Chestertown, NY

James E. Cullum

James E. Cullum served as the Firm’s Managing Partner for over 30 years. He is an experienced trial attorney with substantial experience in federal and state courts. He has over 40 years of litigation experience at the trial level in New York Supreme Courts, Surrogate’s Courts and County Courts throughout the state. He has represented clients in numerous federal trials in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York as well as all state courts. He has argued scores of appeals in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, New York Court of Appeals and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. His litigation practice includes personal injury, medical malpractice defense, real property disputes, contract disputes, commercial litigation, will and estate disputes, construction cases, labor law cases, employment matters, workers’ rights and discrimination and other general litigation matters. Mr. Cullum also counsels clients and represents their interests in transactional law in the fields of contracts, hospital and health law, business and commercial matters, business formation and conveyances, real property, zoning and permits, and estate planning. Peer rating A-V.

Courtney M. Haskins

Courtney M. Haskins is a Managing Partner at McPhillips, Fitzgerald & Cullum LLP. Her areas of practice include civil litigation focusing on personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, premise liability, product liability and construction accidents. Ms. Haskins also assists clients with the litigation of medical malpractice defense, contract disputes, labor law issues, real property issues as well as provides assistance with regulatory compliance in general healthcare law. Before joining the firm, Ms. Haskins practiced in New York City where she successfully represented clients in pursuing and defending their claims in jury trials, mediation, arbitration and at the appellate court level. She is admitted to practice in New York State and Northern District of New York.

Eric C. Schwenker

Eric C. Schwenker‘s area of practice and experience includes civil litigation focusing on personal injury, estate litigation, medical malpractice defense, motor vehicle accidents, premise liability, product liability, and real property disputes. Mr. Schwenker also has extensive appellate experience before the Appellate Division, Third Department, as well as in all areas of criminal law. Before joining the firm, Mr. Schwenker served as a Law Clerk to the Warren County Supreme Court, as an Assistant District Attorney for the Warren County District Attorney’s Office, and in private practice. He is admitted to practice in New York and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. Mr. Schwenker also serves as a Town Justice in Queensbury Town Court.

Steven G. Petramale

Steven G. Petramale is an associate attorney at McPhillips, Fitzgerald & Cullum, LLP, focusing on civil litigation. His areas of practice include medical malpractice defense, plaintiff’s personal injury, motor vehicle accidents, premises liability, products liability, worker’s compensation, contract disputes, real property disputes, Medicare and Medicaid coverage disputes, and criminal matters. Before joining the firm, Mr. Petramale practiced in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he successfully represented plaintiffs in personal injury and worker’s compensation matters and defended physicians in medical malpractice disputes. Mr. Petramale also served as an attorney advisor to a panel of Administrative Appeals Judges within the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Medicare Appeals Council. He is admitted to practice in New York State, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.

Matthew T. Skinner is an associate attorney at McPhillips, Fitzgerald & Cullum LLP, focusing on civil litigation. His areas of practice include medical malpractice defense, personal injury, contract and business disputes, motor vehicle accidents, estate litigation, and real property litigation. He also assists clients with employment discrimination, criminal matters, and environmental regulation. Before joining the firm, Mr. Skinner served with Flower City AmeriCorps in Rochester, NY, directed the field operations and voter engagement efforts for a successful Congressional campaign in the Finger Lakes, and built and maintained woods roads on a private estate in the Adirondacks. He is admitted to practice in New York State and the Northern District of New York.

Dennis J. O’Connor is a Managing Partner and is admitted to practice law in New York and Florida. Mr. O’Connor’s professional practice is devoted to estates and trust matters and elder law, including representing seniors and persons with special needs and their families in connection with asset preservation planning, supplemental needs trusts, Medicaid, guardianship, wills, trusts, power of attorney, health care directives and living wills. Mr. O’Connor regularly speaks to seniors groups and community associations regarding long-term care, nursing homes, family succession and advanced directive issues. Working from both of the firm’s offices in Upstate New York and in South Florida, Mr. O’Connor offers legal advice and assistance to snowbirds owning property in both states. Having formerly practiced law in Canada, Mr. O’Connor is knowledgeable in Canada-U.S cross border estate planning issues, and is fluent in the French language.

William E. Fitzgerald

William E. Fitzgerald has practiced law with McPhillips Fitzgerald & Cullum LLP and its predecessors since graduating from law school in 1975. He became a Partner in 1980, and he now serves the firm in an Of Council role. His principal area of practice is real estate and real estate financing, representing individuals and businesses in buying and selling property, commercial lenders in residential, commercial and agricultural financing and assisting in workouts and foreclosures. He is also active in title examination and acts as examining Council for Chicago Title Insurance Company and Westcor Land Title Insurance Company. Mr. Fitzgerald’s practice also includes the areas of general banking, estate planning, trust and estate administration and general practice.