Kaufman Dolowich Promotes 14 Attorneys to Partner and Of Counsel, 2-19-2025
(Feb 19, 2025, Woodbury, N.Y.) — Kaufman Dolowich LLP, a leading national law firm, today announced the promotion of six attorneys to the firm’s partnership and eight attorneys as of counsel. These promotions are effective as of Jan. 1, 2025, with the exception of Adam Perlin and Christopher Arcitio, named of counsel, effective July 1, and Aug. 1, 2024, respectively.
“We are thrilled to recognize the hard work and dedication of these attorneys,” said Michael Kaufman, firmwide co-managing partner. “Their commitment to delivering exceptional service to our clients has strengthened our firm. They are not only great professionals, but they also find time to positively influence the communities we serve. We take great pride in their accomplishments and look forward to their continuing contributions to our firm.”
Promoted to Partnership:
Solomon Abramov (Woodbury, N.Y.) practices labor and employment law. He represents and advises employers on a diverse range of workplace issues and regularly defends businesses in employment-related matters. He has successfully handled a variety of complex discrimination, retaliation, and sexual harassment cases, as well as single-plaintiff and complex class and collective action wage and hour lawsuits. Recently, Abramov drafted and argued a summary judgment motion that led to the full dismissal of a seven-year-long litigation before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the New York County Supreme Court. Abramov has been recognized as a Super Lawyers New York Metro “Rising Star” for the past three years.
Labeed Choudhry (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) represents clients in commercial and business litigation, professional liability, and real property disputes. He also counsels clients on financial and transactional matters that could lead to litigation. Choudhry has obtained successful verdicts for his clients after contested multi-day bench trials and more recently, a jury trial. Within the community, Choudhry serves as secretary of internal affairs for Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Miami Chapter.
Edward Grimmett (Woodbury, N.Y.) practices labor and employment law, representing businesses in a wide range of industries, and has secured several successful decisions and favorable settlements on multiple cases involving novel legal issues. He has also successfully resolved matters in federal and state court, before the National Labor Relations Board and local administrative agencies. Grimmett has been recognized as a Super Lawyers New York Metro “Rising Star” for the past four years, is a member of the Long Beach Chamber of Commerce and serves as vice president of Business Network International’s networking group in Long Beach, N.Y.
Jennifer Prior (Philadelphia, Penn.) practices labor and employment law, representing employers in all areas of employment litigation, including defending against discrimination and retaliation claims. Among her recent accomplishments, in 2024, she assisted in successfully obtaining summary judgment in the Middle District of Pennsylvania on behalf of a client and insurance carrier in a case involving alleged claims of discrimination and a hostile work environment. She also has extensive experience representing municipalities in Pennsylvania on a wide range of issues including personnel matters, collective bargaining, and zoning and land development. Within her community, Prior serves on the Lower Merion Township Human Relations Commission.
Christine Starkie (San Francisco, Calif.) practices labor and employment law, commercial litigation, professional liability defense, general liability defense, and mass tort litigation. Her clients include employers, startups, tech companies, attorneys and financial securities brokers. Within the past year, she has been actively involved in mediation proceedings, mostly involving large cases including class actions, all resulting in favorable settlements. At the firm, she spearheaded the creation of monthly new attorney training meetings, and is involved in a number of volunteer activities.
Robert Suarez (Hackensack, N.J.) represents clients in commercial transactions, litigation, and in compliance and risk management matters, with an emphasis on matters involving commercial transportation and maritime insurance. He defends lawsuits against, among others, ship owners, marine and rail terminal operators, ferry owners, tug and tow operators, cruise lines, shipyards, port authorities, charterers, trucking companies, carriers, indirect carriers, surveyors and marine underwriters. These cases involve ocean and inland marine disputes; hull, cargo, transportation, protection & indemnity and liability insurance; charter party disputes; vessel collisions and passenger vessel matters; personal injury, Jones Act, COGSA and LHWCA; construction defect; products liability; and insurance coverage.
Promoted to Of Counsel:
Katherine Alphonso (Oakland, Calif.) practices labor and employment law and defends clients in business litigation matters. Alphonso defends employers in a variety of matters such as complex wage and hour claims (typically class and representative actions), misclassification claims, discrimination and harassment claims, as well as retaliation and wrongful termination claims. She also counsels clients in matters related to data privacy and cybersecurity. Alphonso is a member of the professional association Women in Security and Privacy.
Christopher Arcitio (New York, N.Y.) practices in the areas of commercial litigation, professional liability, general liability, insurance coverage and litigation. He represents insurance carriers in motor vehicle liability defense; in complex civil litigation involving premises liability, catastrophic accidents, transportation; and in matters under New York Labor Law. He also represents physicians, health care professionals and hospitals in professional liability matters. Arcitio serves on the Board of St. John’s Alumni Association; is a Board member and treasurer of the Filipino American Lawyers Association of New York; and an adjunct professor at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law and St. John’s University School of Law. He is also an LGBTQ+ mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City.
Daniel Brainard (Chicago, Ill.) focuses his practice on insurance coverage and litigation matters pertaining to the financial services industry. He counsels insurers on policy matters pertaining to commercial crime, fidelity bonds, tax deduction recapture, directors & officers’ liability, and professional liability errors & omissions. He handles all coverage aspects, including analysis, monitoring, disputes and litigation.
Jorja Carr-Knecht (Woodbury, N.Y.) has more than a decade of experience defending clients in all types of civil litigation and concentrates her practice in the area of complex general liability including matters involving construction and motor vehicle accidents. Carr-Knecht has briefed and argued appeals in both the First and Second Departments of the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, and also has significant experience serving as defense counsel in catastrophic and wrongful death matters. Her prior experience includes serving as in-house counsel for a major insurance company.
Melissa Cartaya (Westchester, N.Y.) focuses her practice on professional liability, employment law, labor law, and general liability, wherein she defends professionals including lawyers, architects, engineers, accountants, contractors, and insurance brokers. She not only defends these clients in litigation proceedings and governmental investigations, but also, advises business and property owners on matters including allegations of discrimination, and other violations of federal, state and city civil rights laws. Cartaya has been recognized as a Super Lawyers New York Metro “Rising Star” for the past three years.
Benny Menaged (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) practices labor and employment law, homeowners’ association/condominium law, and represents clients in commercial litigation – in state and federal civil litigation matters across a full range of employment-related claims and other legal disputes including real estate-related matters. Within the community, Menaged is an active volunteer with the Ronald McDonald House of Central Florida.
Adam Perlin (Woodbury, N.Y.) counsels clients in construction law and commercial litigation matters, and advises on matters involving construction regulation compliance. He represents general contractors, construction managers, subcontractors, and developers in all stages of litigation in state and federal courts, up to and including appeals. He has been published most recently in Bloomberg Law and the Nassau County Bar Association Journal. In addition to his law firm experience, prior to Kaufman Dolowich, Perlin served as a federal judicial law clerk in the District of Massachusetts, the Eastern District of New York, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.
Alexandra Sasha Robins (Westchester, N.Y.) practices labor and employment law, representing employers on various labor, personnel and operational matters. She also defends employers in discrimination, harassment, retaliation and wage and hour cases.
“These promotions reflect not only the individual talents of these attorneys but also their unwavering commitment to the firm’s values and their clients,” said Ivan Dolowich, firmwide co-managing partner. “They have proven themselves to be valuable members of the firm, consistently going above and beyond to achieve favorable outcomes on behalf of our clients. We celebrate their achievements and look forward to their continued success.”
About the Firm
Kaufman Dolowich LLP is a leading national law firm serving a broad range of industries in practice areas including labor and employment, directors and officers liability, professional liability, commercial litigation, insurance coverage and litigation, data privacy and cybersecurity, consumer financial services, real estate, general liability and construction law. Headquartered on Long Island, N.Y., Kaufman Dolowich attorneys represent national and global clients of all sizes nationwide. Kaufman Dolowich is a six-time Mansfield Certified law firm recognized for its diverse and inclusive employment strategies. For more information, visit kaufmandolowich.com and follow the firm on LinkedIn.
