Steven M. Lester is an accomplished commercial litigator, trial attorney, and business lawyer with over 35 years’ experience. He represents small and mid-size businesses and individuals in diverse conflict areas such as contract disputes, non-compete and non-solicit restrictive covenants, debtor and creditor rights, environmental matters, estate disputes and will contests, commercial landlord-tenant proceedings, mortgage foreclosures, construction litigation, partner, LLC member and close-corporation shareholder disputes, religious corporation disputes, securities litigation, and unfair competition, patent, copyright and trademark litigation. Steve handles numerous non-litigation matters such as business entity formations (Inc.’s LLP’s LLC’s, partnerships, non-profits, etc.), commercial and residential real estate transactions, purchases and sales of businesses, and contract negotiations.
Prior to establishing his own firm in 1999, Steve was associated with the New York City law firms of Dewey Ballantine (formerly Dewey & LeBoeuf) and Miller & Wrubel P.C. He merged his law practice with his partner, Robert J. La Reddola, in 2006 to form La Reddola, Lester & Associates, LLP.
Steve is a graduate from Fordham University School of Law, where he was a member of the school’s Law Review. He is admitted to practice in the State of New York, the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. He has been admitted pro hac vice in a number of other jurisdictions. Steve is also a certified public accountant. He received his B.B.A. (Public Accounting), magna cum laude, from Hofstra University, where he minored in Political Science, and was a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma and Pi Sigma Alpha honor societies.
Steve is a member of the New York State (Civil Practice Law & Rules Committee, 1993-1997; 200-2003) and Nassau County Bar Associations. He also serves as legal counsel to the Democratic Caucus of the Town Board of the Town of Hempstead (2000 to present). Steve served twice as the President of the Board of Trustees of his church, the South Nassau Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Freeport, New York (2003-2005, 2014-2016) and has served as a member of the Board of Trustees for four separate terms (1995-1998, 2003-2006, 2010-2012, 2013-2016). Steve served as the Legislative District Leader for the 19th L.D. for the Nassau County Democratic Committee (2005-2011), and was appointed by the Nassau County Legislature to serve on the Temporary Districting Advisory Committee, which recommended new boundaries for the county legislative districts based on the 2000 Census. Steve is a native of Bellmore, New York. He is married, has an adult daughter and son, two grandsons, and resides in Merrick, New York.
Robert J. La Reddola is a dynamic trial attorney and counselor who advocates forcefully and passionately for his clients. Robert advises clients early and often as a dispute develops so his clients have the benefit of his advice and experience as events develop. Robert focuses his practice on construction law, where he represents owners, general contractors, subcontractors, suppliers and bonding companies. Robert has extensive administrative law experience representing business owners before the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, in OATH hearings, etc. As a dedicated commercial law attorney with a focus on construction law, his practice includes significant cases in many aspects of New York City construction including contractual disputes, liens, bond claims, ECB and LPB violations. He is a court approved mediator for both general and commercial mediations.
Robert J. La Reddola is a graduate of St. John’s University School of Law. He attended Law School in the evenings while working full time as a civil engineer. He is admitted to practice in the State of New York, the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Southern Districts of New York. Robert received his Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering from Manhattan College’s School of Engineering, where he graduated as valedictorian of his class. Prior to establishing his own firm in 1997, he was an associate with the New York City construction law firm formerly known as Mazur Carp & Rubin. Robert is an active member of the Bar Association of the City of New York, the Nassau County Bar Association and the American Civil Liberties Union.
Robert has done significant pro bono work for those held involuntarily under New York’s Mental Health system. He has significant civil rights decisions in the area of excessive use of force and Second Amendment law. Robert is General Counsel to ADDAPT (Aerospace & Defense Diversification Alliance in Peacetime Transition), an advocacy group for the Long Island Aerospace Industry.
Since the COVID emergency, Robert has advised construction clients regarding extras, contract extensions and safety protocols required by current standards. He has also assisted his clients in addressing reopening standards, price gouging claims and other pertinent issues.
Robert is a native of Whitestone, New York. He is married, has two daughters and a son, and resides in Commack, New York.