Attorney Profiles
TERENCE P. O'CONNOR
Terry O'Connor is a 1980 graduate of St. Lawrence University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Omicron Delta Kappa. In pursuing his B.S. degree, he also attended the University of Copenhagen in Copenhagen, Denmark. Terry received his J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 1983. He is admitted to practice before all Courts of the State of New York, the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Terry has been a guest lecturer for Albany Law School of Union University; New York State Bar Association (including A Power Advocacy: Achieving Maximum Jury Impact During Trial; A Practical Skills Basic Civil Practice: The Trial; A Psychological and Neurological Injuries: An Overview: Medicine in the Courtroom; A How to Handle a Neck and Back Injury Case; A Jury Selection Techniques: The Basics for the Civil Practitioner; A Cross Examining Plaintiff's Experts in Federal Court; and A Proving and Defending Damages; Dental Society of the State of New York Risk Management Course for the Third and Fourth Districts and the Greater New York Dental Conference; and Albany Medical Center Hospital.
Terry is a member of the New York State Bar Association; New York State Trial Lawyers Association, Capital District Trial Lawyers Association; Albany County Bar Association; American Bar Association; Defense Research Institute and International Association of Defense Counsel.
Terry is a trial lawyer with over 20 years experience who spends most of his time prosecuting personal injury and general liability cases ranging from severely injured persons in motor vehicle accidents to slip and fall cases. Terry has tried over 100 cases and has settled more than twice that amount.
DENNIS A. FIRST
Dennis A. First attended Vassar College and graduated with honors from Ohio State University in 1975. He received his J.D. from Albany Law School of Union University in 1978. After serving as law clerk to the Hon. Joseph Harris of Albany County Court, he entered private practice in 1979. He is admitted to practice before all courts of the State of New York, the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Dennis has been a trial lawyer for more than 20 years. His practice emphasizes automobile liability, products liability, toxic torts and general liability cases. In the products liability and toxic torts arena, Dennis has experience in a broad array of products including asbestos, chemicals, automotive, trucking, and a variety of industrial machines and consumer products.
Dennis is a member of the Albany County, New York State (Insurance, Negligence and Compensation Law Sections) and American Bar Associations. He is a member of the American Association of Trial Lawyers, as well as the Defense Research Institute. Dennis frequently lectures for the New York State Bar Association and other organizations in the areas of trial practice and procedure, products liability, professional liability and general liability.
