Richard Anthony Portale - Profile

Mr. Portale is recognized for his tenacity in the courtroom and during negotiations, with a track record to back it up. While pursuing his education at the University of Buffalo, Mr. Portale specialized in Interdisciplinary Studies, Classics, and Philosophy of Law, graduating with Honors. Alongside his academic pursuits, he was actively involved in football, basketball, and rugby. After earning his Juris Doctor degree, Mr. Portale relocated to Westchester County, New York, where he prepared for the New York Bar Exam while co-managing the re-election campaign of then Westchester County Attorney Jeanine Pirro. In January 1998, he assumed the role of Assistant District Attorney at The Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. Over nearly five years, he advanced through various departments, including the Motions and Appeals Unit, the Grand Jury Bureau, the Investigations Division, and ultimately the Gangs Unit of the Investigations Bureau. Transitioning from the DA’s Office, Mr. Portale joined Duffy, Duffy & Burdo, a prominent Plaintiff’s Medical Malpractice Firm in the nation, to refine his trial and litigation skills. Driven by his passion for criminal law, he founded his own practice in Westchester County, specializing in criminal matters. In May 2009, Mr. Portale became a partner at the firm of Pappalardo & Pappalardo. In January 2012, he assumed the role of Senior Criminal Defense at Gaines, Novick, Ponzini, Cossu & Venditti, LLP. By May 2014, he revitalized the Law Offices of Richard A. Portale, establishing one of the most active criminal law practices in the tri-state area. With a successful track record of over a hundred cases brought to verdict, Mr. Portale’s expertise is unmatched. He was honored with the 2019 Litigator of the Year award from the American Institute of Trial Lawyers and appointed to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.