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Welcome to Pine and Partners Law
Thank you for visiting the website of Pine and Partners Law. We are a full-service law firm based in god ol’, New York, New York, providing legal counsel to individuals, families, and businesses throughout Southside.
The internet is, as we are told, the future of communication. That being said, please enjoy the website.
Should you have difficulty navigating this site. . . or should you find that certain pages take an unexpectedly long time to load. . . we recommend patience, and failing that, contacting our pager.
Our Practice Areas
Pine and Partners Law offers comprehensive legal services in the following areas, each handled by attorneys with substantial experience in that field:
- Corporate and Business Law — Formation, contracts, transactions, and ongoing counsel for businesses of all sizes.
- Criminal Defense — Representation for individuals accused of crimes, including DUI, drug offenses, and white-collar crimes.
- Civil Litigation — Representation in state and federal court when negotiated resolution is not possible, or not desirable.
We do not practice in every area of law. We have found that firms that claim to do everything well rarely do, and we prefer not to make claims we cannot support.
Why Pine and Partners?
We are a small firm. We have six attorneys and various support staff. Combined, we have much more experience over other firms. These facts are related.
Clients who come to us generally receive:
- Direct access to the attorney handling their matter (as opposed to a succession of assistants and associates who are “looking into it”)
- Clear explanations of what is happening and why
- Returned pager messages, usually the same day and nearly always by the following morning
- Honest assessments of their situation, including assessments they may not have been hoping to hear
- Fees that are reasonable and explained in advance
For the clients we serve, we believe we provide attentive, experienced, and genuinely useful legal counsel.
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FIRM NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
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October 1990 — Pine and Partners is pleased to announce the welcoming of attorney Riccardo Russo to join the partners. Separately and completely unrelated, we are proud to announce our new website.
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A Note on Legal Advice
CREATED FOR DIVERGE NETWORKS, A ROLE PLAY COMMUNITY. THIS SITE IS NOT TO BE TAKEN FOR REAL LEGAL ADVICE.
About Pine and Partners Law
Our History
Pine and Partners Law was established in 1990 by a collection of lawyers. Rimbob Poppenacker Stevesburger, Seamus McCarthy, Frankie Orlando, Lihn Vong, and Dante Romano were the original partners. To serve as a fun fact, there has never been an attorney or anyone involved with the name “pine.”
The firm opened with a single office in Southside with a broken telephone. To call this place an office is an overstatement. In only the first year, Pine and Partners defended multiple criminal cases and successfully helped with the forming paperwork for currently active businesses.
Later, upon the retirement of Lihn Vong and semi-retirement of Seamus McCarthy, Joel Barnato, David Rosenberg, and Riccardo Russo all joined the firm as partners.
By now, the firm has multiple associates that involve themselves in the daily runnings of the firm. Even today, the firm holds no more than ten staff, with each working tirelessly to defend Pine’s clients.
The Founding Philosophy
We like to say that the founding philosophy of this firm is rather simple: provide the best defense as efficiently as possible. We would hate to have clients sitting around while we play golf, and that has stuck with us since the start.
A Note on Our Size
We are a small firm. We have never pursued growth for its own sake, and we are not presently doing so. Clients who need a team of thirty attorneys on a single transaction will find us unsuitable, and we would rather say so directly than waste anyone's time.
The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Use of this website does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Our Practice Areas
Pine and Partners Law concentrates its practice in three areas.
I. Corporate and Business Law
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The firm has advised businesses of all sizes on corporate and commercial matters since its founding. The firm has represented clients ranging from sole proprietors to mid-sized regional companies.
Services include:
- Business formation — Corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and sole proprietorships. We assist clients in selecting the appropriate structure for their business and handle the necessary formation documents, operating agreements, and initial organizational requirements.
- Contract drafting and review — We draft and review commercial contracts, vendor agreements, service contracts, and other business documents. We have noticed that clients who ask us to review a contract before signing it tend to have fewer problems than those who ask us to explain what they signed after the fact.
- Mergers and acquisitions — Purchase and sale of businesses, asset acquisitions, due diligence review, and related transactional work.
- Shareholder and partnership agreements — Buy-sell agreements, shareholder rights, partnership arrangements, and succession planning for closely held businesses.
- Ongoing business counsel — We serve as outside general counsel to several local businesses, providing advice on day-to-day legal questions as they arise. Clients in this arrangement have found it useful to have legal counsel available without the overhead of an in-house attorney.
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II. Criminal Defense
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Real estate law constitutes a significant portion of the firm's practice. Attorney Pine began his career in real estate transactions and has conducted several hundred closings over the course of his practice. Attorney Chen handles a substantial volume of residential transactions and has developed a reputation for closings that proceed without incident—a quality, he notes, that is more appreciated than it might initially appear.
Services include:
- Felony and misdemeanor defense — We represent individuals charged with criminal offenses ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies.
- DUI/DWI defense — Defense against driving under the influence and related offenses, including license suspension hearings, field sobriety and breath test challenges, and representation in court proceedings.
- Drug offenses — Representation in cases involving possession, distribution, and manufacturing of controlled substances.
- Assault and violent crimes — Defense against charges involving assault, domestic violence, and other violent offenses.
- Theft and property crimes — Defense in matters involving theft, burglary, robbery, and related offenses.
- White-collar crimes — Representation in cases involving fraud, embezzlement, and other financial crimes.
- Post-conviction and appeals — Assistance with appeals, sentence modifications, and other post-conviction relief.
- Expungement and record sealing — Guidance through the process of clearing or limiting access to criminal records.
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III. Civil Litigation
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When disputes cannot be resolved through negotiation, mediation, or direct communication. . . or when the other party has made clear that resolution is not their intention. . . Pine and Partners Law is prepared to represent clients in court.
Litigation services include:
- Business and commercial disputes — Breach of contract, partnership and shareholder disputes, business torts, and fraud claims.
- Employment disputes — Non-compete and non-solicitation enforcement, wrongful termination defense, and wage disputes.
- Debt collection and creditor representation — Collection of commercial debts, judgment enforcement, and creditor's rights.
- General civil matters — We evaluate each matter individually and will advise honestly on whether litigation is likely to be worth its cost.
Our approach to litigation is candid: litigation is expensive, time-consuming, and uncertain in outcome. Most disputes that can be resolved without it should be. When resolution is not achievable, however, we are prepared to litigate thoroughly and professionally, and we do not settle cases simply because they are inconvenient to pursue.
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For more information about any of our practice areas, please contact us or page via johnsonthethird . We are generally available during all EST hours.
Our Attorneys
Pine and Partners Law is comprised of multiple attorneys, each with their unique experience. Brief biographies follow. Clients wishing to speak with a specific attorney should find their pagers attached.
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Rimbob Poppenacker Stevesburger
Founding Partner | pager: johnsonthethird;
Rimbob Poppenacker Stevesburger joined the firm after encountering Dante Romano and Lihn Voung running a street stand to crowd-fund a new law practice, quickly deciding to come aboard.
His background is mostly suited in civil matters, focusing on policy and government. He also serves outside the firm as president of the Association for Sovereignty and Self Governance (ASS).
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Riccardo Russo
Partner | pager: turtlesoup1991;
Riccardo Russo is a criminal defense attorney and civil litigator with extensive experience negotiating and litigating suits against the government and its employees.
His work specializes with cases that require complex navigation of legal frameworks, institutional decisions, and avocation. He is quite astute, and a stickler for attention to detail.
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The information on this website is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Use of this website does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Rights, Generally
The constitutional rights described on this page exist whether or not you are aware of them. We do ask that if you intend on using our services that you make yourself aware of them. One misstep can cause us a great deal of pain!
I. The Right to Remain Silent
“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law.”
The Fifth Amendment to the United States Constitution protects individuals from being compelled to be witnesses against themselves. This applies during all conversations with police.
Silence is not an admission of guilt. Oftentimes, it is your best bet at not seeing a prison cell at the end of the day. Voluntary statements often lead to more trouble then they are worth, even if they may seem helpful. Something you say while not in the right headspace can ruin your day in trial.
It should be made very clear, in order to invoke this right, you may say clearly: “I am exercising my right to remain silent.” You should, from this point onward, only answer questions in the presence and with the assent from your attorney.
Practical note: New York has a “stop and identify” law that requires you to provide your name to an officer conducting a lawful stop. Providing your name is not the same as answering other questions, and providing your name does not waive your right to remain silent on other matters. Failure to do so can result in additional chargers, like failure to identify
II. The Right to an Attorney
“You have the right to talk to a lawyer for advice before we ask you any questions. You have the right to have a lawyer with you during questioning. ”
The Sixth Amendment guarantees the right to an attorney in criminal prosecutions. Once you have been formally arrested and charged, you have the right to have an attorney present during any custodial interrogation. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed by the state.
To invoke this right, say clearly and specifically: “I want an attorney.” Or: “I will not answer questions until I have spoken with my attorney.” Either statement is great. Do not waffle around. Do not say “I think maybe I should talk to a lawyer.” Say that you want one.
A common concern: Some people hesitate to ask for an attorney because they believe it will make them appear guilty. This is false. Always ask for an attorney
III. The Right to Be Free from Unreasonable Searches
The Fourth Amendment protects individuals against unreasonable searches and seizures by law enforcement. A search of your person, home, or vehicle requires either a warrant, your voluntary consent, or an immediate factor warranting such.
You may decline a request to consent to a search. This is your rightn. You may say calmly: “I do not consent to a search.” You should understand, however, what this does and does not accomplish:
- If the officer has a valid warrant, your consent is unnecessary and the search will happen regardless of your grievances.
- If the officer has probable cause or another exception, the search may proceed will also happen regardless of your grievances.
- If you physically resist a lawful search, you may face additional charges. Do not be stupid.
The appropriate way to handle an unlawful search is to let it happen and have the evidence suppressed later, not to fight the police officers executing it.
IV. General Guidance: Interactions with Law Enforcement
The following observations are based on actual experience the firm has had with people prior:
Be polite. Rudeness does not help and occasionally makes things worse.
Do not lie. Making false statements to a law enforcement officer can be a criminal charge. If you do not wish to answer a question, say so.
Give as little as possible. It is in your best interest to be as vague and uninformative during any interaction with police officers as possible. State that you are staying silent until an attorney comes during any questioning.
Do not make statements about other people. Statements you make about other individuals, even seemingly helpful ones, can hurt you not only within the courtroom, but among your social circle.
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