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Who We Are
About CFO Legal

CFO Legal is an established defense litigation firm located in Uniondale, NY, representing insurance carriers, businesses, municipalities, school districts, property owners, contractors, manufacturers, and other organizations throughout Long Island and the New York Metropolitan Area. Formally known as Congdon, Flaherty & O’Callaghan, the firm handles matters involving municipality and school district defense, motor vehicle accident defense, premises liability, products liability, New York Labor Law and construction site accidents, appellate practice, property damage and construction defects, and property subrogation.

Our attorneys approach every matter with a focus on thorough preparation, strategic case management, responsive communication, and cost-effective representation. From early investigation and claim evaluation through discovery, motion practice, trial, and appeal, CFO Legal works to protect each client’s interests while pursuing practical and favorable resolutions. Our Uniondale defense attorneys bring experience handling complex civil litigation in New York State and Federal courts and remain committed to providing dependable counsel at every stage of the legal process.
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CFO Attorneys

CFO Legal’s attorneys bring extensive experience, strategic insight, and a shared commitment to providing responsive, cost-effective representation. Our team works closely with clients throughout every stage of litigation, combining careful preparation with practical legal guidance focused on protecting their interests and achieving favorable outcomes. Learn more about the attorneys who make up CFO Legal and the experience they bring to each matter.

PARTNERS

John p flaherty portrait v2

John P. Flaherty

Partner
John P. Flaherty is a Senior Partner in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. Mr. Flaherty is a trial attorney focusing on personal injury defense work. He has defended many different types of cases, including medical malpractice, aviation, construction site accidents, products liability, motor vehicle liability claims, premises, civil rights, school and municipal liability issues. He has tried over 100 cases to verdict in both State and Federal Courts.

Mr. Flaherty has lectured on trial techniques and medical issues, for the New York County Lawyer’s Association, Nassau County Bar Association, and the New York State Bar Association.

He has also conducted seminars on trial tactics and strategy in medical malpractice cases, including mock trials, at the New York University Medical School, St. John’s Episcopal Hospital, the Suffolk County Podiatry Association, and the Suffolk County Medical Society. Mr. Flaherty has received Martindale-Hubbell, Inc.’s highest “AV” Rating.
 
Practice Areas
  • General Liability Defense
  • Educational Institution Defense
  • Municipal Defense
  • Motor Vehicle Liability Defense
  • Premises Liability Defense
  • Products Liability Defense
  • Professional Liability
  • Personal Injury
 
Education
  • Fordham Law School
  • Villanova University
  • Columbia University School of Law Masters Program
  • Molloy College School of Nursing
     
Admissions
  • New York State Bar
  • US Supreme Court
  • US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • US District Court for the District of Hawaii
  • US Court of Military Appeals
  • Hawaii State Bar
     
Memberships
  • Association of Trial Lawyers of America
  • Hawaii State Bar Association
  • Nassau County Bar Association
  • Nassau-Suffolk Trial Lawyers Association
  • Suffolk County Bar Association
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William J. Fishlinger

Partner
William J. Fishlinger is the managing partner of the firm and is responsible for its strategic guidance. He has litigated some of the largest and most complex civil cases in the State and Federal Courts, representing foreign and domestic corporations and entities.

Mr. Fishlinger has been recognized by the insurance industry for his accomplishments, receiving some of its most prestigious awards. He is the former Chairman and CEO of The Wright Insurance Group. In 2014, he formed Gramercy Risk Holdings LLC, to among other things, provide program management and financial, operational, and legal resources to both domestic and foreign property and casualty insurance companies. He currently serves as its Chairman and CEO.
 
Practice Areas
  • General Liability Defense
  • Educational Institution Defense
  • Municipal Defense
  • Insurance
  • Coverage Litigation
  • Regulation
  • Professional Liability
  • Board of Directors Liability
  • Board of Trustees Liability
  • School Board Legal Liability
  • Public Officials Liability
  • Personal Injury
 
Education
  • St. John’s University School of Law (J.D. 1987)
  • University of Maryland (B.A. 1971)
     
Admissions
  • New York State Bar
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
     
Memberships
  • American Bar Association
  • Defense Research Institute
  • Nassau County Bar Association
  • New York State Bar Association
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Brenden Gallagher

Partner
Brendan Gallagher is an associate who has been practicing in the defense litigation and insurance coverage fields for over 30 years. He has handled all aspects of litigation from inception to trial in areas of law that range from personal injury and subrogation to complex insurance coverage disputes. Gallagher previously served as General Counsel at the New York Schools Reciprocal where he was responsible for claims and litigation.
 
Practice Areas
  • Insurance
  • Regulatory
  • General Liability Defense
  • NY Labor Law
  • Motor Vehicle Defense
  • Premises Liability Defense
  • Torts
  • Municipal Liability
  • Negligence
 
Education
  • Hofstra University Law School (J.D. 1985)
  • Lehigh University (B.A. 1982)"
     
Admissions
  • New York State Bar
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • US District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • D.C Court of Appeals
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Christine Gasses

Partner
Christine Gasser is the Partner who supervises the firm’s Appellate Practice Group and the Schools/Education Practice Group. She has written and argued more than 200 appeals in the Court of Appeals of the State of New York, the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of the State of New York for the First, Second, Third and Fourth Departments, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Ms. Gasser’s appeals cover the entire range of tort cases, including significant cases in the areas of school district liability, municipal liability, products liability, premises liability, and labor law.

Ms. Gasser also leads the School/Education Practice Group where she currently supervises defense litigation on behalf of more than 75 school districts. She has presented numerous lectures to education groups and school districts on school district liability. In addition, she has served as an instructor in the Charted Property Casualty Underwriter Program.
 
Practice Areas
  • General Liability Defense
  • Educational Institution Defense
  • Municipal Defense
  • Motor Vehicle Liability Defense
  • Premises Liability Defense
  • Toxic Tort Defense
  • Appellate
 
Education
  • St. John’s University School of Law (J.D. 1987)
  • Fordham University (B.S. 1978)
  • Fordham University (B.A. 1974)
     
Admissions
  • New York State Bar
  • US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • US District Court for the Southern District of New York
     
Memberships
  • American Bar Association
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Christopher Halka

Partner
Chris brings over three decades of extensive legal experience to CFO. Previously, Chris successfully managed and resolved complex litigation involving high-value claims across various domains such as general liability, commercial auto and trucking, premises liability, and large property subrogation cases for a large-scale commercial insurer with a particular emphasis on municipal liability and large self-insured retention clients. His responsibilities also included coordinating over 450 cases for the New York City Department of Transportation bus account for a decade, negotiating cases utilizing arbitration, mediation, and trial.

Previously Chris served as staff counsel for two carriers on Long Island and Manhattan, where he handled cases from inception through appeal, including labor law, employment discrimination, insurance coverage, automobile negligence, dental malpractice, and conducted UM/SUM framed issue hearings and obtained trial experience in New York, Kings, and Staten Island counties.

He holds a Juris Doctor degree from Villanova University School of Law and earned his Bachelor of Arts magna cum laude with Phi Beta Kappa honors from Stony Brook University. He is admitted to practice in the State of New York as well as in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. Beyond his litigation and trial work, Chris contributes to the legal and claims communities as a CLE lecturer on municipal and school district liability and has produced training materials on alternative dispute resolution. He is also an active member of the Nassau County Bar Association and the Defense Association of New York, Inc., and engages in pro bono work with Long Island Cares.
 
Practice Areas
  • General Liability Defense
  • Motor Vehicle Liability Defense
  • Premises Liability Defense
  • Products Liability Defense
  • Personal Injury
 
Education
  • Villanova University School of Law (J.D.)
  • Stony Brook University (B.A.), magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
     
Memberships
  • Nassau County Bar Association
  • Defense Association of New York, Inc.
     
Admissions
  • New York State Bar
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
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Jane M. O'Callaghan

Partner
Jane M. O’Callaghan is a partner in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. She focuses her practice in all areas of personal injury defense litigation, including premises liability, motor vehicle liability, products liability, and construction site claims.
 
Practice Areas
  • General Liability Defense
  • Municipal Defense
  • Motor Vehicle Liability Defense
  • Premises Liability Defense
  • Personal Injury
 
Education
  • John’s University (J.D. 1994)
  • Regis College (B.A. 1989)
     
Admissions
  • New York State Bar
  • Connecticut State Bar
  • US District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • Supreme Court of Connecticut
     
Memberships
  • American Bar Association
  • Nassau County Bar Association
  • New York State Bar Association
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Laura Endrizzi

Partner
Laura Endrizzi is a Partner in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. She specializes in the defense of matters involving employment discrimination, municipal liability, automobile liability, premises liability, dram shop liability, and civil rights litigation in State and Federal Courts.
Ms. Endrizzi is also involved in the appellate practice relating to civil litigation, and handles matters before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the Division of Human Rights. She frequently gives presentations on risk management issues to municipal entities.
 
Practice Areas
  • General Liability Defense
  • Educational Institution Defense
  • Municipal Defense
  • Motor Vehicle Liability Defense
  • Premises Liability Defense
 
Education
  • St. John’s University School of Law (J.D. 1987)
  • Fordham University (B.A 1984)
     
Admissions
  • New York State Bar
  • US Supreme Court
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • US District Court for the Southern District of New York
     
Memberships
  • Nassau County Bar Association
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Michael Reagan

Partner
Michael Reagan is a partner who handles a wide range of trial level and appellate matters, including New York State labor law, premises liability, strict products liability, municipal liability, vehicular liability; indemnification, and insurance coverage.

He has argued over 150 appeals before all four appellate departments of New York, the New York Court of Appeals, and the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Mr. Reagan has also written approximately 500 motion briefs, both for and in opposition to summary judgements. Many of his appeals and summary judgment motions have involved Labor Law 240 and 241 claims.
 
Practice Areas
  • General Liability Defense
  • New York State Labor Law
  • Premises Liability
  • Strict Products Liability
  • Municipal Defense
  • Motor Vehicle Liability
  • Insurance Law
  • Indemnification and Insurance coverage
 
Education
  • The State University of New York at Stony Brook
  • Fordham Law School
     
Admissions
  • New York State Bar
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
     
Memberships
  • New York State Bar
  • United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
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Paula Pavlides

Partner
Paula Pavlides is a partner and trial attorney in the firm’s litigation group. She focuses her practice in complex insurance defense, including premises liability, automobile accident claims, labor law cases, and municipal cases where she defends public school districts across New York State in personal injury actions.

Prior to joining CFO, she was an Assistant Attorney General under the Dennis Vacco and Eliot Spitzer administrations. Ms. Pavlides has successfully obtained defense verdicts in her trials.
 
Practice Areas
  • General Liability Defense
  • Educational Institution Defense
  • Municipal Defense
  • Motor Vehicle Liability Defense
  • Premises Liability Defense
  • Professional Liability
  • Legal Malpractice
  • Personal Injury
 
Education
  • St. John’s University School of Law (J.D. 1995)
  • Loyola College in Baltimore, Maryland (B.A.)
     
Admissions
  • New York State Bar
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • US District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • New Jersey State Bar
     
Memberships
  • Queens County Bar Association
  • Queens County Bar Association Board of Managers
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Thomas J. Nemia

Partner
Thomas J. Nemia is a trial attorney in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. He concentrates on personal injury defense litigation on behalf of the firm’s commercial and municipal clients. Mr. Nemia has tried numerous jury and non-jury civil and criminal cases to verdict.

Previously, he was an assistant prosecutor with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office in Jersey City, New Jersey where he specialized in all major violent crimes. He was assigned to the Special Investigations Unit where he prosecuted cases involving insurance fraud, economic crimes, and political corruption. Mr. Nemia attended advocacy training at the prestigious National Advocacy Center, which is operated by the United States Department of Justice.

Following his career as a criminal prosecutor, Mr. Nemia transitioned into the private sector where he defended carrier and insureds’ interests in motor vehicle, first party, third party, broker liability, architect/engineer liability, construction defect, labor law, premises, asbestos/toxic tort, coverage, and personal injury cases.
 
Practice Areas
  • Insurance Law
  • General Liability Defense
  • Municipal Defense
  • Torts
  • Premises Liability
  • Negligence
 
Education
  • Creighton University School of Law (J.D. 1987)
  • New York University (B.A. 1984)
     
Admissions
  • New York State Bar
  • New Jersey Bar
  • Connecticut Bar
  • District of Columbia Bar
     
Memberships
  • Connecticut Bar Association
  • Bar Association of the District of Columbia
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Thomas M. Evans

Partner
Thomas M. Evans is a Partner in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group. He is a trial attorney who focuses on personal injury defense litigation, with a particular emphasis on construction sites, steel erection and mechanics lien litigation. Mr. Evans has tried over 50 cases to verdict, including those involving motor vehicle liability, premises liability, school district liability, libel, slander, and mechanics liens.

Mr. Evans leads the firm’s Subrogation Department. He currently handles several complex product liability suits against major truck manufacturers as well as numerous oil burner fire and explosion cases. He participates in all phases of discovery, and positions cases for trial as expeditiously as possible. He has been responsible for securing multi-million dollar recoveries with many more large damage cases still in litigation.
 
Practice Areas
  • General Liability Defense
  • Educational Institution Defense
  • Motor Vehicle Liability Defense
  • Premises Liability Defense
  • Products Liability Defense
  • Personal Injury
  • General Practice
  • Construction
  • Mechanics Lien
 
Education
  • St. John’s University School of Law (J.D. 1988)
  • St. John’s University (B.A. 1985)
     
Admissions
  • New York State Bar
     
Memberships
  • Nassau County Bar Association
  • New York State Bar Association

ASSOCIATES

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Kathleen D. Foley

Associate
Kathleen D. Foley works primarily in the firm’s appellate department. She has written motions and briefs, and orally argued appeals in all four Departments of New York, as well as in the Federal Second Circuit. Her work focuses on municipal defense for school districts, towns and villages, and also includes labor law claims, dram shop claims, products liability, automobile liability, and premises liability.

Ms. Foley has participated in the preparation of several amicus curie briefs submitted to the Court of Appeals of the State of New York on behalf of the Defense Association of New York.
 
Practice Areas
  • Appellate
 
Education
  • Hofstra University, Zarb School of Business (M.B.A. 2001)
  • St. John’s University (J.D. 1992)
  • Editor – St. John’s Law Review (1991 – 1992)
  • St. Thomas Moore Scholar
  • American Jurisprudence Award for Legal Writing (1992)
  • Hofstra University (B.A. 1985), Phi Beta Kappa
     
Admissions
  • New York State Bar
  • US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
  • US District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • Connecticut State Bar
     
Memberships
  • New York State Bar Association
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Matthew Garber

Associate
Mr. Garber focuses his practice in defending insurance companies and municipal clients in premises liability, negligence and tort actions.

Prior to joining CFO, Mr. Garber was an Assistant District Attorney at the Queens County District Attorney’s Office where he worked in the Animal Cruelty Prosecutions Unit. He is admitted to practice in the State of New York and is a member of the New York State Bar Association.

Mr. Garber graduated from Tulane University in 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Management and majored in Legal Studies in Business. He received his Juris Doctorate Degree from Fordham University School of Law in 2018.

His practice areas include Insurance Defense, Municipal Liability, Torts, Negligence, Premises Liability and Property Damage.
 
Practice Areas
  • Insurance Defense
  • Municipal Liability
  • Torts
  • Negligence
  • Premises Liability
  • Property Damage
 
Education
  • Fordham University (J.D. 2018)
  • Tulane University (B.S. 2014)
     
Memberships
  • New York State Bar Association
     
Admissions
  • New York State Bar
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David Vilaca

Associate
Mr. Vilaça is a litigation associate in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group and admitted to practice law in the State of New York. He focuses his practice on defending insurance companies and municipal clients in premises liability, negligence, and tort actions. Prior to joining CFO, Mr. Vilaça was a Legal Intern at several leading matrimonial law firms and also was an intern with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in their Financial Crimes Bureau. Moreover, Mr. Vilaça has worked for a prominent Hedge Fund that specializes in small-growth companies that are overlooked or misunderstood by the market.

Mr. Vilaça graduated from the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University in 2024. Prior to law school, he graduated from the Hofstra University in 2020 with a Master’s of Science degree in Finance and in 2019 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. In addition, Mr. Vilaça speaks Spanish and Portuguese fluently, which is a tremendous asset for our clients in providing quality litigation services and support.
 
Practice Areas
  • General Liability Defense
  • Motor Vehicle Liability Defense
  • Premises Liability Defense
  • Products Liability Defense
  • Personal Injury
 
Education
  • Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University (J.D. 2024) Hofstra University (M.S. 2020) Hofstra University (B.B.A 2019)
     
Admissions
  • New York State Bar 2025
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Sean Zaremba

Associate
Mr. Zaremba is a litigation associate in the firm’s Litigation Practice Group.   He focuses his practice in all areas of personal injury litigation defending insurance companies and municipal clients, negligence and tort actions.

Mr. Zaremba is admitted to practice in the State of New York and is a member of the New York State and Nassau County Bar Associations.

Mr. Zaremba graduated from Sacred Heart University, with a Bachelor of Science in 2018. Mr. Zaremba received his Juris Doctorate Degree from The Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, Touro Law, in 2022.

His practice Areas include Insurance Defense, Municipal Liability, Torts, Negligence, Premises Liability and Property Damage.
 
Practice Areas
  • Insurance Defense
  • Municipal Liability
  • Torts
  • Negligence
  • Premises Liability
  • Property Damage
 
Education
  • Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center (J.D. 2022)
  • Sacred Heart University (B.S. 2018)
     
Memberships
  • Nassau County Bar Association
  • New York State Bar Association
     
Admissions
  • New York State Bar

F.A.Q.
Frequently Asked Questions
 


What types of clients does CFO Legal represent?
CFO Legal represents insurance carriers, businesses, municipalities, school districts, property owners, contractors, developers, manufacturers, and other organizations involved in civil claims and litigation throughout New York. Our attorneys provide defense counsel tailored to the risks, operational concerns, and objectives of each client.
 

What types of cases does CFO Legal handle?
Our practice includes municipality and school district defense, motor vehicle accident defense, premises liability, products liability, Labor Law and construction site accident claims, appellate matters, property damage and construction defect litigation, and property subrogation. We handle cases ranging from initial investigation and claim evaluation through trial and appeal.
 

Does CFO Legal represent municipalities and school districts?
Yes. CFO Legal represents municipalities, school districts, public agencies, officials, administrators, and employees in a variety of liability claims and civil litigation. These matters may involve premises liability, personal injury claims, governmental operations, construction-related disputes, and other claims affecting public entities.
 

Does your firm handle New York Labor Law and construction accident cases?
Yes. CFO Legal defends property owners, general contractors, subcontractors, developers, and insurers in claims arising from construction site accidents and alleged violations of New York Labor Law. Our attorneys evaluate issues involving site control, contractual obligations, indemnification, insurance coverage, and potential statutory liability.
 

Can CFO Legal handle a case through appeal?
Yes. Our appellate practice includes legal research, appellate briefing, oral argument, complex motions, and post-trial matters. CFO Legal can represent clients seeking to preserve a favorable ruling, challenge an adverse decision, or address significant legal issues arising from civil litigation.
 

When The Stakes Are High
Put a Focused Defense Team Behind Your Next Move.

Turn to CFO Legal in Uniondale, NY for strategic representation focused on protecting your interests, controlling risk, and achieving the best possible result.
Get a Free Consultation Call: (516) 542-5900