Welcome to SRM.com

DENNIS L. STEIN concentrates in complex tax matters and estate planning. Mr. Stein is a magna cum laude graduate of the George Washington University School of Law (1980) and earned his LLM degree in taxation from New York University (1981). Mr. Stein has particular expertise in the representation of clients in the securities industry, legal and accounting professions. Mr. Stein's thorough knowledge of tax, business and bankruptcy law, together with the firm's strong litigation expertise, often results in achieving extraordinary resolutions. Mr. Stein also often acts as a tax and business expert in complex matrimonial litigation. Mr. Stein has been appointed and serves a member of the Business Advisory Council for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), consulting on tax issues and various legislative proposals, and was the recipient of the NRCC’s Republican of the Year Award for 2001.

GERARD A. RISO concentrates in complex commercial and crimnal litigtion. A magna cum laude graduate of the Pace University School of Law (1982), Mr. Riso is a former New York County Assistant District Attorney. Mr. Riso has extensive trial experience, and has been involved in many complex criminal and civil trials. Mr. Riso has extensive experience in representing clients in international commercial disputes. Mr. Riso has won the dismissal and acquittal of various clients in many significant criminal cases. Mr. Riso's training and ability enables him to access and utilize the essential issues and nuances of individual cases, and thereby achieve practical and global solutions to complex problems. In addition to his admission to the New York State Courts, Mr. Riso is admitted to the United States Supreme Court; the United States Court of Appeals for the Second, Third and Tenth Circuits; United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern District of New York; the United States District Court for the District of Colorado; the US Court of Claims; and the US Tax Court. Mr. Riso is also a member of the Association of Independent Private Sector Inspectors. Mr. Riso enjoys an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

ALLAN D. MANTEL is a pre-eminent matrimonial and business attorney, with more than 30 years of extensive trial and appellate experience. Mr. Mantel represents many of New York’s most prominent and high net worth clients in their divorce, custody and estate matters. While renowned as a skilled and accomplished litigator, with numerous ground breaking reported cases, Mr. Mantel’s exceptional reputation and his adroit negotiation skills, enable his clients to reach favorable settlements often without resorting to litigation. Mr. Mantel takes seriously and respects his prominent client’s desire and need for the utmost discretion and privacy. Often and based on the bond of trust created with his clients, Mr. Mantel is requested to continue to serve as a trusted adviser and fiduciary of many of his client’s family and business enterprises. Mr. Mantel is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and was elected the President of its New York Chapter (2006-2008). He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and through peer evaluation, Mr. Mantel has been selected as a premier matrimonial attorney by the New York City “Super Lawyers” Link The Best Lawyers in America Link and The New York City “Ten Leaders” Link Mr. Mantel received his law degree from the SUNY/ Buffalo Law School (1976) and serves on his law school’s Dean's Advisory Council. Mr. Mantel enjoys an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell.

IVAN W. DREYER has represented U.S. and foreign clients, both private and publicly-held, in a wide range of corporate and commercial transactions for more than 25 years. He has extensive experience working with businesses in their early and middle stages of growth and development, both in putting their ownership structures together and in advising them on their capital raising, expansion and commercial activities. He has also guided many closely-held and family-held businesses in structuring buyout arrangements among the owners. He has also represented many overseas companies in establishing business operations in the United States. His corporate expertise includes corporate finance, secured and unsecured lending, venture capital, securities, mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations, joint-venture, cross-border transactions and not-for-profit entities. On the commercial side, Mr. Dreyer provides guidance to companies on their manufacturing, supply, sale, leasing, licensing, distribution and marketing of their products and services. Prior to joining Stein Riso Mantel, LLP, Mr. Dreyer was a partner of the law firms of Jenkens and Gilchrist Parker Chapin LLP and Baer Marks & Upham LLP. Mr. Dreyer was a member of the Law Review of Hofstra University School of Law, where he obtained a Juris Doctor degree and also holds Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.

KEVIN M. MCDONOUGH concentrates in Matrimonial and Family law. He received his law degree from Fordham University (1995) and his undergraduate degree from Yale University (1992). Mr. McDonough is admitted to the New York Bar, and is a member of the New York County Lawyers’ Association (Matrimonial Law Committee) and the Westchester County Bar Association (Family Law Section).

OUR COUNSEL

MARK I. CHINITZ concentrates in Creditors’ Rights, Bankruptcy and Business Reorganization, and Commercial And General Litigation. A graduate of Hofstra University's School of Laws accelerated two year program (1980), he was the law secretary to the Honorable Raymond W. Young of the New Jersey Superior Court, and is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Virginia (1978) and attended University College London. Mr. Chinitz practiced with the law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges in their Business Reorganization Department, where he worked on a number of substantial chapter 11 bankruptcies, including Texaco and Continental Airlines, was one of the two attorneys who represented the Government of Argentina in its world-wide debt restructuring and new credits involving approximately $60 billion held by 850 banks, and worked on many non-bankruptcy restructurings including the $450 million Alabama River Pulp Mill reorganization, representing a six insurance company group led by The Prudential Life Insurance Company. He is Legal counsel for the New York State Amateur Hockey Association, Inc., the governing body of Amateur Hockey for N.Y. State under USA Hockey, and has chaired and lectured on bankruptcy for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) classes, and has addressed various civic organizations. In addition to his admission to the New York and New Jersey State courts, Mr. Chinitz is admitted to the Federal Bars of the Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of New York, the District of New Jersey, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

DAVID H. SCULNICK is an AV rated attorney with more than 30 years of trial and appellate experience. For 28 years he was with a prominent NYC defense firm where, as an equity partner, he was in charge of the general liability, insurance, and products liability practice groups. He contemporaneously served as the head of his prior firm’s appellate practice group and has written and argued over 100 cases in both the State and Federal appellate courts. Mr. Sculnick is a 1973 graduate of New York Law School, where he was a member of the Law Review’s Board of Editors. Mr. Sculnick lectures extensively at advanced seminars sponsored by bar associations and has moderated programs for the NYC Bar Association. He is an active member of the New York City Bar Association, sitting on the Committee on the State Court of Superior Jurisdiction, and has been a member of the NYCLA chapter of the American Inns of Court since its inception in New York City.

MICHELLE FRANK holds three postgraduate degrees from Fordham University: a Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting, a Masters of Science degree in Taxation, and a Juris Doctor. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Brandeis University. She is admitted to practice in the states of New York and Connecticut. Michelle Frank, is a Tax Attorney and Certified Public Accountant. Her expertise covers a broad range of complex tax area with emphasis on estate planning, IRS and New York State Collection proceedings and tax compliance for trust, estates, individuals, S corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies and not for profit entities, as well as surrogate's court practice and procedure. She is admitted to the New York State and Westchester Bar Association.

OUR ASSOCIATES

EDWARD R. MINSON concentrates in Creditors’ Rights, Bankruptcy and General Litigation. He has represented corporations, trustees and individuals in various bankruptcy proceedings and has experience in general litigation matters. Mr. Minson received an LL.M. in Bankruptcy (2007) and a J.D. (2002) from St. John’s University School of Law. As a student, Mr. Minson received the CALI Award in Bankruptcy Ethics, Fraud and Malpractice, served as a Senior Staff Member on The New York Litigator and interned for the Honorable Arthur J. Gonzalez in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. He also earned a B.A. in English (1999) from the College of the Holy Cross. Mr. Minson is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and the New York State Bar Association. In addition to his admission to the New York State courts, Mr. Minson is admitted to the Federal Bars of the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.

RICHARD B. POLNER concentrates in commercial and general civil litigation. Mr. Polner is a graduate of the Brooklyn Law School (1998) and Binghamton University (1991). He has extensive experience in handling litigation matters from inception through trial, and has been involved in many complex civil matters involving claims of catastrophic loss. Mr. Polner also has a significant appellate background. In addition to his admission to the New York State Courts, Mr. Polner is admitted to the United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern District of New York. Mr. Polner has performed substantial legal research and contributed to articles and presentations regarding mold litigation and the applicable Statutes of limitations and evidentiary issues; cellular phone litigation; reactive airway distress syndrome; exterior insulation finishing system (EIFS) litigation, and wrongful death and pecuniary loss claims. Mr. Polner has also contributed to amicus curiae briefs submitted to the New York State Court of Appeals on behalf of the Defense Association of New York.

OUR PARTNERS		Print version
DENNIS L. STEIN concentrates in complex tax matters and estate planning. Mr. Stein is a magna cum laude graduate of the George Washington University School of Law (1980) and earned his LLM degree in taxation from New York University (1981). Mr. Stein has particular expertise in the representation of clients in the securities industry, legal and accounting professions. Mr. Stein's thorough knowledge of tax, business and bankruptcy law, together with the firm's strong litigation expertise, often results in achieving extraordinary resolutions. Mr. Stein also often acts as a tax and business expert in complex matrimonial litigation. Mr. Stein has been appointed and serves a member of the Business Advisory Council for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), consulting on tax issues and various legislative proposals, and was the recipient of the NRCC’s Republican of the Year Award for 2001. GERARD A. RISO concentrates in complex commercial and crimnal litigtion. A magna cum laude graduate of the Pace University School of Law (1982), Mr. Riso is a former New York County Assistant District Attorney. Mr. Riso has extensive trial experience, and has been involved in many complex criminal and civil trials. Mr. Riso has extensive experience in representing clients in international commercial disputes. Mr. Riso has won the dismissal and acquittal of various clients in many significant criminal cases. Mr. Riso's training and ability enables him to access and utilize the essential issues and nuances of individual cases, and thereby achieve practical and global solutions to complex problems. In addition to his admission to the New York State Courts, Mr. Riso is admitted to the United States Supreme Court; the United States Court of Appeals for the Second, Third and Tenth Circuits; United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern District of New York; the United States District Court for the District of Colorado; the US Court of Claims; and the US Tax Court. Mr. Riso is also a member of the Association of Independent Private Sector Inspectors. Mr. Riso enjoys an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. ALLAN D. MANTEL is a pre-eminent matrimonial and business attorney, with more than 30 years of extensive trial and appellate experience. Mr. Mantel represents many of New York’s most prominent and high net worth clients in their divorce, custody and estate matters. While renowned as a skilled and accomplished litigator, with numerous ground breaking reported cases, Mr. Mantel’s exceptional reputation and his adroit negotiation skills, enable his clients to reach favorable settlements often without resorting to litigation. Mr. Mantel takes seriously and respects his prominent client’s desire and need for the utmost discretion and privacy. Often and based on the bond of trust created with his clients, Mr. Mantel is requested to continue to serve as a trusted adviser and fiduciary of many of his client’s family and business enterprises. Mr. Mantel is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and was elected the President of its New York Chapter (2006-2008). He is a Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, and through peer evaluation, Mr. Mantel has been selected as a premier matrimonial attorney by the New York City “Super Lawyers” Link The Best Lawyers in America Link and The New York City “Ten Leaders” Link Mr. Mantel received his law degree from the SUNY/ Buffalo Law School (1976) and serves on his law school’s Dean's Advisory Council. Mr. Mantel enjoys an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. IVAN W. DREYER has represented U.S. and foreign clients, both private and publicly-held, in a wide range of corporate and commercial transactions for more than 25 years. He has extensive experience working with businesses in their early and middle stages of growth and development, both in putting their ownership structures together and in advising them on their capital raising, expansion and commercial activities. He has also guided many closely-held and family-held businesses in structuring buyout arrangements among the owners. He has also represented many overseas companies in establishing business operations in the United States. His corporate expertise includes corporate finance, secured and unsecured lending, venture capital, securities, mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations, joint-venture, cross-border transactions and not-for-profit entities. On the commercial side, Mr. Dreyer provides guidance to companies on their manufacturing, supply, sale, leasing, licensing, distribution and marketing of their products and services. Prior to joining Stein Riso Mantel, LLP, Mr. Dreyer was a partner of the law firms of Jenkens and Gilchrist Parker Chapin LLP and Baer Marks & Upham LLP. Mr. Dreyer was a member of the Law Review of Hofstra University School of Law, where he obtained a Juris Doctor degree and also holds Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws degrees from the University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. KEVIN M. MCDONOUGH concentrates in Matrimonial and Family law. He received his law degree from Fordham University (1995) and his undergraduate degree from Yale University (1992). Mr. McDonough is admitted to the New York Bar, and is a member of the New York County Lawyers’ Association (Matrimonial Law Committee) and the Westchester County Bar Association (Family Law Section). OUR COUNSEL MARK I. CHINITZ concentrates in Creditors’ Rights, Bankruptcy and Business Reorganization, and Commercial And General Litigation. A graduate of Hofstra University's School of Laws accelerated two year program (1980), he was the law secretary to the Honorable Raymond W. Young of the New Jersey Superior Court, and is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Virginia (1978) and attended University College London. Mr. Chinitz practiced with the law firm of Weil, Gotshal & Manges in their Business Reorganization Department, where he worked on a number of substantial chapter 11 bankruptcies, including Texaco and Continental Airlines, was one of the two attorneys who represented the Government of Argentina in its world-wide debt restructuring and new credits involving approximately $60 billion held by 850 banks, and worked on many non-bankruptcy restructurings including the $450 million Alabama River Pulp Mill reorganization, representing a six insurance company group led by The Prudential Life Insurance Company. He is Legal counsel for the New York State Amateur Hockey Association, Inc., the governing body of Amateur Hockey for N.Y. State under USA Hockey, and has chaired and lectured on bankruptcy for Mandatory Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) classes, and has addressed various civic organizations. In addition to his admission to the New York and New Jersey State courts, Mr. Chinitz is admitted to the Federal Bars of the Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of New York, the District of New Jersey, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. DAVID H. SCULNICK is an AV rated attorney with more than 30 years of trial and appellate experience. For 28 years he was with a prominent NYC defense firm where, as an equity partner, he was in charge of the general liability, insurance, and products liability practice groups. He contemporaneously served as the head of his prior firm’s appellate practice group and has written and argued over 100 cases in both the State and Federal appellate courts. Mr. Sculnick is a 1973 graduate of New York Law School, where he was a member of the Law Review’s Board of Editors. Mr. Sculnick lectures extensively at advanced seminars sponsored by bar associations and has moderated programs for the NYC Bar Association. He is an active member of the New York City Bar Association, sitting on the Committee on the State Court of Superior Jurisdiction, and has been a member of the NYCLA chapter of the American Inns of Court since its inception in New York City. MICHELLE FRANK holds three postgraduate degrees from Fordham University: a Masters of Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting, a Masters of Science degree in Taxation, and a Juris Doctor. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Brandeis University. She is admitted to practice in the states of New York and Connecticut. Michelle Frank, is a Tax Attorney and Certified Public Accountant. Her expertise covers a broad range of complex tax area with emphasis on estate planning, IRS and New York State Collection proceedings and tax compliance for trust, estates, individuals, S corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies and not for profit entities, as well as surrogate's court practice and procedure. She is admitted to the New York State and Westchester Bar Association. OUR ASSOCIATES EDWARD R. MINSON concentrates in Creditors’ Rights, Bankruptcy and General Litigation. He has represented corporations, trustees and individuals in various bankruptcy proceedings and has experience in general litigation matters. Mr. Minson received an LL.M. in Bankruptcy (2007) and a J.D. (2002) from St. John’s University School of Law. As a student, Mr. Minson received the CALI Award in Bankruptcy Ethics, Fraud and Malpractice, served as a Senior Staff Member on The New York Litigator and interned for the Honorable Arthur J. Gonzalez in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York. He also earned a B.A. in English (1999) from the College of the Holy Cross. Mr. Minson is a member of the American Bankruptcy Institute and the New York State Bar Association. In addition to his admission to the New York State courts, Mr. Minson is admitted to the Federal Bars of the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York. RICHARD B. POLNER concentrates in commercial and general civil litigation. Mr. Polner is a graduate of the Brooklyn Law School (1998) and Binghamton University (1991). He has extensive experience in handling litigation matters from inception through trial, and has been involved in many complex civil matters involving claims of catastrophic loss. Mr. Polner also has a significant appellate background. In addition to his admission to the New York State Courts, Mr. Polner is admitted to the United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern District of New York. Mr. Polner has performed substantial legal research and contributed to articles and presentations regarding mold litigation and the applicable Statutes of limitations and evidentiary issues; cellular phone litigation; reactive airway distress syndrome; exterior insulation finishing system (EIFS) litigation, and wrongful death and pecuniary loss claims. Mr. Polner has also contributed to amicus curiae briefs submitted to the New York State Court of Appeals on behalf of the Defense Association of New York.