Lecturer Bios
Edward L. Birnbaum, Esq.
Edward Birnbaum is an accomplished trial lawyer who has served as lead counsel in more than 60 federal and state court trials. His proven track record of success includes defending manufacturers in the transportation industry in complex, high-exposure product liability trials involving catastrophic injuries as well as commercial litigation. He has served as an arbitrator for the American Arbitration Association (AAA) as well as federal and state courts.
A prolific author and frequent lecturer on litigation strategy, trial tactics, and techniques, Edward is widely recognized as a leading authority on trial practice. He is currently a member of the Judiciary Committee of the New York County Lawyers Association, where he interviews prospective and sitting judges. This is one of many noteworthy affiliations; among others, he was chairman of the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on the Supreme Court and Action Unit #6, and was a member of the NYSBA’s House of Delegates and Committee on Judicial Campaign Conduct. As an adjunct faculty member of the New York University School of Continuing Education, Edward teaches a course on the Civil Practice Law and Rules.
Among his many professional recognitions, he was chosen by the American Registry as one of “America’s Most Honored Professionals,” an award received by only 10 percent of all recognized American professionals. It is the only cross-profession, cross-industry honor based on a quantitative analysis of authenticated public recognitions. Edward is rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale-Hubbell and is listed in numerous directories of leading lawyers.
Before joining Goldberg Segalla, he was the head of litigation for a major law firm based in Manhattan.
Professional Affiliations
•New York State Bar Association: Former chairman, Committee on the Supreme Court and Action Unit #6; former member, House of Delegates and Committee on Judicial Campaign Conduct
•Member, Judiciary Committee of the New York County Lawyers Association
•Arbitrator, American Arbitration Association, United States District Court of the Eastern District of New York, and Small Claims Division of the Civil Court of the City of New York
•Adjunct faculty member, New York University School of Continuing Education
•Fellow, Roscoe Pound Institute, New York State Bar Foundation
•Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
•Research fellow, American Biographical Institute
Honors
•Rated “AV Preeminent” by Martindale–Hubbell
•Subject of biographies in Who’s Who in American Law; Who’s Who in America; Who’s Who in the World; Who’s Who in the East; Who’s Who of Contemporary Achievement for Outstanding Contributions to Society; Sterling Who’s Who; International Who’s Who of Professionals; and International Who’s Who
•Recognized by the Marquis Who’s Who family for 25 years as a listee
•Recognized by International Directory of Distinguished Leadership
•Recognized by International Leaders in Achievement, Men of Achievement
•Recognized by Community Leaders of America
•Recognized by the Dictionary of International Biography
•Recognized by One Thousand Great Americans and One Thousand Great Intellectuals
•Honored as International Biological Centre Legal Professional of the Year, 2003
•Honored with International Biographical Centre 21st Century Award for Achievement
•Honored as one of 2000 Outstanding Intellectuals of the 21st Century — 2nd Edition
•Recognized by Eminent People of Today
•Recognized by Great Minds of the 21st Century
•Recognized by The Heritage Registry of Who’s Who for Executives and Professionals
•Chosen to represent the legal community in the 2011 edition of Who’s Who Among Executives and Professionals
•Chosen by the American Registry as one America’s Most Honored Professionals
•Selected for inclusion in New York Super Lawyers
•Selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America; New York area list published in New York Magazine
•Recognized in AVENUE magazine’s list of top litigators in New York City
Admitted to Practice
•New York
•U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Southern and Western Districts of New York
•U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
•U.S. Supreme Court
Community Involvement
•Chairperson, Village of Saddle Rock Board of Appeals
•President, Saddle Rock Civic Association
•Director, Kensington Woods Homeowners’ Association
Education
•Queens College, B.A., 1961
•New York University School of Law, LL.B., 1964
Lawton W. Squires, Esq.
Mr. Squires handles complex litigation matters from inception through trial to verdict in the State and Federal Courts. His practice encompasses products liability, labor law, construction accidents, general liability, attorney and judicial disciplinary proceedings, professional malpractice and motor vehicle matters. In addition to representing clients in the New York State Courts, Mr. Squires represents clients before many of New York States’ regional professional disciplinary agencies including: the Departmental Disciplinary Committee; the Grievance Committee; the Committee on Character and Fitness; the Commission on Judicial Conduct; the Office of Professional Discipline; and the Office of Professional Medical Conduct. Mr. Squires also serves as excess and monitoring counsel for numerous clients and several major insurance carriers.
A trial attorney for more than twenty years, Mr. Squires has served as the Managing Trial Attorney for United States Fidelity & Guaranty Company, The St. Paul Insurance Companies and The St. Paul Travelers Companies in New York. He also has represented the Zurich American Insurance group as its New York Supervising Trial Attorney.
An Adjunct Professor of Law at New York Law School, Mr. Squires has taught Trial Advocacy since 1990. He has also taught practicing attorneys as a faculty member of The St. Paul Companies National Trial School and as a continuing legal education lecturer for the Defense Association of New York, the New York State Bar Association, the Bronx Black Bar Association and the Metropolitan Black Bar Association.
Mr. Squires has published articles including: “Intra-Family Immunity,” “Can You Rely on Plaintiff’s Co-Efficient of Friction Test?”, “No, No!!! Bad Dog!!!”, “A Federal Practice Primer for Claims Examiners”, and “Fred, the Breeding Bull and Its Affect on Dog Attack Cases.” Mr. Squires has had numerous verdicts noted and published by the New York Law Journal and the New York Jury Verdict Reporter, including: The Matter(s) of the Hon. Duane A. Hart (1 & 2 - before the NYS Court of Appeals and the NYS Commission on Judicial Conduct, respectively); Markowitz v. Servi-Tek Elevator Corp.; Fuller-Mosley v. Litemakers; Perlmutter v. A. Colarusso & Son; Amaya v. Trinity Church; Giambanco v. Rankin Healy Memorial Association; Dawid v. Stamford Livery Service; Konshina v. Gorbunov, D.D.S.; Gurvas v. Burg; Novin v. Hilton Hotels Corp.; Heller v. Lehrer-McGovern, Inc., et al.; Kaczorowski v. Consolidated Edison, et al.; Bahlke v. Glen Oaks Village Owners, Inc.; and Sharon v. El San Juan Hotel & Casino.
Mr. Squires holds the highest legal ability rating of “AV,” from Martindale-Hubbell. The “AV” Rating is a professional rating awarded to attorneys who demonstrate the highest professional and ethical standards. The Black Law Students’ Association of New York Law School has awarded Mr. Squires its Distinguished Alumni Award. The Institute of Jewish Humanities also has recognized Mr. Squires with its Lawyer of Achievement Award.
Mr. Squires co-starred as the lead defense attorney, opposite Catherine Crier of Court TV fame, who played the lead prosecutor in The Media Center at The New York Law School's production of The Trial of Travis Bickle, from the facts of the Martin Scorsese classic film, Taxi Driver, starring Robert De Niro and Jodi Foster on January 28th, 2008. The Media Center annually produces mock trials to advertise and publicize New York School's Trial Advocacy and Clinical Legal programs.
A graduate of The State University College at Oneonta, New York, and of The New York Law School, Mr. Squires served as a member of the National Mock Trial Team. He also was a member of the Executive Board of the Moot Court Association.
Mr. Squires is on the Board of Directors of the Defense Association of New York. He also is a member of the New York State Bar Association.
Mr. Squires is a Member of Herzfeld & Rubin, P.C. and is admitted to the New York State Bar and to the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.