News & Updates 2019
C&G Attorneys Named to Upstate New York Super Lawyers Listing
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is proud to announce that Mark S. Gorgos, Paul J. Sweeney, Robert R. Jones, Beth E. Westfall, Jeffrey A. Brown, Bruno Cloapietro, Oliver Blaise, and Joseph J. Steflik have been included in the 2019 Upstate Edition of New York Super Lawyers. Only 5% of attorneys practicing in the Upstate New York region meet the criteria to be named to this prestigious list.
Rachel A. Abbott, Brady L. Begeal, Keith A. Gorgos, Zachary D. Morahan, and Nathan D. VanWhy have also been named as 2019 Upstate New York Rising Stars.
New York Super Lawyers magazine publishes this list annually, and bases its evaluations on information gathered from a variety of sources, including peer recognition and professional achievement.
Mr. Gorgos, whose primary areas of practice include commercial transactions, education and municipal law, credit union law, and creditor rights, has been with Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP since 1980 and currently serves as Managing Partner. Mr. Sweeney joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 1992, following active duty as a Marine Corps judge advocate. He is chair of our firm’s Labor and Employment Group. He concentrates his practice in labor and employment law and commercial litigation. Mr. Jones joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 1990 and is a member of the firm’s Management Committee. He limits his practice to litigation, particularly in the areas of motor vehicle/construction site personal injury, estate litigation, gas & oil litigation, and theft of cable and satellite services. Mrs. Westfall joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 1986 and is co-chair of the firm’s Trusts and Estates Practice Group. She focuses her practice in the areas of estate planning and administration, elder law, municipal law, land use and zoning, and real estate transactions. Mr. Brown joined the firm in 1986 and practices in the areas of workers’ compensation law, social security disability and insurance defense. Mr. Cloapietro joined the firm in 2016 and limits his practice to family law. Mr. Steflik joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 1999 and was a former chair of the firm’s Labor & Employment Group. He focuses his practice in the areas of labor, employment, and construction law. Mr. Blaise joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 1997 and is a former chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. He concentrates his practice in civil litigation and municipal law, and served as Elections Commissioner for Broome County from 2016-2019.
Ms. Abbott, a partner in the firm and member of the firm’s Management Committee, focuses her practice in the area of plaintiff’s litigation. Mr. Begeal, a partner with the firm and chair of its Business and Banking Practice Group, focuses his practice in the areas of business and banking law and municipal law. Mr. Keith Gorgos, a partner with the firm, focuses his practice in the areas of business law, banking and credit union law, creditor rights, and litigation. Mr. Morahan is an associate with the firm and focuses his practice in the areas of energy and resource law and trusts and estates law. Mr. VanWhy is a partner with the firm and focuses his practice in the areas of business/corporate and municipal law.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890s, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 50 lawyers and a professional support staff. The firm’s main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has convenient branch offices located in Bainbridge, Cortland, Downtown Binghamton, Hancock, Ithaca, Owego, Walton, and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
C&G Attorneys Honored for Advocacy, Service; Complete Term as BCBA President
C&G is proud to announce that attorney Robert R. Jones was recently awarded the TED SOMMER AWARD for advocacy at the Broome County Bar Association’s Annual Law Day Dinner, held on May 16, 2019. This prestigious award is presented annually to an attorney “member of the BCBA who throughout his or her career has consistently exhibited the ability, integrity, and dedicated advocacy on behalf of his or her clients which represent the highest ideals of the legal profession.”
On the same date, C&G attorney Mark L. Rappaport was honored for his longstanding service to the legal profession and as a member of the Association for over 50 years. In addition, C&G’s own Kurt D. Schrader, who recently joined the firm in January, completed a successful term as President of the BCBA on the same date.
Coughlin & Gerhart is honored to have attorneys Jones, Rappaport, and Schrader, and congratulates them on their honors and service to the legal profession!
Coughlin & Gerhart receives NYSBA Pro-Bono Award
The Law Firm of Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP was recently selected as the recipient of a prestigious Pro Bono Service Award (in the Mid-Size Firm category) by the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA).
The award was presented to Mark Gorgos, Managing Partner of Coughlin & Gerhart on behalf of the entire firm, at a luncheon ceremony in Albany on May 1, 2019.
Each year on Law Day, NYSBA proudly bestows the President’s Pro Bono Service Award on individuals and entities who have rendered extraordinary pro bono service. The awards are presented to publicly recognize and thank those who provide pro bono service and also to convey a message to the profession and the public about the importance of pro bono efforts in achieving equal access to justice.
Coughlin & Gerhart (C&G) was nominated by Arlene Sanders of the Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York (LASMNY) to receive this award. According to Sanders, “C&G has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to LASMNY and its Private Attorney Involvement Program, making pro bono service a strong priority within the firm.”
This included the involvement of C&G and their partners, associates, and staff in many programs such as LASMNY’s “Child Support Referral Program,” their eviction defense initiatives, the annual “Race for Justice 5K,” and other community programs, including the annual “Golf for Scholars” tournament to raise money for local scholarships. Sanders also pointed out that for several years in a row C&G has been named among the U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Law Firms.”
According to Gorgos, “Justice in America shouldn’t just be for those who can afford it. I applaud all of the lawyers and staff at our Firm for their outstanding pro bono work in our community. Many thanks also to Arlene Sanders for her thoughtful nomination of our Firm. Our pro bono work won’t end with this award.”
C&G Ithaca Offices Move to 798 Cascadilla Street
Coughlin & Gerhart Legal Secretary Receives 2019 Pro Bono Award
Debra Oakes, a Legal Secretary with Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, was recently awarded the 2019 Pennsylvania Bar Association’s (“PBA”) Pro Bono Partner Award. Frank O’Connor, the PBA Past President & Susquehanna County Wills for Heroes (“WFH”) Coordinator, presented Debra with the award at a recent Wills for Heroes event held in Montrose, Pennsylvania.
Debra was honored with the award for being “a driving force for the Susquehanna County Wills for Heroes Program.” This event provided free estate planning services to approximately thirty veterans and first responders. Debra devoted many of her nights and weekends to help plan and volunteer at the event. Debra worked closely with the current PBA WFH Coordinator, Gabriele Miller-Wagner, over the last several years to schedule and organize each event from start to finish.
Coughlin & Gerhart is honored to have hard-working and compassionate firm employees like Debra working on behalf of our clients and the communities we serve.
Pope & Schrader join Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP
Mark Gorgos, Managing Partner of Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, has announced that Binghamton attorneys Alan J. Pope and Kurt D. Schrader will be joining Coughlin & Gerhart effective January 1, 2019.
Formerly of the law firm of Pope, Schrader & Pope, LLP, Alan Pope and Kurt Schrader will each become ‘Of Counsel’ to the Firm.
According to Gorgos, “Pope, Schrader & Pope has a superb reputation both as a firm . . . and as individual lawyers, and we are proud that Alan and Kurt believe C&G is a great fit for them and their clients.”
Alan Pope is a litigator, commercial law attorney, and he represents the Towns of Union, Binghamton, and Colesville.
Kurt Schrader, the current Broome County Bar President, has an extensive general law practice, with an emphasis in family and criminal law and general civil litigation.
According to Alan Pope, “We determined that we needed help with our growing client base and that Coughlin & Gerhart was the right firm to support our growth. The practice synergies are great for both of us.”
Schrader said, “One of the reasons for our success is that the attorneys and staff are dedicated to maintaining close personal contacts and timely communications with our clients in order to best serve their needs. We firmly believe that Coughlin & Gerhart shares that client-centered approach.”
Coughlin & Gerhart will be undergoing construction to expand their offices and parking facilities at their Main Office in Binghamton to accommodate the new attorneys and their clients. Alan Pope and Kurt Schrader will be joining our main office in Binghamton, along with their staff, in late March. Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890s, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 55 lawyers and a professional support staff. The firm’s main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has convenient branch offices located in Bainbridge, Cortland, Ithaca, Owego, Hancock, Walton, and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
Coughlin & Gerhart Announces New Partners to Firm
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is pleased to announce that attorneys Keith A. Gorgos and Nathan D. VanWhy became Partners in the firm, effective January 1, 2019.
A 2009 graduate of the University at Buffalo Law School, where he served on the Law Review, Mr. Gorgos joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 2013 as an Associate. His practice is concentrated in the areas of Business & Banking law and Litigation. Mr. Gorgos is a member of the New York State, Broome County, and District of Columbia Bar Associations. In 2013, Mr. Gorgos was named as an Empire State Counsel honoree, and in 2012, was named to the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll. Mr. Gorgos has also been named as a “Rising Star” on the Upstate New York list since 2015.
A 2010 graduate of Albany Law School, Mr. VanWhy joined Coughlin & Gerhart in 2013 as an Associate. Mr. VanWhy’s practice is concentrated in the areas of School & Municipal law and Business & Banking law. He is a member of the Broome County Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association. Mr. VanWhy has been named as a “Rising Star” on the Upstate New York list since 2017.
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP, which was founded in the 1890s, has grown to be a multi-service law firm, consisting of more than 50 lawyers and a professional support staff. It has been recognized as a Best Law Firm and 20 of its attorneys have been recognized on either the Upstate New York list or in The Best Lawyers in America®. The firm’s main office is located at 99 Corporate Drive, Binghamton. It has other branch offices located in Bainbridge, Cortland, Ithaca, Owego, Hancock, Walton, and Montrose, Pennsylvania.
Coughlin & Gerhart Attorneys Honored in Best Lawyers® List
Coughlin & Gerhart, LLP is proud to announce that fourteen of its lawyers were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019. The lawyers recognized are Mark S. Gorgos (Commercial Transactions/UCC Law, Municipal Law, Education Law, Banking & Finance Law, Bankruptcy & Creditor Debtor Rights/Insolvency & Reorganization Law, and Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships)), Paul J. Sweeney (Labor Law-Management), Robert R. Jones (Litigation – Trusts & Estates), James P. O’Brien (Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants and Product Liability Litigation-Defendants), Robert J. Madigan (Real Estate Law), Rachel A. Abbott (Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs), Beth E. Westfall (Trusts & Estates), Kristen K. Luce (Trusts & Estates), Joseph J. Steflik, Jr. (Labor Law-Management and Employment Law-Management), Gordon E. Thompson (Banking and Finance Law and Real Estate Law), Bruno Cloapietro (Family Law), Richard B. Long (Arbitration and Personal Injury Litigation-Defendants).
Since its inception in 1983, Best Lawyers has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence. Best Lawyers is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which almost 50,000 leading attorneys cast nearly 5 million votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their practice areas, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Best Lawyers is considered a singular honor. Corporate Counsel magazine has called Best Lawyers “the most respected referral list of attorneys in practice.”