Last year, Feldman, Kleidman, Coffey and Sappe LLP was thrilled to welcome new attorneys to our team, including Edward F. Kealy of Stormville, NY. Ed came to the firm from another Hudson Valley litigation firm, where he litigated defense matters from inception to resolution, including medical malpractice, general liability claims and municipal/school liability cases.
Ed met his wife while attending the University of Delaware, and later earned his Juris Doctor degree at Pace University’s School of Law. This Q&A will give you peek into Ed’s life, including his Hudson Valley upbringing, passion for law and hobbies outside of work.
What was it like growing up in the Hudson Valley?
Growing up I always loved the changing seasons in the Hudson Valley and what each offered. In the summer, we might go to Lake George or go fishing on the Long Island Sound. In the winter, we could go skiing and snowboarding in the Catskills. Spring was for little league and fall was for Pop Warner football.
What do you love most about living and working in the region?
My favorite part about living and working in the Hudson Valley is the proximity to everything. You can be in New York City by train or drive to the Catskills, both within 90 minutes or so. It is rural and pristine up here, but we also have wonderful downtown areas to visit such as Beacon. Plus, there is nothing like when the leaves begin to change in the fall in the Hudson Valley.
How did you decide to pursue a career in law?
I have always enjoyed competition and being a litigator has given me the opportunity to pair my joy of competing with the opportunity to zealously work on behalf of our clients in order to obtain the best possible results for them.
What do you like most about your job at FKC&S?
Easily the people. Everyone is so supportive of each other and the team concept is that when we prosper individually, the firm prospers as a whole. Jeff, Bob and Kathryn truly care about the people who work at FKC&S. What more could you ask for?
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy playing and watching all kinds of sports, including golf, basketball, football, etc. I also grew up working with my dad in his construction business and still spend many Saturdays with him working on trucks and equipment. It has always served as a nice change of pace from doing legal work in the office, to being outside working with my hands. Plus, spending time doing it alongside my dad is a bonus!
How has it been working and navigating family life during COVID-19?
We welcomed a baby girl (our first) into the world in November 2019 and wow, as if being a new parent didn’t have enough challenges by itself, adding a pandemic and quarantine to the list has certainly created its obstacles. The most difficult part has been that we really have not been able to visit with family nearly as much due to quarantine, but we have utilized Zoom and FaceTime as much as we can.
What is something that most people would be surprised to learn about you?
I would say an interesting fact about me and something I am proud of is that I have dual citizenship in the U.S. and Ireland.