Meet Our Team of Attorneys
James P. Kelley, ESQ.
Email: jpkelley@rizzoandkelley.com
LICENSES/ADMISSIONS:
Admitted to the New York State Bar: April, 1983.
Admitted to the Minnesota State Bar: December, 1984
Admitted to Practice before the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York: July, 1995
MEMBERSHIPS:
Member, Dutchess County Bar Association
Member New York State Bar Association
Member New York State Defenders Association
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:
February 1991 to present:
Managing Partner in the Law Firm of Rizzo & Kelley, PLLC, Esqs., 272 Mill Street, Poughkeepsie, New York (845) 452-6100. Rizzo & Kelley is a three-member firm primarily engaged in civil litigation, commercial law, lender/creditor law, lender/bank recovery collections, commercial/residential real estate, criminal law, including trials and appellate practice. I have argued both civil and criminal appellate cases before the New York State Court of Appeals, and the Appellate Divisions for the First, Second and Third Departments. Representative Clients: Central Hudson Gas & Electric Corporation, Sawyer Savings Bank, Hudson Heritage Credit Union, Empire State Bank.
Representative Cases: People v. Ryan, 82 N.Y.2d 497 (1993)
May 2010 to present: Special Prosecutor for the Town of Red Hook, New York. Responsible for the prosecution of vehicle and traffic citations, not including misdemeanors, occurring within the town’s jurisdiction.
January 2011 to present: Special Prosecutor for the Town of Washington, New York. Responsible for the prosecution of vehicle and traffic citations, not including misdemeanors, occurring within the town’s jurisdiction.
January 2010 to 2020: Adjunct Instructor with Marist College, School of Management, North Road, Poughkeepsie, New York; Classes: Legal Foundations of Business, Business Law I & II
January 1987 to February 1991: Associate Attorney with the law firm of Pagones, Cross Van Tuyl and Rizzo, Esq.
January 1984 to January 1987: Dutchess County Senior Assistant District Attorney Assistant District Attorney responsible for both felony and misdemeanor criminal prosecutions.
January 2012 to present: Lecturer for Dutchess County Board of Realtors for various topics for real estate brokers/agents as part of their continuing education requirement.
EDUCATION:
Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota
Juris Doctor, May 1982, Cum Laude
Dean’s List Every Semester
Member Silver Gavel Honor Society
Marist College, Poughkeepsie, New York
Bachelor of Arts, Political Science, May 1979, Cum Laude
Christina M. Bookless, ESQ.
Email: cbookless@rizzoandkelley.com
EXPERIENCE:
Rizzo & Kelley - Attorney
Poughkeepsie, New York, September 2010- present
I handle civil litigation matters from the onset through appeal if warranted. I am also regularly in Justice Courts defending criminal cases, as well as landlord-tenant disputes and collection matters. I also assist with the estate work and real estate closings.
McCabe & Mack, LLP - Attorney
Poughkeepsie, New York, August 1998-April 2010
I primarily worked in the insurance defense department, representing municipalities and insureds. I gained extensive experience in all phases of litigation.
EDUCATION:
Albany Law School, Albany, New York
January 1996 to December 1997
J.D., Cum Laude
Thomas Cooley Law School, Lansing, Michigan
January 1995 to December 1995
Moot Court participant and invited to join Law Review
State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York
September 1989 to May 1991
B.A.., Cum Laude
State University of New York at Fredonia, Fredonia, New York
September 1987 to May 1989
AFFILIATIONS, ADMISSIONS & COMMUNITY SERVICE:
Actively involved in the Mid-Hudson Women's Bar and Dutchess County Bar Associations. Admitted to practice in State and Federal Courts. Volunteer with the American Heart Association.
Patrick D. Hickey, ESQ.
Email: pdhickey@rizzoandkelley.com
EDUCATION
Albany Law School of Union University, Albany, NY
Juris Doctor, cum laude, May 2015
- GPA: 3.31
- Winner of the 2015 Donna Jo Morse Negotiations Competition.
- Recipient, The Francis H. Anderson Negotiation Award
- Dean’s List: Fall 2014 and Spring 2015
- Member of the Justinian Society
State University of New York at Geneseo, Geneseo, NY
Bachelor of Art in Political Science; Minor: History, December 2011
- GPA: 3.28
EXPERIENCE
Rizzo and Kelley, PLLC, Poughkeepsie, NY
Associate Attorney, July 2024-present
- Perform as responsible attorney for residential and commercial real estate transactions. Duties include drafting of all forms of contracts of sale, asset purchase agreements, bill of sales, bulk sale forms, transfer documents, closing statements and loan documents. In addition, my duties include regular communication with our clients to keep them informed throughout the real estate transaction and representing them at the closing itself.
- Perform as responsible attorney for residential and commercial loan closings with various lenders including drafting and reviewing loan docs and serving as lenders attorney at closing.
- Responsible for all aspects of client’s Estate Planning, including preparation of Last Will & Testaments, Irrevocable Trusts, Revocable Trusts , Powers of Attorney and Health Care Proxies.
- Perform as responsible attorney for Estate Files including drafting and reviewing estate Petitions, Family Tree Affidavits, Informal Accountings and various other Estate related documents and attend court on behalf of the clients and regular communication with clients to provide updates on the estate process.
Sobo and Sobo, LLP, Middletown, NY
Associate Attorney, November 2018-June 2024
- Perform as responsible attorney for residential and commercial real estate transactions in New York City and the Lower Hudson Valley. Duties include drafting of all forms of contracts of sale, asset purchase agreements, bill of sales, bulk sale forms, transfer documents, closing statements and loan documents
- Responsible for all aspects of client’s Estate and Medicaid Planning, including preparation of Supplemental Needs Trusts, Last Will & Testaments, Irrevocable Trusts, Revocable Trusts and Health Care Proxies.
Cohen, LaBarbera & Landrigan, LLP, Goshen, NY
Associate Attorney, May 2016-November 2018
- Responsible for all aspects of client’s estate planning issues, including preparation of Last Will & Testaments, Irrevocable Trusts, Revocable Trusts, Charitable Trusts, Supplemental Needs Trusts, and Durable Powers of Attorney.
- Responsible attorney for commercial real estate transactions including drafting all documents related to these transactions such as the contract of sale and closing statement. In addition, drafted and negotiated various commercial and residential leases for landlords.
ADMISSIONS
New York State Bar – February 24, 2016
SDNY
US Tax Court
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