O’Connell and Aronowitz is proud to announce that 15 of our attorneys have been recognized in the 2026 edition of The Best Lawyers in America and one attorney has been named to the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America.

In addition, attorney Florence Richardson has been named the Best Lawyers 2026 Family Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Albany. This designation is awarded to only one lawyer each year, per practice area in each region, with extremely high overall feedback from their peers, making it an exceptional distinction.

Recognition in Best Lawyers is widely regarded as a significant honor, as it is based entirely on peer review. Attorneys are nominated and evaluated by their professional peers on the basis of their legal expertise, ethics, and overall excellence in their fields. For more than 40 years, Best Lawyers has highlighted the top legal talent worldwide, serving as one of the most trusted resources for clients and colleagues seeking exceptional legal representation.

We are proud of our attorneys who have earned this prestigious recognition across a wide range of practice areas.

Attorneys recognized in the Albany, NY office:

Kurt E. Bratten

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2023, Kurt is included again in the 2026 edition for Health Care Law and Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants.

Stephen R. Coffey

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 1993, Stephen is included again in the 2026 edition for Criminal Defense: General Practice; also recognized in Criminal Defense: White-Collar, DUI/DWI Defense, Legal Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs, and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs.

Brian M. Culnan

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2021, Brian is included again in the 2026 edition for Litigation – Labor and Employment and Commercial Litigation.

Thomas J. DiNovo

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2021, Tom is included again in the 2026 edition for Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs; also recognized in Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs.

Richard S. Harrow

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2025, Richard is included again in the 2026 edition for Health Care Law.

Allen F. Light

Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America since 2023, Allen is included again in the 2026 edition for Commercial Litigation, Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants, Product Liability Litigation – Defendants, and Professional Malpractice Law.

Michael P. McDermott

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2021, Mike is included again in the 2026 edition for Criminal Defense: General Practice, Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs.

Kelly J. Mikullitz

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2025, Kelly is included again in the 2026 edition for Family Law and Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs.

Cornelius D. Murray

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 1991, Neil is included again in the 2026 edition for Health Care Law.

Pamela A. Nichols

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2019, Pamela is included again in the 2026 edition for Personal Injury Litigation – Plaintiffs and Medical Malpractice Law – Plaintiffs.

Peter A. Pastore

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2016, Peter is included again in the 2026 edition for Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law and Commercial Litigation.

Florence Richardson

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2025, Florence is included again in the 2026 edition for Family Law and has been named the 2026 “Lawyer of the Year” – Family Law (Albany, NY).

David Ross

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2025, David is included again in the 2026 edition for Health Care Law.

Jeffrey J. Sherrin

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 1991, Jeff is included again in the 2026 edition for Health Care Law; also recognized in Administrative / Regulatory Law and Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants.

Karen Martino Valle

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2021, Karen is included again in the 2026 edition for Trusts and Estates; also recognized in Health Care Law.

Attorneys recognized in the Saratoga Springs, NY office:

Matthew J. Dorsey

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America since 2021, Matt is included again in the 2026 edition for Trusts and Estates and Elder Law.

 

At O’Connell and Aronowitz, we are honored to have so many of our attorneys recognized by their peers for their excellence and dedication to the practice of law. These awards reflect the talent, skill, and commitment our team brings to every client matter. View our full Best Lawyers rankings.