About Our Law Firm
Devine, Snyder & Bruno, LLP was established in Albany, NY in 2007 by a group of attorneys and legal staff who believe that a culture of professionalism and collegiality best enables our Albany, NY business law and family law firm to provide excellence in personal service to our clients. The success of this premise has been overwhelming. Because of the boutique nature of our law firm, we are not – nor do we try to be – all things to all people; rather, our lawyers focus their legal practice on those areas of concentration in which their knowledge and experience redound to the benefit of our clients, whether it be tax law, family law – including divorce law and estate law, or litigation. When matters go beyond our areas of concentration, we coordinate the services of other respected Albany legal practitioners on behalf of our clients. Thus, even in referring matters to others, we provide the personal touch and attention to which all clients are entitled.
We invite all legal inquiries directly or through electronic means. Our culture breeds excellence, and we invite potential clients to sample it. We welcome the opportunity and challenge of proving our value to each client every day.
Practice Areas
Business Law
Family Law
Litigation
Wills and Estates
Albany, NY Attorneys at Law
Terence J. Devine
Mr. Devine is engaged in a business law and tax practice with the law firm. He is involved in virtually all aspects of corporate law, entity selection, business formation, financial and tax matters, corporate mergers and acquisitions, buy-sell agreements, tax litigation, employee benefits and estate planning. Mr. Devine has also worked hand in hand with attorneys inside and outside the firm in connection with litigation of commercial disputes, shareholder disputes and white-collar tax crimes. He has been successful in dealing with some of the largest Chapter 11 cases filed in the Northern District of New York and has also successfully litigated ERISA cases involving employee stock ownership plans.
Mr. Devine’s representative recent engagements include the following:
Trial counsel securing a judgment after bench trial of more than $15,700,000 in ESOP litigation in United States District Court for the Northern District of New York, and appellate counsel prosecuting and defending appeals with respect to that case (334 F. Supp. 2nd 252 and 468 F. Supp. 2nd 368).
Co-lead counsel in an ESOP case in the Eastern District of California, securing a preliminary injunction (2008 WL 4443085) which ultimately led to a favorable settlement and secured retirement benefits for the participants in an employee stock ownership plan.
Successful defense of preliminary injunction on an appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (572 F. 3d 1067).
Negotiation and drafting of documents for the design and construction of gas-fueled power facilities in Michigan, California and Alabama, with contract values of over $50,000,000.
General legal counsel with respect to the operation and sale of a modular home factory and an 834-unit apartment complex.
Negotiation, structuring and implementation of substantial equity infusions in numerous local businesses.
Sale of businesses to national and international companies.
Acquisition of numerous insurance brokerage businesses.
Negotiation and drafting of documents for lead bank in syndicated loan transactions of up to $220,000,000.
Successful representation of the recording industry and motion picture industry against a file-sharing service in both Bankruptcy Court and United States District Court for the Northern District of New York.
Successful representation of a charitable foundation in securing the dismissal in a Chapter 11 case on the basis of a bad faith filing.
In addition to his practice in the firm, Mr. Devine served as a Legal Assistant on the New York State Board of Law Examiners from 1977 to 2009. In that capacity, he was involved in the drafting and grading of the New York Bar Exam and the review of the Multi-State Bar Exam. He still manages a grading team with respect to the exam.
Mr. Devine attended Villanova University and Elmira College and received his B.A. in Political Science, with honors, in 1973. He graduated from Albany Law School, with honors, in 1976 and was a member of the Albany Law Review and the Justinian Society. While practicing law in Albany, he also attended New York University and was awarded an L.L.M. in Taxation in 1982.
Thomas A. Snyder
Mr. Snyder’s primary practice concentrates in the areas of Matrimonial and Family Law in, including all aspects of contested and uncontested divorce actions, custody disputes, support matters and equitable distribution. Mr. Snyder has experience as a family and divorce lawyer in Albany, NY: prosecuting and defending complex matrimonial actions involving multiple businesses, licenses, degrees, professional practices, and trademarks, as well as negotiating the resolution of matrimonial and family law matters and the many issues involved in these matters.
Mr. Snyder’s representative recent matters include the following:
The successful defense of a highly contested relocation matter in Family Court
The successful prosecution of a complex matrimonial matter involving several corporations and assets valued in excess of $6,000,000.00.
The prosecution and defense of numerous divorce actions.
The prosecution and defense of numerous custody matters.
The prosecution and defense of numerous support matters.
Mr. Snyder graduated from Allegany College and received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology in 1984. He graduated from Albany Law School in 1989 and is a member of the New York State Bar Association, Family Law Section and Albany County Bar Association.
Attorney Bios
Terence J. Devine
Thomas A. Snyder
Jeffrey B. Scott
Michael N. Bruno
Jeffery B. Scott
Mr. Scott serves as counsel to the law firm. He has over 15 years of insurance, specialty finance, real estate, private and public equity investment and legal experience. In addition to his other activities, Mr. Scott is a member of the Board of Directors of Olympus Insurance Company, and currently serves as the Consumer Division President for the country’s largest insurance premium finance company, Premium Financing Specialists, Inc. (“PFS”) and is President of both the New York and New Jersey Premium Finance Associations. Mr. Scott is both a primary shareholder and board member of Valogix, Inc. a global business software provider, and WiFi Fee, LLC a provider of wireless internet and telecom services. Mr. Scott was the founder and CEO of Capitol Payment Plan, Inc. and Barry Scott Companies, Inc. until their acquisition by PFS and Progressive Insurance Corp., respectively. His unique background and skills are an invaluable resource in working with members of our law firm on business matters, particularly those of an entrepreneurial nature.
Michael N. Bruno
Mr. Bruno joined Devine, Snyder & Bruno after graduating Magna Cum Laude from Albany Law School in May 2010. During his tenure with the firm he has worked in various legal practice areas including Elder Law, Estate Planning, Marital Law, Business and Corporate Law, Real Estate, Bankruptcy and Civil Litigation.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Bruno worked for twenty years in the telecommunications industry. During this time he served as President and CEO of Price Communications Wireless, a publicly traded company that sold to Verizon Wireless for $2.2 billion. Most recently he was founder and president of Mobility Ventures, Inc., a retailer of wireless services that generated over $6 million in annual revenue.
Mr. Bruno lives in Columbia County with his wife and three children. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association, Trusts and Estates and Elder Law Sections, Albany County Bar Association, Columbia County Bar Association and the Hudson Lions Club. He has served on the boards of the Columbia Golf and Country Club and the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Bruno is admitted to practice in New York State Court and in the United States District Court for the Northern District of New York.