Steve is the founding partner and chair of our Personal Injury and Criminal Defense practice. Under his leadership, O'Connell & Aronowitz has become one of the most active personal injury and criminal defense law firms in Upstate New York.
Steve is one of the few lawyers in upstate New York who has excelled in both the personal injury and criminal defense fields. With over thirty-five years of experience at the State and Federal levels, he is considered one of the most successful trial lawyers in these two diverse practice areas. He has been recognized by his peers for his record setting verdicts and settlements and his unique ability to master both personal injury and criminal defense trials. Steve was selected by his peers as a New York Superlawyer in these fields and was featured on the cover of the Superlawyers guide in 2010 for his distinction.
Steve Coffey is known for his fearless approach when confronted with injustice. He has enjoyed powerful courtroom victories and has consistently garnered million dollar verdicts for his clients in cases that are often highly complex and high profile. Most recently, Steve obtained a $43 million dollar verdict for a brain injured woman whose case had been turned down by several attorneys. His second largest brain injury verdict came after representing a child in a highly complex product liability case against a corporate giant. The verdict exceeded $20 million dollars. Steve has obtained verdicts in excess of one million dollars in ten cases and has obtained countless settlements that have exceeded one million dollars.
Steve has enjoyed the same unrelenting success as a criminal defense lawyer. He is widely recognized in the Capital District as one of its premiere criminal defense trial lawyers. Steve has justly earned that reputation through his representation of thousands of clients in both street crime cases (e.g., DWI, assault, sex abuse, murder) and highly complex white collar cases (e.g., Medicaid fraud, embezzlement). He has secured dozens of acquittals.
Steve's knowledge, insight and analytical skill have translated easily from the court room to the media. Local television and radio stations have looked to Stephen as a regular commentator for highly publicized local and national criminal cases. A former Assistant District Attorney for Albany County and Chief Felony Prosecutor, Steve was the youngest Felony Bureau Chief to serve in Albany County. He also served as Special Prosecutor in Fulton and Albany Counties.
Steve has complimented his civil and criminal trial skill with an extensive appellate practice. He has briefed and argued cases in the Appellate Divisions throughout the State of New York, the New York Court of Appeals and the Federal Appellate Courts. He has lectured and written extensively on civil and criminal trial practice.
Steve is an active participant of local and national charitable organizations involving disabled individuals, including the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Living Resources, and The Miracle League.
