Attorneys

Robert J. Aiello is a principal and founding member of the law firm and a trial attorney. His practice is devoted primarily to criminal defense in State and Federal Courts as well as real estate matters. Mr. Aiello has been involved in many high profile cases throughout his career. Some of his clients include Peter Guagenti, the driver in the Amy Fisher case in Nassau County, Patrick Bannon who shot and killed three people including an off-duty housing police officer outside a nightclub on Bell Boulevard in Bayside and Vincent DiFrancisco who was one of the persons charged in the assault of Shane Daniels outside Club Marakash in Westhampton Beach in 1996.

In 2003, he represented Dennis Salvador Alvarez Hernandez who was charged with First Degree Capital Murder in Westchester County. It was the first case in Westchester County where the District Attorney, Jeanine Pirro, sought the death penalty. After a nine month trial, the jury spared Mr. Alvarez's life. The verdict was hailed as a major victory for the defense as reported at the time in the New York Times, U.S.A. Today and The Journal News. The trial received extensive pre-trial and trial publicity on Channels 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11 and Westchester 12 as well as daily newspaper coverage in the Journal News.

Mr. Aiello was formerly with the Office of the District Attorney, Queens County where, for several years, he managed a full range of criminal matters from misdemeanor to major felonies. Mr. Aiello supervised a group of Supreme Court trial attorneys and at 29 years old, became one of the youngest trial Assistants in the Homicide Trial Bureau where he served for over two years.

While in private practice, Mr. Aiello served as counsel to New York State Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol, Chairman of the Codes Committee, where he was responsible for research, analysis, preparation and drafting of legislative bills for the New York State Assembly.

Mr. Aiello recently was involved representing one of the defendants charged in one of the largest commodities fraud cases brought in the Southern District of New York. He also represents the former president of the Production Workers Union Local 148 who is charged with embezzlement and receiving kickbacks in a major union corruption case in Newark, New Jersey.

Mr. Aiello regularly attends seminars to keep abreast of the latest developments in State and Federal criminal defense and has been invited to speak at some of these seminars. He has been qualified as an expert criminal attorney and one of only a handful selected to represent criminal defendants in capital murder cases. He appears regularly as a guest commentator on Court TV.

Current Employment Position(s):

Partner, Aiello & Cannick

Trial Attorney

Areas Of Practice:

Criminal Defense - Federal and State
Real Estate

Litigation Percentage:

75% of practice devoted to litigation.

Bar Admissions:

New York State (1985)
District of Columbia (1987)
United States District Court, Southern District of New York (1986)
United States District Court, Eastern District of New York (1986)
United States District Court, Northern District of New York (1994)
United States Supreme Court (1993)

Education:

Fordham University School of Law, New York, N.Y. J.D. (1984)
      Highlights: Moot Court Board, Trial Advocacy Program

Trinity College, Hartford, CT, B.A. Economics (1981)
      Highlights: Phi Beta Kappa, Pi Gamma Mu, George Keith Funston Economics Award

London School of Economics & Political Science, London, England (1980)

St. Paul's School, Garden City, N.Y. (1974-1977)

      Highlights: Editor, School Newspaper, Class President, Alumni Cup for Outstanding Graduate,
      Listed Who's Who Among American High School Students

Representative Clients:

New York State Liquidation Bureau

Professional Associations and Memberships:

Listed Who's Who Among American Lawyers
Member, New York City Bar Association
Member, Queens County Bar Association
Vice Chairman, Speaker's Bureau, Queens County Bar Association
Member, Columbian Lawyers Association
Member, National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
Certified by New York State to handle Death Penalty Cases
Guest Commentator on Court TV, CNN and Channel 5
Live Appearances on Channels 2, 4, 7, 9, 11, 12 and CNN
 

Past Employment Positions:

New York State Department of Labor (1979-1980)
Campaign Aide, Mario Cuomo for Governor (1982)
Associate, Reid & Priest, New York, NY (1983)
Law Intern, U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District (1984)
Queens County District Attorney's Office (1984-1992)
Trial Assistant, Criminal Court Bureau (1984)
Trial Assistant, Grand Jury Investigations (1985)
Trial Assistant, Supreme Court Trial Division (1986-1988)
Trial Assistant, Major Offense Prosecution Bureau (1989)
Trial Assistant, Homicide Trial Division (1990-1992)

Partner, Aiello & Cannick (1992-present)

Counsel to the Codes Committee, New York State Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol, Chairman (1993-1995)
 

Outside Interests:

Columbus Citizens Foundation (1991-present)
Member, Board of Governors, Columbus Citizens Foundation (1996-1999)
Chairman, High School Scholarship Committee, Columbus  (1995-2000)
Board of Directors, Don Monti Research Foundation at North Shore Hospital (1992-present)
Board of Directors, Maspeth Town Hall (2004-present)
Chairman, Patchogue Shores Beach Beautification (2005-Present)
Coach, Manhasset Soccer Club
Trinity College Alumni Association (1981-present)
Fordham Law School Alumni Association (1984-present)
 

Hobbies/Interests:

Tennis, Jogging, Boating and Travel
Member, North Hills Country Club, Manhasset, New York
Member, New York Athletic Club, New York, New York
Member, Columbus Citizens Foundation, New York, New York
 

Personal Information:

Born 1959 in Brooklyn. Married with two children. Resides in Manhasset, New York
 

References:

Furnished upon request
 

Home || Firm Overview || Practice Areas || Attorneys || Resource Links

The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for individual advice regarding your own situation.

Copyright © by Aiello & Cannick. All rights reserved. You may reproduce materials available at this site for your own personal use and for non-commercial distribution. All copies must include this copyright statement.