Yale University, B.A., 1959
Yale Law School, J.D., 1962

State of New York, 1962
United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, 1962
United States Tax Court, 1988

Mr. Pearis joined Coughlin & Gerhart, L.L.P. in 2007 and is Of Counsel with the firm.  Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Pearis was a Partner in the law firm of Pearis, Kline & Barber, LLP.  Mr. Pearis was the confidential law assistant to Judge Marvin R. Dye of the New York State Court of Appeals, the State’s highest tribunal, from 1962-1964.  From 1966-1969, he was Corporation Counsel of the City of Binghamton, NY, and as such he was the chief legal officer of the City, Vice Chairman of the Binghamton Urban Renewal Agency, and attorney for the Binghamton City School District. He was the Town Attorney of the Towns of Maine, Colesville, Triangle and Sanford; and was Deputy Town Attorney of the Towns of Nanticoke and Kirkwood. Mr. Pearis presently concentrates his practice in areas of Will Drafting, Estate Planning, Probate, Trust Administration, and Real Estate.

Mr. Pearis is a member of the Broome County and New York State Bar Associations.  He is a member of the Trusts and Estates Section of the NY State Bar Association.  Mr. Pearis is a past member of the New York State Commission on Eminent Domain and Real Property Tax Assessment Review, (1972-1974) by appointment of Governor Nelson Rockefeller.  He is the former President of the Board of Trustees of Charles Wilson Memorial Hospital and a former member of the Board of Directors of Lourdes Hospital Foundation and former chairman of its planned giving committee.