Iseman, Cunningham, Riester and Hyde to Merge with Rivkin Radler

Rivkin Radler, one of the Northeast’s leading law firms with three offices and more than 165 attorneys, is merging with the long-time Albany-based law firm of Iseman, Cunningham, Riester and Hyde (ICRH), with offices in Albany and Poughkeepsie, effective July 1, 2017. The firm will be known as Rivkin Radler and will feature one of the Northeast’s largest health care law practices as well as capabilities across a wide spectrum of legal practices.

“We are delighted to welcome the attorneys of Iseman, Cunningham, Riester and Hyde to the Rivkin Radler community.  Their reputation for excellence in health care law, litigation and commercial transactions will greatly complement the services we provide for our clients,” said Evan Krinick, Rivkin Radler’s managing partner.

All current ICRH attorneys and staff in both Albany and Poughkeepsie will be joining Rivkin Radler.

“We look forward to joining forces with Rivkin Radler. The firms share not only an alignment in practices, but also a passion for client service. The merger will enable us to provide a broader spectrum of services for our clients,” said John Queenan, managing partner of Iseman, Cunningham, Riester and Hyde.

Founded in 1991, ICRH is a leading firm in the health care arena and represents many hospitals throughout the state. The firm is well-respected for its representations in complex litigation and large-scale commercial transactions. The firm’s practices include: construction, corporate, creditor’s rights, e-discovery/ data security, health care, insurance, labor and employment, litigation, municipal, nonprofit and real estate.

“The merger will enable us to respond more effectively to the ever-increasing complexity and risk facing both individual and institutional health care providers. We will be able to deliver greater value to our health care clients at a time when they operate under enormous financial pressure. This value will result from providing more specialized legal support for our clients in areas in which day-to-day concentration and involvement produce greater efficiency while, at the same time, offering the resources of experienced partners who are able to manage and oversee the full range of issues presented in a complex transaction or litigated dispute,” said Robert H. Iseman, founding partner of ICRH.

ICRH has sixteen lawyers, all of whom will be joining Rivkin Radler.  They are:

Robert H. Iseman, the founding partner of ICRH, joins Rivkin Radler as a partner. Bob’s practice focuses on Litigation and Health Care.  He has represented both institutional and individual health care providers and health care insurers for more than 40 years. Bob’s clients include several religiously sponsored, multi-hospital health care systems. His experience in representing religiously sponsored health care systems has included substantial involvement concerning the interrelationship between the civil law of New York and other states and the Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church. He has been instrumental in the creation of some of the largest health care systems in the state of New York. Bob also has been engaged in a broad range of complex commercial litigation matters for various clients, including many nationally known corporations.

Carol Hyde, a founding partner of ICRH, joins Rivkin Radler as a partner. Carol practices primarily in the areas of health care law and business transactions. She has counseled a variety of health care-related clients, including hospitals, nursing homes, diagnostic and treatment centers, drug and alcohol treatment centers, hospices, independent practice associations, third-party administrators, and private physicians and practitioners with respect to a full range of issues such as corporate and regulatory compliance, reimbursement, negotiation of contracts, employment and employee benefits, and real estate matters. Carol has substantial experience in the development of health care facilities and their financing. She also represents not-for-profit organizations and closely held businesses outside the health care field.

Richard Frankel, a partner, focuses his practice in the areas of health care, business, commercial and real estate transactions. His clients include hospitals, nursing homes, physicians, lending institutions, affordable housing corporations, contractors, and individuals in matters involving the full range of corporate, regulatory, contract, construction, and real estate matters. Rich has substantial experience in tax-exempt financing for health care facility projects, mortgage and asset-based financing, and acquisition structuring and financing. He also practices in the fields of charitable giving and estate planning.

James Lagios, a partner, maintains a general practice of law with emphasis in commercial litigation, professional liability, business transactions, and bankruptcy related matters, including  debtor/creditor rights. Jim represents corporate clients in complex commercial transactions, some of which have involved significant regulatory issues in the health care industry. He also serves as local counsel to insurance carriers participating in the national flood insurance program.

Karen Sosler, a partner, practices primarily in the areas of health care and labor and employment law. She has counseled a wide variety of health care clients, including hospitals, hospices, adult homes, nursing homes, assisted living residents, health maintenance organizations, private physicians and practitioners, and regional health information organizations. Karen served as chair of ICRH’s Health Care Practice Group and has extensive experience handling regulatory, corporate, transactional, contract, employment, employee benefits, corporate compliance, tax exemption, certificate of need, information technology, privacy and confidentiality, and electronic medical records issues.

John Queenan, a partner, served as managing partner at ICRH where he led the firm’s Litigation Practice Group with a focus on health care and commercial litigation. He has handled a wide array of matters, including compliance and government investigations, Title VII claims involving termination of physician practice privileges and other health care related matters. John’s representations involving commercial and construction related matters have included business and construction disputes, LLC operating agreement disputes/freeze out merger litigation, product liability, professional liability, design defects, CERCLA and other defense-side matters. John appears before state and federal trial courts, appellate courts, administrative agencies (disciplinary, licensing and audit matters) and participates in internal hearings and alternate dispute resolution processes throughout the state of New York.

Richard Mitchell, a partner, concentrates his practice in the areas of banking, bankruptcy, workouts and commercial litigation, as well as health care, corporate and transactional matters. His banking practice includes representation of major banks and corporations as lenders, both secured and unsecured, in Chapter 7, 11 and 13 cases throughout New York. He has handled bankruptcies in such diverse fields as construction, health care and retail. Rick’s health care practice includes representation of physicians with respect to practice formation, choice of entity, governance, employment agreements, and regulatory compliance. He has negotiated exclusive contracts, recruiting agreements, and other contracts with hospitals, and has represented health care clients in mergers and acquisitions.

Brian Culnan, a partner, led ICRH’s Labor and Employment practice group. His practice focuses primarily on complex commercial litigation and labor and employment disputes. Brian has substantial experience litigating a wide range of labor and employment-related issues, including employment discrimination (Title VII, age and disability), enforcement of covenants not to compete and protection of proprietary business information, and ERISA and other matters related to employee benefits. Brian’s representation of business clients has involved a range of diverse issues, including health care law and credentialing issues, managed care liability, commercial real estate disputes, the New York Lemon Law (representing several motor home manufacturers), and the New York Freedom of Information Law.

Marc Antonucci, a partner, practices primarily in litigation and health care. His cases have arisen from environmental pollution, toxic torts, highway design, directors and officers liability, catastrophic events, structural failures, management of self-insured trusts, and insurance coverage disputes, as well as business transactions and governmental enforcement activity.  Marc represents health care systems, hospitals and nursing homes on matters ranging from risk management and compliance with state and federal health care laws to guardianships and mental health proceedings.

Michael Cunningham, a founding partner of ICRH, joins Rivkin Radler as of counsel. Mike concentrates his practice in the defense of commercial and personal injury litigation. He has represented construction firms, design professionals, hospitals, insurance carriers, law firms, manufacturers, health maintenance organizations, nursing homes, retailers, trade associations and shareholders. He is experienced in both the prosecution and defense of suits involving product design, professional malpractice, environmental pollution (CERCLA), pharmaceuticals, industrial safety, motor vehicle crashes, and fires. His cases have arisen from construction delays, environmental pollution, explosions, floods, industrial accidents, structural failures, and other catastrophic events, as well as business transactions and governmental enforcement activity.

Stacey Goldstein, counsel, practices in the areas of business and corporate transactions, real estate transactions, municipal law and commercial lending. She has counseled developers, not-for-profit corporations and equity investors, with respect to corporate, regulatory, contract and real estate matters. She also has experience in the tax-exempt financing of affordable housing projects and mortgage and asset-based financing for both for-profit and not-for-profit entities. Stacey has served as town attorney for the Town of Pittstown, New York, since 2012.  As such, she represents and advises the town board on matters pertaining to real estate, title, municipal law and municipal finance.

Daniel Bernstein, an associate, focuses his practice on litigation, health care, and labor and employment law. He represents clients in litigation involving breach of contract, tort, and employment-related actions. Dan counsels clients on a wide range of corporate matters including corporate governance and compliance, due diligence, Medicare and Medicaid audits, tax-exempt bond financing, pension benefits and severance agreements, federal and state wage and hour matters, federal and state Fair Credit Reporting Acts, and employee handbook drafting and review. Dan also represents medical students and graduates in residency and licensure matters. This includes a full range of counseling and assistance with matters involving the National Residency Match Program (“NRMP”) and the post-residency licensing process.

Penny Hahn, an associate, practices in the areas of litigation and health care. She represents and counsels individuals and businesses on various legal issues, including business/commercial disputes, health care and insurance. She has appeared before state and federal trial courts and arbitration forums, and conducted examinations under oath in the defense and prosecution of insurance claims. Penny has represented banks and corporations as lenders, both secured and unsecured, in Chapter 7, 11, and 13 bankruptcy cases.

Frank Izzo, an associate, practices in the areas of commercial litigation; condominium law; health care; bankruptcy; corporate; labor and employment law; construction law and insurance litigation involving fraud, coverage issues, breach of contract, subrogation and negligence. Frank also serves as special litigation counsel for towns and villages, prosecuting vehicle and traffic violations as well as dangerous dog hearings pursuant to § 123 of the Agricultural and Markets Law. He has prosecuted zoning and building code violations on behalf of municipalities.

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