The Romero Law Team
A Proven Track Record
Manuel A Romero
Manuel (Manny) emigrated to Brooklyn, NY as a boy from his native island of Vieques, Puerto Rico. He encountered fierce prejudice when he arrived, especially since he did not speak or understand much English. It led to many fights and, eventually, Manny’s intolerance for injustice and bullying. He resolved quickly he was not going to become a victim at the hands of others, and he determined he would also assist others who could not stand up for themselves. Manny excelled in school. He mastered the language and became a star athlete, winning multiple awards at Xavier High School. Then he achieved scholarships to college and law school, where he worked tirelessly to learn his craft.
Manny was first trained in personal injury while he attended law school. The irony is, he spent those first years working for defense firms -- for the other side! This proved to be an excellent teacher. Manny did research for senior partners, he wrote briefs and motions, and he learned trial tactics. He studied evidence diligently and became fascinated by the judicial process. The art of the trial interested Manny most, because he recognized early in his career the influence of a courtroom. Tellingly, Manny became incensed that insurance companies refused to settle or offered a fraction of a claim’s worth for serious injuries, and he vowed to help bring justice to the public. That is why he switched sides to represent plaintiffs.
Manny opened his own practice in 1990 and has since negotiated millions of dollars in settlements and won millions of dollars in jury awards for hundreds of clients. Over the years, he attended and taught(!) many workshops to further develop and keep sharp his vast trial skills. He developed relationships with both sides of the Bar. And he held many positions at various Bar Associations, Judicial Selection Commissions, Committees of all kinds, and on Boards of Directors. Manny’s goal, from day 1 when the doors opened, was to advance justice for a diverse society and take a leadership role on behalf of injured people everywhere.
If you look at Manny’s long list of accolades, awards, education and skills, you will agree he is on the road to accomplishing his goal of justice for all!
Education
New York Law School, Juris Doctor, 1982 with distinction: C. Bainbridge Smith Fund Merit Scholarship; National Institute of Trial Advocacy; Phi Delta Phi International; Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund
Fordham University, Bachelor of Arts, 1979 with distinction: varsity football
Xavier High School, Presidential Blue Ribbon School, NYC, with distinction
Bar Admissions
New York State Bar, 1982
United States District Courts, Eastern and Southern Districts, 1986
United States Supreme Court, 1997
Association/Committee Memberships
Brooklyn Bar Association, 89th (and first Latino) President, 2004-2005; Member 1995- present
New York State Bar Association, Vice President, 2nd District 2010-2014; Committee on Judicial Qualifications for Court of Appeals; 2nd District Chair of Trial Lawyers Section; Audit and Finance Committee; Committee on Diversity and Leadership Development; Committee on Attorney Professionalism and Ethics and Torts Committee
State of New York Grievance Committee for 2nd, 11th and 13th Judicial Districts, Chairman 2006-2010; Member 2002-2006
Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Judicial Screening Committee in the State of NY, Appellate Division and Court of Claims, Member 2013-present
NYS Court of Appeals Chief Justice Judith Kaye’s Judicial Election Qualification Commission, Member 2012-2018
Judicial Screening Committees/Judiciary Committees, joint venture of the Brooklyn Bar Association and the Association of the Bar of the City of New York
Brooklyn Democratic Party Judicial Screening Committee, Member, 2004-2010
Brooklyn Public Library Board of Trustees, Member 2005-2010
Brooklyn Public Library Foundation Board, Board Member 2005-2010
New York State Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
New York State Trial Lawyers Association, Director 2002-2004; Member 1990-present
Founding Barrister Member, The Nathan R. Sobel Kings County Inns of Court
Association of the Bar of the City of New York
Best of Brooklyn, Board Member, 2005-2010
Lectures/Remarks
NYS Bar Association Trial Academy at Cornell Law School, Group Leader/Faculty Member NYSBA
NYS Unified Court System Legal Update Seminar for Court Attorneys, “Handling Expert Medical Evidence – Threshold”
Brooklyn Bar Association, “Voir Dire”, “Trial Techniques” and “Depositions”
NYS Trial Lawyers Association Trial Techniques Clinic, “Opening Statements and Cross Examination”
The Cervantes Society
Puerto Rican Bar Association, “The Nuts and Bolts of Trying a Civil and Criminal Case”
Brooklyn Law School, “The Future for Trial Lawyers”
Kings County Supreme Court, State of New York, Law Day, “The American Jury”
Awards/Certificates
Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition, for outstanding and invaluable service to the community, awarded by Congressman Michael McMahon.
City of New York Citations (3), awarded by Borough President Marty Markowitz (Citation 1) (Citation 2) (Citation 3)
City of New York Proclamations (2), awarded by Borough President Marty Markowitz (Proclamation 1) (Proclamation 2)
Sybil Hart Cooper Award, in recognition of Manny’s dedication and continuing efforts in the furtherance of women’s issues in the law, Brooklyn Women’s Bar Association
Certificate of Appreciation, The Urban Assembly School for Law and Justice, Law Day, 2007
Certificate of Appreciation, as a notable and outstanding leader, the Appellate Division of the State of NY, Second Department
2007 Community Achievement Award, The Cervantes Society, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month
Youth Law Day Presenter, at Albany Law School in conjunction with Capital District Black and Hispanic Bar Association, Albany, 2008
NY County Lawyers Association Honoree, to Jurists and Lawyers of Color, 2005
Man of the Year 2005, Brooklyn Democrats
Man of the Year 2005, Kings County Democratic Party
Honoree, Brooklyn Independent Democrats, 2005
Publications/Articles
In Brief, New York Law School Alumni Profiles In Brief
Brooklyn Barrister, a publication of the Brooklyn Bar Association Brooklyn Barrister - Article 1, Article 2, Article 3
Brooklyn Daily Eagle - Article 1, Article 2, Article 3, Article 4, Article 5, Article 6, Article 7.
New York County Lawyer NYCLA Awards Dinner, Outstanding Jurists and Lawyers of Color
Jonathan M. Rivera
Senior Associate Attorney
Jonathan is one of Brooklyn’s own. After graduating from Bishop Ford High School, Jonathan enrolled in John Jay College, where he was selected into the Thematic Studies Program. As a Thematic Studies student, Jonathan explored issues of contemporary significance from multiple points of view, which ignited a curiosity to promote social justice. The Thematic Studies Program provided Jonathan with the opportunity to tutor other students and intern at various organizations specializing in legal services, criminal justice and social services. After graduating John Jay College, with honors, Jonathan was accepted into Brooklyn Law School’s J.D. program. Jonathan joined the firm in 2001 and has since taken on the fight for justice against the insurance companies. Jonathan has a wealth of experience in all phases of litigation from intake through trial.
Education
John Jay College of Criminal Justice, Bachelor of Arts, Magna cum laude, 1997
Brooklyn Law School, Juris Doctor, 2001
Bar Admission
New York State Bar, 2nd Department, 2005
Published Decisions
Sacarello v City of New York, 124 AD3d 617 (2nd Dep’t 2015)
Frelow v Leung, 118 AD3d 745 (2nd Dep’t 2014)
Belliard v Leader Limousine Corp., 94 AD3d 931 (2nd Dep’t 2012)
Ortiz v NYC Housing Authority, 10394/05, March 27, 2009, New York Law Journal
McGowan v Hoffmeister, 15 AD3d 297 (1st Dept 2005)
Brathwaite v New York Cent. Mut. Fire Ins. Co., 13 AD3d 405 (2nd Dep’t 2004)