Lecturer Bios
Robert Kelner, Esq.
Mr. Kelner graduated from Columbia University School of Law, and is a member of the
Bar of the State of New York. He is admitted to the United States District Court,
Southern and Eastern Districts.
Currently, Mr. Kelner is a member of the law firm Kelner
& Kelner, Esqs., specializing in the practice of personal injury, medical malpractice and
products liability law. He has obtained many verdicts in excess of $10,000,000, including
one verdict of approximately $23,000,000 (Martin v. Dellwood) and one verdict in excess
of $36,000,000 (Driscoll v. New York City Transit Authority).
Mr. Kelner has lectured
before virtually all major bar associations in Continuing Legal Education Programs,
including, but not limited to, the New York State Bar Association, New York State Trial
Lawyers Association, Association of the Bar of the City of New York, and the New York
County Lawyers’ Association, where he is Co-chair of the annual Civil Trial Practice
Institute.
In addition, he lectured at Princeton University and Columbia University School
of Law. Mr. Kelner is the author of numerous publications and serves as co-columnist of
the New York Law Journal’s monthly column on Trial Practice.
Christopher Delamere Clarke, Esq.
As one of Leahey & Johnson’s senior trial attorneys, Christopher Delamere Clarke continues to advance the firm’s tradition of high standards and successful outcomes—in and out of the courtroom. He has successfully tried and resolved many complex civil cases, including medical malpractice, products liability, premises and transportation liability, wrongful death, mass torts and other liability cases involving the seriously injured, to trial and verdict. Mr. Clarke has tried cases throughout New York City, Long Island, and the Hudson Valley. He has argued appeals in the New York State Appellate Divisions and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.
Through a close handling of all of his cases, long a tradition of this firm, Chris has developed an effective working relationship with our clients and a keen understanding of their particular needs.
Named a Member of the firm in 2002, Mr. Clarke has been a dedicated part of the Leahey & Johnson legal family since 1989, when he started work here as a law student.
“Our firm has a long-standing tradition of teaching, training, and giving opportunities to young lawyers,” Mr. Clarke reports. “I am a direct beneficiary of that practice, started decades ago by our founder, Peter James Johnson.”
Chris is a graduate (cum laude) of the State University of New York at Albany and Brooklyn Law School, where he was a finalist at the American Bar Association National Moot Court Trial Advocacy Competition.
Alfredo J. Alvarado, Esq.
Mr. Alvarado is a Partner who is based in the firm's New York City office. His practice concentrates on complex cases, products liability, professional liability, construction/labor law cases, general liability, and motor carrier and automobile liability. He has 26 years of extensive experience in the representation of companies and individuals in high exposure cases in both State and Federal Courts in both New York and New Jersey. Mr. Alvarado has lectured
extensively on trial preparation, defending traumatic brain injury cases, Frye and Daubert standards in New York, role of excess monitoring counsel, defending Labor Law Claims and jury selection. Mr. Alvarado is a 1987 graduate from Tulane University where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree with Honors, and a 1990 graduate of the Tulane University Law School where he received Order of the Barristers Award for his skills in oral advocacy. Mr. Alvarado has been selected for inclusion in the 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 New York Super
Lawyers.
