Bios

J.D., Albany Law School, 2007
B.A., Union College (cum laude), 2004

Sophie A. Bergman is a member of Hinman, Howard & Kattell’s Criminal Law, Domestic Relations, Matrimonial and Family Law, and Municipal Law Practice Groups. She represents clients in a wide range of felony and misdemeanor criminal cases in Broome County Court and local courts throughout the county and the surrounding counties, as well as handling divorce and family matters in both Supreme and Family Courts.

Sophie began her career as an Assistant District Attorney serving for almost ten years in the Broome County District Attorney’s Office.  During her career as a prosecutor, she handled homicides, violent crimes, sexual assaults, cases of domestic violence, and drug crimes, including taking cases through grand jury to trial, resulting in guilty verdicts which, in a number of cases, resulted in life sentences for the defendants she was prosecuting, which led to her promotion to the Bureau Chief of the Special Victims Bureau where she handled and supervised all felony cases of domestic violence and sexual assault in Broome County.  She also brings valuable judicial experience from her time as a Binghamton City Court Judge, where she presided over criminal arraignments, trials, small claims, and landlord-tenant matters.

Ms. Bergman has also served as Corporation Counsel for the City of Binghamton handling municipal legal matters. 

Ms. Bergman also provided legal counsel to the Crime Victims Assistance Center, Inc. through their legal services program representing innocent crime victims in various legal matters.

Outside of her legal practice, Ms. Bergman is committed to her community. She currently serves on the Board of the Catholic Schools of Broome County, and is a past board member of the Danielle House, the YWCA of Broome County, and RISE (formerly SOS Shelter). Ms. Bergman is admitted to practice in New York State.

She received her J.D. from Albany Law School in 2007 and her B.A. (cum laude) in 2004 from Union College.

J.D., Syracuse University College of Law
B.S., Ithaca College

Matthew C. Gagliardo is a Partner at Hinman, Howard & Kattell’s Elmira Office. He has practiced Social Security, workers compensation and criminal defense since 2008. He is a member of the firm’s workers’ compensation, Litigation, Social Security and Criminal Defense practice groups. He is licensed to practice law both in the state of New York and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He is also admitted to practice in the United States District Court, Western District of New York.

Matt has vast experience representing injured workers and volunteer firefighters under matters involving the New York State Workers Compensation Law. Matt also has experience representing individuals in their applications for Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income.

Prior to joining Hinman, Howard & Kattell Matt practiced criminal defense law in Chemung County’s Public Advocate’s Office. He has extensive criminal experience handling matters ranging from speeding tickets to homicide trials. He joined the law firm of Learned, Reilly, Learned & Hughes in 2011 becoming partner in 2017.

Matt is a member of the New York State Bar Association and the Chemung County Bar Association. In his free time, Matt enjoys fly fishing, playing golf and the outdoors. Matt lives locally and is a native of Horseheads, NY.

In addition to his litigation practice, Ron represents clients in transactions relating to project development, entity formation, financing, leasing and construction. He represents owners, contractors, and design professionals in a wide range of construction projects including negotiating and drafting project-manager contracts, design/build agreements, and contractor/owner professional services agreements. Ron has previously served as a certified Mediator for the United States District Court, Northern District of New York.

Ron has lectured at various seminars on ethics, construction litigation, and creditors’ rights issues. He is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, and Associate Attorney Recruitment Committee.

Ron currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Broome County YMCA. He previously served on the Board of Directors for the Broome Library Foundation, Inc. and was a member of the Broome County Conditional Release Board (Commissioner 1998-2000). He previously served on the Board of Directors of the Broome County Zoological Society Inc., Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park (2003-2010); Maine Endwell Baseball, Inc., (2007-2010); and was the Past President of the Binghamton Country Club Board of Governors and also the Past President of the Greater Binghamton Chamber of Commerce Live Wire Club.

J.D. 2010, Rutgers School of Law – Camden
B.A. 2008, University of Pittsburgh (cum laude)

Jeffrey A. Jaketic is a Partner at Hinman, Howard & Kattell, and a member of the firm’s Litigation, Labor & Employment and Workers’ Compensation practice groups.

Jeff’s practice is focused on prosecuting and defending a broad range of litigation matters, including complex commercial litigation, personal injury law, labor and employment claims, construction disputes, and medical malpractice actions in both federal and state courts.  In addition, Jeff routinely handles matters involving Workers’ Compensation Law, including the representation of injured workers, businesses, and insurance carriers.

Prior to joining Hinman, Howard & Kattell, Jeff practiced insurance litigation and litigated cases on behalf of municipal entities and officials in state and federal courts in both New York and New Jersey.  Jeff attended the Rutgers School of Law in Camden, New Jersey, where he served as a Law Guardian in the Child and Family Advocacy Clinic and represented minors in family court and Supplemental Security Income administrative hearings. Jeff also served as a judicial extern in the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of New Jersey for the Honorable Kathryn C. Ferguson.

Before law school, Jeff attended the University of Pittsburgh, where he received a dual degree in business administration and political science.

Jeff is active in the community.  He is currently the Chairman of the Ross Park Zoo Board of Directors, and a former Director on the Discovery Center Board of Directors.  He is a graduate of the Broome Leadership Institute, Class of 2019.

J.D., Pace Law School, magna cum laude
B.A., Brandeis University

​Jacob B. Sher is Special Counsel at Hinman, Howard & Kattell, LLP in our White Plains office, he is a member of the Litigation and Criminal Defense practice groups.  He practices appellate law, in addition to guardianship, healthcare, commercial, and employment litigation.  He also has a background in IT and cybersecurity law.  Jake is admitted in New York State and the Southern District of New York and is a member of the New York State Bar Association.

Prior to joining Hinman, Howard & Kattell, Jake worked for the law firm of Kaufman, Borgeest & Ryan, handling long-term care defense litigation and related civil appeals.  He has also served as the Special Counsel to the District Attorney for Rockland County and as Appellate Counsel for the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s Office.  He has argued before three of the four Judicial Departments of the Appellate Division.

Jake received his J.D. from Pace University School of Law in 2016.  During his time there, he served as Productions Editor for the Pace International Law Review; his Comment, Anonymous Armies: Modern ‘Cyber-Combatants’ and Their Prospective Rights Under International Humanitarian Law, appeared in the 2016 edition of that publication.  Jake also participated in the Thurgood Marshall and Jessup Moot Court Competitions while in law school.  He continues to participate in the Jessup, where he has served both as a coach and a judge.