BARASCH & MCGARRY - Key Persons
Adam Wynn is an Associate at Barasch & McGarry who represents 9/11 victims, and their family members, by preparing comprehensive submissions to the Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). In addition, Mr. Wynn represents clients before the VCF at hearings related to eligibility and compensation.
Prior to working at Barasch & McGarry, Adam worked as an Associate at a regional law firm where his practice focused on real estate litigation and transactions. In addition to extensive motion practice before courts across New York State, Mr. Wynn's prior experience encompasses immigration law, family law, and personal injury.
Having worked with a number of professional colleagues in offices located within the NYC Exposure Zone who experienced 9/11 conditions, Adam is pleased to guide members of the 9/11 community through the Victim Compensation Fund process.
Education
State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, J.D., 2011
Johns Hopkins University, M.A., 2009
Muhlenberg College, B.A., cum laude, 2006
Andrea Velasquez is an Associate at Barasch & McGarry handling 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) claims.
Andrea was born in Lima, Peru. She immigrated to Queens, New York when she was 9 years old, but has never forgotten where she comes from. Andrea is the first and only attorney in her family. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice, and a minor in Latino/a Studies from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Andrea attended the City University of New York School of Law (CUNY Law), where she was a Law Review Staff Editor, member of the Latin American Law Students Association, and recipient of the Hon. Diccia T. Pineda -Kirwan Fellowship. While at CUNY Law, Andrea interned at The Legal Aid Society, the Urban Justice Center, and the Door Legal Services Center. She was also part of the Immigrant & Non-Citizen Rights Clinic at CUNY Law. After graduation, Andrea joined Brooklyn Defender Services as a Staff Attorney in the Criminal Defense Practice. She handled numerous cases from misdemeanors to low-level felonies in Kings County Criminal and Supreme Courts. Andrea then joined Barasch & McGarry as their first Spanish-speaking attorney, to continue doing what she loves the most, advocating for clients in every way possible. She is very determined to make sure all clients, including minorities, receive the compensation they are entitled to.
Education
City University of New York School of Law, Juris Doctorate, 2019
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Arts, Criminal Justice, 2014
Angela Nevard is an Associate at Barasch & McGarry working on 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Claims for families of deceased victims.
Ms. Nevard is a graduate of the McGill Faculty of Law where she earned both her Civil and Common Law degrees. In 2013, she became a member of the Quebec Bar and in 2020 a member of the New York Bar. Prior to joining Barasch McGarry, she was a litigator, with the last three years primarily dedicated to child protective matters. She worked pro bono in a variety of matters including with the Safe Passage Project and with Election Protection. She is fluent in French.
Education
McGill Faculty of Law, Civil and Common Law, 2011
Barry Salzman is a Senior Partner at Barasch & McGarry handling many of the firm's most complex personal injury cases.
Mr. Salzman is an accomplished personal injury litigator who has earned his highly-respected reputation through his strong work ethic, attention to detail, negotiation skills, and passionate dedication to his clients. He has over 30 years of experience representing accident victims in such varied practice areas as fire and police-related accidents, construction site accidents, premises liability, municipal liability and motor vehicle litigation.
His passion for helping others dates back to his college years when he worked for the late United States Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, a deeply committed humanitarian. Working for Senator Moynihan afforded him the opportunity to help New Yorkers on a wide range of issues and led him to a career as an injury attorney.
Barry's motivation comes from knowing that his hard work can make enormous positive changes in the lives of his clients. In a society where stereotypes of lawyers portray them as selfish and greedy, Barry is tremendously gratified when clients tell him that he has forever changed their negative perceptions of lawyers.
Education
State University of New York at Oneonta, B.S., Business Economics, 1985
Touro College Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, Juris Doctorate, 1988
Bruce Kaye is a Partner at Barasch & McGarry managing firefighter litigation and various practices related to 9/11 Victim Compensation and complex personal injury cases.
Mr. Kaye entered private practice after six years as an Assistant District Attorney and is one of the firm's senior trial lawyers with over 25 years of experience trying civil and criminal cases in every borough of New York City and the surrounding counties. Mr. Kaye's primary areas of practice are firefighter litigation, World Trade Center advocacy, Wills & Estates, criminal litigation in State and Federal Courts, and the trial of personal injury cases on behalf of our firm's most severely injured clients.
Mr. Kaye approaches each case and each client with uncompromising effort and he is recognized by colleagues and judges as an experienced and successful trial lawyer with the highest of ethical standards.
Education
Antioch School of Law, Juris Doctorate, 1987
City College of the City University of New York, B.A., Urban Legal Studies, 1984
8-4-2017 Greenfield-Recorder coverage of Mr. Kaye's representation of a criminal client in Supreme Court, Queens County
8-29-14 Claimsjournal.com coverage of Mr. Kaye's representation of former NYPD Sergeant in a criminal matter
CJ Udoye is a Associate Attorney for Barasch & McGarry's 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) practice.
CJ was born and raised in Austin, Texas. He earned his Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University and attended Cardozo School of Law, where he was a Senior Editor for Alternative Dispute Resolution Competition Honor Society and the Vice President of Black Law Student Association. Upon graduating, CJ joined Barasch & McGarry as an Associate Attorney helping to protect the rights of 9/11 victims and their families. He is dedicated to ensuring his clients receive quality representation and an equitable award.
Education
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Juris Doctorate, 2022
Texas A&M University, B.S. in Kinesiology, 2017
Job Titles:
- Editor
- Partner
- Partner, Co - Director of Family Assistance Team
Dana Cohen is a Partner at Barasch & McGarry where she co-leads the firm's Family Assistance Team which represents families who have lost a loved one to 9/11-related disease.
Ms. Cohen first came to work at Barasch & McGarry in 1998 as a paralegal, and attended law school at night, graduating magna cum laude from Brooklyn Law School. Ms. Cohen has devoted her career to seeking justice for seriously injured people. In addition to leading the Family Assistance Team, she has handled some of the firm's most complex cases, including those arising from medical malpractice, product liability, and firefighter accidents. Through her dedication and legal expertise she has recovered millions of dollars for the firm's clients in many high-profile cases. In addition, she is one of the firm's leading appellate practitioners.
Ms. Cohen is the editor and frequent contributor to the firm's Know Your Rights newsletter.
Education
Brooklyn Law School, Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, 2004
Brooklyn College, B.A., Anthropology and Archaeology, 1995
Daniel Lee is an Associate at Barasch & McGarry handling 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) claims and personal injury matters.
Daniel was born and raised in a small Irish neighborhood, Breezy Point, Queens where he still resides today. He earned his Bachelor of Economics from Manhattan College in the Bronx, NY. Daniel attended New York Law School, where he was a member of the Student Bar Association as a Class Senator. While attending law school, Daniel worked part-time at Barasch & McGarry handling 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund claims. Upon graduating, Daniel joined Barasch & McGarry as an Outreach Coordinator while he waited to pass the Bar Exam. Daniel now works as an Associate Attorney helping to protect the legal rights of 9/11 victims and their families. He is a devoted attorney who is passionate about helping others. He is dedicated to fighting every day to ensure his clients receive a fair and just award.
Education
New York Law School, J.D. 2018
Manhattan College, BA in Economics, 2015
Delaram (Dela) Yousefi is an Associate at Barasch & McGarry who handles 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) claims.
Dela joined Barasch & McGarry in 2022.
Prior to working at Barasch & McGarry, she worked as an attorney advisor for the U.S. Small Business Administration assisting clients affected by natural or manmade disasters, which was an extension of the type of work she had performed at the Disaster Relief Clinic in law school.
Upon her law school graduation, she worked as a family attorney for over four years, where she advocated for her client's position with regards to their legal family matters.
Here at Barasch & McGarry, she combines her passion and experience representing families of deceased 9/11 victims to ensure their rights are properly represented in surrogate's court over the deceased estate.
Education
Touro University Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, Juris Doctorate, 2017
St. John's University, B.S., cum lade, 2013
Destinee Salomon is an Associate at Barasch & McGarry working on 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund Claims for families of deceased victims.
Ms. Salomon is a graduate of the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law where she earned the school's prestigious Inspire! Award for her work as a Pro Bono Scholar with the New York Legal Assistance Group's Special Litigation Unit.
She is a dedicated, compassionate attorney who is committed to delivering results for the families and individuals she represents.
Education
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Juris Doctorate, 2020
Stony Brook University, B.A. in Psychology, B.A. in Political Science, 2016
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner, Co - Director of Family Assistance Team
Dominique Penson is a Partner at Barasch & McGarry focusing on personal injury cases and co-leading the firm's Family Assistance Team which represents families who have lost a loved one to 9/11-related disease.
Mr. Penson is one of the firm's senior trial and appellate lawyers and has spent his entire career representing personal injury and accident victims. Over 25 years of practice, he has handled a diverse array of complex injury cases and obtained many multi-million dollar recoveries on behalf of the firm's clients.
Education
Brooklyn Law School, J.D.,1989
McGill University, B.A., 1986
Job Titles:
- Member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association
- Supervising Attorney for 9 / 11 VCF Practice
James Steiner is a Supervising Attorney for Barasch & McGarry's 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) practice.
James was born in New York City and raised in South Florida. After earning his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Central Florida, he returned to Manhattan to begin his legal career at New York Law School. While there, James worked pro bono on the Uncontested Divorce Project, assisting litigants in Uncontested Divorce matters in New York City's Supreme Courts. James also interned at a boutique real estate firm where he helped represent clients in residential and commercial landlord/tenant disputes.
Shortly after earning his degree from New York Law School, James joined the law firm of Barasch & McGarry where his practice is focused on representing severely injured members of the 9/11 community. James has worked tirelessly to recover millions of dollars on his clients' behalf, and takes great pride in knowing that his finely tuned understanding of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund ensures that each of his clients receives the maximum compensation available by law.
James is a member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association as well as the New York County Lawyers' Association.
Education
New York Law School, Juris Doctorate, 2015
University of Central Florida, Bachelor of Science, Business Administration: Management, 2011
Job Titles:
- Supervising Attorney of Family Assistance Team
Jennifer Jimenez is a Supervising Attorney for Barasch & McGarry's Family Assistance Team, working on 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) claims for families of the deceased.
Jennifer was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She graduated from the University of New Mexico where she earned a Bachelor's of Arts degree in Journalism with a concentration in Broadcasting. Subsequently, Jennifer was accepted into the Juris Doctorate program at New York Law School in lower Manhattan. During her tenure at New York Law school she was selected to be part of the school's prestigious Moot Court Association where she traveled around the country competing in nationally recognized competitions arguing constitutional issues in front of some of the country's top-ranked judges. This experience taught her the skills needed to research, write, prepare arguments, and advocate for the best interests of her clients in a courtroom.
Jennifer was also accepted into a coveted summer internship at Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft where she worked under a team of top attorney's researching, writing and presenting legal arguments on behalf of some of the firm's largest clients in regards to financial affairs.
Before completing her studies at New York Law School, Jennifer began working at Barasch & McGarry as a legal assistant as part of the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund team in early 2015. Upon graduating from New York Law School and being admitted to the New York State Bar, she accepted a full-time position as Associate Attorney at Barasch & McGarry. Jennifer has continued her advocacy for the 9/11 community through her work representing the families of deceased 9/11 victims who suffered from cancers and illnesses in the aftermath of the tragedy. She understands the impact 9/11 has had on victims and their families and she compassionately works to get them the help they're entitled to.
Education
New York Law School, Juris Doctorate, 2015
University of New Mexico, Bachelors of Arts, 2005
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner, Managing Attorney for 9 / 11 VCF Practice
Mariya Atanasova is a Senior Attorney at Barasch & McGarry working handling all aspects of clients' 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund (VCF) claims including appeals and amendments to existing VCF claims.
Mariya was born and raised in Bulgaria. She went to a German high school followed by an American University, both in South Eastern Europe. Her exposure to a multi-cultural environment fostered her educational curiosity and desire to build a career with a positive imprint on humanity. Fluent in several languages, Mariya first came to the USA in 2010 for a semester abroad at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. There, she took numerous law classes and developed an immense interest in and respect for the American legal system. Upon her return to the American University in Bulgaria, Mariya was determined to pursue an advanced degree in law. Prior to graduating college, she was already admitted to New York Law School with a scholarship. Mariya earned her double-major Bachelor's degree in Political Science and International Relations and Business Administration. A few short months after her college graduation, Mariya began her legal education.
The hands -on education style at New York Law School taught Mariya not only how to build a solid theoretical knowledge of the law, but also how to apply it on a daily basis. She was admitted into the prestigious Securities Arbitration Clinic, where she worked pro bono on real disputes between individual small investors/customers and their brokers. Mariya represented customers who had lodged complaints against their brokers through the arbitration divisions of securities industry Self-Regulatory Organizations (SROs), such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA). This experience solidified her lawyering skills in interviewing, case theory development, fact investigation and analysis, counseling and negotiation. The experience at the Securities Arbitration Clinic reinforced Mariya's decision to devote her career to providing legal help to victims of injustice.
Mariya began working at Barasch & McGarry as a legal intern on the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund team in 2013, while simultaneously going to law school full time. After passing the New York State Bar, she accepted a full-time position at Barasch & McGarry where she has dedicated her career to advocating on behalf of people affected by the tragedy of 9/11. Her tireless advocacy and extensive knowledge of the VCF process has resulted in millions of dollars in recoveries for 9/11 responders and survivors.
Education
New York Law School, Juris Doctorate, 2015
American University in Bulgaria, 2012
Barasch & McGarry is proud to have represented James Zadroga, an NYPD detective who developed pulmonary fibrosis as a result of his exposure to the deadly 9/11 toxins. His death persuaded Congress to pass the "James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act." The act reopened the first 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) to provide benefits to those suffering with the harmful consequences of toxic exposure to the World Trade Center dust.
When it became clear that Congress had not sufficiently funded the VCF, Michael relentlessly lobbied Congress with labor union members, responders, downtown office workers and downtown residents.
Michael Gorman is an Associate at Barasch & McGarry handling 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) claims and personal injury matters.
Michael was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Operations Management from the University of Delaware, Lerner School of Business & Economics in Newark, Delaware. Michael attended New York Law School, where he was a member of the Sports Law Society. While there, Michael worked for the New York City Police Department, Legal Bureau. He was also an extern for Justice Matthew D'Emic, working on Domestic Violence and Mental Health cases at Kings County Criminal Court. Upon Graduation, Michael joined Barasch & McGarry as part of the Outreach Team and grew to become an Associate. He is devoted to ensuring that all of his client's needs are taken care of and delivering results for them and their families.
Education
New York Law School, Juris Doctorate, 2020
University of Delaware, Bachelor of Science, Operations Management, 2016
Rebecca Forman is a Senior Attorney at Barasch & McGarry focusing on wrongful death claims.
She was born and raised in New York City. While in law school, Rebecca dedicated much of her free time to the Unemployment Action Center ("UAC"), a student-run non-profit corporation that provides free legal representation for claimants seeking unemployment insurance. Her success in the adversarial proceedings before administrative law judges at the Department of Labor earned her the title of "Advocate of the Year" for three consecutive years. In her last year at Cardozo, Rebecca served on UAC's Board of Directors as the Vice President and Director of Training. Rebecca was chosen to participate in an externship with the Department of Financial Services ("DFS"). At DFS, she focused on protecting New York consumers from financial fraud, including but not limited to; unfair lending practices and the regulation of virtual currency.
Although she enjoyed the substantive components of her legal education, it was the practical application that made her love the law and commit to helping clients maneuver through legal proceedings and recognize their rights.
Shortly after graduating from law school and passing the bar, Rebecca joined the law firm of Barasch & McGarry. She brings compassion and diligence to her work representing victims affected by the 9/11 tragedy and aims to ensure that each client is compensated fairly and understands his/her legal rights.
Education
Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, Juris Doctorate, Securities and Corporate Law Concentration, 2016
Saba Mekbeb is an Associate at Barasch & McGarry who handles Estate matters for the firm's 9/11 victim clients.
After law school, Ms. Mekbeb worked as a law clerk for the NJ Judiciary, Gloucester County Family Court. She then worked for an immigration law firm where she petitioned on US employers' behalf to bring foreign professionals to the US.
Saba joined Barasch & McGarry in 2022.
Sara's accomplishments have been recognized by her peers in the legal community, earning her a place as a Rising Star in the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and a Super Lawyer 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 in the editions of Super Lawyers magazine. She has also been asked to lecture to her peers in the legal community on various legal topics.
Travis Carter is a Senior Attorney at Barasch & McGarry handling 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) claims as well as VCF appeals & amendments.
Travis was born and raised in Long Island, NY. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Upon graduating from UNLV, he returned to New York City to begin his legal career at New York Law School. While there, Travis worked pro bono representing indigent clients as part of the 18-B program in Queens, NY. During his 3rd year of law school, Travis interned at Barasch & McGarry.
Upon graduation he accepted a full time position with Barasch & McGarry where his litigation practice focused on representing severely injured members of the 9/11 community. He has worked tirelessly to recover millions of dollars for his clients and prides himself on his intricate knowledge of 9/11 VCF requirements, processes, and procedures. Through his experience with the VCF, he has been able to use the appeals process to overturn many VCF denials, ensuring that 9/11 responders and survivors receive the full and fair awards they deserve.
Education
New York Law School, Juris Doctorate, 2017
University of Nevada, Las Vegas, B.A. 2013
Trevor Taylor is a Senior Attorney at Barasch & McGarry working on 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund (VCF) claims.
Mr. Taylor was born and raised in Johnsonburg, a small milling town in Northwestern Pennsylvania. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Francis University, where he was a member of the Honors Program. Upon graduation, Trevor relocated to New York City, where he attended New York Law School. While earning his law degree, Trevor interned for various firms and agencies, including Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, the New York City Housing Authority, and Bank of China International. He began interning with Barasch & McGarry during his third and final year of law school. It was through these internships that Trevor gained first-hand knowledge and experience in several practice areas of the law.
Upon passing the New York State Bar, Trevor began working full time at Barasch & McGarry where he focused his practice on representing severely injured members of the 9/11 community. Through his tireless work, attention to detail, and deep compassion for his clients, he has been able to recover millions of dollars in claim awards and appeals through the VCF. Trevor is a proud advocate of the 9/11 community and wants his clients to know that they can come to him in confidence while maintaining their dignity. He is dedicated to fighting every day to ensure his clients receive a fair and just award.
Education
New York Law School, Juris Doctor, 2017
Saint Francis University, B.A., 2013