Albany County

A sought-after speaker at legal seminars, Christopher has also given lectures to physicians and medical students on a variety of medical/legal issues. He is secretary of the Albany chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and a member of the Albany County, New York State (Executive Committee for Insurance, Negligence and Compensation Section; Trial Lawyers Section), and American Bar Associations. He is also a member of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers and New York State Trial Lawyers Institute. Christopher has coached recreational soccer in the Niskayuna School District. He is a patron of local jazz and can frequently be seen attending A Place for Jazz at the Whisperdome in Schenectady, as well as other venues where jazz is performed. An outdoor fanatic, Christopher spends his free time running, hiking, bicycling, skiing, and kayaking.

Gina is an associate with the firm's federal and private employment divisions and also acts as criminal defense counsel. Gina joined the firm as a member of the employment law department and quickly expanded that practice base to include criminal defense, specifically DWI defense, an area of law that she has a strong passion for. She is an experienced trial lawyer and has done much of her work before a criminal court. Gina is a graduate of Villanova University where she received a BA in both Theology and Philosophy. While attending school she was a member of their Division I field hockey team and the recipient of the Saint Augustine Medal, awarded to the Theology major with the highest GPA. She continued her education at Albany Law School where she received her Juris Doctor with a concentration in criminal law. Gina's interest lies strongly in the criminal sector of law. While attending Albany Law School, she spent two years interning with the Schenectady County District Attorney's Office. In addition to her time at her internship she was accepted as one of four students to become a member of the Domestic Violence Prosecution Unit Clinic. Her role with this project was to prosecute these cases in both Troy City Court and Saratoga Springs City Court. Also during her tenure in law school, she wrote an extended article about the aftermath of the Supreme Court's ruling in Crawford v. Washington and the numerous effects it will have on the prosecution of domestic violence cases. After graduating law school, Gina went on to join the Albany District Attorney's Office as an Assistant District Attorney. In her position as an ADA, she would make recommendations to the District Attorney on prosecutions, plea agreements, and trials. She was primarily responsible for the prosecution of cases at the Albany City Court. Gina was also able, in her position, to attend seminars where she learned more about trials and procedures, especially those dealing with DWI and domestic violence. She brings that prosecutorial knowledge with her to private practice as a defense attorney for the same charges. Gina is an active member of both the Albany County and New York State Bar Associations. She enjoys travel and has visited Europe, Asia and the Middle East. She is very involved in sports and enjoys playing softball and field hockey as well as participating in the martial arts. She currently holds a brown belt in Tae Kwon Do and a green belt in Muay Thai Kick Boxing.

From his admission to the NYS Bar in 1982, Jim has spent his entire professional career at the firm. He currently is the partner in charge of the firma s real property and land use, commercial, business, and trusts and estates areas of practice, overseeing a team of qualified attorneys and paralegals to provide our clients with a full range of legal services in these areas of law. Jim firmly believes that the responsibility of a lawyer extends beyond the office walls, to the community and public arenas. During his career, Jim has actively served on numerous civic & charitable organizations and committees including the former Rotterdam (NY) Boys Club, Big Brothers-Big Sisters of Schenectady County (NY), and the Center for the Disabled. He was an Assistant Town Attorney for the Town of Guilderland from 1989 - 1995, and Chair of the Towna s Ethics Commission from 2000 - 2002. Jim has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Guilderland Chamber of Commerce for most of the past 15 years, and served as its President from 1996 - 1998. He is a member of the Albany County (NY) and New York State Bar Associations (member - Trusts & Estates, Real Property & Business Law sections) and is a frequent lecturer in the areas of real property and trusts and estates law.

Jessica A. Desany practices in the areas of civil litigation, including actions defending claims of personal injury, premises liability, and construction work-site injuries under New York State's Labor Law. She also has an active practice in commercial real estate matters and provides clients with insurance coverage analysis and litigates coverage disputes. Mrs. Desany is admitted to the New York State Bar and to Bars of the United States District Court for the Northern and Western Districts of New York, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. She is a member of the American Bar Association, New York State Bar Association, Albany County Bar Association, and Rensselaer County Bar Association, and is active in the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of ALFA International, the Defense Research Institute and DRI of Northeastern New York. Mrs. Desany has also lectured on topics related to insurance coverage, construction work-site litigation, and trial technique.

Joining the firm in 1981 and becoming a partner in 1986, Tom Daley is one of our top litigators. His experience in defense litigation includes cases involving catastrophic injury, product liability, municipal law, and property damage. Tom also handles estate litigation, professional liability law and business/commercial litigation. Tom is a member of the Albany County and New York State (Torts, Negligence & Compensation Section; Trial Lawyers Section; Trusts and Estates Section) Bar Associations, as well as the Capital District Trial Lawyers Association and the American Board of Trial Advocates. He is a past president of the Northeast New York Defense Research Institute. Tom is active in the Town of Bethlehem community, where he lives with his wife and four children.