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Awards & Recognition

Top Rated Lawyers

Call (518) 284-3183 or contact us online to schedule an initial consultation with our attorneys dedicated to Commercial Litigation, Medical Malpractice, Criminal Defense, Accused Student Defense, and Personal Injury law. Flexible appointments, including evenings and weekends, are available upon request at our offices located in Albany, Troy, Schenectady and Saratoga Springs, NY.

Top 100 Attorneys

Membership to America’s Top 100 Attorneys™ is limited to the Top 100 professionals from each state in each category of practice who best exhibit excellence and the highest ethical standards in their respective professions. With these high standards, less than 1% of professionals in the United States will be selected for membership as one of America’s Top 100™ in their profession. Membership selection is intended to help the community identify the cream of the crop in each profession and assist with professional networking among the Nation’s top professionals.

Super Lawyers

Super Lawyers — Super Lawyers selections are made using a “rigorous, multiphase rating process. Peer nominations are evaluations are combined with third-party research. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Selections are made on an annual, state-by-state basis.”

Attorney E. Stewart Jones, Jr. is ranked #1 in Upstate New York.

Both E. Stewart Jones, Jr. and James E. Hacker are in Super Lawyers’ TOP 10: 2020 UPSTATE NEW YORK SUPER LAWYERS list.

In 2020 John F. Harwick, Esq.  was recognized as one of the top 50 personal injury lawyers in Upstate New York. Our other partners have been named “Super Lawyers” while several of our associates have been recognized as “Rising Stars.”

Multi Million Dollar Advocates Forum

Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum® — one of the most prestigious groups of trial lawyers in the United States. Membership is limited to attorneys who have won million and multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. There are over 4000 members throughout the country. Fewer than 1% of U.S. lawyers are members.

American College of Trial Lawyers

American College of Trial Lawyers – (highly selective). By invitation only after lengthy screening – limited to 1% of the active trial and appellate lawyers in each state. Founding partners E.Stewart Jone, Jr. and James E. Hacker are both members.

International Academy of Trial Lawyers

International Academy of Trial Lawyers – (highly selective). By invitation only after lengthy screening – limited to 500 lawyers in the United States, with approximately an additional 50-75 lawyers from countries outside of the United States.

Inner Circle of Advocates

Inner Circle of Advocates – (the most selective trial lawyers’ group) – limited to 100 active plaintiffs’ trial lawyers in this country and only 6 in New York State. Among minimum requirements for the screening process are at least 50 trials to verdict on behalf of plaintiffs and multiple million-dollar jury awards on behalf of individual plaintiffs. Founding partner E. Stewart Jones is a Member with Emeritus status.

The Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers

The Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers — The Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers “includes only those select law practices that have earned the highest rating in the Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory and have been designated by their colleagues as preeminent in their field.”

Martindale-Hubbell Preeminent Peer-rated 2020

Martindale Hubbell Peer Review Rated — Martindale-Hubbell Peer Reviews “reflects a combination of achieving a Very High General Ethical Standards rating and a Legal Ability numerical rating.”

“AV Preeminent” is a significant rating accomplishment and a testament to the fact that a lawyer’s peers rank them at the highest level of professional excellence.

AVVO Rating - Superb

Our attorneys have achieved the highest rating from AVVO, a nationally recognized lawyer rating service.

Best Lawyers

Best Lawyers – Best Lawyers® compiles and publishes “lists of outstanding attorneys by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers.”

ABPLA

Attorney Michael Kellser, Esq.  is a member of the ABPLA.  As a certified attorney, he has demonstrated skill & expertise in medical malpractice & legal malpractice and has proven it through rigorous examination & testing by an American Bar Association (ABA) accredited organization.  Additionally, each attorney who is board-certified must demonstrate substantial involvement in their chosen specialty. Board certification means the consumers of legal services can make a meaningful and informed decision when selecting counsel, providing their legal case every chance of success.

NADN

Have Questions?

We Have Answers!
  • If I hire an attorney but do not want to go to trial, can I settle?
    In the course of preparing a case for trial, your personal injury attorney will work with the defense attorneys and insurance companies in an effort to secure a fair settlement for you and your family. The final decision to accept an offer of settlement or go to trial is yours alone to make.
    Contact us now to discuss your case with one of our experienced attorneys.
  • If arrested, what steps can I take on my behalf?

    1. Do not discuss your situation with anyone except your attorney.

    2. Unless your attorney says otherwise, do not discuss your case with law enforcement.

    3. Request to have your attorney present if you are to be put in a lineup or subjected to testing.

    4. Remain calm and courteous. Allow your attorney to speak for you to ensure that your rights are protected and you are given all the benefits afforded to you under the law.
    Contact us now to discuss your case with one of our experienced attorneys.

  • What is the difference between criminal procedure and civil procedure?
    When a crime has been committed, action is taken by a government agency against the person, persons, organization or other entity that violated the law. The first purpose of a criminal prosecution is punishment, which frequently consists of a fine or jail time. In a civil matter, the dispute is between two or more individuals or entities. The first purpose of a civil prosecution is obtaining compensation for the wronged person or entity. Settlement in a civil matter is generally an award of a money judgment. A criminal sentence is not imposed in a civil matter.
    Contact us now to discuss your case with one of our experienced attorneys.