Richard Filiberto graduated Law School with high honors. Upon graduation he engaged in a general practice with an emphasis in Family law, contracts, estate litigation and property law. His reputation and legal skill spread quickly, and he was soon appointed as the confidential Principal Law Secretary to a New York State Supreme Court Justice. In that role he analyzed and resolved a myriad of complex legal matters in the areas of Domestic Relations, Divorce, Family Law matters and child custody cases. He was then transferred to a general civil litigation part of the Court where he again tackled many complex matters involving contract disputes, land ownership matters, adverse possession title matters, and liability cases. His skill then allowed him to move to the commercial division of the Supreme Court, where he was tasked with researching and resolving many complex commercial cases.
He finally returned to his true love - representing clients in Court. Joining the Mental Hygiene Legal Service, a State agency, he spent many years representing people with various disabilities in the area of forced treatment, forced detention in hospitals, guardianship matters and other liberty matters. Much of his time with the Service was spent in Court conducting hearings and jury trials, all to protect his clients' civil rights.
Mr. Filiberto retired from State service and now brings all of that experience and skill to his private practice.
Mr. Filiberto now represents litigants in Family Court, Surrogate's Court and Supreme Court in civil and criminal matters.
In addition to his primary practice, Mr. Filiberto has an extensive background in other legal services. Aside from his Court service and litigation experience, he has served the community at large in various roles.
Mr. Filiberto is a sworn Arbitrator having heard and decided many cases involving fee disputes between attorneys and their clients. Knowledge of this specialized area of law affords him the skill needed to represent clients and lawyers in this sometime confusing setting.
Mr. Filiberto is also a past chairperson of the Suffolk County Bar Association Grievance Committee and has spent years as an investigator. Over the years he has developed insights into the often subjective analysis used by investigators and the committees. Mr. Filiberto offers his service as consultant to the profession in this regard.
Along with service as an Arbitrator and his time on the Grievance Committee, Mr. Filiberto served on the Board of Directors of the Suffolk County Bar Association’s Suffolk Academy of Law, the educational arm of the SCBA. During his years there he created, organized and delivered continuing legal education programs for the practicing bar as well as the public. His experience with the Academy, along with his experience teaching college level law in a paralegal program, makes him well suited to engage in the development and delivery of various types of educational programs for your office or business needs.
