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Colin E. Kaufman

Colin E. Kaufman is a partner at Adam Leitman Bailey P.C.. Kaufman concentrates in trial work and litigation, primarily commercial, tort and real estate-related. Kaufman has been in practice for over forty years and an attorney with Adam Leitman Bailey since 2005, all of it in litigation. Kaufman is AV Peer Rated by Martindale-Hubbell®, repeatedly named by Super Lawyers®, and is rated “Superb” by Avvo.com. Kaufman has prevailed in over 250 bench and jury trials to verdict in state and federal courts during his career. Kaufman is General Counsel to the firm.

Mr. Kaufman is a member of the New York State Bar Association Committee on Professional Ethics and the N.Y.S.B.A. Committee on Veterans.

Kaufman received his undergraduate degree from Trinity College and his law degree from Fordham University Law School. He has instructed in trial preparation and trial advocacy for the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services Basic Prosecutors’ Course, Bureau of Municipal Police Training School, Westchester County District Attorney’s Office, New York State Special Prosecutor’s Office, the New York State Bar Association and Lorman Educational Services. He has authored or coauthored three manuals for trial lawyers: Trial of a Negligence Case in New York, Taking and Defending Effective Depositions, and Real Evidence for the Trial Practitioner.

After graduating from Trinity College, Kaufman was a military policeman in the U.S. and in Vietnam. His combat decorations during his service as a sergeant with the 4th Infantry Division include two Bronze Stars and two Army Commendation Medals.

After his return from Vietnam, Kaufman was a corruption investigator with the Office of the New York State Special Prosecutor. In addition to investigative work Kaufman ran the Special Prosecutor’s Intelligence Unit until leaving to become a prosecutor with the Westchester District Attorney’s Office.

Kaufman spent nine years with the Westchester District Attorney, rising to Chief of the General Trial Bureau. During his tenure there, in addition to trials and training of trial lawyers, Kaufman participated in several thousand prosecutions.

Since leaving the District Attorney’s Office, Kaufman has been engaged in the private practice of law. His litigation and trial work has covered a substantial breadth, ranging from mortgage fraud to mining disasters to international contracts. He was co-lead counsel in the first case tried to verdict in the United States under the United Nations Convention on the International Sale of Goods. He has argued appellate cases in the Appellate Divisions of the First, Second and Third Departments and in the US Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

  • Bird's eye view of New York City buildings
    Mulhern v. Chai Management

    Mulhern v. Chai Management

    Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department, New York. Sheri MULHERN, Respondent, v. CHAI MANAGEMENT et al., Appellants, et al., Defendants. Decided: October 23, 2003 Before:  CARDONA, P.J., MERCURE, CREW III, PETERS and LAHTINEN, JJ. Greenhill Partners P.C., (Colin E. Kaufman of counsel), for Chai Management and others, appellants. Lever & Stolzenberg, (Howard B. Stolzenberg of counsel), for respondent. Appeal from an order of the Supreme Court (Meddaugh, J.), entered May 21, 2002 in Sullivan County, which denied a motion by...

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  • Photo of New York City buildings
    Ying Qi Yang v. Shew Foo Chin, Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department Decision

    Ying Qi Yang v. Shew Foo Chin, Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department Decision

    839 N.Y.S.2d 90 42 A.D.3d 320, 839 N.Y.S.2d 90, 2007 N.Y. Slip Op. (Cite as: 42 A.D.3d 320, 839 N.Y.S.2d 90) Supreme Court, Appellate Division, First Department, New York. YING-QI YANG, Plaintiff-Respondent, v SHEW-FOO CHIN, Defendant-Appellant. July 5, 2007. Background: Intended purchaser brought action against intended seller for specific performance of the sale of real estate. The Supreme Court, New York County, Walter B. Tolub, J., denied seller’s motion to dismiss. Seller appealed. Holding: The Supreme Court, Appellate Division, held...

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