premises liability, automobile personal injury, and coverage. Ms. Tebbett has invaluable experience when handling appellate matters gained during her time working for Justice Catterson in the Appellate Division 1st Dept. and thereafter for Justice Reinaldo Rivera, Appellate Division 2d Dept.
Prior to handling complex litigation matters, Ms. Tebbett spent her early practice in the area of corporate law, finance and capital markets representing lenders and bank institutions on Wall Street.
Education
J.D. from St. John's University School of Law, where she served as Article and Notes Editor on the Law Review. She obtained her undergraduate degree at Georgetown University, College of Arts & Sciences majoring in government and psychology.
For the past 20 years, Valerie Rivera has amassed extensive experience in complex personal injury actions involving premises liability defense, professional liability defense, products liability defense, automobile negligence matters, construction defects, condominium and homeowner's association defense, and negligent security, among others. She has obtained favorable judgments and settlements, even in the most challenging jurisdictions and in cases involving numerous parties. With over 20 years of litigation experience, Valerie is an aggressive litigator and competitive by nature. An experienced attorney, Valerie, brings first-hand experience to help our clients assess liability exposure. She has experience in both the plaintiff and the defense side of civil litigation and her diverse background in both fields have helped to identify the unique nuances and needs that clients require and deserve. Valerie is bilingual and in her free time, she enjoys traveling.
Education
B.A., John Jay College of Criminal Justice, 1991
J.D., Quinnipiac University School of Law. 2000