General Information
Year founded:
1987
This is the year the firm (or its earliest predecessor entity) was founded.
Overview
Content is provided by the firm.
Powers & Santola, LLP, is one of the nation's preeminent law firms. Our firm limits its practice to representing people in the evaluation, preparation, settlement and trial of serious personal injury and wrongful death suits. We only represent individuals who have been injured, and their families. We never represent insurance companies.
Since the 1980's, both of our firm's founding partners, John Powers and Dan Santola, have repeatedly been selected by their peers as two of "The Best Lawyers in America."
Our law firm, Powers & Santola, LLP, has consistently been recognized for its “High Professional Legal Standards and Ethics” in “The Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register™ of Preeminent Lawyers”. According to its publisher, the “Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register™” is limited to only the most distinguished law practices; those that have achieved the AV® rating in the Martindale-Hubbell® Law Directory. The “A” signifies the highest level of legal ability, while the “V” denotes “very high” adherence to the professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability and diligence.
John and Dan are also listed in: "Who's Who in the World," "Who's Who in America" and "Who's Who in American Law."
Our attorneys handle a variety of complex matters, including: medical and hospital malpractice; birth-related injuries; construction site accidents; defective and unsafe products; failure to timely diagnose cancer; nursing home negligence; and airplane, truck, train and automobile accidents.
Since the 1980's, both of our firm's founding partners, John Powers and Dan Santola, have repeatedly been selected by their peers as two of "The Best Lawyers in America."
Our law firm, Powers & Santola, LLP, has consistently been recognized for its “High Professional Legal Standards and Ethics” in “The Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register™ of Preeminent Lawyers”. According to its publisher, the “Martindale-Hubbell Bar Register™” is limited to only the most distinguished law practices; those that have achieved the AV® rating in the Martindale-Hubbell® Law Directory. The “A” signifies the highest level of legal ability, while the “V” denotes “very high” adherence to the professional standards of conduct, ethics, reliability and diligence.
John and Dan are also listed in: "Who's Who in the World," "Who's Who in America" and "Who's Who in American Law."
Our attorneys handle a variety of complex matters, including: medical and hospital malpractice; birth-related injuries; construction site accidents; defective and unsafe products; failure to timely diagnose cancer; nursing home negligence; and airplane, truck, train and automobile accidents.
Firm News
September 13, 2014
Founding Partner of Powers & Santola Named as Best Lawyers® 2015 ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Albany, New York for Plaintiffs' Medical Malpractice Law
September 4, 2014
Powers & Santola Announces New Partner
July 18, 2014
Powers & Santola, LLP, Reports that Court Finds for Widow of New York Construction Worker Who Fell from Capitol Roof
April 11, 2014
Firm News and Announcements
February 13, 2014
Laura M. Jordan Awarded “TOP 10″ Personal Injury Attorney
December 20, 2013
Firm Celebrates Notable Attorney
November 3, 2013
Powers & Santola Listed in 2014 "Best Law Firms"
Rankings
Powers & Santola, LLP is metro ranked in 5 practice areas. Best Law Firms rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process.
Read how Best Law Firms ranks firmsMetro Rankings
Albany
Tier 1 for Appellate Practice
Tier 1 for Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
Tier 1 for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Tier 1 for Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
Tier 2 for Bet-the-Company Litigation
Highlighted Client Comments
All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.
Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
Powers & Santola are in my opinion, one of the best firms in the nation that deals with product liability litigation. I cannot imagine anyone being more professional, more compassionate, or fighting harder for a client than Powers and Santola. They brought peace and safety to me and my family during one of the most horrifying times in my life.
Christopher Lee
– individual
Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
My experiences with Powers & Santola were always positive. Dan Santola helped guide my family through a difficult time and process with the highest sense of compassion and knowledge. Dan's reputation in his field was evident. When I told other lawyers (both friends and business contacts) that we were working with Powers and Santola, we always hear in response -- "Oh, they are by far the best in the state".
Joseph Raker
– individual
Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
We went to Powers & Santola after they were recommended by several lawyers in my area. I did not know where to turn. My husband at age 49 had woken up from a simple operation not being able to move, speak or breathe on his own. It was a very stressful time. From my first phone call to this firm I felt right away that I had found the right people. They got back to us within a day and evaluated our situation. From then on I was kept up to date on what was being done on our behalf. The team, as I called them, from the secretary to the attorneys, Dan Santola, Tim Higgins and Mr. Powers could not have been more supportive. We live in Lake Placid about 100-plus miles from Albany, where our lawsuit took place, and at every turn they did their best to make things easier on us as to traveling and seeing doctors nearby if it was possible. They made several trips to us so we did not have to go to Albany. By the time the trial was over we had forged friendships and we still keep in touch now. When the trial was over and we went home, we felt that we were leaving family. As I stated before this time in our lives was the most difficult thing we had to go through and Powers & Santola took a weight off my shoulders when they took our case.
Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
I found Powers & Santola to be very helpful in the explanation of all aspects of my legal action. I was treated with respect and compassion.
David Keenan
Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Powers & Santola was so knowledgeable and caring. I was so very fortunate to find such a great law firm.
John Tassone
– individual
Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Powers & Santola lawyers made me feel very comfortable through my difficult time. With any question I had, they were quick to respond and helpful.
Robin Trombley
– individual
Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
As an injured client, the team at Powers & Santola explained the legal process in a friendly manner that I could understand. In court, they were very professional. After, they helped in obtaining health insurance and information on handling my settlement. They had a very friendly and caring team, even after case was done. Oh yeah, they are fast. It was not a long drawn out affair! I highly recommend this firm.
Ronald Pesta,
Paving specialist
– Peter Luizzi & Bros. Contracting
Rankings
Regional Rankings
Albany
Tier 1 for Appellate Practice
Tier 1 for Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
Tier 1 for Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
Tier 1 for Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
Tier 2 for Bet-the-Company Litigation
Practice Areas
The below are areas of legal specialty volunteered by the firm and do not designate a specialty in which a Best Law Firms ranking is held.
- Appellate Practice
- Birth Trauma
- Brain Injury
- Catastrophic Injury
- Delayed Cancer Diagnosis
- Hospital Malpractice
- Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs
- Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs
- Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs
- Wrongful Death
Individuals Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America®
Powers & Santola, LLP has 5 lawyers recognized for individual performance in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in
America®.
By receiving this Best Lawyers recognition from their peers for their professional excellence, these lawyers made Powers & Santola, LLP eligible for evaluation for Best Law Firms rankings.
For almost two decades, Best Lawyers has awarded these singular accolades, making them the foundation of our Best Law Firms awards.
Read more about our Best Lawyers process here.
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Client Comments
All client comments represent the opinions of the people who provided them. All potential clients are urged to remember that no two cases are ever completely alike and that the result in one case does not guarantee a similar result in another case.
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Demographics
Partners
Male:
2
Female:
3
Hispanic / Latinx:
1
White / Caucasian:
3
Of Counsel (but not partners)
Male:
1
White / Caucasian:
1
Associates
Male:
2
White / Caucasian:
1
Awards
Awards are self-reported by firms and are not verified by the Best Law Firms rankings.
- U.S. News and World Report Best Law Firms
- U.S. News and World Report Best Law Firms
- U.S. News and World Report Best Law Firms
- U.S. News and World Report Best Law Firms
- U.S. News and World Report Best Law Firms
- U.S. News and World Report Best Law Firms
Main Location
Albany,
NY
100 Great Oaks Boulevard, Suite 123
Albany, NY 12203
United States
518-720-6188
Call our Albany, NY location at 518-720-6188
Get Directions
Get directions to our Albany, NY location
Office Locations
Rochester,
NY
The Carriage House
693 East Avenue
Rochester, NY 14607
United States
585-440-6734
Call our Rochester, NY location at 585-440-6734
Get Directions
Get directions to our Rochester, NY location
Syracuse,
NY
100 Madison Street, 15th Floor
Syracuse, NY 13202
United States
315-308-1020
Call our Syracuse, NY location at 315-308-1020
Get Directions
Get directions to our Syracuse, NY location
Management and Personnel
Associate
Amber L. Wright
Special Counsel
Michael J. Hutter, Jr.
Partner
Margie A. Soehl
Partner
Laura M. Jordan
Co-founder
John K. Powers
Co-founder
Daniel R. Santola