Jacqueline (Mecchella) Bushwack is a partner in Rivkin Radler’s Complex Torts & Product Liability and General Liability Practice Groups, where she defends property owners, universities, construction management companies, construction contractors, convenience store chains, hospitals, physicians, adult care facilities and others in suits alleging premises liability, violations of New York State Labor Law, product liability, medical and dental malpractice, nursing home negligence and toxic exposures (including asbestos and lead paint).

As a member of the firm’s Strategic Alternative Defense Team, Jacqueline works with lawyers in the firm’s Insurance Fraud group in using novel strategies and critical analysis to defend a case. Leaving no stone unturned, she is adept at finding evidence that leads to favorable client outcomes.

While at Albany Law School, Jacqueline served as lead articles editor for the Albany Law School Journal of Science and Technology and interned for the Hon. Lawrence E. Kahn of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York. From 2007 to 2010, she served as the recent graduate trustee on the board of trustees at Albany Law School.

A college athlete, Jacqueline still enjoys athletic competition and participates in the firm’s softball and volleyball teams.

Court Admissions

U.S. District Courts for the Southern, Eastern, Northern and Western Districts of New York

U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit

Bar Affiliations

American Bar Association

Education

Albany Law School of Union University, J.D.

Syracuse University, B.A., with honors in Political Philosophy, Communications & Rhetorical Studies, magna cum laude

News & Publications

• 56 Rivkin Radler Attorneys Named 2024 New York Metro Super Lawyers®/Rising Stars
  October 24 | 2024
• 53 Rivkin Radler Attorneys Named 2023 New York Metro Super Lawyers®/Rising Stars
  September 22 | 2023
• Rivkin Radler Attorneys Named 2022 New York Metro Super Lawyers®/Rising Stars
  September 22 | 2022

Jacqueline is a member attorney of the USLAW Network, Inc., where she serves as the chair of the Retail and Hospitality Law Section. In collaboration with other USLAW member firms, Jacqueline assisted in updating the USLAW Compendium of Law on Construction, specifically concerning Labor Law sections 200, 240, and 241. (Click to view the compendium.) She also contributed to USLAW’s National Compendium of Law for the State of New York, which presents information on a variety of procedural and litigation-oriented issues. (To view the National Compendium, Click .)

Active in the American Bar Association, Jacqueline is a member of the Work/Life Management Sub-Committee of the Section of Litigation’s Woman Advocate Committee. She was a co-chair of this committee from 2014 to 2020 and during her tenure, was instrumental in bringing the book, Her Story: Lessons in Success from Lawyers Who Live It, to publication in 2017. While a member of that committee, she assisted in editing the next book project, Her Story: The Resilient Woman Lawyer’s Guide to Conquering Obstacles, which was published in 2024.

Prior volunteer experience includes serving on the Board of Directors of the North Shore Child and Family Guidance Center, serving a two-year term on the Nominating Committee for the Girl Scouts of Nassau County and organizing food drives and toy drives for various organizations on Long Island. Currently, she volunteers her time coaching youth volleyball and basketball.

Jacqueline has been recognized as a Super Lawyer in the field of civil litigation: defense from 2019 to 2024 and as a Rising Star in the Metropolitan New York area for 2017 and 2018. She was named to Crain’s New York Business’ Notable Women in Law list in 2019 and was also selected as one of Long Island’s 50 Most Influential Women by Long Island Business News for 2014 and 2017.