Edward L. Birnbaum, Esq.
Edward L. Birnbaum, a prolific author and frequent lecturer on litigation strategy, trial tactics and techniques, oversees the general litigation of the firm. He’s an active trial attorney having served as lead trial counsel in more than sixty (60) federal and state court trials.
He was Chairman of the New York State Bar Association Committee on the Supreme Court, Chairman of the New York State Bar Association Action Unit #6 and a Member of the House of Delegates to the New York State bar Association and Committee on Judicial Campaign Conduct. He has served as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association, the United States District Court of the Eastern District of New York and the Small Claims Division of the Civil Court of the City of New York. He has been an adjunct faculty member of New York University School of Continuing Education teaching a course on the Civil Practice Law and Rules. He is a fellow of the Roscoe Pound Institute and a fellow of the New York State Bar Foundation. He is a Research Fellow of the American Biographical Institute.
He has received the highest rating from Martindale – Hubbell. He is the subject of biography in Who’s Who in American Law; Who’s Who in America; Who’s Who in The World; Who’s Who of Contemporary Achievement for Outstanding Contributions to Society; Sterlings Who’s Who; International Who’s Who of Professionals; International Directory of Distinguished Leadership; International Leaders in Achievement, Men of Achievement; Community Leaders of America; Dictionary of International Biography; One Thousand Great Americans; 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century – 2nd Edition; Eminent People of Today; Great Minds of The 21st Century. He was selected as a 2006 and 2007 New York Super Lawyer by a blue ribbon panel of lawyers.
He is the Chairperson of The Village of Saddle Rock Board of Appeals and President of the Saddle Rock Civic Association. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. He received a LL.B. from New York University School of Law in 1964; a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Queens College of the City of New York in 1961. He was admitted to practice in the State of New York in 1964. He was also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York in 1967; U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York in 1967; U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit in 1970; U.S. Supreme Court in 1971; and the U.S. District Court, Western District of New York in 1983.
Lawton W. Squires, Esq.
Mr. Squires handles complex litigation matters from inception through trial to verdict in the State and Federal Courts. His practice encompasses products liability, labor law, construction accidents, general liability, attorney and judicial disciplinary proceedings, professional malpractice and motor vehicle matters. In addition to representing clients in the New York State Courts, Mr. Squires represents clients before many of New York States’ regional professional disciplinary agencies including: the Departmental Disciplinary Committee; the Grievance Committee; the Committee on Character and Fitness; the Commission on Judicial Conduct; the Office of Professional Discipline; and the Office of Professional Medical Conduct. Mr. Squires also serves as excess and monitoring counsel for numerous clients and several major insurance carriers.
A trial attorney for more than twenty years, Mr. Squires has served as the Managing Trial Attorney for United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company, The St. Paul Insurance Companies and The St. Paul Travelers Companies in New York. He also has represented the Zurich American Insurance group as its New York Supervising Trial Attorney.
An Adjunct Professor of Law at New York Law School, Mr. Squires has taught Trial Advocacy since 1990. He has also taught practicing attorneys as a faculty member of The St. Paul Companies National Trial School and as a continuing legal education lecturer for the Defense Association of New York, the New York State Bar Association, the Bronx Black Bar Association and the Metropolitan Black Bar Association.
Mr. Squires has published articles including: “Intra-Family Immunity,” “Can You Rely on Plaintiff’s Co-Efficient of Friction Test?”, “No, No!!! Bad Dog!!!”, “A Federal Practice Primer for Claims Examiners”, and “Fred, the Breeding Bull and Its Affect on Dog Attack Cases.” Mr. Squires has had numerous verdicts noted and published by the New York Law Journal and the New York Jury Verdict Reporter, including: The Matter(s) of the Hon. Duane A. Hart (1 & 2 - before the NYS Court of Appeals and the NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct, respectively); Markowitz v. Servi-Tek Elevator Corp.; Fuller-Mosley v. Litemakers; Perlmutter v. A. Colarusso & Son; Amaya v. Trinity Church; Giambanco v. Rankin Healy Memorial Association; Dawid v. Stamford Livery Service; Konshina v. Gorbunov, D.D.S.; Gurvas v. Burg; Novin v. Hilton Hotels Corp.; Heller v. Lehrer-McGovern, Inc., et al.; Kaczorowski v. Consolidated Edison, et al.; Bahlke v. Glen Oaks Village Owners, Inc.; and Sharon v. El San Juan Hotel & Casino.
Mr. Squires holds the highest legal ability rating of “AV,” from Martindale-Hubbell. The “AV” Rating is a professional rating awarded to attorneys who demonstrate the highest professional and ethical standards. The Black Law Students’ Association of New York Law School has awarded Mr. Squires its Distinguished Alumni Award. The Institute of Jewish Humanities also has recognized Mr. Squires with its Lawyer of Achievement Award.
Mr. Squires co-starred as the lead defense attorney, opposite Catherine Crier of Court TV fame, who played the lead prosecutor in The Media Center at The New York Law School's production of The Trial of Travis Bickle, from the facts of the Martin Scorsese classic film, Taxi Driver, starring Robert De Niro and Jodi Foster on January 28th, 2008. The Media Center annually produces mock trials to advertise and publicize New York School's Trial Advocacy and Clinical Legal programs.
A graduate of The State University College at Oneonta, New York, and of The New York Law School, Mr. Squires served as a member of the National Mock Trial Team. He also was a member of the Executive Board of the Moot Court Association.
Mr. Squires is on the Board of Directors of the Defense Association of New York. He also is a member of the New York State Bar Association.
Mr. Squires is a Member of Herzfeld & Rubin, P.C. and is admitted to the New York State Bar and to the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
