News
All the latest firm news and industry updates from Whiteman Osterman & Hanna.
Featured
Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP Announces Six New Partners
ALBANY, N.Y. (January 20, 2021) – Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, the Capital Region’s largest law firm, has announced six new partners: Erin Callahan, Rochelle Cavanagh, Jon Crain, Cianna Freeman-Tolbert, Charles Gottlieb and Daniel Hubbell.“We’re delighted to welcome such a highly talented group of lawyers to our partnership,” said John Henry, Co-Managing Partner. “Each of our new partners have distinguished themselves as attorneys and will continue to [...]
Read More ›Bruce J. Wagner Teaches Statewide Audience of Attorneys and Judges
- Category: Featured Matrimonial and Family Law
Bruce J. Wagner, Chair of our Matrimonial & Family Law Department, presented a two-hour program for the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) entitled “Happy 40th Birthday Equitable Distribution - Part 2,” which covered a wide variety of topics in observance of the 40th anniversary of the July 1980 enactment of New York’s Equitable Distribution Law. This program was the second in a series Mr. Wagner began in April 2020. He also recently presented [...]
Read More ›Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP Announces New Of Counsels
ALBANY, N.Y. (December 16, 2020) – Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, the Capital Region’s largest law firm, is pleased to announce that Donald T. Kinsella has joined us as Senior Counsel and Robert J. McLaughlin has joined us as Of Counsel. Each of these individuals have extraordinary credentials and will further enhance the professional services our clients have come to expect from our attorneys. Donald Kinsella joins Whiteman Osterman & Hanna with more than four decades [...]
Read More ›USCIS Flexes Muscle with New “Discretion” Criteria for Green Card Applications
- Category: Featured Immigration
In yet another update to its Policy Manual, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services today announced that it is updating existing policy guidance regarding the exercise of discretion in adjudications of adjustment of status applications. Importantly, the new provisions apply to all family-based, employment-based and diversity visa adjustment of status applications. In a separate “Policy Alert,” USCIS states that the new guidance is effective [...]
Read More ›Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP sadly announces the passing of John R. Dunne, Senior Counsel. For more than 25 years, John was our colleague, our mentor and our friend who added to the integrity and the culture of our Firm.Throughout his legal and political career, John was the consummate professional, filled with both a love of the law and compassion for those who were most affected by its application. He brought the best out in all of us and humbly served as an inspiration for [...]
Read More ›Whiteman Osterman & Hanna partner Robert A. Stout Jr. has been named to the Board of Directors of Opera Saratoga, a regional opera company of international renown. Opera Saratoga produces an annual summer festival on the grounds of Saratoga Spa State Park featuring classical works, as well as contemporary and American operas, along with premier productions. Opera Saratoga is active year round, including by producing its Opera-to-Go program, bringing live performances to over 50 [...]
Read More ›Labor and Employment Update - Time Off to Vote
- Category: Articles Labor and Employment Law
Effective April 12, 2019, all public and private New York State employers are now required to permit an employee up to three hours of paid time off (PTO) to vote in any public election, if the employee (1) is registered to vote, and (2) requests the time off at least two business days prior to the election. An employee may request this PTO to vote regardless of the employee’s work schedules or working hours. However, employers have the option to designate when during the [...]
Read More ›Labor and Employment Update - New Protections for Farm Workers
- Category: Articles Labor and Employment Law
On July 16, 2019, the Governor signed the Farm Laborers Fair Labor Practices Act into law. When the Act becomes effective on January 1, 2020, it will provide the following labor protections for the first time to farm workers in New York State: eligibility for overtime pay for any work over 60 hours per week, at an overtime rate of one and one-half times the laborer’s regular rate of pay; a full 24-hours day of rest each week; an 8-hour work day; disability [...]
Read More ›What You Need to Know About H-1B Visas Before the April Deadline
- Category: Articles Immigration
H-1B visas are a popular and highly-sought after visa type for foreign workers seeking employment in the United States. Before the April 1st deadline, it’s important for individuals and businesses alike to understand the requirements and benefits of the H-1B visa. RequirementsH-1B visas are designed to bring in non-immigrant foreign nationals who work in specialty occupations that are lacking among domestic U.S. workers. To be eligible for the visa, an individual must meet one or more [...]
Read More ›Whiteman Osterman & Hanna Represents the Adirondack Council in an Amicus Brief with the New York State Court of Appeals to Protect Wild River Areas
- Category: Articles Environmental
Wild river areas in the Adirondack Park Forest Preserve like the one encompassing the breathtaking Hudson River Gorge are entitled to special protection under the New York Constitution’s Forever Wild clause and the Wild, Scenic and Recreational Rivers System Act. When the State acquires new land in the Park and designates it as a wild river area, it is required to eliminate any prior nonconforming uses of the land and prohibit all motor vehicle [...]
Read More ›News Categories
- Featured
- Articles
- Case Studies
- Firm News
- Agriculture/Agribusiness
- Alcoholic Beverages
- Business, Corporate and Commercial
- Clean Tech
- Education
- Estate Planning and Administration
- Environmental
- Energy and Telecommunications
- Federal and State Taxation
- Insurance
- Government Relations
- Health Care
- Immigration
- International Trade and Business
- Labor and Employment Law
- Land Use and Development
- Litigation and Appeals
- Public and Private Finance
- Matrimonial and Family Law
- Municipal
- Privacy, Cybersecurity and Information Management
- Real Estate