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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 Will Hear Lindsay Lohan's and Mob Wives' Star's Appeals of Dismissal of Right to Privacy Suit Against Creator of Grand Theft Auto V
- Posted By: Robert Rosborough
- Category: Case Studies
Grand Theft Auto V is the latest in a popular series of the video games where the player controls one of several main characters in a mob family/drug cartel story that takes place in the fictional city of Los Santos, San Andreas. After the game was released, Plaintiffs Lindsay Lohan and Karen Gravano (of the reality show Mob Wives) were upset at what they believed to be characters that depicted them in particular ways. In 2014, they commenced suit against Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc., the [...]
Read More ›The Time Has Come for the Court Of Appeals to Resolve Reinsurance Issue
- Posted By: Jason Shaw (Retired)
- Category: Firm News Insurance
Jason Shaw, a partner at Whiteman Osterman & Hanna, recently published an article with the New York Law Journal entitled The Time Has Come for the Court Of Appeals to Resolve Reinsurance Issue. The article discusses how a recent decision will finally lead to resolving the unsettled question about whether reinsurers will have limitless liability for an underlying insurer’s legal costs. To view the full article, please click here.
Read More ›Court of Appeals Holds County Not Liable for Sexual Assault of Plaintiff at County-Owned BOCES Program
- Category: Case Studies
In Tara N.P. v Western Suffolk Bd. of Cooperative Educational Services (No. 8) previewed here, a teenage female student was sexually assaulted by a Level III sex offender that Suffolk County had assigned to perform maintenance work at the BOCES program where the student was taking classes. The County owned the property and leased the building to the BOCES program, and also explicitly agreed that it would not assign anyone with a criminal record to work there. After the assault, the student sued [...]
Read More ›Court of Appeals Declares that No Insurance Coverage Exists for Tower Crane Damaged During Superstorm Sandy
- Posted By: Robert Rosborough
- Category: Case Studies
In Lend Lease (US) Construction LMB Inc. v Zurich American Insurance Company (No. 11) previewed here, the owner and construction manager of a 74-story high rise being built in midtown Manhattan sought coverage for damage caused to the tower crane being used to build the building during Superstorm Sandy in October 2012. Zurich, one of the insurers of the property, disclaimed coverage on the grounds that the tower crane was not covered property and fell within one of the policy's exclusions for [...]
Read More ›Jean Gerbini, Of Counsel with Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, the Capital Region’s largest law firm, was recently honored with the John E. Leach Memorial Award. The John E. Leach Memorial Award is presented by the Torts, Insurance and Compensation Law Section (“TICL”) of the New York State Bar Association recognizing outstanding service and distinguished contributions to the legal profession as a member of the TICL Section. An attorney with Whiteman Osterman & Hanna [...]
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