Richard A. Portale

Practice areas

Criminal Defense, Criminal Defense: DUI/DWI, Appellate, Business Litigation, Constitutional Law, Criminal Defense: White Collar

Focus areas

Appeals, Arrest & Arraignment, Assault & Battery, Criminal Domestic Violence, Criminal Fraud, Criminal Law, Criminal Law – Federal, DUI/DWI, Drug & Alcohol Violations, Expungement, False Accusations, Felony, Misdemeanor, Motor Vehicle Offenses, Murder, Probation, Prosecution, Sex Offenses, Tax Evasion, Theft, White Collar Crime

Richard A. Portale, a prominent criminal defense attorney hailing from New York, is renowned, both within and outside the courtroom, for his unwavering dedication, relentless work ethic, and his steadfast commitment to the principles of justice. Throughout his extensive career, Mr. Portale has consistently championed the rights of his clients, establishing a peerless track record.

Irrespective of the gravity of the charges faced by his clients, Mr. Portale comprehends the profound impact that the case outcomes will have on their lives and their families. He approaches his clients’ representation with profound empathy, unbridled enthusiasm, and a refreshingly straightforward manner.

Mr. Portale’s legal career has been punctuated by his involvement in numerous high-profile cases. In one particularly notable defense case, which garnered international media attention, Mr. Portale and his proficient legal team adeptly constructed a defense strategy for his Latvian immigrant client, Angelika Graswald, who had been accused by the police of confessing to the murder of her fiancé during a kayak incident on the Hudson River in April 2015. Unfazed by the gravity of the murder charge and the weight of evidence against his client, who faced a potential 25-year-to-life sentence, Mr. Portale and his team labored tirelessly for over two years, ultimately securing a remarkable outcome. They successfully negotiated a plea to Criminal Negligence, facilitating Ms. Graswald’s release before Christmas 2017. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Portale and his co-counsel, Anthony Piscionere, continued their legal battle in the Duchess County Probate Court, culminating in a confidential settlement regarding the life insurance proceeds of the deceased.

Furthermore, Mr. Portale served as co-counsel for Carlos Perez-Olivo, a neighbor of former President Bill Clinton, who faced Second Degree Murder charges in 2008. During the trial, Mr. Portale assumed responsibility for the forensic evidence, using scientific proof to establish Mr. Olivo’s innocence in the shooting of his wife.

In 2009, Mr. Portale was a vital member of the defense team for former NFL linebacker Eric Naposki, who was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in Newport Beach, California.

In 2010, Mr. Portale took on the role of lead counsel in the case of Westchester Police Officer James Pileggi, who faced Reckless Manslaughter charges for fatally shooting a friend in his car at point-blank range with his off-duty firearm. This trial resulted in a hung jury. Immediately following the Pileggi trial, Mr. Portale defended Terry Carver, a longshoreman accused of breaking into his girlfriend’s apartment, stabbing her lover nine times in the chest and torso. In a swift verdict, Mr. Carver was acquitted in just six hours.

In 2017, Mr. Portale and his partner, James A. Randazzo, jointly established Portale Randazzo LLP, a law firm specializing in both criminal and civil defense matters.