STAFFORD OWENS - Key Persons
PRACTICE AREAS:
Mr. Owens focuses on the legal areas of business and corporate law, not-for-profit law, tax law, and trust and estates law. He has focused his practice on representing clients in a variety of corporate and not-for-profit transactions, tax and business litigation, estate planning, and estate administration/probate.
Mr. Owens has worked with larger established clients as well as start-ups in the aforementioned areas and he offers legal advice that helps his clients meet their business goals. The intersection of estate planning and corporate law allows Mr. Owens to offer clients well rounded advise in business succession planning and mergers and acquisitions.
Mr. Owens has experience forming start-up companies in a wide variety of industries, raising capital in private placement transactions, and drafting contracts. Many of Mr. Owens' clients are subsidiaries of Canadian and other foreign businesses. For these clients, Mr. Owens addresses unique tax and corporate law issues surrounding formation of United States subsidiaries of Canadian and other foreign businesses. He also has experience prosecuting and defending real property tax assessment grievances and defending cases in front of the United States Tax Court.
EDUCATION:
Brendan Owens attended Middlebury College in Vermont earning a Bachelor of Arts. He then attended the University of Connecticut School of Law earning a Juris Doctor degree.
While you are welcome to contact an attorney at Stafford Owens, you should be aware that this Web site presents general information about Stafford Owens and is not intended as legal advice, nor should you consider it as such. You should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.
Please keep in mind that merely contacting Stafford Owens will not establish an attorney-client relationship. Stafford Owens cannot represent you until the firm knows there would not be a conflict of interest and the firm determines that it is otherwise able to and wishes to accept the engagement. Accordingly, please do not send Stafford Owens any information or documents until a formal attorney-client relationship has been established through an interview with an attorney and you receive authorization in the form of an engagement letter from Stafford Owens. Any information or documents sent prior to your receipt of an engagement letter cannot be treated as confidences, secrets, or protected information of any nature.
PRACTICE AREAS
Jacqueline Kelleher began at Stafford Owens in 2000. Ms. Kelleher advises businesses, not-for-profits, and public entities on various legal matters, focusing on labor and employment matters, contracts, litigation and risk management. She frequently advises clients regarding labor relations and collective bargaining, executive compensation, hiring and separation, workplace investigations and related areas. She is the Clinton County Attorney and District Attorney for a number of local school Districts, advising on a wide range of issues.
Ms. Kelleher has a broad legal background representing a range of clients in mediation, arbitration, and before regulatory agencies and state and federal courts.
She is dedicated to her community and says she was delighted to have an opportunity to become part of the social and business fabric of the North Country, partly through her service to not-for-profits.
EDUCATION:
Obtaining her Bachelor's Degree from Georgetown University in 1986, she then earned her Juris Doctorate Degree in 1994 from University of Pittsburgh, School of Law, graduating cum laude.
Ms. Kelleher frequently provides training on legal issues relating to employment including wage and hour issues; employee performance and discipline; state and federal laws; workplace harassment and discrimination, and management of public employees.
Ms. Kelleher has provided training to employers and managers through a number of forums, including the North Country HR Consortium and the North Country Chamber of Commerce, as well as numerous presentations to clients. Ms. Kelleher also provides 1-on-1 counseling for employees regarding legal standards.
PRACTICE AREAS
Jessica L. Miller began working for Stafford Owens in 2004. Ms. Miller focuses her legal practice on Commercial Real Estate Law, Commercial Transactions, Leasing and Corporate Law and Residential Real Estate Law. Ms. Miller represents both buyers and sellers in complex real estate and asset purchase transactions and she re_presents several lending institutions with respect to commercial lending transactions including NBT Bank, Glens Falls National Bank, TD Bank, Community Bank and Farm Credit East.
EDUCATION:
Ms. Miller received her Bachelor's Degree from State University of New York at Plattsburgh in 2000, graduating Magna Cum Laude. In 2003, she obtained her MBA from Syracuse University and her Juris Doctorate Degree from Syracuse University College of Law, graduating Magna Cum Laude.
Job Titles:
- Adjunct Professor in the Accounting and Interdisciplinary Studies Programs at Plattsburgh State University
- EDUCATION
PRACTICE AREAS:
Justin Meyer joined Stafford Owens in 2006. He has extensive experience in all aspects of litigation, including personal injury, matrimonial, breach of contract, tort claims, mortgage foreclosures, criminal and mental hygiene law (including guardianship placement). Mr. Meyer represents parties at all stages of litigation in State and Federal Courts.
Every year since 2016, Mr. Meyer has been named to the New York State Super Lawyers Rising Stars list; each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected to receive this honor.
Mr. Meyer has served as an adjunct professor in the Accounting and Interdisciplinary Studies programs at Plattsburgh State University.
Owens, Piller, Murnane, Kelleher & Trombley, PLLC, can trace its roots to the merger of two prestigious law firms in 1990. The offices of Fitzpatrick, Trombley, Owens & Lahtinen of Plattsburgh, New York, which focused its practice on litigation for 35 years, with senior partner James Fitzpatrick serving the community as Chairman of the New York State Power Authority for 15 years and as a New York State Assemblyman for 10 years.
PRACTICE AREAS:
Thomas Murnane practices in the areas of residential and commercial real estate, banking law, zoning and planning law, workers' compensation law, criminal law, municipal law and general litigation.
Mr. Murnane has extensive experience in all aspects of residential and commercial real estate. He has represented several lending institutions with respect to residential and commercial transactions and currently represents NBT Bank, Glens Falls National Bank, Wells Fargo Bank as well as other lenders. In addition, Mr. Murnane represents claimants, carriers, and third party administrators before the New York State Workers' Compensation Board and has practiced before the Board for almost 30 years.
Mr. Murnane is employed by several Towns and Villages to represent their respective Town and Village Boards, Zoning Boards of Appeals and Planning Boards.
With his background as a former Clinton County Assistant District Attorney, Mr. Murnane also has experience in handling all types of traffic ticket matters and criminal cases.
Mr. Murnane has represented the AuSable Acres Homeowners Association since 2013 and currently is the attorney for the Lake Country Village Homeowner's Association.
Bill Owens returned as a partner to Stafford Owens in January 2015. Prior to serving in the U.S. House, Congressman Owens was in private practice in Plattsburgh for thirty years. As the U.S. Representative for New York's 21st District (previously 23rd) for five and a half years, Congressman Owens developed a deep understanding of issues directly impacting his constituents, including matters related to U.S.-Canada trade, healthcare and agriculture.
In his new role at Stafford Owens, Congressman Owens utilizes his experience to provide clients with well-informed, strategic counsel based on a thorough knowledge of North Country business and related legislation and regulations. What sets Stafford Owens apart, according to Owens, is the "unique skill sets of our attorneys, the commitment to client service which brings added value to the work they do". He continues his service to the business community to help build the economy and create jobs by focusing on corporate structures and transactions (acquisitions, sales and mergers), as well as succession, estate and tax planning.
Congressman Owens has joined the Canada Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. as a board member as well as the Canadian American Border Trade Alliance where he will continue to engage with other professionals involved in the U.S.-Canada trade relationship.
While in Congress, Congressman Owens served on the Agriculture Committee, Armed Services Committee, Homeland Security Committee, and Small Business Committee. In his final two year term, he served on the exclusive House Appropriations Committee including the Subcommittee on Defense and the Subcommittee on Homeland Security. Congressman Owens authored five pieces of legislation which were signed into law during his tenure in Congress: three of which were provisions in the 2014 Farm Bill that had a direct, positive impact on the lives of the farmers in his district.
While you are welcome to contact an attorney at Stafford Owens, you should be aware that this Web site presents general information about Stafford Owens and is not intended as legal advice, nor should you consider it as such. You should not act upon this information without seeking professional counsel.
Please keep in mind that merely contacting Stafford Owens will not establish an attorney-client relationship. Stafford Owens cannot represent you until the firm knows there would not be a conflict of interest and the firm determines that it is otherwise able to and wishes to accept the engagement. Accordingly, please do not send Stafford Owens any information or documents until a formal attorney-client relationship has been established through an interview with an attorney and you receive authorization in the form of an engagement letter from Stafford Owens. Any information or documents sent prior to your receipt of an engagement letter cannot be treated as confidences, secrets, or protected information of any nature.