Attorneys Rachel C. Baranello, Christopher H. Feldman, Allison B. Fiut, Francis L. Gorman, III, Melanie C. Marotto, Omar Nasar and Danielle M. Rizzo have been elected partners of the Harris Beach PLLC law firm effective Jan. 1, 2019.
Rachel Baranello counsels Industrial Development Agencies and Local Development Corporations across New York state in a range of transactions, including straight-lease, tax-exempt and taxable bond financings, as well as in PILOT Increment Financings and other real estate transactions. Rachel received her JD, magna cum laude, from the Syracuse University College of Law in 2011. She earned her BA, cum laude, from Nazareth College in 2008.
Christopher Feldman provides full-service representation to municipal and commercial clients throughout New York state. Chris has litigated on behalf of numerous municipalities, school districts and commercial clients, handling matters in federal and state courts ranging from Constitutional civil rights issues to complex partnership disputes. Chris received his JD from the Pace University School of Law in 2007 and his BA from LaSalle University in 2003.
Allison Fiut is a civil litigator who focuses her practice on resolving a range of commercial disputes in New York state and federal courts and through alternative dispute resolution. She also has significant appellate litigation experience in state and federal appellate courts. Allison earned her JD, magna cum laude, from the Syracuse University College of Law in 2011 and her BA from Boston University in 2008.
Francis Gorman, III (FL) is co-leader of the Harris Beach Real Estate Developers Industry Team and represents national, regional and local real estate developers and property owners. He is recognized statewide as a seasoned commercial real estate attorney and his experience spans numerous asset classes. FL received his JD from the Syracuse University College of Law in 1987 and his BA from Georgetown University in 1983.
Melanie C. Marotto focuses her practice on commercial real estate transactions with extensive experience representing purchasers, sellers, and lenders. In her counsel of developers, she drafts and negotiates easements, license and lease agreements, assists companies in due diligence matters and prepares contracts for the lease, purchase and sale of commercial real estate. She also represents lenders in the financing of commercial real estate projects. She earned her JD from the University of Buffalo School of Law in 1992 and her BA from Canisius College in 1988.
Omar Nasar is a trial attorney who represents clients nationally in a host of commercial and tort litigation matters, including chemical exposure to benzene. He also focuses on the defense of construction site accidents arising under New York Labor Law. Omar previously served as a Senior Counsel and Trial Attorney in the Tort Division of the New York City Law Department and represented the City of New York on a range of trial and appellate matters. He earned his JD from the Pace University School of Law in 2007 and his BA from Hunter College in 2002.
Danielle Rizzo focuses on U.S. immigration and nationality law and on employment-based immigration. She represents U.S. companies and their foreign national workforce in navigating the processes for visa and permanent residency applications. Danielle is a member and immediate past chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Association’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection National Liaison Committee. She received her JD from the University of Buffalo School of Law in 2006 and her BA, summa cum laude, from Houghton College in 1997.
About Harris Beach
Founded in 1856, Harris Beach and its subsidiaries provide a full range of legal and professional services for clients across New York state, as well as nationally and internationally. Harris Beach is among the country’s top law firms according to The National Law Journal and ranks as a BTI Elite law firm based on in-depth interviews of more than 600 corporate counsel at the world’s largest and most influential companies. Clients include Fortune 100 corporations, privately-held companies, emerging businesses, public sector entities, not-for-profit organizations and individuals. Principal industries Harris Beach represents include education, energy, financial, food and beverage, health care, insurance, manufacturing, medical and life sciences, real estate developers, science and technology, veterinary medicine, and state and local governments and authorities. The firm’s more than 220 lawyers practice among offices throughout New York state in Albany, Buffalo, Ithaca, Melville, New York City, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, Syracuse, Uniondale and White Plains, as well as in New Haven, Connecticut and Newark, New Jersey.
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