United States District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York

Linda J. DeCorato is a partner in Rawle & Henderson’s New York City Office. Ms. DeCorato has over twenty years of experience defending catastrophic injury claims and before becoming a lawyer was an accomplished medical professional, Registered Nurse and hospital executive with a proven ability to distill, present and resolve complex issues persuasively.

Ms. DeCorato is an experienced and skilled negotiator and also heads the firm’s Matrimonial and Family Law practice. Ms. DeCorato regularly advises clients regarding divorce, including contested, uncontested, same sex and high net worth cases; equitable distribution; custody and visitation; and pre and post-nuptial agreements.

Ms. DeCorato has skillfully managed the interests of children as their Guardian Ad Litem by appointment of the Surrogate in Family Estate matters. Combined with her nursing experience, she affords children who are in the midst of divorce and custody matters, the highest and most compassionate priority.

As a sought after resource, Ms. Decorato is routinely contacted by Health care executives and boards to advise on risk management, regulatory and compliance issues. Her effectiveness draws on her tenure as Director of Risk Management and quality assurance at a major New York City hospital at the inception of Public Health Law 2805, which is the law that mandates hospital-based risk management quality assurance programs and integrated physician-credentialing procedures.

As an advisor and advocate, in the firm’s Medical Malpractice practice group Ms. DeCorato litigates malpractice and personal injury claims in cases where her prior medical knowledge and experience is invaluable in assessing a case. She provides counseling on compliance with health care law and regulatory requirements including confidentiality, ethics and patient rights; management of internal federal and state investigations for hospitals, health care facilities and medical practice groups; representation of health care providers in regulatory proceedings, disciplinary hearings and employment disputes. She also handles contracts of employment and physician practice contracts, and human resource issues including personnel policies, restrictive covenants and equal opportunity employment.

Ms. DeCorato has successfully represented Nurses, Physicians and EMTs before their respective disciplinary Boards in interviews, informal settlement conferences and hearings. She has assisted professionals obtain and maintain licenses, and has successfully limited disciplinary actions through her attention to the details leading to the disciplinary proceeding, the client’s personal and professional history, the work environment, and the complexities of the professional practice.

Ms. DeCorato is a member of the New York City and State Bar Association, the New York State Medical Defense Bar and several other state and national professional associations including the American Association of Nurse Attorneys. Ms. DeCorato received the designation as a New York Super Lawyer, by Super Lawyers Magazine for Professional Achievement in the New York Metropolitan Area for five (5) years in a row.