New York — March 11, 2024 – Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea & LoTurco, LLP, a boutique criminal defense and civil rights firm with offices in New York City and on Long Island, today announced Melissa S. Horlick has joined the firm.
Ms. Horlick brings nearly 30 years of experience practicing criminal law, most recently serving as Senior Counsel at Appellate Advocates, where she vigorously represented clients unable to afford legal representation on appeal. As appellate counsel, Ms. Horlick handled some of the most challenging and complex appeals, with a concentration in fraud-based cases, filing dozens of appellate briefs and post-conviction motions.
“Melissa’s deep experience and passion for this work is a perfect complement to our thriving appellate and post-judgment practice,” Donna Aldea, head of the firm’s appellate and post-conviction litigation group, said.
“We came together 12 years ago as a boutique criminal defense and civil rights firm, with a shared vision that we would provide outstanding representation to anyone charged with or convicted of a crime,” Bruce Barket, Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea & LoTurco, LLP founding partner, said. “We also represent those who have suffered from the excesses of law enforcement, whether having been wrongly convicted or been the victim of excessive force by police. And today, we continue to build on that vision.”
Ms. Horlick is particularly skilled in finding appellate issues and has successfully obtained significant results for her clients convicted of second-degree murder, arson, robbery, burglary, grand larceny, sexually based offenses, criminal possession of a weapon, and fraud-based crimes. Ms. Horlick’s work has resulted in the vacatur of two life sentences, as well as other substantial sentence reductions that have greatly benefitted her clients.
She has argued cases in the New York State Court of Appeals, the United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit, and the Appellate Division, Second Department. A highly seasoned oral advocate, she has trained and prepared countless attorneys for oral argument, served as a guest lecturer at law school clinics, and taught Continuing Legal Education courses.
Ms. Horlick is a graduate of George Washington University (B.A.) and Brooklyn Law School (J.D.). She began her career at the Kings County District Attorney’s Office and served as an Associate Court Attorney for the Honorable Barbara F. Newman in the Supreme Court of Bronx County.
Barket Epstein Kearon Aldea & LoTurco, LLP is recognized throughout the nation as a leader in criminal defense, appellate, commercial litigation, personal injury and civil rights issues. With more than 200 years of experience and a team of former prosecutors, public defenders and judges, BEKAL is uniquely capable of representing clients in an array of complex legal matters. The firm has offices in Manhattan, Garden City and Huntington, New York. www.barketepstein.com Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn: @barketepstein.
