STEVEN B. ROSS, ESQ.
Partner
steven@rossasmar.com
Commercial Litigation/Arbitration
Criminal Law
Corporate Law
Immigration/Deportation
Matrimonial Litigation
Steven B. Ross is a partner at Ross & Asmar LLC. Mr. Ross specializes in complex commercial, criminal defense and immigration litigation. Mr. Ross’ practice consists of complex litigation in federal, state and immigration courts. He has also tried and won cases before numerous arbitration bodies, including FINRA (formerly NASD, NYSE) and the AAA (American Arbitration Association).
Mr. Ross is an experienced trial lawyer. He has tried numerous cases and won acquittals and secured dismissals on behalf of numerous clients.
In addition, Mr. Ross has litigated numerous complex deportation and removal proceedings before the United States Department of Justice, Executive Office of Immigration Review.
Mr. Ross was previously associated with the law firm of Weil Gotshal & Manges where he practiced in the area of business law and securities litigation, and the law firms of Camhy Karlinsky & Stein and Hoffman Pollok & Pickholz LLP where he practiced commercial litigation and criminal defense litigation. Mr. Ross was also Of Counsel to Sichenzia Ross Friedman & Ference LLP.
Mr. Ross was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 7, 1966. He received a B.S. magna cum laude (1989) in History/Political Science from Drexel University (Philadelphia, PA) and a J.D. (1992) from Columbia Law School.
ADMISSIONS:
- State Bar of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
ROGER ASMAR
Partner
roger@rossasmar.com
Criminal Law
Immigration/Deportation
Matrimonial Litigation
EXPERIENCE:
Roger Asmar is a partner at Ross &. Asmar. His litigation practice focuses on complex criminal cases, Immigration/Deportation matters and in Matrimonial litigation cases, including trial. He has successfully represented numerous clients in his criminal law practice in Venezuela and in New York handling a broad range of cases from investigation through trial, including appeals on immigration matters. Roger has worked on numerous matters involving white collar crimes, organized crimes, violent crimes, national and international narcotics offenses and trafficking.
Prior to joining Ross & Asmar, by 2000, Roger had worked for a New York Criminal, Immigration/deportation law firm assisting attorneys during the investigation stage of the firm’s cases and through the preparation of clients for trial. During his three-and-a-half-year tenure working at that firm, he parallel completed and graduated from Pace law School University completing an LLM in comparative Law. Subsequently Roger was admitted to the New York State bar.
Roger was born in Caracas-Venezuela in 1975 where he graduated high school and went to law school obtaining a Law Degree from The Saint Marie University in Caracas-Venezuela. In 1998 after obtaining a Law Degree, he studied a Master degree in Forensic criminal Science at the scientific police in Caracas-Venezuela completing the Master in 2 years.
Continuing with his studies, Roger went to Salamanca-Spain where he studied A Post-graduate Degree in Legal Medicine and Forensic Criminal Science for which he completed with honors.
EDUCATION:
- Completed course towards LLM degree in Comparative Law, Pace University, White Plains, New York, 2001-2002
- Post-graduate Degree in Legal Medicine, Forensic and Criminal Science University of Salamanca, 2000
- Completed Master Degree on Forensic Criminal Science, 1998-2000 University of Scientific Police, Caracas, Venezuela, 1998-2000
- Law Degree, Saint Marie University Caracas-Venezuela
ADDITIONAL EDUCATION
- Transit Law Seminar, Saint Marie University, Caracas-Venezuela, 1997
- Forensic Trauma Seminar, Venezuelan Society of Forensic Medicine, Caracas-Venezuela, 1996
- Ballistic Studies Seminar, Civil Association of Professional Judicial Criminal Law, Caracas-Venezuela, 1996
- Criminal Law Reform Seminar, Saint Marie University, Caracas-Venezuela, 1996
ADMISSIONS:
- State Bar of New York
- State Bar of Caracas-Venezuela
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
JOANNA (Asia) E. NOWOKUNSKI
Junior Partner
asia@rossasmar.com
Criminal Law
Immigration/Deportation
Family Law/Matrimonial Litigation
EXPERIENCE:
Joanna E. Nowokunski is a junior partner at Ross & Asmar LLC. Her litigation practice focuses on Criminal cases (felonies and misdemeanors), Immigration and Deportation Cases. In addition, Ms. Nowokunski handles complex matrimonial and family court cases.
Prior to joining Ross & Asmar LLC, Ms. Nowokunski represented numerous clients in complex criminal cases while working as a criminal defense attorney for The Legal Aid Society. Ms. Nowokunski handled all cases from arraignments to suppression hearings and trials. Ms. Nowokunski has tried numerous misdemeanor and felony jury trials. Ms. Nowokunski also developed an expertise in DUI/DWI cases.
Currently Ms. Nowokunski represents many clients in deportation proceedings and other immigration matters. It is essential for a good criminal defense attorney to also be a great immigration attorney due to the potential negative immigration consequences for Permanent Residents and undocumented immigrants. An outcome of criminal cases, even from many years ago, can have negative consequences on immigration status.
In addition to criminal and immigration law, Ms. Nowokunski handles matrimonial and family court cases. Ms. Nowokunski represents many clients dealing with complex divorce cases that involve custody, child support, spousal maintenance and equitable distribution. In the past Ms. Nowokunski participated in a lecture on divorce law at the Polish Consulate in New York City.
Ms. Nowokunski was born in the Mazury region of Poland. Ms. Nowokunski came to the United States as a child and completed all her studies in the United States. Ms. Nowokunski received her J.D. from New York Law School in New York City. She also spent one year in Madrid, Spain studying economics prior to going to law school. Besides speaking Polish, her native language, Ms. Nowokunski is fluent in Spanish.
EDUCATION:
- J.D. New York Law School, New York, New York 2002-2005
- B.A. in Economics and International Relations, Wheaton College, Norton Massachusetts 1996-2000
- Economics, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain 1999-2000
ADMISSIONS:
- State Bar of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
CARLOS SERRANO
Legal Assistant
carlos@rossasmar.com
Carlos Serrano is a legal assistant at Ross & Asmar. Mr. Serrano was born in Caracas, Venezuela and raised in Glen Cove, New York. Mr. Serrano received a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Bachelor of Arts in Government Studies at Skidmore College. He also attended the Universidad Autonoma de Madrid for Economic Studies. He also participated in a political science seminar in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Mr. Serrano is a prospective law student and is fluent in Spanish.
JOHN M. TRANI
Associate
john@rossasmar.com
Commercial Litigation
Corporate Law
Entertainment Law
Trademark & Copyright Law
Employment Law
John M. Trani is an associate at Ross & Asmar. He focuses on counseling clients, negotiating agreements and litigating disputes in the commercial litigation, corporate law, entertainment law, trademark and copyright law and employment law matters.
Mr. Trani has extensive experience with matters involving corporate business and entertainment transactions, legal filings and civil litigation.
Before joining Ross & Asmar, Mr. Trani served as a law clerk for the Honorable William Macauley at the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and at the Federal Department of Labor.
He also handled various transactional matters at multiple entertainment law firms, including Carroll, Guido & Groffman LLP, a prestigious music law firm with clients such as Jay-Z and Dave Matthews Band.
In addition, he worked on various corporate matters in the legal departments of DC Comics and Blitz Distribution, Inc., a leading manufacturer of skateboard equipment and apparel.
Mr. Trani earned his law degree from Brooklyn Law School. Prior to law school, Mr. Trani graduated from the Boston University School of Management, where he earned a B.S. in business administration with a concentration in finance. Mr. Trani also completed Dean's List coursework at Purdue University, Villanova University and Southwestern Law School.
ADMISSIONS:
- State Bar of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
KEVIN LOJA
Legal Assistant
Kevin@rossasmar.com
Kevin Loja is a legal assistant at Ross & Asmar. Mr. Loja was born to Ecuadorian parents in Brooklyn and later moved to Elmhurst, Queens. He graduated from the Aviation High School in Long Island City, New York, where he studied aircraft mechanics.
Mr. Loja is responsible for many aspects of the firm’s practice. Mr. Loja facilitates the service of many documents, such as motions and petitions, to local courts. He often travels to detention facilities to transmit documents to incarcerated clients. He conducts client consultations and maintains communication with clients regarding their case status. He provides extensive Spanish-English translations for clients. He frequently assists in the preparation petitions for various immigration proceedings.
