Lecturer Bios
Edward Fiandach, Esq.
Edward Fiandach, Esq., is the author of three books comprising five volumes and more than 200 articles on DWI. His monthly newsletter, The New York DWI Bulletin, is the only statewide publication of its kind and for 10 years has been continuously used by lawyers, prosecutors and judges across the state. His annually supplemented treatises, New York Driving While Intoxicated, 2d Edition, and Handling Drunk Driving Cases 2d, a two-volume, nationally distributed text, are widely acclaimed as the most authoritative publications of their kind. His articles have been published in The Magistrate, The Public Defense Backup Report, The Daily Record, Democrat and Chronicle, Times Union, Criminal Justice Journal, The Automobile Liability Newsletter, The Champion, and numerous state and local bar association publications in New York and elsewhere.
Peter Gerstenzang, Esq.
Peter Gerstenzang is the senior partner in the Albany law firm of Gerstenzang, O'Hern, Sills & Gerstenzang. He is a 1970 graduate of Albany Law School. He is one of only three lawyers in New York State who have been Board Certified as specialists in DUI Defense Law by the National College for DUI Defense ("NCDD"). The NCDD is the only organization accredited by the American Bar Association to certify attorneys as specialists in DUI law.* His practice focuses on Criminal Defense with an emphasis on DWI cases and Vehicular Crimes. In addition, Mr. Gerstenzang is listed as a top DWI attorney in the following publications: The Best Lawyers in America®, The New York Area's Best Lawyers®, and New York Super Lawyers® Upstate Edition. He is listed as one of the "Top 25 Hudson Valley Super Lawyers 2010" regardless of category.
Mr. Gerstenzang commenced his legal career as a prosecutor for the United States Army in the Republic of Vietnam. From 1972 to 1975, he was an Assistant District Attorney for the County of Albany. Certified as a breath test operator, he taught at the New York State Police Academy in their Breath Test Training Program for 12 years. Mr. Gerstenzang currently serves as the Dean of the National College for DUI Defense, which holds an annual seminar in Cambridge, Massachusetts on the campus of Harvard Law School. He previously served on NCDD's Board of Regents from 2003 to 2013, and as Assistant Dean in 2012-2013. His book, Handling the DWI Case in New York, published annually by Thomson/West, is considered a standard reference for the defense of Driving While Intoxicated cases.
Mr. Gerstenzang is a regular lecturer for the New York State Bar Association (Chair, Big Apple Program held annually in May, in New York City, and Chair, Representing a DWI Defendant in New York from Arraignment to Disposition, September – October, 2010); the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers/ National College for DUI Defense (Annual DUI Seminar, Las Vegas, Nevada 2012); the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; the New York State Defenders Association; Albany County Bar Association; the New York State Magistrates Association; the San Diego Public Defenders Office; and Impaired Driving Specialists, LLC, Atlanta, Georgia; Delaware County Bar Association; Columbia County Magistrates Association; Suffolk County Bar Association; Suffolk County Magistrates Association; Westchester County Court Clerks Association; and Suffolk County Court Clerks Association. Mr. Gerstenzang teaches for various law enforcement, defense and judicial associations. In addition, he has lectured for the New York State Office of Court Administration Judges Training Program.
*The NCDD is not affiliated with any governmental authority. See Rules of Prof. Con., Rule 7.4(c)(1); Hayes v. New York Attorney Grievance Comm. of the 8th Jud. Dist., 672 F.3d 158 (2d Cir. 2012).
Thomas J. O’Hern, Esq.
Thomas J. O’Hern, Esq., is a partner in the Albany firm of Gerstenzang, O’Hern, Hickey & Gerstenzang. His practice focuses primarily on the defense of DWI cases. Mr. O’Hern is a life member of the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. He is a regular speaker for the New York State Bar Association and the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, lecturing on DWI defense, defense of drug cases and trial tactics.
Eric H. Sills, Esq.
Eric H. Sills, Esq., is a criminal defense attorney in Albany, whose practice focuses on DWI defense. He is a partner in the law firm of Gerstenzang, O’Hern, Hickey & Gerstenzang, and is the co-author of the book Handling the DWI Case in New York. Previously, Mr. Sills served as a law clerk to retired U.S. Magistrate Judge Ralph W. Smith Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. Mr. Sills is a graduate of Boston College Law School, where he served as a production editor on the Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review. He is currently a member of the Committee on Character and Fitness for the 3rd Judicial District, and a general member of the National College for DUI Defense, Inc.
Kathleen V. Wells, Esq.
Kathleen V. Wells, Esq., is a graduate of Thomas More College of Liberal Arts and Albany Law School. She is presently an attorney in the law firm of Larkin, Axelrod, Ingrassia & Tetenbaum, L.L.P., in Newburgh, New York, where she practices criminal defense law with a concentration on defending people accused of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Ms. Wells has successfully defended such individuals at suppression hearings and DMV administrative hearings, at trial and on appeal.
