Attorneys

Managing Partner

Michael D. Morici

As Managing Partner of the firm, Mr. Morici has extensive experience and expertise in corporate law and all aspects of commercial and residential real estate transactions, as well as corporate and individual estate planning. He has handled real estate and corporate matters in New York, including bank refinances and purchases, residential and commercial closings, business planning, contract preparation and negotiations, and corporate transactions. Mr. Morici maintains an active status with clients and lenders by providing personalized, tailored services.

As founding partner of the firm, Mr. Morici handles all administrative operations for all three offices and oversees all day to day operations of the firm. In addition, Mr. Morici is also responsible for recruitment, professional development, and business and client development.

Areas of Practice

Real Estate Law, including:

• Purchases, Sales and Leasing

• Residential and Commercial closings

• Bank Refinances and Purchases

• Financing and development

• Contract negotiation, drafting and due diligence

Corporate Law, including:

• Small business formation, planning, and development

• Contract preparation and negotiation

• All business transactions including purchase and sales, mergers, and leveraged buyouts

Estate Planning & Administration, including:

• Preparation of wills, trust instruments and related documents

• Estate and tax planning

• Estate and trust administration

• Taxation of trusts and estates

• Representation of clients in Surrogate’s Court

Partner, Chair of Litigation Group

Robert Morici

Mr. Morici is a Partner of the firm and head of the Litigation Group, which represents both plaintiffs and defendants in personal injury and wrongful death actions. Having worked in litigation for the majority of his career, Mr. Morici is dedicated to achieving the best possible recovery for the firm’s personal injury clients. Mr. Morici is experienced in handling a wide range of legal claims, including, but not limited to, medical malpractice, nursing home/nursing care abuse, premises liability /slip and falls, products liability, and work place, construction, and motor vehicle accidents.  In addition, Mr. Morici oversees the firm’s defense department which represents insurance and governmental agencies.

Mr. Morici also serves as the Associate Village Justice, Village of New Hyde Park, New York, having previously served as elected Village Justice

Areas of Practice

Personal Injury/ Wrongful Death, including:

• Medical malpractice

• Surgical errors

• Nursing home/nursing care abuse

• Premises liability/slip & falls

• Defective products/ products liability

• Workplace accidents

• Construction accidents

• Motor vehicle accidents

• Prescription drug product liability

• Lead paint exposure

Partner, Chair of real estate & corporate groups

Michael D. Morici, Jr.

Michael D. Morici, Jr. is the Partner of the Manhattan office and a member of the firm’s Real Estate and General Business/Corporate Groups. Mr. Morici oversees all commercial and residential real estate transactions for developers, commercial clients, and high-net worth individuals, while assisting and advising clients with their business needs. Mr. Morici has an extensive background in corporate and securities law, having worked on multi-billion dollar transactions in the commercial real estate, biomedical, communications, banking and optical technology industries while at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett. Mr. Morici also provided general corporate legal advice to several Fortune 500 companies as well as private companies preparing for their IPOs.

Recently, Michael Morici Jr. guided a client in a purchase that was highlighted on the Top 5 deals of the week $54.5 million purchase by Terreno Realty Corp. of 134 Morgan Avenue and an unnumbered property on Meserole Street in Brooklyn.

Areas of Practice

Real Estate Law, including:

• Commercial Real Estate Transactions

• Bank Refinances and Purchases

• High End Residential Sales, Purchases, and Financing

• Joint Ventures between Developers and Private Equity Funds

• Contract negotiation, drafting and due diligence

Corporate Law, including:

• Small business formation, planning, and development

• Mergers and Acquisitions

• Restructuring

• Contract preparation and negotiation

• All business transactions including purchase and sales, mergers, and leveraged buyouts

• Corporate transactions

• Shareholder and Operating Agreements

Partner, Manhattan

Christine Falco

Christine Falco represents corporate and individual clients in a broad range of real estate transactions, including the acquisition, sale, financing, and leasing of both commercial and residential properties throughout New York. Christine advises clients with regard to their business and corporate needs, including drafting and negotiating corporate organizational and transactional documents. Christine also reviews and negotiates agreements and documents for construction and development projects in connection with real estate and business ventures.

As part of Christine’s New York real estate practice, she has acted as counsel in many large-scale transactions which include New York City townhouse purchases and construction development, the ongoing development of a hamlet in New York State, and the commercial leasing of a fast-casual restaurant franchise. In 2018, Christine represented the purchaser of a $58 Million three-story penthouse on the High Line, which was one of New York City’s most expensive residential sales. The purchase did surpass a 2014 record as the most expensive Downtown purchase in New York City history.

Areas of Practice:

• Real Estate

• Residential Closings

• Commercial Leasing

• Bank Refinances and Purchases

• Commercial Closings

• Corporate Transactions

• Personal Injury

Education

St. John’s University School of Law, 2010, J.D.

• Honors: American Bankruptcy Institute Law Review

St. John’s University, 2008, B.A. summa cum laude

Bar Admissions

• New York, 2011

partner

Gerard C. Morici

Gerard C. Morici is a Partner in the firm’s Real Estate and General Business/Corporate Groups, as well as the firm’s Litigation Group.   Before joining the firm, Gerard was a Partner at Mendes & Mount, LLP, where he participated in various phases of litigation, arbitration, and mediation proceedings, including leading depositions in multimillion-dollar commercial disputes. Gerard negotiated various contracts during his time at Mendes, including Coverage-in-Place Agreements, full policy commutations, and Confidentiality Agreements.

Since joining the firm in 2017, Gerard has focused on the preparation and negotiation of both commercial and residential leases , Asset Purchase Agreements, Stock Purchase Agreements, Operating Agreements, Shareholder Agreements, Master Service Agreements, Statements of Work, Employment Agreements, Severance Agreements, and various other types of contracts. His corporate clients include large and mid-sized companies across a variety of industries, including technology, software, hospitality, finance, and retail.  With Gerard’s extensive background in litigation, he has assisted the firm’s clients in resolving many disputes relating to contract-related issues, insurance coverage issues, construction-related issues, employment-related issues, and other areas.

Recently, Gerard has taken a lead role in many exciting transactions at the firm, including the purchase, investment, and development of a prominent motel and restaurant on the East End of Long Island, as well as on due diligence projects for a national material handling and facility service organization in their acquisitions of several companies throughout the county.

While in law school at Fordham University School of Law, Gerard was the Notes and Articles Editor of the Intellectual Property Law Journal and Associate Editor on the Moot Court Board. Gerard also co-authored the article: “Fair Labor Standards Act Exclusions: Ensuring Clarity, Explicitness and Fulfillment,” published on the International Law Office website.

FLSA Article

LinkedIn

Areas of Practice:  

● Commercial Litigation
● Estate Planning
● Small business formation, planning, and development
● Mergers and Acquisitions
● Residential and Commercial Real Estate
● Business Acquisition & Sales
● Contract preparation and negotiation
● Corporate transactions
● Employment and Severance Agreements
● Shareholder and Operating Agreements

Education

Fordham University School of Law, 2003, J.D.

• Honors: Intellectual Property Law Journal, Notes and Articles Editor

• Moot Court Board, Associate Editor

Duke University, 2000, B.A.

Bar Admissions

• New York, 2004

• U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 2010

• U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, 2010

Partner, Garden City

Paul Pepper

Paul Pepper, a Partner in the firm and lead trial attorney, handles a wide range of cases including Personal Injury matters, Civil Litigation, Criminal Defense, Matrimonial/Family Law, Residential Real Estate & Business Transactions and is an integral part of the firm’s Municipal Practice.

 Paul has achieved continued litigation success in obtaining verdicts that rank as the “Top 100 Personal Injury Verdicts” (New York - 2017), “Top 50 Motor Vehicle Verdicts” (New York - 2017) and a “Top 100 Personal Injury Settlement” (New York – 2018, Settlement after Liability Verdict).  Paul has also mounted successful defenses on behalf of our clients in numerous criminal matters including several major felony trials.

 Paul Pepper is a graduate of Touro College’s Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center and performed his undergraduate work, in Political Science and History at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.  While in Law School, Paul Pepper was the recipient of numerous awards, including 4 CALI Awards for Academic Achievement in the fields of International Criminal Law, Products Liability, International Human Rights and Creditor’s Rights.  Paul was also the recipient of the prestigious American Bankruptcy Institute’s Medal of Excellence for 2004.

Mr. Pepper has a strong and diverse background in the legal profession, including both public and private service over the course of his career and is a proud member in good standing of the New York State Academy of Trial Lawyers.

In both 2017 and 2018, Paul was awarded with the Top 100 Jury Verdicts in Personal Injury in New York. In 2017, he reached a verdict of over $650,000 for plaintiff working for a day facility who was struck by a motor vehicle after following a patient that escaped facility through front door. In 2018, he helped the firm reach a verdict of over $350,000 for plaintiff who fell and suffered a femoral neck fracture when defendant failed to maintain abutting sidewalk in town.

Education

Touro Law School, 2004, J.D.

• American Bankruptcy Institute’s 2004 Medal of Excellence

• CALI Award for Academic Excellence:

  • International Human Rights (2002)                                   

  • International Criminal Law (2002)

  • Products Liability (2003)

  • Creditor’s Rights (2004)

State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1999, B.A.

Bar Admissions

• New York, 2005

• Eastern District of New York, 2016

• Southern District of New York, 2016

associate, manhattan

Abigail Cotler

Abigail is an Associate in the firm’s Real Estate and General Business and Corporate Groups.

Abigail counsels clients through the various stages and aspects of commercial real estate transactions, including negotiating commercial leases and brokerage agreements, and financing. Notably, she has recently represented a premier woman-owned real estate and development company, a national fitness franchisee, and a developer of a large scale residential community. As part of the General Business and Corporate Groups, Abigail advises companies throughout their lifecycle, including general corporate matters, corporate governance and mergers and acquisitions.

Before joining Morici & Morici, Abigail served as Associate General Counsel for an international luxury goods company, providing various corporate legal services including drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial leases, nondisclosure and vendor agreements, as well as drafting corporate policies and forming business entities.

Abigail earned her law degree at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in 2018. While in law school, Abigail served as Associate Editor of the International, Comparative, Policy and Ethics Law Review, Treasurer of the Intellectual Property Society, and Staff Editor of the Public Law, Policy and Ethics Journal.

In addition to her work as a lawyer, Abigail writes for the American Medical Association’s Physician Family Magazine and regularly publishes articles on various life and wellness topics effecting partners of medical professionals and young professionals generally. Her articles can be read here: AMA’s Physical Family Magazine and The Flipside Life.

She is a member of the New York State Bar Association, New York City Bar Association, and Association of Corporate Counsel.

Areas of Practice:

• Commercial Real Estate Transactions

• Residential Real Estate Transactions

• Corporate Transactions

• Contract Negotiation and Due Diligence

• Mergers & Acquisitions

Education

Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, 2018, J.D.

• Honors:

  • International, Comparative, Policy and Ethics Law Review, Associate Editor

  • Intellectual Property Law Society, Treasurer

  • Public Law, Policy and Ethics Journal, Staff Editor

Pratt Institute, 2015, B.A.

Bar Admissions

• New York, 2018

associate, manhattan

Kamila Potrapeluk

Kamila is an Associate in the firm’s Real Estate and General Business and Corporate Groups.

Kamila is assisting the group with a national fitness enterprise client in their acquisition of studio locations and lease negotiations.

Before joining Morici & Morici, LLP, Kamila was an Associate at a firm primarily focusing on lender transactions including preparing Closing Disclosures, reviewing title and lien searches, and drafting, reviewing and negotiating transactional documents including Partnership/LLC/Shareholder Agreements and estate planning documents.

Kamila received her Juris Doctorate from Brooklyn Law School in 2019 and received her Bachelor of Arts from New York University in 2015.

Areas of Practice:

• Residential Real Estate

• Commercial Lease Review and Negotiation

• Corporate Transactions

• Bank Refinances and Purchases

Education

Brooklyn Law School, 2019, J.D.

New York University, 2015, B.A.

Bar Admissions

• New York, 2021

• New Jersey, 2021

associate, manhattan

Sarah Vinci

Sarah is an Associate in the firm’s Real Estate and General Business and Corporate Groups.

Sarah represents clients in an array of commercial and residential real estate matters. This includes the preparation of purchase and sale agreements, management of transactional communications between all parties, and the coordination and attendance of closings. She has recently assisted the Group’s Real Estate Department in a client’s purchase and acquisition of a $12 million apartment in New York City. As part of the General Business and Corporate Groups, Sarah assists clients in mergers and acquisitions by performing due diligence. 

Sarah received her Juris Doctorate from St. John’s University School of Law in 2021 and received her Bachelor of Arts from Marist College in 2018. As a law student, she served as senior staff member of the New York International Law Review and Commercial Litigation Online report, was the President of Environmental Law Society and Animal Law Society, and studied international and comparative law in Rome, Italy.

Areas of Practice:

• Residential and Commercial Real Estate Transactions

• Corporate Transactions

• Commercial Lease Negotiations

• Commercial Contracts

Education

St. John’s University School of Law, 2021, J.D.

• Honors:

  • New York International Law Review, Senior Staff Member

  • Commercial Litigation Online Law Report, Senior Staff Member

Marist College, 2018, B.A. cum laude

Bar Admissions

• New York, 2022

associate, manhattan

Jamie Simensky

Jamie is an Associate in the firm’s Real Estate and General Business and Corporate Groups.

Jamie contributes to each stage and aspect of residential and commercial real estate transactions, including performing due diligence, financing, and negotiating commercial lease agreements.  Currently, Jamie is assisting a global athletic franchisee in their acquisition of studio locations and lease negotiations. As part of the General Business and Corporate Groups, Jamie assists clients in mergers and acquisitions by performing due diligence and drafting asset purchase agreements. Jamie currently represents a private-equity-funded operating company in the acquisition of industrial and mechanical enterprises across the country. 

Prior to pursuing a legal career, Jamie studied business at Franklin and Marshall College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in 2019. Jamie earned her Juris Doctorate from Fordham University School of Law in 2022. While in law school, Jamie served as a Notes and Articles Editor of the Journal of Corporate and Financial Law and a Member of the Tax Law Society.  

 Areas of Practice:

• Commercial Real Estate Transactions and Leasing

• Corporate Transactions

• Contract Negotiation and Due Diligence

• Mergers & Acquisitions

• Residential Real Estate Transactions

Education

Fordham University School of Law, 2022, J.D.

• Honors:

  • Journal of Corporate and Financial Law, Notes and Articles Editor

Franklin and Marshall College, 2019, B.A.

Of counsel

Adam Rosen

Adam Rosen has been representing injured workers for their worker’s compensation matters since graduating from Hofstra Law School in 1995. He is an essential part of our Personal Injury team at Morici and Morici, LLP. He assists and advises clients regarding their worker’s compensation cases. He spends time educating workers about their rights to further protect them – often by speaking at union meetings. Rosen provides valuable expertise to our clients regarding all of their worker’s compensation matters.

Education

Ohio University B.A. 1992.

Hofstra Law School J.D. 1995

Of counsel

Jeanne Corea

Jeanne M Corea is of-counsel to the firm with a concentration in Estate Planning, Elder Law, Probate and Administration. She is admitted to practice law in both New York and Connecticut.  She is a member of the New York State Bar Association, American Bar Association and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

She frequently speaks at our firm seminars and meetings to discuss the benefits of estate planning and elder law. She has also lectured to other attorneys for the New York State Bar Association CLE program and St. John’s University School of Law CLE program.

ESTATE PLANNING

Wills, Revocable Trusts to avoid probate, Trusts to minimize estate taxes, Credit Shelter Trust planning for minimizing estate taxes, Irrevocable Insurance Trusts, Supplemental Needs Trusts, Minor’s Trusts, QTIP and QDOT Trusts for spousal planning, LLC’s, all aspects of Business Succession Planning and Deed transfers.

ELDER LAW

Long Term Care financing options, Irrevocable Trusts for asset protection, Homecare and Nursing Home Medicaid applications, Fair Hearings, Assistance with placement to a nursing home, Incapacity Planning, Living Wills, Health Care Proxies, Powers of Attorney.

PROBATE AND ADMINISTRATION

Handling of Probate and Administration proceedings and Small Estate Administrations.

Education

Hofstra University School of Law, 1996, J.D.

Fairfield University, 1993, B.A.

Bar Admissions

• New York, 1997

• Connecticut, 1996