Zelenitz, Shapiro & D’Agostino, P.C. Attorneys and Staff

David A. Shapiro
Partner

My name is David Shapiro and I’m originally from Long Island. Both of my parents were teachers early in their careers but later on my mother became an interior decorator and my father a Pharmacist.

I graduated from G.W. Hewlett High School and then went to George Washington University in Washington, D.C. I chose GWU because I loved Washington D.C. and I wanted to be in the center of our democracy.

While in college, I worked various odd-jobs; valet parking, at a pharmacy and for a top criminal defense attorney. While working as a legal assistant for Benjamin Brafman, Esq. a renowned criminal attorney in NYC, I began to really focus on what I wanted to do after college. Becoming an attorney appealed to me since I always had a desire to help people.

For Law School, I wanted to be closer to home so I enrolled at Touro College and graduated in 1995. After graduating, I interned for Judge Frederick Schmidt, Civil Court, Queens County. While with Judge Schmidt, I was able to get an inside-look at how cases are handled from the Court’s perspective. I was in the Courtroom every day observing various lawyers presenting their cases in the Court. It was a great learning experience to see how some of the best lawyers in the city did their job.

I then joined the firm of Stanley R. Waxman, P.C., in Mineola, NY. Mr. Waxman’s firm was a medium-sized insurance defense firm and I learned quite a bit about the defendant’s (those being sued) perspective.

I moved from Mr. Waxman’s firm to the law firm of Gary R. Weinberg, P.C., a personal injury firm on Court St. in Brooklyn. Working for Mr. Weinberg provided a great opportunity to learn the ins-and-outs or tort litigation and see the practice of law from the plaintiff’s (those filing a lawsuit) perspective.

In 1998, I decided to partner with several other attorneys and we formed the law firm of Gildin, Zelenitz & Shapiro, P.C., which became the current firm of Zelenitz, Shapiro & D’Agostino, P.C.

Although much of the work I do centers on family law, I also do quite a bit of work in other areas of law, including Commercial & Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Bankruptcy, Landlord – Tenant Litigation, Criminal Defense, Real Estate Law & Estate Planning.

I look forward to helping you with your legal matter.

Background

Marital Status: Married 14 years

Children: One girl and one boy

Hobbies: Being with the Family, Golf, Skiing, (Don’t do it enough) Travel, Yankees!

Pro-Bono Work: Focus of this practice is to provide reduced rates, while still providing high quality representation. Have numerous client in financial need who have nowhere else to turn.

Education: The George Washington University, 1992, B.A. Speech Communication & Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center, 1995, J.D.

Bar Associations: New York State Bar Association, American Bar Association, Queens County Bar Association

Admitted: New York; United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York & United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

Lisa A. D’Agostino
Partner

My name is Lisa A. D’Agostino and I grew up in Brooklyn, New York. My mother is a beautician and my dad is a retired New York City Sanitation Worker.

I graduated from Bishop Kearney High School. During high school, I was a cheerleader and worked part-time at various retail stores.

I wanted to stay close to home for college so I enrolled at City University of New York, Staten Island College. I’d always wanted to be an attorney so right after graduation from college, I accepted a position as an intern, then as a paralegal, in the Queens County District Attorneys Office. I took these positions to ensure that I really did want to have a career in law. They do not teach you in school what it is like on a practical level so I wanted to have that experience prior to entering into law school. The work was so challenging and rewarding…and it confirmed that a career in law was the right choice for me.

In order to become an attorney, I had to attend a law school. At the time I was applying to law schools, the applications were up 60% so the standards for acceptance were much higher than normal. I decided to apply out of state because I wanted to attend a better rated law school. I researched law schools that had a curriculum focused on general law and practical skills and that is how I chose Nova Southeastern University.

While in law school, I worked for Weinstein & Associates, a personal injury firm that also handled no-fault cases as well. It was a good way to learn how to do legal research and how to write motions.

While studying for the NY Bar Exam after college, I worked for Stephen A. Spinelli & Associates, a general litigation office. The office focused an many different areas of law and it was a good way to learn and gain exposure in many different areas of law.

After passing the Bar Exam, I went to work for Robert J. Kurre & Associates, an elder law and trust and estates firm. I focused exclusively on estate planning because I believed everyone has a need for an estate plan…and that makes this area of law recession proof.

In 2008, I joined this firm and in March, 2011, was promoted to Partner.

Much of the work I do here centers on family law & estate planning but I also work in Commercial & Civil Litigation, Personal Injury, Bankruptcy, Landlord – Tenant Litigation, Criminal Defense & Real Estate Law.

Background

Marital Status: Engaged to be married in April of 2013.

Children: None

Hobbies: Gym, yoga, bike riding and snow boarding

Pro-Bono Work: Focus of this practice is to provide reduced rates, while still providing high quality representation. We have a few family law and matrimonial clients at the firm on a pro-bono basis.

Education: B.S. from City University of NY Staten Island College & J.D. from Nova Southeastern University in 2007

Bar Associations: New York State Bar Association

Admitted: New York and Florida

Dominic Baylon
Senior Associate

My name is Dominic Baylon and I grew up in Seattle, Washington, where I graduated from Garfield High School. During high school I was on the track and cross country teams, the student orchestra, and Natural Helpers, a 4-H extension program.

Raised by a schoolteacher mom and an energy consultant dad, I decided to attend college at The Evergreen State College because it offered an innovative and award winning liberal arts curriculum, but as a state school, it was a far more affordable option than similar private institutions. After college, I held a number of jobs, including waiting tables, tending bar, and even managing a hot dog cart. Eventually, I decided it was time to pursue a career where I could apply my intelligence to improve my station in life.

I began applying to law schools, and was ultimately recruited by Rutgers – Camden, which offered me a small scholarship. I subsequently found work with Wietz and Luxembourg performing document review. This was my first job in New York City. After completing law school, I took a position as an Associate with Chaves and Perlowitz. I came to Zelenitz, Shapiro & D’Agostino in 2013.

Background

Marital Status: Married

Children: None

Hobbies: Cooking, and when we have the time, gardening and traveling

Education: BA, The Evergreen State College and J.D. from Rutgers School of Law – Camden, 2005

Bar Associations: None

Admitted: New York and Washington State (Inactive)

Samantha Surdi
Associate

My name is Samantha Surdi and I grew up in Commack, NY. My Dad is an accountant and my Mom is a stay-at-home Mom.

I graduated from Commack High School where I enjoyed participating in Pay It Forward.

I then moved on to Quinnipiac University because I liked the atmosphere and opportunities the school provided.

I decided to go on to Law School because I wanted to be able to make a difference in people’s lives.

After graduating from New York Law School, I worked at Abrams, Cohen, & Associates prior to starting at ZSD in 2019.

Background:

Marital Status: Single

Children: None

Hobbies: I enjoy reading, drawing, cooking and playing billiards

Pro-Bono Work:

Education: Graduated with a BA in Political Science, Minor Psychology from Quinnipiac University in 2015 and JD from New York Law School in 2018.

Bar Associations:

Admitted: New York in 2018

Lavinia Acaru
Associate

My name is Lavinia Acaru and I grew up in Romania. Both of my parents are still living in Romania. My mother is a human resource officer, and my father was a plumber, before retiring.

I graduated from High School in Romania, with a degree in Environmental Protection. Before High School, I played the violin and piano for 8 years, and during High School I played soccer for a team that used to be in the Second League at that time.

We don’t have college in Romania and you can go right to grad school after high school if you wish. I always wanted to be a lawyer so enrolled in Law at West University of Timisoara, Romania. And it was close to home so I could be near my parents.

When I came to the U.S., I enrolled at Hofstra and earned a Masters Degree in Laws.

Prior to joining this firm in early 2020, I worked at The Yitzhak Law Group for 3 years, a general practice that focuses on foreclosure defense litigation, landlord-tenant, litigation, real estate and bankruptcy.

Background:

Marital Status: Single

Children: None

Hobbies: I enjoy Reading, travel, skiing, hiking and tennis

Pro-Bono Work:

Education: Graduated with a JD from West University of Timisoara, Romania in 2011 and an LLM – Master of Laws, from Hofstra in 2014.

Bar Associations:

Admitted: New York – United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York and United States District Court for the Southern District of New York

Nick Stockton
Of Counsel

My name is Nick Stockton and I grew up in Westchester County, N.Y.  My father is an attorney and my mother practiced law before starting our family.

I grew up playing sports and I still play basketball every weekend. I currently live in New York City with my wife Catherine.

After graduating from Columbia University in 2002, I spent many years working in financial markets.  I left that industry because I wanted to work with people, not numbers.

But I am the rare attorney with some math acumen and financial know-how.

I attended Washington University School of Law (in St. Louis) because they offered me a full scholarship, and I graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2016. After law school, I prosecuted corporate fraud at the N.Y.S. Attorney General’s Office, and then at a private firm.

At Zelenitz, Shapiro & D’Agostino, P.C., I litigate civil, landlord tenant, and estate matters.  I want to win as badly as my clients do. It starts with getting clients their day in court and a chance to tell their side of the story.

Background:

Marital Status: Married

Children: None

Hobbies: I enjoy playing basketball.

Pro-Bono Work:

Education: Graduated from Columbia University in 2002 and received a JD from Washington University School of Law in 2016.

Bar Associations:

Admitted: NY

Sylvia Vcherashansky
Associate

Melissa Koppel
Associate

Shengkai Yue
Associate

Michael Rieder
Associate

Stephanie Goldstone
Of Counsel

Linette Steward
Paralegal

Michelle Shlifer
Paralegal

Mary Gurba
Paralegal

Melissa Sam
Receptionist

Stephanie Parra
Receptionist

Ann Combs
Billing Department