Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin, LLP
Wingate, Russotti, Shapiro & Halperin, LLP is a New York personal injury law firm. We represent individuals who are injured through medical malpractice; injured in workplace accidents, or through the negligent maintenance of property.
Firm Overview
The firm was started in 1990 when Bill Wingate and Phil Russotti merged their respective practices. Bill practiced personal injury law for nearly 50 years before his death and was recognized as one of the most successful personal injury attorneys in New York State. Phil, over the past 25 years, has successfully tried cases in virtually every state and federal courthouse in the New York metropolitan area. Phil is extremely well known in the personal injury/medical malpractice field having been selected a Super Lawyer every year since 2007 by his peers. "Super Lawyers," is a publication of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. For more information, click here. He also holds the rating of AV by Martindale Hubble, which is the highest professional rating for both legal ability and ethical standards. He has also been named to the Bar Registry of Pre-eminent Lawyers by LexisNexis.
Cliff Shapiro, who has exclusively practiced personal injury law since his admission to the bar, has been associated with Bill since 1986 and has been the managing partner of our firm since 1993. Cliff is responsible for negotiating most of the settlements in the office and managing the firm.
Ken Halperin is an expert in construction accident litigation, in which he has been specializing for over ten (10) years, and has a vast degree of knowledge about New York State Labor Law and the Industrial Code. He participates on the Construction Law Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and New York State Trial Lawyer Association. He has achieved excellent results, as is evident from the numerous million dollar settlements and verdicts he has obtained. Ken has an excellent reputation for expertly handling these difficult cases.
Of course, every case is not tried to verdict. We are able to obtain substantial settlements prior to trial because insurance companies and the defense bar know that our firm investigates every case thoroughly and expertly and is always well prepared to try every case. In addition, we firmly believe in the mediation and arbitration process which affords our clients a faster result with a full recovery. We approach the preparation of cases and representation of our clients as a team. Our highly skilled and knowledgeable support staff is enthusiastic and dedicated to its work. We also utilize the most advanced computer systems in order to manage our cases efficiently and to obtain legal, investigative and medical information as quickly and thoroughly as the most current technology allows. Simply put, our clients receive the best representation from outstanding attorneys, led by experienced litigators with exceptional judgment assisted by a motivated support staff. The combination of Bill's vast experience, Phil's trial skills and Cliff's negotiation and management techniques, together with excellent trial attorneys eminently capable of trying any case, is a unique and compelling combination which garners the best achievable result for our clients.
Cliff Shapiro, who has exclusively practiced personal injury law since his admission to the bar, has been associated with Bill since 1986 and has been the managing partner of our firm since 1993. Cliff is responsible for negotiating most of the settlements in the office and managing the firm.
Ken Halperin is an expert in construction accident litigation, in which he has been specializing for over ten (10) years, and has a vast degree of knowledge about New York State Labor Law and the Industrial Code. He participates on the Construction Law Committee of the Association of the Bar of the City of New York and New York State Trial Lawyer Association. He has achieved excellent results, as is evident from the numerous million dollar settlements and verdicts he has obtained. Ken has an excellent reputation for expertly handling these difficult cases.
Of course, every case is not tried to verdict. We are able to obtain substantial settlements prior to trial because insurance companies and the defense bar know that our firm investigates every case thoroughly and expertly and is always well prepared to try every case. In addition, we firmly believe in the mediation and arbitration process which affords our clients a faster result with a full recovery. We approach the preparation of cases and representation of our clients as a team. Our highly skilled and knowledgeable support staff is enthusiastic and dedicated to its work. We also utilize the most advanced computer systems in order to manage our cases efficiently and to obtain legal, investigative and medical information as quickly and thoroughly as the most current technology allows. Simply put, our clients receive the best representation from outstanding attorneys, led by experienced litigators with exceptional judgment assisted by a motivated support staff. The combination of Bill's vast experience, Phil's trial skills and Cliff's negotiation and management techniques, together with excellent trial attorneys eminently capable of trying any case, is a unique and compelling combination which garners the best achievable result for our clients.
Main Office
Main Office
420 Lexington Avenue #2750
New York
NY
10170
Phone
- 212-222-4336
Fax
- 212-953-4308
Personal Injury
We are a boutique plaintiff's personal injury and medical malpractice law firm in New York which specializes in the representation of injury victims and their families. None of our clients are corporations or insurance companies.
Our philosophy is to thoroughly prepare every case for the crucible of the courtroom. That requires meticulous preparation of all relevant facts and complete knowledge of applicable law. Our attorneys work closely with doctors and other professionals in bringing together the best expert witnesses to assist in preparation and trial of our cases. We spare no expense because we believe that each client deserves the best opportunity to present his or her case to a jury.
Not only have we had great success at trial, but our appellate record is outstanding. We handle our own appeals and take pride in the firm's contributions to the advancement of personal injury law on the appellate level. We are especially proud of arguing and obtaining favorable decisions in two of the leading medical malpractice cases in New York, one permitting punitive damages, the other extending the Statute of Limitations in order to allow a doctor to be sued.
Not only have we had great success at trial, but our appellate record is outstanding. We handle our own appeals and take pride in the firm's contributions to the advancement of personal injury law on the appellate level. We are especially proud of arguing and obtaining favorable decisions in two of the leading medical malpractice cases in New York, one permitting punitive damages, the other extending the Statute of Limitations in order to allow a doctor to be sued.
What distinguishes your law firm from others?
What sets us apart from other NY personal injury firms is that we do not simply process a large volume of cases. We intentionally limit the number of cases we accept and assign to each attorney so that every client receives the personal and proper attention he or she deserves. We do not merely handle cases - we represent real people with real problems on an individual basis.
Cliff Shapiro
As managing partner of the law firm, it is Cliff's responsibility to review and evaluate every negligence case. He supervises every attorney and staff member in our office and meets all new clients as well as referring attorneys. In addition, he assists the attorneys in the coordination of litigation and the preparation of cases for trial.
Cliff's specialty is negotiation and he is actively involved in the settlement of most cases in our office. Cliff has extensive experience in virtually every type of personal injury case and has settled thousands of cases ranging from several thousand dollars to over one million dollars. Because our firm's reputation is to prepare every case aggressively and expertly, he is able to obtain substantial settlements prior to trial. Negotiating the best possible settlement, as soon as practicable during the litigation process, best serves our clients.
Cliff graduated with honors from the University of Buffalo in 1982 and received a J.D Degree from The John Marshall Law School in 1985. He has practiced plaintiff's personal injury law exclusively since his admission to the New York State Bar. He joined the firm in 1986 and became the managing partner in 1993.
Cliff is a sustaining member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and The Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He is also a member of the New York State Bar Association, The American Bar Association and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Cliff lives in Westchester with his wife Judy, and their children, Sam, Corinna and Roman.
Cliff's specialty is negotiation and he is actively involved in the settlement of most cases in our office. Cliff has extensive experience in virtually every type of personal injury case and has settled thousands of cases ranging from several thousand dollars to over one million dollars. Because our firm's reputation is to prepare every case aggressively and expertly, he is able to obtain substantial settlements prior to trial. Negotiating the best possible settlement, as soon as practicable during the litigation process, best serves our clients.
Cliff graduated with honors from the University of Buffalo in 1982 and received a J.D Degree from The John Marshall Law School in 1985. He has practiced plaintiff's personal injury law exclusively since his admission to the New York State Bar. He joined the firm in 1986 and became the managing partner in 1993.
Cliff is a sustaining member of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and The Association of Trial Lawyers of America. He is also a member of the New York State Bar Association, The American Bar Association and the Million Dollar Advocates Forum.
Cliff lives in Westchester with his wife Judy, and their children, Sam, Corinna and Roman.
License
- Bar Number: 2036911
New York , 1986
Education
- John Marshall Law School, Chicago
JD - Juris Doctor , 1985
Philip Russotti
Phil has tried every type of civil case including medical malpractice, products liability, construction accidents, premises liability, police brutality and automobile cases. He has been recognized by his peers as a Super Lawyer every year since 2007, and is Board Certified as a Civil Trial specialist by the National Board of Trial Advocacy. His $6,125,000 verdict in Hawaii in a medical malpractice case is the largest jury verdict ever in a personal injury trial in that state, and his $6,200,000 verdict in a Putnam County medical malpractice case is the largest verdict ever in that county. He brings his wealth of experience and ability to every client he represents.
In 1973, Phil Russotti graduated from St. John's Law School and was an Assistant District Attorney in New York County under Frank Hogan and Robert Morgenthau until 1980. When he left, he was Chief of a Supreme Court Trial Bureau where he supervised and taught trial advocacy to thirty assistant district attorneys who were responsible for trying some of the most serious crimes in the city. He has been in private practice since then, concentrating on representing individuals injured by negligent conduct.
Phil is on the Board of Directors of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and a member of the New York State Bar Association, and is a sustaining member of the American Association for Justice. He lectures on trial practice, has the highest rating of AV by Martindale Hubbell, is featured in Who's Who in American Law and is recognized by the LexisNexis as a pre-eminent attorney in personal injury litigation.
Phil is responsible for all the trials in our office, oversees all of the trial attorneys and participates in the strategy and preparation of every trial. This approach ensures that each case receives the firm's utmost effort. Every client is entitled to nothing less.
In 1973, Phil Russotti graduated from St. John's Law School and was an Assistant District Attorney in New York County under Frank Hogan and Robert Morgenthau until 1980. When he left, he was Chief of a Supreme Court Trial Bureau where he supervised and taught trial advocacy to thirty assistant district attorneys who were responsible for trying some of the most serious crimes in the city. He has been in private practice since then, concentrating on representing individuals injured by negligent conduct.
Phil is on the Board of Directors of the New York State Trial Lawyers Association and a member of the New York State Bar Association, and is a sustaining member of the American Association for Justice. He lectures on trial practice, has the highest rating of AV by Martindale Hubbell, is featured in Who's Who in American Law and is recognized by the LexisNexis as a pre-eminent attorney in personal injury litigation.
Phil is responsible for all the trials in our office, oversees all of the trial attorneys and participates in the strategy and preparation of every trial. This approach ensures that each case receives the firm's utmost effort. Every client is entitled to nothing less.
License
- Bar Number: 1154855
New York , 1974
Education
- Columbia University
BA - Bachelor of Arts , 1970
- St. John's Law School
JD - Juris Doctor , 1973
- National Board of Trial Advocacy
Board Certified , 1992
Kenneth Halperin
Ken graduated cum laude from the University of Albany in 1989. A 1992 graduate of Brooklyn Law School, Ken is a trial attorney with the firm. He handles a wide variety of cases in the areas of general negligence, automobile liability and construction law.
As a trial attorney, Mr. Halperin is responsible not only for the litigation aspects of the case, but also the day to day management of the cases that he is involved with. His primary goal, and that of the firm, is to work closely with all of our clients on their cases from inception through settlement or trial.
Ken's professional memberships include the New York State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, New York State Trial Lawyers Association, an officer of the Jewish Lawyers Guild, Kings County Judicial Screening Committee (2010), and Association of the Bar of the City of New York where he is a member of the Committee on Judicial Administration, and the Tort Litigation Committee. Ken also does significant pro bono work representing low-income tenants.
As a trial attorney, Mr. Halperin is responsible not only for the litigation aspects of the case, but also the day to day management of the cases that he is involved with. His primary goal, and that of the firm, is to work closely with all of our clients on their cases from inception through settlement or trial.
Ken's professional memberships include the New York State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, New York State Trial Lawyers Association, an officer of the Jewish Lawyers Guild, Kings County Judicial Screening Committee (2010), and Association of the Bar of the City of New York where he is a member of the Committee on Judicial Administration, and the Tort Litigation Committee. Ken also does significant pro bono work representing low-income tenants.
License
- Bar Number: 2549905
New York , 1993
Education
- State University of New York, Albany
BS - Bachelor of Science , 1989
- Brooklyn Law School
JD - Juris Doctor , 1992
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