Legal Services & Lawyers

I am a commercial litigator specializing in federal litigation, including trials. I work extensively with online businesses, specifically in connection with the use of intellectual property on the Internet in both litigation and non-litigation roles. My firm is also recognized for its strength in construction litigation.

I have successfully represented clients of every size in state and federal courts, arbitrations and mediations in a variety of litigation matters, including contract disputes, distributorship litigation, trademark and unfair competition cases, business tort claims, toxic tort and insurance coverage litigation, discrimination and wrongful discharge cases, copyright infringement claims, and cases involving trade secrets, restrictive covenants and real estate. My litigation experience runs from pretrial investigation and early dispute resolution through every aspect of bench and jury trials as well as appeals.

My blog about copyright, trademark and related issues, LIKELIHOOD OF CONFUSION®, was recognized by the ABA Journal as one of the top 100 law-related blogs in the country in its first-ever listing in 2007.

Gerry Oginski is an experienced medical malpractice & personal injury trial lawyer practicing law in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, New York, Staten Island, Nassau, Suffolk & Long Island. He has been in practice since 1988.

He is a graduate of Touro College, Jacob Fuchsberg College of Law in Huntington, NY. He's admitted to practice law in New York and Connecticut. He started his legal career working for a defense firm on Wall Street representing doctors, hospitals and businesses who were sued. Four years later he felt the gravitational pull to represent injured victims of medical negligence and accidents.

After doing defense work, he joined a personal injury firm in Brooklyn, NY, and then four years later, joined forces with a large law firm in Queens, NY. While there, he was in charge of the medical malpractice department, and in 2002 opened his own office for the practice of law. His main office is located in Great Neck, Long Island, and he has affiliate offices in Brooklyn and Staten Island.

Gerry prides himself on knowing all the details of each case he handles. Cases are not handed off to associates. When a client calls, he doesn't need to check a file to determine what happened last on the client's case. He knows what happened, since he was the one who handled the matter.

Gerry has become a prolific writer and publishes a monthly newsletter full of legal news, fun trivia games, and a never-ending fictional story that has won him accolades with all who read his newsletter. In addition to his newsletter, he has produced and created an entire video library of instructional videos that help consumers learn about medical malpractice and accident law in New York.

Gerry welcomes all calls about any accident or injury from a doctor or hospital in the State of New York. He promises to give you a straightforward and honest answer about every question you ask. Take a look at his website, where he has over 250 FAQ's, free reports about malpractice and accident cases, actual testimony of doctors in cases he's handled, and an entire video library you should see.

If that's not enough, take a look at his blog where he offers free information about medical malpractice and accident law and when you've finished reading his blog, jump over to his video blog where he has most of his videos posted at the url above - you'll be glad you did.

Cari is a licensed attorney in the States of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut while being licensed in the District of Columbia. Before starting Rincker Law, PLLC, Cari was an associate at Budd-Falen Law Offices, LLC in Cheyenne, Wyoming where her broad practice areas ranged from agriculture, environmental and natural resource issues to federal lands, wind energy development, crop insurance, property law, commercial law, and probate with clients located all over the west.

Cari’s passion for agriculture issues is deeply rooted. She grew up on a seedstock Simmental cattle operation in Shelbyville, Illinois where she spent significant time working on her family’s farm. She showed cattle through 4-H and FFA at both the local and national levels and was involved with the American Junior Simmental Association.

Cari went on to attend Lake Land College in Mattoon, Illinois where she received her Associate’s in Agriculture Science and had a successful career on their livestock judging team. Cari then transferred to Texas A & M University where received her Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Science and was a member of both the Livestock and Meat Animal Evaluation (“Askarben”) judging teams and actively involved with Saddle and Sirloin and Texas Aggie Cattlewomen. At Texas A & M University, Cari was selected to participate in the Congressional Agriculture and Natural Resource Policy Internship Program through the College of Agriculture. It is here that Cari received her first glimpse into agriculture law and policy during her summer working for Congressman Kevin Brady (R-TX).

After Texas A & M, Cari came back home to the University of Illinois to complete her Masters of Science in Ruminant Nutrition where her concentration was in beef feedlot nutrition. Cari completed two research projects in the areas of distillers grain and genetic markers for marbling which each led to published works. During this time, Cari was a research and teaching assistant for Dr. Larry Berger, coached the Shelby County 4-H Livestock Judging Team, and completed an internship with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in Washington, D.C.

Due to her passion for law and policy, Cari decided to complete her Juris Doctor from Pace University, School of Law, in White Plains, New York. At Pace, Cari completed certificates in both Environmental Law and International Law and was a Vice-Chair on the National Environmental Moot Court Competition Board. While in law school, Cari worked at SimmonsCooper, LLC in their international litigation division and completed a consultantcy with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations where she conducted research on national legal frameworks on the conservation of livestock biodiversity and was a contributing author to "The State of the World's Animal Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture."

Furthermore, while at Pace, Cari participated in Yale University’s School of Forestry’s Environmental Diplomacy program where she worked as an advisor for the Permanent Mission of the Republic of the Marshall Islands to the United Nations, sat the floor of the General Assembly and gave policy recommendations to Ambassador Capelle. In addition to these experiences, Cari interned with Homelessness Prevention Unit for the Los Angeles Public Counsel, the largest pro bono clinic in the world.

Cari continues to have her boots planted firmly in agriculture and enjoys judging livestock shows and taking pictures of the livestock industry and rural life. She is the owner of Rincker Cattle Co., a SimAngus operation in Shelbyville Illinois, and is on the leadership board for National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Young Producers' Council. Cari also enjoys international travel, distance running, playing volleyball, watching both Illini basketball and Aggie football, and sitting in the cheapseats for baseball games. Community service remains a high priority for Cari as she serves the New York metropolitan area through her church and non-profit organizations.

I wear many hats in the legal industry. As a lawyer, I provide freelance legal research and writing services to other lawyers through Lisa Solomon, Esq. Legal Research and Writing. As a business owner, I am a partner in The Billable Hour Company, which sells humorous gifts and greeting cards for lawyers and legal professionals. And as a consultant, through Legal Research & Writing Pro, I help lawyers improve their legal writing skills, and I also teach other lawyers how to start and run successful practices as freelance (a/k/a contract) attorneys.

Lisa Solomon, Esq. Legal Research and Writing

Comprehensive Legal Research and Writing Services for Attorneys
As you manage every other aspect of your clients' complex matters, you may find that comprehensive, in-depth legal research and concise, well-reasoned legal writing are just too labor intensive to take on yourself.

In some cases, it may simply be a matter of time—you're in the middle of a trial and need case law to support an evidentiary or substantive point; or you have to make or respond to a post-trial motion in a timely manner. In other instances, your decision whether to even take on a case depends on the answers to legal issues you've identified, and you need help finding those answers.

Since 1996, I have focused my practice exclusively on assisting attorneys with all of their legal research and writing needs, including preparing and arguing appeals and drafting substantive motions and trial memoranda. I work in almost every area of law, teaming with my clients to determine the best strategy to apply to the unique facts and legal issues in each case.

A Proactive and Personalized Approach to Legal Analysis
When you are faced with a motion, appeal, or legal research issue, you need to know more than the black letter law—you need to know how that law applies to the unique facts of your case. I never give you a "canned" brief; all of my work is customized, to be of most use to the busy attorneys who use my services.

I also take a proactive approach to identifying legal issues beyond the scope of the original assignment that may be crucial to the ultimate success of the project, helping you to be the most effective advocate for your client.

Learn more at www.QuestionOfLaw.net.


The Billable Hour Company

Looking for that perfect gift or greeting card for a lawyer, paralegal, law student, or other legal professional? The Billable Hour Company sells unique clocks and watches with dials divided into six-minute increments; humorous CDs by and for lawyers; law-related books and games; desk accessories; personal accessories; and Survival Kits—gift baskets containing selections of our most popular products. We also offer gift certificates that never expire.

The Billable Hour Card Store is the world’s only online greeting card store featuring humorous and customizable printed greeting cards especially for lawyers and other legal professionals. The store uses print-on-demand technology that allows customers to send highly personalized cards to their clients, colleagues, prospects and friends.

We offer volume discounts and custom logo clocks and watches. Contact us at 815-346-3468 or info@TheBillableHour.com to discuss how we can assist with your corporate gift program.

The Billable Hour Company is run by practicing lawyers Mark and Lisa Solomon.

Visit us at www.TheBillableHour.com.


Legal Research & Writing Pro

I started Legal Research & Writing Pro to help other lawyers improve their legal writing skills, and to teach lawyers how to start and run successful legal research and writing practices.

Studies and surveys show that career satisfaction among lawyers is at an all-time low. Chief among the reasons for a lack of satisfaction is the inability of many lawyers to achieve a balance between the demands of their careers and their personal lives. I believe your law degree shouldn’t be a trap: it should be a liberating, empowering force.

Technology and the outsourcing revolution have joined forces to make this the best time in history to establish a legal research and writing practice.

I’ve been in the field of outsourced legal research and writing since its infancy. When I started my practice twelve years ago, a lot of lawyers didn’t even use e-mail: I had to drag some of my clients, kicking and screaming, into the internet age. Although I could do legal research online, my dial-up connection was painfully slow. But the most difficult challenge to overcome was lawyers’ unfamiliarity with the idea of outsourcing research and writing work to a contract attorney.

Today, all that has changed. E-mail use is well-nigh universal among lawyers. High-speed internet connections make online legal research a breeze. And, most importantly, lawyers are becoming more comfortable with the idea of using contract attorneys to perform discrete tasks, whether the task is making a court appearance, defending a deposition, or researching and writing a brief.

For years, lawyers across the country have called and e-mailed me asking for advice on how to start and run a legal research and writing practice. I’m pleased that I’ve been able to help so many lawyers get their start in this practice area. But I realized that I could help so many more people in a much more comprehensive way if I compiled everything I have learned over the past twelve years and made it widely available.

I can understand if you’re a little leery: after all, why should I share what I’ve learned with thousands of potential competitors? The answer is simple: I think there is amazing pent-up demand for high-quality outsourced legal research and writing services.

As a solo practitioner, I need only a handful of good clients to support my practice. According to the American Bar Association, as of December 31, 2005, there were over 1.1 million practicing lawyers in the United States. In a 2000 statistical survey, the American Bar Foundation found that 36% of lawyers were solo practitioners and 38% worked in small firms. Small firms and solos are the most likely potential clients for a legal research and writing practitioner. As these lawyers search for their own work/life balance, they’ll be more and more interested in outsourcing their excess workload to specially-trained legal research and writing providers.

At the same time, based on my research, there currently are very few lawyers out there who actively promote themselves as dedicated legal research and writing service providers. In fact, I have located fewer than 100 lawyers in the United States whose web sites indicate that they perform legal research and writing services of any sort on a contract basis. (Of course, it’s likely that many more lawyers take on contract work, including legal research and writing projects, but do not advertise that fact.

All this talk of work/life balance and professional satisfaction might sound very “pie-in-the-sky”—even utopian—to most of us, almost too good to be true. You suspect that this kind of work must pay a pittance. But you really can have it all: a challenging career, the flexibility to enjoy personal and family time and a comfortable living.

To find out more about how LRWP can help you achieve the professional satisfaction you're looking for, visit our products page. There, you'll find more information about my new book, Contract Lawyering Success; our monthly group coaching calls; our library of recorded teleseminars and expert interviews; and personal, one-on-one private coaching sessions. These resources—in various combinations—are the keystones of our Silver, Gold, Platinum and Platinum Plus Memberships.

Visit us at www.LegalResearchandWritingPro.com

Introducing New York's latest full service immigration law firm. Offering legal expertise which you expect from major law firms, but with personalized attention.

Vidya Parwani received her Law Degree from Utrecht University, Netherlands before receiving her Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree from Fordham University, New York. After graduating law school, she interned at the United Nations as a Legal Adviser to the European Delegation. Prior to starting her own practice, she worked at a law firm in New York specializing mainly in immigration law.

She is licensed to practice in the State of New York. She is member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). Being of Indian origin and raised in Netherlands, Ms. Parwani is fluent in English, Dutch, Hindi and Sindhi.

I am an attorney who practices in the areas of Real Estate, Foreclosures, Short Sales, Loan Modifications, Bankruptcy, Wills, Trusts & Estates, Civil Litigation and Small Business matters.

My law firm consists of myself and my wife and we have been in practice since 2003. We pride ourselves on treating clients with the respect they deserve and the service they need.

With 25 years of experience, I represent financial professionals and firms in all aspects of their operation, compliance and litigation matters, nationwide. I also represent individual brokers from virtually every major firm in their contract negotiations, employment termination, U-4 and U-5 issues. In specialized situations where the facts or law present novel issues, I also represent investors.

Locally, I represent small and medium sized businesses in their formation, operation and litigation, using my Wall Street background to assist those business entities.

Andrew Lavoott Bluestone is a Diplomate of the American Board of Professional Liability Attorneys and specializes in Legal Malpractice Litigation

Attorney Shepro is the owner of Jeffrey Shepro P.C. in New York City. At New York Law School he was elected Co-Justice of the Phi Alpha Delta International Law Fraternity. He interned for the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation where he audited construction contracts, license agreements and government grants. After law school and prior to opening his own practice, Attorney Shepro worked in general practice. He represented clients in litigation, corporate transactions and real estate transactions. Before entering the practice of law, he worked in corporate finance and sales operations. He helped increase sales, customers and efficiencies for several large corporations.

Attorney Shepro is admitted to practice law in New York and Connecticut. Jeffrey Shepro P.C. provides personalized representation for individuals, associations and small to medium sized businesses.

Brian Heller, a Partner with Schwartz & Perry LLP, has been with the firm since his graduation from Fordham Law School in 2001, where he served on the Fordham Urban Law Journal and as a mediator in the Bronx Small Claims Court. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Penn State University, Mr. Heller has an impressive background in all aspects of employment law, including discrimination, sexual harassment, fraudulent inducement, contractual disputes, stock options and benefits and workplace torts.

Mr. Heller is an experienced litigator, having Co-Chaired numerous trials, including jury and non-jury trials in both the Federal and state courts. Mr. Heller has also prosecuted and argued numerous appeals in various appellate courts in New York State. In addition to litigation, Mr. Heller negotiates severance agreements, employment contracts, non-compete and confidentiality agreements, and counsels employees who are subjected to discrimination in the workplace. With a strong emphasis on research and writing, Mr. Heller contributes to all aspects of Schwartz & Perry LLP's practice.

Mr. Heller is also active in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), successfully representing employees in mediations sponsored by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), the courts, and a number of private dispute resolution entities. Mr. Heller has appeared on behalf of individuals in arbitrations before The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA, formerly the National Association of Securities Dealers) and the American Arbitration Association (AAA).

Mr. Heller lectures on employment discrimination, litigation, contracts, workplace torts and trial practice before attorneys of all experience levels and practices, contributing the skills and insights he has gained during his tenure Schwartz & Perry LLP.

Rachel Baskin represents clients throughout the United States handling diverse immigration matters. Ms. Baskin recognizes that each case is unique and provides customized attention tailored to fit clientsâ individual needs. Her expertise enables her to navigate the complex maze of immigration laws and regulations.

The office provides services for the following immigration matters:

- Temporary Visa Petitions for professionals including artists, performers, designers, physicians, scientists, researchers, professors, business people, investors, small and large corporations, students, and tourists.
- Marriage Petitions
- Fiance(e) Visa Petitions
- Labor Certification Applicaitons (PERM)
- Family Based Immigration Petitions
- Adjustment of Status Applications
- Consular Processing
- Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Applications
- J-1 Waivers
- Citizenship Applications

Before founding Jakubowitz & Chuang LLP, William worked at a prestigious midtown law firm as an associate in the intellectual properties group. In addition to patent litigation, William worked in negotiating software and technology licenses for a major hedge fund. He also performed due diligence for biotech and pharmaceutical companies considering joint ventures and acquisitions.

William is fluent in Mandarin Chinese.

William is admitted to the New York State Bar, and the bar of the federal court in the Southern District of New York.

Mr. Ahuja is a U.S. citizen born in India. He is admitted in the states of New York, Connecticut, Virginia, Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, U.S. District Court; Southern District of NY, U.S. District Court; Eastern District of NY, and India. Mr. Ahuja received his education and experience both in India and the United States. Mr. Ahuja holds an LL.M. (International Business Law); an LL.M. in Labor Laws; LL.B. (JD); M.B.A. (Personnel Management & Labor Welfare); M.B.A. (Business Management); a Diploma in German language; a Postgraduate Diploma in Gandhian Philosophy, besides his M.A. (Major: International Relations) and B.A. (Honors) degrees.

Mr. Ahuja has worked as an Attorney (Trademarks) at the United States Department of Commerce, Patent and Trademark Office, as an Of Counsel to Aitken Irvin Lewin Berlin Vrooman & Cohn, LLP, a Washington, D.C. based law firm specializing in the international business law, as a Consultant to M&M Consultants in Massachusetts, as a General Counsel to Soft Computer Consultants in New York, and Regional Manager at Oriental Bank of Commerce, India. Mr. Ahuja has worked as an Adjunct Faculty at Baruch College [City University of New York], New York, NY, as an Adjunct Faculty and taught International Business at the USDA Graduate School, Washington, D.C; and as Adjunct Faculty at Howard University. He has been on numerous other legal panels and organized a number of conferences, has frequently been a guest speaker to various institutions of management sciences and law including Continuing Legal Education program for attorneys. Besides his law practice, Mr. Ahuja works as an Arbitrator with Small Claims Courts in New York. He is fluent in English, Hindi, Urdu & Punjabi languages and enjoys writing poems in his native languages.

Mr. Ahujaâs professional activities and associations [past & present] include membership of the Indo-U.S. Joint Sub-commission on Trade and Investments [1997]; Member: Association of Arbitrators, Ambassador of the Maryland International Trade Association [1996,1997]; Judge: Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Competition (1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001); Legal Advisor/Board Member: Indo-Pak-Bangladesh Friendship Forum; King-Gandhi Foundation, Lions Club, Global Organization Of People of Indian Origin [GOPIO], Federation of Indian Americans, National Capital Region, India Cultural Coordination Committee Inc.; Washington, D.C.; Punjabi Durbar Religious & Cultural Society, Inc., NY, Om Vedam Inc. [A Not For Profit Organization], Jalota Entertainment Inc., Staten Island Hindu Temple Inc., Sikh Gurudwara, Richmond Hill, NY, and India This Week (a community weekly newspaper, Washington, D.C.); Member: Indo American Political Association; Member: Indian American Forum For Political Education; Member: The Pen Club of Washington, D.C.; Member: New York State Bar Association; Member: Connecticut State Bar Association; Member: Virginia State Bar Association; Member: ABA Section of International Law & Practice; Member: Washington Foreign Law Society; Treasurer: Indian American Bar Association; Member: American Bar Association; Member: New York County Lawyersâ Association Committee on âBankingâ; Member: New York County Lawyersâ Association Committee on Corporation Law; Member: New York County Lawyersâ Association Committee on Cyberspace & Internet Law; Member: New York County Lawyersâ Association Committee on âForeign and International Lawâ; Member: New York County Lawyersâ Association Committee on âImmigration and Nationalityâ; Member: New York County Lawyersâ Association Committee on âIntellectual Propertyâ; Member: New York County Lawyersâ Association Committee on âLabor Relations and Employment Lawâ; Member: New York County Lawyersâ Association Committee on âTechnology and Automationâ etc. He was selected as an intern to serve Senator Edward Kennedyâs Committee on Labor and Human Resources.

Mr. Ahuja has written/published a number of papers/articles. Some of the papers written by him are: âThe Role of Air Bags and Seatbelts - a Primary or Supplemental Restraint System?â; Domestic Violence: A Social Curse; Employment Discrimination and Your Rights; Foreclosure Laws And Procedure In The State of New York; Multinational Corporations And Problem of Identity; Foreign Direct Investments: Pros and Cons; Homeowner Association: What To Do About Them?; How To Handle Problems With A Condominium Board?; How To Handle Problems With A Co-Op Board?; Protect Your Identity To Protect Yourself; Intellectual Property Laws And Issues In India; Religious Corporation & Religious Corporation Laws In New York; Religious Corporation Laws And Tax-Exemptions; Social Security And Social Security Administration; Land-Tenants Laws In New York; Taxation For Foreigners; Your Rights And Responsibilities As A Permanent Resident; How To Lose Your Citizenship?; The Defamation Law & Defenses, The Competitive Law Reforms for the Government of Indonesia; The United States Government Procurement Procedures; FCC: The Law, Procedures, and Policies Relating to Revocation of a License; Import of Raw Vegetables and Fruits from India; United Statesâ Export Import- Rules and Regulations; Business Opportunities in the U. S. A. Relating to Auto Parts; Business Opportunities in the U.S.A. Relating to Electric Goods; Business Opportunities in the U.S.A. Relating to Gloves; Business Opportunities in the U.S.A. Relating to Snacks Food; Business Opportunities in the U.S.A. Relating to Audio-Video Products; Classification for Spouses of U.S. Citizens and Their Children; Immigration Benefits for Battered Spouses and Children; The Indian Economy in Transition; Indian-U.S. License Agreements; The United States Regulatory Regime: Blessing or Curse for the Businesses? Structuring Multinational Business Entities; Computer Crimes And Department of Justiceâs Preparation For A Cyberwar; The United States-A Refuge For Oppressed People; The Politics Of Color; Law & Practice of Banking in India; Payment and Collection of Checks, Bank Documentation and Finance in India; Analysis & Interpretation of Financial Statements; Bank Lending in India; Agricultural Recovery Laws and Credit Collection in India; Legal Issues Relating To Bank Guaranties & Letters of Credit; Practical Problems in Suit Filing and Enforcement of Judgment in India; Commercial Dispute Settlement Mechanism in India; Formation of Business Entity in India; Safeguards & Prevention of Frauds in the Banking Industry In India; Labor Laws and Industrial Relations in India; Manpower Training & Development in the Banking Industry in India; Conflict Management and Dispute Resolution Mechanism; Time Management; Interpersonal Relations Based on Behavior in Organizations; Good Listening is Good Communication; Improve Your Memory to Help Yourself; The Story of Hair Styles: Indiaâs Contribution to the World of Fashion; Islam and Sikhism; The Concept and Connotation of Maya; The Vegetarian Way of Life; Gandhi and Mountbatten: A Comparative Study. Women in Life and Society; Women in Hinduism; Ramadan, The Holiest Month; The Status of Women in Islam; Women in Islam; Women And Their Sexual Rights; Another Unholy War; The Forgotten Days Of Our History; Amber: The City Of Tourists; Pinjore Garden: A Heaven On The Earth; Gandhi & Ahimsa; Gurumukh; The Guru Nanak And The Muslims; I Love New York; Message Of The Master; The Cultural Heritage Of Punjab; Religion As Ahimsa; Auto Accident Law in the State of New York etc.