Russo & Gould LLP, providers of trusted legal counsel and representation on a wide range of civil liability and insurance matters since 1996, commends six of our attorneys for being selected to Super Lawyers for 2021. Our outstanding lawyers were chosen based on a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. With only five percent of attorneys per state named to Super Lawyers and 2.5 percent to Rising Stars, we are delighted that six of our team’s highly skilled attorneys were chosen for this elite designation. Our accomplished team of Super Lawyers includes:

Alan S. Russo, Founding Partner, New York, NY
Super Lawyer Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney | Super Lawyers 2010-2021
Alan is the founding partner of the firm and has led Russo & Gould from a small civil litigation trial firm to the full-service insurance defense firm that it is today. He has tried high exposure civil liability cases for more than 35 years. Alan currently handles complex high exposure trials and regularly advises major insurance carriers and self-insured entities on matters relating to tort liability, trial practice, insurance coverage, and litigation strategy. He is a regular lecturer for the National Business Institute on Trial Advocacy and an instructor for the Corporation Counsel's Trial Advocacy Program at Fordham University Law School.

“Alan would never brag about himself,” says partner David Gould, “but he is the lifeblood of this firm.” Alan takes pride in doing right by his clients and developing thoughtful and creative legal strategies that meet their ultimate goals. “I’ve always been committed to providing quality work for my clients,” says Russo, “and ensuring we do everything to protect them and their interests.” Alan is not afraid to evolve and respond to changes in the marketplace, growing the firm’s mediation practice, for example, and supporting his attorneys in their professional development. “Alan has always been forward-thinking and receptive to growth,” says partner Terre Villani. “He is a leader both inside and outside the firm. He sets the tone here.”

Outside of work, Alan is a long-suffering Jets fan and an avid Yankees fan. His colleagues recently surprised him with a personalized number 25 Yankees jersey for the firm’s 25th anniversary. Alan also enjoys fantasy baseball, which he plays with colleague and fellow Super Lawyer, Marcin Kurzatkowski.

Kevin G. Horbatiuk, Partner, New York, NY
Super Lawyer Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney | Super Lawyers 2016-2021
Kevin has been with Russo & Gould for 20 years. His practice focuses on defending claims for benefits under ERISA group insurance plans, property and casualty defense, and regulatory defense. He is counsel in New York State for various Cigna companies, including Life Insurance Company of North America, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, and Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York, as well as various self-funded Employer Benefit Plans. Kevin acts as Qualified Officer for Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York and was senior trial counsel for Cigna's in-house litigation office for 13 years before joining Russo & Gould.

Kevin is on the approved panel of outside counsel for JP Morgan ChaseBank, NA, Target Corporation, Lancer Indemnity Insurance Company, and various Managing General Agents for National Trucking Companies and Insurers. He has been retained to represent numerous national self-insured accounts in personal injury, property damage lawsuits, and trucking accident cases, and has provided pre-litigation services concurrent with the happening of a catastrophic event. Kevin enjoys giving back to his alma mater, Fordham University, by lending his wide-ranging legal knowledge to Fordham's mock trial team. When he’s not in the office, he can be found kayaking on New York’s Hudson River or exploring his favorite city, New Orleans.

Lee-David Weiner, Partner, New York, NY
Super Lawyer Top Rated Civil Litigation Attorney | Rising Stars 2015-2020

Lee-David has been with Russo & Gould for 13 years. He focuses his practice on general property and casualty liability through all phases of litigation, including appellate. He handles a wide range of personal injury cases, including slip and fall, trip and fall, and construction accidents. He has extensive experience litigating premises and dram shop liability, as well as automobile negligence matters. He often defends firm client ConEd in personal injury matters that occur on ConEd worksites and has a comprehensive understanding of the detailed work required of such cases. Lee-David has been cited numerous times in New York Law Journal for his expertise in personal injury and liability. He practices in the five boroughs of New York City, Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester Counties, and New Jersey.

Lee-David is known for his strong communication with his clients and his attentiveness to their cases. “My clients aren’t just one of 500 files here,” he says. “They all have my cell number and know they can call me day or night.” He brings in many of his clients by talking with other lawyers in court, getting to know people, and through word of mouth. “Even my accountant and dentist know what I do and refer people to me,” jokes Lee-David. Outside of work, he is a proud girl dad, recently welcoming his third daughter. A lifelong Jets fan and season ticket holder, he hopes that he and his dad can get back to MetLife this season for live games.

Florina Altshiler, Partner, Buffalo
Super Lawyer Top Rated Civil Litigation Attorney | Rising Stars 2017-2021
Florina specializes in the defense of large loss casualty matters, as well as medical malpractice, construction liability, general negligence law, and criminal defense. She served as a prosecutor for the State of Alaska, where she handled the prosecution of all levels of crime through jury trial. She has 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, sex crimes, and homicides. An adjunct law professor at Columbia and SUNY Buffalo, Florina was named to Lawline's Top Women Faculty in 2016, 2019, and 2020.

Whether teaching her students, providing live trial commentary on Court TV, or trying a case in front of a jury, Florina is at home in front of a crowd. “Florina is a trial lawyer to her core,” says founding partner Alan Russo. “You can parachute her into any jurisdiction, and she’ll be meticulously prepared for trial from the start.” Florina herself admits that she’s a fighter. “I might appear polished,” she says, “but I am more street lawyer than corporate lawyer.”

Marcin J. Kurzatkowski, Senior Associate, New York, NY
Super Lawyer Top Rated Personal Injury Attorney | Rising Stars 2017-2021
Marcin works in the areas of premises liability, general negligence, regulatory compliance, property and casualty defense, and labor law. He has substantive experience in motion practice and appellate practice, including drafting and oral argument of motions and appeals. He also has significant experience in alternative dispute resolution and has defended claims for benefits under ERISA group insurance plans. In addition to being named to Super Lawyer the last four consecutive years, he was selected as America's Top 100 Civil Defense Litigators, New York City in 2019.

Outside of the office, Marcin served as chairman of the board of directors of Notre Dame Catholic Academy in Ridgewood, New York from 2009 to 2014. He is a fan of the Mets and Jets and enjoys playing fantasy baseball with Russo & Gould’s founding partner, Alan Russo. Six feet, ten inches tall and soft-spoken, Marcin is the definition of a gentle giant. He recently welcomed his second child.

Alexandra L. Alvarez, Senior Associate, New York, NY
Super Lawyer Top Rated Insurance Coverage Attorney | Rising Stars 2021
Alexandra focuses her practice on insurance defense litigation with an emphasis on personal injury actions, including motor vehicle accidents, product liability matters, and property damage cases. She has written and argued numerous successful appeals in the 1st and 2nd Departments and has drafted several coverage opinions related to both New York and New Jersey law, as well as multiple appeals. Alexandra has presented continuing legal education courses for insurance carriers regarding defending New York's "serious injury" cases and current laws regarding bad faith litigation. She enjoys mentoring junior associates and paralegals regarding New York practice and procedure. Alexandra is extremely thorough and detail-oriented. “If you need to find a needle in a haystack,” says partner Alan Russo, “she’s the one to call.”

Russo & Gould offers a hearty congratulations to our six Super Lawyers. We couldn’t be more proud of your well-deserved recognition!

Contact us to learn how the attorneys at Russo & Gould can partner with you to resolve your civil litigation needs.

About the Firm: Russo & Gould is a highly successful and effective trial firm, vigorously defending corporations and individuals across a wide spectrum of civil liability and insurance matters. We handle every aspect of litigation, from deposition through trial, as well as reaching resolution through mediation and appeals. Our approach is based entirely on developing thoughtful and creative legal strategies to meet our clients’ specific goals. Russo & Gould serves our clients’ regional insurance defense needs from our offices in New York, Buffalo, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania.