I am committed to providing you with top notch legal support. I approach every client's particular situation with a focus on integrity, advocacy, and understanding.
I have extensive experience representing municipal, corporate and individual clients in both state and federal courts in litigation involving animals, personal injury, insurance coverage, commercial transactions, labor and employment disputes. I also have a thriving general practice and frequently represent individual and municipal clients in transactional matters as-well-as tax certiorari litigation, business matters, contacts, wills and estates, employment discrimination, not-for-profit formation, elder care guardianships and constitutional law.
I maintain an ever expanding niche practice in the area of animal law and business issues involving animals which focuses on advocating for clients and the welfare of animals in a variety of legal contexts. I am a member of the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Animals and the Law, an attorney-member of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, co-chair of the Albany County Bar Association's Committee on Animals and the Law and the author of “Animal Law Update”, which is published quarterly in the Albany County Bar Association’s newsletter. I am the supervising attorney for animal law component of Albany Law School’s pro bono legal project. I also frequently lecturer on dangerous dog hearings and negligence issues for the state and local bar associations. I maintain an activeblog about local and national animal law related issues.
I have sucessfully tried cases to verdict in the Town, County and Supreme Courts of New York State as well as argued before the New York State Appellate Division. Examples of some of my representative cases include:
Roy Tollisen v. Capital District Transportation Auth., et. al., 2010 WL 4111594 (NY Sup 8/5/2010) - Successful defense at trial of the City of Troy, NY in a personal injury claim arising from a vehicle collision.
Steven L. Aaron v. Pattison, Sampson, Ginsberg & Griffin, PC, 893 NYS2d 352 (3rd Dep’t 2010) - Successful argument before the Appellate Division upholding an award of attorney fees and sanctions.
Joseph P. McInerney v. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 2009 WL 2163094 (NDNY, 2009) - Successful motion granting the defendant the option of a jury trial in federal court.
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute v. Varian Inc., 340 Fed. Appx. 747 (2nd Cir. 2009) - On the appeallate brief.
City of Albany v. Trinity United Methodist, 831 NYS2d 358 (NY City Ct. 12/20/06) - Defense of an Albany Church in a 1st Amendment rights case.
I received my Juris Doctor from Albany Law School and my Bachelor's Degree from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. I currently serve on the Board of the Rensselaer County Bar Association as Vice-President. I stay active in my community a board member for the Troy branch of the Capital District YMCA and as a local team coach for the New York State Bar Association’s high school mock trial tournament. I am a recipient of the 2009, 2010 and 2011 New York State Bar Association’s Empire State Counsel award for pro bono service to members of the community who are unable to pay for legal services.
I am also a member in good standing in many local organizations, including: the New York State Bar Association, the Rensselaer County Bar Association, the Albany County Bar Association, the Capital District Trial Lawyers Association, the Rensselaer County Chamber of Commerce and the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Vincelette Firm Law
421 New Karner Road, Suite 2
Albany, New York 12205
(518) 608-6569
(518) 689-6869 Fax
jgs@vincelettelaw.com