Leading-Edge Legal Representation
Biography
Mr. Savatta's practice involves internal corporate investigations and criminal litigation in all federal and state courts. He has represented publicly traded companies, small and large privately held companies, a regional hospital and private individuals as well as clients in the entertainment industry. In addition, Mr. Savatta acts as lead counsel in pro bono matters representing prisoners in wrongful conviction and actual innocence cases.
Prior to establishing his private practice, Mr. Savatta was a Senior Assistant District Attorney in Kings County, New York. Mr. Savatta was assigned to the Rackets Bureau where he performed long and short-term investigations of financial crimes. He also conducted felony hearings and trials, including homicides, managed felony cases and investigations, interviewed witnesses, researched and prepared memoranda on various criminal issues, obtained videotaped confessions from homicide suspects, monitored homicide investigations, presented cases to grand juries, drafted search warrants and supervised less experienced Assistant District Attorneys. Mr. Savatta also worked with Jay Goldberg, the prominent commercial and criminal litigator who New York Magazine once reported, after polling New York lawyers and judges, was "the best pure trial lawyer in town."
In addition, Mr. Savatta has taught criminal law and procedure as an Adjunct Professor at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York, and has taught trial advocacy as a Faculty Instructor at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, in New York, New York. He is a court appointed Referee and appeared as a guest commentator on Court TV. He is a member of the New York County Lawyers' Association's Committee on Professional Ethics and the Ethics Hotline contact person for the New York County Lawyers' Association. He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and New York County Lawyers' Association.
Prior to establishing his private practice, Mr. Savatta was a Senior Assistant District Attorney in Kings County, New York. Mr. Savatta was assigned to the Rackets Bureau where he performed long and short-term investigations of financial crimes. He also conducted felony hearings and trials, including homicides, managed felony cases and investigations, interviewed witnesses, researched and prepared memoranda on various criminal issues, obtained videotaped confessions from homicide suspects, monitored homicide investigations, presented cases to grand juries, drafted search warrants and supervised less experienced Assistant District Attorneys. Mr. Savatta also worked with Jay Goldberg, the prominent commercial and criminal litigator who New York Magazine once reported, after polling New York lawyers and judges, was "the best pure trial lawyer in town."
In addition, Mr. Savatta has taught criminal law and procedure as an Adjunct Professor at St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York, and has taught trial advocacy as a Faculty Instructor at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, in New York, New York. He is a court appointed Referee and appeared as a guest commentator on Court TV. He is a member of the New York County Lawyers' Association's Committee on Professional Ethics and the Ethics Hotline contact person for the New York County Lawyers' Association. He is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the New York State Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and New York County Lawyers' Association.
Education
- Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York, New York
- Juris doctor - 06/1996
- Honors: Cardozo Trial Advocacy Team; and Semi-finalist in Texas Young Lawyers’ New York Regional Competition.
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- B.A. - 05/1993
- Honors: Dean’s List; and Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society.
- Major: Political Science
Bar Admission
- New York
- New Jersey
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit
- U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois
Articles
- Contributing Author, “Utilizing Forensic Science in Criminal Cases, Inside the Minds, pp. 33-53 (2016-2017 Ed.)
- Panelist, “Ethical Considerations in Starting Your Own Practice – What You Need to Know,” program sponsored by the New York County Lawyers’ Association, Bridge the Gap Series, December 19, 2014.
- Author, “Moral Considerations and Advising Clients,” N.Y.L.J., 1/9/14, p. 6, col. 4.
- Contributing author of the New York County Lawyers’ Association’s 2011 New York County Criminal Courts Manual.
- Panelist, “Attorney Fee Disputes: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You,” continuing legal education program sponsored by the Nathan R. Sobel Kings County American Inn of Court, November 24, 2015.
- Panelist, “Pre-Settlement Funding Companies – Not As Simple As You Think,” continuing legal education program sponsored by the Nathan R. Sobel Kings County American Inn of Court, February 25, 2014.
- Panelist, “Ethical Considerations in Starting Your Own Practice – What You Need to Know,” program sponsored by the New York County Lawyers’ Association, Bridge the Gap Series, December 20, 2013.
- Panelist, “Clarence Darrow: Crimes, Causes and the Courtroom,” continuing legal education program sponsored by the New York County Lawyers’ Association, March 18, 2002.