ZLOTOLOW AND ASSOCIATES - Key Persons
Since receiving his license to practice law in 1997, Anthony Bilello has devoted his entire career to Zlotolow & Associates.
A native of Farmingdale, Bilello received an undergraduate degree in political science from Hofstra University in 1994 before enrolling at Hofstra's Maurice A. Dean School of Law, where he received his J.D. in 1997.
His practice has focused exclusively on plaintiff's personal injury cases, representing clients who have been hurt in car crashes or other accidents stemming from negligence.
Bilello handles most of the depositions in these cases for the firm, as well as motions and appeals. He enjoys the competitive nature of the work and finds his job most rewarding when clients are fairly compensated for what they've been put through.
"We represent some great people here," he says, "and it's good when they can receive some life-changing money."
Away from the office, Bilello enjoys spending time with his family, as well as following and taking part in his two children's sports activities.
Scott is the Best! I had a case that was quite hard to win. Before I found Scott, many (and I mean MANY) lawyers turned me away because they said they could not make any money with my case. Well, Mr. Zlotolow came through with flying colors and I will be forever grateful for his service.
Jason Firestein's commitment to the law started at an early age. Growing up in Queens and Plainview, he became interested in American history - in particular, the role of law in shaping the nation.
As an undergraduate at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, Firestein earned a history degree, with an emphasis on legal history, in 1989. He then enrolled at Widener University School of Law in Delaware. As a law student, he was an editor on the Law Review and graduated with honors in 1992.
From that point, Firestein's interest in the law rapidly shifted from the theoretical to the practical as he launched a career as a plaintiff's attorney focusing mostly on personal injury cases. He worked at a number of law firms in New York City and Long Island before joining Zlotolow & Associates in 2010.
Throughout his career, Firestein has devoted himself to producing the best results for his clients.
"I like helping people who have been victimized by others," he says. "I understand how insurance companies operate and how people who have been victimized in that way are often made victims again if they're not properly represented and properly taken care of."
The kinds of cases he handles range from motor vehicle accidents to premises liability to defective products. In addition to trying cases, Firestein has also handled appeals.
While he enjoys making lives better for his clients, Firestein also derives satisfaction from the fact that these successes sometimes bring about more wide-ranging benefits for others.
"I think that what we do can, to a certain extent, effectuate changes in how businesses and other places operate," he says. "They might learn that they can't just go about their worlds without regard for the safety of others."
At Zlotolow & Associates, Firestein is part of a legal team that works together to deliver outstanding service and results for clients.
"I'm proud to be part of a successful operation that has helped many, many people over the years. We take a collaborative approach to all of our cases and all of our clients. We try to offer them the benefit of not just an individual person who is assigned to their case, but a team of people who work in concert to help them achieve a net result."
Firestein's commitment to the law is not limited to his own practice. He has written articles for the Nassau County Bar Association and is a frequent speaker at Continuing Legal Education events and legal conferences.
Lauran Markowitz focuses on finalizing settlements for the firm's clients. Before joining Zlotolow & Associates, she served as a long-time attorney and supervisor in the Nassau County District Attorney's Office.
A native of Dix Hills, Markowitz received an undergraduate degree in linguistics from the University of Michigan in 1986. She then attended the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law on scholarship and earned her J.D. in 1989. Afterward, she joined the Nassau County D.A.'s Office, where she worked for the next 17 years. Markowitz initially prosecuted cases and then became the office's arraignment supervisor.
After leaving the D.A.'s office in 2006, she worked part-time for Zlotolow & Associates for six years before starting to work full-time in 2012.
Markowitz enjoys handling the final settlements for clients. "It's a very pleasurable experience," she says. "I get to deal with clients at the happy end of the process."
Scott Zlotolow launched Zlotolow & Associates in the early 1990s with a simple guiding principle in mind: To provide clients the best possible service.
Since opening the firm's doors, he hasn't wavered in that commitment.
"When you call here, you're not just a number ─ you're a person," he says. "We overstaff to make sure everyone in the firm is well acquainted with every case that we handle. You're not going to get, ‘Oh, I'm sorry, that's not my file.'"
A native New Yorker, Zlotolow received his J.D. in 1991 and has committed his entire legal career to fighting for the rights of people who have suffered physical injuries. Whether the injuries were caused by motor vehicle crashes, construction or workplace accidents, medical malpractice, or dangerous products, Zlotolow applies the same focused attention to clients' needs.
"I care first and foremost about my clients," he says. "It's their case, not mine. I do what's best for each individual client, depending on their particular needs."
The firm's success over the years has helped it build up the resources needed to take on complex claims. "To build a case, you need to devote time and money to that case," Zlotolow says. "We have the resources to build a case, and we will do what's necessary to get the maximum recovery for our clients."
Although the firm's success has meant that it has grown in size, Zlotolow retains the same singular focus that he had when he launched the firm.
"Even though we've become bigger, I still take the time to give a personal touch to my people," he says. "I like the trial work, but I mostly love dealing with the clients. They are the lifeblood of this firm."
For 20 years, Zlotolow & Associates has been listed as a "Firm of Excellence" by 1-800-LAWYERS, an organization committed to connecting unjustly injured people with high-quality personal injury attorneys.