Biography
Robert joined Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP in 1990 and is a partner with the firm. He received a BA degree from Binghamton University with Honors in 1987 and received his JD from the State University of New York at Buffalo Law School, cum laude, in 1990. He is a former member of the firm’s Executive Committee and former Practice Group Leader of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. He is experienced in handling civil trials and appeals in a wide range of litigation, including real property litigation, personal injury, contract disputes, products liability, and estate litigation. Currently, he limits his practice to civil litigation in the areas of oil & gas lease disputes, serious personal injury (motor vehicle, construction site accident, wrongful death and products liability), estate litigation, contract disputes, and theft of cable & satellite TV.
Robert has received a “BV Distinguished” very high rating from Martindale-Hubbell in both legal ability and ethical standards and has been named as a New York Upstate Super Lawyer since 2012. National Trial Lawyers named him to their Top 100 Civil Plaintiff’s Lawyers of 2017 and 2019.
Robert is a member of the Broome County and New York State Bar Associations. He is an active member of the New York State Trial Lawyers and American Association for Justice. He is licensed to practice in the States of New York and Pennsylvania, and all federal courts in New York and the Middle District of Pennsylvania. He has lectured at legal education seminars for NYSTLA and the Broome County Bar Association. He is an active member of St. Michael’s Orthodox Church of Binghamton.
Publications & Presentations
- Civil Trial Practice Tricks of the Trade (Lecturer, Broome County Bar Association CLE) (October 2016)
- Ethics and Professionalism (Lecturer, Broome County Bar Association CLE) (December 2013)
- Decisions (New York State Trial Lawyers) (2011)
- Update: Oil & Gas Litigation (Lecturer, Broome County Bar Association CLE) (March 2011)
Leadership & Community Involvement
- St. Michael’s Orthodox Church (2009 – Present)
- Legal Aid Society of Broome County (1993 – Present)
- Apalachin Youth Football League (1995 – Present)
Education
- State University of New York, Buffalo School of Law, Buffalo, New York
- J.D. - 1990
- Honors: cum laude
- Binghamton University
- B.A. - 1987
- Honors: With Honors
Certified Legal Specialties
Classes & Seminars
Pro-Bono Activities
Representative Clients
Bar Admissions
- New York, 1991
- Pennsylvania, 2007
- U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, 2013
- U.S. District Court Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court Western District of New York
- U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania
Honors
- N. Theodore Sommer Advocacy Award, Broome County Bar Association, 2019
- Listed, Best Lawyers in America©, 2017 – Present
- Listed, Upstate New York Super Lawyers, 2012 – Present
- Peer Rated “BV Distinguished” by Martindale-Hubbell, 2017 – Present
- National Trial Lawyers – Civil Plaintiff’s Lawyers Top 100, 2017, 2019
- Robert J. Connelly Award, Western NY Trial Lawyers, 1990
Ancillary Businesses
References
Past Positions
Professional Associations
- New York State Bar Association (Member, 1991 – Present)
- Pennsylvania State Bar Association (Member, 2007 – Present)
- Broome County Bar Association (Member, 1993 – Present); Judicial Screening Committee (Member, 2014 – 2015)
- American Association for Justice (Member, 1993 – Present)
- New York State Trial Lawyers (Member, 1991 – Present)
Practice Areas
- Litigation
- Accidents & Injuries