Attorney Profiles

Edward R. Palermo, ESQ.

Edward Palermo, the firm’s founder, has focused his practice on the defense of people charged with serious felony offenses.  Edward’s most basic belief is that an attorney must narrow the focus of his practice in order to be able to provide the highest level of service to his client.  This narrow focus is critical for a client charged with a felony because his or her most important right, freedom, is at stake.

Edward has handled numerous complex criminal matters on Long Island and in New York City.  He is known as an attorney who has successfully defended many individuals charged with serious crimes.  His services have been requested for cases in other areas of the Country as well.

Edward is a member of the Suffolk County Bar Association, The New York State Bar Association and the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys.  He is also a former member of the Criminal Justice Association’s panel of defense attorneys for federal criminal matters in the Eastern District of New York.  He is admitted to practice in the State of New York and the United States District Court for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York.

Edward’s notable cases:

1. Represented a New York City college student in a tragic vehicular manslaughter case wherein a young Scottish woman died.  The charges could have resulted in a sentence of up to eleven years in State’s prison.  The case garnered press coverage in the cities major newspapers including the New York Times, New York Post and the New York Daily News.  Edward negotiated a very favorable disposition for his client and avoided any state imprisonment.
2. Represented the internationally famous reputed leader of a Haitian paramilitary group that, in the early 1990’s, allegedly committed numerous human rights atrocities, in a mortgage fraud case in Suffolk County.  The client faced a sentence with a maximum of 25 years in states prison.  The case garnered television and press coverage including national wire reports and a three-page article in the New York Times.  Edward successfully opposed a million dollar bail application by the prosecutor and ultimately negotiated a very favorable disposition for the client. 
3. Represented two brothers charged as accomplices with First Degree Rape.  Each client faced up to 25 years in state’s prison.  The matter went to trial and resulted in acquittals for each client.
4. Represented a client charged with Second Degree Burglary who, as a previously twice convicted violent felon, faced the three strikes rule and life imprisonment.  Again, after trial, the client was acquitted.
5. Represented a young man charged with a gunpoint First Degree Robbery wherein the client faced up to 25 years in state’s prison.  Once again, Edward persuaded a Suffolk County Jury to acquit his client.
6. Represented a local businessman accused of Second Degree Sodomy.  The client faced up to 7 year’s in State’s prison and deportation.  Edward convinced a Nassau County Jury to acquit his client of the sodomy charge.
7. Represented the president of an international freight shipping company who potentially faced multiple federal fraud and bribery charges in the United States District Court in Jacksonville Florida.  The client faced up to 20 years in federal prison.  Edward negotiated a disposition that required the client to spend 6 months in a federal halfway house.  The client was only incarcerated at night and was therefore able to continue his employment.
8. Represented a medical doctor charged with leaving the scene of an accident with a fatality.  The client faced 4 years in state’s prison.  Edward was able to convince the presiding judge, over the strenuous objection of the prosecutor, to sentence his client to probation without any jail time.