New York City’s Top Trial Lawyer
By Bennet Marcus
You may recognize attorney Arthur Aidala from his many television appearances, most prominently as a longtime legal commentator analyzing complex cases for Fox News, as well as Fox 5, New York 1, and various other news outlets. What you may not know is that the man you’ve seen on TV is one of New York City’s top Trial lawyers, taking on some of the highest-profile cases in recent history. His firm, Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins, has handled Harvey Weinstein’s criminal and civil cases, Alan Dershowitz’s Federal defamation case, 50 Cent’s civil litigation case, and Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal. His firm also represents Rudy Giuliani in attempt to salvage his license to practice law. In the past, Aidala has represented President of Fox News Roger Ailes, former US representative Anthony Weiner, NY Giants Hall of Famer Lawrence Taylor and Dream Hotelier Vikram Chatwal during their times of crisis.
The Power Hour
Blending his courtroom experience with his perspective as a lifetime New Yorker, Aidala is now the host of his own radio show: The Arthur Aidala Power Hour. Tune in to AM970 The Answer every weekday between 6 and 7pm to listen in on the renowned attorney’s discussions with high-profile guests regarding the law, politics, New York living, health and wellness, entertainment and more. Aidala has had guests that span from Mayor Adams, former Mayor Bill DeBlasio and Governor Andrew Cuomo to Megyn Kelly, Bill O’Reilly and Rudy Giuliani. The show is also rebroadcasted on all podcast platforms. Aidala hopes the combination of his contributions in the legal field as well as educating the community through the Arthur Aidala radio show will make significant contributions to make our state the best it can be.
Ambitions To Be an Actor
Despite his stellar legal career, that started at the Brooklyn D.A.’s office, Aidala did not originally want to enter the legal profession. He really wanted to be an actor and even studied theater both in his high school at Poly Prep and in college at SUNY Purchase. However, Aidala ultimately decided to go to law school and follow in the footsteps of his father, a former Manhattan Assistant District Attorney. “Shortly after joining the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office, I got to fulfill my theatrical dreams by writing, producing, directing and starring in my summations at the end of trials,” Aidala laughs. “When you’re on trial and you’re in front of twelve jurors, one of the challenges is to hold their attention. A lot of the theater skills that I learned about body-positioning and voice intonations and using your arms and your hands, and your voice have definitely helped me in front of jurors and judges throughout the years.”
Diverse Practice, Helping People
Aidala doesn’t take on high-profile cases for the notoriety. “I became a lawyer to help people,” he says. “Anyone that becomes an Assistant District Attorney, doesn’t do that for wealth, fame or fortune, and that was one of my initial forays in the profession and I loved it. I had tremendous role models there regarding ethics and morals and values,” Aidala says. His own father, with whom Aidala worked alongside after starting his own firm, and late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, are among those who inspired his passion for service. “With the exception of time with my family, nothing really is equivalent to that feeling of gratification I get when I help a fellow human being in their most desperate time of need,” he explains.
Giving Back
Several years ago he took on the Brigitte Harris case, a young woman who killed her abusive father, as he was greatly moved by her situation. Not only did he work pro bono, but also convinced all the experts who testified to waive their fees because she did not have the funds. “The facts of that case were so horrific, and it was very gratifying when we achieved such positive results for her,” Aidala says. Aidala also represented Maritza Ramos, the widow of slain Detective Rafael Ramos, as she launched The Detective Rafael Ramos Foundation, which he says was a highlight of his career. “It was an opportunity to help a family who just had the ultimate tragedy do something good for the community,” he says. Aidala used his local news contacts to help get the word out, and when the foundation held its first fundraising event it was with Mariano Rivera as its star. The organization aims to raise awareness of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers and to better connect officers with the community, and to support families who have lost loved ones working in that profession. This November, Aidala will be named the Humanitarian of the Year at the Detective Rafael Ramos foundation. Also being honored at the gala will be the New York Police Commissioner Edward Caban and Chief of the New York Police Department Jeffrey Maddrey.
Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins
Aidala also works on corporate business deals, putting together, as he describes it, “the guy who sells the tires with the guy who sells the cars.” Partners and associates in his firm, Aidala, Bertuna & Kamins, are work on a wide array of legal specialties, including personal injury law, real estate, civil litigation and appellate law. Members of the firm include three former Supreme Court judges, Honorable Barry Kamins, Honorable John Leventhal and the Honorable David Lewis. “It’s a full-service law firm,” Aidala says.
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