Attorney Biography of Florina Altshiler Russo & Gould LLP

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Florina Altshiler is the lead trial attorney and a partner with the Buffalo, NY office of Russo & Gould LLP, where she specializes in the defense of large loss casualty matters. Her practice also includes medical malpractice, construction liability, general negligence law and criminal defense.

Florina served as a prosecutor for the State of Alaska, where she handled the prosecution of all levels of crime through jury trial. She successfully prosecuted dozens of cases through verdict, including violent felonies and sexual assault. During her time in the Special Assaults Unit, she focused on felony-level crimes against children and sex crimes as well as homicides.

An adjunct law professor at Columbia and SUNY Buffalo, Florina has been named to Lawline's Top Women Faculty list several times.

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Practice Areas

Insurance Coverage Litigation
Construction Accident Liability
Child Victims Act & Sexual Misconduct Coverage & Defense
General Property and Casualty Liability
Medical Malpractice / Nursing Home Defense

Education

J.D. from St. John's University School of Law, 2005
International Studies Certificate from Binghamton University, 2003
B.A. in Psychology from Binghamton University, 2002

Experience

Florina has over 15 years experience practicing litigation: criminal prosecution; civil defense and plaintiffs' side; the defense of complex medical malpractice cases and all aspects of insurance claims, including premises liability and automobile and construction accident litigation.
Additionally, she has served as a judge at national and state level mock trial competitions for high schools, colleges, and law schools. She continues to serve as an arbitrator for the Civil Court of the City of New York and is also a Certified Federal Mediator for the Western District of NY. She also teaches Continuing Legal Education courses through the Defense Research Institute, the Erie County Bar Association, ClearLaw, Lawline, Defense Trial Lawyers Association and the NYS Women's Bar Association on topics including litigation and trial technique.

Admissions

Alaska State Bar
New Jersey State Bar
New York State Bar
Pennsylvania State Bar
United States District Court, Northern District of New York
United States District Court, Southern District of New York
United States District Court, Eastern District of New York
United States District Court, Western District of New York

Honors

Alaska State Legislature Citation

Dr. Thomas C. Beneventano Award for Legal Medicine

Rosenberg Scholar, St. John's School of Law

Institutional Merit Scholar, St. John's School of Law

2004 CALI Excellence for the Future Award in Criminal Trial Advocacy

U.S. President's Student Service Award for Outstanding Service to America

United Hospital Fund's Student Achievement Award

Rosefsky Language and Culture Scholar, Binghamton University

Semi-Finalist, Intel National Science Talent Search

Salomon Smith Barney Quality of Life Research Competition

New York City Hall Commendation for Research

Lawline's Top Women Faculty List - 2020, 2019, 2016

Memberships

Erie County Bar Association
National Ski Patrol
North Buffalo Organization, Board Member
New York Legal Assistance Group, Associate Board Member
Crisis Center, Rape Crisis Counselor
Federal Mediator Western District of New York Panel

News Insights

September 20, 2021

Florina Altshiler Article Published in Stetson Journal of Advocacy and the Law

Florina Altshiler''s article, entitled "Employing Generally Accepted Scientific Principles to Address False Eyewitness Testimony Through Trial," Appears in the 2021 Stetson Journal of Advocacy and the Law.

January 29, 2021

Employing Generally Accepted Principles of Neuroscience and Memory in the Legal Field to Address False Eyewitness Testimony Through Trial

On May 12, 2015, a suspect who attacked an NYPD officer with a hammer was shot by police in the middle of the day, on a crowded Midtown Manhattan street. There were multiple eyewitnesses to the incident. Almost all of the witness reports were incorrect. Several people inaccurately reported that the police officers shot an unarmed man while he was on the ground and handcuffed. The incident was recorded on surveillance video, documenting the suspect attacking one of the officers with a hammer and that officer''s partner then shooting the man while he was in the midst of the attack.

August 15, 2019

Northern Exposure - Florina Altshiler wanted to work high-level felonies. She found them in Anchorage

One wall is adorned with uniform patches gifted to her from various law enforcement organizations she worked with as a prosecutor. Another boasts a mix of commendations and media profile...

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