South Nyack, NY

J. David MacCartney, Jr.

David is a trial lawyer whose background and experience provides the unique ability to handle a wide range of litigated matters. He graduated cum laude in three years from Duke with an economics degree, then graduated law school magna cum laude from Georgetown. He began his career as an associate with Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, where he focused in complex commercial litigation, insurance coverage, and products liability. He moved back home to Rockland County in 1995, where he has honed his trial skills and expanded his practice areas ever since. He has achieved an AV (Preeminent) rating from Martindale Hubbell, the highest such rating available. David specializes in cases involving significant and catastrophic injuries. He has recovered millions of dollars for his clients who were injured by the negligence or malpractice of others. For example, he obtained an award of over $5.2 million for a child who suffered spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, microcephaly, and global developmental delay as a result of the malpractice of a doctor and hospital in failing to recognize signs of fetal distress and failing to timely deliver the baby by C-Section. The recovery is one of the highest ever recorded in Rockland County. He has also successfully represented clients in many other litigated matters, including eminent domain, contested estates and accountings, zoning/planning disputes, and environmental matters. He has achieved historic victories in these areas as well. For example, he was the first and only lawyer in New York to use environmental laws to close an adult book store, and was the first in over a century to successfully defeat the use of eminent domain on the ground that the municipality acted solely to benefit private parties, not the public. David is active in the community and charities. He lives in Valley Cottage with his wife and three children.

Colleen Canning

With deep roots in Rockland, Colleen is excited to return after a sabbatical at home raising her children. In her earlier career, Colleen practiced with multinational law firms in New York City and was an Assistant Vice President of Risk Management for ACE Medical Risk (now known as CHUBB Insurance) defending hospitals, long term care facilities, diagnostic centers, physicians, nurses and other allied healthcare professionals from claims of malpractice in cases with catastrophic injuries.

Alak Shah

Formerly of O’Connor Redd in White Plains, New York. Interned during Law School at the Securities Arbitration Clinic at Pace in White Plains, New York and also in Mumbai, India at Singhania & Partners. Alak also interned at Clark, Gagliardi & Miller, White Plains, New York. At Pace Law School, Alak received the Alumni Achievement Award, was named a Dean’s Scholar and was on the Dean’s List. He served as the President of the Gaelic Society and the Treasurer of the Student Bar Association. At Penn State, Alak was awarded a Dean’s Scholarship and was also on the Dean’s List. Alak is a Member of MENSA and Phi Alpha Delta.

Brian D. Nugent

Firm Partner Brian D. Nugent is an experienced municipal and public labor relations attorney representing and guiding many municipalities in the Hudson Valley. Attorney Nugent and the municipal team at Feerick Nugent MacCartney handle all aspects of municipal government and public labor relations from the day-to-day guidance to clients to representing municipal clients in litigation matter. In the labor relations field, Attorney Nugent represents municipalities in various matters, including Collective Bargaining Negotiations, Mediation, Compulsory Interest Arbitration, Grievance Arbitration, Improper Practice Charges before the Public Employment Relations Board (PERB), Disciplinary matters, Article 78 proceedings, Article 75 proceedings and appellate proceedings in New York’s Appellate Courts. Attorney Nugent has had significant success in labor relations matters on behalf of the firm’s municipal clients, including numerous Towns and Villages in the lower Hudson Valley. Our firm has a reputation for providing candid legal advice and keeping in mind the interests of the taxpayers and the fiscal concerns of local governments.

Donald J. Feerick, Jr.

Donald Feerick co-founded the firm in 2005, building a practice that focuses on litigating commercial cases, including breach of contract claims, corporate disputes, corporate dissolutions, employment issues, insurance coverage, declaratory judgment actions, and eclectic matters of general litigation. He is a trial attorney with a proven track record of success at the trial and appellate level over the past twenty-five years. He litigates in the New York State and Federal forums. He was nominated and selected by Super Lawyers for General Litigation. Prior to forming the firm, Mr. Feerick served as an Assistant District Attorney in the King’s County (Brooklyn) District Attorney’s Office, the Special Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office for the City of New York, the Rockland County District Attorney’s Office, as a Law Clerk for the Honorable William A. Kelly in the County Court of Rockland County; and as a sole practitioner. Mr. Feerick lives in Pearl River with his wife and children. He is active in both the community and local charities. He has spearheaded the firm’s efforts to give back to the community for those who are in need and without means or ability to pay. He and the firm have invested numerous hours into pro bono community and charitable affairs.

Senior Court Attorney, N.Y. Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, 2000-2006