Richard Portale Photo

Richard A. Portale

Attorney
  • Profile
  • Credentials
  • Associations
  • Practice Areas
Profile

“When you are accused of a crime you want a seasoned warrior to defend you against what may seem like insurmountable odds, someone with a track record of fighting and winning, who will hold the Government to their burden of proof with a tenacious defense. You need someone who is not afraid to battle it out - for as long as it takes to emerge victorious.”

Richard A. Portale is known in and out of the courtroom for his passion, hard work, and commitment to justice. Mr. Portale has consistently fought for the rights of his clients with a track record that speaks for itself.

No matter what the scope of the charges his clients are facing, Mr. Portale recognizes that the outcome of his work significantly impacts the lives of many. He and his team work tirelessly to do their very best for their clients.

Awards:

  • Americas Top 100 Attorneys – Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Hudson Valley’s Top Lawyers – for 2021
  • Super Lawyers – for 2018, 2019, and 2020
  • American Institute of Trial Lawyers, Litigator of the Year, Criminal Law – for 2019
  • Westchester Top Attorneys, Westchester Magazine - Selected by peer recognition and professional achievement – October 2019
  • The National Trial Lawyers – Top 100 Trial Lawyers - for 2015, 2016 and 2018
  • Westchester Top Attorneys, Westchester Magazine - Selected by peer recognition and professional achievement – October 2018
  • National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys - Nationally Ranked - Top 10 Attorney Award – for 2018
  • Lawyers of Distinction - for Excellence in Criminal Defense Law – for 2018
  • Lawyers of Distinction - for Criminal Defense, Top 10% in the USA – for 2017
  • American Institute of Criminal Law Attorneys - Client Satisfaction Award - 10 Best – for 2015 and 2016
  • Top 100 DWI Attorneys - New York City - Recognized by the National Advocacy for DUI Defense, LLC – for 2014 and 2015

Previous Experience

Mr. Portale started his legal career as an Assistant District Attorney for the Honorable Jeanine Pirro at the Westchester County District Attorney’s Office. During his tenure, he rose through the ranks from Motions and Appeals to the Bureau of Investigations, where he prosecuted Narcotics, Firearms, and Gangs.

Following his time as a prosecutor, Mr. Portale transferred the skills he had honed into criminal defense work, spending the next twelve years building a reputation for being aggressive and calculated in the courtroom, helping lessen defendants' exposure to the criminal justice system.

Education & Personal Life

Mr. Portale attended the University of Buffalo as an undergraduate and soon after earned his Juris Doctorate from the John Marshall School of Law. He is originally from Buffalo, NY.

When not fighting for justice in the courtroom, Mr. Portale enjoys hiking, snowboarding, rugby, and spending time with his fiancé Brooke and their two sons Hudson & Sebastian.

High Profile Cases

Mr. Portale has been involved in numerous high-profile cases.

  • Very recently, in a case that garnered international media coverage, the People of the State of New York v. Angelika Graswald, Mr. Portale and his team masterfully crafted a defense after police claimed his Latvian client admitted she had murdered her fiancé in a kayak on the Hudson River in April, 2015. Undeterred by the murder charge and the evidence against his client, who faced a possible sentence of 25 years to life, Mr. Portale and his team worked tirelessly for over two years and were eventually able to overcome both Murder and Manslaughter, leveraging a plea to Criminal Negligence that allowed Ms. Graswald to be released in December, 2017.
  • Mr. Portale was co-counsel for Bill Clinton’s neighbor, Carlos Perez-Olivo (a criminal defense lawyer himself) who was charged with Second Degree Murder in 2008. At the trial, Mr. Portale was responsible for all the forensic evidence, in which he provided scientific proof that Mr. Olivo could not have been the one to shoot his wife.
  • In 2009, Mr. Portale was a member of the defense team of former NFL linebacker Eric Naposki, who was arrested and charged with first degree murder in Newport Beach, California.
  • In 2010, Mr. Portale was lead counsel for Westchester Police Officer James Pileggi on charges of Reckless Manslaughter for shooting and killing a friend in his car at point blank range – with his own off duty firearm. That trial resulted in a hung jury.
  • Immediately following the Pileggi trial, Mr. Portale defended Terry Carver, a longshoreman accused of breaking a screen, climbing in the window of his girlfriend’s apartment and stabbing her lover nine times in the chest and torso. Mr. Carver was acquitted in six hours.

In 2017, he and his partner James A. Randazzo founded the firm Portale Randazzo LLP, which concentrates on both criminal and civil defense.

Interviews

Mr. Portale has been interviewed and/or has contributed as a guest commentator on many news platforms, such as, Fox News, Justice with Jeanine Pirro, Dateline NBC, 20/20, CBS News 48 Hours, Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The New York Post, Washington Post, and People Magazine.

Admissions
  • United States Supreme Court
  • United States Court of Appeals, D.C. - Second Circuit
  • United States District Court, Southern District of New York
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of New York
  • New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division Second Department
  • New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division Fourth Department
Professional & Bar Association Memberships
  • New York State Bar Association (Criminal Law Section)
  • Westchester County Bar Association
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
  • New York State Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
  • New York State Trial Lawyers Association
  • Association of Trial Lawyers of America
  • Columbian Lawyers Association
  • American Institute Best Law Firm
  • Super Lawyers 2020
  • American Institute of Trial Lawyers
  • The National Trial Lawyers - Top 100 Trial Lawyers
  • Lawyers of Distinction
  • 10 Best Client Satisfaction
  • BBB A+ Rating
  • New Yrok State Academy of Trial Lawyers
  • United States District Court Eastern District of New York
  • New York State Defenders Association
  • Westchester County Bar Association
  • NYSACDL
  • NYSTLA
  • Columbian Lawyers Association
  • Avvo Client's Choice 2014
  • Nationally Ranked Superior DUI Attorney 2015

Attorney Richard Portale in the News

  • ABC - New York kayak murder case: Woman pleads guilty to negligent homicide in fiance death
  • Fox News - New York kayak killer pleads guilty to homicide in fiance's death
  • CBS - Death on the Hudson
  • ABC News - Woman pleads guilty in fiance's kayak death
  • Richard Portale on Westchester News 12

    Interviewed on News 12 Westchester, Criminal ...

  • Richard Portale Comments on Lawrence Taylor Rape Case

    Westchester Criminal Attorney Richard Portale ...

  • Justice with Judge Jeanine | Josh Powell Case

    Fox News, Justice with Judge Jeanie, Westchester ...

  • Justice with Judge Jeanine | George Zimmerman Discussion

    NYC and Westchester Criminal Defense attorney ...

  • Justice with Judge Jeanine | Jordan Graham Murder

    NYC and Westchester Criminal Defense attorney ...

  • Justice with Judge Jeanine | Jordan Graham Homicide & Social Media DWI Defense

    NYC and Westchester Criminal Defense attorney ...

  • Richard Portale Discusses Carlos Perez-Olivo Murder on Dateline NBC

    Westchester Criminal Attorney Richard A Portale, ...

  • Mamaroneck Mom Pleads Not Guilty To Killing Daughter
  • Turn to Tara: Grieving Gabby one year after toddler's death

    The father of Gabriella Boyd spoke with News 12’s ...

/

Client Testimonials

There for Our Clients Every Step of The Way
  • I would recommend them to anyone!

    “I am rarely impressed with "most" law firms. I am extremely impressed with Portale Randozza, LLP. Rich Portale and Kenny Calvey handled and resolved my case expeditiously and professionally every step ...”

    - Katherine
  • A million thank you's could NEVER be enough

    “I had met Richard 16 years ago while he was visiting another client never realizing that one day I would have to actually put his number to use and have to hire him for my children. He has worked with ...”

    - Anonymous
  • "The best of the best"

    “Richard and Hannah fought for my son who was charged with a crime he did not commit. They believed in my son and obtained the necessary evidence to make a motion to dismiss the case. They filed the ...”

    - Ted E. N.
  • He took the time to explain how the legal system works and its process, which helped us understand what was going on.

    “I would highly recommend Richard Portale of the law firm – Portale Randazzo for any criminal or legal issues you may have. He was very knowledgeable and informative. He took the time to explain how ...”

    - FC
  • Richard became more than our attorney, Richard is a family friend

    “When my teen son was arrested for attempted murder and possession of a firearm, I felt our family was faced with the deepest and most painful experience life could offer. I felt hopeless and powerless ...”

    - Anonymous
/

Proven Results

Real Cases
  • Acquittal on All Counts The Usual Suspect Criminal
  • No Jail Time Arson / Theft / Grand Larceny – Arson Charge
  • All Charges Dismissed Assault / Attempted Murder / CPW – Mount Vernon Dad Shoots Assailant
  • All Charges Dismissed Assault / Criminal Trespass / Harassment – Confrontation With Police Chief
  • All Charges Dismissed Assault / Reckless Driving / Leaving the Scene – Auto Accident
  • Plea Deal Assault / Reckless Endangerment / Reckless Driving / Resisting Arrest – Police High Speed Car Chase Defense
  • Acquittal Attempted Murder
  • Released from Prison Pending Appeal Conspiracy and Criminal Sale of a Narcotic Drug
  • All Charges Dismissed CPW / Menacing – Teenage Actor Cornered by Thugs – Acts in Self-Defense
  • All Charges Dismissed CPW / Violation of Parole – Possession of an Illegal Weapon Dropped
/

Why Choose Us?

See What Sets Us Apart
  • Individualized Representation
  • Focused on Achieving the Most Favorable Result Possible for You
  • All Former Prosecutors for Westchester County
  • Proven Track Record with an Incredibly High Success Rate
  • Backed by Over 100 Years of Combined Experience

Get in Touch With Our Firm


  • Please enter your first name.
  • Please enter your last name.
  • Please enter your phone number.
    This isn't a valid phone number.
  • Please enter your email address.
    This isn't a valid email address.
  • Please make a selection.
  • Please enter a message.