Practice/Organization Description
Our attorneys have a wide range of experience over decades of practicing law in all areas of litigation. Initially, the firm was a boutique firm specializing in appellate practice. Today, the firm’s appellate attorneys handle appeals involving all areas of the firm’s greatly expanded practice.
In the 1970s, the firm became involved in large scale massive tort litigations, representing large insurance companies defending massive tort litigation nationwide. From the beginning of asbestos litigation through the nationwide concern over pollution, our firm was at the forefront every step of the way. During this time, we developed a strong insurance coverage practice advising insurance companies on a broad range of insurance coverage issues and developing the law in the insurance coverage area, primarily in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, but also in high exposure cases across the country. Our litigation expertise expanded to encompass professional liability defense, personal injury defense, construction litigation, errors and omissions and directors and officers coverage, and defense of all forms of casualty, business and commercial litigation and arbitration.
Over the last ten years, we also developed a significant international practice representing clients in Western Europe and later in the Middle East. We have attorneys who speak, read and write Arabic, Hebrew, Russian and Spanish, which enables us to communicate in the native tongue of many of our international clients. We have also developed special expertise in terrorism claims, criminal defense of foreigners alleged to have violated U.S. law, investigation and compliance under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, defamation and RICO claims.
Melito & Adolfsen Attorneys:
*Members
Louis G. Adolfsen
Steven I. Lewbell
Ignatius J. Melito
John H. Somoza
S. Dwight Stephens
*Senior Trial Attorney
Robert D. Ely
*Associates
Michael H. Bazzi
Michael P. Hilferty
Michael F. Panayotou
Kira Tsiring
Please call or e-mail us. We'll also come and see you.
