Adrienne Arkontaky

Vice President / Managing Attorney

Adrienne J. Arkontaky is the Vice President of the Cuddy Law Firm and Managing Attorney of the Westchester office. Adrienne’s practice focuses on special education advocacy and litigation, special needs estate planning including special needs trust administration and litigation, guardianship, Medicaid, OPWDD and other administrative appeals.

Adrienne’s work is devoted to addressing the legal needs of families with loved ones with disabilities. Throughout her career, she has assisted families in obtaining appropriate educational services for their children with special needs. She also assists families to plan for the future by developing special needs estate plans that focus on the unique needs of the individual that protect access to government benefit programs. Using a holistic approach to planning, she discusses the potential need for guardianship and/or advance directives and special needs trusts. Adrienne also represents families in Medicaid, OPWDD and other administrative appeals.

Adrienne previously served as the Pro Bono Coordinator for a major law firm and a Medicaid Service Coordinator for Family Connection in Westchester, NY, an agency providing case management for families of children with disabilities. She founded and was supervising partner of a special education practice group of a New York-based law firm advocating for the rights of students with special education needs throughout New York State including New York City. She dedicates a portion of her practice representing underserved population and non-English speaking families in due process hearings.

Adrienne received her Juris Doctor degree from Pace University School of Law and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Iona College.

Adrienne is the Chairperson of the Special Education Committee and a member of both the Special Needs Planning Committee and the executive committee of the Elder Law and Special Needs Section of the New York State Bar Association, a Past Co-Editor of the Elder Law and Special Needs Law Journal, Co-Chair of the Education Committee and Past Co-Chair of the Lawyering and Parenting Committee for the Westchester Women’s Bar Association. Adrienne is also a member of the Disability Rights Committee for the New York State Bar Association. She also serves as statewide chairperson of the New York State Special Education Law update, a statewide continuing legal education program and a proud member of the Council of Parent Attorney and Advocates.

Adrienne was honored as an outstanding advocate by the PULSES organization of Orange County for her work on behalf of students with disabilities. In addition, she was named “A Rising Star” in Super Lawyers 2013 and one of the Top Attorneys in the Metro Region for 2014, 2015 and 2016 and a Super Lawyer in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020.

In addition to her commitments to her clients, Adrienne is the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the John A. Coleman School with campuses in Yonkers and White Plains, NY.

Adrienne lives in Hawthorne with her husband, Pete. She has three wonderful daughters, one who is a Neonatal Intensive Care Nurse, one with severe cognitive and physical disabilities who lives at the Center for Discovery in Harris, NY and one who is a theater major at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island.

ADMISSIONS:

• New York
• Pennsylvania

COURTS:

• U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York