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All the latest firm news and industry updates from Whiteman Osterman & Hanna.
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Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, the Capital Region’s largest law firm, has announced that John M. Czajka has joined the firm as partner and John F. Wirenius has joined as of counsel.Czajka, who spent the last 15 years in New York State government service, most recently serving as General Counsel to the New York State Police, will join the Litigation and Government Relations practice groups. Wirenius is the immediate past Chair of the New York State Public Employment Relations Board and [...]
Read More ›WHITEMAN OSTERMAN & HANNA LLP ANNOUNCES NEW OF COUNSEL
- Category: Featured Firm News Litigation and Appeals
Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, the Capital Region’s largest law firm, has announced that Peter R. Bryce has joined the firm as Of Counsel in the firm’s Litigation and Appeals Practice Group. In his new role, Mr. Bryce will represent clients in matters concerning securities law, federal investigations, and general commercial litigation. Prior to joining Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, Mr. Bryce maintained a solo practice working with major law firms, tech startups, and [...]
Read More ›Booze by Mail? Hochul Legalizes Direct-to-Consumer Shipping for Most New York Producers
- Posted By: Alexandra Becker
- Category: Featured
Governor Hochul continues to take action to prioritize the New York craft beverage industry. She recently signed legislation allowing NY-based producers of mead (a fermented beverage made with honey, water and yeast, often called “Honey Wine”), cider, and spirits to ship directly to consumers within and outside of New York State. This new legislation, along with the recent enactment of to-go alcohol sales, is another legalization by Governor Hochul of temporary measures which [...]
Read More ›Whiteman, Osterman & Hanna is proud to have 19 lawyers recognized in the 2025 editions of The Best Lawyers in America® and Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. The firm also has one partner awarded the Best Lawyer® 2025 Elder Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Albany, and one senior counsel awarded the Best Lawyer® 2025 Environmental Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Albany. Only one lawyer in a specific practice area and geographical region is honored with a [...]
Read More ›Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, the Capital Region’s largest law firm, has announced that Catherine A. Graziose has joined the firm as an associate in the Education Practice Group. In her new role, Graziose will be responsible for counseling primary and higher education clients in matters relating to Titles IV and IX of the Higher Education Act, Titles VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act, conducting policy review, and assisting clients to comply with state and federal regulatory [...]
Read More ›Court of Appeals Sidesteps Issue Whether School Districts Can Pursue Article 78 Review of IDEA Violation Determinations
- Posted By: Robert Rosborough
- Category: Case Studies
In Matter of East Ramapo Cent. Sch. Dist. v King (No. 21), previewed here, the Court of Appeals sidestepped the issue of whether school districts have the right to judicial review under CPLR Article 78 of New York State Department of Education determinations enforcing the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In East Ramapo Cent. Sch. Dist., the public school district sought to challenge a NYSED determination that it violated the IDEA by routinely placing students with [...]
Read More ›Increasing cyber threats and changing regulations create new challenges for business leaders in companies of all sizes. Click here to view WOH attorney Chris Meyer’s recent webinar on emerging cybersecurity law issues that will affect senior business executives and board directors in 2017. To download a PDF of the slides used in the presentation, click on the link below. Download Cybersecurity-and-the-C-Suite.pdf.
Read More ›Closely Divided Court of Appeals Clarifies that Labor Law § 240(1) Does Not Impose Strict Liability for Every Construction Site Fall
- Posted By: Robert Rosborough
- Category: Case Studies
In O'Brien v The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (No. 27), previewed here, the plaintiff was injured when he slipped and fell down a wet temporary steel staircase while working at the World Trade Center Freedom Tower. The plaintiff sued, and Supreme Court denied summary judgment to all parties on O'Brien's Labor Law 240(1) claim because the parties submitted conflicting expert affidavits raising triable issues of fact concerning whether the worn anti-slip staircase provided sufficient [...]
Read More ›The Supreme Court Holds that NY Credit Card Surcharge Law Regulates Speech
- Posted By: Robert Rosborough
- Category: Case Studies
In Expressions Hair Design v Schneiderman, the Supreme Court today held that New York General Business Law § 518, which bans the imposition of credit card surcharges on customers, though permits retailers to offer a discount to those who pay in cash, regulates retailers' speech, and remands the case to the Second Circuit to decide whether the statute violates the First Amendment. General Business Law § 518 provides that that “[n]o seller in any sales transaction may impose a [...]
Read More ›Table of Experts - Cybersecurity
WOH Attorney Chris Meyer recently participated in the Albany Business Review’s Table of Experts on Cybersecurity. The Table of Experts brings together experts for a discussion on a current topic. Joining Chris was Joe Vigorito, Director of Mobility and Security at Annese & Associates in Albany. The discussion was moderated by Albany Law professor Antony Hayes. Download the full article
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