Jackson Bergman, LLP

05/10/2026

Congratulations Binghamton Black Bears!!!

05/06/2026

✨ Employee Spotlight ✨

This week, we’re highlighting another important member of the team at Jackson Bergman LLP — Rebecca.

Rebecca is a matrimonial and family court paralegal who is known around the office for her strong work ethic, efficiency, and ability to get things done. She takes a straightforward, no-nonsense approach to her work and plays a major role in keeping cases organized and moving forward for both attorneys and clients.

After graduating from Briarcliffe College in Long Island in 2012 with an associate degree in Applied Science, Rebecca began her legal career at a law firm in Ithaca, New York, where she quickly became a valuable part of the team. She later worked for the Broome County District Attorney’s Office in the Special Victims Bureau, coordinating closely with Assistant District Attorneys, law enforcement, and the courts to ensure matters were handled thoroughly and efficiently.

At Jackson Bergman LLP, Rebecca continues to put her experience and organizational skills to work every day, helping families navigate legal matters while making sure cases stay on track and deadlines are met. Her ability to handle high-pressure situations quickly and effectively makes her an essential part of the office.

Outside of her legal work, Rebecca is also known as the office baker — often bringing in homemade treats for the team — and for her sense of humor that keeps everyone laughing throughout the day. More recently, though, she’s become best known as “Calvin’s mom,” a title she proudly carries both in and out of the office.

When something needs to get done, Rebecca is someone the team can always count on.

We’re proud to have Becca on our team! 💼✨

05/02/2026

Our friend and colleague is running for re-election as Vestal Town Judge. He has the full endorsement of our firm! A life-long resident and practitioner serving the residents of Vestal, we are excited to support Judge Butler!

INCUMBENT LOCAL JUDGE MATT BUTLER ANNOUNCES RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN FOR VESTAL TOWN JUSTICE

(Vestal, NY) – Matt Butler, an experienced attorney, lifelong Vestal resident and current Vestal Town Justice, today formally announced his candidacy for re-election to another four-year term.

“I’m running for re-election to ensure our community continues to have an impartial, experienced Town Justice to serve our residents. I’m a lifelong Vestal resident, proud community volunteer and local attorney,” said Butler. “With my decades of legal experience and years of service on the bench, I remain committed to applying the law impartially and ensuring our court reflects the integrity and stability Vestal deserves.”

Butler, 56, is a lifelong resident of Vestal who helped grow his family’s law firm into Butler, Mucci, & Grace, LLP, where he provides trusted legal services across a wide range of matters, including matrimonial and family law, civil and criminal law, business law, real estate, and personal injury.

Butler has earned a reputation for fairness, professionalism, and steady leadership on the bench. He has also been deeply involved in the Vestal community, including volunteering as a coach in youth and high school football and lacrosse, presenting at the Vestal Youth Police Academy and supporting the Broome County high school Mock Trial program.

Butler is an active member of the New York State Bar Association, the Broome County Bar Association, and the New York State and Broome County Magistrates Associations. He previously served on the Board of Directors of the Broome County Bar Association and on the New York State Bar Association Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and Anti-Asian Hate.

“I am Vestal through and through. My wife, Marisa, and I have lived and worked in this community for our whole lives. We raised our children here. This community shaped the values that guide me every day, and serving as Vestal Town Justice has been a true honor,” Butler said. “I would be honored to continue serving the community that has given so much to my family and me,” concluded Butler.

Prior to serving as Town Justice, Butler served for more than 20 years as Attorney to the Town of Vestal Zoning Board of Appeals. He was later appointed Town Justice by the Democrat-led Town Board because of his bipartisan credentials and long history in the Vestal community.

Butler is a Republican and resides in Vestal with his wife, Marisa. They have two adult children.

The General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

04/29/2026

✨ Employee Spotlight ✨

This week, we’re excited to spotlight another dedicated member of the team at Jackson Bergman LLP — Mikayla Bergman.

Mikayla is a paralegal who plays an important role in supporting both our attorneys and clients, with a focus on criminal discovery and matrimonial matters. She brings a strong attention to detail and a thoughtful approach to every case she works on.

After starting at the firm in 2021 as a legal secretary, Mikayla worked her way up to her current role as a paralegal — a reflection of her strong work ethic and commitment to learning. She graduated from Binghamton University in 2023 with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Law, and has continued to build on her experience in the legal field ever since.

Mikayla is also beginning to pursue investigative work, expanding her skill set and continuing to grow within the firm.

Around the office, she’s known for keeping the energy up by singing throughout the day and for being the go-to person when it comes to helping with IT issues — always ready to jump in and figure things out.

We’re proud to have Mikayla on our team and excited to see all she continues to accomplish. 💼✨

04/25/2026

Congratulations!!!

🏈 | With the 140th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select: Colbie Young, Wide Receiver, Binghamton High School!

A huge congratulations to our guy Colbie on achieving his professional football dream!

04/23/2026

Jackson Bergman had a special visitor today! Mr. Oliver Kelly—attorney Amanda Kelly’s baby—stopped by in his JB gear to check out one of Ben and Tom’s favorite pizza spots, Pudgie’s!

Safe to say he’s officially a fan.

🍕💼👶🏼

04/22/2026

✨ Employee Spotlight ✨

This week, we’re excited to introduce another friendly face at Jackson Bergman LLP — Dasha Watson.

Dasha is our Legal Secretary, essential to keeping the office running smoothly—especially by managing calendars and handling behind-the-scenes details. Her reliability and attention to detail support our daily operations, and she’s the friendly voice you’ll hear when calling Jackson Bergman, always ready to assist and welcome clients.

Originally from Sacramento, California, Dasha attended California State University, Chico, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a concentration in Legal Studies and a minor in Criminal Justice. She gained valuable experience working at law offices in California, including the Law Office of Susan Hearne and CBE Law.

Dasha made the move to New York in 2024 with her newly engaged fiancé in pursuit of new opportunities — and we’re so glad that journey brought her to our team.

Known for always lending a hand and her natural ability to connect with others, Dasha is a true people person who helps create a positive and supportive environment in the office.

We’re lucky to have you Dasha! 💼✨

04/17/2026

Meet our New Visions intern, Missy Patinka!

Missy is a senior at Whitney Point High School and a student in the New Visions Law and Government Academy. She has a strong interest in pursuing a career in family law or investigative work and is eager to learn what goes on behind the scenes in the legal field.

Through her previous placements, Missy has already gained valuable experience observing the Binghamton Police Department, Family Court with Judge Young, the Broome County Children’s Law Office, and the District Attorney’s Office. These opportunities have helped her build a solid foundation and deepen her interest in the legal system.

During her time with our firm, Missy is especially excited to observe family and criminal law in action, as well as learn more about the investigative work that supports each case. We’re thrilled to have her with us and look forward to being part of her journey!

Broome-Tioga BOCES
Whitney Point Central School District

04/15/2026

✨ Employee Spotlight ✨

This week, we’re excited to highlight one of the most experienced members of our team at Jackson Bergman LLP — Eric Kelley.

Eric is a Licensed Private Investigator with over 35 years of experience in the criminal justice field. A lifelong Broome County resident, he holds degrees in Criminal Justice from Binghamton University and North Country Community College, and is a graduate of the Broome County Police Academy.

Throughout his career, Eric has investigated hundreds of cases ranging from serious felonies to complex family law matters. His background with both the District Attorney’s Office and Public Defender’s Office gives him a well-rounded, insightful approach that is invaluable to our team and clients.

Since joining Jackson Bergman LLP in 2021, Eric has been a key part of our investigative work, supporting attorneys and helping build strong cases with his attention to detail and extensive knowledge.

But beyond his impressive experience, Eric is someone who truly makes the office a better place to be. He’s always willing to lend a hand to his coworkers, and if there’s an office lunch happening — you can bet Eric will be there, helping bring everyone together. His friendly, team-first attitude doesn’t go unnoticed.

We’re lucky to have Eric on our team! 💼✨

04/08/2026

✨ Employee Spotlight ✨

This week, we’re excited to highlight one of the incredible attorneys at Jackson Bergman LLP — Amanda Kelly!

Amanda is a passionate and experienced attorney who has built her career on one core principle: fighting for justice and protecting her clients’ rights. From the very beginning, she has been deeply committed to the practice of criminal law, starting with her time at Albany Law School where she interned with the Schenectady County District Attorney’s Office, working on domestic violence cases and high-level appeals.

After graduating in 2017, Amanda joined the Broome County District Attorney’s Office, where she quickly rose through the ranks — from Criminal Law Associate to Assistant District Attorney. During her time there, she handled everything from misdemeanors and traffic matters to domestic violence cases, before being entrusted with felony-level prosecutions focused on DWI and property crimes. She was later promoted to the Drug Bureau, where she prosecuted complex felony drug cases and even violent crimes.

Since joining Jackson Bergman LLP, Amanda has brought that experience to defending criminal matters across New York, while also guiding clients through matrimonial and family court cases with care and understanding.

What truly sets Amanda apart, though, is who she is beyond her resume. She has a great sense of humor that brings light to even the most stressful situations, and she’s someone both clients and colleagues can turn to — whether they need advice, reassurance, or just someone to talk things through with. Amanda has a way of making people feel heard, supported, and at ease.

She’s not only a strong advocate in the courtroom, but also a genuinely good person who cares deeply about the people she works with and represents.

We’re lucky to have Amanda on our team. 💼✨

04/02/2026

Great group of kids who worked extremely hard and they are not done!!

Back to back! The VHS Mock Trial Team won the Broome County Finals last week at the Federal Courthouse in Binghamton, defeating Maine Endwell to advance to Regionals on April 25th at Norwich County Courthouse. This is their second consecutive county title, and they are hungry for more. Huge congratulations to the team and coaches!

Lawyers: Alexandra Schleider (captain), Anna Petchenyi, Maheen Khan, Aviva Kaminsky (captain), Eva Weseman, Abdulbaari Sheikh, Shruthi Poranki

Witnesses: Swera Kabir, Rose Marks, Seema Patel (captain), Nyasia Harris, Kayleen Packard, Emma Rose Johnson, Brynn Bartlett

Paralegals: Amari Parkinson, Amyah Johnson, Cem Sezen, Maelice McDonald, Sydney Goldszer, Samuel Winans

Advisors: Mr. Gretsky, Mr. Greene