Denlea & Carton LLP is pleased to share that co-founder Jeffrey I. Carton and founding partner James R. Denlea have been named by Hudson Valley Magazine to its Top Lawyers 2026 list. Meet the Hudson Valley’s Top Lawyers in 2026
Jeff was recognized in the Commercial Litigation category, and James was recognized in the Medical Malpractice category.
Jeff represents businesses and individuals in complex commercial disputes throughout New York, including high stakes matters involving business partnerships, shareholder disputes and other commercial claims.
James represents individuals and families in significant personal injury and medical malpractice matters, drawing on extensive litigation and trial experience in cases involving serious injuries and complex liability issues.
Hudson Valley Magazine’s annual Top Lawyers list highlights attorneys across the Hudson Valley region recognized in a range of practice areas.
We congratulate Jeff and James on this recognition and thank our clients for the continued trust they place in Denlea & Carton.
See the full list: Meet the Hudson Valley’s Top Lawyers in 2026
Denlea & Carton LLP is pleased to announce that attorneys Leigh Smith and Jacqueline E. Fusco have recently joined the firm, further strengthening its litigation capabilities and expanding the firm’s bench of experienced attorneys serving clients in complex disputes.
“Leigh and Jackie bring substantive litigation experience, excellent legal discernment, and a laser-focused client advocacy approach to their work,” said Jeff Carton. “Their backgrounds complement the firm’s continued growth and our commitment to providing sophisticated, strategic counsel to clients facing complex legal and business challenges.”
Leigh Smith is a skilled litigator with significant experience in securities litigation, general and complex commercial litigation, consumer class actions, qui tam actions, and derivative actions. She has handled matters from inception through appeal, including factual investigations, pleadings, motion practice, discovery, depositions, trial preparation, settlement negotiations, and appellate work.
Before joining Denlea & Carton, Leigh represented companies, individuals, investors, and governmental entities in a broad range of commercial and complex litigation matters. Her experience includes work on matters involving discrimination claims, commercial disputes, derivative actions, Fair Housing Act litigation, securities fraud litigation, and qui tam actions. She also played a substantial role in litigation arising from the Tyco International securities matter and has represented clients in federal and state courts across multiple jurisdictions.
Leigh earned her J.D. from Cornell Law School, where she served as Acquisitions Editor of the Cornell Journal of Law and Public Policy and was a member of the Cornell Moot Court Board. She earned both her M.A. and B.A. from Rutgers University. She is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey, as well as before the United States District Courts for the Southern, Eastern and Northern Districts of New York, the District of New Jersey, the District of Massachusetts, and the First, Second, Third, and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals.
Jacqueline E. Fusco is an experienced litigator who brings nearly 15 years of complex tort litigation and trial experience to Denlea & Carton. Before joining the firm, she was a senior associate at Wocl Leydon, LLC, where she handled products liability, mass tort, multidistrict litigation, and federal district court matters, including cases involving corporate defendants.
Jackie has managed matters from client intake through trial, including drafting complaints, discovery, depositions, expert disclosures, dispositive motions, trial preparation, jury voir dire, opening and closing statements, trial motions, and witness examinations. She has served as co-first chair at trial, argued motions from discovery through appeal to the Connecticut Supreme Court, and retained and prepared experts for depositions and trial.
Jackie’s litigation practice is strengthened by her medical and scientific background. Before graduating from law school, she worked as a registered nurse in a diverse array of healthcare settings. Her nursing and biology background enables her to expertly evaluate medical records, develop medical evidence, organize complex case materials, and work effectively with experts in complex civil matters.
She earned her J.D. from Quinnipiac University School of Law, where she received the Distinguished Academic Achievement Award in Law & Forensics and was a member of the Moot Court Honor Society. She earned her B.S. in Nursing and B.S. in Biology from The Catholic University of America. Jackie is admitted to practice in Connecticut, New York, and the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut and has been recognized by Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.
Denlea & Carton LLP is pleased to announce that attorneys Jeffrey I. Carton and Steven Schoenfeld have once again been recognized with a 2026 New York Metro Super Lawyers® designation in the Business Litigation category.
This honor reflects their continued excellence in representing clients in complex commercial disputes and underscores the firm’s longstanding commitment to delivering strategic, results-driven advocacy that resonates with the court.
Super Lawyers is a Thomson Reuters rating service that recognizes outstanding lawyers who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process is rigorous and includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations.
Denlea & Carton is proud that its attorneys are consistently recognized among the top practitioners in the New York Metro legal community. These honors reflect not only individual achievement but also the firm’s dedication to providing leading edge legal solutions to a diverse client roster.
Denlea & Carton LLP (together with Steptoe) successfully represented Elite Model Management in a series of four recent rulings in the Los Angeles Superior Court, defeating attempts by brands to shift California Labor Code waiting-time penalties onto the agency.
Over the past year, a new tactic has emerged in California photo-shoot payment disputes: when sued for late payment under the Labor Code, brands and producers have increasingly tried to pull the model’s agency into the litigation and argue that, if the brand is liable, the agency should reimburse them.
Courts have now repeatedly rejected that approach.
Denlea & Carton obtained four separate dismissals, each reinforcing a core principle: waiting-time penalties are directed at employers — not talent agencies acting in their representative capacity. When the agency is not the employer and the paperwork reflects an agency relationship, courts are unwilling to recast the agency as the statutory “wage payer.”
Summary of the Four Rulings
1) Kusez v. Anastasia Beveryly Hills (Dept. 57 – Sept. 24, 2025)
The brand asserted indemnity, contribution, and other theories seeking to shift potential waiting-time exposure to the agency. The court found the brand had not pled a shared legal obligation that would justify shifting penalties, though it allowed amendment on other theories.
2) Kusez v. Anastasia Beverly Hills (Dept. 57 – Feb. 10, 2026)
After multiple amendments, the court sustained Elite’s demurrer without leave to amend and ordered dismissal with prejudice.
3) Riley v. Endless Blu (Dept. 17 – Dec. 22, 2025)
Following one amendment, the court again sustained the demurrer without leave to amend. The brand failed to allege facts establishing a breach of contract.
4) Iakovina/Riley v. Lucy In The Sky (Dept. 45 – Feb. 5, 2026)
The court sustained Elite’s demurrer to the amended cross-claims without further leave to amend. It rejected the brand’s attempt to impose “implied Labor Code obligations” that conflicted with the express terms of the invoice.
Industry Implications
These rulings provide important guidance for participants in the modeling, production, and creator-economy sectors:
This update is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice.
Denlea & Carton LLP is pleased to announce that John Kane and Chris Gallagher have recently joined the firm, further strengthening our capabilities in complex commercial litigation, investigations, and high-stakes dispute resolution.
“John and Chris are outstanding litigators who bring exceptional experience and perspective to our firm,” said Jeff Carton. “Their backgrounds in complex litigation and investigations complement the firm’s strategic growth and align with our commitment to deliver sophisticated legal solutions to our clients.”
John Kane represents clients in complex commercial litigation matters in state and federal courts throughout New York. His practice includes drafting complaints and dispositive motions as well as managing all phases of discovery in complex litigation matters.
Before joining Denlea & Carton, John served as counsel in the New York office of an international law firm, where he focused on bankruptcy and financial restructuring litigation. He is also an experienced jury consultant, offering valuable insight into trial strategy and juror research.
Passionate about sports law, John has appeared on and written commentary for the sports law podcast Conduct Detrimental, where one of his articles won the 2024 NIL Essay Competition.
John earned his undergraduate degree from Boston College and his law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law. He is admitted to practice in New York State as well as the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
Reflecting on joining the firm, John said:
“It’s been an extraordinary experience so far. I have worked on a wide range of interesting matters, including on behalf of the USTA, the Estate of Ernest Hemingway, the United States Equestrian Federation, and other high-profile organizations. At Denlea & Carton, I have been given opportunities to tackle new types and phases of litigation, and I learn something new every day. The culture here is incredibly inclusive and supportive. I’m proud to be a member of the team.”
Chris Gallagher joins the firm with extensive experience in complex commercial litigation, investigations, and white-collar matters, representing clients in state and federal courts through all phases of litigation, including pleadings, motion practice, and discovery.
Chris previously spent more than 14 years at a major national law firm, where he focused on investigations and complex commercial litigation. During that time, he played a significant role in the investigation and prosecution of matters arising from the Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities fraud, one of the most consequential financial fraud cases in U.S. history.
Chris graduated from Fordham University where he earned both a Bachelor of Arts in English and his J.D. While attending law school, he was a member of the Brendan Moore Trial Advocacy Team.
He is admitted to the New York State Bar and to practice before the United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York.
Chris is a member of the New York State Bar Association, New York City Bar Association, and the Fordham Law School Alumni Association. He also serves as a Board Member of the Community Fund of Darien, a nonprofit enterprise supporting essential social service organizations that provide food, housing, healthcare, education, job training, and youth development throughout Fairfield County, Connecticut.
“Upon joining Denlea & Carton, I was immediately thrown into the deep end, and I’ve rediscovered the excitement of being a litigator,” Chris said. “After almost a decade and a half at a large Manhattan firm, here I feel I can make a genuine difference for my clients. I’ve been developing a personal rapport with my clients and immersing myself in their businesses, and I feel a substantive responsibility to advance their interests. It’s great to work in a truly client-driven, collaborative atmosphere.”
The addition of Kane and Gallagher reflects Denlea & Carton’s continued investment in expanding its litigation bench with attorneys who have deep experience in complex disputes and investigations to serve our elite clientele.
