Gregory J. Watford

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Gregory J. Watford is a seasoned attorney with 25 years of litigation experience and over 10 years of law enforcement experience. He zealously advocates for clients at all stages of litigation from the commencement of the action through trial. He has a demonstrable record of effectively and successfully meeting legal needs of institutional and individual clients and he consistently obtains favorable resolutions on all matters with and without litigation. Throughout the years he has developed and maintained a reputation for professionalism and is highly respected by peers, advocates and judges. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. After graduating college, he had a five-year career in law enforcement conducting criminal investigations. He worked as a Confidential Investigator for the Inspector General's Office for the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development where he investigated employee misconduct and corruption within city agencies. He then went to work as a Detective Investigator at the Kings County District Attorney's Office where he investigated various types of crimes and assisted the Assistant District Attorneys in preparing their cases for trial. Mr. Watford then decided to further his career and obtained his law degree from Hofstra University School of Law. During his law school summers, he worked as a Summer Associate for two large law firms in New York City (Chabourne & Parke, LLP and Proskauer Rose LLP). During his third year in law school, he was the President of the Hofstra Chapter of the Black Law Students Association.

After graduating law school, he worked as an Assistant District Attorney in the New York County District Attorney's Office where he prosecuted various street crimes, white collar crimes and arson investigations. While there he participated in various community service programs and was a mentor at several Junior High Schools and High Schools.

After his career in law enforcement, Mr. Watford worked as a Litigation Associate for two law firms; Dienst and Serrins, LLP and Koehler & Isaacs, LLP where he represented several municipal unions and their members in the firms' criminal/disciplinary departments. In 2001, he began working as a solo practitioner at The Law Offices of Gregory J. Watford. While in private practice, Mr. Watford focused on the areas of criminal law, administrative law, entertainment litigation, personal injury and residential real estate transactions. During his private practice, he continued a working relationship with Koehler & Isaacs LLP as a Conflict/Per Diem Attorney for the New York City Correction Officers Benevolent Association (COBA). During this period, Mr. Watford also presided as an Administrative Law Judge for the Taxi and Limousine Commission where he adjudicated cases involving violations of agency rules/regulations, vehicle and traffic law violations, code of conduct violations.

In February 2013, Mr. Watford returned to Koehler and Isaacs, LLP as a Senior Litigation Associate in the criminal/disciplinary unit. While there he continued to successfully represent various union members on criminal matters, grievances, arbitrations, civil service disciplinary trials and appeared before the NYC Civil Service Commission. In January 2020, Mr. Watford founded The Law Firm of Gregory J. Watford, Esq., PLLC.

Mr. Watford's experience as a law enforcement officer/investigator, a prosecutor, an Administrative Law Judge and years of experience as a criminal defense attorney has provided him with a broad range of experience within the criminal justice system. When defending clients, Mr. Watford often relies on his investigative skills from his law enforcement background. On numerous occasions he has personally visited crime scenes with clients in order to develop and enhance his defense strategy. Moreover, as a result of his prior experience assisting in the investigation and prosecution of various criminal offenses, as a defense attorney, Mr. Watford has developed a unique insight on how to identify weaknesses and inconsistencies in numerous charges filed against his clients.

Most recently, Mr. Watford was appointed an Arbitrator by the American Arbitration Association in 2018. As an arbitrator, he puts his depth and breadth of experience in the law to work in a judiciary capacity.

Practice Areas:

• Employment and Labor
• DUI and DWI
• Violent Crime
• Criminal Defense
• Domestic Violence
• Expungement

Education:

• J.D., Hofstra University School Of Law, 1993
• B.S. in Criminal Justice, John Jay College Of Criminal Justice, 1985

Bar Admissions:

• New York State Appellate Division – Second Department
• United States District Court – Southern District of New York
• United States District Court – Eastern District of New York

Experience:

• The Law Firm of Gregory J. Watford, Esq., PLLC 2020 - current
• American Arbitration Association, 2018 - current
• Watford Jackson, PLLC, Pllc, Managing Partner, 2018 – 2020
• Koehler & Isaacs, Llp, Senior Litigation Associate, 2013 – 2018
• The Law Offices Of Gregory J. Watford, Solo Practitioner, 2001 – 2013
• NYC Taxi & Limousine Commission, Administrative Law Judge, 2003 –2006
• Jane N. Barrett And Associates, Of Counsel, 2003 – 2004
• Koehler & Isaacs, Llp, Litigation Associate, 1999 – 2001
• Dienst & Serrins, Llp, Litigation Associate, 1998 – 1999
• New York County District Attorney's Office, Assistant District Attorney, 1993 – 1998
• Proskauer Rose Llp, Summer Associate, 1992
• Hofstra University School Of Law, Research Assistant To Professor Cheryl Wade, 1991 – 1992
• Chadbourne & Parke, Summer Associate, 1991

Training Courses:

• The Department of Justice's Federal Law Enforcement Arson Prosecutor's Seminar
• The NYPD Narcotics Investigation Course
• The NYPD Sex Crimes Investigator's Course
• The United States Department of Treasury's Money Laundering
• Asset Forfeiture Training Program