Legal Services & Lawyers

Patrick W. Begos is a founding member of the firm and senior partner in the Westport office. He heads the firm's trial and appellate group. Pat brings 19 years of litigation, arbitration, mediation and negotiation experience to the firm.

Prior to forming Begos Horgan & Brown, Patrick was a partner in the New York City litigation firm Molton & Meekins (1995-1998), and he was previously associated with Weil, Gotshal & Manges (1990-1995); and Lane & Mittendorf (1988-1990).

He is a current member of the Trial Tactics and the Life, Health and Disability Sections of the Defense Research Institute, and a member of the Public Investors Arbitration Bar Association. He is also a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution and Trial Evidence subcommittees of the American Bar Association. He is a past member of the Committee on Art Law of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York, and he is admitted to the bar in New York and Connecticut.

Patrick received his legal education from Columbia University School of Law (J.D) and did his undergraduate work at Johns Hopkins University (BA with honors).

Pat works primarily on cases involving business and personal disputes in a wide variety of commercial areas including:
- ERISA benefits
- insurance coverage
- securities transactions
- real estate development and property management
- employment
- copyright and trademark
- internet commerce
- secured lending
- fine art acquisitions and sales
- products liability
- real estate transactions
- bankruptcy
- corporate governance

His day-to-day practice includes:
- Defending ERISA claim administrators and disability insurers at trial and in appellate courts
- Pursuing lender liability and predatory lending claims on behalf of borrowers
- Representing real estate owners, buyers and sellers in disputes over sales, construction and land use
- Assisting business owners in solving problems with partners, shareholders, creditors and suppliers

Mauro M. Wolfe joined Dickstein Shapiro as a partner in the Securities—Litigation, Regulatory, & Compliance—Practice in 2006, after a nine-year career in government. He counsels and defends corporations, financial institutions, and individuals in the areas of securities regulation, securities enforcement, and white-collar crime. He also conducts internal investigations related to these areas and, more recently, information security management, data breach incidents, and art law matters.

I've been defending clients charged with both Federal and State Criminal Charges for 21 years.

I've handled tough cases and defended clients on charges ranging from Organized Crime to Conspiracy.

Here's a look at the Criminal Charges I can help you or a Family member with.

FEDERAL CRIMES

* Conspiracy
* Narcotics/Controlled Substance Offenses
* Making a False Statement to a Federal Official
* Mail Fraud
* Wire Fraud
* Credit Card Fraud
* Health Care Fraud
* Immigration Fraud
* Bank Fraud
* Securities Fraud
* Accounting Fraud
* Insurance Fraud
* Identity Theft
* Money Laundering
* Illegal Money Transmitting
* Counterfeiting
* Antitrust Violation
* Extortion
* Bribery
* Obstruction of Justice
* Perjury
* Embezzlement
* RICO Violations
* Tax Fraud
* Sarbanes-Oxley Violations
* Insider Trading
* Mail Fraud
* Wire Fraud
* Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Computers
* Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Access Devices
* Injury or Destruction to Communication Lines, Stations or Systems
* Illegal Interception of Wire, Oral or Electronic Communications
* Illegal Manufacture, Distribution, Possession and Advertising of Illegal Devices for the Interception of Wire, Oral or Electronic Communications
* Unlawful Access to Stored Communications
* Illegal Installation or Use of a Pen Register Device
* Criminal Copyright Infringement
* Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods or Services
* Computer Hacking
* Trafficking in Counterfeit Labels
* Trafficking in Recordings of Live Musical Performances
* Launching Spam Email Attacks
* Identity Theft
* Credit Card Fraud
* Unlawful Possession or Use of Access Devices
* Phishing

WHITE COLLAR CRIMES

* Grand Larceny
* Petit Larceny
* Scheme to Defraud
* Theft of Services
* Unlawful Use of A Credit Card
* Criminal Possession of Stolen Property
* Trademark Counterfeiting
* Forgery
* Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument
* Criminal Possession of Forgery Devices
* Criminal Simulation
* Criminal Possession of an Anti-Security Item
* Fraudulent Making of an Electronic Access Device
* Falsifying Business Records
* Tampering with Public Records
* Offering a False Instrument for Filing
* Offering a False Certificate
* Offering A False Financial Statement
* Insurance Fraud
* Commercial Bribing
* Bribery of Labor Official
* Sports Bribing
* Tampering With a Sports Contest
* Fraud in Insolvency
* Fraud Involving a Security Interest
* Fraudulent Disposition of Mortgaged Property
* Fraudulent Disposition of Property Subject to a Conditional Sales Contract
* Issuing a Bad Check
* False Advertising
* False Personation
* Criminal Impersonation
* Criminal Usury
* Unlawful Collection Practices
* Making a False Statement of Credit Terms
* Conspiracy
* Making a False Statement to a Federal Official
* Mail Fraud
* Wire Fraud
* Credit Card Fraud
* Health Care Fraud
* Immigration Fraud
* Bank Fraud
* Securities Fraud
* Accounting Fraud
* Insurance Fraud
* Identity Theft
* Money Laundering
* Illegal Money Transmitting
* Counterfeiting
* Antitrust Violation
* Extortion
* Bribery
* Obstruction of Justice
* Perjury
* Embezzlement
* RICO Violations
* Tax Fraud
* Sarbanes-Oxley Violations
* Insider Trading

VIOLENT CRIMES

* Murder
* Manslaughter
* Criminally Negligent Homicide
* Attempted Murder
* Assault
* Vehicular Assault
* Gang Assault
* Aggravated Assault
* Menacing
* Hazing
* Reckless Endangerment
* Kidnapping
* Unlawful Imprisonment
* Custodial Interference
* Coercion

SEX CRIMES

* Prostitution Offenses
* Obscenity and Related Offenses
* Offenses Against Public Sensibilities
* Offenses Involving the Sexual Performance of a Child
* Sexual Misconduct
* Rape
* Consensual Sodomy
* Sodomy
* Sexual Abuse
* Aggravated Sexual Abuse
* Course of Conduct Against A Child
* Child Molestation
* Possession of Child Pornography
* Female Genital Mutilation
* Prostitution
* Patronizing a Prostitute
* Promoting Prostitution
* Permitting Prostitution
* Loitering For the Purpose of Engaging in a Prostitution Offense
* Obscenity
* Disseminating Indecent Materials to Minors
* Public Lewdness
* Exposure of a Person
* Promoting the Exposure of a Person
* Public Display of Offensive Sexual Material
* Use of a Child in a Sexual Performance
* Promoting an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child
* Possessing an Obscene Sexual Performance by a Child
* Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child
* Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child
* Statutory Rape

DRUG CHARGES

* Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance
* Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance
* Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in or near School Grounds
* Criminally Possessing a Hypodermic Instrument
* Criminal Injection of a Narcotic Drug
* Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia
* Criminal Possession of Precursors of Controlled Substances
* Criminal Sale of a Prescription for a Controlled Substance
* Unlawful Possession of Marijuana
* Criminal Possession of Marijuana
* Criminal Sale of Marijuana
* Criminal Diversion of Prescription Medications and Prescriptions
* Criminal Solicitation
* Conspiracy
* Criminal Facilitation
* Money Laundering

COMPUTER - INTERNET CRIMES

* Computer Tampering
* Unlawful Duplication of Computer Related Material
* Criminal Possession of Computer Related Material
* Mail Fraud -1341
* Wire Fraud - 1343
* Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Computers - 1030
* Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Access Devices - 1029
* Injury or Destruction to Communication Lines, Stations or Systems - 1362
* Illegal Interception of Wire, Oral or Electronic Communications - 2511
* Illegal Manufacture, Distribution, Possession and Advertising of Illegal Devices for the Interception of Wire, Oral or Electronic Communications - 2512
* Unlawful Access to Stored Communications - 2701
* Illegal Installation or Use of a Pen Register Device - 3121
* Criminal Copyright Infringement - 17 USC 506 and 2319
* Trafficking in Counterfeit Goods or Services - 2320
* Computer Hacking
* Trafficking in Counterfeit Labels - 2318
* Trafficking in Recordings of Live Musical Performances - 2319A
* Launching Spam Email Attacks
* Identity Theft
* Credit Card Fraud
* Unlawful Possession or Use of Access Devices
* Phishing
* Internet Fraud
* Computer Fraud
* Sale of counterfeit goods over the internet
* Software Piracy
* Computer Game Piracy
* Video Game Piracy
* Music Piracy
* Internet Pornography
* Possession of Child Pornography on a PC or Computer
* Use of the Internet to disseminate child pornography
* Instant Messaging (IM) Sexually Explicit Material to Children
* Online Child Sex Solicitation
* Cyber Stalking
* Crimes Against Computers and the Internet
* Hacking and Computer Sabotage
* Internet Gambling
* Cyber Terrorism - Stealing Data and Shutting Down Computers

CHESTER COUNTY LITIGATOR, PROPERTY TAX APPEALS

Ms. Kovan has a decade of "big firm" litigation experience. Now she offers that level of expertise to her clients at a more cost effective rate. Ms. Kovan’s litigation experience includes representing companies and individuals in state and federal court actions throughout the United States as well as securities matters pending before the National Association of Securities Dealers, New York Stock Exchange (collectively now known as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA“)) and the United States Securities Commission (“SEC”). Ms. Kovan has handled numerous securities related matters, including customer disputes, enforcement actions, SEC investigations and insider trading investigations/actions. Ms. Kovan has also represented clients in federal and state litigation and appeals.

Additionally, Ms. Kovan has represented clients in commercial and real estate disputes. Ms. Kovan has a long track record of successfully representing commercial and individual taxpayers in real estate tax assessment appeals throughout Pennsylvania. She has secured significant property tax savings for her clients, including representing a national telecommunications provider in state-wide tax appeals and a major international airport in its tax exemption appeals.

Ms. Kovan brings with her a unique understanding of business, as prior to law school, Ms. Kovan worked in the area of international trade finance in Vienna, Austria. In that capacity, she assisted large and small companies in the financing of import/export transactions (including letters of credit) throughout the world. She is fluent in German and proficient in French.

Ms. Kovan received her B.A. from Kenyon College. She is a magna cum laude, graduate of the Villanova University School of Law