McKernan Law: Celebrating 25 Years of Membership
By Danielle Wiseman, Staten Island Chamber of Commerce
McKernan Law is a Staten Island-based law firm offering a range of legal services spanning from business law to criminal defense law. Located on Mosely Avenue in the heart of Eltingville, McKernan Law proudly serves the legal needs of both businesses and individuals across New York and New Jersey.
Kevin McKernan, owner and founder of the firm, always knew that he wanted to be a lawyer. As a child, he was heavily influenced by characters like Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird and Perry Mason, who introduced him to the world of law. McKernan’s interest never wavered, and he went on to the University of Notre Dame, where he majored in government and international relations and received a certificate in Soviet and Eastern European Area Studies. Following his undergraduate studies, McKernan was accepted into Fordham University’s School of Law, where he earned his Juris Doctor degree.
McKernan started practicing law immediately after passing the Bar exam, beginning as a Legislative Attorney for the New York City Council. He then became a Law Secretary to various New York State Supreme Court Justices, and he was eventually appointed to the Richmond County District Attorney’s Office as Bureau Chief of Investigation and Head of the Organized Crime Task Force.
Following his time as a prosecutor, McKernan decided that he wanted to start his own law firm and work independently, practicing not only criminal defense law but also business law, real estate law, and estate planning. McKernan Law originally opened in New Dorp in 1990 and throughout the years moved locations, from New Dorp to Tottenville and finally Tottenville to Eltingville, where McKernan Law found its permanent, and beloved, home. Realizing his impact on Staten Island, McKernan decided to open a second location in 1990, this time in New Jersey.
Prior to the pandemic, the majority of McKernan’s casework was criminal defense law. “In the time that I’ve been practicing, I’ve had over seventy major felony trials for jury verdict, and I’ve tried over a dozen homicide trials for jury verdict,” says McKernan. “The disruption of the pandemic gave us the opportunity to shift our focus to other areas of law. We’d always done a fair amount of real estate, business law, and estate planning, so we pivoted in that direction.”
“The majority of our clients, both businesses and individuals, come from referrals from other clients,” adds McKernan. “When I go to networking events, whether it be Chamber events or others, I’m just looking to meet people and have interesting conversations, and sometimes that will lead to business down the line.”
McKernan Law’s small but mighty staff is the backbone of the firm. McKernan’s Of Counsel, Vanessa Bellucci Markos, is a New York Law School graduate and focuses on Medicaid planning and estate planning. Roseanne Damiano, McKernan’s administrative assistant, has been with the firm over 27 years. “It started out with just me, and we slowly grew,” reminisces McKernan. “I brought on Roseanne early on, and we’ve had a few part-time employees here and there, but we like to keep it small. My team handles everything for me when I’m in court.”
In addition to being involved in the Staten Island and New Jersey communities through his work, McKernan is also a member of the Kiwanis Club, the Warren Jacques committee, and the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. He is also involved in the National College for DUI Defense, the University of Notre Dame Alumni Association, the Fordham University School of Law Alumni Association, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians. McKernan currently serves as Chair of the New Jersey State Bar Municipal Court Committee.
This year, McKernan Law is celebrating its 25th anniversary with the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce. McKernan originally joined the Chamber to network with like-minded business owners, and he never turned back. “It was important for me go out and meet other members of the business community, and the Chamber presented wonderful opportunities for me to engage with Staten Islanders,” says McKernan. “I wanted to let people know who I was, and going to the Chamber’s monthly mixers was a great way to get my name out there.”
McKernan is an active member of the Chamber and can often be found at any number of our events. “I can’t believe we’ve been with the Chamber for 25 years,” says McKernan. “We’ve met so many people over the years, and we’ve even developed our interpersonal skills because of the Chamber. You’re forced to talk to people, and it makes you better in the end.”
Congratulations to McKernan Law on 25 years with the Staten Island Chamber of Commerce!
