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

Colin E. Kaufman is a partner in Adam Leitman Bailey, PC. He concentrates in trial work and litigation, primarily commercial, tort and real estate-related. Kaufman has been in practice for thirty years, all of it in litigation.

Kaufman received his undergraduate degree from Trinity College and his law degree from Fordham University Law School. He has instructed in trial preparation and trial advocacy for the New York State Bar AssociationNew York State Department of Criminal Justice Services Basic Prosecutors' Course, Bureau of Municipal Police Training School, Westchester County District Attorneyâs Office, New York State Special Prosecutor's Office and Lorman Educational Services. He has authored or coauthored three manuals for trial lawyers, Trial of a Negligence Case in New York, Taking and Defending Effective Depositions, and Real Evidence for the Trial Practitioner.

After graduating from Trinity College, Kaufman was a military policeman in the U.S. and in Vietnam. His combat decorations during his service with the 4th Infantry Division include two Bronze Stars and two Army Commendation Medals.

After his return from Vietnam, Kaufman was a corruption investigator with the Office of the New York State Special Prosecutor. In addition to investigative work Kaufman ran the Special Prosecutorâs Intelligence Unit until leaving to become a prosecutor with the Westchester District Attorneyâs Office.

Kaufman spent nine years with the Westchester District Attorney, rising to Chief of the General Trial Bureau. During his tenure there, in addition to trials and training of trial lawyers, Kaufman participated in several thousand prosecutions.

Since leaving the District Attorneyâs Office, Kaufman has been engaged in the private practice of law. His litigation and trial work has covered a substantial breadth, ranging from products liability to mining disasters to international contracts. He was co-lead counsel in the first case tried to verdict in the United States under the United Nations Convention on the International Sale of Goods. He has tried over two hundred cases to verdict in state and federal courts.

Mr. Kaufmanâs reported appellate cases include: Yang v. Chin, 42 A.D. 3d 320, 839 N.Y.S. 2d 90 (1st Dept. 2007); Garay v. National Grange Mutual Insurance Co., 117 Fed. Appx. 785 (2d Cir. 2004); Murphy v. Sawmill Construction Corp., 17 A.D.3d 422, 792 N.Y.S. 2d 616 (2d Dept. 2005); Poughkeepsie Chevrolet, Inc. v. Jeff Weaverâs 96 Hour Super Sale, Inc., 8 A.D. 3d 575, 779 N.Y.S. 2d 512 (2d Dept. 2004) Mulhern v. Chai Management, 309 A.D. 2d 995, 765 N.Y.S. 2d 694 (3d Dept. 2003); Marquise Collection, Inc. v. M.A.S. Textiles Corp., 239 A.D.2d 470, 657 N.Y.S.2d 207 (2d Dept.1997); and Cippolone v. City of White Plains, 181 A.D. 2d 887, 581 N.Y.S. 2d 421 (2d Dept. 1992).

I offer personal attention to your legal matters, concentrating in the following areas:

1. Defense against lawsuits
2. Divorce
3. Libel defense
4. Trademark Registration

I practice primarily in the Courts in the five boros of New York City and Westchester County, but also appear in Nassau, Suffolk, Putnam and other New York counties.

I seek to provide an individualized creative and cost effective solution to any legal problem. For a confidential discussion of your situation, please feel free to get in touch.