Law Firm of Paul J. Velardi, Esq., PLLC

The practice of law in Brewster, New York started with the dream of Joseph Paul Velardi (1896-1981). Joe was orphaned when he was in his early teens. He went to live with a farmer in Vico Equense, a hilly village outside of Naples, Italy. The farmer wanted his boy to go to America. He told Joe, if you work at my farm for two years without pay, I will send you to America with my son. They both came over by boat in 1912.

Joe never had a formal education. He served in the US Army enlisting in 1917.  After WW I, he settled in the Bronx and eventually became an investigator for the NY City Transit Authority. It has been claimed (but remains unconfirmed) that he was the first person to appear in front of a judge at the then new Bronx County Court House near Yankee Stadium. You see, in those days, investigators could appear in front of the judge for calendar calls and settlement of cases. Joe's favorite hobby was building walls out of stone. His homes always had many walls built so that vegetables and flowers could grow within the perimeter of the walls.

Joe came to Brewster by way of Putnam Lake which is in Patterson, New York. He told his son, Charles Henry Velardi (1928-), that he had two choices. He could either become a doctor or a lawyer; Charles chose the latter. Charles went to CCNY for his bachelor's degree in history and obtained his LL.B. degree at St. John's Law School in 1953. Joe was present with Charles when he was sworn in as an attorney later that year. He was deterred from the practice of law because of the Korean War. He served his country well in the Judge Advocate's section of the military in Pusan, Korea.

He began the practice of law in NY City in 1955, then to Croton Falls, New York in 1958 and soon moved his practice to Brewster where he remained until his retirement. Charles served many positions in the Village of Brewster and Town of Southeast. He was the attorney for the Brewster Fire Department, Brewster School Board and Attorney for the Town of Southeast. He was also involved in the community being a member of the local chapter of the American Cancer Society and the Lions Club. His practice was a general one serving the families of Brewster and the surrounding area. Charles' favorite hobby was flying small airplanes. He took his family of five (wife: Toni; and children: Nancy, Paul and Andrew) on many trips around the country going to all fifty states (except Hawaii) during the 1970's when fuel was cheaper.

Paul Joseph Velardi (1959-), a life long resident of Brewster, graduated from Brewster High School in 1977, went to Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut for his bachelor's degree in history in 1981 and obtained his Juris Doctor degree at Albany Law School of Union University in 1984. He practiced law with his father until 1993 when Charles retired. Although Joe never got to see Paul become an attorney, it was consolation enough that he knew that he was going to law school when he died in 1981. Charles was with Paul when he was sworn in as an attorney in 1985. Both Charles and Paul are admitted to appear in the United States Supreme Court in Washington, DC and Paul's certificate of admission bears his father's name as the person who nominated him for admission.

Paul's practice of law developed from two· sources; his experience in real estate and estate matters from Charles' clients and Paul's experience as an assistant district attorney (part time) in the Putnam County District Attorney's office (1990-1997). His primary areas of practice revolve around I) real estate, both commercial and residential; 2) trusts, estates and elder law planning; 3) criminal defense; and 4) family law, including divorce, support and custody/visitation. His favorite hobby is playing golf. He enjoys the camaraderie of the sport especially when each player's efforts are directed more against the course than each other.

Paul is a sole practitioner and a member of the Putnam County and New York Bar Associations. He is also a member of numerous business and charitable organizations. He limits his practice to the three counties of Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester. Most importantly, although Paul does not engage in the general practice of law, if he can't handle it, he knows someone who can.

All three men either were or are guided by three principles. First, the practice of law should be viewed with the goal of being an honorable profession. Second, you represent your client to the best of your ability. Third, you treat every person as an individual, not a number. Although Joe never lived long enough and Charles was retired, all three men would have agreed or do agree wholeheartedly with the following words from Justice Joseph W. Bellacosa's decision in the case of Matter of Cooperman:

The greatest trust between people is the trust of giving counsel. This unique fiduciary reliance, stemming from people hiring attorneys to exercise professional judgment on a client's behalf is imbued with ultimate trust and confidence. The attorney's obligations, therefore, ·transcend those prevailing in the commercial market place. The duty to deal fairly, honestly and with undivided loyalty superimposes onto the attorney-client relationship a set of special and unique duties, including maintaining .confidentiality, avoiding conflicts of interest, operating competently, safeguarding client property and honoring the client's interests over the lawyer's.

-Matter of Cooperman. 83 NY2nd 465 (1994).