Albany, NY

Dennis A. First

Dennis A. First attended Vassar College and graduated with honors from Ohio State University in 1975. He received his J.D. from Albany Law School of Union University in 1978. After serving as law clerk to the Hon. Joseph Harris of Albany County Court, he entered private practice in 1979. Dennis’ practice emphasizes the defense of physicians, hospitals and nursing homes in malpractice cases, lawyers in legal malpractice cases, manufacturers in products liability cases, and the defense of general liability cases, including premises liability, construction accidents, automobile negligence and municipal liability. As a trial lawyer for more than 40 years, Dennis has achieved a remarkable record of success for clients both inside and outside of the courtroom. He often defends professionals in administrative proceedings brought by various administrative agencies. Dennis is a member of the Albany County, New York State and American Bar Associations. He is an appointed member of the State Bar Association's Special Committee to Confer with the State's Medical Society. He is a member of the Capital District Trial Lawyers, and the Defense Research Institute (DRI). Dennis frequently lectures for the New York State Bar Association and other organizations in the areas of trial practice and procedure.

Michael Manoussos

Michael Manoussos is the founding and managing member of Michael Manoussos & Co PLLC. He is an elite personal injury and tort litigation and civil trial attorney, recognized for his intellectual capabilities. He has obtained multi-million dollars in settlements and awards for his clients and is a Life Member of the Million AND Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a Member of The National Trial Lawyers: Top 100, and admitted in the National Association of Distinguished Counsel: Nation’s Top One Percent. He is a former law clerk to a chief judge, former Director of the Board of Directors of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, and a former adjunct professor of law and politics.

John K. Powers

A graduate of the University of Notre Dame and Albany Law School, John K. Powers is a nationally recognized authority on the medical and legal aspects of catastrophic injury. He is a Co-Founder and former President of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers, a former President of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, and has served in numerous leadership roles in other professional organizations. He has published many books, chapters, and articles on legal issues and is in frequent demand as a speaker.

Daniel R. Santola

Daniel R. Santola is a founding partner of Powers & Santola, LLP, established in 1987. He is a nationally recognized trial lawyer, consistently named one of the 'Best Lawyers in America' and among the top 100 trial lawyers by the American Trial Lawyers Association. He was named 'Lawyer of the Year' for Medical Malpractice Law in 2012 and 2014. He is known for his innovative use of technology in trials and his expertise in personal injury law, particularly construction accidents, having authored New York’s leading treatise on the subject.

Terence P. O’Connor

Terry O’Connor is a 1980 graduate of St. Lawrence University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa. In pursuing his undergraduate degree, he also studied in Copenhagen, Denmark. Terry received his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1983. Terry is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell and has been voted by his peers on an annual basis as one of the Top 10 Upstate New York Attorneys recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine. In addition, Terry has been named the Best Lawyer, Lawyer of the Year for both Medical Malpractice Law (defendants) and Products Liability Law (defendants). In 2011 he was honored with the Albany County Bar Association’s President’s Award. In 2015 he was elected as a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. Terry is a trial lawyer who defends physicians, dentists, nurses, hospitals and nursing homes throughout New York State and Vermont. Over the course of his career, Terry has tried upwards of 125 cases to verdict. In defending physicians, he has handled cases involving licensing issues, wrongful death and birth trauma claims. In addition, Terry has handled a wide variety of other civil litigation matters, including cases involving Labor Law violations, trucking accidents, motor vehicle accidents, products liability and premises liability. Terry has been appointed by the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York as a mediator/arbitrator/early neutral evaluator. Over the past decade, Terry has mediated and arbitrated approximately 200 cases.