Ithaca, NY

William Friedlander

As a practicing attorney for more than 40 years, Attorney William S. Friedlander’s practice has been primarily devoted to personal injury law and wrongful death. Bill has been named to the Top 100 Best Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association, and has been annually elected as a Super Lawyer for the past 5 years (only 5% get elected for this honor). Bill’s substantial litigation experience includes representing clients in nursing home cases, school violence, hazing, sexual assault, injury and wrongful death cases arising from accidents (including car, truck bus, motorcycle, and construction matters), birth injuries, medical malpractice, lead paint exposure, and natural gas contamination in water as the result of Marcellus Shale hydraulic fracturing. Bill’s personal injury and litigation practice has grown to include representing those injured in school violence, and the families who have lost a loved one due to school violence. Bill has been the lead the attorney in multiple high-profile cases involving clients who died in fraternity hazing incidents. Bill is a co-founder of the School Safety Violence and Misconduct Litigation Group, which represents victims of violence on schools and university campuses, and is current chair of that group.

Peter N. Littman

Peter N. Littman is a distinguished lawyer based in Ithaca, New York, with over 53 years of experience. He is a leading personal injury and workers’ compensation attorney known for his aggressive litigation skills. As founder and senior partner of Littman & Babiarz Attorneys at Law, he focuses on representing victims of motor vehicle accidents, truck accidents, construction site accidents, and other negligent conduct, as well as injured workers in Workers’ Compensation cases. He has successfully brought over 50 cases to jury trial and is committed to excellent client experience and fighting against legislation that limits accident victims' rights.

Betty Friedlander

Betty D. Friedlander’s practice was concentrated on helping personal injury victims and the families who have lost a loved due the negligent or wrongful actions of others. She also represented clients in birth injury cases, divorce and custody matters, and criminal law. Betty joined the firm in 1993 following her tenure as Judge of the Family and County Court for Tompkins County, where for 17 years she presided over felony criminal trials and surrogate and family court matters. During her tenure as Family and County Court Judge, she lectured at the Office of Court Administration Judicial Legal Education programs. She also was a member of the Office of Court Administration Committee on Judicial Skills which prepared the programs for the Office of Court Administration Continuing Legal Education Programs for judges. Betty graduated from Cornell Law School in 1959. She was the first Director of the Cornell Law School Legal Aid Clinic from 1959 to 1972. From 1972 to 1978, Betty was in private practice where her focus was on trial litigation and matrimonial and criminal law. In 1972, she was elected the first woman Chairperson of the New York State Bar Criminal Justice Section. In 1984 Betty was appointed by Governor Mario Cuomo to membership on the first New York State Commission on Child Support. She has lectured and prepared materials for the New York State Bar Association, Continuing Legal Education Programs including Matrimonial Law, and prepared a manual for the State Bar on Stipulations in Family Court. Betty was a member of the Executive Committee of the Matrimonial Section of the New York State Bar. She was also a member of the American Association for Justice and was active in the Birth Trauma Litigation Group of AAJ.

John Alden Stevens

I was born in Ithaca, New York. I received an undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College and a law degree from Cleveland-Marshall School of Law. I was an Assistant District Attorney in Tompkins County. I served as a member of the House of Delegates for the New York State Bar Association from 1992-1995. I was a member of the Appellate Division, Third Department Committee on Professional Standards (Attorney Grievance Committee) from 2005 until 2010. I was chairman of the same committee from 2010-2011. I have served on the boards of Tompkins County Mental Health Association, the Ithaca Youth Hockey Association, and the board of the Lansing Community Recreation Center. I am a trial attorney practicing in the following areas: personal injury, fire loss, construction, criminal and surrogate. I live in Ithaca with my wife, four children and a menagerie of pets.

Jacob P. McNamara

Jake is a litigation attorney, largely representing plaintiff personal injury cases and defendant criminal defense cases. Jake has obtained successful verdicts for clients in both jury and non-jury trials. He practices in both State Court and Federal Court (Western and Northern District of New York). Jake specializes in motion practice regarding destruction of evidence. Jake also represents high school and college students in various capacities. In a defense capacity, he overturned a Cornell University student’s expulsion after two appeals, obtaining a reversal of the student’s expulsion from the Cornell University President. Jake has also represented students in obtaining favorable decisions at Superintendent's Hearings at local school districts, and in obtaining successful athletic eligibility determinations from the Commissioner of Education.

Lisa J. Babiarz

Lisa J. Babiarz specializes in workers' compensation law, with 26 years of experience. Prior to her law degree from Syracuse University in 1999, she worked as a Registered Nurse for 12 years at Auburn Memorial Hospital. Her dual background in law and nursing provides a unique understanding of how injuries affect a person's ability to work and the medical aspects of work-related accidents. She is a member of the Bar of the United States Supreme Court, the New York State Bar, the New York State Trial Lawyers Association, and the Injured Workers Bar Association. Her experience includes legal defense work for insurance carriers and nurse case management.

Aubrey D. Hetznecker

Aubrey represents clients in a variety of civil litigation matters in state and federal court and has successfully argued on behalf of clients. Represents individuals in a range of civil rights and discrimination matters, including cases arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. § 1981, 42 U.S.C. § 1983, and corresponding state law. Represents individuals who are survivors of sexual abuse in civil claims against perpetrators and institutions. Represents personal injury victims, including cases involving motor vehicles and premises liability. Represents individuals who have been accused of felony or misdemeanor crimes.