Ralph M. Kirk, Esq., has represented injured workers and disabled individuals in all aspects of workers’ compensation, Social Security Disability (SSDI), SSI, and industrial accident claims for over 40 years. He graduated from St. Francis Xavier University, the leading undergraduate institution in Canada, in 1974. Mr. Kirk obtained his law degree in 1977 from Dalhousie Law School in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Justin S. Teff, Esq., is the managing partner of Kirk & Teff, LLP. He was born in Washington, D.C., and raised in Port Washington, New York. He graduated from the State University at Albany in 1998 and received his law degree from Albany Law School in 2001. Mr. Teff was admitted to practice in 2002 and has since focused his career on all aspects of workers’ compensation law and practice. Prior to joining the firm in 2007, Mr. Teff worked for the defense litigation firm of Stockton, Barker & Mead, as well as the Special Funds Conservation Committee.

William Kistner is a lifelong Hudson Valley resident. A graduate of Arlington High School and Dutchess Community College, Mr. Kistner received his Bachelors Degree in Political Science from The Pennsylvania State University. William was awarded a scholarship to attend Brooklyn Law School and received his Juris Doctor in 2005. While in law school, Mr. Kistner served the Hudson Valley by working for the Dutchess County Public Defender. Since being admitted to practice law by the New York State Bar in February 2006, Mr. Kistner has proudly fought for injured workers and the disabled in the Hudson Valley region.

Rebeccah Kane was raised in Washingtonville, New York. She graduated from the State University of New York College at Geneseo in 2006 with a Bachelors Degree in Anthropology. She had always had an interest in pursuing a legal career and after an internship with Teamsters Local 237 Legal Services Plan she received her Juris Doctor in 2010 from the Villanova University School of Law. While attending law school, Rebeccah was an active member of the Pro Bono Society and was awarded the Dorothy Day Award in recognition of her many hours of pro bono service.

Drew Chisholm is the most recent attorney to join Kirk & Teff, LLP. Drew grew up in the New York’s Capital Region and graduated with a degree in Political Science from University at Buffalo in 2012. He earned his J.D. in 2016 from Cardozo Law School in New York City, and was admitted to practice in New York’s Third Judicial Department in 2017. Before joining the firm, Drew interned at the Medicare Rights Center and Brooklyn Legal Services, where he assisted disabled children and adults obtain the services they needed. He currently practices exclusively in the area of Social Security Disability.

Melinda Miner was born and raised in the Capital District of New York. She graduated cum laude from the George Washington University in 2001 with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Affairs (concentrations in International Politics and Africa) and Political Science, and with a minor in Theatre. While at GW, she spent a semester in Kenya with the School for International Training. She received her Juris Doctor from Boston University School of Law in 2005, with a concentration in Intellectual Property, with honors. While at BUSL, she spent a semester in the Netherlands at the University of Leiden. While in law school, Melinda was a member of the winning BUSL negotiation competition team and published in the International Law Journal. She was admitted to practice law in Massachusetts in 2005 and New York in 2006.

Dan was born in Maine and then went on to live in the Pacific Northwest as well as Connecticut before moving to Florida to enroll at the University of Miami and receive a B.A. in 2000, then a J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 2003. Dan also later obtained an MBA from the University of Miami School of Business Administration in 2017.

Dan comes to Kirk and Teff with two decades of worker’s compensation experience across the full spectrum of the field including private practice, and not-for-profit as well as several years in-house as a senior staff attorney for one of the largest national insurance carriers. Dan has handled cases across New York State from the hearing level to the Appellate Division and has spent the last several years developing a particular focus on cross-examination of medical experts. In addition to New York State, Dan is also licensed to practice law in Massachusetts and Vermont, as well as before the Executive Office of Immigration Review.

Dan also has a long history of dedication to vulnerable clients outside of the workers' compensation realm, having represented exploited juveniles in deportation proceedings and low-income clients facing eviction in housing court. In addition to English, Dan is a fluent Spanish speaker and is a current member of the New York State Bar Association and the Injured Worker’s Bar Association.

Robert A. King, L.H.R., has worked for Kirk & Teff, LLP since 2002, representing injured workers in claims before the Workers' Compensation Board. Having spent a portion of his career at IBM in Ulster County, and witnessing the devastation occasioned by its departure from the area, Mr. King began his workers' compensation career with a unique insight into the plight of the unemployed and displaced worker. From 1995 through 1999, he was the claims manager at Oracle Management (now known as Triad), where he directed handling of all aspects of workers' compensation claims. Mr. King then obtained his license to represent injured workers from the Workers' Compensation Board Commissioners, and worked for the law firm of Ouimette, Goldstein & Andrews from 1999 through 2002 as a licensed hearing representative. In 2002, Mr. King joined Kirk & Teff, LLP.

James A. Chisholm, L.H.R., has worked for Kirk & Teff, LLP since 1993, representing disabled individuals and workers in Social Security Disability (SSDI) and SSI claims, as well as workers' compensation claims. Mr. Chisholm previously worked as claims manager for Reliance Insurance Company from 1984 to 1993, supervising all aspects of personal injury and workers' compensation coverage and claims. Mr. Chisholm graduated from Saint Francis Xavier University, the leading undergraduate institution in Canada, in 1975. He obtained his law degree in 1978 from Dalhousie Law School in Halifax, Nova Scotia.