The Law Offices of Thomas F. Liotti is a general practice firm with a concentration in criminal and civil litigation, trials and appeals, in both state and federal courts. The fields of practice include Criminal Law defense; Civil Rights; Matrimonial and Family Court Law; Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) defense; Discrimination; Personal Injury; Employment Law; Legal and Medical Malpractice and Commercial litigation, particularly in the field of real estate. The firm also handles transactional work in the fields of real estate, wills and trusts and estates, including estate litigation.

The Law Offices of Thomas F. Liotti does not charge an initial consultation fee. It undertakes some cases on a contingency fee, which is a fee based upon a percentage of the net recovery, if any. The firm does not make any representations or guarantees of any kind as to the successful outcome or completion of its cases. Except with referring attorneys, the firm does not engage in initial consultations on the phone.

In all cases other than personal injury cases, it generally charges a minimum retainer fee against which hourly rates are applied. The minimum retainer fee is not a non-refundable fee. It is based upon an estimate as to the work required for a portion of the case, usually some of the work leading up to a trial. Trial fees are quoted separately.

The firm also engages in extensive pro bono public work where important public policy and constitutional issues are raised or challenged.

The firm prides itself on developing creative and at times bold solutions to both simple and complex legal problems. It also considers itself to be practitioners of a lost art - trial techniques. The firm is widely known for its devotion to clients and a hard work ethic.

The firm believes, where financially possible, in using a team approach to litigation in order to achieve the best possible results. This often means providing the best legal talent for cases including trial lawyers, experts, juror consultants and an investigator. Crime or accident scene investigations are an important part of the firm’s work. Equally important is developing a case strategy and in some cases a budget for cases that meet the clients’ needs. Case preparation and preparing for a potential trial begins as soon as the firm is retained.

Overall, the firm considers itself to be a public service, consumer oriented firm that strives to use legal skill and expertise to change the law in order to improve society as a whole. The firm generally represents plaintiffs on the civil law side of its practice and defendants on the criminal law side. The firm believes in very strong and zealous advocacy within the bounds of the law and the Canons of Ethics. It never promotes litigation for its own sake or to harass opponents and their clients. The firm does not engage in bad faith or frivolous litigation. All cases must have valid strategic or public policy objectives. Wherever possible, the firm attempts to settle or resolve cases if it is in the clients’ best interests to do so and where the client agrees that that is the case. The firm endeavors to treat all adversaries, litigants, court personnel and judges with the utmost respect and professional courtesy.

The firm receives referrals from attorneys and other professionals from throughout the United States. At all times the firm strives to settle cases if it is in the clients’ best interests to do so. In criminal law the first objective is to mitigate damage to the client. This may mean trying to keep the client from having a criminal conviction, keeping him or her out of jail, at work or perhaps in a drug or alcohol treatment program. Mr. Liotti and his Associates have tried well over 200 cases in state and federal courts. They are in court every day in a variety of jurisdictions, mostly in the downstate New York metropolitan area. Judges and adversaries know that when it has to, the firm will try cases to conclusion. It is this perception of the firm among adversaries, judges and clients that enables the firm to often secure the most favorable plea bargains or dispositions for its clients. Mr. Liotti and his Associates have developed a well deserved reputation among professionals and layperson's of not being afraid to try all types of cases, in any forum, against any and all adversaries. This firm is committed to doing whatever it must do to legally meet its objectives. Its first, foremost and only duty is to represent the best interests of its clients. The firm has no hidden agenda and will never compromise the interests of a client for the personal gain of the law firm or the lawyers or employees working within it. When necessary and appropriate, the firm has repeatedly shown its courage in standing up to adversaries and even judges.

The firm is keenly aware of its obligations in defending its clients, but also in being vigorous or on the offensive when it comes to defending or prosecuting claims. This may involve, for example, extensive pendente lite applications, discovery or other pre-trial motions. The firm is noted for the quality of its paperwork and legal writing as well as the thoroughness of its work. The firm philosophy is that this profession is a reading, writing and speaking business. The lawyers in the firm whether it be in practice, teaching, writing or attending CLE, endeavor to perfect their craft of preparing for trial and trying cases to the highest degree humanly possible. The firm has a staff all geared to skillfully and successfully handling professional cases. In over 30 years of practice the firm has represented up to 6-10,000 clients.

In all, its years in practice, its dedication to and love of the law, its numerous high profile cases and clients and the controversies it has endured, have enabled the firm to be among the most highly respected and even feared advocates for clients. While the firm does not encourage these connotations or attempt to posture to impress its clients, it also recognizes that its track record and known advocacy skills enable it to negotiate and bring cases through a mine field or byzantine labyrinth of justice to successful conclusions.

In highly charged cases such as matrimonials, the firm endeavors to temper that emotional atmosphere. Nevertheless, it never loses sight of the fact that many cases are driven by emotional factors, financial considerations and other principles that are important to clients or the legal process. Where consistent with the needs and objectives of clients, the firm seeks to conclude matters in the shortest amount of time possible. The firm is acutely aware of the costs of litigation and therefore seeks to reach fair resolutions of its cases as soon as feasible.