AIDALA BERTUNA & KAMINS, PC - Key Persons
Practice Areas: Civil Litigation Personal Injury Residential Real Estate Trusts and Estates Andrea M. Arrigo, is a cum laude graduate of Fairfield University in Connecticut. Immediately following college, she went to St. John's School of Law and graduated on the Dean's List in 2003. Following
Andrea M. Arrigo, is a cum laude graduate of Fairfield University in Connecticut. Immediately following college, she went to St. John's School of Law and graduated on the Dean's List in 2003.
Following law school, she was employed at the personal injury firm of Dinkes and Schwitzer, handling many complex personal injury cases, and also worked on her own as a solo practitioner in 2008.
In addition to working as a solo practitioner she is a member of Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins, P.C. where she solely works on Personal Injury cases. As part of the Civil Litigation team at Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins P.C., Andrea overseas all aspects of a personal injury case while showing compassion to the needs of injured clients and assisting them and their families through all the red tape that goes with being involved in an accident.
As part of our Civil Litigation team, Andrea is involved in various types of personal injury actions, including but not limited to construction site accidents, premises liability, municipal liability, motor vehicle accidents, wrongful death actions, negligent supervision (School), negligent security (rape) and fire/burn cases.
Striving to achieve the highest award possible for our clients, Andrea is known for her hands on approach and strong litigation skills. She is a member of the Bay Ridge Lawyers Association, Brooklyn Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, New York Trial Lawyers Association, U.S. Supreme Court Bar and licensed to practice law in the State of New York and New Jersey.
Job Titles:
- New Jersey Town Council Member, Retired
Job Titles:
- Board Member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
David Schwartz is an internationally recognized premiere AV Rated trial attorney and lobbyist. He received his Masters in Law from the Fordham University School of Law and his undergraduate degree from Tulane University. He has been named by judges and his peers as a member of the prestigious Super Lawyers list for the past 8 years and has received the highest rating as an attorney from Martindale-Hubbell. He has spent his entire career practicing law as a litigator and for the past decade as a lobbyist and advocate on behalf of businesses, trade associations, not-for-profits, foreign countries and individuals. He is admitted in all courts in the State of New York and Washington DC and has appeared pro hac vice in many other jurisdictions. Whether it is in the courtroom defending and advocating on behalf of litigants in high profile criminal and civil cases or in the halls of the Capital, the same philosophy and attitude exists, which is to advocate as aggressively and passionately for the client as possible. He is well known as an aggressive and powerful trial attorney. Mr. Schwartz has represented clients at all ends of the spectrum, including some of the largest companies in America to some of the least fortunate in our society on criminal matters. Every client gets the energy and attention needed to achieve positive results. It is this training as a trial attorney, trying dozens of jury trials and trying in total over 100 trials and handling thousands of cases, that makes him extremely effective in navigating the political process for his clients.
He lobbies for a wide variety of large corporations, not-for-profits, trade associations and individuals. He is also a prolific political fund raiser, having raised millions of dollars nationally for candidates at every end of the spectrum. Mr. Schwartz uses his trial skills in the halls of Albany as a fierce advocate for his clients. Mr. Schwartz has been a regular guest legal and political commentator for the Fox News Channel, NBC Today Show, MSNBC, Headline News, CNN, WABC News, WNBC News, WCBS News, Fox & Friends, WPIX, Court TV and for the ESPN morning show. Mr. Schwartz has been asked by these television networks to give legal and political analysis and his expert opinion on criminal cases, constitutional legal issues, political issues, civil cases, cases in front of the Supreme Court and local Political figures. He has also been quoted frequently on cases and political matters in the NY Post, NY Times, Daily News, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, NY Law Journal and hundreds of other periodicals nationally. Mr. Schwartz was appointed by the New York State Senate as a Commissioner on the Commission on Judicial Nomination which nominates Justices to the NYS Court of Appeals and also served as a Trustee of the Brooklyn Bar Association. Mr. Schwartz was also appointed by the Governor to serve on the Board of the NY Javits Convention Center. Mr. Schwartz is able to bring together for our clients, his vast experience in law, business, media and politics and uses every advocacy tool available in order to achieve results for our clients. When direct lobbying is not effective, you will see Mr. Schwartz using the media, grass roots campaigns, television and radio advocacy in order to get the point home and educate the public and government officials. Sometimes, when those tools do not do the job, he uses the court of law in order to undo political injustice.
David Schwartz served the People of the State of New York as an Assistant District Attorney in Kings County from 1993 through 1997. As an Assistant District Attorney, Mr. Schwartz handled thousands of criminal prosecutions. He successfully tried numerous felonies and misdemeanor cases which lead to the conviction and incarceration of many criminals. David Schwartz has been engaged in the private practice of law and government relations from 1997 to present. He has handled hundreds of criminal cases in private practice and has tried many of those cases. Mr. Schwartz presently concentrates his practice on lobbying and Government Relations. Mr. Schwartz also represents various businesses and counsels them on all legal issues and political issues. Mr. Schwartz is admitted and appears in the United States Supreme Court, United States District Court of New York, Eastern and Southern Districts, United States Tax Court, New York State Supreme Court, New York City Criminal and Civil Court, and Nassau County District Court.
Mr. Schwartz has argued appeals in the New York State Appellate Division, First and Second Departments and the United States Court of Appeals (2nd Department). Furthermore, he has appeared Pro hoc Vice in the United States District Court of New Jersey.
Mr. Schwartz has worked tirelessly in; keeping Walmart out of NYC; stopping No Fault Insurance fraud; stopping illegal cigarettes in entering the market place; fighting government agencies in stopping progress; vigorous representation of supermarkets; campaign to change the standard of care in the reprocessing of endoscopes; Hedge Funds, Insurance Companies, special needs schools, major research institutes, contractors, real estate developers; oil and gas companies, school districts, beer industry, numerous companies related to the pandemic, healthcare, foreign countries, towns and municipalities and many others.
Active in his profession and community, Mr. Schwartz has served as a board member of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, Inspector General Management Advisory Board; a Board member of the New York Javits Center Convention Center Operating Corporation; Commissioner to the Commission on Judicial Nomination; The American Bar Association; Commissioner of the NYS Commission on Judicial Nomination; The New York State Bar Association, Board member of the Criminal Section representing the Second Judicial Department; Brooklyn Bar Association; Board Member and has served as Vice-Chairman to the Criminal Courts Committee and Criminal Justice Committee; Nassau County Bar Association; Respect for Law Alliance; District Attorney Alumni Association; Government Affairs Professionals; Temple Sinai, President; Sigma Alpha Mu Fraternity, Past Regional Governor; Seneca Club, Man of the Year; Southern Poverty Law Center; Israel/Kosovo Chamber of Commerce; Inn of Court/Nassau County and Mock Trial Coach of the Nassau County Champion Wheatley High School team. Furthermore, David Schwartz is a well-known passionate and dynamic speaker and he is a frequent lecturer at numerous venues on topics related to law and lobbying.
Practice Areas: Criminal Defense Civil Litigation Appellate Law Estate Probate and Administration in Surrogate's Court NYC and CT Upon graduating from Villanova University School of Law, Diana had a distinguished career as an Assistant District Attorney under Robert M. Morgenthau in the Manhattan District Attorney's
The Honorable Barry Kamins (Ret) is a retired Supreme Court Judge. Before his retirement he was Administrative Judge of the Criminal Court of New York City, Administrative Judge for Criminal Matters for the Second Judicial District and Chief of Policy and Planning for the New
Job Titles:
- Civil Court Judge Sitting in New York City Criminal Court, Kings County, Law Secretary, 1980 to 1980
Imran H. Ansari adds an experienced trial attorney and aggressive advocate to the impressive roster of attorneys at Aidala Bertuna & Kamins, PC. and brings his experience in civil litigation, personal injury, and criminal law to the firm. Imran began his legal career as an
Imran H. Ansari, Esq., is a partner and head of the civil law division of Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins, P.C. He is a seasoned trial attorney and aggressive advocate with experience in civil litigation and criminal law.
Imran handles high profile cases and newsworthy clients, often matters reported on in the media, and zealously fights for his clients in the court of law, while balancing scrutiny in the court of public opinion.
Imran began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney with the Kings County District Attorney's Office. Over his several years at the District Attorney's Office he successfully prosecuted hundreds of serious cases dealing with robbery, burglary, assault, attempted murder, DWI, drug and gun possession, obtaining convictions at trial or through plea negotiation. It was at the District Attorney's Office where Imran honed his trial skills and developed a reputation for being a formidable adversary in the courtroom.
After his public service commitment, Imran joined a prominent personal injury and civil litigation law firm where he handled personal injury cases dealing with construction site accidents, motor vehicle accidents, slip/trip and falls, toxic mold/chemical exposure, wrongful death, and other serious injury cases. Imran successfully took cases to trial, where he zealously fought for his clients in the courtroom, and strongly negotiated settlements in order to obtain the results his clients deserved.
At Aidala Bertuna & Kamins, Imran demonstrates the same vigor in his handling of personal injury, criminal defense, and civil litigation matters, and is committed to fighting for the best results for the firm's clients.
Imran is admitted in the States of New York and New Jersey, and the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, and is an active member of a number of bar associations in New York City.
Imran started his professional life in 2000 as a television producer at Court TV before heading off to law school.
Imran has also come full circle with his experience in television and media. Except now he is on the other side of the camera, and microphone, as an On-Air Host and Legal Analyst giving commentary on legal news and trials. Imran is an On-Air Host and Legal Analyst on the Law & Crime television network as well frequent on-air Legal Analyst for Court TV. He is also a frequent guest commentator on CNN, Fox, WPIX, CBS, NewsNation, among other media networks, outlets and podcasts.
Imran is the Host of The Legal Lowdown with Imran Ansar, a weekly radio show on WMCA / AM570 The Mission speaking about the news of the day from a legal perspective. Imran is also a weekly co-host on Radio Night Live Legal Night with Kevin McCullough on AM970 The Answer.
Jennifer M. Cassandra Esq., Of Counsel to Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins, PC www.CassandraGullo.com Jennifer M. Cassandra Esq. graduated from New York University, New York, NY with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and minor in Computer Science. She received her Juris Doctor law degree from
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Special Counsel to the New York State Court Officers Union
Mr. Esposito is a graduate of Fordham Law School and served seven years as an assistant district attorney under Robert M. Morgenthau in the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.
Mr. Esposito has been counsel in many high-profile cases involving individuals such as William Rapetti in a New York City crane collapse homicide prosecution; William Tager in the NBC shooting and related Dan Rather assault investigation; Peter Guagenti in the Amy Fisher case; and William Rivera in the Harvey Weinstein, "tuxedo magnate kidnapping."
As partner, Mr. Esposito focuses on civil and commercial litigation, criminal defense and appeals. Mr. Esposito specializes in criminal trial and appellate practice in both Federal and State Courts. He is admitted to the practice of law in New York and New Jersey. His criminal
Joseph A. Baratta, Esq. works with corporate, real estate, and business clients on a wide variety of highly sophisticated business and transactional matters including mergers and acquisitions, capital raising transactions, private placements, reverse mergers, and general corporate compliance. He also represents a number of not-for-profits in issues ranging from formation, governance and compliance. Joseph brings exceptional value to all of his clients because of his ability to draw on his business experience when providing legal representation. He not only supplies legal guidance and acumen, but also has a deep appreciation of the financial and business considerations that are at stake in any given situation. As a result, he approaches each representation with an eye toward the client's unique business needs and particular priorities. He handles complicated business transactions at the same time that he supplies his clients with guidance on many of the more routine operational aspects of a business.
Job Titles:
- Executive
- Head
- Managing Partner
- Partner
Ms. Bertuna is head of the firm's Wills, Trusts and Estates Department, and has an expertise in the fields of estate and surrogate matters.
Ms. Bertuna is a rising star in the New York legal community, having first been selected several years ago by Super Lawyers magazine as an attorney who stands out among her peers.
Ms. Bertuna has been named a "Crain's New York Business 2022 Notable Women in Law". Her extensive charitable work has been recognized and reported by the New York Times.
Practice Areas: Civil Litigation Personal Injury Commercial Litigation Michael DiBenedetto specializes in Civil Law including Personal Injury, Commercial Litigation, Transactional matters, and Divorce and Family Law. Michael was a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Jodi Lee Alper, J.S.C., a General Equity presiding judge in
The Honorable John M. Leventhal is retired from his most recent judicial position as Associate Justice of the State Court of New York, Appellate Division, Second Judicial Department, a position to which he was appointed in 2008.