Albany DWI Attorneys
Peter Gerstenzang
Peter Gerstenzang is the senior partner in the Albany law firm of Gerstenzang, O’Hern, Hickey, Sills & Gerstenzang. He is a 1970 graduate of Albany Law School. He is one of only three lawyers in New York State who have been Board Certified as specialists in DUI Defense Law by the National College for DUI Defense (“NCDD”). The NCDD is the only organization accredited by the American Bar Association to certify attorneys as specialists in DUI law.* His practice focuses on Criminal Defense with an emphasis on DWI cases and Vehicular Crimes. In addition, Mr. Gerstenzang is listed as a top DWI attorney in the following publications: The Best Lawyers in America®, The New York Area’s Best Lawyers®, and New York Super Lawyers® Upstate Edition. He is listed as one of the “Top 25 Hudson Valley Super Lawyers 2010″ regardless of category.
Mr. Gerstenzang commenced his legal career as a prosecutor for the United States Army in the Republic of Vietnam. From 1972 to 1975, he was an Assistant District Attorney for the County of Albany. Certified as a breath test operator, he taught at the New York State Police Academy in their Breath Test Training Program for 12 years. Mr. Gerstenzang currently serves on the Board of Regents as the Assistant Dean of the National College for DUI Defense, which holds an annual seminar in Cambridge, Massachusetts on the campus of Harvard Law School. He is the Chair of the Traffic Safety Committee of the Criminal Justice Section of the New York State Bar Association. His book, Handling the DWI Case in New York, published annually by Thomson/West, is considered a standard reference for the defense of Driving While Intoxicated cases.
Mr. Gerstenzang is a regular lecturer for the New York State Bar Association (Chair, Big Apple XIII Program held in New York City, in May of 2012, and Chair, Representing a DWI Defendant in New York from Arraignment to Disposition, September – October, 2010); National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers/ National College for DUI Defense (Annual DUI Seminar, Las Vegas, Nevada, October 2010); the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers; the New York State Office of Court Administration (Judge’s Training Programs; City and District Court Clerks Association, Ignition Interlock Device Program, October 2010); New York State Defenders Association, Albany County Bar Association, and the New York State Magistrates Association. In addition, he teaches for various law enforcement, defense and judicial associations.
Eric H. Sills
Eric H. Sills is a criminal defense attorney in Albany, New York, whose practice focuses on DWI defense. He is a partner in the law firm of Gerstenzang, O’Hern, Hickey, Sills & Gerstenzang and, together with Peter Gerstenzang, is the co-author of the book Handling the DWI Case in New York. He is also the co-author of two articles published in the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ (“NACDL’s”) magazine The Champion, as well as the author of, among other things, a two-part article published in the New York State Defenders Association’s Public Defense Backup Center Report, a two-part article published in Fiandach’s New York DWI Bulletin, and various materials used by the New York State Office of Court Administration Judicial Training Program (i.e., “Judge’s School”).
Eric is one of only three lawyers in New York State who have been Board Certified as specialists in DUI Defense Law by the National College for DUI Defense (“NCDD”). The NCDD is the only organization accredited by the American Bar Association to certify attorneys as specialists in DUI law.*
Eric is currently the New York State Delegate to the NCDD. He is also a member of NACDL’s DUI Committee, and is listed as a top DWI attorney in the following publications: The Best Lawyers in America®, The New York Area’s Best Lawyers®, and New York Super Lawyers® Upstate Edition. In fact, Eric is listed as one of the “Top 25 Hudson Valley Super Lawyers 2010″ regardless of category.
Eric routinely lectures on DWI topics throughout New York State. He is also a member of the Committee on Character and Fitness for the Third Judicial District. Eric is a 1992 graduate of Boston College Law School, where he served as a Production Editor on the Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review.
Karen Gerstenzang
Karen Gerstenzang is a partner in the law firm of Gerstenzang, O’Hern, Hickey, Sills & Gerstenzang. Ms. Gerstenzang graduated from Albany Law School in 1980. Initially practicing primarily in the area of Family Law, she took an extended leave of absence in order to raise four children. Having returned to the practice of law, she now focuses on Criminal Defense with an emphasis on DWI cases. She is a member of the National College for DUI Defense.
Peter J. Hickey
Peter J. Hickey is a partner in the Albany law firm of Gerstenzang, O’Hern, Hickey, Sills & Gerstenzang. He received his Bachelor’s Degree, cum laude, in 1987 from the University of Maryland where he was also elected a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He is a 1990 cum laude graduate of Albany Law School.
Since joining the firm in 1990, Mr. Hickey has concentrated his practice in the area of civil litigation, including such areas as personal injury litigation, matrimonial practice and child custody and support. He has handled contested matters through all phases of the litigation process, including numerous jury trials and child custody hearings. Mr. Hickey has also achieved numerous negotiated settlements with insurance carriers, both before and during trial, some of which have resulted in seven figure recoveries.
James C. Davis
James C. Davis is a senior associate in the law firm of Gerstenzang, O’Hern, Hickey, Sills & Gerstenzang. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from The Claremont Colleges in 1992. He is a 2002 graduate of Albany Law School. Previously, Mr. Davis served as a Major in the United States Marine Corps. Mr. Davis has extensive experience in handling a wide variety of criminal cases. He is a member of the National College for DUI Defense and for the last several years, his practice has focused on the defense of DWI cases.
Jonathan D. Cohn
Jonathan D. Cohn is an associate in the law firm of Gerstenzang, O’Hern, Hickey, Sills & Gerstenzang. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Lafayette College, where he graduated with honors. He is a 2008 cum laude graduate of Albany Law School, where he was selected as a member of the Government and Law Journal. Mr. Cohn was one of a select group to be published as a member of the journal. Mr. Cohn is also a member of the National College for DUI Defense (“NCDD”). Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Cohn was a former Assistant District Attorney in the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office, who handled all aspects of criminal law. He also gained a thorough understanding of the Criminal Procedure Law and Penal Law as a Law Clerk to Honorable Karen A. Drago, Schenectady County Court Judge.
Since joining the firm, Mr. Cohn has focused his practice on criminal defense – with an emphasis on alcohol related offenses.
Joseph Gerstenzang
Joseph Gerstenzang is an associate at the law firm of Gerstenzang, O’Hern, Hickey, Sills & Gerstenzang. He received his Bachelor’s Degree from Boston University. He is a 2011 magna cum laude graduate of Albany Law School, where he served as a Senior Editor of the Albany Law Review. During Law School, Joseph interned at the District Attorney’s Offices in Rensselaer, Albany and Schenectady counties.
Since joining the firm, Joseph’s practice has focused on the defense of driving while intoxicated cases.
Author of Handling the DWI Case in New York
Considered a standard reference for the defense of Driving While Intoxicated cases. (Published by Thomson/West)
