Members:

Michael E. Gorelick

mgorelick@agfjlaw.com

Born in Brooklyn, New York, 1949

Admitted to Bar, New York, 1976; New Jersey and Florida, 1988; and
U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, 1976; U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 1979; Supreme Court of the United States, 1980; U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey; 1988; U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida, 1992.

Mr. Gorelick received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York in 1970 and is a 1975 graduate of Brooklyn Law School.

Mr. Gorelick is a founding member of Abrams, Gorelick. He has practiced litigation and appellate law for 30 years and has extensive experience in employment practices liability matters for management, insurance coverage, and commercial litigation. Over the years, Mr. Gorelick has represented and counseled a wide variety of clients including, among others: Lloyd’s of London and domestic insurance companies; Neuberger Berman, Inc.; The Village of Rockville Centre, New York; Home Depot, Inc.; National Wholesale Liquidators; DaimlerChrysler Financial Services; as well as many commercial property owners, restaurants, taverns, and retailers.

Mr. Gorelick is a member of the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC), the Defense Research Institute (DRI), where he serves as a New York State liaison, the Loss Executives Association and the National Association of Subrogation Professionals.

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Daniel J. Friedman

dfriedman@agfjlaw.com

Born in Bronx, New York, 1952

Admitted to Bar, New York, 1977; and U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, 1979; Supreme Court of the United States, 1985; U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 1991.

Mr. Friedman received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the American University in 1973 and is a 1976 graduate of Washington College of Law of the American University.

Mr. Friedman is a founding member of Abrams, Gorelick. He began his legal career at the Kings County (Brooklyn, New York) District Attorney’s Office where he served as an Assistant District Attorney for five years. Mr. Friedman’s career as a prosecutor culminated with the investigation, prosecution, and conviction of what was described by Time Magazine as the largest arson for profit ring in the United States. During those years, Mr. Friedman developed an expertise in the cause and origin of fires, which carried over to his practice at Abrams, Gorelick. Mr. Friedman is in charge of property damage claims and litigation. As part of that practice, he has defended various insurance syndicates at Lloyd’s of London, and other foreign and domestic insurers. The claims range from alleged defective wiring, poor maintenance and products liability. Mr. Friedman’s practice requires him to regularly interact with fire cause and origin experts, electrical engineers, structural engineers, builders, surveyors, and forensic accountants. Mr. Friedman’s practice also includes coverage opinions and appellate practice.

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Glenn A. Jacobson

gjacobson@agfjlaw.com

Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, 1952

Admitted to Bar, New York, 1980; New Jersey, 1982; and U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, 1980; U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey; 1982; U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 1983; U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 1993.

Mr. Jacobson received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in 1974 from the American University and graduated in 1979 from the University of Baltimore School of Law.

A founding member of the firm, Mr. Jacobson has been litigating and trying to verdict cases in the New York and New Jersey state and federal courts for more than 27 years. He has also successfully argued appeals in the New York Appellate Division, First and Second Departments as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Second and Third Circuits. Since the 1980s, Mr. Jacobson has devoted a substantial portion of his practice to defending property owners, general contractors and sub-contractors in New York “Labor Law” construction accident cases and has successfully tried to verdict or negotiated favorable settlements at trial and mediation. He also regularly defends products liability, liquor law liability, premises liability, false imprisonment/false arrest, transportation, and large property damage and first-party property actions. Finally, in recognition of the growing importance of alternative dispute resolution in defense practice, Mr. Jacobson has enhanced the negotiating skills gained through years of practical experience by attending numerous advanced courses in mediation and negotiation skills offered by various bar associations and New York University. 

Mr. Jacobson serves on the Board of Directors of the Harmonie Group and is Chair of its Marketing Committee; as a Vice President of the Jewish Lawyers Guild of New York; and as a member of the Board of Directors of the New York City Trial Lawyers Association. He is a member of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC); Defense Research Institute (DRI); the New York State Bar Association; the New York County Lawyers Association, where he actively serves on its Supreme Court Committee; and the Kings County Bar Association. 

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Barry Jacobs

bjacobs@agfjlaw.com

Born in Passaic, New Jersey, 1955

Admitted to Bar, New York, 1981; and U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, 1981; U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 1984.

Mr. Jacobs received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Rutgers University in 1977 and graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1980.

Mr. Jacobs has extensive trial experience in the New York state courts, as well as in the federal courts. In addition to his documented trial experience, he has extensive appellate experience, having successfully argued many matters in the First and Second Departments of the Appellate Division of the State of New York, Court of Appeals of the State of New York, as well as the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. His entire career has been devoted to the defense of general liability and professional liability claims, including premises liability, automotive liability, liquor law liability, legal malpractice claims, claims against nursing homes and rehabilitative facilities, and the defense of false arrest/ false imprisonment claims against large mercantile establishments. In these areas, his clients include May Department Stores Co. (now Federated Retail Holdings), Chubb Group of Insurance, and Custard Claims & Risk Management, a third party administrator handling claims for Westport Insurance Co.

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Leonard G. Kamlet

lkamlet@agfjlaw.com

Born in Brooklyn, New York, 1951

Admitted to Bar, Ohio, 1976; New York., 1977; and U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, 1977; U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 1987.

Mr. Kamlet received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Brooklyn College of the City of New York in 1973 and graduated from Cleveland State University Law School in 1976.

Mr. Kamlet has over 30 years of trial experience. He started his career in the Bronx District Attorney’s Office where he handled white-collar investigations and trials, as well as appeals. During his 24 years of civil practice, Mr. Kamlet has had extensive experience in toxic tort litigation including asbestos, lead poisoning, and mold claims. He has spent a major portion of his career defending all aspects of premises liability, construction accidents, products liability, and transportation claims. He has also developed expertise in large property damage subrogation claims. Mr. Kamlet’s devotion to detail during all phases of litigation, from inception to trial, has allowed him to better counsel his clients, obtain favorable outcomes by negotiating settlement from a position of strength and by employing alternative dispute resolution when appropriate. During his career, Mr. Kamlet has tried a multitude of cases to verdict and maintains a reputation in the legal community as a formidable trial adversary. 

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Steven Di Siervi

sdisiervi@agfjlaw.com

Born in Brooklyn, New York, 1973 

Admitted to Bar, New York and U.S. District Court, Northern, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, 1999.

Mr. Di Siervi received his Bachelor of Arts from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York in 1995 and graduated in 1998 from Brooklyn Law School. 

Mr. DiSiervi has extensive experience handling and trying cases that involve intentional torts, construction law, and products and premises liability. Mr. DiSiervi represents small corporations, Fortune 500 companies, as well as religious institutions. Some of his clients include Royal Pak Systems, Procida Construction and Realty Development, Step-Mar Contracting, TC Dunham Paint Corp., and Home Depot. He has also successfully tried, to verdict, a products liability and breach of warranty case against the manufacturer of an industrial trash compactor. Mr. DiSiervi also briefs and argues appeals, including a recent appeal regarding the interpretation of a construction contract that was decided by the Court of Appeals of the State of New York.

Mr. DiSiervi lectures to insurance professionals on various construction law topics and has presented seminars to insurance brokers and contractors on the effective use of indemnification provisions in construction agreements.

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Jade M. Priest

jpriest@agfjlaw.com

Born in Youngtown, Ohio, 1973

Admitted to Bar, New York and U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, 1999. 

Ms. Priest received her Bachelor of Arts from Denison University in 1995 and graduated from Brooklyn Law School in 1998.

Ms. Priest has extensive experience litigating cases that involve products liability, toxic torts, premises liability, liquor liability and intentional torts. Some of Ms. Priest’s clients in these fields include: Hunts Point Terminal Produce Cooperative Association, New York’s largest wholesale produce market; Mentor Corporation, a medical device manufacturer; and Sedgwick Claims Management, a TPA handling claims for a whole host of self-insured clients. Ms. Priest has defended many restaurants, taverns, retailers, distributors and product manufacturers, including Home Depot, Blockbuster, Anchor Glass Container Corporation, Kernco Medical-Dental Specialties, Inc. In addition, Ms. Priest is spearheading the firm’s newly added Intellectual Property Department.

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Irwin D. Miller

imiller@agfjlaw.com

Born in New York, New York, 1952

Admitted to Bar, New York, 1978; and U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, 1979; U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 1978; Supreme Court of the United States, 1982.

Mr. Miller received his Bachelor of Arts from Queens College of the City University of New York in 1974 and is a 1977 graduate of Hofstra University School of Law.

Mr. Miller began his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney in Bronx County where he participated in criminal trials, prepared and argued appeals, and presented cases to the Grand Jury. He left the District Attorney’s office in 1981 and has been engaged in all areas of civil litigation over the last twenty-six years. Mr. Miller is a highly regarded trial attorney, having successfully tried motor vehicle and transportation cases, general liability cases including premises liability, Labor Law cases and products liability cases in every venue in New York State. 

Mr. Miller has been the supervising partner in handling defense cases on behalf of Allstate Insurance Company, with whom he has maintained a fourteen (14) year relationship, the Hertz Corporation, Mendon Leasing Corporation and a variety of other insurance carriers and self-insureds. 

Mr. Miller has made presentations to insurance professionals on various litigation topics and has presented seminars on a variety of medical/legal issues including the significance of herniated discs and the analysis of liability and damages issues. 

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Chris Christofides

cchristofides@agfjlaw.com

Born in New York, New York, 1954

Admitted to Bar, New York and U.S. District Court, Western District of New York, 1980; U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of New York, 1981; U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, 1983; Supreme Court of the United States, 1985.

Mr. Christofides received his Bachelor of Arts from Queens College of the City University of New York in 1976 and is a 1979 graduate of Brooklyn Law School. 

Mr. Christofides has devoted almost all of his 27-year career pursuing substantial property subrogation claims and in defending first and third-party claims relating to property loss. He has litigated highly complex actions involving: fires; water damage; electrical service and gas service; construction defect; builder’s risk; inland marine; bailment; common carriers; jeweler’s block; boiler and machinery; and products liability issues. Mr. Christofides is a frequent speaker at seminars lecturing to insurance professionals at the Property Loss Research Bureau, the College of Insurance in New York and at seminars given by the New York State and New York City Bar Associations and has presented on numerous property topics including subrogation, spoliation of evidence, cause and origin investigation, investigation and defense of arson and fraud claims and the handling of first party insurance claims. He is a member of the Arbitration Panel for the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York; a member of the National Association of Subrogation Professionals and a member of the Maritime Law Association of the United States.

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Associates:

Vanessa Caballero

vcaballero@agfjlaw.com

Born New York, New York, May 6, 1976; admitted to bar, 2005, New York. Education: New York University (B.A., 1998) Brooklyn Law School (J.D., 2004). Member: New York County Bar Association. Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Premises Liability; Automobile and General Liability.

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Marisa Carpentiere

mcarpentiere@agfjlaw.com

Born Flushing, New York, January 11, 1969; admitted to bar, 1995, New York. Education: St. Johns University (B.A., 1990, M.A., 1992) Seton Hall Law School (J.D., 1995). Member: New York State Bar Association, New York County Bar Association, New York State Women's Bar Association. Practice Areas: Negligence Defense & Civil Litigation.

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Amy N. Davidoff

adavidoff@agfjlaw.com

Born Monticello, New York, October 23, 1977; admitted to bar, 2004, New York. Education: Cornell University (B.A., 1999) New York Law School (J.D., 2003). Member: New York State Bar Association and City Bar Association. Practice Areas: Negligence, Insurance and Defense.
Jessica Ferraro, Associate
Born: Port Chester, New York, October 14, 1974; admitted to bar 2006, New
York. Education: Boston University (B.A., 1996), Brooklyn Law School (J.D.,
2005). Member: New York State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Negligence Defense Litigation, Insurance Coverage, Premises Liability, Intellectual Property, Trademark Clearance and Registration, Claims Administration.

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Jessica Ferraro

jferraro@agfjlaw.com

Born: Port Chester, New York, October 14, 1974; admitted to bar 2006, New
York. Education: Boston University (B.A., 1996), Brooklyn Law School (J.D.,
2005). Member: New York State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Negligence Defense Litigation, Insurance Coverage, Premises Liability, Intellectual Property, Trademark Clearance and Registration, Claims Administration.

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Siobhan M. Forde

sforde@agfjlaw.com

Born Galway, Ireland, November 10, 1962; admitted to bar, 1993, Ireland; 2001, New York. Education: University College, Galway (B.A. & LLB, 1989). Member: Galway Bar Association. Practice Areas: Labor Law, Employment Law, and Personal Injury, defense.
John O. Fronce, Associate
Born Newburgh, New York, September 20, 1967; admitted to bar, 1994, New York. Education: University of Colorado, Boulder (B.A., International Relations, 1990), Boston University (J.D., 1993). Member: New York State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Trials and appeals, Automobile and General Liability, Negligence Defense, Construction Negligence, Property Damage, Premises Liability and Toxic Torts.

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John O. Fronce

jfronce@agfjlaw.com

Born Newburgh, New York, September 20, 1967; admitted to bar, 1994, New York. Education: University of Colorado, Boulder (B.A., International Relations, 1990), Boston University (J.D., 1993). Member: New York State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Trials and appeals, Automobile and General Liability, Negligence Defense, Construction Negligence, Property Damage, Premises Liability and Toxic Torts.

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Bryan Goldstein

bgoldstein@agfjlaw.com

Moscow, Russia, 1972; admitted to bar, 2000, New York; 1999, New Jersey. Education: Touro College (B.A., 1994); Brooklyn Law School (J.D., 1999). Languages: Russian. Practice Areas: General Liability Defense, Personal Injury, Commercial Litigation.

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Jay S. Gunsher

jgunsher@agfjlaw.com

Born New York, April 12, 1967; admitted to bar, 1996, New York; 1997, Connecticut. Education: New Hampshire College (M.A.S., 1989); St. Johns Law School (J.D., 1995). Practice Areas: Litigation Defense; Uninsured and Underinsured Motorists; Automobile; Transportation; and Trucking.

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James E. Kimmel

jkimmel@agfjlaw.com

Born Youngstown, Ohio 1977; admitted to bar 2003, New York. Education: Ohio State University (B.A., Political Science 1999); New York Law School (J.D., 2002). Member: New York State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Negligence Defense Litigation.

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Allison G. Leff

aleff@agfjlaw.com

Born New York 1977; admitted to bar, 2003, New York and New Jersey 2002. Education: University of Michigan (B.A., 1999); Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law (J.D., 2002). Member: New York State Bar Association. Practice Areas: Negligence Defense Litigation.

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Thomas R. Maeglin

tmaeglin@agfjlaw.com

Born Muscatine, Iowa, June 15, 1967; admitted to bar, 2004, New York; 2005, U.S. District Courts, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. Education: University of Chicago (B.A., 1990); Fordham University Graduate School of Business Administration (M.B.A., 2003) and Law School (J.D., 2003). Member: New York State Bar Association (TICL Section, Committee on Insurance Coverage); New York County Lawyers Association; Bronx County Bar Association; Association of the Bar of the City of New York; American Bar Association. Practices Areas: Insurance Coverage; First party Insurance Defense Litigation; Insurance Agent & Broker; Negligence Defense and Civil Litigation.

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Gabrielle Puchalsky

gpuchalsky@agfjlaw.com

Born New York, New York, 1980; admitted to bar, 2005 New Jersey, 2006 New York. Education: University of Wisconsin-Madison (B.A., 2002); Brooklyn Law School (J.D., 2005), Moot Court Honor Society. Member: New York State Bar Association, New York County Lawyers’ Association. Practice Areas: First Party and Third Party Defense Litigation; Coverage.

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Bridget Quinn

bquinn@agfjlaw.com

Born Brooklyn, New York, October 15, 1980; admitted to bar, tba. Education: Iona College (B.A., 2002) New York Law School (J.D., 2005). Practice Areas: Insurance Defense; Premises Liability; Products Liability, and Labor Law.

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Alexandra E. Rigney

arigney@agfjlaw.com

Born New York, N.Y., September 26, 1978; admitted to bar, June 21, 2006, New York, December 14, 2005 New Jersey, and December 30, 2005, U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey. Education: Georgetown University (B.S.L.I., 2000); Brooklyn Law School (J.D., 2005). Member: The Association of the Bar of the City of New York; New York County and New York State Bar Association, American Bar Association. Practice Areas: Insurance Coverage; Insurance Coverage Defense; Professional Liability; Products Liability.

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