The skilled attorneys at the law firm of Devitt Spellman Barrett, LLP are negotiators and litigators who have extensive experience in a wide range of civil, business, and commercial litigation and appeals.
For additional information about the education and experience of the attorneys at Devitt Spellman Barrett, LLP, please visit our attorney profiles using the links below.
To contact our law offices in Smithtown, Melville or Albany, New York, call 631-724-8833 or contact us by email.
Kevin M. Spellman
Managing Partner and General Counsel
Having practiced law since 1992, Kevin M. Spellman has extensive civil litigation experience. Kevin received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Providence College in 1988, Cum Laude and was awarded a Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law in 1992. Admitted to the Bar in the States of New York and Rhode Island and U.S. District Courts in the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, Kevin has built a reputation for success.
Nicholas M. Brino
Partner
An attorney with both trial and appellate experience, Mr. Brino is involved with all aspects of the firm, across all practice areas.
Starting with the firm out of law school, Mr. Brino initially gained experience litigating no-fault matters from inception through trial. As the firm grew larger, Mr. Brino began to manage his own property and casualty caseload, working with a number of insurance carriers, including State Farm, Ocean Harbor Casualty Insurance and National General Insurance Company.
David S. Pallai
Partner
With over twenty years of extensive trial and litigation experience in State Supreme Court and Federal District Court, Mr. Dave S. Pallai is a leading attorney in his field. A graduate of St. John’s University, Mr. Pallai received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1980 and was awarded his Juris Doctor Degree at St. John University’s School of Law in 1985. He was later admitted to the New Jersey and New York Bar, as well as the U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York and U.S. District Court Southern District of New York.
Justin Rowe
Partner
Justin Rowe focuses his practice on preparing for and trying cases in challenging venues. He has over 17 years of experience in the legal profession handling high exposure cases for both companies and high-net worth individuals. He has tried numerous cases to verdict in the City of New York and Long Island. He has taken verdicts involving serious injury claims, including severe burns, fractures requiring multiple surgeries, amputations, scarring, and traumatic brain injuries. He is experienced defending clients in construction accidents, premises liability actions, automobile accidents, product liability and toxic tort litigation.
John M. Shields
Partner
John M. Shields joined Devitt Spellman Barrett of counsel in January of 2012 and became a partner of the firm in January 2017. During his first year with the firm, Jack successfully completed six Federal and several State jury trials to verdict. Prior to joining DSB, Jack was an Assistant Attorney General in the Suffolk Regional Office for twelve years, where he supervised all Federal and State litigation.
Scott J. Kreppein
Partner
Mr. Kreppein joined Devitt Spellman Barrett, LLP in 2019. Prior to joining our team, he was a partner with another Long Island firm, concentrating in municipal defense. He has been admitted to practice law in the State of New York since 2007 and has handled municipal liability matters throughout his career.
Stephan D. Trace
Partner
Stephan D. Trace has extensive experience handling personal injury litigation. Prior to joining Devitt Spellman Barrett, LLP in 2005, he worked for a general practice firm and was involved in both plaintiff personal injury and commercial litigation, as well as criminal matters.
Christi Kunzig
Partner
Christi Kunzig is an attorney who concentrates her practice on drafting and arguing appeals. Prior to joining Devitt Spellman Barrett, she drafted and argued appeals for the Nassau County Attorney’s Office. She has successfully handled appeals before the Appellate Division Second Department, Second Circuit and the New York State Court of Appeals.
Marie E. Holbrook
Partner
Marie Elaine Holbrook joined Devitt Spellman Barrett, LLP in 2023. She has been a practicing attorney for over 20 years. She has extensive experience with personal injury litigation involving motor vehicle accidents and premises liability, supplemental underinsured/uninsured (SUM), property damage, and contractual disputes. Ms. Holbrook previously worked as in-house counsel for Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, handling personal injury and property damage litigation, as well as working with the special investigations unit (SIU).
Kathleen M. Dillon
Partner
Throughout her professional career, Kathleen has served as a trial attorney representing the interests of crime victims, civil litigants & criminal defendants throughout New York State in both the Trial and Appellate Courts.
Kathleen has been teaching with the National Institute of Trial Advocacy since 1999 & has taught trial advocacy as a Special Professor of Law at her alma mater Hofstra University School of Law.
John M. Denby
Counsel
John M. Denby received his Bachelor of Arts degree from SUNY Fredonia in 1978, his Master’s Degree from New York University in 1982, and was awarded his Juris Doctor Degree from New York Law School in 1986. Admitted to the State Bars of Connecticut and New York, as well as the U.S. District Court Southern District of New York, U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York, and U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit, Mr. Denby is a leader in his field.
Michele A. Perlin
Associate
Michele A. Perlin joined Devitt Spellman Barrett, LLP in 2019. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Perlin was an associate at an insurance defense firm on Long Island. Ms. Perlin has substantial experience litigating in courts through the State of New York. Ms. Perlin specializes in the litigation of claims involving complex civil litigation focused areas of premise liability, automobile liability, labor law, personal injury, no-fault litigation, general litigation, subrogation, construction, and property damage.
Keith McHugh
Associate
Throughout a legal career that exceeds thirty years, Mr. McHugh has a well-earned reputation as a zealous advocate for clients, who works tirelessly to assure a successful result in all aspects of litigation – from the filing of pleadings through trial and appeal. Mr. McHugh has, most often, defended clients in a wide array of negligence and intentional tort actions. He has handled many cases involving allegations of negligence concerning the maintenance of commercial and residential properties, the operation of municipal trains and buses, commercial trucking fleets, and personal vehicles, and the management and execution of operations on construction sites.
Matthew J. Jones
Associate
Matthew J. Jones joined the firm of Counsel in October of 2023. He has extensive civil litigation and trial experience in all counties of New York City, Westchester, Rockland and Long Island. During his career he has developed an excellent reputation for successfully defending and litigating matters involving labor law, products liability, medical malpractice, dram shop liability, construction, automobile and premises liability.
Christopher R. Block
Associate
Christopher R. Block has extensive experience handling personal injury and estate litigation. Prior to joining Devitt Spellman Barrett, LLP in 2023, he worked for a general practice firm and was involved in both plaintiff and defendant personal injury litigation, estate litigation, briefing and arguing appeals, as well as estate management from inception to closing.
Retired
William J. Barrett
Retired
Admitted to the New York State Bar since 1982, Mr. William J. Barrett received his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Cortland College in 1977 and was awarded his Juris Doctor Degree from Albany Law School Union University in 1981. As the firm of Devitt Spellman Barrett was growing, Mr. Barrett handled numerous types of cases from inception through jury verdict, including motor vehicle, products liability, premises liability, no-fault, labor law construction, defamation and insurance coverage matters.
In Memoriam
Thomas J. Spellman, Jr.
1938-2023
Thomas J. Spellman, of St. James, NY, and Naples, FL, died peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on September 10, 2023, in New York at the age of 84. He was born on November 11, 1938, and spent his early years in Manhasset, New York where he attended St. Mary’s High School and curated his lifelong sense of humor by cracking jokes for his classmates just outside of earshot of the Brothers who taught him.
Joseph P. Devitt
1923 – 2017
